Her Red Mask

Chapter 5

Marinette woke up to the sound of her alarm.

"Not now. 10 more minutes." Marinette mumbled

"Marinette! 10 more minutes and you'll be late!" Tikki argued.

"Wh-wh-what!?" Marinette pinged up from her couch, frizzy hair and all.

"I need to go. Where is my hairbrush? Where, where, where ah there it is!"

Her house was a mess when she had finished. She only had 3 minutes until she was late. Flustered, she went straight out the door with paperwork in one hand and a coffee in the other.

Damn Marinette! Move your legs faster. How were you Ladybug? God, 1 minute left! The doors right there. Marinette had just made it. She looked horrible but she made it. She fixed her self up in a nearby toilet and went on her way.

___

Oh, it's Monday, But Adrien didn't feel capable of doing anything. He took a few to many hits with a theft while on patrol- he was sure that it could've gone better. He was awake at 7:00. As per usual. Sunlight was slowly creeping through the crack of his curtains. He got up with a great effort, and limped over to the window and drew open his curtains.

He never really liked Mondays. He reached for his phone and flicked it on. 18 missed calls. Some would be happy to know that- but Adrien thought it was a bother. Nino..huh. Where have I heard that name? Suddenly, Adrien remembered. The weird best friend from high school! But how the hell did he get his number?

"Sounds a bit creepy~" Plagg murmured. Adrien nearly jumped as the cat kwami moved from his original spot- behind his shoulder.

"Plagg! You scared me."

He gave a sly smirk. "Heh."

Plagg flew to the mini fridge with a yawn and pulled out a big block of mozzarella. He was trying to do something new with his cheeses- Must be a midlife crisis.

Adrien turned his attention to the caller. He hadn't heard from Nino since he found out that his old phone didn't work in New York. He pressed the call button, and to his surprise, a voice shuddered from the other side.

"Who is it...?" The groggy voice said. It was him! It really was him.

"Would you turn that down!" A voice in the background screeched. It sounded familiar..but he couldn't quite place it.

"Um, ah it's Adrien. From high school."

"HOLY CRAP-"

"Nino I swear to god-"

_____

"Dude, it's been so long!" Nino said.

Adrien took a seat on his couch.

"I know. Hah, sorry I didn't call. I wanted to-- its just.."

"Bro-lo, say no more. Come on, talk to me! Just like the old times." Nino said.

"Well..I heard you and Alya got hitched." Adrien said, trying to suppress his excitement. But with that excitement came realization.

He was almost 30, and he still doesn't have a girlfriend.

"Yeah, right after college. We just thought it was the right time."

"Do you have any kids?" Adrien said, less enthusiastic than his last statement. I'm almost 30 and I still don't have kids.

"Actually yeah!" Adrien got a shiver. "His name is Blue and his 6 months old. Here-- let me send you some pictures."

Adrien stared at the pictures. He sent so much. The baby looked like them. Obviously. Adrien thought. What would you think? It would look like Marinette-. He needed to get Marinette out of his head. "He's cute," Adrien said.