Work Text:
It’s only Adrien’s luck that gets him this sick on the only weekend of the month that Nathalie takes her days off, he’s sure of it. To make matters even worse, Nino’s out with Alya on their monthly “date day”, Marinette is busy with a project for an up-and-coming competition she’s, in her own words, already so behind! , and even Chloe is already out with Sabrina.
The only good thing about this date he unintentionally chose is that his schedule is completely clear, both as Adrien and as Chat Noir, so Adrien can die his slow and painful death in peace.
“Ew kid that’s the third time already”
Or mostly in peace.
Adrien doesn’t even dignify the complaint with an answer, too busy throwing up last night’s dinner for, like Plagg said, the third time. He’s not sure there’s any dinner to come out anymore, but his body doesn’t seem to have gotten the memo. He coughs, trying to somehow expel that awful taste from his mouth. As expected, he fails pathetically. Things are so not going his way today.
With a defeated sigh, Adrien rests against the bathroom wall, shivering a bit from how cold the tiles are against him. He closes his eyes for a second, trying to stop the dizziness that’s taking over his body through sheer force of will.
It doesn’t work and he’s pressed against the toilet again, retching like a dying animal and wondering what else could his body possibly want him to throw up when he’s so clearly empty.
The whole thing goes on for a few more humiliating minutes until he feels like he’s physically incapable of keeping it up. Adrien lets his body ball back, wincing at how much everything hurts.
“You think you’re done?” Plagg asks and even while complaining and mocking his voice is laced with a worry Adrien hasn’t seen in him before. It’s comforting at the same time as it is terrifying.
“I sure hope so” Adrien bitterly (in more ways than one) chokes out.
With much difficulty, he drags himself up, supporting his body against his sink and shivering once more at how cold the marble felt against his hands. The movement is slow and pathetic but his vision is blurring and everything is spinning and oh god he does not want to throw up again.
“Holy crap kid you look like you’re gonna fall over”
Adrien is in the middle of trying to convince his mouth to open up for him to let words out, not more vomit when he feels the little kwami gently but effectively supporting part of his body weight and guiding him towards his bed.
“You’re strong” He mumbles.
“I literally give you superpowers Adrien” Plagg grumbles back.
Falling into his soft sheets is both a blessing and curse because it covers him in warmth at the same time it sends a jolt of pain from his abdomen.
“Shiiiiiit” He grits out, trying his best to get in some position that would make things more bearable. He presses his face against his pillow, trying to stifle his groan.
His covers being pulled over him and gently tucked around his body. The action reminds him of his mother, of how she took care of him when he was little, but he knows it’s just Plagg having a rare kind moment. How utterly pathetically must he look for the kwami to take pity in him? He’s not sure he wants to know.
“Th’nks Pl’g” He says, voice still muffled by the pillow. The kwami doesn’t respond immediately but Adrien can feel his stare.
“You should really call someone kid” Plagg’s not even trying to mask his worry anymore.
And the thing is, Adrien knows that. Whatever the hell he has feels much worse than all the times he’s gotten the flu, his usual first guess whenever he’s sick. Adrien knows he should be asking for help, maybe even go to the hospital.
But the thing also is, his friends being all busy was not the only reason his schedule was clear on that particular Saturday. Adrien didn’t plan anything because his father had promised he would come to his room to hear the new song he learned on the piano as soon as he got finished with his work.
It is, perhaps, a bit childish of him, but Adrien really doesn’t want to be the one to go to his father again. He wants the man to come to him, just like he promised he would do.
“Father will come to see me soon” Adrien says and he absolutely hates the uncertainty he can hear in his own voice, even when the phrase should come out like a straight-up fact. “Then he’ll take care of me”
“Kid-” Adrien covers his head with the blanket, pressing it against his ears. He doesn’t want to hear what Plagg wants to say. He knows how much the little black cat hates his father, it would be biased judgment, which means it would be unfair for all involved
Or maybe he’s scared Plagg’s words will make too much sense for him not to believe them.
Adrien stays stuffed under the covers until it gets too hard to breathe and he’s forced to poke his head out again. Plagg is still floating in front of him, worried green eyes looking right into his soul. He hates it.
“I’ll get you some water then” The little creature finally says, seemingly deciding they didn’t need to have an argument. “And we can wait”
Adrien only hums. His hand trembles when he gets it out of the cover to get the water bottle Plagg’s offering him but the freshwater that goes down his throat makes it worth it. He closes the and puts it next to him, burying himself deeper under the duvet. It shouldn’t take long for his father to show up, so he waits.
And waits.
And waits a bit more.
At some point he falls asleep, waking up with the sharp pain in his abdomen suddenly back and at full force, strong enough that it brings tears to his eyes. He gasps and tries to move but it only makes it worse. He sobs.
“Adrien? Adrien?!” Someone is calling him. He turns to the voice.
“Fa…?” He tries but it dies on his tongue. It’s Plagg, it’s only Plagg, Adrien can see his green eyes glowing in the dark.
Is it night already?
“Adrien I have to get help” Plagg tells him.
Adrien shakes his head fiercely, the movement enough to make him dizzy all over again. “No” He chokes out “No, Plagg, he’s coming”
“He’s not kid” Plagg insists. Adrien hates it, he hates it. “Please let me go get someone. I’ll find Ladybug, how about that? You’ll see your lady.”
“ No! ” Adrien cries out. The pain gets worse so he sobs again “Let’s ju-just wait for a b-bit more, I know he’ll come s-soon”
Plagg probably answers that but he can’t hear it over the ringing in his ears and nausea that builds up all over again. He retches for what feels like the millionth time that day and tries to move so he doesn’t get it dirty but even the smallest movement hurts so much.
“Just wait a bit longer” He cries again, not even knowing if Plagg’s still around to hear him. “ Please ”
Sudden noise sounds around the whole room, like sirens or screams or a hellish choir and Adrien isn’t sure if they are real or the work of the pounding in his head but it hurts. He cries, whispering quiet pleas until he hears his door opening with a loud bang.
“Fa’er?” He asks as loud as he can manage, which comes out no louder than a whisper.
He fades out of consciousness before he can hear an answer.
------
Adrien dreams of hands caressing his hair, whispered words of comfort, and kind green eyes that resemble his own. He leaves it all behind as soon as his own eyes open, however, and he blinks at the brightness of the white room.
He recognizes he’s in a hospital after a few moments and, after just a couple more blinks, he recognizes Nathalie’s figure standing next to his bed.
“Are you awake Adrien?” She asks and her voice sounds gentler than he has ever heard it sound.
“Y’ah” He rasps out, coughing a bit at the dryness of his throat.
“Good” Nathalie offers him a glass of water that he gratefully accepts “You had a really bad case of appendicitis” She explains “But it’s all solved now. Your friends are in the lobby waiting to see you”
“What about father?” He can’t stop himself from asking.
She smiles and Adrien can feel her pity. He hates it.
“Your father had to return to work, but he’ll be very relieved to hear you’ve woken up”
He hates it.
“Sure” He mumbles out.
Nathalie only nods.
“I’ll tell your friends they can come in now” She says and he also only nods in response. “Drink some more water if you can”
As soon as she exits the room Plaggs shows up from his hiding spot, those same worried green eyes staring him down. He barely manages to loo back at the kwami.
“...He didn’t come, did he?” Adrien asks before he loses the courage.
“Technically he did” Plagg tells him quietly “But I had to mess with the alarm system.”
Adrien hums. His body feels too heavy, his head too full. He barely registers the door to his room opening and Plagg hiding again.
“-see him! He’s my best friend!” A voice rings out.
“Well he was mine first!” Another.
“Guys, can you keep it down? This is still a hospital.” One more.
“Adrien?” And another.
Adrien looks up. Marinette, Nino, Alya, and Chole are all standing in front of him. They are holding a variety of things, from flowers to cards to what he assumes are chocolates. Marinette was the one who called him, the one who’s looking at him with a tentative smile while Alya tries to break up whatever argument Chloe and Nino are having.
“Weren’t you busy?” He chokes out.
“ Dude ” Nino changes his attention from Chloe to him “You are literally in the hospital right now, Adrien. You’re the priority”
You’re the priority.
Adrien isn’t sure if it’s those words or the fact that they are all there or both of those things but something inside of him breaks and he lets out a sob.
“Are you in pain?!” Marinette screeches.
“Do we need to call the doctor here?!” Nino’s voice rings out again
"No, no, I’m good. I just-” Adrien shakes his head, another sob escaping from his throat. He tries to control his breathing and when he raises his head to look into his friends’ worried eyes he can help but smile. “I’m just happy you guys are here with me”
They seem to understand. He’s so glad they do.
“Of course we are, Adrikins” Chole smiles.
“Group hug!” Alya proclaims.
They approach his bed, pulling him into their waiting arms and Adrien cries some more, but the smile stays in place.
You’re the priority.
For the people that actually matter, yes, he is.