LadyBug and Chat Noir Short Stories

Chapter 16 Marinette suffers PTSD (1)

🐞Marinette's view🐞

"Chat NO!" I yell suddenly in the middle of class.

I was tired from fighting an akuma the day before and had fallen asleep, in the class before lunch, listening to Mrs Bustier driveling on about Leopold Bonaparte and his actions.

Normally I find French history interesting, but today was woeful due to all people who have been akumatised lately.

The class Snickered at me except Adrien and Alya who turned and looked at me with concern.

"Oh! God! I am sorry!" I say and run out of the class mortified. I head to the principles office and ask if I could go home as I was not feeling well and was becoming a disruption as a result.

"Sure Ms Dupain-Cheng, its really responsible of you." commended the Principle.

I start to head home but freeze as I was about to cross the road. I break out in a cold sweat and start backing slowly away from the crossing. For some reason the zebra crossing reminded me of our fight with reverser.

Me, being me, eventually tripped and landed on my bum and I crawl into a ball and start rocking backwards and forward. "No, no, no, we beat that akuma. You can do this Marinette!"

"You can!"Tikki said to me from my bag, but I couldn't.

I do not know why but Adrien came after me and found me. As he surprised me by touching my shoulder before he said "Marinette" I instinctively grabbed him and threw him down on the cement in front of me knocking the wind out of him.

"Geez Marinette! Are you ok?" he said gasping for air.

"I am fine Adrien" I giggle embarrassed "Sorry about that, I am just on edge today for some reason."

"Yeah about that" Adrien asked as he put one arm behind his neck and gave a sheepish grin before sitting up and turning around to face me "You care for Chat Noir?"

"Of course I do! He's my..." suddenly realising that perhaps Chat did not want to claim friendship with me even though I felt he was from all the times he saved me I changed what I was about to say "Ah... the superhero of Paris!"

"So is Ladybug," Adrien pointed out "But you didn't say No Ladybug in class... So what is really going on?"

"I never told you this Adrien, but when we were in Shanghai I was watching Ladybug and Chat Noir fighting. Chat Noir was obliterated into dust... I never got over it. It was like he did not exist, and I... err I imagine Ladybug wouldn't survive long without her partner. But even so it broke my heart seeing it."

"Chat Noir is fine though! Ladybug brought him back"

"What if one day she couldn't! She wouldn't forgive herself. He's her partner" I cry "She is nothing without him. He should be more careful."

"I, err, I am sure that he will be in future too. But I know he would rather die than let his lady die."

"That's no excuse! What is Ladybug without Chat Noir? Nothing!" I snap and get up, the conversation normalising me enough to go home "Thanks Adrien!" I smile.

He got up then too "For what Marinette?"

"Talking to me, I was having a panic attack and couldn't cross the road."

"Oh, that's what that was." he said, then smiled "I will walk you home then."

"No need, I am just across the road."

"I know, but I insist!" he said.

I was going to object again when I looked into his eyes and saw determination there.