Ok, Miraculous Soulmate AU, set in college, and they never met. Twist is, Adrien is perfectly well adjusted. However, through a combination of anxiety, Trauma, and paranoia, Marinette is existentially terrified of falling in love, period.
I’m talking heavy panic attacks, dread, throwing up (or general loss of control over bodily functions) at even a fleeting feeling of butterflies. Literally just going through all of it.
And yet, now matter how far she runs, no matter how she resists, she can’t escape falling in love with the “perfect”, dorky, pun-loving nerd. And she is tearing through her skin every step of this journey her soul has chained her to.
Naturally, this is Angst.
Hawkmoth is optional, as is whether or not either of them have their miraculous.
I’m imagining that most of her trauma comes from her parents, who she saw die, probably due to a disaster that they refused to abandon each other too, accidentally leaving Marinette behind. Maybe one of them got trapped under a collapsed building, and they only had time to get Marinette out.
The secondary aspect would come from Chloe and Lila existing. Chloe might grow out of using the death of Mari’s parents as Ammo, but Lila wouldn’t. Lila would only make it worse.
Three options for Adrien:
1: He’s just vibing, an eternal ball of sunshine that refuses to die after learning his father’s a super villain and came out stronger for it. He’s happy he met his soulmate, and he wants to keep her safe. (It’s the one trait he’s glad his dad gave him)
2: similar personality as above, but he can feel Marinette’s inhuman terror of love, and he’s worried that he’s the source, especially if whenever he sends or receives a feeling of love her fear increases
3: It’s an act. His Fathers situation deeply affected him, maybe even broke him in a way. He tries to be happy, but it’s hard. Then he finds his soulmate, thinks that while he doesn’t want to be a burden, maybe he can feel like more than nothing. Except all he gets in response is terror. It’s all his fault. But hey, what can he do but try.
Loosely Inspired by What Ifs by Kane Brown featuring Lauren Alaina
Also I’m aware that this would make more sense backstory wise, but honestly I think Adrien deserves to be put together sometimes. Not all the time, that child is a trauma bundle.
Also I have a concerning level of interest in Depressed Marinette. Maybe I read one too many fics about how she has to constantly hold in her emotions and she has the right to be sad. Might be some kind of self projection that I haven’t found the reason for (except all my problems are self inflicted) but whatever.
Like, Depressed Marinette who Finally snapped? That’s Just Feralnette, and that’s fucking lit.
Depressed Marinette, and Adrien/Luka/Kagami/Chloe show up and make those who hurt her regret existing? Fucking lit
Depressed Marinette gets akumatized and people realize the consequences of their actions? Be it a good end or bad, that’s still Fucking Lit.
Basically, I thought angst induced by terror of a happy ending is a specific kind of suffering
