By My Side~ part 3 *CHECK FAV FIRST*

By My Side

"I don't have much time." She let out, closing her eyes and taking in sips of air. It was clear that it was becoming more and more difficult to breath. She swallowed before continuing.

"Promise me...promise you'll cope with the pain... just - just promise. Promise you won't let yourself fall, that you won't become an akuma." Tears began to pool in those bewildering eyes, shimmering like crystals in sunlight.

Her chest began to rise and fall out of sync. It was as if she had just ran a marathon and was trying hard to catch her breath.

" Please promise me... i-if you come under his influence, I - I won't be there to help you."

She let out a shaky breath. Beads of sweat began dripping down her forehead but he didn't notice. They were sliding down her cheeks with the droplets of rain which wouldn't stop beating down on them.

It was like the heavens themselves were weeping at the loss of the boy. The arrow that  hit him so hard and unexpected. That's the thing about love, once you dive into its waters; welcoming with lust and warmth, those very waters can drown you in the blink of an eye. Its a kind of blessing which comes with a curse.

"Promise." she said softly.

"Promise." Adrien let out through whimpering lips.

The fire that burned in her chest began to ease a little at the sound of his oath. She began to relax, there was only one more thing she had to do, and then she could leave in peace.

"T-take my earrings." she said faintly.

"What?"

"My earrings, take them.  Keep them hidden and guard them with your life. Take care of Tikki for me, until Master Fu comes looking for her. Tell Plagg I love him and do the same with Tikk- "

"Mari slow down, you know I can't do that. He'll never let me - Fu- he'll take them."

She smiled faintly.

"I know. That's why you must keep them hidden." She whispered.

Her eyes stung with tears but she didn't give in. She would keep head strong. She wouldn't cry-/couldn't/ afford to cry. She couldn't do that to him. It must already be painful enough to see the  one you love die in your arms, she wouldn't let him see her go with tears of her own.

"It'll be like keeping a piece of me with you." She murmured. The darkness was slowly seeping in and it became hard to keep awake. Her eyes slowly fluttered shut.

"Mari?" Adrien said, his voice breaking at the end.

She creaked her lids open, the barest hint of a smile splaying across her lips.

"Still here."

Adrien hated it. Every second made him sick. He could feel her slipping through his fingers and the wait bubbled up apprehension inside his chest. A familiar beeping echoed in the thunderous storm. Adrien saw her de-transform and choked back a sob. He couldn't do it. He couldn't let her go. She was everything he had - she was his world. Another beep sounded and Adrien felt his own suit disappear replaced with his black hoody and navy blue track pants.

"Take my earrings." She whispered again, eyes closed.

And so he bit his bottom lip and heisted before reaching down and gently removing the two plain, red earrings. They looked fragile, just like her. He safely slid then into his pocket and secured them in by zipping it shut.

Marinette coughed and began to shiver from the cold. The sight shattered his heart. The pain that stung him was the mere fact that he couldn't fix it. Blinking back tears he leaned down and gently pressed his forehead with hers, gritting his teeth all the while. She slowly reached up and coiled her fingers around his nape. They were cold and icy but he didn't care. He clutched her close and held her with all he was.

He couldn't bring himself to believe that this was reality. He was in denial.  Now, he  was second guessing if he would be able to keep the vow he had made.

"A-adiren..." She breathed.

He slowly lifted his head and gazed into those beautiful stormy blue eyes.

"Don't bottle up your feelings, it'll leave a scar... " She removed one hand from his nape and caressed his face with her thumb, gently sweeping under his eyes and tear stained cheek.

" ...You already have one and I don't wanna be responsible for another."  She whispered.

He caught her wrist and slowly intertwined his fingers with hers. His heart bled and he knew that her time was near. He leaned down and softly kissed her forehead before planting another kiss on her cheek. Marinette wriggled her hand out of his and gently cupped his cheeks before pulling him in for a kiss, locking her lips gently with his. A kiss that  would flare the ache of desire in her heart. One that would be her last.

breaking free, she combed his soaking hair to the side.

"You were the /best/ thing that happened to me. And I know that at times it'll be hard but...just know that I'll always be there, by your side." she whispered, her voice, hoarse.

Adrien felt a wave of nausea hit him. He gathered her up and held her close, Burying his face into her shoulder.

"Why didn't you tell me?"  He broke out. "Why? I-I could have helped you. "

"It would have made no difference."

"It would  have to me." He croaked.

With one last breathe Marinette took all she had, every little piece in her heart and memory which filled her with his warmth, she collected it all up and used it to push the words out of her mouth.

"I love you Adrien Agreste. " She whispered ever so slightly into his ear.

And like that she was gone.

Adrien waited. Waited for her breath to come. Waited for another pulse. Even though he knew deep down that this was it, he waited. The shock came down on him like lightning. It was a flood of emotions over flowing his capacity. His heart stammered as he slowly backed up from her limp body. Her hair was drenched, water dripping down from her bangs. her face was drained of all colour, her lips were sheer white and her eyes looked hallow. She was beautiful. And now she was gone.

Somehow, Adrien still couldn't take it in; accept that the inevitable had already taken place and that there was no changing it. Denial was his way of coping. She was lifeless in his arms, her body heavy and cold to the touch, she had said her last words, and yet he still denied the truth.

/She/ was the one he'd go seek refuge to when his cold father would shut himself from the world. He would go seek her out when he felt abandoned. She was the one, the warmth in his life that would help him onto his feet when he was at his lowest.

Now who would be there for him? The sickening feeling coiled around him and Adrien couldn't hold it in. He let go of the sob that he had tightly restrained in his throat. It wasn't long before the flood gates of tears collapsed.

He clutched her close while heaving, his eyes squeezed shut. His cries were loud and terrifying. He felt broken, a part of him had been taken away from the cruelty of fate. He was a puzzle short of pieces. It would take him a while to collect them all, pick them out and slowly put his heart back together, piece by piece.

His violent spasms from crying put a strain on his throat. He slowly opened his eyes to see that she was gone, disappeared into thin air. He was left hugging himself in the rain. His heart ached and the weight of the loss was too much to bear. He slowly lied down turning on his side, on the dirty street.