20. Akumatized
Light flashed over Marinette's eyes, waking her from a slumber she didn't remember slipping into. Warmth raced up her chilled body beginning from her toes, to her knees, to her hips. A dark veil she'd never noticed enveloping her fell away, allowing her senses to return in a rush like a waterfall. The first thing she noticed was that she was kneeling on a platform at the top of the Eiffel Tower, high above any area accessible to the public. The second was that someone had her wrapped up in a crushing hug, solid arms curled around her ribs and a head of dishevelled blond hair pressed against her cheek as a familiar voice sobbed into her shoulder, dampening her jacket.
"A-Adrien?" she called, tentative, stunned. "But—how—I don't—w-what happened?"
He only hugged her tighter, the sobs wracking his frame so close to her that she found herself trembling with him. Or was that just her?
"Marinette," he choked out between shuddered gasps. "Marinette, Marinette, Marinette."
His voice cracked, her heart breaking along with it to hear him in such misery. Her hands reached up, stroking his hair and curling an arm around his back. "Shh," she said, leaning her head into his. "Shh, it's okay."
"I'm sorry," he gasped, face still buried in her shoulder. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Marinette."
"Shh," she repeated, taking him into her arms and pressing her face into his soft hair so wouldn't see the tears streaming down her face. "It's okay, you have nothing to be sorry for. I'm here. I'm here.
"It's okay."