Miraculous Games

Chapter Thirty-Six

Chapter Thirty-Six:

Nathanael watched Adrien leave the room, making his way back downstairs. Raising his eyebrow, he realized that Marinette wasn't with him. Had something gone down?

"Hey," he commented, trying to catch the black cat's attention. "Where's Marinette?"

Adrien didn't reply. Whether he had ignored him or didn't hear him, Nathan wasn't sure. Either way, it made him upset. Then again, it's not like he wanted to talk to him anyway.

"Fine, don't answer me," Nathan muttered. He struggled to get to his feet, using the couch to help him up. Even though he had come out of the healing pod 'fully healed', he didn't feel that way. Every scan, blood test, and analysis told him that his body was fine. He knew it was a lie. Pain still coursed through his muscles, leaving him unable to work or participate with the others. He considered himself the runt of the tear: the handicapped one. It was frustrating, but he was grateful that Marinette was still by his side. Maybe not as close as she once was, but she still at least treated him like a human being. Adrien, on the other hand, only gave him hateful glares. That's what he thought.

With caution, Nathanael made his way up the stairs that led to the bedrooms. Maybe laying down and going to sleep would help him forget his problems. And hey, if it could help him heal faster, he wouldn't complain about that at all. As he reached the top of the stairs, he noticed a pounding noise to his right. What what that? He heard someone yelling furrowed his eyebrows with concern.

"You stupid cat! I want to help... Please, let me help!"

It was Marinette.

"Ladybug?" Nathan called, making his way to the door.

"Fox!" Marinette exclaimed. "Please, can you open the door?"

He responded to her question by grabbing the door handle and jiggling it. It wouldn't budge.

"Is it locked?" he asked.

"Wait, is it not?"

"I... think so?" Nathan fiddled with the handle a little longer before finally twisting it open successfully. When the door swung inside, Nathanael was taken aback at what he saw.

Marinette was on her knees, staring up at him like he was her saving grace. Her face was blotted with tears. Her eyes were red, her bottom lip trembled, and her hair was a mess.

"Oh, Marinette..." Fox breathed. He rushed forward and hugged her tightly. Marinette melted to the floor and buried her head into his shoulder. "What did he do to you? What did Adrien say?"

She shook her head. "It's okay... I... I'm fine."

"No, you're not." Nathan pulled out of the embrace but didn't let go of her shoulders. "What happened?"

Marinette glanced down at the floor, rubbing her shirtsleeve under her nose as she sniffled. "It's nothing, Fox. I just..." She sighed. "I'm just frustrated."

"Marinette, please." He gripped her shoulders tighter. "What did he say to you? Did he hurt you?"

She was quiet for a minute as if she were trying to pull herself together. Then, the dam broke. She let out a sob that was half cry and half frustration. The truth spilled from her lips. She explained how Adrien wasn't letting her leave, to let her fight. She expressed through her tears how desperately she wanted to show the world what she was made of. She may have been scared, she said, but that didn't mean that she had to stay back and let other people fight for her. With determination etched deeply into her features, she declared that she was no longer going to let anyone get in her way of standing up for herself.