Sightless 『Miraculous Ladybug AU』

✫ C h a p t e r 5 ✫

Since there was still no one else around, Master Fu took the opportunity to inform the teenagers about the danger that Paris was about to encounter. He reached into the side pockets of his khaki shorts to pull out two mysterious hexagonal boxes. With one of the boxes in his right hand, Master Fu stretched his arm out towards Adrien, implying for the young boy to take it from him. For the other box, though, he gently placed it directly into Marinette's hand. Adrien immediately began to open his box until the old man snapped at him, "No. You mustn't open them here. Please wait until you both are somewhere alone, either together or when you are by your lonesome." Without another word, the old man suspiciously walked away from the two teenagers.

With a slight chuckle, Adrien looked back down at the gift once again. That was weird, huh?"

Marinette was stunned by the friendly old man's sudden change of personality. Now confused as to what exactly made the box so important, she attempted to examine it with the precious senses she did have. Marinette investigated the object with her touch to obtain a better understanding of it. Since it felt just like any other typical jewelry box, she started to become quite skeptic of Master Fu. "Weird doesn't even begin to explain it. I have to admit that I am curious, though. Since we're right outside the bakery, do you want to come in so we can find out whatever's in these boxes? I'm kinda scared to open mine alone..."

Adrien turned his head around to look back at his personal driver, whom sat frozen in the driver's seat with shock. The blond took a minute to contemplate how angry his father would be if he arrived home late, especially without notifying him first. On the other hand, however, Adrien didn't care too much about what his father would say to him. For years now, he had been used to the fact that he would always disappoint his father. What made this time any different? Since he could remember, Adrien was unable to make any real friends since he was made a prisoner in his own home. He wasn't about to give up the first opportunity he had. "Mari, count me in!"

〜✿〜

Upstairs in Marinette's bedroom, Adrien sat alone at her desk with a vacant pink chair beside him since Marinette went downstairs into the kitchen to prepare some snacks. He had offered to help, but she insisted on doing it independently. Marinette never wanted help from others, even from her parents. Which, before having to run out in a hurry for several different errands, made sure to greet the boy once he entered their home. No matter the case, Tom and Sabine absolutely despised having to leave Marinette alone at home in fear that something may happen. Therefore, they were more than overjoyed that she had invited a friend over.

As Adrien was looking around the room from boredom, he noticed what appeared to be a personalized sketch book lying in the corner of the desk that he sat at. He stretched his arm out to pick it up and instantly began to flip through the pages without another thought. Admiring the hundreds of designs and sketches, Adrien felt as if it was nearly impossible for a girl who was born blind to know such great, specific detail.

Suddenly, Marinette's text tone went off and startled Adrien. Curious, he glanced over at her cell phone that was also lying down on the desk and noticed a message from Chloé on the main screen, which he found odd since it seemed as if the two never talked. He mumbled the message aloud to himself quietly, "I noticed you and my Adrikins talking a lot today. I just wanted to remind you to keep your little pathetic mouth shut about everything. You know what'll happen if you don't." That was when all of the pieces began to add together. Adrien finally started to make sense of everything...

Without further delay, Marinette made her way up into her room with a tray of various snack foods. Adrien, with wide eyes, quickly set the pink cell phone down in the same exact spot as it was before he had touched it. Marinette carefully walked over to the desk to lie the tray down before sitting down in the empty chair directly next to Adrien. "I wasn't sure what you liked, so I brought up some mini-sized croissants, bagels, muffins, and of course crackers! It's a good thing my parents labeled all of the containers and cabinets with braille or else I would've taken a lot longer." She giggled at her own comment.

Wanting to change the topic to something more serious, Adrien scratched the back of his head quite nervously. "Hey, uh, Marinette?"

Marinette's face fell with a small sense of panic. "Oh no. You don't like any of the stuff I brought up, do you? I'm so sorry, I didn't know!" It was her first chance at making a friend and she was already beginning to embarrass herself.

"No, no, that isn't it! Besides, croissants are my favorite." Adrien smiled as he saw Marinette relax after his reassurance. "I actually wanted to ask you something kind of personal, if you don't mind."

Marinette was surprised at Adrien's sudden request. She wasn't all that interesting, so what could he possibly want to know? "Um, yeah, sure. Go ahead!"

At first, Adrien was hesitant. He wasn't sure how Marinette would react to his question, but decided to ask it anyway. "How, uh, did you lose your eyesight?"

For a moment, Marinette sat motionless as she thought about the question she was asked. "Oh. Um, something just went wrong with my eyes, I guess. I woke up one morning and couldn't see anything except for pure blackness. At first, I thought it was a nightmare. But it was real. So very real..." Ever since she lost her eyesight, Marinette had tried her best to avoid the topic of how she lost it. She never told anyone the truth and it haunted her horribly.

Interrupting her depressing thoughts, Adrien placed his hand on Marinette's shoulder. "Everyone else might buy that story, but I don't. Mari, what really happened?"

Marinette's head shot up towards Adrien's direction with alarm. She spoke so quickly, her words were nearly gibberish, "I-I don't know what you're talking about. I just told you what happened."

At this point, Adrien began to frown. Chloé was getting exactly what she wanted just like usual. "Marinette, please don't let Chloé blackmail you. She can't do more than half of the things she claims that she can."

The young girl's mouth dropped. "H-how did you-"

"She left a message on your phone not too long ago. Marinette, what did she do?" Adrien knew that he should not have snooped through Marinette's messages, but he certainly was glad that he did.

Feeling slightly uncomfortable, Marinette crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm sorry, Adrien, but I can't risk it. This place means everything to my parents."

The upset frown that Adrien wore was beginning to look more like a scowl. "Are you saying she threatened to take the bakery away? She's more of a monster than I thought..."