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“You can’t die on me now, Kitty.” Marinette sobbed as she jumped from building to building, racing towards the hospital. Her kitty’s arms latched around her neck as she cradled him. “Hold me tighter. I’ve got you.”
“M.. my la...dy” He strained.
“Shhhh,” She whispered in between huffs after each jump. “I’m going to fix this.” Landing right in front of the hospital, she raced in. The automatic doors barely opened enough as she squeezed them through. “Please! He’s going into anaphylactic shock!”
The dark-haired man at the front desk dialed the phone, while a blonde woman in a white jacket supplied a gurney in an instant. “I used an EPI pen on him.” She told the nurse along with any information she knew. Unfortunately, for identity reasons she didn’t know much. She didn’t even know what he was allergic to.
Marinette placed Cat Noir on the stretcher as quickly and carefully as she could. Keeping their entwined hands close to her chest as she followed the nurse wherever she was taking him.
“Kitty, please,” She begged, tears falling from her eyes. “I can’t lose you.” She thought she saw a small smile on the corner of his lips before head rolled back into its rest. She felt his weak arm go limp.
“NO!” She reached out hoping to touch his face. Hold him, but they had reached the room and he was being taken inside.
“Oxygen.. He needs Oxygen.” She could hear the doctor commanding the room. Another nurse was explaining to her why she couldn't stay. That even heroes needed to rely on others sometimes. Honestly, Marinette barely heard anything. The nurse took her hand and led her away from the door as it shut firmly in front of her. Shades drawn. Only sounds of the doctor’s instructions, medical equipment and Cat Noir in pain.
Marinette wouldn’t budge no matter how hard the nurse tried to lead her to the waiting room. Eventually she gave up and let Paris’ hero huddle up on the wall facing the room, knees to her chest, waiting and listening for her partner.
“The scissors aren’t working…We can’t cut away the suit… Administer CPR” She heard from the room.
Her heart stopped. Incorrect. Her heart continued to beat and her kitty’s had stopped.
This was it. A before and after. She couldn’t do this without her Kitty. He always made her day brighter. He was kind and funny and generous and so supportive. He’s the other half of her heart. He was everything she could ever want and now…
GOD, how could she have been so stupid. They were just playing. Having a bit of banter and now THIS. She was lost. This is why she was the serious one. This is why if Cat Noir makes it, she’s never having fun again. Oh my god.. If… no, She thought. I can’t think that way.
Her thoughts traced back to the moments before this all happened.
“What’s that, Bugaboo?” Cat Noir cooed, reaching his claws for her surprise.
“Hold your tail, Kitty. Patrol first,” she said, sitting down next to him on the ledge. Their legs swinging, thighs just grazing each other. Marinette felt light, her heart beating faster than she’d like to admit.
Cat Noir grabbed hold of his leather appendage and stuck out his bottom lip. “Purrrty please, M’Lady. I’m starving!”
Marinette had rolled her eyes and tried to hide her smile. “So impatient.”
“What is your basket hiding? Please tell me you stopped at the Dupain-Cheng Bakery!”
“Maybe… for desert.” She smiled, turning her body to set up the picnic behind him. She had brought Italian soda, a charcuterie board, macarons and this entree from the new Thai restaurant.
“My Lady, all this food… we aren’t going on Patrol tonight, are we?”
“So, maybe I have other plans…stop looking at me like that, Kitty. Can we please have a nice picnic on the roof… we both need a break.” Marinette had bit her lip. Hopefully, he hadn’t figured her out. Hell, she had just realized that maybe she did want their partnership to be something more.
“I’d never say no to a present from you, Bugaboo. This is amazing.” He leaned forward a bit, then looked as if he thought better and sat down on the gingham blanket.
Marinette could feel a buzz between them. An electric energy she hoped he still felt too as they joked and ate on the rooftop.
“All this food has got me feline pretty good.” Cat Noir threw a grape and caught it in his mouth.
“C’mon Kitty, all this cheese and not one of your jokes is gouda.”
She couldn’t stop giggling, thinking for a moment that this was right. Exactly as it should be. It was so easy to be with her Kitty. With Adrien, she was so nervous, she didn’t really know him that well. But her Kitty… She didn’t even know his real name, but she could spend a lifetime laughing with him.
‘What is this?” He leaned toward the entrée.
“Oh! Try some!” She handed him half of the sandwich and they both took a bite.
“It’s delicious! I got this from that new restaurant that opened! Apparently it’s this new food made from chicken feathers… crazy, right?”
Cat Noir quickly dropped his sandwich. His eyes wide.
“What’s wrong?”
There was no time for him to explain. His breathing strained and his face began to swell.
Marinette restrained herself from screaming for help for her Kitty. She was Ladybug. She had to do something! “Miraculous Ladybug!” A red and black EPI pen fell to her lap.
Marinette’s trance was broken with one word. “Ladybug.” The doctor said, walking closer and closer to her. Her expression is unreadable.
Marinette’s spiraling thoughts echoed into a blank.
“He’s going to be alright.”
Suddenly, it felt like she couldn’t take a big enough breath. Hot tears streamed down her face. All the emotion she had tucked inside tumbled out. He’s alright. He’s okay. I won’t lose him.
“Please can I see him.” She begged. The doctor nodded and led her into the small room where Cat Noir was resting.
Marinette rushed over, catching his hand and pulling it into her. “I’m so sorry Kitty. I never meant to hurt you.”
“Bugaboo,” He said, opening his eyes. “You couldn’t have known.” He brushed his forehead to hers.
“I’m just so sorry… I wanted to give you the perfect night. Have fun like we always do, tell you my feelings but then you stopped breathing and I had to use the Miraculous Ladybug to get an EPI pen and rush you to the hospital and… I’m babbling. I’m just so glad you’re okay, Kitty.” She squeezed his hand tighter and gave a slight smile.
“Your feelings…?” Crap. He heard that part.
“Kitty, I think I’ve fallen in love with you…” She couldn’t keep it in any longer even if this might be the worst possible time to confess.
Cat Noir’s eyes grew wider and he didn’t say anything for what felt like minutes but was probably like 5 seconds.
“Finally” He grinned, nuzzling his head closer to Marinette's. His breathing was still a bit shallow but more pink was coming to his cheeks.
Marinette pushed him away slightly. “You scared me,” she laughed.
Cat Noir’s hand caressed her cheek, lightly brushing away the tears rolling down her cheek. “You know I’ve always cared for you, Ladybug.” She felt the press of his soft lips against her forehead.
“You missed” Marinette joked, leaning forward to kiss his perfect lips. His strong arms wrapped around her as her fingers ran through his blonde curls. She may or may not have scratched him behind the ear for good measure as they deepened the kiss.
Marinette pulled away after a few moments, not wanting to send the doctor running from her Kitty’s lack of oxygen. She had a million more kisses reay for him, anyways when he was feeling better.
If anyone opened the door, they would see Cat Noir laid in white sheets staring into the eyes of Ladybug by his bedside.
“You know,” Marinette started, “Why didn’t you just tell me you're allergic to peanut oil? There are so many people allergic to peanuts, it wouldn’t have compromised your identity.”
“I’m not… I’m allergic to feathers.’ He fidgeted, searching into his Lady’s eyes.
“Feathers?? How am I supposed to keep you safe? Why didn’t you say anything??”
“Uhh..”
“And what kind of allergy is feathers, it’s so random, I only know one other person…” Marinette paused. Oh, crap. She was in love with Cat Noir who was also her old crush.
“You're Adrien Agreste.” She smirked.
“I can’t be…” Cat noir stammered, sitting up straighter in his bed. “Adrien doesn’t have any allergies.”
“Yes, he does!” Marinette had him. Literally and figuratively. “I know because when I made… made a run to the shop, I bought a magazine with an article all about Adrien.”
Adrien’s eyes narrowed before smiling. “Why are you reading articles about me?”
“Oh it’s you, I’m so happy!” She bounded toward him and hugged him tight. “I’m so glad you’re safe and you’re… well… you!” His arms wrapped around her waist.
“I’ve waited so long for you to say that to me, Marinette. I love you so much.”
Her kitty saying I love you was nothing new. Her growing feelings, her new realization that the boy she had hoped was the boy who was also always there, all of it was so wonderful. Her lips found his and they shared another soft, meaningful kiss.
“Wait” she broke the kiss suddenly. Her hands pressed firmly on his chest. “You called me…”
He smiled, “I was wondering when you’d realize that.” He planted a kiss on her forehead and smirked.
“But…”
“They’ve never printed my allergy in a magazine and I remember when you made me that hat,” he joked.
Marinette rolled her eyes, pretending to be annoyed at her slip. But really she was so, so happy. Her Kitty was okay! Her Kitty was in love with her, too! She was so excited for the next chapter of their lives.