The first thing Marinette felt was a splitting headache and something hard digging into her back. Hard and cold. Marinette opened her eyes, only to be greeted with pitch darkness. As her vision adjusted, her other senses slowly came back to life. She realized how incredibly dusty and hard to breathe it was. Also, something stiff laid over her chest. Marinette raised her other hand to feel it and realized it was an arm. She yelped and sat upward a bit too fast. Eyes finally adjusted to the dim cave lighting, she saw a limp Adrien laying close beside her covered in dirt and bruises. Memories of recent events flooded Marinette's head as panic rose in her.

"Adrien? Wake up! Adrien?!" she shook the unconscious boy. No. No. No. This could not be happening! She already lost Cliffjumper. She couldn't lose another friend. "Adrien..." Marinette whimpered. Tears streamed down her face, leaving trails among the grime. Her heart felt like it was shattering. Not again. Please.

A barely audible groan caught her attention. Marinette paused and leaned closely to Adrien's face looking and praying for any sign of life. He groaned again louder this time and cracked open his eyes. Relief flooded Marinette as she embraced him.

"You're alive!" she croaked.

"Mar-Marinette?" Adrien whispered still in a dazed. "Where are we?"

"In the mine. Megatron caused a cave in that we miraculously survived."

Adrien hummed in response then groaned once more. "That explains it."

"Can you move?"

Adrien tried to sit up but moaned and clutched his side.

"Wait stop. You may have broken ribs." Marinette said concernedly.

"Nah. I've had broken ribs before. I think these are just bruises."

Still, Marinette made him lay back down. He was in much worse shape than her, having taken the brunt of the fall. "Stay here," she ordered. "I'm going to look for a way out."

"Wait are you okay?" Adrien asked quickly.

"Just a couple of bruises and a headache. Nothing to worry about." Marinette said reassuringly and stroked his hand.

"Thank God." Adrien responded, hoping it was too dark for her to see the blush creeping on his face.

Marinette nodded and smiled. She then used the walls to struggle to her feet. Feeling her way around, she found a small opening. After wiggling some rocks loose, the opening widen. "I think I found something." She called back.

"Yay." Adrien cheered weakly.

Marinette made her way back to him and slowly helped Adrien to his feet. Adrien could barely stand on his own. He felt dizzy from the thin air and head wounds. Marinette draped his arm around her shoulder and wrapped her right arm around his waist.

"Lean on me," she said.

"When you're not strong. And I'll be your friend." He responded half-heartily.

Marinette rolled her eyes. "Is now really the time Adrien?"

"Made you smile didn't I?" he asked cheekily.

Marinette scoffed as she tried to suppress a smile. "Come on tiger. I'll smile ear to ear once we get out of here."

~*~

The couple painstaking made their way through the cavern. It was slow going since the terrain was rough and their strength was steadily degenerating. Marinette called out the other's names to no avail. Her voice echoed back at her mockingly. The teens stopped after a while and collapsed on the ground exhausted. It was most likely well into the night but there was no way of telling miles below ground. The sense of despair grew larger inside of Adrien's stomach. The pain distracted him but as that numbed, anxiety began to take hold.

"Adrien. We're going to get out of here." Marinette whispered, seemingly reading his thoughts. She held his hand and rested her head against his shoulder.

"The Autobots will find us."

"Marinette..."

The young girl began to shake. Adrien suddenly realized she was crying. She was scared of being stuck in the mines just as he was. Adrien rested his weary head on top of her's.

"Don't cry princess." He muttered despite his own tears. Adrien was suddenly grateful to be in this position. Grateful to have known this amazing girl and spend his last moments with her. "Mari, there's something I need to tell you."

Marinette lifted up her head and looked up at him innocently. Even in near darkness, Adrien could still make out those impossibly blue eyes. His heart beat faster.

"Marinette...I...I-"

A deafening explosion sounded as a section of the cave wall crumpled a short distance away from them. A large figure rose from the dust and loomed over the couple.

"Well, what do we have here?"