A Thousand Ways || @chtnr
She had known it was coming when he gave her such a sweet, genuine smile. She was used to the fake ones by now, the ones he put on for show to hide from others. He was so scared and lonely, she wondered if it was because he thought everyone else would leave him, too. And that very notion made her heart ache for the teen in front of her. She couldn’t think of anyone just up and vanishing on someone so loving, so caring, so.. So Adrien Agreste. He was such a perfect person, you know, if he wasn’t shooting out puns, anyway.
But her arms opened wide to him as he searched her face, smiling just as warmly back and taking his hug with a slightly staggered step. She would have thrown herself at him if he hadn’t clung to her so suddenly because, well. That’s what Marinette did. When she did anything that involved Adrien, she went all out or nothing at all. Today was one of those days she had enough courage to talk to him, to say what had weighted her down for ages and she knew had been sitting on his chest like a weight to suffocate him for most of his life. That self doubt, that loathing, that.. Bitter solitude.
She nuzzled into him and wrapped her arms tightly around him, “I hope you do. Because you deserve so much better...” Her voice was muffled, but she made sure it could be heard, “So much..”