The love dare

Day 10 (chapter-10-)

Day 10

"Something's wrong," Kagami observed. "You've been very quiet. I know we haven't known each other long, but you do not strike me as the kind of person who is quiet and reserved all the time."

Adrien sighed. He and Kagami had gotten close surprisingly quickly. She was sharp, observant, and always willing to listen. "Let's just say I'm going through some relationship troubles."

"Ahh," she said, her tone even. "Is it a trouble that will pass, or is it a long-standing issue?"

"Long-standing," Adrien admitted.

"Then the problem needs to be addressed, and if it cannot be addressed yet is causing you stress, the only solution is to cut off the relationship."

Adrien looked at her, his eyes wide.

Kagami nodded. "You cannot let a bad relationship keep you locked into a bad position. That's setting you up for failure. You must cut off anyone toxic before it kills you."

Her words struck a chord in Adrien. But somehow, they didn't feel right. Marinette, toxic? Things with her were tense, yes. Unfixable, maybe. Toxic...

He supposed his father was, and Marinette was acting like his father.

"You don't believe her, do you?" Plagg asked once Kagami had left.

"I don't know. Maybe."

Plagg gave him a flat look. "Kid, I get what she's saying, and it's good advice, but do you really think that that advice pertains to your relationship with Marinette?"

That was all Adrien could think about the rest of the day.

____________

Marinette was tired. Really tired. The day had been long and crappy.

But she had to do todays dare.

"Love is unconditional," she whispered to herself. "So I have to prove it somehow."

That "somehow" ended up being going grocery shopping so he didn't have to. And maybe a dark chocolate bar that he happened to like ended up in her cart. Dark chocolate was healthy. And she knew Adrien: if he was presented with a treat that he could justify in his diet, he'd take it.

She just finished putting the last of the groceries away when Adrien got home, take-out bag in hand. When he looked up and saw her, he froze.

She smiled like the smell of his dinner wasn't making her jealous. Like it didn't hurt that he very likely didn't get her anything or even think to ask. "Hey," she said. "And here I was just about to get started on dinner."

Adrien looked away from her at the bag. "We didn't have anything in the house."

"I went grocery shopping."

His full attention snapped back to her.

She shrugged. "I guess I'll just make myself something," she said, trying to find the quickest out in this conversation that she could. "Enjoy your meal." It was said without animosity, or at least she hoped so. Behind the refrigerator door, she bit her lip to stop the myriad of emotions bubbling up.

She heard him turn and march off. Probably to the master bedroom.

No longer hungry, Marinette headed back to her room, shutting the door before pulling out her diary.

Dear Diary,

Day 10 was a bust. As all the other days have been. It hurt that he brought home food for himself today after yelling at me last week about his diet. Honestly, it feels like he said that just so that he could spite me that day I brought home pastries for him. He's not responding to anything. It's like he really doesn't care.

I know I said I wanted to continue, but a couple days in and it's hard again for a whole other reason. This HURTS. If he's not going to respond, then what's the point.

____________

"There's a girl Adrien works with," Plagg said. "And I don't like her."

"You've mentioned that."

"She point blank told Adrien to end the relationship with Marinette."

"What!"

"Shhhh!" Plagg grabbed Tikki and yanked her back down to their hiding spot in the kitchen. "Don't be so loud or Adrien's going to catch on that I'm talking to you."

"You're telling me there is a girl trying to convince Adrien to go through with divorce and you expect me to keep it down?" Tikki challenged.

"I'm trying to stop him from listening to her," Plagg said. "But the problem is that she's filling in for what Marinette isn't doing. Rather, what that idiot thinks she isn't doing."

"Ohhhhh," Tikki growled, her little clenched paws shaking. "I can't believe that woman."

"I'm doing all I can, Tikki, but Marinette has to step up and be here more so that maybe I can get it through his thick head that Marinette isn't the bad guy here."

"Don't blame my chosen like yours is perfect."

The silence that followed was an uncomfortable one.

"I'm sorry, Tikki," Plagg said, his ears falling. "I'm just worried for my chosen. He's not listening to sense."

"I'm sorry, too. I shouldn't have snapped," Tikki said. "They're both equally hurt and I don't know what it's going to take for each to realize they aren't the only one suffering. I'm trying to hold out hope, but Marinette is fading quickly again and she's only a quarter of the way through."

With a sigh, Plagg grabbed Tikki's paws. "There's still time. We just keep working. We have to. These two cannot give up on each other yet."