Chapter 8

Y'all are the most amazing people, honestly I can't believe the outpouring of support from you guys, it blows my mind and makes me want to write more just for you. Also, good news! I'll be staying in town this summer, which means I have full Internet and service which you might not care about but it means a lot more writing and new stories. Stay tuned! Read and review.

Hugs'n'shit

lil-fledgling

True to her word, Marinette ended up sitting for most of her shower, her aching, bruised legs unable to hold her up for more than a few minutes. It was funny, that the last thing on her mind was, Mon Dieu, I'm in Adrian Agrest's shower! Instead her brain was going over every detail she could remember, up until she was akumatized, then everything turned grey and hazy, like looking into a muddy pond where the only thing you can see is the flash of a fish's tail when the light hits it fin just so.

It was frustrating, not being able to grasp the memories that were so close to the surface of her mind but still so illusive when she focused to hard on them.

With out paying much attention Marinette slipped out of the giant, luxury shower, reaching for a giant, fluffy towel, resting on a heated rack.

"Who would have thought one person could have so much money?" The young girl murmured to her self, wrapping her self in the plush towel and gaping at the massive washroom. Everything was done in black tile with silver and chrome overlay and accessories. It made her little apartment bathroom look pathetic and cheap in comparison.

In all her musings and deep thought Marinette hadn't heard the arguing outside her door.

"Plagg stop, you can't go in there!"

"I know I left cheese in there. Let me see…" The bathroom door burst open, Plagg buzzing in uninterestedly while Adrian stood dumfounded in the doorway, staring wide eyed at Marinette, who was only wearing the towel.

After a moment of horrified staring the poor adolescent boy began rambling, throwing out frantic apologies as he madly grabbed for his mischievous Kwami.

"I am so sorry, I swear, I didn't mean to- I didn't see anything and-Plagg would you come here?" Blushing wildly with Plagg firmly in hand Adrian all ran out of the room, leaving Marinette standing dumbfounded with a hot blush spreading down her checks and neck.

"Adrian Agrest just saw me in nothing more than a bath towel." She muttered to her self. She had to sit down for that one.

A pair of soft drawstring pants and a clean shirt had been left on the counter for Marinette to change into, for which she was grateful, as her dance costume had been ruined during the fight.

Feeling strangely shy, Marinette came out of the bathroom quietly, tugging self-consciously on the hem of the shirt, which hung off her in the most unflattering way, or so Marinette and her overactive fashion mind thought. In all her fussing in escaped her notice as to how much Adrian liked the look of her in his oversized cloths.

"How are you feeling?" Adrian asked, motioning for Marinette to sit down as he pulled up the first aid kit.

"Tired," She admitted, focusing on the antiseptic he carefully poured onto a cotton swab. "Completely exhausted is an understatement actually." Marinette winced as Adrian began pressing the soaked ball to the open blisters on her feet.

"Sorry, sorry," He mumbled, brows furrowed in concentration. She loved the different faces of Adrian Agrest. His concerned concentration was a new favourite.

"Feel free to sleep once I've got you all patched up," He offered, waving back at his king sized bed. "Only if you want to though, no pressure or anything," he said hastily, his face once again turning a rosy color. "I can take you home if you want, you might be more comfortable in your own bed and house."

Marinette shook her head, a blush also touching her cheeks.

"No that's okay. I-I would like to stay here if that's okay with you…" The familiar Chat Noir grin spread across his face and he raised his eyebrows suggestively. Marinette couldn't help but laugh, realizing that all of this weirdness and awkward atmosphere was for not, Chat Noir was her best friend, and that also made Adrian her best friend.

"You wish, Chaton. Now where's your phone? I have some explaining to do to my parents."

LB&CH

Adrian had to wonder what it was like to be given such relaxed freedom from his father as he watched Marinette sleep. Her parents wanted to know where she was, ("I'm with Alya, we're studying for a science test") and that she was safe, ("The akumatized dancer on top of Notre-Dame? I had no idea!") and then with out any fuss her parents said they would see her later and Marinette was curled up like a cat, sound asleep.

"What I wouldn't give for such trust and freedom," Adrian said softly, brushing a strand of hair away from her peaceful sleeping face. "mutual respect. It must be nice." Marinette sighed, rolling in her sleep, her face pressing against the side of Adrian's leg and her long calloused fingers gently closing around his opened hand. Adrian couldn't help but smile at the girl, ghosting a kiss against her forehead.

"But at least I have you."