Jagged was a nice kind of guy. It didn't matter how punk rock he looked he made sure to make time for his fans. Even Chloe. Although you had to wade through the mob of fans to get to him. Adrien linked his fingers through Marinette's, despite hesitation, because this time there was a crowd of people she could get lost in. He was determined not to let that happen.
"Adrien, it's hot, I want to get some air!" Marinette complained.
Adrien stopped pulling her. He looked disappointed and desperately glanced between her and Jagged. "Are you sure? We could just wait a little longer-"
"Adrien, it's fine, you wait. I'll meet you by the toilets."
"But-"
"I've got my phone if you get lost."
Adrien finally met her gaze, and he realised she was smirking at him. Suddenly it dawned on him how ridiculous he was being. She was going out to get some air, to cool off. She wasn't going to get lost.
"I'll be waiting. I promise," she repeated.
Adrien held up a pinkie finger. She rolled her eyes, smirked, but linked her finger around his. They held still for a moment, lingering a little longer than they had to, and she let go. She wriggled her way out of the crowd, and wandered out to the door. She got out of the way of the flowing tide of fans, and took a breath of cool, fresh air. She peeled off her jacket, burning like a sauna. She glanced around, exhausted and starving. Her eye turned to the open street. Marinette gasped. In the middle of the road was Adrien's sleek white car, and Natalie, and the gorilla. Marinette gulped. As soon as Adrien stepped out of the concert hall, he was practically trapped.
"What'd we do Tikki?"
There was no reply. That could have been because of the ringing in her ears, or because Tikki was now in the pocket of the jacket in her hands. She pulled the jacket up closer to try and hear better.
"Tikki?"
Still no reply. Marinette slipped her hand in her pocket. Her stomach dropped to her ankles. She patted herself down urgently, growing alarmed when she still couldn't find the kwami. Now she had two problems to deal with. Yet the only thing she could think to do was run back inside to the only person she had to support her. She had to get to Adrien without being seen.
Fortunately - or unfortunately, given what she could tell him - Chloe had gone to talk to them. While they were distracted, she darted back through the door.
"Adrien!"
Her voice was choked by worry as she wriggled towards the centre of the crowd. Adrien had finally made his way to the centre and was finally beside Jagged Stone, gazing up at him in awe, even as he apologised for lying to him.
"Here's the lady now," Jagged smirked. He reached out and grabbed Marinette's arm, so she had a certain path to follow to get to them. "I thought you'd gone Marinette."
"I came back, Adrien, your dads outside."
Adrien gasped. His expression stretched somewhere between shock and horror. Shock his father had actually come to look for him, and horror that his father was there to deal with him. He had threatened banning him from school before, and this time he would probably be angry enough to do it.
"No, no I can't go back now!" Adrien muttered desperately.
Tikki crawled up into Adrien's pocket opening and waved at Marinette eagerly to get her attention. Marinette was hardly able to look directly at Adrien, because she was glancing urgently around trying to catch a glimpse of Tikki, as well as avoiding the gorilla that was about to come through that door.
"Do you have a back exit?!" Adrien asked Jagged urgently.
"Yeah, this way," Jagged turned on his heels and abandoned the crowd of fans to head back stage again.
Adrien grabbed Marinette. He wasn't letting go this time. He wasn't going to lose her. Marinette, distracted by keeping an eye out for Tikki, grabbed his arm right back. He was the only thing there that she knew wasn't leaving. The one thing that was there if she needed him to be. And if she couldn't find Tikki, he was going to be the only other person who knew her secret, because she was already close to breaking down in fear. She lost Tikki, she couldn't lose Adrien, and she dug her nails in to make sure she wouldn't.
Jagged came to the fire exit that Marinette and Adrien had entered from. Adrien heaved a sigh of relief. If they were focused on the fan door, they wouldn't notice them sneaking out the stage door. He tugged Marinette on, and she suddenly realised that she couldn't leave. She couldn't walk out in case Tikki was here somewhere, and she could be anywhere in here.
"Wait, wait, wait we can't leave yet!" She said, urgently.
She dug her heels in so he couldn't drag her out. Adrien gave her an urgent frown. They were in a precarious situation now. She was desperate to stay, and he was desperate to go, and they couldn't separate again or they would lose each other and break their promise.
"Why can't we leave?" Adrien asked.
"Um!" Marinette's voice was shrill as she panicked and glanced around again, hoping Tikki was just appear.
Adrien tugged her arm again, "Mari, we have to go!"
"You don't understand-"
Marinette turned back to face him, ready to spill her secret to him, when a flash of pink in his inside pocket caught her eye. She stared at his chest. More specifically, she stared at Tikki. Relief and anger tangled inside of her.
On the bright side Tikki was safe! On the other hand Tikki was in the pocket of her crush, and if she asked him to give her back, she'd have to answer a lot of awkward questions. She'd have to lie to him. Or she'd have to get close enough that Tikki could climb into her jacket instead. This night was already swaying between awkward and romantic. It couldn't make up its mind whether they were hanging out as friends or if this was a date. Forcing him to get close enough that she could pick pocket him would either make or break any chance they had to make this friendship anything more. Marinette was still staring at his chest all the while she was thinking of this. Adrien shook her shoulder with his other hand. Her gaze flicked into his eyes. There was genuine fear in them.
"Mari, we gotta go," he said, calm but urgently.
Marinette's voice twisted tighter. "Sure!"
Adrien heaved yet another sigh of relief, grabbed her hand again, and dragged her outside before she could change her mind. A rush of cold air chilled the heat in his chest. His palms were clammy and his heart was pounding. Now he just had to get back to the bike...
The bike was too close to where his father's minions were gathered. Adrien pinned himself against the wall to hide.
"Oh no! We're trapped!" He groaned.
This couldn't be it! It couldn't end here! There were still things he had to do! He had to take Marinette to that crappy cafe, and take her home, and make sure she was safe! Why did his father have to ruin everything?!
"Stay here, I'll be right back," Marinette whispered.
"Mari, no!" Adrien hissed but it was too late.
She edged past him, cool as you like, and kept her head down as she walked over to the bike. All she had to so was wheel it back over to where Adrien was hiding without drawing attention to herself. Adrien watched as she walked as if she wasn't afraid of Chloe who was only a few feet away. If Chloe pointed her out, his father would have questions for her. Those prying questions in that cold hard tone of his. The one it was too difficult to argue with. Either she would cave or he would step forward to save her. Either way, it was game over.
Fortunately, Chloe didn't even glance her way. Marinette wheeled the bike calmly back to Adrien. He flashed her a grin. She pulled her jacket off from around her waist and dumped the hood over his head. She wasn't thinking straight because her heart was beating too fast.
"Get on the handle bars!" She hissed.
Suddenly confused and disorientated, Adrien obeyed her without question. He climbed onto the handle bars, holding her hood over his head and hiding in plain sight. Marinette's heart beat like the drum in a marching band. She was terrified and itching to run. She stretched her fingers, tapping them against the handle bars as she took a few deep, shaky breaths to prepare herself. Her gaze moved over to the tops of the buildings around them.
"Where's that dumb cat when you need him?!" She muttered.
"Go Mari!" Adrien hissed.
Marinette didn't need prompting. She started peddling urgently across the road, standing up so she could see over the strange ET re-enactment in front of her.
"OVER THERE! THE BAKER GIRL!" Chloe yelled.
Marinette yelped in alarm, and peddled faster. Adrien was thrown back a little, and clutched onto the handle bars. The thrill was edged out by the increasing fear as he heard his - family? Did they count as family? Well they were as close as he had. But when they called his name, his throat tightened in alarm, and Marinette let the boost of adrenaline push her harder. Adrien screwed his eyes shut as the wind deafened him. This was not as much fun this time. Marinette whined under her breath as the Gorilla started chasing after them. She had to get some distance between them so they could find a place to hide. This was not fun. This was horrible!
In the safer position of not having to cling on for dear life, Plagg and Tikki leaned out from Adrien's pocket. Plagg came first. He ushered Tikki out after him, insisting they would be safe. She wasn't entirely convinced, but she tried to trust him. They peered between his jacket, and Marinette's, as the fabric flapped in the breeze. Plagg howled with laughter as the wind whizzed past his ears. Tikki kept low at first. These kinds of situations worried her. Keeping low and being timid was being safe. Plagg decided this was unacceptable. He yanked her up under her arms, and held her up like Simba in Lion King. Tikki squealed in alarm and wrestled against him.
"Hey, hey, calm down, I've got you! I've got you!" Plagg bit back a laugh as he tried to soothe her.
Reluctantly, Tikki eased. She could feel his chest close against her back, so he wouldn't let her fall. Her breath shook, at first with nerve, then awe, and then laughter. It was like being a kite. Safely tethered, and yet still soaring. The wind tickled her antenna, and lifted her higher. Plagg grinned as her fairy-like laughter warmed his ears. Marinette slammed on the breaks and almost threw Adrien off into the middle of the street. She spun the handle bars (making him yelp) and made the bike head onto the bridge.
"Sorry," she muttered to him.
She threw a glanced over her shoulder, to try and see the gorilla. She couldn't see him. Hopefully they had lost him. She eased off now, and slowed back into a comfortable pace. Her heart was still beating faster than a humming bird. Adrien dared to open his eyes, slowly this time. His knuckles were still bone white from how tight he gripped the handles. Plagg yanked Tikki in and dropped her into the pocket beneath them. It was the closest pocket, he had no idea who's jacket it belonged to.
Adrien gasped. "Stop here!"
Marinette skidded to a halt. Adrien leapt down and yanked her jacket off of his head, so he no longer looked like ET. His hair had been messed up even more by the cover though. Marinette didn't notice. A car's headlights gleamed around the corner before the car appeared. Adrien gasped when the bonnet rounded, like a nose edging closer.
Would they never let him go?!
Plagg dove into Adrien's jacket for cover. Adrien took the bike from Marinette and wheeled it over to the café, Marinette had pointed out, dragged her after him. They hid the bike behind the corner of the café, and dove into the café.
Adrien yanked her to the floor, despite her yelp as he did. They ended up crouching on the floor, as the sleek car glided past, slowly, keeping an eye out for them. Adrien and Marinette felt very much like a monster was searching for them. The tension tightened their throats and twisted them into silence. The only sound was their panting and the constant racing thump of their hearts.
After a long, lingering minute that felt like it would never end, Adrien risked peeping through the window. He literally collapsed on top of her with the rush of relief. As he hit into her, he knocked her off her feet, and the pair of them split across the floor.
That's when it dawned on them. Laying on the dirty floor of a dirty café, hiding from his father, after racing away from a concert where they were on stage with a national hero, on a bike borrowed from his best friend, it hit them. This entire night was insane. Adrien started laughing this time. Slowly, breathlessly at first. Then it grew in strength until Marinette joined in.
And now they were both howling with laughter on the floor of the café.
Of course, they couldn't have just one day out without things going insane. Not their first properly unsupervised day either. That would be far too convenient. And it wasn't over yet.
The woman behind the counter was fine with serving them their chips, but she wanted them out as soon as they were done. Takeaway was their only option. While they cooked, they sat at a table in those wire chairs, and caught their breath back. Now that they had a chance to sit someone for a while, the exhaustion set in. Pedalling exhausted Marinette, and dancing exhausted Adrien. The adrenalin left them, and their ears were still ringing, but they were still beaming. They couldn't hear one another, so they didn't try to talk. Instead, they just sat together, and appreciated the company. She giggled at the birds nest he had made of his hair, but hers was frizzy as anything now.
What a pair they made.
Adrien glanced around. Metal tables and chairs filled the room. Each one had a wicker basket with menus, sauces and seasoning sat in it. The only windows were the huge shop fonts framed by deep purple dust covered velvet drapes. They had the cafe name engraved into them, distorting the view of cars driving past. Beneath them the floor was wood-patterned lino. In the display case there was a collection of fresh (ish) cakes and treats available to buy. On the wall was a chalk board with a cursive display of the same items. The bare white lights flickered. They were on the fritz. The entire place smelt of chips and hot chocolate. The lady laid two polystyrene boxes full of chips on the counter and ushered them outside. Which is how they ended up sitting on top of a wall, which the bike leaned against, eating their chips and talking.
"I was starving!" Marinette grinned.
Adrien snorted with laughter. She didn't have the energy to go pink.
"What?"
"You've got ketchup on your nose?" He smirked.
Marinette covered her nose with her hand sheepishly and wiped it away. "Oh. Thanks."
Adrien chuckled warmly. Their hearing was slowly returning as they recharged. Marinette kept glancing down at his pocket, eager for a glimpse of Tikki.
"Hey, I'm sorry I over reacted about the tickets. I just felt so dumb to leave them at home," he explained.
Marinette shrugged. "No big deal. It's not the first disaster I've lived through."
It wasn't even the first that week. Seriously she was like a magnet for mistakes! She once lost her grandmother's ring in a bowl of cake mix that got baked into cakes for Manon's birthday party. Thankfully they figured it out in time, using a magnet. Missing out on a gig was nothing.
"It meant a lot to me. This gig I mean. I don't think I'll get to see another," he said.
Marinette frowned. "Why not?"
Adrien hung his head. Exhaustion let the guilt in too fast. He felt it sparking in his stomach and over taking him like a root he couldn't quite pull out.
"I... I'm sorry."
"Sorry? For what? I told you, you didn't do anything wrong."
"I'm sorry I dragged you into trouble with me. You didn't deserve it. Now my father's going to ban me from being friends with you and ban me from school again."
"But he already banned Nino and you're still friends with him!" Marinette pointed out.
"Because I see him in school all the time. He isn't allowed to my house and I wouldn't be allowed to go to his so we could never hang out! If you can't be around for people they drift away from you. You stop being friends," Adrien sighed.
That was his deepest fear. Losing everyone he had just learned to love. Marinette knew enough friends that said they would "always be friends forever" who moved away and she hadn't talked to since. If Adrien became just another person she used to know, that'd be a devastation.
"I won't let you forget me like that Adrien. I won't let you," she said, firmly.
Adrien couldn't help smirking a little at the determination in her tone.
"How could I forget the girl who wanted to dance in the rain outside a concert because I was upset? How could I forget the girl who gave me her good luck bracelet when I needed it most? How could I forget you Marinette? You're amazing and I -"
Adrien stopped himself. The words screamed so easily into confessions he wasn't ready to face. Things he wasn't ready to admit to himself, let alone to her. But she needed to hear the end of that sentence! Her heart was on the edge of a cliff. She stared at him, silently edging him to finish. Adrien gave a weak smile.
"I could never forget you."
It wasn't exactly what Marinette was hoping for but it was enough. Enough to give her hope.
