**A/N**

Alright ladies and gents, this is where things start to heat up. I went ahead and bumped up the rating a notch just to be safe. So without further ado, buckle your seat belts and hang on for the ride.

Chapter 14

Ladybug landed on a rooftop and surveyed the scene below. As always, there was the utter chaos of bystanders frantically running and screaming. The center of the mayhem was always where the akuma victim was found. Today's edition featured a welding helmet covering his face, and a discolored leather apron enveloping the front of his body. His left arm was covered in a long thick glove, but his right arm looked somehow crystalline and glowing with heat. Ladybug eyed him carefully as he dug his fingers into the bucket of a loader. Red swirls spread from his glowing red fist, transforming the metal bucket into a steaming glass-like substance.

"All aboard the hot mess express." Chat said as he strolled up behind her. Despite the situation, Ladybug smiled at the sight of him, memories of last night's patrol flashing through her mind and spreading a warm feeling through her veins. That is until more screams from the scene below brought her back to the current situation.

"Stay clear of his right hand." She warned. "Looks like it turns things into molten glass."

Chat nodded in understanding.

"Henry stop this!" A man pleaded.

"I am no longer Henry. I am Crystallizer!" A low distorted voice bellowed from behind the welding helmet. "I gave years to this company only to be thrown out like trash. Now you'll all pay!"

"Alright, Crystallizer, let's get this over with. Some of us have places to be, you know!" Ladybug yelled toward the rampaging akuma, disdain obvious in her voice as she leapt effortlessly down from her perch.

"Speak for yourself, LB." Chat chimed in as he landed deftly beside her. "I always have a clear schedule for you." He threw her a crooked grin and she rolled her eyes at him.

"Sorry, kitty. I need this one to be quick. Follow my lead." She twirled her yoyo and set her jaw.

"Yes ma'am." He saluted her and readied his baton.

Crystallizer faced them and let out a low, menacing growl. They could feel the heat radiating off of him, even from a distance. With a fierce roar he rushed at them with his glass arm outstretched to attack. Ladybug leaped effortlessly over him, using the opportunity to wrap her yoyo around his neck as she made a graceful arc over his head. Upon landing, she pulled the string taut, knocking Crystallizer flat on his back. Chat swung his baton like a sledgehammer onto the welding helmet, shattering it and earning an angry outcry from the villain. Ladybug readied herself to cleanse the akuma, but none was released.

Crystallizer sneered and mule-kicked Chat in the chest, sending him flying through the air. Ladybug shot her yoyo after her partner to catch him mid-flight, but Crystallizer used the distraction to quickly roll onto his knees and take hold of Ladybug's ankle. Ripping her feet out from underneath her, he tightened his grip, his hardened glass hand like a vice. A scream of agony tore through her throat as fiery tendrils swirled up toward her knee, glowing red with heat and transforming her flesh into glass. Her head swam from the overwhelming pain as she thrashed in vain, sheer panic overwhelming her.

Chat released a fierce war cry as he leaped at Crystallizer, baton raised high over his head. Crystallizer turned, releasing his deadly grip on Ladybug only to plant his hand into Chat's chest, using the momentum to slam Chat into the ground and knocking the wind out of him. Chat let out a strangled cry as fiery tendrils swirled around his chest. Ladybug watched in horror as her partner's chest glowed red and began to transform.

"Chat!" She shouted as she scrambled to her feet. She stumbled on her glass leg, the heat from it sending waves of nauseating pain and making her pour sweat. Crashing hard into the ground, she wretched from the pain. Her vision swirled and she nearly stumbled again as she struggled to right herself.

Kitty….

Praying her magic would guide it, she threw her yoyo. By some kwami miracle, it made contact, wrapping it around Crystallizer's neck. Mustering all her strength, Ladybug yanked with all her might, causing him to stumble backward.

"Can't. Breathe." Chat choked out. The glass cage now surrounding his ribs was suffocating him. She had to find the akuma and cast the Miraculous Cleanse fast.

"Lucky Charm!"

A thick leather glove dropped into Ladybug's hands. She glanced back to Chat. The fear she saw in his eyes as he clawed at his collar, struggling to breathe, was haunting. She grit her teeth as fury burned in her gut.

Nobody messes with my kitty!

With a renewed fire in her bones, she faced down Crystallizer, taking a protective stance in front of Chat despite her injured leg. Crystallizer let out a guttural roar, and Ladybug could feel the heat radiating off of him intensify. His crystalline hand now glowed a bright red, threatening to finish off the wounded heroes. Twirling her yoyo, she searching him for the akuma. The apron! She realized, and slid the leather glove onto her hand before she charged at him, ignoring the searing pain. She could do this for her partner. She just had to hold out a little longer…

Catching Crystallizer's arm with her gloved hand, she grabbed his apron with the other and dropped to the ground, sliding between his legs. The force knocked Crystallizer face first into the ground and ripped the apron apart, releasing the akuma into the sky. Ladybug quickly cleansed it, then threw her glove into the air to cast the Miraculous Cleanse. Her leg now returned to normal, she was kneeling at Chat's side before the cleanse was completed. A rush of pink overtook him and he sucked in a gasp of air. She threw her arms around him and he eagerly returned the embrace. They gripped each other tightly, neither wanting to let go. It took everything she had to keep from sobbing in his arms.

She almost lost him. She almost watched him suffocate. A thick feeling of dread sent a shudder through her body and brought her breath in ragged gasps.

"It's ok, Bug. I'm still here." Chat tried to comfort her in a hoarse whisper. "We're ok."

Ladybug's earrings chirped and Chat reluctantly loosened his hold.

"You'd better go." Chat urged softly, but instead of pulling away, Ladybug rested her forehead against his.

"I can't." She choked out as she opened her eyes, and his heart cracked at the tears that threatened to spill over. Everything in him screamed to hold her, and comfort her, and kiss her senseless. To show her that he was still there, and that he was ok. He wanted to throw caution to the wind and let her miraculous time out so he could finally see her beautiful face behind the mask.

But he held himself back. The right timing would come.

"You're running out of time." He urged again, reaching up to touch her earring and glancing pointedly at the groups of people that were beginning to come out of their hiding spots. "Besides, don't you have somewhere to be?"

"I-um. Yeah." She replied reluctantly, trying to center her mind as they slowly stood. She started to take a step away, but then turned back. "Chat?" He looked at her intently, his vibrant green eyes drilling into her soul. "I-I'm glad you're ok." She finally managed, her voice cracking, and he pulled her in, allowing himself to place a soft kiss on her hair as he buried his face into it.

"I'm glad you're ok too, Bug." He replied softly, his voice thick. "That was too close. Hearing you scream like that…" Another chirp. Chat sighed. "Go ahead." He urged her gently, though she could tell he didn't want her to.

Stretching onto her toes, she gently kissed his cheek before she swung off, a sick feeling twisting in her gut.