Hello, dear readers!
I'm back!
I'm sorry it took me so long to update, but hey: I've finished my Master degree! I'm officially a Master now! xD (Gosh that sounds so weird!)
I will be having more time to write now! I probably won't update weekly, but you can probably expect me to post 2 chapters each month. That's reasonable!
Enjoy the chapter! And don't forget to review! (Purretty purrease!)
AuriMoon*
With some luck
"Help yourself." Adrien smirked down on Zhi, but she barely looked at him, already searching for a suitable charger for her phone. He mentally slapped himself and walked to the bathroom, closing the door behind him and leaning his back against it. After a moment, he let out a long frustrated sigh.
What the hell was wrong with him? Why was he being so nice to Zhi all of a sudden!?
Repressing a shiver, Adrien started to strip off his robe and wet jeans to get in the shower.
The same shower where Zhi had held on to him in order not to fall, just a few moments ago.
The same shower Zhi had stood, with hot water running through her silky hair, and her very see-through white T-shirt, and her very lilac lace bra, and her salmon fitting skirt and-
Oh, dear god, please make it stop!
Adrien rubbed his face with both hands and glared at the shower as if it had anything to do with the sinful thoughts clouding his mind and his judgment.
Yes, she was beautiful, and nice, and caring, and cute, and freaking hot, but she was the same person who had broken his heart years ago. She was not to be trusted with her fake smile and twisted ankle!
Okay, now he was being unfair, she did have a real twisted ankle and he had caused it, but that didn't mean he had to suddenly change his mind about her. He would not have any kind of nice thoughts about Zhi.
Period.
That was final!
Grunting gracelessly, he entered the shower and turned on the water, letting it's warmth run over his head and cold skin. Only then did he start to relax.
Today had been a disaster. The only good thing about it had been his Lady finally texting him back.
That was the girl he should have been having thoughts about! That was the girl he wanted in his shower!
Not Zhi Ruo Lèi!
For a moment he wondered whether she would be as beautiful as Zhi. He highly doubted that, but that really didn't matter. Because looks don't really matter, if you truly care for someone.
She could be the ugliest girl in the world for all he cared. Not being able to hear from her in such a long time had made that clear enough. And even though he had disagreed with her, she had been right back then. He could see that now: Who she was was the only thing that mattered. And she was a girl who he couldn't get out of his mind. She mattered to him.
As if she had been summoned, his phone beeped the Red Thread notification sound and he hurried out of the shower. A second notification rang making him speed the process and grab his towel.
When he was relatively dry, he opened up the conversation.
[18h40 Today]
Chat_Noir999: Bug, I know you might mean it right now… But I don't want you to make promises if there's even a remote chance of them being empty.
[20h42 Today]
Buggzhinette: I'm sorry I didn't talk sooner. My catphone was out of battery.
He had figured that much, but he still felt a sigh of relief leaving his mouth. She didn't desert him this time. Not yet.
[20h43 Today]
Buggzhinette: I understand why you think I'm making empty promises. I do. But I'm not. And I will find a way of proving it to you. Even if it takes a month, or a year, or even forever. Because that is how long I intend on being here.
What if she did mean it? What if she never left?
Forever.
Adrien's heart fluttered with hope and joy just from reading her words. That's the kind of effect Ladybug had on him. Yes, Zhi was gorgeous, but his heart only beat for Buggzhinette.
Not entirely true…, whispered a little voice in his head, Didn't you feel your heart racing a few moments ago, just by staring at your empty shower?
Yes!, he thought back exasperated, Yes, he had! But that was not a loving heartbeat! That was… lust! Maybe mixed with a little bit of anger and frustration! he said to himself, ignoring the part of him that was silently mocking his little in-burst.
Since the voice in his head stood quiet, he carefully re-read her text again.
Forever.
He wanted to believe her so badly it hurt. Should he share his insecurities with her?
Oh, where is Lucie when you need her!? She would know what to do!
Lucie had been his rock after his Lady deserted. She had tried to explain to him why the girl had left, to put himself in her shoes, describing endless scenarios to make him understand what might have been happening inside his penpal's head… Lucie had helped him not to give up.
Okay, maybe he should wait for Lucie to come home before answering?
Yes. That was a good idea!
His Lady could wait just for a little while…
Back to the present, Adrien started to get dressed and inhaled some air, trying to calm himself down. Zhi Ruo Léi, his yesterday's nightmare, was sitting in his living room with a twisted ankle. His father was out of town and his 'lil sister' should have arrived by now, but hadn't yet.
It was one thing having dinner and game night with friends and Zhi happening to be there.
It was another thing entirely being alone with an in-need-of-help Zhi, because of her foot! But that was kinda taken care of now... What on earth was he going to do in an empty room with her? At night!? Should he ask her if she wanted him to take her to a hotel or Alice's house?... She was hurt. Maybe going to a hotel alone wouldn't be such a great idea… She could fall and no one would be there to help her. And she did mention that Alice wasn't home and she didn't have the keys.
Should he ask her if she wanted to stay the night? It would be a kind gesture, but would she read more into it than just kindness? He didn't want her to get the wrong idea.
Well, he could decide that later, Lucie could have something to say on the matter too. Plus if it was Lucie inviting Zhi to stay the night there would be fewer complications.
But he had to figure out something to do with Zhi, while waiting for Lucie to come back. He had to restrain himself from answering Buggzhinette too… He had to find something to focus on.
Wait.
Zhi is a girl, right?
Was it too farfetched to ask her for advice?
She was his ex, but they had dated a very, very long time ago… And she looked like she was trying to make amends… It could be a good thing to get a second opinion.
He pulled his shirt over his head and looked at himself in the foggy mirror, clueless as to what to do.
Putting on his brave face, he decided he was going to ask her. There was nothing to lose, right? With some luck (very likely), she could prove to be a better love adviser than she was a girlfriend. And let's face it, he was in desperate need of advice.
He was going to ask her, but not right away… He should warm-up before asking for love advice to his ex-girlfriend. He should do something to make both of them feel comfortable. But what should he do to make both of them comfortable enough for him to have the guts to ask her for love counsel?
Then, it came to him, with a loud growl from his empty stomach.
Food! (and maybe some wine?)
He was starving, he had barely had lunch, and Zhi should be hungry as well, since she had just come from shooting! He would cook them dinner. People bonded better over food! The wine was just some extra precautions for what he was about to do.
He sighed with relief. The prospect of being alone with Zhi didn't sound so threatening now that he had a plan.
Without giving himself time to rethink everything, he left the steaming bathroom, only to find how silly all his worries had been.
Zhi Ruo was sleeping on his couch, in what looked like a very uncomfortable position. Is she sleeping on top of her phone? He suppressed a chuckle with the sight of the charger cable coming out of the gap between her belly and the sofa. His mischievous side, entertained the idea of waking her up just for the fun of it. He shook those thoughts away. She must have been exhausted. He hadn't been in the bathroom for that long and she had fallen asleep.
Well, so much for asking her for love advice.
He studied her, unashamed. Zhi was sleeping on her belly, with one of her arms up, and the other following the same path as the charger. She was sleeping on the top of her arm and he momentarily worried about it: no blood circulation tingling was what she would be looking at in a very short period of time. But there was nothing he could do for her besides waking her up, and she looked like she could use some rest. For the first time that night he noticed how she had deep bags around her eyes. Was she having trouble sleeping at night?
He unconsciously sat on the coffee table, still staring at her. Her peaceful face was smashed against the sofa, her mouth slightly open in a weird O, and he wondered how was it possible for her to still look attractive.
Trying yet again to stop thinking about Zhi like that, his eyes strolled down her body. He felt his cheeks warm up when she let out a slight moan and moved into a slightly more comfortable position, turning to her side and facing him, releasing her hand from the weight of her body and bending her other arm into a pillow position below her head.
The thought of her waking up and finding him studying her like that, set Adrien's heart to a racing mode. But when she didn't, his eyes focused on the white skin of her stomach that was now slightly uncovered due to her change of position. He quickly looked away, focusing his attention anywhere else. His eyes wandered on her face again. She looked way more comfortable now. Her face wasn't smashed on to the sofa, but resting on her arm, and her mouth was closed, with this hit of a smile, as if she was mocking him. Suddenly he couldn't look away. She sighed and her lips just slightly parted, leaving him with an impossible desire to capture them with his.
I did not just think that.
I must be losing my mind.
No! There is actually a very easy explanation for this: I'm a healthy young man and she is just incredibly beautiful. Other men, friends, or even that know nothing about her, probably feel the desire to kiss her sometimes too!
Adrien's face was suddenly burning red with those thoughts invading his mind, so, before he could do something stupid that he would most definitely regret, he jumped off his seat and strolled to the kitchen to start cooking dinner.
Zhi Ruo being asleep was a good thing because he didn't have to try and talk to her, he said to himself. He didn't have to do anything to make her feel welcome in his home, and he didn't have to pretend like he cared. Because he didn't care.
He also couldn't ask her for advice, but that was okay. He would stick to his original plan and wait for Lucie. That would be better and safer. He didn't want to think like that, because he was trying to give Zhi a chance, but he couldn't help but wonder if she would give him bad advice on purpose. It sounded like something someone like her would do. He had decided a long time ago that, from Zhi, he could and should expect anything.
He looked over the ingredients he had in his fridge and decided to cook some carbonara. It was easy and delicious. He filled a pan with water and let it boil, while he cut the pancetta into tiny cubes. He then inverted the tagliatelle in the boiling water and started to fry the pancetta. Cooking wasn't his favorite task in the world, but he was good at it and he was focused on making good food instead of wondering what the lips of his long lost nemesis would taste like after all these years or what would happen if he said something wrong again to Buggzhinette. So, right now, cooking was a lifesaver and he sure took his time.
Once the dinner was ready, he ate alone. Zhi was better off asleep. She could eat when she woke up.
When he finished eating it was nearly ten at night.
Lucie wasn't home yet and he was starting to worry that she didn't even warn him she wasn't coming for dinner, so without another thought, he picked up his phone and called her.
She answered right away, sounding slightly out of breath.
"Hi Adrien! Is everything okay?"
He chuckled slightly, "That is my line, Luce! Shouldn't you be home by now?"
"I'm coming! Just caught a cab!" she said apologetically, "Wait! Zhi didn't tell you that I was with Simon and Alice just now?"
Adrien looked at the back of the couch where Zhi was asleep and suppressed a chuckle again. Zhi had called Alice and Alice probably had told her she was with Lucie, but then Zhi had fallen asleep, so the message never got to him.
"No, she didn't. Zhi fell asleep while I was in the shower!" he explained, amused.
"Oh!" he heard Lucie say with caution in her voice, "Well, I'm sorry I didn't say anything to you directly, then. Is she awake now?"
"No, but wouldn't it be funny if I just grabbed a pan and a spoon to drum in her ears and scare the sleep out of her?" he asked with an evil smile that could easily be heard in his voice.
"NO!" was Lucie's sudden answer, "ah- I mean! Wait for me!" she said awkwardly chuckling, "I have to watch that!"
Adrien laughed at her answer, "Alright, then!"
"I'll be there in ten, okay?"
"Sure, Luce. See you soon," he added.
"Bye!" she replied.
Lucie arrived shortly after, only to find Adrien sitting in an armchair, gripping his sketchbook and pencil and Zhi fast asleep on the couch.
"Hey" she whispered, closing the door after entering, "So, no pan and spoon?"
Adrien smiled at her and visibly relaxed, "Hey," he replied in the same tone, putting down his sketchbook and pencil on the coffee table, "Didn't feel right doing it. It is kinda my fault she has a twisted ankle…"
Lucie nodded and studied Zhi for a second, "What the hell happened?" she asked amused, pointing at the girl.
"Short version: It was raining cats and dogs, neither of us were looking where we were going, our paths crossed and I accidentally kinda knocked her down," he smiled sheepishly at Lucie and rubbed his neck uncomfortably, "She twisted her ankle and I felt bad leaving her in the rain alone, so I brought her home. Lent her some of your clothes. Hope you don't mind."
Lucie let out a light snort, while she took off her raincoat, "Of course I don't! I must say I'm surprised you brought her here. I'm also surprised she let you."
"I didn't give her much of a choice." He grinned mischievously, which made Lucie's eyebrow pop up with interest. Adrien chuckled suavely and said with a more serious tone, "Never mind that. I need your help."
"Okay, sure, what is it?"
"Buggzhinette sent me a text today and I can't wait to reply" he said excitedly, getting up from the chair, and totally misinterpreting Lucie's shocked face, "But I need you to be my filter so that I don't scare her off again," he kept going, "If you came in any later I would totally ask Zhi her advice! That is how desperate I feel! Lucie... Are you okay?"
Lucie had gone considerably whiter, with that thought. What would have happened if Zhi hadn't fallen asleep!? If Adrien had asked her advice, they would have found out and everything would be lost again. He must have been really desperate to even consider asking Zhi for help! But that only showed he was starting to trust her again, and he couldn't! Not yet! Otherwise, if things weren't properly explained he would see everything as a betrayal! Next thing she had to do with Alice and Simon was to create a contingency plan. They had been lucky today.
"Lucie?" Adrien gently shook her shoulder, worried.
She cleared her throat and tried to pull herself together.
"Ahm, yes! Everything is okay."
"You look pale. Are you sure?"
"Yes!" She answered more energetically, "I just remembered I have a project presentation tomorrow and did not prepare as well as I should." she quickly said, dismissing the matter, "Look, Adrien, of course I will help. But I think first we should put Zhi in one of the bedrooms so she could sleep more comfortably."
Adrien shrugged, "She is lucky she isn't sleeping on the floor." He cackled, dismissing Lucie's request.
Lucie frowned, "Adrien, first, that is very rude of you and you can trash talk Zhi all you want, but you can't fool me into thinking you actually mean it" she said pointing a finger at him, making an effort not to smile, "second, I would feel more comfortable helping you without Zhi in the same room."
Adrien looked at Lucie for a moment, considering his options and then smirked, "I guess you have a point there," he said, not bothering to specify what 'point', grabbing her hand and walking her to his room.
"What are you doing? Where are we going?" Lucie asked in bewilderment.
"I'm going to my room so we can talk without Zhi." he answered innocently.
Lucie released her hand from his, midway, and crossed her arms over her chest, "Seriously?"
"Don't give me that look, Luce. She is not going to sleep in my bed" he warned, not understanding what was so bad about sleeping on a couch.
"It's decided, then! We put her in mine!" she said turning around to where they'd come, "pick her up, please. I will carry her stuff and open the door for you" she informed, starting to collect what she figured were Zhi's stuff. She quickly figured out where her infamous catphone was and managed to put it inside Zhi's bag without waking her up and without Adrien noticing. Only then could she breathe a sigh of relief. But it wasn't over yet. If it was up to her, they wouldn't find out. Not tonight or tomorrow, at least.
First, she thought she was dreaming, but then she realised she wasn't: Zhi's sleep had been disturbed. Why, she couldn't tell. It wasn't the bed: she was very warm and comfortable… "-wish I could believe," she heard a male's voice whisper as her conscience wavered in between the dream world and the real one. "-not desperate-" some more imperceptible mumbles. She tried to tell the guy to shut up because she was the one desperate for some sleep! But all that came out was a low moan that went unnoticed by everyone but her, because soon after she heard a girl answering in the same whispering tone, "I don't think you need to be mad, but welcoming her like nothing ever happened does sound a bit desperate," there was a pause in the dialogue in which Zhi started to drift off to sleep again, but then, "if she wants to prove it to you, I say let her prove it to you. It is time that she does something to earn your feelings" another pause, "let's get out of here and let Zhi sleep."
Once she heard the door closing, Zhi's stupid brain started to think. Instead of sleeping.
Soon, she was wide awake. She looked around but did not recognize the room she was in or how she had gotten there. The only reason she did not freak out was because she recognized the voices of the people that had just left the room. Adrien and Lucie. Feeling too tired to even question anything else, she tried to go back to sleep, but her mind had other plans. Her memories started to flood in.
She had fallen asleep on Adrien's couch after putting her phone to charge and talking to Alice, and…
Her Catphone beeped, taking away the little sleepiness she had left.
Zhi opened up her eyes and started frantically looking for her belongings, her heart pounding in her chest. How long had she been asleep!? She had to answer Chat! She didn't want to make him wait longer than he had already!
Lucie looked uncomfortable at the sight of Adrien's hopeful smile, "Forever is a very long time, Adrien…"
His smile wavered, "I know. Like I said, I know that it's probably an empty promise… But I can't help but hope for it to be true."
They sat on the couch where Zhi had been sleeping before, while Lucie thought of what to say. Forever could work for them. But that would only be possible if operation 'Spots On, Claws Out' was successful. Zhi and Adrien were perfect for each other, she knew that much. It was almost like destiny was mingling with their lives! Constantly bringing them together, one way or another. If the first time, 8 years ago, hadn't proven it, this time did! I mean, the way events rolled around those two, it was like a star-crossed love story! Fated romance! Like the odds didn't apply to them. And Lucie had seen them together yesterday. The chemistry was still there even if they believed they were in love with someone else. Now, she had to stall. That was the only way to fix this. Her friends had been wronged, but had believed a lie for so long that mere words wouldn't fix anything. They needed some kind of proof and she was going to find it.
She sighed, "Let me read that again!" She asked for his phone with a hand movement and he quickly obliged, placing the phone on her palm.
[20h43 Today]
Buggzhinette: I understand why you think I'm making empty promises. I do. But I'm not. And I will find a way of proving it to you. Even if it takes a month, or a year, or even forever. Because that is how long I will be here: Forever.
"What would you answer?" She asked, pensive.
"Maybe something in the lines of: I love you, and then beg her not to leave me again- JUST KIDDING, Luce!" He laughed at her 'are-you-demented-?' expression.
Lucie half sighed, half chucked as her hand flew to her chest, "For a second there, I thought I was going to have you checked into a mental institution," she paused for a second, "or maybe have you write a guide of 'What not to say to women' or 'how to cause a very awkward situation!" causing him to chuckle.
"Couldn't really argue with any of those points. This girl is definitely making me crazy." Adrien sighed, and answered her first question seriously, "Okay, how about: 'I want to believe you, but can't make myself do it'?"
Lucie thought for a moment, and then she nodded, handing him his phone back, "That sounds good, actually. Maybe add in the beginning a 'how do you plan on doing that?' as in 'why don't you prove it to me'?"
Adrien took the device and started writing the reply.
[22h14 Today]
Chat_Noir999: How do you plan on doing that? I will be totally frank, I want to believe you, but I'm finding that hard to do.
Lucie nodded, satisfied, while in her head she was rethinking everything. Zhi would only answer tomorrow, probably. With some luck she might even wait longer to answer, buying more time for the operation to unfold.
He interrupted her line of thinking, "Don't you think that sounds a bit cold? And harsh?." He asked abruptly while he reread the text, irrational fear creeping in.
Lucie sighed, "It's not cold, it is serious. I think it's important that you make her see that you're done with her playing with your feelings," rethinking and cursing what she had just said, she quickly added, "not that I think she did it on purpose, you know, staying away for so long… I think she was probably doing what she thought was best, without the intention of hurting you," Lucie had to make him take a stand in their weird relationship and at the same time, not compromise the way Zhi's persona looked in his eyes, "but she did hurt you, and she has to know and own up to that."
He gave her an unsure nod, still grasping the phone. And that was when Lucie realized that this was going to be a long night for him, because he wouldn't be getting an answer soon. Zhi was asleep, and if after a few minutes he was already overthinking it, Lucie knew it would only get worse. She had to do something.
"It's late. Why don't you sleep and we will continue this tomorrow?" She asked, holding his hand for comfort.
He just looked at her like she had said the stupidest thing he'd ever heard, "How am I supposed to sleep after sending a text like this, Luce?"
"I'm just saying that she might be asleep, and, because of that, not answer. Better if you just let it go for today…"
"No, she is not sleeping, she turns off her phone when she sleeps. The text was delivered, just not seen yet."
Of course the phone wasn't off! She, Lucie, hadn't turned it off! Lucie cursed under her breath. What could she do to ease his conscience!?
"Okay." She sighed deeply, "Look, Adrien," she started, motioning to take the phone of his hands, "Let's do something while we wait, watch a movie, play cards, something," Even if it takes all night, which it probably will, she thought to herself, "this way, you can stay away from the temptation of sending another text, okay?"
He sighed and was about to let her have his phone, when a new notification came in.
To Lucie's surprise, it was Buggzhinette's.
Was Zhi awake? That was dangerous.
Adrien happily read the response and once he had finished his eyes were doubled in size and his breathing compromised. Lucie's curiosity got the best of her and she came over his shoulder to read it too.
[22h35 Today]
Buggzhinette: Want some proof that I'm serious? How about I take you up on that suggestion of yours and meet you somewhere? You think that's good enough for now? ^^
Crap. Crap. Crap. Was all Lucie could think of.