Ella sighed, collecting her order with a nod of thanks before exiting the café to head for the park. The day was moving too slow for her liking, especially since she was in pain and trying to keep that from showing to the prying eyes. And as much as she'd rather stay in the café for lunch break, too many eyes were staring at her head.
Finding an empty bench, the teen pulled out the sandwich and pastries and began eating. In her bag beside her, Kiismet munched on a ziplock bag of honey roasted walnuts. It was nice out- parents playing with their kids, couples taking strolls... Ella couldn't help but be a little jealous.
"So when are you gonna give him your present? It's your favorite novel right?" Kiismet chimed in suddenly, zipping up to hide in Ella's hair. The teen nodded, taking another bite of a macaron.
"Yeah: Voyage au bout de la nuit. I just hope he likes it." Ella sighed, placing her hand carefully on the box in her bag. This was another push past her barriers, but she did wanna actually develop a friendship with the blond. Especially with all Kiis told her after the teens met.
Screams drew the girl from her thoughts, face to face with purple bubbles floating around the park. All the adults around the area were being sucked in and taken up into the sky, the kids all left crying and freaking out.
"Akuma?" Ella asked, Kiis moving to float beside her head.
"I'd say so. Are you gonna help?"
"I mean, I prom-"
Ella was cut off by a bubble coming straight for her, too fast for her to move or react. It was almost like a teleport or something; the bubble enveloped her and then spit Ella out in a courtyard of some sort, the rest of her class already there. At the head of the chaos on the roof, was an akuma, if Ella had to guess. And by the colors, she had to assume the victim was Nino this time.
"Today is your lucky day, little dudes." Yep- definitely Nino.
"The adults have taken the day off, so make the most of it! No chores, no homework, no more nagging- just fun, fun, fun! This is the Bubbler's gift to you!"
No adults? So every single one was in the sky...? Ella couldn't help the wave of relief that washed over her in that moment. That meant her father was possibly up there- far away from her?
The door behind the crowd opened, revealing Adrien. On cue, as if, the rest of the group cheered, yelling happy birthday- Ella must have missed those instructions. But the girl couldn't help but shy away from the group, holding her wrist against her chest. She skirted to the edge, hoping to stay out of sight long enough to change into Raven and get away.
"Hey, hey, hey, birthday boy! Guess what? Daddy's gone. While the cat's away, the mice will play!"
"..Nino?!"
"The Bubbler's brought all your homies and that special someone together for one single-sole purpose: to ce-le-brate!"
Adrien didn't quite know how to process this, but when Nino said special someone, his green eyes were scanning the area for Ella. Luckily, she was quick to spot- hiding closest to him. He wanted to grab her and hide her from the akuma, but he knew he'd have to transform and fight. So he turned and ran back inside, Plagg flying out of his jacket once the door shut.
"What's your problem? Relax! You're getting the party you've always wanted!"
"But Nino's been akumatized! I've gotta help him!"
"You may never get this chance again! C'mon, let's have a little fun while your father's away! Then we'll save Nino, trap his akuma and then you can spend your birthday with the little missus out there!"
Adrien took a moment- Plagg begrudgingly had a point. He may never get this chance again and he really wanted to celebrate his birthday with Ella and his friends.
"Okay, you're right. This might be the first day in my life I actually get to do what I want for once."
Opening the door again, Adrien joins his classmates in the yard but finds Ella first.
"Hey Ella." He smiled, the girl turning towards him.
"Hi Adrien. Happy birthday." She spoke, her voice once again going quiet at the sight of him.
"Thanks, I'm glad you're here." The girl smiled, but it was small, distant.
"Well I'm sure the others are happy to be here too." She motioned to the others, Adrien following her gaze. It hit him that everyone, while dancing, looked grim and sad- like they didn't wanna be here.
"Is it me, or does everyone seem a bit weird?"
"I'd be a little upset if I was forced to a party- which I am." Ella's words surprised both teens, the female immediately going red and floundering back away from him.
"I'm so sorry I didn't mean to say that! I'm sorry!"
Adrien reached for her, to say what she said was alright, but the music changed and Chloe was dragging him away from the onyx-haired girl.
"Forget about her, let's go dance!"
Adrien kept trying to move back to Ella, who had run from her spot to hide by the door, but Chloe had a grip on him and kept trying to kiss him. After a minute though, the music abruptly changed and Adrien was able to break away from Chloe and run to find Ella.
"Dude! Who hijacked my mix?!"
"Ella? Are you okay?" The girl shakily nodded, flinching when Adrien got too close.
"Here- you can go to my room and calm down, I guess? I know this isn't really something to calm down from but I assume you wanna be alone-"
"Yes please..." Ella whispered. Adrien nodded and quickly took Ella inside, missing Marinette enter from the other gate. He showed Ella to his room, saying she could call or text him when she was ready to head home or wherever after all this chaos was done. With a nod from her, Adrien went back out to the party, just in time to see Ladybug appear above the party.
"Sorry, Bubbler, but the party is over."
"Why you gotta be like that?"
"You made all the adults disappear, that's why? And now you're imprisoning anyone who isn't having fun!"
Adrien realized he should have acted sooner, running back into the house.
"I think I've been a complete idiot. Plagg, claws out!"