A Masked Game

Level 12: Learning the Score

Flashback Cutscene: Adoring Fans

9 years and 5 months...

Adrien looked at Marinette, a strange stirring in his gut as they walked side by side. She'd barely spoken since he met up with her outside the boulangerie, their usual hand holding exchanged for silence without any small talk.

"So, how was your day? Any news from universities?" In all fairness, he was dreading that conversation. The last thing he wanted was to seem unsupportive of her, to make out like he wasn't happy that she was living her dream, when he knew that was all he wanted for her. But he also knew that, as soon as she told him she was leaving he would break down and cry. Plagg had told him to just wait and see. But his nightmares were fully in the realms of losing his one and only true love. He moved his hand, allowing his fingers to brush over hers. They were cold. So cold.

"Oh!" Her startled cry was proof she wasn't listening and lost somewhere in her own thoughts. Never a good sign when it came to his girlfriend. "Um — no. Nothing yet."

They continued in silence, his hand itching to take hers in his own as his fingers brushed against hers every time they passed. To feel that connection which had been missing since they started this outing. He tried a couple more times; her hand seemed to move out the way in an almost choreographed routine.

Marinette hadn't asked him. The lack of interest was odd for someone who was always so kind and caring. Her head was down and his own purely focused on her. She looked as though she hadn't slept in days. Dark circles cradled her eyes and she looked paler than usual — almost a ghostly white.

As they continued down the street, Adrien shoved his hands into his pockets, his shoulders rising thanks to the tension he was holding in his body. He kicked a lone stone in front of him, watching it as it danced along the pavement and hit the shoe of the person in front.

The woman was slightly older than them, Adrien guessing around 25, and her face, as she turned around, was a clear indication she was not impressed by the disorderly act behind her — that was until she noticed it was him.

"Oh my god!" she screeched. "It's Adrien Agreste."

As though his name was a red traffic signal, everyone around them stopped, turning around to face them and focusing not only their attention, but also their phones on him and Marinette. Just another day where he'd have to run from his adoring fans. Even with his lack of modelling, Adrien was still a popular face and pulled a lot of unwanted attention, especially when he wanted just a normal day out with his girlfriend.

Shock coursed through his veins as finally Marinette's hand joined his. With a swift movement, the anxiety built in his chest as she pulled him down an alleyway away from many of his 'adoring fans'. How he wished he could go back in time and not have this added pressure on his shoulders! What most people craved for, he wished to live without.

Finally, they reached the gardens, Marinette suddenly dropping his hands and stopping. She was shaking from head to toe as her hands came to cover her eyes.

"I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry," she whimpered.

"About saving us?" he chuckled. "Don't be. You know as well as I do, my fans can be wild."

She shook her head again, keeping her attention down on her shoes. She wasn't laughing with him. She wasn't laughing at all.

Moving towards her, Adrien stood in front and placed both his hands on her upper arms lowering himself down to look into her eyes.

"Sorry for what, Marinette? You're not making any sense?"

"I can't be with you anymore." The way she blurted it out had him laughing out loud.