Fragile as a flower (MariChat)

Mari?

Adrien's POV

Lately, something's been wrong with Marinette, and I'm determined to find out what. Ladybug also hasn't been showing up to her patrol lately, so I've been capturing akumas in a jar. Yesterday, Lila said that Marinette was bullying her. I almost believed Lila until I saw Marinette crying in an alleyway. She wouldn't tell me anything. She looked beat up- so I could tell that she had either gotten in a fight or was being bullied by someone else. Maybe someone got mad at her for "being mean to Lila" or something like that. Marinette called in sick today. She probably got a cold from being in the rain. I hope she's alright. I decided to skip school today too so I could go check in on Marinette to make sure that Akumas will stay away from her. 

Marinette's POV

I called in sick so I could stay away from school and Lila. I stood on my balcony and looked at the beautiful Paris before me. With my determination slowly seeping out of my soul, I couldn't feel the need to be productive, move, or do anything. Walking up the ladder in my room made me exhausted.  Once again, I heard the small tap on the ground behind me, and I turned around. Chat Noir was there. This time he didn't look sad. He looked determined. 

"Chat Noir, I need to be left alone" I managed to sputter out. I really wanted the company. I turned my head away so I wouldn't give into his concerned face.

"I'm not going to believe that, Princess. I care about you. We're friends now, remember?"

Right. We are friends. He's saved me so many times. We worked together to fight Nathaniel. Sometimes he came over to look at my designs. Still, I didn't want to bother him.

"Chat, I don't want to talk..to anyone."

"I know that's a lie. I know you. Please, talk to me." He walked closer to me- and soon enough his eyes were staring right into mine. I could feel my face heating up. "Please"

I pushed away and tried to fight back the tears. Alya had been texting me- asking why I was being so mean. I tried to explain to her but she called me a liar and insisted I tell the truth. She told me that everyone else wanted to hear the truth from me too. Everyone thought just as she did. She said that Adrien wasn't there with them. I was glad for that. If he had been there then he would have succumbed into Lila's lies as well. 

"Marinette, please."

"..."

"Why won't you tell me? Do you not trust me?"

"I do trust you! I-I just can't tell you."

"Why not?"

"I don't want you to worry.."

"Marinette, listen. If you don't tell me I'll be even more worried."

He had a point. I leaned back against the railing and he stood in front of me. He was like a guard, protecting my damaged heart from anything that may come to harm me. I felt safe and warm.

I began.

I told him everything that had happened. I told him my darkest secret, too:

"Chat, I- I... I'm really... I'm scared."

All of a sudden a burst of warm joy coated my body. I had been taken in by a huge hug. As Chat Noir's arms wrapped around me, it was almost impossible to feel scared.

"Don't worry. It will be alright."

"How?"

"We'll find a way."

"..."

"I Promise."

"ok."