"Alright Miss Dupain Cheng..."
It's been a few days since everyone came and visited her but Marinette has been feeling better and better everyday since then and the doctor had just checked her vitals and everything to see if she was well enough to return home, Marinette crossed her fingers.
"You've been doing really well Miss Dupain Cheng! You're back to full health! Your arm is only one that's not however, it's still shattered terribly and you have another month or so until it's fully healed. Once your arm is healed,you'll need to go to Therapy but other than that, you're doing wonderfully."
Marinette looked down at her casted up arm, notes and signatures from friends that had visited her before smiling and looking back up at the doctor.
"Soo…?" She asked hopeful, the man smiled.
"You're free to go! We've informed your parents and they'll be here within an hour or two!" The doctor said, Marinette squealed happily.
"Lunch will be by soon. Good day." The doctor spoke and left the room and not a second later, Marinette felt Tikkis little arms cup her face, she giggled and held the kwami in her hands.
"I'm so glad you get to go home soon Marinette!" Tikki said happily.
"Oh me too Tikki! I can't wait to get out of this cold, stuffy hospital." Marinette said happily and pulled out her phone.
"Calling Alya?" Tikki asked peering over the phone, Marinette nodded and held the phone up.
"Yep, it's lunch break."
"Hey girl!" Alya greeted, Nino leaned into the frame and waved.
"Hey Alya and Nino! How's school been?" Marinette asked then chuckled when she heard Alya and Nino grumble.
"Absolutely awful."
"That bad?" Marinette asked.
"You have no idea. Seems like Chloe has been a bigger bitch than usual." Alya said.
"Ew, why?" Marinette asked, Alya shrugged and Marinette saw Nino gently elbow her. Marinette raised an eyebrow when a smile overcame her face.
"Girl, quickly fix yourself." Alya said and Marinette heard a male voice, she knew it anywhere.
"Adrien!" She squeaked and quickly brushed her hair and rubbed her face with water and a towel and fanned herself.
"Hey Nino, Alya." Came his reply, Marinette blushed and saw Alya and Nino wave their hellos.
"What are you guys doing?" Adrien asked.
"Just talking to Marinette." Alya replied, sending a knowing look to Marinette.
"Oh really! C-Can I say hello to her?" Adrien asked.
"Yes of course!" Alya said excitedly and handed the phone to Adrien and Marinette turned a shade of red deeper when his gorgeous green eyes met hers, she could almost see the stress and worry roll off of him.
"Hey Mari." He greeted softly. Kill me, fuck.
"H-Hi Adrien." She said with a smile, she felt Tikki patting her hand.
"How you feeling?" He asked.
"G-Good, other than my arm of course." She said giggled.
"Yeah I bet." Adrien agreed.
"Y-Yeah, the doctor said I'm good to go home today…" Mari spoke but she was shocked to see the joyful expression covering his handsome features.
"Really!?" He all but yelled, she blinked.
"Y-Yeah! I'm well enough to go home!" Marinette said smiling.
"That's amazing news!" Adrien said happily.
"What's amazing news?" Alya asked.
"Marinette can go home today!" Adrien asked them and Alya and Nino joined in the camera view.
"Oh that's great news girl!" Alya said smiling.
"I know! My parents should be here in an hour or so!" Marinette said smiling.
"That's great! I'll be by after school then!" Alya said.
"I'll see you then!" Marinette said smiling and heard the bell.
"Ugh, back to class." Nino said disappearing from view.
"And back to bitchy Chloe." Alya said, Marinette giggled.
"Bye Marinette, I'm so happy you're doing better." Adrien said smiling, Marinette blushed but smiled back.
"Me too, see you A-Adrien." Marinette spoke.
"Later." Adrien said and with that, Adrien left.
"Girl!" Alya said.
"I know!" She replied smiling.
"Come on Alya!" Yelled Nino.
"I'm coming! Bye girl!" Alya said then hung up.
Marinette was finally back home, she took a hot shower, which was difficult to do with her cast and then changed into her favorite pajamas as she fell on her bed with a comfortable sigh.
"I missed home too." Tikki agreed as she fell next to Marinette.
"No fooling, I'm so exhausted." Marinette spoke as she sat up and looked at the Lilies next to her, Adrien brought her one every time he visited her and she smiled fondly as she gently brushed one of the petals.
"Mhmm." Came the Kwamis reply as she sat on Marinette's shoulder.
"Marinette?," came her parents voice. "We brought you some snacks!"
Marinette happily accepted the treats and kissed her mom and fathers cheek before crawling into bed again, she gave the plate of cookies to Tikki.
"You've probably missed them haven't you?" Marinette asked.
"Mhmm! I haven't had any since I left Chat Noir's." Tikki said eating one.
"Really?" Marinette asked, Tikki nodded.
"Yes, he took really good care of me. I had all the cookies I could eat Marinette!" She cried happily, Marinette giggled and rubbed her little head.
"That's good! I'd kick that cats butt if he treated you wrongly." Marinette said, this time Tikki giggled.
"He was a proper gentleman." Tikki replied.
"Good but speaking of Chat Noir and everything, what do I do now?" Marinette asked.
"I've been thinking." Tikki began.
"He knows who I am Tikki and still, I can't fight alongside him, my arm is still shattered and won't be healed for months!" Marinette said.
"What I was thinking was is that you don't have to fight." Tikki said.
"But Chat Noir can't capture Akumas and purify them." Marinette said.
"Well he actually can capture them!" Tikki said chowing down on another cookie.
"He can? Since when!?" Marinette asked.
"Chat Noir has always been able to, he just hasn't. His Kwami probably didn't inform him on this trick however." Tikki said.
"So the Akuma that possessed the man for Rabbiteer?"
"Is still in Chat Noir's bell."
"What happens now?" Marinette asked.
"What I was thinking was when Chat Noir brings you the Akuma, you can transform and purify it then transform back." Tikki said taking another bite of her cookie.
"Will that work?" Marinette asked.
"It has before for past Ladybugs and Chat Noir's."
"Alright then, if you're sure of this Tikki, I trust you." Marinette said.
"And I trust you Marinette!" Tikki spoke, Marinette smiled then fiddled with her thumbs.
"Hey Tikki…" Marinette began.
"Hmm?" She replied.
"So you said you've stayed with Chat Noir?" Marinette asked.
"Yes." Tikki said.
"So you've seen him…without his mask?"
"Yes I have."
"Who…I mean…what's he like?"
Tikki giggled.
"Do you like Chat Noir Marinette?" Tikki asked with a knowing eye.
"W-What! No! I d-don't! I love Adrien! I don't l-like Chat Noir!" Marinette yelled and stumbled over her words, Tikki smiled.
"Don't look at me." She whined and buried her face in her arms, Tikki giggled and gently tugged her face up, Marinette's blushing face met her.
"Don't be embarrassed! I'm sorry it was rude of me to play with you like that." Tikki said, Marinette sighed.
"It's okay Tikki." Marinette replied.
"But let me tell you one thing about Chat Noir…" Tikki whispered.
"What!" She asked excitedly, Tikki smiled and opened her mouth to talk but they stopped when they heard the knock on her trap door.
Knock knock
"Marinette, your friends are here."
"Coming!"
Marinette left her bed soon as she saw Tikki was hidden safe and opened the door.
"Marinette!" Alya exclaimed and held Marinette close.
"Alya!" Marinette replied hugging her.
"Marinette!" Nino said joining the hug.
"Nino!" She said laughing.
"Marinette!" Came Adrien as he joined the hug.
"A-Adrien!?"
"Marinette!" Came Sabine and Tom as they hugged the kids, everyone laughed and pulled away.
"We'll bring up some more snacks!"
"Thanks Maman and Papa!"
"How you been?" Alya asked as everyone sat down.
"Good but I'm exhausted." Marinette replied.
"I bet, at least you didn't have to deal with school." Nino said.
"Yeah, that was one of the good things." Marinette said with a small smile.
"Here's the snacks!"
Everyone thanked the Dupain Chengs for the treats and settled back down.
"Are you gonna come back to school Monday?" Nino asked.
"Yeah, I've missed enough school as it is." Marinette spoke.
"Yeah, we got a lot of Physics homework." Adrien spoke.
"Ugh, I'm not looking forward to that." Marinette whined.
"Here's all the work you missed and I also took extra notes for you." Alya said handing Marinette the bag full of work.
"Thanks." Marinette said dreadfully.
"But we can worry about that later! Let's play some video games!" Nino said.
/
After a few hours of video games and Cards Against Humanity that Alya slaughtered them all at, it was time they decided to leave.
"Bye Marinette, I'll call you later okay?" Alya asked.
"Alright." Marinette said and hugged Alya.
"Later Mari." Nino said hugging her.
"Later guys." She said waving, they all waved goodbye and left the room, Marinette sighed tiredly and crawled into bed.
"Nap time?" Came Tikki's voice as she appeared on Marinette's pillow.
"Mhmm…" Marinette hummed and soon as her head hit the pillow, she was asleep.
After a short interview for his fathers new clothing line, Adrien walked into his room and fell on the couch, Plagg slid out of his jacket and went to enjoy Camembert.
Adrien laid there for a minute or two before getting up to take a hot shower.
/
"Mmmmm hmmm Mmm hmm." Adrien hummed as he rubbed his wet hair, another around his waist as he went to his phone and looked at the Ladyblog.
"No news so no Akumas." Adrien spoke.
"Must be busy." Plagg said eating more of his cheese.
"Maybe, long as he isn't causing trouble to Paris." Adrien said pulling on a pair of pajama pants and his "I love LB" T-shirt. Can never let Alya find out I have this…
Adrien looked at his bell and heard the flutters of the Akuma's wings.
"Hey Plagg…do you think I should go see her?" Adrien asked picking up the bell.
"It'd be best, I'm not sure how long the spell on your bell can hold the Akuma." Plagg said burping, Adrien scowled.
"Let's go kid."
"Plagg, claws out!"
"Ugh I have no idea how to do this Tikki!" Marinette said sadly and pressed her forehead to her desk, Alya's physics notes littering the desk.
"I wish I could help Marinette." Tikki spoke, Marinette pouted but rubbed the Kwamis head.
Knock knock
Marinette and Tikki froze and looked at the door to her balcony, Tikki hid while Marinette approached it with caution.
Knock knock
"My Lady?"
Marinette stared at the door in awe, was that?
"M-My Lady? Are you there?"
Marinette looked over her shoulder and saw Tikki wave her small paw. Go on.
Marinette took a deep breath and opened the door, her blue eyes met the beautiful green cat eyes of Chat Noir.
"C-Chat Noir…" She said uneasily.
"My Lady…" He said just as uneasily.
.
.
.
"I'm sorry!" They yelled in unison and they looked at each other in shock.
"Why are you apologizing!? It should be me!" Chat said.
"No, it should be me! I'm sorry Chat, I should've seen his attack coming and avoided it but here I go and get myself hurt…" Marinette said hanging her head, Chat cautiously approached her and picked up her chin, her sad eyes meeting his own.
"No Marinette, it's my fault. I should've protected you like I promised I always would. I failed you and my mistake got you incredibly hurt…I thought…for a moment I thought…" He began, his shoulders shaking, Marinette looked at him in shock and she lifted his face this time.
"Oh don't be silly Kitty, it's not your fault. I should've seen it coming and I didn't avoid it in time." Marinette said.
"But I didn't protect you! I failed you my Lady! I'm so sorry!" Chat cried and laid his forehead on her shoulder, she sighed gently and rubbed his head in circles, his shaking hands clutched her hips.
Adrien had to stay strong and not falter in the emotions he felt but Chat Noir could finally release all his sadness and regret, he clung to Marinette for dear life, afraid that if he let her go, she'll be gone for good.
"Shh, it's okay." Marinette said rubbing his head.
"I failed you."
"No you didn't, you did protect me Chat."
"But-"
"Alya told me that you caught me the moment I started to fall, you held me close and you let no one see me. You instantly took me to a hospital so I could get help. You saved my life Chat, you saved me." Marinette said into his ear, he sniffled and clung to her shirt tighter, she winced a little but relaxed, his arms wound around her waist and he hugged her tightly.
"Forgive me my Lady." He begged, he was still slightly shaking, Marinette smiled and rubbed his back and shoulder.
"I forgive you Chat, thought you have no reason for me to forgive you."
"Mmm." He mumbled.
"Thank you Chat." She whispered to him, he clung tighter for another moment then slowly released her.
"Hey…" Marinette said, Chats wet eyes met hers.
"Hey meow-n, smile." She said with a smile, he chuckled.
"That was cute." He said with a small smile.
"It made you smile." She said, his smile widened.
"How are you feeling?" He asked.
"I'm doing okay, my arm is numb so no pain." Marinette said.
"Any other injuries?" He said.
"A few scratches and bruises that haven't healed yet." Marinette spoke referring to her arm and legs and stomach, he nodded slowly.
"How's your Kwami?" He asked, Marinette looked behind her and the kwamis small head peeked out before she flew to them.
"Hello again Chat Noir." Tikki said with a smile, he smiled.
"Hello Tikki. Glad to see you're doing much better." Chat said, she nodded.
"Much!" She said smiling.
"I brought my bell." Chat said and opened his zipper pocket and pulled out the bell, the flutters ringing out, Tikki placed her paw on the bell.
"I explained the plan to Marinette." Tikki said.
"Shall we test it?" Chat asked.
"Are you up to it Marinette?" Tikki asked.
"If you're sure this'll work then yes." Marinette said, Tikki nodded.
"Okay…Tikki, spots on!"
Chat Noir watched in amazement as Marinette was engulfed in a pink sparkling light and Ladybug was in her place, she looked at her arms and saw she had on a red with black polka dot cast.
"At least it matches." Chat Noir said.
"Alright, I'm ready," Ladybug said grabbing her yoyo, "let it go."
Chat Noir pressed the top of his bell and it opened, the small black with purple butterfly fluttered out.
"Time to de-evilize!" Ladybug said and swung her yoyo and captured the Akuma.
"Gotcha!"
She pressed the top of the yoyo with her nose.
"Bye bye little Butterfly…"
The white butterfly flew out the window and into the Parisian air, Chat Noir placed the bell back onto the clasp of his zipper.
"Tikki, spots off!"
Marinette fell back into her chair and caught Tikki and placed her in a plate of cookies.
"M-My lady…" Chat said, she looked up at him and he crouched down in front of her.
"I want to apologize for the way I found out who you are and I swear to you, I'll take your secret to my grave." Chat Noir said, she smiled.
"I know that Kitty, I trust you with my life Chat. I know you'd never tell anyone." Marinette said.
"I know you didn't want us to know each other…but having this being one sided, what if I-"
"No Chat, please, it's already too dangerous with you knowing my secret, I don't want us to be in any danger, please keep your identity secret." Marinette asked, Chat Noir frowned sadly.
"Of course my Ladybug…" Chat Noir spoke.
"Oh yeah." He said suddenly and went up the hatch and came back with a bag, she raised an eyebrow when he held it out to her.
"When you were unconscious, the city placed gifts at our statue and hundreds of people wrote us letters, these are all written to you." He said, Marinette looked at him with wide eyes and opened the bag, letters were piled to the top and a few stuffed animals were in the bag as well, she grabbed an unopened letter.
"A lot of people care about us my Lady, they were very supporting during this time…" Chat spoke.
"Oh my gosh." She said amazed.
"I made sure I grabbed every letter addressed to you." Chat said.
"Thank you." Marinette said smiling.
Beep beep
Marinette looked at her phone and whined, it was almost midnight already.
"Something wrong my Lady?" Chat asked.
"I wanted to finish my Physics homework before I went to bed but I'm tired and I'm close to giving up on it." Marinette said.
"That's my favorite subject!" Chat said smiling.
"It is?" She asked.
"Mhmm, maybe I can help you?" Chat asked.
"I don't want to hold you up Chat…"
"No! Please, let me do this for you." Chat asked.
"But…"
"Pweaseeee." Chat asked looking up at her with baby eyes and a pouty lip.
"Noooo, not the kitten eyes." She whined and looked away.
"Pweasssseeee." He spoke again, she looked at him, his eyes even bigger and his bottom lip out more for the pout, she sighed.
"You dirty Tom cat, you know I can't resist your kitten eyes." Marinette said glaring at him, he smiled.
"But I'm your dirty Tom cat."
"Yeah yeah."
"So what do you need help with?" Chat asked.
"Everything."
\
"Okay I get it now." Marinette said.
"Good, now solve this problem." Chat spoke, he was crouched next to her, she stuck out her tongue as she worked on the problem.
"Is this it?" She asked, he leaned to look at it.
"Purr-fect my Lady!" Chat said smiling.
"Really!" She asked happily and ignored his pun, he hummed.
"Awesome!" She said smiling, he leaned his cheek in his palm and smiled fondly at her, she looked at him.
"What?"
"Just admiring your beauty."
"I'm not in my suit and mask."
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Marinette?"
"..."
"Marinette look at me."
"..."
Chat grasped her chin and turned her to face him, his face full of confusion.
"What did you say?" He asked, she sighed.
"You said you were admiring my beauty but I'm not Ladybug right now, I'm just plain old Marinette." She said looking away again but Chat pulled her back.
"You are nothing close to the word plain Marinette." Chat said.
"Yes I am."
"Marinette, you are incredible. You're one of the- no the sweetest person I have ever met. I have never seen someone with so much compassion and you're so sweet to everyone. You're incredibly talented in your crafts and your everyday life. You're so brave and willing to take risks and do what's right, you don't back down and you'll stand for what you believe in. You care deeply for your friends and everyone you know, you give off such a warm and comfortable aura that it just draws people to you. You're just- God I lo-"
Chat Noir stopped himself, Marinette stared at him in shock.
"I-I…"
"Just know this my Lady, you're nothing close to plain, you're bright and warm. You're like home, yeah…home." Chat Noir said.
"C-Chat…" She blushed.
Beep beep
"I have to go."
Chat Noir rose to his feet, he looked at Marinette who was still in a blushed shock, he liked making her blush.
"I'll see you later my Lady." Chat Noir spoke and scooped up her hand and kissed the top of it.
"O-Okay…" She stammered.
He smiled and bowed to her and he was gone through the escape.
"I love you…" Chat Noir whispered into the night air.