Chapter Text
Chat Noir hovered over Ladybug.
“Don’t leave me,” she shuddered as she reached a hand towards him.
“Never Milady.” He grabbed her hand, holding it to his chest. He tried his hardest to put a smile on his face, but even his modeling career had not prepared him to fake his emotions in a situation like this.
As he held her hand, staring into her blue eyes, he couldn’t help but wish that the day had gone differently.
It had been a routine patrol. Nothing unusual. Until suddenly, everything changed. A shout. A cry for help. They ran towards the noise. Ladybug got there first.
When Chat arrived on the scene, he saw that Ladybug had subdued three of the four men. Her back was turned to the fourth, as she had just taken the third out, dropping him to the ground. She stood back up, ready to go after the last man.
Chat was too far away. All he could do was shout, and hope she reacted in time.
The ringing of the shot echoed through the alley.
Ladybug dropped to her knees.
Chat Noir dropped down into the alley and smashed the gunman on the head harder than he should have. He would need to go to the hospital. Chat currently found he didn’t care if the man lived or died.
Ladybug coughed a bit, shaking as he pulled her into his lap.
“Cast the cure,” he begged.
“You know it doesn’t work when there’s no magic involved Kitty.” She coughed some more. She was going into shock. Her face paled. Her wound bled across his lap, pooling down the street.
How – how was this happening? One of the few people who cared about him, and there was nothing he could do to protect her – to save her.
He gripped her hand. It was his turn to beg. “Please don’t leave me,” he cried.
“You need to protect the box. Hawkmoth will take advantage of your weakness.”
“No, Ladybug. Please. You’ll make it. Don’t leave me. Kwami, don’t go. I don’t want to be alone again.”
“Marinette.”
Chat froze. NO. No, no, no. Not Marinette. His best friend. His love. He was losing the two – no – the one most important person in his life.
“I’m sorry Chat. I should have told you sooner. We didn’t need to keep the identities secret. I was just... afraid of what you would think of me.”
“Oh Marinette. I love you. I told you, I would love you, whoever you were under the mask. I meant it.”
“Oh Chat.”
“…Adrien.” He could see her eyes widen in shock. He didn’t think her body could handle much more shock. She was already so cold and shaking.
She forced a small smile. “You were the other boy.” She coughed.
She had been rejecting Chat-him all this time… for Adrien-him. How was this his life? They had JUST found each other. How could they lose it all now?
“I’m sorry I never told you Adrien… I could never work up the courage.” She bit her lip to force back a shudder. “I love you. I have since the day we met.”
Tears were streaming down both of their faces now.
Tikki forced the transformation to drop. She sat beside her holder’s face and hugged it gently. She gave her a quick kiss. “I love you Marinette. You were the best holder I’ve ever had.”
“I love you too, Tikki. I’m sorry I failed.”
“Oh Marinette, no. Never.”
“Adrien… Tell my parents for me – okay? I’m… so sorry.”
She coughed up some blood. “I, Marinette Dupain-Cheng, relinquish the miracle box-”
“Marinette, no! Please!” he begged again, knowing that it was useless. She only had a few minutes at most. She was Ladybug. She was the guardian. She had to do her duty and protect the box. Nothing would stop her. Nothing.
“- to Adrien Agres...”
Marinette whispered, “Help me… Kitty.” She passed out before he had to attempt to respond. A few moments later and she was gone.
There was a flash of light, and the box appeared beside him. No longer the odd egg shape, but a flat black box, almost like a suitcase. He grabbed the handle, refusing to let her down.
“Goodbye Bugaboo. Marinette.” He kissed her forehead, his lips shaking like the rest of his body. He couldn’t see properly.
He screamed and cried, his heart constricting in his chest. He was sure it would collapse in on itself with how much it hurt. If he hadn’t been wailing in pain, he would have been sure he couldn’t breathe. Everything hurt. He couldn’t think.
He sat in that alley until he heard the police show up with the woman Marinette had gone to save. He gripped her body tightly and put the box on the belt on his waist, and carried her back to her parents for the hardest conversation of his life.
He had left his heart back in the alley.