Hi guys I'm back from making merchs yay! Am I missed? Who am I kidding? Y'all probably already forgot this fanfic even exists lmao

But like it or not, here's chapter 6! It's not very long and not many things happen but I'll make sure a lot of things happen in the next chapter. Btw, I'm still bummed about the delayed episode 11, though. Why can't the TV station just air the episodes on a fixed schedule? :(

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN MIRACULOUS LADYBUG!

[Love in the Dark]

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Chapter 6

Marinette slowly opened her eyes, fighting the heavy drowsiness that attacked her once she did. It was hard and she kept fluttering her eyes that she began to wonder if she was still inside her dream. Then she squeezed her eyes shut, not realizing that her whole body tensed up as well, following the gesture. And that was when she realized her arms were holding something warm.

It was someone's neck.

She was being carried by someone.

She tried to open her eyes again and saw blond hair right in front of her vision.

Adrien…?

No. Now she began to remember that she was in the middle of an Akuma battle when she collapsed. So it must be Chat who was carrying her. Except he was in his civilian form, apparent by the absence of cat ears and leather suit overall.

"My Lady?" he asked, aware of her movement.

She wanted to answer but her voice died in her throat and instead, she coughed out dry blood.

"There's no need to answer me. I'm just glad you're awake." His voice sounded like nothing but pure relief. To let him know she was indeed awake, she nodded against his neck.

Odd, how Chat sounded so much like Adrien when she closed her eyes.

She began to hear her surrounding as well. They were walking by a very quiet place with only occasional chattering heard from the distance. His slow footsteps and even breathing was basically the only things she could hear clearly.

The bluehead opened her mouth to say something but only weird noises came out. She cleared her throat and tried again, "Did you… see my face?" she asked reluctantly.

Relief washed over her when she felt him shook his head. "I was on my way to the hospital when our transformation suddenly wore off and I had to find a place to hide and basically now that you woke up, I'm wondering if we should go anyway."

She shook her head.

"I'll go home."

"Will you give this cat the pleasure to escort you?"

"I'm afraid it's too early for that."

"Aw, and here I thought I could trick you into giving me your address. Then my next goal would be your phone number."

"You alley cat."

"Forgive me, M'lady, but you must be well-aware of how much this cat adores his bug."

She was just there behind him; her entire body literally pressing against his, but there was so much space between them. There was an endless space that was their real identity he could never cross.

Ladybug slowly got down when he squatted, taking her time regaining balance as he got up again; his back facing her. It didn't take long before she patted his back a coupld of times and said, "Thanks for everything, kitty. I owe you one."

"I'll keep your word, Milady. You owe me now."

He could practically feel her roll her eyes.

"Whatever. See you around, and don't look back before I leave!"

"Cat's honor."

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[One month later]

When her drowsiness subsided, Marinette opened her eyes again. She turned her head to see that Chat was still there with his back facing her. How many times had she seen this familiar sight for the last two months?

"Aren't you going home? It's getting dark."

It felt odd to see him in white, if she had to be honest. But for some reason, she thought it suited him.

He shifted a bit before answering her.

"And leave you here alone? Never." He scoffed. "I would've loved to give my beloved Lady a lift home but it seems you're still bent on thinking your secret identity is more important than your survival." He started sweet and ended bitterly.

"Wow, that's so sweet of you." Marinette rolled her eyes.

"I know what you're talking about, Bugaboo. I'm by far the sweetest man I know." She could hear him smirk.

"Get out." She snorted yet genuinely smiled.

"I'm glad you seem better now, Ladybug." He showed her a thumb up. "Although I technically can't see you. But having been my partner for more than a year, you should be able to interpret the ambiguous usage of vocabulary that is my natural speech style by now."

It made her reminince the first time they met. "Mm-hmm, it's been quite long, huh?" she answered, ignoring his attempt to sound suave.

"It has been quite long, M'lady."

"You're my best friend, you know?" Marinette said with the most loving voice she could manage in her situation and wished her message was conveyed to him.

"If you'd ask me, M'lady, I would've told you we could be more."

"Seriously? Now? Wow, thanks for ruining the moment." He could feel her roll her eyes from her voice alone and it made him smile.

Adrien looked at the slowly-moving cloud in the orange sky just to keep his vision and mind occupied with something that wasn't Ladybug's seemingly dire situation. In his mind, he tried to think that it wasn't as bad as it sounded. Maybe she was just being a little bit dramatic about it. Although he was usually in charge of drama, but maybe this time she wanted to take the role. Yeah, it must be that.

Their previous battle flashed in his mind. How Ladybug suddenly showed up after his one-hour lone battle, kicking the Akuma's ass gloriously like she always did, and purified it before one could say Chupacabra. He was just going to shower her with praises and pickup lines like usual before she suddenly coughed out blood and collapsed, leaving him in horror.

Adrien shook his head. No, he wasn't supposed to think about that. He was supposed to think happy thoughts. Right. Like that one time Ladybug gifted him a beanie that strangely suited that scarf his dad gave him–

"I love you so much, kitty. You know that, right?"

Adrien's throat felt like sandpaper. He smiled anyway, so she could sense it in his voice. "Don't go giving this cat the wrong idea, Bugaboo. You know cats are very clingy. You don't like clingy."

"I don't hate it, actually. Sometimes it's cute."

If he was still in the suit, his cat ears would've perked up from her words. "Have you admitted that your kitty is the cutest kitty ever?" he asked teasingly. Oh how he wished he could turn around and see her and tell her how much he loved her.

She allowed a low chuckle before she hissed in pain. It seemed the pills weren't working well. "I didn't say that much, did I? You know, you could've been so much more without that narcissistic part of yours."

"What do you propose I could've been? Perhaps, your boyfriend?"

"Pft, dream on."

"Me-ouch! Cats are allowed some dreams, aren't they?"

"Mm-hmm," she hummed, and he guessed she was trying to get up from her lying position. She was groaning and hissing while she did, and he honestly wanted nothing but to help her up. Scratch that, he would've just scooped her up and carried her home bridal style for all he cared. How could he let her do anything in her condition?

"Ouch!" she yelped and he instinctively turned around. "No!" she screamed at him and he stopped halfway, just enough to turn his face but not his eyes. "Don't," she said in a heartbreaking voice.

"Mari – Ladybug! You can't go back by yourself like this. You need Chat's help!"

"Shush, Tikki! Stop making a big deal out of it."

"From what I can hear from here, it does sound like a big deal, Bugaboo. You don't groan and hiss when you're in glee."

"Ha ha, very funny." He heard her stick her tongue out. "Honestly, can you transform already? Looking at your back makes me think you're someone else I know."

Adrien immediately took this opportunity to confirm his suspicion. "Oh? Then maybe we do know each other in real life. Say, maybe we go to the same school?"

"Please. What are the odds?"

"Don't you believe in destiny, Ladybug?"

She was quiet for a few seconds. Her mind went to the news she got a few hours ago. When she was ready to give up and say goodbye. Something in her, probably her guts, gave her a strong feeling that she really knew Chat in real life. Like he said, they could actually be acquaintances. Maybe even friends.

But wouldn't it make everything harder then?

She inhaled. "No, I don't."

TO BE CONTINUED

Uh-oh, what's up with Marinette's condition? Follow the story to the end to find out ;)

Also, if you're interested in MLB merchs, I'm opening pre-orders for stickers, postcards and keychains until the end of the week. Check out my instagram account yukifrill if you are :D

Anyway, see you next chapter!