I walk back into my room, stopping when I see Marinette curled up against the wall in the corner, head buried in her knees. "Marinette, what's wrong?" I can see her shoulders shaking. Is she crying?
"Please, tell me what's wrong. I can help you." She lifts her head, and I can see her makeup and eyeliner are smeared, running down her cheeks. "I just feel afraid," she whispers, and sit down beside her, pulling a blanket off my chaise, and wrap it around both of us. "Afraid of what?"
Marinette rests a head on my shoulder. "Of losing Claw to the Supreme. He's all-powerful, Marinette. I can't lose him," she says. My heart aches for her. "I know how feel," I whisper, and I take her hand. "If Monarch got a hold of Cat, I would be lost. It almost happened once." Her hand is cold, but she squeezes tight. "What happened?"
I don't answer right away, and in the silence I notice that has started to rain. Why did I not notice that? "Because Cat got akumatized once." Though it was months ago, I still remember it like it was yesterday.
The snow white suit, the piercing blue eyes that pulled you in like the tide, the blinding light of his Cataclysm. "Were you afraid?" she asks. "I wasn't afraid for myself, but I was afraid of losing him. I could have died that day." "But you didn't. You didn't give up." "Love is very strong, something our enemies seem to lack. I promise it will be okay, and that Cat and I stand by your side."
Marinette smiles a tiny smile. "Thank you, Marinette. Oh, Claw is calling me." "Are he and Cat still at Starbucks?" she nods, giggling, sounding like her old self. "Claw's pouting because Cat is winning at the Pun Game."
I stand, holding out my hand. "Let's go save our kitties, shall we?" she nods, and rises to her feet. "I'm so lucky to have you as a friend, Marinette." I smile. "Well, they don't call me Lady Luck for nothing."
And together, we head out into the rain to find our partners, and when I catch sight of Cat, I can't to hug him, safe in his arms.