Marinette
"Mom, I need you to go pick up my stuff from Adrien's. He'll let you up." Marinette stated stiffly, voice monotone.
"Why?" Her mother asked, tone soft over the phone.
Static.
"Sweetie what happened-" her mother started.
"-I'll tell you when I get back," Marinette interjected, hanging up roughly.
Sabine looked over to Tom, worry creasing her brow.
"Something happened between Adrien and Marinette" she said hollowly. Tom looked up from his work, leaving the dough half kneaded, disbelief in his eyes. "I hope they mend whatever it is quickly," he stated. "Is there anything we can do?"
Sabine looked to the window, the pouring rain obscuring the houses across the street. "I don't know…" her brow furrowed, thoughts gathering like storm clouds. "I think this is something they need to work out themselves."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Where had it gone wrong? Marinette thought blankly, staring at the equally blank and boring white ceiling of the hotel room.
She was sprawled out on the bed, one hand cushioning her head, as she had been that entire evening, just staring at the ceiling and thinking.
And I'd just asked Mama to move my stuff over there so it would be ready when I get back, she thought dully. Well I guess that's just another broken promise, she thought bitterly, rolling over to her side.
The wall was just as boring as the ceiling, but the tears were running across her cheeks faster.
She was numb inside, her throat felt tight, and she was having trouble breathing.
Because of Adrien.
Or was it Nathanael?
I need to go home, she thought. I can't be here anymore.
It was too painful. And so she slowly got up, her feet feeling miles from her head as she stumbled over to her suitcase.
I need to go home now…
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
If Nathanael was surprised to see Marinette holding a suitcase the next morning, he didn't show it, greeting her with his usual smile.
She didn't return the smile, staring at him blankly, registering his presence too late.
What could she say to him?
"I'm leaving," she finally choked out, schooling her eyes to his sandals.
"This is earlier than I thought," he laughed a bit shakily. "I thought you weren't leaving until-"
"-Mr. Agreste wants me back early," she interrupted, her eyes not meeting his with the lie. "He thinks my assignment is done here."
I'm sorry Nathanael.
"Oh," he said it politely enough, but his smile faltered, eyes dimming. "Okay then. So this is goodbye?"
She nodded, not trusting her voice.
"Pity," he turned slightly away from her, grimacing. "I was thinking we could go to the museums today to get a look at the new modern art exhibit." Like we used to. All those years ago…
He left that part out.
Why would you say that?
She almost sobbed, but she caught the sniffle, looking away. He didn't know that she was on the edge of bursting into tears.
"Sorry I can't make it," she almost whispered, keeping her head turning away from him. He couldn't see her like this.
"I have to go now," she stated, more confidently than she felt.
But his hands were on her shoulders and his eyes locked with hers, keeping her from pulling away.
"I'm going to miss you," he breathed, edging closer to her. "I had a good time with you." He opened his mouth again, but closed it, eyes torn. "Visit more often?" He asked softly, pleading with his eyes to look at him.
She finally looked at him, tearing her gaze from the concrete.
"I don't know," she said, eyes switching between his. "It might be hard with the job I have, but I'll try."
He broke out into the tiniest of smiles, bringing her closer for a hug. "You know where to find me," he murmured. They stayed there a moment, each reveling in what they both knew were their last moments together for a long time. He pulled away from her, a withdrawn but satisfied look on his face.
"Have a safe trip home," he said, already turning his back on her. And thank you, he thought,
for those last few moments together.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Marinette caught the soonest flight back to Paris, stumbling into the airport with a numbness she couldn't say was from lack of sleep or from something else.
The coffee she was nursing in her hands held some relief, but the cup shook in her hands.
Before long her flight was called, and she boarded quickly, eyes downcast.
She flopped into her seat, headache pounding at the back of her head and a frown painted onto her lips. She closed her eyes, the light bothering her throbbing head.
What could she do?
"-arinette. Marinette." A voice interrupted her thoughts, and she blinked open her eyes.
She recognized the woman who had spoken instantly. "Alya?" She questioned softly, her addled brain blurring the woman's features.
"Yeah, girl. The One and Only. How are you? You don't look so good." Alya spoke lightly, but concern laced her brow.
"I'm…" Marinette paused, contemplating what to say. "Not doing so good, actually." She put her head in her hands, closing her eyes again.
"Why don't you come in the back, with me," Alya prompted. "I can get you some fresh coffee and we can talk." Privately, her eyes were saying. She waved her hand at Marinette to follow, scooting down a few aisles to let a boarding passenger past her.
Marinette stood up uncertainly, glancing warily at the passengers around her.
Alya was already a good distance away, so Marinette hurried to keep up on wobbly limbs.
Once in the back, Alya turned to her, arms crossed, one eyebrow raised.
"You're depressed," she stated flatly. Not a question. Not an accusation. Fact.
"I'm not-" Marinette instantly protested.
"Did something happen with Adrien?" Alya cut in. She stared at Marinette a moment longer, pointedly tapping her heel against the carpeted floor.
"We broke up," Marinette shrugged, glancing away. "He's too possessive and he can't deal with me having any friends aside from him."
"I'm a friend." Alya pointed out.
"Yeah but you're a girl," Marinette groaned, slumping into a make-shift seat built into the wall.
"Ah," Alya gave a wise smile, pouring a steaming cup of black coffee. "So there was another guy. Give me the deets, girl."
Marinette gave her an incredulous glare, but accepted the cup of coffee. "This isn't marriage counseling, I've already decided-"
"-Deets," Alya repeated, hands moving to her hips impatiently.
Marinette sighed, throwing up her hands in surrender.
"He's a guy we went to high school with. The two of us always clicked because we were both artists. I just…passed by him at a skate shop he owns…and then we grabbed lunch to catch up on the past 10 years of our lives," she shrugged.
Alya pursed her lips, nodding slightly. "And it bothers you that Adrien won't 'let you' be friends with this guy?"
"Well yeah," Marinette said. "He's so controlling and…" she trailed off. "Paranoid, I guess."
"He's jealous." Alya interjected. "This mystery guy has known you longer, and was closer to you, so has a leg up on Adrien. Adrien's insecure about your relationship because he has competition."
"Competition," Marinette rolled her eyes. "Oh please, Nathanael is not interested-"
"-are you that blind!" Alya sang incredulously. "That's only what you think," she huffed. "Adrien might be picking up on something you're not."
"Like…?" Marinette prompted, curiosity nagging at her.
"The fact that this guy likes you," Alya supplied. "Like, like likes you," she added.
Marinette's eyes blew wider. "Oh no, no no no no. Yeah, we used to date, but that was years-"
"Emotions don't die that easily, Marinette," Alya sighed. "You should know that better than anyone else."
Marinette shut her lips, the truth of Alya's words stinging her. She took a moment to contemplate, opened her mouth and then closed it again. "Oh dear." She said simply. "I've made thing's awkward." And this is my fault.
"Yeah," Alya nodded, eyes narrowed. "You're awkward. And now you've made it awkward for Adrien, because he knows."
Horror seemed to dawn on her. "Oh my god I had no idea!" She rose hysterically.
"Yeah, you're rather oblivious," Alya agreed.
"This is all my fault," Marinette's hands flew to her face.
"Bingo!" Alya interjected. "So what are you going to do to fix it?" She prompted, one eyebrow raised.
"Call him?" Marinette asked, uncertainty lacing her voice.
Alya's elated expression faltered, hands dropping from her hips. "Well, I suppose if he picks up…"
Adrien didn't pick up.
"It's a typical moody guy thing," Alya reassured her, one hand on Marinette's shoulder. Marinette's head was in her hands, repeatedly pounding her head against her knees. "Just go visit him in person when we land."
"Oh, okay," Marinette blubbered, voice wobbling ever so slightly. "Because that's so easy," she said sarcastically. "Adrien doesn't want to see me!" She practically shrieked.
"That's what you think," Alya said. "But I know that he wants to see you."
"How do you know?" Marinette mumbled from her lap, voice muffled from her clothing.
"I just know," Alya smirked.
Marinette looked up at her friend, still shaken from having to call Adrien's number. Granted, he hadn't answered, but she was somewhat relieved that he hadn't. She had no idea what to say.
"Wait," she suddenly burst. "Visit him in person?" She shrieked, Alya's demand suddenly making its way to her mind.
"Yeah," Alya said, not turning around from where she was making another pot of coffee. God maybe she was giving her too much caffeine, if that was such a thing.
Alya made it sound so easy.
"H-how?!" Marinette shrieked, hands raking at her cheeks.
"Uh, well you know where he lives? Just walk up to his door and-"
"But Alya I'm a total mess!" Marinette screamed, hands waving over her disheveled form for emphasis. "And I have no idea what to say to him!"
Alya twisted back on her heel to face Marinette, a hard look on her face. "We'll work on that," she smirked, the steaming pot of coffee in hand. "But first, coffee."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Adrien
He didn't know what he was waiting for.
A text?
A phone call?
A screaming owl that would tear off his ears?
Silence forevermore?
Adrien groaned, rolling onto his face. He'd declined her call too quickly – he knew she knew. And he was regretting it now. He wanted to hear her voice.
Adrien rolled over onto his side, catching sight of his bedside clock. It was past noon, but he couldn't bring himself to get out of bed. Screw the meeting. Screw work. Screw the world. They could deal without him.
He knew he was moping. Depressed. Pining. Hoping…
So why was he so surprised when he heard a knock on his door? Why were his hands suddenly trembling? Why were his breaths coming raggedly, and his feet slipping over the tile floor?
How had he known, deep in his heart, that she would come?
He'd known…all along.
And there she was, dark rings under her eyes, lips slightly parted, staring at him with wide blue eyes.
"Adrien," she started, voice cracking slightly. She paused, eyes shifting, swallowing.
There was still some part of him that was overjoyed to see her in person – glad that she was safe.
But the smile that used to rise to his lips was repressed, and the flutter in his chest caged, replaced by an ache and a small frown on his face.
"What are you doing here?" He asked simply, tone uninviting, trying to keep his emotions repressed. Little did she know how much he wanted to take his words back – to catch them all and swallow them whole. To hold her in his arms again. To say sorry.
She fidgeted, eyes downcast. "I made a mistake, and I lost your trust. But there was a misunderstanding-"
"There was no misunderstanding," he interjected, eyes dark. He had to stay strong.
"But-" she fumbled for words, eyes roving over his masked expression. She huffed, hands clenching at her sides.
"Nathanael is just a friend," she said with determination. "We've always been friends, and if you can't respect or understand our relationship, then…" she clenched her lips together. "Then we really are through."
Adrien's lips pressed into a hard line, ice piercing his heart.
He heaved a heavy sigh. "Then we're through."
Her eyes blew wide in disbelief, hands dropping limply to her sides. "When the fuck did you get so closed-minded?" She suddenly burst, stepping forwards to grip his shirt.
He took a step back, alarmed by her proximity, some residual and sickening desire welling up inside of him.
"I did not cheat," she hissed at him, eyes piercing him like ice shards. "You made that up in your head because you were jealous."
He looked taken aback for a moment, eyes narrowing in disbelief. "You can't expect me to believe you when you-"
"Nathanael is a friend!" She screamed. "A friend!"
Adrien pinched his lips together, the fury radiating off the small woman in front of him chipping at his resolve.
He swallowed slowly, back pressed against a wall. "So you're telling me, you didn't-"
"No!" She practically screamed. "Why would I, Adrien? Why?"
"Because," he started, then stopped. "I don't know." His eyes dropped to the floor, to her shoes. They had black spots on them.
"People cheat if they're bored." Marinette said simply. "Or if they don't love their partner."
Adrien looked up at her, catching the ferocity in her eye.
"So which is it?" He asked simply, a sense of cold creeping into his heart.
"Neither," she bit out, eyes narrowing. "Why else would I be here?"
Adrien stared at her, cheeks rosy. "So…" he started, the pieces starting to click together.
"Yes." She said simply, looking into his eyes squarely. "I love you."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
She could have shattered him – like glass. The slightest wind would have blown him away. His mouth hung open, aghast, staring at Marinette blankly in disbelief.
"How – when-" he started, then faltered. He took a step forwards, taking her shoulders to steady his own shaking body. He swallowed, looking into her eyes. "Really?"
She smiled slightly, walking into his touch. "Yes."
It was all he needed. He swooped down to kiss her, their touches lingering and hesitant, but they grew to be familiar once more, intimate.
"I'm glad you're back," Adrien breathed. "As much as I cherish trips and the great things that come from them, this was the worst."
"You didn't even go anywhere," Marinette snickered.
"I went on an emotional rollercoaster," Adrien sighed dramatically. "One that I don't ever want to go on again."
"Oh, you drama queen," Marinette slapped Adrien's shoulder playfully, taking a step back from him. "You didn't answer my question though," her eyelashes lowered.
"What question?" Adrien asked, confusion wrinkling his brow.
"You know what question," she smirked, sidling up to him. "Mi amore."
His face erupted into a blush. "Ah…well. I fear the timing is inappropriate so-"
"-I'll show you inappropriate," Marinette took him by the collar, smashing their lips together.
Adrien pulled back after an infinite amount of time, gasping. "My God. I do love you," he panted, leaning into her smile for more. "And that," he breathed, "is you answer."
She hummed, pulling back from him. "Oh, you have to prove it, though," she gave him a wicked smile. "I came all the way across the world."
"Prove?" he said painfully. "How?"
She smiled triumphantly. "I have a way in mind."
"Oh, do tell," Adrien sighed, grabbing her around the waist.
"I think we should take a trip to California," she said sweetly, watching the merriment drain out of Adrien's flushed face. "And meet Nathanael."
"Are you serious?" He asked slowly.
"Completely," she said. "Are you up for it?"
Adrien's eyes narrowed, his arm snaking around Marinette's back. He kissed her neck sweetly, loving how her eyes rolled back. "Ah, the things we do for love," he sighed.
"Oh stop whining. I know you want to go to California. Who doesn't?" She smirked at her boyfriend, giving him a chaste kiss.
"We have some catching up to do beforehand though…" Adrien's eyes lowered from Marinette's neck, and he caught her blushing.
"Perhaps we do," she panted, leaning into his touch. "Perhaps we do…"
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Author's Note: Alright! I decided to make this the last chapter and just wrap it all up here! Thank you for the people who have stuck around! I didn't think I would finish this story but I am happy to say that this is complete! Thank you!