Caught In A Storm

Chapter XII

Adrien was worried, Nino's expression didn't ease his worries at all. He was hiding something from him, he knew it. He had learned to read Nino's face like any book. The look Adrien gave him, told Nino everything. Adrien needed to know, he demanded to know what was going on.

Tell me.

Nino sighed as he bowed his head.

"It's nothing Adrien, go back to baking." Adrien approached Nino and squeezed his right shoulder.

"Let's go upstairs." Adrien turned around and waved his hand, motioning to Nino to follow him. They entered their room – well Mari's bedroom- and Adrien closed the door shut behind them.

"Come on Nino. I know you're not telling me something." Adrien asked now directly, wanting, needing an answer.

Ninos' hands fidgeted, twirling his fingers around, hoping to distract himself from the bad news he had to spill. Nino knew how much this news would affect Adrien's mood and possibly even his near future. Nino looked out of the small window in the room. The sun was barely peaking through the icy sky.

"Adrien, how long have we been here?" Adrien seemed taken aback by this question, his eyes blinking, trying to figure out why he was asking him this. When he thought about the days he had spent in this small home, all he could think of was Mari... their kiss and how contented and fortunate he felt being able to be here.

"I guess around two weeks." Nino's strong gaze didn't waver.

"And why have we been here for two weeks?"

Why is he asking me this? Am I missing something? Adrien frowned.

"Obviously the snow storm Nino. I thought you had seen it as well." Adrien joked, trying to ease the tension building in the air around them, but Nino kept his serious expression, making Adrien worry even more.

"Adrien, the snowstorm blocked every way of communicating with the capital, so I couldn't inform your father of your whereabouts for the last two weeks." Adrien's ears started to ring; his breath got caught in his throat and his vision unfocused. He felt Nino guide him to a nearby chair.

This is bad... NO! This is the worst!

Adrien bowed his head, breathing in deeply in order not to succumb to the growing panic inside his head. His eyes started to water, hiding them with his palms.

"For once I thought I had escaped my bad luck, but now it's coming back full-force." He started laughing hysterically, trying to hold himself back to cry his heart out. He felt Nino hold on tightly on his shoulders,

He would lose her now. He would never be able to see her again; his father would never allow it. It was a matter of weeks until they would come for him. He had only realised a few days ago, how his feelings towards Marinette had grown. He just had gotten her into his life and now he would be forced to leave. Just the thought of it made his heart hurt, the pain was already unbearable.

Nino could only hurt as well at the sight of his friend's inner turmoil and growing despair.

"I just kissed her." Adrien finally murmured, barely loud enough for Nino to hear. But he did.

"You're serious?"

"Of course! Why would I joke about that?" Adrien thoughts drifted towards Marinette.

Does she like me as well? Was the kiss one-sided?

Will I the only one be affected by departure? Should I tell her?

Can I tell her?

A chocked sigh escaped him. Adrien decided he wouldn't let this ruin the last perfect weeks he was going to spent here. The last weeks he was going to spend with her. She had admitted to him, that she liked having other people to spend time with a few days ago. He couldn't crush her joy.

"Nino, when the snowstorm stops, don't send anything to my father. He would know exactly where we are. I'm not going to make this easier for him."

Adrien stood up and left the room, quietly closing the door behind him.

As Nino heard the staircases creak, he let out a deep sigh. His friend didn't deserve this. He didn't deserve any of this. On the other hand, he knew that once Adrien would be on the throne that a new era would come and that King Gabriel would stop reigning with his iron grip on the kingdom.