Summary: Adrien's been having some nightmares. Maybe a spotted heroine can help the bad dreams go away with a goodnight kiss….
Author's Notes: Day 2 of Fluff Month is "Goodnight Kisses!" I had so much fun writing. Enjoy!
Ladybug gasped when she saw Adrien shoot up in his bed, a scream clearly caught in his throat, his eyes wide even from the distance she was at. He looked around. When nothing came to help him, he tucked his knees under his chin, rocking a bit back and forth. Her hands stayed over her mouth. Never had she'd seen him look so weak or defenseless but she also knew that she couldn't just stand here staring; she was supposed to be on patrol but she supposed Chat wouldn't be too upset with her once she explained why she took some time out of her duty to comfort a hurting citizen….
She swung herself over to his window. In the past, she'd just kind of gone through the window but he wasn't in his room at the time. This time, she knocked.
Adrien's face shot up and now that she was closer, she could see that his cheeks were red and his eyes were a bit swollen. He swallowed hard. Scrambling from under his covers, he quietly ran to her to open the window, "Ladybug! What are you doing here?"
"I was on patrol," she explained, "but I happened to see you wake up suddenly. Mind if I come in?" He nodded, moving out of the way. Ladybug swung a bit to clear the window frame and she pulled her yo-yo back to her. The room was just as she remembered it but somehow, it looked gloomier, less inviting, than it did during the day. She placed her weapon back on her hip. Eyeing him, she had to bite back a giggle. Adrien was wearing a "I 3 Ladybug" t-shirt with matching red and black pants. His hair was sticking up in every which way which reminded her of a certain cat-themed partner but she nudge the notion away. She was here to worry about Adrien who looked like he needed some worrying over. She motioned to his PJs. "I like your outfit." He blinked, looked down, and turned scarlet, covering his face with his hands.
"I-I can explain…." She smiled.
"It's alright. I understand."
"You… do?" She nodded.
"Sure." She winked. "After all, I have a couple of pictures on my bedroom wall of a certain model." His face stayed scarlet and he used the back of a hand to cover his mouth. She stepped closer. "Which is part of the reason I'm worried Adrien. You don't look good."
Well, if my crush wasn't standing nearly on top of me and admitting she has my face plastered to my wall, I might be way better, he thought. Instead, he sighed, "I'm alright. Just had a nightmare. I get them from time to time."
She took his hand. Adrien shivered at the contact and he knew his heart was racing. If she didn't hear it, it was a miracle. "Do you want to talk about it," she asked softly. He froze. Squeezing her hand, he nodded. They moved to his couch, sitting so that their knees were touching, and the soft moonlight casted itself on their features. She frowned a bit. He had bags under his eyes, a feature she hadn't noticed at school. He probably wore some make-up to help hide them. She reached up slowly and cupped his cheek. "How long has this been going on?"
"A week," he admitted. He paused, unsure where to start. Eventually he chose, "My mom disappeared a year ago tomorrow." Ladybug blinked. "That last week she was home was one of the happiest. We did all sorts of things together. Baked cookies, played the piano, pulled a couple of pranks on dad… and every night this week, the dreams start out with those things." His face twisted. "But then they turn." He held up a hand. "So far I've seen my mom dead, in a jail cell, being held captive, being tortured…."
"None of that's true," she assured him, squeezing his other hand. He sighed, covering her hand with the hand he'd been using to count, looking at the ground.
"I wish I could be sure. It's been a year and there's been nothing…."
"I'm sure your mom is alright." Pause. "I don't know where she is but I'm sure she has a good reason for being away. I'm sure she misses you so much. I'm sure she'd rather be here with you. If we tell her about this in the future, she might even be sad that she wasn't the one here to comfort you." He looked up. Hope sparkled in his eyes. He licked his lips.
"Are you sure?"
Ladybug, just following the natural flow of things, pulled him close and gave him a tight hug. It took him a second but eventually he responded in kind, hugging her tight around the middle as the tears threatened his eyes. She whispered to him, "I'm sure Adrien."
The tears fell without his permission then.
She rocked him back and forth as he cried, holding on to her for dear life. Time passed. He wasn't sure how long they stayed like that but it was long enough to help him feel better and drowsy. Drowsy enough to start nodding his head when he pushed himself away from Ladybug. She smiled and brushed some hair off of his bangs. "Think you're ready to try to sleep again?" He nodded. They stood but he wobbled so Ladybug scooped him up princess style (he'd freak out about it in the morning) and carried him to the bed, tucking him in nice and tight. She paused. Slowly, she leaned down and planted a gentle kiss to his temple. She lingered, relishing in the softness of his skin and the warmth that radiated from it; he didn't respond having fallen asleep the instant he'd touched the bed.
"Bonne nuit Adrien," she whispered. He turned a bit but otherwise didn't respond. Ladybug smiled, glad she'd been able to help, and saw herself out, unaware that Adrien was wide awake and totally not going back to bed for some time.
