Miraculous Endgame

The Ball - Part 1

~who is ready! let's get into it... Enjoy!~

Thump. Adrien swung his head round to see Marinette collapsed on the floor, shaking and muttering something he couldn't quite make out. His heart pounded with worry and he threw himself down the stairs and ran towards her.

"Marinette! Marinette! Calm down- hey! hey!" he pleaded with her as she pushed him away. She didn't want him near her, she needed to breathe, she needed space. She wasn't thinking straight.

Adrien felt awful, here she was, a beautiful, brave girl- shaking on the floor of her bedroom all because of him. He was angry. At himself, and at the world. Why is it that the two hero's, who would sacrifice themselves in a heartbeat to save the world, get treated so cruelly by it?

Suddenly Marinette's breathing picked up and she clenched her chest. She felt like her insides were burning and she couldn't remember how to breathe.
With her other hand she reached out to grab Adrien, her eyesight blurred. Adrien had no idea what was happening, it seemed like some kind of panic attack? But Marinette didn't get panic attacks? Right?

"Tikki what's happening?" Adrien asked, holding Marinette's hand as she gripped him.
"she'll explain later. Get her parents" Tikki said swiftly.

Adrien instinctively called out for Tom and Sabine. Seconds later they came bundling in through the hatch and rushed over to Marinette.

"what's happening? she can't breathe!" Adrien asked, panic shaking his voice.

Tom and Sabine gave each other a look as they took Marinette out of Adrien's arms, Tom scooping her up.
"she needs fresh air. Stay here" Sabine said calmly.

Then they disappeared up out onto Marinette's balcony. Leaving Adrien a mess on Marinette's bedroom floor. His head swelled with thoughts as he blocked out his Kwami's voice-who was eagerly trying to get his attention.

Meanwhile, Marinette was embarrassed and confused. She never wanted Adrien to see her that way. After seeing the pain in his eyes during court because she melted down... she could never make him feel like that again.  But here she was, doing breathing exercises on her balcony while he was down in her room, probably stressed out of his mind...

About 5 minutes later both Tom, Sabine and Marinette entered back into Marinette's room. As Tom and Sabine left, they passed a very worried looking Adrien sat on his makeshift bed.

"you're meant to be at the ball now... are you sure you still want to go Marinette?" Sabine asked, following Tom down the hatch.

"yes mama" Marinette said simply, avoiding eye contact with a now very confused Adrien.

Once Tom and Sabine had left Marinette look a deep breath and walked over to her mirror. She brushed her messy hair and began to fix her mascara as Adrien walked up behind her.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his head into her neck.

"i'm okay" she said simply, feeling his body shake.

"what happened Mari? I was so worried, i'm so sorry i never wanted-"

"hey, hey it's okay" Marinette cut him off. She looked up at him in the mirror and continued.
"I've had anxiety since i was 13. And panic attacks since i was 14"

"Marinette i-" Adrien had no idea. Here he was, complaining about how hard his life has been, yet this whole time her mind has been more fogged and confused than he could ever imagine. She was there for him, every time. And he was clueless.

"Adrien i don't want your sympathy." She said bluntly, stepping away from him to turn and face him. She reached out and grabbed his hand as his head hung low. "look at me" She continued.