Hi everyone,
I know this chapter is gonna be kind of weird, but I've threw depression myself and trust me, this thing happen. Anyway, I want to thank Haoyoh Asakura for her suggestions (they weren't used in this chapter but they will definitely appear in later chapters)
The god of destruction hated having a chosen. Don't misunderstand it, he usually licked the ring's wielders. But it was always the same. They would end up having a messed-up life. It was just how it worked. He was a symbol of bad luck. He only brought tragedy to the life's he intruded.
He had hopped this time was different. The boy was so headstrong, so positive. It was impossible to imagine him as broken as he was now. Sure, from the very start his life had been messed up. Destiny should really give this boy a break. First his mother abandoned him to join the lopovs, his father that always found a million ways to make his life miserable, and a brother that left him on his own. Honestly, it was a miracle turned out okay. Well kind of.
The point is he was doing alright until his imbecile of a brother came back. He had seen Adrien trying to get back a long-lost relationship, he had to give up only a week after because everytime his brother grew colder. Plagg had told him to let go before it became serious but the boy just didn't listen. He could recall all his excuses.
"The flight must've tired him up. Tomorrow everything will go back to normal."
"I might have been too pushy. He was always the shy kind."
"He's my brother Plagg, he loves me, he's just having a hard time adapting. It will pass."
"Okay, I admit, there is something off about him but it must be because of all the time we spent apart"
"He is stressed. I'm sure is that"
"I just need to find a more interesting topic. I guess that should work"
"Who am I kidding. He hates me"
The boy tried so hard to help the others. Since day one he would make everyone feel better and smile with his bad puns and easy going attitude. He was willing to risk his life if that meant others would survive. He had always carried the weight of the world in his shoulders. And Plagg wanted to help. Maybe he acted like he cared for nothing but camembert, but he did care. More than anyone could imagine. He had seen too many Cat Noirs fall into despair. Some never got back on their feet.
Right now, he wished he could swap lifes with Tikky. She would find encouraging words and make him smile. She would bring good luck back to the poor boy. He would create instead of destroying something like he always did.
Waking up next morning was like waking up in hell. He no longer had a family, he no longer had his freedom. He was just an empty shell. Plagg was nuzzled against his heart, pouring ever so slightly in his sleep. He tried to convince himself that was enough, he couldn't do it. The pain had receded to a dull ache that left an endless void inside of him. He hadn't feel like that in a long time. Not since his mother left.
Standing up proved to be a challenge for the young model. Every step felt like he was walking under water: an invisible force was trying to make him stay put. He guessed he would have to fight it. That was what he should do. The moment he moved his kwami jolted in the air and followed suit.
"How are you holding on kiddo?" he asked in the sweetest voice he could manage. He tried to respond but it was too much effort. So, he stayed quiet. "Kid? Are you there?" pried the kwami flying in front of him. Adrien barely registered. "Kid!" Adrien didn't know when he had fallen to the ground, it didn't matter. He let himself sink in. "Kid!"
A door opened somewhere far away, a kwami hid, he didn't even blink. He was to fr away to do anything anyways. There was some more screaming, someone shook him. He just sank deeper and deeper. And then he was moving, at least he thought so. He knew for sure everything was spinning. He just closed his eyes.
He woke up on his bed with a sleeping Felix sitting next to it. It was already night. He had to go patrolling. He stood up and made his way to the window as quietly as he could. Sadly, it wasn't quiet enough. Felix stirred and looked around.
"Ad! You're okay. What happened? You weren't responding. You've been asleep all day." He said gushing all over his little brother. Wait that's not right. They weren't brothers anymore. Adrien felt as though he had swallowed something sour.
"GET OUT!" he shouted pushing him away. He didn't want to see him ever again. He was to blame. For everything. It was probably because of him mother had left in the first place. He was the one who destroyed everything. "GET OUT" he repeated making a move to kick him, but Felix finally complied.
He needed to come down. He couldn't break down like that again. Because that meant Felix worrying and…. Wait a second. Worrying? He cared? No. that couldn't be. He needed to clear his mind.
"Plagg, claws out!" a pouf of green light surrounded him. He jumped out the window.
He patrolled a little while before realizing he didn't want to and no one could make him do it. Instead he went to Eiffel towered and stared at infinity. His partner joined him and stayed silent. She was closer than usual. That had to mean something he thought as he rested his head in her shoulder. It was a little uncomfortable since he was taller than her. It didn't matter. The sensation of his partner hugging him was the most comforting thing he had ever felt.
"Chat…" started Ladybug. There was so much worry in her voice. He couldn't let her feel this way. Specially if it was because of him. But it didn't matter how hard he tried, he couldn't swallow the lump in his throat. He couldn't be strong anymore. He broke down crying in the crouch of her neck. Why? Why him?
She didn't say anything, preferring to hold him and rocking him back and forth after hours with no progress. He finally calmed down around three in the morning. He was still sobbing a little but it was unlike the ear ripping sound he had made before. They stayed in silence for a minute. Adrien was too afraid of letting go and so was Ladybug. They both knew he could drown himself again if the matter wasn't treated carefully. Yet they couldn't neglect it and acted as though it didn't happen.
"My brother says it's better if we don't consider each other our family anymore" he finally confessed, his voice breaking and new tears running down his face. Ladybug was at loss for words. What was she supposed to say to someone that went to such a trauma?
"I'm sorry Kitty" was all she could come up with. He nodded and they sat without talking.
"We used to be so close… every day I would count the hours for him to come home, and when he finally did, I would make everything I could to make him smile. He seemed to appreciate it the time but I guess four years can change anyone." He confided with a hoarse voice. Marinette took his hand and squeezed it wishing she had a manual on how to talk about this kind of things. "I'm sorry. I'm not used to talking about myself." Continued Cat looking down.
"Want to know a secret?" she offered. "I am terrified of chickens" that got him laughing a little. Score." It's just that the sound they make is so shrill it gives me the creeps. And the way they move their wings before they start flying is just…." She shivered. Her partner roared with laughter. She felt a little silly telling him that but it was working. That's what mattered.
They parted ways a little afterwards, both with a smile on their faces.