Chapter Text
When Nathaniel woke up that day it felt like all the air was kicked out of his lungs. He lunged upward and was prepared to throw whatever landed on his chest off of him, but then he heard a giggle and he immediately relaxed.
"Lilly, I told you not to wake me up by jumping me. You don't need to do that." he said. When Nathaniels Vision focused he saw the little girl on his lap clearly.
She had the same chestnut brown hair as himself pre the Alix treatment and her eyes were a nice Hazel with which she looked at him mischievously.
"Well you don't wake up otherwise and I'm hungry! Its also funny when you jump up like that." she said, laughing as she did.
"Yes" Nathan murmured "because my pain is amusing. Now get off me, so I can make you breakfast." Lilly obeyed and ran to the Living Room at top speed. Nathaniel stood up as he groaned:
"Couldn't I have gotten a less hyperactive sister?"
He made his way to the Kitchen, and checked the pinboard for any messages. Sure enough there was a new Post-it note which said:
'Dear Nath
I have a long shift today. Won't be back till after midnight. Be a dear and take Lilly to Kindergarten today.
Im sorry I'm so busy.
Love, Mom'
"Of course you are" Nathaniel said with a sigh. So now not only did he have to get ready and catch the train on time to meet with Marc to work on the newest issue of their comic, which is due soon, but now he had to temporarily take care of a squirrel on Red Bull.
He would manage, he thought and went about making Lilly cereal, his mind already wandering to the comic. He thought off all the action shots he could do, all the expressions and most importantly, Marc. they haven't met up in almost a week and Nathaniel was missing him to death. The meeting couldn't come soon enough, he thought as he placed the bowl of cereal in front of his sister, who squealed with joy, since with Mom, she only got the Healthy kind.
"Hurry up!" Nath said "Or you'll be late for Kindergarten."
Suddenly the Landline ringed. "The phones ringing!" Lilly said, with cereal in her mouth. "I noticed" Nathaniel answered and picked up.
The voice on the other Line seemed to belong to a young woman: "Hello? Its Happy Angel Daycare. Am I speaking to Susanne Kurtzberg, Lillys Mother?"
"Um no you are speaking to Lillys brother. Moms out of the House. What can I do for you?"
"Oh, ok sure! the thing is, Kindergarten is closed for today. We are having a lice epidemic, so we are closed today. I am truly sorry for the inconvenience. Have a good Day!"
And just like that she hung up. Nath could feel his plans for the day shattering and he really felt like saying a bad word, but Lilly could hear him, so he just took a few deep breaths and decided to suck it up.
"Who was it?" Lilly asked from across the room. Nath turned to her and went: "Well, change of plans! You are not going to Kindergarten today! Instead you're stuck with me all day!"
Lilies eyes widened with joy and she squealed again "Yaaaay! I love hanging out with you! I can't wait to see what we will do today!"
"Me too, buddy" Nathan said under his breath. Then he shouted: "Are you finished? If yes then get dressed, I have to make a phone call that I am not looking forward to!"
"Can I listen in?"
"Im sorry but no."
He reluctantly grabbed his phone and decided to Facetime Marc. He immediately picked up and his Face lit up when Marc saw him, which didn't make it easier for Nathaniel to cancel on him. Nath couldn't help himself from thinking: "god he's cute!"
"Hi Nath!" Marc said "Good morning! Why are you calling? You know you can tell me once we meet in person."
"Just stab me with a knife, why don't you." Nath murmured.
"Excuse me?"
"Nothing. About the meeting...Im afraid I have to cancel. Im sorry, but my sisters Kindergarten spontaneously closed for the day and now I have to take care of her. Im sorry I can't make it. I promise I will work out some drafts for the comic but I can't leave my sister."
When Marc heard that, his face darkened and Nathaniel felt even worse now. Ever since Nathaniel got Marc akumatized, Naths heart breaks whenever Marc is sad, especially when its his fault. He still felt guilty over the whole Reverser situation after all.
"No don't be sad, you know I can't take it seeing you sad! I said im sorry!"
Marc gave a weak attempt for a smile but then he got a complicated look on his face. Nathaniel knew that look. Marc had an idea.
"I gotta go." Marc said and he hung up.
"Wait I- darn it! I bet he hates me now."
From the other room Lilly shouted: "Who hates you?"
"None of your business. Are you dressed?"
"Yeeees...?"
"Are you lying?"
"yes..."
Nathaniel sighed and decided to push his rising concern for his boyfriend to the side and deal with the squirrel first. After about 20 minutes of wrestling with Lilly to put her clothes on, he heard a knock on the door. Not knowing who to expect, he gave Lilly a box of crayons and some paper and then went to open the door.
There he saw a head of raven black hair and a red hoodie. Nathaniel was taken aback.
"Marc? w-what are you doing here?"
Marc started fidgeting with his hoodie "Well you seemed to be struggling and so I thought I could visit and help you. Besides, that comic needs to get done soon, so this seemed like the best solution. And also..." he blushed "I wanted to see you again."
Then he panicked: "I-If Im intruding I can go i-its just that I wanted to help and..."
A wave of relief washed over Nathaniel. He thought he made Marc upset, and with the looming threat of Akumas, every time you made someone upset you could only pray that Monarch took the day off. He smiled and gave his boyfriend a big hug. "Im glad you're here." he said.
Then he pulled away and suddenly realized that he was facing his boyfriend in his pajamas and his face turned quickly into the color of his hair.
"Sooo" he said awkwardly: "Wanna come in?"