Author Note: It is NEVER the victim's fault that they are sexually assaulted. When you say no, it means no, and if you say yes, and THEN say no..it still means stop. If you are drugged, it is still without coherent cognitive consent. It is not about how you dress or act, there is no excuse to merit someone (male/female)) taking advantage of another person, and contrary to popular belief, sexual assault is not generally about sex anyway, it's about power and control and is almost always a crime of opportunity. It is NEVER EVER EVER the fault of the victim, no matter how many ways another person wants to justify it. With that said, however, what Mari feels in this chapter…is, unfortunately, a normal part of the victim experience. So, I apologize, but trudge forward please! Hopefully the last bit here is worth the sickening mindset a victim usually goes through.

Chapter Thirty-Four: Anger and Pain Management

Adrien banged on the bathroom door for the tenth time in two hours, but the reply was still the same.

"Go away, I don't feel good."

He'd asked nicely, and he'd even begged a little for her to open the door, but the best he could do at this point was keep checking to make sure she was alive. He didn't want to force her to open up if she didn't want to see them. Understandably, she was probably upset about Chloe's confession, but atop that, he was sure she was upset with him for not being stronger…overall. He didn't stop her from pushing herself with him in the car like he should have, and he wasn't here to protect her when he should have been.

Adrien sighed, wondering if she'd forgive him, eventually. "Alright, but I'm still going to check on you again in twenty minutes." He was afraid if she, for whatever reason, lost consciousness, and he didn't check on her, things could get bad.

"Sh-She hates me," Chloe whispered, sniffling uncontrollably. "I d-don't really blame her," she whispered hoarsely, and Adrien sighed again.

"Hate is a strong word. Upset with you? Probably, however, she needs time to process, especially after what happened to her last night."

"What happened?" Her voice was full of concern, and Adrien rubbed the back of his head.

"If she wants to tell you, she can, I won't be the one to mention it, just know she had a bad night." He shook his head slowly. "I don't understand Chloe, how did nobody know you were dating Luka? Why would you keep that a secret?"

She shrugged her slumped shoulders, and if it were possible, the weary blonde deflated even more. "He didn't want anybody to know. I don't know if he was embarrassed of me, or if he was just holding out hope Mari might become interested and then he wouldn't have to explain me to her," she said sadly, and Adrien's heart fractured a little more.

He moved closer to her and knelt on the floor in front of the bed where she was sitting. She looked away, but he tugged gently on her chin to get her focus. "Chloe, I can't begin to understand what exactly is going on in Luka's mind, but if he was embarrassed of you, he's an idiot." He offered a small smile, staring up into her pink tinged eyes.

She snorted a little, and her puffy eyes widened. "I hope we can fix…this," she murmured, sniffling again.

He nodded gradually. "I think we can work on it," he replied.

She procured a minute smile and stared off at the bathroom. "I hope I haven't ruined you and Mari, I do care about you guys, ya know?"

Adrien cringed, following her gaze after she spoke. "I'm going to be here for her no matter what, but…I don't know how to begin making her feel better. Not now."

She jerked, and he stared at her. "It was that bad? Whatever happened?"

He sighed. "She feels unworthy now, and I can't show her otherwise. She won't let me near her. Not really."

Chloe gasped. "Luka didn't hurt her, did he? Like…" She dropped her voice to a whisper. "Rape her?"

He pressed his lips into a thin line, jaw clenching. "She says no."

"The drugs," she said suddenly, eyes widening. "That's why you wanted to get her tested. You think someone dosed her, and Luka took advantage. Or, Luka did it and took advantage. Or, someone dosed her, and Luka just got incredibly lucky on her misfortune," she whispered.

He nodded, not having thought of the third possibility because he just assumed Luka was guilty, but maybe, he wasn't. Adrien doubted it, but he should at least try to explore all avenues. Narrowing his mindset would only hinder things.

"I'm sorry," Chloe said, but her voice sounded odd, and when he really looked, he noticed her eyes were a bit glossy.

"Chlo?" He blinked. "What are you sorry for?"

She started shaking her head, bringing her eyes back to center, frowning. "The woman who attacked me…she said I'm sorry," she said, frowning. "It was the first thing she said to me before she grabbed me…she came in through the window."

"She was sorry for what? Sneaking in? Attacking you? Maybe it was her sick sense of humor?"

Chloe's brows creased more. "I d-don't think so. She almost sounded pained when she said it. Sincere…but that's…all I can remember."

"That doesn't make any sense. Did you see her face?"

She jerked her head. "No, she grabbed me from behind, and that's all I can remember. That, and her saying she was sorry like she was in pain about something." She sighed. "If she said anything else, I just don't remember."

"Do you think it was Lila?"

She rubbed her face, covering it. "I don't know. The voice feels familiar, but Lila seems wrong, I don't know why." She shrugged, dropping her arms. "Then again, I have a concussion. I could be wrong about Lila."

Adrien growled under his breath, rubbing the back of his neck. Oh, what about… "Was there anyone else in your room when it happened? Anybody that could be a potential witness?" He brushed her hair gently at the crown as he said it, hoping to give her brain a nudge in the right direction.

"I'm usually alone unless I'm with Luka," she murmured, eyes faltering. "Or with you guys."

"You haven't had any other visitors?" He tried to make it sound sympathetic instead of probing, and he brushed her hair again. C'mon Chloe…I need you to make the leap.

"N-Not really," she whispered, but then her eyes slowly started to widen as he combed her hair a third time, soothing, unassuming. She practically smacked his hand away as she touched the right side of her head. "Wh-Where is my hairpin!?"

Adrien frowned. "You didn't have one when I found you." His heart thumped rapidly, suddenly fearful. "Were you wearing one last night?" He tried to recall if she had it in when they were out, but she didn't.

"I k-keep it with me all the time, but I only put it on when I'm alone, it…it's special," she breathed. "We have to go to my room and look for it!"

Shit. Adrien knew it wasn't there, or least it wasn't where he'd found her. He would have noticed the Bee Miraculous. He wasn't going to leave Mari here alone, and she was refusing to come out. He sighed, pulling his phone out. The Miraculous was important, so he couldn't put it off either.

"Who are you texting?"

"One of the few people I'm going to trust sitting here with Mari while I'm going to your room with you."

***POV Change***

Adrien had knocked again, sighing on the other side. "We have to go check Chloe's room for…a special hairpin of hers. I'd wait, but she says it's important to her," he said slowly, and Marinette's eyes widened. The Miraculous? Had Pollen seen something?

"O-Okay, I'm fine here," she rasped, her throat raw from puking. The thought of him leaving her alone, again, made her break out in a cold sweat, but the Miraculous was important, and she couldn't bring herself to get up.

"Yeah, I know, Gustave is here, and he'll be a perfect gentlemen if you happen to wander out. If not, he knows to check on you periodically in case you pass out," he said softly. "The windows are locked," he said firmly. "I told him nobody else comes in this room. Not my father, not Luka, nobody. I have a key, so the outer door will be locked when I leave, too."

She let out a short breath and nodded. All of those precautions made her feel microscopically better, even if it didn't put her at complete ease. She still felt vulnerable. It was like even one hundred steel doors wouldn't be enough to save her from the guilt, shame, and the fear that she was just like everyone else. Unsafe.

"Th-Thank you," she finally replied, realizing she could still 'feel' him at the door.

"I'll be back presently," he croaked. "I promise."

She nodded, but remembered he couldn't see her, especially since she was curled up as tightly as possible. "Take y-your time," she muttered hoarsely.

He scoffed. "Not if it means…more time away from you," he whispered softly, and she heard a light thud, perhaps his forehead hitting the door.

She wanted to smile, she really did, but she found nothing but tears where the playful hopefulness was supposed to be. "L-Love you," she offered instead, squeezing her eyes shut, silent tears escaping in a river down her face.

"I love you too, Mari, no matter what, with my entire heart and soul, please, remember that…"

She shook her head, a soft sob escaping. How could he still utter such pretty words at her? How could he still love her after what she had allowed to happen? Maybe…if she hadn't let Luka go down on her the first time. Maybe…if she hadn't been so…provocative. Maybe…if she had been stronger and more alert…she could have prevented it all.

She barely got up over the toilet again before another wave of bile spewed from her quickly cracking lips. The taint was never going to wear off. She was going to be a filthy, soiled, as long as she lived…having betrayed the man she was supposed to love. For acting like a whore, and leading Luka to believe he could have her. She was pathetic. Did she even deserve to live? Could she…continue to live with herself, staring into his sincere emerald eyes, knowing she was a stain on his heart and soul?

***POV Change***

He was endeavoring to get Chloe to calm herself, despite the fact his stomach was a tightened knot of dread. She couldn't find her Miraculous, which meant Pollen wasn't going to be useful, and more importantly, there was a jewel floating around somewhere.

"Calm, Chloe," he whispered, reaching for her, but she snarled, jumping back.

"Y-You just don't understand! It's everything!" She whimpered, twirling in a circle again as she threw things around the room, dropping to check under the bed for the hundredth time. "You'd never understand!"

He sighed, rubbing his jaw slowly. He could tell her he knew, but how? She was working herself up into a frenzy, and she was supposed to avoid strenuous activity.

"Why, because it's a Miraculous?"

His words cut her off, mid motion, and her eyes widened considerably before they narrowed at him. "H-How did you know?"

He inhaled slowly, nodding. "Judging by how important it seems to be, the reports that I read of Queen Bee making a surprise appearance in Paris a few nights ago, and the fact, that I know, from seeing you transform, that the Miraculous is a hairpin, I took a logical stab in the dark." Yeah, or I might have helped give it to you. Either or, take your pick.

She broke down, and he rushed to her side, hugging her tight. "Ladybug is going to kill me!"

"We'll figure it out, it's okay," he breathed, kissing her head as she sobbed, sagging into him. He slid his palm to the side of her neck, and he felt her pulse, frantic against his fingertips. She was going to overwork herself.

"M-Maybe the intruder took it?"

He clenched his jaw. He had thought of that, but he didn't want to admit it was the most likely scenario. "We'll figure it out," he repeated. "However, working yourself up isn't helping. Take a deep breath. Breathe with me," he cooed, pressing her into his chest and taking a large deep breath. He let it out slowly and continued the motion, over and over until they were in sync, and he could feel her heart slowing beneath his fingers.

"When d-did you get so calm and wise," she tried playfully, and it pulled a chuckle from him.

"When I realized being an ignorant boy had cost me years with Marinette," he teased back, and she rolled her eyes.

"Y-You do seem more confident, more sure of yourself."

He nodded. "I'm going to be there for her. I'll be here for you. I'm going to do everything I can to make everything right, and I'm not letting anything stop me. If I had opened my eyes to both of you sooner, maybe we could have prevented some of this mess, however, would have, could have, should have doesn't change what happened. We have to deal with the hand we've got, as shitty as it is."

She pulled back and looked at him. Really looked at him as if she were seeing him for the very first time despite having grown up together. "Wow," she whispered, leaning forward to place a chaste kiss on both his cheeks. "My Adrikins, all grown up!"

He snorted, using his palms to wipe her cheeks before returning a kiss to her forehead. "Just when you thought you'd be looking down at your nose at ignorant ole me forever," he played, pulling them back up to their feet. "Let us do another round of looking before we really call it quits."

Chloe didn't argue.

***POV Change***

She needed to get stronger. Yes, that would fix things. Or at least, start to fix things. She squeezed her sore eyes shut for several long moments before she used the edge of the toilet to get her unsteady feet under her body.

She stared at herself in the mirror at the sink. Her face looked a little sallow, and her lips were cracked, and partially bloody. She had dark circles under her eyes, and the scarf only covered the bite wound, not the bruising that was exploding beyond the sapphire material.

She splashed cool water on her face several times, shivering as the clear droplets soaked the front of her shirt, working up determination before she unlocked the bathroom door, pushing it open.

Gustave didn't quite manage to contain the gasp of surprise at her general disheveled and ill looking appearance, but he was quick to recover. "M-Marinette, it's good to see you," he said, his tone close to sincere.

"I'm going to the gym," she announced flippantly, padding unsteadily towards the door. The world wavered, sliding in and out of duplicate images, and she faltered, but she didn't stop.

Gustave groaned, rushing to cut her off. "I think it would be best to stay here until Adrien returns?"

She scoffed, staring at her clothes. "I don't need his permission," she countered, turning towards Chloe's suitcase. She found a pair of those Capri style yoga pants that were skin tight, and retreated back to the bathroom to change. She kept the obsidian tank top, but she threw her long tresses up into a messy bun.

"Okay, now I'm going to the gym," she growled, padding more confidently towards the door, even as the room shifted again.

"Marinette, please, listen to reason."

"I am. The reason I'm going is to get stronger," she spat back. "So, unless you want to fight me, and possibly hurt me, you can step aside because I am going."

He stood in her way, but she grabbed his shoulder with practiced ease, thrusting his back into the door to knock the breath from his lungs. It dazed the inexperienced man, and she yanked him forward, propelling him by her form.

He sputtered as he regained his composure, and she smirked over her shoulder, despite the fact she was panicking, resisting the urge to rub her palms repeatedly where she'd touched him. "Coming?" She wasn't willing to push her luck so much that she'd leave ahead of the man. Adrien would never let her out of his sight again.

***At the Gym***

Nobody had been there when she'd arrived, thank the fates for small favors, and she was currently spinning across the mat with practiced skill, pulling off several acrobatic somersaults, twirling the staff with her as she went. She could see Gustave repeatedly checking his phone from the corner of her vision, and she sighed.

"You texted him already. He'll be here when he is, he can't say you didn't let him know, and you're still with me. Don't worry about him," she tried to sound comforting, but her voice was a fraction of its regular strength.

"She decided to show her face," Lila snickered, making the line of the bluenette's body stiffen. "I heard you came down here, but I was surprised, so I came to check myself!" She spread her arms wide. "Et vous voilà!"

"I'm not in the mood, Lila," she tried to sound firm, but her voice quivered. She stared at the woman, eyeing her burgundy spandex shorts and simple onyx t-shirt. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and it struck her as odd. She never put her hair up unless it was for a shoot.

The Italian beauty's eyes narrowed, and she muttered something dark in her native language, but it was lost on Marinette. "How about a match?" Her smirk slowly dominated her face as she padded over, kicking off her shoes.

A match? She blinked, watching the woman saunter towards the weaponry. Oh, she was dressed for the occasion. Marinette didn't think this was a chance encounter. "I don't think that's wise," Gustave offered bluntly, but both women tossed him scathing looks. He shrunk a little, and Marinette immediately felt guilty.

"So, how about it? We can do matching weapons if you prefer an even battle. What rules do you like to play by?" Her eyes slid to the bruises blossoming angrily down Marinette's forearms, and smiled. "Certainly not the conventional ones," she taunted easily.

She went rigid, eyes widening. Flashes of naked entwined bodies plagued her mind, and she almost doubled over to vomit. However, Mari managed to regain her calm with a few quick breaths, and grit her teeth.

"Fighting isn't a good idea," she said simply, knowing if she engaged the Italian woman, it was likely neither of them would hold back. Marinette wasn't exactly at her best, but she could make up for that with the sheer scathing fury beginning to scorch her veins. She wanted to hurt Lila.

The brunette pouted, and she ignored her, walking towards the weapons display, sheathing the staff she'd been using. Someone gripped her shoulder, hard, and a little bit of her humanity slid away, leaving way for the anger she'd been building. Underneath that, a subtle symphony of panic at the contact.

"Are you afraid to lose?"

"Get your hand…off of me," she warned low in her throat, pushing the panic aside to let the rage take control. It was so much better than being afraid. "I don't want to be touched."

She grasped tighter. "Or what?"

Her bluebell orbs slid closed for the barest of fractions. All of the pain, and guilt…all of the shame and worry coalesced into a powerful knot, fueling the agony and fury, at least for now, and she reacted.

She grabbed the woman's digits with both hands, and ducked under her arm, spinning at the same time so she could face her. Marinette kicked her in the gut to double her over, and flung a leg over her shoulder as she did, hooking the woman's neck with the back of her knee, and threw them both sideways in a barrel roll so they left the mat for a split second.

The bluenette relinquished her grasp just before they slammed into the surface, using the momentum to find her feet rather than allowing it to paralyze her with the blow, and she glowered down at Lila. She was sprawled on her back, sputtering in surprise.

"Or, I will take you down," she snarled.

Gustave made a sound, somewhere between a yelp and gasp, and it pulled her attention. It was long enough for Lila to regain herself, and she rolled backwards to her feet, swiftly retrieving a weapon.

"Y-You're going to pay for that," she wheezed, coughing. She pointed the wooden sword at Marinette's chest, and the angry goblin inside her soul only screeched for more violence.

"Fine, but remember that I tried to warn you," she hissed, reaching for a set of kali sticks.

Lila lunged before the woman had fully retracted the dual batons, and she threw herself to her back on the mat, rolling backwards out of the way as the Italian sailed by. She prepared her weapons as the woman pivoted with incredible agility, lunging again.

Marinette sidestepped, curving her first baton in a arc to swipe the offending sword out of the way, rolling her second into her fist to solidify her blow as she punched Lila in the face. Having the solid object curled in her fingers reinforced the hit, and blood burst from the woman's suddenly split lip as she shrieked, skipping backwards.

She touched her face, olive eyes wide in disbelief. "You hit me."

Marinette chuckled darkly, raising her brows. "Oops?" It actually made her feel a lot better, and she wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing.

"Fucking bitch," she shrieked, charging forward in a two handed stance.

The bluenette rushed forward in tandem, sliding down to a single knee as she ducked under the wide arc. She spun on the joint and came back up so she was standing beside Lila, surprising the woman, and continued to twirl, facing the Italian's back, and double tapped her exposed ribcage with the ends of her sticks. Something gave way under the force, and Lila yelped, toppling forward, gripping her offended torso.

"Tired yet," she taunted.

"I'm going to kill you," she proclaimed.

Marinette tipped her head back, letting out a burst of harsh laughter. "I would think that takes a modicum of skill, which you seem to be lacking."

"Shut up," she snapped, breathing heavily as she cradled her injured side.

"You're the one who was all talk. What's the matter, now that you're on the losing end, it isn't fun anymore?" Marinette snorted, feeling the dark pleasure of her torment curling in her chest. It purred, bringing a malicious smile to her face. Mari was hurting, so why not hurt Lila for contributing to her suffering? "That was just for trying to make me look stupid on the runway," she offered thoughtfully. "What will I punish you for next?"

The Italian turned, stiff, jerking, but raised her weapon again. "You're not better than me," she bit out.

The bluenette nodded. "I'm not better than anyone. I deserve nothing than to curl up and die right now, but that is beside the point. I don't have to be better than you…for you to deserve what's coming next," she threatened, surging forward with more speed than she should have possessed.

The first baton cracked against her cheekbone, and as Mari did a full spin to face her again, dropping to a kneel. She combined the sticks in both hands as she moved, and slammed them into the backs of Lila's ankles, sweeping her completely off her feet.

The woman didn't even have time to brace her fall, hitting her back hard, and she coughed, wheezing, clutching at her chest as she struggled for air. "That is for touching MY boyfriend!" She shrieked and pulled her foot backwards to kick the woman in the already wounded side as hard as she could, but someone grabbed her wrist, yanking her off balance.

She toppled, but managed to find her footing, turning to glower at the perpetrator, only to be met with sorrowful green eyes. "Mari," he breathed. "Stop," he whispered. "Please…she's down, there isn't any need to kick her…that's unfair," he said slowly. "It's what a coward would do, and you're stronger than that."

She was angry. She was angry with him for stopping her. She was angry with herself because she knew the truth in his words. She was going to annihilate Lila while she was already down and couldn't defend herself. She was angry that she hurt so damn much and couldn't seem to do a damn thing about the taint on her soul! On her body! On her existence.

The first tears popped free, and he held his arms out tentatively. "Let me take you upstairs, my Marinette?"

She sobbed, collapsing forward, and he caught her with ease, picking her up, cradling her to his chest. "I'm s-sorry, but she deserved most of it," she sniffled, hiding her face in his shoulder. Suddenly, his arms felt safe, and warm, and she was too tired to care about anything else.

She felt the soft rumbling in his chest, realizing he was purring, trying to soothe her, and it helped. Her body relaxed, fraction by fraction as he carried her deftly. "Yeah, I'm not arguing against that," he admitted. "That's why I was watching until the end," he tried to make it sound playful, and she let out a single chuckle.

"Did I look like a maniac?"

"A little bit, but it was still pretty paw-some to watch," he whispered, kissing her head. She didn't even flinch. "Gustave is taking her to see the new assistant, Henri. I'm sure she'll heal, mostly."

"Shoulda hit her harder," she grumbled, making Adrien pause outside his door.

"It isn't like you to be vindictive, Mari, do you want to talk about it?"

She shook her head suddenly. "No, too tired."

"Me, too," Chloe replied, startling the bluenette. She hadn't even realized the woman was with them, but then, Adrien said he wasn't leaving either of them alone again.

"Then lets take a nap," she offered.

"After watching you beat the shit out of Lila? I could curl up and sleep for days in contentment," she teased, making Adrien give her a look, but both girls broke into laughter.

It seemed to make his shoulders loosen, and he sighed, rolling his eyes. "What am I going to do with you two?"

It was a good question….one she didn't have an answer to.

AUTHOR NOTE REVIEWS:

Trying414, here is more! Hopefully it was adequate! O.o''

Kazza2182, yup, maybe, he might be. Who knows? :P I don't! Just kiddin…I do. I have notes on it in fact! Chloe is fine…for not I believe :P

Emjrabbitwolf, for sure, yes, Adrien deserves a goddamn trophy at some point because he's holding together better than most people would. Then, if/when, Mari is feeling better, he deserves lots of consensual love! I will be providing some things for Adrien to let loose on soon :P I'm sad to say, that her destructive behavior is coming, and it may or may not include cutting, since I write what I know usually, and unfortunately, cutting is a big part of my passed, so I know the feelings/thoughts/sensations extraordinarily well, but we'll see. I have no 'for sures' in that department. Yes, there is DEFINITELY more going on in the background that hasn't been exposed yet, how else will I surprise you? There's never a good reason for revenge/hurting someone, unfortunately. It all just…brings about more pain. Hope you enjoyed!