Adrien looked up from his notebook. “Are you sure everything’s okay?”
Marinette forced a smile. “Yeah, just… long day.”
Adrien nodded, but his expression stayed concerned. “If you need to talk, you can, you know. About anything.”
“Thanks, Adrien,” she said softly, appreciating his kindness even as her mind churned with unease.
They worked in relative silence for the next hour, Adrien occasionally cracking a joke to lighten the mood, which Marinette gratefully went along with. Still, the tension in her chest refused to fully dissipate.
When Nathalie’s voice echoed from downstairs, announcing that dinner was ready, Adrien stood up and stretched. “Do you want to stay for dinner? My father’s away, so it’ll just be Nathalie, the Gorilla, and us. Nothing too formal.”
Marinette hesitated. Spending more time here, where Felix was lurking, didn’t seem appealing. But Adrien’s hopeful expression made her reconsider.
“Sure,” she said finally. “Why not?”
Adrien smiled, leading the way downstairs. Marinette followed, her steps slower, her mind still caught on Felix. She couldn’t shake the feeling that their earlier exchange wasn’t over.
Dinner was uneventful, though Marinette felt Felix’s presence like a shadow in the corner of her eye. He sat at the opposite end of the table, his polite demeanor masking whatever thoughts swirled beneath the surface.
After the meal, Adrien offered to walk Marinette to the door. “Thanks for helping me out today,” he said warmly.
“No problem,” she replied, trying to match his light tone.
Just as she was about to leave, Felix appeared in the entryway, leaning casually against the wall.
“Leaving already?” he asked, his voice smooth and nonchalant.
“Yes,” Marinette said, keeping her tone clipped.
Felix smiled faintly, his gaze unwavering. “Safe travels, Marinette. Do come back soon.”
She didn’t reply, stepping past him quickly and out the door. Adrien waved goodbye, oblivious to the tension in the air.
"What's up with you and Marinette?" Adrien’s tone was light, but there was a subtle edge to his question as he turned to face Felix. The two stood in the hallway, the soft glow of the chandelier above casting long shadows on the walls.
Felix leaned casually against the doorframe of Adrien’s room, his usual smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Whatever do you mean, dear cousin?” he replied smoothly, his voice dripping with faux innocence.
Adrien frowned, crossing his arms. “You know what I mean. You’ve been acting… weird around her.”
Felix raised an eyebrow, as if amused by the accusation. “Weird? I was simply being polite. Isn’t that what you always lecture me about? Being more… personable?”
“You know that's not what I mean,” Adrien shot back, his voice firm. “The way you were looking at her earlier- like you were trying to figure her out or something.”
Felix chuckled softly, pushing off the doorframe and stepping closer to Adrien. “Ah, so you noticed. You’re more observant than I thought.”
“Felix,” Adrien warned, his patience thinning.
Felix sighed, his smirk fading slightly. “Fine. If you must know, I find Marinette… intriguing. She has a certain fire to her, doesn’t she? I’m simply curious about her, that’s all.”
Adrien’s frown deepened. “Curious? Felix, Marinette isn’t some puzzle for you to solve. She’s my friend. So whatever you’re doing, stop. She's obviously uncomfortable with it.”
Felix raised his hands in mock surrender. “Relax, Adrien. I’m not planning anything nefarious. I just find her… refreshing. Compared to most people, anyway.”
Adrien didn’t look convinced. “Just leave her alone, okay?”
Felix tilted his head, his expression unreadable. “If you insist, cousin. But I can’t make any promises if she seeks me out.”
Adrien clenched his jaw, his frustration evident. “Why would she seek you out?”
Felix’s smirk returned, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “Who knows? Sometimes people are drawn to what they don’t understand.”
With that, Felix turned and walked away, leaving Adrien standing in the hallway, his unease growing. Something about Felix’s words didn’t sit right with him. He’d have to keep a closer eye on his cousin- and Marinette.
