Tfw you wrote 5 chapters on AO3 before you decided to post it here
"C-chat?" Marinette stuttered, eyes widening to the size of dinner plates.
'No... he... he shouldn't have found out. This wasn't supposed to happen, it wasn't supposed to be this way! Oh my god he knows, he knows I'm just boring old me! I...' Thoughts crashed against the edges of Marinette's brain in a whirlwind, whizzing by as soon as they came. One after another, a swirling whirlpool of panic and torture. What if's, Now what's, doubts and fears. Such is the way of low self-esteem. She couldn't handle it all at once.
Chat watched with overwhelming worry as Marinette's features grow more and more panicked. Her eyes were wide, shiny with tears yet to be shed, her hands shaking violently, legs wobbling like trees on the verge of being tipped over by a strong lumberjack. He knew what her reaction was, a panic attack, and an extremely serious one. Why was he just standing there?! Why couldn't he find the strength to move?
"Marinette?" He asked gently, worried moving might scare her.
She looked so panicked, so afraid, it broke Chat's heart into pieces. Marinette was one of the best people he knew, even before he knew she was Ladybug. Seeing her look so broken sent his mind into anguish. He desperately wanted to make her happy, to knock away all of this sadness, but he knew he couldn't do such a thing so quickly. It shocked him to discover she had so many self-esteem problems. That explained her disturbed nature about yesterday's Akuma. He didn't even want to think about how badly it had indirectly affected her. 'She must be in so much pain right now... oh Marinette, I'm so sorry.'
Marinette yelped suddenly, tears running down her cheeks like rivers over pristine Earth. Chat then realized he'd said the last part out loud. Before he could do anything, Marinette took off running out of the alleyway and down the street.
"Marinette! Wait!" Chat shouted nervously, vaulting onto the roofs of the nearby building using his baton.
He couldn't let her get out of his sight. Worry for his Lady sent him sprinting after the sound of her stomping footsteps. He was on the verge of panic himself, everything was happening so fast he barely had any time to comprehend it all. He couldn't let her get Akumatized. He knew that he'd just made her a way easier target, but he hadn't meant to! He'd only wanted to help... he'd instead sent her into an even bigger panic. Great going, Agreste! You already scare her as Adrien, way to go scaring her as Chat too!
He frowned. Why did he have to be so bad at this? All he ever wanted to be was Marinette's friend. He loved her compassion, kindness, courage and skill. Her being Ladybug made so much sense, how was he so stupid to miss it? He blamed the Miraculous Magic. There was no way he could be that stupid. ...Right?
He skidded to a halt when he reached Marinette's destination: her parent's bakery. He should've known she was going to run home, although wouldn't her parents wonder why she was home so early? He jumped off the roof and walked slowly to the bakery door. He noticed a note attached to the other side.
'WE'RE OUT OF TOWN! BAKERY CLOSED UNTIL FRIDAY'
So that was why Marinette was getting away with skipping class.
Chat grumbled. "Should I go crash her balcony as Chat or visit as Adrien? Doesn't really matter, she's scared of both of me now." He decided to go with Chat.
He jumped up the the balcony, tapping the door frantically. He heard small sobs on the other side.
"Marinette! My Lady, Princess, please let me in! I'm sorry I found out this way, please I just want to help you! It pains me to see you this way!" He called, voice wavering slightly. He had no idea if another Akuma was coming and he didn't want to test the odds.
There was a high-pitched grunt on the other end as the door pushed slightly open. He caught sight of a red and black head as he grabbed the door and flung it open, dropping inside quicker than a starved cat diving for an injured mouse. He rushed right over to his Princess who was face first into her bed pillows. Her body convulsed with broken sobs, her knuckles ash white as she tightly gripped her bed-sheets. Chat feared she'd draw her own blood with the grip she was exercising. He had to calm her down.
But what could he do? He had no expertise with this kind of thing! He'd never really had friends to share ups and downs with, being home-schooled practically all his life. He had to try something...
He reached out and put his hand on her shoulder gently, thumb stroking the soft fabric of her over-shirt. "Marinette." He spoke softly, "please, stop crying. I'm here for you. I know you must be fearful of everything happening, with everything I now know. But there's no reason for it. No one's perfect, and no one expects you to be. Not even me. Princess, talk to me." pleaded the leather-clad hero.
There was a pause in her uncontrollable sobbing. A hesitation, a contemplation, an opening. Her grip on her sheets disappeared. The next thing Chat knew, she lunged at him and embraced him tightly, crying once more into his shoulder. Her hands closed tightly on the back of his leather suit. He quickly hugged back, relieved that she hadn't instead pushed him away.
"I n-never wanted you-u to find o-out."
"Don't ever say that Bugaboo. I couldn't bare the thought of you being so sad all by yourself."
"I-it wasn't supposed t-to be like t-this!"
"I would sacrifice something's normality just to know you're okay."
"Y-you must be s-so disappointed."
"Disappointed?!" Chat exclaimed. Appalled by the thought, he pulled away just enough to look Marinette straight in the eye. "Marinette, I could never be disappointed in you. Ever. You're talented, smart, selfless, brave and beautiful. You're a damn good fighter, fashion designer and friend. The only thing bad about you is that you'd even think for a SECOND that I could ever be disappointed in you. Stop doubting yourself so much, it's painful to see. You deserve so much better than this, and I'm here to help you get that no matter how long it takes."
Marinette's gaze never left Chat's as he went on his little speech. Each sentence fueled the fire in her cheeks, and her tears began to slow. She then dropped her gaze to the floor. "H-how can you say all those things, you don't know me that well."
'Oh, if only she knew...' Chat thought to himself. That revelation would be saved for another day, he didn't think Marinette could take one more shock today. "Oh, but I do know you Marinette. Just as I know your identity, I will show you mine. But... perhaps another day. I don't want to stress you out anymore than you already are."
Marinette nodded silently, leaning back into his comforting embrace. She knew that his words were sincere. Her greatest fears had ruled her head for only a few minutes, yet he crushed them with a single breath. She didn't know if she could ever appreciate him more than now. He would give up everything just for her sake. Marinette didn't deserve a friend like him.
"Yes, Marinette, you do. You're beating on yourself again, please. Let yourself have a victory." Chat mumbled.
Oh. Looks like she'd accidentally spoken aloud this time. Sniffling, she nodded her head again as a sign that she would try.
"Come on." Chat spoke suddenly, lifting her up into his arms without a warning and placing her back in bed properly, "you must be tired from all of this. Get some rest Princess, I won't leave until you wish me to do so. Cat's honor." He bowed slightly, trying to lighten the mood.
Marinette cracked a small, soft smile and yawned. "Thank you, Kitty."
Chat waited until her breathing even out and she was fast asleep. As soon as he had confirmation of so, her kwami flew up to his face.
"Hello Chat Noir, nice to properly meet you!" the kwami whispered, giving the boy a bright smile. "My name is Tikki! I'm so grateful you found Marinette when you did. I've been trying for hours to reason with her, to break her out of this. I don't particularly understand human emotions as much as another human being does. I hope this isn't going to cause you any trouble."
"Nice to meet you Tikki, and it's no problem at all. Any trouble that may happen for me later is worth it to keep my Lady safe and happy." He replied quietly.
"Good. There's one more issue we need to discuss, however. It may be best to go downstairs to talk properly." Tikki suggested.
Chat nodded. He opened the trapdoor, letting Tikki pass first. He was a gentleman, after all. He descended the stairs and patiently waited for Tikki to speak.
"Okay, this may seem like a huge jump. But Marinette has been under constant targeting by Hawkmoth since yesterday, and this is a huge problem. I'm afraid he might be able to find out she's Ladybug if she's transformed when he targets her again. She hasn't transformed since yesterday, and I don't think it's a good idea for her to do so unless there's already an Akuma running rampant. Which means no patrols. However, the patrols are important. While you are heroes to mostly handle the Akumas, you two also handle non-magical crimes. Ladybug disappearing from patrols is going to cause an uproar as it is, and you can't handle the entire city alone." She explained.
Chat shot her a confused look. "Where are you going with this?"
Tikki took a breath. "I think it may be wise to call upon new Miraculous partners. To keep Paris safe and feeling safe. Also, as a side to this, I just worry that one time we might slip up and Marinette will get Akumatized sometime. If that happens... you won't have to fight her alone."
"No. There's no way I'd let her get Akumatized." Chat rebuffed.
"I'm just saying if. Chat, We need more help. When Marinette wakes up, we can all take a trip to the guardian. If we can convince him, he may give us the option to pick out new heroes. There's no harm in a fail safe."
Chat sighed. "Alright. But we'll worry about this later. Marinette is my priority. I should have a little while left on my transformation, and it's best if I have some cheese for Plagg. You guys don't happen to have camembert, do you?"
Tikki shook her head sadly. "Camembert isn't exactly a bakery type food. Sorry. But I might be able to convince Plagg to eat a different type of cheese when your transformation falls." She flew over to the kitchen, beckoning him to follow. "In the mean time, it may be best to make Marinette something. Tea should work, maybe something to eat too. Food in bed may lift her spirits higher, so no nasty Akumas come too often."
Chat nodded and began looking for something to make Marinette. Under his breath, he growled in anger. No Akuma was going to touch his Princess, even if it was the last thing he ever did.
R&R?