Miracle Box - an MLB rewrite

To Be A Superhero

Adrien was an unfortunate kid. So what he could have almost anything money could buy him, he never had happiness. That was a pathetic dream he'd been chasing after all his life. Money could buy him games and luxuries, but he couldn't pay for a friend. Chloe Bourgeois was his one and only friend, he'd known her all his life. But she had opportunities he didn't. She had freedom. She had the ability to express herself without repercussions, she could go to school, she could be friends with anyone she wanted, she was allowed to have happiness. Adrien never could.

He couldn't help but think about this as he was pulled away from his one last chance to go to school. Natalie was doing what she was told, of course, but Adrien still felt resentment towards the woman. He didn't say a single word to her after she'd pulled him back into the car and took him back to his father's house. Adrien never felt at home there, but he was unsure of why. He didn't understand why he'd rather be anywhere else, he just assumed it was because he felt cooped up too much of the time and left it at that.

So instead of public school, Adrien went back to homeschooling. Just like he'd done every single day of his life since he started his schooling. He didn't want to engage with Natalie much, despite her constant attempts to make things right with him. He was frustrated and angry, and there wasn't anything she could do in the moment to ease him of that.

After his lessons were finished, Natalie allowed Adrien into his room to be alone. She figured he needed time to cool off. Fortunately, he had nothing else scheduled for the day so he had all the alone time he could ever want. Except that he was too lonely. Far too lonely.

Adrien decided to take a shower early. Showers were calming and he could let himself relax in solitude. The warmth of the water was enough to soothe him, and the peacefulness was perfect for his thoughts to run wild. He took a long shower, though he didn't feel dirty to begin with.

When he came out, he felt his blood run cold. All he wore was a towel and there was a strange, incredibly tall man standing in his room.

"Ok- who are you?!" Adrien took a step back in alarm. His towel decided to fall off right then and there, and he scrambled to pull it back up over his waist in utter horror and embarrassment.

"Well that was a long shower," the man said, keeping his back towards Adrien. He held a tablet in his hand which he was twiddling around with aimlessly. It didn't appear he knew how to use it.

"What are you doing in my room?! Did Natalie let you in here?!"

"Who's Natalie?" the man asked, finally turning to face Adrien whose face was bright red. He had shoulder-length black hair with a top not, and wore a long black hanfu adorned with green highlights. His face had strange stingers or barbs sprouting from either side of his jaw and the back of his top knot–much like a catfish. And hidden in his hair, Adrien could see a pair of black cat-like ears. "Ah geez kid, put some clothes on, will ya?"

"I wasn't expecting anyone would be in my room! I'm sorry!" Adrien said, rushing towards his closet and disappearing from the man's view. "How did you get in here?! Does my father know?"

"Uhh... no. He doesn't."

"Then who are you and why are you in my house?!" Adrien said, getting flustered as he tried to get dressed as quickly as possible.

"I'm here to uh... grant you a dream come true."

"Wait?! Are you a genie?!" Adrien exclaimed, sliding out of his closet.

"Uh... no. I met the genie once but he's all talk with nothing to show for it," the man said, setting the tablet down–though still eyeing it with curiosity. "Anyways, the name's Plagg. Nice to meet you."