Chapter 6

"Honey, I'm home!"

Adrien cracked a grin as Nino sauntered through his bedroom door, carrying his bag in one hand. His clothes were rumpled and his hat was crooked, making the boy look like he'd been through quite a rough day.

He collapsed on the floor, as though he couldn't bring himself to take another step. Adrien simply leaned against his desk and crossed his arms, smiling in amusement.

"The horror!" The werewolf cried out dramatically. "You have no idea what I've been through!"

"Oh? Please, do explain," the blond replied dryly.

"It all started when I had to wake up at the ungodly hour of seven, to make it to school by eight. Then, I had to go to classes and listen to teachers talk of things I already knew. I was so bored, Your Highness!"

The Prince hummed, nodding. "I see. Continue."

"I had to walk to all my classes, so much walking! Then at the end of the day, when I was thoroughly exhausted, I had to run all the way back here! I am in so much pain, my dearest friend."

Adrien shrugged, fighting against a smile threatening to break out on his face. "You'll get over it."

Nino huffed, getting into a stance and eyeing his friend distastefully. "Jeez, what does it take to get a little sympathy around here?"

"When you show that you deserve it," Adrien returned, this time not even bothering to hide his smirk. "Seriously, though, how was your day? Did you find Marinette?"

Nino rolled his eyes. "No, dude, I didn't find Marinette, despite you putting me in all the same classes as her. Nope, never noticed her."

Now it was Adrien's turn to roll his eyes. "Come on, just answer the question."

"Alright, alright," he grumbled. "I saw Marinette, and I befriended her and followed her around like a devoted pet. Happy now?"

"Yes," the blond answered, grinning. "By the way, wouldn't that technically be true? I mean, you kind of are a dog, and dogs are often kept as pets..."

While Adrien laughed at his joke, Nino glowered and refused to answer. Instead, he walked to the window, grabbed ahold of the curtain, and parted it, letting a ray of sunshine hit the unsuspecting vampire.

Adrien ceased laughing when he felt his hand burning. He hissed in pain and removed it from its place on the desk, glaring at Nino while he put the curtain back.

"Asshole," he growled, watching as his hand slowly started to heal.

"You kind of deserve it for putting me through this shit. You're lucky I made some friends today."

Adrien had another snarky retort ready to fire, but held it back. He didn't want to get burned again.

"Oh? And who are your friends?"

"Aside from Marinette, there's Alya, Kim, and Max."

The Prince perked up at hearing the name 'Alya', he remembered that was the name of Marinette's best friend. As for Kim and Max, he had no idea who they were.

"I'm guessing they were nice?"

Nino nodded. "Yeah, they were. The four of us went to lunch and hung out. It was pretty fun, actually."

Adrien frowned, wishing more than ever that he was human, or at least a werewolf. That way, he could go to school like any other normal person. Free to pursue Marinette, free to make friends, free to walk in the sunlight.

It would also be nice to be able to drink something other than blood. He tasted tea, coffee, and milk before, but had to regurgitate them since vampires are only built to sustain blood as a life source. Any other food source just sits in the stomach, useless and becomes sloshed around when moved.

"So, you gonna visit her again, tonight?" Nino asked, distracting Adrien from his mental torment.

The thought of visiting his princess brought about a pleased grin.

"What do you think?"

...

Marinette smiled when she heard the tapping on the trapdoor. She somehow had a feeling she was going to get used to hearing the sound.

Casting one last glance back to the warm croissants waiting on her desk, she walked up the staircase to let him inside. The feline man dropped down on all fours and gave her a roguish grin.

"Happy to see me, Princess?"

Her smile turned coy as she raised an eyebrow. "Yes. I need to hear my daily dose of compliments," she joked.

His lips quirked up into a smirk. "Of course. Marinette, the moon and all the stars in the galaxies can't compare to your beauty," he professed.

She giggled and rolled her eyes. "That was so cheesy."

He shrugged, still with that grin on his face. "Purrhaps. So, how was you day? Anything exciting happen?" He inquired innocently enough to not arouse suspicion.

Marinette turned and walked down the staircase while simultaneously answering him. He followed after her, listening to her every word.

"Not really. We have a new student in my class, he's a pretty nice guy."

Chat's lips curled into a playful smirk while the girl sat down on her chaise, eyes directed on him as he stood before her. She forced herself to remain staring into his irises, as opposed to the way his mouth was quirked up. It caused a weird feeling to occur in her stomach.

"A new guy, hm? Should I be jealous?"

Marinette chuckled and shook her head. "No, he's just a friend. Although..." she stopped, her eyes glittering mischievously as she placed an index finger on her chin in thought.

Chat tilted his head, puzzled by her new tone and what it meant. "Although, what?"

"Although, I think he could be a good match for Alya," she murmured, still deep in thought.

He remembered this Alya to be Marinette's best friend. It took everything in him to not laugh out loud. The irony of his best friend possibly dating her best friend was almost too much to bear.

Although, it would be interesting. He'd have to ask Nino about her later.

"And it's kind of weird how he's in all my classes," she mused with a pensive frown. But all too quickly she shrugged with a half smile. "Oh well. Stranger things have happened."

Chat held back an amused snort. Stranger things have happened, indeed. He was proof of that, for how many human girls had vampire princes trying to pursue them?

"So," she breathed. "How was your day?"

"Better now that I'm here with you," he replied smoothly, wriggling his eyebrows. Marinette only rolled her eyes in response. However, the movement allowed her to spy the plate of croissants on her desk.

Smiling, she walked over to them, happy to see that they were still warm. She picked up the plate and held it out to the surprised feline.

"Want a croissant? They're still warm," she offered.

Chat forced a smile to his face, for inside he was recoiling. He didn't want to hurt her feelings, but he really didn't want to have to bring himself to throw up the croissant later on.

"Sure, Princess! Thank you."

Oh, the things he did for love.

Smile still plastered on his face, he reached out a hand and picked up the flaky pastry. He brought it to his mouth and sunk his teeth into it, immediately tasting the buttery flavor. It was good, delicious in fact. It killed him that he couldn't digest it.

A few bites later and it was gone, down to rest in his stomach until he could go home and force it out. He fought against a shiver at the painful thought.

"Did you like it?" She chirped, cheeks dusted in a rosy hue. The way her sapphire eyes were brightened, and how her smile was so eager and wide and hopeful, made her look absolutely adorable.

He nodded with a grin. "It was amazing. Thank you."

"You're welcome," she beamed. "Want another one?"

This was going to be a long night.

...

Nino grimaced when he heard Adrien's cry as he threw up again. He stood just a few trees away from the blond prince, far enough to give him space but close enough to help if he passed out or anything.

"You okay?" The werewolf called out in concern.

"Does it sound it?!" Came the snappish reply before another hurling sound filled the night air.

Nino shuddered with a disgusted frown. "Why didn't you just not eat the croissants?"

"Because I...didn't want to hurt...her feelings!"

"This wouldn't have happened if you just told her the truth!"

"Shut up!"

Nino closed his eyes and shook his head. He didn't understand his friend's mentality. He could've easily refused the food offered to him but he took it anyway, in hope of not hurting Marinette's feelings. It couldn't have hurt her feelings that bad, right? He was worrying over nothing.

He opened his eyes when he heard shuffling footsteps on the forest floor. He turned and saw Adrien approach, looking sickly pale (even for a vampire) with extremely dark blood under his chin.

"Shit, man, you alright?!" Nino gaped in shock.

At first the blond said nothing. His green eyes were wide as he gazed at his best friend, his mouth opening briefly and his fangs poked out.

Nino swallowed nervously. "Um, dude? You there?"

Adrien shut his eyes and shook his head. "Yeah," he ground out. "Just really thirsty."

Of course, he should've known. Along with the food, Adrien had to have nearly thrown up all of his blood supply. He couldn't imagine what his friend was going through.

"Want to head out to feed?" Nino asked.

"No. I don't want any...distractions."

Right. Nino, while immortal, was still a living creature who had a heart that continously pumped blood throughout his body. It must've been hard for him to not pounce on him right then and there and sink his fangs in his neck.

Then again, if he didn't go, who would make sure that Adrien didn't snap?

"No, I'm going with you. You're too dangerous on your own," Nino refused.

"You're not coming with-"

"You don't think I noticed that look earlier? I know you wanted to drain me dry just a few minutes ago. I have to go with you to make sure you don't snap," the werewolf stated sternly, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

"I have the best self control around," Adrien hissed angrily. "I'm not going to snap."

"Then why don't you want me with you so bad?"

The Prince growled and turned away from him. "Fine! Come with me. I don't give two shits!"

Nino almost snickered. Boy, someone was cranky when they were thirsty.

...

The good news was that Adrien didn't go for his neck all the way to the closest city.

The bad news was that they were just across the street from the bar, and Nino could tell Adrien was having a hard time holding himself back from just rushing in and grabbing a random person and drinking from them.

"Come on," the blond grunted as he strode forward. Nino followed, though with a concerned frown.

Adrien opened the door to the establishment, not even waiting for Nino to go inside before walking up to the first single girl he saw sitting at the bar. Nino sat a few barstools over, making sure to keep an eye on his friend.

He watched as Adrien leaned in closer to the girl with a predatory smirk, the brunette grinned back and wrapped the hand that wasn't attached to her glass around his neck.

Anything could happen now.

A/N: Last sentence perfectly describes America right now. Trump has a very real chance of becoming President, and I'm seriously scared as a woman of what could happen.