Chapter Text
2022
Your fingers drum on top of the dashboard of the passenger seat's car, occasionally making air guitars to the beat of the music. Your twin brother to your left, side eyeing you amusedly at your antics, but still a bit annoyed.
"Lyss." He calls you out with a tired sigh as you reach out for the button to replay the song. "You've been playing that same song like, nine times already..."
"It's too good!" You argue, fingers dramatically flailing as if you were playing the piano.
"Just because we're moving to Chicago doesn't mean you need to play Chicago's You're The Inspiration on repeat." Adrien argues back. "Nine times."
"Are you dissing on Dad's music taste?!" You mock gasp.
"I'm dissing yours." He deadpans. "I know you're excited but please put on another song.
You chuckle, thinking that Adrien is always so serious about everything. You stare at his slightly strong grip of the steering wheel. He must be nervous about this big move, away from their parents and everything. New city... New people... Maybe also old acquitances...
"Lyss?" Adrien calls you back again. You put your hands up in surrender, reached and finally press the next button so it could change to another song.
Tears For Fears' Everybody Wants To Rule The World's opening tune plays, and you see Adrien's shoulders slightly relaxing.
"Hey! I know this song! Finally-" He grins.
You chuckle and take out your Polaroid Now I-Type Instant Camera that your parents got for your 15th birthday last year. It's not like your Mom's vintage Polaroid 600 that you always tinker with, but you were quite happy with it. Spent the first film pack on taking pictures of the family and getting used to the film. Dad thankfully got a few extra film packs and told you to not waste the film because it was hard to get in the Arctic. The first few pictures became greenish because you were a bit impatient to try and take a picture. Eventually you got the hang of it, taking pictures in the correct warm temperature.
Adrien got himself a new laptop since he broke his old one because he spilled Mom's hot cocoa while making his secret-but-not-so-secret novel.
You hold up the Polaroid camera high, enough to get both of you in frame. "Cheese!" You say, and a slight flash went off. It printed the photo and you put it in your hoodie pocket for it to develop.
Adrien quickly blinked, "That flash still hurts my eye,"
"Thankfully we're at a red light. You can recover."
You didn't see it, but feel that Adrien rolled his eyes.
"We're almost here," He says, probably after glancing at the GPS screen.
It has really been a while since they came back. Usually they come to Chicago for their Grandparents. Sadly, a few years ago Grandpa died from a stroke, and Grandma died too not long after. They never came back, because of their parents' research in the Arctic and a few other stuff.
Around four songs later, your eyes noticed the final turn to get to the house.
"Feels familiar," you commented.
"Feels like home." Adrien said wistfully.
"Can you park on the street?" You requested.
"We have a wide driveway." Adrien sighed, but followed your instructions. "Why do you want me to park on the street?"
He turned off the car, and both of you took off your seatbelts. Adrien unlocks the car, and you quickly opened the door, taking your camera. You set it on top of the car hood to take a picture of the both of you and the house.
"Come stand there and pose as I set the camera up!" You pointed to the grass. Adrien followed suit and waited as you pressed a button to set up the timer. As you did so, the light blinks and you got in position next to Adrien, arms out as if you're showing out the house.
"Say cheese!" You say, but Adrien only gave his usual peace sign with his awkward smile. The camera flashed, and the film printed out of the camera. You went to take the camera and took out the film to put it in your hoodie pocket, and took out the photo you took earlier.
"Wow, you have your eyes half closed here." You laughed. Adrien ruffled your hair in retaliation. "Your fault for not counting down, Lyss."
You both laugh and turned around to the house.
"Last time we've been here was four, five years ago?" You recounted with your fingers.
"Four, I think." Adrien confirmed. Both of you sigh, and he put an arm around your back to give you a side hug. You leaned your head on his shoulder. He used to be shorter than you, and you're not that short. Now he's almost a head taller. Both of you used to measure your height inside the house for every visit. Grandma would always make your favourite apple pie, and Adrien's favourite chocolate brownies.
"I miss them." You say.
"Me too." Adrien agreed.
You heard a car engine coming closer behind you, and a car pulling up in the neighbor's driveway. A woman quickly went out of the driver side, and you gaped as you notice who it was.
"Alyssa? Adrien?" She gasped in surprise, crossing the garden to you both.
"Debbie?!" "Mrs. Grayson?" Both you and Adrien say at the same time.
"It's been years!" She said with a nostalgic smile, but crossed her arms at Adrien. "But I told you to call me Debbie."
"Whoops..." Adrien scratched the back of his head, "Sorry."
"It's alright. I haven't seen you two since... Amadeus and Astrid passed away." She smiled sadly.
Your grandparents. Although you're a little bit sad remembering them, you can't help but snort how their whole family names starts with the letter 'A'. Adrien had smacked you in the arm for that, as if he knew what you were thinking. Of course he knew. His powers had something to do with emotions and stuff. You are kinda jealous of it.
"Yeah... Sorry." You apologize for the snort.
Debbie looks at Adrien's car parked on the street. Both of you had packed some important boxes, with a truck full of the rest of their stuff coming around tomorrow. It could've came today, but both of you wanted to clean the place first before the boxes came.
"Wait, are you moving into the house?" Debbie said a bit excitedly, "Is Amelia and Arthur moving in as well?"
Your parents.
"No, they're still stuck in the Arctic... Or somewhere. Always moving around for their work." Adrien explained.
"Scientists, am I right?" You chuckled. Adrien rolled his eyes at you as Debbie smiled in humour.
"Mark is going to be so excited to see you guys. He was so sad when you two left, and kept waiting for you two to come back. Especially you, Alyssa." Debbie sighed wistfully.
"Yeah, about that..." You bit your lip and crossed your arms, already feeling Adrien's curious raise of an eyebrow. "Can you please... Keep my-- Our arrival from Mark?"
"Oh." Debbie blinked. "Um, of course."
"She wants to surprise him." Adrien added before the situation could be more awkward. "Our moving trucks are probably going to come when Mark's at school, and he probably wont see my car since I'm going to move it to the garage after we clean it. He's going to go home in a few hours anyways right?"
"I see! Maybe you two can make the grand reveal at dinner, say, tomorrow? I know you're busy today with all the moving. Maybe in two more days. Whenever's fine! Just tell me before you make up your mind so I can cook food enough for the five of us."
Right, you, Adrien, Debbie, Mark, and Nolan.
"Yum!" You missed Debbie's homey cooking.
"You don't need to," Adrien said at the same time.
"Oh I want to, don't worry." Debbie assured.
"Alright then, uhh, probably dinner tomorrow is fine." Adrien nodded.
"I can't wait for your food!" You say excitedly.
"Well then, it's settled. Dinner tomorrow at 6! Don't be late. Also, if you two ever need help, we're just a house away!" Debbie waved and went to her door, then inside the Grayson household.
"She's awesome." You say, in awe.
"I agree." Adrien nodded, then went to the car to get the house keys and a box. You follow along and grabbed your own box, and followed him to the door. You wait as he unlocks the front door. He turned on the lights and you sneezed as you walk inside the house.
"Ugh... Dusty..." You complain as you scratch your nose.
"Well, home sweet home." Adrien smiled at the house that never changed.
"Home sweet home." You repeated, a smile on your face.