The Algorithm

Chapter eleven - Sedatives and Kindling

The interior of the seating area looked like a first-class ticket seat that faced each other. It had a cream-colored seat, a wide aisle, and copious amounts of legroom but Adrien wasn't enjoying himself. He was tired, sweaty, sore, but none of that mattered to him. His mind kept racing with all that could happen to the blue-haired girl who saved him.

The cabin door swung open for the first time in three hours. Adrien shot up from his seat, hoping to be greeted by Marinette's warm, rare, beautiful smile, but instead was met with the piercing green eyes of the tall man.

"Is Marinette okay?" Adrien questioned.

"She's stable." He answered with an anxious tone. "We'll know more when we're back at GUARD"

The red-headed woman walked past the tall man, much calmer now that the hysteria of battle was out of her system, and placed a tray of food down by Adrien's seat.

"But for now," Tikki said. "Eat."

Adrien devoured the creamy potato soup and roast beef that was set before him, mopping up the leftovers with buttered bread rolls and downing it all with plenty of water just as the doctors had instructed him. As soon as he finished his meal, he began his continuous strand of questions to the two people seated in front of him. "Who are you?" He asked.

"I'm Plagg," Said the grim, giant of a man. Tikki had brought him a small platter of cheese that he was working on while the redhead stirred copious amounts of sugar into her coffee, she obviously liked things sweet. "You know Tikki." Plagg continued, gesturing to the woman seated next to him. "We're the people who rescued Marinette from Akuma the first time around." His tone went bitter at the mention of Akuma. "How did they even rebuild that facility after we bombed it, it was pure rumble?!" He exclaimed.

"I'm not sure," Tikki answered, displaying the same anger she did with the doctors. "But once we have the resources we will make sure it stays rubble this time."

Plagg turned his attention away from the frustrating subject that was Akuma and extended the cheese platter towards Adrien. "You want some?" He offered.

Adrien shook his head. "No thank you, I'm full." He said, rejecting the tray of cheese as politely as he could. In all honesty, his mind was too occupied with worry to focus on food any longer.

Plagg smiled and returned the plater to his lap. "Good," He stated while taking another bite of the cheddar arrangement. "Because I wouldn't have given you any." Adrien smiled but Tikki rolled her eyes.

"That joke is getting old Plagg." She said while dropping another sugar cube into the steaming mug and testing the flavor before adding another two sugar cubes to the mix.

"That joke never gets old." He retorted. "It's like fine goat cheese, it gets better with age." A smug smirk plastered on his face. Again, Adrien smiled, and again, Tikki rolled her eyes. But questions still swirled around the blonde's mind like a raging wind storm that would only settle when he received answers.

"Will Marinette be alright?" Adrien asked, the question weighed heavily on him and concern was evident in his voice.

"We hope so," Tikki stated optimistically. "She's a fighter, always has been, but there is only so much we can tell about her condition while she's still asleep. We will know more when we get back to GUARD." Adrien nodded, he was still worried but had a bit more confidence in her well-being knowing there were medical professionals at her bedside.

"Where is GUARD?" He asked and a small chuckle escaped Plagg and again Tikki shut her eyes in annoyance as if doing so would stop the bad joke that was bound to slip from the green-eyed man's lips.

"If I told you I'd have to kill you." The grim man replied with a smirk. Adrien laughed, even though he was still dissatisfied with the answer, but thought it would be rude to press on about it.

"How long until we get there?" He asked. Plagg looked down at his wristwatch before answering.

"Twenty hours or so." He said. Adrien nodded while wiping oily butter from his hands with a napkin.

"Thanks, Mr. Plagg," Adrien stated politely but the grizzly man grumbled at his comment. "Is something wrong?" Adrien asked and Tikki started to chuckle.

"He doesn't like being called Mister, it makes him feel old. Which he is." She answered, making a quick jab at Plagg's age. But in all honesty, he was in his thirties and by no means old. After all, he was still as strong and capable as he was when he was younger, Tikki had only made the comment to get under the grim figures' skin.

"I'm not old." The stern man protested.

"Denial doesn't look good on you Plagg," Tikki smirked. Adrien chuckled before restating his earlier comment.

"Okay, Plagg?" He asked, making sure he didn't use the title 'Mister'. The grim figure perked up at the sound of his name.

"Ah yes you called for my wisdom." Adrien couldn't help but smile at his humor but the smile quickly faded when he asked his question.

"Is Marinette going to die?" Adrien's eyes were sunken and Plagg smiled softly at him.

"We're doing everything in our power to make sure that doesn't happen." But Adrien still wasn't convinced.

"But what if-'' He began but Plagg put a hand up to stop him.

"She had survived much worse than a depressant overdose. She'll make it through. Don't worry, for now just relax kid, you're safe." Plagg leaned back in his seat, setting his empty platter of cheese to the side before continuing his comment. "Besides, Tikki would kill me if Marinette died." The redhead took a sip of her coffee while replying.

"He's not wrong." She remarked as she tipped the mug past her nose, finally satisfied with the sweetness.

Once again, Adrien smiled at the duo, they were obviously old and close friends. He leaned back and looked out the window. Clouds and stars adorned the darkened sky and for the first time in a week, Adrien felt truly free from harm.

Well... for now at least.

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Word count: 2617 (Not counting this)

I honestly do not know what to say without spoiling anything, but.... THEY'RE SAFE.

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