Adrien woke sometime in the midafternoon, looking around his room quietly. He was propped up with a few extra pillows. His fever seemed to have gone down considerably, and with it his headache had tamed into a less nauseating pulse. He noted he could actually form a coherent thought.
His room seemed largely empty, "Plagg...?" he asked, coughing slightly.
Geez, he sounded rough.
The kwami drifted into view, "How you feeling, kid?"
Adrien took stock of himself. "Everything hurts and I'm really tired." he decided summed things up pretty well, "But I think my fever's getting better."
Plagg nodded slightly, "That's a good start."
Adrien checked his phone for the time, "I missed school. I bet Father is furious." he sighed and coughed a harsh double into his arm.
He noticed several messages in his phone expressing concern and his frown deepened, "Not to mention all my friends blowing up my phone... wait... akuma?" he skimmed his texts, then looked back at Plagg, "What akuma?"
Plagg blinked, "So... I'm guessing you don't remember this morning at all?"
He hastily decided on an edited down version of events to keep his holder from getting too bent out of shape.
"No... should I?" Adrien asked carefully.
"Oh, the akuma was no big deal. It was in your house, but Ladybug handled it." Plagg said dismissively.
Adrien eyed him, "No one got hurt?" he pressed, another cough escaping him.
"Not a soul." Plagg said passively, "Anyway, your fever was really high this morning and Nathalie couldn't wake you up, so she called your father in. You woke up, but you were really out of sorts. Your father had Nathalie call a doctor-"
"Did I say or do anything wrong?" Adrien interjected, feeling a flutter of worry.
"If you consider nearly barfing all over your old man 'wrong'." Plagg offered plainly, "But the cat's still in the bag." he assured.
Adrien felt both relieved and slightly mortified.
"He didn't seem bothered, if it helps." Plagg stated, "Anyway, the doctor came and said it was fatigue and likely stress that brought on your fever and upset stomach. The rest is likely a common cold on top of it."
"Huh..." was all Adrien could find to say.
"The doctor also said your fever makes you a psychopath." Plagg said matter-o-factly.
Adrien arched an eyebrow, "Uh huh." he said doubtfully.
"I'm serious. He said you had a psychopathic fever." Plagg replied.
"Whatever you say, Plagg." Adrien shook his head, coughing.
"The doctor wanted you to take a week or two to rest, but your old man is a tough one to crack. I overheard Nathalie say your schedule is clear for the next four days, though." Plagg finished.
Try as he might, Adrien couldn't remember anything beyond yesterday at the park and snatches of being at Marinette's. Honestly, he couldn't even remember how he got himself home.
He leaned back against the pillows quietly.
He was getting a bit dozy when a new symptom made itself known as an immense tickle filled his nostrils, "Heh...HTCH'UUUU! HTCH'UUUU! Heh... Hhhnnn...HTCH'UUU!" he sniffled, but the feeling didn't quite go away.
"Seems like the doctor was right about the cold, at least." Plagg mused as Adrien rubbed at his nose.
"Shaddup." Adrien sighed.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
Plagg hid swiftly as Nathalie's face appeared in the doorway, "Ah, good. You're awake." she smiled gently at Adrien, "Your father will be relieved."
"Sorry if I caused him to worry." Adrien offered quietly, bowing his head.
"You don't need to apologize for that." Nathalie replied, "It's his job as your parent to worry when you're not well."
Adrien held back a cough, voice straining as a result, "I feel like he has enough to worry about..."
"That's not for you to decide." Nathalie replied in a firm, but gentle tone. "Your father just wants you to get better, Adrien."
Adrien nodded slightly.
"Do you need anything?" Nathalie asked.
"Hhhhnnn'chh.." Adrien did his best to choke off a sneeze into his arm, "Not really... maybe some tissuuuues." he stretched the word out as he fought off a follow up sneeze.
Nathalie seemed to smile slightly, "Right away." she turned to go, but paused at the door.
Adrien sat up a bit more, "Everything okay, Nathalie?"
"Yes, I was just thinking." Nathalie replied, turning back to him slightly, "One of your schoolmates was just in the foyer. They were bringing you your classwork and had asked to see you... are you up to a visitor?"
"R-Really?" Adrien asked, caught off guard.
His father banned visitors half the time when he was well, after all.
"It would just be for a little bit, mind you. You do need your rest." Nathalie said calmly. Really, she just wanted to boost his spirits, seeing as he'd be cooped up for a while. She figured what Gabriel didn't know wouldn't hurt him in this instance... He had told her to keep Adrien distracted, after all.
"Uh, sure." Adrien smiled lightly, "Thanks, Nathalie."
Nathalie nodded slightly and walked out, closing the door behind her.
She could hear an explosion of sneezes ring out from a few steps away and shook her head slightly.
~x~x~x~
Adrien leaned back against his pillows as the fit subsided. Maybe sneezing was preferrable to the high fever and chills, but it was already getting old fast.
"Ugh. Nino better nod ged too close." he sniffed.
"You sure it'll be Nino?" Plagg asked.
Adrien shrugged.
He'd just assumed Nino would be the only one crazy enough to ask to see him.
To his surprise, a girl with dark blue hair and bright blue eyes stepped into his room instead, "A-Adrien? Your um assistant said I could come in, so I hope I'm not catching you while you're resting. I mean if you are resting, I'm sure you look good doing it. I mean-"
Adrien laughed slightly, "Marinette. It's good to see you." he cut in.
He couldn't say it, but he owed her a lot.
After all, if she hadn't helped him last night, who knew if he'd even have made it home?
Marinette blushed, "You... too." she shook her head to clear it. She noted, at least, he seemed to be doing better than he was during her morning visit. She elected not to mention the akuma right now in case he didn't remember... mainly she didn't want to jog his memory about Ladybug stuffing him in the pantry like a sack of potatoes.
"Anyway, I brought your classwork with a list of notes on the instructions..." she set a small stack on his desk neatly and then began pulling something else out of her backpack.
Adrien leaned forward a bit curiously.
She produced a basket wrapped in plastic to keep its contents from bursting forth. Her blush deepened as she carried it over to him, "I... put together a 'get well' basket for you. There are tissues, cough drops, a thermos full of soup, and some other stuff..." she offered it out, searching his green eyes.
What if he didn't want it? Nobody wanted to find a place for a random basket. He'd probably just have to worry about getting rid of it now. Why did she even bother?
Her thoughts were interrupted as Adrien smiled broadly at her, "Thank you, Marinette."
He accepted it gratefully and wasted little time opening it.
"You're welcome." Marinette replied, melting on the inside.
Adrien liked it!
Adrien gravitated towards the thermos.
As he opened it, warm steam filled his nostrils.
He took a tentative sip, "It's good." he informed her cheerily.
Marinette waved him off, "I can't take the credit, my mom made it."
"Ah." Adrien said. His smile seemed to drop for a moment, but quickly spread across his face again, "Well send her my thanks, too."
"Sure." Marinette agreed.
She stayed to talk a while, mostly about assignments, but other topics wormed their way in here and there.
She noticed after a bit, he seemed to be getting more tired. "I should go. You need your rest." she said, taking a few steps towards the door.
"Heh... yeah, I guess." Adrien agreed, "Thanks for stopping by Marinette."
"Anytime." Marinette replied and then blushed, "I mean... anytime you want me here... as a friend to hang out... um... get well soon!" she scurried towards the door.
Adrien smirked slightly and flopped backwards into his pillows in her absence.
Marinette was a true friend. As his mind grew hazy around the edges, he decided he should find some way to repay her kindness. He wasn't sure what yet, but something.
By the time Nathalie returned to check in, Adrien was fast asleep.
Author's Note:
Come on, Adrien HAD to sneeze somewhere in this fic, with or without feathers. Special thanks to Lyncora Skywalker, THE-bird-ALMIGHTY, and calcyne for your kind words thus far. It makes me feel good to know there are people enjoying this fic. You guys are awesome. =) Also: Your guess is as good as mine whether Plagg misheard 'psychogenic' or whether he's just screwing with Adrien, because I'm 50/50. Haha. Reviews make me happy and I'll see you all in chapter 7!