Marinette's POV

"What are you talking about?" Adrien searches my face for some kind of explanation, as though it might be hidden in the tears streaming over my mask.

"It's… He's…" I stutter, trying to grasp onto any stability I can find within myself, only to find an avalanche that I'm being buried under. "A-Adrien, please. I-I can't."

My whole body is shaking with anxiety. My skin is crawling, and I'm cold, but at the same time, I'm suffocating in heat. Nothing makes sense, and I'm pulling at my hair, trying to use the pain for clarity. Adrien sees what I'm doing and yanks my hands from my hair.

"Ladybug! Stop!"

"I-I" I can't breathe. I'm gasping for air, blackness encroaching on my vision. I feel someone grab my face, and I grab their hands in my panic.

"Look at me!" My eyes lock on Adrien's, but I still can't breathe. "Try to match my breathing. In… Out…" I try to follow his exaggerated breathing, but it takes a few minutes for me to actually gain control. I find myself staring into his eyes, filled with tears as they gaze back at me. I feel his hands wiping the tears from my face as he keeps his grip on me to keep me grounded.

"Good… Just keep breathing." A few more minutes of this, and I'm able to breathe on my own. I let go of his hands on my face, and he pulls them away, only to wrap his arms around me. "God, you scared me. I won't try to make you talk, but… I do think you should talk someone. At least Cat Noir. Don't you think he deserves to know why? Don't you trust him?"

"Of course I trust him! It's not a matter of trust… If it was just trust, don't you think I would have told him when we all started fooling around?" I look at him, exhausted, begging him to see how much Cat Noir matters to me. "I probably would have told him before that. But I can't tell him… I can't tell anyone."

I'm still wrapped in his arms, and I can feel him fidgeting with his hands as he says,"…What if you write it down?"

"What?!" My mind starts to spiral with possibilities of someone finding the paper and finding out my identity, but he cuts me off before I lose touch with reality.

"Write it down and… and give it to me? So I can try to help? …I know you can't talk about it. And you don't have to share it with me if you don't want to… but if you want someone to talk to about it… I'm here." He gets quiet, but quickly follows with. "Or you can write it in a diary, somewhere to keep it safe. Hell, write it in a letter and burn it, just to get it out. No matter what…" He looks into my eyes, "I don't think you should be carrying this alone."

"Adrien…" I kiss him deeply, but there's no trace of lust behind it. Just love. "Thank you. I-…I don't think I'm ready to share with anyone… at least not tonight. I'll think about what you said." I press another kiss to his lips.

"…Would-?" His voice cracks. "Would it help if I told you about what happened…to me?"

"Honestly… I don't know. And I don't want to force you into sharing when you aren't ready to. You yourself said that you weren't ready to talk tonight…"

"…You're right. As usual."

"D-Did you just… roll your eyes at me?" I laugh a little.

"Maaaybe." He waggles his brows. "What are you going to do if I did?"

"I'm going to tell you that as much as I would love to continue teasing you, we have school in the morning and should probably get to sleep." I wink at him.

"Do I at least get a goodnight kiss?"

"I think that can be arranged…" I press my lips to his as he maneuvers us to lay down.

I pull away and search his eyes. "You know I love you, right?"

He presses a peck to my lips. "I love you, too."

I cuddle further into him as he tightens his grip on me, and I fall asleep listening to his heartbeat.

After a dreamless sleep, I awake to my alarm only a few hours after my panic attack. Adrien's half asleep as he gazes up at me with messy hair and half-lidded eyes.

"…Ladybug?"

"Shhh. Go back to sleep. I've got to get home, but I'll see you later. I love you." I press a quick kiss to his lips.

"mm… Love you, too, bug." He rolls over and falls asleep again. I detransform and take a quick picture before I transform and head home. It was too adorable not to do, and a little teasing won't hurt.

When I get home, I see I have an hour until I have to get ready for school. But I know if I lay down, I won't be up in time. Instead, I decide to face the looks Tikki has been aiming at me since I let my transformation drop.

"Enough! Say what you're thinking, please, the looks are driving me crazy."

"Are you okay, Marinette?"

"I'm fine…?"

"Tell that to the tear tracks on your face."

"Okay, so I had a nightmare about Cat Blanc and had a panic attack. But I'm fine now."

She deadpans.

"I am! Adrien calmed me down. He thinks I should talk to someone about it. Though, he mainly suggested himself when I vetoed Cat Noir. He said I could write it in a letter for him if I couldn't talk about it, but I just told him I would think about it."

"He's not wrong, you know. Marinette, what happened was…traumatic. You've been having nightmares for a couple of years now."

"But-" I go to protest, but she cuts me off.

"I know they haven't been as frequent, but that doesn't mean it isn't still affecting you, especially because you've been spending time with him on both sides of the mask in a romantic capacity." She gives me a look, and I turn my face away stubbornly. "I wouldn't be too surprised if they became more frequent because of that."

I freeze.

She flies up and nuzzles into my cheek comfortingly, "I'm not saying this to scare you or discourage you from being with him. I'm saying that maybe it's time to let someone in. If not Cat, then Adrien. You need someone to support you, Marinette."

"I have you."

"You're right. You do have me. But you also have two boys who love you wholeheartedly and can give you cuddles when you have nightmares in costume," she says pointedly. "If you can't talk about it… maybe consider what Adrien said?"

"…I'll think about it," I grumble, mad she took his side.

"That's all I ask. Maybe you should start getting ready for school? You have a text from Adrien."

"Good morning, Mari. Hope you slept well ;) I know you're probably still asleep, but I'm looking forward to hearing what reward you came up with. I'll be there in 5. ;* " – Adrien

"Actually, I'm up, Hot Stuff. Still debating that reward, so I'll get back to you on it. I didn't sleep the best, but I heard you did ;) " – Me

"[Adrien_sleepy_ ]" – Me

"Ladybug sent me this gem this morning XD" – Me

I hear something tumble downstairs.

"Are you alright, dear?"

"I'm fine, Mrs. Dupain-Cheng. I just tripped."

"Just be careful. I'm sure your father wouldn't appreciate us sending you home with bruises."

"Thanks for the concern. I'll be more careful."

Less than a minute later, my trap door opens and Adrien glares at me as I snicker.

"So that's where my clumsiness went."

"Haha. Very funny." He climbs into the room and shuts the door as I approach.

"I thought so."

"When did she even take that?" He looks at me bewildered.

"She said it was right before she left. She thought it was adorable and figured I would appreciate it."

"And did you?" He stands up and grabs my waist.

"Did I what?"

He yanks me up against his body as he whispers in my ear, "appreciate it."

"Wel- I- Uh- " I'm sure my face is bright red, and him bursting into laughter does not help. "Adrien!" I huff and turn away from him.

"I'm kidding, babe. It wasn't a sexy photo." He wraps his arms around me from behind and rests his chin on my shoulder. "I could get you one if you beg, though."

I elbow him in the stomach. "You're a dork."

"I'm your dork." He winks at me.

"And Ladybug's. And Cat Noir's."

He freezes. "Y-you think… Me and Cat Noir…"

"I mean, I would assume? You guys seem to talk an awful lot. And it would explain how someone who literally has animal tendencies is not territorial over myself or Ladybug when it comes to you. Personally, I think AdriCat is hot." He chokes. "Are you okay? You look a little… constipated."

"Mari, I'm not- We- I'm only with you and Ladybug. Cat and I… it's not going to happen."

I pout, "Well there goes that dream," I mutter.

"What?" I freeze.

"Nothing? Oh, look at the time! I should get dressed!"

"Dream?" I back away from the devilish gleam in his eyes.

"I didn't say anything about a dream!"

He grabs me and yanks me against him before I can escape.

"Did you have a wet dream about me and Cat Noir?" He has a teasing lilt to his voice.

"No!" I say indignantly. "I had a wet dream about me and you and Cat Noir. It was a threesome." I can feel his erection against my ass, and then I realize. "Fuck that would have made a great reward. Damn it." I pout.

He swallows and tightens his grip on my hips. When he responds, his voice is strained, as if he's trying to control himself.

"Wha-?" He clears his throat. "What happened in this dream?"

I catch a glimpse of the clock. "I'll have to tell you later, Adrien. If I don't get dressed, we really ARE going to be late."

He swears under his breath and mutters something about heading to the bathroom. I assume to take care of his…ehem…problem.

I quickly throw on a leather miniskirt, a cropped Jagged Stone tee that ties in the front, and some converse before I do my makeup. I grab my bag and my leather jacket and head downstairs, throwing some cookies in the bag for Tikki as I go. Adrien's waiting for me by the door with some pastries for breakfast. I give him a quick peck and we head out, yelling goodbye to my parents as we pass the bakery.

We walk to school and are there early enough that people are still standing around outside. Oh joy.

"Remember what we talked about. If you need me, get me," Adrien mumbles.

"Yes, sir." I smirk and receive a swift, discreet pat to my ass for that comment. I squeak, and Adrien chuckles lowly, causing my insides to flush with heat.

"Behave." He presses a kiss to my temple as we walk toward the crowd.

"Adrien!" A shrill voice rings.

"Here we go," I roll my eyes as we both turn towards the sound. I cock my hip, raise an eyebrow and give my best deadpan.

"…is it true?"

"Is what true, Alya?" To everyone else, he sounds confused. To me, he sounds irritated.

"Has Marinette been…" she trails off, looking uncomfortable.

"Have I been what, Alya?" I snarl, hackles raised.

"Fuck off, bitch! Can't you see you've done enough? He's never going to be honest with you here!"

"I think I deserve to know what I've supposedly been doing!"

"You don't deserve anything but to rot in the depths of hell for the despicable shit you've done," she spits at me with such venom that I almost break character from how much pain I'm in. Almost,

"That's fine. The Devil's pretty hot anyways." I wink, "There's a reason it's called heavenly fire. Because it feels so good while it destroys you. Let me know when it starts to burn." I walk away, swinging my hips in a way that I know will tease Adrien. I can't help but wonder what's been said, but I need to nurse the wounds in my soul before I hear anymore. I quickly pull out my phone as I head to the roof.

"SOS." – Me