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She could scream.
It should have been an easy akuma battle. Nothing special, a quick fight. She should have known something was wrong when she landed next to Chat Noir and he was breathing more heavily than normal, his hand pressed against his side.
He had shrugged off her concern, insisting he was fine. She tried to protest, pointing out the way he clutched at his side, the dullness in his eyes, his delayed responses and sad attempts at jokes. However, a civilian had wandered into the akuma’s line of fire, and that had been the end of that discussion.
She wishes now that it hadn’t been.
She covers her mouth with a gloved hand as Chat Noir sinks to the ground, his hand away from his side, showing the piece of metal embedded in his side. She can’t see the blood against the black fabric of his suit, but somehow her imagination is doing too good of a job filling in the blanks.
Distantly, she hears a scream as he falls. She thinks it’s her.
Ladybug runs, moving to catch him before he hits the concrete. She stares at the metal as her partner starts coughing, wriggling in her grasp. Considering, she touches the metal lightly and he lets out a whimper.
“I’m so sorry.” She whispers. He laughs. He’s always laughing, always grinning, her chaton.
“It’s not your fault.” His words are slightly slurred, his eyes not truly focusing on her face. Instead, he looks somewhere behind her, but she’s not sure he really sees what he’s looking at.
“You told me you were fine.” She lets him grab at her hands. The gesture is weaker than it should be, but he still presses them against his lips. Like he’s trying to comfort her. She should be comforting him.
“Oh you know me, my lady. Paris needed us, so what was the problem with a little lie?” His voice is too weak.
“Don’t do this.” She murmurs as he coughs again. There’s something red and wet on his glove. His breathing is raspy and strained, and she wants to cry, scream, do something.
“You need to save Paris, I’ll be okay.” He presses weakly at her. She shakes her head. “Come on, I promise I’ll be okay.”
“I’ll be right back.” She leans back, studying him. He’s getting worse.
She considers, and lightly presses her lips against his cheek. His eyes still aren’t focusing.
“My lady?” He slurs.
“Promise me you’ll be okay.” She blinks back tears and hurls herself back into battle, leaving him slumped in the alley.
She won’t cry until after she saves her Chaton.
—-
She doesn’t remember the rest of the fight.
Next thing she knows, her throat is raw, and her eyes are puffy. Her lucky charm is clenched tightly in her fist, the former akuma sitting confused on the pavement. She throws the object into the air, muttering miraculous ladybug. She sees the ladybugs swirl throughout the city, and she’s off, her legs and arms burning.
Her yo-yo can’t move her fast enough and she lands next to the alleyway, her feet propelling her forward.
He isn’t there.
All she can see are dumpsters. Her partner is nowhere to be found. It’s all too much. She sinks to the ground, curling into herself between the dumpsters. Her transformation falls off in a whirl, and Tikki sits in the palm of her hand.
She digs out a cookie from her purse and hands it to Tikki. When the kwami is done, she calls her transformation back. But still she sits.
The sun is setting, and Ladybug is sitting curled between two dumpsters, shaking from the effort to keep from crying. She’s not sure she could anyway, her eyes feel too dry. Still, she curls in on herself, wrapping her arms tightly around her chest.
There’s a thunk, and she doesn’t look up. A familiar sound of boots walking across the pavement, and a gloved hand enters her field of view.
Crouched before her is Chat Noir, his eyes alert, studying her. The chunk of metal is nowhere to be found, and he looks at her concerned. His hand is warm and steady as he places it on her shoulder, the reason she looked up in the first place.
“My lady?” He asks. She’s not sure she really responds, instead just letting out a whimper as she launches herself into his arms.
“You weren’t here.” She whispers. He hesitates a moment before reciprocating the embrace, almost like he can’t believe her reaction. He’s solid, and she just lets herself breathe him in.
“I had to move out of the way. I was worried about someone finding me.” His hands move up and down her back, a soothing motion. She hiccups. When did she start crying again?
“I thought you were gone. I thought…” She can’t finish the sentence.
“I’m okay now.” He assures her, his thumb coming up to wipe the tears off her face.
“That’s what you said before.” She swipes desperately at her own eyes with the backs of her hands. At least she’s stopped crying now. Again.
“I lied before, but I’m not lying now.” He leans back, brushing a strand of hair away from her eyes.
“Do you promise?” She grabs for his shoulders, keeping herself upright. Ladybug stares at him, studying his eyes. He looks right back, his gaze steady and focused.
“I promise.” And she launches herself forward.
His lips are soft, and she’s almost positive that he can taste the tears on her mouth. She’s not exactly the most graceful crier in the world. He’s warm, and solid, and alive, and she’s kissing her partner.
Chat Noir’s hand comes up, cupping her cheek. He moves with her, and she holds the hand on her cheek. It feels so right, so perfect. Ladybug lets out a sigh as she leans back, sniffling.
“Good.” She allows herself a moment to study him. His eyes are blown wide, his cheeks a bright red that serves to remind her that he’s alive, that he’s okay, that she saved him.
“Maybe I should do that-” she smacks his shoulder lightly, and he makes a noise of surprise.
“Don’t even joke about that!” She growls, rubbing at her eyes with the back of her hand. Chat Noir rubs the back of his neck sheepishly.
“I didn’t mean it, but if it gets you to kiss me like that…” He trails off, looking at her.
“I’ll do that anyway if you never do that to me again.” She interlaces their fingers.
“I’ll take that deal.” He laughs. Ladybug loves his laugh. The kind of laugh where he doesn’t sound like he’s bleeding out in an alleyway.
She presses a soft kiss against his jawline.
“Glad to hear it, Chaton.”