Adrien is incredibly relieved it was Avery, he hugs her back, that girl was one of the students that he often small talked with, despite not considering them as close friends at the moment or anything.
They often swapped ideas about designs they liked or music they enjoyed, Avery sometimes invited him to hang out with her and her friends, but in the past he didn't feel really comfortable going out with a group of girls, due to his stigma.
"I'm alright, I just need to keep a low profile, until they move on to their next victim, you don't need to worry about me, we're not little anymore, you don't need to protect me Avery…"
Despite Adrien not liking to acknowledge it, him and Avery had a long historial together, having been in the same class since elementary school, Avery had been Adrien's first crush as a little kid.
Of course he was over it now, but as a child he often played with her, they were born 5 months apart, she was the oldest, as little kids she always lead the way, and Adrien most of the times got caught in the aftermath of her wild ideas.
She had always seen him as a little brother, Adrien was very happy and kind, but would easily start crying if he was hurt or told off by the adults.
The other kids didn't really respect him either, some of them acting with ill intents towards him, due to jealousy of their close relationship, or for his lack of aptitude in boy related stuff.
Avery always protected him, she often got hurt for doing it too, fending him off against a group of bullies at times, but in her head it was all worth it, for Adrien would always thank her after, while sobbing, still trembling in fear from confrontation.
She would smile at him, with bruises all over her, patting his small head, he was so cute back then, she thought to herself, remembering those nostalgic times.
Compared to the one now, who often ignored her efforts to reconnect, who rarely smiled anymore, who was always alone, she couldn't help but ask what had happened?
How come she lost friend after middle school, how come he had became so lifeless, so incredibly silent.
"You know… you were such a crybaby back then, yet you still smiled so brightly, I miss you, the real you Adrien, please let me help you, for the good old times.
Avery grasps his wrists squeezing them slightly with her hands, trying to bring Adrien to his senses.
"I can't, this is not some kid's quarrel you can just force trough, I am fine, please stop worrying about me Avery."
Adrien tries to protect her, lying about his current condition, but Avery can tell, those eyes, were the eyes of that scared little boy she once knew.
"Oh you, you were always a bad liar."
Avery hugs Adrien tightly wrapping her arms around him.
Adrien begins caving in, small tears start dripping from his emerald eyes.
"I'm fine Avery, please let go."
He has no force in his arms, as he tries to push her away, his voice fading in between the sobbing.
Avery pats his head and smiles at him, the same smile she gave him after long fought school fights.
Adrien breaks down, hugging her back, letting his grief flood out, Avery starts crying too, seeing her old friend back.
"It's okay now, it's okay."
In that moment, Adrien felt like his old self, often crying helplessly to Avery, as she comforted and spoiled him like a big sister, despite them having the same age.
They are both sitting now against the wall, they converse about their life's after they stopped talking, how things slowly disappeared between them.
"I had no idea you were suffering, why didn't you call me silly boy?"
"Well, I am older, and I can fend for myself now (he clearly couldn't), being protected by a girl would just make things worse…"
Adrien said blushing embarrassed of his position.
"I am here now, so there's no point in coming up with stupid reasons, just tell me why are you being targeted, maybe I can figure something out."
Adrien sighs.
He tells her everything, how his relationship with Jones had evolved, and how they had to keep a secret from everyone, which led him into the strange situation he was now.
"You and Jones?"
Avery begins imagining the two boys kissing and doing all kind of things, her mind becomes filled with bl stories she had read before, she starts blushing wanting to see them together.
"Yes… are you okay? Why are you so red?"
"Ahamn! Yes I'm fine, just didn't expect it, I know just how to solve the problem."
"You do? Please don't tell me you are going to fight them…"
"I won't, don't worry I have learned different ways of dealing with problems other than kicking them in the balls."
"Thank god…"
"It's quite simple actually, I'm surprised you hadn't thought about it. Then again, you always liked to act like a princess in distress, wallowing in your own pain waiting for a prince to save you."
"What??"
Adrien is getting mad being accused of being a complete sadist who enjoyed the pain he took.
"Never mind that, all you have to do is for the whole school to know."
Adrien thinks for a few seconds, even questioning himself if he had told her the wrong story.
"But Jones will hate me if I tell anyone else about it, as if I was showboating our relationship."
"You won't be the one spreading the rumors, I will! If everyone knows, Hugh and Noah will have to respect his choices, and it shouldn't be much of a big deal that you are both guys."
After all, you would look as dazzling in a wedding dress, as you would handsome in a groom's suit.
Adrien starts blushing, why was she talking about marriage so casually.
"I don't know about this idea of yours…"
"Why? Why do you always sacrifice yourself for others, if he really likes you, it wouldn't matter if others know or not."
"You don't know Avery… He lives in a different world from us, he probably has much to lose if our relationship went public."
"When will you start doing what you want? Instead of being a slave to others."
"What if I want to do is do what others want me to do, what's so wrong with that?"
"You are such a kid, and here I was thinking you changed, when in fact you are still the same.
The point is no one will ever be willing to give you more, than they will be getting themselves, you'll spend your life being used and forgotten after you served your purpose."
"Jones won't forget me."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that, you barely know him, and you trust him with your solemn loyalty, just like a dog."
"That's it! I don't want your help, I knew you would do this, even when we were little the one who made the most fun of me weren't the bullies, it was you!
If I succeeded at anything, you did it right away, always one upping me.
You treated me as a pet, with no regard to my feelings whatsoever."
"That's right, I did, and I'm sorry I was that petty.
But that's why I know, he will treat you the same way I did.
We don't have to talk ever again after this, just let me do this for you, at least I get to repent for the way I treated you."
"I don't care what you do, just get out of here."
Adrien is broken, he was finally seeing that his kindness to others always led him into a loop of suffering, but he still held in him, the strong hope that Jones wasn't like that.
Avery leaves, without saying goodbye, but with a new mission, liberating Adrien once again, this time was the last, she knew he had grown up, he truly wasn't the same boy she used to know, but she also knew that change wasn't enough.
She chose to give him a reality check, at least now, her little brother could walk on his own.
Adrien was looking at the sky, as the door to the rooftop slams with Avery leaving, that blue sky… how come he can't escape from his own castle, a damsel trapped, looking within his prison at the freedom he can never attain alone, what did it take to have it, what exactly meant to be freed to him.
He stops watching the sky, dreaming but now awake, he looked at the concrete floor of the rooftop, he gets up, ready to carry his own weight, he didn't care anymore, about what exactly? He had forgotten of it already, walking out of his self made prison, that blue sky, a false hope and dream, the beauty or image of it that trapped him since then, vanishes in his own mind, he's not afraid anymore of possibility, only afraid of staying restrained.