Work Text:
Being a superhero isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. There are also moments where you could experience pain- both mentally and physically. Ladybug wasn’t unaware of this. The pain came with the job, unfortunately. There’s not much she could do about it besides making sure she’s always being cautious of her surroundings.
Luckily, the power of the Miraculous definitely reduced pain to some extent. To make it better, once the lucky charm is thrown, then the pain goes away most of the time as everything else around them gets restored as well.
Of all the villains she thwarted, Ladybug was surprised she hasn’t gotten any injuries more serious than a bruise. But today marked the last day she could think that.
The villain the duo were fighting was much stronger than the usual villains they went up against. The person akumatized was actually an experienced boxer. And as if they didn’t have an advantage already, Shadow Moth gave him even more strength as part of his powers. This meant that at that point, it didn’t matter whether or not Ladybug or Cat Noir were wearing their magical suits. Their opponent was at an equal level. Both of them knew that they had to be extra careful they don’t get hit this time today.
But despite the disadvantage, the duo still found success after fighting against the man. Once Ladybug called her lucky charm, she knew they had the win in the bag.
“Cat,” Ladybug called as she set her lucky charm somewhere, “I want you to lure him over here!”
“Got it, m’lady!” Cat Noir nodded.
The plan was going well. Cat Noir lured him to the spot and just like that, Ladybug surprised him and was able to capture his akuma.
“Got it- oof!”
Right when the akuma was captured, due to surprise, the boxer was also able to give a hard blow onto Ladybug while she was in midair.
So instead of falling onto her two feet as planned, she ended up flying 15 feet across the air and slamming into a statue behind her in the process. The impact was so hard that it made the statue crumble into pieces next to her. It was a miracle that the rubble didn’t fall on top of her.
What caught her off guard the most about this blow though, was the time the pain started to set in. Usually, if Ladybug took a hit, she’d feel it straight away. But this one was different.
The impact onto her from the boxer was so much that the pain didn’t kick in until she slammed back-first onto the ground. Once she realized how winded she was, that was when things started to click for the superheroine.
Every bone and muscle she had, felt extremely sore. She could barely move her legs and her arms felt like limp noodles. Breathing suddenly became difficult for her because her abdominals felt so inflamed from the direct hit. It was a miracle she was able to catch the amok and akuma, really.
As Cat watched the scene unfold, he wasn’t able to immediately check on Ladybug as he got into the embrace of the now restored boxer.
Despite him being a young adult, he still was able to pack a punch.
“Ugh, thank you so much! Being in that trance was terrifying! I don’t know how to repay you.”
“It was nothing, really,” he forced a laugh, “we’re just doing our job.”
“My parents must be worried sick. I have to see them! Tell Ladybug I said thank you as well!” He requested as he began running into the streets of Paris.
“Will do!” He assured.
Usually, Cat Noir wouldn’t be so anxious about his lady after she takes a hit. But the fact that a few minutes passed and the miraculous ladybug still wasn’t called yet gave him a bad feeling. Not to mention, it made him feel worse knowing he hasn’t seen Ladybug since the incident that happened a few moments ago.
She can’t still be on the ground. He thought. This was Ladybug he was thinking about, after all. She may not be invincible but she sure was resilient.
But the closer he walked to the rubble on where Ladybug crashed in, he felt like it was necessary to brace himself for some reason. More concern than doubts was starting to consume him now.
Ladybug’s usually not this quiet… is she?
She wanted to scream but didn’t even have the strength to do that. It felt like the boxer punctured her lungs. The thought of screaming made her hurt more.
At this point, the best she could do was curl herself in a ball and only hope that she recovers enough so she could call her miraculous ladybug soon. That would definitely make her feel better.
“Ladybug!” Cat shrieked.
Ladybug slowly turned to where the voice came from. She was honestly surprised that Cat was still at the scene.
Perhaps he just came over to say “pound it” before he departed.
“Are you okay?” He asked.
Cat Noir crouched and gently started to check on his partner for any major injuries. But to her luck, on the outside, she was only showing a few scratches. Discovering this made him sigh in relief. Sure, scratches were bad. But at least she wasn't bleeding out.
Despite Ladybug not showing any major symptoms though, her condition was still concerning, to say the least.
“Cat,” she whispered. Even talking in her normal voice would contribute to the mass discomfort she was currently feeling.
“M’lady,” he worried.
“Go back… home… now. I’ll- I’ll be okay. I just need to rest for a bit. In… in so… much pain right now,” she forced out.
“No,” Cat said. If she was in her normal condition, she would’ve shot a straight look at him.
“What-“
“I’m not going anywhere. Not until you can stand on your feet. You’re worrying me, Ladybug,”
Ladybug. She acknowledged. Kitty must be so concerned right now. He usually just calls me nicknames.
“Cat, really,” she tried to assure, “I’m fine.”
“You’re not. Until you at least throw your miraculous ladybug, then I’ll leave. But I don’t feel comfortable just leaving you alone like this!”
After hearing this, Ladybug knew there was no point in arguing. Not that she could, anyways. It was as if the pain was increasing every passing second.
“Fine,” she agreed.
This is only the worst now. It’ll get better. Ladybug thought. Hope was the best thing she could have at the moment.
“M’lady, if you don’t mind me asking-“
“Ack!”
Cat Noir stiffened when he heard her cough.
Suddenly feeling nauseous, the adrenaline in Ladybug quickly pulled her up so she could throw up on the side.
Shadow Moth really got me good this time. She admitted.
Oh, did she feel so bad at the moment.
After her body repelled everything that was inside her, she weakly lied back down again as her migraine began to set.
Could this get any worse?
She then felt a hand lightly massaging her arm.
Who knew Cat was a good massager?
It didn’t make her feel much better but it definitely soothed her.
Cat wanted to call the hospital at that point. Sure, nothing bad was happening to her on the outside. But judging by her condition, something was most definitely happening on the inside. However, it would be hard for the paramedics to help Ladybug. No one except one civilian knew about her identity, after all. What if she had allergies? Or needs a certain thing?
Inhaling, Ladybug used all her strength to force herself to sit back up. She was still in pain, but at least the pain was starting to subside a little now.
“Are you feeling better?” Cat asked.
Still taking slow and steady breaths, Ladybug managed to nod a yes.
She then slowly took her lucky charm to do what would most likely take away all her pain.
“Miraculous Ladybug.” She flatly declared.
Usually after a battle, Cat Noir would see Ladybug throw her lucky charm meters up in the sky. But it was obvious that she didn’t have the energy to do that right now. As her lucky charm only made a few inches off her hand as she weakly threw it up.
Once the miraculous ladybugs restored everything from the battle in Paris though, Ladybug immediately felt a big improvement in her conditions.
For once, she decided to stand up. Cat Noir helped her up, of course.
“How are you feeling?” He asked.
“Definitely better,” she smiled, “thank you!”
Cat Noir noticed how relieved she looked now that her body wasn’t in never-ending pain. However, he still decided it wasn’t safe to go home just yet. As he started to notice Ladybug using her finger to wipe her eye.
Was she… crying?
Of all the fights he’s been in, he has never seen his lady cry from them before. The anxiety he had from just ten minutes ago rushed through his body again.
“Hey, hey, what’s wrong?”
“Oh, nothing,” she sniffed.
“No,” he shook his head, “it’s not. C’mon, Are you still hurt?”
She tried her hardest not to make her lips quiver but it started to get harder each passing minute.
“No, no,” she assured, “it’s just… it’s…”
Her throat felt like closing up now. Speaking was now becoming painful again and for a different reason too. She then saw Cat Noir get closer to her and grabbed her arms.
He didn’t know if this was the right thing to do. But he definitely knew the right thing was to put on a strong face for her.
“Hey, it’s okay. It’s what?”
“It’s-“
And just like that, the internal dam Ladybug built broke. She was now in the middle of Paris bawling her eyes out in front of Cat Noir. She was at least thankful no reporters were out now and that they were in an angle no one would see them. She was also thankful that this akuma attack happened when not many people were out during the time of day too.
“Ladybug?”
“Sorry- n-nothing is wrong with me,” she hiccuped, “I’m just really shocked- right now!”
“Shocked? Of what?”
“I… was in so much pain!” She sobbed. “I-I’ve never felt like that before. It was so sudden, shocking, and terrifying!”
Cat Noir then pulled her into a hug.
“There, there,” he comforted, “it’s okay. You’re no longer in pain now. The miraculous ladybugs made it better. This nightmare is over.”
Ladybug couldn’t release anything from her mouth at the moment besides more sobs. But she did agree with her partner, though. He was right, she’s not in pain anymore. But the adrenaline from what just happened was all starting to hit her.
“I’m sorry!” She cried. Ladybug could feel all her tears going through his suit.
“Don’t be,” he said, “just let it all out. That’s what partners are for! To be the shoulder to cry on.”
“But i-its so stupid,” she choked out.
“Shhh… just let it all out. And if you want, you know how to call or text my baton and we can always talk later. But right now, what’s important is for you to take a breather.”
Seeing Ladybug cry pained the cat’s heart. Those gorgeous blue eyes he’d always look into was now looking like the tears of the sea. It was not like her at all to be like this. The fact that it pushed her this much to the edge really says something here.
As more minutes passed by, her sobs were starting to lighten up to only heavy breaths now. Once she finally composed herself, she tightened her hug on Cat Noir for a second and pulled back.
“Cat Noir,” she said, “thank you.”
“It’s no problem, m’lady. I’m the cat to fix anyone’s meouch!” He tried to cheer up. But also cringed at his pun in the process.
Of all puns you have, you chose that? He internally facepalmed. Ladybug chuckled though. Which was enough to make Cat Noir feel happy.
“I should go now,” she finally said, “pound it?”
“Pound it.” He smiled.
“Bug out!”
“Bug out,” he waved.
The two then started to make their way home.
Once Cat jumped back into his room, before transforming back, he knelt down thoughtfully.
Cat has seen Ladybug do a lot of things. But never in his lifetime would he thought that he would’ve seen her fragile and vulnerable either.
That outta show you, he realized, even the strongest of the strong can have their moments too.
“Plagg, claws out.”