"Dude! Heard your dad's back in town!"

Adrien spins around just in time to see his friend approaching. Nino is accompanied by his girlfriend Alya and of course, Marinette. He forces a smile. He's tired. Sleep's not come as easily as he would like. Still, he's made it to class. It's a distraction, albeit not a very effective one. His father is still at home and it doesn't matter that they've scarcely said a word to one another, his presence is enough.

They'll be just what he needs, a chance to distract himself and forget about just what's going on back home. In an odd way, it reminds him of when he was fourteen before he knew just who was hiding behind Hawk Moth's mask. Back then, he'd lived for even an hour or so with his friends. Things have changed of course. In adopting the mantle of carer and "Man", Nathalie had succeeded in making his home life infinitely more bearable, providing, despite her surname, a certain amount of warmth and comfort he'd found lacking since his mother had disappeared.

Now Gabriel's back and for the life of him, he doesn't know what to make of it. These past two days, he's been studiously keeping out of the man's way. Spending all of his time at home locked up in his room or sneaking out in order to walk Macaroon. He's not even told his father about the dog yet, aware that the man will disapprove and want rid of it.

In short, Adrien wants out, if only for a few minutes. His friends offer the perfect escape route. So he greats them as enthusiastically as he can. There's something about seeing him however that causes them to stop. Concern marking their features:

"Oh, Dude…" It's Nino who's the first to dare speak, addressing him in a jovial manner but one which fails to mask his worry. "You look like-"

"I know." He cuts his friend short, running a hand through his fringe to get it out of his eyes. "It's been… Complicated..."

"You two still not seeing eye to eye?" Alya successfully guesses.

"It's-" Adrien shrugs, aware of just how cliched what he's about to say will sound. "Complicated."

They don't know everything. How could they? They just think it's something to do with his father's restrictive parenting. It certainly doesn't help. The notion of having some form of leash put back on him isn't appealing in the slightest. He's fought too hard for the freedom he currently enjoys. So, the story is that they're bickering. It's neither the truth nor a lie. They're not speaking to argue and they're not speaking because deep down inside, Adrien can't even bring himself to contemplate forgiving the man.

Marinette smiles understandingly and moves forwards. She takes his arm, resting her cheek against his bicep. He smiles, appreciating the gesture. He would like a few minutes alone with her, just to talk. Things aren't quite the same over text. He still makes the effort to keep her up to date. Smiling, she takes his right hand in both of hers:

"Come on… We'll take your mind off things."

He likes the sound of that promise. It's Wednesday and that means that they've got the afternoon free. Studies are banished from their schedules as his friends make it clear that they intend to spend the next few hours together and not thinking about their own troubles. It's almost as if they're reading his mind. Maybe Marinette's had a word with them or is he just that transparent? He refuses to think about the matter any further than that. For the rest of today, he will do what he wishes he could do more often which is be a regular teenager. He'll allow himself to forget about his father, about Hawk Moth's terrible legacy and the civil war threatening to erupt back at the Agreste mansion. Right now, he's going to be a carefree buddy and a good boyfriend.

They go to the cinema and watch an adventure film. It's a bit brainless but none-the-less enjoyable. In all honesty, Adrien doesn't have eyes so much for the film as he does for Marinette. She takes the opportunity to snuggle up to him. It's a proximity they've both found themselves deprived of these past few days. It's only as she leans against him and he rests his head atop hers that he finds himself reminded just how much he's missed her. It's not staying over at her place, that he can live without. With everything that's happened, they haven't been together as much and when they have, they've inevitably found themselves discussing "business".

Not today however. Today is just for them.

They leave the theater and walk along hand-in-hand. Alya's talking about her internship. She thanks Marinette for putting in a good word with Nadia Chamack.

They head to the Trocadéro. It's reasonably quiet as most of the tourists are yet to arrive for the summer. He lies atop one of the stone balustrades, doing his best to ignore the odd and somewhat disapproving looks the police give them from time to time. They're not technically breaking the law, at least he doesn't think they are but they are slouching around on a major tourist attraction. Adrien doesn't care. He feels tired again but not quite in the same way that he has been recently. It doesn't feel as if something is physically draining him. This is as if all the sleep he's been missing has caught up with him. He acquaints it more to sleepiness than the exhaustion he's been battling with.

He manages to stay awake by listening to some of the recordings that Nino's been making lately. They've got a certain beat to them. The DJ's got skills and already has a plan about just how he's going to use them. They have so much to talk about, to share. It almost feels like they haven't been together in forever. In practice, it has only have been a few weeks since all of this kicked off.

They finish the afternoon with an ice cream from André's. The traveling merchant is near the Eiffel tower right now and they find themselves with something of a wait on their hands. He is after all, rather popular and none of them are about to complain if they end up spending just a little bit longer in one another's company. Marinette practically hasn't let go of his hand and he's all the happier for it. As they sit down, taking advantage of the slowly lengthening days and the sun which shines down just that little bit longer, Adrien makes a silent promise to himself to ensure that they never become separated, no matter what next year brings.

By a little after seven however, the group reluctantly has to agree to go their own ways. They all have class tomorrow and their families are expecting them home for dinner. Adrien sincerely thanks Alya and Nino. They've made his day, in every sense.

Marinette lingers for just a little while longer. There's a metro not too far away that will see her home soon enough and he's only got to walk a little bit down the street. Still, he's grateful for these few moments longer. Were things different, he would beg her to stay, just a bit longer. Somehow, this girl is an anchor and a sense of perspective. As long as she's here, he feels like he knows just who he is and that none of his demons can harm him.

After a reasonably substantial period of time spent mostly in silence. Marinette goes up on her tiptoes. Initially, he assumes that she's leaning into a kiss – and is only too happy to oblige. When she wraps her arms around his neck, he's a bit startled but goes through with it none-the-less pulling her in close. He forgets about everything else: the ghosts of the past, the people who surround them presently and what might be tomorrow. With a single gesture, she manages to banish all of his troubles and soothe his soul.

"Thank you." Is all that he can think to say. "I needed that."

"How many times am I going to have to tell you that we're always here for you?" She laughs burying her face in the crook of his neck.

He smiles feeling the tension in his body begin to dissipate. If he could, he'd stay like this for the next few hours, perhaps even forever… Unfortunately, he's acutely aware of time passing by. They both need to be heading home.

She pulls away and he takes the opportunity to place a gentle kiss on her forehead. The girl blushes briefly, heat rising to her cheeks. He hesitates. This is the first time she's seen him smile so sincerely and be so carefree in a while. Marinette doesn't want to unintentionally end up upsetting him or otherwise triggering an outburst of some kind. At the same time, she can see the weight of what's going on at home settled upon her boyfriend's shoulders. He isn't himself. That much is obvious.

So, just before parting, she takes a chance and ventures:

"You know it's easier when you let others in."

He doesn't reply or rather, not with words. Instead, the young man just nods a few times. Enough to let her know that he has listened to her words. He might just some time to know what, if anything, to do with them.

They part an instant later. Adrien's walk home is only a brief one. His heart draws heavier with each step. He ponders on who will be waiting for him. His mother generally makes a point of rushing to greet him upon his every return. These past few days, his father has silently accompanied her. The man watches but says nothing. If he wants Nathalie, he must seek her out. Thankfully, they seldom make any effort to follow him if he goes there. She remains a beacon of familiarity in what has abruptly become a strange and unfamiliar world.

He's been trying so hard to ignore everything else and to focus on what is comfortable to him.

It's the same old scene awaiting him when he makes his way into the mansion. He tiptoes in, shutting the door as silently as possible behind him. All the same, as if driven by some inexplicable alarm system, his mother and father materialize in front of the study. Instinctively, he finds himself eyeing that which leads to the dining room where Nathalie now spends much of her time working. Usually, he just makes a beeline for it. Today however, he finds himself abiding in the doorway for just a little longer than usual.

Despite his instincts, he glances back towards his parents, who seem all the more surprised for it. His mother however manages to get over it and asks:

"How was your day?"

"Fine..." It's a simplistic response but it's more than she usually gets.

"Have fun?"

"Yes."

"Where'd you go?"

"I was hanging out with Marinette and the others."

"Is she well?"

Adrien's gaze fixes his father more particularly as the man was the one to ask the question. There's some genuine care behind his voice. Of course… He could just be acting. For a few moments, anger boils deep down inside. It's almost impossible not to look at Gabriel's face and find himself back in that repository, staring at Marinette, forced into an eternal slumber curtsy of a good dose of sedatives and the most expensive life-support money can buy. Still, through the rage and the undeniable urge which swells up inside of him to punch the man's lights out, he manages to say just a single word:

"Yes."

That's it; all he says before retreating into the lounge. For all that, he gets a singular reward. When he enters, whilst she still looks tired. Nathalie who always seems to know just what's going on the in the house smiles at him. He's done well...