Where Does the Red String Go? -Miraculous Ladybug AU Soulmates

Chapter 39- Adrien, the Fragrance

Marinette's POV

After a while, I become sick of the hospital.

The starchy foods, the constant throb of the IV drip, the bed rest. The novelty had worn off. 

"When can I be discharged?" I whine to Adrien as he takes his usual seat next to me. I'd been here for nearly a month, drinking plastic water and trying to find ways to occupy myself when Adrien left. Which was about an hour a day.

"In about two days," Adrien says and pulls something out of his bag. I thought it was another assignment, as he's been giving me all the work I've missed from school. But then I read the title. It's our essay.

"You never answered the last question," he says and pushes the essay towards me. I groan. "Figured after everything you've gone through maybe you'd know the answer?" he says. I read the question again.

"How does Puck's character influence Midsummer Night's Dream and in turn, influence English Literature?" I say. This question had been tormenting us for so long that it practically made up 40% of my worries. The other 60% was about Luka.

"When's his trial?" I say out loud, my mind switched over to him. Adrien shakes his head. "No. You're doing this assignment. I'm not letting you procrastinate again." he says and taps on the question. 

I sigh, wracking my brain to find the answer. Puck was a trickster, his tricks setting the beginning of some events of the story. So why was he so important? Then I realize the answer.

"You figured it out didn't you?" Adrien says. I nod, as I write the answer down. Adrien looks over my shoulder at my words and reads them out loud.

"Puck is a trickster, meaning he plays pranks on the characters of the story. This influences the story as Puck's character sets the start of events in the story, and his spirit, fun-loving humor, and evocative language sets the atmosphere of the story. He is the reason for the love triangle between Hermia, Lysander, and Demetrius, as well as Helena. This, in turn, influences English literature as it was one of the first plays to have a know known love triangle or square." he continues.

"At the end of A Midsummer's Night's Dream, Puck makes a speech, soliloquy asking the viewer for forgiveness if the play insulted or harmed them by referring to the fictitious incidents and characters in A Midsummer Night's Dream as shadows, as well as relating the play itself to nothing more than a dream; it was all unreal and innocent. So in a way, Puck broke the fourth wall." he finishes and looks at me proudly. 

"I knew you could do it Marinette," he says and plants a kiss on my cheek, careful not to crush my ribs which was close to finishing healing. "Now can you tell me when Luka's trial starts?" I say imploringly.

Adrien sighs. "It was today."

I gasp, my lungs giving a painful squeeze. "W-What w-was his sentence?" I say a gasp, my throat suddenly dry. That was why Adrien was so late to visit me today. "Shhh, Marinette it's okay. He's in juvenile prison now. He can't hurt us anymore."

"R-Really?" I ask, looking at him in disbelief. "H-He's gone?" Adrien nods. "He can't hurt you ever again."

I don't know what to do with those words. "Why....Why....don't I feel happy?" I ask, my eyes meeting Adrien's. "You still love him Marinette, it's what the red string does to you," he says.

I take a deep breath. "Yeah, that must be it," I say and give him a shaky smile. He's gone. He's really gone. He can't hurt me anymore.

He can't hurt me anymore.

Adrien looks at his watch and sighs. "I need to go and get ready for my modeling shoot. We're releasing a new perfume." My head shoots up, it can't be. "Really? What's it called?!" I say excitedly. Adrien smiles sheepishly.

"Adrien the Fragrance."

"Radiant, carefree, dreamy, Adrien, the Fragrance." I sigh as Adrien's beautiful legs run over the air. I press repeat. "Radiant, carefree, dreamy, Adrien, the Fragrance." and again.

"Radiant, carefree, dreamy, Adrien, the Fragrance." and again.

"Radiant, carefree, dreamy, Adrien, the Fragrance." 

"Radiant, carefree, dreamy, Adrien, the Fragrance." 

 I smile, sniffing the perfume under my covers. My parents gave it to me as an end-of-the-year present. They said they had to fight over hoards of girls to get just one. I smile, inhaling his springtime scent. How could they match his smell so perfectly? Sighing, I replay the ad.

"Radiant, carefree, dreamy, Adrien, the Fragrance." 

"Radiant, carefree, dreamy, Adrien, the Fragrance." 

I was being discharged today. They said that my stomach was healing nicely and I was able to go home. I couldn't do any exercises though until next week. I and Adrien had received the highest grade in the class for our assignment, which lifted a huge weight off my shoulders that I didn't know I had.

"Radiant, carefree, dreamy, Adrien, the Fragrance."

"Marinette?"

I quickly slam my laptop down and turn my head towards the noise. It's one of the nurses. "Y-Yes?" I say, hoping she didn't see me sniffing perfume under the covers.

"You're good to go Marinette, your parents are here to pick you up." The nurse says and smiles. "Oh!" I say in relief. "Thank you-"

"Radiant, carefree, dreamy, Adrien, the Fragrance."

The ad somehow started to play even when my laptop was shut. Embarrassment floods my cheeks as the nurse turns around. "What was that?" she asks, confused. "N-N-Nothing." I say, putting my hand over my face to hide my blush. She shrugs as she leaves. Thank god she didn't see that.

"Marinette? We can go now." My parents enter the room. I nod happily as they go over to help me up. My legs wobble a bit, as it's been a while since I've walked on my own. After regaining my balance, we check out of the hospital and unloaded my things. Getting in, I plug in my earphones and listen to some music as the car drives on Paris's streets. It was the last day of school today. Passing French Dupoin High School, I see the flyers and banners draped on the building, a stab of loneliness in my heart. I wish I was there, eating cake with Alya and our friends. This year has been so hectic.

We drive on for a few more minutes until the car comes to a stop. Stepping out, I take out my earphones and look up. Expecting to see the bakery, I step forward to open the door that isn't there. Looking up, I realize that we aren't home yet. I look over to my parents in confusion. "Why aren't we at the bakery?" I ask, looking up. I realize where I am. The Eiffel Tower. They share a secret smile, and my mom hands me a handwritten note.

Meet me up at the Eiffel Tower when the fireworks start.

Adrien.