Please see author's note (the first "chapter"). It's a long one, but it contains a lot of important information. I intend to keep any updated notes there from now on.

Finally, finally, Nathalie was gone. Adrien groaned and stretched his arms above his head. "I don't know what you're so tired for," Plagg snapped, appearing out from a drawer in the desk. "You forgot to resupply the cheese cabinet again. Not to mention you were no help to Ladybug today."

"Don't get on me about that, Plagg," Adrien growled back. "It's not my fault you go through cheese like a mouse instead of a cat. Are you sure you're not a rodent?" Here Plagg gasped in insult. "You certainly are a pest. Besides, Ladybug didn't even need my help today. Just like all the other days."

"Maybe she'd need your help if you were the slightest bit competent," Plagg shot back.

"I didn't know you could use such big words," Adrien snarled, then deflated. The cat was right. Lately, nothing he did was right. It was like a curse. He stumbled during fights, and who knew how many times he'd been controlled by an akumatized victim now. What use was he?

He glanced down at the silver ring on his finger. What had once been a symbol of freedom was crushing him along with everything else. It was becoming a prison of expectations on its own, and it was suffocating. Slim fingers toyed with the ring, contemplating pulling it off. But then he'd lose the only outlet he had for his frustrations at home. Giving up the ring wasn't much of an option. He knew that taking off the ring meant being smothered by his father for the rest of his life without any chance for escape. But was it worth this stress? It was like being crushed from every direction, and it made his head ache from the all the pressure.

He needed an out. He needed to do something, anything, that got him away from the stress. And that something usually involved getting out of his house. Even though the ring was causing its own problems right now, it was still better than staying here.

"Plagg, claws out!"

For a while, he just sprinted among the rooftops, leaping from one to the other with reckless abandon. There were times his feet nearly missed the buildings, but he always managed to keep his balance. Just barely.

Should he visit someone? Kagami? No, her mother kept her on a very strict curfew. Besides, if he suddenly showed up at their house, Kagami's mother would likely call his father. Adrien realized he didn't even know where Nino's place was. He could call, but that would require detransforming, and Adrien didn't want to walk around the streets as himself right now. Calling Wayhem would've also meant detransforming.

Who else was there? Unknowingly, he wound up looking down at a certain familiar bakery, where he saw Marinette sitting in the lounger, studying her history textbook. Of course! He wouldn't even have to detransform for her! He's had conversations with her before as Chat Noir, and she always managed to make him feel welcome. Well, it was a bit awkward when she declared her love for him that one time, but surely enough time had passed that it wouldn't be awkward.

He dropped heavily onto her balcony, causing her to give a small shriek. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you," he said, giving a wan smile.

"It's okay," she replied, recovering quickly. "What brings you to the bakery today, alley cat?"

His smile brightened a bit at the nickname. It meant that she felt comfortable around him, right? But it did remind him of a certain someone…And just like that, the delicate smile crumbled.

"Just had to get away, I guess," he answered. "I was feeling stressed and couldn't stand it anymore."

Marinette looked a bit unsure as she contemplated her next words. "From heroing? Or is it personal?" She climbed out her chair and stood close, looking as though she wanted to lay a hand on his shoulder.

"Both, I guess. It's like nothing I do is right."

There was another long pause. "I'm familiar with the feeling. I'd rather not go into details, but I once put all of my friends in danger because I made the wrong decisions."

The curious part of the cat burned to know the story behind that claim, but the girl had just said she didn't really want to talk about it. Still, he could guess.

"You know, someone getting akumatized isn't really your fault," he offered, drawing closer to the girl, just wanting some sort of comfort.

This time, Marinette actually laid her hand on his shoulder and it took all of Adrien's effort not to lean heavily into the touch.

"It was though! One hundred percent my fault! I lost an important mentor that day, and so many of my friends were being controlled! And sometimes I still have to wonder what might have happened if only I could've done things differently."

"But Ladybug fixes all of that," Chat answered bitterly.

"She might fix the physical damage dealt, but the memories remain, you know," Marinette said quietly. "I'll always know that I caused my friends' pain and suffering. …But you aren't here to hear about my mistakes! If you'd like to tell me what's going on, maybe I could help?"

Chat smiled down at her. She was always so ready to help others, so willing to jump in and save others. Just like his Lady. And for the first time that night, the thought didn't bring a bitter taste to his mouth. Just the fondness he always held for two of the most important girls in his life.

"I'm sure you've seen it already on your friend's Ladyblog. I totally messed up during the fight with the Commander earlier. And it's not like I've been controlled only once or twice before," Chat muttered. "It happens all the time."

"Yes, but may I remind you that most of those times are because you were trying to protect Ladybug from getting hit herself?"

"Maybe, but that wasn't the case this time."

"Maybe not. But that doesn't mean you aren't allowed to make mistakes. You're human, just like the rest of us. Plus, Ladybug has made her share of mistakes in the past. Do you remember when you first met her? She forgot to purify the akuma and Stonehearts appeared all over Paris."

Chat almost questioned how she knew so many details but figured that maybe there were some details that Alya knew from the event that she just didn't publish on the Ladyblog.

"It was a beginner's error," he defended. "She's grown a lot since then."

"But she hasn't stopped making mistakes entirely. You remember Miracle Queen?"

"She's been way more careful since that time. And now she seems to be so much better than me."

"You're just experiencing a bit of bad luck, that's all. It'll pass soon." Marinette turned her face upwards to smile at him.

"I don't know about that," he said, despite feeling a smile of his own creeping across his features.

"Well, I just happen to be sure of it," she replied. "Now, I should be getting to bed soon, kitty. There's an important test I have to take tomorrow morning."

A flash of disappointment flooded through Chat, but he tried not to let it show. "Oh, yeah. No problem. Sorry I interrupted your studying," he said, turning away to leave.

"Hold your horses, kitty-cat. I'm not just gonna throw you back out into the cold with nothing. Let me grab you something from the bakery. Any requests?"

He thought back to a certain passionfruit macaroon he never got to try. It might've been a bad idea, but it was his favorite, and he wanted any measure of comfort he could get right now.

"Do you have any passionfruit macaroons?" he asked. Upon seeing Marinette's complicated expression, he quickly backpedaled. "I-if not, totally fine. I'll take whatever you can give me. Oh, but can I also get some cheese bread?"

Her expression softened. "You know, I think there was a passionfruit macaroon left over today. I think I can find it and some cheese bread for you."

Something loosened in his chest and Chat Noir finally felt like he could breathe again after being suffocated for so long. He sighed in relief as Marinette climbed downstairs to retrieve the requested food. Finally, he felt some measure of contentment that he hadn't felt in at least a couple weeks now. He felt really lucky that Marinette was the one he came to. She really was like an everyday Ladybug.

A few minutes later, she reappeared with a small box containing the bread and a pale macaroon in plastic. "Here you are," she said, passing the items over.

He tucked the macaroon carefully into his pocket and tucked the box under his arm. "Thanks." He smiled. "And thanks for listening, Marinette. I'm really glad I came here."

"Hey, it's no problem. I'll always be here if you ever need to talk again," she said, soft bluebell eyes reflecting the night stars. "Any time."

"I'll keep that in mind. Goodnight, Purrincess." Then he vaulted back off into the night, the sound of her sweet chuckle echoing in his ears.