Miraculous Team ✔️

27

"What were you thinking?" Gabriel shouted.

Nathalie kept her emotionless face downcast. Her heart was pounding.

"We were this close to getting Cat Noir's Miraculous." Gabriel pressed his index finger and thumb together and shoved it in front of her face to see. "This close."

"It's Adrien we're talking about." Nathalie hissed through gritted teeth, "He's your son. What was I supposed to do? Push him to his death?"

"When I can finally explain to him why I need the Miraculous, he'll understand."

"Adrien's not heartless!" Nathalie yelled, "He knows how to tell between what's right and what's wrong."

"Well then, Nathalie, if you're so smart, why don't you tell me if what I'm doing is right?" Gabriel pressed.

Nathalie immediately sealed her mouth shut. She didn't want her thoughts to escape. Gabriel snickered and crossed his arms.

"Then tell me something I would want to know." He said.

Nathalie tried to steady her breathing and exhaled loudly. "I followed them to their hideout. I know where they are."

Gabriel smirked. "Good."

Nathalie finally dared to look up at him. "I hope you know what you're doing, Gabriel."

(At Marianne's)

Adrien sat at the bottom of the stairs, texting Juliek and telling him about their situation. It was late at night. The shadows were gaining up on him. Juliek hasn't replied, and Adrien started feeling sick. They were so powerless. How could they defeat Hawkmoth now?

Adrien scrolled through his phone and ended up looking at pictures of Emilie Agreste. He used to feel better looking at his mother's kind smile, but this time, he noticed the tiny bit of uneasiness in her facial features, and it discouraged him. He threw his phone down and buried his head in his hands. Tears were threatening to spill. This was worst than the times he spent alone at the dinner table. This time, he was so alone and helpless. He was exhausted.

Suddenly, he heard someone's feet make their way down the staircase. He looked up.

But you... I never get tired of you...

Marinette picked up his phone and sat down next to him. She smiled delicately at the picture of his mother and said, "She's got your eyes."

Adrien stilled at her words and looked at her. He felt his chest swell up with emotion. Her eyes were still so radiant amongst the dark.

Marinette turned to look at him and was surprised when he threw himself at her, crushing her in a hug. She wrapped an arm around him, and used her other hand to run her fingers through his soft hair, murmuring "Are you okay?"

"Mm-hm." Adrien mumbled. His heart was pounding so hard that he couldn't breathe.

I love you.

But he couldn't say it. Not when she wasn't ready to hear it.

"It's late, Adrien." Marinette whispered, "What's on your mind?"

Slowly, and painfully, Adrien removed his arms from around her body and stared into her soul. "Nothing, Mari... Just worried."

"About the whole Hawkmoth thing?"

"Yeah..."

"We'll be okay, minou."

"But we have nothing." Adrien's voice cracked and he choked.

Marinette's heart hurt, seeing him like this. "No, Adrien." She said, "I understand it's hard for you. You've been so lonely these past couple years. But you aren't alone, you really aren't. We are your family, with or without powers."

"I... I just have a really bad feeling." Adrien sniffed, "I'm scared that something's going to happen to one of you guys and I'll never forgive myself if any one of you gets hurt..."

"Shhh..." Marinette let him lean against her, feeling the pressure of him. "It'll be all over soon. We'll be normal kids again."

"When it's all over..." Adrien sat up again and his eyes met hers. He took a long look at her, then steeled himself to continue, "would you and I be together?"

Marinette's eyes widened at his question. Adrien stared at her, trying to read her reaction. His mind was screaming for her to answer. But she remained completely wordless.

"Mari... Mari, I need you." Adrien whispered, pressing himself against the warmth of her body, "I can't explain it. But no matter how much I want to just give up and throw everything away, you give me this hope... another reason to live. You keep me going every single time." He exhaled. "I'm sorry. I know you don't want to talk about this now-"

"Yes."

Adrien shot upwards. "You mean it?" He asked hopefully.

"Yeah..." Marinette smiled a bit, but she became serious again, "But not until all this is over."

"I'll always wait for you, m'lady."

____________________

UGH THEYRE SO IN LOVE OKAY BYE

Bug out!