Trigger warning: Panic attack, mention of drowning

The panic sets in quickly, her thoughts spiraling as she thinks about what she had just done. The phone sitting innocently where it had landed being her only focus.

Hawkmoth knew who she was. Hawkmoth knew that she was Ladybug and could ruin her life. He could attack her family, he would attack her friends. He would sneak into her house and steal the miraculous while she was asleep. He could target her out of costume and she would have no way to defend herself. Her family could die because of her. He knew who she was just based on a phone call. Does that mean he had known for a while? How did he get her number? Wait, that had been Chat's phone, right? Did he have the other phone? Does he know Adrien is Chat Noir?

Questions race through her mind at breakneck speed. Her breathing becoming faster as she tries to focus on the problem, should she leave Paris? Where would she go? Would he follow her? She can't leave her family. Maybe she could become a monk on the top of a mountain in China or become a nun in America. No, that wouldn't work.

The phone blurs as tears well up in her eyes, hugging her arms close she opens her mouth to try and get air in better. She thinks someone is talking to her, but it doesn't matter if Hawkmoth comes after her. The man was a billionaire he could have her killed and no one would ever know. Maybe he would wait until their next meeting and then threaten her whole family. Maybe he would just kill them to break her? What would she do if her family died because of her?

Marionettes chest burns, her breathing coming faster as she curls in on herself. What was she going to do?

A gentle touch to her cheek makes her reel back in fear. He was already here! He's in her room and he's trying to take Tikki away from her she can't let him! SHE WON'T LET HIM TAKE HER.

Her head makes contact with the wall, momentarily dazing her, but it does nothing to stop her words, "Tikki! Spots on!"

In a rush of warmth and magic, she's clad in her hero costume. At least this way he can't grab the Kwami. She reaches for the latch on her ceiling and shoves as hard as she can, vision blurred as she trips out of it and onto the roof. Her head is heavy, sound coming in muffled as she throws her Yo-yo out and swings off. Not caring where she's going but intent on getting away. Her thoughts narrowed down to one word.

RUN.

She jumps and swings, tripping over rooftops and diving down alleyways to try and avoid getting caught by the phantoms chasing her. If she could just get somewhere safe then she could think. But nowhere was safe, he wasn't safe, her house wasn't safe, her school, friends, heck all of Paris wasn't safe. She had doomed them all because she answered some stupid phone call.

Her feet trip over the ledge of a bank, dunking her into the river in a shock of cold water and darkness. It takes her a lung full of water and a few strokes of her arms before she realizes she's sinking. With a desperate grasp at the surface, she climbs out of the water when her hand hits the solid rocks she has just fallen off of.

Coughing hard to expel the water out of her lungs, he sits on the edge, her limbs weak and body aching. It takes a long time, almost too long before she can breath semi-regularly, though still labored from the struggle.

With a huff, she clears the water from her eyes as best she can and takes in her surroundings. It was dark out, not quite night but late enough for there to be no pedestrians. Glancing at the nearby bridge, she shuffles over to it on her weak legs before slumping on the ledge underneath. It wasn't the perfect hiding place but it was better than nothing.

All at once her emotions are back on her, but this time all she can do is sob. She buries her head in her arms and cries for all it's worth, the frustration at her friends, the stress of being Ladybug, Adrien, her identity, anything she can think of she cries about.

Eventually, she mutters an incoherent 'spots off' in between sobs and barely registers the Kwami snuggling into her neck as she cries.

She doesn't look up until an almost familiar soft voice whispers, "Whoa, hey, why are you hiding under the bridge?"

Teary eyed and exhausted, the blunette turns her head enough to see a familiar head of a light sun bleached brown hair and dirt eyes.

The teens eyes widen, "Blue eyes? What…" Nicole pauses, taking in as much as she can before approaching slowly, "Is it ok if I sit with you?

Confused by the question but wanting the company, Marinette nods her consent.

The teen crouches down, inching along the ledge before sitting just within arms reach, she's quiet for a moment before speaking, "You uh… wanna talk about it?"

Rubbing her eyes to try and get rid of the tears but failing when more slip past, she gives up and slumps, "I-I can't."

The teen nods, "That's ok, you don't have to.' She bites her lip, "Is… is there anything I can do? I have a blanket if you're cold."

Marinette buries her head in her arms with a shrug, the tears nonstop but the hiccuping less so. Warmth wraps around her shoulders a moment later and she's grateful.

"I… I don't want to pry, but I just need to know." Her voice wavers for a second as Nicole breathes, "Did… did you jump in on purpose?"

Marinette shakes her head, "It- it was an accident." He breathes in sharp, causing a hiccuping sound to echo around them.

A heavy sigh leaves her lips, "Oh, that's. Better than what I was thinking but." She pauses, "Let's just leave it at that."

The bluenette turns to look at the teenager it's a confused tilt to her head, "What did you think I was doing?" Her voice is a little clearer now.

The other blushes but it's difficult to see in the low lighting, "I… I thought you were uh… trying to get away from everything, forever."

Realization dawns on her, "Oh. No, sorry. I was just running away, not trying to drown or anything. I'm sorry I scared you."

Nicole waves a hand, "No need to be sorry! I was just super concerned. I'm glad it was just a misunderstanding."

They lapse into silence as they try and think about what to say.

The teen turns to her, "Can I ask you something? You don't have to tell me but…"

Marinette nods, she knew what was coming.

"Do you need somewhere to stay the night?"

Marinette did not know what was coming, "Huh?"

The other shrugs, "Well, you said you were running. It's getting really late and, I mean, I can also walk you home if that's a safer place to be?"

The reason Mari-Ladybug, had been running in the first place comes back to her. How she had run away from home because of Hawkmoth.

"I… are you sure you wouldn't mind?"

Brown eyes widen, "Of course not! As long as you're safe and comfortable with it."

She considers it, on one hand, she could be putting this very helpful civilian in danger, but on the other… Hawkmoth had no idea about Nicole, she was someone completely detached from both of her lives…

"If you wouldn't mind. I don't really feel safe going home tonight."

Something angry flits through Nicole's eyes but it washes away a moment later to worry, "Of course. I don't live too far from here so I usually walk. Are you up for that?"

Marinette stands on wobbly legs but with the help of the wall and the much taller teen, she doesn't slip, "Yeah, I can walk."

They walk slowly make their way along the ledge, it's wide enough for them to walk one at a time, but that doesn't seem to stop Nicole from holding her hand all the way back. Once their on safer ground a breeze brushes past the bluenette, a shiver racking her frame.

"You going to be ok?"

Marinette's heart warms at the concern in the others voice, it was nice knowing someone cared, "I should be fine."

"Alright, let me know if you get any colder ok?"

With a nod, they make their way up the steps and onto the bridge. True to the teens words, they arrive at an apartment not even five minutes away.

Nicole turns to her at the door, "My roommates might be awake, so you should stay behind me until I can calm them down."

Confused, Marinette nods. She watches with stunned amazement when, not even a moment after the door is unlocked, a whirlwind of color comes crashing out of the door, a high pitched laugh assaulting her ears.

"NICOLETTE! YOU MADE IT HOME! I MADE PANCAKE HAMBURGERS!" Then just as quickly the whirlwind is gone back into the house.

Nicole heaves a heavy sigh, "I'm sorry. She's uh… super hyper?"

Speechless, Marinette follows the teen into the house. Instantly, her senses are bombarded by an array of colors, everything from black to neon orange splashes around the house. The scent of sweets and something she doesn't recognize fills her nose but is surprisingly not unpleasant.

A voice comes in from the kitchen, this one deeper than she was ready for but much softer, "Shoes Nicole."

The teen stops with a huff before sliding her shoes off, "Yeah, yeah." Then she turns to Marinette, "Sorry to ask but would you mind taking off your…" Panic crosses her face, "Oh my gosh, why didn't you tell me you weren't wearing shoes?"

A little surprised she looks down to find that she had indeed forgotten to put on shoes amongst all of the panic of getting out of her house, "I just noticed myself."

The teen huffs something out in, she thinks it's Russian? Before leading her to the bathroom, the deeper voice comes back confused, "Did you just use the word Butterfly as a curse word?"

Pulling out a few things, Marinette's arms are soon full of towels and a set of clothes, seemingly pulled from thin air, "Here, warm up in the shower. I'll make sure you have something to eat, do you have any food allergies?"

Mutely, the bluenette shakes her head. Nicole smiles before pointing to the shower, "We actually have to instructions for everything on the wall but if you have any questions don't be afraid to call out ok?" And with that she's alone.

Tikki floats into her line of vision, "That was something I've never seen before."

Surprised, Marinette looks to the Kwami, "Tikki? Where were you hiding?"

The Kwami gives her a sad smile, "When Nicole showed up I hid by your side, then in the blanket."

"Oh." She takes a moment to process all that had happened before exhaustion halts the process, "I think, I'm just going to stop thinking for a while."

Tikki nods, "That's ok. I'll make sure you don't fall asleep in the shower."

"Thanks." With that, she gets started on getting warm.