As promised, here is the new CtLL that you've all been wanting. Again, I'm sorry it took literal years to post anything, but life brought me chaos in so many ways.
Now I'm married and finally writing again, so get ready. I'm going to be posting the next chapter soon, but feel free to let me know what you guys think!
And now, please enjoy!
Adrian watched with vacant eyes as his maid, Tikki, lit each candle throughout the library, her movements quick and precise. Despite the warmth the flickers of light brought, Tikki couldn't help but notice the fog of detachment from her master. It worried her, in all honesty, even though she knew he would deny the distant look in his usual bright eyes.
"Monsieur?" She spoke aloud, hoping to snap him back to reality. "Would you like me to get Plagg to start the fireplace? It's quite chilly today."
It took a bit for him to acknowledge her words and respond, but even his voice was monotone and lacking his charismatic smile.
"No need, Tikki. That will be all."
She hesitated, fiddling with her red apron with both hands. This poor boy, who had finally freed himself from the grasp of his father's controlling hand, seemed so alone now. She hated seeing the aftermath of Gabriel's abuse, the lingering tendrils that clung to Adrien like a second skin and seemed to be leeching off of him. Even though he was physically free, there was a darkness to Adrien that kept him mentally trapped.
"Monsieur…I know this may be out of line, but…perhaps we could go out today. Maybe even explore the town and see some of your friends?"
In the dim candlelight, she saw him finally look and see her. She held her breath and clutched her apron, awaiting an answer.
"…it looks like it's going to rain."
Not the answer she was wanting, but it was a start.
"Yes, but that doesn't mean we can't go and visit your friends." she pointed out.
He sighed. "I don't know, Tikki. Nino has been busy lately and Chloé is probably somewhere in Italy right now with her family…maybe some other time."
Her heart sank, but she knew better than to push. She should have one of the chefs make one of his favorite foods for brunch. If nothing else, it would hopefully show that she was thinking of his wellbeing.
"I apologize, Monsieur. I'll take my leave." she said with a slight curtsy.
She left, but not before pausing at the door to glance back at her master. In the dark room, Adrien was akin to that of a statue, nothing more than a beautiful piece of art left to gather dust.
She shut the door slowly behind her, leaving her master alone once more.
Adrien had moved to sit at the reading nook window when Tikki knocked on the door a little later, distracting him from staring at the downpour going on outside now.
"Come in." he called out.
He heard the door open, but didn't turn around. He disliked seeing that pitied look in her eyes every time they interacted, like something was wrong with him. Her heels crossed over to him and he saw her set a silver platter of finger foods beside him…and a simple white envelope with a familiar wax seal that caused him to perk up.
"Is that…?" He reached out and grabbed it, looking up at Tikki. "Nino!"
She was already smiling at his enthusiasm; his green eyes now alight with hope.
"Well, open it." She insisted, waving a hand at him. "The sooner you read it, the sooner you can reply to it."
She left him to it, moving to the desk to grab some paper and a quill, watching out of the corner of her eye.
Adrien read over the letter once, then one more for good measure. His mouth agape, he looked over at Tikki from across the room and tilted her head in question.
"Monsieur…?"
"He's engaged…Nino's engaged, and he just asked if I would be his first groomsmen." Adrien let out a laugh of disbelief. "And here I thought he was ignoring me or suddenly hated me for some reason!"
"Oh, he could never hate his best friend, Monsieur."
Adrien scrambled to his feet. "I have to send him a reply immediately, Tikki! Get me some ink an- "
"Already one step ahead of you." she said, gesturing to everything she had set up.
"You're the best, Tikki!" He sat at the desk and dipped his quill in the ink, biting at his lip. "I can't believe he's getting married, though. I wonder who the lucky lady is?"
"Someone sharp and beautiful, no doubt." She retrieved the platter from the window and set it on his desk. "Would you like some tea as well?"
Adrien hardly looked up from his letter. "No, thank you. Have Plagg come up and start the fireplace. It's cold in here."
Tikki bowed and left the room, leaning against the door with a sigh of relief. She couldn't be more grateful that Monsieur Nino had sent that today of all days. It was exactly what Adrien needed.
Adrien, on the other hand, was trying to keep himself from dancing in his seat while he wrote out his letter. It felt like months had passed since he and Nino had last spoken, but it couldn't have been more than a few weeks.
In fact, Nino had been the main factor in Adrien setting off on his own and getting his own house and servants. He would never forget the anger in his father's voice when Adrien had mentioned Nino in the midst of their argument, the cruel words that had been said. It had been a nightmare, in all honesty, but one that had come to an end. He was no longer under the Agreste roof or rule, completely on his own two feet.
And Nino had his back, even now.
If you need anything, Nino had written in his blocky handwriting, just let me know.
He never should have doubted Nino or their friendship. He would apologize when they saw each other again, though he had a feeling Nino was going to brush it off. Nino was always so carefree when it came to certain things.
He couldn't wait to see him again and this Alya he wrote so fondly about.
Adrien ducked out from under the umbrella that was held by Plagg, his coachman, and into the carriage, checking to see if his hair had somehow gotten wet from the rain. The dark clouds had been plaguing the sky and seemed to be staying for a while, but Adrien didn't mind. He was dressed in his nicest clothes, but he felt like he was missing something.
"Plagg, wait!" Tikki came out of the mansion, an umbrella in one hand and something else in her other hand. "He almost forgot his mask!"
"I wasn't going anywhere without you, Sugarcube." Plagg said from the driver's seat.
Tikki rolled her eyes as she gathered her skirts and climbed into the carriage, closing the umbrella and setting it aside. The carriage started, the loud clicks of horseshoes against the pavement mixed with the constant trickle of rain.
"Here." Tikki handed Adrien a simple black mask, who took it with a smile. "I cannot believe you nearly forgot a mask for a masquerade."
"I know, I know. I'm just so excited! It'll be my first time in the city on my own, Tikki."
"And your first time going to a party of your own choosing." She leaned forward and fidgeted with his tie. "It won't be like any party you've ever been to before."
"I…I guess I'm a little nervous, too. I'll be meeting all these new people and I just don't want to be out of place there."
"Monsieur, you'll be among friends. Tonight, you are not an Agreste. You are just Adrien." Tikki giggled at her master's expression. "There's no need to worry. It's impossible to dislike you, even my husband."
He laughed along with her, looking out of the carriage window. "You're right, Tikki, though Plagg has an odd way of showing it."
"Well, he's always been like that: rough on the outside, but sweet as macaroons on the inside…somewhere."
From outside, they heard Plagg sneeze and exchanged quiet laughter.
"Thank you, Tikki. You've always been there for me, even when I was standing up against my father. Plagg, too. It's so nice to know that there are some people I can always trust…" He trailed off for a moment, a thought occurring to him. "Could you…just call me Adrien for tonight, Tikki?"
She stared at him. "…pardonne-moi?"
"Please? I never liked all the formalities that are tied to my name. At least for now, I just want to be Adrien."
"I…alright." She reached over and put a delicate hand on his knee. "Just be your usual charming self out there."
"Aren't I always, Tikki?" he said, flashing a cheeky grin.
"Well, so long as you don't do any of those silly jokes of yours. Any of those will have people running for the hills."
"What? No, they're my best feature!"
She merely shook her head, smiling. If he was joking around, he was getting out of his sulky mood for good. It had been hanging over him for far too long and now he was finally leaving it behind.
"Just be yourself, Adrien."
He opened his mouth to reply when a light caught his eyes from outside. He scooted closer and looked out the window, surprised to find they were now coming to the city. The lamp posts were dimly lit, casting a strange glow along the wet roads that almost seemed magical. Adrien's leg began to bounce as they made their way through, passing by lit buildings and stranglers walking under their own umbrellas. Normal people out and about, doing their own thing. It was so…normal.
"I can't believe I'm doing this. It almost feels like a dream, you know?"
Tikki didn't respond and simply looked out the window with him, letting him take in the sights. It wasn't long before they heard the music and Plagg slowed the carriage to a stop. Adrien looked up at Nino's house for the first time in his life, surprised at the simple three-story building with lively music pouring out from every window. He wondered if it was a piece Nino had written.
"Are you ready, Adrien?" Tikki asked.
"…I think so."
The carriage shook as Plagg got down from his seat and opened the carriage door, umbrella in hand. His entire top hat and suit was soaked, but he didn't seem to mind the rain. Adrien got out and moved to let Plagg help Tikki out, gazing up at the tall house. He could easily hear the murmur of multiple conversations coming from inside, leaving a heavy weight in his stomach. This definitely wasn't the small party he was anticipating. Had he overdressed for this?
"Don't forget to put on your mask, Adrien."
Plagg, taken aback, stared at Tikki with confused horror. Adrien simply nodded, slipping it on before walking towards the house with all the confidence he could muster. Tikki followed behind with her umbrella covering them both, leaving Plagg with the carriage.
"I'll, uh, park the carriage!" he shouted.
Tikki glanced back and gave him a smile and a wave. The two walked up the slick staircase and up to the do-
"Oh nonononono! Excuse me, coming through!"
Tikki and Adrien looked behind them to see a woman in a lovely pink gown, her gloved hands raised in a sad attempt to protect herself from the rain. If Adrien had to guess, she had been running through the rain for a while. Her dark hair stuck to her flushed face, and it looked the hem of her once-lovely dress had been dirtied and torn in certain areas.
Adrien and Tikki both stepped aside, allowing her to pass them. She raced up the stairs, nearly slipping in the process, but she managed to gain footing before making it to the doors. Gasping for breath, she knocked three times and bounced on the balls of her feet before the door opened. A curvaceous woman with a vixen mask stared at the sight and then, without missing a beat, said,
"You forgot your umbrella again?!"
"No! Well, yes, but I forgot that Luka needed the carriage to get home and I didn't even realize it was going to rain until I was halfway here, and I didn't want to be late so…here I am!"
"Well, it's a good thing you always leave some clothes behind when you stay the night. Go on, you can use my room to clean up and change."
"Thanks, Alya. I'd give you a hug, but…um…I'm sorry."
Alya just shook her head and stepped aside to let in her soaked guest, who promptly ran off to the right and disappeared from sight.
"That girl probably forgot a mask, too. Ugh, how does she even manage her business?" Alya leaned out and addressed Tikki and Adrien. "I apologize. My friend is quite…something. Come on in, it's cold outside."
The inside of the house was a warm, open space filled with people talking or eating, enjoying the music and sights. It seemed like the entire city had come to this party if Adrien had to guess. Alya shut the door before turning to the newcomers.
"Sooo…I don't recognize either of your faces, but I do know an Agreste symbol when I see one." She pointed to the design on Tikki's apron. "Adrien Agreste, right? Oh, Nino has told me a lot about you. He's somewhere in this house, I'm sure. And you are?"
Tikki bowed her head. "Tikki, Adrien's maidservant."
"That's such a unique name." Alya reached out and the two shook hands. "Feel free to just relax wherever you please. My house is yours for the night."
"This isn't Nino's house?"
Alya laughed. "No, this is all mine. Well, it was my grandfather's. Built it himself and decided to hand it over to me before he died. Beautiful, isn't it?"
"Wow. That's amazing."
"Anyway, can I take either of your coats or umbrellas? I doubt you want to keep those in here. I was even getting a little hot in there."
"Oh! Sure. Thanks."
Adrien slipped his coat off and handed it over, but Tikki seemed a tad hesitant to hand her things over.
"Pardon me, madam, but don't you have servants who do that for you?"
"They're in the kitchen making sure there's plenty of food to go around. I can host a party and take people's coats at the same time, you know." She took their items and walked into a side room, then returned to the entryway. "Well, welcome to my home. Feel free to look around, eat, drink, talk. We've got music to dance to and plenty of games going on if you're up for that. Help yourself."
"Actually, I was wondering if I could talk to the person that my best friend is getting married to. I had no idea he was even considering it."
"Well, I would love to talk to the person that my fiancé considers his best friend. He's told me plenty about you, but I prefer to find out things for myself." Alya smiled playfully.
"Uh, what exactly has he said about me?" Adrien asked.
"Oh, things. Many, many things." They both laughed. "However, I think our conversation will have to wait, seeing as I have a friend who needs my help. Go on ahead. Nino's been waiting for you to arrive."
With that, the lady of the house dismissed herself and began up the spiral staircase, leaving the two to fend for themselves.
"She's certainly strong-headed." said Tikki.
"She's seems nice, but she's definitely stubborn, too." Adrien put his hands on his hips. "I'm going to find Nino. Are you going to stay out here and wait for Plagg?"
"If you don't mind."
"Then I'll see you later, Tikki."
With a wink, he walked off into the house, exploring all the rooms and tasting all the different foods. It was strange to see a party that wasn't filled with dull music and even duller gossip, though. Was this what a real party was like?
"Excuse me?" There was a tap on his shoulder. "Care for a dance?"
He looked over his shoulder, surprised at the offer. The woman smiled innocently up at him and fluttered her olive-green eyes. How could he say no to lady?
"Uh, sur- "
"I knew I'd find you out here wooing the ladies. Figures." A man in a dark green mask slung an arm over his shoulder, one he knew all too well. "Excuse me, madam, but can I steal my groomsman away? I promised I would introduce him to some people."
The woman, taken aback, stepped away from the two and curtsied, then lifted her chin with a teasing smile.
"You owe me a dance later, then."
As she sashayed away, Adrien felt Nino nudge him in the ribs.
"That was Lila. She's definitely not shy when it comes to something she wants. Looks like you caught her eye, just like every other woman you come across."
Adrien laughed, shoving him away. "Hardly. If I recall, your bride-to-be wouldn't faint at the sight of me."
"Oh! I need you to meet Alya, she's amazin- "
"We already did. She's certainly an independent woman, but you weren't joking about her beauty- "
"Not just that! She's so intelligent and insightful and honest and just…she's indescribable." Nino happily sighed.
"I don't doubt it. Congratulations."
"I still need you to meet all my other friends! You'll be friends with everyone by the end of the night."
Nino began to drag him around, introducing him to so many masked faces that Adrien couldn't discern what they would even look like without them. There was no way he was going to connect names with these mysterious faces, but at least they were all eager to talk with him. They seemed kind and willing to invite him into conversations like he had been a part of the group for years. It was nice to have people to just talk to, to laugh and joke with.
I would never have been allowed to go here if I were still under my father's roof, he thought, swirling his drink around. He frowned at the mere thought, his lighthearted mood slightly dampened. Why did his father still hold power over him, even within his own mind?
"Alya, there you are!" Nino said over the music, grabbing Adrien's attention. "And I see Marinette has arrived late as usual."
It was the woman from before, the one who had run through the rain looking like an art piece come to life. Her pink gown had been replaced with a dark red garment, her hair now dry and twisted into a chignon. She had yet to put on her mask, which would have helped hide the growing blush on her face.
"I wasn't late, actually." she retorted.
"This time." Alya said. "She just didn't come prepared with an umbrella, so I had to help her find something that wasn't soaking wet."
Everyone laughed and Marinette shrunk into herself and quickly shoved her mask over her flushed face, too embarrassed to say anything. She muttered something about food and rushed off alone, although Adrien noted she was going in the opposite direction of the food.
"Don't you think you were teasing her a bit too much?" Adrien asked.
Alya smiled. "She knows we don't mean any ill will towards her. She just flusters easily."
Before he could even think it through, he set aside his drink and adjusted his mask.
"I'll check on her, just in case."