Chapter 19: Rain

Unfortunately, they didn't talk first thing in the morning. There was an akuma attack so the both of them were late to class.

Marinette tried to grab every opportunity to talk to him during the day. But it never seemed to be possible, it was like fate was pulling them apart from each other. Weird. But true.

"Girl, why can't you stop looking at Adrien? You don't have- "

"Me looking at Adrien?" Marinette interrupted Alya during class, "No. It's not what you think it is."

And it was true. She was genuinely concerned for him. She couldn't stop thinking about yesterday's akuma attack. The more she thought about it; the more she felt guilty and she didn't know why? No…wait…that was a lie. She did know why. She felt guilty because she wasn't there for him as a friend when it was clear that he was going through so much. She felt guilty that a dream had made her realise that. She felt guilty that she had her feelings for him get in the way, when the first thing he needed was support. And she felt guilty that she hadn't given him the support he needed.

However, things were going to change. She was going to be there for him here on out. She would give him that support. She cared for him. And her feelings might have blinded her in the past about his problems but now…she felt that she was the one controlling her feelings, not the other way around. They were going to have this conversation. Even if it were the last thing she'd do for the day.

Adrien sat out in front of the school observing the little droplets of water pitter-patter against the ground. He felt like getting away from the shelter and going out there, letting the rain pour down on him. But…his father would never approve of that.

He was distracted today. He had to admit it. Visions of his mom danced around his head; he couldn't get her out of his head. She felt so real yesterday. The fact was haunting his head. The fact that she wasn't really there…

"Hey." A familiar voice said, "Care for a stroll in the rain?"

He gazed up at the speaker. Marinette's blue eyes dawned down on him.

"My gorilla is waiting for me here. And won't we get wet?"

"I have an umbrella." She said smiling as she withdrew a black umbrella and slung it on her shoulder, "We won't be long. Also, did you just say my gorilla?"

"Uh-oops." He sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. "Sorry. I mean my bodyguard. Gorilla is my nickname for him."

"That's very fitting." She said chuckling at him, "Reminds me of his akumatized form."

"Yeah. Hawk Moth copied me. That nickname is an Adrien Agreste original!"

"Sure." She chuckled, "Both of you have a terrible sense of humour."

"Hey!" He crossed his arms and pouted at her, "Actually, wait a minute, maybe you're right."

"Of course I am." She raised her head feigning pride, "I always am."

"You thought Spiderman was a DC superhero till last week."

"Okay…okay…that's one exception."

"You also thought that Spiderman was Iron Man's son."

"Ugh…" Marinette groaned ducking her head, "Please don't blame me for my lack of comic superhero knowledge!"

"Hey! But that's comic superhero basics!" It really was.

"Everyone has different interests. You can't expect them to be an expert in every field."

"Hmm…so you're trying to trap me with your deep words, right?" He quirked a brow at her playfully.

"Yes." She flashed a bright smile at him, "They always work."

Fair. She wasn't wrong.

"Care to go on that walk?"

"Sure. How could I reject a kind lady's offer!" He got up to his feet and gave her a dainty bow.

"You simply couldn't." She offered her arm to him and he hooked his arm in hers.

They stepped out of school and went towards the park. The puddles splashed against their shoes. His sneakers were becoming wet, but he didn't care. Father really couldn't blame the weather, could he now?

"So, how are you doing?" She asked him.

"Huh?"

"How are you doing? I mean from yesterday's akuma attack."

"Oh…fine." Sort of. He'd get through it. He always did. Nothing for her to think about.

She narrowed her eyes in response, "You seemed distracted today."

"I- " She had noticed? "It-it's n-nothing to worry about."

"Adrien…" Her eyes softened, "Whenever someone worries about you, do you know what that means?"

"No…" He answered. Whenever someone actually worried about him, they'd go all protective and clingy over him. He wasn't a fan of that. He didn't need a protector, he needed support. Wasn't there anyone who understood that?

"It- "She looked away into the rain as her voice stuttered, "I-it means…"

"What does it mean, Marinette?" He didn't know why but he really wanted to know her answer.

"It means that they care for you." Her voice was barely a whisper, but he heard it.

She peeped out to look at him with her bluebell eyes, her cheeks were pink. He was positive his was the same colour.

"And Adrien…" She broke out of her shy trance, "I want t-to say that…I'm your friend. And I'll always have your back. You can tell me anything…if you're comfortable. I just don't want to see you suffer."

She raised her head and they stopped in their footsteps to face each other. Standing underneath the umbrella.

"Do you have anything on your mind?" He could see the genuineness in her eyes.

"I- "He almost lied. He really did…But he just couldn't take it anymore…

"It's just that…yesterday's attack. The life swap! My mother! My father! It was so different! It felt so real! I was jealous! It felt warm! I missed her! And…" Everything came out like a jumble of words…his mind was racing faster than his mouth.

"Woah!" She place her free hand on his upper arm. It felt warm, "Why don't we go from one thing at a time?"

"I'm so sorry. It's just that I'm feeling so much and…" He sighed looking down, "I'm not very good with talking about my problems."

"That's why I'm here to help you." He could hear the smile in her voice. He looked up and reciprocated it.

"Okay…" He took a deep breath and sighed, "Do you mind if I close my eyes? It feels easier to talk that way."

"Sure. I don't mind."

"Thank you." For not thinking that I'm a weirdo.

"So…" Closing his eyes, he cupped his hands to his cheeks anxiously, "When the life swap happened yesterday, I saw my mother."

He paused as she could feel her squeezing his upper arm, he smiled to show that he appreciated it.

"I mean, I knew that she wasn't actually her, but she felt so real. And I can't get her out of my head. It felt so strange seeing her again, and she was happy, not sick or secretive. Everyone was happy. I hated that it wasn't real. It made me realise how much I'm missing out in life and how much I miss her."

He opened his eyes letting his hands drop to his side as he took heavy breaths, the visions began to blur through his head again.

Marinette probably sensed his discomfort, she held both his hand and gave them a gentle squeeze.

"I'm sorry. I never really realised how hard things were for you until I was in the position myself."

"You have nothing to be sorry about." He assured her, "I forgot to ask. How was it?"

"It wasn't easy…I don't get how you deal with it every day."

"I'm used to it. My whole life has been like this."

"Well…I still think you're really brave, Adrien." She offered him her signature smile.

"T-thank you." His cheeks felt warm again, "Nobody has ever said that before."

"They should. It's the truth. People should compliment you more often."

His cheeks darkened. He really didn't know how to deal with compliments. He didn't get them often enough.

"I'm honoured then." He straightened up as his smile widened, "To be complimented by you, your life makes me jealous, Marinette."

"Jealous?" She quirked her brow up at him.

"It's just that you have a lovely life. You have wonderful parents, wonderful friends and you're also multi-talented."

"Multi-talented? M-me-I." She spluttered and blinked rapidly, "I do have lovely parents and friends. Yes. But my life is not perfect. Nobody's is."

He felt that there was a deeper meaning behind her words; he wanted to question it. But he felt that it wasn't the right time. Some other day maybe…

"What I mean is that you have everything I lack in your life." It was the sad truth.

"Doesn't that mean you have everything I lack too?" She questioned. Why was that truthful?

"You do not want my half of the everything. You've seen how gloomy it is on the other side." She did. Otherwise they wouldn't be having this conversation.

"I did but…" She gave his hand another squeeze, "It made you the person you are today."

"And what person would that be?"

"A wonderful person." His cheeks reddened for the third time as she offered him her signature smile for the trillionth time. There was something different about her today…

"Uh…" He fake-coughed, "Thank you again." She was really trying to feed him with praise today.

"They're facts." She winked as he shyly looked at her.

"Thank you for being so understanding." A genuine smile appeared on his face. She was listening to him this entire time.

"You already said thank you!" She chuckled.

"You deserve another one. I really do appreciate this."

"Well…I was worried about you." Being worried means that they care. He smiled at her, "I wanted to be the friend that I hadn't been in the past and I'm sorry for that. You needed support and I couldn't see that. Now, I promise that I'll always be here for you, Adrien. I'll always support you."

She squeezed his fingers as her words made him gasp. She was the only one who did see…

He didn't know whether the next thing he did was in the spur of the moment or if it was out of emotion. But he let go of her hands and pulled her into a hug.

He could hear her gasp as the umbrella dropped to the ground. It was raining all over them now. He couldn't care less. He'd find an excuse to tell his father.

"Thank you." He squeezed her, "Thank you for being so supportive."

He felt her sigh and relax into their embrace, wrapping her arms around him.

"Your Welcome." She whispered against his shoulder as she gently squeezed him tighter.

His heart stuttered as deja-vu crossed his senses. He felt something. Something familiar.

Hugging Marinette stirred something inside him, it felt like it was breaking out of the surface and pulsing through his veins. It was a feeling. A familiar feeling. A rare feeling. A feeling that reminded him of his mother's touch.

It was love.

Double chapter in a day? I'm on fire! But I just couldn't help it…

I'm pretty sure this fic just went from 1 to 10 from here on out.