The pair walked towards the Agreste mansion in silence, too scared to say anything else.

Marinette felt her phone buzzing in her pocket, it had been this whole time. She was able to ignore it earlier, but it was overwhelming now.

She shut her eyes tight, letting Adrien's hand guide her through the lit streets.

For some reason....she couldn't bring herself to turn it off.

Adriens phone was set to silent by now. He couldn't stand the thought of those awful texts.

What would everyone do if they found out they were trash talking Ladybug?

Would they watch what they say then?

Adrien sighed, listening to the annoying buzz of Marinette's phone, looking down to see it peeking out of her pocket.

"Mari..." he sighed.

She opened her eyes, seeing that the two had stopped in front of the mansions front gates. It was nice out here.

Marinette turned her head towards Adrien, as he ran a hand through his slick hair.

Her heart raced faster, as reality caught up with her.

It was like she had been bungee jumping off of a steep cliff, and now the cord has jerked her back to reality.

She had just revealed her identity.

Why did she do that?!!?

Why would she DO THAT?!!?!

She felt a nervous sweat creeping up her spine, as her face grew uncontrollably hot.

"Let's....let's Go." Adrien gestured towards the gate, where the giant doors opened.

Sounds of creaking metal bars sliding swiftly against each other, blocked out the sound and feeling of her buzzing phone.

Marinette walked behind Adrien, their hands disconnected by now.

Usually, when Adrien had been gone, his father's assistant Nathalie would be waiting for him on the steps. But she wasn't there.

Maybe things changed....Marinette hadn't been there for around 2 years now.

Adrien lead her to his room, somewhere she'd been before as Ladybug, when his father had invited her over to chat.

Adrien closed the door behind him, letting Marinette slip past him.

"Why do you keep your phone on?" He asked, the moment the door clicked shut.

"What...?" Marinette tried her best to process that question. What did that mean?

"It's almost as if you're purposefully leaving it on." Adrien looked at her, like he was trying to decipher whatever she was thinking.

"Purposefully?" She stuttered.

Adrien inched closer to her, swiftly pulling her phone out of her pocket.

She attempted to grab it, but he held it out of her reach.

"Why Marinette? Why do you want to read what they have to say? Why do you want to hear the sound?" Adrien slightly shook the phone on the word they. The phone buzzed, almost as if it were in cue.

Marinette was silent.

"You know it hurts you...so why do you want it?" Adrien's face flashed with pity, his eyebrows creasing together.

She was silent again.

"Marinette!" his voice raised, as her head was hanging low, her arms slightly shaking.

"Why do you do this to yourself!?!?" his voice got louder, like he was demanding an answer from her.

She finally gave him one.

"Because maybe they're right!!!" she looked up at him, her eyes flooded with tears, her face was etched in hurt.

Adrien lowered the hand that was holding the phone, standing still in shock.

"Maybe, I want to trust you, but maybe I can't!! All of these people, I grew up with, they were all my friends!!! But now? All they've done is show me I'm worthless!! Who's to say you won't do the same!!!"  She struggled, her voice cracking, shattering with the broken pieces of her heart.

How could people say such things?!?

Adrien grabbed her shoulders, leaning down to her height.

"You are not worthless Marinette. You are Ladybug for God's sake!!" Adrien shook her shoulders, trying to force the words to her.

"Ladybug? But Marinette's not good enough?!?!!!! Why do I have to wear a mask to feel loved!?!? Why do I have to wear a mask to be loved?!?! Why am I so useless?!?!" Her shoulders bounced as she broke into a soft sob, she stood still, feeling like she could fall any minute.

"Marinette! That is not true!! You are loved, by so many people!!! You are definitely not useless!!!" Adrien put his hand on her cheek, wiping away a stray tear with his thumb.

"I feel useless..." she mumbled through her tears, leaning Her head against his hand.

Adrien's lips formed a straight line, his eyes were glossy.

He hated seeing her like this. He didn't want her to be upset, those words really got to her...

"Adrien....do you want the truth?" She whispered.

"The truth?" he raised an eyebrow.

"I believe them. When they say those things...." she shook out another sob, a tear rolled down her cheek.

"I just told you Marinette....they don't know what they're talking about...." he moved his hand farther back on her cheek, brushing her ear with his fingertips.

"No Adrien.....I don't believe them because they say it....I believe it....because I say it....." Marinette closed her eyes, wishing she could just disappear for a minute.

"I don't understand...." Adrien got closer to her face, studying her pained expression.

He didn't like it.

"Adrien.....I'm going to tell you something. Something I can't fix....I don't know how....." Marinette opened her eyes, looking into his for answers, to all of the problems she thought she had.

She couldn't see what he saw. She didn't see beautiful, or worthy...she saw clumsy, and crazy....and awkward.

Adrien nodded his head, not knowing how to respond otherwise.

"Before people even started bullying me.....I felt....insecure. And then they told me those things... what I thought....so it was confirmed...I'm not this confident, beautiful, outstanding girl you think Ladybug is.....I'm not her. I can't help but compare myself to others.....I don't feel good enough..." Marinette paused.

She had never told anyone this stuff.
Not even Alya.
It hurt to speak.
Her lungs were burning.
She was scared of judgement.
She was scared Adrien would judge her.
She was scared Adrien would be like them.

But she spoke anyways.

Because her words were like an infection, and the longer she kept it in, the sicker she got. She needed to let it out.

"I'm sorry Adrien....I'm sorry I'm not who you think I am. I'm sorry you don't know me.....I'm sorry I'm being selfish, talking about myself....I just.....needed to do something...." a small whimper escaped her throat along with a choked sob.

Adrien stood still, his hand on her cheek.

He pulled her head to his chest, holding her to him by the small of her back. He muffled his voice in her hair.

"Marinette.....thank you....for telling me this....you aren't selfish...you're far from it. You don't need to bottle your feelings...especially when it hurts You. You are worthy Marinette. And of course you're not who I think you are....you're who I know you are."

Adrien stroked her hair, hugging her tightly to his chest.

"Don't tell lies to yourself Marinette. You are not worthless.....and don't let anyone tell you that you are." he whispered into her hair.

Her arms were stiff, set to her sides, and she tried to hold in her tears. But she didn't. Because it hurt.

She broke loose, her sobs muffled by Adrien's chest. She threw her arms around him, gripping the back of his shirt. Her body shook, and she felt her knees giving out.

Adrien, not letting go of his tight hug, slowly lowered both of them to the floor.

The two sat on their knees, Marinette whimpering through tears.

Adrien sat holding Her.

He held her, and slowly, this broken girl, would be built again.

And a faint glow illuminated the room.