A/N : So anyone who has read some of my recent stories, I said I was on an angst and hurt/comfort kick but after posting A Cat's Envy I found it was more drama than hurt. So have some real hurt/comfort my lovely readers. :3 this was one of my first ideas but I just was never in the right mood to write it. If you know what I mean. Anyway I love how this turned out and so I hope you enjoy!
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"Kagami?" Adrien called as he caught the girl leaving from fencing class.
The blue haired girl turned to face him, curious at what Adrien wanted.
She could tell all practice that something was on his mind, it was much easier for her to win a few more rounds than she usually could.
She gave him a smile regardless, happy that he could possibly sharing his thoughts with her.
"Yes?" she replied as she tucked her helmet under her arm.
"Er, would you be able to spare some time right now to come with me to the park? I kind of wanted to talk," Adrien asked, shifting his weight nervously.
Kagami's smile broadened. She enjoyed the blond's company.
"Of course, just let me tell my driver."
She turned back to her car and knocked on the passenger window instead of climbing into the red vehicle.
The window rolled down and Kagami quickly informed her driver of her new plans. He merely nodded, pleased that his charge was spending time with a friend.
Kagami gracefully sank onto the bench beside Adrien, angling her body to face him as he clasped hands - which rested between his knees.
"So what did you want to talk about?" Kagami probed, unperturbed by the calm silence they'd been sitting in for about. Oh five minutes, Adrien lost in thought.
On the walk they'd made small talk as per usual, never really needing to fill in the gaps with words.
Kagami noticed Adrien's cheeks flush slightly with color. She cocked her head slightly as she realized what was going on.
"Oh so this is about Marinette," she teased, enjoying the way the blond's blush deepened.
"Yes! No. I mean - ugh - I just wanted advice!" Adrien exclaimed as he uncharacteristically stumbled over his words.
Kagami quirked a brow.
This must be serious. Adrien was generally very composed.
"I will try to help you to the best of my abilities," Kagami said sincerely.
Adrien smiled then his face fell, bothering Kagami.
She didn't like to see her friends upset.
"I meant to give her something today... because you know it's Valentine's day and - I - I chickened out," Adrien admitted, wringing his hands self consciously.
Kagami pursed her lips.
She'd seen Marinette chicken out of giving Adrien the gift she'd made him as well.
Alya had been right when she said they were almost hopeless.
The corner of the girl's lips turned up.
Almost.
"Oh Adrien why didn't you give it to her?" Kagami questioned.
Adrien's gaze dropped to the ground.
"I was about to... she was by the lockers talking with Alya... and then," Adrien took a deep breath, closing his eyes as he relived the moment," Then I realized that she probably had her own chocolates. I didn't want to insult her... or look stupid."
Kagami sighed.
"It's the thought that counts, I'm sure Marinette would've been happy with anything you gave her!" Kagami said, "It's not too late!"
Adrien gave her a wry smile.
"Well... the advice I wanted was... how to ask a girl out," Adrien laughed nervously.
Kagmi's eyes widened and her lips parted in surprise.
Adrien had really really realized his feelings for Marinette.
Finally, she thought.
"Oh Adrien, I don't think I can help you with that. I'm not very experienced in these things," Kagami replied, "but I think you should just be yourself, and tell her how you feel."
Adrien nodded thoughtfully, happy to have encouragement.
He had asked Kagami because he didn't want Nino or Alya to accidentally spill to Marinette.
He wanted to surprise her.
And though he had assumed Kagami had as much experience in the realm of dating as he did, he had wanted her advice.
Nino and Alya had an almost over the top way of doing things.
Normally Adrien wouldn't need any help, his practice with flirting as Chat Noir and the preparations he had made when he'd almost confessed to Ladybug.
But when Adrien had realized his crush on Marinette, he'd become nervous and their roles had suddenly reversed. Adrien was better than Marinette had been, but he still stuttered a tad and felt the butterflies flutter in his stomach around her.
His newfound awkwardness for his new feelings were what he needed the support for.
Adrien the Anxious didn't know how to pursue a girl who was so beautiful she didn't even know. Who was so talented, modest and proud all at the same time it blew his mind.
Marinette, the girl he'd always called Princess without realizing the implications. The one he used to take for granted as he day dreamed of Ladybug.
And then slowly but surely it was like waking up from a dream only to see something you never knew you wanted.
A new dream.
That's what Marinette was.
Everyone could see it apparently. Alya, Nino, their classmates, strangers and even their parents! Gabriel included!
Adrien took a deep breath and flashed a warm smile at his fencing friend.
"Thanks Kagami, I don't know what I'd do without you," he remarked.
Kagami giggled and smiled as she reached over to put a hand on his arm.
"Good luck," she whispered as she tilted her head and beamed at him.
THUD!
Adrien and Kagami's heads snapped up at the sound.
Adrien first spied a bag of something on the ground. The plastic baggy was pink and covered in hearts, it didn't look cheap but elegant, a satin ribbon binding it.
Next he saw the familiar feet standing beside the bag.
Adrien's gaze moved up until his eyes met wide bluebell ones.
Marinette was standing a few feet away from them, mouth frozen in an "O" shape, tears pricking the corner of her eyes.
Kagami jumped back from Adrien as if scalded, breaking the spell that had kept Marinette in place.
"I'm sorry to interrupt," Marinette murmured as she looked at the ground, bangs covering her eyes.
"Marinette wait!" Kagami began.
"It's not what it looks like!" Adrien said at the same time.
Said girl turned on her heels and ran.
Kagami leapt off the bench and started running after her.
Adrien blinked, before groaning loudly.
He was such an idiot.
Marinette probably thought... that him and Kagami...
Adrien's eyes moved back to the bag on the ground.
He got up and walked over to it, kneeling as his fingers plucked the bag off the undeserving earth.
He tugged at the red ribbon and held it in his hand while he examined the contents of the bag.
The fall to the ground had not been kind.
Crushed and broken pieces of chocolate chip cookies and macaroons were strewn about making Adrien squeeze his eyes shut.
It was probably representative of the current state of the girl's heart.
Marinette.
Adrien cradled the bag to his chest momentarily before he began retying the ribbon to secure it.
Footsteps made him look up.
He had hoped to find Marinette and was definitely kind of disappointed to see a panting Kagami who was doubled over and out of breath.
"She - huff - runs - huff -fast!" Kagami managed to say.
Adrien put a hand to his face.
"What am I going to do!" He cried.
This was a nightmare. A terrible terrible nightmare.
"Go talk to her!" Kagami said firmly as she tugged Adrien to his feet by his arm.
Kagami was now less gentle and much more agressive, like when he'd first met her.
She was pushing Adrien into the direction Marinette and her had gone running.
"Go!" She yelled.
A hard push made Adrien stumble.
The message began to sink in after that and soon Adrien was running full tilt, bag of baked goods still in one hand.
Kagami collapsed back onto the bench, hunched over as her hands scrubbed her face.
This wasn't what she'd wanted.
She'd just ruined things for two of her best friends.
Not to mention that Alya was sure to kill her.
I'm a snake in their garden, Kagami thought as tears streamed down her face.
I ruined everything.
BANG
Adrien cringed as the door was slammed shut on him.
Marinette had not gone running home to the bakery like he'd originally thought as he'd retraced the path Marinette took.
No.
She'd gone straight to the Lion's Den.
And Alya was one hell of a Momma.
Adrien's mind rewound to the harsh words Alya had said to him.
"I don't know what you did to her and I don't have to know because all I know is that you hurt her," Alya snapped, "There is no way I'm going to let you see her right now and honestly you need to make yourself scarce because she's not the only one who doesn't want to see you right now!"
Adrien had never seen Alya so furious, and while he knew she had every right to be, he really needed to see Marinette.
Even though Alya was terrifying right now and any other guy would back down, Adrien refused.
He had to clear things up with Marinette.
"Alya please," Adrien begged. He was ready to get on his knees if he had to.
The redhead shook her head.
"You have some nerve Agreste. That girl is my best friend. She's amazing, and you don't deserve her," Alya hissed.
And that was when she'd slammed the door on his face.
I know, Adrien thought bitterly.
As Adrien backed away from the house he could see Marinette's silhouette in Alya's window. Her back was to him but he could tell she was hurting.
She was hugging herself as if cold, muscles tense and trembling, body seemingly curling in on itself.
Adrien felt his heart break.
He'd done that to his Princess. She was hurting because of him.
Adrien's hands fisted against his chest as he vowed to make things right with her.
Hmm, Adrien's mind wandered back to his nickname for Marinette.
Princess.
Adrien smirked.
If Adrien Agreste couldn't see Marinette, then Chat Noir would see his Princess.
Adrien wasn't ashamed to say he had immediately returned to the streets of Paris after briefly going home to insure his Father wouldn't think he'd run away again.
That was the last thing he needed.
He also wasn't ashamed to admit he was lurking outside the Dupain-Cheng bakery.
His entire body was was rigid as he crouched down just above her balcony.
He could hardly even hear her move around in her room.
And yet...
Yet he was somehow being punished because he could hear her.
He could hear every sob that escaped her lips and every cry that clawed its way out of her.
It cut straight through him, slicing his heart into little pieces and making his blood run cold.
All he wanted to do was hold her and tell her how much he loved her.
He wanted to kneel before her and kiss the back of her hand while he told her how beautiful and amazing she was.
His claws dug into the roof he was perched on.
He couldn't do that.
Chat Noir could comfort Marinette, but he couldn't try to make amends for Adrien Agreste.
Adrien felt like a knife was in his gut, twisting with pain that he could feel from Marinette, it was as if they were connected.
Finally he sighed as her sobs turned into sniffles and then silence.
Adrien had assumed that she'd fallen asleep when he heard the trap door fly open.
Adrien saw Marinette's back, her posture similar to when he'd seen her in Alya's window.
Her pain was evident though he hadn't even seen her face yet.
"I know you're there," her voice said softly.
Chat stiffened.
She was good.
Even though she was a mess she could still sense him.
If it were any other time Adrien would chuckle and joke that they were made for each other.
Now.
Now he wasn't sure what to do.
He hadn't come here with a plan. Which was stupid on his part. But.
He just... Had to be close to her.
He released the breath he didn't realize he was holding since she'd come out.
He then slid off the roof and perched onto the railing beside her.
He cursed himself for his weakness as he found himself unable to look her in the eyes.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
"For what," Marinette asked.
Her voice was calm as if she hadn't been crying her eyes out moments ago.
"That you're hurting," Adrien replied simply.
"Do you know what it's like to love somebody?" Marinette murmured.
"I do."
"Oh but the way I loved him."
Adrien felt his soul collapse.
Loved?
He knew she had a crush on him. After he'd realized he was in love with Marinette it was pretty easy to figure out. All the signs were there...
But love?
Had she really loved him?
"Chat, have you ever known exactly what you wanted... and yet... know you can never truly have it," Marinette continued, her voice still calm and steady, "Well I was stupid. Stupid to ever think I'd ever be good enough for him. That he'd ever want me. And today just confirmed that."
Adrien winced as her voice cracked at the end.
The calm tone had now suddenly turned bitter.
"The love of my life, in the arms of another," Marinette laughed darkly, "I lost what I never even got to have a taste of in the first place."
Marinette collapsed against the railing, tears rolling down her face as Adrien sidled up beside her on the balcony and pulled her into a hug.
"I'm so selfish! I should be happy for him because Kagami is everything I'm not! She's perfect for him, she's a great girl!" Marinette cried, her voice slightly muffled by Chat's chest.
Exactly, she's everything you aren't, Adrien thought to himself.
"Princess, it's okay, this is a normal reaction to have," Chat murmured soothingly as he stroked her head, "It doesn't make you selfish or awful. You're hurting and you're entitled to feel the way you do."
Marinette snuggled deeper against him as Adrien tightened his grip around her.
He wasn't sure how long they stayed like that, dying ever second he couldn't reveal himself to her and tell her that everything was a misunderstanding.
When she finally pushed him away, the streaks on her face were dry, her face oddly blank.
"I need to move on," she said quietly as she hugged herself.
Adrien's jaw dropped.
He was horrified.
No.
He refused to lose her.
But what could he say?
It was not Chat Noir's place.
Adrien's hands fisted by his side in frustration.
"I'm sorry you had to see that," Marinette stated, "I should be going to bed. I have school tomorrow."
She gave him a small sad smile as she stepped even further away from him.
"Thank you," she whispered quietly as she returned to her room, closing the trap door soundlessly behind her.
When Adrien had gone home he had been like a ghost as he wandered the city.
Soundless and soulless, his heart shattered into pieces.
The next day was when Adrien realized just how serious the situation was.
He planned on getting Marinette alone to explain thing to her.
And then it happened.
He tapped her on the shoulder, receiving a dirty look from Alya as Marinette turned to look at him.
Adrien's eyes widened.
Her usually expressive and warm bluebell eyes were now cold and guarded, her mouth set in a firm grim line.
Adrien could only gape at her, unable to follow through with his original plan.
With one expression all his hopes were dashed.
That look told him everything he needed to know.
He had lost her...
Marinette didn't even pardon herself as she brushed by him, making sure her shoulder didn't touch him.
Alya followed her shortly after, actually looking at Adrien with pity as she took in the devastated expression on his face.
Adrien collapsed to the floor and banged a fist to the tile.
No.