I was listening to the song You Say by Lauren Daigle, please listen to this. I'm also horrible at writing battles so I'm just not going to write any. You can use your imagination.

"Sometimes you gotta pretend everything is okay."

-Anonymous

Pretending you are okay is one way of showing people that you are strong even though everything just tears you apart.

(Time Skip: 1 year)

(During this one year, Marinette's depression has gotten worse and she often cuts, almost every night. Her mom came back for a couple days then mysteriously disappeared. Adrien has fallen in love with Lady Chat and Marinette, he is conflicted between the two. Plagg has taken a liking to Marinette and cares deeply for her. Tikki loves living with Adrien, she couldn't imagine her life without Adrien.)

There's this saying that says, People cry, not because they're weak. It's because they've been strong for too long. To me this means tears is a sign of strength, that no matter how difficult and how painful everything is, after crying you still manage to stand up and hold on. Depression and loneliness is a mental illness that can result in people feeling sad, even at unnecessary times. Which happens a lot, more than you might think. Anyone can have depression. No matter the age. Some people may think you are over exaggerating. Me, well I used to never feel this way. But I had lost someone so special to me. Someone who could always make me smile. Now I don't want to smile because then all I think about is him. It's no ones fault but mine. I begged him not to go, but he did anyway, and now I'm so broken.

(Tikki POV)

School had ended and there was an akuma attack. I was exhausted so I have been sleeping in Adrien's bag when I had been woken up by Plagg's familiar aura.

"Plagg?" I whisper so Adrien won't hear me. I hear the teacher talking and I look around. Trying to find where I think Plagg is. I poke my head out and take a deep breath. There he is poking his head out from a light pink purse embroidered with flowers. He waved me over and I quickly flew over to him.

"Hey Tikki." Plagg whispers in my ear, so that way we aren't disrupting the class. Plagg only calls me by my name when something is wrong, normally his name for me is Sugarcube.

"What's wrong Plagg?" I ask. His smile falters for a second.

"It's my charge." He mumbles.

"What's wrong?"

"She's really depressed and there are so many scars all over her body. I know it's only been a year but I feel a strong connection with her. I can't lose this one Tikki. But I have no idea how long she has left before she cuts too deep." He says all in one breath. "I'm so worried."

"Oh Plagg. There is no reason to worry. She'll be fine, they always are."

"She lost her dad and her mom abandoned her. She's alone. The others had people to support them. She only has me. Her eyes are so dull and she puts on this smile that fools everyone. But not me. She manages a house by herself, and she says I'm fine but she's not fine. She needs someone to be there for her."

"Let my charge help."

"How could he help. Tikki, she doesn't want to reveal their identities. She's scared."

"Don't they have patrol tonight?" He nods. "Then have them talk it out. Talk to her and ask her if she would talk to her partner."

"I'll try." He says.

"Good. Now I have to get back to Adrien." I say as I give him a hug.

"Okay, please come back soon." He whispers as he hugs me back.

"I will." I say and leave, heading back into Adriens bag. Minutes later the bell rings, signaling that it's time to go home. I feel Adrien pull his bag over his shoulder. When we get home I'll talk to him but that won't be for another few hours, in the meantime I will take a nap.

(Plagg POV)

Tikki just left from Marinette's purse. I'm thinking about what I can do to help Mari. I care so much about her and I don't want to lose her. The bell rings and Marinette gets up from her seat. She walks out of the school and into her home. As soon as she closes the door I pop out of her bag with my arms crossed and a serious expression.

"Tikki visited." I say. She looks at me.

"Who's Tikki."

"The Man Bugs kwami." Over the year no one knew what to call the male superhero clad in black and red. Mari giggles. People had started calling him Punaise and it kinda stuck.

"Manbug? Seriously Plagg. What did you guys talk about?"

"You."

"Why me?"

"I'm worried about you, and I know that you can't trust anyone but I'm begging you please talk to at least that Manbug."

"Why?"

"Because I don't wanna lose you. You mean too much to me, so please talk to him tonight while you guys are on patrol."

"Plagg…"

"Please!"

"Fine."

"Thank you." I say flying over to her shoulder and resting on it. I hug her cheek. "I can't lose you too."

"I love you Plagg, you are my only friend."

"I love you too Mare, and I don't like seeing you in so much pain."

"I'll talk to him."

"You promise?"

"I promise."

(Tikki POV)

Adrien just got home, and was pushed into the dining hall to get dinner. He was already late as it was because the photographer was late to his shoot. Those dumb photographers. I still haven't talked to Adrien about Lady Chat's problem. I can do that later when he is doing his homework. Right now he is at dinner and that will take about an hour, so I guess I'm stuck waiting.

1 Hour Later

It has been an hour, Adrien should being coming back to his room. It is 7:30 pm. Patrol doesn't start till 8:30. I hear footsteps coming up the stairs and a voice say, "I'll be in my room doing homework, goodnight." Oh that's Adrien. He is such a smart kid, I honestly don't know how we can help Marinette. The door opens and closes, then a click sound, meaning he has locked the door. I fly up to Adrien, ready to tell him everything.

"Adrien?" Adrien looks up to me.

"Yes, Tikki?"

" Plagg talked to me today."

"Who's Plagg?"

"Lady Chat's kwami."

"Oh. What did he say?"

"He's… worried about her. She lost both her dad and her mom abandoned her after that. She's been cutting and really depressed. He wants you to talk to her, to be there for her."

"Oh my gosh. Of course I will talk to her." He says, a look of worry and concern crossing his face. "I want to help her." I fly over to Adrien.

"Me too. Adrien me too." I whisper while hugging his cheek. I had tears in my eyes. I don't know how much longer Marinette has before she does something irrational.

Skip To Patrol (Marinette's POV)

I was sitting on the edge of the Eiffel Tower. I had already done my rounds for patrol, now I am just waiting for Punaise. I sigh and look down. I am on the highest beam. I think about jumping but before I do, my sharpen senses pick up the sound of Punaise landing behind me. He comes up to me and hugs me. I gasp and turn around.

"Punaise what are you doing?"

"I'm giving you a hug."

"Why?"

He sighs before answering. "My kwami told me…"

"Oh. So you know?"

"Yea. I know. And I'm here, so please stop trying to shut me out. I'm worried about you and so is Plagg. I.. I love you. So please don't leave me. I need you. We aren't the fantastic duo without you." He says, tears on the brim. I give a little smile before I break down and cry in his arms.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Punaise. I just, I can't deal with all of the pain. I have nobody! My mom left me and my dad died because of me. I told him not to go! I told him to stay but he wouldn't listen. I've felt this way for longer than a year, and nobody thought to reach out. Nobody would look past my facade. No one cares."

"I care. I care so much about you Kitty. Please listen to my words. Please stop crying. I'm here, I'm always here. I'm not leaving. I will never leave. Please look at me." He pleads. I look up and into his eyes. Tears falling down my cheeks.

"I'm here. I'm not leaving. Trust me. I love you." As he said that he pulled me into a chaste kiss. "Lean on me." And I do as he says, we spent the rest of the night just holding each other and never letting go. Is this my turning point? Will life get better? Will I be better? Little did I know this was just the beginning of my long, long recovery.

"You're scared to tell people how much it hurts, so you keep it all to yourself. Eventually these emotions bottle up so much to the point you think you will break."

-Me

(A/N: I'm sorry for the wait, currently I, myself am struggling with self harm. I was three months clean when a day came that I broke my promise to my parents. I can't go back now so now I have more scars on my arms... btw if anyone can give me a good idea for Adriens superhero name please tell me for now I'm just gonna name him punaise. Which supposedly means male bug as well as Lovebug in French, I used Google Translate. Lol I'm not very creative with names)