A short one shot that reflects something I went through. This helped me through it.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

"I'm fine."

That is what I have been telling myself since the beginning of the school year. As Chat Noir sat across from me on my balcony, I knew it wasn't true. That look in his eyes, he truly cared for me. I broke down.

Lila turned my class against me like she said she would. It was after a particularly difficult akuma fight when it all crashed down. I don't know what she told them because no one will talk to me. The lie must have been so believable and horrible that everyone betrayed me without a second look. I tried asking what I did, silence is all I received.

Adrien is the only one who did not believe Lila, but it was not enough to convince the class. I sat next to him in the front row of classes now. I couldn't even bring myself to freak out about being so close to Adrien.

I can feel Nino and Alya breathing hatred down my neck.

At lunch break, I ran home to avoid being cornered. At home, i can have a break. I can let my guard down.

Wrong.

The lies reached my house. My mother looked at me so broken and hurt. I could not even begin to explain my side of it before my father told me to go to my room and leave my mother alone.

I could not bring myself to look in their eyes.

This was only the beginning. Every day and week became harder and harder. I never let them see that they got to me. I was closing in on myself. I couldn't even bring myself to open the miracle box. Just another reminder that I lost one of the only good people in my life that I could tell everything to.

Somewhere along the way, Chat Noir began to visit me more often. He was the only one I could be myself around. Besides Adrien, who I still stuttered around. If I chose to talk that is. Adrien was a silent protector who never left my side within school. I could not bring myself to even say thank you. I feared I would break the trance.

"Marinette!" Chat Noir began to push my shoulder.

I slowly looked up at him, my gaze hollow. I could not look in his eyes. My stomach rolled. Is he mad at me now too?

"Marinette, are you okay? You spaced out really bad this time."

When I wouldn't look up at him, I felt a clawed finger underneath my chin. He forced me to look at him. I steeled myself, taking a deep breath.

"I'm fine."

Chat Noir wouldn't let go of my chin. Releasing my shaky breath, I looked into his soft eyes. Even though his green eyes glow in the night, they were dark with worry and concern. I felt his eyes all over my face, they stopped roaming to stare straight into my eyes.

I broke down, my tears silently rolled down my face. Chat Noir pulled me into a tight hug. Chat was my silent rock as I released all of my pent up pain and anger. I could not bring myself to worry about an akuma. Chat is here to protect me. Until he isn't.

As if he could hear my thoughts, Chat broke the silence. "I will never leave you Mari."

I began to cry harder. The world began to break around me. I had felt cold and alone for so long.

"I am not fine. I am a burden to my class and family. The anxiety is so bad, I am suffocating. And I can't tell anyone." My voice broke.

Chat tried to lean away, but I just held on tighter. I could not look in those eyes. He could not leave me.

Chat said softly, "You can tell me everything-anything, I will understand. I won't leave Princess."

I let out all of my pain from school and home out, barely skipping around the Ladybug parts. Chat Noir's warm hug and words broke through. I began to feel the rain. I leaned away from Chat to look at the sky. I closed my eyes and let the rain wash away my tears. The warmth from the rain pelted all over me, replacing the cold loneliness.

"I haven't felt the rain in so long."

"Rain heals me more than the sun ever could." His words were so sure.

I opened my eyes to meet Chat's. "Is there something you would like to ask Kitty?"

"I...you just...you look so peaceful for someone who just cried their heart out. You remind...you reminded me of someone. You are so resilient and caring. I don't understand how you can worry about others more than yourself- especially when you are falling apart."

I felt a little bit of warmth rise on my cheeks, I decided to ignore the compliment and focus on the person I reminded him of. Could he be thinking of Ladybug? I just cried my heart out to the only boy that I have been able to cling to. Would it really be so hard to say those three words? I know he wouldn't hate me, he could protect me better if anything. I am not ready to hear his response though. Maybe...

"Me and you against the world, right Kitty?"

The rain poured harder down on us as his eyes lit up. He knows now. He can't not know. This is it. No, no anxiety. He cares for me, both sides of me. He won't leave. He slowly raised his hand to hold my face.

"So now I guess I should tell you that we have to add being the guardian to my list of anxieties." I let out a short laugh, trying to break his nerve wracking silence.

"My lady…I-"

"Please, don't tell me who you are yet. I don't think I can handle it. I just...I just need you to be here for me right now. Both sides of me. You are my only rock and I can't bear… I can't lose.."

"Me and you against the world, My lady. My Princess."

As chat leaned in and kissed my forehead, the rain slowed down and stopped.

Everything was going to be okay. It just had to be.

I have a loyal knight to protect me.