{ on the nights when the stars refuse to shine

[luckyspots]

[ Marinette had faced so much-- as herself and as Ladybug. No matter how bad things got, she'd always found a way to persevere because she had strong ties to hold her.

But at heart she was still just a young high school girl. Her heart hadn't yet fully matured and blossomed into that of a strong, independent young woman like she might have liked some people to think when she was running around as Paris' superhero. All it took was a very bad misunderstanding to crush her.

Finally-- finally she'd gotten up the courage to confess her love for real. At least... in a note. Yes, she'd signed it. She triple checked this time. But even though she was nervous, she'd had so much support from Alya, Nino... even some of her other classmates. It made her feel like... maybe this was really it. This time it was meant to happen.

Unfortunately-- the last person anyone would want to notice took notice of her slipping the paper in the bottom of his locker. Chloe had proceeded to pull the pink note back out and read it; an ugly sneer on her face. 'Oh no she doesn't--'

And that was how her heartfelt letter ended up pinned to the bulletin board for the whole school to see.

Everyone thought Adrien must have done it, and somehow the reactions even made her believe it. Or maybe it was just because her heart already felt like it had been broken into a million pieces; her pride crushed. The girl had just... run. Once she was out of sight, she made a hasty transformation into her Ladybug form and used it to cross the city as quickly as possible, wanting to put as much space between her and the scene of her rejection as possible. But when she reached the eiffle tower she was forced to stop; tears clouding her vision. That was when she heard his voice.

'What a shame... some people have all the luck. But not you, hmmm? Worry not. I am your friend. I... am on your side. Help me and I will give you the power to make those who's fortunes have outshone yours, dim and crumble.'

She didn't stand a chance against the darkening mark overcoming her miraculous. She didn't have the heart to fight it. ]

...I like the sound of that.

Comments

[impurrfect]

[ Within his unconscious, dreaming mind, it was nothing like the real world.

Fields of vivid, bright green grass and the scents of flowers passing on the breeze. Underneath a large oak tree, it's cover of branches and rustling leaves provided shade for him and someone else. She smiles down at him with warm green eyes and delicately brushed golden-blond locks kept in a ponytail over one shoulder. His mother.

Her fingers ran through his hair in soothing, gentle movements as her gaze trailed upward and to a well-dressed man standing nearby them. He too had properly kept blond hair, with sharp, bespectacled blue eyes, but he wore a smile as he looked to her. A moment immortalized within a dream; a far-off wish of what he wanted in his life again, with his mom and dad both around and happy. Closing his eyes for a moment, Adrien exhaled a breath and just listened to the breeze as it blew through the tree above before it seemed to disappear just as quickly. The light he felt beneath recently closed eyelids lingered before just as quickly being extinguished, and when he made to take in his surroundings once more?

Gone was the peaceful, sweet environment filled with love and happiness, replaced with something else entirely. Broken buildings, the acrid scent of smoke reaching his nostrils and the tangible feeling of aching bones, bruises and hurt all over his body. One gaze to his hand showed the gloved hand of Chat Noir's costume against the ground, a darkened sky above him and something else apparent. A shadowy figure stood nearby, eyes dark and foreboding but he couldn't make out his appearance other than a smirk and the hand that outstretched before him, and at the end of it was a very beaten up, injured Ladybug held by her very neck. A familiar voice sounded then, one he knew too well. Hawkmoth.

"You've failed to give me your Miraculouses many times before now. This time I won't allow you both to foil my plans. Say goodbye to your precious Ladybug."

Just for a second, her wide blue eyes met his with a pleading gaze before the man snatched up her Miraculous with one hand, and in the other? Adrien felt his blood turn into ice as Hawkmoth released his hold on her, the suit fading away as she began to fall down from the top of the Eiffel tower where they must have been fighting. He didn't even register the scream that ripped past his lips as he pushed himself to his feet and jumped after her, hands reaching out for Ladybug... no, Marinette's hand outstretched toward him with a look of sadness and terror on her face.

No. He had to. Save her. Move faster... I can't...!

The ground moved closer and she was so far away, reaching his hand out as far as he could, but she was falling too fast. There was a moment then, where she gave him a sweet smile, tears falling from her eyes as the ground came closer and closer until--

Adrien's eyes snapped wide open, breaths heavy with panic for a few moments until he registered he was in the waking world again. Did that mean what happened wasn't a dream? He didn't know how long he'd been out but the most relief came when he found a figure fast asleep nearby, her hand holding onto his without fail. She was alive... it wasn't that awful nightmare. It was enough that he gave her hand a small squeeze, though not trusting himself to really move just yet. ]

...Marinette...?

[luckyspots]

Mm... [Blinking sleepily, Marinette slowly came to. At first she didn't realize what she was doing here. Then she saw her hand linked with Adrien's and her eyes widened-- everything rushing back. The events of the day replaying in a rush in her mind. She has a lot of things to worry about but right now there's only one she can think about.]

Adrien...?

[Panic rose to the surface, but... Adrien was safe. He was hurt, but... he was safe now. Her hand tightened on his instinctively.]

...how are you feeling?

[The moment her head was clear, she was inspecting his face for any signs of discomfort.]

[impurrfect]

[ The longer he lied there, coherent and awake was more time for him to briefly remember the events that had happened prior to his being in this bed. Her hand was like a lifeline with it's warmth, keeping him grounded and he was infinitely thankful for that.

However. If anyone had told him this morning that he'd be ending his school day prematurely, getting his stupid self beaten around AND then professing his love to the girl he'd long since given his heart to? He wouldn't have believed it, but here they were and after the gut-wrenching nightmare, Adrien was thankful Marinette was here. That made it easier for him to put on a light smile, not seeming to be in any real pain for the time being. ]

Not too bad, now. I think resting a bit really did wonders for my head, but I don't think I'm gonna be doing anything crazy again for a while.

[ His tone was light, good-natured to match his smile and he truly seemed more at ease now. The dizziness was sort of in the back of his mind, likely to spring up if he moved too quickly or without warning. So it meant this kitty was going to end up being house-bound for a while. ]

[luckyspots]

[ Hearing it, Marinette is able to breathe a sigh of relief. While she still felt uneasy about everything that happened, part of her couldn't help but see Adrien smile and feel like everything would be okay after all. Although it's almost just as much a relief to hear him say he won't be doing anything crazy for a while. She'd hoped she wouldn't have to argue the issue. ]

Good. Good...

[ She's still holding Adrien's hand; afraid that if she lets go now, she won't have the confidence to take it again. The warmth grants her a small sense of relief. He's okay... he's okay... ]

Everyone's already gone home. But... people will probably start looking for us soon.

[ They're going to have questions and she can't even imagine what she's going to tell them. No-- it's not so much a problem for her as it is for Adrien. After all, she was akumatized... she shouldn't remember anything. But they'd probably have all kinds of questions for him. But she wants to avoid putting him through that at all costs. That's all she can think right now. ]

[impurrfect]

[ Thing was? Adrien was the agreeable one; Chat wasn't nearly as much. So while he sounded fine with not doing anything too crazy, that other half of him didn't feel as if this would be too much of a deterrent but he left that unspoken.

Marinette's hand was warm, and he didn't want to let go of it one bit so that much was completely fine with him. She felt like the one thing he'd been searching for his whole life. Someone who was able to love him and take his own love equally in return, giving him something that his own personal life lacked since his mother's disappearance. ]

Yeah... Knowing my dad, he'll have a whole search party out for me or something. [ Sighing, Adrien shook his head. Sure, he overexaggerated a little, yet it didn't sound so preposterous on the one side of things. ] Your family's probably going to be worried sick about you, Marinette.

[ Then he remembers that he did have something important to ask her, and he couldn't exactly do this once everyone found him. People would be asking him all the questions to a story he had to partially lie and fabricate, due to the nature of his whole being Chat Noir and all. Though he was good at seamlessly coming up with excuses for things so that shouldn't be a problem, leaving him to focus on the matter at hand.

Something that causes a touch of color to rise to his cheeks and his grip on her hand tightened just a touch. If he'd been wearing that mask and the facade that came with it, this would be so much easier. ]

You remember earlier when I said I had something important to ask you before, right? I think now would be a perfect time to do that... I mean... if it's alright with you.