The Waiting Game

Chapter Ten - Do I Wanna Know?

WARNING: This chapter deals with a serious topic and I tried my best to treat it with respect. This was a difficult chapter to write as I wanted to be as gentle about this topic as I could. Being a sixteen-year-old I don't know everything, and I never will. This is just a disclaimer for this chapter.

I won't say what it is as it is spoilers, but you'll know once you start reading. I hope you enjoy.

All my love, Daina x

~~~

"Who is Renae?"

Marinette's body went as cold as the snow falling around her. The crow sitting above their heads in the tree cawed at them, expecting an answer also. "Did Thomas tell you about her?"

"Well, not about her per say. He just mentioned that she use to be friends with you and-"

"Well, clearly he mentioned too much." Marinette greatly sped up her pace, continuing down the street without Adrien.

"Hey! Wait!" Adrien jogged to catch back up. "I don't mean to pry it's just-"

Marinette tapped her foot quickly on the pavement. The red light couldn't change faster. "You are prying. And I don't want to talk about it." She took long strides across the road, as if something better was on the other side.

Adrien slightly lowered his head. "I'm sorry. Thomas said that her absence made you sad for a while, I just wanted to make sure she didn't hurt you."

Marinette wanted to be swept up by the wind and carried to a different land. Is it too hard to start over? People forget things every day, for many reasons. She seemed to be the only exception.

"I was hoping that Thomas would have forgotten about her. I don't talk about her in front of him for a reason. She just wasn't a nice woman, who hurt me via Thomas."

Her face was bleak, busy fixing herself behind those glass eyes.

"I'm sorry I asked, just forget it." Adrien uttered.

Marinette turned and faced him. "It's okay, you were just concerned," Her bleak smile made Adrien quiver slightly. The peach blush on her cheeks glowed, making her look like a doll. "Well, you asked your question. Now it's my turn. What do you want? I mean, out of all of this."

You

It's always been you

Can't you tell?

"Well, I'm not too sure how to phrase it," Adrien rubbed his hands together as he and Marientte sat down on a park bench. The air was thin and crisp, with no other person in sight. There they were, in an icy bubble. "It's just...to be frank I want to be more involved. I'm trying my best to come over whenever I can - and I hope I'm not invading your personal space by the way - but I want to walk Thomas to school, take him to the doctors or the dentist, teach him lessons about, well anything. I want to become more of a father and less of a babysitter."

Marinette was deeply moved by his words. "Adrien, you're not just some babysitter. You're a great help and a great father. You should hear what Thomas says about you when you aren't around. Constantly saying 'He reminds me of a superhero. Tall and powerful! Does Papa have powers?', 'I hope I can be as tall as him someday!' and 'I want to draw him!'. He's been trying very hard on your drawing," Marinette sighed as she thought of all the pencil shavings she's had to clean up. "Adrien, are you okay?"

"Wh-what do you mean?"

"You're crying..." Marinette mumbled.

Adrien ran a finger over his eyes; sure enough, there were little traces of water on his fingers. "Oh, I'm sorry," He sniffled. "It's just nice to hear that."