An irritated glare from his father brought Adrien to the awareness that he was drumming his fingers against his leg. Mentally forcing himself to still his fidgets, Adrien sat stiff and formally beside the man. What kinds of things ran through the mind of the God of Fire on a night like this - a Bride night? Did he even care other than to add another woman to his list? Was a new bride ever going to appease him of the death of Adrien's mother?

Adrien's request to observe the ritual had earned him a deep stare and frown before Gabriel had simply nodded curtly and left the room.

Adrien admired the fact that his father seemed to care enough to put extra efforts in his appearance. Freshly bathed and shaven, with his silver hair carefully slicked back, the man had his solemn look of disapproval carefully in place. He wore a white robe that seemed to be specifically designed for this annual occasion, layered with fabric woven in red and white stripes.

"Where's Nathalie?" Gabriel's voice echoed in the courtyard. Adrien shrugged.

"Maybe she is with the women. Would you like me to check?" He offered, wondering how closely the first wife was involved in this entire ceremony. Gabriel's waved in dismissal of the offer, leaving them to wait in silence in the middle of the courtyard with nothing but stars and flickering torches on the walls.

Adrien let his mind wander to Marinette, wondering idly what she was doing. He hoped she was asleep, seeing as it was well past midnight. A vision of her curled up in his bed, her dark hair splayed across the pillow, her soft lips pursed slightly as she dreamed crossed his mind, leaving him more than a little desperate to hurry home.

This had to work.

Shaking his head to stay focused, he heard the click of doors opening from the women's wing, a trail of Gabriel's current wives walked in pairs down the hallway to encircle the room. Each held a candle, bathing the room in a soft glow.

Adrien supposed it would be incredibly romantic - if this ceremony meant anything of value to either participant.

The bride's arrival was quiet, a single woman in a gown of elaborate white, hood pulled far over her face. She walked slowly with her head bowed, hands clasped in front of her as she made her way down the path. When she reached the middle of the courtyard, she knelt, bowing low.

Gabriel made a soft grunting sound, one that Adrien knew was a small sign of approval that he rarely gave. The God of Fire pushed himself off his chair, stepping down to the pathway towards the woman huddled on the ground.

Adrien's heart pounded so loudly in his chest that he worried his father could hear the sound reverberating against the walls. Plagg shuffled underneath the safety of Adrien's gown as a silent reminder to remain calm. He commended Mireille, who diligently stayed in her submissive pose as Gabriel approached.

"Stand." The voice was commanding and authoritative. So much so that Adrien had to resist the urge to instantly obey his father. Years and years of living under his father's rules left him still struggling for independence. Mireille, however, did as she was told, rising gracefully to her feet.

Gabriel slowly pulled back the hood of the bridal gown, revealing dark hair and big brown eyes that Mireille kept lowered. A hand on her chin tipped her head back for closer examination before Gabriel clasped his hands behind himself and stepped around her.

Mireille took the brief second while Gabriel was out of sight to let her eyes flicker to Adrien who shot her what he hoped was a reassuring smile.

"You look familiar," Gabriel mused, leaving Adrien worried that maybe their game had been discovered. Narrowed eyes looked at her again. "What is your name?"

"Mireille," she answered without hesitation. Gabriel gave a throaty hum before nodding.

"Yes. You can be a wife." There was a short moment of silence as Gabriel scanned the room. A look of disapproval rippled across his father's face before turning back to Mireille. Taking her hand, he commanded her to repeat after him a series of vows that Adrien didn't hear. Relief filled him as he realized their little ruse had succeeded, leaving Marinette to stay free from his father's grasp. She could be his. His heart soared as he envisioned racing home to her side.

Thoughts of how to explain the mix up of identities rattled around. She would understand. He was sure of it. Especially now that she was free from the Fire God and her fears about her village could stop.

The ritual ended with the other wives coming in close to greet their new sister and to lead her back to the women's quarters.

"STOP!"

The shout that filled the courtyard was emphasized by the sound of a door being smashed open with tremendous force and slamming against a wall. Nathalie came barrelling into the yard with her hands clenched into fists, face red and angry as she stared Adrien down. Immortal or not, Adrien recognized danger when he saw it, stumbling to his feet with his arms raised in front of himself for protection.

"You!" She screamed, a carefully manicured finger pointing in his face. "Lock ME in a room and leave me there? What are you doing, you conniving little brat?"

The woman whirled to take in the scene her eyes stopping on Mireille dressed in her elaborate wedding gown. Adrien watched Mireille's face turn to panic, her eyes widening to the size of saucers and her face going pale as she frantically looked his way. He gestured for her to go, hoping she could escape any incoming wrath. The women scattered rushing off to their quarters with squeals and screeches.

Adrien was prepared when Nathalie spun her attention back to him again.

"I have no idea what you are talking about Nathalie. I just wanted to go ask Father if I could watch the ceremony and I left. Maybe the door got stuck somehow?"

"What is the meaning of this, Nathalie?" Gabriel asked. Adrien could feel the anger rolling off the man.

"Your SON locked me in his old room. Then I finally get out and I find you here, mid-ceremony, marrying a bride you already are married to."

Gabriel's eyes narrowed dangerously in Adrien's direction. Fear rippled through him. Angry Gabriel was a terrible person.

"Explain. Now."

Hands thrown up in a gesture of innocence, Adrien attempted to laugh.

"It was just a prank. I swear. I bribed that girl to see if you would recognize her as one of your wives. We were just trying to have some fun. You have to admit that it was funny that you didn't even know."

He was rambling, he knew it. Hopefully, his father would believe him. The man stared angrily at him for longer than Adrien was comfortable with, leaving him feeling raw and jumpy.

"Why?"

Adrien shrugged.

"Just for fun."

"So it has nothing to do with the human girl in your house? The one wearing my gown that you said was for your father's bride? The one who was supposed to be the sacrifice?" Chloe's whining voice left an ice trail down his spine. His eyes found her leaning casually in the doorway that Nathalie had burst through, her face twisted into a confident smirk that made him want to slap it off.

She knew about Marinette.

"If you touched her..." he ground out, taking a step in Chloe's direction. His father's hand on his arm stopped him from going farther.

"You took a bride? My bride?" His father's voice was low and dark, a sign of the rage beneath the surface.

"No, Father, it was a big misunderstanding."

"You took my wife, hid her in your home, tried to deceive me with this elaborate ruse to remarry a wife I already have so you could what - sleep with her? Keep her?" The grip on his arm tightened as his father spoke, the hold painful and menacing.

"Do you think I care enough about these women that I wouldn't have let you use whichever one you wanted?" Adrien blinked. His father would offer him use of a wife? He felt his stomach roll at the casual comment, determined more than ever to keep Marinette from the man. Chloe chuckled loudly from her perch in the doorway.

"Let go of me." Adrien pulled his arm, attempting to free it from the grasp. The fingers curled around his forearm were hot, the heat sinking through the thin fabric of the sleeve.

"You betrayed me, Adrien." His father somehow managed to keep his face emotionless, but his eyes were dancing in a murderous rage. Adrien could feel the rhythm of his heart stutter in panic.

"No, Father. It's just a mistake. I promise." Gabriel's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"The girl is mine. You will give her back to me."

Despite the blistering heat on his arm, Adrien felt cold. There was no way he would ever give Marinette to this monster - this demon.

"No." He could barely believe his own voice, speaking out in stubborn refusal.

Suddenly, there was fire. The wrath of his father burned brightly around them, flames licking against his skin in a sickening wave.

"Are you prepared for the consequences of your behaviour, boy? That girl is MINE!" Gabriel roared, his eyes burning holes through Adrien's brain. "I will destroy her."

No. Gabriel must never get close to Marinette. She was too sweet. Too special. Too wonderful for this angry, violent man. Adrien felt panic clawing up his throat. No. A strong pull of his arm set his free, leaving him to jump over the flame and run. Gabriel's voice screamed on the other side, shouting his name. Adrien looked quickly at Chloe, seeing her shrink back slightly at the anger he directed her way.

"Plagg!" He didn't need to call, his partner already prepping to transform. It was fluid when it happened, the melding of man to beast seamless before paws were running faster than ever before, urgency forcing his strides to the widest they could go.

Marinette was the only goal now. His mind raced as fast as his feet, frantic plans whirling into place. He needed to hide her somewhere safe. He wasn't sure how much time he would have as a head start - every second that he could keep ahead of his father was vital. His legs hurt from the speed he was forcing them to move, the pathway lit up with his cat-like night vision while everything around his rushed past in dark blurs.

He burst apart from Plagg mid-lunge into the back porch, already running his human feet through the house in desperate movements. Everything that belonged to Marinette was tossed onto the couch. It was a cacophony of sudden noise and light that he didn't even care about.

Marinette herself came stumbling out of the bedroom dressed only in her undergown, her hair dishevelled as she rubbed her eyes, and sleepily rasped his name in confusion. At any other moment, he would have marched straight across the room and kissed her so soundly that she wouldn't have been able to breathe. But he couldn't, simply rushing from place to place to gather her things. The box from under the bed, her wedding gown, the clothes from her village - into the pile it went.

Plagg helped, making sure his favourite chunks of cheese were packed with everything else, before zipping into the bedroom to coax Tikki off the warmth of the bedcover.

Marinette frowned as she scooped her mewling kitten in her arms, her face an outward sign of the confusion she must have felt on the inside.

"Adrien?" Her voice was louder this time. He had to make sure everything was set before he allowed himself to look at her again. The pile was big, but manageable, tied together in her old sheet. Satisfied with his work, he spun to face her at last.

"What are you doing? Come to bed." She reached out the hand that wasn't cradling Tikki and touched his arm with a sleepy smile. He didn't feel himself move, but suddenly she was in his arms, his mouth desperately moving against hers. His fear of what was coming made his kisses harsh instead of passionate. When he forced himself to break apart, she simply blinked in surprise, fingers touching her swollen lips.

"What is it? What's wrong?" His forehead leaned on hers as he tried to calm himself down. No need to panic her. She didn't deserve this.

"Come." His fingers laced between hers as he picked up Chloe's gown from where Marinette had laid it for the night. The sack of belongings gathered he pulled them out the door while ordering Plagg to turn out the lamps. Marinette seemed confused but thankfully stayed quiet as he led her down the path to Nino's hall.

Nino would hide them, at least for tonight. Gabriel's parental neglect had one advantage - the unawareness of which Gods Adrien considered friends. As long as Chloe didn't piece things together… Adrien shook his head.

There was no sign of his father yet, no glow of ominous flames, no blistering heat, not even the prickle of rage burning skin. That, at least, gave Adrien hope.

Nino was surprised to see them when he pulled open the heavy doors in response to Adrien's loud thumps.

"Dude. What's up? Kind of late, isn't it?"

"I need your help. Do you have a room?" Nino's eyes slid between Adrien, Marinette, and the oversized sack of belongings before returning to stare at Adrien with a raised eyebrow and a nod. Thankful that Nino never really pushed for answers to questions that he might have, Adrien pulled Marinette to the room that Nino offered.

The good night he offered his friend was too curt for the hospitality his friend had shown, but Adrien didn't care. Closing the door firmly behind himself, he watched Marinette settle Tikki into a blanket on a chair in the corner of the small room. Plagg curled up with her, giving Adrien a quick frown before snuggling against the little kitten.

He dug his fingers into his hair in frustration. Everything had gone wrong. She was in danger because he had decided to literally play with fire. If he had just delivered her to his father that first day - none of this would have happened.

A vision of Marinette standing in the middle of the courtyard as his father examined her for his approval made his stomach churn. No. He could never let his father touch her.

"Now, what's wrong?" Marinette's voice pulled him from the darkness of his thoughts. She had moved closer while he had been lost in his bubble of despair, a soft hand on his forearm. He searched her face, crinkled with worry. How to explain it all? How could he tell her that this had failed and she was in danger?

He ran his knuckles down the soft skin of her cheek as he let himself sink into the depths of her blue eyes. How had he fallen for her so quickly? How could he keep her safe against the wrath of his father?

"Marinette. I - " Words failed him. When she stretched up on her toes to place a soft kiss on his mouth, he took it as a sign, pressing his lips to hers with desperate need. His fingers trailed down smooth skin as he slid her undertunic from her shoulders, pulling her close.

He didn't care that she belonged to his father. He didn't care that she wasn't really his wife. All he cared about was that tonight, she was his.