Hiraeth || Miraculous Ladybug

Sixteen - Marinette

"Marinette!" Adrien called out as she ran to him, wrapping his arms around her small frame. He scooped her up and spun her around, kissing her cheek lovingly. "I missed you," He murmured. "Are you doing okay?"

Marinette nodded when she was set back down on the ground. The gash on her stomach had healed up well, though it left a pretty bad scar and still needed to be bandaged for a couple weeks. She was told to take it easy by the doctors who cared for her while she was on bed rest in the hospital. Adrien pulled her back into his chest, though he was careful not to hurt her. He was just so relieved that she was here and okay. Alya and Nino came rushing over, happily greeting the bluenette on her first day back to school after the injury. People she had never even spoken to came to congratulate her on her speedy recovery. That itself wasn't too surprising. What caught her off guard though, was Chloe coming over and being less of a brat. Deep down, she showed some sort of remorse. 

"Well Dupain-Cheng, if you jump in front of an armed Akumatized villain again, I'll be angry and have more to say." She had her usual attitude, but there was an unusual kindness behind her words that was never used with anyone easily. "You're not a hero, got it?" She muttered and walked away. 

"Got it, Chloe." She laughed and watched her go. Adrien took her hand and gently led her to class, constantly asking if he was walking too fast or if she needed anything. Alya and Nino walked on her other side, almost like personal bodyguards. When Marinette slowly made it to the top of the stairs and into the classroom, the whole class of her friends cheered out. 

"Welcome back, Marinette!" 

"We hope you're doing okay!"

"I'm glad you're safe!"

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Adrien shot up in his bed suddenly, a cold sweat drenching his body. He's had the same recurring dream for days now. To most people, a dream about a passed on loved one would be considered happy or bittersweet. But Adrien, he kept having the same dream night after night since the day that Marinette visited the stars and never returned home. It was starting to become a nightmare that was driving him insane. He wanted her here with him in the living world, not some imaginary dream world. He slammed his fists down onto the bed beside him which did nothing except for wake Plagg and Tikki. 

Right, he thought. Her Miraculous. 

Adrien ran a hand through his messy blonde hair. He hasn't wanted to shower, since the memories he had tied to Marinette trusting him and the start of their relationship was tied to that bathroom. He tried to do it, but each time he broke down and chickened out. Tears started flowing down his face, and Tikki nuzzled into him sympathetically. She missed Marinette more than words could explain, though she couldn't fully grasp the concept of her holder dying. Her previous holders all got too old in age to continue being the hero, or they gave up their Miraculous. She's never dealt with death first hand before. All she knew was that her chest hurt all the time. 

☼ ☼ ☼

"Chat Noir, come on." Tikki tugged at his tail the best as her small body could. 

"I don't want to, Tikki." He moped, sitting on the edge of the Eiffel tower. His legs dangled off freely. 

"Marinette left a note inside the Miracle box for if anything were to happen to her. I've never read it, but she asked me to show you if.." Her voice trailed off when she saw his eyes glimmer again. He finally got up to follow the small Kwami to the previous Guardian's room. Once he had slipped into her room from the trap door, he couldn't keep the tears from flowing down his cheeks. It had been left the way she had last touched it, except now there was no sign of her now besides for memories. He took a deep breath and opened the Miracle box, exposing the note that was left for him. He read it aloud to Tikki.