Hiraeth || Miraculous Ladybug

Eight - Anything

Marinette pulled herself through the trapdoor that led to the balcony above her room. A nightmare had disturbed her sleep and left her unsure of which was the dream world and which was the real world. She pulled her arms around herself to try to control her breathing and settled down on the balcony, her back against the wall. She  buried her face against her knees and shivered against the cool night air. By the time she had settled down, a slow drizzle of rain had started. Deep down she knew it was just a nightmare, but the thought that it could happen any day is what scared her more than anything. She couldn't handle it alone.

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Chat Noir used his baton to move across townhouse roofs swiftly, leaping over chimneys and ledges easily. He scanned the streets below for danger as he traveled, though he would admit his main mission was to visit Marinette. He was getting close, and he could spot a faint light flooding from her bedroom window. He squatted down to rest on their school's roof to catch his breath. He ran a hand over his ears and shook off the rain that left droplets on his gloved hand. He lifted his head to scan her balcony across the street, and his eyes focused on what he thought was Marinette slumped over. He quickly leapt across the gap separating them and perched on the railing beside her. He stared down at her with concern, and she quickly looked up when she heard the jingle of his bell. 

"Chat Noir?" Her voice whispered through the dark. He could see tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Marinette, what's wrong? What happened?" He moved off the railing so he was kneeling in front of her. 

She shook her head and let out a sad chuckle. "Just a bad dream."

Chat Noir stood up and grabbed her hands which were icy to the touch. "Come on, you're freezing cold. Let's get you inside." He adjusted  his grip to under her knees and her back, easily lifting her off the cold balcony and towards the trapdoor to her room. 

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Marinette stood with her back to the bathroom counter, Chat Noir standing a couple feet from her. Her whole body trembled from the chill of the rain, and she sniffled from crying. She lowered her gaze to the floor and tightened her arms around herself. 

Chat Noir's heart hurt as he watched her, and he gently nudged her arms out of the way and placed his hands on her waist. He lifted her up and sat her on the counter, to which she looked at him in surprise and a light dusting of pink covered her cheeks. He cupped her cheek with his hand gently, before reaching into the cupboard under the sink to grab a clean towel. Chat turned back to her and reached the towel behind her neck and over her head, carefully drying the water out of her blue hair. Marinette closed her eyes and didn't protest. 

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"Do you want to tell me about the dream?" He asked her quietly as he finished drying off her hair. He kept his voice hushed so he wouldn't wake her sleeping parents. He changed his grip on the towel and moved to her shoulders and arms, working quickly to dry them off. 

"In a bit." She murmured quietly. "I just want your company right now." 

He nodded in response and continued to towel down her small body. He left the room to give her privacy to change into the pajamas he grabbed for her before the two of them went into the bathroom. He stood with his back to the shut door, which gave him flashbacks to several days prior to when she was in his bathroom. He turned quickly when he heard the door click open, and she emerged. His eyes widened when he noticed her hair was out of the classic pigtails combed out. He smiled and led Marinette back to her room, helping her get settled back into her loft bed. He watched her get comfortable under her blanket 

"Everyone got hurt because of me." Chat Noir made quick eye contact with her doubtfully.

"Huh?" His voice was full of confusion. 

"In the dream, I mean." She corrected quietly, and her voice began to shake. He reached out a hand and placed it on top of hers comfortingly. "Everyone got hurt. Alya, my parents, and Adrien." She pulled her hands away from him and buried her face in her palms. "I couldn't protect anyone."

Chat's eyes glowed at the mention of his name. He was surprised to know that he was in her dream, and that she was so affected by him getting hurt even in a dream world. 

"I couldn't do anything to save them." Her voice was barely audible and she made eye contact with him, tears pooling in her blue eyes. 

Chat Noir scooted closer and opened his arms, offering a hug. Marinette moved forward into the hug thankfully, resting her head against his chest. He traced gentle circles on her back with his clawed fingers. Once she had calmed down a bit, he pulled back to wipe her tears and flash her his flirty grin. "I'm starting to think one of my hobbies is comforting an upset Princess." His voice was teasing, which got a grin out of the bluenette. 

"Do you really hold that many crying girls and hang out in their rooms and take care of them?" It was her turn to get a grin out of him, which worked. 

"No, just you, I promise." He winked, and she pushed him playfully. He dramatically fell onto the bed beside her and stretched an arm out in her direction. Marinette noticed and shifted the way she was lying, moving so her head would rest on his arm like a pillow and so she was on her side facing him. His face grew a bright red which was half covered by the black mask, and was grateful for the foot or so of space between them. 

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Chat Noir sighed and shut his eyes tiredly. I want to tell her so badly, but I can't put her through more stress than she was already going through. It wasn't fair to her, and it could lead to an Akuma, he thought. He noticed her eyes were starting to close, and she was fighting to keep them open. "Sleepy, Princess?" 

"Mhmm." She hummed back, and he pulled the blanket up on her to tuck her into bed comfortably. He took her hand and placed a kiss on her knuckles; he never realized how soft her skin was. She smiled tiredly in response. 

"I'll see you soon then, okay?" He spoke and sat up slowly, trying not to shake her too much. He was reaching for the trapdoor when he felt a tug on his tail. Looking back, he saw her sitting up and looking at him, a bit more aware. 

"I don't want to be alone. Please stay?" She asked hopefully. "Even if you don't want to stay the whole night. Just until I fall asleep." She murmured and looked away nervously. Chat smiled and lied back down beside her, this time pulling her closer so he could hold her. 

"I'll do anything to make you happy." He promised her, and she moved into his embrace happily. 

"Anything?" She yawned back, her eyes closing and her breath slowing a bit. 

"Anything, Princess."

The two fell asleep in each other's embrace that night.

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1256 words