Marinette wasn't the type to get jealous easily, but today was different. Being LadyBug has some ups just as much as downs. One of the ups is she gets to see people smile after saving them; one of the downs, the lack of sleep.
Being sleep deprived was something she was used to; if it was just one night without sleep, but between finals, saving Paris, and making time for her friends; she was exhausted with having little to no sleep for 2 weeks. She normally was calm and collected, being a perfect student and friend. Never speaking without permission, getting straight A's, always being patient and polite. Today though Marinette came into school looking like she just walked into a 90's show and then tried to change on a rollercoaster.
Black bags under eyes showing proud and puckered under eyes, and her hair looking dead limp and without it's usual shine. Clothes wrinkled, makeup smeared, and dull eyes, Marinette sat in her seat behind her longtime crush; Adrian Agreste. Blonde hair, green eyed beauty.
Chloé Bóurgeois walked into class with her lacky/ assistant who thinks she is Chloe's "best friend" Sabrina Raincomprix. Chloé always found a way to make Marinette's life a living hell. The only person who stands up for her when she starts her crap is her best friend Alya Césaire, her best friend of 6 years.
Chloé stopped in front of Adrian's seat and handed him a paper, with something she couldn't make out, written on it.
"Hello, Adrian. What are you doing today after school? Daddy told me we could rent one of the theaters and have it all to ourselves for the whole night. If you want to, you can come alone with me." Chloé turns to Marinette and smirks like she won a lottery ticket for a million dollars and is trying to rub it in her face. Marinette glares and looks away.
"Anyways Adrikins, what do you say?" Chloé said, turning back to Adrian still smirking.
Adrian rubs the back of his neck and blushes like he was embarrassed to say what he was fixing to say, " Actually Chloé my father told me last night that I have a last minute photo shoot with Kagami today." This wasn't the truth Adrian had patrol with LadyBug today and couldn't think of a way to say no, so this was the only option.
Adrian smiles and looks at Chloe with a look of frustration. This isn't the first time Chloé has asked this and Adrian thinks of it as a tiresome task to turn her down every morning.
Marinette listening to the conversation was fuming, though she didn't know why. Adrian hadn't agreed to go, so it made no sense why she was mad. Her and Adrian have a good friendship, never taking advantage of one another other than when needing a shoulder to cry on. Never any fighting, or miscommunication. If anyone saw them it would seem like they were a happy couple the way they treated each other, but it was actually quite the opposite. All Adrian will ever feel for her was love from a long formed friendship. Marinette shot up out of her seat, grabbed her stuff and walked out of the room; going to the bathroom she sat in a stall and cried.
Tikki, Marinette's kwami, shot out of purse ready to scold Marinette for potentially putting herself in the line of being akumatized. Tikki suddenly stopped when she saw Marinette's face and immediately hugged her the best she could.
"Marinette, I know you're upset about Adrian, but you almost got akumatized out there." Tikkie looked at her with a pointed look, " Paris can't save itself , and Chat can't fix the damage of the akuma if you're the one who caused it." Tikkie paused, waiting to see Marinette's reaction. Instead she was met with the dead, dull eyes of Marinette. No emotion evident on her worn face. The black bags under her eyes were more prominent, and her lips looked more dry than earlier. She looked like a zombie.
Tikkie gasped
"Marinette, you need sleep." Tikki tried pleading with her. Just like the last two weeks though, Marinette shook her head and leaned it against the stall wall and let out a low sigh.
Getting up, Marinette got Tikki back in her purse and walked out. By the time she got out of the bathroom it was time for the second period of the day. Walking to class she takes her normal seat and gets her stuff out.
Adrian couldn't make sense of what happened this morning. Marinette seemed to be out of it lately. First LadyBug, but now Marinette?
Later the night before:
"Hey, LadyBug." Chat swung up from his place on his baton.
"Hey Chat!" LadyBug smiled tiredly. Chat could see how tired she was. It was an evident piece of information, which was written on her face like a neon sign in New Orleans at night. Chat frowned, he could see the emotion of exhaustion in her eyes, those used to be life filled orbs of ocean blue and clear sky's, now dull looking with the colors of a muddy blue and murky brown. Frown lines evident around her mouth and clear worry wrinkles edged into her forehead.
"LadyBug? Have you been getting enough sleep? Is everything okay?" Chat was worried about his partner and love of his life.
LadyBug looked at him and smiled; though it didn't reach her eyes, and nodded her head.
Chat not wanting to push any boundaries just nodded, still frowning.
"Let's get this patrol over with shall we?" LadyBug said and swung her yoyo dancing from rooftop to rooftop. Chat stayed for a second and then followed. Along the way he thought it odd for his lady to act like this. Usually she isn't so fast to get patrol over with; making sure that everything is okay really well before leaving and going back to where she came from.
After patrol they parted ways and went home. Chat changing back into Adrian fell back into his bed. Falling asleep quickly to dreams of a dead looking LadyBug.
Present:
Adrian, though still finding it odd, let it go and decided to stop by Marinette's house after school to make sure she is okay.
Going through the rest of the day Adrian and Marinette were both miserable.
Marinette walks out of the school heading towards her house, she was dizzy but she pushed through it. Walking into her house and up to her room she plops into her computer chair and turns on her computer. She was gonna need help with her homework. What's the use of having the internet if she can't take advantage of it every once in a while? After she got done with her homework she got up and started cleaning her room; despite Tikkis protests to get sleep instead of wearing herself down more.
Adrian walks into the bakery and asks for Marinette. Her mother points up to her room and tells him to go in. Smiling, he nods and heads up. Knocking and opening the door he saw Marinette cleaning, still looking dead.
"Hey Mari, are you okay? You seemed like you were having a bad day today at school!" He walks in and closes the door. She didn't look at him, just stopped and slouched like she was fixing to fall. Adrian rushed and caught her before she did. Picking her up bridal style he took her to her bed and layed her down.
She is completely passed out. When was the last time she slept?
He sat next to her bed laying his head on the side railings of the bottom bunk ready for if she needed him. Adrian takes the time to examine her room. Piles of fabric thrown in the corner of her room. Yarn, paper, needles, and manikins all over the floor and desk. Her chaise made up of different fabrics and projects looked like it hadn't been cleaned in months. Last time he was here was about three weeks ago. Her room looked clean as if nobody occupied it for some time, yet in three weeks it's gotten to look like a train came through it.
Why is it this bad?
Adrian got up and started cleaning. After about three hours he was done organizing and deep cleaning her room.
Maybe it will make her happy to have a little bit of the load off her shoulders.
Taking her dirty clothes down to her laundry room. He puts them in the washer and then heads back to her room. Adrian didn't mind cleaning, in fact he would rather clean than go to photoshoots and parties all the time.
Adrian sitting down in her computer chair leaned back and fell asleep.
Two hours later:
Marinette woke up looking around confused as to how she got into her bed. Groaning, she sat up and took in her room. It was clean. Because of the shock she didn't notice the blond starting to wake up in her chair.
Adrian rubbed his eyes and then cut them to where Marinette was expecting to see her still asleep; he was shocked to see her taking in her newly clean room.
"I hope you don't mind!" Adrian said, scaring Marinette.
"AHH, ADRIAN" Marinette practically raced down from her bed and tripped. Adrian grabbed her and put her back on her feet.
"What are you-u d-doi-n-ng h-her-e-e?" Marinette stuttered, not making sense of why he was here. Last she remembered she was at school in the second period.
"I came over here to see if you were okay because you seemed off today in school. When I came in you fainted and I put you in your bed and cleaned your room, since I thought you could use the help." Adrian rubbed the back of his neck like he always does when he's nervous and looks at her sheepishly. Marinette blushes and smiles.
"Yes it's fine. It was getting overwhelming and I couldn't do it by myself at that point without someone else."
Adrian nodded and sat back in the chair. Marinette stood there blushing and fidgeting her thumbs while rocking back and forth.
"I'm gonna go get something to eat, do you want anything?" Marinette asked. Adrian nodded and she left to get the food.
When she got back Adrian was sitting on her bed waiting for her to return. She sat the plate in between them and got comfortable. They ate and talked about anything and everything, Marinette laughing at Adrian's awful puns and him smiling like a big idiot when he heard her laugh.
Eventually Adrian had to go home and Marinette had to finish helping close up the bakery. Adrian got home, told his father good night and went to his room. Transforming, he whisked into the gloom night of Paris Street lamps and rocky roads and headed to an all too familiar house.