Marinette was at Adrien's house after they both walked together still laughing.
"You can take a shower, I'll bring you a towel and extra clothes." He said to Marinette as she entered the bathroom. "I'll put your clothes in the dryer." "Where's your dad?" "Oh, he works a lot. He's hardly ever home now, since my mom..." He didn't have to finish his sentence, she knew what he meant. She put on his way too big for her clothes and left the bathroom, seeing he changed his clothes too.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." She said repeatedly as she stopped in front of the picture of Adrien's mom and him. He didn't say anything, he just held her hand and rubbed his thumb across it.
They sat in his room on his couch together. "So, according to the typical way Hawk Moth and Mayura send out their akumas or amoks. Hawk Moth hasn't been around for awhile, but Mayura is still around. Her next amok should be sent out.... the day after tomorrow." She said looking up from the calendar on her phone that tracked everything. "You keep track?" "Well, it would make sense she'd have a pattern, with Hawk Moth gone."
He shook his head, "I can't." "You can. You're gonna prove that you can save people, even if you're scared. Prove that you're a hero. People need something to believe in, be that something." She held his hand and smiled at him. As all his fears disappeared.
She stood up picking up the photo that was facing down, with the towel that was wrapping around her neck to dry her dripping hair, she wiped it off. Then placed it back down on his desk sitting upright. The picture of him, his father, and his mother now visible.
**
Marinette and Kagami walked together. "Adrien looked bad today, don't you think?" Kagami asked her, remembering the bags under his eyes. "Hm? Maybe he had something important to do, prioritizing it over sleep." "I don't want him to suffer." Marinette stopped walking, "Right now, he's trying to turn that suffering into happiness. Exposing both his pain and suffering. He's in the middle of doing that, I'm sure." "Why are you so supportive of him, Marinette?" She tapped her chin, "Well, I guess," she turned around and smiled "He's like a hopeless kid brother, maybe?" "He's not hopeless." Kagami whispered to herself.
"Well, I've gotta wait for my parents. See you later!" Marinette called out skipping back to the hospital and going in after she realized Kagami wasn't stopping walking.
There is no me, in the we of Marinette and Adrien, Kagami thought to herself.
**
"How do I want to go about beating this amok on my own?" Adrien whispered to himself, "Who do I want to do it for?"
"Good job." Marinette said walking over to him and handing him a water bottle. "It's late, why are you still sitting by the bridge?" "I don't wanna mess up, not again." "Why don't we both head home, it's dark out. Oh, look at the stars and the moon, so pretty!" She smiled happily at the sky. "Just a little longer." Adrien sighed.
"Do you resent me?" Marinette asked not taking her eyes off the sky. "What?" "Kagami said you're suffering. I've noticed. I saw it when I went to your house. How you have pictures of your family turned down, trying to look away and hide your suffering. You love her, but you can't even look at it. Except for that big picture you're unable to escape and hide from. Even though you're grieving and hurting, I pretend I don't see it. I say such irresponsible things. You're suffering because of me. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." Tears formed in her eyes and threatened to fall down her face.
"But you picked up those pictures. You dusted them off. Do I look like I'm suffering?" He laughed slightly, "That's no good. But of course, I'd be suffering. I'm going on a journey, right? The challenge, it's painful. But it's fulfilling, so thank you." He looked up at her and smiled and she looked down at him with tears in her eyes. "Thank you for sweeping away the dust on my body too. I thank you."
Ever since the day I met you, the world became colorful. The girl who hated me from the moment she met me. The girl I unknowingly abandoned. We're sitting under the moonlight together. Like there's no one in the world, but us.
**
"Come on Adrien, you can't hide here until the day comes." Marinette says holding his hand. "I want to be a hero... like you." She puts her hand on his cheek, "But my sweet kitty, you already are." She runs over to his curtains and pulls them open, "You're suffocating in here, we need to look at the sky. Kagami's fencing tournament is today, let's go."
They share a blackberry and peppermint ice cream from André as they walk to her tournament. "An odd pairing?" Marinette laughs. Adrien smiles at her, "But explosive. Opposites attract."
Kagami smiles as she sees Adrien cheering her on. Before she pulls her mask on, she sees Marinette walk to his side and wave at her. Pulling her mask down harshly as the match begins. I don't like this, I don't like this. I know I have no right to be feeling this way. But I still don't like it. We were always together. I was always by his side. During times of joy and of grief as well. He's so far away. I'm not by his side, there's someone else there. I don't like this. She's brought back to reality as she feels a poke in her chest, she lost.
**
Kagami walks out late after the tournament as Adrien walks up to her. "Hey." She looks down avoiding eye contact at all costs, "Hey." He walks up to her, "You hurt your ankle?" "Nobody else was able to notice." "I think I know you better than everybody else."
"Where's Marinette?" She asks breaking the silence as he carries her on his back. "She went home. She wanted me to go to you alone." "She could of came." Kagami sighed holding onto his shoulders. "You never have to hold back with me, all right? I've made you worry so much about me, so I wish you'd let me worry about you once in awhile. I might just be a hopeless kid brother, but I'm gonna try. I'm gonna try hard. I want the happy Kagami to watch me."
We have the long time we've spent together, and all the memories we've made, from big to small. So please, please don't replace me. Kagami feels tears swelling in her eyes, "I lost. I lost everything I worked so hard for! I disappointed my mother! I'm so bitter!" She sobbed into his back.
Even though I'm hurt, even though I'm sad, even though I lost. I wonder why the stars are sparkling this bright. I can hear his soft breathing. His shoulder wet with my tears, feels so warm. I am by his side.
YOU ARE READING
Connected Skies
Fanfiction"Maybe there's only a dark road ahead. But you still have to believe and keep going. Believe that the stars will light your path, even a little bit. Come on... Let's go on a journey!"
