A/N: So...I wrote this on a whim and everyone in the server egged me on into continuing it. So yeah, this is all your fault, fellas. This drabble is set after the season four finale so if you haven't seen that yet then I don't recommend reading this.

Enjoy!

"It's time to face what this love has done to me,
I can't escape, only your love can save me.
You're the only one who matters, and the only one for me,
Now I'm lonely until ever only your love can save me."

Save Me - My Darkest Days

Pairing - Adrinette

Prompt - 'Overworked'

~(x)~

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"She's not bleeding or anything, is she?"

"No, thankfully. But I can feel a huge bump on the back of her head so I think it's wise to get the school nurse to check on her, Alya."

"Ugh. She's still preoccupied with some other kid in the year below. He broke his leg whilst playing le foot and now they're waiting for the paramedics,"

"...Shit."

"I know, Adrien. Nino is also keeping an eye out to see if there's anyone else that could help."

"Why can't she ever catch a break...why is she always in pain..."

"Hey, Sunshine. She'll be okay. She has me, Nino and even you to help keep her on the tracks."

"I really hope so..."

When Marinette finally came to, the first thing she noted was just how hard her head pounded with persistence, as if there was a giant nail being hammered down into her skull relentlessly. It took her everything not to cry out from the agony. The blinding sunlight that peeked through her lashes only intensified the horrible pain and discomfort and with defeat, a tiny whimper finally escaped her throat.

"Hey...hey, take it easy," A calm, soothing voice whispered gently, the owner's tender fingers brushing her damp fringe away from her twitching eyes and their thumb curving on the shell of her ear. Marinette virtually trembled at the contact of the cool ring the other person was wearing, grazing her too sensitive skin. She also recognised that her head was resting on their firm lap and the familiar but warm scent that wafted from their frame.

Peppermint, rose and spring.

At last, she mustered all the efforts that her tiny body could ever have and opened her eyes, finding herself face to face with an incredibly worried Adrien Agreste. Her good friend gazed back at her with glittering emeralds that were begging to be shed of their tears as they pooled at the edges.

"Ah...Adrien...?" Her throat was irritably coarse and somewhat dry but thankfully, the boy holding her was more than observant and he quickly grabbed his water bottle which was nearby on the outdoor bench he was seated on, gently lowering it to her mouth so that she can take a few grateful sips. He made sure to lightly hold the back of her neck to give her a slight lift so that she didn't choke on the water, completely attentive and sweetly patient throughout the entire time.

He beckoned for her to take a few more sips, brows pinched when she refused at first only to smoothen out when she tiredly relented and allowed herself to drink a little more. The awful pain in her head as well as the nasty aches in the rest of her body soon subsided into a slightly curbed buzz.

"What...what happened?" Marinette asked as he lowered her back on his lap, his twitching fingers still playing with her loose hair and a frown deepening on his lips. Lips that were rosier than usual, indicating that he's been chewing on them anxiously.

"You overworked yourself again, Marinette. You...you collapsed," His mouth tightened and then started to wobble while more tears began to build up within his already reddened eyes. "This isn't the first time it happened, right? Some of those times we found you in random places, we presumed you were asleep...but that isn't true, right?"

This time, the tears fell at last, landing on her face as guilt was quick to pile up murderously within the pits of her stomach and any colour she had left in her skin decided to seep out instantly.

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She tried everything to make sure that all was fine.

That she was fine.

That she was okay.

So why was it all blowing up in her face now?

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"I...I didn't collapse! Haha! Don't be silly," Marinette quickly sat up, only for the vivid colours in her eyes to explode in blazing white and cause the dreadful dizziness to transform back into excruciating pain, the girl barely aware of Adrien settling her back on his lap once again without a second wasted.

She could have sworn she saw taunting stars dancing around his head as he watched her with a stern expression, brows furrowed and his grip on her firm.

She wasn't going to be able to play this one off anymore...

"Don't try and play this off again. I've been watching you all this time. I've always been watching you. I can tell whether you're asleep and...when it's not just sleep." His shoulders trembled dismally and even more tears cascaded down his flushed cheeks. "What's really been going on, Marinette? You barely eat, barely sleep, barely rest. Always on the move. Always doing this or that."

How could she possibly tell him?

She can't just say that she was keeping a constant eye out for everyone around her in case Le Papillon dared to reakumatise them into a destructive villain that would result in her and her partner getting pushed around and beat up without mercy. Hence why she's been doing everything to keep them happy and satisfied.

She also can't just say that she's been purposely changing her routes and routines on a daily basis in case there were more people from the frighteningly strict and terrifying order of the guardians after her and her partner's miraculous. That she couldn't risk anyone else finding out their secret identities for their own safety as well as their loved ones.

And last of all, she most certainly can't say that she's Ladybug and that it's thanks to her that the villain has his hands on all the other miraculous that have powers and abilities beyond the wildest imagination and dreams that any mortal could ever come up with. That she was trying everything to locate him and his stupid butterflies all the while making sure that her partner was safe and sound and a million miles away from the terrorist's malicious hands.

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So obviously, she had to lie.

Again, and again and again.

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"I'm sorry for worrying you. I'm fine, really. You shouldn't be worried at all. I just have so many designing ideas and-"

"You haven't designed anything in two months. I told you, I've been watching you. So don't you dare lie to me again." His clipped and hardened tone almost made her jump. It wasn't that it frightened her or threw her completely off guard...it just reminded her a lot of her Chat Noir.

The very same boy who was quite angry at her the other night for constantly overworking herself and not letting him help, only for the heroine to yo-yo the yowling boy away and then dashing off before he could give chase.

She wasn't really looking forward to their next encounter after that.

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"Marinette," The boy began again, his gaze softening anew as he cradled her cheek benevolently with his ringed hand, forehead leaning down to touch hers like a priceless kiss. The girl held her breath from the proximity and intimacy of said action, some colour now coming back to her cheeks.

"Why won't you let me help you?"

The pure heartbroken expression on him was enough to shatter her own into smithereens.

His lips tight.

His cheeks sullen.

His brows rigid.

And his beautiful green eyes so full of sorrow.

Why did he have to be so sweet and caring and perceptive?

Why couldn't he have paid more attention to their other friends and the stuff they loved to talk about?

Why is it that the one time she didn't want him to see her, he's everywhere she goes?

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"You shouldn't have to help me, Adrien." She tried sitting up again but only managed to get as far as leaning her weighty head against his chest, her entire body continuing to throb from absolute exhaustion and the utter lack of self-care in and out of her mask. Not that she deserved any sort of care at all.

'No one should help me after I messed up so badly. I don't deserve it. I don't deserve anyone.' She stubbornly believed internally, grimacing at her own weaknesses and of never, ever being strong enough-

"What do you mean you don't deserve anyone...?" Adrien's shocked whisper sent a jolt through her entire being, the girl swiftly whirling back to face him with an astonishing gape. Her eyes almost watered from the way he stared back at her, practically flabbergasted.

She didn't say all of that out loud...

Right?

"Marinette." He was gripping her arms now, emerald greens entirely frightened on her behalf. "What do you mean that you messed up? That you don't deserve anyone? Why are you saying such horrible things!?"

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Again.

She messed up again!

She was the worst person in the world!

Why can't her loved ones ever get a break from her stupid, stupid mistakes!?

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It was as if Adrien sensed her fight or flight mode, that he knew that she was gearing up to speed away from him as fast as possible. So he decided that he wasn't going to give her the opportunity.

'Never again. I'm never letting her go again.'

He quickly enveloped her within his arms, fingers pressing into her lower back and the back of her head, his breathing coming out slightly raspy as the forbidden theories he had within his heart started to spill out. Theories and secrets and wonders and even hopes that he tried to seal away for the sake of her safety.

All the while, one add one was starting to equal one.

"Adrien...you have to let me go," Though those were her words, Marinette's actions were anything but. She couldn't stop the way her sore, throbbing fingers clutched his dark shirt like a lifeline. She couldn't stop the way she quivered with unadulterated fatigue under the comfort of his body.

She couldn't stop the way her stupid, betraying tears finally flowed out and soaked his chest as her heart battered her ribcage a million miles per hour.

She's so stupid.

She's so weak.

She never should have been born-

"Those are all lies, My Lady."

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It was as if all the time in the world stopped to a standstill but at the same time, kept going like she wasn't hit with one of the biggest bombshells ever.

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The cool breeze continued to ruffle through their soft hair as Adrien smoothly pressed her face into the crook of his neck, his long piano fingers tangling up within her midnight tresses as if to prove himself that she was still here.

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The Parisian traffic continued to go on in the distance, cars beeping and the sounds of engines roaring, all whilst Adrien rested his head on her shoulder, inhaling her sweet scent as comfort.

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The chattering from the students in the vicinity and nearby, continued as Adrien pressed a painfully soft and tender kiss on the side of her head and held her even tighter.

No, not just Adrien.

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Chat Noir.

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He was also her Chat Noir.

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And all this time, all this time! He just wanted to be by her side! Even after everything, even after all her failures both in and out of the mask, both as Marinette and Ladybug...

He still wanted to stay!

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"I told you, didn't I? You're never alone. As long as I'm still kicking, still breathing, I will fight by your side. Whether it's kicking le Papillon's ass or the order of the guardians or even physics homework, I'm here for you." He pulled back marginally, just to cup her face with both of his comforting hands and pressed their foreheads together.

"So please, let me in. Let me protect you. Let me be there for you, Marinette,"

"...Chaton..." The beloved nickname for her partner barely made it past her quaking lips, her tone still so broken and so exhausted and so tired and so lonely and it just tore apart Adrien's heart again.

"I'm never leaving you. Not now. Not ever. So don't ever tell me to let you go. Don't push me away anymore. You're safe with me and I'm safe with you." He pleaded further, his eyes shimmering with so many emotions and love and adoration all sorts of wonderful feelings, Marinette felt herself choking up in overwhelm and at the same time, relief.

Her Chaton was always there.

Her Chaton still wants to be by her side.

Her Chaton, her Minou, her amour, her love.

"...I...I just wanted to protect you all...especially you! I didn't mean to fail you over and over again! I'm so sorry!" The words left her before her mind could comprehend them, Adrien's kind eyes never leaving hers. And as if his face couldn't get any more compassionate, it did and it squeezed Marinette's heart to the point where she was gasping for a breath.

"You've never failed me. Or Paris. Jamais."

"Mais!" He laid a gentle finger on her lips, his smile still full of unconditional affection and infinite strength. Enough to lift her up into the sky with ease.

"I'm still standing. Paris is still standing. We're still ready to fight Papillon with all that we have. You haven't failed us at all, I promise you that. Je te le promets,"

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The dam ultimately exploded and Marinette finally, finally got it.

She wasn't alone.

She wasn't a failure.

She still could save Paris with her power and her partner's alone!

And thus, she buried her face back into his chest and allowed herself to really cry.

Cry out her heart and soul and everything in the safety of her partner's arms.

Allowing him to finally protect her with his everything.

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~(x)~

A/N: And that's that.

I do hope Marinette and Adrien get some relief in season five. They've gone through too much no thanks to Assgreste Senior.

Honestly, if Gabriel was buff, everything would have been perfect for everyone.