Revealed in Time

Screwed

 "Where's Tikki?" Plagg whined. "I gave you one job and you couldn't even do that."

"Not now, Plagg." Adrien plopped into the wooden kitchen chair, leaning his elbows on the table and weaving his fingers into his hair, his face planted in the palm of his hands. "I just royally screwed things up with Marinette."

"It'll be fine," Plagg yawned. "We all know how this story ends. She returns, absolutely head over heels in love with you, and then BOOM! Wedding bells."

"But what if I just messed all of that up?!" Adrien violently ruffled his hair.

"No way!" Plagg landed on his head. "I've seen enough of this disgusting love story to know that you two are destined to be together, regardless of how dense you two are. Just be yourself and trust what you know. You WILL do something right."

But Adrien wasn't so sure. What if he somehow messed up the timeline? What if instead of her falling in love with him, she began to hate him instead? Then what would happen? Would everything change? Would they never get married? What would happen to him then?

Maybe he would just go to sleep and wake up as a completely different person - in a new home with a totally different life. Would he remember what happened? Or would all of this simply be erased from existence?

What if he ended up with a different wife? Or would he not be married at all? Then what would happen to...

"Stop worrying about it kid." Plagg tugged on his hair, forcing him to raise his head. "Just stop being weird and be yourself; everything will work itself out."

"Right. I can do that."

"Just don't be yourself too much."

"Okay." Adrien stood up, determined to do this right. "Wait...why?"

Plagg sighed, "Because sometimes your too much like an actual cat. You just crave affection! Remember this is not your Marinette. You can't just cuddle up to her whenever you like."

"I know that," Adrien pouted, sticking out his lower lip. "I'm not some lovestruck teenage boy."

"Really?" Plagg twirled in the air in front of him. "You could have fooled me last night when I came into the room and you were grasping onto her for dear life."

"I was sleeping, Plagg! That doesn't count!"

"Sure it doesn't, kid. And I'm not the god of destruction."

Adrien winced. "Well, I wish you weren't! First you destroyed Marinette's spice rack in the middle of the night, and now, I think your powers are rubbing off on me!"

"Again with the spice thing?" Plagg crossed his arms, sitting himself down on the rim of the chair. "You really need to let that go."

Glaring at his, somewhat, obnoxious partner, Adrien stuck out his tongue.

"Lovestruck teenager!" Plagg sung, flitting away before Adrien could make a grab at him. "You'll never grow out of it!"

Adrien rolled his eyes, thinking about how much he still absolutely adored and doted all over his wife. Maybe Plagg was right. His love and absolute giddiness anytime he saw her never diminished. If anything, it only became greater over time.

But this was different. This Marinette was not his wife. Of course he would be able to handle himself; he was a gentleman, after all, and he would never do anything to jeopardize their future marriage.

That was... at least nothing else besides what he had already accidentally done...

Adrien's phone buzzed in his pocket. Taking it out, a message appeared across the screen.

[Maribug:] Having fun yet?

Adrien rubbed his eyes. Think of the devil... ehem angel, and she will text. What perfect timing she had.

Having fun? Yea right! You know exactly what's going on!

Adrien's fingers flew on his keypad.

[Adrien:] You deviant woman. Why didn't you tell me this was going to happen NOW?!

He sat the phone down, rubbing the back of his neck with both hands, his elbows leaning against the table. The phone buzzed again.

[Maribug:] Oh calm down, cat. That would have ruined how we met.

Ha.

[Adrien:] Yea... it was SOOOOO perfect. I made you freak out within the first thirty seconds. You wouldn't even talk to me for like an hour.

Glancing at the eggs, now cooling on the stove, Adrien walked over, turning the heat back on to simmer. Ding!

[Maribug:] Haha! You're right! I forgot about that.

Of course she did...

[Maribug:] But I do remember thinking how good you looked (;

Because DANG you looked sexy in that outfit!

Adrien banged his head against the refrigerator. Why was she telling him this? He did not need to know this. And it certainly wouldn't help him face the younger Marinette when she came down. He returned his attention back to the phone.

[Adrien:] You are NOT helping!!!

[Adrien:] Do you have any idea what I just said to you in the bedroom?!

Speaking of... how long had it been since he had left? Five minutes? Ten? Would she ever come down?

[Maribug:] Oh yeah! You tainted my poor innocent mind, you dirty man.

Yea... so innocent.

[Adrien:] Shut up...

[Maribug:] Love you <3

[Maribug:] Mean it!

Ugh! This woman was incorrigible.

[Adrien:] Please give me some advice!

This last text was a last ditch effort. Marinette had never told him anything about this experience that would be any kind of use. Why would that change now? But he was desperate! Things were not going well at all!

It didn't take long for her expected response to flash across his screen.

[Maribug:] Nope. Got to go. Good luck!

Of course. Adrien put his phone down, sliding back into the chair, slouching as he sighed.

I'm so screwed.