Adrien was shocked, totally and utterly shocked. Here he was, breaking down in front of Marinette, and instead of acting uncomfortable or distant she'd hugged him, actually hugged him. Her head was nestled against his chest, wrapping her arms around his waist. For a fraction of a second he froze, completely unsure of what to do, and then his body acted of its own accord, returning her embrace and resting his forehead on her shoulder, shielding his watery eyes from her view.

He had been hugged by friends before, and by his mother, before she left, even by Ladybug, but somehow Marinette's hug wrapped him in a warmth he had never felt before. He could feel his body lean into hers, and her arms pulling him in tighter, urging him closer. He felt a sob form inside of his chest, struggling to break free, and tears yearning to flow from his eyes.

He dug his fingers gingerly into her back, clasping her to him. He worried, distantly, that letting go of her would cause him to break into pieces. That he'd shatter, broken from the weight of all the loneliness he bore. His body trembled, tilting on the edge of a knife, unsure of whether to completely let go or hold himself together for a few moments longer.

"It's okay," she whispered, rubbing his back lightly. "It's going to be okay."

At last, he let out a sob, giving into his trembling and felt Marinette stiffen for a moment, before continuing to rub his back. He could tell she was confused, hell, anyone would be in her situation.

He could feel his worries and anxieties pounding against his skull. His fear over losing his friends to his father and homeschool, his fear of Ladybug leaving him, the way his mother had, his unrelenting terror of the Miraculous he wore vanishing and taking Plagg and his only freedom with it. These larger worries coupled with smaller anxieties like modeling, school, and projects had coiled tightly around his heart and mind. It was a wonder he hadn't broken down before now.

"I'm sorry," he muttered into her shoulder. "I didn't mean to come here and be like this. I'm really sorry you have to see this. I'm sorry I-."

"Adrien," she interrupted soothingly, "It's okay."

He nodded into her shirt and began to regulate his breathing. For a few moments, everything was silent and still except for the sound of their breathing. It was just Adrien and Marinette, simple as could be.

Slowly, with great regret, he pulled away and stepped out of her hug. The moment they broke contact, he could feel coldness penetrate him again. Her face seemed to hold the same amount of sadness he felt, her eyes slightly watery and her cheeks flushed.

"I'm such a mess right now," he said lowly, providing her with the simplest answer possible. "I've been having a lot of doubts with my modeling, and honestly I haven't enjoyed it in a long time. Sometimes, I feel like the only reason I've stuck with it for so long is to make my dad happy." He looked down at her sad and compassionate expression before shaking his head slightly. "Sorry," he continued slightly embarrassed, "I don't know why I'm telling you this."

Marinette slowly raised her hand up and pressed it against his damp cheek. "You can tell me whatever you want," she said quietly. "I'd be honored to listen. And I promise that if you ever want to talk, I'm here, ready."

She moved her hand from his face and stretched it out to him. "Friends?" she asked.

Finally, Adrien truly smiled for the first time that day. It was only the slightest turn at the corners of his mouth, but his eyes began to clear and he grasped her hand firmly in his.

"Friends."

-

After Adrien left, Marinette lay on her bed, ignoring the gathering darkness and clutched her phone. Her urge to call Alya was slowly subsiding. As much as she wanted to talk to her about Adrien, their meeting was intense and personal in a way that you couldn't share with anyone, not even your best friend. He had seemed so vulnerable, so lost, she couldn't stop herself, she had to help him.

She turned to her side and faced the window, curling up into a ball. She'd never seen him that way, she doubted if anyone had, and he trusted her, practically an acquaintance, enough to let her in. He'd opened himself up to her, showed her exactly who he was with no expectations. It was honestly the most intimate she'd ever felt with someone outside of Alya and Chat Noir.

At the thought of Chat Noir, she frowned. Her kitty visitor was still a problem, and after his intrusion the previous night, she wondered exactly how far he'd go to see her, or if it was simply a passing fancy.

Surely if he wanted to see me again he would have by now, she wondered, glancing at the clock. It was well past nine and the streets of Paris were under his patrol tonight. If he was going to visit her, now would be the time.

She sighed and stared intently out the window at the stars. It wasn't that she wanted to see him, it was just that after Adrien's surprising break from character she could use the consistency of Chat's humor. She hadn't seen him as Ladybug since two days before and, quite honestly, she was missing her friend.

Even as she thought this she mentally smacked herself. Wasn't she just telling herself this morning that he needed to butt out? She couldn't have her personal life and super life converge, ever. Surprisingly though, the thought of telling him to leave now saddened her. Chat was not trying to ruin or life or figure out who Ladybug was. He didn't really know who she was, and it couldn't do any harm to see him once or twice more as Marinette, would it?

Outside Marinette's window, Chat was facing a slight dilemma. Marinette was clearly inside but her room was dark, indicating disinterest in doing or seeing anyone. Not to mention, he was unsure whether or not spending so much time with her as Adrien today would move her closer to discovering his identity.

He missed her, even the two hours they'd been apart seemed like an eternity to him. As Adrien, he was embarrassed and worried about seeing her again, but as Chat he had the confidence to see her without seeming too clingy or stalkerish. He wanted to see her so badly, to talk to her, to hug her again. It was almost like an uncontrollable craving, struggling to break free of him and fly to Marinette where all could be satisfied.

He knew he wanted to be her friend, but he never knew how much he needed to. Her light, her kindness was the best thing he had stumbled on since he met Nino. And God willing, he wasn't ready to let her go any time soon as Adrien or Chat.

God willing, he would never get any peace to sort out his thoughts either.

At that very moment, a large crash resounded through the city. Chat turned his head from the window to watch a bright plume of flame and smoke take the place of the once calm skyline.

Without thinking, he raced towards it, abandoning his post to race across rooftops in an attempt to help. As he leapt, he pulled out his staff and clicked it into communication mode.

Approximately 200 feet away, Marinette was abruptly roused by Tikki.

"Marinette!" the tiny kwami squealed, "Chat's trying to contact you, I think something's happening."

Marinette nodded and stood up, facing the window. For tonight, her personal problems would have to wait. She was needed as Ladybug, a whether or not she was prepared, she had to answer her call. So, gathering herself, she embraced the transformation and hurtled, swinging into the night sky.