Ladrien June: Tongue Tied
Summary: Ladybug stops by to check on Adrien
She hadn't meant for her patrol to lead her there. In fact, she'd been trying to push the blonde model from her mind all day. Yet she found herself on a rooftop near the Agreste mansion, glancing wistfully towards Adrien's window.
If anyone saw her they'd think she was spying on him! Was she? No.. she was just.. concerned about him. Adrien had seemed subdued in class that day. The whole class had, actually, but she noticed it moreso in him. Every time someone brought up fears about Shadowmoth -Monarch now, apparently- and his current possession of most of the miraculous, he seemed to flinch.
Of course, Marinette had also been on edge about it but she had a reason for that. It was her fault, after all. That's what she kept telling herself. Though, maybe Adrien felt guilty about his supposed role in everything?
Pulling herself back to the present, Ladybug made a decision. She was going to check in on Adrien and make sure he knew none if this was his fault.
She swung over to the mansion and lowered herself to his window. Was this weird? He wouldn't be expecting her so late at night... would he be upset?
No, she shook those thoughts out of her head. This was Adrien she was thinking about. Patient, kind, trustworthy...
Ladybug gathered her courage and gently rapped her knuckles against the glass.
Adrien, who had been sitting at his computer desk, spun the chair around and when he saw her awkward wave, he strode over to open the window.
"Ladybug? Is everything okay? Is there an amuma?"
"No, I mean yes everything's gine. Fine! No akuma. Just.. um. I just wanted to check you out. I mean! Check on you. Yeah."
He wondered for a moment if she'd figured out his identity but the look on her face made him forget his own concerns.
She looked so, so tired. He couldn't blame her. After the past couple days, with Monarch being relentless in his attacks, he was exhausted too. But right now she needed him. Or.. at least wanted to check on him? Had he caused her concern? Shaking his head subtly he reached out to help her down.
She put her hand in his and gingerly stepped into his room.
They both stood for a few seconds, hands still joined, before Ladybug seemed to register their position.
"Oh sorry!" she pulled her hand back far too quickly and it smacked into the window behind her. Adrien grimaced at the sound (and also at how fast she seemed to want to stop holding his hand).
"Ow! Ugh. This.. that was.. anyway.."
Ladybug glanced down at his feet for a moment. Adrien felt like she didn't really want to be here, and the thought stung.
She took a deep breath and then looked into his eyes.
Adrien looked back expectantly. She definitely looked like she wanted to say something, but he didn't know how to help her without making things.. awkward. Last time she was in his room she had lost her yoyo to Felix, who then apparently gave the miraculous to Shadowmoth. He didn't blame her for not looking comfortable in his presence.
"Chicken... Checking! On you. How are you?"
Adrien blinked.
"I'm... fine?" He couldn't exactly tell her how torn up he's been that his plan to switch with Felix screwed everything up for her. She already knew and he didn't want her to feel obligated to reassure him.
Ladybug narrowed her eyes slightly. Had she seen through his response that easily?
"What about you?" He quickly asked. Maybe he could help her instead.
The question seemed to catch her off guard.
"M-me? I'm... " she wanted so desperately to say she was fine. That she had everything under control. That he was a civilian and she would protect him from Monarch.
But the look in his eyes was so full of genuine concern. He reminded her so much of Cat Noir that first night.
Maybe he could tell she was hesitating, because he stepped closer to her and gently squeezed her shoulder.
"Come, sit down. We can talk if you want."
He gently led her to the couch and they both sat. He turned towards her and smiled encouragingly.
Ladybug knew this wasn't a good idea. She had come to check on HIM and he was turning that around on her?
But something scratched at the back of her brain. What if... what if this wasn't Adrien? What if it was Felix again? Trying to get information out of her??
Her breathing started picking up and Adrien grew more worried.
"Ladybug? What is it, are you ok?"
"Are.. are you really Adrien?"
It was barely a whisper but he understood her. His face softened.
"Yes, but... I get why you're cautious. Here," he reached into his pocket and pulled something out. "This is a lucky charm my friend Marinette made for me. I always keep it with me and it's probably my second most important item.. Felix wouldn't have this. I know it may not be the best proof, but... oh!" He slapped his hand to his face.
"You gave me the snake miraculous. No one else knew about that except for Luka, before you gave it.. to him. Right?" It was a sore spot but right now getting her to know he's really Adrien was more important. He looked back at her, hoping she'd be calmer now.
Ladybug hadn't taken her eyes off the charm in his hand. She seemed oddly interested in it and her face seemed a bit pinker than normal where the mask wasn't covering it.
"You.. still have that?"
Adrien looked down at the charm. He didn't think she knew about it, but she seemed oddly distracted by it so he took advantage of the shift in her mood and smiled brightly.
"Yeah! My friend Marinette gave it to me to help with a video game tournament. It's really special to me. I made her a matching one for her birthday. Though... it's not as good as this" he self consciously rubbed the back of his neck.
"IT'S GREAT!"
Adrien startled at Ladybug's outburst, unsure of what she meant. She must have noticed the confusion.
"You're charming. I mean your charm. That you gave. Made. For m-Marinette! I'm sure she loves you. IT! The charm..."
Her face was getting redder with each jumbled word and Adrien was feeling more than a little bit of Deja Vu...
Marinette had seemed really down lately, flinching anytime anyone mentioned Monarch. He had thought she was just more worried about her family and friends, being more caring than most people he knew. But... what if....
He knew Ladybug didn't want them to know each others identities. If he said anything now it would only make her worry more.
He eventually turned the topic of conversation to what he'd learned regarding Felix. He hadn't been able to reach his cousin or his aunt, so had no leads on anything there, but assured her he'd keep trying.
....
After a while, he watched her swing away. Most likely towards the Dupain-Cheng bakery. He smiled to himself. He could always ask Plagg about it but he knew the kwami would just deflect with something about cheese.
He had a lot to sort out in his mind before school the next day. Hopefully Monarch wouldn't send anything to fight them tonight.
Adrien tucked himself in, smiling at the lump under the blanket he knew was a sleeping Plagg.
Tomorrow was going to be an interesting day.
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