Next of Kin

Chapter 9

Adrien awoke to delicious smells that made his tummy rumble. He stiffly pushed himself up the bed to a sitting position. His back ached from having to sleep flat on it, but it's still better than being in the hospital. Grabbing his phone, he found an early morning text from his cousin Félix.

Félix: How is the invalid?

Adrien shook his head. Félix was as tactful as ever.

Adrien: Better that I'm at home.

Félix: It's not very fair you know. I have to entertain your father and his assistant over Christmas while you get babied over by your girlfriend.

Adrien: Would you prefer we swap and you can have my broken leg?

Félix: Point taken. Still, it must be nice to have someone looking after you.

Adrien: You could always invite Chloé over if you're feeling lonely.

Félix: I said that it must be nice, not that I was desperate.

Adrien chuckled. Félix and Chloé had always had a bit of a love/hate relationship, but they had known each other forever.

Adrien: I've got to go, the smell of breakfast is calling me.

Félix: That's right, rub it in. Your father and Nathalie are due here any minute anyway. Wish me luck.

Adrien put his phone back down on the side table and reached over for his crutches. Of course, somehow they would now be out of reach. He stretched his arm out but only managed to get a fingertip on them. He huffed in frustration, wriggling a little more to the edge of the bed before stretching again. As he stretched out his hand on the side table slipped, knocking off his phone to the floor with a thud. Adrien had only just managed to catch himself before he too ended up on the floor.

The noise had gotten Marinette's attention and she quickly came into the room. "Good morning." She said happily. "Everything alright?"

"Yeah I just couldn't get to my crutches." Adrien said sheepishly, watching on helplessly as Marinette picked up his phone from the floor and placed it back on the table.

"Sorry, that would have been my fault. I'll make sure to keep them more within reach." She said, handing the crutches to him and helping him up. "Do you need me to help you in the bathroom?"

"I think I've got it." He said, but his usual teasing tone wasn't in his voice as he shuffled towards the bathroom.

"Oh, alright." Marinette said, feeling awkward. "I'll...um...I'll just plate up the food."

"Marinette." Adrien called after her. She stopped at the door and looked back. Adrien looked at her hair up in a messy bun on her head and her pink fluffy slippers on her feet. She was just in a pair of pink track pants and a baggy Jagged Stone concert t-shirt, but she took his breath away. "I, ah, just wanted to say breakfast smells amazing."

Her face bloomed into a bright smile. "Then hurry up and come and eat it while it's hot." She said, disappearing out the door.

When Adrien staggered out a few minutes later he found the table set with an array of fruit and a stack of pancakes with what looked like a pot of tea. Marinette had never seen him looking unshaven before and his messy hair made him look so much more like Chat.

"Is that green tea?" Adrien asked, resting the crutches against another chair and shuffling into his own.

"That's from Kagami." Marinette said, pouring the tea into his teacup. "She bought it at the markets and made me promise I would make you a cup everyday."