Adrien trailed behind Marinette as they made their way down the hallway toward her apartment. She had agreed to accompany him back home, even though she'd initially wanted to take a cab. It had taken some persuasion, but eventually, she had consented to ride with him. Needless to say, the journey had been exceptionally uncomfortable. It had been entirely silent, and Marinette hadn't spared Adrien a single glance throughout. At least some things never changed; her stubbornness, for example.
Adrien had texted his friends, asking them to hide Lila somewhere Marinette wouldn't stumble upon her. While Marinette had agreed to play along and abstain from taking her meds this evening, Adrien doubted she would be thrilled to find her best friend bound in the living room.
The tension weighed heavily in the air as they entered the apartment. Nino, Alya, and Reid were sitting on the couch in a silence that spoke volumes. However, the second Reid's eyes landed on Marinette, he sprang to his feet, rushing toward her and pulling her into a tight embrace.
"You okay, Vee?" he asked, his voice laced with concern as he held her close.
Marinette nodded against his chest. "I'm fine," she assured him.
He pulled back slightly, his gaze lingering on her, as though attempting to figure out if she was being entirely truthful. After a moment, apparently dissatisfied with what he saw in her expression, he sighed and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.
"Everything's going to be alright," Reid promised before turning to Adrien, his eyes now cold and weary. "Now, what's the plan?"
"We wait," Adrien explained with a deep sigh. "Victoria agreed not to take her medication tonight. We'll see what happens."
Alya couldn't contain her excitement, a small smile forming on her lips. "Really? You convinced her?"
Adrien shrugged, glancing at Victoria.
"I guess," the girl mumbled softly before walking into the kitchen to pour herself a glass of water, Reid right behind her.
With Marinette's attention occupied elsewhere, Adrien seized the opportunity to whisper to Nino, making sure that Marinette couldn't overhear, "Where's Lila?"
Nino replied in the same tone, "In the locker, next door to the right. We didn't know where else to put her."
Adrien nodded in agreement. "That'll do for now."
"I can't believe Mari actually agreed to this."
"Me neither."
"Hey, I'm sorry, but something's been bothering me for a while," Alya began. "M-Vee, are you dyeing your hair?"
Victoria furrowed her brow in confusion. "No, why?"
"Are you absolutely sure?" Alya probed further.
"Of course, I'm sure."
"Then what products do you use?"
Victoria rolled her eyes but reluctantly headed to the bathroom. She returned a minute later, arms laden with various hair care products, and with a dramatic movement, placed them on the coffee table. She mimicked a magician's "ta-da" before defensively placing her hands on her hips.
"There, satisfied?"
Alya looked at the array of products. "Conditioner, shampoo… What's this one?" She held up a clear bottle devoid of any label.
"It's a hair mask," Victoria replied with a shrug.
Alya's brow furrowed. Well, that didn't make sense. Victoria's brown hair showed significant signs of damage, which shouldn't have been the case if she truly was using a hair mask every week. Especially considering the fact that Marinette always had gorgeous, healthy hair. No, something wasn't adding up. She unscrewed the bottle cap and sniffed the contents. Her eyes widened slightly before she looked back at Victoria. "How often do you use this?"
"Once a week."
"Just once a week?"
"Yes …," Victoria trailed off, her eyes darting between Alya and the boys, who seemed as lost as she was. "Well, these days."
"What do you mean, 'these days'?"
"Babe, what's going on?" Nino chimed in, concerned.
But Alya ignored him, instead nodding eagerly at Victoria so she would continue.
"I've been using it once a week for the past two and a half years, but before that, it was more frequent," Victoria explained, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. "Why?"
"Smell this," Alya instructed, handing the bottle to Adrien, who took it and sniffed cautiously.
The scent was unusual, a peculiar blend of flowers with an underlying, faintly recognizable note. Adrien had smelled that scent before, though much stronger. It was oddly familiar, like a memory on the verge of surfacing. Where had he smelled it? He closed his eyes, trying to remember. A shoot, a bunch of girls, a hairstylist, a model crying over her now platinum hair…
"It's bleach," he realized, opening his eyes wide.
"What do you mean, bleach?" Victoria retorted, her arms crossed defensively. "It's not bleach; I told you, it's a hair mask."
"With bleach in it," Alya clarified, shaking her head. "She's making you do a freaking bleach bath every week. I can't believe it."
"I would know if—"
"Who gave this to you?" Adrien interrupted.
"Dylan," Victoria replied. "He said I was using it before the accident. His mom's hairstylist recommended it."
"I highly doubt that," he muttered.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Alya put her hand on Victoria's shoulder. "What did Adrien tell you?"
"Some bullshit about Lila."
"Just Lila?" Alya asked, glancing at Adrien.
"I didn't want to scare her," he tried to justify himself. "I thought it might have been too much."
"What are you talking about?" Victoria asked.
She looked ready to yell, apparently growing angrier with every passing second.
"I can explain it to her," Reid offered, his face pale. "I can tell her what you told me, guys."
Nino nodded. "Thanks, dude."
Reid didn't acknowledge him, simply gesturing at Victoria to sit in front of him on the couch. She complied, less reluctantly than with the others.
"It's a good idea," Alya whispered, walking with Nino and Adrien into the kitchen. "He's her friend, she'll trust him more easily."
"Speaking of, I know why she doesn't trust me. Lila told her I had sex with her and ditched her the next morning."
There was a silence, and then Nino said, "I think I'm gonna hurl."
Adrien passed a hand on his face. "Tell me about it. I couldn't help but laugh because that was so…"
"Horrible?" Nino supplied.
Alya shuddered. "Disgusting?"
"Ridiculous?"
"Utterly ridiculous?"
Adrien laughed. "Yeah, that."
At the same time, Reid sat on the coffee table, gently taking Victoria's hands in his own.
"What did Adrien tell you?" he asked, his eyes searching hers.
"That my name isn't Victoria, that Lila kidnapped me, and that she abused me for years," Victoria replied, her voice laced with sarcasm and an underlying note of fear.
Reid ran a hand through his hair, visibly troubled. "Yeah, that's what they told me, too."
"That's nonsense, isn't it?" Victoria's unease grew as Reid failed to answer. "Right?"
"I mean… I thought so, at first," Reid admitted, the doubt evident in his eyes.
"At first?"
"Well, you should've seen Lila, she—"
Victoria raised a hand, interrupting him. "Wait, she's here? Where is she? Maybe I could—"
Reid interjected firmly, "You don't want to talk to her right now. She's not… She's not really herself. Look, Vee, I don't want to believe any of it, but…"
"But what?" Victoria whispered-shouted angrily. She briefly glanced at the others in the kitchen, who were engaged in their own conversation. "This whole thing is just crazy!"
"I know, but Nino explained everything to me when Adrien left. They did their research, Vee. Some old lady claimed that…" He paused for a moment, his grip on Victoria's hands tightening. "Well, she's supposed to be your great aunt or something."
"What? That's impossible. I don't have any living relatives."
"Yeah, well … she said Victoria Lynch died years ago, anyway. Long before the accident."
Victoria's eyes widened in disbelief, her voice quaking as she tried to rationalize the absurdity of it all. "Wh-what? I mean, there are probably a lot of Victoria Lynchs, right? It doesn't mean anything."
"That's what I thought, too. But they apparently tested your DNA, and there are the pictures, and…"
"Please, stop," Victoria implored, her eyes brimming with tears. "Lila wouldn't do this, right? She wouldn't."
"I wish," Reid murmured, his voice heavy with sorrow and pain. "Trust me, I don't want to think they could—"
"Wait, they?"
Reid hesitated for a second and somehow, Victoria's anxiety grew bigger. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she felt a creeping sense of dread seep into every fibre of her being. She knew, deep down, what he meant, but she couldn't bring herself to accept it. This couldn't be the truth. It was too hard, too painful, too horrible. But then, Reid, who obviously regretted it, sighed deeply and made her world explode.
"Lila, Dylan, and Duchaine."
The words hit her like a punch in the guts. How could she live with this? There was no way, no way, that any of it was true. Her breaths came in shallow, ragged gasps as she pulled back her hands from Reid's, bringing them close to her chest, as if trying to shield herself from the words, from the truth, from the world. The room seemed to spin as she slowly shook her head left and right, her eyes unable to focus on anything or anyone.
"No," she silently mouthed, unable to actually say the word.
"Hey, hey, breathe, Vee," Reid urged, his hands gripping her shoulders. "It's going to be alright; just take a deep breath."
Victoria followed his instructions, tears streaming down her cheeks, oblivious to the fact that the kitchen had fallen silent as the three Parisians observed the exchange.
"That's it, another breath. Yeah, okay, now's not the time for another panic attack, huh?" Reid nervously chuckled. "Look, tomorrow we'll know the truth, right? You won't take your pills tonight, and we'll prove them wrong. It's going to be fine."
She locked her eyes onto her friend's, finally seeing the pain and anxiety etched across his face. It was painfully evident that he, too, clung to the desperate hope that this was all a terrible joke, a cruel fabrication. Just like her, he yearned for it to be nothing more than a grotesque lie. Somehow, knowing that she wasn't alone, that they both wished this nightmare would disappear, provided some small, barely there comfort.
Victoria nodded slowly, her tear-stained cheeks glistening as she sniffled. "Right, okay."
—
The atmosphere was charged with tension and awkwardness as the evening went by. It felt as though everyone was walking on eggshells as they waited for the effects of the pills to wear off.
Reid and Victoria found themselves sitting side by side on the couch, their discomfort palpable. Reid aimlessly scrolled through his phone, his foot tapping a nervous rhythm on the floor, while Victoria sought refuge in her sketchbook, her pencil rapidly and somehow angrily dancing across the pages. Meanwhile, Nino attempted to prepare a meal that ended up untouched by everyone, the pasta now cold on the counter, while Adrien and Alta feigned interest in some Netflix show, their eyes fixed on the screen but their minds elsewhere.
Two things particularly bothered Adrien. Firstly, even though Marinette tried to hide it, she was clearly struggling. It was probably time for her to take her Oxlylextine, her painkiller. She was good at masking her pain, yet her efforts weren't enough to hide the occasional tremble of her hands or the grimaces of discomfort that flickered across her face. Every now and then, she'd take a sharp intake of breath, her pen slipping from her grasp. But the moment someone's gaze brushed her way, she'd swiftly erect a façade of indifference, as though nothing was wrong.
Secondly, Gabriel hadn't tried calling him again. He'd expected him to blow his phone, to send an akuma, anything, really, but there was nothing, just an eerie quiet that seemed more menacing by the minute. He knew how to deal with an angry Hawkmoth. Knew how to fight back. But despite it all, he'd never learn how to deal with a silent Gabriel. He should be used to it by now. After all, he'd dealt with it for years; his father had never been the friendly type. And yet, he'd never gotten used to it. Never knew how to feel, confronted by the menacing silence. The silence always had a way of making him feel small and inadequate, and deep down, he suspected that his father was well aware of this effect. Perhaps it was intentional, a calculated tactic meant to maintain control and keep Adrien on his toes.
"Vee?" Reid's gentle voice broke Adrien from his thoughts.
Turning his head, Adrien noticed Marinette, now asleep, her head nestled on Reid's shoulder. Apparently, the events of the day had finally caught up with her. Her book and pen lay forgotten in her lap, and a tender smile tugged at the corners of Adrien's lips as he watched her. She seemed so peaceful, her lips slightly parted.
Gosh, she's gorgeous.
Beside him, Alya took a deep breath. "Alright, she's asleep. Now we wait, I guess."
"What do you mean?" Reid asked, perplexed. "Won't you know tomorrow morning?"
"Nah, dude. Last time, she woke up not long after falling asleep."
"Last time? The one you mentioned when she remembered and Dylan…" He trailed off, uncomfortable as he glanced at the sleeping girl.
"Yes."
"I see."
"We should put her to bed," Alya suggested.
"Won't that wake her up too early, though?" Nino asked.
"No," Adrien, Alya, and Reid simultaneously replied.
The three exchanged glances for a moment, followed by a nervous chuckle from Alya.
"Marinette's always been a heavy sleeper," she explained.
Adrien nodded, a faint smile forming. "She could sleep through an earthquake."
"Wow," Reid whispered, his eyes shifting between them. "It's weird. You know, we used to joke about it. Vee would fall asleep in the middle of a movie, and there was nothing that could wake her up. There was this one time when we were pretty drunk, and she'd fallen asleep on the floor. I poured a glass of water on her head. Nothing. Then another. Still nothing. I screamed in her ear, and she simply turned around," he laughed as he recounted the memory. "But this girl woke up the second I started talking about baking some cookies, claiming that hers were the best. Anyway, she burnt them."
Laughter filled the room as they all vividly imagined the scene.
"Yeah, it sounds like her," Alya whispered, her laughter fading.
"I'll take her to bed," Adrien said, rising and approaching Marinette with care.
She didn't react as Adrien effortlessly cradled her sleeping form against his chest. In her sleep, she instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck and nuzzled into the crook of his neck, sending Adrien's heart into a frantic beat. At least, when she was unconscious, she trusted him. He wasn't sure how to feel about it.
God, how he wished she would wake up and know who he truly was. He fervently prayed to whatever god might be listening that his Marinette would return by morning. He wasn't certain how much longer he could endure this anguish, this torment of having her near yet so far away. It was surreal, holding the love of his life in his arms as she slept, while just a month ago, he had believed her to be gone forever.
With utmost care, he lowered her onto her bed, tucking the blanket around her. She hadn't changed and was still in her jeans and T-shirt, but he didn't want to change her into more comfortable clothes. Yes, he'd seen her naked body multiple times in the past, but it had been years, and as of right now, she didn't trust him. Hell, she didn't even know him.
Marinette then let out a tiny snore, and Adrien couldn't help but chuckle. His heart raced in his chest, and he found himself unable to resist the urge any longer. Leaning down, he pressed a tender kiss to her forehead. Marinette sighed contentedly in her sleep, as if subconsciously aware of his presence and the affectionate gesture.
He could've returned to the living room to wait, but he couldn't bring himself to leave her side. Not now, not ever. So, he settled into the pink and gold chair in the corner, his gaze fixed on her slumbering form. It was probably a bit creepy and it reminded him of the hero of some fantasy books, but hey, he got it now. He had to make sure she was safe. When Marinette eventually woke up with her memories—and she would, she had to—she couldn't be alone. Whether it was him or Alya, one of them had to be there. He couldn't bear the thought of her waking up, disoriented, overwhelmed, in pain, both mentally and physically, and being alone.
He lost track of time as he watched over her, but a ringing startled him. He quickly realized that it was coming from his second phone and checked the name. Viperion. He thought about it, really, he did. Maybe there was an akuma attack. Perhaps Gabriel had finally reacted. Maybe Dylan had escaped. There were so many possibilities, but he declined the call, his eyes fixed on Marinette. But then, the ringing started again. Adrien knew that Luka wouldn't call twice in a row unless it was something crucial. But he couldn't leave her…
"You should take it," Alya said as she entered the room. "Reid's out on the couch; he won't hear you. Just step into the bathroom."
Adrien hesitated for a moment, torn between the call, Marinette's still form, and his responsibilities.
"Go ahead," Alya insisted, taking a seat on Dylan's side of the bed. "I'll stay here with her. Don't worry."
With a resigned sigh, Adrien nodded and made his way to the bathroom, closing the door behind him.
For a moment, Alya stayed immobile but then, slowly, she lay down on her side, facing Marinette. She watched her for a moment in silence, her body shaking uncontrollably. She was anxious, afraid, excited, everything all at once and it was overwhelming.
I could almost fall asleep, she thought. I could wake up and Mari would be back.
But a small part of her couldn't help but whisper a litany of "what ifs." What if Marinette woke up without any memory of them or the truth? What if she continued to doubt their claims? What if, even if she did remember, she was so traumatized and changed by her experiences that she wanted nothing to do with them? What if she ran away and never looked back? Alya knew it didn't seem like Marinette, but seven long years had passed. People changed, and some things could be irreparably broken.
And then, all of her thoughts just stopped as Marinette started stirring. Her eyes moved rapidly behind her eyelids, her eyebrows knitted with worry, her hands trembling, and her breath turned irregular as small cries escaped her lips.
Oh, she's having a nightmare.
Should she wake Marinette, stopping the dream, or should she let it run its course? Alya didn't know what the best option was. In a normal situation, she would've woke her up, but she was afraid that if she did, the girl who would open her eyes would be Victoria. Maybe it was a necessary step? Or maybe, just maybe, both nightmares, the ones in Marinette's dream and the one that was reality, would be over if Alya woke her up right now. But before she could make her decision, everything just … stopped.
Marinette stayed completely immobile for what felt like an eternity, and Alya held her breath. In the background, she could hear Adrien talking on the phone and Nino listening to some video, but everything seemed to fade away. All that mattered was Marinette, who was unnaturally still.
She's awake, she realized, her heart pounding in her chest.
And then slowly, so slowly, Marinette opened her right eye, as if trying to be subtle. For a second, she seemed shocked as she realized just who was lying next to her. And then, she opened her other eye, staring straight at Alya who held her breath, not daring to move, to make a sound, as she waited for Marinette to do or say something. Then, the tears welled up in Marinette's eyes. Her lips quivered, and a hand emerged from under the blanket, reaching out for Alya.
"Al," she mouthed, her tears now flowing freely.
Alya released her breath, the weight on her shoulders going away. "I'm here," she murmured, pulling Marinette close. "I'm here, Mari. You're okay."
Marinette's body trembled against hers as she sobbed, gripping Alya with such intensity it almost hurt. Alya wrapped one arm around her head and the other around her shoulders, holding her just as tightly.
"You're safe," she promised, and Marinette made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a hysterical cry.
Alya took a minute to hold her friend in her arms. At this point, she couldn't tell which of them was shaking more. Her vision blurred from tears, and she sniffed before calling out, her voice a blend of happiness and sadness, "Adrien!"
Marinette seemed to stiffen against Alya's chest momentarily, but she remained nestled there, still hiding her face. Adrien probably knew what was going on just by the way her voice had sounded, because he came running, his eyes widening as they landed on the two of them. The question and hope in his eyes were unmistakable as he gazed at Alya, silently pleading for confirmation of his deepest wish.
Alya nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "She's back."