"Y/n, be rational."

"Fuck rational Jess!" You were pacing your room as you searched for your suitcase you swore you brought back up there.

"You can't just leave."

"Found it!" You grinned crazily as you pulled out your travel luggage from under your bed.

"Y/n, what are you doing?" Jess sighed as she heard you laughing almost manically.

"Mm such a shame. Maybe you should get an IPhone and then you would be able to see what I am doing." You stuck your tongue out in the direction of your phone.

"Don't be bratty with me, you're the one who called."

"Because I need you to clear my old room back out because there is no way in hell that I'm staying here in Paris with my bitchy sister, the lying love of my life, and pushy fucking Luka!" You screamed and realized there were tears streaming down your face.

"Y/n, we're housing another exchange student. I told you this." Her voice was soft because she knew how fragile you must've been.

You felt your legs weaken from under you.

"Are you okay?" Jess asked and you were now on the floor with your back pressed against your bed frame.

"Yeah. You already told me there was someone new, I don't know why I thought they'd be gone." You spoke with half of a laugh and covered your face with your hands.

"Things will get better Y/n, they always do. You just have to stick it through or else you'll miss every good thing that'll come your way."

"I promise I'll try Jess, but if things don't improve than you better kick that other student out." She laughed at your response.

"The couch is always open hun." You could tell that she was grinning which made you laugh softly.

"Go to bed now, and put your clothes back in your closet."

"Okay mom." You spoke sarcastically.

"I'm serious Y/n."

"Jess." Your voice was shaky as you felt a sudden tightness rush your chest.

"What's wrong Y/n?" She sounded frantic.

"I just..." you took in a deep breath, "There's so many secrets around me...everyone is hiding something and it's become so much that it feels...suffocating!" You choked out a sob as your body shook, and she made a shushing noise almost as if she was trying to calm a crying baby.

Your hands shook rapidly and you were amazed that you could even keep a grip on your phone. Your room around you felt like it was spinning and you quickly felt yourself loosing control of your breathing.

"Y/n, you need to try and breath, take a deep breath in," She spoke and you listened to her as well as you could, "And out." Again, you obliged, feeling self aware once more.

"Tell me five things in your room." Her voice was firm.

"Um...I...my book, The Invisible Life of Addie Larue, my shoes I made with Zoe, my map, my clothes in the corner I've yet to donate, and I have a my keyboard." You told her and felt your breathing begin to steady.

"That's part of a grounding technique I use when I experience any sort of anxiety or panic attack like you just did. For me it works well with both. Are you feeling better?" Jess asked with a hopeful tone.

"Yes." You spoke breathily.

"Good. Go downstairs and get some water and try and get some sleep. If you can't, listen to some relaxing music and take a nice bath." Her voice was demanding but it was just as caring as she had always been.

"I will Jess, thank you, for everything." You wiped away a stray tear and she hummed softly.

"Always Y/n."

He watched as you ran off.

He stepped forward with his hand reaching out for you, but you were just out of his reach...as always.

"Plagg-" Adrien's voice was shaky as it clearly displayed the terror flooding through him.

"Adrien!" The kwami's eyes widened. "Adrien! You need to calm down!" Plagg yelled as Adrien fell to the ground, clutching the sides of his head nervously as he muttered uncontrollably.

Plagg got in his face and poked his eye. "Ow! Plagg!" Adrien hissed as he held his eye.

"Good! You need to get it together for a little while and help Ladybug defeat this villain! You can worry about Y/n later." Plagg's yelling dwindled and Adrien nodded softly.

"Okay, thank you."

"I'm such an idiot." Adrien leaped from roof to roof. "I can't believe it." He continued to grumble to himself as your house entered his line of vision.

"I need to explain." He continue to talk to himself. It had taken Adrien hours to work up the courage to come face you. He had already been ashamed for allowing himself to get so carried away with you as Chat Noir...now he hasn't only betrayed Ladybug, but you as well.

He leaped towards your window and extended his stick to the ground so he could hang to it. The window was shut so he couldn't barrel in like he usually would. Shakily, he reached for your window and tried to pry it open, but

You locked him out.

Adrien let go of your window, feeling completely defeated. He tried to peer in and see if you were in there, but the room was completely dark.

Tears filled his eyes as he went home for the night.

**

You woke up before the sun.

You sat up groggily and reached for your face, feeling your puffy eyes. You managed to pull yourself out of bed and you walked over towards your window. You unlocked and opened it, sticking your head out to feel the morning autumn breeze.

"I wonder if he came." You spoke softly to yourself. You fell asleep before it was even nine p.m. so you locked your window before you went to bed.

You pulled out your phone as pressed your back against the wall. You opened it with a sigh once you saw the time flash back at you.

Y/n, 5:50 a.m: Will you come over today? As Adrien

read

**

"Adrien?" Marinette dropped the pastry she was about to package as she saw the blonde enter their bakery.

"Marinette!" Her mother hissed as she pointed to the floor where the baked good now was. Marinette bowed her head apologetically and turned frantically to pick up the pastry.

"Hey sorry to bother you guys." Adrien spoke with a small laugh as he rubbed the back of his neck. He wasn't expecting to see you down here, but he knew it would've been easier if you just had been.

"Oh it's no bother at all! I love you- I mean! We love having you and any other valued guest in our bakery!" Marinette tried to fix herself but she ended up screaming, earning concerned glances from her parents.

Adrien stood back a bit with wide eyes, "Ah...okay! Is Y/n here?" He asked as he began to run his thumb over his fingers nervously.

"Y/n...?" Marinette's voice dropped and her eyes grew wide.

Adrien tried to replace his nervous smile with a happier one. "Yeah! Her and I needed to talk about some things and she decided it would be easier if I came over here." He rambled a bit nervously, knowing Marinette didn't need all of the information he provided.

Marinette lifted her hand shakily towards the stairs, "I'm sure she's uh...in her room. Feel free to head up." She turned and wiped a tear from her eyes as she returned to packaging the pastries.

Adrien lifted an eyebrow as he watched her. "Okay—thanks Marinette." He spoke and walked up to your room.

He stood before what he presumed to be your closed bedroom door. He knocked softly. "Come in." You grumbled from the other side of your door and he laughed softly. His face immediately grew serious as he opened the door with a shaky hand. As he entered your room his face shifted to highlight his surprise.

You were on the floor, near the corner of your room with the window. You sat with your keyboard on your lap and a manual screwdriver in your hand. Sprawled across your floor was a large suitcase and all your clothes laid on top of it with a pile of hangers on the top. On the other side of your desk you had a pile of clothes he recognized from the first year he met you. You had still yet to donate them.

"What are you doing?" His voice startled you a bit.

"Oh...I was just checking all of the insides and making sure everything still looked okay." You spoke rather nervously.

"Why wouldn't it be okay?" He asked as he sat down next to you on the floor.

"Well after it served as the spot of akumatization I wasn't sure if it was still working, I've been too nervous to play." You spoke and he looked at you with an extremely confused expression.

"Y/n...the magical ladybugs fixed everything, including this." He gently pointed to your keyboard and you sighed as you dropped the tool.

"I know." You whispered and stared down at it.

He placed a hand on your head gently and you smiled softly, not realizing how big of hands he had before.

"So why are you trying to fix it?"

"Everything else in my life is broken, so I figured my keyboard must be as well." Your eyes were filling with tears and Adrien felt his heart break for you, like he had many times before.

"Y/n, everything isn't broken." He spoke gently and picked up your keyboard and placed it on the floor behind him so he could pull you into his chest.

"God—yes it is." You cried, "Marinette and I will probably never get along again, I screamed at Luka like the stupid bitch I am, and then there's...you." You whispered the last part gently and the small stroking movements he had been making on your back stopped.

"Why do you think we're broken? Is it because I kept my identity a secret because Y/n-"

"No." You whispered, "That's not the only reason why."

Adrien tilted his head to the side. "What is it then?"

You shook your head, "I was just worried if I knew I would get you in trouble and you wouldn't want to be friends anymore! Yeah that's all." You smiled through your lie, wiping away stray tears. You knew if you told him you wouldn't only reveal your secret, but Marinette's as well.

Adrien's eyes grew soft as he stared down at you, "Y/n, I never want to lose you. You're too precious to me." He smiled softly as he tucked a strand of hair behind your ear.

Your mouth fell slightly agape but you sighed as you fell into his touch, and just allowed him to hold you. For so long you've felt so alone, that you hadn't realized you were craving this kind of comfort. "Thank you, Adrien."

He nodded, "I'll always remind you where you belong Y/n, you have a home here with all of us, and you have one in New York too. Your heart is in the stars that way you'll be able to experience crazy and beautiful love no matter where you go."

You laughed softly but your heart felt completely full, "Adrien Agreste you were always the cheeseball." He felt his cheeks burn at your comment but his smile never faltered.

"Yeah, yeah." He chuckled, but then remembered why he was there, "About my secret identity." He whispered, not wanting to ruin the moment between you all.

"What about it?" You asked with a similarly soft voice.

"You know you can't tell anyone...right?" He asked and you nodded assuringly.

"Who would I tell anyways? It's not like I've got friends." You grinned but he didn't smile at your self deprecating jokes.

"You do have friends and you will make up with Luka, I'm sure of it."

"Yeah I know...I won't tell anyone. Can I meet that little floating cat though? It was adorable." You grinned.

"My name is Plagg and I am not adorable!" Plagg flew out of Adrien's shirt and you giggled. "How dare you lean all over me too?! I am not a pillow I am a cheese-eating machine!"

You looked up at Adrien who was mouthing 'Camembert' to you and you smiled at the kwami. "I think I have just the thing for you Plagg."

Adrien watched you with wary eyes as you left your room to get his kwami some cheese. He replayed the last of your conversation over in his head and he wondered why you hadn't asked why he came to you so often as Chat Noir. He couldn't help but wonder if you knew how he felt about you.