By My Side

" In which Love can be a bit*h "

"Adrien, stop!"

Marinette giggled as he nuzzled his head into the side of her neck. his beautiful blond hair tickling the soft flesh between the shoulder and neck. He couldn't help himself, she looked so adorable, perched on his bed and smelt enchanting with that warm, welcoming, bakery scent. It was comforting and made him feel secure.

He pounced at her from behind and pulled her in. She laughed and peeled his hands away only to turn around and put her arms around his neck, reeling him in for a kiss. Adrien loved her with all his heart. Every beat sung her name and every day, he waited eagerly for her visits. when he wasn't in her presence he felt like he was wallowing in a shallow of despair - like a piece of him had gone missing. His every breathe longed for hers. She was beautiful, there was no doubt about that. But what made him devoted to her love was her rich personality-the way she took care of everything and everyone she loved. She cherished every moment she'd get with anyone. Whether it be with him, Alya, Nino or all four of them together.

When it came to him, she had the love of a mother. She showered him with unconditional love, even at times when she'd get upset, she wouldn't keep a grudge. She always looked out for him both as Marinette and ladybug. And /oh/! When she was his lady, she would fight with confidence, power and bravery. Even if it seemed as if all hope was lost, she would fight on, because she wasn't the one to give up. That's what he loved most.

"Kitty, you're making it very difficult for me to work"

"you've been working forever." Adrien beamed before kissing her cheek.

She let out a huff of air from her nostrils. "It hasn't even been an hour."

"Well it has to me." He murmured while pulling her back with him splaying her on the bed. Marinette laughed as Adrien kissed her cheek, jawline, and began planting small kisses down the side of her neck. She put her hands on his toned chest and pushed him up off her. He reeled back, taking her in. /Beautiful/? /No/, she was mesmerizing.

"you're not gonna let me work, are you?"

"Nope." he said with a sly smile.

A muffled laugh escaped her lips as she reached up and coiled her fingers gently around his nape. They were soft, smooth and...cold. Icy and wet. The sound of thunder and rain enveloped his surroundings. Adrien shut his eyes and shook his head. The noise died down...no thunder, no rain. He slowly cracked his eyes open to see Marinette, wide eyed staring blankly up into empty space. Her pupils dilated as she took a sharp breath of air, only to let it out shakily.

"Mari?"

Adrien said worryingly.

No response. Her breath became heavy and her chest began to rise and fall at an alarming rate.

"Mari." Adrien repeated, tension growing in his voice.

As a response she slowly turned on her side and coiled into a ball, pulling her legs up to her chest, trying to steady her breathing. Marinette felt a wave of nausea swipe over her head. She couldn't calm down her jittering nerves. The ringing in her ears grew louder and her surroundings blurred and began to dim. Her eyes started to droop and she felt sick. Utterly sick. The aching spasm in her chest wasn't helping either. She felt her weight bounce as the pain steadily grew with in her, like a flame slowly burning it's way to the end of a matchstick.

While she was going through this roller coaster of emotion and pain Adrien on the other hand was trying to figure out what had happened.

"Marinette?" He said alarmingly. This was probably the fourth time he had called her name and all he got was a coiled up Mari trying hard to soothe her pain. Panic washed over him, he didn't know why she wasn't responding and it was driving him crazy. He swallowed and tried again, this time, keeping his voice at a softer tone.

"Bugaboo?"

It was as if the word itself triggered some sort of response from Marinette's ache. the pet name he had given her reached her ears. She /heard/ him and it removed some of the panic that was bubbling inside her. The ringing in her ears slowly faded away and so did the pain. All it took was this one word to snap her out of her trance. Marinette's eyes shot open and she quickly did a mental check to see if she was alright.

She wasn't quite sure what had happened but it wasn't the first time it did either. This is what she had been dreading-getting this thing she classified as a 'panic attack' in front of Adrien. She knew this would freak him out and he would press her with questions. Questions she herself didn't have the answers to.

Marinette slowly turned back to lie straight again. Adrien stared at her, his green eyes filled with concern. She hated herself, of all the times, why now? Why did it have to happen now? The worst part was that she couldn't avert her eyes from his. He studied her, relieved that she was now ok but at the same time confused.

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah I'm fine."

He gave her a look which told her that he wasn't buying her act. Was she /really/ ok or was she just saying that not to worry him? Adrien wasn't sure so he pressed on.

"You sure?"

"yes. I'm fine."

As soon as the words tumbled out of her mouth a prickle of pain shot through her chest causing her brows to furrow and her eyes to widen a bit. She tried hard to conceal it but her efforts were useless. Adrien noticed the slight change in her facial features and knew that she was hiding something. What he wanted to know was what. But he also knew that the answer would be hard to achieve and pry out because if there was anyone who's stubbornness was greater than all of Paris combined-it was Marinette's. If she wanted to hide this from him, she'd keep it hidden.

"I know what you're thinking, it's all over your face. I'm fine. Really. I just-just don't know what came over me that's all."

When she didn't talk any further and kept her gaze locked with his, Adrien sighed in defeat.

"ok." He said softly with a hint of sass, addressing her that he knew she was lying. At this Marinette furrowed her brows and let out an annoyed groan. He looked down at her, raising a brow. She put her arms around his neck and took a deep breathe.

"I'm fine Adrien." she said meaningfully. She took one hand and combed it through his bushy, blonde hair. " You know I had the sniffles last week. This is just probably the aftermath. Don't worry about me, you'll just tire yourself out kitty." She said with a wink, flicking his nose at the end.

He wasn't entirely convinced but he got this strange feeling...like he had heard her say those words before. If he remembered correct, a bell should go off any minute. He waited but didn't hear anything. weird.

"Adrien?"

He snapped out of his own world and came to. Marinette gave him a questioning look to which he replied with his goofy "my bad" grin. She giggled and looked at him longingly. What did she ever do to deserve him? He was perfect in his own way. To Adrien she looked so alluring in that moment, he didn't realize that he was slowly leaning down, reaching for her lips. They were only a breathe apart when suddenly.

Rinnggggggg! Rinnnnggggg!

Adrien's Phone went off, spoiling their moment. He lifted his head, groaning, while Marinette began to stifle a laugh. His arms gave out and he plopped on top of her. As her chuckles faded away, she collected him up and began to stoke his hair.

"Aren't you gonna get that?" She said sweetly.

He sighed. Why not? The mood had gone already. He rolled off Mari and got up, kicking his feet in the air. Marinette stretched out her arms arching her back, while Adrien walked over to his table where his phone buzzed and rang. He picked it up, but no one answered. He felt a soft breeze tickle his arms.

He slowly pivoted to see that he was in Marinette's room. The smell of freshly baked croissants was heavy in the air. He realized that his clothes had changed as well. No longer was he wearing his blue muscle-shirt with black boxers for they had been swapped out for his grey hoodie and blue jeans.

It also took him a moment to take in that he wasn't alone. Although Marinette was nowhere to be seen, her kwami, Tikki, was floating in front of him.

"Adrien did you hear what I said?" She said anxiously.

"Huh-n-no sorry Tikki, guess I'm blanking out a lot today...what was it you said?"

The little kwami sighed, clearly stressed out. Whatever it was, she desperately wanted Adrien to be aware of and understand. Adrien on the hand wasn't shocked at all of how he had managed to go from his room to Mari's in the blink of an eye. He figured he had been day dreaming or recalling a memory of the day before.

"It's Marinette. I'm worried about her. She keeps getting these odd spasms of pain. I think I know what's going on but I'm not sure...she won't open up to me. Could you talk her?"

Adrien blinked. Spasms? Of pain? Hadn't he just seen her go through that? From the look that Tikki gave him, told Adrien that this was much bigger than just some mere side effect of 'the sniffles.'

Before he had the chance to say 'ok', he got that same weird feeling again, creeping up his spine - like he had been here before. Deja vu much? He expected the floor door of Mari's room to open, so he stepped aside, except nothing happened. No one open the door. Ok, this was getting stranger and stranger by the minute. Was he some sort of psychic?

"Adrien?" Tikki said slowly.

He wanted to move, to turn his head and reply, but he couldn't. He felt his body had been pinned down by a force he couldn't see. He struggled to move, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't.

"Adrien?" This time it was Marinette who called out his name.

Her voice was filled with desperation, what he couldn't understand was why. He closed his eyes and tried another attempt at moving; his legs, arms, anything. The sound of thunder and rain enveloped his surroundings. He felt every droplet raining down on him, hard. The splitter splatter, bouncing of the street.

Street? Adrien thought.

He slowly cracked open his eyes to see that he was outside and was no longer Adrien. He saw that his hands were gloved in the familiar leather material, claws coming out from his fingertips. He felt his hair was matted and damp because of all the rain. So many questions swarmed his head.

why was he outside? Why was Marinette calling his civilian name? Was she now Ladybug?

But there was one question which protrude the most.

what was happening?

XD ok. I know you're a lil confused but dw..it'll all make sense. Next toasted flake coming out soon ^-^

you have to understand that I HATE Angst. reading it, writing it, or watching it.

I can only cope with it as long as there is a happy ending to cool off my burns...but, when there isn't one,

It gives me anxiety and panic attacks...so writing this was a death wish. The only reason I decided to take on this challenge was to re-condition

myself and to try to overcome this fear that has kept me from reading and watching amazing books, anime and t.v shows.

so, yeah I'm coping...and I did it. Hopefully you'll like what you read and cry a river of tears with me. 3