Adult-FanFiction.org : Cartoons

Dangerous Games	By : Cat_Eyes Category: +M through R > Miraculous LadyBug Views: 11603 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Miraculous Ladybug. Miraculous Ladybug is the intellectual property of Thomas Astruc and released by Zag studios. No profit was made writing this story.

Chapter List
- 19
- 20
- 21
Adrien stuck his head into Marinette's studio, blinking in confusion at the dark room.
'Marinette, are you here?' he called. 'Vincent wants to know if the other pieces are ready to be shot, yet.'
He listened carefully for a moment, then turned on the light. The room appeared empty, but a soft noise in the left corner of the room gave her away. Adrien entered, casting about for a sign of Marinette.
He found her huddled in the changing room, curled up in the foetal position on the floor. Her phone sat beside her, lighting up as a call came in on silent mode. Marinette flinched violently when it buzzed, her fists clenching cruelly in her hair.
'Holy shit. Marinette, let go. Please let go of your hair,' Adrien begged as he crouched beside her, his hands hovering uselessly above her.
'Make it stop,' she sobbed, her fingers twisting harder than before. 'Make it stop, please.'
Adrien looked on helplessly. Swallowing hard, he sat down and gathered Marinette into his lap.
'Hey, it's going to be ok, I promise. Tell me what's going on, I'll do everything I can to help. I just need you to talk to me.'
She clutched his shirt and buried her face in his shoulder. 'It won't stop ringing,' she whispered. 'My mobile, my landline, even my work number. They just won't stop.'
Adrien glanced at Marinette's phone as it lit up again. It read two hundred and twenty-five missed calls from an unknown number.
He rubbed her back. 'How long has this been going on?'
'Since Saturday. It hasn't stopped in three days. I haven't slept, I can't sleep. What if something happens?'
He shushed her in a feeble attempt at comfort. 'Nothing's going to happen to you, I promise. Come on, let's get those pieces down to Vincent, then I'll take you home, ok?'
'No,' Marinette shrieked, pushing back from him.
He grasped her shoulders, encouraging her to look up at him. 'Hey, listen to me. We'll do this one last task for Vincent, then I'll take you back to my apartment. You can spend the night with me. Would that make you feel better?'
Marinette hiccupped as she stared up at him with wide, wet eyes. 'Ok,' she whispered.
He hugged her tight for a moment, then got up. Helping her to her feet, he asked, 'where are the pieces for the shoot?'
She nodded toward her desk where four garment bags lay. 'They're all there, ready to go.'
'Good girl,' he murmured as he brusquely rubbed her arms.
Keeping one arm around her, Adrien gathered the garment bags and Marinette picked up her purse. He then ushered her out of the room, turning the lights out as he went. He didn't bother to mention her phone laying abandoned on the changeroom floor.

Adrien accompanied Marinette into her apartment so she could gather a few necessary items, then guided her back to his place. There, he sat her on his couch with a cup of tea and a blanket draped over her shoulders.
Marinette was still trembling, so he sat with her and lay a comforting arm around her back. He rubbed absently while she took the time to calm down.
'I'm sorry about this,' she muttered, looking morosely into the teacup.
'It's not your fault, you have nothing to be sorry for,' he assured her.
She shook her head slowly, raising one hand palm up in bewilderment. 'I don't even know how this could've started, let alone who it could be. I'm just, I don't know anything.' She let her hand drop.
'You don't have to have all the answers, but you need to think carefully over the last few weeks. Is there anyone who's acted differently around you, or is there someone new in your life?'
She shook her head again. 'No, nothing like that. I mean, I meet new people all the time at work, but they're usually stuck up models or prima donna designers. No one who would look twice at someone as low-ranking as me.'
'What about people you do know?'
'None of them have acted any differently. The people I know have grown up, but none of them have become social deviants.'
As far as you know, he thought.
'Should I go to the police?' she asked.
'Yeah, probably, at least so they'll have something on file. I don't know if there's much they can do, though.'
She nodded in grim acceptance. 'Can I do it tomorrow? I don't think I can handle talking about it now.'
'Of course, whenever you're ready. Take tomorrow off if you have to.'
'What'll I do about work? Mathéo will lose his mind if I take time off now, with the deadline getting so close.'
'Let me worry about that. I'll make your excuses for you. I'll even have a word with Father, if necessary.'
She gave him a wan smile. 'Thank you, Adrien. I don't know what I'd do without you.'
He pulled her into him so she could rest her head against his shoulder. 'Any time you need me, I'll be right here.'
Adrien handed her his phone so she could call Alya and tell her what was happening, then walked away to give her some semblance of privacy. He could hear Alya's indignant response from the other end of the room, where he stood making a call on his landline.
Twenty-five minutes later, Alya and Nino appeared at his door, along with a pizza delivery boy. He let Alya and Nino in, payed the boy for the pizzas, then closed the door and bolted it.
They spent the evening comforting Marinette with silly movies and conversation. Adrien was relieved to note that Nino had gotten over whatever had made him think Alya was going to leave him. They seemed closer than ever, as they constantly touched each other and shared knowing looks.
There's one less thing to worry about, Adrien thought with a sigh.
Eventually, Alya and Nino decided to call it a night.
'We'd better get going,' Alya announced, as she tugged Nino up by his elbow.
'What? It's only nine thirty,' Nino argued.
Alya shot him a significant look, while nodding almost imperceptibly toward Marinette. 'That's late enough. Most of us have work in the morning.'
Nino still looked confused, but acquiesced. 'I guess we're off, then. G'night, guys.'
'Good night, Nino. Bye, Alya,' Marinette said, standing up to see them off.
'Call me if you need me to come with you tomorrow, Girl,' Alya instructed from the doorway.
Marinette nodded. 'Will do.'
Nino gave Adrien a brief, one armed hug and a slap on the back. 'Later, my guy.'
'See you, guys. Take care driving home.'
He bolted the door after them, then gathered up the glasses and plates strewn across the living room.
'I can help,' Marinette offered.
He nodded, letting her pick up two of the dishes and returning them to the kitchen. She washed up while he dried and put away, as Adrien figured she needed to feel like she was contributing. It would also take her mind off things for a moment.
Adrien then went to the linen closet to pull out a spare pillow and a blanket. 'You can take my bed; I'll sleep out here,' he told her.
Marinette blanched. 'No, I couldn't let you do that. I'll take the couch. It's much too small for you, anyway.'
He levelled her a steady look. 'Marinette.'
'Yes?'
'Take the bed.'
She dithered, clearly wanting to argue, but Adrien's face was set. Finally, she sighed in defeat.
'I'll go put my pyjamas on.'
He nodded as she walked by, her overnight bag in hand. She went into his bathroom to change and brush her teeth, then scampered down the hall to put her bag in his room.
'Your bed is massive,' she cried, emphatically.
Laughing quietly, he went to stand in the doorway. 'I like big beds. I've always had one.'
She turned to face him, now wearing pink shorts and a dark tank top. 'All the more reason why I should take the couch.'
He put his hands on his hips, resolute. 'We've had this conversation already.'
Marinette subsided with a light blush. 'Sorry.'
He shook his head, then stroked her hair. 'Come on, let's watch one more movie before we turn in.'
She went back out to the lounge room obediently, so he took the opportunity to change into his pyjamas as well, blue cotton pants and a light shirt.
They watched Il a déjà tes yeux, a thought provoking comedy about a black couple accidentally adopting a Caucasian baby. By the time it finished, they were both tired enough to be able to sleep.
Adrien gave Marinette a tight hug, then gave her a gentle push toward the hallway.
'Sleep well, Marinette.'
'You too, Adrien.'
After turning out the lights he settled down, pulling the soft blanket around him. Adrien hoped they would both be able to sleep through the night undisturbed.
Outside, the wind had picked up, sending leaves and litter skittering down the street. Horns and sirens blared in the distance, while a dog barked from the next block over. In their building, though, all was quiet. The elevator hummed in its shaft, accompanied by the sounds of footsteps as the other residents prepared for bed, the soft pattering drifted up through the floorboards, but it was white noise. Adrien released a long, slow breath and closed his eyes.
'Adrien?'
He sat up immediately, looking over the back of the couch. 'What is it?'
Marinette stood at the near end of the hallway, scuffing her heel on the floor as she clutched the doorframe, illuminated by the ambient light coming in the windows. 'Would you, um. Would it be too much to ask if, uh.' She squeezed her eyes shut. 'Can you sleep with me, please?'
He blinked, momentarily stunned. Then, he shook his head to clear it. 'Is something wrong? Are you scared?'
She wouldn't meet his eyes, but gave a single, timid nod.
'Ok,' he said.
He got up and walked over to her slowly, placing a comforting hand on her back as he returned to the bedroom with her. She allowed him to guide her, her arms folded tightly over her chest.
'Which side do you prefer?' she asked, her body language still defensive and unsure.
'I'll take the side closest to the door,' he replied.
Adrien waited until she had circled the bed and gotten in the other side before he slipped under the covers. He noticed she was trembling as she lay hunched at the edge of the mattress. Chagrined, he turned off the bedside lamp hoping the darkness would help her relax. Stiffly, she burrowed further under the blankets and curled up in a tight ball. Adrien lay down on his back beside her, uncertain and worried.
She was unnaturally still and quiet for a long time, her body too tense and her breathing too shallow to pass for sleep.
Adrien turned on his side to face her. 'Marinette, come here.' He held out his arms to her.
She rolled over, then scooted closer until she lay within the circle of his arms, her head resting on his shoulder. Her face was damp.
His arms tightened around her. 'Shh, everything's going to be all right,' he murmured.
'You don't know that,' she sobbed in a broken whisper.
He had nothing to say to that, beyond empty platitudes, and he suspected such words would not bring her any comfort. So he remained quiet, opting to hold her close and rub her back until she fell asleep.
Adrien lay awake for a long time after that.
- 19
- 20
- 21
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Dangerous Games