Stay by my Side

Stay by my Side - Chapter Sixteen

Adrien sat in class, his anxiety rising. Both Marinette and Lila's seats were empty. Nathanial already looked nervous, and Adrien couldn't blame him. Lila's hatred for Marinette made him want to throw up... but Marinette should still be safe... Lila was horrible, but she wouldn't physically harm Marinette... no one should deliberately harm another... that action would be inhuman.

Adrien shook his head and tried to focus back on his class. He secretly glanced at his Adrien phone, and his Chat Noir phone - no messages. He sighed and put his phones back in his bag, pulling out a second notebook at the same time.

"You alright, dude?" Nino whispered, leaning down from Marine - from his own seat. Alya also glanced at Adrien, concerned.

"Y - Yeah." Adrien whispered back. "I'm just worried about-"

BEEP - BEEP - BEEP

Adrien shot up in his chair and opened his bag - recognising his newer black phone buzzing. His eyes sharpened - this must be serious.

"Sorry, I have to go to the bathroom!" Adrien called to the teacher, sprinting out of the classroom, dropping everything except his black phone, which he brought up to his ear and answered.

"Hello?!"

"Hey! Hey! I need help-"

He suddenly heard a loud sound that hurt his ears and he cried, pulling the phone away. He recognised that voice.

"M - Marinette?" He yelled, but there was no answer. "Damnit!" He growled and placed the phone in his bag. Lunch had just happened, and he had seen Marinette then, so he doubted she had left the building.

So all he had to do was find her.

Marinette called for Chat Noir, but... if the other students saw Chat Noir darting down hallways then... well... they'd become scared of an akumatised villain.

But wait... there could be an akumatised villain. Why else would Marinette ask for help?

"Plagg! What should I do?" Adrien asked as he ran, and Plagg flew out of his jacket.

"I - I don't know Adrien! Stay detransformed for now - you never know what's going on, and there's no need to cause unnecessary panic. For now, just try to find her as Adrien. You wouldn't want to risk tiring me out and then getting in trouble while I recharge."

"Alright." Adrien nodded, and Plagg flew back into his jacket. He quickly darted around the school, trying to decipher where Marinette was.

If Marinette was being chased by a villain... she'd want to get as far away from her friends as possible, because she wouldn't want to be hurt... Adrien thought to himself, not even considering Marinette being chased by someone who wasn't akumatised, even if Plagg thought otherwise. So he steadied his breathing and began heading to the other side of the school.

He turned a corner, and faint voices started to reach his ears.

"Why are you so angry? What suddenly made you so aggressive? You wouldn't normally do this..."

Marinette! Adrien thought to himself, picking up speed. She must be nearby, but he wasn't entirely sure where...

"Your dumb black cat is why." He heard another voice - Lila. At first, Adrien was happy someone else was with Marinette, but then... he realised what was actually going on. "He arrived at my window last night, going on and on about you, trying to be all threatening. Well I'm sick of it!"

"C - Chat Noir did that...?"

Adrien turned the corner, and he couldn't believe what he saw.

"Yeah, he did! So do me a favour." Lila had Marinette's shirt in her fist. Marinette's eyes were closed in fear. How... How could another human being do something so despicable?

Adrien was so focused on what Lila was doing, he almost missed the words she was saying:

"Stop talking to Chat Noir. I'll make your life hell if you do."

Adrien felt his breath leave his throat. He... he did this? He was the cause? He didn't mean to... he genuinely thought he was helping her! Is this... really Lila? Is she really not akumatised?

As Adrien watched Lila lift up her fist to hit Marinette, he realised he couldn't stay silent any longer. Silently berating himself for not already jumping in, he screamed.

"Stop! Marinette!"

As Marinette slowly opened her eyes, he felt anger at the massive relief in them. She shouldn't be relieved - he failed her. And why... what has Lila done to make her so afraid? What had he missed? How badly had he messed up?

"Oh Adrien!" Lila giggled, dropping Marinette harshly on the floor. "I didn't see you there? Were you worried about us? Don't be - Marinette and I were just having a little chat now, weren't we?"

Her head turned so Adrien couldn't see her expression, but Marinette's became fearful.

"Y - Yeah... Adrien... don't, umm... don't worry about us..." Marinette insisted, shakily standing. "Y - Y - You should head back to class."

"Good idea! I'll walk you." Lila interjected, running up to Adrien and wrapping her arms around his. "Come on Adrien, let's go."

He had never felt so much hate and anger directed towards one singular person before. Plagg quickly flew to his ear, from the side that Lila was furthest away from - neither of the girls spotting him.

"Adrien, you have to control your anger. You don't want to be akumatised now, do you?" Plagg whispered, his voice serious. Adrien knew he was right, even if part of him really wanted to just-

No.

Adrien took a deep breath in and out. He could do this.

"What are you waiting for, Adrien? I need my escort!" Lila called cheerfully, as if nothing had happened. Adrien gritted his teeth but kept calm.

"No."

"N - No?" Lila repeated like a plastic tape recorder set to 'loop'.

"No." Adrien answered, shaking Lila off of his arm, and walking to Marinette. "You've done this to Marinette." He gestured to Marinette's shaking form... her tear stained cheeks... her fearful eyes...

His fists clenched and he took a few seconds to calm down before continuing. "I cannot associate with you anymore - you're worse than Chloe - even she wouldn't go this far."

"A - Adrien, what are you...?" Marinette whispered, confused.

Adrien turned his head to face her, a kind, protective sparkle in his eyes

"I'm going to save you."

New chapter is out! I hope you all enjoy reading it!

So there's a bit of Adrienette in this one! Yayyyyyyyyy :D

Anyways, it's a bit longer than normal, which is nice. I don't normally write long chapters like this, so even I'm shocked XD

Okay next chapter is probably a small time skip, with sadness D:

See you guys again soon!!!

But for now...

Peachy out! 😊