Chapter Forty-One
"Take that, Big Mustachio! You've been defeated!"
"Hey! I said I was going to take out the bad guy!"
"You got to last time though!"
"Not my fault you're a slowpoke."
"You're the slowpoke!"
Nino stared out at the children playing, watching as Chris ran through the lobby of the Grand Paris with the twins, all chasing after Chloe's butler, who was currently the 'villain' of their little game. Nino felt heavy as he watched them in their hero masks, but yet there was a calmness to it all. Watching his brother playing so freely, no sign of the fear that had always taken hold of him back when the akuma attacks had plagued their city.
"Excuse-moi, we're supposed to be a superhero team– a victory from one of us is a victory for all of us!"
Chloe stood among the children, dressed in a perfect replica of her suit when she had been Sapphire Wing, arms crossed. She looked down at the kids critically, who had thankfully stopped their bickering.
"If we're a team then why are you the leader?" Etta asked Chloe, wearing a Panthera mask on her face.
"Well, because I've actually worn a Miraculous before," Chloe said defensively.
"Well I think I should be the leader," Chris replied, who had a Carapace mask on. "Because I'm playing Carapace and Silver Paw, so I'm a double hero!"
"No, I should be the team leader!" Ella snapped, putting a hand on her chest. "I'm Ladybug after all!"
Nino's eyes fell on Ella, who was indeed wearing a Ladybug mask. He smiled softly, because like with Chris he was glad to see her running around and playing with no fear, though for different reasons. Across her arms were scars from her skin grafts from where she had been caught in the fire. They looked all too fresh, even with the time that had passed.
He couldn't help but reach up, touching his own scar on his face.
"You know, I thought I'd never say this, but I think I just might have to ask Chloe to babysit sometime." Someone sat down next to him, causing Nino to look up, a smile being flashed at him. "Or am I being crazy?"
Alya had a playful look on her face, but Nino could see the concern reflecting in her eyes. He quickly sat up, pulling his hand away from his scar, giving a smile on his own. "Heh, I wouldn't have her do it unless that butler of hers was around."
His smile fell shortly after that, and he looked away, sighing. Nino felt... numb. All the time. It wasn't the only thing he felt, but it was what had taken up his reality. The world outside was anything but such, it was chaos if he was to give it a word at all. Spontaneous bursts of color that would blind him within the grayness of his life.
The Grand Paris Hotel was the eye of the storm, a refuge that Chloe had offered to his family with his identities having been known. The security here allowed him and his family to just exist without them being swarmed– people wanting to know about one who had been behind a mask. Who had witnessed the final fight. Someone they saw as a means to gain answers, with no care of what it would put him through.
Alya's family had been staying here too, since the fire, though it wasn't to hide their face from the media. Alya fortunately still had her identity in place to protect her private life. Nino would be lying if he said he wasn't jealous of that solitude, not that he would wish that exposure upon Alya or Marinette.
They deserved to live their lives in peace.
"Nino..." Alya said softly, clearly looking for something to say.
"How's Plagg doing?" Nino asked instead, steering the conversation in another direction.
"...I think he's going to miss all the cheese options here at the hotel," Alya said after a moment, hand going to her hair– where the little kwami was probably hiding. "Dad just needs to sign some papers on the new place and we'll be moving in next month."
"Excited?"
"...It will be good to be somewhere new," Alya replied after some thought.
Somewhere without all the memories.
"How's Trixx doing?" Nino asked, lowering his voice slightly.
"He misses you, a lot," Alya said softly.
Nino's throat was tight, and he merely nodded. He... he knew that Trixx's and Wayzz's Miraculouses couldn't stay in his hands, not when the world knew who he was. The last thing any kwami needed was to find themselves in the hands of someone unfavorable. At first they had stayed with Alya, allowing Nino to interact with the little kwamis on a regular basis– but when the Guardian had returned from Tibet all of the Miraculouses had been returned to the older man save for the Ladybug and Black Cat.
"And Wayzz?" Nino continued. "I bet he's doing a lot better, knowing that all of the little guys are safe?"
"I don't see him as much, as he's often in the Miracle Box, but he seems happy," Alya replied.
"And the others?"
"I think Pollen is doing the best out of all of them, she comes out of the box the most. Or at least she does to see me," Alya shifted. "Uh, from what the others have told me Nooroo prefers to be in the realm within the box, he only comes out to provide information about... that man. But Pollen says Nooroo is really thriving being back with the other kwamis, which is good, he deserves it."
"And Duusu?" Nino whispered.
"...She hasn't left the box since Master Fu repaired her Miraculous," Alya said, not meeting his eyes.
Nino lowered his head, saying nothing. He had been in the mansion when Nooroo had led Ladybug to the Grimoire– a spell book full of strange writings and pictures about the Miraculous. Full of knowledge that had been missing for so long for those who could read it– including knowledge on repairing a damaged Miraculous.
At first it had been the light in Nino's darkness, that if anything could be done that at least Duusu could be restored from her shattered form, finding herself safely among her fellow kwamis after decades of being torn from them– but unfortunately nothing could be that simple. Her Miraculous could be fixed, her powers unable to harm no more, her mind fully restored– but it did not rid her of the memories of what had taken place in that time.
The kwami of Emotions had awoken to a world where her memories and dreams were haunted by the knowledge of abuse– both to her and to her holder. Her heart was scarred with the memories of her holders slowly dying from her own magic inflicted on them. The whole city had felt the pain and guilt radiating from her that day, pulsing through their veins until the Peacock had sought shelter within the Miracle Box.
Nino wished he could do the same.
Tears stung his eyes, and immediately Alya's arms wrapped tightly around him, bringing him into a hug. He immediately leaned against her, turning away from where the kids were playing, so his brother would not see him cry. He shook as Alya held him, and felt a small figure curling up against him, Plagg letting out quiet purrs against him. His shoulders shook, the taste of salt in his mouth as he fought to keep silent.
Alya didn't say anything, and for that Nino was grateful.
When he at last found the strength to open his eyes, his face wet and throat feeling dry, he dared to look out. There was no sign of the children or of Chloe and the butler– perhaps the others had led their game to another floor, or maybe the children had wandered themselves. Nino pulled away from Alya, glasses going askew as he wiped tears from his eyes.
"It isn't fair," Nino whispered. "It's not fair that they– that those monsters are well and safe when he's– while he's–"
"If you want I will happily kill both Gabriel and Nathalie," Plagg hissed, clinging to Nino's shirt– green eyes looking up at him with just too bright of a gleam. "No one would know, and no one could stop me. One bite or slash to their internal organs, and they'd be dead before morning, rotting in their cells."
"Plagg," Alya hissed.
"I'll do it," Plagg replied, fur raised. "One word, fox-boy, and they'll both be gone."
"A-adrien wouldn't want that," Nino whispered, carefully picking up the kwami, placing him into Alya's hands.
"Do you want to go visit him?" Alya asked. "I– I could take you as Panthera, I'd make sure no one would bother you, I promise."
"...Please," Nino whispered.
Adrien Agreste was reported to have stopped breathing between the estimated time of 4:12 PM and 4:16 PM on the day of Hawk Moth's defeat.
CPR was consistently performed by Ezra Placide, until 4:28 PM, when medical personnel arrived on scene to the Agreste Manor.
An AED was used on Adrien Agreste at 4:29 PM.
Resuscitation of Adrien Agreste was reported at 4:31 PM.
Consciousness was not regained during any period within the Agreste Manor.
Adrien Agreste arrived at the hospital at 4:43 PM in critical condition.
"Oh, it's you guys."
Nino couldn't help but stiffen slightly at the voice. He knew it wasn't fair, that he had never been wronged by this person before... but he didn't want to see him.
Still, Nino turned, Ladybug by his side as they looked at the two figures approaching them in the hospital hall. He couldn't help but shiver, feeling as if he was seeing two ghosts drifting towards him. Those brought green eyes haunting him, creating a painful pull in his heart.
"Hello," Ladybug said softly, holding out her hand. "How are you two doing? Mrs. Fathom, Felix."
Felix's eyes narrowed slightly, but said nothing in reply to Ladybug. Amelie Fathom on the other hand gave a tight smile, taking Ladybug's hand and giving it a small shake, speaking in an accented French. "Much better than the first time we met, Miss Ladybug. I wasn't expecting to see you here today."
Nino was unsettled watching these two, and there was no other way for him to feel about it either. Amelie and Emilie had been identical twins, and after having seen the pale and still body of Emilie... it was hard to see one who looked just like her walking about in front of him. And while Felix may have been Adrien's cousin... the two also looked painfully similar, they could have easily passed for siblings.
And when Nino caught a glimpse of Felix out of the corner of his eyes it was like seeing Adrien standing there.
"Panthera had some family matters to attend to in her personal life," Ladybug continued, Nino having not listened to the conversation she had been carrying on. "Carapace and I, however, have come to visit Adrien."
Ladybug liked to do that in public, to refer to Nino by the hero name the city had known him as, even if his Miraculouses weren't with him. He wasn't completely sure why she did it– if she was reminding everyone of the good he had done, even with his mask now revealed– or if she was trying to assure him he was still part of their team even with all that had changed.
Amelie's expression shifted slightly as Ladybug said this. "Ah... I see." She was quiet for a moment, before taking a deep breath. "I hate to say this when you have come all this way... but I would prefer it if Adrien was left in quiet. Felix and I have been here all day, and that's not including all the doctors and nurses and police that have been through his room as well."
Nino's eyes widened, and he felt something within him wither.
"I know... I know he has been comatose for a long time," Amelie continued, tears forming in her eyes. "But I do believe he can hear what's around him. And I know that others talk about him and his father when we're not visiting and..."
"And Adrien doesn't need any reminders of this magic," Felix finished, a small bite in his tone to go along with his glare at them.
Nino didn't blame him, not after what magic had done to his cousin and aunt.
"W-wait–" Nino began, and instantly both of the Fathom's bright green gaze locked on him. The same green as Adrien's eyes– and Nino found himself closing his own eyes. "I... I understand. We won't disturb him, but... but could I at least see him? Through a window?" Nino looked up at Amelie. "I... I just want to see him. Please."
Her gaze softened. "I see no issue with that. Come, I'll show you to his room."
The fear that had been bubbling up in Nino had calmed slightly– he was going to see him. Maybe not be by him, maybe not talk to him– but he would see Adrien. He would see that he was breathing, that his heart was beating– that he was still alive, even if it was just barely so.
He tried not to think about it.
Amelie led them down the hallway she had come from, her son right by her side. Nino felt eyes on them from those passing– but if they were looking at Ladybug or the Fathoms or him he could not say. Nino did not care though, just needing to get to the end of the hallway, to get to the room where Adrien was lying.
There was security not far from his room– if it was from Amelie to make sure her nephew had peace, or if the hospital itself had done so, Nino did not know– but all four of them were let through with no issue, granting access to the end of the hallway, where a large private room sat. Nino could already hear the faint beeping coming from within, and though every part of him wanted to throw open the door, he merely peered in through the small glass window on it as he approached.
And there was Adrien, laying limp in the hospital bed. Wires and IVs were hooked to him, the machines within whirring and beeping as they worked away, the only thing keeping the battered boy alive.
Nino felt his breath get caught in his throat, and he put his hand against the glass as he pressed closer. Bruises and wounds were visible on his pale skin, the mask of a ventilator laid over his face– yet oily hair had been combed back, blankets carefully made and tucked around him, as if Amelie had done all she could to make sure he was cared for and comfortable even in the state he was in.
Tears blurred Nino's eyes as he stared in the room, but there was nothing else he could do. Just take comfort in the fact that his Blue was still breathing.
"Go on in," a gruff voice said, and Nino jerked in surprise– looking back to see Felix had spoken.
"Dear," Amelie said, looking down at her son with a frown.
Felix crossed his arms. "If Adrien can truly hear everything that's going on, then he should go in." His eyes flickered away from them. "...That's what he'd want."
Nino looked up at Amelie, who was softly considering her son's words. She then looked at Nino, giving a small nod. A fiery feeling burst in his chest, and he reached for the doorknob. Everything screamed to hurry to Adrien's side, but he carefully opened the door as he stepped inside, listening as the door carefully clicked shut behind him.
"Blue," Nino croaked, taking a step forward.
Adrien did not move.
"A-adrien, it's me, Nino," he took a few more steps forward, vision blurring. "I came to visit you again." His hands wrung together. "I– I didn't bring anything this time but I– I just really needed to–"
His voice failed him again, and he slowly made his way towards the chair by Adrien's bed. It creaked slightly as he sat down in it, the only noise apart from the machines that worked away. Nino scooted it closer, before shakily reaching out. He hesitated just for a moment, before letting his hand wrap around Adrien's, and for a moment it felt like he could breathe again.
"I miss you," Nino said quietly. "I miss you so much... we all do. Me, Ladybug and Panthera, the kwamis... even the city is worried about you. They... they want you to get better."
He ran his thumb across the back of Adrien's hand, wishing that it was warmer. That it would squeeze back as he did the same.
"Duusu's Miraculous has been fixed," Nino added. "And they're... they're really worried about you." He didn't mention the fact that Duusu wasn't talking to anyone, or coming out of the Miracle Box. "Trixx and Nooroo and Wayzz and Pollen and... all of them. They care a lot about you."
He wished he could bring them here to see Adrien as well.
"Your cousin and aunt care so much about you," Nino said softly. "I've only met them a few times... but just to see you have family being there for you..." He swallowed. "They're out in the hall right now. They've been staying here in Paris for the last few weeks to be with you, you know? When... when you wake up, it's going to be okay. You won't be alone ever again, I promise."
The horrible word 'if' echoed in his mind.
"Please," Nino whispered, his hand tightening around Adrien's. "Adrien... please, you have to wake up. You have to, I just don't know... d-don't know..."
He couldn't find any other words to say, so instead he lowered his head, letting his tears fall.
"I love you, Adrien."
He wanted to stay here forever, to close himself off from the world and lock himself in this room. Where he could be with him, where he could watch him, where he could hope to see some change, any change, just anything that showed things could get better. That Adrien would be okay.
But he couldn't stay here, and his welcome had already been worn thin from the moment he had arrived. So instead he took in those few minutes they had been willing to give him. So there he sat, holding Adrien's hand, whispering softly to him. Staying by his side for as long as he could, until the door opened and he saw a nurse coming in.
So with one last look at Adrien, Nino pushed himself to his feet and headed for the door. His heart was heavy, but it was nothing compared to the words he heard next. Nino paused as he opened the door, listening as Amelie and Ladybug spoke in hushed voices, his blood running cold.
"I refuse to put my nephew through the same thing my sister went through," Amelie said, a waver in her voice, eyes closed. "I will not leave him in this state, if he doesn't show any signs of recovering, Ladybug, I..."
No. No no no no no–
"We're looking into magical means to do what the doctors cannot–" Ladybug began.
"Magic?" Felix growled. "The same thing that got him into this state?"
"If there is such magic that can help him, then why didn't you offer it to him before?" Amelie asked in an unreadable tone.
"We didn't have the Gri– we– we didn't have these resources before," Ladybug said. "I– I can't say much, I'm afraid, but there are, well, resources we found when we were searching the manor–"
"Are you saying that despicable man had a means to help Adrien and did nothing about it?" Amelie thundered, and Nino couldn't help but recoil slightly.
Ladybug lowered her head. "They are kept in code, a script that not even Gabriel could read, and that we're still working on translating ourselves. But even if he could have gained access to that information–"
"He wouldn't have done a thing," Felix sneered.
The three of them fell silent, and Nino slowly pushed the door fully open, stepping back into the hallway. All their eyes immediately shifted towards Nino, and he was forced to swallow the pure fear that had taken hold of him, Amelie's words echoing through his mind. He couldn't think about that, he couldn't think about that, he couldn't think about that–
"Please, trust Ladybug, and the magic she finds," Nino croaked out, eyes locked on Amelie. "I know the magic of the Peacock has hurt your family, but all magic isn't like that. If Ladybug finds anything it will be to help A-adrien– I swear– I swear that she wouldn't–"
Amelie bowed her head. "...I don't think any of you would hurt Adrien. I don't."
Ladybug reached out, laying her hand on top of Amelie. "I am going to do everything I can to help him. I swear."
Tears were in Amelie's eyes. "Please. Please. I– I can't lose Adrien too."
Emilie Agreste was located within the basement of the Agreste Manor at 4:32 PM, resting within a pod running from an unknown power source.
State of Emilie Agreste: uncertain.
The pod containing Emilie Agreste was removed from the Agreste Manor at 9:46 PM.
Emilie Agreste arrived at the hospital at 10:56 PM.
Examination resulted in no signs of life from Emilie Agreste, but no evidence that any form of deterioration has taken place.
After multiple assessments, the decision to leave Emilie Agreste within the status of the pod has been finalized.
Ladybug has confirmed magical influence rests within the pod. Note: Ladybug seemed greatly disturbed by the condition of Emilie Agreste.
All resuscitation attempts on Emilie Agreste have failed.
Emilie Agreste has officially been declared dead.
Nino laid flowers on Emilie Graham de Vanily's grave.
Amelie had insisted that her sister be buried with her maiden name, and Nino did not blame her at all. He hoped that Emilie would prefer that as well, if she were still here, if she had known what the man she had shared a name with had done to her son. Nino knew that she would have never wanted what had been done to the city on her behalf, and that was one thing he could rest easy knowing even if he had never personally met her.
Many things related to the Miraculouses had been found in the Agreste mansion apart from the Grimoire Gabriel had possessed, and among those things had been recordings of Emilie before her passing, kept hidden and in the possession of Nathalie. Nino had been unable to watch the videos in full, having been blinded by the burning rage that had overtaken him listening– but he had heard Adrien's late mother beg Nathalie not to let Gabriel pursue the Miraculouses, and to protect her son.
Instead that woman had let Adrien suffer his horrible fate, and had done everything in her power to lay claim to the Miraculouses for herself.
"These are from Adrien," Nino spoke aloud to the gravestone, carefully sitting down. He knew that Adrien would have placed these here himself if he could, and with the knowledge that this woman had truly cared for Adrien he was more than willing to be the one to place them here on his behalf.
The white lilies Nino had brought were fresh, bright and crisp– standing out from the flowers that had been laid there before, their petals starting to wilt. They were in a state where most people might have removed them from the grave, especially with the security Amelie had hired for her sister's grave, but instead they had been left there to wither away.
Perhaps Amelie had done so on purpose, letting the flowers wilt and die and fade away– to have the rest her own sister had been denied until now.
Nino could feel the eyes of the current security guard watching him closely. Even though Nino had permission to be here the woman watching seemed untrusting– had probably dealt with plenty of people today already. It was a strange sight to see security at a grave, but with the knowledge of what Gabriel Agreste had done those in the city were willing to do anything to get justice for the terrorism that had been inflicted on them– which included vandalizing the grave of Emilie, even if she had no active role in what had happened.
Even under the guard's careful watch though, she still gave him enough space to have some privacy at the headstone, leaving Nino comfortable enough to speak aloud.
"Adrien... Adrien's state is still the same," Nino felt his voice cracking slightly, tears already stinging his eyes as he started talking. "There's been no response of any kind from him, but the doctors have gotten him stable. I mean, as stable as his condition could allow."
Nino swallowed.
"I don't know what to do," Nino whispered. "I– I kn-knew what that Miraculous was doing to him, what could happen– and now he's– he's now–"
He closed his eyes tightly, feeling tears fall.
"I'm mad," Nino finally croaked out, fists curling. "Everything hurts and everyone knows that but no one knows and they know that I hate that man and woman for what they did to Adrien, for giving that Miraculous knowing how it could k-kill him b-but– but it's not just them I hate!"
His fingers dug into the grass, pulling up roots as he stared out, hot tears still falling down his face.
"I hate the city, for never seeing what he was put through– both as Adrien and Blue Wing," Nino hissed. "That those he worked with and those who stared at him in the spotlight never did a thing. I hate the fact that Chloe knew how horrible that man was but never realized what he was doing to Adrien. I hate that Duusu couldn't realize what her magic was doing to him."
Nino tore at the blades of grass in his hands, the quiet fury boiling within him as he spoke.
"I'm furious that Ladybug and Panthera fought him, that they hurt him. I hate that Trixx wanted to keep his condition from him. That Wayzz sought me out instead of getting that stupid Guardian to do something more than stand on the stupid side!"
He didn't, he didn't hate them. Any of them– but he was angry, furious at what had happened with those in the world of magic– that this hadn't been stopped sooner.
"It's– it's everyone!" Nino shouted, burying his face into his hands. "I'm mad that Mom didn't see what was happening to me until I was bleeding all over the hall! I hate that the Miraculouses exist! That they break! I hate you for dying and leaving Adrien and that he had to go through all this! I hate that Adrien loved that man so much that he didn't stop even once he knew he was slowly dying! I hate myself for standing by so long and letting him wear that horrible gem!"
Nino felt himself crumble, and he broke down sobbing.
"I h-hate myself!" Nino cried, this truth burning on his tongue, this realization breaking down the barriers he had put up in his mind. "If– if I had taken the Miraculous from him– h-had made sure I knew who he was! If I had done s-something more than run on rooftops and take him to a stupid dance or anything else instead of letting him d–d-d– him d-d–"
He was pulled from the furious storm in his mind by a light touch on his shoulder, and Nino felt himself take in a sudden sharp breath– throat aching, eyes stinging, vision blurring, ears ringing at the silence that was breaking down around him–
"Can I sit here?" A soft voice asked, and Nino didn't know who it was.
His head just jerked, that must have been taken as a nod because the figure sat down next to him, talking in that soft voice as his mind spiraled about him.
"...can you feel?" She asked, these being the first words he registered of hers even though she had been talking.
"Grass," Nino croaked, not quite sure what her question had been, but he could feel the crumpled grass between his fingers.
"That's good," she said. "What can you hear?"
Ringing. Dizziness. His own raging thoughts. He didn't hear anything else, not within this haze of his mind, but still he focused on her words, taking a moment to try to make sense of just what she was asking. "...You?"
"Yes. Can you tell me two things you can see?"
"There's– there's flowers. And... and grass."
They continued like this for a time, Nino finding himself slowly becoming more aware of what was around him as he was forced to focus, to search, to realize his surroundings. Soon he found himself just sitting in front of the gravestone, the flowers he had brought still there– the whole city of Paris still there about him and alive, and found that his companion was the very security guard that had been watching him warily earlier.
"I'm sorry," Nino croaked once he felt his breathing wasn't as shallow. "I'm just so..." The anger from before was still there, but that was not the piercing feeling that was now pulsing through him. "...I'm so afraid."
He was afraid it wouldn't be just Emilie's grave he would one day be visiting.
The guard merely looks upwards. "Besides from the Fathoms, I have not seen one person come to mourn Emilie Agreste. I'm glad to see someone who cares."
Nino didn't know what to say, and he was thankful that she didn't seem to be looking for a reply. The guard just looked softly at him, before giving a gentle smile.
"It can be important to come to honor those who have passed on," she said. "Even on the behalf of another. But I can promise you that nothing here is going to change." The guard slowly pushed herself to her feet. "But things will still change out there, kid," she held out her hand. "Come on, now– I think you need to focus on what's still there."
Nino said nothing, but placed his hand in hers, allowing himself to be pulled to his feet.
Marinette's vision blurred as she stared at the symbols that seemed to be dancing across the page.
"This doesn't make any sense," Marinette groaned loudly, slamming her head down into the pages of the old Grimoire. "Whose idea was this anyways?"
"Yours," Alya said, having picked up on her muffled words with ease. Marinette shifted her head up just enough to glare at Alya, who was sitting over a pot, carefully adding ingredients within. Her girlfriend gave her a small smile, stirring the mixture twice, before checking a sheet of paper.
Alya unfortunately wasn't allowed to know all the knowledge Fu had learned and found, at least not yet, anyways– but the Guardian had been fine with giving her access to brewing the recipes for the magical potions they had found within the Grimoire. Or perhaps he had been worried that Marinette plus her clumsiness wouldn't be a good combination with the trial and error that came from trying to decode the recipes.
"Well I can't leave it all to Master Fu!" Marinette said– which was true.
It had not just been the Grimoire that had been rediscovered upon Hawk Moth's defeat, but Master Fu had found many more records and magical resources back at the restored temple– including other Miracle Boxes. And with no other Guardians left in the world saved for him and his limited training, a large burden had been placed on the old man's shoulders. Despite all the stress that had come with being a hero, Marinette had volunteered to begin to learn all the knowledge that came with being a Guardian, so she could start to lighten that burden for Fu. He not only would have to train her in what it would mean to guard a Miracle Box, but he would have to find others to train to take on the burden of the other Miracle Boxes he had found.
So that meant Marinette was stuck in the massage parlor, trying to learn the encoded language so she could read all of the Guardians' writings. She had recalled all the times her mother had tried to teach her Mandarin and her father had tried the same with Italian– and how that had failed miserably, and this new language wasn't going any better now, even with Master Fu's notes.
And on top of all that she couldn't even have her kwami help her, both Tikki and Plagg hanging out in the Miracle Box while she worked. Master Fu hoped that within the temple there would be knowledge to free kwamis from being bound by orders, but until such knowledge was found the small creatures weren't permitted to learn any knowledge that would be too dangerous in the wrong hands.
"Gah!" Marinette groaned.
"You can do it!" Alya said encouragingly, examining her current potion mixture– which had a promising blue hue to it.
"It's not just a language on its own," Marinette said with a sigh. "The whole thing is like three layers deep– each symbol means its own thing, and then they're grouped together in words that mean something else, and all those translations are written like riddles that you got to figure out even once you can read it!"
"Are you supposed to be telling me this?"
"Eh, it's not like that will let you magically read everything," Marinette said with a shrug. "Besides, he said he's going to teach you all this eventually. Well, actually it will probably be me teaching you now that I think about it..."
Alya grinned up at her. "So in other words, more time for us to be alone? I don't mind that at all."
Marinette flushed. "We're going to be doing magic, not going on a date!"
"I can't think of anything more magical," Alya said with a laugh, and Marinette let out a soft snort. "Anyways, let me know if you figure out what a 'tear of joy' is supposed to be, I'm stumped on that one, none of these things make sense."
She held up several bottles of various potion ingredients Fu had brought back from the temple, crinkling her nose. They were labeled with what they literally were, but not by what they were coded as in the recipes she had been given, leaving it all to be a guessing game. One that ended up with one too many potions exploding.
"Maybe it's just a literal tear of joy," Marinette said.
"Heh. As if the three layered code would make it that easy."
Marinette laughed. "Maybe it's a trick within itself– leave several things uncoded but make everyone think that it is a code."
Alya paused. "You know, that actually is a clever idea– what if they did that?"
"You gonna try it?" Marinette asked, slightly surprised, as it had meant to be a joke.
"I mean, do you got any tears of joy just laying around?" Alya asked.
She had no time to answer– as a magenta shape suddenly burst into the room, having phased straight through the wall. Marinette let out a yelp, quickly moving to cover the Grimoire and the translation notes so they were out of sight of Roaar, the only kwami currently not within the Miracle Box. Both Marinette and Alya looked up at the kwami, who was supposed to be with Master Fu.
Roaar looked winded, the kwami must have been flying back to the massage shop as fast as possible. Marinette looked into the Tiger's golden eyes as they hovered in front of her, who in turn gave a single nod. Marinette felt tears sting her eyes, a hand reaching up to cover her mouth– while Alya turned, rushing over to the Miracle Box.
Marinette scrambled for her cell phone, it lying abandoned not far from the Grimoire, the screen lighting up to show a picture of her and Alya as she grabbed it. Her hands were trembling slightly as she unlocked the device, fingers swiping through her contacts, before holding the phone up to her ear as it rang.
"Hello?" Nino's voice came from the other end, and for a moment she couldn't say anything. "Marinette, are you there?"
"N-nino."
"Marinette?" He asked more urgently. "Is everything okay?"
"I– I just got a message from Master Fu," she said, voice shaking slightly. "Nino, it's Adrien, he's– he's awake. Adrien's awake."
