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Nino is excited.
Why?
Two words: field trip.
Nino doesn't exactly hate school. He's gets pretty good grades and his friends are all there. He keeps up on his homework (for the most part) and does help with the music club.
But there's something special about field trips.
Time away from class without Akumas or getting into trouble. Chances to explore the world around them. Time to spend with his best friends. Maybe even a little souvenir here and there. He likes field trips. Like startrain, despite it nearly being a literal trainwreck of an experience.
As it is, they're touring parts of the catacombs under Paris. Honestly, the group has seen far scarier things lately, so walls of bones are nothing. They're actually enjoying themselves as their guide leads them through the lit tunnels, explaining the history as they go. Miss Bustier walks with them, already aware of said information, as she's also their history teacher (and the reason they're here).
"Hey, dudes," he grins at Adrien, Alya, and Marinette as they walk along. It's just wide enough for two people to walk comfortably. The guide is just showing them the way so they're free to chat, "Crazy that we're in a burial area, right?"
"Very...humerus," Adrien grins back before they blink. He raises a brow, "What?"
"No, not puns," Marinette groans weakly before shaking her head, "I swear I know too many blonds with a disturbing interest in puns."
"Hey, what's wrong with puns?" Adrien asks curiously before walking onward, "They're great. Simply hiss-terical."
"You pun?" Alya stares before chuckling, eyes gleaming, "The Adrien Agreste puns? What don't you do?"
"Lots of stuff?" Nino's best friend looks confused, "I'm not good at everything, you know."
"No one is, dude," Nino grins before playfully nudging the other teen who smiles back, "That would be weird. Even Markov can't do everything and he's a robot."
"Speaking of Markov," Adrien frowns before looking over to Max who walks closer to the front of the line. Said bot is nowhere around, "Why isn't he here?"
"Apparently, Markov doesn't really like being underground," Marinette speaks up before shrugging, "I talked to Max about it before we left. He seemed a bit sad but understood."
"I get where he's coming from," Adrien glances around before shaking his head, "I'm not really a fan of possible trapped spaces but I couldn't miss out on a field trip my father actually signed off on. You know how overprotective he is."
Overprotective...nah, more like over controlling. Nino can see the two girls also sending him the same look, so obviously they also agree while Adrien remains oblivious. Nino's never liked the old man at all, but he can't really help his bro with him. It's not like he can prove anything anyway. Neglect and emotional abuse are a lot harder to show evidence of than say...if Adrien got slapped or something...
Ugh...too depressing...
"Well, we better enjoy it, right?" Alya teases before they walk on. The whole group stops after a moment as the guide speaks some more, pointing to a bunch of faded skulls in a circular pillar. He is listening when he feels a little motion. He actually notes that Adrien has felt something off, tilting his head before glancing around. Frowning, the Nino notices that it gets bigger and bigger. Green eyes glance around more frantically before widening over Nino's shoulder somewhere.
"Mylene!" Adrien shouts out, interrupting the class as he streaks for her at the back of the line. Everyone stares in confusion as he lifts her into a bridal carry, jumping away from the spot to come closer to them.
CRACK!
A bunch of stones crumble in the same place she once stood. They don't get time to digest this before the tunnel shakes even more, leaving everyone terrified as dust flies down on them and more crumbling is heard behind them. They brace themselves against anyone they can feel beside them.
Luckily, the earthquake (?) is over in minutes. Unfortunately, the way back is definitely blocked and the lights have nearly all stopped working. It's so dark that Nino can barely make out his hand in front of his face. They all rush to pull out their phones to see none of them responding, not even enough for a light. He's pretty sure the guide says something about turning on her headlight, only for it to not work either.
So...probably an Akumatized victim attacking above them. Great...
The class surprisingly (or not so surprisingly, they're frequently targets for Akumas) doesn't freak out as badly as they should. Nino can hear annoyed complaints as well as groans of frustration.
"We'll have to get out through another exit," their guide says in the darkness, "Hopefully none of them are blocked off either."
"How are we going to find our way out?" Alya asks curiously from his side, "It's way too dark in here. We can't see a thing."
"Uhhh...actually, I can," Adrien speaks up from the front of the group, making most of them jump in surprise. Seriously, the dude is sneaky, "I can guide us out."
"Dude, how can you see?" Nino asks curiously before waving his hands around, accidentally whacking someone he knows is not his girlfriend. He feels a little better when it's Chloe who yelps at him, "It's dark in here."
"Good...eyesight?" The blond offers back before he's quiet for a moment. Suddenly, something brushes Nino's side as he shouts in fear, "Chill, Nino, it's just me."
"Well, sorry, dude," the other is tempted to throw his hands up in frustration but refrains to not hit anyone else, "I can't see that. And you're really quiet."
"Oh, whoops," he can basically envision Adrien rubbing his neck sheepishly, "I'm just a very light walker. Comes in really handy for sneaking out of the house..."
"Okay..." Marinette interrupts, sounding serious and strong, "So how are you leading us out of here?"
"Well, my vision isn't as good as when I am...when I use night vision goggles," he backtracks his words before going on. Nino doesn't know what he was originally going to say, "But it's good enough to see where everyone is, anything that might trip us or move, and any tunnels. Hopefully, Ladybug is already fighting the Akumatized person."
"And Chat Noir," Marinette speaks up defensively. Nino gets the feeling she'd be glaring if she could actually see the blond, "He's just as important as Ladybug is."
"Right..." Adrien's voice is weird but he goes on. Marinette makes a surprised sound as he chuckles sheepishly, "Sorry, princess. Just holding your hand..."
"'Princess?'" She asks in confusion, "Only one person has called me th...you're-"
"Yep," Adrien pops the 'p' as they all listen, absolutely lost, "It's me. Disappointed?"
"No," Marinette scoffs back like it could never be an option, "As long as a certain bug doesn't disappoint you either..."
"...You're-"
"Yep," the girl answers back with the same pop of the 'p' like he had done moments before, "Is that...bad?"
"No!" Adrien bursts suddenly before quieting down some, "It's great. I'm glad it's you. Honestly, I've been hoping it was you for a while now..."
"Me too," the other answers before growing determined, "So we have to get out of here. Think you can lead us?"
"You know it," Adrien sounds like he's smirking, maybe a little bit flirtatious, "I trust you blindly, princess."
"Better not be too blindly," Marinette teases before giggling. Nino can only stare into the darkness with a confused look. Since when do they act like this with each other? "Or we'll be running into stuff. Okay, we can do this. Everyone, link up by hand. Adrien will lead us out and warn us if anything is in our path."
They all hesitate for a few seconds before joining hands. Nino grabs Alya's hand and someone else's. As soon as everyone confirms they're linked with the group, they start forward. It's a bumpy start but soon enough they're on their way. Adrien and Marinette chat with each other a few times and the blond is extra sure to alert everyone of any debris in their way.
They're walking for a while before they stop suddenly. Nino tilts his head, listening.
"Why are we stopping!?!" Chloe cries out in irritation, stomping her foot, "We're never going to get out of here at this rate!"
"Something is wrong..." Adrien speaks up before the ceiling rattles again. Nino tenses, holding onto Alya who clings back. Dust lands on them as they cry out. Luckily, there's nothing as bad as last time. Unfortunately, something does still happen.
CRACKLE
"My Lady!"
CRASH!
There's a yelp as someone flies into them. Nino and Alya hurry to catch them before a pained cry is heard. Dread flows through his body as he feels the person with them jolt, rushing back to the other.
"My Prince," Marinette sobs before Nino hurries to her side. He can barely make out the shape of his best friend on the ground, "Come on, Adrien. Say something..."
"Me...ow," Adrien speaks up weakly before hissing, "Well...that was fun..."
"Stop doing that!" Marinette scolds him, "Seriously! You're going to get yourself killed!"
"Nope...not going to stop," Adrien says honestly before groaning in pain, "Going to keep protecting you."
"Stop sacrificing yourself for me!" Marinette yells before taking a deep breath, "Okay...where are you injured?"
"My ankle..." Nino brushes his hands downwards, feeling along his thigh to his ankle. Before he gets there, he's blocked by a large rock. He tries to shift it only to stop when Adrien whimpers loudly, pushing him away.
"Sorry, man," he apologizes before calling out to the stronger guys in the class and Alix, "We need to move this rock off of my dude's leg."
They do. It's a slow process, and Marinette joins in while comforting the blond who barely makes a sound. The girl is definitely stronger than she looks. When they finally get it off, they toss it to the side with a small clang. Adrien gasps in relief before grabbing his ankle. Marinette whispers something he can't hear as Adrien answers back. Before they know it, the blond is on his feet. Only to nearly collapse with a small cry of agony. Nino and Marinette both work to balance him as he shifts to kept weight off his foot.
"How bad is it?"
"A little worse than Riposte's attack?" Adrien says after a moment. Nino has to wonder when he could have possibly gotten hurt by said Akumatized victim, "I don't think it's broken but I can't really put weight on it. At least Ladybug's Miraculous Ladybugs should fix it."
"Yeah, but how are you going to walk us out of here?" Alix raises a good point, "You're the only one who can see and can't walk."
"Anyone got a long stick or something I can borrow?" Adrien asks curiously before their guide hands hers over, "Thanks."
"We can splint your ankle!" Rose exclaims in the darkness, "I had to get that on my wrist one time and it really helped!"
"It's a good idea," Max agrees, "Stability should lessen the pain and help you walk better. We just need two sturdy sticks or something and a cloth to wrap it up."
"Will my drum sticks work?" Ivan asks before handing them over, "I might have forgotten I had them in my hoodie..."
"Well, it's a good thing you did," Miss Bustier says warmly, "Anyone have anything to wrap these?"
"Adrien can use my bandana," Mylene speaks up before shuffling is heard.
"Thank you," Adrien responds back gratefully before some sounds are heard and the occasional grunt and hiss. He can tell Marinette is also helping tie them on. Before Nino knows it, he can see his best friend's shadowy figure stand again. This time, he doesn't fall over, "Okay. Let's go."
Adrien leads them onward down tunnel after tunnel, limping a bit while using the stick like a crutch. Nino clings to his girlfriend's hand, worried for them all. She squeezes her hand back as they walk on. Dust floats into the air but the air stays free of tremors.
After a while, the other pauses again. Nino grows concerned that he is either taking a break for his ankle or there's another earthquake going to happen.
"We're getting close," Adrien says after a moment, leading the way to a spotlight. They all gasp before eagerly making their way to the light. When they arrive, they have to let their eyes adjust to the brightness. After a moment, they look around to see a hole leading up into the surface. Chunks of rock and pavement lie around, likely knocked in by the quakes. The wall up is pretty high, but not impossible to climb.
"Think you can get up there and help lift everyone out?" Adrien asks Marinette who grins, bopping his nose playfully.
"Of course," she laughs before placing her foot in his joined hands. A moment later, he launches her upwards as she grabs onto the wall edge, pulling herself up. Nino doesn't know who to feel more impressed with: Adrien for lifting their friend like it's nothing despite the wounded leg or Marinette for landing right and climbing up like she's done stuff like this before. She peers back at them, "Send someone up."
"Come on, guys," Adrien nods upward, "I'll lift you up. Who wants to go first?"
"Me!" Chloe screams before marching up to the model who just stares in shock, "Get me out of here, Adrikins!"
"Okay," Adrien blinks before lifting her up. Marinette pulls her over before they do that on repeat, each person going up. Nino makes sure Alya goes up before him. And then he's up with his friends' help. He hugs his girlfriend before watching a few others come up. He notes that it's everyone except for Adrien. He peeks back over the edge, careful not to fall in. His best friend limps over to the wall, looking over the surface before muttering something he can't hear. A second later, he starts to climb up the grooves, doing pretty well despite the ankle that hangs uselessly. He's seen Adrien's room has a climbing wall, so he's not that shocked but it's still amazing to watch.
When the blond gets close enough to the edge, Marinette pulls him up, settling the other down for a quick break.
Only for the ground to shake again. They all yelp before running for stable ground. Glancing back, they see as Marinette grabs up Adrien suddenly, jumping away from the edge that crumbles under them. Seconds later, they're by their side as a loud bang is heard in the distance.
He wants to ask his friends so many questions.
"Well, we're going to head to the closest hospital," the youngest girl in the class blurts out, "You probably should get out of here too!"
And then she's gone with Adrien in her arms still.
Honestly, Nino understands a lot more about that conversation after he sees that Chat Noir is also limping on the very same leg Adrien hurt. Anyone with observation skills can also see that the two superheroes are interacting slightly differently than normal, more in sync than before. He understands now. And so does the rest of the class, probably.
Well...he's okay with that. He can't wait to smother his friends in a much needed hug.