Hunted

Chapter 29 - Unwelcome Customers

Back at the Agreste Base, Adrien sat around in misery. He missed Marinette and knew he had about five days left before he could see her again. Just that thought made him work harder as he did paperwork and swept floors and went on random missions. 

As he walked by his father's office, he heard yelling and pressed his ear to the door. It sounded like his father and mother were in a heated argument and he didn't want to get involved. He wasn't paying attention to their words until he heard his father say Marinette. His attention fully focused on their conversation. 

"You know that Marinette could have been a good asset to the team and I was only being harsh when I said she couldn't go on missions before." 

"We weren't going to get anything out of her powers so I decided the supplies were worth more than someone who we had to babysit!" Emilie said with rage. 

"I thought you would help me with learning about her powers but apparently after a glimpse of them you just decide to throw that opportunity away!" He said. 

"Oh please, I don't care about Marinette anymore and you shouldn't either. She's dead for all I know!" Emilie yelled. Adrien was horrified at their conversation and ran off to a corner to cry. 

"They killed her." He said under his breath, as he sobbed in his knees. "I was so lucky to have her for just a little bit and now she's gone." He heard footsteps and looked up. Plagg was standing in front of him. 

"Adrien, I've never seen you like this before. Are you gonna tell me what's wrong?" He asked. 

"Leave me alone!" He yelled and stomped off to his bedroom slamming the door. He trembled with emotion and tried to close his eyes and think about Marinette because sometimes it would connect them but there was nothing. He mourned her feeling that she was really gone and it was too late.

A few days later Marinette began to feel better. After living off of soup and liquids her fever went away and she would only get dizzy occasionally. This was the first day Marinette felt good enough to join Alya in the restaurant. 

Alya showed her how to operate the coffee machine and eventually after a week or two they were preparing food together. Marinette it seemed was a natural at baking and soon was helping with all kinds of things in the back. Marlena was happy she was there and paid her well. She would make the customers smile and enjoyed her new job. 

Marinette was doing her usual job one day when she began to daydream at the counter. A few customers walked in and Luka was among them. He hadn't come back for a while and saw Marinette there for the first time. Knowing well what he had Felix do to her, he smiled and decided to try his luck. 

"Hey Marinette! I didn't know you worked here now." He said with a smile. She smiled back, 

"Oh hi Luka yeah it's been a couple weeks now." 

"Marlena's lucky to have you, you know." He said taking ahold of her hand and caressing it. 

"Yeah ahem." Marinette said. Clearing her throat and looking around her. 

"I heard you and Adrien broke up right? I was right wasn't I." He said. Marinette hadn't told anyone and immediately felt betrayed by Alya who must have told him. 

"I don't know who told you that but yes you were...but I.." Marinette began and then trailed off. Luka placed his hand under her chin and lifted her face to his. 

"Will you be mine?" He said coming closer. 

"I..." Marinette was speechless. 

"Forget him I know what you want." He said. Luka leaned in and kissed her and Alya walked into the restaurant and gasped almost dropping the food tray she was carrying. She backed away and then waltzed by pretending to bump Luka and fall which pushed him out of the kiss.