A Little Too Soon for Goodbye

18 -Morning

I wake up the next day, and sit up. I reach for my phone, but find it dead. I curse under my breath, and slowly walk over to Adrien's bed. He's passed out, breathing heavy. I unplug his phone, and plug mine in instead.

I quietly walk into the bathroom, and close the door behind me. I take a quick shower, feeling grimy, and finish getting ready for the day. When I walk out, Adrien is still laying down, but his eyes are slightly open.

"Good morning." I say, giving him a small smile.

"Morning," he sighs out, his voice deep with sleep. I slightly blush, and look away. "Um... how did you sleep?" I ask, and he says, "like a baby. I didn't even feel when you got into bed with me." I laugh, and say, "that's cause I didn't. I slept on the couch. I don't want to get sick."

He smiles, and his eyes close. "Traitor. And I'm feeling better now. No fever. Must have just been a small bug." I walk over and sit on the edge of the bed by him, and push his hair back. I touch his forehead with the back of my hand, and he does feel normal.

He slightly opens his eyes, and my hand goes to his cheek. He subconsciously leans into it, and I give him a small smile. He suddenly moves, and grabs my waist.

He pulls me down and I gasp. He wraps his arms around me, and I'm laying completely on top of him. "Adrien." I whisper. My hands are gently pressed against his chest, and he hums a song that I've never heard before.

"This is so much better." He says, and I relax against him. He holds me, and I feel as if everything will be okay. I know it won't, but I allow myself to believe that we have the possibility of a future.

After a minute, he quietly whispers, "I love you." I tense, and lift my head. His face is bright red, as if he didn't mean for me to hear it. "Say it again." I say. I stare at him, and he looks embarrassed. "Adrien, say it again." I demand, and he lets out a shaky breath.

I sit up, so I am straddling him, and say, "Adrien." He lets out a nervous laugh, and sits up. "I... love you." He says it too fast, but it doesn't stop the smile from spreading across my face. Even with the pain that he knows he's going to go through, he loves me.

He loves me.

"I..." I start about to say it back, but when his green eyes pierce me I know I can't. Even though it is all I want to do. I want to tell him, but this is a mistake. I'm hurting him.

"I can't." My voice cracks on the second word, and his expression completely changes. "What?" He asks, his voice quiet. "I have fallen in love with you, and I have fallen hard, but I can't.

"I'm going to be dead in a few months. I can't let you love me. Maybe platonically, but I know you weren't saying it like that. I don't want to hurt you." He gently places his hands on either side of my face, and says in a quiet voice, "it's my choice. I love you Marinette Dupain-Cheng. I love you. And I am okay with being hurt. I know that after... you know... I will be more hurt knowing that I lost so much time. So please, give me memories. The good and the bad. I want it all. I just don't want to miss your life. Please?"

I can tell that he is desperate for me to see reason, but I'm struggling. I sigh, and go to say no, but his eyes fill up with tears, and he begs, "please. Please Marinette. Please." The words are small and desperate, so instead of saying anything, I just lean forward and kiss him.

He kisses me back, with so much passion and desperation that I want to cry. He shifts us, so we are both sitting up. His teeth nip at my bottom lip, and I gasp. His tongue is in my mouth, and he is all I can taste. All I can feel. I'm intoxicated by him, but I want more.

I gently move my hands down, and push them under the hem of his shirt. He shakily breathes, and I slowly move my palms across his abdomen. I can feel his smooth skin along with his abs, and crave to see what I'm touching.

My hands eventually reach his neck, and I wrap my hands around him. His shirt curls around my arms, and his arms wrap around my waist. His hands press against my shoulder blades, pushing me closer to him.

He slightly pulls away, and kisses my jaw, leaning forward so I am laying down on my back. I slightly moan, and feel as he shudders.

He pulls away for half a second, pulling his shirt over his head and throwing it off the side of the bed. "Are you sure about this?" He asks, and I nod. "We probably have a few hours. It's only 8:30." He freezes, and asks, "it is?"

I nod, and he sighs, leaning down and pecking my lips. "I have a photoshoot in an hour. Do you want to come with me?" He asks, and I nod. "Okay." He says, and gets up. I take a few seconds to breathe, then sit up.

It will happen. Eventually.

We talked about this after our first real kiss, and we both agreed that it was moving fast, but we also agreed that with how much time I have left, why wait? We both want this, whatever it is, and we shouldn't waste a minute. It probably would have happened that day if he didn't have to go home.

I walk into the bathroom, and grab my wig. Adrien comes in after he is dressed, and I am putting on my makeup. We stand in silence as we both get ready, and he watches me after he's done.

I finish putting on all of my makeup, and he hugs me.

I hug him back, and we both put our shoes on. He asks, "do you want to wear a pair of my old shoes? It's kinda cold out and flats aren't gonna keep you warm." I nod, and follow him into his closet.

It's huge. Full of hundreds of different clothing items, most of which are designer brands. I walk around the room in awe, gently running my hand along the different fabrics. There are a few fancy cabinets in the middle of the room, and the back wall is only shoes. It looks like a shoe store. He walks over to one of the drawers, and grabs a pair of socks.

He hands them to me, and I put them on. I walk with him over to his shoe wall, and he says, "what's your shoe size?" He asks, and I say, "either 6 and a half or 7 depending on the brand." He nods, and grabs a pair of shoes. "Try these on?" I look at the sneakers, and say, "I can't wear these. They're probably worth at least $400."

"Yes you can. It really isn't a big deal. I have plenty." I stare at him in shock, and he laughs. "What? It isn't." I just slightly shake my head and put the shoes on. They're a little big, but they'll do.

"You can keep them." He says. I look at him, and shake my head. "No... they're so expensive. I'm not keeping them." "Marinette." He sighs, walking over and wrapping his arms around my torso. He hugs me close, and I feel his hot breath against my ear as he says, "they don't fit me anymore. They're really just for show. They might as well be used. All of them need to be. So, please, keep them."

I turn my head so half of my face is pressed into his chest, and he holds me close. "You spoil me too much." I mumble. He laughs, and whispers, "no I don't."

"And Adrien?" I say, and he hums.

"I love you too."