sunday six

from more like spears than hearts chapter 2 "ciabatta and currant jam":

Scrolling through the account books doesn't change the numbers: the bakery revenue has dropped compared to last month. Again. Marinette ought (Sabine thinks) to be able to survive secondary education without stressing herself to death over things she has as little control over as Hawkmoth's impact on the income of businesses in his strike zone; Marinette ought to save her design earnings for her future except for that part she spends on making herself and her friends happy; it bothers Sabine enough that the new PvP game Marinette is cheerfully pummeling Tom on is something Marinette bought Tom 'because you're the best', read, because she realized there was a reason Tom was putting off buying it for himself, even if Marinette doesn't know what the reason—

Knock-knock-knock-knock.

Sabine thumbs off her tablet screen and goes to open the door. It's Adrien, tie knot loosened and without the jacket to match his slacks, trembling and fidgeting with the ring he always wears. "May I hug you?" he blurts out—then blinks, dropping his gaze to Sabine's eyes from somewhere a little above her head.