#baldrien

Marinette descends down the stairs to the kitchen, where she is met by Sabine Cheng, who holds her phone in one hand and waves at her daughter with the other.  Behind her, a blue apron is left on the kitchen table.

Sabine: Glad to see you're awake!   Your father just got a call from Grandpa Rolland.  He needs one of us to bring an apron over.  Something about the last one being the wrong size?  If you’re not too busy, do you think you could take care of it, Marinette?

Marinette looks down from the stair railing with a smile.

Marinette: Yeah, I can do that today.  I don't have... quite so much to worry about right now.

Sabine: Thanks, dear!

Sabine holds the top of the apron flat and straight as her daughter folds bottom of the apron into a more portable form, wrapping the apron strings around the bundle.

Sabine: Have you heard any news about Adrien?  You've been searching for him non-stop since he disappeared.

Marinette: I... heard that Ladybug managed to talk to him.  But it didn’t last.  He’s already gone again...

Sabine smiles and holds her hand out in an offer of optimism.

Sabine: At least you know more than you did yesterday.  And who knows?  Maybe you’ll be the next person to find him!

Marinette holds the apron bundle and looks away with a smile, lightly blushing.

Marinette: I highly doubt that.  But wherever he is now?  I know he'll find ways to reach out to the people he loves.

Sabine: And that includes you!

Marinette: Yeah...  He does love me, doesn't he...?

Cut to Marinette at the gate to Rolland Dupain’s residence as she speaks into the pipe that serves as an intercom.

Marinette: Hello, Grandpa!  It’s me!  Your wonderful granddaughter, Marinette, with a special delivery!

Adrien (through intercom, muffled): Come in!

Marinette peeks around the door, holding up her apron bundle with a smile.

Marinette: I brought you the apron you wante—

The apron falls to the ground, unfurling, in front of a pair of feet wearing shoes covered with Ladybug spots.

Marinette: —EEEEHHHH??????

Adrien gives a joyful wave.  He, in addition to being bald, now wears an oversized blue and white striped shirt and too wide shorts, kept up with a belt—in other words, Adrien wears the same clothes as Rolland Dupain.

Adrien: Hey, Marinette!  It's so good to see you!

On a bright blue background, a white pixelated outline of Marinette depicts her standing with mouth agape, her brain having fully ceased to function.

Error alert caption: MARINETTE.EXE has stopped working...

Adrien holds up the apron in his hands and examines it with a smile.

Adrien: This apron looks like it'll be perfect!  It should fit me much better than the one your dad used to wear as a kid.

Marinette, halfway to ascending to heaven, vibrates in lost thought.  Adrien, concerned, holds her up by the waist and reaches towards her face.

Adrien: Uh... Marinette?  Do you need to sit down?

Marinette: Adrien?? Here???  And you're turning into my grandpa????

Adrien sheepishly rubs the back of his neck.

Adrien: Oh, you mean the clothes I'm wearing?  I kinda made a huge mess with the flour earlier and had to borrow these from Mr. Dupain.

Marinette: But why are you—?

Rolland peeks his head out from behind the door dividing the kitchen and the living room.  Adrien looks at him, having guided Marinette to the couch.  Marinette rubs her temples, muttering ‘Wake up wake up wake up…”, hoping that it might help her rouse from this bizarre dream.

Rolland: Come back to the kitchen!  You need to practice feeling the proper texture of the dough— Oh, Marinette!  How wonderful you are here!  Have you met Baldy?

Adrien points at his face with a large grin.

Marinette: Baldy???

Adrien: Yep, that's me!  That is the name by which I am known and no other!  Apprentice baker to the great Rolland Dupain!

Marinette jumps about on the couch, flailing like a crab.  Adrien points his thumb behind him at Rolland, who stands with crossed arms.

Marinette: But I thought you were out in the woods learning hermit kung fu!

Adrien: Technically speaking, your grandpa is a hermit!

Rolland: Ex-hermit!  I go outside sometimes!

Marinette points in realization.

Marinette: Hold on!  That boule Catwalker brought me!  That's why I recognized it!  It was literally my family's bread!

Adrien: Sort of!  Mr. Dupain helped me bake it!

Rolland rubs his chin in confusion.

Rolland: What is this?  You had a walking cat deliver your first boule to my granddaughter?  I had wondered why it disappeared so fast...

Adrien looks into Marinette’s eyes, placing a hand on her shoulder.  Marinette stares into his eyes with a big, squiggly, lovesick smile.

Adrien: I know you don’t really need more bread, but bread is all I have to give you.  And it seemed right to share my first loaf with someone special.

Marinette giddily holds her clenched hands near her face, squeeing in delight.

Marinette: You think I'm special?

Adrien: Of course you are!  You're Marinette!

Rolland points a finger at Adrien with a knowing smile.  Adrien holds up his hands in protest.

Rolland: Oh, I see what you are doing!  You are trying to marry into the family!  Clever, Baldy!

Adrien: What!  No, it's nothing like that!  Marinette is just a friend!

Marinette’s head whips to the side in horrified realization.

Marinette: Just... a… Friend…?

Rolland: You are sure?  She comes from a strong line of bakers and makes excellent bread herself!

Adrien: It’s not like that!  I’m in love with someone else!

Marinette clenches her eyes shut, tears forming in her eyes.

Marinette (internally): Of course.  Just because Catwalker called Adrien my 'secret admirer', he never meant it romantically.  Chat is only in love with Ladybug.  Not Marinette.  Even though he knows this me is in love with him, he'll never reciprocate my feelings, not as long as I'm not her.

Marinette looks towards her grandpa, clenching the side of her jacket as she relinquishes the relationship she dearly wants with the boy she dearly loves.

Rolland: Baldy, have you considered that you should fall in love with Marinette!  She is—

Marinette: Let it go, Grandpa.  Baldy probably really misses the girl he… he loves…

Rolland: Fine.

Rolland sits Adrien down on the couch with a smile.  Adrien folds his hands in front of him, looking down forlornly.  Marinette slips onto the couch beside Adrien, looking away from him.

Rolland: But you must explain why you came to me for help before my granddaughter who is your friend!

Adrien: I wanted to, but... I can't be seen anywhere that people expect me to be.

Marinette: And this is the last place anyone would expect to find you.  I sure didn't.

Adrien places his hands together in front of his face, pleading.

Adrien: Marinette, please don't tell anyone where I am now.  I'm sorry I can't explain why, but...

Marinette’s expression becomes one of dedication and resolve.

Marinette: I'll keep your secrets safe, I promise.  As far as anyone will know, I only saw my grandpa today.  Not you.  And you never need to tell me the reason why you're asking, I will support you no matter what.

Adrien throws his hands around Marinette and embraces her.  Marinette hugs him back, though her head is turned to the side, showing her regret that their mutual love—even though she knows the truth now—still can’t be fully realized the way they both wish it could.

Adrien: You have no idea how much of a relief it is to hear you say that!  I'm so glad that, if I got to see any of my friends, it was you.

Marinette: Right.  Friends.

Below is the same image as above, only without text: