Miraculous One Shots

Marinette~

Marinette ran, her breaths becoming short as she pushed herself without the aid of her suit. The fire in her legs and lungs weighed on her, but she could still hear the awful giggling of the deranged nightmare.

"Marinette~!"

She turned a corner and pressed her back against the brick, clasping her hands tightly over ears. She wanted to drown it out with something - anything! She wanted the voice to fade and she wanted the nightmare gone and she just wanted to hide away.

Her heart thundered in her ears and she wondered if it was gone yet. She dared to pull her hands away and peek around the corner. The Adrien look-a-like was shambling the other way, trilling out her name faintly.

She dared to breathe, sliding down to sit for a moment. She knew she needed to find Tikki and stop the akuma, but at that moment, she couldn't bring herself to stand. She buried her face in her knees and let out another shaky breathe.

Did Adrien want that? Did he really love Chloe? Maybe trying to keep them apart was only hurting them all. She just. . . She only ever wanted Adrien to be happy. If he couldn't have that with her, then who was she to hold onto him?

Another breathe and the tears fell.

~~~

"I think we lost them." Chat Noir sighed, bending over slightly to catch his breath.

Ladybug nodded. "For now. But we have to figure out how to stop him before this gets any worse." She rubbed her eyes. "I never should've let it get so out of hand."

Before Chat Noir could try and console the heroine, a deranged voice cut through the semi-silence. "Marineeeeeeette~!"

Ladybug flinched and Chat Noir drew his staff, concerned. That was until he saw a deranged version on himself round the corner and close in on Ladybug. "M'lady, what - ?"

"Ladybuggg~!" Fake Adrien sang. "Have you seen Marinette? I need to tell her that I'm in love!" He giggled, his hands grabbing at Ladybug, who swiftly grabbed his wrists to keep him off. "In love with a girl named Chloe~!"

"That's not Adrien!" Chat Noir shouted, fearful that Ladybug was about to fall victim to an illusion.

"I know." Ladybug responded, her tone tired. Her eyes were still holding something back. Fear, maybe? Sadness?

"I need to tell her we're going to have a hamster and name it Marinette~!" Fake Adrien trilled happily.

Ladybug winced again and gently tried to push him away. "I haven't seen Marinette. You'll have to look somewhere else."

"Are you sure~?" Fake Adrien giggled. "I need to tell her I'm in love with Chloe~!" His psychotic demeanor darkened. "I need to tell her I hate her~!"

Ladybug's eyes widened and she released her hold, allowing Fake Adrien to knock her to the ground. Chat Noir sprung into action, leaping forward and swinging his baton into Fake Adrien's stomach, throwing him back.

"Don't hurt him!" Ladybug screamed out before coming to her senses. "I- . . ." She stammered for a moment before grabbing Chat's arm and hurling her yoyo as far as she could, launching them both high into the air until they landed on top of a random roof. "I-I'm sorry, I shouldn't have let him overpower me like that."

Chat Noir's keen eyes were still watching the tiny figure roaming the streets. "Are you friends with Marinette, m'lady?"

Ladybug's steady pacing fumbled. "I, uh- . . . I know her. Why do you ask?"

"Do you. . ." He turned to face her, his eyes buried in a sadness she wasn't used to seeing. "Do you know if she's scared of Adrien Agreste?"

Ladybug stared at him a moment. "What would give you that idea?"

"I've spoken to him a few times." Chat Noir looked away. "I guess you could call us friends. He told me she's always running away from him. Scared, almost. Can barely talk to him." He turned his gaze upwards. "He doesn't know if he did something or not. Now. . . I guess he's her nightmare."

Ladybug debated with herself before sighing and walking up to her partner. "Can I tell you a secret?"

"Yes?"

"You can't tell anyone, especially Adrien." Ladybug smiled softly. "Marinette isn't scared of him. She actually has. . . a crush on him." She slapped her forehead, starting to laugh quietly. "It- It's pretty pathetic, actually." Her laughter grew. "He g-gave her an umbrella one day and she just- She says she 'felt something'!" She wiped moisture from her eyes. "Isn't. . . isn't that stupid?"

Chat Noir felt the slightest bit of irritation, his ears flattening. "Why is it stupid?" Was she mocking Marinette.

"Because she thinks. . . she thinks she has a chance." Ladybug controlled herself, taking a deep breath.

Chat Noir's mind wandered. "I think she could have a chance." What was he saying?

Ladybug turned, blinking. "What? Chat, you cannot tell Adrien. Marinette would absolutely die."

"Don't worry, I won't." Chat promised, biting his lip to hide his smirk. "Now, let's go beat an akuma."

~~~

Adrien couldn't help but look over at Marinette every so often. He just couldn't stop himself. So on patrol, when he felt something hit the back of his head, he wasn't surprised, a sheepish grin lighting his face.

"You told him, you stupid cat!"

~~~

Wow. That was bad.

But it's something.