The next dilemma they faced was how to get to Alix.
"I could leave the roof terrace as Cat Noir-" Adrien started.
"No, because that would most definitely make thing worse before they get any better."
Marinette was pacing up and down her bedroom flailing her arms as she spoke, with Adrien sat on her computer chair, checking for updates on either of the stories which related to their dilemma. Tikki and Plagg were watching from the bed.
"If... and that's if, our plan works," he debated, "it won't make a difference how bad things get."
"Let's just go down and tell my parents everything then-" she exclaimed, "-they've probably already seen the news, worked it out, and now they're listening at the hatch-"
"Ahem."
They both heard the sound as clear as day, eyes fixated on the hatch into Marinette's room, frozen with panic. Her dad was on the other side of the hatch-listening.
"Marinette," her dad called through the hatch, "I think we need to talk."
'At least he doesn't sound angry.' Marinette chewed her bottom lip nervously before she glanced at Adrien, the unknown was happening.
"You too friend," he added, his voice calm and inoffensive.
They heard his footsteps as he moved away from the hatch, both frozen to their respective spots with shock.
"What do we do?" Marinette hurried in hushed tones, panic was radiating from her eyes, body and voice. Clearly spiralling.
Adrien stood up, clasped her hands and focused her gaze on him, he had to stoop down a little to be in her eye line, having him there though, this helped to calm her down considerably. 'She's cute when she's spiralling,' he mused to himself as she stared at him with uncertainty.
He kissed her slightly open mouth, Marinette tensed and then relaxed as she accepted this new way of support from her Chat. They broke apart slightly, exhaled with a long breath, relieving most of her stress on the situation.
"Better?" He asked. His eyes were twinkling, this situation seemed to excite him.
"Thanks," Marinette replied, "that was surprisingly effective." She said with a slight giggle and matching blush, "I guess I'm going to have to get used to it," now, the twinkle was in her eye, nuzzling her nose on his.
Spinning her around to face the hatch, he squeezed her waist from behind tightly one last time before they stepped out together. He whispered in her ear, "we can do this, we have each other."
"The two if us against the world," Marinette nodded in agreement, butterflies going crazy in her stomach, still flabbergasted at how much everything had changed in such a short space of time. Wise beyond her years at sixteen, Marinette knew how this looked. Emerging from her bedroom, boy in tow, that her parents did not technically know held this role in their daughters life. Sure, her parents had known she had a massive crush on Adrien in her younger years... his pictures had been plastered all over her walls before her relationship with Luka. Marinette had struggled to string two words together around him at times, let alone have a full blown conversation- And now, she was walking out of her bedroom, followed by him, after he had spent the night!
'Am I actually excited about this given the circumstances?' Marinette struggled to keep her face neutral.
They exited through the hatch, hand in hand, with Marinette leading the way, to be faced with both of her parents waiting on the landing. Sabine looked really happy for her daughter, her hands clasped together just below her chin accompanied by a soft smile, surprisingly. Tom, on the other hand, looked concerned with his arms crossed and appearing notably taller than usual. Their little girl...walking out of her bedroom...hand in hand...with a boy! Most fathers would not be pleased with this scenario.
The four of them stood there for a moment or two. Marinette nervously not knowing where to look and biting her lip, while Adrien, who was holding her hand tightly, had a rather apprehensive grin on his face.
"So..." Sabine broke the tension, "Breakfast?" Gesturing for them to make their way down the stairs to the family kitchen.
Tom looked accepting of this suggestion, "why not?" He shrugged, turned and preceded to lead the four of them down the stairs, "pancakes?"
Marinette and Adrien looked at each other as they walked behind Tom and Sabine, exchanging looks of nervousness and disbelief at how these events had so far been received by her parents.
"So far so good," Adrien cheekily whispered into Marinette's ear discretely.
Marinette shot him a warning glance.
'Shut the eff up Chat!' She knew they were not out of the woods yet.