Day 11 - Age-Up Marinette
This isn't so bad. He just... won't get up.
Having reverted, Marinette fussed over her unconscious partner.
He fainted.
The Akuma had multiplied again, but instead of creating an army, possessed their latest victim with a hoard of butterflies. And when she broke the object, they erupted from the victim's mouth like a scene sliced out of horror itself.
And Chat Noir fainted.
Scooping him up, she carried him to her car parked not far off from where this commotion began, and drove them home.
Tikki tutted, "and your secret identity?"
"You want me to let him rest this off on the street? That was traumatizing." She shivered, leaning over her steering wheel at a red light. "Even for me."
Throwing a sun hat over his head, and a blue jacket over his shoulders, Marinette carried Chat Noir to her apartment. Smiling sheepishly at the curious eyes of passersbys, and offering, "rough night."
Marinette struggled the door open, landing him on the couch with an 'oof.' Satisfied, she lifted the hat, and tossed the jacket over him as a makeshift blanket.
Then reheated dinner.
Munching on a pile of spaghetti, she watched Chat Noir stir into consciousness.
"Wakey, wakey."
"Ladybug?" Chat asked shakily, scrubbing a hand down his face. "Where are we?" He grabbed the armrest when they met eyes. "Marinette?" He checked his gloved hand before examining the room. A new environment added to his earlier fright?
She swallowed a mouthful. "Don't tell me we know one another, Chaton." In her calmest voice, she soothed him from another panic. "You fainted. That last Akuma scared us both..." His breathing calmed slightly. "You alright?"
"I- I will be." He glanced side-long at her. "You're... Ladybug?"
"Crazy right?" Then it hit her. "We know each other?"
"Yeah, I..." A solemn business woman, he often compared her to Nathalie. A work persona preferred by his father. The only time they spoke is when he modeled her clothes afterschool. And... and here she is. Slouching over a messy plate of food, hair loose, and in pajama pants no less. His cheeks puffed, and a sudden chuckle broke from his lips.
"What?" She asked, indignant. "How is this funny?"
A humorous glint in his eye, he told her, "we know each other from work."
Her face paled. "Oh no." Wielding her fork threateningly, she demanded, "tell no one."