Marinette hated running.

Not that she was bad at sports, but the fact that she was always running away from her troubles, mistakes or crimes. She felt like she was always hiding from something, while trying to convince herself that everything would be okay.

But the truth was, she was drowning in her fears.

Marinette ran down the dark alleyway while trying to avoid the puddles of mud along the walkway. The rain pouring down from the sky was just enough to disguise her tears. She ignored the strange looks she received from men, and pulled her black hood further over her head.

Her only good shoes were soaked, her hair was a mess and her pants were covered in mud. How much she wished she had an umbrella at that moment.

Marinette wondered why she put herself through this. It was true that she needed the money (and a place to stay), but wasn't there another way? She was almost old enough to take care of herself, but with no education, it would be impossible for her to get a job anywhere.

Her whole life she had been taught on the principles of evil, yet she knew deep down that there was goodness in her heart.  Her boss—Hawkmoth— told her that the gang was supposed to be her family, but all she could feel was bitterness and selfishness.

There was no love; something she had longed for ever since her parents died a decade earlier. She remembered screaming for her parents, only to be greeted by a man in a white mask. The man said he would help her, and ever since, she had been working for him. Marinette never found out what happened to her parents.

She rubbed the tears out of her eyes as she approached a run-down building, also known as her place of residence. She noticed that the window was broken, which meant that her gang had gotten into another stupid battle. She rolled her eyes as she walked up to the front door.

She pushed it open and stepped in, since she was late and soaking wet she didn't notice the new door mat.  And being the clumsy girl she is, she tripped over it and fell flat on the ground.

"Bad luck," she thought as she pushed herself back up "That's all my life is full of."

She scurried down the hallway knowing that she was already late for her meeting. It wasn't even Wednesday yet and Marinette was already feeling guilty, once again she had stolen something that didn't belong to her.  Sometimes Marinate wondered if her bad luck was due to all her wrong-doings.

She slipped into Hawkmoth's office, hoping that he hadn't noticed she was late. She tiptoed to the chair in front of his desk and waited patiently for his reply. Her wet clothes soaked the chair, making her feel very uncomfortable.

Hawkmoth was sitting in his big office chair, with his mask still on his face. 

"Marinette," he said in a strict tone "You're late."

"Yes sir, I know. I ran into some troubles with Chat Noir." Marinette said awkwardly as she fiddled with her fingers.

"You still got the money, right?"

Marinette nodded and pulled out the small sack of cash she was holding. Marinette felt a bit of doubt because she was supposed to bring more, but the hero had gotten in her way. Hawkmoth looked up and scoffed, meaning that he wasn't very impressed.

"I thought they were rich." he muttered, clearly loosing his patience.

"They are, sir."

"Then why isn't there more here! You should've gotten three sacks of cash as far as I'm concerned."

"Sir, I was trying to but—"

"I knew you were good for nothing the moment I saved you. You're too innocent, too naive, too childish. You're a little goody-two shoes." he spat.

He always had to over-exaggerate, it wasn't like it mattered how much money she stole, they were still poor.  She had been scolded so many times, but she never got used to the punishments. It was weird that she had never seen Hawkmoth genuinely happy.

"One more pay like this and you're moving out; do I make myself clear?" he asked.

"Y-yes sir." 

"Leave!" he shouted, before leaning back in his chair.

Marinette couldn't hold back the tears, she dashed out of his office before he could hear her pitiful sobs. She couldn't take it anymore, she wasn't made to do evil. Her purpose in life was to serve, not to steal and lie.

She threw herself into a cold corner of the building and cried for the life she would never have. Everyday her envy grew when she saw little kids walking to school, hugging their parents or playing with their friends.  

All she wanted was a normal life.

She slowly grew angry as she realized that the reason why she would never be a normal girl was because of Hawkmoth. She had never asked for this life, and it was all his fault. It was sad to think that she couldn't do anything by herself, he had so much power over her, she was practically a slave to him.

"One day," she thought to herself "I will leave this place, and I will get him back for everything he's put me through."

❖❖❖

Chat Noir ran around a corner looking for the perfect place to detransform. He could feel himself losing energy with each step as he changed from his superhero self, to his normal self. By the time he had slowed down to take a break, he was back to his original form as Adrien Agreste.

He wiped the sweat from his brow and looked around, all evil had been defeated for the night. Satisfied with his work, he began walking home. 

Both him and his kwami were exhausted. It was so hard doing night patrols by himself, he felt like the police were beginning to get lazy.

"Y'know Plagg," Adrien yawned "It's not easy being the only guy saving Paris, sometimes I wish I had a partner."

He looked down at the black cat-like creature, who had already fallen asleep. Adrien rolled his eyes, if he couldn't have a friend he could've at least gotten a kwami that was a little more co-operative.

Adrien longed for a partner, because in his normal life, he had no true friends. Did his superhero life have to be lonely too?  Even if he could only have one loyal friend, he would be happy with that.

"If it makes you feel any better," Plagg said drowsily "I don't have a partner either, all I need is cheese."

"Thanks a lot Plagg, that really helped." Adrien mumbled sarcastically.

Adrien knew that he should be grateful for his privileges, but sometimes he felt so overwhelmed by the isolation his father put him through. Who would've thought that someone so famous could have no friends at all?

It was true that Adrien loved being Chat Noir, he enjoyed saving civilians from danger. But he felt so lonely that it discouraged him to help at all.

❖❖❖