Chapter Text
“You know, I used to have a life that didn’t involve working all day and staking out cemeteries all night.” Marinette swung her feet out and let her heels thud back against the granite of the gravestone where she was perched. “I had time for fun stuff like hanging out with friends and shopping and not being around dead people.”
“I think I might be offended. I’m the highest quality of dead people; you should count yourself lucky.” Adrien flashed her a grin, the facade of blunt teeth hiding the demon within.
“I’ll try to remember to count my blessings,” she replied dryly. She looked back at the fresh grave they were watching. “Are you sure this guy is gonna to rise as a vamp? It’ll be sunrise soon. Baby vamps usually come up before now.”
The blonde shrugged and leaned against the ancient tree at his back. “I saw him get munched on so anything’s possible.”
“You saw him get killed and didn’t stop it?” Marinette blew out an agitated breath. “I wish I could say I'm surprised.”
“Seeing as how it was a whole nest, maybe about five or six, and I’m one guy, no, I didn’t stop it.” Adrien crossed his arms and his leather jacket creaked with the action. “It’s like you want me to get myself dusted.”
“Might make my life a little easier.”
He frowned. “Sometimes I honestly don’t know if you mean stuff like that when you say it.”
Marinette blushed and looked away, hoping the darkness would hide her face. “Sorry, I guess that was little harsh.”
“You think?”
Her shoulders slumped. “I’m just tired of all this. Maybe I’m getting burnt out.” She raised her face to the dark sky. “I miss the sun and being out in the sun and all things sun-related.”
“Not really much of a fan of the sun.” Adrien’s crossed arms tightened as if he was hugging himself. “My father made sure I got a healthy dose of fear when I turned.”
“You don’t talk about that much.”
“What, my father?”
She considered that. “Well, yeah, but I meant when you turned.”
He shrugged. “It was a long time ago.”
An almost visible air of sadness settled over him and Marinette found herself wanting to comfort him, wanting to move closer to him, wanting to...
It was probably better not to have those kind of thoughts about a vampire, no matter how nice he seemed.
Or how it felt like he genuinely wanted to help her and keep her company even though in theory, he should be evil and her ultimate enemy.
Or how handsome he was.
She would definitely be giving herself another talk about that once she was safe and alone in her bed in an hour or so.
“I forget you’re practically ancient,” she teased instead. “Must be your immaturity that throws me off.”
“There you go being mean to me again, Slayer.”
The way he said the title should’ve sounded offensive, but somehow he made it affectionate.
“You just make it so easy.” She hopped down from her gravestone perch and neared the fresh grave, poking the toe of her shoe into the dirt.
“You know, if you want to call it a night, I don’t mind waiting a little more,” Adrien offered, pushing himself away from the tree. “He might not rise at all and there’s no reason for you to be falling asleep in the middle of kneading the dough tomorrow. Besides, my place isn’t far from here. I can get in before sunrise.”
She pursed her lips. “But you’re not gonna to tell me exactly where your place is, huh?”
His answering smile edged on melancholy. “There are some things even this vampire isn’t ready to share with the Slayer no matter how much I want to trust you.”
Marinette shifted her weight uneasily before sliding the thin wooden stake from her belt loop. “I really don’t think he’s gonna rise.” She held out the stake loosely and Adrien eyed it.
“I can take care of him on my own if he does.”
She nodded and returned the stake to its place. “Ah, okay. Uh, well, I guess I’ll see you around.”
“Probably. Only so many places the dead haunt.” He smiled again and there was a strained quality to it.
“Right.” She bit her lip and half-turned towards the opening of the cemetery. “Okay, well, have a good night. And, uh, thanks, Adrien.”
The way his eyes lit up as his name fell from her lips should’ve been an entirely illegal thing.
“Anytime, Marinette,” he replied reverently.