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It all happened in a hast. Shadow Moth fled after Ladybug crashed his hopes of a victory. But it was nothing but pain as she saw her friend suffer on the ground, in Nino’s arms, as he frantically tried to fix whatever was wrong with her, but failing miserably. Her eyes fluttered close as her boyfriend kept yelling for her attention. He stood up, hurrying to the kitchen as he later appeared with water.
Ladybug stepped back, looking at the unconscious Alya, Nino had tears in his eyes as he rushed to her side, pulling her head into his lap, wetting his hands to brush her face. The young heroine took the chance and fled the scene. Streets and buildings were only blurry silhouettes to her eyes, but somehow she made it to a rooftop she recognised.
She threw her yoyo to the side, letting out a loud scream, before tears streamed down her cheeks, her heart squeezing at every tear dropped. Falling to her knees, she cried in her palms. The image of Alya’s eyes widening as she casted the magic spell on her. She shook her head. The city's noises and her sobs were enough to block out the sound of boots landing behind her, gentle steps coming near her, as her hunched form trembled, and soft green eyes staring down at her.
"Ladybug?"
"I took her memories away." she sobbed, hugging her knees tighter.
"Rena's?" He gasped, as she responded with a nod.
"I don't have anyone anymore, Chat." The young heroine started helplessly.
He placed his hand on her shoulder, kneeling in front of her. "You have me, m'lady." He lifted her chin up, looking into her red eyes.
"You don't understand." She told him, before sniffling, and wiping her right eye.
"I don't want to understand, being by your side is enough." he smiled softly at her, meeting her dimmed blue eyes.
"Stop." She groaned, "I hurt you, you shouldn't be so forgiving!"
"Ladybug, I don't hold the past against you." He said, and held her hand, putting it on his chest.
"You shouldn't forgive me that easily, don't let me walk over you you silly cat!" She almost yelled at him, snatching her hand away, turning away.
"Why do you want me to be hard on you?" He questioned as if he didn't know the answer.
"Because all I had done was hurting you, pushing you away, I shouldn't be forgiven. I shouldn't be, no." She hugged herself as her sobs got louder.
"You were stressed and have lots of pressure on your shoulders, I don't hold it over you, Ladybug." Chat Noir slowly told her, opening his arms for her, " you shouldn't either, m'lady."
“You almost retired, Chat!” She yelled frantically, pulling at her pigtails. “I made you feel worthless, unreliable, excluded, and replaceable. ”
She let out another sob before wrapping her arms around him in an embrace. He tightened his arms around her, holding her head close to his heart. The bug also tightened her grip on his torso as he buried his face in her hair, landing a soft kiss on her temple.
“You aren’t replaceable, ever.” Ladybug told him in muffled voice. Chat noir almost gasped, feeling the heat rise to the tips of his ears.
“I’m sorry.” She whimpered.
“I don’t think I can accept that apology,”
“I knew it wasn’t enou-”
“But you can persuade me with an icecream.” he finished his statement, pursing his lips in a thin line.
“I can do that.” The young bug smiled softly.
“Accepted then.” Chat Noir declared, and smiled as he rubbed her back soothingly.
“Thank you for being here.” She sniffled, and pulled back, staring up at him.
“Any time.” He poked her nose, pushing her head back with a smile.
“So, what now?” Ladybug asked, as she rested her head on his chest again, sighing, while he kept stroking her hair.
“We’ll be the amazing like we always have been, and defeat Shadow Moth.” He told her.
“We have nothing to lose.” She sighed once again.
“I guess that makes us unstoppable, then.” He cheekily concluded.
“You like to live dangerously, don't you, kitty?” She teased, pulling back to look at his face, while rolling her eyes.
“I am danger, m’lady. What are you talking about?” He winked, smiling suggestively.
She smacked his shoulder, easing away from his grasp. “Would you look at the time? I got to go home. Bug out!”
Before she made an attempt to leave, he held her wrist, grabbing her attention as she looked at him in surprise. Chat noir intertwined their fingers together, as he stared in her deep blue.
"You and I against the world, m'lady." He assured her as her eyes softened, repeating softly after him.
"You and I against the world, chaton."
She waved, before launching her yo-yo, and started to swing. Chat stood there, with a smile plastered on his lips. He was glad they went back to normal, or at least a bit normal, he knew that what she needed most was a trusted ally. And he could be that.
The cat took out his baton, and swung home as well, landing swiftly on his bedroom’s floor, he transformed back, hearing the familiar yawn of his kwami a moment later.
“Wasn’t that a rough night, Plagg?” he asked, stretching his back.
“Whatever, just give me my cheese.” Plagg grumbled, flying to the desk, as Adrien opened the mini fridge and took a wheel out.
“Yeah, I just hope this would be the last obstacle.” He placed the cheese in front of the kwami.
“You and the bug are going to be fine, you worry too much.”
“Better than to be sorry later.” He shrugged.
~~~
“You think so, Tikki?” Marinette asked, looking at the wall, away from the tiny kwami that gave a similar speech than Plagg’s with his holder.
“I know so, Marinette. I believe in you, you’ll fix everything like you always do.”
“Well, I do have a great kwami by my side as well as a great partner.” She finally had the courage to look into Tikki's eyes, she had a big grin on her face, as she flew and hugged her holder’s cheek.
Marinette rested her head on the pillow that night, filled with doubts and most importantly thinking about scheming with a certain blond cat.