Connected Skies

Part Fourteen

The night reminded Marinette of the day how she ended up in the hospital.

Walking through the hallway towards her bedroom, humming softly. Her legs stopped working as she hit her head against the wall. She looked down at her legs, trying with every ounce in her body to move them. Her vision became red as she put her hand to her head, pulling it back only to see it covered in blood.

**

Marinette sat in her hospital bed, the IV drop being the only sound in the room as she stared out the window.

**

Adrien walked after school, mustering up the courage to go to the hospital to see Marinette. The fall leaves were brown and floating through the air. A satisfying crunch if you stepped on one.

Oh right, I should go to her bakery. Those croissants that you love. I'm not even mentally prepared for this. You always show up unexpectedly.

He noticed Marinette in a big sweater staring off the bridge. Her hair was down as the breeze blew it around. Her eyes met his as she turned around. "Oh. Who are you again?" She said rubbing her head. "I do beg your pardon, but I haven't seen you lately and you never come to visit. Easily forgotten."

She stepped past him looking down towards the school. "Where's Alya? Do you know if she's free?" "She's still at school." Adrien smiled at her as he turned to walk towards the school. She grabbed into his shoulder. "Forgetful as you are. I'll give you a chance to make amends. Let's go out together."

Adrien followed around her slowly being the one to carry all her bags. "Chat Noir stationary." She said holding it up to show him. She bought it and walked back over to him.

He reached out to hand her the drink she had. Her hands not able to grasp it as it fell to the floor. She stared at her hand as he bent down. It looks like she went to school today. As it turned out I worried for nothing. "Where's your book bag?" He asked causing Marinette to gasp. "Let's go get it!"

"Leaving your bag at school means double trouble for us." They walked around what seemed like the whole entire school. "Where's your bag?" Adrien asked following her into yet another empty classroom. "Um... Over here, maybe? No, maybe it's over there..." She felt his stare on her. "Did you lie to me?" He says squinting at her.

"My bag isn't here at school." She said looking down. Thinking of it, you didn't have it this afternoon, either. "You did come to school today, right?" She looks up at him and gives a small smile, "They let me out out just for today. Sorry. I wanted to come here, I was staring to forget it..." "I'm the one who should be sorry. You wanted to do this with Alya. I mean, it was your one day out."

Her hand pressed against the window, "Are you going to forget? The girl who explored the school grounds. The girl who snuck out the hospital, waiting. Are you going to forget?" "I won't forget. Even if I die, I won't forget." She smiled leaning down clearly tired, "I see... I'm glad it's you after all." "Are you okay?" He asked wrapping his arms around her. "I'm just a little worn out."

He carried Marinette on his back while walking to the hospital. "It wasn't a meaningless day. It was such a wonderful day. I wish time would stop in its tracks. Thank you. After shopping and exploring the school at night, the way back as a boy takes me home. Just look how the sky sparkles."

Is it because it's chilly out? The words we exchange are so warm. It makes you seem all the more closer. I'll be Alya's substitute or anything. I want to stay like this forever.

He looks up at the stars as Marinette grips his back sobbing softly. I couldn't ask her the reason for those tears.

**

Adrien sat on the steps with Nino standing next to him. "Are you into anyone?" Nino asks, raising his eyebrows. "No, no one." "You're lying. There is someone... It's written all over your face. What kind of person is she?" "That can't be possible. She's... a girl who hated me from the day we met. A girl I mistakenly abandoned." "Is that a good enough reason to give up on her? What kind of person is she?" "She's like a roller coaster. Crying... laughing... She's got me at her beck and call. Just by being around, she transformed my monotone world into a colorful one. She's a dazzling, really strong person."

**

Adrien mustered up the courage to walk into Marinette's hospital room. She stared at him intently, she eyes checking every part of him, "You didn't bring my croissants! You promised!"

"Do you have all this time to waste?" She looked at him angrily. He knew she was talking about him being Chat Noir. "I'm just one person." "Excuses again! You can't afford to be slacking! If you have time for anything, you should be working on holding your transformation longer!" "I'm doing my best!" "I'm telling you that's not enough! Other people are gonna be practicing more! You just don't feel threatened, do you?" "I told you I'm trying my best!" The two were flat out yelling at each other.

"Then practice some more! There's no such thing as enough! What if an akuma appears right now? I can't be Ladybug anymore, so everyone only has you. What if you don't have enough time? I'm out of time! Before you know it..." She noticed the tears pouring down her face as she lowered her voice. "Oops," she wiped her face, "That was some crazy mode I went into. Sorry. I'm sorry."

**

Adrien found himself standing in her hospital room late at night a couple days later. "Did you bring anything?" She asks not even looking at him. "No, sorry." "You've been worrying about me, huh? After all I've been acting weird."

Not like her. Bursting into laughter at the drop of a hat, shrieking hysterically at trivial things, bursting into tears out of the blue, turning so gentle... Giving up on something. Someone close to me was just like that. She's not like her, not like her all all. It's not true. It's not true. It's not true.

Everytime he looked at her it was like seeing his mom on the hospital bed. "You really are strange. You came to the hospital to visit me, and yet all this time one, you haven't said a word." She finally looked at him and their eyes met.

"Want to commit double suicide with me?"