(Touch Starved): To crave physical attention from someone, whether it's a hug, holding another person's hand or simply someone to literally lean against.

Day 12 13: Touch Starved Nightmares

Adrien gasped as he shot up from his pillow awaking from yet another bad dream. He wiped his forehead that was drenched in sweat while he tried to catch his breath as his heart pounded in fear.

"Was it the nightmare again?" Plagg asked waking up from his own slumber.

"I don't get it...every time it's the same nightmare...and...the same person..." Adrien climbed out of bed and walked over to his mini fridge to grab a bottle of water. "I think I'm losing my mind."

"Well when you put it that way it's not so bad." Plagg said floating in the air. "I lost mine centuries ago and I turned out just fine."

Adrien shook his head, but smiled at the kwami. "Maybe I just need a little time out and about. What do you say?"

"I'd say as long as there's a pile if cheese waiting for me afterwords just say the words."

"Plagg! Claws out!"

Chat Noir leaped across the city for the next hour. He figured some fresh air might help him take his mind off the nightmare, but it still hung in the back of his mind.

'Just what did his dream mean' he wondered? Why of all things did this terrify him the most? Why was it always her who was in it...and not Ladybug?

Those thoughts in his mind he found himself heading towards a particular direction, towards a particular bakery. Onto the balcony that belonged to one girl in particular.

He doesn't know why he feels so compelled to see her right now. He just wanted to make sure she was okay, but be didn't have any real reason to do that right now.

Chat sighed and turned away from the trap door. "This is ridiculous" he thought, "I'm overthinking the situation. I shouldn't even be over here."

"Chat?" The sound of the trap door creaking open nearly made him jump, he turned around making eye contact with Marinette as she ascended on to her balcony. "What are you doing here?"

"Evening princess...I was just...out for a nightly patrol and I stopped to catch my breath." He didn't like lying to her, but he felt that it made more sense then his real reason for coming.

Marinette saw past his lie though, being secretly Ladybug and all she knew there wasn't any patrolling tonight. He was obviously trying to cover up the real reason he was out here. "What's the real reason you're here Chat?"

His ear went flat against his head at her question and he sighed. "You got me...I just...wanted to check on you."

This surprised Marinette, she pulled the small blanket closer to herself. "Check on me? Was I in any danger?"

"Call it feline intuition." Chat replied with a slight smirk.

"Well I have to admit I am happy that you're here." The blunette leaned on the railing and looked at the city lights. "I kind of woke up from a bad dream."

C

hat's ears perked up. "A bad dream?"

"Yeah...and recently it's been the same one whenever I have a bad dream."

"Do you...want to talk about it?"

Marinette stayed silent for a moment as if she was considering if she should, then she spoke. "I can't remember how it started, I just remember...falling...I'm falling and everything is completely dark. I'm trying to call for help, but there's no response...right before I hit the ground...I wake up."

What she couldn't tell Chat is that she was trying to call for Tikki to transform her when she didn't realize it was a dream. "I'm probably just paranoid, it's not like it means anything right?" When she looked over at Chat Noir, she noticed that his face looked extremely pale. "Chat are you alright?"

"I...I think I need to lie down." Chat put his hand on his forehead as he felt his heart beat quicken.

Marinette grabbed onto the blondes other arm and guided him to her chair that was on her balcony, once he was seated she kneeled next to him. "Chat what's the matter?"

"Marinette...the reason I'm here tonight is because...I've been having that same nightmare recently. With you falling and everytime it's always you." Marinette's eyes widen as he continued. "You were falling and I jumped to catch you, but...I...I wasn't fast enough...I couldn't catch you." Tears began falling down his mask face. "I don't know why it terrifies me so much that I was unable to save you, the thought of letting you down is just...too painful. The thought of losing you is just too painful...I'm sorry princess...I'm so sorry..."

Marinette wrapped her arms around Chat embracing him. "It's okay...everythings going to be okay. That wont happen." Chat blinked surprised by the gesture at first, but felt more better as it went on. "I know that...no matter what happens you'll be there to protect me. I trust you and I know that you'll never let me down."

Marinette moved back with a slight blush on her cheeks when she noticed the surprise look on Chats face. "I'm sorry...I guess that was a bit random..."

"No don't apologize it's fine..." He rested his hand on her waist and pulled her closer. "and...you don't have to let go...I won't."

Marinette's heart pounded and she allowed him to return her embrace, she rested her head on the cleft of his should and he softly ran his fingers through her hair.

She smiled and thought to herself "Niether will I."