It's whumptober :D. I got to post something!
It is going to be for all members of the love square and the miraculous team, i'm a simple woman, okay?
Wish me luck!
It was a stupid idea.
It was hypocritical too, how many times as Ladybug have told Chat Noir to stop throwing himself in the path of danger?
How many!?
Too many.
And here I was.
...
"Once in Italy there was a school shooting from the local mafia! It was so scary but somehow I was able to disarm the guy holding me down and call the police!"
My classmates fawned over the Italian girl and she pretended to act humble, lowering her eyelashes and covering her mouth with her hand.
I just knew it was to cover a smirk. Before I could retort that the place in where Lila lived was wealthy according to her last lie, and that her school was well -gated and private- a shot rang out.
Of course I didn't know what it was at first.
It was Kim who recognized the noise, panic flooding his pale face, "Guys! That was a shot! From a gun! I'm positive!"
Everyone froze, doubting him, until another shot rang out.
Then everyone sprang into action.
Classmates went into their hiding spots as practiced.
The teacher locked the door.
The lights were off.
With my back against the wall, I realized something: Adrien wasn't here!
I tugged at Alya, "Adrien went to the bathroom!"
Alya's eyes widened and she paled in fear, "Shit."
Whispers of worry spread across the room like wildfire. Some kids looked defiant and were rigid in their spots like they are prepared to run, Alix among them. Some students were shaking, some crying. Another shot caused everyone to hold her breath, Mrs. Cobos sucked in a breath- hands cradling her pregnant belly.
She was a relatively new teacher.
"Everyone turn off your-"
Heavy purposeful walking was heard, someone banged on the door. This door. We were the closest class to the entrance, easiest access if this was the scenario I was imagining.
No noise.
Someone banged even louder.
Lila squeaked, her face pale and shaking.
I almost snorted and asked her if she could disarm the man.
I didn't, I wasn't stupid.
The banging stopped, replaced with a chuckle "Open the door or I shoot the windows and the first kid I can get my hands on."
No one moved.
A shadow cast over my hiding place against the wall, I looked up and saw a gun pressed against the glass. Finger twitching with anticipation to pull the trigger. He was going to do it. He had nothing to lose and if he was here it was either because he was desperate or extremely bitter.
Something about his gear suggested that he just came from a robbery, so did the bag slung over was filled with what I thought it was. He needed a hostage most likely, a way to get away.
An innocent.
I had to do it, he was on a time crunch and he wasn't going to waste time with mere threats.
On shaky legs I unlocked the door.
He snarled and I couldn't help my flinch, he pushed past and pointed at Mrs. Cobos "You, come with me."
Involuntarily my eyes land on her ring finger, her pregnant belly.
"No."
Everyone paused, the man turned to look at her, eyes feral he asked "What did you just say-?"
"Take me"
A moment of silence.
(Not really, in the background I can hear Alya's muffled pleading. Nino's soft swearing, Rose's sniffles, Max's fidgeting. I could hear Mrs. Cobos' protests.)
"She has a family who depends on her. I don't. Take me."
Something flickers in his eyes, pity maybe.
Annoyance, perhaps.
Probably indifference.
I'm still an innocent.
I was Ladybug, everyday Ladybug- a hero with or without the mask.
No one else can do this- was this Chat Noir's reasoning?
Alya lunges forward as if to grab onto my ankle but he was already pulling me out the room- already out of sight.
Stay. I urged them, Stay safe.
Adrien, if I live I swear i'll woman up and confess.
Chat Noir, you must have a lot of faith in me to sacrifice yourself with a smile on your face.
Maman, Papa,- i'm sorry.
I'm just doing what anyone else would've.
The man had bad hygiene, a knit hat covering his head, some type of mask covering the lower half of his face. He wasn't skinny, muscular just not cut. Some meat jiggled on his muscle but his grip wasn't anything but bruising. He practically dragged me downstairs to the main field.
The police were waiting.
"Let her go" Officer Raincomprix boomed "Let her go in the name of the law!"
"You law is crap. So no. Let me go and no one gets hurt."
He swiftly pulls out another gun, pressing one to my temple and pointing the other to one of the officers. He shoves me to the floor keeping the gun pointed at me, I shifted and he shifted the gun with me. He knew how to handle a gun, he wasn't an amature. He could shoot my brains out with his eyes closed, using my breathing as his only guide. And I could be running in zig zags.
I'm scared.
There is no lucky charm. No suit. No miraculous magic can fix my wound.
That doesn't matter- cuz I wasn't going to get one.
"What are-"
The big door at the entrance slam closed, and all the lights shut off.
"WHAT THE HELL?" My captor swear and fires a shot, it misses. Barely I scramble away, trying my best to be quiet. Someone grabs my waist and then I'm flying. The thing is I was taken at a weird angle and I suddenly knew what I had to do- my arms were wrapped backwards around him and my legs around his waist, my back to my savior. Thank god I was so flexible.
Gripping the familiar leather, I know who my savior is- Chat Noir.
Plenty of blind shot ring and I focus my attention on him. Even as the scratch burns even hotter. I wrap my body around his body even more.
More shots ensue and the discomfort in me increases.
"Chat Noir, what are you-"
His eyes were the only thing I can see in the darkness, he had Night-Vision.
I hug myself. My arms wrapping themselves around my waist.
"What kind of knight would I be if I let my princess fend for herself?"
I swallow.
"Are you okay?"
I nod.
Panic made it hard to breath.
He smiles grimly, "This will only take a few seconds."
He fought beautifully in the dark, I assumed. There was some grunting, a few more shots. Taunting then a 'THUMP'
I held onto the ceiling beam that was keeping me from falling off the beam I was standing on. It was wide enough for me to sit comfortably on. But if I sat i'd have to lose my grip on the ceiling beam, and there was no way I was letting go. Even for a second.
The lights turn back on.
I can hear everything but it's all fuzzy.
The 4 police officers are thanking Chat Noir, applauding him. The thief was slumped, some blood trickling down his temple, he spits out a mouthful of saliva and blood, I think a tooth falls out too. I'm not sure -my vision was unreasonably blurry, I unwrap my fingers from the one-armed self hug, bringing my fingers up to check if I was crying when I notice the problem.
My fingers were bloody, I look down at my stomach.
What?
This makes no sense-
I've been shot.
It burns.
My knees buckle and I lose my grip and I fall. Gasping as my body falls, I hear a yell and the familiar click of his baton being used once again- Chat Noir saves me. He lowers me to the floor, I grunt at his sudden catch, his face smiling "Falling for me already- Marinette, you're-you're bleeding!" He holds me close, taking a strip of my shirt and trying to staunch the blood "Someone help she's bleeding! HELP!"
Officers rush forward.
"Someone call an ambulance!" Officer Raincomprix orders, "A minor is hurt! Bullet wound, vital she gets immediate help!"
They try to take me away from him but he hisses- refusing to let go.
"Let go, Chat" I gasp out "I need a favor."
"Anything" his eyes look at me searchingly, turmoil crossing his face.
"I case I die-" I attempt to joke, he hisses. Spit hits my forehead, "Okay, not funny I-"
"Don't joke like that-"
"Look for my friend- Adrien- he went to the bathroom. He-he could be bleeding out somewhere. Just check. I'm sure he's fine but please check. I need hm to be safe."
His eyes cloud over with something, "Marinette-"
"MARINETTE!" A chilling scream causes goosebumps to rise along my skin. Alya.
She rushes to my side, shaking and tears stream down her face, "Mari- what-"
An officer looks at her, "Do you know this young lady?"
She nods and my eyes flutter close- for a second.
"Marinette" Chat hisses- so animalistic. I'll tease him about that later.
"Stop being such a big brother," I grunt out "Find Adrien and... make sure he doesn't see me like this. I don't want anyone else to see me like this."
He swallows, hesitating.
"Go!"
He passes me to Alya who was answering questions in a hurried distressed way as he helped the lady officer who was trying to stop the blood flow.
My eyes flutter.
"Hurry! We're losing her!" Officer Raincomprix barks
Some grunting, some questions, so much noise.
Can everyone please be quiet?
...
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP
I squint at the bright lights, I moan in disapproval.
Seconds later the lights are turned off and only the soft sunset colored the room.
"Marinette."
Clawed fingers scratch my wrists softly.
"Chat."
I look up at him and his green eyes meet mine, pain wracked his features "I'm sorry."
"What- why?"
"You got shot shielding my body."
Oh.
I scoff, "No, I didn't."
His jaw twitches, "You weren't shot before and you weren't after. On the way up you had your body wrapped around me like some dam shield."
"It was my decision" I argue, "You can't take credit for my decision."
His voice cracks "I was so worried."
"Now you know how Ladybug fees every time you throw yourself into danger without a second thought."
His eyes glow in the dark, his blond hair messy and lit up with the city lights shining through the window. He was very handsome. When had he gotten handsome? And when had I started noticing?
I blame the medicine they must have pumped into my body.
"No," his voice was like stone "no- don't you dare turn this on me! Ladybug can bring me back to life- you don't have that guarantee."
I bring my chin up defiantly, "You trust Ladybug to fix everything?"
"Yes!"
"And not me?"
"Ugh, you're twisting my words. You can't bounce back from danger like I can- you don't have a Lucky Charm to fix you."
"So what? Just because i'm some civilian I can't step up if needed? I can't be an everyday Chat Noir?"
He leans forward and I wiggle a bit more so that I was leaning on my elbows, propped up "Is that what you were trying to do? Be a hero?"
I wanted to smack him, "No, you dumb cat! I-It was going to be Mrs. Cobos- my pregnant teacher- I was just doing what anyone else would've."
"You're not me- you're not Ladybug- you can't put yourself in danger like that."
"Are you saying that if Ladybug was in danger and you were in your civilian form you wouldn't do the same?"
His response came too quick for y taste, "No."
I splutter angrily "Then you, Chat Noir, are a hypocrite."
"You still shouldn't have done that."
"Done what? Go with the thief? Protect your body?"
"All of the above-" before I can argue he drops his head "I know i'm being an idiot- but you can't be an everyday Chat Noir. You are the everyday Ladybug- you have plans and techniques and strategies in where no one gets hurt."
"Chat Noir," I croak out tears springing in my eyes "I would never put a plan in action if there was a life at stake. I can't live with the guilt if something goes wrong."
He looks up, his cat eyes ablaze, "And I can't live with the guilt if my princess died protecting me, her knight."
"Chat-"
"Do you think you were the only one who was going to get hurt?" He asked me hotly "The only one suffering? Did you think I liked being helpless as I watched you die?"
"Chat-"
"Your grip on my hand weakening, you body going fragile with each laboured breath. You growing lighter on my lap. Your blood wetting my fingers, your eyes flutterings shut."
"I-"
"And what's worse is the certainty in you gaze, the calm- not a trace of regret. You were just waiting for the next thing to happen, teasing me- being amused. A resigned smile. You were so certain that this was the right choice- but how could it be the right choice if seeing you there hurt more than a dam bullet wound."
"..."
"We almost lost you, you almost slipped into a comma. You were lucky- some miracle kept you heart beating for those extra minutes."
"Then," I swallow- taken aback by the primal look in his eyes "I'm sorry."
He was panting, face wet- exhausted by the passion that was just put on display.
Chat cared at a deeper level than most, loves so hard- he could destroy the world with his love. Or fix the world.
Just like- oh my god! I forgot about Adrien!
"Is Adrien okay?"
"I don't- what?"
"Is Adrien okay? You did look for him right?"
He rolls his eyes, "The idiot is safe."
"Don't call him an idiot."
He twiddles a piece of my hair, "You'd make a great hero, Marinette."
Heat colors my cheeks, "I kind of busted my chance."
"I can convince Ladybug."
"No," I insist "you can't."
"You deserve to be a hero."
"I rather not."
He pauses, "Wait, what?"
Heat spread down my neck, "I know, what a wimp- I just don't think I should be a hero. A hero needs to be confident and decisive and bold. I'm not. I don't care what you say- right now, where I am in life I don't think I can handle a miraculous."
"It's fine" he whispers, looking at me sadly "but I need you to know that I think you are confident and bold and decisive. I think you are capable of anything and everything. And i'm sorry-".
"Stop apologizing"
"So..." I clear my throat "you- Adrien was he hurt?"
"No," he shakes is head fondly, like I asked an adorable question "All thanks to you."
I nod.
"Why do you care so much?"
I shift away at his question and close my eyes, "He's a good friend."
Hearing a quiet sigh I open up a bit "And..." I falter "And I am kinda in love with him."
"What?"
I clear my throat, I try to cover my burning face but my stomach didn't like that, "Don't act so surprised, it's obvious to everyone but him."
"I-I had no idea" he pauses "Why?"
"We didn't have a great start. I thought he was doing something mean and refused to listen to his explanation. But he didn't give up- not many would take initiative like that. He cares, at a deeper level than most. I love that about him" I meet his green eyes "just like I love that about you."
"I-"
"I'm sorry I laid that all on you, I needed to tell someone other than Alya. Talking to you is kind of like talking to the moon, inconsequential. I know my secret is safe and that tomorrow nothing will change, I trust you Chat Noir."
He looks at me with wide eyes.
"So don't you dare tell anyone or i'll find you and beat. you. up."
"Remember Weredad? When you confessed your love to me?"
I laugh to hide my embarrassment- that was a day i'd like to forget. "So over that. Never mention that day again. Understood?"
"Okay- I just- fine- you deserve someone who loves you back."
I nod, "I know. Adrien doesn't love me. I know that. I'm trying to move on- I think i'm close. But" I wince as my stomach throbs once more "love can't fade overnight."
"Adrien might love you back" he whispers "he might just not be sure. He might be confused too."
"No" I say firmly "Don't give me hope- hope is dangerous. More hurtful than rejection."
He chuckles, holding my had in his "I don't know about that"
"Well, I do. It's terrible- absolutely terrible when the one you love is right there and everything is perfect and he tells you he loves someone else. When you think he's going to ask you out just to ask you to be help for his date. It sucks. So, if you know a girl likes you and you don't return her feelings, don't give her hope."
"Marinette, I had no idea-"
"Shh, you didn't do anything, silly cat. You didn't give me much hope, from the beginning. And I had no expectations, even when you showed up to brunch. You are fine."
"I'm sorry for everything."
He wa staring at his lap, shaking.
I sit up, trying not to collapse back to bed.
"What are you doing?" he panics, hands fluttering in all directions "You'll hurt yourself."
"Chat Noir," I say in a lethal tone, he pauses "you could have been the one pointing the gun at me and i'd still be indebted to you. You are an inspiration to all, you don't get to apologize to me. Kapeesh?"
"Marinette" he says my name like a prayer.
I hear steps head my way, "Go Chat Noir, go."
This time he doesn't kiss the back of my hands, he takes my hand and presses his lips to the palm.
Does he have any ideas how many nerves are on the palm?
He must, because my hand was tingling like crazy.
"Take a bullet for me one more time and i'll lock you up in a rose tower myself."
Then he leaves, closing the window on the way out.
...
I feel like I understand Chat better now.
It's hard watching someone you care about gets hurt.
He was right, my body did it before my mind decided.
I tried to protect him.
And I did.
And I'd do it again and again.
And again.
Sneak Peak for next fic;
His shaky smile broke her heart again.
Her broken heart pieces pierced her lungs when she saw blood drip out of it.
"W-what happened to you?"
...I love writing whump. You'll probably get another post super soon.