Adrien's POV – Last night

I get there before Ladybug and perch on the ledge, worrying over Marinette. What if she cuts herself again? What if she does something worse? Suddenly, I feel a hand on my shoulder, and I jump, startled.

"Kitty, it's just me. You weren't reacting." Ladybug explains.

"Sorry, bugaboo. I'm just worried about a friend of mine." I mumble, still feeling dread build in my stomach.

"I'm sure your friend will be fine," She says comfortingly.

"You didn't see her, LB. She…she cut herself today." I try not to cry as I say that out loud.

"I'm sure it was a one-time thing, Cat. If I were her, I would be grateful for having you around. I also wouldn't want to do that again."

"I hope you're right, Ladybug." I'm not sure I believe her this time. I stand up, and Ladybug trips. I quickly catch her and pull her to me, needing her comfort.

"…Cat?" She's staring at me.

"Ladybug…" Is she really looking at me like that? I quickly plant my lips on hers before she changes her mind, and to my surprise, she kisses me back. I can feel her need in the kiss, but I can't discern what's making her need me. I don't worry too much, taking as much comfort as I can get from her, hoping to kiss away my Marinette-central worries. I run my tongue over her lip, not expecting her to allow my advances, but she does. Our tongues tangle with passion, and for a moment, I forget everything but the woman in front of me. We break apart for air, and I'm dazed.

She kissed me.

"I shouldn't have done that…" I pick up the whisper with my advanced hearing. I reach for her, begging her with my eyes to stay.

"Ladybug…"

"I have to go." She ran. I'm alone again. And now I'm worried about both Marinette and Ladybug. Guess there won't be much sleep tonight…

Today

In the morning, I end up at school, waiting for Marinette. I hope she's okay…

I hear gasps and whispers around me, and I know she's arrived. When I see her, I'm shocked. I'm fighting a slight boner, but I'm mostly shocked. Her legs are long, creamy white extending from her shorts to her heeled shoes. A sliver of midriff peeks out between her shirt and shorts, and she wears a leather jacket. God she's sexy. What? No. You love Ladybug. You kissed Ladybug. Focus, Adrien!

Lila approaches her with a hidden smirk I catch. "Marinette?" She says, pretending to be nice.

"What?" Marinette barks out.

"What's…uh…wrong?" Lila looks genuinely confused but isn't concerned.

"Nothing. I just decided to be the bitch you all seem to think I am. So, do me a favor and kindly, fuck off."

Oh my god. I mean, it's not like I've never cursed, but coming from her mouth… let's just say I'm fighting my natural urges even more. I focus on my worry for her, rather than my attraction. Suddenly, she shifts, looking like a panther about to strike. I look around and see the crowd.

"Are you gunna move?"

We do, and she starts to sashay away, but then I hear a typical Chloe comment.

"Looks like Dupain-Cheng finally snapped." She stalks toward Chloe, going in for the kill. This really shouldn't turn me on.

"No. I just decided I'm done being a doormat for you to dump your shit all over. Step aside, Chloe. There's a new top bitch in town." She gives a Cat Noir-reminiscent grin and continues walking to class.

"You can't just talk to me like that!" Chloe, just let it go. I'm already semi-hard as it is. Marinette doesn't even turn around.

"I just did. Get used to it."

She walks into the locker room, and the students around me start to whisper.

"What do you think happened?"

"Why is she acting like that?"

I don't stay to hear more, so I follow after her.

"What was that?"

She lost her endearing stuttering, and now she exudes confidence. "Exactly what they asked for. They wanted me to be a bitch, I'm going to be a bitch. Fuck Lila, and fuck anyone who wants to talk shit. They should have been prepared for the consequences." You can fuck me… wait no. Focus. She's in trouble. I can punish - OH MY GOD, ADRIEN! STOP THINKING WITH YOUR DICK!

My mini freak out is unapparent to her. "Mari, I don't think anyone expected this…not even me, and I knew Lila was lying."

She turned to look at me. "That's the thing, Adrien. Everyone else chose to believe her. And I'm done. Chloe's right. I've finally snapped."

"This isn't you." It's hot, but it isn't my Marinette.

"Maybe it is. Everyone else seems to think so. It's only a matter of time before you do, too." No. I will never think this is her. It's a snarl, to protect herself from more betrayals.

"What happened to being our everyday Ladybug?" Maybe that will bring her back…

"Oh, I think you'll find that Ladybug is quite accepting of this change. She even encouraged it." Nope. Didn't work.

"Ladybug wouldn't do that…" I back up against the locker, wary as she toys with me like a cat with a mouse.

"Wouldn't she? She would do this." I gulp. Wha-She kissed me. There goes any hope of stopping my dick from saluting her. "In fact, she just did. Bye, Loverboy." Did she say something? Where did she go? Nevermind. I will my boner away, and I wait until I'm only semi-hard before heading to class, my head still foggy. First Ladybug kissed me…Now Marinette. These women are driving me nuts.

As I walk into class, I see her slouching in the back, tapping a pen against her knee, as her legs are on the desk. I'm still a little foggy, but my concern for her is sneaking through.

"Dude, what happened?" I hear from Nino.

"I'm not sure I know…" I hear her quiet laugh from the back. Well at least she's entertained. It's like she flipped a switch overnight and went from my stuttering mess to this sauntering seductress. Ms. Bustier walks in and does role. She goes through the list, and I say I'm present. Then, she gets to Marinette.

"Marinette."

"What?" She snaps, seemingly occupied.

"Okay, she's here…" Ms. Bustier says, a little shocked. I think the whole class is unnerved. We are tiptoeing around her, not sure when she will bite. Next thing I know, she's standing up and interrupting the lesson.

"Which one of you fuckers wrote this?!" Her anger turns me on…No Adrien. Focus. We are worried, not lustful.

"Marinette Dupain-Cheng! I will not tolerate that language in my room."

"Okay." She decides to be a smart ass. Though her ass looks really good as she walks by me… Focus! She stands right outside our door and says, "Who the fuck wrote this shit?!" I'm honestly concerned about her. She doesn't seem to care about anything at all…

"Go to the Principal's office."

"I'll do you one better. I'll go home. See ya later fuck faces." Well…that's… I don't even know. I pretend to get a text from my father.

"Ms. Bustier? My father just added some last-minute photo shoots for today. I need to leave."

"Okay, Adrien. Just don't fall behind. Here's your coursework."

"Thanks." I stop by my other teachers as well, spewing the same excuse and receiving all of my work. As soon as I have it, I leave, head into an alley, and transform to check on her. I can't even wait for lunch this time. I get to her balcony and I pound on the door to her room. She doesn't respond. I look in her windows, and she's not in there. Quickly, I start vaulting around Paris. I do this for hours, stopping briefly to get picked up from school and taken home for dinner, and I can't even find her. And to top it off, Ladybug didn't come to patrol, so I can't ask for her help.

If I wanted to hide from the world, where would I go? Probably to my room, but that's not an option. How about somewhere to relax? Ladybug and I go to the Eiffel Tower… I'll check there for LB and maybe she can help me find Marinette.