Chapter Text
‘This is the place.’ Adrien glanced down at the piece of paper in his hand before looking back at the building across the street. The inscription on the wall was in Mandarin and his understanding was far better than Marinette’s. The street was dark and they were both tired, the travelling they had undertaken the last few days taking its toll on them both.
‘I know you said they told us to come any time, but it’s kind of late.’ She said worriedly.
‘They knew we were coming.’ He smiled at her encouragingly. ‘It’ll be fine.’
‘I hope so.’ She shifted the bag on her shoulders. ‘I feel kind of underdressed.’
‘You look beautiful.’
‘Lying kitty.’ She murmured as they crossed the street, the doorman of the large apartment building before them eyeing them suspiciously as they approached. She knew they both looked worse for wear, having been travelling low profile with no opportunity to shower properly, and it didn’t help she had spilt coffee on herself this morning.
Adrien spoke briefly to the doorman in fluent Mandarin and he bowed his head respectfully in return, holding the door for them to enter. The marble lobby was huge with a fountain in the centre and three elevators on the right side. Everything was immaculate and shone. It was even more impressive than the foyer of Le Grand Paris.
‘There’s no need to be nervous, Marinette.’ Tikki’s voice came from her jacket pocket on her left breast.
‘You’re not really nervous, are you, Bug?’ Adrien squeezed her hand, reminding her she wasn’t alone.
‘A little.’ She shrugged. ‘I’ve never met most of these people.’
‘But they’re still your family.’ Tikki reminded her.
‘I know.’
‘So don’t worry.’ Adrien kissed her hand as the elevator arrived and they stepped inside the mirrored interior.
Marinette looked at her reflection and groaned. She looked grubby, tired, and her hair was a mess. She wished she had had time to tidy up a bit.
‘You’re beautiful.’ Adrien repeated as she ran a hand through the stray hairs that had worked their way out of her pigtails.
‘I’m a mess.’
‘A beautiful mess.’
‘Okay, model boy, just because you look like you stepped off a catwalk five minutes ago.’ She grumbled. He really didn’t, he looked as tired as she was, but he still smiled at her reply.
‘I don’t think there’s much of a market for the forty-four hours of travelling look.’ He said as he suppressed a yawn.
‘You win, next time we fly first class. Screw low profile.’
‘Anything you want, princess.’
The elevator had the softest chime Marinette had ever heard announcing their arrival on their floor, and they stepped out into the corridor, finding only one door on the wall opposite.
‘This is it.’ Adrien indicated to the script by the door beside the bell.
‘Okay.’ She pressed the button and composed herself, knowing this was fine, they were expected, but she couldn’t help feeling nervous.
The door opened to reveal a middle-aged man, a little taller than Marinette and dressed smartly. He bowed and said something in Mandarin that Marinette didn’t catch, despite Adrien trying to increase her knowledge in the last few weeks, but Adrien replied smoothly, the man smiling before beckoning them inside. Marinette recognised Adrien thanking him and went ahead when he insisted into the brightly lit foyer. The man spoke again and Adrien replied before starting to remove his backpack.
‘He wants to take our bags to our rooms.’
‘Oh!’ Marinette removed her own backpack and the man took it from her. She bowed her head gratefully. ‘Xièxiè.’* She thanked him shyly, aware how bad her mandarin compared to Adrien’s, and she had a moment of regret that she had never learnt more.
The man spoke again and Adrien replied, taking her hand and pulling her towards the double doors ahead of them. ‘He said to go through and make ourselves comfortable, we won’t be kept long.’
‘Okay.’ Marinette smiled at him, grateful for his knowledge, and they went through together. ‘Holy shit.’ She murmured as they entered what could only be described as an opulent living area. It was enormous, high ceilinged and luxurious. Three large white couches sat in the centre of the room on a thick white rug, glass tables on each corner holding lamps. Beyond it stood a wooden dining table for ten in front of a picture window that ran the entire width of the room showing the Beijing skyline beyond. ‘Wow.’ Marinette whispered as she took in the large open plan space and canvases on the walls.
Adrien gave a low whistle. ‘This is pretty nice.’
‘Pretty nice?’ She glanced back at him as she was drawn to the window. ‘This is amazing!’
He smiled at her awe before following, stopping behind her as they took in the Beijing skyline beyond the large balcony with dining area.
‘I know Paris is the city of lights but this? This is something else.’
‘It’s pretty built up, compared to what we’re used to.’ He draped his arm over her shoulders. ‘Imagine all the parkour we could do over those rooftops.’
‘Easy, kitty, we’re keeping a low profile, remember?’
‘Shame.’ He sighed.
(continued...)