#adrinetteapril2021
Written for @adrinetteapril2021
Parts1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12, 13:
“I’m really tempted to slam the door in your face right now.” Marinette winced as she shifted into a new position, her hand going to her side. “You need to tell me why you were coming to kill me and who sent you. Now.”
“A door in the face is better than a stake through the heart.” Adrien attempted a smile but it fell flat at the expression of the woman across the threshold from him. “Look, it doesn’t matter who sent me because I’m never going back there. Hanging around here, around you, reminded me of who I can really be and I don’t wanna look back.”
“That’s not really an option when you were contemplating murdering me.” Ice dripped from her words. “I don’t know how I could be so stupid. Of course you were going to kill me; you’re a vampire!”
“Hey, that’s not fair! I—“
“How many people have you killed anyway? That’s something I should know, isn’t it? I’ve been such an idiot.” She shook her head angrily. “I didn’t even try to think about it. I just made myself believe you drank from blood bags or something. I tried not to think of it at all. Damn it!”
Adrien flinched but held out a hand, fingertips brushing along the invisible barrier separating them. “It’s not like that. Not anymore. I haven’t killed anyone in—“
“So you have killed people,” she interrupted.
“Well, yeah, but—“
“So stupid!” She pushed herself up with a grunt, her hand flying to her wounded side. “I can’t believe I let myself believe that you—“
“Can you hang on and let me finish, Slayer?!” Adrien got to his feet as well and braced his hands on either side of the door frame. Warning magic sent jolts up his arm but he ground his teeth together and bore it. “You changed me! Being away from my family changed me! I’m not that vamp anymore, you’ve gotta believe me!”
Marinette glared at him from just inside the apartment. She’d grabbed a wooden walking stick from beside the door, the end of it carved into a deadly point. She held it loosely, the staked end still pointed at the floor. When she didn’t speak, Adrien took in a shaky breath and continued.
“My mom, she got turned first. Uh, there was this vampire who wanted her to be his bride or something, he had a real Dracula thing going on, and he caught her and my father one night on their way home from a party. My father was able to stab the vampire when he was turning my mom, but it was too late.”
The hallway and angry vampire slayer melted away from his vision as Adrien’s memories floated to the forefront of his mind.
“I know all your training tells you that when a human gets turned into a vamp, they lose their soul, and…and maybe we do, but she was still my mom, you know? She was still in there. My father was on his deathbed from the attack and she turned him to save him, to keep him with her. They were so happy to be able to stay together after what happened. It was a miracle, they said.”
“They turned you too, didn’t they?”
Adrien jumped at the sound of Marinette’s voice, the past rushing away to make way for the present. “Yeah,” he finally answered. “It was a few weeks later. They told me that they wanted me to make the decision on my own, but…”
“You wanted to stay human?”
With a pained exhale, he allowed his demon face to show, glowing eyes and jagged fangs on display. “Can you blame me, Slayer?” His human mask slipped back into place and his whole frame sagged as he stepped back from the door. “They told me they wanted us to stay together as a family, that they were doing it to protect me.”
“They took away your choice.” There was a soft thud as the walking stick was set against the doorframe.
“Part of me doesn’t even blame them,” he admitted. “If you had a way to keep the people you loved most close to you forever, wouldn’t you?” He shook his head. “But they started to change after a while. My mother was always kind, overprotective, sure, but sweet and loving. And it’s like the demon that took her soul kinda, I don’t know, twisted that? She became so controlling and it was always under the guise of love, but it didn’t feel like love.”
“And my father wasn’t ever necessarily affectionate, but he became so cold, except when it came to her. We were a family, but I’m still not sure why they turned me. I became an afterthought, a hinderance. I was an adult but it felt like they wanted me to be a child again…” His voice broke. “I don’t like the voice in my head, Slayer. I don’t like what he tells me to do sometimes, but most of the time, he’s all I’ve got.”
“But you’re still you.”
He looked up at Marinette with tired eyes. “What?”
“The Adrien you show me is who you were as a human, isn’t he?”
“Sometimes. The demon’s a part of me now though. There isn’t any separating us. I am who I am, and that’s a vampire.” He looked towards the stairwell door. “I think I should go.”
“You don’t have to.”
The hesitation in her tone was evident but he smiled anyway, not meeting her eyes. “It’s for the best.” He turned away from her and waved. “See you around, Slayer.”
“Stay safe, Adrien,” she replied softly as the heavy door closed behind him, and the sound of descending boots faded away.
Written for @adrinetteapril2021
Parts1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11, 12:
“I know you claim to know Jagged Stone but I still don’t think I believe you,” Marinette teased, amusement coloring her words. “It sure is convenient that we weren’t able to make it to that concert you promised to take me to so you could introduce us.”
Adrien let out a bark of surprised laughter and braced his hands on the floor behind him to lean back. “You’ve had a bloody gash in your side! Sorry the timing didn’t exactly match up, Princess.”
She hummed skeptically. “I’m just saying…”
“Mmmhhmm, I know what you’re ‘just saying’. I’m not a liar.” He stuck out his tongue. “Okay, my turn, and remember, you’re are under the oath of Truth in this sacred game.”
“Fine, fine.”
“Right.” He cleared his throat, trying to steel his courage. “What did you think of me the first time we met? Most vamps you meet don’t last long enough to end up sitting in your hallway and playing Twenty Questions, yet here I am.”
Marinette blew out a harsh breath. “I don’t know. I guess you didn’t seem that scary.”
Adrien put a hand to his chest. “I think I’m offended as a creature of the night.”
“Oh, come on! You showed up right after I dusted that big ogre of a vamp and acted like it was the coolest thing you’ve ever seen.” She laughed and tucked a section of hair behind her ear. “You were gushing so much that I almost didn’t realize you were a vamp yourself.”
He crossed his arms, leather jacket creaking as he did. “I wasn’t gushing. I was…admiring your work. And you really are a lot prettier than I was expecting.”
“Ah.” A small blush painted her cheeks. “If that was all it was then.”
“And,” he added, tone siding on petulant, “in my defense, every story I’d heard about Slayers made them out to be the big bad boogeyman for vampires, and I show up and see this beautiful girl making jokes while she’s fighting and I guess it just threw me for a loop.”
“I so don’t know how to respond to that.”
He shrugged. “I don’t guess you really have to. You could just take your turn now.”
“My turn,” Marinette agreed. Her eyes narrowed slightly and she shifted her position against the large plush cat pillow keeping her upright just inside the apartment door. “Whydidyou come to town looking for me if you thought I was big and scary?”
Adrien frowned and looked down at the borrowed pillow he was sitting on. A loose thread caught his attention and he tugged at it absently. “Maybe we shouldn’t get into that. Don’t you want me to tell the truth about the most embarrassing thing I’ve done as a vamp or maybe what a loser I was a human?”
“If those are what you’re offering instead of answering my question, it can’t be good.”
“It’s not,” he admitted. “But I’ll tell you if you want me to.” He clasped his hands together in his lap and held them there. “Or we could just not do this.”
Silence settled between them until Marinette broke it with a frustrated groan. “I have to know, Adrien. I can’t just not know something that you obviously don’t wanna tell me.”
“Why not?”
She shrugged with her whole body as if trying to fight off a shiver. “I just…can’t. It worries me too much.”
“Because you don’t trust me.” There was no accusation in his tone, only the hint of sadness.
“I want to,” she offered. “But it’s kinda hard when I know you aren’t being honest with me.”
“I’m honest with you about everything else. Isn’t that enough?” He pulled his knees up to his chest and rested his cheek on top of them, looking away from her. “I don’t want you to hate me,” he muttered.
“Now you’re really making me scared.” Her hands fluttered over her lap as if she couldn’t decide what to do with them without a weapon nearby. “Just tell me why you first came to find me, Adrien. Just tell me. Please.”
“You keep using my name like that because you know I like it.” He sighed and curled in tighter on himself, folded legs forming a shield over his chest. “I came to kill you,” he whispered.
The quiet words hung on the air between them and after a few long moments, the vampire dared a peek at the Slayer.
“I don’t want to anymore, of course. I never wanted to, not really, but he…” He trailed off with a sour frown. “I was sent here, okay? But the moment I met you, everything changed.”
Marinette sat frozen, hands gripped into fists. “Why?” she forced out.
Adrien finally lifted his head and stretched out his legs once more, leaving himself vulnerable to anything his natural enemy could decided to do. “Because you’re you.”
Written for @adrinetteapril2021
Parts1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10, 11:
It was a peculiar sensation to walk through an apartment building as a vampire. While the building itself was open to him, Adrien could feel the invisible barriers behind each residential door. The higher up he went, the more the pressure to leave clawed at his very essence. It wasn’t enough to chase him away when his goal was so close, but it wasn’t entirely comfortable either.
He finally emerged from the stairwell leading to Marinette and Alya’s floor; he hadn’t trusted the claustrophobic feeling of the elevator despite the number of stairs it left him to climb. There was a door on each side of the hall, one empty and barrier-free and the other warded with more than just living magic. A small console table was set to the left of the protected door. A vase of flowers and miscellaneous knickknacks covered its surface, and to the untrained eye, this was a welcoming sight, but there was nothing welcoming about it.
Alya’s magic touched everything within reach, almost daring someone with bad intentions to try their luck. It would’ve made Adrien smile if his skin wasn’t trying to crawl off his frame. He’d bet Nino had never tried to visit her if this was the kind of protection she kept over her home.
He struggled to step closer to the door and his arm felt too heavy to raise his fist to knock on the wood. It would’ve been nice of the witch to mention all of this when she’d give him the go ahead to visit Marinette. He took a steadying breath and willed himself to move, his arm barely lifting. He was rallying to try again when the door swung open and he found himself facing the Slayer.
“I’ve been wondering how long you were gonna stand out here.” Her arms were crossed over her chest as if she was trying to keep warm. “What made you finally come upstairs?”
Adrien could feel his recent feeding send blood rushing to his cheeks in a blush. “Ah, uh, Alya may have done some nudging.”
“She’s good at that.” Marinette shifted her weight, favoring her healing side. “I would invite you in, but, uh…I don’t know that I should.” She waved a hand around as if to explain her unspoken reasons.
“I get it.”
An awkward tension settled between them until Marinette blew out a loud breath. “We can still hang out though, if you don’t mind being in the hall. I’m kinda bored out of my mind being stuck at home.”
Hope kindled in his chest and Adrien nodded. “I don’t mind at all.”
“Stay right there and I’ll grab some throw pillows.”
She retreated further into the apartment and Adrien couldn’t help but take in everything he could see as she did. He rarely got insight into Marinette’s life that wasn’t secondhand information.
She returned and tossed a red and black pillow out to him and he settled down on it, pleased to find it plush enough not to completely deflate under his weight. Marinette sat down on her own pillow in the shape of a large cat paw and hugged a bright blue dragon plushie to her chest. “You’re not allowed to tell anyone I have a soft side,” she warned with a teasing glare.
“Who’d even believe me?” he joked back. “Speaking of, how is your side?”
“Healing too slow.” She pushed her bottom lip out in a pout. “I’m done being injured.”
“Too bad it doesn’t work like that. Besides, you deserved a break.” Adrien leaned back and braced himself on his arms. “Is it still hurting?”
“Only sometimes.” She ducked her head shyly. “I think I need to say thank you again for taking care of me. That could’ve gone really bad.”
“It did go bad. You got skewered with your own stake.” He frowned at her. “If I hadn’t found you…if another vamp had, I’d…” He trailed off when he realized his hands were in hard fists against the floor. He sighed and adjusted his position, forcing his hands to relax in his lap. “You’ve got to be more careful.”
“I am careful!” she protested. “Mostly.”
“Slayer, I’m serious.”
“Vampire, I am too.”
They glared across the threshold at each other until Marinette’s shoulders slumped. “I know it was stupid, I just really don’t want to talk about it anymore. Alya constantly fluctuates between being angry and feeling guilty and everyone else keeps babying me, and I’m just done.”
“Then we won’t talk about it.”
“Thank you.”
“Tonight,” he added.
She rolled her eyes but nodded in agreement. “Then what should we talk about?”
Adrien grinned. “How ‘bout a game of Truth or Dare?”
Marinette set him with a level gaze. “Since I’m injured and you’re not allowed inside, how about just Truth?”
“Seems a bit boring, but I guess I’ll allow it. I get the first question though.”
She lifted her chin and rolled her shoulders. “Fine. Hit me with it.”
Written for @adrinetteapril2021
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d think we have a new vampire guard dog.” Alya smoothed out her skirt as she stepped into the mouth of the alley beside her apartment building. “You don’t have to hide out here, you know.”
Adrien moved into a square of dull light from one of the windows a few levels up. “I just happened to be in the neighborhood.”
“Funny how you’ve ‘happened to be in the neighborhood’ every night since she got hurt.”
He shrugged at that and leaned against the brick wall.
Alya pulled out her phone, the screen illuminating her face as she checked it. “Nino says you’ve been making quite the reputation for yourself lately.”
“Was already called the Slayer’s pet vamp. I figured I might as well live up to it. Didn’t want things piling up while she’s out of commission.” He crossed his arms. “Is that a problem?”
“Don’t get an attitude with me, Fangs. I’m Team Adrien,” she smirked.
A dopey smile pulled at his lips, all tough guy pretense slipping away. “There’s a Team Adrien?”
“You’re such a puppy,” she laughed with a shake of her head. “You should go up and keep her company. I’ve gotta go do a coven thing for the rest of the night.”
He shifted his weight forward before falling back sullenly. “I don’t think your friends would like that very much.”
Alya waved a hand carelessly. “They see things a little black and white still but we’re working on it. Besides, no one’s coming over tonight so Marinette’s all alone upstairs. I know she’s strong but she’s still healing and it’d definitely make me feel better to know someone was looking after her.”
“I’m always looking after her,” he responded, eyes finding the lit window he had memorized seven flights up.
“You know that, and I know that, and with her vampire Spidey sense, she knows that, but I think she’d like it if she could actually see you while you were doing the looking after her and all.” Alya tapped her chin thoughtfully. “But don’t tell her you’re looking after her because she would fight you tooth and nail on that. Man, if you two start dating, I’m going to have to tutor you so much in the ways of Marinette.”
Adrien swallowed hard. “Dating?! Don’t you think you’re getting ahead of yourself?”
“You never know what the future holds.” She moved close enough to boop his nose with the tip of her index finger. “Now, go before I change my mind. I doubt she’ll let you in because she’s smart but our neighbors moved out so we’re the only ones on our floor right now. The hall’s nice. You can sit out there and talk to her.”
“I don’t really understand you,” he admitted.
“Eh, join the club.” Alya gave him a two-finger wave and swung around to make her way down the street.
Adrien watched her go and then stared back up at the inviting window above.
Written for @adrinetteapril2021
His dreams were red and angry. Adrien knew he’d wake up starving even before his body began to stir. He was tired, too tired. He needed blood after all the energy he’d exerted fighting off monsters tempted by the smell of slayer blood.
He was going to have to replace his apartment door, some furniture…
Realization kicked in and his eyes snapped open, immediately going to his bed.
“And here I thought I’d never get to see where you live.” Marinette was leaning against the wall his twin bed was pushed along, his thick green blanket draped around her shoulders. “I assume that’s where we are? Your place?”
He blinked at her.
“Not a morning person, huh? Or an afternoon person?” She looked around. “Actually, I don’t know what time it is. Guess windows are kinda bad for the whole vampire hiding spot. This is nice though. A little too cinderblocky for my taste but it’s actually a lot like a normal apartment. Not crypty at all.”
Adrien swallowed against his dry throat. “You’re not mad.” His words felt like sandpaper but he’d have to wait to soothe his thirst. Marinette had only begun treating him without complete contempt; no way was he going to remind her of what he was.
“That you saved me? No, I’m no mad.” She ducked her head bashfully. “Uh, embarrassed but…grateful.” She tilted her head and one eyebrow rose. “Is there a reason I should be mad?”
“No!” He sat up and winced. All the fighting he’d done the night before reminded him he wasn’t as in shape as he should’ve been. “I just…wasn’t sure.”
She considered that with a nod and then let half of the blanket slide off her shoulder. “I think I need to get a fresh bandage. Um, did you… the stitches look…”
He gave a helpless shrug. “I did the best I could. I’ve had to stitch myself up a time or two. Are you in pain?”
Marinette worried her bottom lip with her teeth. “A little. Nothing I can’t handle though.”
“I might have some more painkillers. You went through a good bit last night.”
“Alya should be able to help with that.” She grimaced. “Do you have my phone? I need to let her know where I am.”
“Yeah, I was gonna do that but, uh, you know, passcode.” He picked up the phone from the scratched coffee table and brought it to her. “I let a friend know and he was gonna try to contact her though.”
“A friend?”
Adrien grinned with a bit of smug satisfaction. “I think your witch might be sweet on a demon.”
“It can happen to the best of us.” She busied herself with her phone while the vampire gaped at her words. “Battery’s almost dead. Do you have a charger?”
“Not one that works. What was that about being sweet on a demon?”
Marinette pasted on her most placid smile. “I have no idea what you mean.”
“You’re not playing nice.”
“I’m very nice. I’m a baker’s daughter who gives lessons on frosting cupcakes to little kids in her free time. I’m literally sugar and spice and everything nice.”
“Hard to argue with that logic.”
Her smile gained a mischievous edge that then turned into a wince of pain when she shifted to get up from the bed. “I think I need to get home.”
“Right. Give me just a sec and I can go with you.” He turned in a slow circle, urging his brain to function and tell him what he needed to do before they left.
“The sun’s still up.” Her voice was gentle though strained as she finally stood. “I think I’ll be okay. Alya’s going to meet me so I’ll have a bodyguard.”
“I can walk you through the sewers,” Adrien offered. “That way I’ll know you got home safe. It would be—“
Three rapid knocks on the fractured apartment door interrupted his words. After a second, the splintered wood swung inward and swayed on its hinges. Alya walked into the basement apartment with a glow of power following after her.
“Did you know there are five dead demons in your hallway?”
“I did,” Adrien answered with a nod. He took a step in front of Marinette as if to guard her and the witch raised an eyebrow.
“Do you want me to make it six?”
“And here I thought you liked me.”
“My best friend could’ve died. I don’t like anyone right now.”
“Play nice. I’m fine.” Marinette put a hand on Adrien’s arm and squeezed it lightly before releasing him and moving towards the other woman. She grabbed her wounded side after a few steps and let out a curse.
“What kind of trouble did you get into, girl?” Alya helped steady her and knelt down to take a look at her side, peeling away the soiled bandage. “I know you didn’t do these stitches yourself. I’m familiar with your handiwork.”
The Slayer looked back to the vampire. “Adrien took care of me. I’ve actually been out of it for a while. I lost a lot of blood.”
“Suspicious.” She eyed the blonde before returning her attention to the wound. “Good thing you’re too pale to have fed recently, Fangs. Come on, Mari, let’s get you home.” She gingerly pushed the bandage back into place. “We’ll freshen this up there.”
Marinette let Alya take on some of her weight as they made their way to the door. She turned slightly to look back at the vampire where he still stood near the bed. “Thanks, Adrien. You saved me, really.”
“Anytime, Slayer…Marinette.” He smiled fondly. “But maybe let’s not make it a habit. And we’re gonna talk about you going into that nest by yourself when you don’t have a gaping hole in your side.”
“You’ll have to take a number,” Alya cut in. “Thanks for keeping her safe. I owe you one.”
Adrien watched them leave and stood there for a long moment, basking in the scent the Slayer left behind. “You really don’t,” he remarked to the empty room.
Written for @adrinetteapril2021
Hi. I’m still attempting to write through this AU asldfjsalkdf
As the Slayer, she’d been plagued with haunting nightmares and symbolic dreams since she’d been called, but what she was experiencing now was unlike anything she’d felt before.
Marinette knew she was asleep. She wasn’t sure how she knew, but she did. The ancient instincts that were infused into her very blood tingled with the familiar warning of supernatural danger but she couldn’t find it in her to be afraid. Another feeling, one of comfort and safety and certainty, filled her chest with warmth.
She inhaled deeply and leather and mint wrapped around her senses. Her brain wasn’t awake enough to point her in the direction of who the scent reminded her of, but she knew it meant she was okay.
Her side ached dully in a way that warned her of a harsher future pain and her memory started to crank into gear.
The nest.
She’d gone into a vampire nest with no backup and no plan and she’d almost been killed.
Why hadn’t she been killed?
She remembered the pain of the stake going into her side, the desperation to get back to the safety of home before a demon found her and had a very good night. She remembered…
“Marinette?”
Adrien’s voice was soft as he called to her. He sounded tired, perhaps as even drained as she felt. She wanted to answer him but her eyes were too heavy and her lips refused to open.
He’d been the one to find her. She remembered it now in a vague, dreamy sort of way. She remembered him holding her close and how the skin of his neck felt cool against her cheek.
Would he have taken her to Alya? If Kim or Alix had come across them, she assumed they would’ve staked first and asked questions later. Some of her other friends that helped in slaying may have been the same. They didn’t understand her allowing him to exist when there were no other vampires that met that exception.
Marinette wasn’t sure she understood either, if she was honest with herself, but she knew there was good in Adrien. Somehow she just knew.
“You’ll be safe now.” Adrien sounded so tired and she could sense him moving around her. “The sun’s up. No more nasties should try to come for us now.”
There was a numb pressure at her side and then cool relief flooded the warm area.
“That should help with the pain if you wake up before I do.” Hesitant fingers traced along her cheek. “And maybe try not to kill me? We’re safe here and I promise I can explain everything.”
There was more movement and then an exhausted laugh from further away. “By the way, you sure do whittle a mean stake, Slayer. I might have to commission one for myself.”
Marinette tried to smile at that though she doubted it actually showed on her face. Fatigue tugged on the edges of her consciousness and she finally gave in once more, feeling safe even in the dark.
Written for @adrinetteapril2021
cw: injury
“Take one more step towards us and I’ll tear your throats out where you stand,” Adrien hissed, fangs bared. He cradled the unconscious Slayer’s small body in his arms and glared at the two vampires attempting to stop him.
“She smells so good. You could at least share,” the one-eyed vampire pouted. “Come on, it’s slayer blood. It’s the best stuff out there…you know, I’ve heard.”
“He’s not gonna give us a taste. Don’t you know this is the Slayer’s pet vamp,” the other sneered. “Bet he’s taking her off to her little wannabe crew of slayers now.” He took an intimidating step forward. “And we can’t have that.”
“I didn’t realize he was just a fangless puppy on a leash. That makes this easier.”
“A puppy, huh?” He shrugged. “I’ve always thought I was more of a cat person.”
“Hand her over and maybe we’ll let you keep one of your limbs.”
Adrien stepped back with a smirk. He held Marinette closer to him and worked his fingers along the waistband of her jeans, finding the thin stake she kept hooked in the belt lops. “You are pretty scary, I guess. Let’s make a deal.”
“We’re listening, dog.”
He gently set his burden on the ground, releasing the stake as he did. He stepped over her prone body, dropped into a protective stance, and brandished his weapon. “How about I take the two of you out, and then I take the Slayer wherever I want.”
_____
Adrien’s fingers trembled as he pulled the last suture tight and tied it off. He was grateful Marinette had remained blissfully unconscious after she’d half woken with a pained sob when they reached his basement apartment and he was able to feed her an old prescription he’d come across in a recent dumpster dive.
He’d also had the right stuff to tend to her wound which was ideal since there would’ve been too many questions at the hospital. It would’ve been the smarter choice to take her there, but she would heal just fine this way too. She was made of strong stuff and he’d help her in any way he could.
There was also the matter of not being able to deal with the thought of her being alone in this condition, not when there were plenty of nasties still out in the dark and her blood had left a trail that would’ve led them right to her.
Her blood.
Now that the panic of getting her fixed up had passed, Adrien realized what a predicament he was in.
Slayer blood was a potent, heady thing. He managed not to inhale after his first mistake of a deep breath when he was beginning the stitches but now…
Now the scent of her blood was permeating the very air around him and simply not breathing was no longer doing the trick. He had to get it cleaned up before he lost absolute control.
His fingers were sticky with drying blood and he stamped down every instinct that told him to lick them clean and quickly washed his hands in the kitchenette sink. His very being shook as he cleaned up the area around Marinette and threw the rubbish into his makeshift fire pit in the corner so no other demons would pick up the smell.
He finally let him self sink down into his shabby old recliner as he kept guard between the sleeping Slayer in his bed and the blockaded door to his dwelling. A sharp sting to his back reminded him of the borrowed stake he stuffed into his own belt loops after taking care of the vampires who’d tried to hinder him from saving his slayer.
Adrien held the stake between his hands and felt himself go soft. The wood was smooth from careful sanding and there was a small, five-petal flower carved into the top. He imagined Marinette working her hands and fingers numb while honing her weapons and still taking the time to make them wholly hers.
He tucked the stake into the inner pocket of his jacket and patted it against his chest. It wasn’t necessarily a gift from her, but it was something he would cherish all the same.
Written for @adrinetteapril2021
cw: injury
“Ow…ow…ow…” Marinette pressed her palm against the bleeding wound in her side. Jolts of sharp pain caused a cold sweat to break out on along her skin as she tried to concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other even as her vision doubled and the ground seemed to jump and wave before her.
This was all her fault.
It’d been a dumb move to try to take on the nest of vampires after dark, but a frustrating day at the bakery and an argument with Alya about her constant magic use had left her in need of some stress relief. And her favorite kind of stress relief was kicking butt and dusting vamps.
Stupid.
Stupid and rash.
She should’ve been smarter.
She knew better.
She was better…she’d just had a weak human moment and now she was going to pay the ultimate price for that.
While she’d been able to dust two of the vamps, another jumped her while a fourth wrestled her own stake away from her and rammed it into her side before the surviving vampires made a run for it. She’d gotten off a quip about them being cowards before she realized how dire her injury actually was.
Now she was only hoping she could make it back to her apartment without becoming the latest in a long line of slayers who met the wrong vampire on the right night.
“Stupid,” she growled into the quiet night air. “Damn…it…” She tightened her grip on her side and cried out softly at the sharp shot of pain.
“Slayer?”
Marinette knew she shouldn’t feel relief at the familiar sound of her vampire’s voice but her body betrayed her at that moment, legs giving out before she could take another step. Strong arms wrapped around her before her knees hit the ground. She groaned in pain as more pressure was put on her wound.
“You’re bleeding! Who did this to you?!”
She blinked up through hazy eyes, following the angry voice to Adrien’s demon face in full display. A pronounced brow loomed over almost glowing green eyes and full lips were curled up in a terrifying snarl, showcasing sharp teeth and even sharper fangs. His hair even changed, becoming fuller and wilder and just somehow more.
“I’ll kill them,” he vowed.
“Voice different,” she whispered. She could feel herself smile at the confusion on his face. It looked so wrong on the demon facade that it was almost cute. She reached up with numb fingers that didn’t quite feel attached to her hand and poked at his lumpy brow.
Adrien let out a soft sound at the action, demon face melting away to reveal smooth skin and anxious eyes. “Slayer? Marinette? Talk to me! What happened?”
Her smile slipped when she realized there was blood smeared across his forehead as her fingers dropped away. “Bleeding.”
He clenched his jaw and blew out a loud breath through his nose. “I know that. Show me where.”
It was her turn to be confused. The world around them was hazy and she could almost ignore the dulling pain in her side. Adrien was here and she’s be fine now. She wasn’t sure how she knew it, but she just did.
“I like your face like this,” she whispered with another soft smile. “You look like an anime boy I had a crush on.”
She listened as the vampire cursed under his breath as he ran his hands around the area she’d been holding. She couldn’t remember why she’d been doing that now. She was just so tired.
“I’m going to pick you up now. I’ll try not to hurt you.”
“Tamaki.” Her body floated upwards and then her cheek was crushed against cool leather that smelled slightly musty. She tried to force her arms to move and grasp around the body she was pressed to but gave up after a few seconds.
“I’ve got you, sweetheart.” Adrien’s voice was low in her ear and she let out another relieved sigh. That seemed right. He would make it okay.
“Tamaki’s got me.” She let out a weak giggle. “Don’t tell the oth–” Her words were cut short by a harsh cough.
“Come on, my slayer. Let me get you somewhere safe.”
Adrien held his precious bundle in his arms as closely as he could, his face slipping in and out of vampire form as her blood left a scent lingering on the air for any beastie that may was to take their chance with an injured slayer.
“I’ll keep you safe,” he promised. “Fix you up. Protect you.”
Her response was simply to nuzzle her cheek more against his chest before consciousness left her completely.
Written for @adrinetteapril2021
Adrien tried not to visibly rush from the bar to the cemetery the witch mentioned. A smarter vampire would stop and wonder if he was being led into some kind of trap, but the thought of seeing Marinette was more than enough to get him to keep going.
Besides, as much as he probably shouldn’t, he trusted the Slayer, and to that extent, maybe her witchy best friend too.
As soon as his booted feet stepped through the cemetery gates, his nose rose, searching for a familiar scent. It took him all of five seconds to locate her on the other side of the grounds. She was perched on a tall gravestone in a soft pink dress and swinging her heels against the granite.
He watched her for a long moment. The fresh blood he’d downed before his hunt was singing through his veins and he knew Nino had mixed a little something extra in it for him to be feeling this way. He’d have to thank him later.
Taking in a deep breath he didn’t actually need, he stepped out into the open.
“You sure are all fancied up for patrol. That dress is way too pretty to get covered in vamp dust.”
He never knew what to expect when he encountered her. Sometimes she seemed frustrated at his sudden presence, angry even at times. Other nights she attempted to ignore him until finally giving into conversation. And then there were the nights she would smile.
Tonight was a smile night, but it was a decidedly sad smile and while a smile was still a smile and his dead heart was jumping into his throat, Adrien wasn’t sure that would do.
“Uh, yeah. I probably should’ve gone home to change first but…” She trailed off with a shrug. “I had a date.”
And just like that, his heart sank down to the bottom of his stomach. “A date, huh?”
Marinette eyed him warily. “Yeah.”
Pushing down the jealousy, Adrien cleared his throat. “How was it?”
“Not…great.” Her fingers moved down her thighs to wrench in the fabric at the hem of her dress in a show of anxiety. “It was this guy who comes in the bakery a lot. He’s really sweet and he’s asked me out a few times so I finally said yes.”
She huffed out a breath. “Well, it was more like my parents said yes for me, but I wasn’t opposed to it, I guess. It just didn’t…ugh, I don’t know.” She looked up at him and amusement took over her expression. “You can drop the angry face. He wasn’t mean to me or anything.”
Adrien blinked in surprise and forced himself to relax. “Uh, sorry.” He scratched at the back of his neck. “Didn’t realize I was making an angry face. Why wasn’t it good if Mr. Too Many Bakery Visits wasn’t bad?”
A smile tugged at her lips at the nickname. “The date itself wasn’t bad. In fact, it actually felt nice for the first half hour or so, but then we got into the whole ‘getting to know you’ stuff and I realized I couldn’t really tell him anything about me.”
“He’s an idiot if he didn’t still want to be with you,” Adrien growled.
She rolled her eyes. “It wasn’t him; it was me. I mean, how am I supposed to start a relationship with someone when this is my life?” She gestured vaguely around the cemetery. “I can’t just tell guys I’m a vampire slayer. Who would even believe that?”
“I would.”
She gave him a pointed stare. “Yeah, you’re a vampire.”
“And that’s so bad?” He bit his lip. “You deserve to be with someone who gets how amazing you are, every part of you.”
Marinette looked away but he could see the darkening along her cheeks and felt a deep sense of satisfaction.
“It just sucks, that’s all,” she muttered. “And it’s dangerous.”
“Maybe he’s just a wuss.”
“Adrien.”
He attempted to look ashamed. “Sorry.”
“Mmhmm. Another sucky thing is that before I cut things short, he told me he wanted to take me to a Jagged Stone concert next week. That would’ve been so cool.”
Adrien perked up. “I can take you to that.”
“Yeah, okay.” She laughed and shook her head. “Stop.”
“No, I mean it!” He held up his hands in defense. “I know Jagged! I was actually at his very first gig.”
“No way.”
“Yes way.” He grinned widely. “I’m the one who got him to dye his hair. Had to keep the blonde rockstar look for myself.”
“You’re so lying!”
“I’m not!”
“You are!”
“I’ll prove it.” He stepped as close as he dared and stuck his hands in his pockets to keep himself from reaching out for her. He was pushing his luck as it was. “Let me take you to the concert. I’ll even get us backstage so Jagged can tell you we’re friends himself.”
She narrowed her eyes and hopped down from the gravestone. “I’m going to be really upset if you’re lying.”
“Vamp’s honor.” He made a crossing sign over his chest and inhaled deeply, taking in as much of her scent as he could while she was so close.
With a sidestep, she brushed past him and he could feel the air visibly shift the further she moved away. “I’m holding you to this, Adrien,” she called back to him as she walked towards the entrance gates.
“I won’t let you down,” he called back a little too loudly. There was a hiss from somewhere in the bushes behind him and a low wail of a ghost a few gravestones down but Adrien didn’t let them bother him as he spun on his heel to head to his basement apartment, whistling as he went.
Written for @adrinetteapril2021
“My man, you can’t date the vampire slayer.” Nino spread his palms out, clawed nails stretching upward. He nodded at a shout from one of the bar patrons before returning his attention to the other man. “You’re a vampire. She, like, slays you, dude.”
Adrien sighed dreamily and put his hand to his chest. “She really does slay me; she’s gorgeous.”
“Not like how pretty she is! Like in a stakey way!” The demon made a stabbing motion in the air. “It’s just not natural.” He grabbed a glass from the shelf behind him and filled it with a putrid, frothing liquid before sliding it down the bar to the waiting customer.
“Haven’t you been flirting with a witch?”
Nino grinned, a full set of sharp teeth on display. “Yeah. She says she only wants me for my nail clippings and strands of hair for spells and stuff but I really think I’ve got a shot. Besides, witches aren’t, like, the mortal enemy of my kind so it’s not the same thing.”
Adrien slumped on the bar stool. “There’s that, I guess.” He ran his finger along the red stained rim of his glass and brought the excess blood to his lips. “This is cold now.”
“That’s because you’ve been sitting here moping over the same pint of B-pos for over an hour. You’re lucky you’re my best bud. I grab you something fresh.” He grabbed the glass and dumped it in the sink before disappearing into the back storage room.
Adrien turned on his stool as the bar door opened and widened his eyes in surprise as a human woman strode inside with barely a glance around the room. A clanchin demon snapped its teeth at her as she passed and a flick of her fingers sent a shock of electricity crackling against his face. He howled in displeasure and moved away from the bar and towards the door.
“Nino here?” she asked as she took the empty barstool next to Adrien.
He eyed her up and down. “You’re the witch, huh?”
Alya smirked. “My reputation precedes me.”
“You should be more careful. That clanchin holds a grudge.”
“I’ll take my chances.” She turned on her stool to look around. “Nino in the back? He’s supposed to be here tonight.”
Adrien frowned as he watched her, realization dawning as a muted familiar scent reached him. “Wait. You’re friends with the Slayer.”
“And you’re determined not to tell me where Nino is, huh?” She spun back towards the bar slowly. “I was wondering how long it would take you to recognize me.”
“Your hair was different the last time I saw you. Eyes too, maybe.” He saw Nino reappear, a tall, steaming glass of red liquid in his hand.
“Yeah, I’ve been playing with some new styles. Magic, ya know?” Alya caught his gaze and looked to the side. “Nino! Here I was thinking you’d run out on me.”
“Never.” The bartender set the pint of fresh blood down harder than necessary in front of his best friend, sending some of it sloshing over the side. “What can I do for you tonight, gorgeous?”
“Two claw tips and some tooth shavings?” Alya’s lips pursed hopefully.
“That’s a big order. Might have to hang around til I can close up,” Nino warned, eyes twinkling. “My teeth aren’t something I can give up lightly.”
“Just some tooth shavings. You won’t even notice.” She leaned a little over the bar with a smile. “And I think I can manage to hang out for a bit if you can promise me the goods.”
Adrien looked between them in exasperation. “I guess I’m just going to take this to-go then.”
“Yeah, dude. Good idea. Bring the glass back later.” Nino didn’t look away from Alya as the vampire grumbled and got up from his stool.
“Oh, you might wanna walk through the cemetery at the corner of Rue Blex and Dentres on your way home,” the witch called out with a sly smile. “Never know who you’ll run into.”
Adrien couldn’t stop the grin that took over his lips. “I might just do that.”
Written for @adrinetteapril2021
“Please tell me you didn’t steal that.”
Adrien looked up from the Nintendo Switch in his hands and flashed a partly guilty smile at the vampire slayer standing before him with her hands on her hips. “I can tell you that if you want me to.”
“Would it be the truth?” Marinette asked with a tired sigh.
“Not exactly, but you should know the guy was a huge jerk and deserved to lose it. And I haven’t gotten to play this Zelda yet.”
Despite her best attempt not to, she smiled as she shook her head. “I’m really going to have to stake you one of these days. You’re a menace to society.”
“Aww, come on, you know it hurts my feelings when you say things like that.” He patted the patch of dead grass beside him. “You wanna play a little? My thumbs are getting tired.”
“Be honest, how big of a jerk was this guy?”
“Gigantic,” he assured her. “I should’ve done more than just steal his game.” He held up a hand in defense. “But I didn’t, honest. Now, come on. I won’t tell anyone you played on hot merchandise, promise.”
“I shouldn’t.” She looked out across the dark park. There was no one out to see and she’d left the path dotted with streetlights when she’d spotted the vampire under the tree. “Maybe just for a minute.”
“That’s the spirit, Slayer.” Adrien handed her the console and leaned his head back against the tree trunk. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. “How’s your night going?”
“Okay, nothing too exciting so far.”
The vampire inhaled loudly once more and Marinette looked over at him.
“Why are you doing that?”
“Doing what?”
“Breathing so loud.”
Adrien ducked his head, blonde hair falling to cover the top half of his face. “Ah, uh, just smells nice out tonight, I guess.”
She narrowed her eyes at him before returning her attention to the game in her hands. “If you say so.”
He visibly relaxed once more beside her. “I do. My sense of smell is excellent.”
She stopped making Link run through a field on the screen to glance over at him. “Do people have certain scents to you?”
“Of course they do. Even humans know that,” he teased.
“That’s not what I meant! I mean, not really. I don’t know what I’m asking, I guess.” Marinette felt her cheeks heat in embarrassment.
Adrien’s lips quirked with amusement. “Are you asking me if you have a particular scent to me, sweetheart?”
His voice dropped low with the pet name and she couldn’t stop her own sharp inhale.
“Because the way you smell is my absolute favorite thing in this whole,” he admitted. Though his expression was mischievous, there was certain sincerity in his eyes. “You always smell like bread and warmth and something dangerous and I can never resist it.”
“Shut up!” Her voice rose an octave as she pushed the game back at him and quickly stood. “You can’t just say stuff like that!”
He blinked up at her in surprise. “Why not?”
“Because!” She stomped her foot and her fists clenched and unclenched by her side. “You just can’t!” She spun on her heel and started back towards the path.
“Wait! Are you leaving?” Adrien stood as well, taking a step after her, the stolen Switch forgotten in the grass.
“Don’t follow me,” she warned without looking back.
He sighed and stopped his advance. He took in one more deep inhale, the inviting smell of all things Marinette still lingering on the air.
Written for @adrinetteapril2021
This is going to be the last part because I wanna get a start on the May event in the last few days of the month, haha, but I may come back to the universe in a bit because I think there are plenty of adventures to be had. Thanks for reading!
Parts1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20, 21:
“To summarize,” Marinette began as she steepled her hands under her chin, “you were sent here to kill me because I’m the Slayer and your parents have some big, bad plan that my living and slaying would interfere with.”
Adrien winced but nodded. “Yeah.”
“And somewhere along the way, you decided that you liked me too much to kill me and your plan was just to hang out here indefinitely and hope for the best.”
“I mean, it sounds dumb when you say it like that,” he argued. “But yeah, you’re cute and I’m weak.”
She eyed him pointedly and cleared her throat. “But after you admitted the original plan to me, you ran away back home to where your mafia-like parents are in New York, and you told them I was dead and had no intentions on coming back here.”
“For your own good,” he interjected with a point of his finger. “And my parents aren’t part of the mafia. I don’t think. Or if they are, it’s like a supernatural kind of mafia.” He frowned. “Wait, maybe they are. That would make a lot of sense actually.”
“But your parents have Seers and probably lots of magical bad guys on their side and they will realize I am indeed alive, probably sooner rather than later.”
Adrien grimaced. “I never claimed I was a good planner.”
“But you came back.” She smiled and bit her lip.
“I came back,” he agreed with a smile. “And to be fair, they don’t want to technically kill you anymore. They want to turn you so they’ll have a pet Slayer in their pocket.”
“Man, Christmas is gonna be complicated.”
He laughed quietly and reached over to take one of her hands in his. He flipped it over so it was palm-up and ran his fingertip along the visible vein in her wrist. She watched him curiously, relaxing more by the second at his touch.
“Could this really work?” he whispered, touch still feather-soft. “Us, I mean?”
“A vampire and the Slayer isn’t very conventional, but maybe we can just be Marinette and Adrien?” She exhaled softly when he added another finger along the glide of her arm. “Maybe we try not to make too big a deal about it.”
“I think it’s gonna be hard to forget I live off blood and you turn vamps into dust,” he admitted. “And your little Slayerettes are gonna hate it.”
“Not Alya.”
“Yeah, maybe not the witch. She seems to like me, most of the time.”
Marinette laughed and finally took her hand away with a shiver. “That’s starting to tickle. And…I don’t think I care what anyone thinks. We can just see how things go.”
“Maybe we run away,” he suggested with a mischievous smile. “We’re rebels anyway, right? We go live somewhere where it stays nice weather all year round, and we can adopt some kittens, and, I don’t know, sell really bad art online to pay the bills.”
“Seems like you’ve got it all figured out. I like the part about the kittens.” She leaned into him with a sigh. “But for now, I need to go patrol at least one cemetery tonight. Sacred duty, you know.”
Adrien wrapped his arm around her shoulders and squeezed once before urging her to stand up from the bench. “Sure, it’s one cemetery tonight and then tomorrow night and then the next.” He shook his head. “If I don’t watch it, I’ll end up doing this Slayer gig by your side until you’re old and gray.”
“Sounds awful for you,” she teased as they fell into step together, hands linking as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
“Just the worst,” he replied. “It’s hard being the chosen one.”
Written for @adrinetteapril2021
Parts1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19, 20:
“How’s the smoothie?” Adrien asked. He shoved his hands deep into his pockets to keep from reaching out to take Marinette’s free hand where it swung between them as they walked.
“Yummy. I used to hate passionfruit but lately it’s been my favorite. Funny how things like that change sometimes.” She took a sip through the wide pink straw and then held the cup towards him. “You wanna try some?”
“Uh, no, but thanks. I probably pushed my luck with as much coffee as I had earlier.”
“Oh, right.” She nodded shyly and took another sip.
He eyed her hand still between them and cleared his throat. “So, I think we need to talk about something.”
“Because we haven’t been talking for, like, fifteen or so hours now?” she teased.
He forced an awkward chuckle. “Yeah, we have, but I’ve been putting off telling you something not great and I’m trying to make myself suck it up and get it over with.” He flinched when she visibly tensed at his side, her hand no longer open and swinging, but fisted by her thigh.
“Oh yeah?” The question should’ve been simple but a defensive hostility laced her voice.
“Maybe we can sit?” He gestured towards a bench just off the park path and took the lead by sitting on one end.
“I think I’ve done enough sitting for the day.” Marinette stood to the side of the bench and set her smoothie on the seat. “What?”
“Could you maybe not act like you’re going to stake me before I’ve even told you?” Adrien tried for casual but he couldn’t help the hint of frustration that trickled into his tone. “This isn’t something I want to tell you, but I amtelling you and I think I deserve credit for that.”
“And I think if it’s something bad, maybe you should’ve led with that before we just spent the whole day together talking about nothing.” She crossed her arms.
“I don’t think everything we’ve talking about today was nothing!”
“It was if you were just holding back what you really wanted to say!”
They glared at each other for a few long seconds before Adrien growled and shook his head. “Just…fine. Look, before I left, you asked me why I ever came here–”
“And you told me it was to kill me,” she interrupted.
“Which I’d already admitted.”
“Doesn’t make it okay, but go on.”
“You’re being difficult on purpose. I’m trying to be honest with you.”
Marinette put a hand to her chest. “Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot how it’s so not a big deal when someone wants to kill you. My bad.”
He stood up and growled again. “Stop trying to sabotage this before we can even get started, Marinette!”
Her eyes widened at his outburst and her mouth opened and closed a few times before she actually spoke. “I…that is what I’m doing, isn’t it?”
Adrien’s shoulders drooped with her reply. “I can’t really blame you.”
“Sorry.” She hugged herself and looked away. “I’ve been told I do that sometimes. I guess now is one of those times.”
“I’m sorry too. Maybe I shouldn’t be trying to unload everything in one go.” He kicked at a patch of grass with the toe of his boot. “It’s just…I really like you and I feel like I need to tell you everything so nothing from my past can come back up and bite me in the ass and ruin this for us.”
She smiled a little and picked up her smoothie, taking a long drag from the straw. “I’m not sure life actually works like that,” she offered. “But tell me what you want to tell me. I’ll listen and try not to react before I let it sink in.” She sat down on the bench edge and watched him.
“Wait, just like that, this is okay?”
“I’m trying, Adrien. Don’t push it.”
He nodded with a small smile. “Fair enough.” He sat back down and the space between them on the bench felt too obvious but he didn’t try to move closer. “Right, so, here’s the thing…”
Written for @adrinetteapril2021
Parts1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18, 19:
“You nerds,” Alya declared as she stepped out of the elevator and saw Adrien and Marinette still sitting on their respective pillows in the small hallway. “This is where you were when I left here hours ago.”
Marinette blinked in obvious surprise even as a blush colored her cheeks. “It’s been hours? We’ve just been talking.”
Adrien stared at the Slayer with eyes overflowing with fondness. “I didn’t even realize.”
“Go outside, for crying out loud. The sun’s down and everything.” The witch made a shooing motion with her hands and she stepped around the seated woman in the open doorway.
“I can’t go out right now. I need a shower.” Marinette lifted the collar of her pajama top to sniff at delicately and frowned.
“He’s been with you since early morning,” Alya pointed out, a finger jabbing in Adrien’s direction. “I doubt he has any complaints.”
“None at all. You’re the most beautiful person in the world no matter what.”
“Gross. Now, go. I have closed apartment magic things to do.”
“You can’t say things like that, Adrien!” Marinette covered her face. “And, Al, I’ll just sit in the hall if you have to close the apartment.”
“For crying out loud, get some fresh air!” Alya urged as she toed at the Slayer’s pillow.
“At least let me change clothes first!” Marinette took her best friend’s offered hand and groaned as she stretched her legs out and stood. “Okay, we’ve been sitting too long.”
“Duh. Go.” Alya swatted her behind and the other woman laughed as she hopped away.
“I’ll be quick,” she promised in a quick call over her shoulder.
“I’ll be here!” Adrien promised, going up on his toes to watch her disappear further into the apartment.
“Yeah, no doubt about that.” Alya leaned in the doorway and crossed her arms. “So.”
“So?” The vampire eyed her warily and took a few steps back until his back was against the far wall.
“You’re back.”
“I am.”
“For good?” She raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Because if I find out you’ve got my girl all gushy and you’re planning another disappearing act, I might have to turn you into a toad and we’ll keep you in a terrarium in the living room.”
He shifted uneasily. “It’s possible I’ll have to leave to take care of some things at some point, but I won’t go without telling her again.”
“How very vague. And what made you come back this time?”
All defensiveness visibly drained out of him as he looked past Alya’s shoulder towards the rest of the apartment. “Marinette.” He caught her gaze. “I’m here for her, no matter what. It was dumb to think I could ever pull myself away.”
Alya narrowed her eyes, studying him, and finally nodded. “I believe you.”
“I’m glad, but you’re not the one I’m worried about convincing.”
A door sounding from down the hall caught their attention and a smile slid across Adrien’s lips as Marinette joined her roommate at the door.
“Hey again, Beautiful.”
Written for @adrinetteapril2021
Parts1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17, 18:
Marinette leaned her shoulder against the open door frame of her apartment, her cat paw pillow adjusted just right beneath her. She watched Adrien visibly inhale the scent of the coffee she’d offered him before taking a small sip.
“I wasn’t sure if you were gonna actually drink that,” she noted.
He blinked at her as if he’d forgotten her presence for a moment. “Ah, uh, I can’t have a lot of it, but I like coffee. It makes me feel warm, and this kind smells like you. Is it your favorite?”
She nodded, unsure of how else to reply.
“It’s nice to feel warm inside from something other than…” Adrien ducked his head as he took another sip. “Other than blood,” he finished quietly.
“Do you like it?”
“The coffee? Yeah, I just—“
“No.” Marinette cut him off with a huff. “Drinking blood.”
“Do you like eating chocolate?” He retorted with a sad smile. “I didn’t at first. There was the human part of my brain telling me how wrong it was to want blood, but then I finally had to give in and drank some and it made me feel, I don’t know, strong, right.”
“Eating chocolate isn’t like that,” she argued.
“Yeah, but it’s nice and you enjoy it, right? Makes you feel good for a little bit?” He shrugged. “That’s what it’s like with blood.”
She considered that as she took a long drink from her mug.
“Is this pillow becoming my assigned seat here?” Adrien ran a fingertip along the black ribbing along the edge of pillow he sat on. “I like it.”
“The black and red suits you, I guess.”
He grinned and took another sip of coffee.
“Can you drink any type of blood?” She asked, attempting nonchalance as she studied her nails instead of looking at the vampire across from her.
“Doesn’t your Slayer training teach you all this stuff?” he shot back.
“I’m asking you,” Marinette replied pointedly. “You, Adrien the Vampire.”
“Wow, that sounds lame.”
She laughed in spite of herself. “I don’t make the rules.”
“You say that, but I’m not so sure it’s true.”
“Answer the question, Adrien.”
His cheeks warmed with the coffee and he felt weak being in her presence again. “I can mostly survive on any kind of blood. Some types taste better than others, some give me more energy in the long-term.”
“Human is better,” she supplied.
He gave her a helpless shrug. “Yeah.”
“And is that what you…” She frowned down at her mostly empty mug. “Do you mostly drink human blood?”
“Yes,” he admitted softly. “A lot of it comes from donated blood I, uh, okay, I steal from the hospital.”
“I guess stealing is better than killing.” Marinette winced at the ethics.
“But since I’m really trying to be honest here, sometimes I do drink from people too.” He put up a hand. “Willing, mostly. There’s a lot of vamp groupies in this town. They get a high off getting bit.”
She made a face. “And you like that?”
“I like the fresh blood, but it’s awkward, yeah.”
“You said ‘mostly’.”
Adrien grimaced. “I was wondering if you caught that. Every once in the while, someone is being an asshole and needs some good old-fashioned fear put in them to remind them they aren’t invincible.”
“And you think it’s your job to do that.”
“Says the vampire boogeyman,” he replied with a wry smile. “You’re not exactly glitter and rainbows either, Slayer. You’ve probably killed more of my kind than I have of yours.”
“Well, that’s not fair.”
“Not saying it is.”
She crossed her arms. “Some first date this is turning into. And here I thought I actually missed you.”
A smile ripped across Adrien’s lips before he could stop it. “This is our first date?”
“No! I didn’t…that’s not what I meant!” She thumped the floor with her fist. “Stop smiling like that!”
“You want to date me!”
“I do not!”
“You do!” He let out a whoop of joy. “You like me.”
“It was a moment of insanity.” She smiled and tried to hide it with a swing of her hair over her face.
Written for @adrinetteapril2021
Parts1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16, 17:
“I’m sorry,” Adrien whispered for what felt like the hundredth time into Marinette’s hair as he held her close. “I’m sorry.”
“You could’ve been dust,” she grumbled. Her fingers tightened their hold on the lapels of his jacket. “No one would even be able to tell. You would’ve just been poof, gone.”
“I know, I’m sorry.” He breathed in the scent of her hair and let it wash over him.
“You’re a dumb vampire,” she pouted, still not releasing him, “who doesn’t know how to text and tell someone he’s alive.”
“Technically, not alive—“
“Don’t.”
“You saw me in the dream,” he began gently.
“Doesn’t count.” She enunciated her stubborn reply with a tug on his jacket and he held her closer.
“You’re right, Slayer. It doesn’t,” he admitted.
“Don’t call me that right now,” she huffed.
“Marinette, then.”
“Yeah.”
“Or Princess. Ooo, how do you feel about ‘sweetheart’?” He teased, pulling back enough to look down at her.
Marinette finally released him with a grunt and took a few steps back, hugging herself. “Just Marinette for now.”
“Right, okay.” He looked down at his boots. “I really am sorry for disappearing on you. I thought it was the best thing to do after…” He waved his hand at the hallway where they’d last talked.
“I get that, but…but I was really worried! And now I’m mad that I was worried because you’re obviously fine and I feel stupid.” She’d dropped her arms to her side. “I don’t like playing the victim.”
Ignoring her defensive posture, Adrien crossed the small space between them to pull her into his arms again. “I never meant to make you feel that way. I thought I was helping.”
“You weren’t.” Her voice was gruff even as she slipped her arms around his middle to hug him back.
“I can see that.” He tried not to laugh at her adorable pouting. “You should know, though, that you reacting like this is only giving me all the wrong ideas about how you feel about me.”
He felt her arms loosen slightly before they tightened once more. “You really are a dumb vampire,” she mumbled into the leather of his jacket.
Written for @adrinetteapril2021
Parts1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15, 16:
Marinette hugged her red and black pillow to her chest and inhaled deeply. It hardly smelled of Adrien anymore but sometimes she could imagine that she’d get the faintest whiff of leather and hair gel.
She hadn’t been able to sleep since seeing him in the dreamscape Alya created for her as a way to reach out. In it, Adrien looked different somehow but she couldn’t quite put her finger on why. It had been something in his eyes…
Days had passed and she was no more in the clue as to what was going on with him or where he was than she’d been before Alya worked her magic and connected them in the dreamscape. She’d expected to at least get a text or something after that.
Maybe he really was done with her.
That thought hurt more than she wanted to admit. It was all so stupid. She should’ve never let herself get tangled up with a vampire. If her assigned Watcher Fu ever found out, she’d never hear the end of it. She supposed this was one of the few times she was thankful for a hands-off approach of her not-so-much-of-a-mentor.
Adrien disappearing also made her really angry. How dare he make her feel like she could trust him and then vanish?! The nerve! Maybe it was good he hadn’t shown his face again; she might have to introduce it to her fist.
What they had was…well, it was weird and complicated and undefined and didn’t exactly make sense, but it was something. There was no denying there were feelings there.
Marinette huffed and kicked the blankets off her legs. She wasn’t usually an early riser due to her late nights and nature, but she was only going to keep drowning in self-pity if she stayed in bed. She quietly made her way into the kitchen and started a pot of coffee.
She paced the small kitchen as the coffee brewed, busying herself with flipping through unopened mail and opening the fridge a few times as if new items would appear at each turn. She was finally pouring her first mug when a light knocking grabbed her attention.
She looked towards the small hallway, but Alya’s door remained closed with not light peeking out from beneath the frame. Another soft knock had her looking towards the apartment door.
She should probably ignore it. Anyone trying to come by this early and knocking so timidly wasn’t in any danger and if it was a friend, they would’ve texted or called to get inside.
There was another soft knock and Marinette blew out a frustrated breath as she set her mug down on the counter. She crossed the room as quietly as she could to peer through the tiny eyehole in the door. Her heart leapt into her throat and she was wrenching the locks undone and pulling the door open before she could stop herself.
Adrien had his back to her with a hand pushing open the stairwell door.
“Wait!”
The vampire turned around with wide eyes and the Slayer ran from the protection of her apartment to throw her arms around him, pressing her cheek against cool leather. She inhaled and felt a familiar joy lift her spirits.
“You dummy,” she murmured against his chest. “Where have you been?”
Written for @adrinetteapril2021
Parts1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14, 15:
Adrien opened his text messages with Nino and read the latest one again.
“Slayer’s started to think you’re dust because she can’t find you. You should call her, dude.”
He sighed and closed the app, sending his phone screen to darkness again. He should at least reply to his best friend but he wasn’t sure if it would be better just to let them all think he was gone for good.
Murmured voices rose and fell in conversation from inside the penthouse and Adrien found his fingers curling around the wrought iron of the balcony railing. Everything in him was screaming to vault it and slip back into the night, to go back to Marinette, but he had to ignore those voices. Now that he’d come home, staying was the only way he could keep her safe.
“The Seers think the next Slayer has risen in the same place the previous one resided.”
Adrien turned to see his father standing in the open doorway. The older man cast a half-bored glance back to the party inside before joining his son out on the balcony to look out over the moonlit city.
“That’s kinda unlikely, right? Maybe they got it wrong.”
“Or maybe it’s the same Slayer and she’s not really dead, as you say.” Gabriel Agreste raised a skeptical eyebrow. “They can only track the energy identified with the Slayer, not the individual herself, but it seems too much of a coincidence.”
Adrien shifted uneasily, fingers curling tighter around the railing. “I can go check again.”
“You weren’t particularly adept on this most recent venture,” he replied without pause. “No, I think we’ll send one of your mother’s agents to get retrieve the girl. She’s decided she’d like to turn the Slayer herself, to ensure her loyalty.”
“I see.”
He could feel his father’s eyes on him, looking for any break or vulnerability to pick at.
“I think I’ll turn in for the night. Goodnight, Father.”
“Goodnight.”
Adrien ignored the curious eyes on him as he wove through the small party in the living area and ventured upstairs to his new bedroom. Before leaving on his mission to find the Slayer, he’d only slept in the room one night and it hardly felt like home.
The windows were coated in a protective tint to allow the vampires to enjoy the sun without the threat of going up in flames and the bedding was only of the highest quality, but he missed his tiny basement apartment where he could hear the pipes of the building creak with use and the scent of the one pillowcase he’d allowed himself to keep unwashed that still smelled of Marinette.
He half-undressed and dropped onto the bed, willing sleep to take him as soon as it would.
_____
The world was hazy around him, nothing defined and everything a wash of muted colors. Adrien tried to walk forward and dizziness came over him so severely that he dropped to his knees with a groan.
“Sorry,” a soft voice apologized. “Alya warned me you might not take well to being here.”
He raised his eyes in disbelief to see Marinette standing before him in the dreamscape. She was dressed in pink polka dot pajamas and fuzzy socks donned her feet.
“Good to see you’re not dead, I guess.”
Adrien opened his mouth to reply and no sound came out. He frowned and touched his throat, trying again.
“Ah, she warned me that might happen too. Sorry.” Marinette winced and hugged herself. “Look, I just wanted to make sure you were okay, wherever you are. You just dropped this bombshell on me and disappeared and…” Her expression hardened. “And it wasn’t fair, you butthead! You can’t just do stuff like that.”
Despite his frustration at not being able to speak, warmth spread through him at the confirmation that Marinette had been worried about him.
“I didn’t really expect this to be one-sided so I guess I, uh, I just wanted to say we’re okay and if you want to come back, we can talk about stuff more. I want to hear your side, okay?” She looked to the side as if she could see something he couldn’t and her cheeks turned dark pink. “I miss you, you stupid vampire.”
Adrien swallowed hard and reached a hand out to her but both of their forms wavered at the connection.
“Just come back,” she whispered and then she was gone.
Adrien opened his eyes and stared at the gray ceiling above him. The sun was just beginning to rise, light barely touching his curtains.
Without too much thought, he pushed himself out of bed and went to his closet, ignoring the luxury suitcase for a beat up duffle bag in the corner. He freed his leather jacket from it and pulled it on before stuffing clothes into the bag and zipping it shut.
He was going home.
Written for @adrinetteapril2021
Parts1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13, 14:
Adrien nodded at one demonic bodyguard as he allowed him access into the foyer of the New York penthouse to wait with another demonic bodyguard. The large demon at his side watched him out of the corners of his six eyes.
“Been gone awhile,” he grunted.
“Father sent me out for something.” Adrien tugged at the tie knot at his neck, trying to loosen it without making it look too sloppy. “Have I missed anything important?”
“Not for me to say.” The demon eyed the closed double doors across the large living area. “Don’t seem happy though.”
“Me or them?”
The bodyguard let out a hacking chuckle but didn’t reply.
After half an hour, the doors finally opened a group of demons and vampires filed out, talking amongst themselves. Adrien ignored their greetings, lifting his chin and looking straight ahead as he’d been trained to do. The foyer eventually was empty again save for himself and the bodyguard when a sweet voice rang out from beyond the doors.
“Adrien, dearest, is that you?”
He didn’t bother checking with the bodyguard before striding forward with a confidence he didn’t genuinely feel. He missed the leather jacket currently tucked carefully in the bottom of his suitcase. “Hi, Mom. How are you?”
Emilie Agreste held her arms open from her seat at the head of a large conference table. Two bodies were slumped over in chairs along the length of the table and Adrien did his best not to wrinkle his nose at the smell of sulfur.
“Bad meeting?” He asked as he let himself be squeezed in her arms.
“Very good actually. Those two were just used as…incentive.” She laughed softly to herself as she released him and stood. “How was your trip?”
“Unsuccessful. Turns out someone else took out the Slayer before I could get to her,” he lied with a smile. “The move to the states might’ve been a little preemptive unless the next one was chosen here too.”
Emilie frowned. “That’s unfortunate. Now we’re going to be behind in finding the her. I’ll get the Seers on it immediately. A turned slayer is exactly what we need to make this plan of your father’s work.” She looped her arm through her son’s. “Are you hungry? We had some lovely young people brought in from Paris for the meeting and there are still a few left in the kitchen. It was so nice to have a taste of home.”
“I’ll have something after I say hello to Father.” Adrien forced his smile a little brighter. “I should check in with him; it’s been a while.”
_____
“You can admit we’re out here looking for Adrien, you know.” Alya took a long sip from her iced coffee and glanced up at the dark warehouse to their left. “It’s just you and me.”
“I’m not looking for him; I’m just doing my patrol.” Marinette lifted her chin defiantly and walked a few steps ahead. “It’s been a month. Obviously he left and he’s not coming back.”
“And we’re gonna just pretend that you’re not worried something happened to him and that’s why we’re so far away from where you usually patrol?”
“I thought he would at least so goodbye if he was leaving,” she muttered sourly. “Even if things are…weird between us. His apartment even still has all his stuff there…most of it anyway.”
“What’s that mean?”
“I didn’t see his jacket.” Marinette’s fingers tightened around her stake. “He always wears that dumb jacket so he must’ve left with it.”
“If it helps, I really do think he’s fine…wherever he is. Nino is being infuriatingly cryptic about it. I’ve been tempted to use a spell to—“
Marinette held up a hand to stop her. “No spells.”
“Fine.” Alya stuck out her tongue. “Maybe he just needed some time away. You said things got really intense when you were talking.”
“So?! I didn’t run away.”
“To be fair, until like last week, you couldn’t have run.”
“Well, I’m all healed up now,” she pouted. “And that stupid vampire is nowhere to be seen. If something happened to him, him and his stupid jacket would just be some pile of dust and we wouldn’t even know and…”
“And you miss him,” the witch supplied.
“I’m worried about him,” Marinette corrected. “It’s different.”
“If you say so.”
