As he vaulted across rooftops in the pouring rain, Cat Noir concluded the worried look in Marinette's eyes had probably been justified. He felt way too cold and so very drained. He never thought he could feel too tired to exist, but that was the best way he could describe his overwhelming fatigue in the moment. He wished he could just enter a void and sleep for months and then emerge without any time passing, refreshed and ready to resume life. He wasn't so lucky.

Scarcely making the last jump into his open window, Cat Noir skidded helplessly across his wet floor, barely catching himself. The throbbing in his head had become like that of a resounding gong, he could feel his vision darkening at the edges as he used the last of his strength to pull the window closed and slog over towards his bed.

Brain barely functioning through a haze of fever and fatigue he left Ladybug a single word message: 'Home'

"Claws In." Cat Noir sighed out.

"Adrien-" Plagg began.

The boy had already faceplanted into the mattress and disappeared under a mound of blankets without a word.

Plagg sighed, but helped himself to his cheese stores while Adrien slept. He scarfed down a few cheese wedges before hovering over by the blanket mass that was his holder and settling by his pillow.

Hopefully, Adrien would feel better tomorrow.

~x~x~x~

Adrien Agreste was always an obedient boy. He knew what was expected of him, and so he always carried through with his obligations. So, when he didn't come down for breakfast that morning, Nathalie found herself feeling a bit suspicious.

He was going to be late for school if he didn't come down soon.

Nathalie decided to take matters into her own hands and strode up the stairwell, knocking sharply at the door to Adrien's room.

No response.

She knocked again.
"Adrien! You're late!"

Still nothing.

"I'm coming in!" Nathalie warned.
She opened the door, scanning the room for signs of life.

It was largely quiet.

She crossed the room to Adrien's bed, "Adrien." she addressed the mass of blankets, "You have to get up for school."

Still not getting a response, Nathalie frowned and pulled the blankets back, "Adrien?" she asked and gasped slightly in spite of herself.

His face was flushed with fever, skin clammy. His bangs were matted to his forehead with sweat, and he was shuddering and shivering in his sleep.

Nathalie carefully pushed his bangs from his face, feeling his forehead.
As she'd expected... He was on fire.

She tried again to rouse him, but Adrien only mumbled something incoherent.

Nathalie felt worry quickly swelling in her chest.
Gabriel had to know about this.

"Adrien, I'll be back." she promised, despite no evidence to him being able to hear her.

The Agreste Family assistant hurried out of the room, down the stairs, and headed for the painting of Emilie Agreste. Gabriel didn't like to be disturbed while he was working... but this was important.

Nathalie found her superior already in Hawkmoth persona, clasping an akuma in his palms, "I'm sorry, sir." she prefaced as she entered the room.

Hawkmoth bared his teeth, not sparing her a glance, "How many times have I told you not to bother me?"

"A sufficient amount, sir, but it's about Adrien. He's not well, sir." Nathalie began to explain.

"He's an Agreste, he'll push through any little head cold." Hawkmoth huffed, "Now leave me."

"Sir!" Nathalie said sharply, causing him to turn, "He seems to be running a bad fever and he's nonresponsive."

Hawkmoth felt like the last word knocked the wind out of him. All he could think of was Emilie.

He reluctantly let the akuma drop and lowered his arms to his sides.

"Dark wings fall."

Now Gabriel Agreste, he fairly sprinted past Nathalie, headed for his son's room as she followed.

As Nathalie had said, Adrien didn't look good. His color was off, his breathing labored. Gabriel didn't like it... not at all.

A thermometer read his temperature as 39.5, causing Nathalie to look to her boss for guidance, "Shall I call the doctor, sir?"

Gabriel seemed to weigh risk vs benefit a moment, but nodded.

"Please, Nathalie." he bid, eyes not leaving his son.

"Yes, sir." Nathalie acknowledged and left the room promptly to make the call.

He didn't know the last time he'd stared at Adrien so intensely, but Gabriel just couldn't seem to look away. How did this happen? How did his son end up this sick without him even noticing?

Subconsciously he twisted his wedding band, wishing more than anything Adrien would just open his eyes.

As if by some magic, Adrien blinked sluggishly, green eyes hazy and heavy-lidded, but open, nonetheless.
"...Fa-ther?" his voice rasped out.

"Adrien, just rest. Nathalie is calling the doctor as we speak. You're going to be okay." Gabriel said firmly, but a part of him was trying to encourage himself, also.

It was hard to tell how much Adrien was processing as he watched his father blearily. He licked at his lips and coughed a harsh double.

"...Water..." he murmured.

Gabriel jolted, "Water? Of course. Stay put."

Ordinarily, he'd have asked one of the servants to fetch him a glass, but Mr. Agreste found himself feeling uncomfortably helpless in the moment, so he sprang for the task. He hurriedly went to fill a tall glass with water and brought it back to his son.

Adrien shoved himself up slightly onto an elbow as his father offered him the glass.

"Easy does it." Gabriel cautioned, unsure of what was ailing his son, but Adrien wasn't listening.

Body wracked with fever, the boy drank greedily, draining the glass quickly. The sudden rush of cold liquid spurred on a horrendous coughing fit. Adrien was doubled over himself, blinded by tears.

Gabriel patted his son's back wordlessly, studying Adrien as the fit past, "Better?"

Adrien was gasping for breath, then went still, staring into the middle distance.

"Adrien?" Gabriel questioned.

"Nn-nnn." Adrien managed; mouth clamped shut.

The blond gave a sudden jolt of a suppressed gag as he pushed blindly out of his bed. His feet met the cool floorboards, sending a violent shiver through him. He wasn't going to make it...

His father catching on just a second too late as the teen model decorated the floor beside his bed with a sickening splatter. Then another.

By the time he was through, Adrien's legs had turned to jelly. He stumbled, nearly tripping into his own mess, but strong arms caught him and eased him gently back into bed.

"Mm'sorry." Adrien offered pitifully.

Gabriel's countenance had softened greatly in that moment. "Just rest." he bade.
He needn't enforce it as his son's eyes were already fluttering closed again.

He took his cue to leave, summoning some staff to clean up the mess.

He met Nathalie in the hall.

"Well?"

"The doctor will be here within the hour." Nathalie informed.

"Very good." Gabriel replied, "Keep me informed." he instructed, stalking off.

Nathalie watched her superior quietly.

She could tell he was beside himself right now, and she would give him his space for the time being. She knew how much he hated helplessly standing by.

~x~x~x~

Marinette, meanwhile, had gotten to school on time today. Of course, that was mainly because she'd transformed into Ladybug to check her messages and had decided she might as well make the most of her added speed and agility. She thanked her lucky stars for Cat Noir's message, feeling relief wash over her.
Now he could rest and get better.

The blunette settled in her seat by Alya, keeping an eye out for Adrien. He never came and Ms. Bustier began to take attendance.

Marinette frowned quietly.

She recalled Adrien looking pretty tired yesterday. Maybe that had something to do with his absence.

Thankfully, she didn't have to ask as Chloe raised her hand, "Um, Ms. Bustier, you can't start without Adrikins!" she informed bossily, "I'm sure he'll be here any minute."

Ms. Bustier shook her head, "Actually, Chloe, I received a call this morning. Adrien won't be joining us today, he's out sick."

Marinette exchanged glances with Alya and Nino as Chloe offered loud protests.

"Dude was out of it as heck yesterday." Nino whispered to the girls, "I'm pretty sure he didn't even take a bite of his lunch."

"Yeah, and wasn't he dozing in class?" Alya noted.

Marinette frowned. First her crime fighting partner, now her crush.

Why were all the boys that mattered in her life getting sick?

She was snapped out of her musings by Alya poking her shoulder, "You knoooow," she sing-songed, "Since you're class rep, I bet you could take him the schoolwork he misses."

Marinette flushed, "What?! No! Me working on Adrien... I mean bringing him his schoolwork! No!"

Alya snickered, "Girl. It's not a big deal. You'd have an alibi and if you decide to bring him a get well present on the side, well, no one could really blame you." she went on as Marinette blushed deeper.

Ms. Bustier, having all the patience of a saint, waited for the commotion to die down and then reigned her class in for their first lesson of the day.

Author's Note:
I hope everyone in the USA had a great Independence Day today. Mine was a bit lackluster. Pretty sure my eighteen year old cat is dying, but I'd love to be proven wrong. Anyway, for those of you curious, I went with temperatures in Celsius to be slightly more authentic since the setting is Paris. If my conversion is correct, though, that puts his fever at 103 Fahrenheit, roughly. Reviews make me happy and I'll see you all in Chapter 5!