I HaVe reTuRnEd. Well, kinda. Anyway, angsty, fluffy snippets of our adult heroes. I have ao3 now, and I'm posting there too :3

"Just a little bit longer, Chat," Ladybug said dully, "You know we can't until it's done."

"We're no closer to finding out who Hawkmoth is than we were when we were fourteen," Chat stated quietly, not looking her.

"I'm- I'm sorry. I just need to-"

"Stop, this isn't your fault…"

Chat turned to her, closing his eyes for second, and put a hand on her shoulder, "Don't blame yourself for the work of a psychopathic supervillain getting off on hurting people. It's not your fault the sick bastard is doing this!"

Ladybug looked up at him silently, tears rolling down her cheeks, before burying her face in his chest with a sob. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders, his eyes stinging for the same release he would allow his Lady to have. He wished he could cry- just one moment of weakness. A moment to steal himself for what was to come. Because it was only going to get worse from here.

Whatever Hawkmoth's reasons were, it must be important to him. They weren't children anymore, and that seemed to give him a free pass to stop holding back. Chat Noir and Ladybug may have got older, but the akumas only got meaner, as if Hawkmoth had lost any sense of restraint.

He's desperate.

And he hurt people. Even if the Cure repaired all the physical damage done to the city and it's inhabitants, there was no taking away the memories. He'd died before, and for Ladybug, he'd die again, but even if his body was unharmed, he didn't survive undamaged. Chat Noir had seen death, and it was cold and dark and empty.

Nightmares and panic attacks had been the only thing gained from the experience, the crushing pressure of the void he'd been trapped in, squeezing his chest until his lungs were about to burst. Until his head pounded and his senses dulled, and there was nothing but the silence of that place.

But he wouldn't- didn't- hesitate. Never. And, of course, he couldn't tell anyone. Or maybe it was just that he didn't want to.

Even at fourteen, he knew he wasn't okay. He knew he should get help, that he could get help if he asked. His pride would break him one day; he had wanted to seem strong then, and he needed to be now.

It was happening all over again.

Chat Noir didn't think he could take another round of Plagg's scolding. It was out of love, he knew that, but he wished the kwami would just give up. Nothing was going to sway him.

So he couldn't let himself break down like her, not when he was the only thing holding her together. How would they protect Paris if they were both nothing more than weeping children? How were they supposed to be brave and bold heroes if they were just a couple of kids who were forced to grow up to fast?

Not for the first time, he cursed Fu for the world he'd thrust them into when they were too young to see the wonderful world of super-heroism for what it was. A trap, something you get sucked into and never really get to leave behind. Obviously, the man that'd thrown them to the sharks all those years ago had got away quite lightly- losing your memory and ending up with a woman you love regardless is hardly a bad way to go.

But Chat Noir and Ladybug were absolutely screwed. There was no chance they were getting away unscarred, it was too late for that. But maybe- just maybe- he could make it easier for her. She wasn't going to hand over any real responsibility, but he could lighten the load, and there was very little he wouldn't do to achieve that.

Instead, he pressed his face to the top of her head, breathing in the safety of her scent, and pulled her tighter.

"I love you, M'Lady."

"I- I love you too, Chaton."

Hope you enjoy :3

anony~