"You know you can't always be Chat, right?"
Raveling the cord around her lucky charm, Ladybug swung silently through the large bay window. Moonlight traced her lithe silhouette, emitting a soft glow from her girlish outline. Yoyo in hand and the other cocked on her hip, Ladybug smiled teasingly at the boy.
Flicking his long blond bangs from his eyes, Adrien sat up lazily in bed. Bright eyes gawked at the superheroine, excited and equally nervous. Patting the edge of the ivory down comforter, he waited in anticipation for her to come closer.
Obliging with ease, Ladybug rested on the corner of his bed. Meeting his awkstruck gaze, she couldn't help but gasp. The damage seemed worse up close; Adrien's usually striking peridot eyes were unmatched. One was wide, beautiful as ever, while the other… wasn't. Swollen and a nasty shade of purple, the softness beneath his eye held the day's events. The lid seemed equally heavy, resting half opened. It must've hurt like hell every time he blinked.
"I know," Adrien whispered, forehead leaning instinctively to her touch. "But…. It's my job to protect you, My Lady."
"No, Adrien." Her whisper was firm, and she grasped the last threads of her convictions. Caring, gentle eyes sparkled just for her, and she could feel herself melting into the pool of adoration. That was just it. He adored her; it was both his downfall and saving grace. Which was exactly why she couldn't let him continue risking his tail for her.
A strangled sound of protest leaped from his throat, but the boy quickly set his eyes downcast before she could question it. Expression softening, Ladybug stared at his eyelids, one puffy and bruised while the other seemed burdened with a different pain. Sighing, Ladybug leaned closer, delivering a lingering, healing kiss to his black eye.
Lips grazed his lashes briefly before pulling away, but he caught her by the shoulder before she could go far. Shaky breaths tickled the bridge of her nose, and she scrunched nose before reiterating her point.
"Adrien… It's our job to protect our city."
"Exactly." Bashful doe eyes peered at her from behind the curtain of messy blond bangs. Ladybug felt her breath catch as his lips brushed up against hers. "It's not my city without you, Marinette."