Chapter Text
Marinette was tired.
That’s what everyone, or Alya at least, had noticed. She had noticed how Marinette trudged into school and wore a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. She had noticed the way that darkness would slowly sink deeper into the bags of Marinette’s eyes as the days moved forward. She had noticed the way Marinette would stare ever so conflictingly at Adrien when she thought no one was looking.
But worst of all, despite having noticed all of this, she knew there was most likely nothing she could do about it.
Until a random Thursday, in the dead of night, when she received a call from the girl she had been tirelessly worrying about.
This was how Alya found herself on a rooftop as Rena Rouge, sitting next to her best friend who just so happened to also be the heroine that Paris greatly admires: Ladybug. As they both detransform Alya finds Marinette in her arms, sobbing as if she was to replenish the oceans with her tears. After a pause of being frozen in shock, Alya let herself slowly and carefully wrap her arms around her sobbing friend and pull her into a tight embrace.
“Mari” she started, “Whatever is wrong, I’m here for you. Promise. Is it about Adrien? Did he do Something? Because I swear if he did I’ll-”
“No Alya, Adrien didn't do anything, that's the problem!! I can't keep doing this to him!”
“Marinette? Doing what? What's happening?”
Marinette’s tsunami of tears slowly settled into light waves as she desperately took shaky breaths in a feeble attempt to calm herself down, she felt a hand pat her back slowly and allowed herself to mellow out.
“Whatever it is, we can get through this together. We tell each other everything girl! I even know you're Ladybug! That's surely something.”
Marinette took deep breaths and started speaking, explaining, even showing what she had done.
By the end of her explanation, Alya was completely and utterly… conflicted.
This was a big deal, probably the biggest deal there was, her best friend not only uncovered the identity of the most renowned villain, but also chose to keep it from her? Her best friend? Not only that, but he was Gabriel Agreste! Her boyfriend's father! How could she keep something like that from him, it’s just cruel.
Alya had every right to be mad.
But looking across from her, Alya could not feel anger. Because all she saw was the girl who had done everything in her power to ensure the happiness of the people she cared about, even if that had meant sacrificing her own mental health.
So, whilst technically, Alya had every right to be mad, at this moment, she couldn't feel any irritation, only sympathy for her best friend who had been through so much alone. Which is why all she did was pull Marinette into a deeper embrace; no words needed to be spoken, because Alya knew that acceptance was all that Marinette needed.
Of course Alya would most likely be slightly annoyed that Marinette never told her or anyone, but in that moment, nothing mattered except for them. Because sometimes friendship is a deeper bond than anyone expects, and can be all anyone really needs.
The sun spilled harshly through Marinette's loft window as she slowly and begrudgingly opened her eyes. As she stretched tiredly she noticed her best friend awake beside her, scrolling endlessly on her phone. Seriously? Doomscrolling already?!
“I know what you're thinking, M, and no, I am not doomscrolling. Technically… I am. But this is beneficial! Promise. I’m on the ladyblog and trying to see if we could have seen any hints in the past pertaining to if Gabriel Agreste was Monarch to try and let the public figure it out by themselves. That way Ladybug may have never known.”
Damn, Marinette had forgotten she told Alya the secret that had been plaguing her nightmares for months, the moment had been so surreally filled with her sorrow and sobs that it felt almost like a dream. Although, she was happy Alya remained by her side; she had been risking their friendship yesterday by telling her, and losing their friendship was a risk she unfortunately had to take. So, naturally she was incredibly grateful that she still had Alya despite everything.
Even though a massive weight had been lifted off her chest by confiding in Alya, it honestly hadn't done much. Because the person who truly deserved to know the information she was withholding from the world was the person she had been in love with for years. The person that she had grown to love and cherish and build a bond with over these past months: her boyfriend, Adrien. Because unbenknownst to him, he was being kept in the dark very undeservingly.
Suddenly a surge of guilt swept over Marinette like a freight train, and she started hyperventilating due to her intense feelings of remorse.
“Hey, M, it's okay, breathe. I’m here for you”
“Alya you don't understand! Adrien will be so angry, he would break up with me! And besides, Marinette can't tell him something only Ladybug is supposed to know.”
“Yes but-”
“You know I wanted to, once. I took the letter meant for him from Gabriel and brought it over to his house, but when the time came, I couldn't bring myself to do it…” she took a long, deep breath, before starting again: “I’m so weak Alya! How am I possibly deserving of any of the good things I have in life!”
Despite Alya holding and reassuring Marinette whilst she poured out her incessant feelings of guilt, Marinette had come to a decision. Not even Alya’s comfort could weaken her resolve.
She was going to have to break up with Adrien Agreste.
Of course, this was the last thing that Marinette would have ever wanted, but despite this, she knew she had to do it.
It would be the only way to truly protect the feelings of the person she loves, without unintentionally sabotaging anything.
The breakup took place on a rainy Tuesday. Marinette had messaged Adrien fifteen minutes prior asking if she could see him.
Adrien, ever the attentive and sweet boyfriend, naively thought she simply wanted to spend time with him, so he excitedly invited her over to her house.
Lets hangout at my place Mari, wouldn't want the woman I love to struggle in the rain, I’ll get my bodyguard to pick you up?
no!
i mean no haha its okay adrien you dont have to do that promise!!! ill takw my vespa!
Okay then. I will wait for you outside. I love you ❤️
Marinette stared back at that message like it had the power to hurt her, because it did. Her eyes traced over the letters once more, remembering this moment, the last time Adrien would say I love you towards her sincerely and happily.
Even though Marinette knew this breakup would tear both of them apart, she instead considered the long term:
Her not being in Adrien’s life would be better than knowing she had ruined it.
Adrien waited for Marinette on his front porch in the rain, excitement to see his girlfriend overriding worries of getting soaked. When Marinette finally pulled up outside the already open gates of the Agreste Mansion, Adrien allowed his arms to spread open to embrace the girl that had filled his heart with such warmth and love.
Marinette desperately ran into his arms, and hugged him with an intensity that was almost worrying, never loosening her grip.
“Marinette, are you okay? Do you want to talk?”
Marinette sobs harshly as her words are choked out.
“Nothing is okay Adrien! I love you, I love you so much it hurts! I only want to do what's best for you, even if it means hurting me; even if it means hurting both of us. I can't do this anymore…”
Slowly, she loosens her grip.
Adrien feels a heavy pit form in his stomach as he desperately tries to jumble words together to communicate his feelings.
“Do what? Marinette, what can't you do anymore?? I love you! Talk to me please!”
“I can't do this Adrien, we have to break up”
And with that, Marinette ran back to her vespa in the pouring rain, allowing her heartwrenched sobs to echo through the streets of Paris.
Adrien had stood there, at a loss for words. Tears flowing silently down his face as an arm weakly reaches out to the girl running away from him. The rain, now soaking him, was now only a reminder of the cold sinking loneliness he would feel without her.
A plethora of sorrow filled tears had taken over Paris’ rain storm. As a couple who had once been brought together in the rain was now separated by the storm that came after.
The days passed by in a blur as Adrien grieved his precious relationship that was now over.
Students from various classrooms had swarmed the two individually asking about the breakup, Adrien could immediately tell Marinette was already down and did not like the attention. So in some attempt to make her see they should not have broken up, he begrudgingly redirected the attention solely to him. Maybe that would help.
Despite desperate attempts to talk to Marinette, she would constantly find a way to escape whenever he neared. Did she hate him? Surely not, despite the pain of the breakup, Adrien clearly remembers her confessions of continual love towards him. So why was she so tirelessly avoiding him?
In fairness, Marinette had been acting incredibly weird after the breakup, isolating herself from almost everyone except for a select few.
What hurt Adrien the most is the fact that Marinette had even been seen hanging out with Felix!! Well - He had seen Felix and Kagami leave Marinette’s house, one could only assume they were still close. Felix! His cousin! What did Marinette suddenly have against him that was so unexplainable?
Because of Marinette's newfound habit of only hanging out and talking to a miniscule amount of people that Adrien knew of: Alya, Felix, Kagami. He decided the only way he could get answers was from the next best source.
“Sorry dude. Alya won't tell me anything! It's kinda concerning me, we always tell each other everything man. I mean, we are superheroes together as well, do you know the kind of bond heroism gives to people?”
Of course, Adrien knew this bond very well, and thinking about his hero partner, he remembered that Ladybug had also been quite down and distant. The pair of heroes had taken comfort in knowing each other had been going through similar pains. And allowed themselves to confide (without revealing too much) in each other about their troubles. It was then that Chat Noir and Adrien realised that sometimes it was easier to talk to someone who was behind a mask, or from behind a mask.
And so, remembering his past feelings, the sly cat found himself leaping onto Marinette’s balcony, to find a glimpse of her slumped onto her bed radiating sadness.
A soft knock woke her from her slumber of sorrow.
“Haha! Hey princess…” Chat drawled rather unenthusiasticly despite effort. “Mind if I come in?”