Marinette frowned deeply, but decided the best thing to do was get Cat Noir down into her room. It was getting dark out, and the forecast called for a drizzle tonight. Leaving him out here to get rained on would just be cruel.
"Marinette!" Tikki gasped quietly, watching as the girl began attempting to lower a rather limp Cat Noir through the trap door.
"I know, but he's not waking up." Marinette said, "Trying to get home in his condition must've been too much for him." her hands slipped trying to support him and she dropped him rather unceremoniously onto her bed.
"Eek! I'm so sorry!" she spat sheepishly.
Cat Noir didn't even stir.
Marinette carefully eased herself down beside her crime fighting partner, rearranging him a bit more comfortably. He was shivering, so she tucked her blankets up to his chin gingerly.
"There." she said softly.
She climbed down her ladder carefully, meeting Tikki's gaze once more.
"We'll keep him here at least until he wakes up. Then maybe we can figure out a way to get him home." Marinette chewed her lip nervously at the thought, "Oh... why did that dumb cat come out sick today in the first place?!" she lamented.
"Marinette, you're doing the right thing." Tikki acknowledged, "Only... this is very risky. Plagg can only hold the transformation so long with Cat Noir unconscious. You stand a strong chance of discovering his identity if he detransforms before he wakes up."
Marinette squeaked, "Oh no! You're right, Tikki! What do I do?! This could be a disaster!" she started pacing, panicking.
"Calm down, Marinette. Like I said, you're doing the right thing." Tikki assured gently, "We just need to be as careful as possible, that's all."
Marinette frowned, but glanced back up towards her bed where Cat Noir had curled in on himself in his sleep. He really was a sorry sight in his current state.
"Okay." she said finally, "Tikki, you keep an eye on things, I'm going to see what I can sneak up here to help him."
Tikki nodded, "You can count on me, Marinette." the kwami said dutifully and floated easily up by the top bunk to watch the sleeping hero of destruction.
Marinette headed down into the main living area, careful not to bother her parents who were cuddling on the couch enjoying a made for TV movie.
~x~x~x~
Tikki studied Cat Noir carefully with her blue eyes. While this was risky, she really did stand by her word. He looked awful.
Cat Noir let out what almost sounded like a whimper, brow furrowed.
Tikki pulled into a corner of the room slightly, just in case.
Another whimper escaped him followed by some unintelligible words... They sounded vaguely like a plea of some kind. Tikki tried to listen closer, but gained no further clues as to what he was trying to say.
Cat Noir quieted down again with a deep shiver, clinging desperately to the blankets around him.
It was around then Marinette's head popped back up into her room.
She set a small bucket of water on the floor, scooting it away from the edge as she climbed up.
"How is he?" she asked.
"I think he's having a bad dream." Tikki informed, floating down towards Marinette.
"Aw." Marinette frowned.
"What'd you get?" Tikki asked curiously, noticing Marinette now emptying her pockets.
"Well, as you can see, I brought some water and a cloth for his head." Marinette placed a washcloth over the edge of the bucket, "I also grabbed some paracetamol tablets for when he wakes up, a bottle of water for him to drink... Oh! I also brought a sleeve of soda crackers in case he needs something to eat, but he's in a hurry to go."
"Oh, are soda crackers flavored like cola?" Tikki eyed the sleeve of crackers curiously.
Marinette laughed, "No, Tikki. They're pretty bland, actually, but they're perfect for sick people. Easy on the stomach."
"Oh." Tikki seemed a little disappointed, but nodded her approval, "Looks like you thought of everything."
Marinette smiled lightly and went over to dip the cloth in the bucket.
She wrang out the excess moisture and climbed up to her bunk where Cat Noir lay.
She didn't even have to touch him to feel the heat radiating off of him. Gently, Marinette dabbed the cloth along his neck and cheeks before flipping it over and placing it carefully on his brow.
Cat Noir seemed to offer an appreciative sigh, but otherwise wasn't aware of her presence.
Marinette watched him for several long moments, guilt seeping in. He seemed to have gotten very sick very quickly. Too quickly, almost. How long had he been unwell? Was it just today? Her thoughts turned back to how odd he'd been acting last night. Had he been sick then, too? They'd both been tired from fighting late night akumas, but even last night he'd seemed far more exhausted than he had a right to be.
Then today's akuma made her wonder- had she been turning a blind eye to her partner? She tried to think of any other signs she'd missed that he wasn't doing well, but her mind drew up blank.
Quietly, Marinette slipped back down the ladder and sat on her chaise lounge with some homework that needed done.
She hadn't been at it long when rain began to patter against the skylight hatch, picking up speed to a steady rainfall. She was silently grateful Cat Noir had passed out on her roof and not on some random one between here and his home... wherever that was. Who knows if someone else would've found him? Or the scarier thought that occurred to her- who might've found him. They still didn't know who Hawkmoth was, and what a horrible thought it was to imagine their enemy happening upon Cat Noir like this.
Marinette shuddered slightly and shook her head to clear it.
"Are you alright, Marinette?" Tikki asked.
"Huh? Yeah. No worries." Marinette said quickly.
Tikki eyed her but decided not to press as her holder settled back into her studies.
~x~x~x~
Cat Noir wasn't sure what time it was when he woke up. He was certain for a moment he could hear the very pounding in his head, but slowly came to the conclusion the sound was in fact rain on the roof above. He opened his eyes blearily, discovering he had no idea where he was. A brief glimpse of his hands told him he was still in costume. This much was good, he supposed.
The teen hero rested a gloved hand against his temple, trying to remember what had led up to this moment.
The last thing Cat Noir remembered; he was vaulting across rooftops headed home from a long day. He remembered being absolutely miserable, but not much else.
He blinked as his hand closed around a now warm cloth. Had someone been tending to his fever?
He sat up with a groan, pink blankets pooling at his waist. He coughed harshly, feeling tears spring to his eyes as heat seemed to concentrate in his cheeks.
He thought he saw a blur of red, but as the fit passed there was nothing to see. Just pink bed spread and a ladder that caught his attention.
Cat Noir rolled onto his stomach and shimmied toward the ladder. The moment he started climbing down felt like a mistake as a wave of dizziness passed over him. He was committed now, though, so he continued on gingerly until he reached the floor. He leaned against the ladder a long moment to will the room to stop shifting.
There was a bit more light down here. He blinked owlishly, wrapping his arms tightly around himself as he looked for clues. A desk. A sewing machine. A mannequin... suddenly his eyes trained on the chaise lounge.
There lay Marinette fast asleep, a math book open in her lap and a pencil resting on the floor by her dangling hand.
"Marinette?" Cat Noir voiced in surprise.
Marinette stirred, "Mm?" she batted her eyes open, seeing Cat Noir.
Hurriedly, she stood, "Oh good, you're awake! You scared me!"
"I'm sorry?" Cat Noir offered. He shivered deeply as he seemed to take in the room once more.
"Here, sit." Marinette ordered, ushering him over to the chaise lounge and draping a blanket over his shoulders.
Cat Noir took it without complaint, bundling himself up.
"Thanks." he offered quietly, "Um... Marinette." he coughed, "Why am I in your room?"
"I found you passed out on my roof." Marinette replied, "You weren't waking up and it was supposed to rain, so I brought you inside."
"I... passed out?" Cat Noir seemed to be trying to remember it, but gave up with a sigh, holding his aching head, "I'm sorry to trouble you, Marinette. I suppose I owe you some sort of explanation..."
"Save it." Marinette held up a hand.
He blinked at her, and Marinette smiled kindly, offering him the meds she'd set aside and the bottle of water. "For your fever." she prefaced.
Cat Noir choked the pills down, coughing slightly, "Thanks... I'll get out of your hair now."
"Wait!" Marinette exclaimed and he looked at her with tired green orbs questioningly.
"You're sick and you already fainted at least once! Besides, it's raining cats and dogs right now!"
Cat Noir extended his baton, leaning on it with a wry smirk as he stood, "Cats and dogs, huh?" he held in a cough, "I appreciate the concern, Marinette, but I'll be okay. Really... my home's not far from here."
Marinette frowned slightly, "How about something to eat at least? I can get you something from downstairs or I have these soda crackers if you're in a hurry." She wasn't sure why she was trying to sway him to stay. If he was able to get home, it was best... She supposed she was just worried.
"That's sweet of you, really, but I'm not hungry." Cat Noir said. Truth be told, he hadn't really had much of an appetite today.
Marinette opened her mouth to say something else, but found nothing else to argue, so she simply frowned helplessly.
"I owe you one, Marinette." Cat Noir said, shedding the borrowed blanket.
It took all his concentration, but he made it up through the hatch with little faltering.
The real struggle would be his journey home.
Author's Note:
See the problem with me writing these in advance is that when I do have the time I really just want to keep pumping out chapters. *nervous laugh* Not sure if I'll continue this one chapter a day thing, but for now enjoy Chapter 3! Happy (Early) Independence Day to readers in the USA. Reviews make me happy and I'll see you all in Chapter 4!