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Chat Noir stumbled across the cityscape, nimble feet weighed down by aches and pains all along his body. But not enough to stop him jumping along the rooftops under the starry sky. His Lady had been busy this night, though he couldn't tell you with what. She was always so secretive, it wasn't as if it was any of his business anyway.

He was just thrilled that she trusted him to protect the city in her absence. The teenager blissfully ignored the pains running through his leg, or the way he held his arm close to his chest as he ran. Using his staff to pole vault from building to building instead of clearing the distance with a great leap of his legs.

Lost in the memory of the way Ladybug had smiled at him, with complete faith and trust. The way her laugh sounded sweeter than the sweetest song as she chided him for initially pouting at the idea of a lonely patrol. The way she'd scratched him under the chin, gloved hands gently caressing his face before swinging away, graceful as ever.

If only he could say the same.

Chat grunted in pain, eyes screwing shut as he landed on the next roof. His leg gave out under him, his knee hitting the ground with a dull smack. He grabbed onto his staff with both hands, his injured arm protesting, causing him to let out a strangled whine. The act of suddenly hunching over took the breath right out of the masked hero. Repeated blows to the gut only made the journey home even more difficult. He still had several city blocks to get through. The only saving grace was that he wasn't going to turn back into Adrien on a rooftop.

He'd only been so injured due to his decision not to use Cataclysm against the Akuma. In hindsight, a stupid decision, but it was better than making the trek across the city as himself. Or worse, having to call Natalie. She'd tell his father all about him sneaking out at night.

Truthfully, the Akuma hadn't been cleansed like it would have had his Lady been there. But he'd managed to destroy the infected item. The formerly akumized citizen didn't seem to mind it's destruction, apparently it'd been a parting gift from a recent bad breakup. The fight itself had also been more subdued, which was good, because that meant less damage to the city, given that Ladybug hadn't been there to make everything right again.

Really, he was hopeless without her.

Chat Noir let himself rest for a moment, before struggling back to his feet. Leaning heavily on his staff, he glanced around. Making certain to note where he was, and consequently, how much of a journey home he still had. His vision was getting a bit blurry, anyone without nightvision wouldn't have been able to make out much.

Luckily, he had such a skill. The park was too his left, and the roof ahead of him. . . was just above Marinette's bedroom! He laughed quietly to himself, amazed at how he kept ending up back here as of late. Not that he minded. Marinette was a friend, one he wanted to get to know better.

But not as Chat Noir, she hadn't seemed very interested in him when he'd watched over her for his Lady. He would have had to have been a fool to miss how she nearly rolled her eyes every time she spoke to him in their first encounter. He'd be lying if he said it hadn't thrown him of just a bit, her actions that night had reminded him greatly of Ladybug.

Some girls just didn't get starstruck by superheroes, he supposed.

Regardless, he was wasting time resting. Shifting his weight onto his good leg, Chat lifted up his staff and began running. Preparing to leap onto the roof above Marinette's Bakery. As he reached the edge, something must have gone horribly wrong.

He put weight on the wrong leg, crying out as pain shot up the injured leg. It locked up, and his jump became botched enough that he crashed shoulder first onto the other roof with a heavy slam. Chat whimpered in pain, curling into himself and wishing everything didn't hurt quite so badly. "Smooth moves, Cat-sanova." He mumbled, scowling at his own slip up.

Ladybug would never have made a mistake like that.

The blond boy opened his bright green irises, and found the world spinning. He quickly shut them, whining again in distress. The pain from his injuries seeming to hit him all at once, adrenaline and distractions absences allowing him to focus for the first time on just how badly he'd let himself get injured.

Unfortunately for him, it really wouldn't do to pass out on a girl's roof. What would the Ladyblog say? Or worse, Ladybug herself! He could just imagine her disappointment at the fact that he hadn't called her the minute things got out of hand. His Lady would never have wanted him to get so beat up just so she could have a night in her civilian identity.

He tried to get back to his feet. Uncurling from his ball and using the staff to leverage himself into a sitting position. That went fine enough, but it was when he tried to stand that everything fell apart again. He put too might weight on his staff and it slipped out from under him. He couldn't catch himself in his sorry state, falling right on his face.

The black clad hero retracted his staff, curling back into his ball. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to rest for just a little bit longer. Though, even with his eyes closed and lying down, it still felt like the world was spinning.

Not a good sign. In fact, he even felt a little sick. If not nauseous, definitely lightheaded.

His 'ears' twitched, flattening against his head as he heard hinges being creaked open. He didn't open his eyes, but had a sneaking suspicion it was Marinette's skylight. He hadn't the energy to get up and see. Despite his mortification at being found.

Of course, with all the racket he'd been making, it was probably only a matter of time before someone had come looking. A sharp gasp of shock finally caught his attention enough to open his eyes blearily. Chat was able to make out a petite shape coming towards him. He squinted at the person approaching him, quickly able to discern that they were female. Though his mind was too addled by his own pain to fully comprehend anything else.

It was her eyes that he made out most clearly.

Staring right into them, he felt serenity overcome him. A smile making it's way onto his face despite the pain. With darkness closing in on the edges of his vision, her eyes remained the clearest thing as she came closer. Soft hands pulled him into her arms, and he felt at ease.

He knew her touch, her knew her eyes. He couldn't mistake her for anyone else, how could he? He let his eyes fall shut. Everything would be alright now. Because she was here.

"Chat Noir?" Her voice was laced with concern, words other than his name followed. But he was already too far gone. Her familiar voice setting him at ease.

"My Lady. . ." He could only muster a soft response, before he fell unconscious.