#kept making note in the middle of the text to explain basic metaphors

[mxtxfanatic]

The more I get into this translation and am able to read other works, the more I fear that the “plain language” of cnovels are actually a manmade problem and a self-fulfilling prophecy. Some translators, for whatever reason, flattened out the metaphors and imagery in the works they translated, those translations became popular and widely spread, people began to acclimate to this way of writing as “just the way cnovels are,” other translators internalizing this idea pick up other cnovels to work on, rinse and repeat. Cause there’s no way tgcf is this colorful and yet only a trickle of that shines through into English.

[they-say-you-go-blind]

Close Around the Campfire | Jack / Davey Fanfiction

Davey and Jack were close. It was different, instantaneous kind of close that neither had experienced until this point. Did either of them intend to find the person they were meant to be with forever at counselor orientation day of a summer camp? Never in a million years.

———————————————

Davey had turned 19 less than a week ago. With one year of Political Science under his belt, but a hearty student loan to pay off, he was desperate for a job. With that first application, and a couple of phone interviews later, and he was set for the summer . However, now that he was pulling into the staff parking lot at Blockwood Summer Camp, he wasn’t so sure. He turned the keys of his beat up car and typed a text to Les.

I made it to camp safe. Going to do some counselor stuff for the next few days so probably won’t be able to talk much. I’ll see ya in a couple of weeks for A.R.K. camp.

He slumped in his seat. 10 weeks of leading campfire songs and doing archery and making sure a weekly rotation of kids stay alive... maybe he hadn’t thought about it enough. He opened snap and took a picture of his bags that were crammed into the back of his car. He looked at the photo for a second, captioned it with ‘I believe I’ve made a horrible mistake’, and sent it to the groupchat with his best friends.

He knew he had about ten minutes until he should start making his way to the Mess Hall, as it said in his Orientation Day email. His best friend, Katherine, was trying to call him and he nearly let it ring out. At the last second, he pressed answer and spoke,

“I don’t think I should be here.”

Katherine and Davey had been best friends since diapers. In Kindergarten, their teachers were convinced they were twins just because of they way they acted with each other (and their aversion to all others). In middle school, the two of them sang and did a choreographed dance number at the talent show. They were the Closet Gay prom king and Queen, most representation that their school had ever had. And now, going into their sophomore year of college, they were honest with one another about everything, could joke about anything, and be trusted with the deepest secrets the other had. It’s no surprise that Katherine blurted out,

“I’m sorry, have you seen your co-workers?!”

Davey was taken aback.

“How the hell do you know what they look like?”

Katherine blushed. Her secret was out.

“You gave me access to your email before you left, in case you got anything important.”

Davey nodded and and whispered out an ‘oh no’. Katherine started to send the screenshots as she spoke.

“I saw your orientation email... it wasn’t hard to find their socials from there...”.

Davey couldn’t believe it as he swiped through the profiles of the three other boys who were his new co-workers. Katherine started to narrate each of her discoveries.

“First off, is Harrison “Race” Higgins. Seems fun and all. Also, I’m sure you can see in the profile picture, but Rainbow Flag!”

“Ah yes, Christian church camp is where I’m going to find my b...”

Davey could barely get the words out. Katherine was the only person in his “real life” who knew that the “you two should just get married” comments about him and Kath would absolutely never happen. Katherine just giggled, like a schoolgirl keeping a secret.

“Just you wait, Davey.”

Davey pondered on Race’s profile picture. Seemed cute, a little goofy, a lot like a best friend. Katherine continued.

“Next is Zachary “Spot” Conlon. Don’t tell me why they both have nicknames. But he is...”

“He looks like he could beat me up with a glare.”

Katherine laughed at that.

“They’re dating, by the way. They give me forever together vibes.”

Davey swiped between the two profiles as she talked. She wasn’t wrong, forever vibes were There.

“Huh, noted.”

“And the last one,” Katherine cleared her throat.

“ and I’ll let you narrate this one yourself, is Jack Kelley.”

Jack Kelly was the most attractive boy Davey had ever seen. His profile picture looked like it was him in a painting class for University. He had a little bit of pink paint on his cheek and a beautiful smile. His eyes were the color of a clear blue sky. It looked that his cover photo was one of his paintings as well,... a landscape piece with the initials J.K. in the bottom right corner. His “about me” was a gold mine, and he would be sure to read every detail later.

“Dibs on this one.”

He told Katherine. It had been their thing, that once they’d both seen someone attractive, the first one to call dibs would have zero roadblocks to them. Davey was so enthralled. He just kept staring at the profile picture.

“He’s just...”

“Perfect? I know...”

She chuckled to herself.

“And, there’s one more thing you should know.”

She spoke and sent him the final screenshot. When Davey opened it, he was confused.

A picture of Katherine’s Facebook?

She nearly squealed, but kept composure to say.

“You really were not observant when you pulled into the parking lot. I expected better from you, Davey J.”

Davey was in shock. She couldn’t have made this up! He got so excited and nervous and relieved all at once. Looking around, he saw her car and waved.

“You’re not pulling my leg, right? This isn’t some twisted joke... really?!”

“Yes! Apparently one of the female counselors was Not who she said she was, so they called me last night and I am here for the summer!”

She spoke quickly, Davey could barely understand what she was saying.

“You’re literally my favorite person in the world.”

He spoke with sincerity. He couldn’t believe his best friend in the world would be spending the summer with him.

“I might have to become your second favorite. If I’m not mistaken, Jack Kelly just pulled in the parking lot.”

Davey turned his head to see him and couldn’t help but stare for a few seconds. Photos did not do Jack Kelly justice. Davey’s head was spinning. He didn’t know if he could manage spending five seconds with him. How was he supposed to survive the summer? Davey’s face grew red as he realized Jack was pulling into the spot next to him.

———————————————

“Kath, holy shit.” Davey blurted out as he snapped his head to the front. “Language, Daves. Christian children’s camp...”

Katherine snorted as she laughed at Davey, who was now flustered and red in the cheeks.

“What are we gonna do?”

He asked, his forehead falling on the steering wheel in defeat. Katherine pondered.

“We? No, you. You called dibs! I’m just along for the ride.”

“You’re an asshole. I’m actually going to die. He is... God Kath-”

Davey stopped mid-sentence as he heard a knock on his window. He lifted his head to see Jack Kelly.

“Good luck with that, babe.”

After making a frustrated noise, and trying to refrain from looking like an idiot, he hung up the call, cranked the window down, and smiled, waiting for Jack to speak.

“Hey there. You must be working here, too?”

Davey nearly combusted as Jack leaned back onto the passengers door of his car, which was nicer than his own. Did Davey care about that? Not really.

“Yeah, I’m David Jacobs. Most people call me Davey.”

“Jack Kelly.”

He stuck out his hand, Davey shook it through the window and chuckled. Jack continued.

“It’s nice to meet ya. You’re radiating ‘camp counselor’, but don’t wanna assume.”

Davey’s brain was all but melted. This boy wanted to talk to him. He got out of his car and made the effort to talk to him.

“Yeah, course. I- yeah.”

“What’s got ya so bothered you can barely form a sentence?”

“No, nothing it’s just- did they have other jobs? Not like I would want one but like-“

Jack laughed. This Davey kid was adorable.

“Sure they do, got my buddy Finch running around as a lifeguard, couple of others do maintenance, and I think they brought on Albert to be a ‘activity coordinator’. That basically means when we do archery, he’s in charge of us not shooting each other in the leg.”

Davey chuckled.

“So you’ve worked here before?”

Jack nodded and looked around. This place was a second home to him.

“My ma’s the camp director. Been goin’ here since I was like, 7 and workin’ for the past two years.”

Jack smiled wide and continued on.

“Speaking of workin, we should probably head in. I usually come early to help set up but she insisted I try to be more “normal” this summer. Famous last words, I guess.”

They both laughed quite a bit.

“You’re very friendly, Jack.”

Davey spoke, metaphorically walking on eggshells as to not mess up the friendship that he hoped was forming. He got out of his car and realized he was the same height as Jack, if only a little bit shorter. They were very close to each other.

“Why thanks, Davey. Tell her you said so...”

Jack laughed with him as they made their way to the mess hall. He explained to Davey the in’s and out’s of Blockwood. Most of the people who worked their had gone to camp in their teens and it was just natural to apply for a job there, too.

Before Jack walked in the mess hall, he turned to Davey. Jack had made eye contact every time he spoke with him. It was nice.

“Just double checkin, because ma ain’t always good with hiring ages, ya 18?”

“Oh, yeah. Just turned 19.”

“Good good. I’m about to turn 21, if that matters.”

“It’s good information to have, especially when we’re about to spend all summer together.”

Was Jack blushing? He didn’t know, and it was hot out. Either way, he didn’t care because Jack Kelly was talking to him and adorable.

“Yeah, Davey. For sure.”

Jack opened the door to see Race and Spot all over each other. He snapped his fingers at them and both looked towards Davey. Jack spoke up.

“Hey boys, we got a new one. Be civil, this here’s Davey.”

Race smiled, got up from his seat, and stuck out his hand.

“Name’s Racetrack. You can call me Race or Racer or Sweetheart. It’s good to meet ya, Dave.”

Davey chuckled and shook it. He really was late to the party. They all knew each other.

“It’s nice to meet you too.”

“That shortie there is my pal-“

Race shot a look at Jack, who shrugged. He continued.

“Sorry, are you?”

Race gestured to his rainbow friendship bracelet. Hoping that would be enough. At camp, they tried not to use the word. Some people had gotten very angry when their child had come home saying, ‘my counselor was gay’.

“No, no, no. I am. Not out, but, I guess I am, now. Yes.”

Race nodded and amended his statement.

“I gotcha, Davey. That’s my boyfriend, Spot.”

Davey gave a wave and Spot nodded and waved back. Had Davey really come out to people he met ten seconds ago? Jack looked surprised. At least you’re not obvious.

Katherine came inside soon after. She was immediately swooped up by Race and told to “lose the good girl vibe” from Spot. She laughed with them for awhile about the instant ‘Davey and Jack’ connection. It wasn’t hard to see for either of their friends.

Jack introduced Davey to the whole gang. Finch and Albert were in the corner trying to decide who was right about a candy from the snack shack. Sarah and Chutchie dancing to the approved “Camp Playlist”, and his mama trying to finalize a little bit of paperwork.

He got to Romeo, trying a pick-up line on Katherine, and stopped.

“Hey there, Miss. Don’t believe we’ve met before. My name’s Jack. Jack Kelly.”

He stuck out his hand and she shook it.

“Charmed. I’m Katherine, Katherine Plumber-Jacobs.”

Katherine and Davey smiled at each other and laughed. Jack looked between the two of them and his’s face was turning red.

“What... y’all ain’t married or something, are ya?!”

Davey and Katherine started to laugh without cease. Davey tried to explain through snorts.

“No... she just uses that line because she wants to be my twin. Kath, here, she’s my best friend.”

Romeo spoke up.

“Oh goodness. Well ain’t that the best of both worlds for ya, Jack?”

Jack narrowed his eyes and shot a glare Romeo’s way.

“Now that I know there’s two of ya, I won’t be so scared to let Davey wander. Thought I was gonna have to be glued to his side!”

“Don’t think he’d like me very much if you stopped leading him around.”

Davey was flustered, but Katherine and Jack laughed and laughed. She waved goodbye, going to talk to Sarah instead of interrupting their “together time”, as she called it while recounting the day with Davey. He tried to apologize to Jack.

“Sorry about her.”

“No way, she’s spunky and loud. She’ll fit right in.”

Davey looked around. He wasn’t wrong. It was chaotic and were Romeo and Race arm wrestling? Was Katherine really cheering them on?

“Yeah, she’s... great.”

“You’re great.”

Jack backtracked as his face grew red.

“Oh shit, um sorry about that. That didn’t-”

“Hey, it’s... you’re great, too. Just cut that language out before kids get here in a few days, Kelly.”

Davey smiled and Jack swears that if this was literally any other setting, he would kiss him or draw him a picture or do anything to see that smile every day. Unfortunately, Jack decided to revert to a Jack that didn’t like getting emotional in front of his friends. Chalk it up to force of habit.

“So, you enjoy it here?”

“Is that even a question? It’s awesome, Jack.”

———————————————

It had been a full day of training. Ms. Medda, as Davey had learned was Jack’s mother, and some of the more experienced staff got newcomers ready for camp. She explained how these first three days were training and that there were still things that needed to be done before kids came on Monday. Everyone did some basic first aid and some get-to-know-you games.

Katherine and Davey worked on learning names and people’s jobs. It seemed that when you thought you had it all figured out, Jack or Race would call ‘em a whole new nickname and the pieces would all fall apart. Maintenance (Elmer, Buttons, and Jojo) and lifeguards (Finch and Romeo) had a bit more training to do. Albert and Crutchie, outdoor and indoor activity coordinators, needed to organize some things for the first day.

That left the counselors. Davey, Jack, Race, Spot, Katherine, and Sarah decided to go on a nature walk. That group, of all people, would be spending the most time together. They took them through the woods, showed them the cabins, made sure that Davey and Katherine were somewhat oriented on the camp property. During the walk, Jack took the lead to explain where they were and what needed to be done.

• “Alright, adventure course- never go there without Albert... or me, I’m more fun.”

• “Cabins- good stuff. We can drive down the path to unpack cars later. But Ma’s got me on a tight schedule.”

• “Swimming house- also doubles as a bath house. None of us are going to smell particularly great until Off Days. But please, for the love of our Lord and Savior, make sure your kids shower.”

Race chimed in on this one, acting as if he were passing down an urban legend as Spot started to chuckle.

“They will try to persuade you, tell you they don’t need one. But they do.”

Sarah and Katherine had instantly been drawn to each other. Davey didn’t know how, but Katherine had already managed to be given two friendship bracelets. She would be just fine. He would be, too.

Jack sighed as the timer on his phone went off.

“Sorry gang, walk’s been terminated. But, now it’s time for my favorite part of camp.

Please don’t say hazing. No hazing.

“Building the campfire!”

Davey chuckled as the others wooed. Jack was the leader everyone needed.

———————————————

Over the past three days, Katherine and Davey had melded into this friendgroup seamslessly. They would roast each other and laugh and exist as a family. Neither were quite sure how they pulled it off. Each now had friendship bracelets from fellow counselors, and likewise made them for others. They had swam in the pool and laughed and sang and, Davey recounted, prayed together. It didn’t make sense how it could all be so perfect.

More than anything else, Jack had instilled the need in Katherine and Davey for a ‘Perfect Cooking Fire’. He knew that, of all things, this would have to be the thing they remember how to do. They built it well, only with a little help from Sarah, as Jack filed paperwork for him mom.

He would do that often. Disappear and reappear like a magician. He knew what needed to be done, and did it before his mother even asked. Davey had tried to offer help, but Jack just took out his reading glasses and said ‘No, no. It’s stuff I gotta do, Dave.”

The final night before campers were here, and all the college kids just wanted to drink in the moment. Race and Spot went to get the food for the “Last Supper” as they called it. Hot dogs, of course.

Davey was relived that Jack came to sit next to him after the food was done. The entire staff was sitting around, laughing and chatting and eating. Jack knew that he needed to talk to Davey, just not with everyone around. David blurted out exactly what was on his mind.

“I really like it here.”

“I’m glad, Dave. You did a great job with the cooking fore, too.”

“Thanks, I thought I wouldn’t. Ya know, in the car that first day, I was convinced that I made a horrible mistake.”

“I’m glad I knocked on your window then.”

“Why’d ya do that? Just to be nice?”

Jack looked around as he grew flustered.

“Can we, talk abou that later?”

“Of course.”

The festivities lasted until “Light’s Out” at 11pm. Medda suggested that everyone should turn in soon, as they would all have to be ready by 8am tomorrow. Race asked her, fishing for laughs, as she walked away-

“What if I just never got to bed, Miss Medda?”

“Then you would be unfit for the job, Mr. Higgins. Get some shut eye!”

The entire fire laughed at her retort.

The gang started to slowly disband. Katherine and Sarah were the last to go, hand in hand, except for Jack and Davey. Davey made a comment.

“God only knows what they’re off to do.”

“God is one lucky son of a gun.”

They both laughed at that.

They both sat there, next to the ashes of a once great fire.

Jack looked around and talked in a low tone.

“Davey.”

“Yeah, Jack.”

“I’m ready to talk about it...”

Davey gulped. This was it. He was going to tell him that it meant nothing that they always say next to each other. That talking until four in the morning wasn’t real. That these past few days weren’t an indication of anything.

“I, whew, that first day you were so nervous. Now look at me...”

Jack’s palms were sweaty and he wiped them on his pants.

“Hey, dude. It’s okay. We don’t have to talk about it.”

“No, no I want to. We need to.”

Davey’s stomach turned and he closed his eyes.

“I- shoot. I knocked on your window, because you’s were the prettiest boy I’d ever seen.

Davey opened his eyes and looked at Jack, who was now near tears.

“God, I’m real emotional about this, sorry.”

Jack took a breath and looked Davey in the eyes.

“Just, you’re perfect. And, I know we just met and all, and it’s highly unprofessional to say this but... I really think these three days have been a dream come true.”

“Oh Jack...”

Davey held out one of his hands. Jack took it with his.

“Honest, ya know... I’ve got so many friends and they’re always dating and everything but, you came along and just...”

He put his head on Davey’s shoulder and kept going.

“You’re just really nice and kind and, I don’t know, make me feel a new sorta way.”

Davey couldn’t believe it.

“You, like me, Jack?”

Jack spouted off, sarcastically as ever.

“No, it’s all an act! I caught ya in a gay lie!”

Davey laughed as Jack lifted his head and squeezed Davey’s hand.

“Nah, I do. And, nothing’s gotta happen, tonight or this summer or ever, especially since there’ll be kids and it’s a Christian camp and-“

“Your mom?”

“She doesn’t care. You’ve seen the way some of ‘em hang all over each other.”

“I know that, just wanted to check.”

“Yeah, but- like, God. You’re perfect Davey Jacobs.”

“C-Can I kiss you?”

Davey didn’t mean to say it, but he did. And Jack did. His eyes lit up and he closed the distance. It was warm. Davey had never kissed a boy before. He was certain Jack had, though.

Jack hadn’t. Coming out to himself was one thing, his family and friends was another, but to kiss a boy next to a campfire when you’re about to spend all summer with him? No, he hadn’t. Kissing girls was one thing, but this? With Davey? Was something he could never compare anything to. Jack pulled away for a second, wanting to be frank with him.

“Did you like that?”

“Do that again, Kelly.”

Davey pulled Jack back in. And that’s how they stayed, for a while. Neither could tell if it had been an hour or just a few seconds when they finally pulled away. Davey wanted to be honest.

“I’m not, out-out yet, if that could be an issue.”

“No, nah... and it doesn’t have to, nothing’s gotta come of this, ya know.“

“I know. It’s, it’s nice, though. I want it to.”

Davey leaned on Jack’s shoulder. He was so hesitant, usually. Jack Kelly might’ve been the only boy in the world who could do that to him.

“God, I was so worried I was scarin’ a closeted catholic boy away.”

Davey laughed. Everyone seemed to get that vibe from him.

“One, non-denominational. Everyone gets thrown off by that. Two, you’re not scarin me at all.”

Jack pressed a kiss to Davey’s temple and started to play with his hair.

“This okay?”

“Yeah, this is wonderful.”

They don’t know when they turned in for the night. But, 8am rolled around and camp was in session. Jack came up behind Davey, right before campers were about to enter and spoke calmly, putting his hand into David’s .

“It’s gonna be a good summer, Davey.”

“Yeah, it is, Jack.”

David gave his hand a tight squeeze as Jack walked away to unlock and the door. Upon opening the door, a boy, while looked to be no older than ten, ran to Jack and threw his arms around him.

“Cowboy!”

“Hey there, dude! How are ya?”

Davey smiled and looked at Katherine, who was standing by with the other counselors. He gave her a nod, and that was all they needed.

This summer is going to be great.

[mikauzoran]

Adrienette Drabble Twenty: Impulse

(Sorry I didn’t realize that I didn’t post this!)

“Plagg?” Adrien called as he returned to his bedroom. “Wanna go for a run? I’ll give you extra cheese.”

His proposal was met with metaphorical chirping crickets.

“Plagg?” Adrien checked under Plagg’s pillow and pulled open the sock drawer. “Plagg?”

With a frown, Adrien sank onto his bed. “Maybe he’s with Dad?”

Gabriel and Plagg has been spending an inordinate amount of time together recently. Adrien was kind of worried that they were becoming friends.

“Guess I’m not going on a run,” Adrien grumbled, grabbing his phone off of the nightstand and texting Gabriel: “Is Plagg with you?”

Within ten seconds, he had a reply: “Yes. Do you need him?”

Adrien contemplated his response. If Adrien said yes, Gabriel would be concerned because he would worry his son was either planning on sneaking out to go run on rooftops or because Adrien needed Plagg to fight an akuma. There hadn’t been any attacks since Gabriel had learned Adrien’s secret identity, so they had yet to deal with the reality that Adrien would sometimes be in danger for the safety of Paris (read as: Marinette).

Adrien sighed exaggeratedly as he typed, “No. Thanks!”

“Nope. Definitely not going for a run right now,” he pouted, staring up at his phone.

He pursed his lips.

His fingers were itching to text Marinette even though he knew it was a bad idea.

He called Nino instead, but Nino didn’t pick up.

With a frustrated growl, Adrien sent Nino a text: “Hey. Just wanted to let you know I got my phone back. Talk to you later!”

Adrien chewed on the inside of his cheek, reminding himself that he had promised Marinette he wouldn’t text her.

“You don’t want to look like a desperate stalker, do you?” his inner voice warned. “You’re lucky you got away with that stunt you pulled today going to the photoshoot.”

With another sigh, Adrien tapped into a prior string of texts between himself and Marinette and read through some of the old messages. While some of the exchanges brought a smile to his face, they simultaneously inspired melancholy as they reminded him of what he had lost, the intimacy he and Marinette had shared that his revelation had ruined.

Adrien dropped the phone on the bed and threw an arm over his eyes. “This sucks.”

He allowed himself a moment to wallow before he grabbed the phone and tried Nino again.

Nino did not pick up.

Adrien rolled over onto his stomach to more efficiently glare down at his screen.

The phone lit up with a text from Nino: “u need me mec”.

Adrien momentarily considered responding, “Yes, I’m bored”, but he knew better. Nino hadn’t answered Adrien’s calls because he was in the middle of something, but he had sent a text to check in, and if Adrien said that he needed Nino, Nino would drop everything and be there for Adrien. Adrien knew better than to abuse the privilege that Nino had given him.

“Nope. Just bored,” Adrien answered. “Thanks!”

“w alya” Nino lied. “talk later?”

“Later!” Adrien confirmed and then began scrolling down through old text conversations with other friends. The options were fairly limited as there were only seven or eight people whom Adrien texted, and two of those people were Nathalie and Gabriel.

He spotted a brief text exchange with Chloé from May when he’d wished her a happy birthday.

He called her on an impulse, thinking, “Marinette wants me to spend time with other friends? I’ll spend time with other friends.”

“Adri-chou, did you call me by mistake, or did you want something?” Chloé snorted into the receiver as soon as she picked up.

Adrien bit his lip. “Hey, Chlo,” he chuckled awkwardly.

“I’d assumed you’d forgotten that I was alive. I haven’t heard from you in over a month,” she accused.

“Yeah,” Adrien muttered. “Listen, Chloé. I’m really sorry that I dropped off the face of the earth on you. I’ve kind of been going through some things.”

“You mean girlfriends?” she sniffed, sounding personally offended.

Adrien winced. “Yeah. Okay. That’s fair.”

“…What happened?” Chloé inquired, voice softening as the edge came off her resentment. “A couple months ago it seemed like you were imploding, but then you started dating that redhead for a while and were stable again until you broke up with her a month ago, and then you went back to spiraling out of control. And this past week you kept disappearing. Like, even more than usual. What the heck is going on with you?”

Adrien took a deep breath and sighed. “I was in love with someone. I am in love with someone. To an unhealthy degree. I mean, to the point where I can’t be happy without her and whatever she does is fine, even if what she does is rip my beating heart out of my chest and stomp on it. I got a therapist, and she said that, basically, I need to tone it down and live for myself instead of for the girl I love, so…it’s pretty bad.”

“Wait,” Chloé demanded. “We’ll come back to the girl in a minute, but you got a therapist? Since when does your father allow you to see a therapist? Your father loathes therapists. He thinks they’re scam artists. I mean, that’s what he told Daddy when I started seeing my therapist. Are you sneaking out of the house and getting counseling on the sly, or how does that work?” Chloé scoffed incredulously.

“My Dad has actually been changing the past month. He’s really putting an effort into parenting. I told him I was concerned about possibly becoming suicidal and wanted to see somebody to help me get better, and he made it happen. I don’t think his opinions about therapy have changed, but we’ve kind of got our backs up against the wall as far as my mental health goes, so he’s willing to try anything at this point,” Adrien explained.

Chloé silently attempted to digest the information she had been given. “…You’re not actually thinking about killing yourself…are you?” she finally asked in a small, scared voice.

“No. We’re not at that point yet,” Adrien assured. “Well…I mean…okay. So last Saturday was really rough, and I may have briefly thought, ‘She’s never going to be with me, and I’m not able to love anyone else; I’m going to be alone the rest of my life. I’d rather be dead than live like that’, but I wasn’t seriously planning to do anything with that thought, so…”

Adrien fleetingly noted that this was the most honest, deep conversation he’d had with Chloé in years…since they were fifteen and her parents officially divorced. It felt bizarre and yet comfortable. Before Marinette and Alya and Nino, there had been Chloé for the longest time, and it felt good to go back to that familiarity.

“…Who’s this girl that messed you up?” Chloé seethed. “What did she do to you?”

“Nothing,” Adrien stressed. “It’s complicated. She’s liked me for as long as I’ve liked her, but we’ve kind of bungled things over the past four years.”

“—Four years?!” Chloé interrupted. “God! Why didn’t you say anything?!”

“You don’t like her, and I wanted to keep my feelings secret so they didn’t mess up the friendship because I thought she was in love with someone else,” Adrien fibbed, reframing the situation from being in love with Ladybug to being in love with Marinette all along.

“I like her less now,” Chloé hissed. “Keep talking.”

“So, I loved her,” Adrien resumed, “and she loved me, but we didn’t know how the other felt, so…we were a mess. We accidentally hurt each other a lot…but then, four months ago, I decided I needed to get over her. She suggested I date other people casually, not realizing that she was the one I loved, so I tried to do what she said…only I messed it up and only managed to fall even deeper in love with her. So…yeah….”

Adrien threw an arm over his eyes again and sighed. “Last week I told her I loved her, and things blew up. She said once I get my mental health under control and stop worshipping her, maybe we can try dating.”

Chloé pursed her lips and thought very, very hard. “…I’m going to arrange for Marinette Dupain-Cheng to be assassinated.”

“Chloé!” Adrien scolded. “I didn’t say it was Marinette. Please don’t hurt her. She didn’t do anything wrong. She’s not obligated to date me, even if we are destined to end up together. This isn’t her fault.”

“So it is Marinette,” Chloé growled. “The little twit. Seducing you and then playing with you like a yoyo for years. She has some nerve.”

“Please don’t say anything,” Adrien begged. “I’m working really hard to fix things with her. Things might still work out fine. I just have to hang in there and work on getting better so that I’m in good enough shape to be with her.”

“I don’t think I want you with that spazzy, obsessive klepto,” Chloé countered. “Adrien, I know you love her, but she is literally insane. Totally one of those stalker fans. She’s been obsessed with you for years.”

“…Really?” Adrien blinked, sitting up.

“Yes,” Chloé insisted. “I know she puts on that Little Miss Perfect act out in public, but, trust me. I’ve known her since we were little. She’s a walking train wreck.”

“So am I,” Adrien whispered. “…I still want to be with her, even if she isn’t perfect.”

Chloé groaned. “She’s not just not perfect, Adrien. She’s crazy.”

“So am I,” Adrien reiterated.

Chloé threw up her hands, collapsing onto her bed in defeat. “Fine…. Fine. You love her. Whatever. Just be prepared to be disappointed, and make sure she signs a prenup. I’ll hold your hand through the divorce, but you better believe that I’m going to be screaming, ‘I told you so’ the whole time.”

Adrien had to chuckle at that as he got up to lean against his window and look out at the city. “You really think she’ll agree to marry me?”

“Oh my God,” Chloé screeched. “You are hopeless! I can’t do anything with you.”

“I’m glad you still want to try,” Adrien replied softly, regret seeping into his voice. “…It hasn’t just been the past few months that I’ve been MIA on you, Chlo. I think I’ve been slowly drifting away from you for the past few years. I made new friends and fell in love with Marinette, and I didn’t put the effort into making time for you anymore. I’m really sorry for that.”

Chloé shifted uncomfortably. “Oh, stop. No mushy stuff. I don’t do mushy.”

“But I really am sorry for neglecting you,” Adrien whispered. “I know we don’t have as much in common as we used to, but I should have kept working at our friendship. I shouldn’t have given it up so easily.”

“Stooop,” Chloé sighed in frustration.

“I miss you.”

Chloé bit her lip.

His tone was so sweet and tender and full of longing for her. Finally. But too late. She’d loved this boy for so long…. Three years prior, his words would have sent her to the moon. Now…they just made her nostalgic with a touch of wistfulness.

“Yeah,” Chloé sighed. “I miss you too, you dope.”

“Are you doing anything tomorrow?” Adrien held his breath.

“I’m free. Why?” She could always cancel with Sabrina.

“I want to take you to lunch and then shopping,” Adrien proposed. “It’s been forever since we went shopping.”

“Oooh!” Chloé squealed. “I could definitely go shopping. Let’s take my car. I’ll pick you up at twelve-thirty?”

“Perfect,” Adrien agreed. “I’m excited to see you.”

“Yeah,” Chloé chuckled. “Yeah…I’m excited to see you too.”

They said their goodbyes and rang off.

The euphoric feeling of making up with Chloé and having plans for the next day only lasted a few minutes, however, and then Adrien was back to thoughts of Marinette.

He chewed on his lip as he looked down at his phone and scrolled through his contacts. He paused, his finger hovering over the number for a minute before pushing the button.

“Hey. Wayem? This is Adrien Agreste. How have you been?” Adrien greeted cheerfully and then pulled the phone away from his ear at the enthusiastic reply.

“Good, good. Thanks. So, I was wondering if you were available to grab dinner together one night this week. My treat. I have doctor’s appointments Tuesday and Thursday, but the rest of the week is wide open.”

Adrien arranged to meet with Wayem for dinner on Wednesday, exchanged a few more of the usual pleasantries, and wrapped up the call.

And then it was back to missing Marinette. She’d looked tired at the photoshoot—still ravishing and radiant…but tired. From what little Elise would say, it seemed like Marinette was having a hard time with the situation between herself and Adrien too.

Adrien wanted to call and comfort her. He wanted to suit up and go to her balcony to tell jokes and throw popcorn at one another and try to cheer her up…but his hands were tied. As the source of her torment, he was powerless to help.

And yet his fingers burned to text her.

He scrolled down to the Ts in his contacts and called Kagami instead.

“Adrien Agreste,” she greeted neutrally, on her guard.

“Hi, Kagami. How are you?” Adrien began tentatively.

“I am well. And you?” she inquired perfunctorily.

“I’m…hanging in there,” he replied sheepishly, unwilling to lie despite the fact that he knew she was only asking because she felt obliged to.

“Did you need something, Adrien?” she asked to move the conversation along. Her tone was polite, but Adrien could guess that that was only for the sake of preserving the relationship between their families.

“I need to apologize to you,” Adrien admitted with a sigh.

“A-Apologize?” He’d thrown her off balance. “Whatever for?”

“For disappointing you. I’m sorry if I hurt you, Kagami. I know that probably doesn’t mean much, especially four months after the fact, but I wanted you to know that I am sorry,” Adrien informed penitently.

Kagami didn’t respond right away. “…Thank you,” she eventually mumbled. “I suppose there is that expression ‘better late than never’.”

“I’m sorry,” Adrien repeated. “I haven’t really been myself these past few months. I decided to try to give up on the girl I’ve been in love with for the past few years and kind of ended up having a quarter-life crisis over it. When I was dating all those girls, I was so desperate to try to get rid of my feelings for the girl I love that I wasn’t thinking about how my actions might affect the people who cared about me…. I’m sorry I didn’t consider your feelings, Kagami.”

“…Honestly? I’ve known about your feelings for Marinette Dupain-Cheng for two or three years now,” Kagami sighed. “I don’t know why I kept hanging onto the hope that you’d change your mind…. I’m the one who chose to keep giving you the power to hurt me…. I’m glad that you are sorry that you hurt me, though.”

“I had kind of hoped that maybe we could be friends going forward,” Adrien proposed but then hastily added, “I completely understand if you don’t want to have anything more to do with me than you have to, though.”

Kagami considered silently for a long while before posing a question. “Answer me this. When you were on your serial dating streak, why did you never ask me to go out with you? Am I not pretty enough? Too severe? Boring? Why not me when pretty much anyone else seemed to do?”

Adrien laughed sharply at the ludicrous idea. “Kagami, I respect you too much to casually date you. You’re very attractive, and you’re witty, and I enjoy spending time with you, but I would never fool around with you like that…especially when I know you have genuine feelings for me. I respect you too much to treat your feelings lightly.”

Kagami pursed her lips and breathed deeply. “…That’s…a very good answer. So…the real problem isn’t that there’s something about me that’s lacking. The problem is that you already love Marinette.”

“Yes,” Adrien confirmed.

Kagami hummed thoughtfully. “Obviously, I’m not happy about that fact…but it is a fact I can live with…. Very well. Let’s be friends.”

“Awesome,” Adrien trilled. “Thank you, Kagami. Hey. Monday after school are you free? I feel like it’s been forever since you kicked my butt up and down the piste. Would you be interested?”

“I would be delighted to put you through your paces,” Kagami snickered. “I’m free after six.”

“Perfect. I’ll pick you up then. …Maybe afterwards I could take you to dinner?”

“Yes to dinner so long as I pay for myself,” Kagami haggled. “I don’t want there to be any confusion about this friendship; you can pay when dinner is a date.”

“Got it,” Adrien chuckled awkwardly. “I’ll see you then.”

“I’ll look forward to it,” Kagami assured.

The call ended with a triple beep.

“Well,” Adrien sighed. “That’s Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday taken care of. Tuesday and Thursday are counseling. That leaves Friday and next weekend for Nino and Alya…and maybe Marinette.”

He shook his head, trying to get that line of thought out.

Maybe he could even do something with Elise or his father and Nathalie after counseling…or take Chat Noir on a date. There were plenty of things to do that were not ‘wallow in self-pity over Marinette’.

“That would make her happy,” he reasoned. “She’d be proud that I’m trying.”

He stared down at his phone, wondering how upset she’d be if he texted her.

With a groan of annoyance and frustration, Adrien marched out of his room in his bare feet and made his way to his father’s atelier.

“Come in,” Gabriel called.

Plagg looked up from where he was comfortably curled atop Gabriel’s shoulder. “Everything all right, Kid?”

Adrien smiled disarmingly as he made his way over to lean against the table, facing his father at the podium. “Yeah. I’m fine. Thanks. What are you two up to? Plotting to take over the world?”

Plagg snickered but did not comment.

Gabriel rolled his eyes. “No, Adrien. We are not plotting world domination…. That was last month. This month we’re attempting to build a time machine. Do try to keep up, Kitten.”

Adrien had to clap a hand over his mouth to hold in the resulting chortle. “I didn’t know you had a sense of humor, Dad. I like the snark.”

“Glad I could amuse you,” Gabriel chuckled. “…Did you need something, Adrien?”

Adrien held up his mobile as if it were the woman caught in the act of adultery, exposing the phone to ridicule, shame, and judgment.

“This,” Adrien intoned. “needs to be taken away from me. I have a problem, and this phone is enabling me. I need you to take it away before I do something stupid like text or call Marinette.”

Gabriel stepped down from his dais and held out his hand for the phone.

Adrien reluctantly relinquished the device with a sigh. “Thanks. Sorry.”

Gabriel gave Adrien a comforting pat on the head. “There’s nothing to be sorry for,” he assured. “I’m proud of you. It’s very mature of you to identify a problem and take steps to resolve it. You’re doing very well, Adrien.”

“Thank you,” Adrien breathed. “Because I feel like a failure. It’s like I can’t even do simple, common sense things right that everyone else knows how to do instinctively.”

“Nah.” Plagg flew down to rub against Adrien’s cheek. “You’re all right, Kid. You’re doing fine.”

“It’s as Plagg says,” Gabriel confirmed. “…What have you been up to since Elise left?”

Adrien shrugged. “Today—I’m assuming Plagg already told you all about today.”

Gabriel nodded.

Adrien sighed. “Marinette apparently needs more space than I had originally anticipated. Today she said that it might be a couple weeks still before she’s ready to hang out again.” 

Adrien shrank in misery as he relived that moment: the pain on Marinette’s face as she had to keep telling him no. The sharp explosion in his chest as she brought the knife of “no” down over and over.

“Marinette said that I should hang out with other friends instead, and, as you and I determined this afternoon, that means Nino and Alya.”

Gabriel nodded, wondering if there was some way, magical or otherwise, to get Marinette to want to be with Adrien sooner. His better judgment, informed by the stack of parenting guidebooks he’d been reading, told him not to meddle.

“But I was thinking about how you said I should get some more friends,” Adrien continued, oblivious to Gabriel’s mental tangent. “So I called some people and made plans with them for the coming week. I hope that was okay,” Adrien added, suddenly questioning himself. “I knew Nathalie had cleared my schedule for this week besides the counseling appointments, so I thought…”

“No, that’s wonderful, Adrien,” Gabriel stressed. “That’s fantastic that you took the initiative to reach out to people. …With whom did you make plans?”

Adrien brightened a little at the praise. “Well, tomorrow I’m having lunch with Chloé, and then I’m taking her shopping. Monday after school I’m fencing with Kagami, and then we’re going to have dinner together. Wednesday, I’m meeting Wayem for dinner—you remember Wayem?”

Gabriel frowned and made an educated guess. “Your rather enthusiastic fanboy?”

Adrien nodded.

“You’ve been very industrious in making plans,” Gabriel observed.

A sheepish smile broke out on Adrien’s face. “Well, I was trying to keep from calling Marinette, so I called other people.”

Plagg settled on top of Adrien’s head. “You must have been pretty desperate.”

“Yeah?” Adrien bashfully admitted. “That’s kind of why I came to enlist aid.” He turned to his father. “I’ll need that back tomorrow morning, by the way. You know, in case Chloé or someone texts me about plans. And Nino said he would touch base with me too.”

“You can have the phone back at breakfast,” Gabriel promised.

“Okay,” Adrien sighed, not knowing if he’d be able to handle having the phone and not contacting Marinette. “Thank you, Dad.”

Gabriel gave Adrien a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

“…And thank you for allowing me to have Elise over today,” Adrien added.

“You’re welcome,” Gabriel replied cordially, pleased that he and his son were finally communicating successfully after so many years of Gabriel feeling at a loss when he spoke with Adrien.

“I had a lot of fun hanging out with her, and she had some really great advice,” Adrien continued. “Unfortunately, she’s an expert at dealing with breakups and self-esteem issues, so…” Adrien bit his lip, hesitating. “…Do you think I could have her over again sometime?”

Gabriel took a moment to consider. “Yes, I don’t see why not. Elise seems like an acceptable friend. I’m glad that things went so well with her today.”

Adrien drew a breath. “Do you think…maybe I could have other friends over sometime?”

“You mean like Monsieur Lahiffe.” Gabriel sighed.

“And others. Once I make more friends.” Adrien smiled uncertainly.

Gabriel frowned. His gut reaction was to say no, but he had a feeling that the parenting guidebooks would encourage him to say yes and allow his eighteen-year-old some autonomy.

Gabriel hated the concept of autonomy.

With another sigh, Gabriel offered a compromise. “We’ll take it on a case-by-case basis. Ask me first, and then I’ll try to say yes.”

“Thank you, Dad!” Adrien cheered as he wrapped Gabriel in a hug.

Gabriel gave a start in surprise at first, but his arms quickly returned the embrace. They were slowly but surely growing accustomed to the action.

“You’re welcome…. I’m trying,” he added in a small, humbled voice.

“Thank you for trying,” Adrien whispered into Gabriel’s shoulder.

“Thank you for giving me another chance.”