The name just slipped out.

She stood there. Staring into Chat's wide green eyes as he stared back at her with a mix of surprise and confusion.

Ladybug's whole body ached from her injuries. Exhaustion consumed her body. The cold rain soothed the burning sensation in her arm while causing her joints to feel like rust. Even her mind couldn't escape from devolving into a muddled mess.

The last akuma had been downright deadly. The others had aimed to incapacitate but apparantly Hawkmoth had finally decided to stop playing around. Taking the miraculous from the two heroes corpses was just as good as taking it from their still livings bodies.

But they'd won. Just like always.

The fact that they had gotten away with just cuts, bruises, and sore bodies was a miracle.

And it had left Ladybug exhausted. In both body, mind, and soul.

When would it all finally be enough? What needed to happen for all these attacks to stop?

She was only vaguely aware of Chat Noir reaching his fist out to her, ready for their usual salut. But Ladybug hadn't the energy even for that. Not at the moment.

Leaning against a wall for support and trying to catch her breath, she could only glance at her partners worried face and mutter, "Sorry, Chat… Just gimme… a sec…."

The last thing the heroine wanted was for him to worry about her. She wasn't seriously hurt or anything. Just tired.

And Chat Noir, her ever reliable partner, didn't push the subject. Instead he turned around, glancing around the area until he spotted what he was looking for. Bending down, he picked an umbrella up from the ground (0ne of the many items that had been scattered by the attack) and opened it.

"Hey." her partner's quiet, kind voice drew her attention to his face.

Turning towards Ladybug, Chat tilted the umbrella in her direction. Instantly the incessant rain that had been pelting her face stopped and instead she became aware of the small droplets of water that were now running down her face.

A gentle smile spread across Chat's face as he wordlessly offered her the handle.

Ladybug stared at his face.

Grey clouds covered the sky. A sudden flash of lightning illuminated his face and hair, making both shine like the sun. Kind, gentle eyes staring into her own.

Blue eyes widening, the feeling of deja-vu overwhelmed Marinette.

A grey gloomy rain.

A feeling of discomfort.

An umbrella.

And a boy.

Whose hair shone like the sun.

Lower-lip quivering, the name fell from her mouth.

"A… drien…?"

The umbrella slipped from Chat Noir's hand, rain once more pelting them both.

His smile disappeared and his eyes went wide.

"Wh.. what d-did… you…?"

Thunder rolled between them.

Only then did Marinette realize what she had said.

Her eyes studied his face. Certain contours suddenly took on a familiarity that had not been there before. The color of his hair suddenly seemed to take on a sunny sheen she had come to memorize. It suddenly became apparant the green eyes that stared into her own were a hauntingly familiar forest green. And that smile...

She slowly began backing away.

"I-I…" she began. Marinette's voice shook. "I'm so… sorry I… :

He reached out for her, "L-Ladybug…"

Marinette jerked away instinctively. Chat winced and withdrew his hand hesitantly.

"I have to go." was all she could get out before grabbing her yoyo and zipping away. Leaving the sound of Chat Noir calling her name behind her.