Chapter Text
Wearing the Horse, Snake and Ladybug miraculous, Adrien was entrusted a flimsy background story to say to this universe's Tom and Sabine just so he can live with the Guardian of this universe. He brought with him the PDF copy of the grimoire and a bag of materials for potion creation. He can't be called Adrien in this world so he went by its anagram... Raiden! Ok. If m'lady hears this, she will never let it down. Anyways, it seems his friend Marinette became Ladybug in another universe. Unfortunately, she's also been forced to become a guardian after Miracle Queen. Poor Marinette.
"I can't believe this." Marinette shook her head, sitting on her chaise and covering her face. "This is not what I need at all! Bunnyx. That that! That rabbit!"
"Actually, you do need help. Bunnyx told me everything. The dynamic between the Ladybug and Black cat must be balanced for us to defeat Papillon." He told her, dropping his bag gently and placing his tablet on her desk. He removed the hoodie over his head, fixing his hair. "Even if I give you a copy of the Grimoire, you wouldn't have enough time to decipher its secrets with the combined amount of school work and hero responsibilities on your shoulders. (Adrien tsked.) I can't believe Master Fu left you like this."
"B-but it's not his fault! I...Uhm..." Marinette is flailing and he placed one hand on his hip, adjusting the horse miraculous as he scanned her room once more. The bedroom is a mess, but not as bad as his universe' Marinette. Marinette looked down, losing words for a moment.
"And what about your partner? Your parents? Your responsibility to the other world's Paris?" Marinette asked, trying to persuade him to leave. That won't be happening any time soon. "And l-living with me? My parents wouldn't... What potion did you give my parents?"
"To answer all of that, I need you to calm down first. I don't want your parents worrying over nothing yet." Adrien sat on her chair, facing away from her desktop. "Before I left, I entrusted the miraculous box to my partner. She has shown time and time again that I can trust her with my life and Paris. (He smiled.) Also, M'lady can talk to me through Tikki. If the situation is dire, I can use the Horse and Snake miraculous to head back to my timeline. Though, it'll take three days to return to your world."
"..." Marinette blinked, staring at him in awe. Huh. It seems she hasn't fully experimented with the miraculouses.
"Bunnyx never told me how long I need to be here for you, but if my presence unsettles you then give me a day to search for a place to stay. I brought enough to live alone for a month?" Adrien pulled out his phone, glancing at the desktop and then back at his phone's clock. Bunnyx told him time works differently between universes. Adrien patted his jacket just to be safe. 'Wallet is here. Good.'
"Besides, barely a nanosecond passed in my world so I doubt anything has happened yet." Adrien glanced back up, typing on his phone for the nearest apartments for rent. He forgot this Marinette isn't the same as his skittish classmate. "I'm not sure how to answer the last part to be honest."
"Here." Adrien pulls out a letter Bunnyx gave him and offered it to Marinette. "Bunnyx told me to say this and they instantly believed it."
"Ok..." Marinette stood up, walking to take the paper off his hands. Adrien went back to his phone so he wouldn't be caught staring at the female. Marinette went back to the chaise and sat down, mumbling the words.
...
"We're back!" His Tikki finally returned with the other Tikki, heading to his side and nuzzling his cheek. Two Tikkis being all cute should be a blessing for humanity. Two sweet-loving deities.
"Marinette. He isn't lying." Tikki two? Marinette's Tikki? Err let's just stick to Other Tikki told this Marinette, floating beside her. "He really is the Guardian of the miraculous in his world."
"Adrien. She has so many sweets!" Tikki whispered and Adrien chuckled at his confidant's enthusiasm. "And she bakes! Adrien! Why don't you bake cookies?"
"Because I'm not allowed in the kitchen." Adrien chided his kwami, patting Tikki with a smile. "Remember the chocolate incident?"
"Not your fault you didn't know how to use a mixer." Tikki pouted and Adrien pat Tikki's head with one finger. Like he said: a blessing.
"..." Adrien slowly looked at Marinette, anxious what's taking her so long to read a 200-word paragraph. She's talking with her Tikki. This Marinette has noticeable eye bags, sluggish movement and chapped lips. He knows telling her off would earn him a snappy remark. The best way to help the bluenette is to offer assistance. Marinette yawned.
"You're right Tikki.. I do need the help." Marinette rubbed her eyes, closing the letter and looking back down at him. She instantly blushed and looked back down. "I-Uhm. Very real. (She stuttered.) Sorry if I judged you. Of course you can stay with me, Adrie-I mean. (Marinette looked back at him with determined eyes.) Raiden."
"I'm glad. " He smiled, curious why she's acting this way. What relationship does Marinette have with this version of him? Adrien pushed the thought, looking back at the desktop. 'Don't think about it so much. You're here to help her adjust.'
"Since it's getting late, I want you to go to sleep." Adrien told his fellow Guardian off. "It's already ten o'clock and you have school tomorrow. If we have the same class schedule then you should have an incoming history test tomorrow."
"W-what? Oh gosh. I forgot about that because of Mr. Pigeon and Baby akuma take five but maybe I'm procrastinating it because I'm trying to catch up on my commissions which I should've done if it weren't for...!" Marinette is spiraling. Now that's something the two Marinettes have in common.
'...' Adrien stood up, walking towards her as she stood up and flipped through her tablet. Both Tikkis smiled at each other, helpless of the female's antics.
"I can't fail this test or my parents will worry and they'll ground me or ask my friends what's wrong and Alya will obviously interrogate me the following day-" Marinette can go on and on, but Adrien really wants her to sleep and get some energy for tomorrow.
"Marinette." Adrien placed a hand on her shoulder and she flinched at his hold, quickly looking at him with wide eyes. Adrien spoke, "How about you sleep and I wake you up early to prepare you for the test? I've taught the other you before and I know you learn better with sufficient sleep."
"But don't you need sleep? I wouldn't want to impose-" Marinette bit her lip and Adrien sighed, pulling his hand away.
"I don't mind. I have troubles sleeping at night." Adrien also won't admit to the fact he waits for Lady Noire to crash in and cuddle him. Nope. Not going to enter that topic.
"Now go to sleep." Adrien carefully got her tablet before walking to the desk. "I'll write some notes for you to catch up for this month's lessons. Do you have any paper?"
"In the drawer." Marinette followed him, tugging the drawers to show him the various colorful papers and pens. Very organized. Adrien smiled as Marinette revealed a blue notebook. "Will this do?"
"It will. Thank you." Adrien smiled and Marinette pulled her cup of pens. "You have a nightstand? I don't want you sleeping with the lights on."
"I do. Just wait." Marinette hurried to her wardrobe as Adrien opened the plain blue notebook. He grabbed the pen Marinette offered him, a gel pen. Adrien wrote the subject at the top, a header and divided the notebook for all of the subjects. He knows he won't be able to sleep for the first few days so he'll spend the night studying. Marinette came back, giving a cute lantern. "I rarely use this one."
"It's cute. Thank you, Marinette." Adrien muttered, already writing on the notebook. "Now you can close the light and go to sleep."
"No. Thank you for the help, Ad-Raiden." Marinette whispered and Tikki flew off his shoulder to talk to the girl.
"If you really want to thank Adrien, go to sleep." Tikki must be pushing Marinette's shoulder because the other Tikki and Marinette are laughing. "Come on~ No bed bug will bite you when we're around, right me?"
"Of course, me." Tikki giggled and Adrien smiled at the adorableness of it all. How can anyone hate Tikki?
"Okay okay. I will." Marinette relented and he heard footsteps heading up the stairs. Adrien pulled out his earpods.
...
Meanwhile...
"Speak louder, Nooroo." Gabriel glared at Nooroo who seemed worried over something. "And with more sense."
"W-well..." Nooroo frowned, "Something is wrong and I was... thinking if you don't akumatize people for this week?"
"..." Gabriel squinted at the kwami. "You woke me up at eleven o'clock to request me to stop akumatizing people because of a hunch?"
"Y-yes?" Nooroo tried to look smaller, afraid his master would berate him. But it's true. He doesn't know what to call the foreigner, but they're familiar and dangerous to this world's balance.
"I'm going back to sleep." Gabriel laid back down his bed, closing the lights. "Leave."
"..." Nooroo stared down at the male, frowning and hoping he reconsider.
"I'll think about it." Gabriel muttered. "Now rest."
"Thank you, master!" Nooroo smiled and returned to his dormant state. He can't talk to Duusu right now. She's with Nathalie who needed to visit some place in Marseilles. 'If Duusu were here, she'd know who this foreigner would be.'