A/N

This took a while. I am going to throw some blame at Taurus Pixie (I had to get through Madness Within - drown in angst.) But the truth is that I completed it a few weeks ago and I have been struggling to concentrate on writing.

Once I started writing this chapter I went through a few drafts, changing it and adding to get this chapter right. Chat had an emotional journey and I've been struggling on how to portray it. So we end up with the longest chapter of this story.

The good news? Next chapter was written 6 months ago.


Chapter 12: Animosity and revelations

This was it. Glorious years of being a hero with the amazing Ladybug have culminated to this. Chat closed his eyes and waited to reach the apex of his ascent, ready for his descent. His own life has already passed the apex, free falling to his decimation. It is only right for his body to follow the same path. He should rid himself of the ring right now, it will bring a stop to all this pain.


Earlier that day

There were a dozen men and two women standing outside the Bichat - Claude Bernard hospital. They stood in two lines facing the visitors walking in the main entrance, holding homemade signs. Every few minutes a few would call out their slogan once or twice then quiet down again. It was a hospital after all. The reaction of passersby varied from ignoring the group to stopping to talk. The majority did nothing more than read the messages and commented to their companions as they continue to walk past.

'Stop the violence,' one sign read.

'We do not tolerate violence,' a big red sign hovered above the group.

The protestors proudly held signs with 'Ladybug - face the consequences', 'No Ladybug - No violence' and 'Unmask Ladybug'.

Chat spent half an hour on the roof across the street. His initial shock was closely followed by anger at the audacity of these people, of what they were saying and the location they chose. Over time, he noticed the Parisians were not of the same mind as the protestors. The looks and comments they received were not friendly. The few who stopped spent more time arguing than agreeing. Further proof they were very few citizens who held that skewed opinion. He wished Ladybug would realize Paris supported her.

His thoughts went back to his partner, sighing. Paris was losing her. He was losing her. He could not understand what was happening to her, why she was acting so differently. And Saturday night? He's never seen her affected like that by an akuma, taking it so personally. For the first time in years, she scared him. Where did that anger come from? He was sure she made a mistake, not realizing the akuma reverted to human when she knocked him out. She set Chat straight - she meant to hurt the guy. She believed he deserved it, being a woman abuser. Even so, his partner of five years would never have behaved that way.

Not that he was himself that night either, with Marinette filling his thoughts. He spent Sunday in his room flipping from fretting about his blue-eyed partner to hating himself over the other blue-eyed woman in his life. On Monday he was astounded there was no blow up at school. His friends showed surprise he didn't spend time with Marinette and suspected something happened. More surprising, Marinette never told Alya. The amateur reporter attempted to pry out of him what happened between them, knowing something was wrong. Marinette herself behaved as if nothing happened, ignoring his existence. He would have preferred that she shout at him, call him names and put him in his place. Even if it meant his friends would find out and hate him, it would be less painful than being ignored. He was losing Ladybug. He lost Marinette. He could not decide which pained him more.

Now he had to deal with idiotic people who are doing their best to drive his partner against Paris. She said she won't do it for them anymore, only continue because of their partnership. It thrilled him to hear she cared enough about him to make him the sole reason to fight akumas. He was agitated at the realization he was the only thread holding Ladybug in this fight.

Chat debated avoiding the protestors by entering via another entrance. Adrien would have done so, but Chat does not avoid confrontations - unless they were with Ladybug. Spinning the baton above him, he sailed across the street to land among the protestors, sending them sprawling, breaking up their group.

"Chat Noir!" The call came from a man Chat previously identified as their leader. Unlike the ragtag team of followers, he wore a freshly pressed black suit with a green tie. The hate in his eyes implied the color scheme was purely coincidental.

"In the flesh," Chat bowed without breaking eye contact.

"Are you coming here to finish the job Ladybug started? Is it not enough that Ladybug is terrorizing the people, you need to be her partner in this too?"

Chat raised an eyebrow, unseen under his mask, otherwise gave no reaction. He walked closer to the man, invading his personal space. At eighteen, Chat was no longer a scrawny teenager running around the adults. At six foot with broad shoulders, baton casually held at his side - he radiated power. Suit guy gulped and took a step back.

Chat stepped past him among the rest of the group. Most flinched, only a few holding his gaze.

"You think I'll hurt you?" he asked, a few heads nodded. "You believe Paris's hero, who's spent years protecting you from akumas will beat you up because you stand here spreading your ridiculous campaign?"

The heads stopped nodding as they contemplated his words.

"Now listen here…" Suit guy wanted some attention.

"You know what? The way you behave, you deserve a beating." Chat directed his words at the assembled minions, ignoring the leader. "But I won't hurt you, neither will Ladybug. We are too busy chasing akumas, protecting you, your wives, husbands, children, parents, friends, and neighbors. Ladybug has dedicated her life to you at the cost to her own personal life. When you," Chat pointed at one woman, "stay safe at home with your husband and kids, Ladybug leaves her family behind to stop the akuma from turning you and your family into a painting. And you," Chap shifted his arm to a man, "you go out for supper with your wife or girlfriend, Ladybug cannot go on a date. She is busy stopping some maniac from brainwashing your wife into leaving you to run after him while tearing her clothes off."

The assembled cowed before him, eyes like saucers. The woman he singled out teared, whether from fright or guilt Chat was not sure.

"You gather here to take down the only protection you have. The kindest, most caring person in Paris who gave up more than anyone else for the safety of all Parisians. This is how you thank her? I'm ashamed in you."

Chat turned his back to them and walked into the hospital.


The acrid smell of medicine, bleach and the sick slammed into Chat's nostrils. He froze in the doorway concentrating on shutting out the abuse to his sense of smell. These were the few times he disliked this super ability, like the one time they had a garbage truck driver for an akuma. An experience he longed to forget. Chat walked to the reception, ignoring the many stares from the hospital staff, patients, and visitors. The woman at the counter stumbled over her words while Chat calmly waited. With a red face, she directed him to the fifth floor. After a few steps, he turned back to her with a wink. It was amazing her face could go redder. He believed Chat might have more admirers than Adrien. The difference was Chat was happy they were his fans. They admired him because of the good he did, not how good he looked.

The fifth floor produced a set of infinitely long and complex corridors forcing him to embarrass two more nice women who struggled to get back to work afterward. Arriving at last to room 528, Chat knocked on the open door and peered inside. Unsure of what reception he would receive, he planned to remain at the door until told otherwise.

The room was not big, the two beds taking up most of the space. A myriad of instruments covered the white wall, and a curtain hung next to each bed. The first bed was empty, covered by a simple sheet bearing the hospital's logo, neatly tucked around the mattress, a white pillow laying at the top. The bed by the window was just as neat, the blanket draped over the bed had neither folds nor wrinkles, belying there was a person underneath. Tubes and cables stretched from the wall, one wrapped around his face, the rest disappearing under the blanket.

A woman sat in an adjacent couch, facing the bed, reading a book. Long brown hair cascading to her shoulders hid her face from view. She wore a red jacket and black jeans, confirming she was not a hospital employee. A surprising sense of calm enveloped the room.

Chat knocked again and cleared his throat. The woman turned at the sound, surprised to find Paris's black-clad hero in the room. She was a young woman, possibly late twenties, although Chat found it difficult to estimate a woman's age. She was older than him, he was sure of that.

"I am sorry to disturb," Chat said with a hesitant smile.

"Chat Noir!" The woman rose to her feet, the book carelessly dropping to the floor. "Oh, wow."

"Em, yes. I just wanted to wish him a full recovery. I don't want to take any of your time. I'll just go."

"No, no," the lady raised her hand as if to grab him from across the room. "Come in, come in. Wow. Thank you so much for coming."

Chat stood for a few seconds before stepping into the room, standing by the bed he looked at the sleeping man. He knew it was the same man but still found it difficult to relate that peaceful face with the akuma he fought, or even the few minutes he checked him while unconscious.

"He looks so peaceful," he murmured without thinking.

"He does, doesn't he?" the lady confirmed, "I do not remember him looking like that for a few years. I wish he was awake to enjoy it."

Chat flinched, even though her tone was light. "I'm sorry. I apologize for what happened to him."

"Oh! I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I wasn't trying to make you feel bad or anything. It was a light joke."

"A joke?" Chat looked up in shock, meeting her brown eyes. Her smile was real, open and friendly, bringing a sparkle to her eyes.

"Yes, a joke. We must look at the lighter side everything, even faced with difficult situations. I'm Margo," she put out her hand.

"Chat," he took her hand. She gave him a comforting squeeze before letting go.

"This is my father, Mayne. Not exactly living up to his name at the moment, is he?"

"Oh!" Chat paled. "I'm really sorry."

"There you go again. Relax. I don't blame you or Ladybug. No reason to be all uptight."

"You don't?" Chat could not help gawking at Margo.

"I'm not happy. I wish he was up and walking around. He isn't a bad man, he's been unhappy for a while now, trying to recapture his youth. I think he is lonely, it's been a few years since my parents divorced. I've been telling him he is going about it the wrong way, hanging out in gyms, trying to attract female attention. It must have backfired and he ended up an akuma and did some terrible things. Ladybug hurting him during the fight is upsetting but probably unavoidable. I don't blame her."

"Wow, I wish Ladybug could hear you." He elected not to share Ladybug's opinion on the matter.

"She can come if she wants. In fact, I would very much like to meet her," her smile grew bigger.

"You would?"

"Yes, I'm a big fan. I love her and I need to thank her. Not for my dad, but for my daughter. She saved her almost a year ago during an akuma attack. The akuma was rampaging in the street, throwing cars around. One was heading at my daughter I was sure I would lose her. A red blur swooped down from above pulling Marveille away just in time. I was still screaming with tears dripping down my face when Ladybug handing her to me. I would never forget her bright eyes and a kind smile. 'She's very beautiful', Ladybug told me, 'she's a wonderful treasure'. She kissed Marveille on her head and ran back to the fight."

Margo's eyes were glossy, tears pooling ready to drip down. Chat could feel his own eyes watering. That sounded like the Ladybug he loved.

"A year ago, you said?"

"Almost."

"Yeah," Chat could not help smiling. "I'm also a big Ladybug fan."

"So, Ladybug saved my daughter and then put my father in a coma. If I think about it too much I would drive myself insane. I would rather smile and pray everything will work out."

"You know what?" Chat grinned. "Now I'm a big Margo fan."

"Wow," Margo plopped down on the chair, "Chat Noir is my fan. I can now die knowing I lived life to its fullest."

"Oh no. Please don't. I don't have many people I'm a fan of. Only two. Wait," Marinette's face filled his vision, "make that three."

It was surprising how quickly his feelings for Marinette developed. Less than a week ago she was just a friend, and now she was so much more. Thinking back he realized he's been her fan for many years, considered her the closest thing to Ladybug in his civilian life. She was a great friend, he even crushed on her a bit, relishing every moment spent with her, even when he was Chat. She was amazing; he enjoyed watching her do all those amazing things.

He loved watching her. He's always loved watching her, no matter what she was doing. Taking great joy in her achievements, proud when she defended others and gave from herself in ways that only Marinette knew how. He loved all things about her.

Could he have loved for her for a while and never realized it? Only when Ladybug changed her behavior, stopped caring and being kind. Stopped, Chat realized, behaving like Marinette. The part he loved most about Ladybug was how she resembled Marinette.

"I'm in love," Chat said with wonder.

"I can see, Ladybug is lucky to have you."

Chat, lost in thought, had forgotten Margo was there. He looked at her in confusion. "Ladybug?"

"Oh!" Margo's hand came to her mouth. "You're talking about someone else."

Her words registered, overloaded his brain, which promptly shut down. Chat fell back onto the neighboring bed, covering his face with his hands.

"I am so confused. I don't know what to do."

The room was silent, The only sound came from the corridor or the machines attached to Mayne.

"Love can be very confusing. Add the stressful activities you have, it creates a special bond with your partner. A bond which feels like love. It might be love, or it might not. I don't know who this other girl is, but she must be really special to give Ladybug a challenge over your heart. I'm sorry you going through this."

"I love Ladybug," Chat felt he had to explain himself, "but I don't know her real identity, and that would always create a barrier between us."

"You don't! I thought you knew. Especially since you're dating."

"It is very difficult being a superhero. Secret identities are a serious thing."

"This other girl, she knows your identity?"

"It's the other way around, she doesn't know I'm Chat."

"I understand," Margo looked out the window. "I have no experience in your situation, I won't pretend I know what you should do. I will say, after a fight when you hang up your mask, you should have someone to go home to. As much as adore Ladybug, if she cannot be there for you without the mask, it might be better for the two of you to go back to being just partners. If that is even possible. Oh, this is so complicated. I'm so sorry."

Go home to Marinette. That felt so right, she's perfect for him. He lost her before he even realized she was what he wanted.

The sound of screeching tires followed by a crash disturbed his thoughts. A car crash, he should go see if he can help. Then the screaming started.


Chat flipped to the left, the Peugeot roof collapsing from the impact against the spot he just vacated. Flying cars! Margo had to talk about cars being flung about and now he was the intended target. Coincidence? Karma? Or Chat Noir's signature bad luck?

The cars, as well as benches, signs, dustbins, and any other movable object were propelled by powerful sound waves emanating from a red protest sign, bearing, in 3d letters: "No Ladybug - No violence". The irony was not lost on Chat.

Mr suit guy was upset Chat broke up his little group. Hawkmoth, the opportunist he was, gave the man the power to get his word out, in a loud and powerful way. The Protestor - ten points for originality - tore up the whole street in front of the hospital, calling for an end to violence. Trust Hawkmoth to ruin what Chat considered - work well done. He felt good taking apart the protestors and their skewed outlook on things. He took his win and threw it in his face, together with a one-ton car.

Once they realized what was going on, Margo wasted no time in sending him away.

"Go," she urged him. "Paris needs you. Perhaps you can bring Ladybug to visit after you win."

"I'll try," Margo's confidence in him warmed his heart. "It was nice meeting you. I wish your father full recovery."

"Thank you, and I hope everything works out with all the women in your life."

The visit to the hospital left Chat with mixed feelings. Margo was not what he expected. He should get Ladybug to speak to her, tell her how she appreciated her even after what happened to her father. Prove to her Paris is not against her, they still wanted - needed - her protection. Getting his Ladybug back would lessen the pain of realizing he was in love with Marinette after he has lost her.

Margo should have spoken to suit guy, showed him her positive outlook on life. He might have listened to her, she was charismatic. If that happened, Chat would not be scrambling up the side of a building, a trail of street signs littered the wall underneath him, the last one smashed into his leg almost sending him to the ground. He limped the rest of the way to the roof.

Chat wished Ladybug was here, help him take down this destructive akuma. The few hundred meters from the hospital were a wasteland. Crunched cars littered the street, strange sentinels propped up at different angles watching over a deserted land. The Parisians have long escaped deep into the buildings or down side streets. The Protestor stood among the papers flapping in the breeze, shredded when the newspaper kiosk got demolished by a flying minivan. His black suit was now luminous green with text graffitied all over it in black, his black tie curling up from his chest forking at the end reminding chat of a snake's tongue. Long green hair streamed up from his head like a porcupine, black rings surrounded his red eyes.

It has been almost an hour and Ladybug has not shown up. Calling her went directly to message. At least she wasn't ignoring him. She said she would fight, for him. Without Ladybug his only hope was to confine the akuma to this area and avoid any more damage until she arrived.

"Come down here, scaredy-cat! Not so eloquent when faced with a powerful foe, are you?"

Chat was certain the sign, idly dangling from The Protestor's hand, was the affected object. It was the same sign suit man held when he confronted him by the hospital. A direct assault on the akuma proved difficult. Despite the akuma ambling about, he was lighting fast with the sign, pushing Chat back on every turn. Chat was already sporting a deep cut on his shoulder and a possible broken rib where a parking meter bypassed his defenses.

"Really?" Chat called down from the roof. "I think it's about time we spoke about the eloquent in the room."

The Protestor glared at Chat swinging his sign like a bat. Chat flattened to the floor, the hair rising on his neck, feeling the ripples in the air above him. Chat crawled away from the edge until out of sight, got up and ran, ignoring the pain his left he jumped from one building to the next. A few buildings down he surveyed the battlefield. The akuma stood in the same spot, bellowing profanities at Chat previous spot. Not far, a car wrapped around a pole burst into flames.

"Are you going to swing that thing the whole sign yards?" Chat rose from his new spot.

The akuma twisted on the spot, red eyes scanning until they met Chat's glowing green. With a wide grin, Chat waved hello, rolling away before the new attack hit him.

This game could not last much longer. The Protestor was already anticipating Chat's next location. He's hit Chat twice already. The worst, when jumping from one building to another, the Protestor sent the corrugated iron roof of the newspaper kiosk, slicing wide gash in his back. Chat rose again from the stadium's roof.

"I was wondering, who's your tailor? He fancies my colors." The world burred. Chat screamed at the pain coursing through his head. He found himself his back, his leg hanging on a seat. The blue sky came into slow focus, Chat wondered when the earth gained a second sun. He did not remember the fall but felt all the knocks his body received on the way down.

He can't do this anymore. All this fighting and he hardly touched the akuma. He was nothing more than a distraction to keep the akuma occupied until the real superhero would deal with the problem. She hasn't come, and he was running out of sand. He wasn't even a good punching bag.

He called Ladybug, this time the call ringing a few times before going to message. She was ignoring his calls again.

"Ladybug," Chat voice shook, "I need your help. You said you will help, please come. I can't do this without..."

The doors burst open, one landing a few meters away, its hinges twisted.

"A stadium. Let's play squash the cat." The Protestor called from the doorway.

Letting out a grunt, Chat propped his baton against the railing and propelled himself back onto the roof.

The roof shook. He rolled over to the side, peeking over the edge. The Protestor was pacing along the stands, sending shock waves in random directions, at the ground, stands, walls and roof. The air was full of dust from all the destruction. The seats were thrown about and cracks appeared in the building.

"You're a nasty piece of work," Chat shouted at the akuma. "Get off your idiotic high horse. You will destroy the whole of Paris."

"I am here to stop the violence," the akuma looked at him. "Once you are out of the picture, there will only be peace."

Chat rolled away before getting hit. This was a disaster. He led the akuma to the stadium where there were no civilians, but it also gave very little protected placed from where he could attack. The roof shook again. Another blast shook it even more. It would not hold much longer.

He would not hold much longer either. He phoned Ladybug again, the call did not even ring. She's de-transformed.

Ladybug wasn't coming.

He was no longer enough.

A crack ran along the roof, passing between his legs, a gap opened to the stands below. Looking through the gap he met the akuma's red eyes.

"You're still there? What happened?" The Protestor teased. "Cat caught your tongue?"

"You're a fucking idiot," Chat yelled and flipped out the way, the roof rattled precariously underneath him. He needed to hit him, he wanted to break him. He was going to cataclysm the damn akuma.

Chat froze. He took a deep breath. He needed to calm down and get his head straight. He's never wanted to use his power on a person before, even an akuma. It wasn't the akuma's fault he wasn't a good enough partner. Although, it would feel really good to kick the shit out of him. Possibly he could knock him out or kick the sign out of his hand. He wouldn't break it since he couldn't cleanse the butterfly, but keeping it away from the akuma should reduce the damage done. This was his last opportunity to do something useful, prove that he is worth something.

Chat crawled to the other side, peeking over again. The akuma was looking away, but Chat could still see the edge of the purple butterfly covering his face. He was talking to Hawkmoth. Chat made a mental note to thank Hawkmoth for distracting the akuma, and jumped off the roof. Using his baton to helicopter closer to the akuma, he stayed a few meters in the air, right above the akuma he stilled his baton, and let gravity pull him leg first onto The Protestor. A second before impact the akuma spun, swinging his sign with an underhanded arc. The power wave blew the dust into Chat's eyes, blasted him in the chest and knocked the baton from his hand. Rapid acceleration into the sky replaced his downwards movement. Chat blindly flew over the top of the buildings, continuing an upward arc high enough to send him out of Paris.

This was going to hurt.


Having watered her plants Marinette leaned on the railing to watch the Paris skyline. The beautiful sight of her city always helped to calm her mind. She recalled a time, many years ago, when Chat Noir joined her one night on her balcony, watching the skyline together. That night she learned Chat truly loved Ladybug. He got his wish; it seemed. She hoped he was happy with Ladybug. She doubted it, especially the way Ladybug spoke about him.

She got her wish too, to her detriment. "Be careful what you wish for," the stories always say. She never understood. She got her night with Adrien, a memorable night followed by devastation. She thought the pain would help get over him, but she wasn't. Hearing him talk about himself at school hit her heart and confused her. Maybe he had a split personality, sensitive and kind one day while selfish and cruel the next.

She noticed a billowing cloud of smoke in the distance. Paying more attention she could hear the sirens. Another akuma attack. That brought some perspective on life. Here she was brooding about a boy while people were suffering real pain. She wished she could help them. She wondered if Ladybug was helping Chat.

A ringing to her right gave her the answer. The ringing continued unanswered for another minute until it stopped. Marinette closed her eyes in frustration and disappointment.

"Why didn't you answer? He needs your help. You said you will help him."

She watched the smoke rise to the sky and dissipate, join with the clouds in the darkening sky. It was nearing sunset. An end to a long day with a promise to be even longer.

"He's as bad as all of them. Worse."

Marinette turned to Ladybug. "Worse? What did he do? Declare that you were Hawkmoth himself? Really? How could he be worse?"

Ladybug looked at Marinette with pity. Why pity? Chat was her problem, not Marinette's.

"Chat's Adrien Agreste."

Of all the things Ladybug could have said, this was the least expected.

"Adrien?" Marinette did not blink during the minute it took to find her voice. "My Adrien?"

"Considering what he's done, I find it strange you still refer to him as your Adrien." Ladybug tilted her head, scrutinizing Marinette.

"Chat's Adrien?" Marinette ignored Ladybug's statement. "How can he be Adrien? They are so different. And Chat...Chat's your boyfriend. He cheated on you - with me. Oh my god! I'm the other woman!"

"Don't get your tail in a spin," Ladybug huffed. "He isn't my boyfriend. We're not really dating, it's fake."

"It's fake?" Marinette's confusion lasted a split second. "I knew it! I knew it was fake," Marinette looked left and right searching. "Where is Alya, I told her it was fake. She didn't believe me. But wait," Marinette eyes narrowed, studying Ladybug. "Chat loves you. You faked a relationship with Chat when you know he is madly in love with you? How could you do that to him? Living this lie he wished was true must be tearing him apart."

"He'll get over it," Ladybug brushed it off. "It was for a good cause and it was his idea. He just sucked it up and moved on. If he even felt anything for me. You're forgetting this is Adrien. The way he used you and tossed you aside, I doubt he has any feelings for me. He just wanted an impressive conquest and I'm the perfect candidate. I can imagine him boasting how he conquered Paris's superhero." She suddenly sported a smile, lopsided and ironic. "Joke's on him. Now Paris hates me, blaming me for all the violence, and he's the evil bitch's boyfriend. Serves him right to go down with me."

This was too much. Marinette didn't know how to take it all.

Chat was Adrien.

Chat fake dated Ladybug - by choice.

Chat was a womanizer.

Chat did not love Ladybug.

No! She knew Chat loved Ladybug. Chat told her when he had no reason to lie. When she told him she loved someone too.

Adrien!

She loved Adrien.

Adrien was Chat.

Adrien loved Ladybug.

Of course! Adrien loved Ladybug. It all makes sense now.

"You are wrong. Chat loves you and you drove him mad with the fake dating. When he saw me wearing the Ladybug custom, he lost it and in his mind I was you. When he realized what happened he ran away in shame. That's why he couldn't look at me, not because he thought less of me, he was ashamed of himself." Marinette replayed the bakery scene in her mind, adding this new information. "It still hurts. It hurts that he wants you and not me. It hurts that he spent the night with me thinking of you, and when he realized it was me he ran away. I don't think I can forgive him for that. But Chat isn't a womanizer. Adrien loves you more than he could handle."

The two women looked at each other, neither saying anything for a while. The silence stretched as Marinette attempted to stare down Ladybug. It was uncomfortable to stare down a superhero, but she knew she was right. Ladybug was too quick to judge both Adrien and Chat. She was the one who convinced Marinette Adrien was the problem. Adrien wasn't the problem - Adrien had a problem.

"You are an idiot!" Ladybug shook her head. "I tell you how my sidekick of a partner is the same guy who used you and threw you away, and you come up with a way to exempt him from any wrongdoing. It is the same as when you blamed yourself and your costume - that you 'confused' him," Ladybug even used air quotes. "He's a no-good, woman abusing, two-timing, piece of shit."

Marinette saw some movement in her peripheral vision. Turning to the akuma attack she spotted something flying over the buildings. Not something - someone. Chat! It didn't look like he was controlling his movement. Why wasn't he using his baton? He was moving fast, going high. He was still far, but it didn't look like he was moving or struggling or attempting to do anything. A crush-test dummy limply flying through the air. Was he knocked out?

"Chat!" Marinette called out. "You need to save him!"

"Why should I? I don't want him as a partner anymore."

"What?" Marinette voice rose in pitch. "You must save him. He'll get badly hurt."

"He'll survive."

"Oh my god! No!" Marinette watched Chat's upward arc taking him even higher. "Adrien! No! You have to save my Adrien."

"I told you already. He isn't your Adrien. He isn't worth the effort."

"Please," tears were flowing down Marinette's face, she could not take her eyes off the love of her life. No matter what he's done and who he loved, she wanted nothing bad to happen to him. "Please, Ladybug, for me. Please save him."


The first thought through Chats mind was: "Man, this akuma is quick".

That was followed closely by the realization he was moving pretty fast himself, but without his baton, he had no control over his movement. There was a moment of panic when he continued rising past the blurry buildings leaving the streets and the akuma far below. This was not the first time he has free fallen through the Paris sky. Granted there were two differences. For one, he was currently moving up, something he knew will be changing soon enough. The other, previously Ladybug was there to save him, something he knew will not be happening this time.

Chat went limp. This was it. Glorious years of being a hero with the amazing Ladybug have culminated to this. He had a great life, great friends, an amazing partner, and exciting adventures - and he lost it all. He was a useless hero, a sexual abusive friend, and a bad partner. He has managed to lose all the loves of his life because of his incompetence. He did not deserve any of it. Not Marinette, not Ladybug not the Miraculous. Maybe he should rid himself of the ring right now, it will bring a stop to all this pain.

The wind rushing past blew dust from his eyes, improving his vision. The world around was still blurry, nothing he felt like looking at anyway. Chat closed his eyes and waited to reach the apex of his ascent, ready for his descent. His own life has already passed the apex, free falling to his destruction. It is only right for his body to follow the same path.

When did everything go wrong? Chat reflected. What could . . .

His chest constrained at the sudden pressure hugging him. A strong tug changed his projection. Chat opened his eyes and he made out a rope wound around him, pulling him down. Blurry vision or not, he could see buildings approaching at a rapid rate. With nothing to slow his movement, he doubted he'll survive his sudden meeting with the earth. Chat tensed, panic bubbling up, heightened by the high-rise building passing by as he quickly approached the blotches of colors below he suspected were the ground.

The rope went taut and pulled him sharply to the side, sending him on a long arc passing above the ground and lifting him up once more. His ascend slowed near the top of another building, onto which he landed with neither harm nor grace.

The rope, which he now recognized as Ladybug's yoyo, unwrapped itself and disappeared from his sight.

"Ladybug?" Chat looked around, rapidly blinking his eyes.

A human-shaped red blob appeared on his right. She has come. Ladybug came and saved him. Not all is lost.

"Ladybug," Chat signed. "I'm so glad to see you, or sort of see you. Something flew into my eyes and everything is blurry."

Ladybug was silent. Did his hearing also get damaged in the attack?

"Thank you so much for saving me. I was worried you weren't coming."

"I wasn't."

"Oh," was the only respond Chat could think of.

"And don't thank me for saving you. I would have let you crash into the next building, just to see how much damage can get past the suit."

"Ladybug?" Chat cried in disbelief. What was she saying?

"You are some piece of work. Had me fooled with your over the top flirtation. I thought you were a charmer, all bark but no bite. But I was wrong, wasn't I, Adrien? You bite and you bite hard. I can't believe I kissed you, I have to wash the stench from my mouth."

Chat stiffened, trying hard to decipher her meanings.

"What did I do? How did I hurt you like this? I'm very sorry for whatever I did, I just, well, I don't know what you are talking about. Wait, what did you just call me?"

"Don't lie, Adrien? Don't pretend ignorance. You think I don't know all about the adventures of Mr. Adrien Agreste."

Chat sunk to his knees. She knew who he was, and somehow she knew what he's done. Did she know Marinette? Was Ladybug the one Marinette ran to instead of Alya?

"I'm so sorry for what I've done. I didn't mean to hurt her. She is so special to me, I hate myself for what I did."

"I can't believe I dedicated my life only to be betrayed by everyone. I gave up so much for these people and now they want to send me to jail. And then, my own partner sees me as nothing but a sex object."

"That isn't true." Chat looked up, he wished his sight would clear so he could see her face. "I love you. I think the world of you."

"No, you don't!" Ladybug snapped at him. "I know you. You are nothing but womanizing, male trash."

"I…"

"He is!" Ladybug snapped again. "I told you he isn't worth the effort. We should have just let him crash."

That didn't make sense. Who was she talking to? He rubbed his eyes to clear his vision, instead, he gave himself black spots and flashing light.

"I told you he loves you. You have to believe him."

What? Who was that? This forsaken vision, he did not understand what's going on. He rubbed his eyes with the same results.

"No, he doesn't." That tone was definitely Ladybug, although they sounded similar. "Him and the rest of Paris. They must all just go to hell and leave me alone. I've had enough of all of this."

There was another flash of light, although this time he wasn't rubbing his eyes.

"You are overreacting. They don't want to put you in jail. I spoke to people and they support you. You should read the Ladyblog, see how many come out in your support against those few bad ones. And Chat is still your partner, he loves you and he did not betray you. Yes, he messed up and I don't know if I can forgive him - but that isn't against you."

"I really am sorry, I didn't mean to hurt anyone," Chat was confused as to who was there, but was certain apologizing couldn't hurt. Another flash of light. Was that his imagination or are his eyes getting worse?

"You didn't mean to? You messed up Marinette and all you can say is 'sorry'. When you treat your friends that way, why would I ever want to be your partner."

"You're right. I'm a terrible friend. She trusted me and I abused that trust. I did not realize I was doing it at the time. My feelings for her just came out of nowhere, it was so sudden and overwhelming, I didn't mean to take advantage of her. I was so confused between you and her and my feelings. It was only today, at the hospital, when I realized I love her, and probably have been for a while." Chat body slumped further, hands on the floor to hold him from collapsing. "I'm sorry Ladybug, I betrayed my love for you. I have developed feelings for someone else. I'm in love with Marinette."

A flash of light.

"You love me?" the words were uttered hardly louder than a whisper.

"Marinette? Is that you?" Chat head snapped up. He stood and took a few steps forward, cursing his bad eyesight. Slowly the girl in front of him came into focus, still hazy but enough to recognize Marinette.

"It is you. You're the one arguing with Ladybug. That is so like you to stand up for others. I've always admired that about you. I…" Adrien realized this was his one and only chance to make things better," I'm sorry I took advantage of you. I don't know what got into me. I could blame your costume, I could blame the situation. But really, it was me. I wanted you and I took what I wanted and I am really sorry I hurt you. Could you ever forgive me?"

Marinette was silent. His sight had not cleared enough to recognize her facial expression. The silence stretched for an eternity, she must really hate him. He was ready to leave and go away forever.

"You think YOU took advantage of ME?" Marinette sounded incredulous. "You're not a womanizer. You're not a betrayer. You are simply a stupid idiot. Oh my god! I can't believe you. The boy I've been crushing on for years is, at last, giving me the attention I've been craving, spending hours and hours only with me. I invite him up to my room, at which point he sweeps me off my feet and gives me the most amazing night of my life. And then you ruin it all because you're a bloody idiot. I shouldn't be surprised, you've been oblivious for years not realizing my feelings for you and are still clueless when I throw myself at you." Chat stared, flabbergasted, as Marinette took in a big breath. "This is just too painful."

Chat could not get the words to form properly. It was all too difficult to comprehend.

"You've been crushing on me for years?" were the first articulate words which came out.

Marinette nodded, then glowed with white light with a red streak down her body.

"No way!" Ladybug exclaimed, standing where Marinette was a second ago. Even with his blurry vision, Chat was certain there was only one person in front of him. "You are going to call him an idiot and just forgive him? That is so like you, forgetting what he did. He must take responsibility for all the hurt he put you through."

A flash of light, a streak of red, and Marinette was there again.

"Yes, he hurt me. But it wasn't what we thought. He didn't use me and dismiss me as it appeared. We can work this out."

"No you can't," Ladybug retorted before the burst of light faded, looking away from Chat to her right. "He cannot be trusted. I refuse to be his partner."

Chat stumbled back in shock. Marinette was Ladybug! Ladybug was Marinette! And they were arguing? How was that even possible?

Another flash. A red streak from face down to hip.

"Where is your compassion?" Marinette was looking to her left as if someone was there. "He loves you, I know he does. I can hardly believe it, it seems he loves me too. Can't you forgive him?"

"Marinette. You're Ladybug?" Chat was still confused.

"What? Don't be ridiculous. We a both right here in front of you? Why would you say such a thing?"

"There is only one person here. You. You are Ladybug."

Chat's eyes must be clearing, as he saw the look of disbelief on Marinette's face.

Another flash. The red streak went to her ears.

"Compassion is for the weak." It was Ladybug now. "He must be responsible for his actions."

When the flash came, Chat paid close attention to the red streak.

"That is rich coming from you. What about your responsibility to Paris? You have given up on the whole of Paris because there are few of them who want you to take responsibility for your actions."

"Marinette," Chat urgent tone caught her attention. "How are you transforming without the magic words? What's in your purse? Is your kwami there? And why are you arguing with yourself?"

"What are you talking about? You are really confusing me."

"Me too. This whole situation is very confusing. Can we sit down and talk? Try to work things out."

A bright flash and Ladybug was glaring at him.

"No. It's enough of this," she said.

"I want to talk about this. Work things out."

"No more talking. I'm done arguing."

"I want to speak to Marinette," Chat's words sent a cold shiver down his own back. Ladybug was Marinette. Only somehow, she wasn't. He has come to the realization that the two were occupying the same body but they were not the same person. By the look in Ladybug's eyes - she knew this too.

"No," the word had a tone of finality. "Marinette is not here anymore, and she isn't coming back. It's too late. You had your partner, you had your lover and you messed up both. That is it, no more Marinette, no more partnership. You are on your own."

Without another word, Ladybug sent out her yoyo and disappeared into the night.


A/N

Did I manage to show Adrien's descent to depression? Every spark of hope is stamped out?
I know Adrien doesn't generally swear - but push someone far enough...
Did you spot the slightly suicidal thoughts, or did I make that too vague?

I'd appreciate it if you let me know.

I miss having a beta reader which gives me feedback if I got it right or wrong. (My original beta reader's life became too busy)
If anyone wants to beta read the last three chapters - let me know.

Next chapter will be posted soon, as I only need to review and edit it.
As I said, it was written a long time ago. Because the next chapter is "The Splitting of Maribug."