"I look forward to it, m'lady."
The ring on his finger began to warn him of his pending transformation, but Chat Noir stood still for a moment, watching the retreating form of his partner for as long as she was still in sight. He was every bit in awe of her now as he was the very first time he had ever laid eyes on her. With a smirk he mounted to the sky, moving swiftly across the rooftops, racing the clock, landing upon his balcony just as the faint glow over took his form. He was Adrien once again.
Slipping in through his window, Plagg following and complaining all the while about his rumbling stomach. Adrien stretched and winced, trying to tend to his sore muscles and his various injuries. With every day seemingly bringing a new villain or two it left absolutely no time to recover, let alone anything else. Lifting up his shirt he examined the large bruise across his rib cage where he had been slammed into yet again. His exhaustion was leading him to be slower, less precise. He gingerly touched the older parts of the bruise, they had turned a sickly green sort of yellow, but at least they looked like they were healing. Turning his attention instead to the new angry purple splotch he pressed and gritted his teeth. It wasn't bad. Well, too bad. He would be fine, he just had to be careful and take it easy.
"You should tell her."
Adrien quickly lowered his shirt and turned to his Kwami who had spoken through a mouthful of cheese. "I can't do that."
He turned away, knowing all too well the look on Plagg's face. More often than not, the small cat like creature was light-hearted and jovial, but as of late he had found himself a serious streak. "She needs to know."
Trying to ignore him, Adrien sat at his desk across the room, opening his notes and school books. Though he read the words upon the page he couldn't comprehend them. After a moment or two he slammed his fist against the desk top, "She needs to know what? That I'm weak? That I can't handle what we're up against?" He pushed aside the books angrily, throwing the pencil with it, "No. I can't tell her. I'll be fine."
Plagg shook his head, "Suit yourself." He stuffed the last bit of cheese into her mouth, "You should get some rest though, even if you won't take my other advice."
The kwami shrugged and made off to his corner of the room knowing all too well that there was nothing more that he could say that Adrien would actually listen to or take to heart. Not turning around, the young man stared down at the desktop, clenching his fists. Eventually he left his chair, moving out into the cool night air on his balcony yet again. Even if the fresh air didn't solve everything, at least he didn't feel quite so stifled.
Telling Ladybug he was burning his candle at both ends was out of the question. Not only would it hurt his pride but his partner needed to know she could count on him. That she could trust him to do the dirty work and how could she if there was even the slightest doubt in her mind? After all, he was destruction and she was creation, right? There was no sense allowing his lady to put herself in anymore danger than necessary. He couldn't and wouldn't allow it. He loved her. Adrien wasn't sure if she fully understood just how much. He adored her brilliance, her courage, her determination. She was absolutely everything and more, if he ever let any harm come to her - we'll, he didn't even want to entertain the idea. No, if either of them had to suffer, it should be him and him alone. He was used to it, suffering alone in silence. He had mourned his Mother's death* alone. He had suffered through his Father's neglect alone. If he could survive all of that, surely he could survive this.
Adrien inhaled deeply, leaning upon the railing and looking out over the city, even if he really didn't see any of it. For the moment, all he could see was her. His Lady. There was no place he would rather be than by her side. Even if she rebuffed his affection or didn't think it was genuine. Even if she found another - because, surely, the young woman beneath the mask had her own friends, her own romances. How could she not with who she was? He rubbed at the back of his neck, not wanting to entertain the likelihood of Ladybug caring for someone else - who was he to come in between that? But how fitting it would be, he thought darkly to himself, to suffer in silence for this as well.
Moving away from these thoughts he began to wonder about the person he longed for. It was still a mystery who she really was. They had been so good at making sure to maintain complete secrecy, even if it killed him. Curiosity killed the cat after all. Even after all this time and even after all of the close shaves, he still hadn't the faintest inkling as to Ladybug's identity. He imagined what she might look like, where she might live, what she might like to do. He wondered if her true identity stared him right in the face and he was too blind to see. Though, would knowing the other's identity make anything better? Adrien couldn't help but argue, ' yes.'
"What I wouldn't give to put an end to this charade..."
Even so, he would never go against his Lady's wishes. If she wanted their identities to remain secret, a secret they would remain. Adrien could never have enough time to speculate who is partner really was, but there were appearances to keep. He put his imagination to rest and climbed back through the window, returning to his abandoned studies on the desk. Taking a seat, he threw one glance towards the now snoring Kwami. Deep down he knew Plagg was right, he needed to rest, but there were too many things to be done. He had survived on a mere hour or two of sleep before, why would tonight be any different?
X
Hey guys! Hope you enjoyed this second installment! The next Chapter will be Hawkmoth and our Akumatized victim - I think you'll really enjoy it! I'm still figuring out the formatting here (it keeps cutting out spaces and some punctuation ToT) but I'm learning, I promise! I hope to have the next chapter up late tonight or early tomorrow morning - until next time!
*EDIT: Yes, I know, Adrien's Mother is missing not dead. But for the sake of this alternate universe and this story and it's sequel (in the works), we'll assume enough time has passed that they have accepted she's probably dead.
