Behind My Smile - EDITING SOON

XXII) Don't Need a Diagnosis

Despite the ringing in his ears, Adrien found a way to get himself up and awake. Marinette's face was the first he saw when he woke up, a box of fresh pastries and sweets in hand. On top was a card signed by all their friends, the special message of 'get well soon <3' splayed on the front. His hearing had yet to fully return, but he could tell she was talking based on the movement of her lips. She seemed to be hiding her worried expression behind plenty of words, but that doesn't exactly work when the person you're trying to convince can't hear you. 

Adrien took advantage of his inability to hear, making use of his sense of sight. He found it soothing to see her face, but he couldn't deny the thumping of his heart as he watched her scrunch her nose and stick out her tongue. In an instant her eyes went wide, and she seemed to be shouting his name. Why? He felt completely fine. Surely if something were wrong he would have felt it like last time? 

Dr. Riviere came running to Marinette's cries, Nino and Alya following closely behind. They pointed at his monitor, their mouths moving so fast Adrien couldn't even read them. Suddenly... they're laughing?

Nino fell backwards into the wall, laughing uncontrollably like a hyena. Alya seemed not far off, but held herself together more thoroughly than her husband. And Marinette, though the first to notice his heart spike, was extremely flustered.

Her eyes clung to the screen of his monitor as her right hand covered her mouth, shading half her red face as well. 

"What?" he croaked out, his throat parched. The sounds of the room slowly came back to him, no doubt thanks to Nino's witch cackles. Turning to Alya he asked again, causing her to follow in her husband's footsteps. "What happened? What's so funny?" He looked to Marinette, finding her gaze still locked on his heartbeat. 

Dr. Riviere sighed from the foot of his bed, chuckling at Adrien behind a thin pair of grey glasses. 

"Ms. Dupain-Cheng noticed a severe spike in your heart rate and feared the worst. However, there's nothing to worry about. Based on your physical condition and the readings, I'd say you're in love." She smirked as she walked towards the door, pushing her hair behind her ear like one might shoo a fly away. "You know where to find me should you need anything before your medication." She whipped out of sight, closing the door as if she knew what would follow.

The room held only the Lahiffe-Cesaire's cackles for a few moments more, confusing Adrien even more. In love? He thought he'd been in love before, yes with Ladybug... and Marinette.

Adrien's head snapped up to meet her eyes, his pupils dilating as she lowered her hand.

"You got told on man!" Nino called from the corner, somehow pulling himself together with the shake of his head. "What happened to Lila, huh? You guys are having a kid, and you've got the hots for Mari?" At the mention of Lila Adrien's stare grew cold. His head dropped and his eyes shut tight. He couldn't stop reliving the moment he caught them, his brain snagging on the less important details to shield him from the painful truth. It didn't work.

"Adrien?" With a shock, he opened his eyes. Marinette's sweet voice had called to him, her soft touch bringing him out of his torture. "What's wrong?"

As the atmosphere in the room warped towards serious, Alya and Nino approached the bed as well.

How could he tell them what happened? It would undoubtedly hurt more to tell it, and it would directly affect Marinette for the worse. 

"Lila-" he started with hesitation. "Lila has been lying to me ever since we got together."

"What else is new?" he heard muttered under one of his freind's breath. Adrien shut his eyes tight once more, the pain overwhelming him as he struggled to vocally recount it. The room sat in silence as he tried to gather his words.