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Adrien wasn’t exactly sure how this situation had escalated, but it was suddenly tense and full of raw emotions. He watched his fathers face twist with many unreadable emotions, however one emotion was clearly written all over Gabriel's body language; rage. Unfortunately, Gabriel hid it well. Well enough that very few people understood or even listened to how Adrien was suffering.
Gabriel’s fists were tight and white knuckled at his sides, so white in fact that his fingers nearly matched his prefect and pristine suit he wore. A symbol of his fathers company that Adrien hated most, symbol that couldn’t be further from the truth.
“It doesn’t matter what you want Adrien. This is what is best for you.” Gabriel spoke with so little emotion, anyone passing by would assume he was lightly scolding his son. Nothing more. Nothing like how it really felt to Adrien.
“How would you know what’s best for me? For my life? When you aren’t even a part of it!” Adrien spat back.
“I am your father. You will listen to me or else there will be consequences.” Gabriel straightened himself and looked down at his son glaring daggers.
“Those consequences are isolating me from everyone, aren’t they? You take away everything, everyone, that makes me happy, And then pat yourself on the back, Like you’ve done a good job-” Adrien spoke so fast and with such anger he couldn’t even filter his true feelings. He couldn't see how he was breaking and falling apart inside. As he was beginning to finally express himself his father raised his hand. Dismissing Adrien from the dining table.
“That’s enough out of you boy, go to your room.” Gabriel said flatly.
Adrien burst into his bathroom, the large openness of his bedroom terrified him, so much room filled with nothing. Oddly enough the vast open space made him feel more claustrophobic, as if millions of eyes in the shadows were watching him, his heart was racing and he broke out into a cold sweat. Adrien tried to scream and cry, He opened his mouth and nothing came out, not a sound would leave his throat. Adrien started to hyperventilate, each breath crashed into his chest harder than the last, struggling to get air made it feel like reality was closing in and he couldn't do anything but watch himself change and melt through the bathroom mirror.
A dark shadow caught Adriens eyes, however it was too late. The akuma had already invaded and made its home in his ring. Adrien froze in his spot unable to look away from the mirror, a familiar dark laugh filled his head rattling his heart with sharp pain.
“Adrien,” Hawkmoth’s voice echoed. “I give you the power of endless destruction... Hmm? What’s this? It seems you already have that power Chat noir.”
Adrien’s blood ran cold, then his body began to uncontrollably tingle and vibrate with panic. He watched himself transform into Chat Noir, but a twisted surreal version. His eyes were a nuclear blue and suit was an icey pure white. The blazer looked just like his fathers, a tall collar with a bulky tie. This sent Adrien into a blind rage. He wanted to be nothing like the tyrannical man he called his father.
He furiously clawed at the suit and white mask desperately trying to peel it from his skin, when neither would budge he took his anger out on the mirror in front of him. It reflected the terrifying image of Chat Blanc back at himself.
“Chat Blanc you useless fool! Stop your tantrum and go get me Ladybug miraculous.” Hawkmoth shouted in Adrien’s head.
“No!” He helplessly screamed. No one could hear him anyways, his father wouldn’t come to help.
“ Chat Noir You are pathetic.”
“Adrien, you are unworthy of my patience!”
“Adrien, you are humiliating me.”
Adrien couldn't discern who was speaking, Hawkmoth and his fathers voices melted and merged into one loud critical monster in his head.
“Adrien!”
Watching himself in third person attack Ladybug, her eyes showed how betrayed and hurt she was. It shattered his heart, he was wracked with guilt.
“Adrien!”
The voice was louder, closer. It shook him to his core. Ladybug was speaking to him. But it wasn’t her voice. Not even a sound came out of her mouth, she was silently mouthing something. Something Adrien needed to hear. It fell deaf ears, all Chat
Blanc could hear his own name, Over and over again.
“ADRIEN.”
The shrill voice of plagg finally reached Adrien's ears, shaking him awake from the clutches of that nightmare. Wet hot tears quickly sprang from his eyes as if it were a dam breaking, his whole body was shaking with intense emotion. The cry was short lived and rushed. Adrien quickly wanted to snuff out these feelings and images of Chat Blanc that were still fresh in his mind.
"Whoa, what was that?" Plagg's voice was swamped with concern.
"It was a nightmare…" Adrien stood up from his sweat soaked sheets. He was hot and uncomfortable.
"Yeah, I didn't need to be Sherlock to figure out that one." Plagg replied sarcastically. "You were freaking me out, thrashing and panting like that. I thought you were dying!"
"Plagg, I need to clear my head." Adrien sighed.
"Whatever you need, kid. just put on some deodorant before transforming."
Chat ran from rooftop to rooftop, performing acrobatic tricks and stunts to wear himself out. He kept running until his lungs were begging for air, yet nothing seemed to be working. His panic attack was still full blow and causing his thoughts to spiral. He needed to get a handle on his emotions, he needed to talk to someone. He cursed himself for being an unlucky black cat. It was the middle of the night, most people would be asleep. Most people.
However Marinette Dupain-Cheng wasn’t like most people.
Her being up past three am was a common occurrence and the main reason she was late to school so often. Adrien smiled to himself, a flutter in his gut caused his feet to start running towards a familiar bakery. Marinette is exactly who he needed to talk to, she always knows what to say to comfort him, in and out of catsuit.
Chat couldn’t help but smile when he saw the glow of her bedroom light on in the distance. He wondered what project she was working on currently, what creation was making her burn the midnight oil?
When he reached her balcony anxious doubts boiled up into his throat. What if she didn’t want to be bothered? What if he was just going to burden her with his problems. He could just say he was dropping in to check on her or just to chat but in his current state of mind; he felt fragile. She would probably see right through him.
“Chat?” A voice from behind ripped him away from his thoughts. He turned around and saw a tired looking Marinette peeking out from her skylight. “Are you okay?”
“What! I mean-, sorry, I just was in the neighborhood and saw your lights on…” He fumbled leaning on his batton. “Did I disturb you?”
“Of course not. You were pacing around up here for a while, I was worried you weren't going to come in.” Marinette said with a warm smile. She opened the door wider inviting him in. “It's a little messy in here, I'm warning you.”
Chat felt some of his anxieties despite already, Marinette just had something about her that instantly brought him comfort. She was similar to Ladybug in that way, he thought.
Marinette was in fact, not lying about the state of her room. It was actually a disaster. Everything was covered with wrapping paper, big bags and ribbon.
“It looks like a holiday store threw up in here.” Chat cracked a smile and looked over at a sheepish Marinette.
“Yeah, yeah, I know it’s crazy in here.” She waved her hand and took the only clear spot on her floor to resume her task. “You caught me doing my Christmas wrapping. Something I take very seriously.” Marinette boasted proudly,
“I can see that.” Chat remained on her bed kicking his legs off the side. “So which one is mine? I’m sure it’s purrrfect!”
Marinette rolled her eyes. “Don’t try to be a slick kitty, I already hid it before I let you in.”
Chat felt a warmth growing in his chest knowing she did find him a close enough friend to give something to. “Who are you working on now?”
“My friend Ayla, I made her a dress. It took forever!” She said looking down at the shiny red wrapping paper. “So, do you want to talk about it?”
“Talk about what?”
“Why are you here? You looked really upset when you were pacing up there.” She looked over to Chat. “We don’t have to, I’m here if you want to talk about it.”
“Er, Yeah….” He looked away, unable to hold eye contact. “I had a nightmare. Couldn’t calm myself down so I went on a run and I still couldn’t relax.” He paused looking back at Marinette with an infectious smile. “So, I came to see if you were awake because you always seem to make people feel better.” He admitted.
Marinette felt heat creep up onto her cheeks and returned his smile. “Oh,” She shifted uncomfortably under his stare suddenly feeling aware of how she looked. She ran her fingers through her hair, she didn't often wear it down but tonight was a rare occasion. “I’m happy that I can help,” She paused and set Alya’s dress down. “What was your nightmare about? If you don’t mind me asking.” She pushed knowing that it had to be pretty bad to have shaken him up enough to come out.
“It was a fight with my father.” Chat decided to leave out the other parts with Hawkmoth and the akama, he knew that wasn't the part that left him feeling shaken afterwards. “I was finally able to stand up for myself and I completely broke down. It felt so… painful watching myself turn into something just like him. I’m afraid of him and I’m afraid to be like him.” Chat nervously pushed back his hair. The emotions from his dream returned to him quickly with the same intensity.
“Chat-”
“And I can see myself continuously following him to the end because I want him to accept me so badly, I want to make him proud because I think it will make him actually ease up but it never works. His punishments are restricting me from everything and everyone. Isolating and ignoring me, that’s how he handles everything. It’s like anything I do just makes it worse-,” Chat hadn't realized he was shaking until he felt the steady arms of Marinette close around his shoulders. He hadn't even noticed her climb up the stairs to the loftbed.
“That sounds really hard Chat, I can’t imagine what you are going through.” She spoke softly. Marinette sat next to Chat on her bed breaking their hug. “It sounds like you are really conflicted about your father.”
“He drives me insane but he is the only parent I have left…” Chat sighed and leaned his head onto Marinette’s shoulder. Marinette ran softly stretched at the top of his head hoping it would comfort him. “Sorry, I’m distracting you from wrapping.”
“Chaton!” Marinette snapped, causing Chat Noir to look up at her. “You are not burdening me right now. You are my friend. I care about you more than wrapping gifts. Stop apologizing. You are allowed to feel this way!”
Chat shook his head, a low chuckle rumbled from his throat, Her brows furrowed and lips turned into a small frown. “You are cute when you're mad.”
“Hey! Don’t do that, be serious.” Marinette huffed, her cheeks flushed and Chat couldn’t stop himself from tucking her dark hair behind her ear, causing her blush to burn even more. “I’m trying to help.”
Chat didn’t know why he felt compelled to touch her but wasn’t going to question it any further. “I can’t help it. You said what I needed to hear, I already feel so much better. Honest.” He pulled her close into a hug, his arms slinked around her waist. “Thank you.”
Marinette paused for a second and then after a beat melted into the hug. She wrapped her arms around his neck and brought herself closer holding him tight. Chat buried his face into the crook of her neck, he couldn’t help but smell the light floral scent of her shampoo still clinging to her hair.
“Really?” Marinette asked quietly.
“Pawsitive.”
He could feel Marinette giggle and shake her head. “You are ridiculous, you know that right?” She ran her fingers through his hair.
Chat felt a warm feeling spread through him, being here, with Marinette felt so right, like he belonged. It was a scary feeling, but he couldn’t help but feel so happy. He waited a bit longer before pulling away from the hug though his arms were still loosely wrapped around her waist and Marinette kept her hands on his shoulders. For a moment they sat in comfortable silence looking at each other both lost in their own thoughts. Chat was trying to figure out what to say, everything he thought of saying was too cheesy. All he knew for sure is that he didn’t want to end this moment too quickly.
“Marinette, You are very pretty.” He said with a slight smirk forming on his face when he saw her embarrassed look. “Even though I’m a black cat, I’m feline very lucky to have you in my arms.” Chat teased.
Marinette gasped and batted at his chest pulling herself away. “You are no kitty, you’re a sly fox!” She hissed.
Chat clasped his arms around her tighter, stopping her from getting away, he pulled her down on the bed and held her in a bear hug. “No, No! Just a bit longer. I couldn’t help myself princess, it was alleycat instinct! I swear I’ll be good.”
Marinette burst into laughter, she weakly struggled against him, not really trying to get away. “Really? Alleycat instinct is the best excuse you could come up with?” She pushed herself up so she could look down at him, her dark eyes narrowing at him, observing his face.
Chat caressed her cheek, holding it gently, like she was the most precious thing to him. Marinette’s heart was beating so quickly and hard, she could barely keep herself calm. Why was he making her feel this way, it was so confusing and yet made her heart flutter. She watched his green eyes scan her face, eventually landing on her lips. Her heart nearly lept out of her chest, she looked away trying to pretend she didn’t see anything.
“Marinette?” Chat whispered.
“Y-Yes?” She looked back.
“Can I kiss you?” He said, surprising even himself at how bold he was. He couldn’t deny how Marinette was making him feel anymore. So many things have been pointing to this conclusion. Like how in this moment of vulnerability when he needed comfort he immediately thought of her or how he kept telling himself she is a ‘very’ special friend to him. All the conversations on her balcony flirting and joking all night long, everything he kept at bay, lying to himself.
Adrien Agreste had a big ol’ fat crush on Marinette and that he wants to and has wanted to kiss her for a very very long time.
After what felt like forever Marinette finally responded with a slow nod, her cheeks blazing with embarrassment. Chat felt his own cheeks were warm, lucky his mask hid most of his blush.
Chat kept his hand on her cheek, his gloved hand slid down and this thumb brushed over her lips. His other arm still wrapped around her pulled her down so they were inches apart. Their lips met softly, it was a warm gentle peck. Chat felt an explosion of fire in his chest, his fingertips and lips tingling. Marinette pulled away with an anxious look on her face.
“Was that okay?” Marinette, concerned she had done something wrong.
Her worries were slashed away when she saw Chat’s dorky smile plastered across his face. He took advantage of her relief and crashed his lips onto hers deepening the kiss. Marinette squeaked in response but quickly melted into him and tangled her hands into his hair.
Marinette pulled away to catch her breath and maybe wrap her mind around that she is making out with Chat Noir. Her lips stretched into a shy smile as she looked at the completely flustered chat beneath her.
“Are you feeling any better?” She asked with a smirk forming on her lips.
“Oh, So much better mon chéri.” He paused and looked away. “Although, I’m scared.”
Marinette’s face crumbled with concern. “What is it Chaton?”
“I’m scared I’m still dreaming!” Chat shot her a shit-eating grin.
She huffed loudly and rolled her eyes. “Oh yeah?” She pinched his side and twisted.
“Me-ouch Princess!” He held in his laughter, failing to look upset as his smile wouldn’t go away.