I feel like I should've done more with this but I simply couldn't...

Thanks to DrafteeDragon on Ao3 for the suggestion!

"I'm dying, Chat.", Ladybug firmly stated, her gaze hard and her arms crossed.

He immediately whipped around to her, his eyebrows furrowed and his shoulders tense, hoping that she was pulling a cruel prank on him but knowing it wasn't like this. He had seen her change over the last months, he knew it was true.

"Why?", he asked, instead of 'what'. He knew.

"I-… I'm sick.", she looked away, her arms unmoving. He stepped to her, not touching her but his concerned gaze going deeper than she would ever admit.

He narrowed his eyes, stepping even closer but she turned away, her shoulder bumping against his chest.

"Sick? I can help you.", he offered but she shook her head, "Please, Ladybug, I have money. More than you need, probably. I really can help you."

She sighed, her posture loosing up only to reveal she was forcing back trembling.

"No, it's-… It's not possible to heal that… It's-… It's not curable."

He huffed, shaking his head.

"Everything is curable if you have the money."

She stepped away, tightening her posture again. He could literally see her snapping close like a seashell.

"It's not. I just want you to know that I'll have to go within the next few-"

She was cut off by a hug. Chat wrapped his arms around her and pressed her face into his chest, holding her close.

"You won't go, Ladybug. I don't wanna hear when you'll be gone because you won't be. I want to help you, I don't-… I can't lose you."

Finally, she sighed and melted into his embrace, snuggling closer while hot tears escaped her eyes.

"There's no other way, Chat… There's no other way… I'm sorry. My Kwami told me I had to go."

He felt a sob building up. She had been right, it wasn't curable with human medicine.

"So, it's-… It's magical, huh…?"

She nodded, her voice already broken, unable to answer. He pushed his nose into her hair, just barely holding back his tears. They both knew it had to be like this, they both knew she didn't have any time left. He had tried to deny it but what could he say – a bug's life was shorter than a cat's and definitely shorter than a human's.

"I'll miss you…", he choked out and she nodded.

"I'll miss you, too."