He felt downcast.
There was a heavy feeling in Adrien's chest that he couldn't shake. He was incredibly disappointed in Kagami. He knew she was hurting, but he had hoped she would have at least tried being nice.
Adrien was still hungry, he was upset he never had a chance to try the strawberry tarts that Marinette had brought. The moment Adrien was able to catch a break from the photo sessions, he was heartbroken to learn that Kagami stomped on the basket, crushing the tarts to complete mush.
He had barely reached Alya and Nino on their way out, but now Adrien was left behind with a calamitous feeling in his chest. He was alone. Marinette had never returned home. Adrien couldn't have imagined what she had been feeling. In fact, Adrien was almost sure he knew. He knew what it felt like to be around someone who didn't care enough to even hide the fact that they didn't want him around. The thought made his heart squeeze with pain. The male returned to the bedroom, grabbing some fresh clothes for a shower. He was worried. He couldn't explain why, but he felt like he really wanted to be there for her and protect her. He knew Marinette was capable of protecting herself, but it couldn't ease the worry. The least he could have done was apologize on Kagami's behalf. Especially for obnoxiously screaming at her.
The male scrolled through his phone, chewing on his bottom lip as he pulled up Nino's contact. Having the hunch that Nino was most likely still with Alya, he pressed the dial button. His heart ached as he hoped that Alya would at least know where Marinette could have ran off to.
Marinette was in an extremely strenuous predicament. The female had decided to return to her old apartment. She often realised that this was her thinking space - the only space where she was calm enough to control her emotions. The last few days had been nothing but a catastrophe. Marinette couldn't figure out if it was simply a twisted change of fate, or if she was struggling with a string of bad luck.
She couldn't return back to the home she shared with Adrien. Her anxiety had already began to consume her almost completely. The way Kagami had treated her was incredibly cruel, and Marinette couldn't help but wonder if, somehow, Adrien had felt that way about her too. She knew that she had been a handful the last couple of weeks. All she ever did was cause problems. She was just an emotional burden to him as well as her friends. Each time she attempted to be kind and make it up, something always went awry. But at least she knew the truth.
Marinette curled up into her bed, knowing that Alya would bump into Adrien sometime during the night and return here to her apartment to retrieve her, but Marinette just wanted to be alone. Her blue eyes shifted to her phone screen and Marinette had began to think about the financial burden of keeping up with the rent. She had been taking off almost every night of work to do events for the wedding. A wedding that she was incredibly close to just walking out on. She pressed her lips together, knowing that if she did such a thing she could put her parents' business in jeopardy. She'd hate herself forever if she did that.
The blunette sat up, contemplating days she could opt to take in an attempt to gather enough money in time to pay her rent. Despite struggling, Marinette refused to ask anyone for money. Not her friends, not her family and certainly not her soon-to-be husband. She didn't care how rich he was. It just wasn't in her nature to depend on anyone. For as long as she could remember, Marinette had to rely only on herself. That independence only grew when Felix coldly left her behind. Having a partner to hold some of the burden remained completely unfamiliar to Marinette.
She wanted to cry. Everything that had happened throughout that day continued to run through her mind. It wouldn't leave her alone. When Marinette was younger, her nona had taught her to sing her heart out whenever she was sad or stressed. She assured her that singing releases endorphins, which was one of the better options of alleviating stress and anxiety. Even though drinking didn't sound too bad either.
Marinette climbed off her bed, her chest feeling heavy as she tried with everything to keep the tears at bay. Kagami did not win. Kagami will not make her cry and get in her head. Marinette was determined. She flipped on the coffeemaker in her kitchen, her face flush-red with contained emotions as she watched the water boil and drip into the glass pot. Her fists clenched, the anxiety bubbled to her chest. She was almost ready to scream.
The blunette closed her eyes, her lips parting:
"So I left home, I packed up
and I moved
Far away
From my past one day
And I laugh, I laugh,
I laugh, I laugh
And I sound fine on the outside"
Her voice was timid as she began to sing. She exhaled, leaning on the counter as she opened her eyes. Her blue eyes traced every drop on the inside of the coffee pot.
"Sometimes I feel lost,
sometimes I'm confused
Sometimes I find
That I am not alright
And I cry, and I cry,
and I cry..."
Marinette traced her fingertips against the countertop with a grimace on her face. Her voice radiated softly throughout the apartment. She really did want to cry. No matter what she did, she couldn't rid the heavy feeling in her chest that nearly made her suicidal. Her fists slowly clenched against the counter, her knuckles turning white with pressure.
...
Adrien wandered into the apartment building nervously. He had been here once before. It was a few weeks ago when Marinette wanted to grab some belongings to take with her to their new place together. He glanced down at his phone screen, registering the apartment number that Alya had sent to Nino in a forwarded text. The blonde sighed, not entirely sure which floor she was on. The numbers on the doors were incredibly small and scratched off. He was worried about Marinette, and even though he was sure she was safe in her apartment, he couldn't help but assume that she needed someone to talk to. All he wanted to do was apologize to her.
Kagami didn't need to treat her like that.
Marinette didn't deserve to be treated like that.
The blonde paused, his eyes widening as he could hear a voice singing throughout the walls of the apartment. He lowered his head, her voice filling his ears. Her voice was beautiful, yet incredibly sad. It made his heart hurt. He couldn't remember the last time he had heard a voice so serene. Like a sailor to the call of a siren, Adrien began to follow the sound of the voice. His heart ached in his chest, his nerves getting the best of him as he climbed the stairs. The voice grew louder and louder each time he took a step closer.
A deep blush coated his cheeks as he came to a stop at a door. His green eyes squinted at the number scratched on the door, before he matched it to the number on the text message. It was Marinette.
His frown only deepened as it registered that the sad beautiful voice belonged to Marinette.
"So I just sit in my room
after hours with the moon
And think of who knows my name
Would you cry if I died
Would you remember my face?"
Adrien placed his hand on to the door, his shoulders slouching.
…
Marinette breathed out the last words, her make up smeared across her cheeks. The blunette closed her eyes, dropping her head low at her sudden defeat. She was ready to pour her coffee and crawl into bed.
She jumped the moment she heard a soft knock on the front door behind her. Marinette pressed her lips together, exhaling solemnly. She knew it was only a matter of time before Alya showed up at her door to check in on her. Marinette wasn't too worried about Alya hearing her sing (she had heard her sing many times before), but Marinette couldn't help but be a bit flustered. She never had any guests over before, and she wasn't about to make any exceptions either. This was her safe place and Marinette was very picky of who entered inside. She also wasn't a good hostess. She was terrible at entertaining guests.
Marinette moved away from the counter, wandering towards the door.
"Alya, I don't want to talk-" her voice halted as she opened the door. Her blue eyes connected with Adrien's green eyes as he stood on the other side of the door. He wore a dark shirt that was rolled at the sleeves, his jeans fit him perfectly and as usual, his hair lay perfectly on top of his head.
As for her, Marinette felt the blood rush down to her feet. Her face was flushed wet with sweat. Her eye makeup was smeared across her cheeks and lids. The bun on her head was slowly coming undone and falling sideways. In retrospect, she was completely opposite of Adrien.
It began to dawn on her that Alya wasn't the one who heard her singing. Marinette swore she was about ready to lose her equilibrium. Her face nearly turned green. Marinette wasn't essentially a mean person. In fact, she wasn't one to think on a hot head or act on a whim, but when she did she made sure to make up for it. Which is why Marinette had no explanation as to why she immediately slammed the door in his face.
Adrien widened his eyes, sighing and shaking his head as the door slammed in his face before he could even get two words out.
Marinette cupped her hand over her mouth, taking a few steps back from the door as if the door was riddled with the plague.
"Marinette," Adrien murmured from the other side of the door. "I know you're mad at me. I can understand that you're upset." the blonde closed his eyes, resting his hand on the door. "I just… I just wanted to apologize for what she did to you," Adrien frowned, his head pressing against the door. "It was cruel, unnecessary and uncalled for..."
Marinette trembled, his words sinking into her head from behind the door. Her hand remained cupped over her mouth as she struggled to get her heart to slow down in her chest.
Adrien pulled back from the door slightly, his green eyes spotting the shadow from underneath the door.
"I don't agree with what she said. If it's any consolation, I do apologize for how she acted towards you..." The blonde began to lean against the doorframe, the shadows underneath not moving. He worried it was a lost cause to try and convince her to come back home, but if she was comfortable here, he would most certainly not force her.
Marinette remained puzzled behind the door. She allowed his words to swim in her head. She appreciated that he came all the way to apologize on his girlfriend's behalf. The blunette slowly removed her hand from around her mouth, her heart thumping away as she realised that he really was trying. She was in a mixture of emotions. She was pleasantly surprised by his arrival, but she was incredibly embarrassed at her appearance. She worried she looked like some hopeless clown that sang randomly during the night. Marinette was quite foolish. Perhaps she was a clown.
Adrien sighed from the other side, concluding that Marinette did not want to answer him. He pushed himself off the door frame, his heart sinking to the pit of his stomach. "I'm sorry, Marinette..." he breathed, his hands dropping to his sides in such a painful defeat. The male turned away from the door, beginning to walk down the narrow hall with his head down.
"Adrien?" A soft voice emanated from behind him. He didn't even hear her open the door.
The blonde turned, his green eyes connected with hers. She appeared timid and vulnerable. This was a side of her he had never seen before. Her blue eyes were glossy, almost as if she was about to cry, but held herself together quite impressively. Adrien breathed out, his features softening as he offered his timid fiance a warm smile.
Marinette blinked, her eyes glancing down as she pressed her lips together.
Adrien felt relieved that she was safe. Granted, she didn't look her best, but after the experience he had with her only nights before where she attempted to leap from a balcony, he couldn't help but to overthink things when it came to her.
"Do you mind if I come in?" Adrien asked, his brow perkins as he turned to face her properly.
Marinette was reluctant, her bottom lip caught between her teeth. It was evident that she never had any guests over, and starting to do so now would completely throw her off of the norm. Adrien could sense this. The last thing he wanted to do was to push boundaries and make her uncomfortable. This was an agenda he had pushed since the day the two met. The blonde smiled warmly, shifting his weight as he shook his head to retract his suggestion he had made moments prior.
"Actually, nevermind. So long as I know you're okay, that's all that matters. I understand you're comfortable here, but please consider coming back. Alya and Nino want to throw a little party and want to see you there..." his voice trailed off with a heavy heart. It was contracted that they married each other, but it wasn't necessary that they lived together. That was a notion his father enforced on both of them.
So why was he asking her to come back?
Did she really have to?
His green eyes trailed down to the ground, staring at his white sneakers with a racing heart. Was it just because he enjoyed her company? Was it because he wanted to make sure she remained safe throughout the night? Or was it perhaps that he just wanted to see her? The male pressed his lips together, his eyes flickering with deep contemplation.
"Again, I'm sorry-" he finished, suddenly feeling quite small.
"You can come in." Marinette interjected, a small blush on her cheeks as she was stepping out of her comfort zone. She knew she had to change, but there was something about Adrien that she felt comfort in. He had good intentions and even though she did have quite an odd dream about him, she still saw him as a really good friend.
Adrien blinked, his green eyes shifting to her open door as she stepped aside, gesturing that he'd help himself inside. Marinette smiled at him, her eyes tired. She had decided it didn't matter for him to see how screwed up her makeup was. It had been a rough night and Marinette was already struggling to pay her rent. Her life was already a mess, that much Adrien saw; especially with what he had to save her from their bachelor and bachelorette party. It wouldn't make a difference if he saw how messy her makeup was.
"A-Are you sure? Something tells me that entertaining guests aren't your thing." Adrien chuckled, his smile matching hers.
Marinette breathed in, her shoulders shrugged as she awkwardly turned in her leg.
"I made some tea..." she reached over to awkwardly pick at her elbow. "It's a chinese Mango tea. I hear it's one of the best..." she glanced back at him before she turned around and walked inside, leaving the door open for him.
Adrien exhaled, nearly dropping on his knees and praying that he wasn't overstepping any boundaries. The model began to follow her. His eyes fixated on her as she began to grab the pot of boiling water. He closed the door behind him, his eyes shifting around the apartment curiously. The space was small, which was expected for someone who lived alone, but the area was decorated nicely. The sofa in the living room was a lovely white color with cute handmade pink pillows. The kitchen and the walls were decorated with photos of her and her friends.
Marinette pulled two mugs from the cabinets, and placed them on to the countertops. She poured the hot water into them and then she picked out two homemade sewn mango tea bags her mother had given her as a gift for the semester ending. She dropped them into the hot water.
"Just let these sit in here," Marinette explained, glancing back at Adrien as he approached her. "I'm going to wash up, I'll be right back."Marinette smiled at him before she excused herself to the bathroom.
Adrien watched her as she left. He stuffed his hands into his pockets, casually looking around the area. He saw many beautiful pictures and her apartment looked quite cozy and smelled really nice. His green eyes scanned the photos she had pinned to the fridge. Adrien was impressed with the Dean's list certificates she had magnetized. He didn't even realise that Marinette was going to school. The blonde shifted his gaze, his eyes landing upon the little teapots and cups she had decorated along side the walls. He even giggled at some of the paper flowers she had placed on the cabinets. Her apartment was just too cute and cozy. He could tell why she felt safe and at home here. The blonde continued to smile, the cozy air felt warmer than the air back at his father's mansion.
He pursed his lips, wandering over towards the living space area. He admired the floral rug on the hardwood floors, and the small television set she had sitting across. He could faintly hear the water running in the bathroom down the small narrow hall. He paused in the middle of the living space. He glanced around casually, not wanting to be Snoopy or come across anything too personal. His green eyes paused upon a photo he saw sitting on the coffee table. He furrowed his brow, his hands sliding out of his pockets to run against the ceramic material of the modern coffee table. It was a cute photo, a couple's photo. Adrien really didn't want to be snoop-y, or impertinent. He was always curious about Marinette's past boyfriends. Adrien very carefully picked up the photo frame, glancing at what appeared to be Marinette smooching her love. Adrien furrowed his brow, his eyes squinting at the familiar male in the photo.
"Felix?" The blonde murmured, his eyes bouncing between the two in the photo. Adrien knew Felix was a distant relative, but he had many experiences with his cousin to know him when he saw him.
He quickly looked up, hearing the bathroom door open suddenly. Trying not to panic, the male gently placed the photo back down on to the coffee table where he had initially spotted it, and then casually wandered back to the kitchen to resume his previous position by the hot water mugs. Adrien glanced up, watching Marinette return to the kitchen without any makeup. He couldn't help but notice all the little freckles scattered across her cheeks and her nose. She looked as if she had been losing sleep, and that thought made him incredibly sad.
Marinette pulled the teabags from the mugs and then she placed them into the sink.
"These are really good, I always get excited when my mother makes them." Marinette murmured, turning to hand one of the cups to him.
Adrien very politely took the warm mug from her hand. He blew into the warm liquid and covertly took a whiff of the tea. It smelt incredibly nice. He felt the excitement bubble to his toes. Marinette always spoiled him with delectable foods. He very gently placed the mug to his lips and took a sip.
"I had no idea you were going to school." Adrien replied, his eyes shifting back to the Dean's lists certificates she magnetized to the fridge.
Marinette hummed, pulling back to glance at the acknowledgements herself.
"Oh, yeah. I'm going to school for fashion and modeling..." her voice paused, glancing down at her drink with a small laugh. "Ironic how it's exactly what you do."
Adrien pressed his lips together at her response.
"I suppose..." he tittered before he pressed his lips to the mug once more for another sip. "Are you graduated? Or are you on a summer break?"
Marinette took a sip of her tea.
"I'm currently on a break. I just have to grab a few more hours at work and pay the rent here. When I'm not busy I help my family at the bakery. With this marriage thing I find myself distracted these days." the bluenette confessed sheepishly.
Adrien smiled, the image of her and his cousin sat in the back of his mind. He had a hunch that he probably wasn't supposed to know about it. If she had wanted him to know about it, she would have brought it up to him by now. He almost felt guilty.
"So… do you have other interests instead of fashion designing?" He asked blatantly, mostly to rid the thought of his cousin out of his head.
Marinette laughed and then she took another sip of her drink.
"Of course! I enjoy baking, I love to dance," Marinette smiled. "My dad makes the best strawberry tarts. I think that's my next goal." She looked up at him, her blue eyes almost bubbly. "Did you try the strawberry tarts I brought earlier? They're really good aren't they?"
Adrien paused, his heart sinking. He could vividly remember Kagami throwing them into the sand and stomping on them. They looked tasty but it was a shame that he didn't get a taste of them. He glanced back up at her face. She had seemed so hopeful, so happy. It appeared that it meant a lot to her that he got a chance to try some of the sweets she had brought. He didn't want to lie to her, but he also didn't want to break her spirits with the truth of how irrational his girlfriend had reacted to her surprise arrival.
"Actually… I never got a chance to try them," Adrien admitted with a solemn expression. "Kagami… got rid of them before I even had a chance..." his voice trailing off at how much more cruel is sounded when he spoke of it out loud.
Marinette frowned, her expression dropping to such a sad one it broke Adrien's heart right in half.
"Oh..." she breathed, glancing down into her drink. Marinette's heart sank. She really didn't enjoy the feeling of being despised by someone she didn't know. "I don't think your girlfriend likes me..." the bluenette chuckled sadly. "I just thought she'd wanted to try the tarts. I only brought them because I thought you guys would be hungry. It's no big deal..." Marinette shrugged, quickly taking a sip of her drink to hide the disappointment in her voice.
Adrien placed his mug down onto the counter. He was nearly ready to reach over to her and pull her into a hug to comfort her, but he caught himself. The night before, she was drunk, and Adrien remembered how she held him while she slept in bed. He wasn't even sure if she could remember that moment.
"I've been really disappointed with how she's been acting. She can be a really jealous person, but I can assure you that's not why I fell in love with her," Adrien explained. "She's not usually this big of a pain. When she gets used to this whole wedding thing, I just hope that she'll loosen up a bit. But there's no excuse to how she acted. I really did want to try the tarts - in fact, I was really excited to," He glanced down and folded his hands together. "It really is a shame that I didn't get to..."
The two remained silent, and Adrien felt his heart sink even lower. He was almost sure his honesty was ruining her. He couldn't help himself. Ever since he was a little boy, his mother always explained to him that if he really cared about someone, the most important thing he could do for them is to be honest with them. It was embedded in his DNA. He had always been honest with everyone he ever loved and cared about, even if the situation was scary.
"That's okay," Marinette interjected with a weak smile. "We can stop by my parents bakery and try some. I'm sure they won't mind if we do." The bluenette explained, taking her last few gulps of her warm drink, before she placed her mug down onto the countertop.
Adrien widened his eyes, standing up straight as he watched Marinette grab her keys from the hook beside the door. "W-What?" The male sputtered out dumbfoundedly as he kept his eyes on Marinette. "Is the bakery open? I think it's actually a little past midnight-"
"I have keys!" Marinette giggled, interrupting his panicked skit. She looped the keys in her fingertips, playfully.
Adrien smiled, nearly jumping over to her with excitement. He was grateful for how fast she bounced back, and he couldn't help but to feel like a little kid in a candy store. He really did hope it was alright with her parents, but it appeared that Marinette knew how to scratch every unusual itch that Adrien had.
"O-oh yeah! Sure. We can do that!" Adrien stuttered, moving awkwardly towards Marinette as she opened the front door. Adrien stepped out into the hallway, patiently waiting for Marinette to lock her door and lead the way.
The female walked by him, ushering him to follow her. Marinette had made sure all the doors were locked and the moment she felt the warm outside air brush against her skin, she was immediately at peace. She paused, glancing around curiously as Adrien approached her from behind.
"Didn't come with your bodyguard this evening?" The blunette teased, turning to face him, before she began to walk in the opposite direction towards where she knew her parents' bakery would be.
"No. I took the train." The blonde chuckled, following close behind her. He stuck his hands into his pockets casually, catching up to her with long strides of the leg.
Marinette gasped dramatically, blatantly teasing her friend with a small smile.
"You? The Adrien Agreste? Taking the train, and being forced to mingle with that many commoners?!" The female placed a hand to her chest, feigning a laugh that wanted to erupt from her chest.
Adrien scoffed, timidly glancing down at his feet before he averted his gaze to the sky.
"I know. It was awful. I hope I don't ever have to do it again." He replied in a teasing tone. His smile faltered slightly at the image of Marinette and Felix that suddenly slipped back into his head. He cleared his throat, immediately looking back to Marinette as he desperately tried to rid the thought from his head.
"I hope you don't think I'm really like that. I don't mind taking trains," The blonde immediately clarified, hoping that Marinette really didn't take him seriously. "I prefer it. I don't always like having my bodyguard watch me all of the time. I sneak out every chance that I get."
Marinette bit her lip, her heart fluttering at the realization that he was just as bit as awkward as she was. It didn't feel so bad knowing that she wasn't the only one who over thought things. Marinette glanced over to him briefly as they crossed the street. She could hear the crickets in the distance. The moonlight cast a cool light against the two of them. It was quite serene. Marinette quite liked the way the moonlight and the Eiffel Tower light shone amongst them, as it painted a more beautiful picture of their city.
"Of course I don't believe you're really like that," She explained. "I think I've gotten to know you well enough to tease you about this kind of thing..." she smiled sweetly, a natural blush brewing against the freckles that painted her face. "Though I have to admit that I'm surprised to learn your life was so… confined. I always thought wealthy people always got to do what they wanted..." she shrugged.
Adrien hummed, reaching up to brush his thumb across the inside of his lip.
"I think that's the preconceived theory that many people make about wealthy people. I guess I was never fortunate enough to experience a life like that,"Adrien confessed, his brow furrowing. "My father was way more protective of me when I was younger. I wasn't even allowed to go to school. Every second of every day, constantly being kept inside. My father signed me up for a lot of activities, like fencing and chinese lessons, but it was all taken at home. Whenever I left the house, I had a bodyguard with me. Sometimes I had lunch with my father's assistant." He chuckled, biting his lip as he wondered if he was talking too much.
Marinette frowned, moving in closer to him. She never realised how confined he was. She had seen so many photos of him on the cover many magazines. She'd seen footage of him on the catwalk, and many commercials of him advertising perfume that was named after him. She would have never suspected that he was so miserable.
"So… you didn't have many friends growing up?" Marinette asked, glancing down at her feet as they crossed the road once more.
Adrien shook his head, his arm brushed against hers as the pair awkwardly moved closer to one another.
"No, not really. I mean, I have one friend named Chloe. I haven't seen her in ages. I'll assume she'll be at the wedding..." he shifted his gaze to Marinette who looked at the items displayed on the closed shops along the road.
"Chloe? The Mayor's daughter?" Marinette inquired, turning her head to gaze at Adrien. She blinked, not expecting his eyes to already be looking back at her. Marinette couldn't tell what it was, it had been awhile since anyone's had that effect on her.
He held a strong gaze and his eyes were like emeralds. Marinette blinked, her heart fluttering in her chest. She couldn't fight the blush that crawled up to the tips of her ears like a herd of fire ants the moment she remembered the compromising dream she had that night of Adrien. She pressed her lips together and looked away before he could notice how flustered she had become. Marinette cleared her throat, mentally scolding herself. She tried to reassure herself that she had only felt this way because he was a model. He was naturally attractive. It didn't mean anything else.
"Yeah, the Mayor's daughter." Adrien replied promptly with a chuckle. "My father is friends with Kagami's mother," He looked ahead of him, remaining close to Marinette in case she turned a corner, so he could follow her. "Kagami was a very sweet and shy girl. She's very open and honest, but I love that about her. She could be really nice when she's not under stress like this. I've known her since we were kids… I promise that was the girl I love. She still is the girl I love, she just needs some time to understand this and get used to it..." Adrien returned his hands into his pockets. "I think we all do..."
Marinette looked away, her hand reaching up to her chest. Her fingertips began to brush lightly against the skin on her chest plate as she had felt pain. Her heart was hurting to hear him talk about her. Marinette wanted to believe what he had said about Kagami. She really wanted to. But it was hard to accept it for the time being. All Marinette ever saw from Kagami since the day they first met was nasty. She only ever saw dirty looks and snide comments. Marinette tried to give her the benefit of the doubt. She knew that this wedding thing was a lot to take in, but Marinette had hoped Kagami would understand that she wasn't the only one hurting in this situation. Marinette bit her lip harder, her fingertips brushing even harder against her skin until it was raw.
"I swear I'm not trying to infiltrate your relationship with her. I hadn't realised that me showing up to drop off food at the photoshoot made her uncomfortable. I didn't know that was a thing that meant a lot to her..." Marinette frowned, glancing up at him. Her heart continued to ache within her chest, it almost felt like she couldn't breathe.
Adrien shook his head with a grimace.
"No, Marinette. I know that. She just acted in the moment. I swear to you that neither of us feel that way. People say things out of hurt just to share that hurt with other people..." Adrien glanced down, wanting to wrap his arms around her and hold her close. "I can't say a thousand times how sorry I am for her..."
Marinette reached up and caressed her cheek. She breathed in deeply as she tried to catch her breath again. She furrowed her brow, closing her eyes for a brief moment to keep the tears at bay.
"I just… I didn't mean to hurt anyone. If she needs me to spend some time away from you then I will. I don't want to make her uncomfortable either..."
Adrien shook his head. The last thing he wanted was for Marinette to be away from him.
"No. Please don't do that. It's fine. I promise." The blonde assured, capturing a glimpse of Marinette's heartbroken expression. He couldn't stop the feeling of how protective he had become over her. He wanted to protect her from all the world's evils. He wanted to protect her from men that would hurt her, he wanted to protect her from her own self deprecating thoughts, he wanted to protect her from her demons. If he could have protected her from his cousin, he would have done so.
Marinette simply nodded, the two remaining quiet as they crossed into another neighborhood. She hadn't expected to get into deep conversations during their walk, but at this point it was inevitable.
"I know that this is weird, but I've grown to become very protective of you, Marinette," the blonde confided. "I don't mean it in a creepy way. I just… feel like I want to do everything I can to keep you safe and happy..." Adrien could have smacked himself for admitting it, but he was being honest. He never wanted to see her make such a sad face like that again, and if it meant protecting her from his girlfriend, then so be it.
Marinette paused, looking up at him with a small blush. She blinked, shifting her gaze down towards the ground before she began to timidly walk again.
"O-Oh..." she breathed, her heart aching and fluttering at the same time. How could words be so comforting, but hurt so much at the same time? Marinette refused to believe she was feeling some type of way. She was just confused and she was hurting.
"I hope that doesn't make things awkward..." Adrien gulped, reaching up to fix the collar of his shirt.
She sighed, shaking her head with a small smile. She saw an opportunity and went for it.
"Of course it'll be awkward," The blunette teased, nudging her elbow into his side softly. "But it looks like you're stuck with me regardless..." her voice quivered. Marinette found a bit of comfort in the fact that he didn't totally hate her, but she couldn't help but to wonder about Kagami every now and again. She knew it wasn't possible to get everyone to like her but there was something in her that wanted to be on good terms with her. She wanted someone that meant a lot to Adrien to like her. She hated that about herself. She couldn't exactly explain why that was but it ignited her anxiety like no other.
Adrien chortled, his arm reached over to lightly wrap around her awkwardly.
"Well… if it's already awkward, I'm sure this wouldn't hurt."
Marinette widened her eyes, her heart racing as he tugged her close. She awkwardly leaned into him, a deep blush rising on her cheeks as she got an awkward whiff of his cologne. It smelt amazing. Marinette wondered if he wore the same colognes his father made. Marinette very gently placed her hand against the small of his back, lightly rubbing him through his shirt before the two separated.
"I know I haven't been the best to be around lately," Marinette murmured timidly. "But I'm glad you don't completely hate me."
Adrien glanced over to her, a small frown tugging at the edges of his lips.
"I don't think I've ever hated you, Marinette. Honestly, I'm a little glad that you don't hate me, either. It's been a really hard week." The blonde sighed.
Marinette subtly nodded in agreement. It was one hell of a rough few weeks. She wasn't even sure when the wedding ceremony was, and that thought made her even more anxious.
"I mean, it wasn't as bad as being confined to your home." Marinette shrugged, keeping her gaze away.
Adrien returned his hands to his pockets, a small smile gracing his lips in an instant.
"Yeah, but after meeting you, I don't think I've ever had this much fun. I mean sure, there were a lot of hiccups along the way, but I've never been to a party, I enjoy hanging out with Alya, and I've never actually had so much good food since my mom disappeared," The blonde admitted. "I'm really glad I met you."
Marinette chuckled, her lips soon pressing together as she felt her face beginning to heat up. She hated that every little thing got her hopes up so high.
"Really? I-I mean… what about your girlfriend? Isn't she fun?" Marinette asked, her heart hammering away within her chest. Her blue eyes fixated on the road in front of them, there in the distance she could see her parents' bakery.
Adrien nodded.
"Of course. She's a lot of fun. What I meant was that since I've met you, my father has been a little lenient. I mean, he still keeps a close eye on me, but I'm able to finally be on my own. Who would have thought that getting married would have encouraged my father to kick me out of the house?"
Marinette pursed her lips, not entirely sure how she felt about it. The wedding wasn't something either of them wanted, but she was glad that it had worked out for him. It was incredibly unfortunate that he was held prisoner in his own home, but she was glad she got to help in someway.
The couple paused the moment they stepped in front of the bakery. The doors were locked and the lights were shut off. Marinette glanced up towards the windows to the apartments above. The blunette felt a warm sensation in her chest the moment she spotted the balcony of her old bedroom. It was a bittersweet moment. She remembered the time she spent up there as a teen while she worked on her sketches. The last time she remembered being in that room was the night she prepared for the engagement party.
"You'll have to be quiet." She whispered, turning her head over towards Adrien. "Or my parents will wake up and either think we're burglars, or they'll catch us and bombard us with a bunch of embarrassing questions."
Adrien nodded with a small smile.
"My lips are sealed." The blonde whispered, gesturing a lock and seal motion to his lips.
Marinette fumbled with the keys in her hands before finally phishing out the bakery key. She very slowly unlocked the door and beckoned Adrien to follow her. She made sure to close and lock the door behind her. The hallway was dark and Marinette felt around for the door to the bakery before she unlocked that one as well. As the duo stepped inside, Marinette closed the door and flicked on the dim light.
"These ones won't be as fresh as the ones I brought to you earlier, but I promise they are just as good." The blunette assured as she placed her keys to the side, and wandered towards the back in the kitchen where her parents wrapped and stored the pastries.
Adrien stood behind, his eyes glancing around the shop in awe. He couldn't get over the pleasant aroma that lingered in the air. The display cases were empty for the night, but he couldn't help but to imagine all of the sweets that were soon going to be encased there the next day. He swore he could smell all kinds of pastries in the air. Cookies, pies, cakes, croissants and macaroons. He felt so spoiled. He loved how nicely decorated it was. He had never been in a family owned business aside from his father's main offices downtown.
"I actually don't mind," the blonde replied, shifting his eyes back to Marinette who returned with two wrapped strawberry tarts and set them on the counter. "I've never been here before, I'm really glad I came. My dad usually doesn't let me indulge in snacks like this."
Marinette crumbled the ceramic wrap in her hand and glanced up at him, pushing one of the tarts closer to him.
"Really? I don't see anything wrong with a pie or two..." Marinette shrugged, before she returned to the kitchen the retrieve a couple of cake forks.
Adrien smiled, leaning against the counter as he picked up the cake fork and began to pick at the tart. He dug into the custard, popping the fruit into his mouth. He was greeted with the most tastiest pastry he ever had the pleasure of trying.
"Wow. You weren't kidding..." Adrien groaned, almost having to stop himself from digging into the pastry feverishly.
Marinette nodded with a small smile as she began to pick at her own pastry.
"Yeah, my dad still has yet to teach me how he makes these. I've learned how to make macaroons, but I haven't mastered tarts yet." She admitted sheepishly.
Adrien popped another fruit in his mouth, chewing on it slowly as he watched Marinette stir the custard within the tart.
"Is singing another one of your passions? I mean you are a woman of many talents. I'm starting to learn a lot of cool new things about you."
Marinette blushed, embarrassment rushing over her the moment she remembered that Adrien had heard her sing.
"I… guess I'm okay at singing because I do it a lot, but I wouldn't really consider it a passion..." she pressed her lips together as she blushed. She couldn't really enjoy her tart as the bouts of anxiety began to churn in her stomach once more. "When I was fourteen, my Nona told me that when I was upset or sad... I could sing. It always made me feel better..." Marinette shrugged, jabbing the prongs of her fork inside of a lopsided strawberry.
Adrien frowned, glancing down as he realised he had caught Marinette at a bad time. It explained why he heard so much sadness in her voice when he found her at her apartment.
"Oh… so does that mean you're often sad?" He asked, perking a brow as his heart began to sink.
Marinette chortled, trying not to allow her inner demons to ruin the conversation she was having with him.
"I am sad, like, all the time." She giggled. "I guess that makes me pathetic, but it's better than drinking."
Adrien placed his fork down, shaking his head. He hated that she felt that way about herself.
"No, you really shouldn't say those things about yourself." He replied, his fingertips lightly tracing patterns against the countertop.
Marinette began to stare in a corner, her mind racing about a thousand miles a minute. She thought about everything that happened up until this point. She remembered the incident at the party, she remembered how awkward she was at the wedding party, and she certainly couldn't forget how upset Kagami was at her arrival. She couldn't stop thinking about how callous and careless she had been acting lately. She had started this journey thinking of no one else's feelings but her own. It had gotten to the point where Adrien slept on the cold hard floor for weeks because she had been so obtuse.
"I'm not usually this much of a hassle… or a pain..." Marinette murmured, leaning against the counter. "All of this binge drinking, the craziness.. it's not who I am. I don't mean to cause trouble for you, Alya, or Nino. What happened at that party was all my fault… I should have been more careful. I really didn't mean to put you guys under all of that stress and then force you all to take care of me afterwards. I really do appreciate that you guys came at the time you did and got me out of there. But I promise you none of that should ever happen again from now on..."
Adrien shook his head, his hand immediately sliding across the counter to grab hers.
"Marinette, I know we just met, and I know it's hard for you to trust me right now, but please trust me when I say that none of that was your fault. Please listen to me when I tell you that you're not a burden. You're the farthest thing from it. You are an amazing girl, and honestly it baffles me that you are having trouble seeing that." His voice was soft as he whispered to her. His thumb lightly brushed against her skin. "I totally understand that this was an off week. You have nothing to apologize for, okay?"
Marinette blushed, her figure freezing as she felt Adrien's hand on top of hers. Her blue eyes fixated on them together, her heart immediately began to hammer away within her chest. She pressed her lips together, her eyes moving up to look at his face.
"Thank you, Adrien..." she breathed, a timid smile upon her lips as she leaned into the counter.
Adrien returned the smile, relaxing as he realised that Marinette had started to trust him. He really wanted her to believe what he told her, because it's true. The blonde shifted, remembering what had happened the night before. He did leave the bedroom before Marinette had woke up the next morning, but he wondered if she remembered her suggesting that he'd ask her again the following day. He glanced down at their hands, his lips pursing as he also wondered if she remembered what had happened before that.
"Marinette..." his voice mused through the silence between the two of them, the sound immediately drawing the attention of the female in front of him.
"Hm?" She hummed, standing up straight, almost as if she was in a trance this whole time that Adrien rudely interrupted.
The blonde chewed his lip, wondering if this was an appropriate time to bring this up.
"Last night… you had gone into my room, and guided me to the masterbed." His hand slowly slipped back from hers, just in case she became uncomfortable.
"We didn't do anything!" He assured before she got the wrong idea. "But I was surprised that you allowed me to sleep in the bed, too. I suspected you were drunk, but you had told me to ask you the following day," He shifted his weight once more, his bottom lip sliding back between his teeth as he worried about her reaction. "Were you drunk?" He inquired, perking a brow. "I wanted to be honest with you and let you know in case you didn't remember. My mother always told me to be honest with people I care about."
Marinette felt her heart do flips inside of her chest the moment Adrien admitted he cared for her. She couldn't pinpoint why it was such a huge deal to her, but it was. The female smiled, reaching down to grab her fork and pick at the fresh strawberry on the tart. She picked up a bit of custard with the strawberry, and pressed it to her lips.
"I was drunk," she confessed. "But my judgement was clear. I don't remember much of what happened earlier in the night, but I remember my decision to bring you to the bed. I don't think I liked the idea of you sleeping on the floor, and the bed is huge. It could fit the two of us without it being super uncomfortable." She shrugged as she began to lick the custard off the prongs of her fork.
Adrien blinked, before he breathed out in relief at her clarification. He had a hunch that she wouldn't remember her choking him, or attempting to leap from the balcony. That much he would rather not bring up. It did make sense that she had mistook him for being his cousin. He always heard theories about people being honest drunks, perhaps Marinette was one of those people. It was obvious that she had a lingering hurt over something his cousin did. At first Adrien wasn't too sure she meant his cousin, but the photo he had spotted in her apartment was more than enough confirmation. Adrien could only have wondered what it was that happened between them, but he figured it would be something they'd talk about when she was ready.
"Are you sure it's okay to sleep there?" Adrien asked. "I can always bring my mattress from home. It'll take a little convincing from my dad, but it's definitely possible."
Marinette giggled, glancing up at him.
"I promise, that's not necessary. I'm positive that it's alright. I don't mind at all," She assured, her fork breaking down a few pieces of her tart. "Speaking of beds. I really think we should take these on the go. It's getting late and what most people don't know is that my parents wake up really early to open up and clean." Marinette sighed, pulling away from the counter.
Adrien blinked, losing track of time completely. He smiled at her and nodded, placing the cake fork aside for her to take.
Marinette gathered up the dishes, her blue eyes locking on to his once more.
"Let's keep this our little secret, okay?" She whispered, a teasing lilt in her voice.
Adrien chuckled, grabbing the tarts from the table, ready to take them home. If she couldn't finish hers, he was more than happy to finish them both. They were really that tasty.
"My lips are sealed." The blonde assured, rocking back and forth on his feet as Marinette nodded towards him in acknowledgement. The blunette turned towards the kitchen, wandering over to the area so that she could wash the forks. She placed them back into the same spots she found them in so that her parents wouldn't notice. The female grabbed her keys from the countertop. She scribbled two strawberry tarts on waste in her parents inventory list so they wouldn't suspect that some pastry burglar broke into their shop to steal a bunch of pastries. Marinette very carefully brushed by Adrien to open the door, expecting the blonde to follow in after her. She opened the door for him, her heart racing as he walked by her. When she closed the door she breathed out, a bit glad that she decided to take him. She had gotten to learn a lot about him. She locked the door behind her and followed him outside of the building where she locked the doors to the building as well.
"Thanks for taking me out." Adrien murmured, turning to face her as he awkwardly stood in the middle of the pavement with two tarts in his hand. "I've actually had a lot of fun. I'm really glad you're okay though."
Marinette subtly nodded, leaning up on her tippy toes to grab one of the tarts from his hand.
"I'm glad I took you out too. I'm really sorry about how shit the day was earlier. I don't want to keep you up for another photoshoot if you do have one."
Adrien allowed her to take one of the tarts and the blonde chortled. He began to walk beside her as the duo began to walk back towards where she remembered the train station was.
"I think it'll be fine. When we get back to our home we could get some sleep." Adrien brushed off.
Marinette giggled, her heart flying in her chest.
"That's if you'll get any sleep." She teased. A small grin graced her lips, catching Adrien off guard. "Looks like we'll have to take the train again. You'll be forced to mingle with all of these commoners so late at night!"
Adrien snorted, shaking his head at his his friend teased him about having to take the train at three in the morning.
"Oh no!" Adrien gasped, earning a fit of laughter from the petite blunette beside him. "Not the commoners again!"
Marinette sighed as she flopped onto the colossal bed. Sure it wasn't the bed she owned back at her apartment, but this bed sort of reminded her of a hotel bed. She could faintly hear the sound of the shower pouring in the bathroom, and Marinette took the opportunity to change when she was alone.
She wrapped her arms around the pillow, nuzzling into it with a small smile. The night was drawing to a close, and Marinette was thankful that she didn't have to get up early for classes for another few months. The blunette tensed, her lips pressing together as Adrien exited the shower. The scent of his soap sent such a pleasant aroma across the length of the room. Adrien wore his usual T-shirt and pyjama bottoms. He had dried his hair with a towel and tossed it into the laundry basket. He didn't care much to brush it that night as it was almost close to morning, and he was completely exhausted. The model climbed into bed, sliding his arms underneath a pillow and relaxing his head into it.
Marinette blushed, her heart racing as she was not drunk this time around. This experience was completely new to her sober state of mind. She turned her head towards him, the blush only deepening as she could catch a glimpse of his Agreste brand boxer underwear that managed to peek out from the top of his pyjama bottoms. The way the band hugged on to his hips was straight out of a fashion magazine. Marinette immediately closed her eyes, her breath growing rigid as the last thing she wanted to happen was to get caught.
Adrien closed his eyes, turning to his side so that he could properly face her.
"I think all we've talked about were things that we liked. Perhaps we should talk about what we don't like," Adrien yawned. "I don't mean people, but things. That way we keep it neutral."
Marinette slowly opened her eyes, smiling at him as she laughed softly.
"Really? That sounds a little silly."
Adrien smiled, closing his eyes as he hummed sleepily.
"We've gotten so far already. Why stop now?" The blonde shrugged, his hair completely disheveled.
Marinette remained quiet as she began to trace patterns into the surface of the pillow timidly with her fingertips.
"Here-" Adrien breathed, cutting the silence between the two of them. He got the sense that Marinette was too timid to speak first.
"I'll go first." He opened his eyes, peering back at her once more.
Marinette blinked, the air nearly being knocked out of her from the look alone. It was so stupid; Marinette wanted to slap herself.
"Sometimes, I'll use a spoon, forget that I used it, and then I'll put it back in the drawer." Adrien confessed, his lips pursed. "That's something I don't like."
Marinette furrowed her brow, her face distorting into that of disgust.
"Ew! I really hope you aren't still doing that. I'm going to have to start checking all the spoons before I use them." She giggled.
The blonde snorted, lightly shaking his head.
"No, I swear. I've been working on it," He scooted more comfortably in the bed, quite pleased that he was finally able to get some proper sleep on a bed rather than a cold hard floor. "Now, it's your turn."
Marinette bit her lip, her eyes veering off to a corner as she was put on the spot.
"Sometimes, when I'm eating, I'll use my face as a butter knife if I get any sauce on my skin. It seems pretty nifty at first, but then I start to break out all over." She admitted sheepishly.
Adrien grinned, squeezing his eyes shut as he tried to withhold a laugh. He pinched the bridge of his nose, his shoulders shaking with silent laughter which almost made Marinette embarrassed.
"That's amazing-" He laughed softly, inhaling to catch his breath before he relaxed into the bed once more. "I'll be sure to use my face when I run out of silverware."
Marinette smiled, her blush only deepening as she reached over and playfully slapped his shoulder, to which Adrien cowarded. "Shut up!" She snorted, nearly hiding her face into her pillows.
Adrien grinned his eyes veering off towards the moonlight that graced Marinette's frame that lay beside him.
"I guess it's my turn again?" he hummed.
Marinette nodded, her face still buried into the pillows before she pulled away so she could face him properly. "Yep. Your turn, Mr. Agreste."
Adrien sighed, the smile never leaving his face as he thought about what he wanted to say. The blonde narrowed his eyes in the dark.
"Nathalie's hands." the model confessed, shifting his gaze back to Marinette, who seemed incredulously confused.
"Nathalie's hands? You're talking about your father's assistant, right?" Marinette asked, her brow perking as she waited for an elaboration.
Adrien nodded.
"Yeah. They scare me. When I was younger, I realised how big and manly they are," the blonde chortled. "I was afraid of being spanked, I swore I was so scrawny she could throw me across the room. Even now that I'm older I still have nightmares of her bending mop sticks with her bare hands." Adrien shivered at the thought.
Marinette snorted, it ended up being her turn to laugh.
"Oh, wow. I mean… I don't think I've ever properly had a look at her hands, but I'll take your word for it." She replied, reaching over to press her fingertip against the tip of his nose.
Adrien grinned, reaching over to grab an extra pillow to hold it close to him.
"Next time you see her, look at her hands. Then you'll know what I'm talking about."
Marinette nodded, a fit of giggles bubbling from her throat. She almost felt like a high school girl with a crush.
"You'll have to remind me."
Adrien picked at the edges of the pillow, his lips pursing in thought as he was beginning to feel undeniably tired. He closed his eyes, leaning into the bed as he yawned once more.
"How about you? Are you afraid of anything?" He asked, his voice laced with drowsiness.
Marinette paused, her heart aching within her chest. The more she thought about it, the more she realised that she was afraid of a lot of things. She couldn't help but to feel so pathetic. Marinette was afraid of being alone. While most people were afraid of spiders, clowns and heights, Marinette had an irrational fear of being unhappy. The female gripped on to the pillow, her frown deepening as she was afraid of being abandoned, forgotten, and completely dismissed. Marinette hated being so vulnerable, but at the same time worried that if she showed it to anyone, they'd either take advantage of it or leave her. Marientte had the sense that Adrien wasn't the type of person that would take advantage of her, but even she had doubts of him staying around. Especially after learning how much of a pest she could be. She couldn't reveal that side of her to him. At least not yet.
"When I was younger, I was afraid of spaghetti. I'd have my dinner in front of the television on the floor, and I'd leave a mess of pasta noodles everywhere. My mom told me I have to clean my mess because, if I didn't, the noodles are going to kill her. I was afraid to eat spaghetti for years. Now that I'm older I'm pretty sure she meant she could trip on the noodles and hurt herself." Marinette explained, reminiscing with a soft laugh. Marinette paused, her eyes blinking the moment she heard Adrien breathe softly beside her.
She turned her head, her chest feeling warm as the blonde had fallen asleep beside her. Marinette smiled, carefully turning to her side to glance over at him. He truly was a beautiful sight. The way his tan smooth skin shone in the moonlight. She loved the way his hair was messy, and even so it was still perfect. She watched as one of his blonde strands dangled in his face, and Marinette didn't hesitate to reach over towards him to lightly brush it away with her fingertips. She very gently rested her palm against his warm soft cheek. The day had started a bit catastrophic, but Marinette couldn't have been anymore grateful that Adrien came to find her. It ended up concluding unlike anything she had ever imagined.
Adrien breathed in, and Marinette froze. Her eyes widened, and her heart began to pound in her chest as she didn't want him to wake up to her caressing his face. The blunette was just about to move when the model reached up and placed his hand on to hers. His fingers laced into her fingers and he brought their hands in front of them. Marinette glanced down at their hands, her heart still swelling with embarrassment.
"Thanks for not totally blowing me off tonight," Adrien murmured, his thumb brushing across the back of her hand. "I understand why you slammed the door in my face." his voice slurred with drowsiness, and Marinette couldn't help but to wonder if he was still half asleep.
"I'm sorry… about that." Marinette replied in a soft whisper, moving closer to him. "I just… didn't expect you to be there."
Adrien shook his head, bringing her hand closer to him. It was almost as if he wanted to cuddle their hands. It was just too cute.
"Best friends?" Adrien asked, his eyes slowly opening to look at her. "I won't tell Nino if you don't tell Alya." a small smile graced his lips, before he closed his eyes, relaxing into the bed once more.
Marinette giggled softly. She lay beside him, her hand holding on to his tightly.
"Best friends. It'll be our little secret." She assured.
It wasn't long before Adrien had fallen asleep, and Marinette was finally able to relax. The grip on her hand had lessened, but Marinette wasn't sure if she was ready to pull away just yet. She had finally closed her eyes, yawning as she hadn't fully realised how tired she was. She relaxed into the bed, her mind finally blank as she was finally able to feel a sliver of hope since Felix had left.
