Chapter Text
Marinette felt like she got ran over by a truck, her hands were squeezed so tight it hurt, her left shoulder felt like it was on fire, her feet were trembling under her weight... and...
And her eyes stung with tears as she took in the scene in front of her. A man laid there, before her, his hands in front of his face as he cowered into the far left corner. He was trembling.
There was glass all over the ground, the window was their entry point, just a hole in the wall now. She took in a deep breath through her nose then slowly let it out through her mouth.
She took one step towards the man before she heard a faint growl, "stay where you are," and a flash of black.
She stayed where she was, obeying his command without a second thought. She held her breath. He slowly walked towards the man. The monster her mind supplied. She shook her head.
She stood still. He kneeled to look at the man directly. He grabbed his arms and forcefully lowered them. She heard a crack and heard the man scream in pain. She ignored it. She watched as he ripped something off of the man's chest.
He stood back up, his shoulders shaking uncontrollably before he looked up at her. His eyes fierce, tears threatening to spill over and down his cheeks.
He took a deep breath in then let it out, walking towards her.
She stood very still.
He stopped walking and stood directly in front of her. They stared into each other's eyes, breathing hard. He opened his mouth to say something but her legs gave out before he could speak.
She took deep breaths, trying to get her emotions in check. She couldn't feel. She couldn't. Too dangerous. She couldn't. nononono–
She felt a hand grip her shoulder.
"Let it out."
She opened her mouth, I can't! I can't! I can't! Nononoonon—
"It's over."
Her breath hitched. It's over.
"Let it out."
She gulped in as much air as she could, her vision blurring.
She heard a scream, her eyes widened. Where was the scream coming from? There wasn't anyone else here but them- where was it coming from? Where? Wherewherewherewh-
Oh.
She was screaming.
She forced her mouth close, hanging her head, moving her hands, and squeezed them around herself. If he thought she looked pathetic, he didn't say it.
"Mari. It's over."
She closed her eyes as tightly as she could. She knew how small and broken she looked... She was trembling, her hair was a mess, she undoubtedly had dirt all over her face, her suit was scratched and turned into rags in certain areas.
She looked like a mess.
"Mari, please. It's over. Let it out. Cry with me. Please."
She let out a strangled noise, shaking her head frantically, ignoring the pounding pain in her head as she shook it.
A hand clasped around her face, forcing her to look up at him. There was a bitter smile, tears running down his cheeks. He lowered his hand to reach for hers... then slowly coaxed it open. She felt a cold and heavyweight then he closed her fingers around it.
She blinked once, twice, then looked down at her hand.
It was a pendant.
It was The pendant.
"It's over," he choked out.
It's over.
She took a deep breath...
Then cried.