Chapter Text
The sky was a murky grey, making the afternoon look as dark as night. The air was wet, dew lingering from the torrential downpour that had only recently subsided. The streets were quiet, the usual raucous of the city gone as people headed indoors to shield themselves from the storm. Paris itself seemed to be in mourning.
Against the dark skies, a bright red figure sat precariously on a metal roof, head beneath a small awning to keep her hair as dry as possible amidst the humid air. She pulled her phone out, sliding it open, putting it to her ear, just to hear the familiar dial tone once more.
"Hey Chat... It's me. Please call me back. At least tell me something, anything... Thanks, bye."
She let out a sigh, and closed the phone once more. The beloved kitty in black had not been seen for weeks.
At first it was no cause for concern, at least Ladybug had thought, because he could get so emotional sometimes and drop off the grid when he got jealous. But it was unlike him to not text, not call, not even join her for their evening patrols together. With each passing day, the distress in Ladybug's gut became worse.
Where was Chat Noir?
As the sky darkened, she faced defeat once again as Chat Noir had yet to show. Thunder cracked through the air, and the heroine made the decision to head home. Ladybug pulled out her yoyo, and zipped across town, cutting her trip shorter just in case it started to rain again.
She landed softly on her balcony, as she always would. With a quiet voice, she said, "Tikki, spots off.".
In a quick, blinding flash of pink light, her suit disappeared and a small red figure manifested in the palm of her hand. She took one last look at the Parisian skyline, and headed inside.
"Marinette..." Tikki began, before being handed a small macaron to cut off her voice.
"Tikki, it's been weeks. This isn't just another one of his fits, is it?" Marinette turned to Tikki, a serious tone masking the light tremor in her voice.
Tikki crunched on her macaron, avoiding her holder's gaze.
"Aren't you able to locate his kwami?" Marinette asked, hectically.
"It doesn't work like tha-"
"Hey," the girl had turned around to her table, opening the box where she stored the miracle box. "Hey you guys," she tapped on the red box with her knuckles. "I know you can hear me. Can't you guys contact Plagg?"
Tikki flew over in front of Marinette's worried gaze.
"Marinette," Tikki reached out and put her small hand against her holder's cheek. "Listen to me. That only works on their cycle anniversaries... Otherwise, it's out of our hands. Everything will be okay! Wherever Chat Noir is, Plagg is with him, and keeping him safe. Okay?"
The many other kwamis emerged from their box, looking back and forth between Tikki's reassuring gesture and Marinette, who seemed more fragile than they had witnessed in quite a while. Unsure what to do, the cluster of magical beings clung to Marinette in their best attempt at a hug.
"Yeah." She said after a moment of silence. "Yeah! Plagg will protect him. Wherever he is. Either way, he's not my responsibility!"
The brights of Marinette's eyes had lit up once again, but there was still an unsettling feeling within her heart.
For now, she decided, she'd ignore it.
☆☆☆
Night had fallen, and the air had cleared. It seemed like the storm of the daytime had passed, leaving a cool, refreshing feeling lingering in the city. A dark figure emerged from the alleyway, taking a deep breath before letting out a dejected sigh.
"I doubt she's awake at this hour."
He pulled out his baton, and checked the time. 01:39. She was definitely asleep by now.
Admittedly, Chat didn't know what he was doing. This had all begun in a panic, and he wasn't sure how to fix the energy between him and his (former?) partner. So he'd decided he'd adopt the night shift.
Nothing ever happened at this hour, save for maybe one or two akumatizations ever in the past. Regardless, the cat decided to do his best to help from the sidelines.
Maybe it was a mistake to disappear, he thought, missing his lady. The nights were already lonely enough when he was just sitting at home, but somehow being in the places he usually spent with his beloved bug hurt his heart a little extra when she wasn't there. Being a superhero wasn't the same without her.
The cat took a seat on the slick metal roof, still damp from the day's rain. The night was quiet, except for the light sounds of rainwater trickling through the gutters into the storm drains.
Chat looked at his hand, his ring, and let out a sigh.
"Why do I even do this anymore?"
He fiddled with the ring, pulling it between the first and second digits of his fingers without removing it entirely. Finally, he closed his palm into a fist.
"Because it's my responsibility, that's why. Don't be stupid." He chuckled sadly. "That's what she'd say, I think."
Chat checked the time once more, a bit surprised at how long he had stayed inside his own head. It was already 03:15.
He took one last look at the tops of the buildings around him. He'd spent so much time here with his lady... But that was over. She had made it clear that she didn't need him anymore. He was just to much of a coward to accept that he didn't need a miraculous if he wasn't going to be a hero. Chat clenched his fist.
With a sigh, he pulled out his baton and jumped off into the empty metropolis.