"What‽ What do you mean Marinette is sick?" Adrien almost yelled at the person on the other end of the phone.
"Well yeah dude. We were planning to go to the Christmas markets today, y'know all four of us. But since she's not so fine, we thought of moving it up until tomorrow. Think you could make it?" Nino replied from the other end. But unlucky for him, the blonde did not hear anything else, maybe he did but he only picked the statement of his interest.
"What's wrong with Marinette? Is it serious?" If Nino found his not- so obvious and sudden excessive concern for Marinette, he didn't say anything about it. Mainly because Alya was stepping on his feet and telling him to play it cool, but that's besides the point.
"It's just a cold. Chill dude, she'll probably be okay by tomorrow."
"Is she... Is she with you?" Adrien didn't even want to imagine how terrible it would have been for Marinette, she had been perfectly fine the previous night. What had happened? Whether it was a common cold or not, the thought of her in any form of discomfort irked him.
"She's asleep. Alya and I just left the bakery. She left her window open last night. So think you get with us tomorrow?"
Adrien held his breathe. Marinette was sick because of him. The window must have swung back open when he jumped off. She was sick because of him. He felt an unease in his stomach.
"Yeah, I'll ask and tell you later." He managed to choke out before hanging up immediately.
He needed to see her so badly.
When Nino hung up, he and Alya walked back to Marinette's bed where she was wrapped up in a blanket, a much thicker one she'd traded for her usual one.
Alya sat on the edge of the bed. "I'm so sorry, girl." She placed a comforting hand on her. Marinette nodded in negation, slightly shivering, "It's okay, I'm fine. I feel..." She sneezed.
"Terrible..." She groaned, her nose twitching from the after effects.
"It's okay girl, the medicines would soon kick in and you'll be up and healthy in no time. You better be, cuz Adrien might be coming with us tomorrow."
"Really?" She squeaked, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
"You know, Adrien also kept asking about you, he really wanted to know how you were doing." Alya added, hoping to get a reaction from the bluenette. "Yeah, I don't think I've seen him as worried for anyone else." Nino added.
Marinette however did not seem excited in anyway, more than anything, she looked confused for a moment, "He did?"
"Okay who are you and what have you done to the real Marinette? The real Marinette would've screamed in excitement." Alya narrowed her eyes playfully and Marinette giggled lightly. At least she tried to even if it came out in small coughs. "My throat hurts, Alya. I can scream."
"Still, there should've been a reaction."
Marinette's expression dropped for a split second. The thought of Adrien was as exciting as it used to be. And she didn't even know why?"
Nathalie walked into Adrien's room, his chef following behind her holding a metal flask. Nathalie gestured him to place it on the table and leave. And he did so.
"Why did you ask for that? Are you feeling sick?" She asked, her voice slipping from the professionalism farce since it was about his health.
Adrien nodded in negation, "No, it's just a craving."
Nathalie nodded before diverting her attention to her tablet in her hand. "The trip to Geneva is moved to after Christmas since you'll be modelling the New Year's collection."
Adrien's eyes widened, excitement gleaming in them, "Really?" His heart did a flip. She was going to get to spend Christmas with Marinette. That was amazing. The empty feeling in his chest melting away.
"Yes, we'll leave when your father requests. That's all." She looked up from the tablet and moved to leave but then Adrien stopped her, "Nathalie?"
She turned back to face him, "Can I go out with my friends tomorrow? We want to buy gifts together and I want to get one for father too."
Nathalie hesitated then sighed, "I'll ask your fathe-"
"No please don't tell him." He pleaded, the soft look on his face enough to make her rethink. She sighed, " You can go. Your bodyguard will take you there."
Adrien's eyes lit up, "Thank you, Nathalie."
She nodded and walked out. The black Kwami immediately flew out of his hiding, "Looks like luck is on your side today." Plagg teased as he went straight for the mini fridge.
"No time for small talk, Plagg. We need to go see Marinette!" Adrien shot up from the bed immediately.
"Of course, your sick girlfriend." Plagg muttered, voice dipped in pure sarcasm. "Marinette's not my girlfriend!" The blonde argued.
Plagg flew up to his face, hovering over him, "You act like you don't want her to be." Adrien could not argue anymore, he was blushing fiercely. He did want that. But he didn't want to jump the gun and do something stupid especially since he was still in love with Ladybug. Even if the thought of her didn't seem as exciting as it used to be.
Adrien transformed and carrying the flask containing hot chicken soup and jumped out the window. According to the internet, that was in fact the best meal for someone with the flu so he asked for it immediately. He really needed Marinette to get better so he would do anything he could to make that happen.
When he landed on her balcony, he immediately leaned down next to the hatch. After a second of hesitation, he knocked. He could hear some shuffling and then a fit of loud coughing. He knocked again, harder than the first time. He hope she wasn't too bad.
A few seconds later, the hatch opened. Adrien had to hold his breath. Her hair was down, her skin flushed, tinted from the cold, droopy eyelids and dark lines formed beneath them, still she was incredibly beautiful. How could she be so irresistible?
Catnoir wasted no second in sliding in and shutting the hatch. He shifted away so she could go back to lying down. He helped cover her with the blanket. "I'm sorry, I'm sure you can tell I won't be the best company tonight." She muttered,her voice several octaves lower than usual and hoarse.
He let his feet dangle down she sat beside on the bed. He moved his hand to shift her bangs from her face, "It doesn't matter. As long as I'm with you." She gave him a small smile.
For a moment, he couldn't tear his gaze away from her. With her hair splayed beneath, she looked so gorgeous. Her nose twitched and she had to turn away from him to sneeze. "Sorry.." she whispered as she turned back to him.
"I should be the one apologizing. You're so hot, princess." He could feel the heat from her skin from the gloves of his costume as he ram his taunt fingers along her cheeks and jawline, back and forth. If it were any possible, her cheeks got even redder.
"I know you didn't mean to." She rasped, willing her aching body to move closer to him.
The next moment passed by in silence, them she noticed the flask gripped in his free hand. "What's that?
"It's chicken soup, I figured you needed it." He dropped it on her night stand and offered her a smile that showed just hoe much thoughtfulness, he's put into it. Marinette leaned even more into his hand, "You're too sweet, kitty." She murmured, her eyelids feeling heavier the more she spoke. "But you didn't have to-" She was interrupted as her chest contracted, tightening uncomfortably, materializing into a fit of coughs.
She held on to her chest as she coughed, pain worsening as her diaphragm folded in. Catnoir's heart hurt seeing her in that condition, he helped her sit upright and picked the glass of water on the stand and made her drink.
He held her close when she finally calmed. "Sorry." She whispered again and he nodded in negation, "This is my fault, you have nothing to be sorry for." He carefully helped her lay back on her back moving the sheets you to stop at her shoulders.
She murmured a thank you as her eyes lidded, heavy with sleep. Moving her hair out of her face, he lightly brushed his fingers awfully close to her lips. "You're so beautiful with your hair down." Her cheeks definitely tinted darker and he was happy to put it there.
He leaned down to place a kiss on her forehead. The heat of her skin nearly scalding his lips. "I think you need to cool off, your fever is worsening." He straightened back up.
Marinette nodded in negation, "It's too cold for me."
"I have an idea. Where's the bathroom?" Unable to argue with him, Marinette pointed in the direction of the bathroom. He nodded and stood up, going straight in.
Marinette's eyes felt even heavier when he left. She felt tired but she didn't want to sleep, she wanted to be there for him no matter how difficult it was for her. She just had to resist. She heard the door to the bathroom open again after a while.
She didn't look down at him, moving was another slight problem. "Could you turn off the lights?" She tried to say as loud as possible, even though it cane out in low whispered gruffs. Luckily his car ears let him hear it.
He turned off the main light so it was only the night light from her bedside stand that illuminated the whole room. It was dimmer and the room was much darker since all the curtains were closed. His night vision helped him navigate anyway.
He could properly see again when he climbed the stairs and to the loft. He sat beside her and she fluttered her eyes open when she'd felt him sit. She could see him holding a small bowl which he dropped next to the flask on the night stand.
He held her by the shoulders and then carefully moved her so she was sitting up right. He saw that she was wearing a bigger size sweater. "Are you wearing anything under this?" She weakly nodded, her head leaning against the wall.
He slipped his hand beneath the sweater then looked at her, a gesture to ask if it was okay. She nodded and he pulled the sweater over her head leaving her only in a pink singlet. Trying not to think too much on staring at her, Catnoir dipped the towel he'd gotten into the bowl of water. He wrung out the water so it was damp then he carefully rubbed it against her skin.
It was cold. Marinette flinched but he squeezed her hand in reassurance, giving her a small smile. He constantly put the towel back in the water so it could be damp enough before rubbing it against her.
Marinette blushed when he lowered the towel to her chest. He looked to her for silent permission to which she nodded so he continued. When he'd cleaned all the open parts of her body, he put the towel down and completely shed the blanket off her body.
She was wearing thick sweat pants as well. "I think you should change to something lighter." He gestured to her legs, "I can't move, kitty." She rasped letting her head fall against the wall.
"I'll carry you."
She nodded in negation, "I'll manage." Reluctantly, he agreed and made her lie down again. She shivered when he began to lift up her pants from her ankles, exposing more of her legs. "I'm cold." She whined, writhing against the pillow.
"Sorry..." He rubbed the damp cloth against her legs, "It won't be long."
Marinette felt a sudden calm as Catnoir's fingers brushed her feet lightly. Her eye lids became even heavier when she felt his fingers dip into the curve of her feet as he massaged softly. Unable to hold it anymore, her body fell to complete limpness when her eye lids finally snapped close.
Catnoir could hear her steady breaths and when he looked up, he saw she'd slept off. She did need the rest. She needed to get well.
When he touched her face again, her temperature was much cooler than before. He sighed in relief and went to return the bowl and towel to the bathroom. When he came back to her on the bed, he folded her sweater and then folded the blanket. He dropped them on the chaise and climber back up.
When he sat next to her again, Marinette stirred lightly on the bed, rolling over to the side to face him.
He sat there staring at her for a long while. Unable to hold it in, he moved to caress her face with his fingers. She stirred again but didn't open her eyes. So he didn't remove his hand.
Then he felt Marinette's hand wrap around his wrist, her eyes opening a quarter, "Kitty.." she murmured sleepily and smiled.
"I should go, princess." He whispered and leaned down to peck her.
"No, don't go, stay." She whispered before her eyelids closed again.
Completely alarmed by her request, Catnoir blinked in disbelief before he pieced that she might have not said that in her conscious state.
"Please stay." She whispered again, her eyelids opening again. His whole body was against him because he wanted more than anything in the world to stay with her, hold tight in his arms so he had to fight it. "I need to go."
Her hands weakly tightened around his, "I love when you're next to me. Please kitty."
That did him in. The one thing he wanted more than anything was begging to stay so he decided to stop fighting and give in. "Okay..." He whispered, slightly out of breath.
He switched off the night light so it was completely dark before moving to laybdown beside her and almost immediately, his tail wrapped itself around her ankle. She moved closer to him and rested her hands on his chest, burying her face into him.
His cheeks flamed up immediately and a loud purr rumbled from his stomach. Lord, Marinette would be the death of him. His eyes perked up at the sound of her whisper, "Don't ever leave me."
Finally feeling a lot more calm. He wrapped his hand around her waist, pulling her into him. "I wouldn't dare." He whispered back.
She hummed into his chest drawing another purr from the blonde.
When he was sure she was asleep, he de-transformed. Sleeping in the cat costume was definitely not as comfortable as it seemed. And the bonus was he get to actually touch Marinette. Feel her skin and warmth without the gloves. And that he did.
"Mm hmm...she's not your girlfriend." Plagg retorted.
"Shh! You'll wake her up." Adrien whispered harshly. "Whatever, I'm going to cheese puffs." And he flew away much to Adrien's relief.
He didn't know how much he'd wanted this. Wanted to be cuddled up with her, feeling the warmth of her skin mixing with his, hearing her soft breaths. Now he knew he didn't just want it, he needed it. "I think I'm falling in love with you." He whispered threading his fingers through her loose hair.
She only hummed into his chest.
