Chapter Text
“Nino and I will be bunking together, which means…” Alya trailed off, raising her eyebrows and grinning at her best friend.
“Alya!” Marinette laughed. “It’s fine, you go enjoy some time with Nino before we explore the city tomorrow. I’m not the same Marinette I used to be back in lyceé.”
“Thanks, girl! You have fun with Adrien,” Alya smiled and waved, before heading off to her room.
Marinette sighed. She’d abandoned that school-girl crush on her friend years ago, but still, she couldn’t help but still feel a flutter in her chest every time she saw him.
“Mari!” Adrien called, walking towards her. “Heard we’re rooming together!” He smiled.
“Yup,” She replied, linking her arm with his. “The two lovebirds wanted to have a room for themselves.” She rolled her eyes as Adrien laughed.
“Nah, they’re going to be missing out,” His eyes lit up. “We could build a pillow fort!”
“Who knew Adrien Agreste was still such a child?” Marinette giggled, pressing the button for the elevator. He sighed, softly smiling.
“You did.” He grinned at her. “I’m so lucky to have you guys as my friends.”
“No, we’re the lucky ones. I’m so glad your father let you come to LA with us, or I’d be third-wheeling Nino and Alya.”
He smirked. “True…,” His bright expression slowly faded. “But I’m twenty now. Do you know how annoying it is to still have your father treat you like a child who needs to be kept on a leash?”
Marinette shrugged. “I’ve got the opposite problem, actually. I love my parents, but my dad’s a little overprotective, and my mom, as you know, is really overbearing when it comes to me being independent. I’m sure there’ll come a time when you can do your own thing.”
“I hope so… For now, I’ll enjoy as much freedom as I can get.” Adrien fidgeted with his ring. He’d let Ladybug know he wouldn’t be turning up for their patrols this week as he was going on holiday, but coincidentally Ladybug was also out of town. It worked out in their favour though—they’d both needed a break. Viperion would cover for both of them.
Arriving at their room, Marinette grabbed the keycard and scanned it at the door, which unlocked with a beep. She dragged her suitcase in as Adrien followed closely behind her.
“Wow,” she said in awe. “This is way nicer than I expected!” Adrien chuckled.
Suddenly, Marinette’s phone buzzed with a message from Alya.
Alya: Oops! Forgot to tell you- I booked a one-bed room for you and Adrien! Enjoy!!! ;)
Heat rushed to Marinette’s neck as she read the text. Damn Alya and her sneaky tactics.
“Uh, Adrien?” Marinette called, finding Adrien in the bedroom. “It’s all good, you know. I can take the couch if it’s too weird.”
“No, Marinette, I can,” He rubbed a hand on the back of his neck. “Really, I insist.”
It went back and forth for a while. “Mari, I’m sur—"
“Adrien, this is getting ridiculous.” Marinette interrupted, laughing with him.
“Let’s just share it then. We’re good enough friends for this not to be awkward, right?” Adrien suggested.
“Right, definitely,” She agreed, trying to convince herself. This wasn’t going to be weird at all. Just sharing a bed with my former crush. No big deal. Not at all…
She mentally kicked herself for overthinking the situation. They were best friends now. Nothing more, nothing less. She could do this. It was only Adrien.
She could not do this. Her heart pounded, her mind constantly reminding her of the situation she was in. I thought I was done with this crush. Pull yourself together, Marinette!
Adrien returned from the bathroom to find Marinette internally monologuing, making wild gestures and pouting. He thought it rather adorable, and found himself smiling fondly. To his amusement, she hadn’t noticed him standing in the doorway yet.
“Agh!” Marinette yelped, her cheeks flushing in an instant. “Er, Adrien… how long were you standing there?” She said hopefully.
“Not long at all.” He winked at her, grinning, as she buried her head in her hands, groaning in embarrassment.
They talked about their plans in LA for hours, getting excited about the places they were going to see, and the people they were going to meet. Marinette yawned suddenly, making Adrien chuckle. He rolled over and quickly checked the time on her phone. “Mari, it’s almost midnight!”
“No way,” She replied, her eyes wide. “Wow, time really does fly.”
“Let’s catch some sleep then.” Adrien smiled, hugging Marinette quickly, her cheeks turning red before she willed herself not to blush.
“Night,” She said, before they settled into bed.
Suddenly surrounded by an unsettling silence, her mind started to race. She could hear Adrien’s faint voice calling her name but fear overtook her mind. How was Paris doing without either her or Chat Noir? What if there was a vicious attack and Viperion couldn’t hold the akuma at bay? Maybe I shouldn’t have left Paris, maybe something disastrous happened, maybe something even as bad as...... Chat Bl— “Mari?”
Adrien’s concerned face came into vision as she shook her head, chasing away her irrational fears. “Are you alright?” He asked, turning on the bedside lamp to check on her.
“No, yeah, I’m okay,” She replied shakily. Adrien raised a sceptical eyebrow. “I’m fine, don’t worry.”
“Alright, then,” He hesitantly reached for the light and switched it off. She was probably just overreacting. Nothing bad was going to happen. It was going to be fine. Chat Blanc was never going to happen ever again.
“Goodnight, Adrien,” Marinette said, taking a deep breath, before hugging the covers and turning around.
“Marinette,” He whispered, fidgeting with the doona cover.
“Yeah?” She mumbled, already sleepy.
“You know you can always talk to me, right?” He reassured, placing a hand on her shoulder. She tensed slightly. “You’re always there for me, I’m here to listen, whenever.”
“I know,” She smiled softly, squeezing his hand. “Thanks, Adrien.”
“Night, Mari,” He gave her a tight hug before turning around.
The smile that grew on Marinette’s didn’t leave her face, even as she drifted off to sleep.
Marinette gasped as she sat up, and not in the comfort of her hotel room bed, but faced with a bleak nightmarish landscape.
“Come out, come out wherever you are!” A snarly, yet familiar voice called out from behind a tall skyscraper. Marinette surveyed her surroundings. A blistered empty world of white. Destruction and despair. Fear consumed her as she realised where she was. When she was. Who was there. It'd been years since she'd had to face her worst nightmare. Why here? Why now?
“Oh, Marinette, I know you’re hiding!” The voice mocked her, circling the building. She ran and hid behind a nearby car, gathering her composure. She looked down to find her normal civilian clothes instead of what should have been a red and black polka dotted suit. “Tikki?” She peeked inside her pouch. It was completely empty.
“What do I do?” She whispered helplessly.
For the first time in years, she was truly alone. No powers, no Tikki, and no Chat Noir.