A/N: This is a Miraculous Lady Bug prompt, as shown below, thank you Feminiist_ , fashionfarmgirl5600 , death-in-heven for the encouragement, enjoy :)

Prompt:

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"You have no where to run to, no friends, no family, they have all turned against you, even your trusty side-kick." The voice sneered. "Just give up and give me your Miraculous!" A dark voice echoed around. Lady Bug has been fighting this villain long enough to recognise his voice.

Hawk Moth.

Lady Bug looked at all her akumatized family and friends in despair and was met with blank stares, all focused on getting her miraculous. She clutched her Lucky Charm which was a bracelet tightly, looking around the room frantically for a solution.

There was no solution.

Lady Bug tried another tactic. She faced Verity Queen that was closing in on her, grabbing her hands and forcing Verity Queen to look at her.

"Mom!" She pleaded desperately. "Snap out of this!"

Verity Queen only raised a skeptical eyebrow, before attempting to reach for Lady Bug's earrings but was pushed away. Enraged, Verity Queen charged towards Lady Bug, kicking and punching expertly.

"Mom..." It pained Lady Bug to see her mother like this. Blinking hard to keep her tears at bay, Lady Bug swung her yo-yo to block Verity Queen's punches, refusing to attack her own mother, before leaping to the right, narrowly missing Verity Queen's high kick.

Lady Bug turned desperately towards Cat Noir. "Please," a stray tear slipped out as Lady Bug struggled to keep her voice even, "listen to me, t-this is not you, Cat Noir. We're a team."

Cat Blanc's expression was unreadable as he replied coolly, "You're right, I'm not Cat Noir anymore," flicking the bell on his pristine white suit, he smirked, "I'm Cat Blanc."

Cat Blanc snapped his fingers lazily, sending orbs of cataclysm towards Lady Bug.

"Give us your miraculous." They chanted repeatedly.

"No." Lady Bug dodged and spun gracefully, avoiding all the attacks. Beads of sweat was forming around her brow, dripping down her face. Lady Bug was getting tired, slowing down, her movements sluggish. Based on the calculative gleam in their eyes, they know that too, that it's only a matter of time before she collapses from exhaustion. "No!"

"That's fine, your time is almost up." Lady Wifi replied coldly, sending commands from her phone relentlessly. "All we need to do is wait for you to de-transform," pausing dramatically, "and," she closed her fist triumphantly, "your miraculous will be ours."

"No!" Lady Bug moved backwards, her back hitting a wall. It wasn't supposed to end like this. Tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to fall. It can't end like this. All the villains closed in on her, grinning maliciously, hands reaching out for her earrings.

"NO!"

Marinette bolted upright, clutching her blanket tightly. Beads of sweat clung to her face, her bangs plastered onto her face. Tears ran down freely from her eyes, chin trembling. Ever since Master Fu left, the dreams have been getting more intense and there was no way to stop it. It always ended with the feeling of helplessness and fear. The type of fear that can leave you gasping for breath, shivering uncontrollably. Marinette's chest heaved as she struggled to get a hold of herself.

Breathe, Marinette, it's just a dream. You called out "Mom", and your cover would have been blown, Marinette reasoned. But it felt too much like reality. Verity Queen flashed in her mind and as much as she tried to choke back her sob, more tears sprung from her baby blue eyes. Salty drops fell silently from her chin, drenching her shirt and blanket.

"Tik-kki?" Marinette called out into the dark, praying Tikki would be awake. Her question was met with a deafening silence. The walls were closing in on her. Another vision of Cat Blanc grinning wickedly sent her reeling.

Her world was a blur, the taste of tears, the smell of fear, abundant in the air, it was too much. Marinette fumbled blindly in the dark, reaching for her phone on the desk beside her bed before resting her head against the wall, hugging her blanket tightly against her.

Alya, she needed Alya.

Was this her phone? The object lit up at her touch. It was. Marinette breathed sharply, gasping for breath.

The walls. They are closer. They are coming.

Marinette's fingers trembled as she scrolled through the list of contacts. Everything was a blur.

Help me, Alya.

Upon seeing the first contact starting with A, Marinette blindly clicked call, her mind consumed in her dreams, shaking with fear.

Alya, please, answer.

"Marinette?"

---

3:00 am

It was another sleepless night for Adrien. Plagued with thoughts. The past, the present, the future. Everything. After what happened to Master Fu, how could one even sleep? Adrien lay in bed on his hands, staring blankly at the ceiling.

One question kept bugging him, does he still love Lady Bug? Adrien didn't know what to think, or feel.

Groaning in frustration, he turned to face Plagg sleeping peacefully on his pillow. He chuckled at the sight of Plagg hugging his piece of Camembert tightly.

"Hey Plagg," he whispered, poking the small Kwami.

"Mine." Plagg muttered, clawing wildly at the air, pulling the cheese closer to himself.

Adrien couldn't help but smile fondly at the black Kwami's cuteness. Knowing Plagg, he would probably skewer Adrien if he ever called him cute. Just as he was about to poke Plagg again, trying to see how long it would take to wake the sleep-hungry Kwami up and tease him about his love for Camembert, Adrien's phone vibrated silently.

3:30 am

Curious, Adrien grabbed his phone, glancing at the contact. His eyebrows scrunched in confusion.

Marinette?

If she was to call at such a timing, it must be important, he thought worriedly. Marinette has always been a good friend to him, it's time he does the same.

"Marinette?" Adrien answered, a little anxious.

"Nightmare...Akumas...Lady Wifi...can't save a-anyone..." Marinette choked out.

Gone was the cheerful chirp he always heard from Marinette, replaced by one filled with fear. Adrien wasn't sure how to respond to Marinette's sudden outburst. Clearly, this call was probably meant for her best friend, Alya. It sounded...private and emotional.

"Please..." Marinette sobbed, her voice cracking. "I-I c-can't..."

Hearing Marinette hurt and crying tugged strongly at Adrien's heartstrings. The nightmare must have been really bad to wake up with a panic attack. Nightmares, he's familiar with them. They invade your every thought and lurk at every corner, waiting for the opportunity to strike. Knowing what Marinette is going through, he suddenly had the urge to run to Marinette's house, wrap her in a hug and mutter sweet nothings into her ear until she's calmed down.

Shaking himself out of his thoughts, he spoke gently into the phone, "Marinette, listen to me. Everyone is safe. It's just a nightmare."

"They're coming...they're everywhere. C-cat Bl-lanc..." Marinette whimpered into the phone.

Adrien raised his eyebrows upon hearing Cat Blanc. There was never a Cat Blanc, only Cat Noir, this confirms that Marinette is still trapped in her nightmare. Trying the methods he used to overcome his own panic attacks, he spoke soothingly, "Calm down, there is no Cat Blanc. Can you count and tell me how many items you can see in your room?"

"I can't see through my tears." Marinette let out a strangled laugh, sniffling. Adrien could tell through the phone that she was still hyperventilating, breathing in short breaths.

"Get some ice." Adrien said firmly.

"I-Ice?" There was a surprised hiccup.

"Yes, sneak to your kitchen and eat a cube of ice." Adrien repeated, hoping this method would work. He recalled Plagg shoving an ice cube into his mouth when his panic attacks were bad and the cold from the ice helped. Somehow, frozen water works better than soothing words.

"Ok-kay."

There was a pause.

"C-could you talk to me while I go to the kitchen?" Marinette pleaded, sniffling.

Adrien nodded in the darkness of his room, to no one in particular, "Sure Marinette, I'll start; when I grow up, I'll like a pet hamster along with-"

A lot of shuffling could be heard at the other end of the call followed by the soft hiss of the fridge.

"...and I'll name the hamster-" Adrien babbled on.

"Cold!" Marinette yelped into the phone.

Adrien paused and pressed his ear against his phone, listening as Marinette creep back up quietly to her bedroom. He heard the slight creak of the window open, followed by a soft murmur of words which sounded a lot like "there you are, ricky" but Adrien wasn't sure and something told him now was not the time to question Marinette about it.

Adrien waited a few more seconds before asking softly, "Are you better now?"

"Yes, I am." Marinette replied, her voice suddenly squeaky, embarrassment evident in her voice. "I didn't mean to call you Adrien, sorry you had to endure all...that."

4:30 am

"It's fine, Marinette." Adrien assured her, "I'm glad you called me."

"At 3.30 am?"

"I'm already awake," Adrien insisted, lips pulling into a small smile at Marinette's concern, "don't worry." He hesitated, before admitting quietly, "I have insomnia."

"Oh...well, I'm still sorry that I disturbed you." There was a slight tremble in her voice.

Adrien could tell Marinette has calmed down, but was still shaken by the nightmare. "Do you want to talk about it?" He asked tentatively, feeling as if he's treading on thin ice. Adrien was afraid talking about it could trigger another attack. "It's fine if you don't want to," he added quickly, "I understand."

"I do!" Marinette blurted out.

Adrien settled comfortably back into his bed, waiting patiently for Marinette to continue.

"The nightmare was about...me being unable to save all my friends and family that were akumatized,"a shaky sigh came through the phone, "I've never felt so helpless. It was horrible."

A brief silence filled the air as Adrien tried to think of how to console Marinette.

"But why do you need to save them? Lady Bug will be there to save the day," he replied confidently.

"I guess." Marinette said, her voice almost a whisper, "What if she failed?"

Adrien mouth turned dry as he struggled to form a reply. Lady Bug never fails to succeed. Adrien couldn't imagine if Lady Bug did fail, what would happen? Hawk Moth would win, that was the harsh reality. But, Adrien refused to believe that will ever happen. He was saved from having to reply when Marinette suddenly asked a little fearfully, "Do you think my nightmare will come true?"

With as much conviction as he could muster, Adrien replied with a resounding no. He was as sure as his constant insomnia that it will never come true.

"I believe you."

Adrien didn't want Marinette to just trust him blindly, "Nightmares are just created by your mind."

"So are dreams." There was a curious tone in Marinette's voice, it was starting to become a discussion. "So if dreams can come true-"

"Don't forget that nightmares are dreams too." Adrien interrupted, chuckling.

"Oscar Wilde." Adrien could hear a smile when Marinette replied. The familiar chirp of her voice was coming back and it made Adrien feel all warm inside that he, Adrien Agreste, managed to cheer up Marinette.

"But in all seriousness, that nightmare is just a nightmare. Nothing more."

"I'll try to think that." Marinette replied, her tone unsure and a little afraid. "The dream just- it can't, it won't stop playing in my mind."

"Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise." Adrien recited from memory. "I heard this quote somewhere and I think you need to hear it." Adrien didn't want to admit that it was from Les Misérables by Victor Hugo, and that he was a huge fan, having fallen in love with the movie, books, everything about it. He was sure Marinette would tease him endlessly about his "nerdy side" if he were to ever tell her about his obsession.

Through the phone, he could hear Marinette whispering the words under her breath. A ghost of a smile danced across Adrien's face as he knew that Marinette was probably chewing her bottom lip thoughtfully, committing the words to memory. It was funny how their friendship had progressed. Months ago, they were practically strangers, butting heads about a piece of gum.

"The darkest night will end. The sun will rise." Marinette muttered firmly, more to herself than to Adrien.

6:00 am

The sun inched lazily up the sky, a splash of colours painting the sky in a brilliant gradient of purple, orange and red hues. Golden rays peeked through the stray clouds hanging around the sun. It was the most beautiful sunrise Adrien has ever seen.

"Speaking of the sun rising, are you seeing what I'm seeing? It's beautiful." Adrien murmured in awe.

"Not as beautiful as you. I mean- yeah it's beautiful too! Sorry!" Marinette corrected herself hastily, letting out an awkward laugh.

"I know what you mean." Adrien chuckled. This was the Marinette he knew; awkward, cheerful and always stumbling on her sentences.

There was a comfortable silence as both of them watched the sunrise together, Marinette at her balcony and Adrien through his floor to ceiling glass windows.

6:15 am

"I better get going, Natalie is going to wake me up for breakfast soon. See you in school, Marinette."

"Okay, bye, I love you." Marinette replied absentmindedly.

"I love you too, bye." Adrien answered back instinctively, only registering what he said when he hanged up the phone. A faint blush was evident on his cheeks as he stared at his phone in shock.

"That was interesting." A scratchy voice filled the air followed by loud chewing noises.

Adrien's head whipped around to find Plagg devouring the last few bites of his Camembert, licking his fingers greedily. "How much did you hear?"

"Enough to tease you about it." Plagg grinned mischievously, floating lazily through the air.

Adrien groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose, it's going to be a long day. "Let's just...get to school."

A/N: Phew, writing that was longer than I expected and I apologise for any errors or mistakes, I wanted to write more of Adrien POV instead of Marinette's and also add to his interests and his personality (I secretly thinks he likes literature and is poetic thus the puns) hope you guys enjoyed it!