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!

Stop.

Smiling.

Like.

That.

...

Carapace protected with everything he had.

When people targeted his girlfriend's blog, he protected her. Putting the haters in their place- even when Alya insists she can do it herself.

When people tore apart Adrien's character- he tore them apart right back.

When people tried to give Marinette a hard time due to her clumsiness or something else- he fired back without even flinching.

That is the obvious side of his protection. He protected their reputation, their honor, and their lives. With friends as popular as his, haters weren't uncommon.

Like Chat, he was self-sacrificing, something that Chat complained about.

Except that Carapace was actually capable of protecting others because he had a shield, something he made sure to repeat to Chat many times.

Nino wasn't usually passive-aggressive about his protectiveness, not the way Chat was. For that, it oftentimes went unnoticed, unless of course if you were the attacker or the one he was shielding.

It was subtle.

The way he'd brush off attacks, acting as if they were aimed at him. The way everything rolled off his shoulders as he absorbed attacks and protected the true target.

The way in how you don't notice what he was doing until it's too late.

He was the first line of defense.

He rebuffed and slew most attacks before they were brutally destroyed by Chat/Adrien.

And tell me, child, in war who are the first to fall?

Yes, the first line of defense.

You have been warned.

...

"How do you do that?" Alya marveled, "I mean, I'm a reporter and I'm nowhere as smooth as you. You just shut them all down with a laugh, smile, and a killer burn but you were smiling so they didn't get it until we walked away-"

"Baaaaaaabe, I got work to do. Tunes to tweak, music to listen to- must you marvel over my eloquence?"

She pouts up at her boyfriend, tugging his earbuds from their home, she is the only one who can get away with this "Why don't you just write my articles?"

"Because it's boring?"

She gaps, looking offended before he amends his statement "to write not read. Reading your articles is a pleasurable experience that guides me through my day."

She pats his cheek, "You smooth-talker."

"Besides," he shoots her a wink, except he can't wink so it's more of a multi-eye squint "I freeze up whenever I'm forced in front of a camera or computer."

Snorting, she pushes his glasses up his nose- he returns the gesture "Never wink again."

"You love it."

"No, I don't."

"You love me."

"Off-topic."

He gasps, placing a hand over his heart "You love me?" He averts his gaze, "Babe that's so embarrassing."

"Were dating- you told me you loved me weeks ago."

"Still…"

He gets a smack in the head for that, but it was worth it to see the flustered expression that Alya rarely wears, that only he and a few others- but mostly him- can bring that face to life.

...

"CARAPACE!"

Rene moves towards him but it was too late- he did it. He had distracted the senti-bitch. Rene twisted her ankle and was cornered- he's sure she would have figured something out but that was too big a risk to take. The senti-monster isn't very impressive at first glance, but it was quickly discovered why it was dangerous. It destroyed everything it's slimy tail and…. well, body touched. It had two legs, like a t-rex and it had a more slick smooth strength than brute force. It is exceptionally freaky when you don't know where it is. Only what it could do.

It disappeared into the shadows, it slithered into the tiniest of cracks.

It was out for blood.

They had the whole square, the whole mile radius even, evacuated. And they knew that the monster wouldn't leave without their miraculous- whether or not it was still attached to their corpse didn't matter. Sentimonsters were controlled by Mayura- the closer she was the stronger the monster. The problem was that Mayura still hasn't shown herself. They don't have an item to destroy- and they were just hoping they can find a way to keep the monster down until Mayura shows herself. But it burned through the lamp pole Ladybug whacked at him, and they didn't dare try to use their miraculous.

But now he had no choice it was either his shield or his body. Besides his miraculous was his bracelet. Not his shield. Couldn't he conjure a new one? But in that case...why hasn't Ladybug used her yo-yo?

It leered over him, something slick running along its sides, it started to pull into bumps that were about to drop and burn his face off when a yo-yo wrapped itself around his stomach and pulled him back.

Thank god.

He was panting and Ladybug was scolding him, he can feel Chloe's huffs and Adrien's anger. But all that mattered was Alya's wide-eyed glare.

Then the sweet music played and illusions of Nino were dancing all around.

Doing particularly embarrassing tricks that he would have never done in front of anyone.

Such as twerking, pirouetting, curtsying, and a very suave version of the macarena.

Very nice, Alya.

The monster slithered a bit, looking aggravated and the team was about to plan a surprise attack when its form glitched. They froze, Rene played her flute even more harshly, the senti-bitch glitched again. Mayura was weakening- Marinette had mentioned the peacock miraculous being broken, and therefore unreliable at best. Crippling to the wearer at worst. Ladybug backed away cautiously, Chat Noir did too. Slowly he followed their lead, they backed away. Nino in the middle, and them at his sides.

In his peripheral a figure of blue catches his eye, "Mayura is retreating, to our back!"

"I'll go!" Ladybug yells, already rushing after Mayura. Her ribbon-like hair and vibrant red suit turning into actual black and red in the distance. Har and ribbon whipping in the win. God, Autumn was such a harsh season. Too much wind- how anyone can like this season is beyond him. Chat follows blindly, not sparing Nino another look.

Cold. What happened to mates before dates? Bros before hoes? (No offense to Mari).

"Yeah yeah," he grumbles, turning back to his own date- oh shit. She was tiring out. The leading duo was gone to rid them of the source and they were left with her creation. Mayura must be gaining ground quickly since the abomination was getting smaller and slimmer, his acidic footsteps leaving less of an imprint of the concrete. He wished, selfishly, that Mayra kept the chase up a bit longer- if only to weaken the sentimonster further. But the sentimonster, which was labeled 'Pelica' did not shrink further. Pelica was dancing on the projections, flipping his corrosive slime on them. Alya didn't move back despite the monsters advancing. She had to goddamit- who cared if it altered the illusion slightly? Her life was more important.

"Alya! Back up!"

Alya startles but thankfully Pelica didn't notice- since she had her sights on him

...

Her fingers fumble from the surprise- she has been so focused on keeping the illusion strong that she hasn't noticed that she was using up her minutes. That she was so close to the advancing Pelica. One of Mayura's finer- deadlier- creations. Hawkmoth was clearly not playing anymore. Well... they weren't either, goddammit! She readjusted her footing and backed up a few steps, making sure to keep the music steady. Steady music means steady illusions.

Good thing her boyfriend gave her the heads up or chances were she wouldn't have even noticed as a deadly ball of acidic slime came flying at her face. All because she was so focused on her music. She checked her pendant- she didn't have much time left. Liting her gaze from the flute to check up on the monster- she was surprised to see it was no longer staring at her illusions.

Was it all done?

Did they not tell her to mess with her?

Or to see how long until she noticed- that seemed likely-

Holy shit.

She whirled as she saw Nino desperately trying to blend in with the illusions, trying to do the macarena- but the monster was advancing too rapidly. She raced forward- a yell ripping out of her throat. The monster smoothly turned to face her, Bingo! She lifted her flute to her lips but a ball of slime headed straight or her head and-\

As it advanced in her, seconds before hitting her face all she could think was;

Nino? Nino, save me. Help me. I love you. Love you so much. I love you Nora, and my little sisters of trouble and mom and dad- I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I'm sorry. I love you. I love you. I love you. Nino- I love you so much-

But it never hit her, a green shield protected her. A shell. It was odd because the only way a shield can be activated is if Nino was there wielding it- he was. He was there. Just not in the shell. Not in his dome of protection. He was holding the shield- by standing in front of it.

She stood up- banging her head against the top of the dome. The shield shattered- not because of her head but because-

"Nino?"

Even Pelica backed a step or two.

"Nino!?" She dove for his falling body- his chest, oh god. Of Fucking god. His chest- he was, he was deformed or- no, he was melting. Skin and bones and meat alike melting off of him. His eyes, they were half-lidded, his breathing was erratic and shallow. And oh god, even eth scent of the acid burned her eyes. But, but that wasn't why she was crying. Because, holy shit. "Nino!? This isn't funny! Stop it!"

"Did we win?" Carapace shook, the blood soaking his side. He was a hero, he protected- with his shield...with his body. He was Carapace- he. Oh- lord. She opened her mouth to say something, anything to make this better. His face was going grey quickly, his beautiful smile was all wobbly and wrong- and.

Again he asks his girlfriend, "Did we win?"

"Hold on," she whispers "hold on a little bit longer."

The sentimonster started to shimmer.

Disappearing.

Good.

Get out- if she wasn't so scared of leaving Nino she'd demand a round two. No one- no one hurts Nino. Her boyfriend, her love, her- goddammit. No. Everything was okay. Ladybug will fix everything.

He shook his head, a sad 'I'm not gonna make it' smile playing on his lips.

Don't smile like that- Alya begs internally.

It's scaring her.

"Do you hea' it?" he croaks.

She can hear him suck in shuddering breaths- hurry up Ladybug.

She dials Ladybug on one hand and cups Nino's face with the other- her call went to voicemail immediately. Ladybug must be repowering.

Fuck- she had to hurry up. She dialed Chat, her gaze flicking wildly from her miraculous to her boyfriend. She detransformed against her will.

Nino does seconds after, croaking a 'Wayzz, shell off."

Chat Noir- Adrien picks up seconds later, "Hey guys! What a abuot-"

"Fix everything." She spits out, crying into Nino's cheek. He smiles sadly, his eyes holding unspoken promises- unspoken questions. A future that could still be theirs if Chat would just hurry up.

"Tikki is recharging-"

"Fix everything! Nino is dyin'. Dying! Hurry up!"

"Do you 'ear our song," Nino says- his voice carrying to her miraculous "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are grey. You'll never know dear, how much I love you. He sounded wretched.

She sang the next lyrics as his eyes fluttered close, her sobs making her words hard to sing- she hardly heard Chat Noir and Ladybugs frantic questions. Ladybug pleading for her kwami to finish faster- "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are grey. You'll never know dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away."

"Don't go, " she begged, even as his body went limp on her lap. His grip on her fingers loosening. His acidic wound carving more holes into his body- fix it. But even as the usual magic swept over Paris. Even as he stopped decomposing at the terrible rate- he didn't open his eyes and he didn't restart breathing.

She's not quite sure what happened next, but all she remembered was singing " You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are grey. You'll never know dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away". Over and over again. The chorus circling through her mind.

Nino.

As Chat Noir and Ladybug raced for them- all Alya could blubber was, "Fix him. Fix him- bring him back."

(They were supposed to go to graduate college together)

(They were supposed to get married)

(And have children- that looked like Nino but acted like Alya)

("Will you marry me?" he joked, extending the ring pop to her. Despite it being a joke, harmless- her heart skipped a few stuttering beats.

She liked his cap and sent him her best smirk, "Ask again in 5-years and you'll find out")

(She was going to say 'yes')

(She was going to say 'I do')

(She was going to say 'I love you' to his face every morning for the rest f their life)

(It was an unspoken promise)

(A silent vow)

Howls pierced the night sky. The cold autumn night unforgiving and cruel. People started coming out- they stared at the dead boy. In a heartbroken girl's arms, at a sobbing Ladybug and a weeping Kitty.

They bowed their heads, murmured softly. But no one dared step forward. Good- how dare they, they! They! Why weren't they crying? Didn't they know that he was dead? That carapce? Nino Lahiffe was dead? G-gone? They should be sobbing- they should be- they shouldn't be here.

How dare they? Take a video? Snap photo's? Get the fuck away!

Go!

GO!

The crowd quailed under her poisonous glare- nervous shuffling and then- then,

They heard shoving and screaming, and Chris Lahiffe is barreling through. Glasses askew, nose running, huffing. His 14-year-old self searching, stilling when his gaze lands on his brother's corpse.

He dives for Nino's body, searching clumsily for a pulse. Crying. Begging. Screaming.

(He loved his brother)

(Just like...just like Nino loved him)

Chris was furious, huffing and puffing and glaring furiously. He was bent over his brother's body as if to protect him from the world. He breaks his glaring to sob- then he asks questions,

"Why isn't he fixed?"

"How long till he wakes up?"

"Why can't I feel his heartbeat?"

The heroes couldn't stop their crying- not even to answer his desperate pleas. His sadness, his confusion shift back to rage. That alone was answer enough- the crowd breaks into panic but Alya couldn't hear them over her own heartbeat.

He yells at Ladybug- then Chat Noir, then at Alya.

Angrily, heartbreak in the young boy's eyes, he yells "Why didn't you save him?"

Behind them, a time tunnel opened.

Sneak Peak for next fic;

Alya grinned defiantly, and as the idiot leaned down to better observe her she spat- her aim perfect so that her spit landed square in his eye. He spluttered indignantly.

I bet you think I quit, didn't ya? Well.. to bad for you, I guess. This whump chump is back!

Comments are very much appreciated!

Thanks for reading!