Emotional Support [Complete]

S1 E36: The Anniversary (Pt. 3)

Adrien sat on the floor by his window, holding his knees to his chest as he sobbed. "I-I don't understand w-why he's s-so mean. I don't know what Marinette is talking about--My father doesn't... doesn't love me at a-all, Plagg! Do... you think M-Marinette was lying about be being so lovable? H-How lovable can I be if... if not even my own father loves m-me?"

Plagg frowned, patting his chosen's head. "Marinette wasn't lying about anything, Adrien. You want to know how I know?"

Adrien looked up at his kwami, nodding as he bit back sobs to allow him to speak.

Because of the kwami's dark fur, it was easy to spot the redness of embarrassment against his cheeks as he spoke. "I don't say these things often, though I probably should. I mean, I don't know why I don't, but I guess I don't like the feeling of it. But I should say it now because you're really sad and I don't like it when you're sad. It makes me sad. And you could even get akumatized, but I guess, that's not the point. It doesn't make it any less true."

Adrien only looked at Plagg in confusion. He'd never seen Plagg nervously ramble like that. It made Adrien kind of nervous. "W-What?"

The black kwami sighed, closing his eyes for moment to collect himself. Why was this so hard?

"Adrien, you are the best Cat Noir I have ever had. And I've had some terrible ones. Sure they could save the city, but most of them treated me like garbage. With you, I'm always fed, and respected, and cared for, and pet. With you, I'm loved. And anyone capable of giving love is capable of receiving it. I guess what I'm trying to say is..." Plagg, with tears in his eyes, hugged Adrien's cheek. "I-I love you, Adrien. Even if no one else does, I'll still love you because you are so lovable and you should never think that you aren't."

Adrien was shocked at first, but hugged the sobbing cat back as he shed more tears. "I-I love you t-too, Plagg."

"And you were so sad at school today, Adrien..." Plagg sobbed. "Not even I knew you were so upset. You never said anything like that before."

"I hadn't meant to," Adrien explained, stroking his kwami's head. "You saw how upset Mari was, and look how upset you are now. I don't want my pain to become anyone else's."

"That's what we're here for, Adrien. To lighten the burden." Plagg purred beneath Adrien's thumb. "No kid your age should feel so much pain. It's not healthy."

Adrien nodded. "Yeah, you're right." Then, he frowned. "But, Plagg, you never told me you've been mistreated. When you're ready, I want to take away your pain too. And lighten your burden."

Plagg blinked away his tears and sighed. He'd never shared to anyone besides Tikki about abusive owners. "Sure."

The cat smiled softly, purring against Adrien's cheek, which he realized was wet with tears. Plagg knitted his eyebrows. Adrien's eyes widened as he felt a tiny, sandpaper-y tongue swiping against his cheek.