Red And Black [AU] - ON HIATUS

House of Cards

It went on like that for a while. Adrien would sneak out of his sister's apartment almost each night and steal her asylum pass to visit her patient; every day after that Marinette kept on getting odd senses of peace and warmth, and although she didn't really notice it, her world started to make sense again. Pieces of her humanity - that had once given up on her - gave her a second chance that unfortunately, she didn't know if she wanted.

And as for our little golden boy, some days he would return home unscathed from Camyla's intimidating glares and non-stop questions, and other days he wasn't so lucky. Sometimes, it seemed as if she knew and was probably even awake every time he had snuck out but pushed the matter aside; he didn't show it, but deep down he was extremely grateful.

"Well, if it isn't Paris' golden boy. I'd expected you to be here," Marinette smirked, clearly seeing him despite the poor lighting. She'd gotten used to his frequent visits and dare I say she looked forward to them, it felt different talking to him, he wasn't there because it was his job that helped him pay the rent but because he wanted to be there. Around him, she didn't feel the pity that others' gave her; he treated her like any other normal human being, he joked, laughed and basically just talked to her throughout her sleepless nights.

He cocked an eyebrow "You've been thinking of me lately? Interesting,"

She scoffed "Don't flatter yourself,"

He laughed heartily and made his way towards her, grabbing a nearby chair and plopping down in front of her. "So..what've you been up to lately?" He started awkwardly, he was never good at starting talks or breaking the ice; but she figured, since their first meeting didn't really go well.

"Not much," She shrugged, tracing the glass of the window with her forefinger. Her eyes locked onto the ice on the street that in a few more weeks would thaw and cease to exist in the first place.

"Anything I can do to help that?" She turned to him, slightly shocked by the question.

"What do you mean?" She furrowed.

"Do you want me to like...I don't know...maybe I could bring something here the next time I come?"

"And what would that be?"

He shrugged "What would you like it to be?"

"Hmm maybe a knife?"

"Really?"

"Not really, if you really did do that it would prove how stupid you are,"

He chuckled "Yeah-wait did you say prove?"

"You heard me," She smirked.

"I'm not stupid," He mumbled incoherently and she rolled her eyes.

"Sure you're not. And I'm not a psycho," She stated, sarcasm tinting her voice.

He frowned "You know, you don't have to be one. I still see the old you in you Marinette," He says slowly, not wanting to cross the line.

"You do?" She asked, not even sparing him a glance. He smiled and nodded curtly. "Then, you're delusional," She scoffed.

His sweet smile dissipated and he sighed heavily "No, I'm just telling you my opinion,"

"Well, it's a stupid one. The old me is long gone. I hated her," She spat, memories flooding her mind.

"Why?" He asked, his voice slightly above a whisper.

Now, it was her turn to sigh. "Because she was innocent, helpless and weak,"

He shook his head in disagreement "No, no she wasn't like that. She was innocent yes but all kids are. She wasn't helpless, just tolerant and she was not of all things weak, she was one of the strongest people I knew; a lot stronger than me," He smiled and she looked away, hiding a sad frown. "I miss her..." He added, looking down.