The Algorithm

Chapter twenty-four - Cold Truths

Soon she would have his hand in her again. Feel the pulse at the base of his neck when she hugged him. See his lopsided smile and gorgeous green eyes. Be as close to him as she had been when he grabbed her belt loops and pulled her to him.

She replayed that memory a thousand times. Wondering how it would have finished if that had had just a minute more.

"Because, I'm in-" His voice echoed in her head.

In what? Danger? Trouble? Love?

Love...

The answer hit her like a brick wall.

Because, I'm in love with you.

"He loves me?" Marinette asked, puzzled. "Oh, Adrien don't do that to yourself. Loving me is a death sentence. Just look at what happened to Luka." She ran her fingers through her hair and dropped back into her seat. Love had only ever hurt her and the people she cared about.

"He loves me?" She asked again, but upon hearing it over, she knew it was true. "He loves me." Of course he did, how had she not seen it? Sneaking her bread pudding, dancing in the rain, holding her while she cried.

I'm in love with you.

She suddenly craved the sound of his voice saying that one sentence that would mean so much to her. It would be different this time, no one would get hurt, she'd make sure of it. It would be okay. It would be perfect.

She went back to the air hanger with a feeling she hadn't felt in a long time.

Hope.

Everything would be alright. She knew it. Somehow it would work.

When she got to her barracks she expected to see the normal hustle and bustle of two dozen people sharing a relatively small space. But it was quiet.

A familiar figure sat on her bed.

Tikki stood up and smiled. "Hey. I just wanted to check up on you. See how you're doing."

"I'm good. More than good actually." She nearly ran and plopped her bag onto her bed before beaming up at the tall woman and blurting out her news. Adrien would be home soon.

But Tikki stopped her.

"That's great and I want to hear all about it but first there's something you need to see."

Marinette followed as she was led out back to an open landing bay. She didn't get it at first. The sun was setting and all she could see was his silhouette. A figure leaning heavily on a cane, a wheelchair off to the side. She looked at Tikki for answers but she was smiling tiredly at the man. The kind of tiredness that came with fourteen months of loneliness, and the kind of smile that came when you were not alone anymore.

Marinette glanced back at the man and now his image was clear.

"Where's Plagg?" Marinette asked frantically. She just sprinted the three miles and no one could tell if the moisture on her face was sweat or tears.

Tikki wouldn't meet her eyes as her shoulder shook with a silent cry.

Duusu was left to explain. "Plagg has experienced some brain damage. He stayed behind to make sure everyone got to the bomb shelter and debris hit him pretty hard when the first bomb hit."

"Is he okay?"

"He's in a coma."

"So he's alive? He's going to be alright?"

Duusu's lips formed a thin line.

"We don't know when he'll wake up... Or if he ever will."

"Plagg?" Marinette asked in a whisper.

"Hey, Mari."

Before she knew it she had her arms around his neck and was cursing at him for scaring her like that.

"Please don't hit me." He said, "Tikki already gave me a few bruises." The redhead smiled. He was kidding, she hadn't hit him. She did however stand stock still in utter shock before he limped his way towards her, grabbed her waist, and kissed her forehead before whispering "Hey sugar cube." Then she cried. Crumbling into him like a piece of paper and he held her firm as she wept, like he never intended to let go again.

Once Marinette slid back down to her heels, she noticed Plagg was a little more wobbly than she remembered. She always saw him as a pillar, solid and unmovable. But now he walked with a cane on the occasions he did walk and wheeled himself around the rest of the time. He gratefully sat in the wheelchair Tikki pulled towards him.

"Thanks, that took quite a bit out of me."

"You've been sleeping for fourteen months and you're still tired?" Marinette prompted.

Plagg shrugged. "What can I say? It's exhausting to look this good."

"You know it's times like this where I wish we pulled the plug on you."

"I'm hurt. I accept apologies for secrets and cheese. Which will it be?"

"Secrets."

Plagg raised an eyebrow, he expected her to say cheese and was a little disappointed that she didn't. But this was interesting.

"And what would that secret be?"

"Adrien's current location."

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Word count- 2351 (not counting this)

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