Chapter 9: Take on me
Aha – Take on me (Deadpool 2 soundtrack)
The song is the acoustic version, just put it on loop as it fits the entire chapter, mainly the Ladrien scene.
"Adrien!" Gabriel called, tapping his son's face to wake him up. "Adrien, son, please wake up!"
The designer lifted his unconscious child onto his lap and carried him out of the secret lair. The moment he set foot on his study, he called for his assistant, the heavy form of his son's body straining his arms. "NATHALIE! NATHALIE, COME TO THE STUDY, QUICKLY!"
Always efficient, the brunette rushed to her boss' side. When she saw the reason Gabriel had called her with such urgency, she had to put her hands on her mouth to conceal the baffled expression that settled; there they were, Adrien was sprawled on Gabriel's lap who was sitting on the ground, holding his still child. She quickly regained her composure and ran to his side. "What happened?"
Gabriel ignored her question, he kept mumbling to his son, trying to wake him up. He kept futilely tapping his son's cheeks, hugging him tightly "It was the miraculous, they attacked his guardian and somehow, it affected him as well, I know it's damaged, but Emilie held on for so long, I thought Adrien would also resist. Ladybug's restoration spell didn't affect him at all, and I don't know why. He started to choke, and now, there are these marks on his neck, and he's not waking up!" His voice quivered at the end.
Nathalie grabbed the teen's wrist looking for a pulse. She felt a rapid beating, too fast to be considered normal, and narrowed her usually cold eyes at her employer. "You willingly gave a damaged miraculous to your son, what do you think it would happen? He has a pulse, a fast one, but a pulse anyway, and he's breathing. Sir, I think you've gone too far, please, think of your son!" She pleaded.
"Exactly, Nathalie! I've come too far! We can't give up now, I can't let Adrien hurt himself for nothing! This is his mother we're talking about! Émilie!" Gabriel answered maniacally.
Adrien started to shift slowly, letting out a weak whimper, startling his father, who fondled his soft golden locks with his fingers. "Shhh, it's okay, son, you're okay…" He said softly. Green eyes opened slowly, peaking through golden eyelashes; Adrien let out another whimper, his body was completely limp on his father's arms, his head lolled back from the lack of support. "Nathalie, help me carry him to his bed."
Nathalie nodded.
Since she hadn't used her Lucky Charm, Ladybug had all the time she wanted to go check on her partner. She couldn't stop thinking about what happened to him, she hadn't seen him since Gorizilla, the last time they talked, she sent the impression she was mad at him, but in reality, she was just shocked. And then, all that had happened at school, it truly felt like ages since the last time they saw each other. Her kitty was probably devastated by all that had happened to him these last days. His secret, his freedom, his friends, they were all taken away from him so brutally.
She was perched behind a chimney on a rooftop close to the Agreste Mansion, more precisely to the set of windows she knew adorned Adrien's bedroom. The lights were off, he probably wasn't home. Ladybug decided then to visit Master Fu first to talk to him about the strange Akuma, and then she would come back to see if Adrien was at home. Just as she stood, the lights inside the manor were turned on, making the spotted heroine smile, He's here! She thought. However, as she kept looking, the strangest thing happened inside the illuminated room. Ladybug peeked inside as Mr Agreste and his assistant carried a sleeping boy on their arms. Her heart started to race wildly, was Adrien passed out? What happened? "Calm down, he's probably sick, that's why he hasn't shown up this afternoon." She muttered to herself, attempting to subside the pang on her chest.
She stood in place and watched Gabriel turn to his assistant while lying Adrien, who was completely limp, on the bed, both the adults in the room seemed to be in a disarray. Ladybug had never seen them looking as frantic as they were, and that only put her nerves on edge even more. Adrien must be very sick, for them to lose their posture. Nathalie ran to another room, which she knew it was a bathroom and came from there with a change of clothes, she then proceeded to grab Adrien's torso, keeping him seated, making his head slouch limply to his chest. Mr Agreste took off his shirt, and Ladybug's cheeks started to burn, matching the scarlet colour of her suit, as she saw the love of her life half naked. Fortunately, it didn't last long, as his father redressed him quickly with a pyjama. After they finished changing him, and much to Ladybug's sanity, she wasn't sure for how long she could watch that boy being changed without her head exploding, Mr Agreste tucked Adrien in his bed, and in a rare act of affection, that left her gobsmacked, the designer kissed his son's forehead and left the room followed by Nathalie.
The scarlet heroine waited for about thirty minutes to make sure no one would come back to the room, and then rushed to his windowsill, she hesitated in knocking at the window, Adrien looked like he was sleeping, was it wise to wake him up, when he's probably sick? At the same time, she couldn't help but worry… She followed her instinct and knocked, "Chaton, are you there?" She half whispered. There was no response, Of course, he's sleeping, you idiot! She mentally facepalmed.
Ladybug, however, wasn't known to give up easily, and as the unsettledness in her heart increased, she tried to open one of the windows, finally realizing the reason as to why her crush always kept one unlocked.
The spotted heroine smirked, being able to open one of the glass panels. She jumped inside the dimly lighted room and rushed to her partner's side.
Tears pricked her eyes, as she saw the state Adrien was in. Despite having his eyes closed, he was shaking madly, whimpering and coughing, like he was having trouble breathing. His nose was buried under the blankets, which reminded her of a small kitten sleeping. She rested a hand on his forehead, wincing at the burning sensation emanating from his body, he had a fever for sure. "Adrien?" She whispered. He didn't acknowledge her, in fact, he only seemed to have buried his head even deeper in the blankets. "Adrien, please…" She tried again, a stray tear flowing on her face. The heroine grazed her thumb lightly on his cheek "Kitty, please wake up…" she whispered again. Emerald eyes peeking behind a glazed look, stared at her, and Ladybug let out a breath of relief she didn't know she was holding.
"L-lad-y-b-bug…" the blonde breathed, his voice unsteady.
"Hey, Chaton! I came here to see you… I can't even imagine what you're going through right now, but please know that I'll always be here for you…" she said softly, caressing his hair.
"M'lady…" He answered, looking at her like he was delirious from the fever. He smiled softly at her until suddenly his frail body started to convulse as he coughed violently.
"Adrien, what's happening? Are you sick?" Ladybug jumped.
Once the coughing subsided, the model was left shaking, tears were pricking his eyes, as he stared vacantly at something past Ladybug. "It… It's nothing… this's just flu…" He answered weakly.
They stayed in silence for a few seconds, Ladybug continued to fondle with his hair. She was so comfortable like this, kneeling at her partner's side, caressing his hair. Despite the circumstances, this was the closest that they have ever been. She was startled from her thoughts as she felt the boy next to her shaking even more, his chest was convulsing again, but instead of the horrible coughs he had suffered instants earlier, she could only stare as she felt her hand getting wet, she looked at his face, and saw the tears that were now flowing freely from his eyes, he had started to sob, and her heart constricted as she was witnessing a sight she would never want to see. "Oh, Chat! Please tell me what's wrong, why are you crying?"
She only got sobs mixed with coughs as an answer, her partner grabbed her waist weakly locking her in place "Pl-please, d-don't leave me…" He pleaded softly.
"I wasn't going to, kitty… Can you tell me why you are crying?"
"I- I can't, he'll know, and it- it will be w-worse…" He sobbed.
"Who's going to know, Ade? Is it- is it your father?"
"Pl-Please, Ladybug, don't ask me any-anything… promise… promise me you… you'll forgive me"
"Forgive you for what, Chat?" She asked, eyes widening as she saw that his right hand was bare, the place where his ring used to rest, only had a tanned line now. She felt her stomach drop to her feet as she looked at him closely. Despite the poor lighting in the room, she noticed some marks that were starting to bruise on his exposed neck.
"Adrien, wha- What is this? Where's your ring? Was it… was it Hawkmoth?" She asked agitatedly.
However, the blonde didn't have any forces in him to answer, he could only sob exhausted. He rested his face against her stomach and cried. Ladybug could only hold him, caressing his back in an attempt to comfort him. It all made sense now, Hawkmoth had somehow got to this sweet boy, and stole the miraculous from him. And Adrien, stubborn as his superhero persona was, must have attempted to fight back, resulting on the marks on his neck. It didn't matter, what mattered is that this kind, perfect boy; no, not perfect, he's flawed, he's perfectly flawed; was hurt, he was grieving his loss.
Ladybug cried with him, "Adrien, Ade, my Chaton, I would never blame you for what happened, this was all Hawkmoth's doing, I'm so sorry for not being with you, I- I abandoned you when you needed me the most, and Hawkmoth took that chance to steal your miraculous." She paused, trying to keep her voice steady, "I promise you, we're going to make him pay for what he did, he'll regret ever laying a finger on you, I swear." The more she spoke, the more riled she was getting, she was just so angry, correct that she was furious, she was seething, no one hurts her kitty and gets away with it, no one!
Adrien, however, didn't seem to listen to her promises, he just kept sobbing, coughing and wheezing, his sickness mixing up with his panic, taking over his feeble body. Suddenly, his green eyes widened as he let go of her "You need to leave! He'll be here and if he sees you…" he paused to catch a breath, "it will be worse."
"I can't leave you like this, Adrien!"
"Please, Ladybug, my fath- my father is here…" He said the last words quietly, "he's taking care of… he's taking care of me, I'll be fine! Please leave…" he cried in fear, no longer having the strength to move.
Ladybug stroked his cheeks one last time, cleaning the tears that were staining them "I'm going, but I promise you, kitty, I will get Hawkmoth once and for all!" She said with a fresh wave of determination. Just as she was turning to leave, a weak hand grabbed her wrist, she looked back, staring lovingly at her love,
"I- I love you, my Lady! So much… please forgive me…" He admitted weakly.
She smiled at him adoringly, "I love you too, Chaton…" she whispered.
She gave him a final peck on his forehead and went to his window. She then proceeded to close it, taking one final look at the fragile boy who she felt she was abandoning once more, and with a sunken heart, disappeared into the night.
Next chapter: "Ladybug, I'm afraid we have come to a crossroad, a dangerous one, I think it's time to end all the secrets, they only led us to this situation."
Ohhhh, I wonder just what the talk between Ladybug and Master Fu is going to be about.
Hope you liked this chapter, and thank you for the follows/favs and reviews, I know I rarely answer to them, but that's because I don't want to accidentally spoil anything, I guarantee you that I read them all, and they're what inspire me, even more, to write, knowing that people are reading and enjoying my story really warms my heart, so thank you.
See you next time!