"Oh, thank God you're okay," he said, shoulders slumping forward. Marinette looked at Luka, who stood like a rock, staring at the wall. She could see his eyes, darker than normal, hands empty.  Her lady must have come by, and taken the blankets with her. 

She felt anger burn under her skin, so before she said anything unsavory to Luka, she opened the door, letting Adrien pass through. But before she shut the door and  twisted her wheelchair around, she made eye contact with Luka, whose cold expression filled her with anger. The door slammed harder than she meant it to. 

"I'm so glad you're okay," Adrien said, immediately pacing the room, looking at his twisting hands as they spoke. "They wouldn't tell me anything. I had to fake sleeping before they'd leave me alone. Hopefully they don't find out I'm here." He chuckled. His head swung towards her, his hands flying. "Thank you! For letting me in. And for being okay."

"Thank you for coming," Marinette finally managed to speak, her voice laced with genuine gratitude. Everything felt like it was swirling, but having Adrien here meant more to her than she could express.

He mustered a small smile. "Well, what kind of boyfriend would I be if I wasn't here to flutter around you like an insane bird?" 

Marinette laughed. Then, she flinched as a stab of sharp pain went through her side, turning her stomach. 

In an instant, Adrien was at her side, eyes wide, his hand on her arm. "What happened? Where does it hurt?"

Through teeth, Marinette hissed, "Just a little accident. I just need to get into the bed. Can you give me a minute?"

"Here, let me help," he said. 

She held her hands as a block between them. "No, I got it. Just don't look, please."

Adrien frowned, his eyebrows scrunching together. "Don't be ridiculous. I'm helping." His voice was firm. 

Marinette glanced at his face. His hand was tight around her wrist, but not too tight. Comforting. Strong but soft. His green eyes, sparkling with concern, made her flush, and she looked away, but she wheeled to the edge of the bed, and started to get up. When Adrien followed, grabbing her in a side hug and lifting her, she didn't protest. She winced at the pain, but it was over in moments, as she was on the bed, determined to not let him see how much her movements hurt. His presence and gentle touch filled her with butterflies, and at the same time smoothing over her anxieties. 

She pushed herself up against the pillows. "Do you want me to call the nurse?" he asked, observing her pain.  

She shook her head. "Nothing that can be done. Don't even worry about it, please." 

He nodded. Standing on the side of the bed, bouncing from one foot to the next, insecurity adorning his face. "If you're sure.... But can I do anything? Do you need water? Or something else?" 

She shook her head, suddenly feeling very tired and wanting to be alone, his brightness burning her just a little bit. She needed to think about the Akumas, and stopping Hawkmoth. She needed to text Chat and make a plan. Her voice was tired when she spoke. "I'm okay. Don't worry about it." 

"I want to help, Marinette."

She flushed. She couldn't accept his help, not really. Knowing about the Akumas could put him in even more danger than he already had been in. First, the arrow on their hike. Now, a bomb. She felt her blood go cold as she realized how closely he had come to die today. And she couldn't find him the entire time.

"It would be better if you left, Adrien." You almost died because of me. 

Adrien's head fell. "Why?"

She huffed, and shrugged, forcing herself not to flinch again at the movement. "Did you get hurt? In town?"

He sighed. "No, not at all. I was pulled out within seconds, forced into a vehicle before I could ever turn to look for you. My father's orders, apparently, to have people watch me. They were outside the building the whole time." Then he flushed, and shyly put a hand up to his neck. "Apparently I'm going to stay here."

"For how long?"

He imitated a guard's formal tone. "For the foreseeable future!" He chuckled but stopped just as quickly. "What happened to you?" 

Marinette shrugged, feeling her throat close up. The afternoon played behind her eyes again. As she remembered the kids, the brooch that was still in her pocket, she felt tears well up, feeling vulnerable. Her eyes darted towards the door, then to the window. Suddenly, the room felt too hot, and Marinette felt the walls filling up the space, getting too close. She closed her eyes, feeling sweat on her forehead. She took a deep breath. 

"I don't want to talk about it."

His body shifted, standing in a way that was defensive, as if bracing himself against something, his fists balled. But his face was soft, the contrast screaming at her. When he glanced at her through his lashes, Marinette was surprised to see a mixture of concern and determination deep in those green eyes. 

"I know you're strong, Marinette. And independent. But that doesn't mean you have to face things alone, you know?"

She looked away. "I don't."

He didn't move. "Can I stay? Sit here, by your side? We don't need to talk. I can play my stupid phone games."

Marinette hesitated, worried that if he stayed there any longer, the tears would fall over the edge. But she cherished this time together, appreciated his unwavering support. She also wanted to touch him, to really feel like he was there and would stay. So finally, when she felt she could breathe normally, she said, "Okay." 

Adrien's whole posture softened. He walked to a wooden armchair near her bed, and sat down on it. With a look of pleasant surprise, he wiggled into it. "Wow, this is shockingly comfy," he said. 

"That's what I said the first time," Marinette chuckled. "Take one of the blankets in the--"

She froze. There were no extra blankets in her room anymore. She glanced at the empty armoir, and a feeling of anger resurfaced towards Luka. She hated knowing that he was right outside her door. Frowning, she continued, "I'll ask for extra blankets once my lady comes." 

He smiled at her. "Will do..." He coughed. "I'm here for you, just so you know. If you want to talk about it. 

With a quick thumbs up, he settled into it, lifting his legs off the side. He pulled out his black smartphone, facing it away from her. She was grateful, as they settled into a shared silence, their presence comforting each other in its own way. Marinette pulled out her phone from her bedside table drawer, and sent a quick email to Chat Noir. 

ladyofthenight: Are you busy?

He responded almost immediately. She didn't even close the app before the response came.

hamsterman32:  no... did you hear about the bombing in town today

Marinette let out a little sigh, happy she wouldn't have to share too much about it. 

ladyofthenight: Yes, I did. That's what I wanted to talk to you about. I was there, and I won't be able to come out for some time. 

hamsterman32:  o my goodness... are you hurt???!!! 

hamsterman32: ladybug?????

hamsterman32: LADYBUG

ladyofthenight: YEESH IM A SLOW TEXTER

hamsterman32: oh.... 

ladyofthenight: I'm not hurt too badly, don't worry! :) 

ladyofthenight: I found something while I was out that I think could be good to see. Its a piece of jewelry, I think from the Akumas. I think it was another message. I got it by accident, kind of. 

hamsterman32: seriously?? that's a lead we can't ignore. what did u find?

Marinette pulled a blanket around her, despite the heat in the room. She reached under her shirt, and pulled out the jewelry from the child, feeling the warm metal in her hands. She looked at it outside of Adrien's view. Though, with his stare at his game, she doubted he'd even notice her. 

ladyofthenight: it's a pendant, with engravings: 4221. It seems like another password to something. I need to find out more about it. 

hamsterman32: that could be crucial. we've got to figure out what they unlock. im on it...

ladyofthenight: Actually, that's kind of what I need your help with, Chat. Can you go to Main Street, find out any additional information? 

She thought about the children, a surge of hope surging through her gut. 

ladyofthenight: And, I know this is a big ask, but, there were two kids I can't stop thinking about. They were hurt. A brother and sister. They spoke Mandarin, I think. I don't know if you know about any Chinese communities? You could look for them. The girl was a teen. The boy was small. I don't remember anything beyond that.

hamsterman32: consider it done... i'll keep my. eyes peeled. we'll crack this case together, i promise. are you okay?

ladyofthenight: Yes. Please be careful. It's getting serious.

hamsterman32: it always was

Marinette's phone beeped, signaling that it would die soon, but the charger was by her makeup desk. She debated asking Adrien to plug it in for her. But he was too focused. Instead, she turned it off, putting it back in the drawer, turning towards Adrien. His thumb moved quickly across the screen, looking seriously at his game. She smiled slightly. He looked so funny, so serious. She was grateful he was there. 

______

Adrien's restless tosses and turns jolted Marinette from her peaceful slumber. Blinking the sleep from her eyes, she glanced around her darkened room, momentarily disoriented. She couldn't recall when or how she had drifted off to sleep, but the world outside her window told her that the night had fallen.

Her mind wandered, wondering if her lady in waiting had come to visit her at all. But before she could dwell on the thought any further, Adrien's voice pierced the silence, calling out in his sleep.

Marinette's heart skipped a beat, concern coursing through her veins. She whispered Adrien's name softly, hoping to reach him in his dreams. When he continued to murmur restlessly, she called out louder, her voice tinged with urgency. He twisted, head bouncing off the wood arm. She went to shake him, but she could barely sit up straight without sharp pain going through her. But as he groaned, she she couldn't bear to see him trapped in the clutches of a nightmare. She twisted and turned on the lamp, a warm light brightening their corner of the room.

"Adrien!" she shouted, and then flung a pillow at him.  

Finally, Adrien's eyes fluttered open, his chest heaving with panic. Marinette's relief washed over her as she observed his disoriented state. She reached out her arm, wanting to touch him, offer him some sort of support. He looked so far away. 

"Adrien, are you okay?" she asked too-loud in the quiet and dark room, her voice filled with concern. "What were you dreaming about?"

His eyes met hers. They slowly became more present, and after a minute, a small smile formed on his lips. He grinned charmingly. "I had a dream where you threw up on my shoes," he replied, his voice trying to sound humorous. But Marinette could tell it was still laced with panic.

As Adrien moved to stand up, a sudden realization struck Marinette. She didn't want him to leave. Something within her yearned for his presence, for his warmth beside her. Before she could second-guess herself, her hand shot out and grasped his, gently but firmly.

"Stay," she said before realizing what left her mouth. 

He turned to face her, surprise and uncertainty etched on his features. "Are you sure, Marinette? I didn't mean to fall asleep here."

Marinette's suddenly had never been more sure of anything. Maybe it was the sleepiness. Maybe it was the way he always comforted her, even though she didn't tell him. She was sure, more than she had ever been before, that she wanted him to stay, and she wanted to be there for him. "I want you to stay, Adrien. Please."

With a soft sigh, almost grateful, Adrien yielded to her request. He tentatively sat on the edge of her bed. She motioned to the empty side, and he, still obviously unsure, settled down next to her, their hands still intertwined.

Marinette turned off the lamp, but the darkness only emphasized a sudden vulnerability and closeness. They laid there side by side, their hearts beating in sync with one another. Adrien's breathing slowed quickly, and Marinette thought he must have fallen asleep again. But there was no way she was going to sleep.

In the stillness of the room, Marinette's mind wandered, contemplating her feelings for Adrien. She thought about the butterflies that fluttered in her stomach right then. It wasn't the first time she had them around him. But what screamed at her was the comfort she got when holding his hand. Her heart skipped a beat. 

And that sucked. She couldn't like him. Well, maybe she could. But they were friends. But they were also dating? But there was no way he actually liked her. Not really. And, beyond just the two of them, she had a kingdom riddled with fear right now, with horrifying terrorists killing her people. Even if she wanted to like him, could she focus on it? Fear gnawed at her, whispering doubts and uncertainties about the future.

Adrien suddenly spoke, interrupting her spiraling thoughts. 

"I was worried, you know," he said, voice soft. "That you'd been hurt. Really worried. I lost my arm in an explosion. Did you know that?" He chuckled, but it was full of sadness. "If you went through something like that... it would be horrible."

Marinette listened intently as Adrien spoke, his voice breaking the silence of the room. The weight of his words settled in her heart, and she could sense the vulnerability in his voice as his voice seemed to barely reach her ears. 

She knew there were countless stories in the tabloids. Hell, she'd made her own assumptions about what happened. She'd almost blamed him, because in the midst of his tragedy, she almost had one, too. 

But hearing it directly from him made it more real, more personal. And every single judgement she'd ever had towards him filled her with shame. 

"What happened?" she asked softly as she squeezed his hand, offering him a silent gesture of support.

Adrien took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on the ceiling as he recounted the events. For a second, Marinette wished she had her sketchbook on her so she could draw his profile, but then he continued speaking. "It was a gas leak at one of my father's stores," he revealed, his words laced with a mixture of pain and acceptance. "I was there, just going about my day. I don't even remember why I was there. Not buying something. Maybe I was just up to no good. I got in a lot of trouble when I was younger, did some stupid stuff... I don't know. Maybe I wasn't doing anything wrong. But it didn't matter because either way, I was there.  And then everything went wrong. The explosion... it happened so fast. Next thing I knew, I woke up in the hospital, and my life had changed forever."

The silence was deafening once he stopped speaking. Marinette couldn't imagine. Well, maybe she could, now, just a little bit of what he saw. But her heart ached for him, and she struggled to find the right words to say. She could sense the weight of his experience, the pain and loss he must have endured. Not just emotional, but physical. 

Her words felt completely inadequate. She felt silly as she said, "I'm sorry."

Adrien took a deep breath. "Have you ever lost at chess?" he asked, his tone inviting her to delve into the deeper meaning behind his words.

A bittersweet smile graced Marinette's lips at the sudden change of topic. "What? Plenty of times."

Adrien's gaze remained fixed on her, his eyes filled with a rare solemnity. "I never have," he confessed, his voice soft and contemplative. "But you know, it would be a tragedy to never experience loss. Because that's the funny thing about tragedy; your worldview shifts. You feel like nothing will ever be the same, and it never is. So you feel like you'll never be okay again. But then, you are."

"Life can change in an instant," he continued, whispering. Marinette felt him move closer to her, and her heart was in her ears.  "So don't apologize, Marinette. I've learned a lot since then, what I'm capable of. I can do a lot more than I ever thought... And it made me appreciate the people in my life more, even if I don't always say it."

His gaze was soft. Marinette's heart skipped a beat. He reached out and gently pushed hair off her cheek, that she hadn't realized was stuck there. 

Adrien's words hung in the air, an undeniable tension enveloping them both. Marinette felt her heart racing, the air crackling with anticipation. They were teetering on the edge of something more, an unspoken desire increasing with each second. Slowly, almost instinctively, they leaned closer, their faces mere inches apart. Time seemed to stand still as their breaths mingled, their lips teasingly close, but not quite touching.

Marinette's heart ached with longing, torn between the desire to bridge the remaining distance and the fear of the unknown. She could see the same struggle mirrored in Adrien's eyes, his gaze searching her face for any hint of permission.

But then, with a bittersweet smile, Marinette pulled back ever so slightly, regretting it instantly. But she couldn't go back. The moment was broken. When Adrien's eyes filled with a mixx of disappointment, she closed her eyes. 

"I'm sorry," Marinette whispered, her voice barely audible in the hushed room. She opened her eyes back up, trying to hide her emotions as her throat closed. 

Adrien nodded, a gentle smile gracing his lips. "Nothing to be sorry for. Thank you, for listening to me," he said, his voice filled with warmth. "We have all the time in the world to figure things out."

With those words, the tension dissipated, replaced by a sense of relief and renewed closeness. Marinette nestled back into the pillows, heart still pounding. As they lay there, unsure if the other was awake, Marinette thought about an uncertain future. But she realized that no matter what happened, she wanted her friend by her side. They could figure things out.