Chapter 25 - Touch
Ladybug debated for only a brief second before dashing for the fallen akuma instead of her partner.
When she wrenched the backpack open, she found a normal dodgeball, purple and pulsing with dark light. Shaking off the pain in her skull, she stomped on the ball, popping it, and the butterfly fluttered to escape her. In one fluid motion, she captured and released it and bent to scoop up her Lucky Charm and set everything right. She hardly looked away from Cat Noir the whole time.
The Dodgeboy she'd been fighting for nearly an hour melted away to reveal a boy she remembered seeing in the hallways between classes. The boy sat up immediately, took one look at her stony face, and skittered away.
All the while, Cat Noir hadn't moved. A niggling fear that he should have gotten up warred with her relief that his breathing was even, his face free of pain.
Snow continued to fall as she knelt on the hard pavement next to him. He faced the sky, eyes closed and peaceful. Without stopping to think about it, she reached for his hand.
He was going to be okay, but that didn't stop her from leaning over and putting her other hand on his chest. For a few seconds, she let it rest there, feeling the steady rhythm of his breathing, letting it reassure her, before sliding along each rib, one by one. They were whole and unbroken. She knew they would be, but she wanted to make sure, wanted to touch him to show herself that he was fine.
It was little more than an excuse to be near him, to touch him, but she didn't care. Her fingers paused over his heart, and she savored the even pulse, before she continued up his neck, then to his face, over his lips and into his hair.
"My poor, brave kitty," she said, her fingers grazing his scalp. "Why did you have to get hurt?"
Her touch finally roused him. Surprised, he pushed her hands away before he even opened his eyes. He rolled away and stood, his back to her.
"Um," she said, still kneeling on the ground. "Thanks." He didn't turn around, but she continued, "I'm glad you're okay."
"You, too." His words were stiff and addressed to the ground in front of him.
He stooped down to collect his baton as Ladybug got to her feet. Should she apologize now? Should she give him space? Wait until he was ready? They waited together, neither speaking.
Her earrings shrieked out their final warning. On instinct, Ladybug sprinted toward the school. As she rounded the corner, her transformation dropped away. If he'd been looking, he might have been able to see her real shoe before she was out of sight.
The ridiculousness finally hit her as she looked around. She'd been alone with Cat Noir. His back was turned, and he wouldn't have looked. And anyway, so what if he'd seen her?
An exhausted Tikki flopped into her waiting palms.
Guilt ripped Marinette's insides as she reached into her purse for a cookie. Ready or not, Cat Noir couldn't leave without a hearing her apology. She stepped around the edge of the building, Tikki still quietly nibbling on a chocolate chip.
She saw no one. Cat Noir had already left.
Author's note: Three.