AN: After the longest time finally something new from my side. Life sucked, but without going too much into detail I can say, that things are getting better.

So, finally a new, not so small One Shot. The idea came from a prompt list I found somewhere on pinterest. Something about 'What not to whisper to another person, when you have them in a hug'. And "I want you to run, when I let you go" was a part of it.

Disclaimer: I am not owning Miraculous Ladybug and all characters in it.

Anyway - I hope you enjoy.

Running

"I want you to run, once I let you go!"

Marinette clutched onto Adrien's back even more tightly, her fingers digging into the fine material of his shirt. Gosh, how much she would have loved to savor this moment a little longer: Both Adrien and her hugging each other, as if their life depended on the other's existence. His arms were wrapped most tightly around her small frame. To hold her close. To protect her. One of his hands rested against the back of her head, pressing her face against the shoulder, making absolutely sure, that she was not able to see, whatever was currently going on behind him.

Relying only on her other senses, she felt the boy in her arms trembling. His breath shaking. Heard his poor heart beating without stop. She could tell, that adrenalin rushed through every of his veins, knew, that she was doing this to make sure, that she would not get hurt by the Akuma, that lurked and waited somewhere behind her.

"Why?", she whispered, wanting so desperately to look up into his handsome face, so she could marvel for a brief millisecond in that absolute determination, that grazed his features. But he didn't allow her to move just yet, stood still, as time ticked by.

Adrien gulped as an answer. Then he cursed, his arms flexed around her, as if he wanted to make sure, that no harm came upon her. Then he stepped back once, making her follow immediately. There was a clicking sound and heavy breathing, almost a chuckle, that followed them for just one step.

"You heard me? Run, when I let go of you", he finally said, his hot breath hitting her forehead. "Hide and try to get Ladybug's attention!"

Of course - she was on her way to look for a hiding spot. But as usual all her classmates and every other student in her school trying to do the same made this task incredibly hard. That was, when she accidentally bumped right into Adrien, who held her captive ever since.

…not that she minded, of course!

But with this incredible threat right behind her, she knew, that she had to set her priorities straight. She had to transform and fight, before she could squeal in joy about the fact, that Adrien had held her tight like that.

What would Alya think, if she ever told her about it? Her best friend would probably advise her to just get on her tip toes, to lean in and to just press her lips-

Marinette tried to shake her head to make that mental image disappear. Now was definitely not the time of all the things she wanted to do with Adrien!

"Adrien - we should both try to find Ladybug and Chat Noir! Together, we-"

There it was - a breathy giggle, that startled her too suddenly. The clicking noise as well.

It came from down the hall.

It was close.

He took another step, but still showed no sign to run and hide himself. But his heartbeat was getting faster. His breathing proved to her, that he was afraid.

"Marinette…", he whispered, then shook his head, leaning his cheek against the side of her head. "I can't. I can't come with you. This thing - t-this Akuma is following me. I don't understand- I can't explain it! Once it locks eyes with you, it will follow you and only you. That's when it noticed. Otherwise, it can't see you. At least that's how I believe these powers work… And… when you blink it can come closer. It's like hide-and-seek, but in a scary way! That's what you need to tell Ladybug!"

She didn't need to tell the heroine, of course - for by now she already knew that. Yet she once more pleaded:

"Come with me!"

"I can't!"

"Adrien, ple-" He cursed underneath his breath, stumbled back two more steps with her in his arms. "We can find both Ladybug and Chat Noir!"

She heard him gulp, his arms tightening one more time around her, his breath escaped his lips shakingly.

"You need to go, find Ladybug and tell her, that Chat Noir won't come!"

"Wait-"

"And now run!"

The pressure of his arms left her body, as he moved. Stepping past her in such a hurried, heroic move, to protect her with his body. Marinette would have loved to look over her shoulder once more. Would have loved to beg, so Adrien would come with her. But the heroine inside her took over, making her follow the instructions that were given to her.

So she ran.

Ran without looking back, ran as fast, as her feet would allow her to. The girl could hear Adrien's calling, as he beckoned the Akuma to come closer. To get him, instead.

And she could do nothing about it.

Oh, how much she hated to be this helpless!

Slithering she moved around a corner, moved right to the next room and entered, without thinking twice.

The boys bathroom - well, at least that was something she could work with.

Tikki already came out of her purse, soaring with wide eyes next to her chosen, but stayed quiet when the girl laid one slender finger on her lips. Carefully listening into the quietness of this room, waiting and eventually checking each stall, to make sure, that she was absolutely-

"Alone. Good… Tikki, we need to make sure, that Adrien-"

"Haven't you heard, what he has said?"

Marinette blinked and twirled back around to look towards the floating being, that still hovered by the door.

"Of course I have listened to him! But I just can't pretend as if I don't care, that Adrien is currently sacrificing his own safety for me! I am Ladybug after all!"

"What if we are too late? And the Akuma has already-"

"No…"

She shook her heard, not yet willing to accept, that Adrien has indeed fallen victim to the curse of said Akuma… Whatever curse that might have been. His intentions had been far too noble for that and he - brave, gorgeous, handsome and perfect Adrien Agreste - has fought so hard to keep her safe. He was just like a knight in shining armor - and those always win in the fairy tales, that her mother used to read to her. And once Ladybug has made sure, that Adrien was safe she would continue with her task to safe this school and every person in it from this evil Akuma and its dark powers.

She just needed to find Chat Noir, explain everything she knew so far to him and - just like always - the magic will do the rest.

"Chat is probably around already, and he will contain the threat from this-"

"Marinette!", Tikki chided, soaring closer and right in front of her Chosen. She pressed her tiny paws against he hips, pouting at the sheer mindlessness of this love-sick teenage girl. "As much as I don't mind your never-ending love for Adrien - it's right now getting the way of seeing things clearly and remembering everything, that he has said - while he had sacrificed himself for you!"

True - she still wanted to hold on to the feeling of his strong arms around her as long as she could.

Therefore, she could not understand, why Tikki was reacting that way, when she was just her usual-

It clicked.

She understood, why Tikki's eyes had widened the moment she had mentioned Chat - and suddenly knew why she shouldn't take this so lightly.

"Adrien knew, that Chat wouldn't come." She shook her head, her stomach contracting painfully at the thought, that she needed to face this Akuma on her own. Her hands flew to her chest, in hopes they could take a hold on her restlessly fluttering heart, before it would jump from her rib cage. "He… he has fallen victim to the Akuma's attack. Is that, what Adrien wanted to tell me. How… how does he know?"

"That is not important!", Tikki urgently pressed. "And you - you should transform now, before it's too late!"

Marinette gazed at the floating, knowing entity and a shaking breath escaped her lips.

She nodded.

Finally, she transformed, and finally she jumped through the door and back on the hallways as her own, heroic self.

Ladybug looked left, that right, waiting for an impact - an attack, that would eventually come. But there was nothing, not even steps were to be heard, just her own breathing, and it was unnerving.

What was this - a freaking horror movie?

With shaking fingers and her eyes cast to the far end of this very corridor she reached down her sides and for her yo-yo. Untying it from her hip and to bring it up in front of her. Opening it.

She needed to make sure, that Adrien's words were true. That Chat - indeed - would not come and that she was absolutely alone in this fight.

"Chat?", she whispered blindly into the device within her hand, hoping to get an answer from it. "Please, Chaton. Answer me. I need you!"

The answer to her plea was mere static from the other side.

Sure - there was still hope left, that Chat Noir was still in his untransformed self, waiting himself for the right moment to transform in his hero alter ego. Then - on the other hand - why would Adrien speak in such ways about her partner, when he didn't know it differently. He had trusted the girl in his arms to get this very message - about the absence of the cat hero - safely towards the dotted heroine of this city.

And Adrien surely wasn't somebody, who would joke about such important things.

"Chat…", she therefore whispered forlornly and closed her eyes.

Hating the fact, that she was on her own in this fight.

Perhaps-

Clicking too suddenly echoed behind her. Clicking, like too long nails against wood. A breathy chuckle followed.

There - right behind her was that Akuma, that had dared to take Adrien, probably Chat Noir as well.

Ladybug wanted nothing more, but to turn around and lung at it. She wanted to find that akumatized object, break it and set the black butterfly free.

But right now she remembered Adrien's words, as she realized, that this very thing did not dare to come closer. Not yet. Not until she had seen it with her own two eyes.

'It's like hide-and-seek, but in a scary way', Adrien had whispered, so close to her ear, and now she understood - and knew, that it was now just searching, but eventually hunt her, once their eyes have locked.

Oh - well done Hawk Moth, for creating such a terrifying Akuma. Had he seen too many horror movies lately, or why would he come up with such freaky creations?

But right now was definitely not the time for Ladybug to think about any possible inspirations for said threat. Instead, she gulped her fear down and just started to run.

Once more she ran for life, back the way she had previously come. Once more she did not dare to turn back - this time not wanting to pay attention to the breathing, clicking thing in her back, that would love to do nothing more, but to catch her.

While she ran, she still noticed the eerie quietness of these halls. Sure - there was an Akuma attack going on, and it was close. Still, there was no other student, no teacher to be heard, nowhere to be seen-

She stopped moving, slithering across the floor for a meter, maybe two, until she came to a halt.

A startled gasp escaped her lips, as she found the very reason for her sheer loneliness in this school.

"No…", she whispered and shook her head.

There, right in front of her was Adrien. Still, not moving, not even breathing, arms spread wide to his sides. He had stood like that, since she was gone. Stood there, when she had fled his embrace. And he had shielded her from this attack with his whole body.

The price for being caught by this very Akuma was apparently being trapped in time and space as a statue. A fleshy, unmoving thing, that didn't breathe, react and speak.

Heavily gulping Ladybug moved around the boy, to muster his front. With his eyes wide, his mouth opened in a shout.

Adrien - her knight - has indeed sacrificed himself for her. For Marinette. His classmate. His friend.

And there was nothing, that she could do about it.

Ladybug blinked back her tears and shook her head, as her hands found his shirt. Gripping the still soft fabric in hopes it would keep her from tumbling over, as her knees buckled. Still she felt weak, leaning against the boy, who had held her body so tightly, when danger had breathed in their backs already.

"Adrien…", she whispered, finally understanding, what this thing does to the people it catches. Understanding, why the whole school was so silent, when nobody else, but her, seemed to be able to move through these corridors anymore.

That brave boy had probably seen other people - perhaps their friends - falling to this fate as well. And maybe he had seen, how Chat had been caught by this Akuma in similar ways.

…therefore he knew about the hero's absence in this fight from the very beginning.

Ladybug lingered for a moment longer. Knowing too well, that she needed to come up with a plan - one she needed to execute on her own today. Her mind already started to circle, her brain trying to come up with solutions - but every one of it contained her partner and his destructive powers.

Once the clicking sound started to get louder again, her railing thoughts came to a halt altogether. For she knew - sensed, that this thing was close. But the buzzing sound of fear and terror made it just too hard for her to navigate the sound and the clicking altogether. Too hard for her to understand, where this Akuma had been coming from.

Therefore, she once more closed her eyes, pressing her face against the crook of Adrien's neck, trying so hard to ignore his unique scent, the softness of his skin, the warmth of his body, that still clung to him.

She knew, that she needed to run and hide once more - either turn around, or make it past Adrien. But what would happen, if she just ran into this thing? Could it turn her into this kind of living statue as well?

"Ladybug, listen closely…"

Before she came to a conclusion on her own, she had heard these exact words. Nothing more but a whisper, close to her left ear. And this voice was so utterly familiar.

"I distract it, and you run past this boy and up towards the rooftops. We will meet there in a moment. But whatever you do - don't look back, okay?"

She nodded, as she felt a soft brush on her cheek, as something soared past her, up towards the air.

No… not just something. Plagg was there to help her out. To make sure, that she was not alone and that at least some piece from her dearest partner was by her side.

But… how had he come here, and how had he been able to track her down, before it was too late?

"And now - run!"

Ladybug did as she was told. She flung her body past the boy she so dearly admired and adored and ran towards the stairs, as the walls behind her started to crumple, turn into cinder and dust.

The black Kwami has used his destructive powers - of course without a wielder - and the impact was massive. The floor underneath her feet was shaking, the walls to her sides cracking and breaking. Parts of the ceiling fell of what she could hear.

The heroine had barely reached the stairs when she stopped moving. She gulped, as the destruction behind her stopped.

Just then she turned around to look.

Just to make sure, that Adrien was alright.

Thankfully he was - though the rubble and cinders in front of him spoke another story. As was the gaping abyss just before his feet.

But he - at least seemed to be fine.

"Don't worry…" It was Plagg, as he came soaring towards her, unmoved by all the destruction had left behind. And still he glanced over his tiny shoulder as well, setting bright eyes on the statue of a boy that remained unmoved as well. "I would not dare to harm your little boo, almighty Ladybug…"

But unlike his usual self, this remark was far from teasing and snarky. There were hints of sorrow and worry as well - for just another civilian in the ancient being's eyes, they would need to save.

"Thankfully…", she murmured underneath her breath, as she longed for nothing more, but to somehow rescue Adrien right then and there. Then - maybe - they could find Chat Noir together, and he could escape this hell.

Though… with Plagg being here it meant, that Chat was still his civilian self as well.

"Now move!", Plagg ushered, knowing too well, that they were not in safety, yet. "Or everything will be in vain and then I have used my powers for nothing!"

They moved up the stairs - Ladybug almost flying, Plagg just lazily fazing through the ceiling, reaching the roof, first.

"What now?", Plagg asked, as the heroine crouched down, hiding from plain sight behind a steep roof. "I would suggest coming up with a stupid plan on the spot, so I can continue with my busy life and eat my cheese in calm and quiet!"

"I am working on it…"

"Then think quicker!"

"I am just-"

"Come on! A little faster!"

"Let me think!", she eventually exclaimed, shooting the small entity a look, that could kill. Ladybug missed Chat already dearly - and their last mission had been only two days ago! But now she had to face this messed up horror-thing, that was made from nightmares with the most annoying Kwami out there! Once more she wondered, how her dearest partner could bear this one a daily basis.

She shook her head - to clear her thoughts. Not wanting to worry about him, about Adrien and every other student and teacher down there for a moment. They would all be fine, once the Akuma was defeated.

But first she needed to do it - the defeating.

Therefore she hurriedly called for her Lucky Charm - and was left with nothing, but a small, handsized pocket mirror in her hand.

The heroine gazed over to the black entity in front of her, who had, by now, crossed his tiny arms in front of his chest, seemingly pouting, as he waited - being very annoyed and impatient by now.

"Urgh! If I had known, that you will take your time with coming up with a plan, then I would have stayed hidden in his cozy pocket! But noooo~ Mademoiselle Ladybug had to cuddle him - transformed or not. And Chat is not even aware of his luck, that his lady hugged it out with him, while the big bad guy could come closer and almost - What are you looking at me like that?"

"W-what… I didn't hug it out with Chat! It was Adri-", she stuttered and shook her head as yet another time it clicked within her mind. Words - Plagg's and Adrien's word suddenly fell into place - just the right and yet so, so wrong places. "…what have you just said?"

Plagg - little, grumpy Plagg - suddenly realized, that he made a huge - gigantic - mistake and started to chuckle nervously.

"What I have said? Oh… Oh nothing at all! Just… that I like to eat my cheese in cuddly places. Cozy places. And that I came out to help and… and you know exactly why Chat Noir would not make it to this fight."

"Exactly", Ladybug deadpanned.

Plagg wouldn't even need to try and explain it to her. He wouldn't even need to come up with excuses or lies - with apologies. For he had officially screwed up and put the last piece of this puzzle in place.

Ladybug sighed and rubbed her temples - her head now aching at the thought, that Adrien and Chat Noir were one and the same person and this had been the very reason, on why Adrien had been able to know of Chat's absence in the first place. Why had wanted to warn Ladybug - why he had been so heroic and brave and just … just been perfect as a dark knight and distraction, when she had needed it the most.

A lump formed in her throat, as she lowered her voice, as she spoke those words, that came into her mind too easily: "Then… does he know my-"

"Noooo!", Plagg immediately shouted - louder, than Ladybug currently preferred. "He just hoped, that you would make it out safely, so that Ladybug would save you. He just hoped, that you could deliver his words to his lady! That's it…"

Ladybug did not know what it was, but she trusted him, deep down sensed, that Plagg's words were no lie. Truthfully though - she had no other choice.

Her shoulders slumped and she hung her head low. Thinking and worrying where she should go from there. Fearing the impact of the truth she had found today.

Eyes downcast she saw her reflection in a poodle by her feet. One of the remainders of last night's heavy rain and that's when a plan hit her hard - especially when she looked back towards the mirror in her hand.

"Plagg…", Ladybug gasped, for now trying so very hard to push the thoughts of Adrien being Chat Noir and Chat Noir being Adrien Agreste as far in the very back of her mind as possible. Nodding - more to herself than to the small being - she let him know where they needed to go from here - at least with defeating this terrified, clicking Akuma, that would surely haunt her nightmares for weeks to come, once she set eyes on it.

About the reveal… well… she would need to find a way to deal with it later…

Shortly after they parted - the human and Kwami very aware of the parts they would need to take in this scheme the young heroine had come up with. Plagg fazed right through the nearest wall and was gone - of course wishing for nothing more but a big wheel of cheese, once they were done fighting and for him so freely grant her his help during this attack.

She tiptoed back down - for she needed to by time, until Plagg was ready.

She would seek for the Akuma's attention - facing it now, that she was ready.

For a very short moment she lingered by the foot of the stairs - gazing towards the destruction in front of her, gulping heavily, as her eyes spied the boy in front of it.

Seeing in the blond boy her friend. Classmate. Hero with the Cheshire smile, glowing eyes and the heart of gold.

…gosh… how could she have been so blind - for all these years!

Silently she promised him to keep going, until this fight was won. Until she saved him - of course - not only he was relying on Ladybug, but everybody in this school as well.

…and she silently promised him to keep his secret, like he would keep hers, if he ever found out.

But her thoughts were forced to a halt, when she heard the tell-tale clicking sound of said foe. Heard the distinctive breathy chuckle, as it came closer - searching for somebody's focus and gaze, so this thing could hunt said person down.

It came from her left.

Slowly, so slowly she turned her head. Ready, so very ready to face this damned creature, that would hunt innocent people like prey in this twisted game.

Clenching her fists, raising her head the brave heroine looked it directly into the eyes. Tried to - for there were five, six, seven and much more eyes in different heights, of different sizes. A humanoid body on spider's legs, with slim arms and even slimmer limps, that would click on the wooden boards of the floor with every horrible step. Thankfully though, it stopped moving, once their eyes met. Staring the girl in dotted suit down, arms raised, grin remaining on these thin lips, that didn't even try to hide these razor sharp teeth.

Urgh - what a disgusting monstrosity!

The girl within the suit wanted nothing more, but the scrunch her nose in disgust, turn away and shiver with that creepy feeling, that this nightmare-fueling thing left within her.

But her accidental blink of her eyes was enough for it to come closer. Five steps of this long spider legs.

Click. Click. Click. Click.

Click!

Its mouth was now slightly opened, a thin, silvery chain of saliva hung between its front teeth, top to bottom.

Yuck!

Ladybug's heart yet pounded heavily in her chest upon realizing how fast this thing could come, when she only blinked. How it would run to catch her in this very sick game of hide-and-seek.

But this time she wouldn't run anymore.

This time she held her eyes open - which wandered across this Akuma's body. Searching for the possessed object she needed to break.

Searching for a way to end this nightmare.

It must be in the bracelet this thing wore, as nothing else was to be seen.

Good…

Ladybug swallowed hard and took a step back. She felt its heavy weight of her Lucky Charm in her hand, holding it, ready to use it. Then she took one more step. Then one other. Just to bring a little more space between her and the Akuma in front of her and with her eyes opened at all times.

Then she balled her fists and bravely dared to blink - she aimed the mirror up as well.

The Akuma immediately lunged forward, an ear piercing shout echoing from its lips the moment the girl had closed her eyes. But it was stopped short, before Ladybug had opened them back up again.

It has not even taken two steps towards her. Hissing, taking a step back. Turning around, to do the same.

"Plagg…", Ladybug whispered, relief filling her up easily, as she found the small being floating behind the Akuma as well, his small paws holding most tightly onto a shard of glass. A mirror - a second one for this plan. Though Ladybug would never find out, which mirror he had to break to get this big shard from it.

But thankfully - held just high enough, so this beast could see itself perfectly - it worked its trick. It worked against the powers this Akuma posessed:

It stopped moving, when its far too many eyes laid upon its own face. Moved in confusion forward, when it blinked. Stepped back. Forth again. Caught in an endless circle. Between the two mirrors - caught in seeing its two reflections.

Thankfully her plan has worked - she would later thank Plagg for it and her thankfulness would surely involve some big piece of cheese for him to devour.

Finally she reached for the yo-yo by her side, throwing it towards her foe's wrist with perfect precision, as her ear rings blinked - by now probably for the second time.

Destroying it, as usual.

The trapped butterfly tried to escape. Soaring high, flapping its small wings - but the heroine caught it fast with her magical weapon. Purifying it.

Like always the destruction was magically repaired. Every person was freed, as the spell dropped and this Akuma turned back into a young woman right in front of Ladybug's eyes.

She made it. Together with Plagg she had won this fight…

"L-Ladybug?"

This little call came not from the poor, miserable woman in front of her, who was still so endlessly confused by the whole mess around her.

It was Adrien, who had stood until only moments ago right behind her as a still, living statue. Now freed he slowly and with an unreadable expressed gazed towards her - then for a very brief moment to the black Kwami, that he might have seen, who had floated right behind her. But Plagg was gone with a little gasp, right through the ceiling, when she turned once more back toward him.

The knowledge of Adrien's- her Chat Noir's - identity remained.

"Fear not-", she swiftly said in her usual clumsy way, as she tried to conceal the fact, that she was shaking, breathless and with a furious beating heart at the moment. "-The Akuma is gone! And I will take care of everything else!"

With that the brave heroine turned back around, ran towards the woman. To take hold on her, to make sure, that she would not feel alone, to bring her home.

For now Ladybug was not able to face the other truth, that was offered to her on a silver plate at the moment and - yes - the only instinct she needed and wanted to follow was to run.

"I hate running…", the woman within her arms said, as Ladybug jumped from roof to roof, following the woman's direction towards her home. "Running is for cowards!"

"But I can understand your fear…" Of spiders - of course. For apparently the woman had a frightening fight with the spider, that had moved in to the corner of her bedroom. As she had tried to catch it, it had started the similar game of hide-and-seek, like the heroine seemed to be used to right now.

Like the game she was playing right now : Hiding from the fact, that she had found out about Adrien's secret. Hiding from the fact, that she would need to deal with it - live with it.

And searching for a way out of this mess - away from her messy and far too complicated feelings, that piled up in her chest and mind and made it almost impossible to focus on anything else.

The only solution she could come up with was to run.

"But I don't like missing out…" the woman mumbled. "I tried to find this spider for hours. More than five! I completely missed out on the breakfast date I had sat up for over a week ago! And now… that opportunity is gone and the spider is still hidden within my room…"

Ladybug sighed. They have reached the woman's home the window to the bedroom still wide opened. Probably to get the spider out as fast as possible, once she had caught the tiny insect and to let it outside safely.

Still, Ladybug could not say a thing. Still her thoughts ran miles per hours. For the words this woman said to her just made sense for the girl underneath the dotted suit as well:

Missing out… Yeah… she would be missing out on so many things - missing out on Adrien's friendship, his trust and loyalty, if she tried to force this reveal away… She would miss out on the best partner she would ever find - the best partner, who ever existed. And a friend, who was so dear to her.

Apart from that - her feelings for the blond boy were strong. Still - and would always be.

With - and without the mask on.

She had just been too blind to see the whole picture.

The young heroine gazed past the woman and into the room behind her, when her earrings beeped for the fourth time. She still lingered for a moment longer, eventhough her time to de-transform was coming.

The room in front of her was obviously the bedroom, her blue eyes immediately landing on the little black thing in the corner of said room.

The spider - the very thing, that was responsible for all this terror and havoc. And - if somebody dared to see the whole picture - the very creature, that was responsible for Adrien's unexpected reveal.

The woman noticed the absent gaze of the heroine, followed it and gasped. Immediately hurrying inside, getting the glass and paper, that rested by the bedside table to catch it. Finally and at last.

"That was easier, than expected!", the woman called and set it free.

The spider crawled past Ladybug up the wall and somewhere towards the roof. It was gone - and it had been so, so easy.

…maybe - just maybe - going from here should be easy for her as well.

"Thank you…", the woman finally whispered, bashful at the thought, that a spider could have been the reason for all of this.

"Don't be…"

Finally, a smile made it back on Ladybug's lips. Brighter now as she hoped, that this reveal would only mean something new and promising for her - for them. Depending on where to go from here…

The time to run away from this truth was over.

Well - at least for her - for Adrien would also need to play his part in it.

"I need to go!"

With that she waved the poor victim goodbye, before she easily dashed away. Pausing for a moment not too far away to de-transform. For now not giving in to Tikki's worried gaze - though there also lingered some relief in them as well.

They would talk about it later - that talk was definitely inevitable.

But for now she needed to get back to school.

Thankfully everybody still seemed to be so utterly confused. Nobody took notice, that Marinette emerged so suddenly as one of the still frightened students, who were still not thinking about any further lessons. Not even the teachers seemed to care, if everybody made it back to the classroom, before the next class would start in a few minutes.

She definitely didn't care, either.

"Marinette!", but for now she did not care about Alya calling her name, as she made it past the group of her girl friends, either. For now, she pushed every other thought far away in the back of her head, as she bravely approached the blond boy, who still seemed to be so very restless.

Could it be… That Adrien was looking for somebody. And that said somebody… Was the girl he had especially made sure, that she would stay safe?

His features definitely brightened up, when his green eyes found her amongst the crowded hallways, and he moved straight towards her.

And now - now she could definitely see it - he was Chat Noir and there was no doubt, no second thought in that.

And that definitely was a thought, that made her blush slightly and that kept her from running away, again.

"Adrien!" She called out, stopping right in front of him, smiling broadly from one ear to the other. The blond on the other hand let out a sigh in relief, his hands reaching for her upper arms, as if he wanted to make sure, that she was definitely there and that she made it out safely.

"Marinette…"

"Thank you for saving me."

There was no stutter in her words. No worry about stumbling. About being a mess. Perhaps he would be confused at first - but one day he would understand the sudden change of her behavior.

He was Chat Noir after all and she would never shy away from her partner!

"You made it out? Thankfully!", he breathed, and she felt his hands grasping her a little more tightly. "Gosh! I am so glad, that you made it! Believe me - that thing was absolutely terrifying and- Ma-Marinette? Why are you laughing?"

Indeed - she giggled. Because he still acted so bravely. Because it made sense, that he had always - in a way - tried to protect her, without him actually realizing, who he truly saved with his chivalry. And because she had seen a small, black head with green, glowing eyes peeking from the pockets of his dress shirt towards her.

"Oh nothing!" She definitely would not tell him on the spot. The truth - her truth - he would need to figure it out himself. Perhaps she could send Tikki towards him to help him as well. "…but I believe the time of playing hide-and-seek are over, don't you think?"

With that she swiftly and before her bravery ran out for today leaned forward to press a small kiss towards his cheek, leaving the poor boy completely confused and their classmates gaping at them in disbelief.

Marinette on the other hand happily trailed off, as if nothing has happened- this time not running away, again.