Chapter Six – Unexpected Support

The smooth black leather of Chat Noir's costume was pressed firmly against Marinette's cheek as he held her in his tight embrace. She'd been hugged by both her parents and by Alya when she'd told them of the cause of her sudden bought of sorrow. Yet there was something intrinsically soothing in being within her partner's arms. As Ladybug she would push him away, certain that his actions held ulterior motives. But as Marinette, it was clear he was only offering support and comfort. Her petite frame relaxed against his larger one. Her eyes closed as she nuzzled into the strength that was Chat Noir.

There was no questioning as to why she was upset. Chat Noir simply held her as she cried. One gloved hand was gently caressing the back of her head while the other cinched at her waist. Then to her complete surprise he began to purr. The action had her arching an eyebrow and lifting her head to look at him.

Tenderness shone from those feline eyes and she realised he was trying to soothe her. Relieved that he wasn't secretly pleased with her misery, Marinette buried her face in the crook of his shoulder.

As her tears dried up, Marinette lifted her fingers to toy with his bell while feeling unsure to what she should say to him. When it came down to it, Chat Noir knew very little of her. Sure, they'd had a few adventures together but other those brief moments of insight she was merely an acquaintance. Yet he was treating her as if she were a friend or at least someone he cared for.

Marinette knew that Chat Noir didn't harbour any sort of crush on her, as his affection was solely aimed at Ladybug. The thought made her wince. Is this how devastated he felt each time she skated over his feelings?

Damn, she really didn't want to think about that now. She felt awful enough. Instead Marinette continued to fiddle with his bell, tracing the gap at it's base absently. Yet she couldn't stop herself from asking, "How do you deal with it?"

"With what?" Chat Noir asked.

"With being rejected by the person you… love."

The Parisian hero was quiet for a while, as if gathering his thoughts. "It's difficult but I tend to cling to positivity like a lifeline."

A sad smile settled on her lips. That was certainly true. Chat Noir was nothing if impossibly positive. It was like he was the living embodiment of 'a glass half full' type of guy, while she was often troubled by self-doubt while overanalysing things she considered important. Heck, it was Chat Noir who'd boosted her confidence as Ladybug and allowed her to function as though she were a powerhouse of superhero goodness.

Thinking about it made her realise that Ladybug didn't give him the credit he deserved, at least verbally. It was something she needed to amend. But now wasn't the time to raise that topic. Chat Noir had no clue he was holding an unmasked Ladybug in his arms.

Instead she returned to the topic at hand. "I'm not sure if I can be positive."

"Maybe not right away but you're strong Marinette. I know you're a fighter. You'll pull through this funk and when you come away you'll be even stronger."

At his declaration, Marinette felt a swell of pride at his description of her. Chat Noir always saw the best in her, now she just needed to believe his claim for herself.

Nothing like the support of a good friend to pull you through a hard time ;) As always, thanks for reading.

Now then, I had a question from a guest reviewer, nycbaby, asking if I had any tips on writing/publishing fan fics. I hope this helps you and anyone else interested (listed in no particular order)...

Make sure your first paragraph is interesting enough to hook the reader. This also goes for your story blurb, you need to intrigue people enough to click and read your story. As for the writing itself, try and paint a picture with words - it's challenging but worth it. Don't publish a first draft. Coming back a day later to re-read and edit can make a world of difference. Plan where your story is going, know the ending you're out to achieve from the beginning so you can build tension and interest. Avoid cliches where possible, although in general dialogue you can get away with it. Write about what interests you, you can chose to accept other people's ideas but stay true to what you want. Lastly, don't be afraid of criticism, it's there to help you improve.

Also, if you create an account on this website you can private message other writers/readers for support and/or get beta readers to revise your stories, giving you the opportunity to receive tips and polish up your writing before publishing. I hope this helps. :)