Work Text:
If he hadn’t seen the fight with his own eyes, he wouldn’t have believed the speculation racing through their class. He’d never thought to see Marinette and Alya fighting, let alone yelling the words they did to each other during their argument. While he tended to side with Marinette about Alya taking chances during akuma attacks, he’d never heard Marinette say hurtful things to anyone before.
The day lasted longer than he believed it had a right to after the awful the two young ladies had before the start of class. The tension oozing off of them was palpable and uncomfortable for everyone in class that day, especially him and Nino. They learned early on to keep their opinions to themselves since the ladies would demand they take sides. Nobody won when that happened.
When the bell rang, Adrien couldn’t help the relieved sigh that escaped him as he hurried to gather his stuff and head for the door.
“You have something to say, Agreste,” Alya yelled at him.
He shook his head.
“Go ahead. Side with Mari. You always do.”
“Leave him alone, Alya.” Marinette snapped.
“I wasn’t talking to you.”
“Hey, enough, both of you!” Nino shouted as he glared at the two ladies behind him.
Marinette and Alya stared at Nino as if they’d never seen him before.
“Look, I don’t care why you’re fighting, but you need to stop. It’s not fair to Adrien and me when you two fight.” He softened his glare into a beseeching gaze as he stared at Alya first, then Marinette. “It can’t be that bad, can it?”
The two ladies looked from Nino to Adrien to each other. The longer they stared at each other, the more they seemed to weaken as their fight stemmed from fear more than real anger.
Alya sighed as she spoke first. “I’m sorry. I know I scare you when I video each new akuma. I can’t stop, Mari. I love the Ladyblog too much, but I can promise to be more careful. I admit the last akuma was a close one for me.”
“That’s all I want, Alya. You’re my best friend. I can’t handle you getting hurt.”
They didn’t say anything else though they did manage to part on a heartfelt hug, leaving on better terms than they started.
Adrien wasn’t sure how such an explosive fight could end as theirs had done, but he felt grateful for Nino at that moment.
However, his gratitude didn’t last long as an akuma attack happened soon after the two ladies made up.
The battle didn’t last long, but it hadn’t been without casualties.
Despite her promise to be careful, Alya had gotten caught in the crossfire and been hurt in the fight. She appeared fine though a little sore after Ladybug released her miraculous over the city, but that didn’t stop Ladybug from worrying over the blogger. She helped Alya home after pounding Chat’s fist and wishing him a good evening, clearly distracted.
Unsure what he should do, Adrien went home and tried to forget everything from the day, but his mind nagged him as he considered how Marinette would react to Alya being hurt after their fight that morning. He had to check on her and assure himself she was okay.
“Plagg, let’s go. I need to check on a certain princess.”
“Come on, kid. I’m still exhausted. Can’t this wait?”
“No, come on.”
Adrien said the words to transform himself and soon vaulted towards Marinette’s home above the bakery.
He paused on the rooftop across from hers and watched her windows for any signs of her. Seeing none, he decided to drop his Chat persona and check on her as himself.
“Oh, Adrien, dear. It’s so nice to see you.” Sabine greeted him as he walked through the door.
“Hello, Sabine. I was hoping to check on Marinette. I heard about Alya and wanted to be sure Marinette was handling it okay.”
“You’re such a sweet boy. She should be in her room if you want to go up.”
He thanked her and dashed up the steps behind the bakery to their home, knocking quietly on the door to give Marinette warning to his presence. He knocked again at the trapdoor before he pushed it open. When he caught sight of her, he felt his heart break for her.
“Mari, are you okay?”
She shook her head though she remained curled up on her chaise, clutching her cat pillow from her bed. Tears streamed down her face as she recalled the events of the day. She didn’t know what brought Adrien to her side, but she couldn’t say she wouldn’t mind some company.
“Talk to me, Mari. I heard about Alya, but she’s okay, right?”
“She’s tough,” she agreed, but her voice wavered as she fought for a breath through her tears before continuing, “but she could have gotten herself killed today.”
Adrien came fully into her room and sank onto the edge of the chaise, pulling her towards him. Her tears seemed to flow harder as she shook in his arms. Not wanting to disturb her as she cried, he picked her up princess-style and reseated them on the chaise so she rested against him.
“What if she’d died, Adrien? She’s my best friend. I can’t lose her.”
“I know, Mari. I know. I promise you won’t.”
“You don’t know that. Ladybug and Chat couldn’t protect her today. They both failed her when she needed them. What if they aren’t enough? What if Ladybug isn’t enough?”
Adrien didn’t reply as he’d felt the same when he saw the akuma hit Alya. He’d have blamed himself if she’d been hurt more than he already did. He hadn’t been fast enough to distract the akuma when Alya came onto the scene, and she’d paid the price for it.
“I know Ladybug and Chat are doing the best they can. Maybe we can work together with Nino to convince Alya to think before she acts when it comes to akuma attacks in the future. Surely after her close call today, she’s more willing to listen.”
Marinette calmed at this, pulling back from him to study his face. She apparently appreciated what she saw because she gave him a watery smile as her tears slowly dried up.
“Thank you, Adrien.”
He eased her back into his arms and kissed her forehead as he whispered, “I can’t stand seeing you cry, Mari. It breaks my heart.”
“If you don’t have anywhere to be, can you stay for a while? I’m sure I’m ready to be alone yet.”
He nodded and settled deeper into the chaise while pulling her to his side, content to hold her as long as she needed him to.
They stayed like that for another hour until his comforting arms lulled her into a deep slumber.
He smiled as he gazed down at her once he’d eased away from her. With another soft kiss on her forehead, he whispered, “Sleep well, princess. I’ll make sure our friend never causes you to worry again. I’ll protect her just like I’d protect you and Ladybug. On my honor, she’ll always be safe for your sake.”