"Hey, are you sleep?" I ask, brushing my lips into her dark hair, as we lay cuddling on the sofa at Alya's.
"Hmmm, almost," she whispers back softy, I feel her lips brush agains my bicep, as she snuggles closer into me.
I squeeze her in further, if that's even physically possible, taking in, for what feels like the first time, her scent, her feel, her sounds, finally knowing both sides of this beautiful person wrapped in my arms.
"I'm worried Mari, I don't want to lose you after everything-"
"You won't. I'm not going anywhere."
She gently turns in my arms to face me. Looking into those beautiful, big bluebell eyes, that shine even in the dark that surrounds us, I can see the faith she has in her words. My chest swells with love for her, pulling her into my neck, the tips of her fingers gently stroke where my bell usually sits. Shivers descend my spine as I put my lips to her forehead.
I love this woman. I love everything about her. I do not care what path we took to get here, all that matters now is that we are finally one. Four quarters of a whole, destined to always be intertwined, and now we get to do this properly."
"If your dad is Hawkmoth, I promise we will do everything we can to make this as easy as possible." She says quietly, in barely a whisper. "I can't imagine what you're going through right now, but I promise I will always be by your side to support you."
Her words bring unshed tears trickling out of my eyes, as all I can muster myself to do at this moment is hold her lovingly in my arms.
"I-I just want to say, that, I never meant to hurt you," Marinette continued talking into my neck, her soft breath sending waves of pleasure through my body. It takes me a while to register what she is saying to me. "I really hope you know I have always valued you as my partner and as my friend...and now..."
"Marinette, there has only ever been you, I am not going to be angry at you, when I am just as guilty." A soft chuckle escapes my throat, as I think about the absurdity of the situation we were in. "We have been intwined in each other's lives now for too long, and I couldn't imagine my life without you in it. I'm just glad we know now and can start...you know."
"I know," she placed her delicate lips on mine, and trailed delicate kisses down my neck before snuggling into me again. Her fingers tracing light circles on my chest, are comforting and loving sending me off into my slumber.
I feel her shift and I hate the feeling of the loss of her warmth as she stands and bends over to me. Gently putting her hand on my cheek, her blue orbs search my face as she tilts it up towards her. "Adrien, you need to wake up..."
Plagg watched Gabriel peer over Adrien from the safety of Adrien's book case. Nathalie close behind him with a concerned look on her pale face.
"Wake up Adrien." Gabriel demanded, to which he got no response.
"He's not going to wake up, you drugged his coffee." Nathalie pleaded with the grey haired man.
"I didn't put as much in his, he should be coming round by now." Gabriel started pacing at the end of the bed. "He wasn't meant to leave!"
"Gabriel, go and check on Agnès." The firm tone and concern was mixed with urgency as Nathalie spoke. "We can't trust her...and we need Marin-"
"Silence!"
Gabriel shot Nathalie a warning look with slight panic in his eyes.
"I'll check his hand," Natalie suggested, "if he is Chat Noir his ring will be there."
Plagg was thankful that he had been able to remove the ring and hide once he had heard footsteps approaching Adrien's bedroom door. Plagg was only hoping that Tikki was still with Marinette, and had the good sense to remove hers too.
If they don't have the Miraculous' they'll let her go surely.
"It's not there Gabriel," Nathalie looked up to him, still bending over Adrien. "You need to check on Marinette!" Nathalie was definitely panicked, and Gabriel quickly paced out of the door.
Nathalie perched on the bed with her back to Plagg, her face cradled in her hands. "Duusu! What do I do?" Her voice was cracking, when a little purple Kwami appeared before her. "That girl will kill Marinette! Just because Adrien has taken a shine to her!" A sob came from Nathalie, as her whole body shook with it.
Plagg looked at the scene before his eyes, disbelieving his sight as he laid eyes on his long lost Kwami friend.
"Nathalie, you tried to stop this. You tried to warn him!" The purple Kwami attempted to comfort her holder, all the while glancing over to Adrien. "At least he's safe."
"What will this do to him though!" Nathalie stood up suddenly gesturing with her hand to the man lying on the bed. "He will never forgive us!" Another sob escaped her, "I don't know how to make this right Duusu!"
Plagg watched intently, he did not see or hear Tikki phase through the surface behind him.
She whispered, "Plagg," but his reaction was what brought the attention of Nathalie and Duusu.
"Whahh!" Plagg dropped the Miraculous he was holding, and it bounced along the floor, settling under Adrien's bed.
Footsteps were heading in the direction of the room they occupied, as Nathalie motioned for all the Kwami to hide, she turned to face Gabriel. His face was taught, anger bubbling just below the surface as he ran a hand through his hair.
"She jammed the entrance!"
"What!?"
"And Chase has just walked in!" He started pacing again, "I told everyone to work from the main building today!"
"What did he say?" Nathalie's sobs had dissolved to be replaced by panic again, as she pleadingly looked at Gabriel.
"He left designs here! He's up to something," Gabriel stopped pacing and looked dangerously at the door.
"Can we open the entrance if we trans-"
"No! We can't spook Agnès...she'll panic and seize her chance to get Marinette out of the way."
Tikki winced at his words, Plagg put his small Kwami arm around her in comfort.
"Are you certain she won't do anything before Marinette wakes."
"Yes, I know how much she wants the Miraculous."
"Could one of the Kwami get through with something that will help Marinette?" Nathalie's eyes flickered up to where she knew Plagg and Tikki were hiding.
"She'll be chained up by now." Gabriel sighed, not paying attention to Nathalie and dropped his shoulders. "Stay with Adrien, I need to go and have a think about what to do."
Gabriel left the room, slamming the door shut behind him. Nathalie walked around to find the dropped Miraculous. Once located, Nathalie extended her hand up to Plagg and Tikki.
"You need to take this to Marinette." Her solemn eyes fixated on a speechless Plagg. "She can't use her yo-yo with her hands tied up, but she can break free with your help."