Plagg followed Nooroo and Dusuu into the dressing room and slammed the door closed. Neither of the other judges knew he was following them, causing them to jump at the harsh sound of wood hitting wood.

"Nooroo, I don't know what you're playing at but that was uncalled for! You know for certain they deserved more than that, more than the beat down you just gave them. We are here to act professionally and do the job properly." Plagg was furious, not only had Nooroo insulted Marinette and Adrien, he'd made it personal against him. It was Plagg who had created and choreographed that routine, it was Plagg who was championing the couple. After the week he'd spent with Adrien, he had properly taken the boy under his wings.

"Plagg, for once in your life, stay out of it! This has nothing to do with you!"

"Nothing to do with me? Nothing - to - do - with - me? When you go around talking a load of bull about people I care about it has everything to do with me!"

"You don't know what you're talking about Plagg, you have no idea what is happening behind the scenes. You just turn up, dress smart and then be your normal socially awkward self. If you cared at all you'd help support me in splitting Adrien and Marinette up."

Plagg stared at his one time friend wondering what had happened to this guy. Nooroo was one of Plagg's oldest friends, hell they were all dear friends from the time gone by. They danced together, trained together and competed together. Plagg could honestly say he had no idea who this person was in front of him anymore, but he was certain it was not his long time friend.

"Yeah well, you might have your wish. Marinette's still at the hospital. If they don't get the votes to stay in tonight they will be gone." Plagg crossed his arms over his chest and stared down at the male in front of him.

"What are you talking about?" Nooroo asked, Dusuu suddenly shuffling at the side.

"If Marinette has broken her leg, or is told to pull out the competition, Adrien has already committed to pulling out too. Apparently it's Marinette or nothing, so whatever this game is you're playing you're about to lose big time."

Nooroo's jaw clenched tight as he considered what Plagg had just said.

"I don't believe you."

"Well you should. Adrien has posted it all over his social media and the press are running wild with it."

Plagg grabbed his phone from his back pocket and threw it over to Nooroo, Adrien's latest Tweet on display with over one thousand likes.

"When did he post this?" Nooroo asked.

"An hour ago."

Plagg watched as Nooroo seemed to go into a state of panic. This was not what Plagg was expecting but to be honest he couldn't really care at the moment. Whatever crazy game Nooroo was playing with Gabriel Agreste, he was on his own. Plagg only has one care in the world now, and that was to protect Adrien and Marinette at all costs.

"Whatever this bozo has on you, I hope it's worth it Nooroo. I hope it's worth losing your morals, your friends and yourself because I'm done. Mess with me or my kids again and I promise you will regret it, they don't call me King of Destruction without reason."

Plagg walked to the door and yanked it open, making his way out and slamming the door closed. Nooroo and Dusuu watched before sinking into the armchairs in their dressing room.

"I'm sorry to say this Noo, but he's right. You shouldn't have done what you did." Nooroo sighed and placed his hands over his face, leaning his elbows on his knees.

"Where did it go wrong, Dusuu? Wait, don't answer that, I know exactly where. I shouldn't have allowed Sass to influence me. I shouldn't have accepted Marinette onto the show."

Dusuu stood up and wrapped an arm around his good friend's shoulders. He would always be loyal to his friend, even in times like this where he was making it quite impossible.

"Marinette is not the one at fault here and she is taking the brunt of everything. She is a girl who loves to dance, and a girl who is incredibly talented. Just because Adrien might fall in love with her is not for us to mess with. What will be will be, and Gabriel will have to just suck it up."

Nooroo took a deep breath.

"You don't know the full story Suu, it's not that straightforward. What Gabriel knows, what Gabriel could do ... it would end me. Not just my career but everything."

Dusuu grabbed a hold of his shoulders and made Nooroo look up into his face.

"Then tell me! Tell me what the hell is happening, let me help."

They sat in silence staring at each other for a while, neither daring to move, Dusuu eager for his friend to open up and Nooroo daring for Dusuu to try and push further. He didn't want to hurt his friend but this was too far gone now. There was no way back.

"I get it. Fine. Just don't come crying to me when Gabriel Agreste stabs you in the back, and I'm sorry but I will fight for Adrien and Marinette. I am with Plagg on this, the kids don't deserve all this. They're young and falling in love, who are we to stop them?"

With that Dusuu left the room, leaving Nooroo alone and with his dark depressing thoughts. The truth couldn't get out. If it did he would be over. He needed to check in with Sass, he needed to make sure he wouldn't spill the tea to Marinette, Luka or any of that friendship group, and he couldn't allow Gabriel to know Dusuu was onto him. He couldn't have any more of his friends hurt, it wasn't worth it.

He knew for a fact Marinette's hospital trip wasn't one of a clumsy girl getting stuck in camera cables. He knew Lila Rossi was lying to her heart's content about her relationship with Adrien and about how Marinette was jealous and crying out for his attention. He also knew who set up the trap for her in the first place. Picking up his phone he texted the one person he needed to speak to. Unfortunately, whilst he was still under Gabriel's grasp he had to work by Gabriel's rules.

Within five minutes there was a knock on the door and Nooroo knew exactly who it was.

"Come in, Wayhem."

The door opened and in walked the second presenter, a devious smile on his face.

"Any minute now we should be getting a call that Marinette is out of the competition," the male said, "you can thank me later."

Nooroo gulped as he looked into the males eyes. Wayhem wanted Adrien, Wayhem wanted Marinette out the way to make that possible, and Wayhem always got what he wanted.

••••••

Adrien sat in the waiting area oblivious to the number of people staring and commenting about Adrien Agreste in accident and emergency. He came straight with Marinette as soon as they could. After the fall, she was taken to the first aid room (of course Adrien carried her), and her foot was wrapped in an ice pack (of course Adrien held it for her), before she was carted off to the nearest hospital (and of course Adrien went with her).
He was tapping his foot impatiently as he watched the television screen, complete with subtitles. They were about to play the results, Marinette and Adrien missing from the line up. The presenter had already explained about the duo, and that Marinette had been hurt, but nothing more.

Adrien knew they were close to the bottom of the leaderboard, Nooroo's score and Plagg's half score causing them many issues to their overall score. They needed the audience to be on their side. They needed the votes. He pulled out his phone again and checked his social media. His Twitter post had exploded, and they were trending again. He prayed that would be enough. He didn't want Marinette to have to pull out and he did want the show to end yet. It was too much fun.

The producers had already contacted him about changing partners, but he'd fully refused. It was Marinette or nothing as far as he was concerned. They started together and they were going to finish together.

He turned his attention to the screen again, reading the English subtitles as quickly as he could. For once he wanted to thank his father for making him take English as an additional masters level qualification.

ADRIEN AGRESTE AND MARINETTE DUPAIN-CHENG ARE SAFE FROM ELIMINATION AND WILL HOPEFULLY BE JOINING US BACK ON THE DANCEFLOOR NEXT WEEK.

The camera panned to the judges to see Tikki and Plagg doing the Adrienette signature 'pound it', but there was something about Nooroo's face. Something Adrien couldn't quite place a finger on.

"Adrien Agreste," a nurse walked towards him pushing a wheelchair with a fast asleep Marinette seated on it. "She's got slight ligament damage but nothing too bad. She'll need to rest as much as possible."

"How long?" Adrien asked, his face softened at the sleeping girl in front of him. She looked so comfortable yet so awkward at the same time.

"Usually we say at least two weeks, but we know she's a dancer so she just needs to listen to her body. If you can get her out of the show for a week without elimination please do, Mr Agreste."

Adrien thanked the nurse and walked around the wheelchair to take it from her.

"By the way, Sir," Adrien turned back to see the nurse joined by five more. "We all ship it."

With that they turned and left, leaving Adrien to take his sleepy partner back to the hotel, and force her to rest, wondering what 'we ship it actually means'.

The next day was filled with phone calls and meetings with the production crew. They would allow Marinette and Adrien one week off to recover, however, after that Adrien would need to consider another partner, as by the wording of his contract he was stuck in the show until he was eliminated.

"I'm so sorry," Marinette was currently on the sofa in Adrien's suite discussing the possible options for continuing.

"Don't try and blame yourself," Adrien said, coming to sit beside her.

She had her leg up and resting on the coffee table, and currently flicking through Disney+ considering their options for the evening.

"I'm so clumsy though! If I hadn't got stuck in the wire we wouldn't be in this position."

"I still think there's more to it, Mari. I swear the wire wasn't there when we entered the area, and even if it was, that's a health and safety issue! You could sue if you wanted!"

Marinette looked at Adrien before bursting out laughing.

"I like you, I think I'll keep you as a pet." She patted him on the head causing him to huff. "Now before you get a bee in your bonnet, you will continue the show if I can't perform anymore, and you will win it!"

"But Mari?"

"Don't 'but Mari' me! You've worked too hard on this, Adrien. You're not stopping now, I won't let you."

He smiled over at her, she really was something else.

"Hand me my painkillers and let's watch a movie."

He followed her orders, as always, and handed her two painkillers. He really didn't want to carry on without her, it just didn't feel right but she was stubborn and he knew he'd end up caving to her.

She switched on High School Musical 3 and a thrill ran through her as Adrien shuffled a little closer. She liked this. Something felt so natural about it, almost as if they belonged in this position; close and connected.

Before they knew it Troy and Chad were dancing around, flipping off and around old battered cars. An idea lit between them, causing their eyes to widen and turning to lock eyes on one an other.

"Marinette? Call Luka."

••••••
This weeks vote:

A chapter of Adrien and Marinette experiencing Halloween together?
❤️ Yes
🖤 No

I have some ideas if this gets yes votes, however I am also open to suggestions.