Chapter Four – Puns/Clumsiness

Ladybug's memories sparked back to life. First a few, then by the dozens, until it seemed like every thought she'd ever had was assaulting her at once, demanding her attention. But there was only one thing she was capable of focusing on.

She was in love with Cat Noir. It had taken mere minutes to fall for him. Faster, even, than she'd fallen for Adrien, who at the moment still felt like a distant memory.

It- it wasn't possible! She wasn't- didn't- they were friends! It was temporary insanity. She hadn't been herself and couldn't be held accountable. They were professional partners and nothing more.

So why were her eyes following him as he walked Alya and Nino to the doors? Why did butterflies swoop through her middle when he scampered back to her? Why couldn't she answer him when he asked if she was okay?

Through the whole fight with Oblivio, he'd been so sweet to her, supportive, never taking advantage. Of course he had been. This was her Chaton. He was always there for her. Always- always flirting. And kissing her hand. And confessing his love for her.

He'd stopped talking in favor of staring at her in confused concern, so she was sure she was too late to hide it, but she clapped her hands to her face to hide her blush anyway.

"Yes, I'm fine, thanks!" she squeaked.

He cocked his head. "What? I said we should probably get going."

"Oh." The heat in her face was so fierce she could feel it pulsing through her gloves. She knew she needed to say something else to stop the horrible awkwardness she was creating, but no other words came to her rescue.

"Ladybug?" He reached down and closed a hand around hers, comforting her again. "Tail me what's wrong?"

Bad humor would not fix this situation. Biting back a hysterical giggle anyway, Ladybug bolted for the doors that led to the building's stop floor. "Nothing!" she shouted over her shoulder, nearly tripping as she turned to take one last look at him. "Earrings! See you later!" And she plunged into the building and out of sight.

What was wrong? She couldn't tell him that for a minute there, she thought she was in love with him. But I'm not. Not at all! She couldn't tell him how easily he'd beaten the artificial defenses she'd never realized she'd put up, to keep them in their platonic boxes. Or how she was afraid their partnership would never go back to the way they had been before.

Opting for the stairs to burn off her mounting panic, she made it ten stories down before her transformation gave out. Alone except for Tikki, Marinette slid down the wall of the stairwell, face in her hands. The echoes of her footsteps quickly faded to silence.

She couldn't tell Cat Noir that she hadn't wanted to leave him. Her bare fingers tingled where he had touched her, and was her heart beating too fast? She told herself it was just from her hasty escape. But she knew the real reason.

Him.

Author's note: For the first time in living memory, I wrote something that actually turned out SHORTER than I expected instead of much longer. Sorry?

Cat Noir's point of view next time! Who wants to see what *he* makes out of all of this? :D :D :D