For You

Chapter Thirteen

Marinette sat between Adrien and Jeanne as she anxiously waited for someone to say something. Nothing but unrelenting silence filled the room as the blunette stole a few glances at the blond.

As she sat in the unnaturally quiet room, she unconsciously brushed a hand over the bandage that covered her forehead.

The three of them were able to find a first-aid kit. And to their surprise, it had everything that was needed to disinfect a wound.

Marinette's head was still very sensitive, but she tried to ignore the pain, since it was the very least of her worries. Right now, all she was concerned about was the fact that there was a lot she still didn't know about Jeanne or even Adrien.

She opened her mouth to say something, but quickly closed it when the model unexpectedly spoke up.

"Marinette..."

His tone was surprisingly sad, which made the talented designer look at him with unsure eyes. She had never seen him look so defeated, and that concerned her a little more than she had expected.

She didn't know what to expect, and for some reason, that made her feel really nervous. She shallowed hard, and her fingers trembled ever so slightly.

"... There's a lot you don't know about me, but it's time you do..."

"What?" Marinette quietly asked; not sure if she heard correctly or not.

The blond frowned as he glanced over at the dark-skinned girl who sat beside Marinette.

"It's hard to talk about, because I've never told anyone about my terrible past. But because I trust you and you seem really curious..." The anxious teenager rubbed his neck in shame; avoiding eye contact at all costs. "You deserve to know..."

The girl gave her friend a confused expression as she tried to understand what he was talking about.

"Know what exactly?"

Ignoring her question, he gave her a small smile before turning his head forward and resting his elbows upon his thighs.

"As a young child I didn't have many friends. My father was a caring man who always wanted the very best for his family. Yes, he was very overprotective, but it was for a good reason. But something tragic happened, which caused his entire demeanor to change completely. He became cold and conceited, and I could hardly even recognize him. I was just a kid back then, so I couldn't understand-"

A sudden warm sensation caused him to stop talking. He glanced down at the hand that gently rested over his, before smiling at his childhood friend.

"Don't worry, Adrien. You don't have to say anything, if you don't want to-" Jeanne gave him a concerned look as she attempted to ease his restlessness.

"But I do want to. I've kept my emotions bottled up for years. I just can't keep it in anymore!"

The hazle-eyed girl gave her friend's hand a tight squeeze and smiled as she looked into his longing eyes, "Of course."

Turning his head back in Marinette's direction, he tried his very best to not meet her very intriguing eyes; in fear that he would unwantingly break down right in front of her.

"My cousin, Félix died when I was ten."

Adrien quickly gave Marinette a reassuring look when he felt her body tense up beside him.

"Don't worry. It happened so long ago... It doesn't really bother me anymore... But anyway, when we heard about the news, we were all heartbroken. But the news seemed to affect my father the most. It was a little unusual, because he didn't seem to even like Félix that much. But looking back now, it all makes so much sense... "