Right after the celebration, the reality of Gurvinder's condition hit everyone. The adrenaline had masked it, but his body was still battered, his wounds deep despite Ladybug's miraculous cure. His scars remained, and the blood on his clothes was a reminder of the brutal fight he had survived just hours ago.

Tom and Sabine insisted he be taken to the hospital immediately. Marinette, still holding onto him, refused to let go even as paramedics arrived.

"I'm fine," Gurvi tried to argue, but his knees buckled again, and Adrien and Nino had to catch him.

"Yeah, sure," Alya scoffed. "That's exactly what people say before they pass out like a Bollywood movie hero."

The paramedics laid him on a stretcher, and Marinette climbed in beside him, gripping his hand tightly. "You're not fine, dummy," she whispered, tears still in her eyes. "You almost died…"

Gurvi turned his head slightly to look at her, giving her a tired smirk. "Yeah, but I didn't."

Marinette sniffled and leaned down, pressing her forehead against his. "You scared me."

He squeezed her hand weakly. "I know. I'm sorry, Pagli."

The ambulance doors shut, and with sirens blaring, they sped toward the hospital, leaving behind a crowd still cheering his name.

At the hospital, the checkup was intense. Doctors rushed him into the emergency room while Marinette, Tom, Sabine, and his friends waited outside, anxiously pacing the halls. The minutes felt like hours. Marinette sat with her head buried in her hands, replaying everything in her mind—how close she had been to losing him.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the doctor came out.

"He's stable," the doctor announced, and everyone let out a breath they didn't realize they were holding. "Honestly, it's a miracle he survived. If it weren't for Ladybug's power, I doubt he would have made it. But even with that, the amount of blood loss and the sheer strain his body has endured… it's no small thing."

Marinette gripped the chair arm tightly. "Will he be okay?"

"He needs rest. A lot of it," the doctor explained. "His wounds won't magically disappear overnight, and the scars on his body show just how much it has been through over the years. He may not feel pain now because of the adrenaline, but once that fades, his body will force him to slow down. He's exhausted, mentally and physically."

Marinette swallowed hard. "Can I see him?"

The doctor nodded. "Only for a little while. He needs rest."

Without wasting a second, she rushed inside.

Gurvi lay on the hospital bed, his face pale from exhaustion, bandages wrapped around his torso and arms. He was awake, but barely. As soon as he saw her, he gave her that small, tired smirk.

"See?" he croaked, voice hoarse. "Still here."

Tears welled up in her eyes again. She sat beside him, taking his hand in hers and holding it tightly. "Idiot. Absolute idiot," she whispered. "Do you have any idea how scared I was?"

He squeezed her hand weakly. "I had a feeling you'd save me. You always do."

Marinette shook her head, brushing her thumb gently over his knuckles. "You saved me. Again and again. And now, I swear… I'm never letting you go."

Gurvi lay there, his body weak, but his mind still sharp. He turned his head slightly to look at her, his tired eyes filled with something deeper—something that wasn't just exhaustion, but understanding.

"You're Ladybug," he murmured. It wasn't a question. It was a statement.

Marinette froze for a second, her fingers tightening around his. She knew this moment would come eventually, but not like this. Not when he was lying in a hospital bed after nearly dying for her.

"I... I am," she admitted softly.

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "I always had a feeling. But now, I know."

Marinette opened her mouth, trying to explain, to say something, anything—how she wanted to tell him sooner, how she was afraid, how she wasn't sure if she could protect both Paris and him at the same time. But before she could, Gurvi shook his head weakly.

"You don't have to explain anything," he whispered. "You're Ladybug… because you were always meant to be. And I don't mean just the powers." His grip on her hand tightened slightly. "It makes sense. Everything about you. The way you never give up. The way you keep fighting, even when the world is against you. You were always meant to carry that weight. And you do it better than anyone else ever could."

Marinette's breath hitched. Of all the things she thought he'd say, she never expected this.

"You're worthy of it," he continued, his voice quiet but filled with conviction. "Not just because of the magic or the suit… but because of who you are."

Tears welled up in her eyes again. She had doubted herself so many times, wondering if she was truly the right person to hold this power. If she could balance her own life with the responsibility. But hearing it from him—someone who saw her not just as Ladybug, but as Marinette, who had seen her break down, struggle, doubt herself—it meant more than anything.

She squeezed his hand back, pressing her forehead gently against his. "And you," she whispered, voice shaking, "were always meant to be mine."

Gurvi huffed, a tired smirk forming on his lips. "Tch… don't get all overly romantic on me now," he muttered, his voice hoarse but still carrying that familiar teasing edge.

Marinette let out a breath between a laugh and a sob, her forehead still resting against his. "Idiot," she whispered, wiping her tears. "You nearly died, and you're worried about me being romantic?"

He closed his eyes briefly, exhaustion settling deep in his bones. "Just saying… if you keep getting all dramatic, I might think you're trying to turn my hospital room into a romance movie," he teased.

Marinette scoffed, sitting back up, crossing her arms. "Excuse me? After everything? You should be grateful I'm even talking to you after scaring me like that!"

Gurvi chuckled weakly, wincing slightly as the movement tugged at his injuries. "Fine, fine… but no sappy monologues, please. I just got out of a life-or-death situation, I don't need another one."

Marinette rolled her eyes, but there was no real annoyance in them—just relief. "Ugh, you are impossible." But despite her words, she gently reached for his hand again, lacing her fingers with his.

"Yeah, yeah, but you love me anyway," he murmured, smirking even as his eyelids grew heavier.

Marinette sighed, shaking her head fondly. "Unfortunately for me… yes. I do."

Marinette sighed, her grip on his hand tightening. "You know… I had a plan," she murmured, her voice still thick with emotion. "I was going to make you run away first, then I would've transformed into Ladybug and handled everything. Maybe if you had known I wasn't just Marinette but Ladybug, you would have actually run."

Gurvi scoffed, tilting his head slightly to look at her despite his exhaustion. "And you really think that would've changed anything?" His voice was soft, but there was unwavering certainty in it. "Even if I knew you were Ladybug… I still would have taken a bullet for you."

Marinette's breath hitched. She stared at him, her eyes searching his, looking for any hesitation. But there was none. He meant every word.

"Why?" she whispered, shaking her head. "Why are you always like this?"

Gurvi gave a tired smirk, though his eyes held nothing but honesty. "Because it's you. Because you're worth every risk. Every fight. Every scar. Even if I had known you could handle it… it wouldn't matter. You're still Marinette to me.*"

Tears welled up again in her eyes, but this time, she didn't fight them. She just clung to him, resting her forehead against his. "You're the most reckless, stubborn idiot I've ever met."

"And yet," he muttered, his voice growing fainter as exhaustion pulled him under, "you still love me."

Marinette let out a soft, teary laugh, her fingers brushing through his hair gently. "Yeah… I do."*

Gurvi let out a tired chuckle, his eyes half-lidded but still glinting with mischief. "How many times are you gonna tell me you love me, huh?" he teased, his voice raspy from exhaustion. "I get it—you never said it before, but now you're just yapping it again and again."

Marinette huffed, pulling back slightly to glare at him, though her teary eyes betrayed how relieved she was. "Oh, shut up," she sniffled, lightly smacking his arm. "You almost died, you idiot. You don't get to complain about me being sappy."

Gurvi smirked, though the movement was barely there. "Just saying… you're making up for lost time all at once."

Marinette scoffed but then leaned in, pressing another soft kiss to his forehead. "Damn right I am. Get used to it."*

Gurvi raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips despite the exhaustion weighing on him. "Besides, you really planned to become a runaway just for me?"

Marinette crossed her arms, tilting her head with a stubborn pout. "Of course, dummy. What did you think? If they tried to take you away, I wasn't just gonna sit back and let it happen."

Gurvi chuckled, shaking his head slightly. "Tch. You really are crazy, Dupain-Cheng."

"Takes one to know one, Singh," she shot back, her eyes still glassy with emotion. "And I meant every word in that letter. I don't care where we go, as long as we're together."

His smirk softened into something warmer as he reached for her hand, giving it a light squeeze. "Well, guess we won't have to run after all," he murmured. "But… I kinda like the idea of us taking on the world together anyway."*

Marinette raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "Oh? So now you like the idea of running away with me?"

Gurvi smirked, leaning back against the hospital bed. "I mean, if you're that desperate to drag me across the world, who am I to refuse?"

She rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips. "Idiot. I was serious."

"And I know," Gurvi said, his voice softer now. "That's why it means so much to me."

Marinette's teasing expression faltered for a moment as she stared at him, her fingers tightening around his. "You really would've stayed no matter what, wouldn't you?"

"Always," he murmured. "Even if I knew you were Ladybug, even if I knew running was the 'smart' choice, I'd still take a bullet for you."

She inhaled sharply, emotions swirling in her eyes, but before she could say anything, he smirked again. "But if we ever do run, you're carrying the luggage. My back's been through enough."*

Soon enough, the doctor walked in, adjusting his glasses as he glanced at the monitors. "Alright, visiting hours are over for now. He needs rest."

Marinette frowned, her grip on Gurvi's hand tightening. "But—"

"No buts," the doctor cut in. "He's been through hell. Let him sleep, or I'll have to throw you out myself."

Gurvi chuckled weakly. "Damn, doc. Harsh."

Marinette huffed, reluctant to leave. She looked at him, searching his face, as if making sure he wouldn't disappear the moment she stepped out. "I'll be back first thing in the morning."*

He smirked. "You better. I might get bored without you."

She rolled her eyes but squeezed his hand one last time before slowly letting go and stepping back. As she reached the door, she turned back and met his eyes. "Sleep, dummy."*

"No promises," he teased, watching her leave. The moment she was gone, though, the exhaustion hit him like a wave. His body ached, his eyelids heavy. For the first time in forever, he felt safe. And with that thought, he let sleep take over.

Later that night, as the city lights flickered outside, the window of Gurvinder's hospital room clicked open silently. A figure in red and black slipped inside with practiced ease, her movements light as a whisper.

Ladybug landed softly beside his bed, her eyes scanning his face. Even in sleep, he looked exhausted—his body covered in fresh bandages, his breaths slow but steady. He was safe. He was here.

She let out a breath she didn't even realize she was holding. Slowly, she crouched beside him, brushing stray strands of his hair away from his forehead. "I told you to sleep, dummy," she murmured, a small smile tugging at her lips.

But to her surprise, his eyes fluttered open. "You're terrible at sneaking in, you know that?" he rasped, his voice thick with sleep.

She froze for a second before chuckling. "And you're terrible at listening to doctors."*

He smirked weakly. "I like my rules better."*

She rolled her eyes but didn't pull away. Instead, she sat on the edge of the bed, just watching him. "I had to see you. As Ladybug."*

"Yeah?" he murmured, tilting his head. "Had to make sure I wasn't secretly dead?"

"No," she whispered, her voice soft. "I just… I wanted to see you without the world watching. Just us."*

His smirk faded into something gentler, something deeper. "I'm not going anywhere, Marinette."*

Her heart clenched at that. "Good," she breathed. "Because neither am I."*

For a moment, they just sat there, the quiet hum of the hospital filling the space between them. Then, slowly, Marinette reached out and took his hand, lacing their fingers together.

"Get some rest," she said, squeezing his hand lightly. "I'll stay until you fall asleep."*

His grip tightened around hers. "You better keep that promise."*

She smiled. "Always."*

Marinette barely had a second to react before she felt a gentle but firm tug on her wrist. With a small yelp, she tumbled onto the bed beside him, her face inches from his.

"Gurvi—!" she started, but he just closed his eyes, shifting slightly so he could rest his forehead against hers.

"I can't sleep without you," he murmured, his voice drowsy yet certain. "Not after everything."*

Her breath hitched. The warmth of his skin, the steady rhythm of his breathing—everything about him felt so real, so raw in this moment.

"You're impossible," she whispered, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she hesitated for only a second before carefully wrapping an arm around him, letting him hold her close.

"Yeah, yeah," he muttered sleepily, "but you love me anyway."*

She let out a soft laugh. "That, I do."*

And as his breathing evened out, as the tension in his body faded into exhaustion, Marinette simply stayed there, running her fingers gently through his hair. She knew she should probably leave before a nurse walked in, but for once, she didn't care.

He needed her. And tonight, she wasn't going anywhere.

As the night stretched on, Marinette felt the exhaustion finally take over. Gurvinder's breathing had slowed, his body warm against hers, his arms loosely wrapped around her as if afraid she'd disappear.

She shifted slightly, nestling closer, her forehead resting against his chest. His heartbeat was steady, grounding, a quiet reminder that he was here—alive, safe.

Gurvi stirred for a moment, his hand instinctively tightening around her waist. "Sleep, dummy," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

She smiled softly, closing her eyes. "You too, idiot."*

And just like that, they drifted off, curled into each other, holding onto the one thing that mattered most—the fact that neither of them was alone anymore.

The next morning, Marinette walked into Gurvinder's hospital room, her heart racing with excitement. As soon as she saw him awake, sitting up against the pillows with that lazy, tired smirk of his, she couldn't hold back.

Without a second thought, she rushed to his bed and cupped his face. "You absolute idiot!" she huffed before attacking his face with kisses—on his forehead, his cheeks, his nose, everywhere.

Gurvi groaned, half laughing. "Mari—wait—what are you doing?!"

"Loving my dumbass boyfriend, obviously!" she shot back between kisses.

The nurses in the room paused, exchanging amused glances. One of them chuckled. "Well, someone's excited this morning."*

Gurvi, flustered beyond belief, buried his face in his hands. "Mari, for God's sake, they're watching!"*

"Good! Let them see how much I love you!" she grinned before planting another kiss on his lips, completely ignoring the laughter in the background.