The day started early as always when Mari tried to get some chores done. Her bathroom hadn't been cleaned for ages - okay, like a month or so.
The shower and floor were riddled with her hair and worn clothes.
She knew it was ironic how she treated her clothes. Like she worked in fashion but after a day being stressed over her or someone else's clothing she was just tired of it.
In her pyjamas, old boxer shorts and a thin t-shirt, she had opened the bathroom door just as Adrien exited. They would have collided and fallen on the floor in a heap had it not been for Adrien. He steadied her while they laughed:
"Well we are clumsy today, aren't we?", he seemed to be in a far better mood already than yesterday. Mari figured she could talk it over with him now.
"Soooo", she starts of, leading him to the kitchen and facing him at the kitchen table.
"I mean, I love you leaving your dad's, but it's been so long, what happened!?"
He squirmed a little but seemed to steel himself after taking a deep breath:
"You know how I've believed that sometimes, just sometimes Dad cares for me and not just the model son puppet he likes to present? For example that scarf that I love, the blue knitted one, you know how I was always under the impression that Dad got me that one? Or at least ordered Natalie to get me a nice gift?"
Marinette coloured at that, she had never told him.
"Turns out, not only did they throw away the original card, but also you know acted like it was his!? I swear had I not listened in, I would still feel the need to act as he wants me to. No more 'Adrien be here at 4:30 you need to be fitted extra well', or 'start your diet now, wait I'll just tell Natalie she'll deal with the staff', like a week earlier than the other models, and you know how I hate dieting. I always feel so weak around fashionweek already."
Marinette gasped. She had seen how the models starved themselves for weeks on end, malnourished skeletons walking the catwalk in clothes that were amazing but not important enough to fuck up your body over. She also knew Adrien had always been on a strict nutrition plan but had never thought his father would go so far in taking away his personal autonomy like that.
"Yeah! I mean I did get cookies at your place a few times and sneaked out for pizza and potter evenings.
Remember I started this martial arts course? My dad was livid, threw a proper tantrum in the foyer when I came home one night. It started off well enough, him being happy about me staying 'fit', like he cares about how I feel. But as a shoot came around while I was training three times a week, checking it out as a future career, he wanted me, no demanded I stop or I wouldn't fit with the other model. I swear he literally told me to 'stop pursuing interests that collide with modeling, it is embarrassing' like I was supposed to not have a life outside of work. For what?! His gain?! He's trying to make me go back to being the meek, soft spoken and obliging little boy and I am sick of it. Heck, I really want to go eat sushi, just the four of us."
He shook his head and mumbled something else under his breath, something Marinette couldn't quite get but sounded like: "He even rationed the cheese!".
Whatever that meant.
"So what's the plan now?" she awkwardly pat his arm, trying to comfort him and reassure him at the same time.
"You can stay here and become my roommate? God knows I've been trying to get one for as long as I've been in here. Don't know why none of them wants to live here after seeing it."
Again there was some grumbling from his side of the table:
"Why do so many men try it though." She discarded it as misheard, how would he know that nearly no girl had been interested and only the dudes were interested after seeing the, admittedly messy, flat.
He rubbed the back of his neck in a shy gesture she hadn't seen in almost a year.
"Well, I hoped you would say that, I've got rent for you already, if you're serious about me living here? I know that you could use a roommate." He combed his fingers through his tangled hair. "I really would love living with you."
With butterflies in her stomach and a huge smile on her face Marinette answered in kind.
"I guess hand over the cash then, roomie."
They shook hands and grinned at each other and discussed the logistics of living together, they would each pay half and start making a list for groceries. They figured they should tell the others and maybe have a little housewarming party or something.
"Do you have to work today or do you have anything else in mind you want to do? You know I'll be gone for most of the day so maybe invite the others for 8?"
"Yeah, I mean my Dad won't care too much where I am as long as I get to work tomorrow and I can maybe get more of my stuff out of there today. I'll just call up Nino later and ask him if we can borrow his Dads truck and stop to collect more of my things. Maybe even furniture. It's gonna be a stealth mission.", he looked almost excited.
"Do remember to take your games and consoles. I have a big TV but left the rest at home for mom and dad. Anyways, I'll clean the bath real quick so you have some space and", with a look at her flowery clock over the kitchen door: "god, I already need to get to work then."
He shrugged his shoulders, and made for the cupboards to make her some breakfast and himself a cup of green tea. Knowing where everything was already, would make it real easy to feel at home. He felt almost too homey already like it was just right to be there. It had always been that way with Marinette. 'What a great friend she was.' [;)]