Chapter Text
A brown door, with a gold plate reading "Room 2" glints. Adrien stares at it way longer than he should. There's something about this moment...It feels like the beginning of the end.
Adrien knocks on the door of Room 2.
He waits nervously for his roommate to open the door for him. True, he has a key card, but it would be awfully rude to barge into the space of a person he hasn't even met! He thinks about London while waiting.
London.
The last time he was in London, he found out his father had died. He needs to move on. He needs to stop thinking about his past. He moved to the US and lived in a flat he bought with his inheritance, a fact he kept secret. Of course, no one knew. For two years, everyone in Paris thought that the model of the country had just disappeared. While they weren't mistaken, Adrien just wanted an escape from the stress and the personal questions. Away from Nathalie (whom he kept minimal contact with) and, most importantly - Ladybug. Those two years went by in a blur, and it was finally time to go to university. He sat in his empty flat and applied himself, like he'd been doing for all these years.
Deep in thought, Adrien hadn't noticed the door had long been open, and a visible figure stood there. Her eyes were shaking nervously while she swallowed hard, her hands still clutching the door handle. Through the gap, Adrien could recognise a woman with sapphire, gentle strands of hair tucked into a messy bun, and bluebell eyes glinting with light. Is she wearing a grey jumper... with the Ladybug Kwami in the pocket?
Marinette.
Adrien's heart tenses. His legs wobble. His dull eyes well with raw emotion. Why is she here? What is going on? Is this a dreadful dream?
"Adrien?..." a shrill voice croaks, shaking with burning pain.
Adrien's eyes dart left and right, adrenaline rushing. He darts out of the hallway, clutching his suitcase and phone desperately. Breathing heavily, he rushes frantically to the lobby and presses the bell. He cups his face in his hands, which are resting on the desk wall.
"Hello, Student Accom Services, how can I help?" a voice behind the counter echoes.
"Uhm... Hi — yes, I need... need a new room, please," he pleads desperately.
"Sorry, unfortunately, since it is the start of the academic year, almost all dorm rooms have been filled."
"Please... I have the money — just, I need a different room, please," Adrien adds.
She stared at him with an emotion Adrien couldn't quite make out. "I'll see what I can do... fill out this form, please."
Four hours and three forms later, Adrien headed back up to the rooms. Turns out, the next vacancy is in two months. He had already checked all the other hotels and flats around his university, and either they're too expensive... or they're too far. With no other choice, he’s going to have to go back up to Marinette. For two months. How is he going to keep from breaking down until then?
He uses his key card to open the door, which he didn't want to use before. Marinette is on the sofa, biting her hand, deep in thought. When she notices Adrien coming in, she jumps up and walks uneasily towards him.
"Please, can we just talk?..."
Her frightened eyes were red-rimmed, and her mascara smudged, her eyes overwhelmingly focusing on his. Adrien turns to the empty room down the hallway — guessing that it's his.
She raises her hand to his, "Please... Chaton..."
Adrien jumped back. He couldn't help but stare at the floor, feeling bitter regret for not looking her in the eyes to show her what she had caused him.
"Don't. Call. Me. That," Adrien grits his teeth.
He pushes her away, hiding how his eyes are watering, and stammers to his room, dragging his belongings with him.