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A nightmare. A real nightmare. But how does she wake up?
No escape, no remedy to fix it. Why did it all have to happen to her?
Just a few hours ago, Adrien, her Adrien, was smiling at her, kissing her, making plans for the future with her.
Now it is all gone. Her love and happiness, her whole life, were shattered by some unknown evil force and are now lying in shambles.
Tears blurred her vision to the point she couldn't see anything. Nor did she want to see. All she wanted to do was to curl up and die.
“Cataclysm!”
The door to the dark library burst open with a crack. Marinette didn't move from her spot on the floor or look up to see what was happening, numb as she was. She didn't care. Screw the whole world around her. What did it have to do with her and her broken heart?
She still was in some sort of a trance when she suddenly got helped up to her feet and wrapped in a warm hug. Two strong arms were now holding her, pulling her flush to a large chest. Marinette could feel an erratic heartbeat under the leather suit.
“Whoa, that was a close call,” she heard a familiar voice breathe in her ear. “Please don't cry, Marinette!”
“Chat Noir? What are you doing here?” Her words were chopped by sobs as her body was shaking uncontrollably.
“A little bird told me there were supervillains out in the open in your area. But before I knew it, they deakumatized themselves. The akuma they rejected was heading this way.” Chat Noir pulled her closer to him, stroking her hair, and Marinette couldn't help but feel the healing warmth of his closeness enter every cell of her body, relieving her pain little by little.
The sudden realization struck her like a bolt of lightning.
“Do you mean I nearly was akumatized… again?” she whispered, paralyzed by fear.
“You were, my love, but it's over now, don't worry. I arrived just in time to not let it happen.” Chat Noir’s hands were now cupping her face, the look of his green cat eyes plunging into hers. “Everything's okay. Nothing bad's gonna happen to you while I'm here.”
The harsh reality washed over Marinette.
“No, it's not okay,” she cried, tears streaming down her cheeks more profusely than ever, leaving wet tracks of lash mascara. “Adrien hates me! He said we're over.”
Something unreadable flashed in the superhero's eye. It couldn't be guilt, could it?
“I'm sure he doesn't. This was all a misunderstanding. From the conversation I've overheard, the akumatized guys set up a trap to make you distraught in order to akumatize you. You probably should go and talk to Adrien. He must be out there searching for you. I saw him on my way here.”
“You did?” Marinette asked hopefully, tears still glistening on her cheeks in the dim light.
“That's just as sure as the fact that the sky is blue,” Chat Noir said, his thumbs gently wiping away the tears and the mascara stains from Marinette’s face. “If I were you, I'd go immediately.”
Marinette gave him a watery smile.
“Thank you, Chat Noir. I don't know what I'd become without your help.”
“Anytime, Marinette. Chin up! It's gonna be fine.” Chat Noir leaned closer and kissed her forehead.
Marinette would like to stay in his arms for a little longer. She already missed his salutary warmth, his sweet voice, and his kind words. She was a lucky girl to have such a partner. He always came to her rescue in and out of costume.
But she knew he had to go now. He gave her his trademark two-finger salute and a warmest, encouraging smile and set off.
“You okay, Marinette?” Tikki squeaked from the inside of her purse once Chat Noir was out of sight.
“I'm fine, Tikki,” Marinette murmured, the aftermath of the shock still passing through her body, now as just a light shiver. “Gotta go and talk to Adrien, I guess.”
She took a few steps towards the door when a new realization made her stop in her tracks.
“Wait a minute. Tikki, did you hear it too? Or am I just imagining things?”
“Hear what?” The little creature was none the wiser.
“Chat Noir called me ‘my love’!”