Stuck in a Cabin (with you)
Written by: JuliaFC
Betas: Khanofallorcs, Agrestebug, Etoile-Lead-Sama and genxha. Thank you all so much!
Cover Art credit: Rosehealer02 on Deviantart
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by (c) Thomas Astruc, TS1 Bouygues, Disney Channel, Zagtoon, Toei Animation. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
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Answer to reviews:
Hey! Since last week i was a bit in a rush and didn't manage to answer to the reviews, I'll answer to two chapters at the same time:
DisneyFander: yes, new chapter. Hope you enjoyed it! And yes, it was cute. Hope you'll like even this chapter as much!
CaulderPine: thank you for your review. As you could see, Marinette freaked out big time, but she understood why he's done it so it's all good. And yes, it is basic first aid and yes, he couldn't do otherwise.
Rose Tiger: hope you're still enjoying the story! There's a lot more to come, please let me know what you think and thank you for your comment!
Smoke: yes, he is awkward, but well, it's not easy, especially if she's the girl you like. Hope you enjoyed chapter 4 and that you will enjoy chapter 5! Looking forward to know what you thought of it!
Browneyedgirl41: hope you liked chapter 4 and that you will like chapter 5. Thank you for your comment! Hope you'll drop a line again :) And as of chapter 4… yes, a LOT of blushing, really :)
Mirami03: Yes, he is so cute ^-^
Agiani: yes, luckily she's safe now! PS: she's equally red. The circumstances are really embarrassing but she's also very sick.
HeartAngel1796: I already thanked you in private for noticing a mistake that not even 5 betas had spotted, but I will say it again. Thank you so much! Hope you will enjoy chapter 5!
MiraculousLover2: well yes, and there's more embarrassment even here. Hope you'll like it :)
Rescue Wolf: yes, it's going to be real fun when she finds out :)
Dragonlily2002: well, Adrien is by nature a respectful person, even if he jokes as Chat Noir he would never take advantage of Ladybug (he's even said it in Truth, if you have watched it already!) so yes, I thought he would have done his best to be respectful in a situation such as this. Glad you enjoyed it :) As of chapter 4, I'm glad you enjoyed the change of dynamics and the lighter atmosphere. Hope you'll like chapter 5 too!
Gnostica: Nah, never be afraid of the angst. The angst is good. ^^ thank you for your comment! And as of Lila… just wait and see :)
LunaWolf44: Adrien will never find out, but the heater wasn't just working properly. And when the trees hit the ceiling the electricity goes so the heater stops working too! And yes, it was SO awkward for poor Adrien ^^ but he had to do it!
Kapel85: thank you! So happy you liked it. Hope you'll like this chapter too x
Elenacotora: thank you!
Rachel3421: really happy you do! Keep following :)
Gianfranco Cembran: non preoccuparti. Lila verrà punita!
Guest: well, let's say that Lie-la won't be happy!
Cold-heart-Angel23: good theories :)
Sailorlyoko4life: yes, you're totally right, hawkmoth's powers were made to make superheroes. Let's see what will happen in the next few chapters!
Jen: you got me. You really did. This story was initially meant to be a one shot and started half way chapter 2 and ended here. But there were so many loose ends that I decided to expand it and that's how this long version has come to life :) Hope you will enjoy chapter 5 too! Hugs and kisses!
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Chapter 5 — Gorilla to the rescue
"Oh my, M'lady, 39.3!" Adrien looked very carefully at the little mercury column that displayed the temperature through the glass stick. He cupped a hand on her forehead and looked up. "That's very high, especially considering that you were a block of ice only a little while back." He eyed her with concern and made to get out of his spot on the couch, but Marinette snuggled up to his chest and firmly resisted his attempt to move.
"I'm so cold," she whispered, her teeth chattering.
He smiled softly. "Your body's very warm, Marinette, but probably you're cold because of the temperature. If you let me, I think I saw some paracetamol tablets in the first aid kit over there." He pointed at the little box he had taken the thermometer from earlier, but Marinette's hold on his chest grew stronger.
"Stay," she whispered, burying her face deep in his chest. His cheeks tinged in pink and his eyes widened, but after a minute, his gaze softened and he rested his chin on the top of her head.
"All right, Buginette. I'm not going anywhere." He could feel her temperature going up from her forehead resting against his chest and he would have wanted to reach the first aid kit for getting those tablets. But Marinette was holding on to him as if he was her last safety anchor. He couldn't leave her like that. He really couldn't. So when he felt her arms wrapping firmly around his back, he sighed in defeat and relaxed into her hold. If this was a dream, please don't wake him up.
He had just closed his eyes and rested his chin on the top of her head, feeling with worry how warm her forehead was against his throat, when he felt something tapping him near his right hand. His eyes shot open and he looked in the direction of the nudge he had felt; Tikki and Plagg both were floating near his arm. Plagg held in his paws the box of paracetamol Adrien had wanted to get from the first aid kid and Tikki was holding a glass full of water..
"There, gamin," said Plagg as Tikki continued, "no need to panic."
He smiled brightly. "Thank you guys! Where did you find the water?"
Tikki giggled and chirped, "A kwami has her ways!"
With a little difficulty, since Marinette was leaning heavily against him, he picked up the paracetamol tablets and the glass and moved slightly Marinette, trying to loosen up her hold enough to make her take the medicine. She just hugged him tighter.
"Come on, Marinette, just two tablets and a drop of water. Do it for me," he muttered as he tried to push her back a little. She looked really red in the face and her body felt like boiling in his hands. Her breath was also catching quickly and when she opened her eyes briefly to swallow some water to take the tablets, they looked red and puffy. She did smile though when she sipped the fresh water. "Good girl," he commented and she wrapped her extremely warm arms around his neck and looked at him with glassy eyes. Adrien wasn't sure whether she was seeing him for real or if she was just being hallucinated by the fever.
"I love you, mon chaton," she whispered.
Adrien's heart skipped a beat, his eyes widening in shock. "W-what?" he muttered to himself. She wrapped herself closer to him and rubbed her head against his chest.
"Mhh-hm." She sighed contently. "For… forever," she continued, her voice hoarse, her words all slurred.
An adrenaline rush ran through his body as she said so. His heart was pounding in his throat. "But… the o-other boy?" he inquired, his throat instantly drying up.
"Adrien," she whispered sluggishly.
"Yeah?" he whispered back and his breath caught up because she started drawing small circles on his chest with her index finger and the sole feeling of that was giving him goosebumps.
"'Twas Adrien," she repeated again, even more sluggishly.
Him? The boy she loved was really him without the mask? Just his luck! Having spent all that time being in competition with himself. How many people could say that? He opened his mouth to reply, but when he looked at her he noticed that she had fallen asleep. The hand that was tracing his chest was now lying limp on her lap, her head comfortably leaning on his chest, just over his heart, a cute smile curling her lips.
He spent a long time looking at her, at the elegant curve of her jaw blending with the slender length of her neck, at how her mouth was adorably slightly open and her cheek became even pinker where it leaned on him. She was sleeping so peacefully that he didn't want to move, in fear she would wake up; so he just sat a little better, legs crossed on the bed, wrapped the blanket securely around them and rested his chin on her head, trying to find a comfortable position.
He didn't know how long he sat there, in a half asleep stupor, but his torpor was suddenly disturbed by a loud beating at the door. Marinette jumped in his arms. He quickly checked her temperature by placing a quick kiss on her forehead and realised that she was much cooler now. She was still asleep, though, even if some more bangs resounded from the same direction.
Very carefully, Adrien detangled from Marinette and laid her down on the couch, covering her with the blanket, and then moved closer to the door, suddenly embracing himself and shivering from the cold.
"Who's there?" he said when he was behind the door of the cabin. A loud grunt resounded from the other end, making him understand that it must have been the Gorilla. At bloody last! He heard somebody on the other side of the door starting to bang at the door. He saw the door's handle going up and down, but another loud groan told Adrien that the Gorilla couldn't get in.
"Hang on, let me help you," he shouted, and started pulling on his side of the handle, with no success. Shoot. He looked up and it was clear what had happened, now that he thought about it. The ceiling of the cabin had gone so low that the door hinges had collapsed. The metal structure of the door looked bent and not even a man as strong as the Gorilla was able to move it an inch.
"The door is stuck!" he shouted to his bodyguard. He heard some more rummaging on the other side and ran to the window to see if he could see anything. The Gorilla was trying to lift one of the trees that had fallen on top of the cabin. God, they looked so big and heavy! And so covered in snow. As his bodyguard was trying to lift one, Adrien heard a cracking sound inside the cabin and saw some fragments of mortar and debris fall to the ground. The Gorilla pulled a bit harder and a further loud crack resounded eerily in the cabin.
"It's not working, you're making it worse!" he said, trying to stop the Gorilla and prevent further damage. He swore that he had seen the ceiling lowering even further. The Gorilla walked to the window and exchanged a worried look with him. Adrien put a hand to his ear, mimicking a phone and then drew a cross with his hand, trying to signal that his mobile phone was dead. The imposing man took his own phone out of his pocket and messed with it, undoubtedly trying to send a text message from the look of it. But after a few seconds of skimming through things aimlessly, he sighed and signalled "no" with his hand.
Shoot! Was there no signal? Had the storm caused damage to the telephone line somewhere? He heard more desperate bangs coming from outside. "Can you hear me? It's not working!" said Adrien as more debris fell to the ground. His bodyguard returned to the window, giving him a nod full of what looked like sadness and frustration. Good, at least he could hear him, he didn't need to get creative with signals any longer. "You need to go look for help. I'm not alone here, I had to help a friend who had an accident earlier and she's stuck in here with me now. She's very sick and her phone is broken. We have no food that I could find!"
The Gorilla signed something that Adrien knew meant, 'Are you okay?'
He nodded decisively and leaned closer to the window to say, "Yes, I am, but the cabin is very damaged. I don't know how long it will resist. The electricity is gone. It's really cold. Please go find help!" Gorilla shook his head but Adrien clasped his hands in a prayer gesture. "Please! You won't be able to get us out by yourself!" He scratched his head. "I think I remember seeing some houses not too far from the park. Maybe you can get there and bang at someone's door and ask for help? There should be some mobile signal there too, so maybe you can call Nathalie." After a few more head shakes in protest and begging from Adrien on the other side, finally the Gorilla gave in. He closed his eyes, nodded and put a hand in front of himself, as if telling him 'All right, I'll do it.'
"Thank you!" said Adrien with a sigh. "Would you be able to find any sweets or pieces of Camembert cheese while you're there?" Adrien clearly saw the man closing his eyes and lowering his head in the closest imitation of a facepalm he had ever seen him making. And was that a sigh? "Wait!" he added stopping the man in his tracks before he could turn around and leave. "We also have a bit of a… situation here." He brought his hand to his nape. "Don't ask please, but my friend Marinette needs clothes. Uh… underwear possibly."
The man's gaze clearly hardened, he raised an eyebrow and gave a curt, long stare at Adrien, his eyes navigating allegedly on his naked torso. Adrien felt all blood rushing to his face. "Nonononono, you've got it all wrong. She fell in the lake. I had to help her or she would die. I'll tell you later, but now she's sick and her clothes are all wet." He gave his bodyguard the most pleading puppy eyed look he could get himself to come up with. "PLEASE!" Again he put his hands in together in prayer, right in front of his face. He saw the man keeping on thinking about it, his hand still firmly on his chin, his eyebrow still raised in scepticism. But eventually, he signalled again and nodded. He made a gesture signifying 'later' and walked away. Adrien breathed easier.
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"Adrien? Is that you?" came Marinette's voice from the couch.
"Who else?" he asked walking back there. He kept embracing himself and looked sheepishly at Marinette. "Do you mind if I put some clothes on? I'm freezing." She chuckled a little and nodded shyly.
"Sorry, minou. Of course you can; I don't want you to catch a cold."
He smiled as he hurried to fetch his clothes from his own little pile on the floor. "Don't think about it, it's okay. It was warmer earlier, but the heater must have stopped working when the ceiling collapsed. We don't seem to have any electricity." When he had finally put some layers on to protect himself from the freezing temperature, he sat down again by the couch. They sat in silence for a while, both looking down with flushed faces.
"Were you talking to your bodyguard?" asked Marinette eventually, breaking the silence.
Adrien nodded. "Yes. He's gone looking for help. He tried to move the trees fallen on top of the cabin but even he couldn't move them, not even by an inch."
"Shoot," commented Marinette. "And Plagg was right earlier, there's no point in you transforming and trying to Cataclysm the cabin."
Adrien nodded again. "Yeah… I hadn't thought about it carefully enough."
"You never do," came Plagg's voice from his side.
Adrien pouted. "Cheers, Plagg..."
"Sorry, but it's the truth, gamin. At least when you're Chat Noir. Too often you act before connecting your brain to your mouth."
"That's not a nice thing to say, Plagg!" said Tikki, showing herself up from behind Marinette's back. She grabbed Plagg and zipped away, leaving them some privacy.
Once again, an awkward silence wrapped around them. Adrien kept looking at Marinette, who was also glancing at him from time to time. His hand ran to the nape of his neck.
"Uh, about earlier," started Marinette and at the same time, Adrien asked, "Talking about earlier…" They both stopped as they heard the other talking and blushed. "Please carry on," they both said at the same time. "That is…" They both pouted and sighed.
"Okay," finally managed to say Adrien, his blush darkening when he realised that she wasn't going to talk with him. "Uh, what you said earlier, I was wondering if you remembered any of that at all."
Marinette sucked her breath in and gave him a sheepish look. "W-what did I say earlier?"
His back tensed and he held his breath as he said it, slowly but surely, "That the other boy was… Adrien." She paled and his eyes widened. "It's true?"
She hid her face behind her hands and started uttering some undefined noises. However, after an interminable moment of doing that, she lowered her hands and locked her gaze into his, nodding shyly. She sucked her breath in when his eyes became as big as saucers and he lost the ability to breathe.
"Sorry," she said. Her gaze fell and she pouted uncomfortably. "Sorry to disappoint you," she added.
His heart skipped a beat. "What? Disappoint me? Oh no! I mean, it's just—weird, I suppose. Just my luck. I was in… competition… with myself. Haha. Who else on Earth. I mean… yeah, cool. Honestly." He laughed awkwardly and rubbed his neck, with his eyes closed as he didn't feel able to look her in the face. Then he crouched over himself and hugged his arms, trying to disappear from the world. "I'm sorry if your image of Adrien is being crushed completely today. I… I'm not perfect. I'm just your partner, the clown." He blushed and lowered his gaze.
Marinette sucked her breath in again. "You don't need to be perfect, Adrien." She smiled warmly when his eyes darted immediately to her face in surprise. "And I love your sense of humour, you know that." They exchanged a soft look, then she lowered her gaze as she continued, "I suppose I've never told you how I fell in love with… the other boy, did I?" She saw him shaking his head, even if she was still looking down. Her lips curled up in a small smile and she hugged herself, her heart racing in her ears as she tried to find the courage to talk. "I-it was your first day at school and you gave me your umbrella."
Adrien gulped awkwardly. "What? My first day?"
She looked up at him and nodded shyly. "Yeah."
"I thought you hated me!" he muttered to himself.
She sighed. "I must say that at the beginning I wasn't really impressed." He pouted so she continued, "But that was on me, Adrien. I had let myself get carried away by my prejudices. You were a rich boy, model, gorgeous, friend of Chloé… I thought you would have been as much a bully as she is. And when I found you messing with chewing gum on my seat I just got that suspicion confirmed so… I didn't give you a chance to explain and just judged you on that. It wasn't nice of me, and I never even really apologised for it, so I'll do it now. I'm so sorry for misjudging you that day." She put a hand to her forehead. "I can't believe I misjudged you twice."
"Huh?" asked Adrien, giving her a pointed look.
"I misjudged Chat Noir too, you know. I thought for a really long time that you were just a clown, someone to not take seriously, and that you didn't love me for real, that it was all part of an act."
He paled. Did she really think that of him? "But—"
"Shhh," she interrupted him, "I know it's not the case. When you joined me on my balcony the day that André was akumatised into Glaciator, for the first time I discovered a side of Chat Noir that I had never seen before and I realised that maybe I had misjudged him. And slowly my feelings for my partner have grown so much. I learned to appreciate him and respect him. And to love him," she added in a whisper.
Adrien gasped. "Say that again?"
"You heard well the first time," said Marinette with a soft smile on her lips. "I love you, chaton. I was rejecting Chat Noir for Adrien but… slowly Chat Noir also stole a piece of my heart." She smirked and eyed him in a flirty way as her elbow hit him lightly in the ribs. "You cheeky cat," she added with a giggle.
He giggled as well. His hands reached her shoulders and his gaze locked instantly into hers. Marinette felt blood rushing to her face for the intensity of that look. "Can I kiss you?" he asked, his gaze trained on her, as if there was nothing else left in the world. His heart threatened to jump out of his ribcage when she nodded and smiled softly. Timidly, she cupped both hands around his cheeks and pulled his face forward until their lips met.
Author's Note:
Hi there! Here we are at the end of chapter 5. Hope you all enjoyed it. So… the secrets start coming to the open. next chapters are going to be crucial for the plot, but I really wanted to give the characters a little bit of fluff before hitting them with the $h*t…
What do you say? You thought the $h*t had happened already? Well, think again. There's more. Yes, I know I'm cruel. It's my middle name!
In the next instalment of "Stuck in a cabin (with you)", "A very unexpected help":
— "I have been trying to get in touch with Marinette for hours and her phone's always been off."
— "What? Adrien is missing too?"
— "Apparently he has helped a friend of his, who was in trouble. That Marinette Dupain-Cheng. She's sick and," she gulped, "needs underwear."
So… I hope that you enjoyed chapter 5. Let me know what you thought about it and drop me a comment! I will continue soon :) can't promise I will publish every week, but let me know what you think and I'll publish as soon as I can. Please subscribe if you're interested in knowing what is going to happen, so you will know when the next update is!
And please check out my other WIPs, "When Magic Fails", "Caught in the Loop", "Errata Corrige" and "La Caverne du Papillon d'Or"!
Last but not least, as usual, if you read this and you're not part of our wonderful Discord server already, but you enjoy reading, writing and talking about Miraculous, please join our Discord server, Miraculous Fanworks (for people on FFN, discord dot gg slash mlfanworks). See you there soon. Not sure when I will update this story but it won't be too long! Promise!