"It's alright... it's alright if you need a moment", Val slowly said. "Can I get you a chamomile?".

That was the last Adrien could take before the tears began to wet his eyes. He lowered his head to conceal them, but the sob that shook his back betrayed him anyway. "It's --", he managed to gasp, his voice breaking, "it's that...". He steadied himself as he collected his thoughts; and before he understood them fully, they erupted out of him - "Val", he cried, "am I a bother to you?".

"What?", Val gasped, wide-eyed. "No! No, of course not. Why? Did something happen?".

Adrien inhaled sharply, trying to stop his nose from running. "It's that -- you -- you're so nice to me -- and I have done -- nothing -- nothing to pay you back".