Ragnoa And Katu

30- Post-Battle Trauma

At closing time of the bakery, Tom and Sabine joined the two heroes upstairs, and joined their game.

Marinette won.

But that was no suprise. She always won by a landslide, but Adrien was only a few points behind this time.

"That was a good run, Adrien. Bien joue." Her hands turned clammy as her mind turned over the past week.

It wasn't luck she broke through Hawk- M. Agr- the akuma's control. There was nothing but pain, but when they landed in Adrien's courtyard, she knew what was coming in the darkest recesses of her mind, and she had to stop it.

She didn't say anything out loud, a sure way for him to know she was fighting. Instead, she had slowly gained control over Ragnoa, eventually subduing the possessed side of herself into unconciousness, and so of this was from the moment they entered the gate at the Agreste Mansion to entering the door.

She went into the fight alone and exhausted.

How Adrien managed to free himself as well, she never dared to ask, but when the moment was right, she could tell he was awake.

The danger was gone. Why was she still upset at the thought of saying 'good job' to her partner?

"Marinette? Are you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. I just-just need some air."

She set down her controller and stumbled upstairs and onto her balcony. Unbeknownst to her, Adrien noticed how stiff and unsettled she'd become, so he excused himself and followed her up the stairs.

✴✴✴✴

"It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. It's all going to be okay. It's okay. It's o-"

She was pacing on what little surface area there was to use. Her nails were becoming worn down and to the point of destroyed.

"Marinette? What's wrong?"

"Okay. It's okay, it's okay. Okay. Okay. Okay."

"Marinette? Can you hear me?" He reached out to her, but she slapped his hand away.

"No! No, stay away from me! Stay-stay away! No! I-I- can't-"

"Marinette. Marinette, listen!"

"Breathe! I can't breathe!"

Adrien clamped her hands in his, attempting to get her to hold still.