A/N: I feel like I've been writing trauma the same for every character in here. I'm gonna try and differentiate how trauma affects each character differently. Also, hi.

Previously on Destruction...

"Where were you, Mr. Perfect? Got locked in the bathroom again? Are you conspiring with Marinette to get back at Lila? Because you have no reason to go on attacking her for no reason! She told me!"

He ignored her with no problem. Her little attack on him didn't bother him. Thankfully, it was cut short when Miss Bustier came back in and resumed her lesson.

Nino's questioning was cut short when another student knocked on the classroom door. He was slightly relieved as he was starting to grow extremely uncomfortable with one question. A question centered around if a certain person was touching him inappropriately. He hesitated to answer. No, he didn't want to reply. He was afraid for his life. Afraid of everyone.

There was one time when he attempted to bring this up with his former girlfriend. But it didn't work as he was shut down as soon as he opened his mouth. When Lila had done what she had done, he craved support from Alya. But how could he after what she did? How could he want her back when she believed every word that fell from her mouth? How could he want to even be her friend after she ditched her best friend? Hell, he was guilty of it too.

Her attempt could have been prevented, but he was scared. And another thing? He knew that wasn't an excuse.

Marinette was suffering before him. She was suffering due to Lila spewing shit. Just like her, he was suffering too. In a different way.

~҉҉~҉҉~҉҉{҉҉{ Flashback of Nino's Breakup ҉҉}}҉҉~҉҉~҉҉~҉҉

He thought once was enough to tell someone no. No meant no. All students were taught that there was a thing called consent. And this word consent meant that if you didn't want it, it was unwanted. It's rape. He was so sure it couldn't happen to a guy like him. He was careful.

Boy, was he wrong.

He didn't want it. He asked her multiple times to stop, but she didn't. She threatened him with her connections. That if he didn't do what she wanted, she would accuse him of a crime he didn't commit. And she didn't care.

Nino thought he knew evil, but evil took a part of him away. Something he felt he could never get back. He couldn't feel safe. He didn't want Alya to be around that girl anymore. He needed to open her eyes. But how?

By now, he barely just realized how much of a liar Lila was. How she could easily get herself in and out of trouble in just a blink of an eye. This girl was... this girl... she was evil. He saw her as eviler than Hawkmoth and that was saying something.

Fast forward to Nino asking Alya if they can talk privately without Lila interfering or listening.

"I've missed being around you, babe," Alya began.

"Me too..." Nino said softly.

"What did you want to talk about?"

The DJ gripped his thighs in an attempt to control his breathing. He was afraid. He needed to say something, but he didn't know where to start.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, babe. I'm fine. I'm more concerned about you than me."

"Why? Did something happen?" his girlfriend had a look of a sweet moment that went into a worried look.

"I... I don't think you should be hanging out with Lila anymore."

Alya's expression turned into anger. "Did Marinette set you up for this? Cause Lila hasn't done anything wrong!"

"Wh- dudette? No, she didn't set me up for this! I'm telling you out of my own concern and because I care about you!"

"Care about me? All I see is a hysterical person who's trying to turn everyone against my best friend."

Best friend... is this the frustration Marinette felt when she tried to confront the brunette about this shit? Is this what she went through every day? How hasn't she broken? And hysterical? He was hysterical? No. Alya was acting hysterical. She wasn't listening to him. She claimed she cared, but if she really did, she would take that back within a moment. Why? Because he wasn't going to deal with this.

He wasn't going to be with someone who was being hysterical and not looking at the big picture. He wasn't going to be with someone who claimed she cared but lied about that. He wasn't going to be with someone who didn't check their sources... something he honestly should have done a long time ago for Marinette's sake. And most of all, he didn't want to be with someone who were friends with the person who took a part of him away.

"Alright." he stretched that word out slowly. "We're done."

"Done? What do you mean by done?"

Nino stood up from where he sat. "Done as in I don't want to be with you anymore."

"Because I won't stop my friendship with Lila? Seems like a pretty petty reason to break up with me."

He gave her a disgusted look. "I'm not doing this with you. I'm done being with you. I'll talk to you the day you drop Lila." he walked out of the locker room. He didn't even bother to listen to his former gf. He just needed to get out.

~҉҉~҉҉~҉҉{҉҉{ End of Flashback ҉҉}}҉҉~҉҉~҉҉~҉҉

"Alright, Mr. Lahiffe." Crow gave the teenager a sympathetic look. "I feel I may have put us on the wrong footing."

"Where's your partner, dude?" he felt that if he were to change the topic, he could avoid this interview altogether. However, he knew that kind of thinking wouldn't be helpful. And if it meant putting that rotten girl away forever, he could do his best.

"Blackmire is in another classroom talking to your buddy, Nathaniel. Something about more evidence against that girl." he flipped to a clean page in his little notebook. Crow held a pen with blue ink in his left hand. "Protocol says I can't jump to questions I want the answers for. I have to go in order. I'm sure you're aware of the action a classmate of yours did. Marinette Dupain-Cheng tried to take her own life yesterday. What was your relationship with her?"

"We were friends."

"Were? Want to tell me what happened?"

"Someone new popped up in my class. Everyone flocked to her since she had gone on some pretty epic trips like visiting Prince Ali in Achu and saving Jagged Stone's kitten. Though, I'm pretty sure Jagged Stone is allergic to dandruff or something. Marinette tried to call this person out for her lies, but it seemed that she knew what to say to have everyone stay at her side." He found himself gripping his thighs again. He was talking about that rotten girl again. Nino cautiously looked around. "Uh... strange question I got for you. Am I safe to talk here?"

"Of course. Anything you say is confidential as of now. In the near future, we may have enough to possibly prosecute a certain someone."

The DJ sighed in relief.

"So, did you ever try to stand up for Marinette?"

"Never. Always thought this particular person was telling the truth and maybe Marinette was just jealous like my former ex-girlfriend said she was."

"Jealous? Jealous how?"

"I mean... I'm not sure if she still has her massive crush still, but it seemed like she wanted to keep her crush from talking to other girls. And this person just seemed awesome at the time."

Crow wrote down what Nino said quickly. "This particular someone wouldn't happen to be a girl named Lila Rossi, would it?"

The DJ could've sworn he felt his heart stop for a split second. "I... uh yeah. Is she in some deep shit?"

"Yes. Has been for a very long time."

Long time? Nino wondered for how long. He wanted to push on the details but found himself at a loss for words. He attempted to utter another question, but couldn't. He put his hands on the table and slowly took a stand.

"Mr. Lahi-"

He didn't hear the rest. He felt his legs become weak. He also felt dizzy and his breathing started increasing to the point where he started to hyperventilate. Nino felt like he needed to get away, but he just couldn't. The emotions... the events were rushing at him way too fast. He couldn't get through it and it scared him when he felt himself falling. His vision blurred and blackened.

A frightened call out to him was the last thing he heard before he slipped into unconsciousness.