Disclaimer: I do not own any characters or elements relating to Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir.

Miraculous: Borderline

Chapter 11: Irreversible

"Come on, kitty, keep up," Ladybug hustled, the edge of annoyance clear in her sharp voice.

Cat Noir didn't say anything. Instead, he landed on a rooftop and stopped, staring after Ladybug with a frown as she swung ahead, flashing her golden locks as she back-flipped through the air.

Ever since the Wrath incident, Ladybug had been acting strange for a whole week. She'd dyed her hair and acted surprised that he hadn't known about it. She fought differently, using a lot more flashy moves than she usually did. She didn't think as quickly on her feet as before, which led to near-hits that would've ended in tragedy if Cat Noir hadn't jumped in.

All in all, Ladybug wasn't herself. She accepted his teasing professions of love seriously, like she expected him to praise her constantly, and she snapped at him when he wasn't following her closely enough or fast enough. Like he was her personal pet.

Cat Noir shook his head, his thoughts troubled. He quickly sprung after Ladybug, catching up to her with ease.

"Ladybug," Cat Noir said. He tried to catch her eye but Ladybug wouldn't look at him.

Something's wrong.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Cat Noir pressed.

Ladybug snapped at him, her eyes narrowed and annoyed. "I'm fine, stop asking already! I'm the leader here, and I ask the questions! And I'm telling you to stop talking."

Ladybug put on a burst of speed and pulled ahead of him. Cat Noir could almost feel the waves of anger radiating from her and found himself more than just a little concerned and confused.

Was it something that I did? Or has she changed?

Cat Noir changed his trajectory and headed back home.

Ladybug could finish the patrol rounds by herself today. Cat Noir couldn't stand being near her right now. In the evening, he planned to confront her about her attitude.

And he didn't mean to be subtle about it any longer.

Marinette turned the Bee miraculous over in her hands, letting the afternoon sunlight catch on its silver grooves. She was afraid to put it on, afraid for reality to sink in once she sees Pollen, the Bee kwami, and Pollen greets her like she'd usually greet Chloe.

Marinette swallowed and put the Bee miraculous back into her polka-dotted purse.

I can't stand being in my room without Tikki talking in my ear.

I miss her so much.

Marinette climbed up her ladder and onto her roof balcony, where she came to lean against the railing and stare out at the city, where rays of afternoon sunlight filtered in from between the buildings. The sky was a beautiful golden pink and purple, and Marinette felt her sorrow ease its way back into her subconscious, where it could haunt her in her dreams.

Marinette took a deep breath and felt her thoughts clearing and her breathing steady out. For now, Marinette felt at peace.

Marinette closed her eyes for a second when she heard a light thump. She whirled around and saw Cat Noir step off the railing and onto her rooftop.

"Cat Noir!" Marinette gasped in surprise.

She stared in confusion as Cat Noir brushed off imaginary dust from his costume. He seemed to be avoiding looking her in the eyes.

Marinette watched in silence as he finally straightened up and locked eyes with her. His eyes were a startling emerald green that shone in the afternoon sunlight.

"Marinette," Cat Noir started. "I—"

He coughed.

Was he nervous?

Cat Noir took a deep breath and blurted out, "I have to ask you why you took off my ring that day that uh, you…"

Marinette gave a tight smile. "Oh, that? Sorry, I acted irrationally. I figured that um, since your power was the one that nearly killed Tikki, it could also heal her when brought touching her again."

Marinette held her breath, waiting for him to smash down her lame excuse. Cat Noir gave her an incredulous stare.

"That doesn't make any sense," he argued. "My power is to destroy things, not to heal them. That's Ladybug's power."

"Exactly!" Marinette blurted out. "Uh, when your power and her power align, they can heal people."

Too close to the truth, too close…

Stop talking already, Marinette.

Cat Noir scratched the back of his neck. "Okay, well, you know how weird Ladybug's been acting right?"

Marinette froze, her eyes darting around the rooftop. "Uh, weird? What...weird? Ladybug's been acting weird?" Marinette coughed. "I didn't know she was acting weird."

Cat Noir was giving her a droll stare.

"Marinette, you don't have to hide anymore," Cat Noir finally said. "I—" Cat Noir swallowed. "I know your secret."

His eyes locked onto hers again and Marinette felt her breath catch in her throat.

"I—I don't know what you're talking about," Marinette stammered.

Cat Noir pulled out a familiar-looking charm bracelet from his pocket.

Marinette couldn't contain her gasp. "Where did you find that?" Marinette demanded, snatching the precious present up.

Cat Noir curled his fingers into a fist. "Ladybug dropped that."

There was a terse silence in which Marinette kept her gaze on the bracelet and refused to look up despite the intense stare Cat Noir was searing into the top of her head.

Marinette finally lifted her head and said in a shaky voice, "What are you saying, Cat Noir?"

Cat Noir gave in. "You're Ladybug, aren't you?"

Marinette started shaking her head, but Cat Noir pressed, "Don't deny it, Marinette, I have proof."

He started to say something but Marinette interrupted him desperately. "I'm not Ladybug, Cat Noir, I'm not."

Cat Noir's face tightened and he opened his mouth again.

Marinette raised her voice. "Just listen to me!"

A silence fell between them and Marinette felt her breaths coming in short and fast. Cat Noir's face was frozen between anger and hurt.

Marinette said softly, "I'm not Ladybug. I could never be Ladybug. Ladybug is much stronger than I'll ever be."

Cat Noir was staring at her expressionlessly, and Marinette suddenly knew that nothing she could say, no lies she could fabricate, were going to reverse his belief that she was Ladybug.

"Cat Noir—" Marinette started to say when someone screamed behind her.

"Cat Noir!"

Marinette whirled around to see Ladybug standing behind her, staring at Cat Noir with anger and annoyance.

"I can't believe you just left me like that!" Ladybug leapt deftly on top of the balcony railing and turned to look behind her at Cat Noir. "Well, are you a superhero or are you not? Let's go, we're needed!"

Cat Noir glanced at Marinette one more time. Marinette stared back at him sadly and shook her head.

"Trust me, I wish that I were who you thought I was," Marinette whispered. "But I can never be her."

Cat Noir shook his head mutely and leapt away.

Ladybug watched him go and then turned to face Marinette. Behind her mask, Chloe's eyes shone bright and keen.

"Don't worry, Marinette," Chloe whispered. "I've got your back."

Chloe shared an unreadable look with Marinette. Both of them seemed to have realized that the severity of their situation had effectively cut down on any lingering hatred or rivalry.

"Thanks, Chloe," Marinette finally replied. "You're doing great."

At that, Chloe grinned. "Thanks," she said, and then swung off into the afternoon.

Marinette turned her back on the city and walked back down the ladder into her room.

She uncurled her fist to reveal Adrien's present nestled in the middle of her palm. The charm bracelet was still mostly intact, and the plastic beads shone dully in the dim light of her room.

Marinette didn't know how to feel. On the one hand, she was glad that Chloe was Ladybug now and doing her job well. On the other hand, Marinette missed being Ladybug. She wanted to have that second chance to prove her worth.

But she knew, better than some people, that there are no second chances in life. Marinette couldn't afford to put Paris in danger again.

So she'd just have to make the best of her current situation and live on, despite the sour fact that Marinette had just hit rock bottom and knew that she wasn't about to go anywhere.

End of Chapter 11: Irreversible