Summary: Chat Noir can't be more relieved or happy that Marinette is okay after a nasty akuma attack. However, hugging her tightly means that he can't see just how red her face is turning in his embrace….

Marinette sighed, pulling her shirt into place as she finished changing for the night. She was exhausted. And rightfully so. Hawkmoth had sent out a nasty akuma, one who called himself the Constructor, and it had taken her and Chat Noir several hours to stop him. She winced as her fingers brushed her sides. Before she had been able to transform, the akuma had set off some demolition grade explosions, causing her to go flying and smacking hard into a nearby wall; Chat had seen this, and she remembered him rushing to her aid, cradling her in his arms, as he begged for her to be alright. Her memory was a little fuzzy then. She could make out his form but couldn't see the details.

"I'm alright," she assured him. "I'm alright Chat Noir. Go get the akuma."

He didn't leave though. Instead, he picked her up carefully, carrying her over the Paris' skyline and right to her home where he opened the light-hatch to her room and gently deposited her inside. Her mind swum a bit but she was sure she heard him tell her to stay put. He would handle everything.

She nodded. Waiting a few moments, she sat up on the bed and shook her head. Tikki flew out of hiding. "Are you alright Marinette?"

"I think so," she moaned. She hissed as she moved a bit, realizing then what she knew now. "But either way, we can't wait any longer. Chat's going to need our help. Tikki, spots on!" Once Ladybug showed up on the scene, it took a little bit of time to get the akuma captured considering getting close was a little difficult because of the explosions. However, one lucky charm and a smashed helmet later, the Constructor was no more and they were pounding fist. Chat didn't look happy though. She frowned, "Chat, what's wrong?"

"It's my friend," he confessed, "You know? Marinette? I think I'm going to feed my kwami real quick and then go check on her. She got hit pretty hard." Ladybug smiled.

"I'm sure she's alright Chat. Mari's a tough girl."

He paused. "Still… I want to make sure." He waved a hand at her as he took off. She sighed.

"Guess that means I better go get showered and changed real fast before that silly cat shows up."

And with that thought, she returned to her present point in time. She placed a hand on her side, checking for a broken rib (which she knew the feeling of considering she'd suffered one a while back) but when she didn't feel anything similar, she was content with diagnosing herself as just having a bruised side. A knock on her roof door interrupted her thoughts again. Keeping her hand there, she carefully climbed to the top and opened it. Chat was kneeling on the ground, his tail switching back and forth in the air behind him. He smiled down at her.

"Hey purrincess," he greeted. She smiled up at him, releasing her side to climb out to join him. Once she was, he eyed her over, his tail moving slowly behind him and she mused at how much emotion the thing actually showed. He looked calm but it said otherwise.

That's when it hit her at how concerned he actually was.

Chat cleared his throat, "I came to see how you are. You got hit pretty hard earlier." She waved a hand.

"Yeah. I've got some light bruising but nothing I can't power through." She wrung her hands together, hoping he bought the lie. "Thanks for helping me earlier." It was his turn to wave a hand.

"What's a hero for?" They fell silent. A gentle breeze brushed her hair back and he realized that for once, she had it down and it glistened. She'd just come from a shower. The space between them wasn't awkward by any stretch of the imagination; it was peaceful and calm and he was glad for it. He was gladder that she was alright.

He couldn't lie, he really had been concerned.

The cool part of being a hero was the suit kept him from receiving some pretty nasty bruises like the time he'd basically become a human pinball during the Stormy Weather incident and that didn't included the other numerous times he'd been the akuma's punching bag for LB while she did her thing. Civilians are different though. They are… squishy. Yeah, super squishy and getting blown back by an akuma explosion is a recipe for life ending situations. The thought made him shudder. He couldn't imagine a world without Marinette in it; she brought so much happiness to the people around her. It wouldn't be the same without her. A hand on his shoulder drew his eyes up to her face. Her brow was knitted. "Chat? Are you alright?" He didn't respond. Instead, he turned, catching her in an embrace. Mari was shocked to say the least. A huge blush broke out on her face and for a moment, she was frozen in place. Slowly, she wrapped her arms around him.

"I'm so glad," he breathed. "I'm so glad you're alright." Mari's expression softened even though the blush didn't fade. After a few moments, he held her back at arm's length, "Just promise me something? Be more careful in the future, okay?" She stared him long and hard in the face before nodding.

"I promise."

When he was satisfied that she was just as serious as he was, he nodded and released her. "Time for me to go Purrincess. I'll see you around." He paused. "Oh, and you should ice that injury. It'll help in the long run." He gave her a salute before running to the end of the balcony and jumping into the night. Mari walked to the railing, watching him go. Tikki flew out of hiding in her room. She smiled at her chosen as she sat on her shoulder.

"That was nice of Chat to come check on you." She nodded, holding her side. That sneaky cat. He'd been checking her for an injury with that hug. Tikki looked up when she chuckled. "Marinette?"

"It's nothing," she waved off. "But I think I'm going to follow his advice and put a little ice on my side before bed."