Mosmordre

Adrien felt as though he was submerged in a twisted, distorted nightmare, every memory, every betrayal flashing through his mind like a slideshow of pain. Visions of himself as Cat Noir danced before him—the mask, the suit, the weight of responsibilities that had aged him far beyond his years. He saw Ladybug's dismissive glances and harsh words, her favoritism towards anyone but him. He felt the sting of his classmates' relentless schemes to push him towards Marinette, ignoring his disinterest, always insisting that he "just didn't see it yet." And Gabriel... his father's chilling reveal that he was a sentimonster, a construct born from magic, left him feeling more like a pawn than a person.

Adrien awoke with a start, his body drenched in sweat, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. The kwamis, who had curled up on his chest and shoulders, stirred and lifted their heads, their small, glowing eyes filled with worry as they watched Adrien, who now seemed like he was desperately searching for something—anything—to numb the pain that clawed at him from within.

Just as his fingers reached out towards a pen on his nightstand, almost by impulse, Plagg swooped in, blocking his hand. The little kwami looked him in the eyes, his gaze fierce but filled with compassion.

"Adrien, stop," he said gently, but firmly. "Don't do this to yourself. You don't need to go down that road. I need you here with me... we need you."

Adrien looked into Plagg's wide green eyes, his expression softening as Plagg continued, "You're not alone. The kwamis need you and your friends—they need you too."

Adrien's breath began to steady, his frenzied heartbeat slowing as Plagg's words sank in. He managed to take a deep breath, feeling the corners of his lips lift just slightly as he looked at his tiny friend, a spark of calm beginning to return.

Tikki, watching from Adrien's shoulder, was shocked. She finally spoke, her tone soft with disbelief, "Adrien... I didn't realize... How much did my former holder...no everyone... every thing affect you?"

Adrien gave a small nod, unable to fully convey the years of emotional weight in words. The memories of being pushed aside, ignored, and used as a tool had etched themselves deep, leaving scars he wasn't even aware of. But now, sitting in the dark with the kwamis around him, he felt some sense of peace, as though he could finally breathe without it hurting so much.

Adrien chose not to speak again, and Wayzz took careful note of it, understanding with a quiet solemnity.

"It's a reaction to the trauma he's endured, the weight he's carried alone for so long," Wayzz observed softly, "He's probably not going to speak to anyone for a while like he has been doing. We should respect that and give him time to process everything."

Plagg, resting on Adrien's hand, looked up with a fond gaze. "Just remember, Adrien—no matter what, I still love you."

Adrien's lips curved into a soft, genuine smile. Even though he felt worn down, shattered, and scarred, Plagg's words lit a small warmth within him. He lay back down, the kwamis gathering close and nestling around him in their small, comforting way. As their gentle presence enveloped him, Adrien felt his eyes grow heavy. Finally, he let himself drift back to sleep, the kwamis curled around him as protectors, all guarding him against the nightmares.

...

The next morning, Adrien joined Ivy and Cerise in the school courtyard, Tikki and Plagg tucked discreetly in his blazer. As they greeted each other, Adrien held up his notepad and wrote: I've hidden the Miracle Box somewhere safe—somewhere Gabriel can't access.

Cerise breathed a sigh of relief, "Good. I was worried about where it was originally."

Adrien let out a rare chuckle, appreciating her concern.