22. Cosplay

"I'm going to face Ladybug tomorrow."

The atmosphere shifted in an instant, time stopping for a moment. "Oh?"

"I can't put this off," Chat said. "And… I think I'm ready to, anyway."

While part of Marinette felt relieved, part of her was panicking. Because apparently, she had one day to think of what to say to her kitty cat to convince him to… well, to keep in touch in some way, she supposed. She couldn't convince him to continue being Chat if that ring was killing him, but there was no way she was willing to let him go yet. Not when he still meant the world to her.

"I'm proud of you," was what she ultimately said when all other words seemed to fail her. "You were fighting that for a bit, so it must have been a hard decision."

Chat looked down at his ring. "I… it was," he admitted. "But mostly, it has to be done. And my friend… she said some things that kinda hit me and made me realize I had to do this."

"I'm really glad to hear it," she said, keeping up her smile and pretending it actually wasn't tearing her up inside. It hadn't been her to help him, and a part of her hated that.

He shrugged. "So… I guess you can say today's visit is a good-bye."

Her expression fell. So this would be the last time Chat would come by before he gave up his ring. But she also realized Marinette wouldn't know that. She quickly scrambled to respond appropriately. "Oh? You're not going to stop by anymore?"

He shook his head. "I'm giving up being Chat Noir… er… Blanc."

"Noir," she countered. "You've always been Chat Noir, even if you're white at the moment."

He huffed, bitter smile picking up his lips. "You know… when I first turned white, felt like I was cosplaying, but now I don't even know what it feels like to be Noir anymore."

"I never really thought there was a difference," she said. "You're still the hero of Paris in my eyes."

The smile he gave her this time was bittersweet and sorrowful. "Then remember me like that, Princess. Please."

She nodded. "I promise."

He relaxed at her answer, as though that weight on his shoulders eased a little. "Promise me one last thing, princess?"

"Yeah, of course."

"Will you stick by Adrien's side?"

She blinked a few times, trying to wrap her head around his words. Because while she hadn't known what to expect, that certainly wasn't even in the ballpark of possibilities. "Wh… what do you mean? I mean, yeah, of course I'll stay by his side, but—"

"That's all I need to know," he said. "He needs you."

Her brow furrowed, her confusion rising by the second. "What made you say that, though? I didn't know you knew him."

"I do," Chat said. "In a way."

"That's vague."

He shrugged.

"You're really not gonna tell me?"

For a moment, his expression turned soft. "Maybe in time, Princess, you'll figure out why."

"But you just said this was your good bye."

"It is," he confirmed. "But you're not saying good bye to Adrien."

Understanding slowly dawned on her. It seemed like Chat was hinting Adrien would tell her someday. Maybe that was one of those many secrets that sat on his shoulders that was weighing him down so much.

But she supposed Chat was right when he said 'in time' because she wouldn't push Adrien for anything right now. She'd wait until he could stand on his own feet again, at least.

"Well," she continued. "Tit for tat, right?"

Chat quirked a brow. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that Ladybug seemed really distraught over the thought of loosing you," she started, trying to chose her words carefully. "So, will you promise me that you'll reassure her you're not going anywhere?"

His lips tugged down int a grimace. "Princess…"

"Because maybe this is just my perspective, but a Ladybug without her Chat Noir seems… really weird and wrong."

Chat bit his lip while a war of emotions played out behind his eyes. In the end, he sighed. "Okay. I promise."

"I mean, you love her, right?"

"I do," he murmured.

"Then wouldn't it be harder to leave things strained between you?"

Chat seemed flustered by her challenge, his ears falling and lips curling into a confused frown. "I… yeah. It would."

He grinned, able to relax a bit. Because she knew her kitty well enough to know he meant those words. There was hope yet.

23. Video games

Something told her she wasn't supposed to catch him on her balcony. After all, he told her yesterday that he wouldn't be coming by anymore, and he looked rather shocked and flustered by her sudden appearance on her balcony.

"Uhh, hey," he said, giving her a weak smile.

"Fancy seeing you here," she said, grinning as she hopped up onto her balcony, pretending as though she wasn't just about to transform to go meet him. She begged her panicked heart to calm down all while being super thankful he hadn't caught her. She didn't know how he'd take that and the last thing she wanted was to make her cat run away during her last chance to convince him to stay.

"What brings you by again?" she finally asked before spotting the wrapped gift in his hand.

He seemed to realize he was holding said object, startling before extending the pink papered box out to her. "I owe you a sincere thank you," he said. "So I just… wanted to leave you a little something."

"You didn't have to."

"I wanted to," he said. "I thought you deserve it. And more, but this is the least I can do."

She took the extended gift. "Can I open it now?"

He shrugged. "I guess. If you want."

Careful to not tear the paper to the best of her ability, she snapped the tape with a fingernail and opened the gift, only to see the newest video game she'd been saving up for. "How'd you know?"

"A guess," he said with a shrug and a smile. "And I thought you'd appreciate some down time since you've basically been working on nothing but commissions while babysitting… er, well, two grown men."

She chuckled, holding the gift close to her chest. "Thank you. I really appreciate it."

He nodded, but contrary to what Marinette thought would happen, he didn't immediately turn to leave. "Hey, um… do me a favor?"

"Of course. What is it?"

"Maybe… take that over to Adrien sometime," he said sheepishly. "Because I think the workaholic could use a break and might only take one if you force it on him."

With a sigh, she smiled before giving him a nod. "Something tells me he wouldn't be up for it right away. I'd settle for seeing him sleep more and eating properly, at the moment."

"Something tells me you'll see that in time."

"I really hope so," she softly spoke. "I hate watching him suffer like this."

Something in Chat's expression softened. "I think he really appreciates your concern. Just be sure to take care of yourself too, okay?"

"I'll work on that," she said with a wink.

24. Jealousy

"Hey," Marinette asked right before Chat was about to leap away. "Do you want some cookies or anything sweet before you go? Or did your friend force feed you again?"

He paused, leaning back against the railing to steady himself. Marinette couldn't miss the small smile that picked up the corners of his lips. "She force fed me again. And not to mention she's a pretty good baker herself."

Suddenly, the amount of jealousy she was feeling towards chat's mystery friend spiked. It took her a moment to realize that it was because she felt… like she was being replaced. This girl seemed to hold a special place in his heart beyond either her as Marinette or her as Ladybug. She thought Ladybug was the love of his life, but whenever he mentioned this friend, he got a little twinkle in his eye. And that hurt more than she ever could have expected.

But she tried to cool her head. If this person was the only person to get through to Chat, then she'd take it, even if it broke her heart in the process. Because… just as he loved Ladybug, she loved him. Saying it was a strictly romantic love may have been a stretch, but this man…

No one would ever replace him. And she didn't want anyone to.

"I'm glad to hear it. But, I'm a pretty good baker, too, you know," she said with a wink, hoping to smother those intense feelings of hers.

"You are," he admitted, with a teasing smile. "But I would have to say she's on your level."

"I'd gladly hold a bake-off with her and prove that wrong."

Chat burst into a giggle fit that soon turned into a coughing fit. "Ahh, princess," he eventually choked out, shooting her a strained smile. "So competitive."

"You better believe it," she said, trying not to calm her worry. He was trying to brush it off, slowly regaining his composure. Part of her wanted to get him to sit down while she got him some water, but he seemed to be steady again. However, it was a good reminder that now might be a good time to let him go. He had to go see the other her, after all, and she was anxiously looking forward to that. "Now, I'll let you go to go see your lady."

Any joy that had been on his face faded, his smile turning sad as his ears drooped. "Yeah. Wish me luck?"

You can have half of it, kitty. Because I'll need the other half to get you to stay. "Good luck, Chat. And it's been wonderful knowing you."

Warmth returned to the smile he gave her. "Thanks, princess. It's been wonderful knowing you, too. Never change."

And with that, he leapt off into the night, a white blur on the horizon.

Marinette watched him disappear, then took an extra moment to put the game on her bed before hopping back out on her balcony to transform. She was ready to face her kitty. It was now or never.