Adrien walked up to Kagami, who was currently sitting on the couch with Rose and Juleka. He tapped her on the shoulder and she peered up at him confused. Adrien raised a hand and moved his index finger in a come hither motion.

He led her out to the smoking porch, striking a match on the banister as he held his hand in the way of the wind so that he could light his cigarette.

"Why did you call me out here?" Kagami waved the smoke away from her face with an annoyed expression.

"I wanted to ask you about why you're here." Adrien blew out smoke and rested his forearms against the banister as he leaned against it and kicked the deck with the toe of his laceless shoe.

"Look, that seems a bit personal." Kagami stared at him as she crossed her arms over her chest. "I don't go around asking you why you're here. Plus aren't you not supposed to be talking to new patients."

Adrien rolled his eyes and took a hit off his cigarette before he turned his whole attention towards her. "Look. I see how your clothes are too big on you. How you run your fingers through your hair and pull out strands." Adrien gestured to his head with his cigarette between his index and middle finger. "Don't think I don't know. I just wanted to hear you say it. Why are you here?"

"Again. A bit personal. I don't know you. I just know rumors. Some scary man you're supposed to be. You don't seem scary to me." Kagami scoffed and turned towards the banister to peer out at the landscapers that were busy trimming the bushes and trees on the property.

Adrien leaned closer towards her and peered through his messy blonde bangs. "Because you haven't seen me at my worst and hopefully won't."

"Nah. I don't believe you. I think you're all talk." Kagami stared at him with her lips pursed.

"Whatever makes you feel better. I've been in that damn solitary ward more than anyone here." Adrien pointed in the direction of solitary confinement with his hand that was busy cradling his addiction.

"You do know that smoking is bad for you, right?" Kagami stood with her foot turned out.

"So they tell me." Adrien finished his cigarette and stubbed it out on the banister before he flicked it out into the bushes below.

"Why did you really want to talk to me?" Kagami leaned on the banister and stared at him with a softer expression than she had been showing him.

"I have seen enough new patients-" Adrien became annoyed when she interrupted him.

"Guests, you mean." Kagami corrected him with an unamused expression.

"Patients." Adrien rolled his eyes. "Or I'd rather say prisoners, but patients is a better and nicer term. Anyway." Adrien cleared his throat and continued with what he was saying. "I've seen enough of them come in here and hurt Marinette. Don't get near her."

"Why would I even want to get near her? The girl barely talks." Kagami was taken aback by his comment.

"She's getting better and I want her to get out of this hell hole." Adrien crossed his arms and leaned his back against the banister with his leg drawn up.

"Alright. So, why would you even think I would get in the way of that? I don't know her." Kagami became confused.

"Look, I know you're new here. But… you're going to see some shit and it'll all make sense. Just don't hurt her." Adrien watched her suddenly walk closer towards him and suddenly he felt super awkward.

"How would I hurt her? I would think the only way would be…" Kagami touched his hair and let it slowly fall from her fingertips. "To take the only thing that matters to her…" She smirked and fluttered her eyelashes. "You. You are the one thing keeping her sane, yes?"

"Stop it." Adrien swallowed hard as she smirked at him and bit her bottom lip.

"I'm right, aren't I? You are the main anchor that is keeping her from flying off the deep end." Kagami softly laughed as she ran her fingers along his cheek. "Would be a shame if she caught us kissing or… something more." She began to lean in, running her fingertip down his body, and Adrien shoved her away from him.

"What is wrong with you?" Adrien scowled and stormed off, leaving a smug Kagami.

000

"What did she say? Did you find out why she is here?" Marinette sat on Adrien's bed with her hands in his, playing this smacking game that children used to play when they were bored. One where one person placed their hands in the palms of another and the other person had to try and smack their hands with their own.

"She didn't really... SAY!" Adrien's voice shifted as he tried to smack her hands, but she pulled them away too fast.

"Really? I thought she would tell you everything since you have some in com-MON!" Marinette squealed as he nearly got her hands with his own. She giggled as he stared into her eyes.

"Not eno-UGH!" Adrien managed to smack her hands. "HA! I GOT YOU!"

Marinette giggled and fell over onto his pillow before she sat back up again and held her hands out for his. "So… what did you find out?"

"That she wants to make you upset. That's for S-URE!" Adrien cried out as she smacked his hands with ease.

"Gotta be quicker than that, Adrien." Marinette giggled as he groaned and held his hands out for hers. "What do you mean she wants to make me upset?"

"She tried to KI- OW!" Adrien suddenly felt her palm on his cheek. He raised his hand to rub his reddening cheek. "What was that for?"

"I'm sorry she tried to what?" Marinette crossed her arms over her chest.

"She came onto me. I pushed her away. Ow… that really hurt. You didn't need to slap me for something I didn't let her do." Adrien sighed and turned away to sit with his legs over the side of the bed. His fingers gripped the thin white sheets as he stared down at the tile.

"I'm sorry. I reacted on instinct." Marinette scrambled to sit beside him and grabbed his face to make him look at her. She ran her thumb over the red mark. "That's gonna bruise." She cringed and he rolled his eyes.

"They're gonna wonder what the hell I did to myself. Great. Just wait 'til I get put in solitary again." Adrien sighed and Marinette shook her head.

"They wouldn't do that. I thought they were done doing that to you." Marinette searched his gaze and watched his eye color darken.

"You know who is the nurse now, Marinette. There is no stopping her from torturing me how she pleases." Adrien shifted his gaze away from her.

"What is it with you and Mandeleive?" Marinette searched his eyes some more before a knock sounded on their door.

"Pills." Ms. Mandeleive pushed a cart into their room.

Adrien and Marinette took the cups of pills and threw them back with water. Neither of them really knew what pills they were on. They appeared to be the same; which was never something they noticed until right then.

They each opened their mouths to show her that the pills were gone. Nurse Mandeleive nodded and stared at Adrien. "Snack will be in a few moments."

"Can I go too?" Marinette smiled at her and she gave her a blank expression.

"If you are not an eating disorder patient then you may not join him for snack." Mandeleive turned on her heel and headed out of their room.

"Was- was that just for me… or… everyone?" Marinette became confused as Adrien laid back on his bed with his hands behind his head and stared at the ceiling.

"I wouldn't put it past her to make that a strictly the Satan's girlfriend rule." Adrien sighed and put the nickname in quotation marks.

"Well now I need to hear this story." Marinette laid down beside him and he sighed.

"She thinks I'm the worst person here. She thinks I'm evil. Enough said. If she had her way… she would throw me into solitary until I rot." Adrien grabbed his pillow and threw it over his face.

Marinette grabbed it from him and threw it onto her bed. "You are not… evil and she can suck it. She's not a bowl of sunshine and rainbows either."

Adrien burst out laughing and nodded. He rolled onto his side and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear as he lovingly stared into her oceanic eyes. "Just promise me that no matter what... you won't let Kagami get to you. I don't want to lose you."

"I promise." Marinette leaned closer to him and kissed him on the lips. "It's not worth our freedom."

000

Adrien sat at the table pushing around his snack with his spork. He sighed and leaned his cheek on his fist, pushing it around. His mind wandered to counting calories again as he poked each piece of fruit. His whole thought process was a series of numbers and equations. It was harder not to count with Marinette gone.

A cold hand on his shoulder brought him out of his thoughts and he shivered. "If you want to go back to your room… you better eat that."

Adrien lifted his spork with a trembling hand and put a piece of fruit into his mouth. He tried to chew without gagging as her fingers gripped onto his shoulder. He pushed counting to the back of his mind as he brought his spork down to another piece.

"You do know how lucky you are to share a room with a girl. I don't know what they see in you or why they think that will help someone as hopeless as you." Ms. Mandeleive quietly laughed as she watched him miss a piece of fruit at her words. "If I had my way?" She gripped his shoulder. "Eat."

Adrien quickly shoved the fruit into his mouth as she leaned closer so that only he could hear her.

"If I had my way? I'd keep you strapped to that bed in solitary for the rest of your life. You don't deserve to be out in society." Ms. Mandeleive gripped his shoulder harder before she let it go and stood behind him to watch him eat with her arms crossed over her chest.

Adrien ate faster just to be able to get out of there. He needed to get away from her. Needed to get back to Marinette. Plagg slowly manifested and swirled around his waist, sneering at him as it showed up in his face. "Hello, kid. You know she's right. Why should you get special privileges?"

Adrien clenched his eyes tight as he showed her his tray and got up to take it to be checked. She watched him set the tray on the pile to be cleaned and waited for her to take him back to his room. He noticed they were going a different way to his room and the sudden feeling of dread hit him hard.