Chapter Text
The moon seemed to flicker above them. The entire sky seemed dimmer in fact, not to mention how every street or storefront light was basically gone now. It was both terrifying to watch but it didn't make the night sky any less pretty. Instead, it just added an extra flair.
Chat noticed this as he laid on the ground trying not to think of the burning in his abdomen. He didn't have enough energy or willpower to look down at the wound. Surprisingly, he had only just woken up too. The pain was almost enough to knock him back out, only letting up now and then due to shock. A part of Chat kind of wanted to fall asleep again, the pull of unconsciousness was juuust about enough to win him over.
However, the occasional bright blast of light above him reminded him of what was happening around him, making the moon flicker once again. He squeezed his eyes shut as another wave of burning agony washed over him. It felt like the entire sun itself was sitting on top of his stomach, slowly burning through until he was nothing but ash.
Letting out a loud groan, Chat turned his head to the side, relishing in the cold the stone below him gave off. From his foggy vision, he could see Rena and his Lady still fighting tooth and nail against Luminescence. Another blast shot out, which Ladybug deflected with her mirror effortlessly. The second the beam was fired, however, Chat felt another wave of pain. So his injury was somehow still linked to the cane. How convenient for them.
All of his muscles tensed at once as his wound expanded. It spread up to his chest and settled just below his sternum, how it hadn't killed him yet was a miracle. The pain was enough to mercifully knock him unconscious again. The blissful lack of agony didn't last more than maybe 5 minutes.
Once he woke up again, Chat was vaguely aware of the fact that he was screaming. It wasn't until his throat started to burn did he realize it. The moment he stopped, it felt like he was completely out of breath. Suddenly he was choking, desperate to breathe. The burning started again and it made Chat realize that the wound had moved to his lungs. Air refused to come through what was left of his body.
Someone's voice rang out beside him. As he struggled to breathe (still only managing choking and sputtering) he saw blue and pink appeared in front of him. He saw the akuma's cane fall to point at his chest, producing a small light before lowering onto his skin.
Had Chat had his lungs intact, he definitely would have screamed. Instead, he threw his head back and choked again. Luminescence was slowly dragging the cane along his torso, finally coming up to his throat and pressing. With the last of his now slipping mind, he heard his Lady's voice.
"I SAID GET AWAY FROM HIM!"
He smiled, Ladybug would take care of everything. Just like usual.
❂ ❂ ❂
Chat woke up to see Rena Rouge about five inches from his face. His eyes widened and he jumped back.
"What the hell?"
She sighed, "Oh thank god. You weren't waking up."
"Yeah well," he rubbed his neck, which was now stiff, "concrete isn't too comfy to be honest."
Rena didn't respond, instead giving a look he didn't recognize. He glanced around, not sure what to do now. Eventually he found his answer as he locked eyes with Ladybug, who had just finished purifying the akuma. His smile dropped as he saw the anger that was painted on her face.
She radiated anger as she walked towards him. Her stare was so intense Chat felt like he could melt under it. Even pissed she looked beautiful. A dangerous kind of beautiful.
"What the fuck was that?!"
Ah, yeah there it is.
"I know, I shouldn't throw myself into danger. But you have to admit-"
"I don't have to admit jackshit!" she screamed. "That was completely unnecessary and you know it!"
To their right, Rena shifted.
"No it wasn't! Rena was going to get hit, what did you want me to do? Just let her take it?"
"That's not fair. Don't you dare put me in a position to choose between you two."
He resisted the urge to scream 'you did it once, why not do it again?' knowing that it wouldn't help the situation. Ladybug glared at the ground, seemingly thinking of the next thing to yell at him.
Rena beat her to it, "Why did you take the hit for me?"
They both turned to face her before Ladybug looked back at him as if to ask the same thing.
"Um...well you were necessary to the plan. I couldn't let you get knocked out of commission you know?"
She kept staring at him with an unreadable expression. It was honestly starting to scare him a bit.
"No, I wasn't. My mirage fell right after you got hit."
Well shit.
"So tell us again Chat. Why did you take the hit for Rena?"
Oh come on, two strong-headed determined girls interrogating him? Talk about unfair.
"You uh..." a quick glance at both of them told Chat he wasn't going to get away with just an easy lie, "I couldn't let you get hit. You're too important, just like Ladybug."
For a second the response seemed to stump the two girls. Ladybug was the first to break out of her stunned stupor, Rena not long to follow.
"WHAT?"
"You dumbass." Rena shook her head, looking almost confused.
"Um."
Ladybug marched up to him and jabbed at his chest.
"Listen to me very closely. I have never, NEVER, once said that any of us are more important than the other. So I don't know where the hell you're getting your news from but here's a goddamn reality check. None of us are better than anyone else. So start fucking acting like it."
"Ladybug..."
"You are so important to me Chat, god damn it. Rena is my friend and she always will be," she looked over and offered a small smile to the other girl, "but you're my partner. First and foremost. I'm so sorry if I ever made you feel like you weren't."
His gaze whipped up to look at her. There was still a little righteous anger on her face but most of it had been replaced by guilt.
"No no My Lady, you never did. It wasn't your fault I promise."
"It's ok if it was..."
"But it wasn't," he said, pulling her into a much-needed hug. Looking over Ladybug's shoulder, he smiled at Rena. "Come on fox, you can join too."
She laughed and walked over. Ladybug whipped her arm out and yanked her friend in, colliding into both of them. Rena let out a small 'oof'. They stayed like that for a few moments, finally letting go when Chat pulled away.
He looked at his partner, "I'm sorry for scaring you again. I can't promise I won't keep doing it though."
"I know," she sighed, "sometimes there's no right way of things like this happening. That doesn't mean I like it though."
"But of course."
Chat looked at Ladybug and smiled softly at her. He was fairly certain that he looked like a love-sick idiot right now but he didn't really care. Not with Ladybug giving him a blinding smile in return, happiness showing on her every feature.
"Oook I'm feeling like a third wheel here so I'm gonna head out."
The two looked at their friend and nervously laughed, Chat started blushing more than he cared to admit.
"Thanks for the save furry, I owe you one." Rena gave him a quick hug before doing the same to Ladybug. "Later you two."
"Bye Rena!"
"Bye other furry!"
She laughed and jumped off, leaving the two partners alone together.
Ladybug turned to him and smiled again.
"I do recall that I owe you a talk."
"That, My Lady, you do."
They walked over to the now rebuilt building ledge and lept up to it. He was the first to sit down, facing the city and its blinding lights. His lady joined him at his side, resting on his shoulder without hesitance. They had a lot to talk about, a lot to fix and heal. But sitting here quietly with his one and only partner watching the stars slowly pass overhead, Chat figured that it wouldn't be too hard. Maybe it'd eventually be ok.
Cause he knew it was them, and them alone, against the world. As always.