A/N: This is a really OOOOOOOOOOOOOLD drabble I recently found that I've written on Tumblr and immediately added it here with some edits and extensions. This is a post-reveal, pre-relationship one!

Context - So when Marinette and Adrien are suited up as Ladybug and Chat Noir, they have an unspoken rule to only refer to each other as the person they're presenting themselves/dressed up as to ensure that their identities are safe. And during an intense battle, one of them gets badly hurt (most likely to protect the other) and the other one cradles them on their lap in a safe place, whispering out their partner's true name!

Enjoy!

"All over the World to be

In your Head, in your Ear

Just to clear your Mind

Leave it all Behind"

Radio Hardcore - ItaloBrothers

Pairing - Ladynoir

Prompt - 'Cradle'

~(x)~

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"Chat Noir! Chat Noir...mon Chaton Noir...hang in there..." Ladybug rasped, lightly patting her unconscious partner's cheek as she rested his pained head on her lap whilst combing her spare fingers through his hair. The bumps and lacerations that she spotted hiding under his golden hair, coating her fingers and his locks thickly with blood, only fanned the flames of fury that bubbled in the pit of her stomach, urging her to end their long-time enemy right there and then.

But her Chaton's health and wellbeing mattered so much more than delivering a well-deserving beating against le Papillon (even if her heart was adamant that she screamed for the butterfly wielder to face her now so that she could shatter all of his bones with brute force for indirectly hurting her pauvre partner for the millionth time).

The last thing she ever wanted was for her partner to wake up in so much pain...and just so alone. She knew just how much he hated the solitude and it would crush her heart anew if she put him through that. And knowing him? He would smile and bear it all as if nothing had happened.

"Mon Chaton...please, wake up…" Her lips wobbled, the destruction and fear that the Akuma was spreading in the distance and the terrified screaming of the fleeing Parisians fell on deaf ears. Ladybug then bent down to press her forehead against his, her heart pounding within her chest whilst his was slow and steady under her fingertips (indicating that thankfully, thankfully, he was alive).

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"Adrien...please."

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She was suddenly met with the flash of soft, twin emeralds under his tousled fringe, a quiet, pained groan escaping his throat before he quickly plastered his iconic, silly smile on his chapped lips.

"Go...I'll be fine. Go save Paris, Marinette," He urged, his aching but strong hand tender on her trembling cheek and his eyes filled with all the encouragement in the entire universe. "Give me a little while to gather my bearings and I'll join you in an instance, I promise, Marinette!"

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With a swift kiss to his forehead, she nodded and placed him against the wall upon one of the many derelict buildings in the area, swinging away but not without one last glance at her beaming partner who only brightened up with all the faith and love he has for his amazing partner.

She will save Paris.

And she will save him.

~(x)~

BOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!

'Oh, no…no, no, no, no!' Scrambling back to his feet after getting swept away by the Akuma earlier on only to see his Lady shoot through three whole buildings like a bullet right after, courtesy of said Akuma, Chat Noir ran towards her direction at blinding speeds. He paid no mind to anything else, leaping through broken windows and skidding across rooftops without even taking a second to breathe.

The rest of Paris be damned!

"Ladybug…LADYBUG!" Much to his absolute horror, he spotted his motionless partner amongst the rubble of broken glass and crumbling bricks. He was over her in a split second, brushing away all the dust and debris from her frame, choking on his frantic whispers of her name and trying his utmost best not to cry with the way blood ran down her forehead and face like all of his nightmares come true.

"Marinette…" He gasped out her true name after placing his ear against her chest and feeling her resilient heart pound back against her ribcage (Dieu, merci). "My sweet, sweet Marinette…please open your eyes…please!" Tears were pooling down his eyes as he pressed a sound kiss just above her heart, tasting the acidic copper of her blood and the ash that assaulted all five of his senses. Luck was on his side for once and he was met with a pained groan from his partner, her eyes fluttering open only to shut them back tight as she registered the true, excruciating pain that ricocheted within her veins (like knives needling through the very marrows of her bones).

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"H-Hey," She whispered hoarsely, putting on a cheerful front and attempting to swallow back down her agonising pain. Chat Noir could only watch her with wet eyes, leaning her head against his chest whilst the rest of her body was placed on his lap. "I think— no, I definitely am concussed." Ladybug finally admitted, knowing that it was best to be upfront about her situation rather than make everything worse for them all by forcing herself out on the battlefield once more.

Le Papillon would nab their miraculous in an instant.

"You can't fight anymore." Chat Noir stated, cradling the back of her head with a gentle hand and he didn't have it within himself to even grant her a small smile. He was never able to handle it whenever the love of his life was in pain, especially during a fight where he believed he should always be protecting her.

He felt like a fucking failure.

"I know…don't worry. I won't do anything reckless. I promise." Ladybug then tried to sit up straight but her head fell back on her partner's chest, hammering down the fact that she was incredibly weak right now. "S-See? I won't be able to do anything even if I wanted to." Chat Noir simply held her tighter and pressed a tender kiss on her head, avoiding her injuries.

"I don't want to leave you…" He admitted, not caring that her blood was now coating half of his face when he rested his cheek against her hair.

"Paris needs you, Adrien." Though her tone was so soft and gentle when she spoke his name, it still shattered his heart because dammit he didn't want to leave her like this all battered and bloodied. "I promise you I'll be fine! This is nothing in comparison to listening to Monsieur. D'Argencourt's lectures about the arts of fencing!"

A small laugh left his lips before he could even stop it, the boy now eyeing his Lady with a mock glare. All he received was a cheeky smile from his beloved despite her wounds and lacerations and all the blood that slowly seeped out. Looking around quickly and finding a relatively clean piece of cloth from a torn curtain nearby, Chat Noir tore off a strip and used it as a makeshift bandage for her head.

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"Once I kick the Akuma's ass, bring the butterfly to you and have you cast the cleansing light, I'm going to kiss you senseless, Marinette." He vowed seriously, refusing to even grin when her face lit up in a beautiful shade of pink. Dieu, he wanted to kiss her right there and then so badly he could cry.

"On the lips…?" She was pure Marinette with the way she had her fists bundled up against the lower half of her face and the way she peered up at him with those big, beautiful, blue eyes. He couldn't hold back anymore so he leaned down to brush his lips against hers like a tease.

"On the lips."

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The Akuma didn't stand a chance.

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~(x)~

A/N: Comment or else I'm replacing your coffee beans with cheap gravy granules.