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Marinette is running.
She doesn't know where she's going or what she's going to do, but all she knows is that she has to get away. The taunts behind her grow louder by the minute; the threat is getting closer.
She is getting closer.
She fights back a scream as she stumbles forward, but it's no use. Miss Fortune only grows bigger, taller, stronger, taking up all the space around them until she's towering over Marinette and she can no longer move.
"Did you really think you could run? That you could hide? You will never escape this."
Marinette's eyes squeeze shut as she waits for the inevitable blow, but it never comes. Instead she hears a familiar voice behind her, screaming, " Marinette! Save me! "
No .
She whips her head around to see her partner — Adrien — being chased down by her.
Miss Fortune.
"Marinette, help ! I can't—” He lets out a desperate cry as she narrows the distance between them, reaching out to strike him.
" No !" She tries to swoop in, to get him out of there, but her body won't move. She's petrified; all she can do is struggle in vain and watch in horror as Miss Fortune — herself —- snatches him off the ground and—
" Adrien !"
Marinette shoots out of bed, gasping for breath. She looks around frantically. It’s the middle of the night; she’s in her bedroom, everything should be okay, it had just been a dream, but-
Adrien .
She needs to make sure he’s okay.
She gets out of bed and darts out of her bedroom to the one across the hall. Marinette doesn’t bother to knock, instead swinging open Adrien's door and rushing inside. She breathes a sigh of relief when he sees him sleeping peacefully in his bed.
He's okay.
She lingers for a few moments, watching his chest steadily rise and fall.
Adrien's here. He's okay.
Marinette turns to go back to her own room, not wanting to disturb him. He shouldn't be bothered for something so trivial, and—
The door creaks.
Marinette stays still for a few beats. Maybe he didn't hear anything...
"Marinette? 's that you?” Adrien sleepily rubs at his eyes. "Everything okay?"
"Me? Oh yeah, everything's fine! Go back to sleep, I’m sorry I—”
"Bug, c'mere. It's okay."
He shuffles to make room for her and opens his arms up, waiting.
Marinette hesitates for a second, one hand resting on the doorknob.. The more seconds that pass, the more Marinette regrets just barging in. She was being a bother. She'd interrupted his sleep. She should really just go.
But...
Images of her dream pass through her mind. Of Adrien screaming for her to save him, of her being unable to move, of her being unable to help, because she'd been useless-
Just to make sure he's okay, Marinette tells herself as she walks over and lays on the bed beside him.
Just to make sure he doesn't have a nightmare, she thinks as Adrien wraps his arms around her and she leans into his touch.
Just to make sure that he's here and in the present and right beside her as he should be, she reassures herself when her mind tells her she should never have come to Adrien's bedroom in the first place.
Because Marinette certainly doesn't need the comfort. She shouldn't need it. She can't let her emotions get the better of her. She can't afford to succumb to Hawkmoth's akuma all over again.
The only reason she's here is for Adrien. That's it.
"Talk to me," he murmurs as he threads his fingers through her hair.
Marinette shakes her head. He shouldn't be burdened with her troubles; she should be better than this.She's Ladybug .
She's handled real monsters; a nightmare should be nothing.
"I can hear you thinking, y'know. C'mon, you're the one who always insists it's okay to lean on others. Follow your own advice, hm?" She can practically feel his smug smile as he presses a kiss to her temple.
"It's nothing."
"I believe my wise lady has told me 'if it's nothing, then you can tell me without a problem.'" He gently nudges her side. "So? What's bug ging you?"
She lets out a small laugh and boops his nose. "Silly kitty. You always have the worst puns, don't you? But I guess you have a point..."
Marinette takes a deep breath. "Where do I even start ? I- I was akumatized. I had to stand there and watch as she hurt you, and I couldn't do anything and— I don't— I can't let that happen. I can't let myself explode like that and—” She lets her tears flow freely as she tucks her head under his chin. "It was awful , Chaton. You— you weren't even transformed!"
His arms tighten around her. "Hey, it's okay. I'm here. I'm safe, and so are you. No one's akumatized. It's just you and me." He rubs soothing circles along her back as he continues. "You're not some bottled up volatile solution — you're human. It's okay to feel this way. It's normal . Let it out. You've got me, and I've got you. I'm not going anywhere, Buginette."
Marinette shudders as she cries, but Adrien holds her in a way that tells her that he doesn't plan to let go. She's so afraid of it happening, terrified that her nightmares will come true, and yet...
I'm not going anywhere, Buginette.
Slowly Marinette's tears subdue and her breathing evens out. The anxiousness has faded; although she still feels that sense of fright, with every moment she's aware of Adrien's presence, she feels better.
"You should sleep, Princess," Adrien whispers when he senses she's calmer. "I'm here for you."
Marinette's last thought as she drifts off to sleep is that Adrien's here. He's here, with her, and he's okay. He's alright. He isn't going to leave her.
(She sleeps well in Adrien's arms. His presence wards off any nightmares like a lucky charm. Her lucky charm.)