It had been a lovely, quiet night.

The clusters lights glowed brightly in contrast to the darkly clouded night sky. The view was gorgeous, and it didn't hurt that the lighting was optimal for her to find her footing on to the rooftops of Paris.

Chat Noir always claimed he could see just as well on the darkest nights.

They had scrambled across the rooftops together for a bit, before turning and separating into their separate ways along their conventional route to ensure the whole of Paris was safe for the evening.

Ladybug wasn't even sure when she heard the first burst of fireworks break over the Seine. From her current angle, their glow reflected upon the water was amazing.

The display was lovely. But if the increasing rush of screams told her anything, it was that the light show was definitely unplanned.

Landing hard upon the rooftop, her yo-yo was in her hand, string re-spooled without a second thought.

Chat's grinning face took up the tiny screen in scarcely a second. "Miss me, already, my Lady?"

She rolled her eyes. "See the fireworks?"

"Yep."

"How fast can you be here?"

Chat's greens eyes flashed. "As fast as you need me."

The battle had been hard. Harder than expected, but only because the Akuma could literally throw fire, and they both were a little singed. The smell of burnt hair was acrid, stinging her nostrils.

One of her pigtails felt decidedly, disconcertingly lighter. Not that she had the time to worry about that for the moment as another fireball was tossed in their direction.

Chat's cataclysm.- the second he'd needed to set this evening - finally did the trick, confounding the Akuma by destroying the boat she had been standing out from under her own feet.

Ladybug snagged the infected hair clip, breaking it efficiently and sending the purified little butterfly on its way.

Chat fished the victim out of the Seine with his baton, recovering her Lucky Charm, a life preserver before she tossed it into the sky and hoped.

Her arms wrapped around her shoulders, as they watched the police helping the very confused young woman along the river's edge below.

They were up on the rooftops again just to get away from the news crews. She didn't think she could take the questions right now.

This was seriously not good.

"It will be okay." Chat's hand sat on her shoulder, as they surveyed the battle damage. "Hair grows back eventually."

Her eyes narrowed, her hands clenched into a tight fist to hide the fact that they were trembling . "I mean, it does. But that's not what has me worried."

Not the only thing anyways, her mind filled in.

"Then what, my lady?"

She sighed as her earrings chimed. They both were already on borrowed time. "The cure is my biggest concern. Why didn't I notice earlier that it wasn't fixing everything?"

His claws tightened upon her shoulders. "You can't be expected to do everything."

Her eyes flashed. "If not me, who? This power is both a burden and a responsibility. You know I take that very seriously. If I can't help everyone, then I need to know what I need to do to be stronger. What if one of us gets hurt badly and I can't fix it?"

"Ladybug." His words were a sigh as he pulled her into a hug, one that tightened when one of their miraculous chimed. "You're not in this alone. Maybe I need to be stronger as well."

"All your powers focus on destruction, Chaton. Even if you want to help with this, I'm not sure that you can."

We'll find a way." He assured, too bright teeth gleaming white in the dark. "I promise. Even if I have to buy out the whole cheese section of the grocer to get my kwami to talk."

His hand reached up to palm his neck, but his normal half-awkward smile changed into a quick wince and a muffled groan as he drew his hand away.

Ladybug's frowned, circling around to his back desperate to assess the damage. Her hands pressed on his shoulders, tugging him down just enough so she could see in this low light.

An angry red mark, marred the tender flesh just behind his ear, just below where his hair set. If someone was looking closely, they might even recognize it.

"It will be okay." He assured, plastering a wide smile on his face. "I'll put something on it when I get home."

Her fingers hovered apologetically just above the area, as if wishing she had the power to take it away could make that happen. "You shouldn't have to. If someone saw this, they might put two and two together..."

"Maybe that's not the worst thing in the world," he murmured.

"What?"

"Ladybug, who else got close enough to see?"

She bit her lip. The Akuma hadn't gotten too close to either of them, not after they saw she had a nasty range. "Just you, I think."

His eyes darted down as his ring chimed again. "Do you trust me?"

She met his gaze, first at the ring and then locking with his. "I do, but I really don't want-"

"I know," he whispered, claws dancing above the space where the scar was surely already forming on his neck. "I know how much keep our identities secret means to you. I just need to know that you'll believe me when I say I won't try to figure it out who you are."

"I trust you, Chat Noir."

"Good." He glanced at her earring warily. His eyes were still trained on her as he bounded up to the ledge. "It's my job to keep you safe. But, if I ever do find out, please know that I will keep your secret. Just as I'm sure you would keep mine."

Her eyes widened. Chat leapt to the roof across the street with only seconds to spare before her transformation broke.

Tikki hovered over her shoulder, tiny eyes wide. "Oh no, Marinette. Your hair!"

Her legs gave out, heavy as she was between her own weight and the burden of worries. Marinette chuckled darkly. For better or worse, she had no choice but to trust her partner to protect her secrets even though she had failed to protect them both.

It had been a such lovely night.