Previously on Destruction...

She jumped and let herself fall. A smile still graced her lips. She closed her eyes. The world didn't seem so cruel anymore. There was just one thing she didn't hear. Her name being called.

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Gabriel Agreste, a world-known fashion designer didn't expect this when he had transformed and sent out an akuma. When the akuma touched her bag, a magenta outline appeared on his and hers'. One that symbolized the cross with Hawkmoth. Hawkmoth was absolutely mortified when he realized he was too late to stop her from jumping. From taking her own life.

Marinette Dupain-Cheng was an exceptional girl. She had won at least three of his fashion contests with exquisite designs. Designs that he found rather incredible, especially for her age. She was around his son's age.

His model, Lila Rossi, disagreed with him. That girl claimed Marinette Dupain-Cheng was a horrible influence on him. She was the reason why Adrien kept failing in his classes. Lila never specified how. She also went on to say that one of Marinette's designs in an upcoming contest was actually hers'. Marinette just stole from Lila to keep her silent. And she went on and on about other things as well. It was ridiculous what this girl said. It was like she didn't have a filter.

Now, Mr. Agreste wasn't stupid. Lila couldn't design for the life of her and she was starting to get sloppy on her work. He saw right through her. And whatever happened to Ms. Rossi, he couldn't care less. Sooner or later, he knew he was going to dispose of her.

"Marinette!" he cried out in his lair. "What are you doing? What have you done?" He didn't get a response. There was something he did notice.

Her long-sleeved shirt sleeves were revealing months of self-harm. Some fresh and others that have started to scar up.

His eye had widened in shock. When was the last time he saw Marinette Dupain-Cheng? He was supposed to see her yesterday regarding her design, but she was a no-show. He knew that she wasn't like that. So, this came as a big surprise for him.

Hawkmoth shot his head up when he heard her small voice echo through his head.

"I deserve this." Her voice was strong when she had said that.

This villain didn't understand teenage angst, but by whatever means, he knew she did not deserve this. She had so many ways to go. She was young and talented. To witness her death... he couldn't fathom that. To impact her fall, he transformed her. That was the least he could do. He called back the akuma once she hit the ground. Once the once corrupted butterfly returned to him, he called out for a detransformation.

Marinette may not have been his daughter, but to witness that, he couldn't take that. As soon as he would hear word on her that she got taken to a hospital, he'd be there. For some reason, he felt he needed to get to the bottom of this.

.

The following are Marinette's suicide letters sent to a few of classmates. The names listed in bold italics indicate individuals who are close to a person named Lila Rossi. Viewer discretion is advised.

The first she sends a text message to is Alya Cesaire.

Alya, I know you believe Lila over me and I guess that's okay now. You won't have to deal with me anymore. I won't be a nuisance to the friendship you hold with Lila. After all, I'll just be a bully to Lila, right? All those hurtful things you said to me, maybe you're right. I am just jealous that Lila has Adrien's attention and their chemistry is amazing. I am jealous of Lila's artistic work. I am jealous of Lila being the center of attention instead of me. There, I said it. I hope you're happy with me being gone.

The second text was sent to a person named Chloe Bourgeois.

Was it fun teaming up with Lila? Agreeing with her lies to make me cry more? Chloe, you know Lila is lying. After all, aren't you a die-hard fan of Jagged Stone or XYZ? You know these people! They live where you live! You could have introduced Lila to them. But no, you chose to believe that lying snake over me. I know we've never had good terms, but I've seen the good in you. I don't know what happened to make you think I'm the bad guy, but I'm not. I know what you're going to do when you see a message from me. You're going to discard it. I suppose that's okay. In the end, it doesn't really matter.

The third person she texts is a contact named 'Butterscotch'. This is later revealed to be Adrien Agreste.

I don't even know what to say to you, Adrien. I should have come to you for comfort, but I just couldn't. Lila was always wrapped around you like a warm blanket on a cold night. I wish you could have seen these fresh cuts on my arms that I've hidden away from the class. I was scared you'd think of me differently. You told me to take the high road. Yet, here I am suffering... I don't have to suffer anymore, Adrien Agreste. Before I take my own life, I have something to say to you. The day you gave me your umbrella, my heart raced for you. You had such a kind smile on your face and that caused me to start having feelings for you... Now you just think of me as an obsessive fangirl who probably stalked you and I did. How creepy is that? I can't force you to love me. I can't force you to share the same feelings for you I have in return. It's okay now. You won't have to deal with me anymore.

.

A message from an unknown number? Adrien pulled his phone from his bag and put in his password. The lock screen of his phone was a picture of Ladybug from the Ladyblog. His home screen photo was a picture of his mom, dad, and himself looking at the camera with happy smiles. The blond model skimmed through the long message which was separated into two message threads.

She self-harmed?... Actually, he already knew the answer to that. There was one time where he had stopped her from doing that as Chat Noir. How she just sobbed in his arms that night, it broke his heart. Just when he thought he was getting to know Marinette, he found that she was shrinking away.

It's okay now. You won't have to deal with me anymore.

It was not cool of Lila to tell the whole class about her crush on himself. Was Lila trying to get the girl akumatized? If so, it was probably working. But his question was how was she managing to keep akumas away under her condition? How was she being protected? Because by now, he was so sure he'd face Marinette. His heart dropped at thinking that. How could he think about that? Marinette was just a good friend. Nothing more. Nothing less.

And what did she mean by that last text?

A shadow crossed his vision which was also followed by a small figure.

It was almost like slow motion when he saw her body falling. An akumatization was happening right before his eyes. He quickly stood up with his hand raised, "Madame?"

"Yes, Adrien?"

"I need to go! I have a modeling appointment in two minutes!"

"Me too!" Lila exclaimed as she stood up as well.

Internally, the blond made a face. Why was she a model with him? She was so... touchy. It made him extremely uncomfortable. Even the photographers were uncomfortable with her as well.

Adrien turned to Lila with a stern face. "I got a text from my father. It's only me. There's no us."

"You may go, Adrien." the teacher replied. "As for you, Ms. Rossi, if this is another excuse to get out of class, I will not tolerate this. You have missed plenty of class as it is. Sit your ass back down."

There were a few oo's that were made when Adrien left the class. These obviously directed towards Lila who grumbled.

Adrien ran out of the school and to the location of Marinette's fallen body. She was right in front of the steps that led to the school. How had anyone else not seen her fall? He looked up at the roof of the school. That was a far jump...

"Marinette!" he ran over to her side. "Marinette! Wake up!"

She wasn't transformed as a villain. Was she fighting off Hawkmoth? Because that took incredible strength.

"Marinette.." he pleaded silently. The blond wasn't aware of the crowd of students who ran outside. Some saw her body fall, others weren't sure what was going on. He pulled her into his arms. Warm tears fell from his face. "Someone do something!.." he felt helpless. In the background, he heard various calls to the number 112.

"Yes, I'm a student here at Collège Françoise Dupont and there's another student who has jumped from the roof of our school. I'm not sure if she's still breathing."

"Hurry!" another voice called out over the phone.

Once several calls were made to the Paris police, Adrien heard sirens in the distance. She was going to be saved. He was sure of it.