What Little Worlds

Twenty-Seven

Amelie and Maggie's dinner date ended earlier than she had thought, and she walked in the door to she and Adrien's apartment an hour before she had said she would be home.

She heard voices inside and paused for a second to listen. the voices were too muffled for her to hear properly so she just opened the door. "I just don't see this as an actual threat. It's -" Adrien trailed off as the door cracked open.

"Hi baby," he exclaimed and immediately walked over to her to greet her in his arms.

"Hi love," she said and kissed him lightly. "Who were you talking to?" she asked.

"Me," came a voice from in the kitchen. Brooks was sitting on the counter, looking tense for such an informal and relaxed position.

"Brooks," she cried and released Adrien to go hug his friend. He hopped off the counter and enveloped her in a bone-crushing hug. "It's been too long. I wish I had known you were coming!"

"I know," he said, looking pointedly at Adrien. Amelie chose that moment to try to catalogue the scene she had walked into in her brain so she might revisit it later. Why had Adrien said something wasn't a threat? He seemed relatively cautious about things in the Elven world, especially things involving her. And why had he not mentioned that Brooks was coming?

"Brooks was actually just leaving. He only stopped by for a minute to drop off some news." Adrien walked over to the couch and sat down on the arm.

Amelie let go of Brooks and smiled sweetly. "Can I know what this news is?" she asked.

Brooks opened his mouth but Adrien cut him off before he could speak. "Just that Theo is leaving in two days, so you can come back to the gym next week. That is if you still are interested in learning some magic."

She fought the urge to jump like a child, and kept her voice calm as she said, "He's finally leaving? Is he going back to Sawth?"

"No I don't think so," Brooks said, "He's doing some sort of campaign to spread information about the present political situation. He's off to Moore actually, I think."

Adrien stiffened on the couch but said nothing.

"Hmm, interesting." Amelie wanted to ask more about the political situation Brooks meant, as well as if Theo's mission here had been successful, but she did not want to show them she was curious about Theo or might know more than she let on. Adrien was in a relatively good mood tonight and she didn't want to ruin that. "I would love to go to the gym next week. Can I go Monday afternoon?"

"I don't see why not. I can be there waiting for you around seven," Adrien replied.

Amelie walked over and sat next to him on the arm of the couch. "Is it okay with you if I go earlier by myself? I don't need a chaperone," she said and leaned up to kiss him.

He kissed her back but pulled away and said, "I really would prefer if you waited for me. I'll worry about you if you're there by yourself."

Amelie looked over at Brooks, whose strong arms were clenched across his chest. He looked at the ground but said nothing.

"I have to head out," Brooks said after a few seconds. "You two have a nice night."

"Thanks Brooks," she said. Adrien walked him out. When he came back inside she was still sitting on the arm of the couch. He walked over to her and kissed her, his arm snaking around her back to hold her closely. They lay down on the couch.

"I missed you," Adrien sighed against her neck. Amelie nodded.

She had questions so many questions roaring in her head but she laid down with Adrien and stroked him silently, to keep herself quiet. Adrien may be too protective of her, but the Elven world was not open to her without his keys. She needed him to keep sharing.