Since when did my back hurt so much?
Adrien wasn't dumb, but he couldn't recall why his back was hurting. Did he sleep wrong? Was it from fencing class? No, no. Fencing class, he couldn't get hurt.
It clicked instantly then.
The other day, Lady Bug and him had fought a sentimonster, and the villain had smacked him so hard enough, he crash right through a wall. It could've killed him, and it felt like it was going to kill him when he got the wind knocked out of him for 30 seconds. The thought of that made him gasp in some air panicking just a little, but he calmed down when he realized he could breathe.
"Adrien?" Nathalie's voice echoed from the other side of his bedroom door. She knocked on it twice. "Are you alright in there? It sounded like you were gasping for breath."
Adrien cleared his throat. "I'm okay!" He reassured her.
"May I come in?"
"Um, yes! But I'm alright, Nathalie! You don't have to worry."
The door then opened. "Oh, no, it's not about that anymore," she smiled softly at the boy. Adrien mirrored the same smile. "You're father won't be home for a few days. He wanted me to tell you. So it's just you and me for a while."
His smile faltered just a little. "Where'd he go?" Why would his father just leave him alone with Nathalie like that. That's not like him. Why didn't he tell Adrien himself he was leaving?
"He's gone off to London for a little bit for work."
"Strange...he never leaves France..." he hummed to himself in thought. Nathalie sighed. "Yes, I know. But this was sort of...an emergency? He didn't give many details."
Adrien sighed. Nathalie could see a frown forming on the child's face. She sat down on the bedside. "Hey, don't worry about him, Adrien. Remember, it's just you and me for the weekend. So we can do whatever we want. Of course, I won't tell your father what we've done in favor of our fun," she winked playfully at him. Adrien chuckled. "Heh...thanks Nathalie. I just...he seems to be more distant, lately. Is he ignoring me?"
Nathalie frowned. "Oh, sweetheart..." She could sense the sadness from him. "He's just been busy with work. He's not ignoring you. Does this sudden call to work seem like he's ignoring you?"
Adrien shook his head. "It's not that...it's just...he didn't tell me he was leaving." He pressed his hand to his chest, gesturing the obvious. "I know he probably didn't have enough time and was in a hurry, but it would've been nice to at least say goodbye, y'know?" He brought his knees up, revealing his colorful pajama pants, and pressed close to himself. He wrapped his arms around them, and rested his head against his knees. "But he didn't say goodbye...so it just feels like at the moment he won't speak to me..."
"Adrien!" Nathalie's voice was soft. "I don't think he meant to ignore you. The call was very, very sudden. How 'bout this? How about we try to Skype him later, when he gets the chance to have some free time to himself? He'll be happy to talk to you then, and he could even explain what happened."
Adrien turned. "You really think he'd be up for that?" There was hope in his eyes. Nathalie nodded reassuringly. "I can't promise, but I know he would like to talk to you for a few minutes."
Adrien smiled just slightly. "Thanks Nathalie," he uncoiled himself and wrapped his arms around her, hissing just a little when he felt a spring of shocked pain shoot through his back.
"Oh," the women yelped and pulled herself away. "You alright? Did I hurt you?" Adrien nervously laughed. "No, no...my back...I woke up and it was hurting."
"Ah..." she hummed. "You must've slept on it wrong. It will get better by the day," she flash a gentle smile. Adrien did the same.
"So...about that offer about doing something fun..." she smirked. Adrien almost bounced out of bed with excitement, if it weren't for his back hurting so much.