Bonus 2- Nino’s Summer Adventure of Keeping Adrien Alive (or so he thinks)
Nino was shocked to see an elderly chauffeur at the Gotham Airport with his and Adrien's names on a sign, but Adrien wasn't fazed. He went up and hugged the old man.
"Shall we gather your bags, Master Adrien and Master Nino?" he asked.
"Alfred, I've told you before, you can just call me Adrien." the former model sighed. "And I believe I have told you before, while you stay in the Wayne household you will be addressed as such." replied the old man. "You win, as always, Alfred." Adrien smiled, "Let's grab our stuff, Nino!"
Nino watched the city as they passed it by. It seemed grungy and classy at the same time. He wasn't sure how. "What was this place called again?" he asked Adrien. "Gotham." Adrien replied, as they stopped.
Adrien opened the door and smiled. "Welcome to your home away from home for the summer!" Nino stared up in shock at the goliath looking gothic mansion.
"This is bigger then your place with your old man!" Nino shouted. "Yeah, well, Bruce has more kids." Adrien shrugged, as they walked through the front door.
"Adrien! Nino! Is that you?!" cried out Marinette. "Mari, where are you?" shouted Nino. "Sorry, I'm in the kitchen. Give me a moment!" she called back. "Lady Marinette, I believe Master Damian has forbidden your entrance to the kitchen while you are unsupervised." announced Alfred. "Alfred, I'm just baking." Marinette sighed. "I apologize. Follow me as I tend to the Lady of the House." stated Alfred, as the boys followed him into the kitchen.
"Lady Marinette." calmly spoke Alfred. Marinette froze and put down the mixing bowl. "It's not fair!" she claimed, tearing up, "I just wanted some devil's food cupcakes."
'What the hell? Why won't this guy let her cook for herself?' thought Nino, 'Is she really okay here with this guy?'
"I'll finish them for you. Tend to your guests." Alfred said, taking the bowel. "Yes, Alfred." Marinette pouted, turning around and walking towards them.
It was then that Nino noticed the growing bulge that had once been her flat stomach.
"You're pregnant!" he shouted, surprising everyone.
"Yeah. Did you not know?" Mari questioned. "I could have sworn I told you, Dude." replied Adrien. "No!" Nino yelled back. "Um…surprise?" Marinette giggled.
"Lady Marinette, out of the kitchen if you please." Alfred stated. "I'm going." she answered, "We'll be in the game room, Alfred."
"Why aren't you allowed in the kitchen?" asked Nino, concerned. "The pregnancy cravings sometimes make me want to eat weird things. They are very paranoid about what I eat. Especially after I accidentally mumbled out loud if there was a way to make PB & J jalapeno poppers." Marinette answered, getting a 'Yuck!' from her friends, "Honestly, if you guys hadn't showed up when you did, I was probably one minute away from dipping pickles into that mixing bowl full of chocolate."
"Okay, that seems fair. We don't need you to try things that could poison you or your baby. How far along are you, anyways?" Nino asked. "I'm five months." she answered, opening up the game room.
"Max would kill to come in here!" Nino shouted before racing through the arcade machines.
"So how is Mini Bug?" asked Adrien. "She is doing fine. Everything has checked out at out appointments." responded Marinette. "So, aside from weird cravings, how are you?" he questioned. "A bit more sleepy and it doesn't help that I can't have coffee." Mari sighed, "Damian got me five new drawing pads. I filled up the other ones already since we didn't know the gender at the time."
"Oh, is MDC going to be a household name? MDC: Toddler Line?" smirked Adrien. "Laugh all you want, but it seems to be going that way. Maybe I'll just keep MDC for celebrities and create a new persona as Marinette Wayne. Besides, I'm sure Damian will appreciate the stress free environment. One of my clients called the other day to try and rush the order. Damian stole the phone from me and yelled at them how I was pregnant and didn't need the added stress." she commented, rolling her eyes. Adrien just laughed at his "brother-in-law's" antics.
"You know he just wants what's best for you, Bugaboo." Adrien replied, causing Mari to smile. "I know, but I'm not fragile." she mumbled. "No one would ever think of you as fragile, My Lady, but you are carrying a fragile mini bug." Adrien reasoned with her.
"Hey, is the coast clear, Kid?" Plagg whispered. Adrien looked around for Nino and grinned. "Coast is clear, Plagg." he whispered back. Plagg zoomed out and landed on Marinette's ever growing belly.
"Hello, Mini Bug." he purred, "Hey, Big Bug." "Plagg!" whisper-shouted Adrien, but Mari just giggled. "Hello to you too, Plagg. How is Tikki?" she asked. "She's good. You're replacement treats her kindly. She doesn't have the cookie supply she use to but she gets by." answered Plagg. "I'll make a big batch for you guys to take back." "She's very excited about your mini bug. She hopes to meet her one day." Plagg stated. "I would love to see her again. Maybe after mini bug is born, we can take a small trip to Paris. I'll talk to Damian about it and I'll let you guys know when I'm visiting so we can have a quick reunion." Mari smiled, sadly.
A knock on the door rattled them and had Plagg zooming into Adrien's shirt. "Lady Marinette, the food is ready. I have moved you and your guests to the theater room while I tend to some urgent matters." Alfred stated, as he opened the door. Marinette quickly understood the code.
"Of course, Alfred. That sounds lovely." she replied. "I heard food and movies." Nino announced running towards them, causing Adrien and Marinette to laugh. "We can come back later to play in the arcade. Just cause I'm pregnant doesn't mean I still can't kick you butts at games." Mari smirked. "Oh, really? Any game?" Adrien teased. "Figures he told you. I'm banned off the DDR machine, okay!" she pouted.
Adrien stood and bowed, "My Lady." With a wink, he extended his hand out. Mari smiled and gave her hand to her Kitty. "Thank you, O'Malley." she giggled.
As they headed to the theater room, they had no idea the trouble they had caused their musical friend.
'Are-Are they seeing each other in secret?'
As they finished the food while watching, Lady and the Tramp, Nino offered to take the food downstairs as they were engrossed in the movie.
He knew he wasn't sure where to go, but he needed some air. The air around them was suffocating. They'd whisper to each other during scenes in English, knowing he wouldn't understand. It was driving him crazy.
Marinette was pregnant for God's sake and those two were flirting up a storm.
'Is this how things would have been if they got together back at DuPont?'
"Master Nino." Alfred called out, from the next landing.
"Ah, um, I thought I'd bring the dishes down." Nino answered quickly, earning him a smile. "There's no need." Alfred acknowledged, grabbing the tray and taking them downstairs.
Nino returned to his seat, noticing that Adrien had somehow gotten Marinette's hand and was rubbing circles on it lovingly, with his thumb.
Nino opens his mouth to confront his best friend when the theater door opened and Damian Wayne walked in.
Marinette stood up as quick as she could and hugged her husband.
"Hello, Angel. I see our guests for the summer have arrived." he stated to which she nodded, "Would you like to finish the movie before we retire?"
Marinette looked back to the movie and knew it wasn't that much longer to the end.
"Yes, please." she smiled. "Very well." he smiled, closing the door.
Marinette dragged him back to her previous seat and Damian shift the arm rest so that he could hold cuddle her as the movie finished. Nino watched as Mari bore a smile on content as she sat closer to her husband.
'Am I reading this wrong? Mari looks really happy with this guy. So then, what the hell is Adrien's problem? Why is he so touchy with her?'
Nino could only panic internally and try to figure out if he was just misreading the situation. Maybe he had spent too much time with Alya? He was beginning to see things that weren't there. Maybe it was a good thing to take this break. That's what this vacation was for right? To forgive and see where they come out?
When the credits began to roll, Adrien quickly excused himself to find Alfred and learn some new techniques.
Damian shook Nino's hand and said, "Thank you for being an extra set of eyes and for keeping my Angel out of trouble while I'm at work." "Hey!" Marinette pouted and playfully slapped her husband's chest. "Feel free to stay here or you may head back to the game room. If not, you can accompany Adrien to the kitchen." Damian continued. Marinette smiled as he excused them and headed towards their room.
Nino slowly sat down in the chair next to him.
'Did Damian know what was going on between Mari and Adrien? Is that why he thanked him for being an "extra set of eyes"?'
Over the course of the summer, Nino watched Damian shower Marinette in affection at breakfast and returning home. Every day, he'd rub her stomach, give her a kiss and then kneel down and kiss her growing belly, before he'd leave for work. As soon as the door closed, Adrien would keep her by his side.
Dragging her to the kitchen or the arcade, the theater room. It was shocking to say the least. Nino had never seen his best friend this energetic or affectionate.
This time, Marinette was dragged to the kitchen to help teach him how to make macarons.
"Remind me why I'm teaching you how to make macarons?" Marinette sighed, dusting the almond flour off her dress, "Papa knows how to make them, too."
"But macarons are your specialty!" Adrien whined, shaking the flour off his hair.
"Fine, but you are going to help me clean this first. After, I am going to make macarons and you will sit there like a good kitty and take notes!" Marinette ranted.
"But-" he started. "Nope, no buts!" Mari shouted, before flicking his nose, "You will take notes on what I say and what I do. You can ask questions and you will be able to taste some of the macarons. Some! These will be for dessert after dinner today. Tomorrow, you will be making these on your own."
The beginning baker nodded.
Nino watched from the island as Adrien hovered around Mari. He was rushing for ingredients as soon as she took a step in their direction.
"Adrien, stop!" she shouted. He froze half way to the fridge. "How are you going to learn anything if you are running around the kitchen like Plagg when he wants a snack? Everything you have brought me" she points to the counter, "Is wrong."
"What? But I got you flour!" he shouted.
"Yes, you did, but there are different types of flour. These are thing you need to learn and the basics of being in a bakery. For macarons, almond flour is preferred. It's finer." she replied.
Nino saw Adrien pout as he returned to the pantry and swapped out the ingredient for the correct item.
"Put everything back and sit on the stool. You are not to move until I am ready to make the batter. Then you can take notes on what I am doing. The only things in your hand today, paper & something to write with." Marinette scolded him.
"What if something is too heavy?" he quickly countered.
"I can ask Nino." she stated, pointing at him, "Or I can ask Alfred."
Adrien pouted as he returned to his seat.
Once Marinette called him over to watch as she created the batter, Adrien once again stuck close.
Nino frowned as their laughter filled the air, after switching to English once again. He watched as Adrien's eyes followed Marinette with every step she took. To him, Adrien was a cat ready to pounce; he didn't know how right he was.
As night began to fall, Nino hoped he could talk his best friend out of ruining Marinette's love life.
The DJ walked into the sitting room to see Adrien laying on the couch with his head in Mari's lap, pressed against her growing belly.
'This guy is going to kill me!'
Feeling something off to his left, he looked over and saw Damian Wayne.
Damian turned and walked out of the room.
"Bro!" Nino whisper-shouted, "Dude! You might want to move!"
Fearing the worst, he crouched when the young Wayne passed him.
'Here Lies Adrien Agreste. He made moves on Marinette Wayne and was killed by a …….'
Peeking thought his fingers, he looked to see what weapon he wielded against his friend.
"Scat cat." Damian voiced, loudly, catching Adrien's attention.
Adrien froze at the sight of the squirt bottle. Slowly, he retracted his arms from Marinette and backed off the couch completely.
Damian set the squirt bottle down and laid down with his wife, just as Adrien had been. Marinette only giggled as she felt butterfly kisses being placed over her stomach.
Adrien pouted and left the room.
Several days later, Nino found himself in a compromising position again. The young DJ was peeking at Mari and Adrien from around the wall as they cuddled on the couch.
'Perhaps it is time I intervened.'
"Master Nino, is everything alright?" Alfred called out. Nino jumped away from the wall and smiled.
"Alfred! He-Hello, um, yes. I'm fine." he managed to get out. "Is there a problem I can help you with?" Alfred asked. "No. Nope. No problem at all." the DJ smiled. "So there is no problem with you eavesdropping and watching every move Lady Marinette and Master Adrien take?" he goaded.
"I'm just trying to make sure Mari's husband doesn't kill my best friend." Nino admitted. "Why would he do that?" questioned the butler.
'Although he could do just that.'
"Adrien seems to cuddle up to Mari every chance he gets and Marinette sees really happy here. I don't want him to ruin anything." Nino replied with a frown.
'I don't know why I'm telling him. He could easily turn around and tell Damian or anyone in his family about Adrien.'
Alfred smiled. "I can assure you, Master Nino, that Master Adrien will live. Lady Marinette has granted him the title of 'Honorary Uncle'." he stated, making Nino sigh in relief, "The only way I see him dying is if Master Damian were to find him attempting to win back the heart of Lady Marinette, but that doesn't seem to be the case. He knows they are close friends. I believe he is merely spending the time he can around her til her husband arrives and before you both return to Paris."
"After the wedding, the boys brought him here to stay for about three weeks." Alfred continued.
"Oh, right. The 'kidnapping'." Nino joked, making the butler smile back.
"Yes. Master Adrien was in a very vulnerable spot at that moment and was deciding what to do about his future. He was worried about returning home to his father. Master Damian voluntarily postponed the honeymoon since he could see that Master Adrien was having a hard time. Everyone could tell he was not use to being on the receiving end of affection. I believe that is merely what he is doing now; receiving affection from Lady Marinette."
The front door opened to reveal Damian Wayne.
Nino curiously peeked around the corner and saw Adrien holding a sleeping Marinette, princess style, heading towards the stairs.
Had he not spoke to Alfred, Nino was beginning to think he would have had a heart attack.
They watched from around the corner as Damian rose his brow at the sight. Adrien walked towards the young Wayne and ease his wife into his arms. As if sensing who was holding her, Mari cuddled closer to Damian.
"I think she's tired from all the baking we did today. I might have made a couple messes and riled her up. She doesn't realize that her body is getting ready and she needs more rest." Adrien admitted. Damian nodded in understanding.
"Thank you, Adrien. I'll let her rest before dinner." Damian spoke, before carrying her upstairs to their room.
Nino let out a sigh of relief, he didn't know he was holding. Maybe it was just a reflex now.
Adrien scratched his neck and turned to find Nino and Alfred close by.
"Alfred, do you think I can watch you make dinner?" he questioned.
"Of course, Master Adrien. Come this way." Alfred smiled.
"Mind if I tag along?" Nino questioned.
Nino watched as Adrien incorporated Marinette's teachings from earlier and sat back as Alfred explained what he was making.
Adrien wrote down the recipe as he listened by ear and began to ask questions.
"Why are you putting sugar in the tomato sauce?" questioned Adrien as Alfred stirred the tomato sauce.
"Sugar cuts down the acidity that are in tomatoes." Alfred responded.
"Really?" he asked, but Alfred only nodded.
Alfred sat down the ladle and went to the fridge to pull out some chilled dough.
"Mari made macarons for dessert." Adrien commented.
"Yes, but this isn't for dessert. This is for Lady Marinette's quiche." Alfred admitted.
"A quiche? Why?" asked Nino, "I thought we were having lasagna?"
"We are, but sometimes meat doesn't agree with her. There are some days she will eat it, but other times it makes her nauseous. We believe it's the baby, but we haven't figured out if it's a certain ingredient that is causing the reaction so I usually bake a small spinach quiche. Just in case. If not, it's available to anyone who wants it for breakfast." Alfred explained.
"Tom and Sabine make an amazing salmon quiche! It was one of the first things I tried at the bakery. It was really delicious. Maybe if I asked Sabine and Tom for the recipe, she could have something from home! I can call them tonight and ask. I'm sure they wouldn't mind if it was for Mari and their grandchild." Adrien rambled, excitedly.
The next evening, Marinette looked surprise as a salmon quiche was placed down in front of her. As soon as the smell wafted up to her nose and tears began to fill her eyes. Damian and Adrien were by her side in an instant.
"I'm sorry. I don't know why I'm crying." Marinette whispered between sobs. Damian pulled his wife into his arms and Adrien rubbed circles on her back.
"It's okay, Bug." he whispered, "It's just love from home."
No one said a word as the two boys comforted the young mother, only smiled.
Once they had finished eating, Adrien spoke up. "With your parents permission, I gave the recipe to Alfred so you can always have a little bit of home. Maybe next year, I can bring more of the bakery back." causing her smile to brighten.
"So, how was it having your friends here?" asked Damian, as the car pulled out of the driveway. "I liked it. Maybe after three to four months after the baby is born, I'd like to go to Paris. Only for a week or two." Marinette replied, "I'd like to see Tikki and as much as my parents would love to have us longer, Hawkmoth is still around and I can't risk out child." Damian only nodded, as he guided her to the sitting room.
"Do you think your friends were able to relax?" he questioned. "I'm not sure about Nino. He seemed like her had so much on his mind, but I guess that's to be expected." Marinette sighed, "He seemed to relax around half way through though."
"He was with Alya for five years and then she suddenly broke it off cause she thought he was being to hard on her 'best friend' and was about to lose her. I know that hurt him more then anything. Alya has always been the busy type. She's like Tim in a lot of ways, but Tim would drop everything in a heartbeat to help someone. Alya….Alya's dream is her top priority and I think Nino was fine being second to that. For Alya to break up with him over not being or doing enough for Lalya…..I think it was the last straw. I'm glad he stood up for himself. He needs too."
"What about Adrien?" Damian asked.
"I can tell. Maman and Papa make him happy. Plagg let it slip when he wasn't around that he was considering on taking the family name, but he's still unsure." Mari stated. "Oh?" he remarked. "Yep, so I guess I'll gain a brother soon and you'll gain a brother-in-law." she giggled. Damian rolled his eyes, "If anything I'm gaining another cat." Marinette laughed.
"Alfred mentioned that he was very hands on." Damian said, before taking a sip of his lemonade. Marinette groaned in response.
"Adrien is the complete opposite of his father. That man, for as long as I have known Adrien, has been a shadow parent. He controls Adrien from the background, but never had any personal influence on him. Adrien is going to be a helicopter parent. I just know it." Mari replied, "He was treating me just about as bad as you do."
"Marinette." Damian spoke. "Don't 'Marinette' me! I'm not made out of glass!" she shouted, " Did you give him directions on how to treat me? If he wasn't holding my hand to guide me places or keeping an eye on every step I took, I swear he would have gone insane. I was going insane!"
"His poor future children." Marinette sighed, causing her husband to smirk. "You'll be their daring aunt who will help them break the rules and keep their father in check." He replied. "Oh God; I'll be Plagg." she voiced.
Damian laughed and she began to giggle.
"Oh!" Marinette gasped and smirked at her stomach. Damian placed his hand on her belly. "She's a fighter, like her mother." he smiled at his wife. "And her father." Mari smiled back, as he placed a kiss on the top of her head.
Adrien was clutching his stomach in pain, double over. Who knew laughing this hard made it difficult to breathe?
"I get it! Alright! You can stop laughing now!" shouted Nino, slumping in his seat.
"Why would you- Did you hit your head when we were there?" asked Adrien. "No." Nino pouted further. "Then why would you think-" he began to ask.
"Cause you kept putting your hands all over her!" Nino retaliated, making Adrien jump in his seat, "If you weren't holding her hand. you were either hugging her or getting her to pet your hair! No to mention, all the secret talks you had in English or the damn nicknames you two had for each other! I was freaking out that one of those days Damian was gonna come home and just kill you."
Adrien frowned. "I'm sorry I made the trip stressful for you. You were suppose to relax and figure out about your relationship with Alya." "Yeah." Nino sighed.
"Did you figure anything out?" the baker asked. "I think-I think this experience showed me just how much she impacted my life. I was looking for things that weren't there, which is exactly what she'd do to get a scoop." Nino took a deep breath and continued, "I think this break should be permanent. I need to focus on myself for awhile and I get lost in the midst of things when it comes to her. Our relationship was never a priority for her, but it was for me."
Adrien side hugged his friend as best as he could in the seats.
"I need to find someone who thinks like I do. I need to find someone who thinks I'm a priority and it may be Alya in the future, but it isn't now. University is coming up and that needs to be number one right now." the DJ frowned.
"What do you want to do? There's nothing holding you back." smiled Adrien.
Nino smiled, knowing it meant no one.
"I guess I want to get more gigs. So maybe I'll take some online courses." "Okay and what about later?" Adrien asked, "Think bigger."
Nino closed his eyes and thought about it. He wanted to be on stage, but was that enough?
"May-Maybe open a studio? It doesn't have to be a recording studio, but maybe I can also get a teaching degree in music and teach kids about music?" he suggested.
"That sounds great!" the former model commented, "You could always see if Luka would like to help. He knows how to play guitar or anyone from Kitty Section, really! They know different instruments! Oh, and I know piano. I could help on certain days and-" Adrien began to rant.
"Woah! Hold on! First let's make sure I pass my classes! I can't eat my grades like you do." he laughed, playfully shoving his best friend, making him laugh.
"So…what is your deal with Marinette?" Nino circled back to the start of the conversation.
" Mari and I have a bond, but we're not together. She's like my best friend." he apologized. "Hey!" Nino whined.
"Sorry, but Mari…She understands me in ways I never thought anyone could." Adrien began to explain, "She is happily married to Damian and I can't wait to meet their daughter. I'm her 'Honorary Uncle' and I'm going to protect her. I wasn't there for Mari like I should have been, when she was dealing with Layla. I guess I just feel over protective of her. I feel like things changed after she got with Damian, but in a good way. She became who she was meant to be."
Nino nodded in understanding. "What about the whole best friend thing?" he asked.
"Marinette has been there for me through a lot. With my father, me figuring out who I want to be, how to do things anyone should know how to do, she taught me how to cook, she gave me a new goal in life! Hell, they postponed their honeymoon while I cried like a baby in her arms asking if I could move into her old room and if her parents would be okay with it!" Adrien responded, passionately.
"Alfred might have mention the postponement, but definitely not the crying.." Nino whispered.
" I was basically bawling my eyes out in her lap the day after she got married. I-I just feel like I can never match up to her. " the former model said, sadly.
"I get that, Dude, but to other people who may not know, you guys seem super close." the DJ spoke.
"Relax, Nino. Marinette is just a friend." Adrien smiled.
@vixen-uchiha @dur55 @sonif50 @sam-spectra @ozmav @maribat-archive @mjisntme @iggy-of-fans @akana-sama @scribblinggraveyard @urbanpineapplefarmer @northernbluetongue @mystery-5-5 @zalladane @bluefiredemon @grandmaveitch @friedchickening @queen-of-the-trash-planet-tm @resignedcatservant
