A/N: Totally meant for this to be really short to companion fanart I created for my tumblr account. . . I didn't anticipating it growing into a full one shot. Derp. OTL Hopefully you enjoy.

Chapter 3: Untimely

Ladybug is about to detransform and leaves Chat to deal with the akuma.

The battle had raged far too long, but really, it was because her lucky charm only managed to partially subdue the akuma that the fight should have already ended. That, and the amassing injuries she supposed. If Marinette's current state didn't convince her that Ladybug was lucky, nothing would. With the exception of a few minor cuts and bruises, only her hair was ruffled with dirt and sweat. Meanwhile, her partner, fittingly, looked like something the cat had dragged in. Drenched in sweat with blood running down his face from the laceration at his forehead, Chat had definitely seen better days. Ladybug looked over at him desperately, dodging another swat from the giant when her earrings beeped again, reminding her that she had moments before she would lose the power of her alter ego. Chat shouted at the villain again in an attempt to draw its attention, but the towering monster still remained too close to risk turning her back on it. It was all they could do to keep it away from the fleeing civilians while staying just out of its enormous reach. The last thing she wanted to do in light of such danger was leave Chat on his own if only for a moment, but Tikki needed to recharge if Marinette was going to be of any more use.

"Chat!" She shouted as she vaulted over the next strike when it crashed loudly into the rooftops. "I need to go! I'm almost out of time."

The black clad boy pounced toward her, feet barely touching down before springing back in tandem from another hurtling blow. Retracting his baton, he twirled it rapidly between them and the akuma, following Ladybug closely as she backed away.

"Go, M'Lady. I'll handle this. Just-"

"I know," she replied, regret on her voice as she turned her attention toward the closest edge of the roof. "I'll be back as soon as I can."

Chat forced a charismatic grin, glancing back at her as she retreated. "I await your swift retur-"

The red figure of Ladybug leapt from the building's ledge when from out of Chat's peripheral he spotted the akuma swinging again with its other arm and it was then that time stood still. A sudden dread washed over him as he watched the weakened, but still dangerously huge claws flail ever closer to the girl who remained unaware of her impending doom. Without a moment to lose, Chat launched himself from his baton at the red clad heroine.

"Ladybug!"

Chat's panicked shout came as she leapt from her perch, causing her to turn and look when his body smashed against hers in a tackle, driving them headfirst into the alley below. A loud howl sounded and her eyes blew wide as she realized they had narrowly avoided the gaping claws. Shooting her yoyo to a drainpipe along side the building, she managed to slow their descent just enough before they hit the ground, resulting in a moderately rough tumble with Chat wrapped around her. Ignoring the spinning in her head, she immediately pushed herself up to stand, balking when Chat didn't let go. Instead, he staggered greatly as he attempted to rise with her, nearly knocking her back down in the process.

"Kitty. . ." Keeping at bay the irritation on her tongue, she instead sucked in a breath before continuing. She spoke urgently while assisting him by pulling him up under the arms. "Just hide until I get ba-"

She startled suddenly when he crumpled against her, causing her knees to buckle to compensate the unanticipated additional weight. Wrapping her arms around him in support, she lifted him back to his feet when he released a sharp gasp followed by a pained moan, gripping her arm as if it was his lifeline when his form slumped more completely into her arms a second time.

"Chat-" Her exhaustion escaped her this time as she hissed in frustration. "What is-"

An unsettlingly warm, sticky fluid glued her palms to his leather outfit as she pulled him toward her along his back and she realized she could feel his flesh between what was likely his shredded outfit. Tentatively, she removed her hand, holding her fingers up to the faint streetlight as she examined them to find they were coated in something reflective and dark. Her voice caught at the back of her throat as bile threatened to come out instead and Marinette could feel her entire world crashing down. With a spiral of guilt came unwanted tears, rushing down her face as she tried to get the boy to respond with anything beyond the agonized, shuddering breaths he took in. But only weak whispers escaped her as she did so; Weak for fear of drawing the akuma's attention, but more so for fear of what had happened to Chat. "Everything will be okay", she said on repeat. But even she wasn't entirely convinced that the words she offered as comfort were true. A vibrant red lit then the dim street indicating that Tikki's power had finally wore off, only to be followed a split second later by a green light. The damage of the impact must have overwhelmed his kwami as Marinette found her precious Chat Noir detransforming right before her very eyes.

This wasn't how it was supposed to be. Here, the partner she had grown to care immensely for was barely standing and barely conscious in her arms as both of their identities were about to be revealed. What took mere fractions of a second in transformation seemed to last a lifetime as Marinette's mind whirled at a million miles a minute watching every detail unfolding in crystal clarity. The magical suit seemed to just disappear as the light of the detransformation traveled up the length of his body starting at his toes, instantly changing his attire from leather to cotton, returning his civilian clothes stitch for stitch. What looked like orange tennis shoes followed by a light blue denim pant came into view. The light continued to move toward her but the tears quickly became so heavy that mixing with the advancing light turned everything into a white, watery blur.

And like that, it was over. The alley was back to its original dim state and she felt Tikki drop to her shoulder before her blonde partner collapsed completely taking Marinette down to her knees. She pulled him in closely as she sniffed back the cascade. While she was aware she needed to be cautious of his state, panic overtook her as she buried her head into the crook of his neck. She didn't want to know. Knowing would only make things worse. Even if she didn't know him, she knew he was Chat. Seeing the 'real' him would only conclude that he was vulnerable and mortal, just like her. Now more than anything, she wanted to cling to the falsehood that he was the unchangeable, ever constant, superhero Chat Noir. But reality held he was injured. He had gotten hurt and all to save her, no less. She needed to get him help.

That's when the faint stench of strong cheese caught her attention. Mixed with a soft, pleasant fragrance of a mild cologne, the scent became all the more familiar as she continued to breathe it in. The peculiar familiarity of it was comforting, allowing her to calm slightly and pull away from Chat.

Blonde hair.

Shorter than Chat's. The panic returned tenfold, this time manifesting itself as ravenous knots in her gut. He was her kitty. He was her beloved partner. He was her Chat Noir. And he was human after all, just as she was. Having already finished the emergency snack,Tikki now floated into view, the kwami's large eyes full of understanding pity, for Marinette's expression was transparent as glass. The girl had no need to turn the boy over for she already knew without a shadow of a doubt whom it was who lay on her lap. It wasn't supposed to be this way, but it was. All she could do now was move forward.

From a soft, but far from broken voice came the command. A red flash followed.

Chat Noir would live to see another day.

His Lady would see to it.

A/N: If you wanna find me on tumblr, search fluoroidtheauthor. It's where I post all my crummy fanart because I love this show so much. xD As always, thanks for your comments and feedback. Let me know if you ever have ideas you'd love to see me write.