Chapter 10: Protection

"Mari, honey are you still busy? I need to ask you a favor" her mom's voice echoed through her room.

Marinette scratched her head lazily, lifting her cheek from the book of the miraculous. She had fallen asleep in her room midafternoon again. She had been working on plans to make her yo yo more secure all morning.

"I think I'm done for now. You can come in mamon." She called back. The door to her room opened and her mother climbed in with a grunt.

"What have you been working on sweetheart?" her mom situated herself on a stool in the corner, observing her rather exhausted looking daughter.

"Oh you know, a new design. First one in a while" Marinette shut the book quickly.

"How wonderful! I'm excited to see it. Anyway, we have just run out of raspberries and peaches and we're going to need them for the tarts for the banquet tonight. There's some bakers banquet your father, and I are attending and we already decided on fruit tarts. Someone must've gotten into them. I'm betting it's your father" she smiled and gave her daughter a goofy wink. "I don't have time to go out and get any, I still have to make the remaining crusts with your father. Would you mind?" She asked kindly

"I can do that! I need to get some fresh air anyway." Marinette looked towards her window.

"Sounds good honey. I'll need about three pounds of each." Her mom continued opening the door to the floor below. "Text me when you're on your way back!" she called from below.

"hmmm care to go for an adventure, miss fruit thief?" Marinette raised an eyebrow at tikki who had hidden herself bashfully in her pillow.

"You caught me red handed" she giggled flying into Marinette's purse as she opened her trap door to head downstairs.

A little later:

Marinette hummed a tune as she walked home from the store. She bought the best berries she could find, and she was excited to try the tarts. She also grew excited to see Chat tonight. she looked up into the sky to see if she could see him already, she knew he liked to patrol earlier than she did. Just as she did this, she dropped one of the bags and one package of blueberries spilled everywhere.

"Here, let me help with that" a familiar voice sounded and she saw two hands helping her pick berries up from the ground. She lifted her head to meet two piercing green eyes. The boy gave her a smile and helped her to her feet.

"A-Adrien! Hi!" she let go of his hand and bounced up from the ground brushing her pants off nervously.

"Hey Marinette!" he got up with her.

"How are you? What brings you back to Paris?" her eyes lit up at the sight of him. She searched his face and felt how familiar it was. However, something seemed off. His eyes seemed different, less kind, less warm. Her throat tightened and she realized she couldn't move. He noticed her looking at him for too long and his smile grew sinister. Felix. She gasped as he lunged towards her and grabbed her wrist.

"I know you know where he is, little girl" his voice was low. Her heart began to beat out of her chest. She hadn't seen him since he stole her yo-yo. She froze under his touch, unable to move or say anything. Cold sweat ran down her back and his eyes pierced her skin. She backed away but he yanked her closer to him. She wished she could say something, do something, but he was so terrifying. There once was a time where she was able to stand her ground and punch him in the face for attempting to kiss her, even though she had been just as scared then. But now, ever since he took everything, she felt different. "I- don't know what you mean!" she choked on her words. She shut her eyes trying to escape but suddenly, she no longer felt his grip on her, and she heard a loud thud. She opened her eyes to find Felix laying on the ground below Chat Noir's foot.

"You stay away from her" he hissed. "Are you ok princess?" his eyes softened as he looked at her.

"I'm ok, Chat, thank you" her breathing was still fast.

"I'm gonna take you to safety I just need to take care of this leech first." He stepped harder but Felix was able to flip over, knocking Chat to the ground. Felix then got up with haste, sprinting in the opposite direction. "shoot" Chat grimaced. He moved towards Marinette and without hesitation, lifted her into his arms and ran towards her house. She tucked her head into his shoulder, enjoying his familiar hold on her. She had wanted to kiss him but knew it would be weird as Marinette, so she decided to let herself feel safe in his arms and not say anything.

"Stay inside. Please" his eyes sunk into hers, planting her to the roof. "Okay. I will" she spoke breathlessly, watching as he vanished into the city. As soon as he was out of sight, she transformed, lowered herself to the ground, dropped the fruit on the doorstep, rang the bell and set off. Her mom would need the fruit still.

Chats POV:

He hurried to find Felix. Blinded with rage, he raced through the city with nothing but anger fueling him. He felt the blood coursing through his veins. He caught sight of him turning the corner of an abandoned brick building. Got you. Chat dove down next to him but as he did so, Felix vanished. An illusion. Dammit. Chat slammed his staff into the side of the building. He was nowhere in sight.

Ladybug's POV:

She soared through the rooftops searching for Felix and her kitty. Stopping on a lamppost, she used her yo-yo as a magnifying glass. She saw Chat diving down towards a building in shambles close by. She headed towards him accordingly, but when she got there, Felix was nowhere to be found, and Chat had smashed part of the building with his staff.

"Woah there, Kitty, wouldn't want you damaging any more buildings with that" she started lighthearted.

He turned towards her, with a shocked expression. "My lady! You need to stay away from here. I thought I told you- never mind. Are you okay?" his eyes shook as he scanned her for signs of damage

"I'm ok Chat I'm ok!" She reached her hand out to touch his cheek but he scooped her into a princess position.

"I need to take you somewhere safe. I found Felix. This could get dangerous and I don't want you getting hurt" he spoke sternly heading towards his apartment.

"Chat! Put me down I can handle it" she banged on his chest trying to squirm away" he released her unwillingly

"My lady you don't understand" he started but she interrupted

"what's gotten into you?" she questioned wondering why he was acting so anxious and so angry.

"Just. Stay here!" he bolted upright into the air and headed towards the Agreste mansion.

Later:

Ladybug searched and searched but couldn't find Chat or Felix anywhere. What the heck was wrong with him today? She texted him

"Kitty. Please meet me at our spot"

"already there." she received a text back almost immediately. She made her way there.

"Hey" she sat down beside him at their spot, but he stared straight ahead. "Look, I know you've been acting weird tonight and I know I don't always talk about everything, so you don't have to, but I really would like to know what's up?"

"I'm worried about you ladybug…" he spoke in a timid voice that seemed hurt.

"Worried? Why?" she asked

"Because you're constantly in danger and I can't always be there to protect you. Felix is here which means Hawkmoth is probably out and about too. I'm scared that they'll find you when you're not staying with me. I wish I could just- I wish I could always protect you" he stayed staring straight ahead but he wasn't angry.

She gazed at him not knowing what to say. Every word mattered when he was opening up to her so she chose her phrasing carefully. "I don't always need protection Chaton. I am also a very capable hero." She reassured, placing her hand on his shoulder.

"Yes, but you're also a civilian." He clenched his teeth.

"I know but" she started

"What if they find you when you're a civilian? What if they find out where you live" he spoke faster now.

"Chat that's also why we can't know each other's identities. If you got… akumatized" she spoke slowly. This was it. She had to tell him.

"Yeah, yeah I know. But today when I saw you walking alone from the store. And he approached you… If I hadn't been there what would have happened? What if he knows? What if they already know?" he spoke low and his hands formed fists against the rooftop he was sitting on.

"Chat I didn't see you until I saw you smashing a wall. What are you talking about?" she spoke shortly through panic. No.

He turned to face her. Worry plastered all over his face. He unclenched his fists. "When you were walking alone today, and I saved you…. When you were yourself. You were so vulnerable, I couldn't help it, I was terrified. I don't think you know how much I care about you, my lady. And knowing that you're also my princess…" His eyes locked on hers "I'm sorry Marinette I didn't find out on purpose. But you needed to know…" he didn't break eye contact

"no. you can't" she gasped. His worried green eyes turned blue. She covered her mouth with her hand and began shaking her head anxiously.

"Now you're breaking more than just my heart- MARINETTE!" Chat blanc's voice sounded in her head as her heart began to pound.

"Marinette" Chat Noir spoke softly, sliding his hand towards her. She got up and backed away from him.

"Marinette? What how?!" her eyes welled over with tears. This couldn't be happening. If he knows who she is, then maybe…

"Come give me a hug. MARINETTE" The white suited ghost echoed in her head again, distracting her from everything going on in front of her. He couldn't know. Once he finds out who she is. he becomes…

"My lady, please try and stay calm. I didn't mean to… but it became so obvious while we were dancing at Nino's party… I love you so much ladybug I don't want this to ruin anything. You don't have to know who I am and I promise I only wanted to tell you so that you would let me protect you all the time now. And I couldn't lie to you. I couldn't keep it from you any longer." he stumbled over his words. He was now standing across from her, making sure to give her a comfortable distance.

"While we were dancing? I- that was weeks ago!" she started off angrily and his ears fell back on his head. "You've known who I was for weeks, and it didn't change anything?" her eyes softened and suddenly she realized that he knew all of her and his heart didn't change. That was one fear she could cross off the list.

His ears perked up again. "Why would it? As if finding out you're this incredible girl with so much talent, creativity and warmth would ever change anything! God you're amazing Marinette. If anything, it made my feelings stronger. I was ecstatic when I found out it was you" he stared deep into her eyes, holding her to the earth.

She took a step towards him. "You… stayed" she muttered.

"Of course, I stayed my lady. What do you mean? I love you" He reached out and grabbed her hand.

"It was our love that did this to the world" His alter ego bellowed in her thoughts.

She spoke through teary eyes "and I love you Chat but… "

"It was our love that did this to the world" Chat blanc interrupted again.

"Maybe it's too much… I don't think I'm ready" she pulled her hand away. She couldn't lose him to an akumatization. Maybe if she left now it wouldn't hurt as much. Her thoughts were racing.

"What? What are you saying?" he sounded heartbroken "Ladybug talk to me. Please" he pleaded.

"I don't know. I don't know anything. I need time." She spoke with an emptiness in her voice. It was her turn to be skittish now. She needed to escape. She turned her back from his broken expression and swung her yoyo into the wind.