Each shuffling step Cat Noir took was painful, but it was getting easier. With his baton for a cane and shallow breaths, he could almost trick himself into believing that lying to Ladybug had been a good idea. He'd tell her after he was healed what had really happened, and she'd get upset that he got hurt, and he'd bask in her adorable annoyed pout and the concern for his safety that would pour off of her in waves. And maybe tomorrow he'd even be able to laugh about the whole thing.

The hot stabs of pain in his chest dulled into throbs that seemed to pulse through his whole body as he came around the corner to the front of the school, but he could manage. Dodgeboy was there, and Cat Noir was happy to see him. No hunting down his prey.

Stairs, though. Stairs might kill him. Dodgeboy pounded after him as Cat Noir stumbled up the front steps and into the deserted courtyard. The akuma's bulk made it hard for him to navigate through the small doors, which Cat Noir was grateful for. It turned his small head start into a medium-sized lead.

"Come get me," he said weakly as he stared at the full flight of stairs that ran from the courtyard to the second floor. There was no way that was happening. Hanging on with a strength that he hoped would be enough, he pushed a button on his baton and lifted himself into the air. His fingers slipped only a little before he swung his legs over the railing.

He wasn't far from the art room. All he had to do was turned down one more corner and make sure Dodgeboy saw him go inside. That would be the easy part. Hiding his injuries from Ladybug's keen eye for detail would be more difficult.

He knocked on the slightly ajar door as loudly as he could, which wasn't very, then cracked it open further, wide enough that he could slip inside without disturbing his Lady's plan.

Yarn of every color crisscrossed the room, hanging off of easels and chairs, taped to the wall and looped over sculptures. Straightening so she wouldn't know anything was wrong, he tried to walk normally, following the trails of yarn right to Ladybug, who was stationed in the far corner of the room, holding two-fistfuls of colorful strands and already looking triumphant.

"He's right behind me," Cat Noir said, weaving his way through the trap, careful not to touch anything. He twisted to duck around a white strand that he hadn't noticed, and the pain in his chest flared, making him stumble.

"Are you okay?" Ladybug asked, face scrunched, but he couldn't tell if it was concern or scrutiny.

"Fine, fine," he said, fighting to make his voice even and his back a little taller. The effort was making his legs shake, and he gripped the baton harder to have something to hold on to.

"Really? Because it sounds like-

Splinters of wooden frame shattered as Dodgeboy crashed through the door, pausing only a second to take in the state of the room before barreling straight for them in the back corner. Yarn caught around his arms and legs as he waded through the room. Ladybug yanked, and the strands Dodgeboy had pulled loose snapped tightly around him. When he realized what was happening, he tried knocking the yarn aside and shot a few dodgeballs, though they sailed through the gaps and punched holes in the wall. He whirled on the spot, trying to free himself, but only making it worse. Ladybug leaned back, tightening the trap even more. Dodgeboy's hands were soon pinned to his sides, pointing at his own feet. She'd calculated this trap perfectly, as usual.

"Get the backpack," she said through gritted teeth. "Quick! Cataclysm!"

He should have watched where he was going. He shouldn't have walked so quickly. He shouldn't have summoned his power until he was close enough to touch the backpack. But he didn't.

A string he hadn't noticed caught him by the knee, and the force of his momentum was too much for his weak body to stop. As he fell, his hand brushed several strands of yarn, which disintegrated and let Dodgeboy's bonds loosen, though Cat Noir barely noticed. His senses twisted with pain, and he fell.

"Cat Noir!"

He yelled, "Fine!" instead of yelling out in pain as he pushed himself back up to his feet. It seemed like all the pain he should have felt over the last minutes rushed him at once, but it was almost over. His claws could still do the job. As soon as the object was destroyed he would be healed.

"I can't hold him!" Ladybug's warning caught what little of his attention he could spare.

Dodgeboy was twisting, pulling an arm free, raking it through the yarn and severing the strands. They fell to the ground, littering the floor like spaghetti.

"Lucky Charm!"

Cat Noir turned and watched as a giant fork landed in her hands, as tall and wide as she was. She hesitated only an instant before plunging the tines into the wad of loose string at her feet and twisting. Slack disappeared as she twirled. Dodgeboy was contained, but the trap was weak. He had to act now.

"I'll get the backpack," he said.

"No!" She walked forward, spinning the fork as she went to keep up the tension. "I'll get it. You take this."

The fork was heavy in his hands as she darted forward to finish the job without him. Because she didn't trust him to get the backpack; he'd messed up too badly. If he wanted her to trust him again, he had to hold himself and the trap together for just a few more seconds.

She dipped and swerved through her trap, while Dodgeboy held perfectly still. His eyes weren't on the threat inching closer. They were on Cat Noir, seeing the him for the weak link that he was. Ladybug was only a few inches from grabbing the backpack when the akuma took a deep breath and pulled. In one giant step, he yanked on the trap, toppling everything: yarn, chairs, easels, and Cat Noir, who didn't have the strength to hold himself up against the force and tumbled forward again, landing directly on his chest. The fork pulled out of his hands and the yarn unraveled as he gasped for breath, watched through watering eyes, and did nothing. He couldn't... His bones... All he could do was breathe and hope it would be over soon.

Ladybug tried to grab strands of yarn as they flew past her, tried to save the ambush attempt, but they slipped through her fingers as the akuma escaped out the door. Cat Noir heard the pounding of Dodgeboy's fading footsteps through the haze of his agony. He tried to roll over, take the pressure off, but it wasn't until Ladybug came over and helped him that he was able to do it. His hands cradled his chest in a vain effort to protect himself.

Something shocked his attention away from his wounds. Ladybug was frowning, but it wasn't an annoyed pout. He'd never seen her looking so furious.

"You lied to me," she said. "You told me you were okay."

When he tried to get up she pushed over his heart to keep him down, and she gasped at his flinch. The horror on her face twisted back into a frown almost instantaneously, though her hand became feather-light. "You've been messing around all day. I told you you'd get yourself hurt."

Pain boiled through him, pushing up bubbles of anger. It was completely unfair that she was blaming him when he was the one who hurt! "I was trying to do my job!" he snapped, teeth gritted. "I was the one who said we shouldn't split up!" Why am I getting yelled at? Why do I ALWAYS get in trouble? "You-"

"So this is my fault?! You didn't tell me you were hurt because you trying to show off how tough you are, weren't you? Why do you lie to me all the time!"

Fine? You want me to be honest? I love you! And- "I've never been so angry at you!"

A quiet beep cut across their argument, silencing Ladybug. Or maybe it was his words. She rocked backward on her heels. Pulling her hand off his chest, and then standing, glaring at him the whole time.

"I'll be back. I've only got four minutes to beat this monster... W-What are you doing?"

Pushing himself up, obviously, though he didn't waste his breath. She could see. "I can still fight."

"No. You can't. I don't want OR NEED your help."

Author's note: These chapters were so painful to write, especially this one. *cries*