Well, today was just as cool for me ;)

I was just a bit down I got so few Reviews on this fic but I guess you don't wanna tell me how good this story really is because you're all speechless x)

Don't worry, I forgive you :D

Yeah, Anyway, this following Akuma was a suggestion from Rose7181, so thank her it's become such a great chapter ;)

And get well soon, Rose!

Alya's going crazy I got that many stories to finish and Adrien's not talking to me anymore… Meh, he'll come around. I just love messing with him so much. Marinette's rolling her eyes at this, but she'll see what awaits her… ;P

I've got a huge project going on right now, but you won't even get a breeze of spoilers :D

Oh, and another disclaimer: I do not own "Read all about it" by Emeli Sandé, all credit goes to her. Seriously, I wish I owned it, I want that voice o.o


"Marinette, no, stop mov-…"

"I don't wanna die, Chat! Help me, help me Adrien! Please Chat!"

Evillustrator chuckled evilly, pressing his knife to the girl's throat.

"You're gonna die to hurt him, my love!"

"Chat!"

Adrien was helpless. He watched as Evillustrator took another step back, further out of his reach. Marinette fell back against her former classmate's chest and sobbed, trying to escape the knife. She refused to stop fighting against his grip but was unable to escape.

"Please, Marinette, remain calm, we're gonna find a solution, we-…"

"No, Chat, I don't want to die! Please, help me, I wanna live! Chat, Adrien, I can't die yet!"

"You won't, we can-…"

"Adrien!", tears streamed down both their cheeks and he wanted nothing more to get to her and help her. But before he was able to think about a way to rescue her, Evillustrator laughed and cut open her throat.

With a cry, Marinette's knees gave way and she fell to the concrete asphalt under the Eiffel tower. Adrien screamed and tried to move, tried anything to get to her. She choked on her own blood and soon, her body stopped moving.

"NOO! MARINETTE-…"


"NO!", he nearly jumped out of his bed.

With a quick grab, he had his phone in his hands, tears streaming down his face and sobs constantly escaping his throat.

"Kid?"

"G-Gon-… Call Alya-…"

Plagg nodded sadly and hugged Adrien's cheek. Maybe it would be the best for his boy to talk to Marinette's best friend right after a nightmare.

He was tempted to call Marinette but resisted and stuck to his plan with Alya. It dialed and after a few minutes, his friend answered, speaking up in a very sleepy voice.

"Yeah?"

"H-Hey A-Alya-…", he pressed out, trying to suppress his sobs.

"Oh my god, Adrien!", suddenly she was awake and he could hear her shifting and probably sitting up, "Are you okay? How bad was it this time?"

"B-Bad, Alya-… I-… I c-could-n't d-do a-a-anything, I-… I-I r-really t-t-tried b-but I c-c-c-…", the sobs took over and he rested his forehead on his knees, crying violently.

"Okay, Adrien, I know it's really early and you're probably as tired as I am but I need to know who it was this time."

He whimpered when he recalled the dream, shaking his head frantically.

"Adrien? Who was it? C'mon, deep breaths."

She breathed in and out with him and asked the same question again until he could answer it.

"I-It w-was E-E-Evillst-trator-… N-Nathaniel…"

"Alright Adrien, you did well! You're still doing well. I am so proud of you. Now, breathe with me again, in and out so you'll calm down."

They breathed together for about half an hour and with great encouragement from Alya, Adrien laid down again.
"See? It wasn't that hard. Are you laying?"

He nodded and then it occurred to him that she couldn't see him.

"Y-Yeah…", he mumbled into the phone, already feeling sleepy again.

He heard her sighing, relieved.

"Now, you close your eyes and just concentrate on my voice. Can you do that?"

"Mmhm.", he hummed approvingly.

"So then. I'm gonna talk until you're sleeping. And when I'm sure you're asleep again, I'm gonna hang up."

He hummed again and she quietly chuckled.

"Remember what we did yesterday? We had a pick-up lines war and I think, you won. You brought the best pick-up line I would've ever imagined. And Mari was so flustered! She called me afterwards, her voice trembling. You know, she's been in love with you since she first got to know you. She knows exactly when she fell for you, she's calling it the umbrella scene since then. She still has your umbrella by the way, but she's never using it, out of fear to break it. But she told me you still have her Lucky Charm, so I think you're even."

He smiled. Listening to Alya was very relaxing. He wanted her to never stop talking about Marinette so he chuckled to show her he was still awake.

"And man I could've killed Nino today! That boy is more oblivious than you sometimes… You should've found out by yourself that Marinette is crushing on you, or she should've told you herself. I feel like that's something the two of you should've sorted out by yourselves. And now you know because we, Nino and I both, pushed you to know… But to be honest, it would've taken a while until you would've seen, or until she would've had the courage to tell you. And I think, it would've broken her heart. It's been long enough already…"

"It has.", he muttered and she shushed him giggling.

"No talkie talkie for you, boy. You're supposed to be sleeping by now."

He chuckled but his eyes remained shut.

"Can you-… Alya, can you sing for me? My mum always did when I was upset after a nightmare and it calmed me…"

"You sure? I'm not the best singer, Mari's way better than me…"

"But I'm not talking to Marinette right now."

"And my voice is rough. Morning voice, you know. So everything's deeper."

"I don't care. Please, Alya? I won't judge. I just-… Well, no, it's okay, you don't have to of course."

She sighed and he could almost hear her smile.

"Well then, I'll sing for you. What do you want me to sing for you?"

"Whatever you want to sing is alright."

"Do you know 'Read all about it' by Emeli Sandé? It's a very slow and beautiful song."

"Alright, I would love to although I don't know the song."

He heard her breathing and probably searching the lyrics on her phone while holding the call.

"Okay, got it. Here it goes…", she breathed again, probably listening to it to find the right note to begin with the song.

"You've got the words to change a nation

But you're biting your tongue

You've spent a life time stuck in silence

Afraid you'll say something wrong

If no one ever hears it how we gonna learn your song?

So come on, come on

Come on, come on…"

He sighed. She sang beautifully. And if Marinette was way better, then how would she sound?

Alya's voice made its way to his thoughts and memories and suddenly he remembered his mother singing to him. It immediately soothed him and he applauded Alya for being so brave to start singing without instrumental background and her just-out-of-bed voice. It sounded amazing.

"You've got a heart as loud as lions
So why let your voice be tamed?
Maybe we're a little different
There's no need to be ashamed
You've got the light to fight the shadows
So stop hiding it away

Come on, come on…"

He held his breath as he became more and more tired. He heard the smile in her voice as she continued to sing, finally getting him to sleep. Plagg next to him on the pillow already quietly snored, luckily not loud enough for Alya to hear.

"I wanna sing, I wanna shout
I wanna scream 'til the words dry out
So put it in all of the papers,
I'm not afraid
They can read all about it
Read all about it, oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh…
"

He sighed, losing himself in her voice. Singing always calmed him and especially after this night, he smiled to himself because he already felt how the sleep pulled on his consciousness.

"At night we're waking up the neighbors
While we sing away the blues
Making sure that we're remembered, yeah
'Cause we all matter too
If the truth has been forbidden
Then we're breaking all the rules
So come on, come on
Come on, come on,
Let's get the TV and the radio
To play our tune again
It's 'bout time we got some airplay of our version of events
There's no need to be afraid
I will sing with you my friend
Come on, come on…
"

His mind became slow and he felt like he would never be able to open his eyelids again. His limbs began weighing him down to his mattress and all he felt was relaxing darkness around him, warmth that protected him and Alya's voice that slowly lost its roughness from sleeping before, becoming even more beautiful.

"I wanna sing, I wanna shout

I wanna scream 'til the words dry out
So put it in all of the papers,
I'm not afraid
They can read all about it
Read all about it, oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh…"

Plagg shifted and snuggled himself against Adrien's other cheek while Alya continued singing. Sleep filled and coated him, completely taking over his senses. All he could do was to listen to his friend's voice. She became more confident with every word she sang but didn't go overboard. Her voice was powerful and Adrien knew, she wasn't giving it all she got, partly to stay quiet because of him and because of her family.

"Yeah, we're all wonderful, wonderful people
So when did we all get so fearful?
Now we're finally finding our voices
So take a chance, come help me sing this
Yeah, we're all wonderful, wonderful people
So when did we all get so fearful?
And now we're finally finding our voices
Just take a chance, come help me sing this.
"

He felt his conscious dripping away from him, sleep taking over his exhausted and scared mind. He knew, he wouldn't have to worry about nightmares for the rest of the night because Alya held them away with her singing. He knew he was safe. And he knew Marinette was too.

"I wanna sing, I wanna shout
I wanna scream 'til the words dry out
So put it in all of the papers,
I'm not afraid
They can read all about it
Read all about it, oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
I wanna sing, I wanna shout
I wanna scream 'til the words dry out
So put it in all of the papers,
I'm not afraid
They can read all about it.
"

Within the last refrain he was asleep. His phone had slid from his ear to the pillow and then down on the mattress, his hand having no strength of holding it up anymore.

Somewhere else in Paris, a girl put her phone to her ear and after a few seconds of listening, she nodded and smiled, hanging up the call.

"Sleep well, Adrien.", echoed through a room way too big for the boy laying in his bed, finally sleeping peacefully.


On the next day in school, the first thing Adrien did was to hug Alya. She smiled and felt him burying his face in her shoulder and slightly trembling, eager to hold back his tears.

"It's alright. I'm glad I was able to help."

He held her tighter, smiling as well.

"You didn't just help. You made me sleep well, the first time in a week. You don't know how grateful I am."

She pulled away when she heard Marinette's voice nearing and placed her hand on his shoulder.

"I am very proud of you for working with me this morning, Adrien."

He nodded and beamed, then let her go entirely so Marinette wouldn't interpret something neither of them wanted to falsely hint to. However, when he sat down he was confronted with a very mad Nino.

"What was that all about, dude?!", he hissed, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

"What? She helped me with something and I thanked her."

"Yeah alright, and that was the long hug right there, right in front of my face?! What's wrong with you, man?!"

"Bro-…"

"You are not my bro."

"… Are you jealous?"

"Whatever, man!"

Adrien's eyes widened and he gasped.

"Nino, you are! But that's not a bad thing because I don't have any interest in her. I-…"

"C'mon, yesterday with Marinette, today with Alya, I'm not stupid, man! I saw-…"

Adrien held his hands up and interrupted Nino before it could be too late.

"Nino, I consider Alya as one of my best friend's, almost like sister."

His best friend looked at him for a few seconds, then his shoulders slumped and he nodded, relieved.

"Thanks man. I just-… I don't know what even came over me. Sorry?"

"Everything alright man. By the way, now it's confirmed you have a crush on Alya.", he whispered, wiggling his eyebrows.

Adrien snickered as he received a punch against his shoulder.


School went by normally. Nathaniel didn't come near Marinette – also partly because Alya always kept her away from him.

Thankfully, the bluenette was relaxing around Adrien again. After the pick-up line he had said yesterday, Adrien thought he had scared her away but it seemed she really was willing to give it a shot. Ladybug had almost left his thoughts for the day and when he was with Marinette, Ladybug seemed to be no person for him anymore. Just an idea, a mask.

Just as Adrien had been for him. He had always been more Chat Noir than Adrien Agreste. But with Marinette he, too, seemed to be a person again, not an idea anymore. Not a mask anymore.

After school they stood on the steps and waited for Adrien's driver to come by and get him to a photoshoot. As they talked about their lunch break, Nathaniel went by. He waved to Marinette.

He had waved to Marinette!

Adrien moved in front of her to inconspicuously shield her view on Nathaniel. He knew the redhead still had a major crush on the girl and somehow it made the blonde's blood boil. The boy shrugged and continued to go down the stairs.

"Oh, Nathaniel, wait!", Marinette bolted and got a paper out of her bag while running to catch up with him. Adrien didn't hear what they were speaking about over the rushing blood in his ears, but it had to be the paper Mme. Mendeleiev had given to Marinette while Nathaniel had had PE.

The blonde clenched his fists but soon felt a hand wriggling between his fingers. Alya stood next to him and had seen where his gaze was fixed on.

He relaxed his hands and let Alya take one of it, trying to distract him.
"Calm down, tiger. She's just speaking to him. Everything's alright, promise."

He saw Nathaniel placing a hand on her shoulder, obviously thanking her, but Adrien trembled.

His hand was so close to her neck. Too close.

He had been that close when he had killed Marinette, when he had been Evillustrator and had killed her.

No, Adrien scolded himself, shaking his head, Marinette is alive and standing right there and talking to Nathaniel and when he had been akumatized for real, he had not tried to kill her either.

Alya held his hand tighter and looked up to him, biting on her lip.

Finally, Marinette turned around and Alya let go of his hand too late, she had seen it. Her bluebell eyes widened and she looked at her best friend in disbelief. Then, she shook her head and stumbled backwards, turning around before she could fall and ran home as fast as she could.

Slowly, the brunette turned to him as they heard the door of the bakery close with a loud slam. Her golden eyes met his green orbs and he swallowed.

"We-… We messed up, didn't we?"

She took a sharp breath and nodded, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Entirely and massively."

"Oh shit…"

Adrien swore to himself that he would pay Marinette a visit as Chat Noir. Maybe he could still save something?

"What's going on guys?", Nino finally spoke up.

They both turned to him, completely forgotten that he had been standing there. Adrien was so down he knew he didn't have the strength to tell him what had happened, especially with knowing Nino had a crush on Alya.

"Uh, sorry Nino, gotta go. We'll explain tomorrow. Bye!", she ran down the stairs and brushed over her eyes. She apparently had to collect her thoughts, too. The blonde nodded and gave his best friend a fist bump.

"Yeah, see you tomorrow."

He left Nino completely confused, still holding up his fist as Adrien entered the car. He had to get to Marinette as Chat, right after his Chinese lessons.