Continuing Tales

Wingless

A Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir Story
by spectaclesandbooks

Part 16 of 38

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Marinette's anguished screams altered into a cry of surprise as the glass rained down on her. A thud echoed as something landed on the floor next to her, and she screamed again from fear, and as the pain from her leg escalated. Chloe was screeching as Mari curled up and threw her hands over her head to try and protect herself. A haze of pain settled over her, and tears blurred her vision. There was a bellow in the background, but she barely heard it over the roaring in her head.

Sobs wrenched themselves out of her chest in both agony and despair. She was over. Chloe was still shrieking unintelligibly, the only words she could make out were something about "it's the only one." Marinette just lay on the floor, in too much pain to move. Her leg throbbed agonizingly, and she could feel the broken glass lying on and around her.

Suddenly, there were hands on her arms, and she flinched. The hands tried to pry her arms off her face, and she flailed, trying to push the whoever away. She cried out as her leg jarred, and an intake of breath from the other person was what made her lower her hands just a little.

Her pain-filled eyes focused on green. Emerald stared into sapphire as gasps fell out of her mouth. Chloe's yelps subsided into mutters as Marinette gazed at Chat Noir.

His face was terrifying- his mouth curled into a snarl, eyes as angry as she had ever seen them. There was an incredible intensity in his eyes as they stared at her and he was breathing heavily, like he'd just run a mile. His hands were hard but also gentle on her forearms and his darted over her face like he was memorising it.

"Do you have any idea who I am?" Shrieked Chloe from across the room, and Chat stood up suddenly. He advanced menacingly towards Chloe, his tail twitching agitatedly behind him as he stalked across the room. Chloe blanched as he neared, the sneer leaving her face as she saw the expression he wore. Something crunched under Chat's feet, and Marinette saw the shattered remains of the blonde's phone.

"I know exactly who you are, Chloe Bourgeois." Hissed Chat, close up against Chloe as she backed up. "And you know what that means?"

She shook her head in fear, and Marinette couldn't seem to make herself move.

"Well, that means you can't hide from me. So I'm telling you now, Miss Bourgeois: leave Marinette alone. If you ever speak to her again, if you ever threaten to reveal her again, I will hunt you down and I assureyou, you will regret it."

With that, Chat turned and swiftly crossed the room, stopping only to pick up the pieces of Chloe's phone. He tucked them away, then gathered first Marinette and then her crutches into his arms, and without another word, jumped out of the window.

The wind stung at her face as Chat whipped through the darkness. Tears poured down her face, her leg screaming at her. So many emotions riled through her, and Marinette couldn't focus on any one of them.

She didn't know how long they ran for, but it seemed like an eternity. Chat's arms were strong underneath her, his chest warm behind her. She nestled into him, his suit soaking up her tears as she wept out her pain and fear. She gazed out at the darkened streets of Paris as they flew by, and suddenly realised where his path was leading them.

"No- no, don't take me home." She begged, touching him lightly on the arm. He looked down at her with an odd expression on his face, and changed direction.

Finally, they touched down. Chat landed softly in an alleyway, setting Marinette down so her back was against the wall. He winced as she cried out, and the anger that still hung on his face was replaced by sadness, and second-hand pain. He reached out softly, and stroked a tentative finger down her face. Marinette whimpered as she stared up at him.

Something crossed his face, and suddenly he surged forwards, his arms snaking around her back to pull her into a warm embrace. She buried her face in his chest again. He stroked her hair comfortingly as she clung to him, the heat seeping through his suit to her chilled body. He rocked her gently and her gasps subsided.

"Chat…" She breathed his name like it was a lifeline. In response, his arms tightened around her torso, nestling his face into the top of her head.

"I'm here. I'm here, and I'm so sorry." He whispered.

Marinette pulled back slightly to look at him. He gazed back at her, stroking a strand of hair out of her face.

"Wh- what for?"

Chat looked uncomfortable, but kept his hands on the top of her arms to maintain the contact they both craved.

"I- I could have been there earlier. I could have stopped this."

Mari frowned, the tears drying on her face and glinting in the moonlight.

"What do you mean? H- How did you know where I was?"

"I already knew. I knew who you were, and I knew who was blackmailing you. I had the chance to tell you I knew… but I didn't, I put myself and my comfort first. I'm… so sorry, Marinette."

"Y- you knew? You knew who I was?"

Chat nodded, and Marinette closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the wall behind her. He watched her nervously, still crouched in front of her.

"How long?" She murmured after a few moments.

"What?"

She opened her eyes and looked at him, her mouth curved into a grimace.

"How long have you known who I was?"

"Since yesterday." He lied, knowing that if he told the truth then she'd probably work out who he was. He desperately wanted her to know, but he wasn't sure if she wanted to. She wasn't ready, and they already had enough to discuss. "Since your reaction when the Ladyblogger, Alya, got absorbed by the Scholar. Then I saw you walking around earlier with your broken leg and knew for sure. I'd heard some of my friends who're in your class talking about you and Chloe Bourgeois, and knew who'd discovered your identity."

Marinette nodded slowly. She didn't speak for a while, but she shivered, then winced when the action jarred her leg. Chat knew she needed to go to a hospital or home to her parents, but also knew he had no intention of leaving her.

Finally, he couldn't take the silence anymore.

"What's wrong? I destroyed Chloe's phone before she could hit send, the photo's gone, and I checked- that was the only device which she had the photo on. It's over… you're free, Marinette."

Marinette closed her eyes and ducked her head.

"Were you disappointed?" She whispered. Chat recoiled.

"What?"

Marinette sniffed, tears leaking out from behind her closed eyes.

"When- when you found out. Who I was. W-were you disappointed?"

Chat couldn't speak, his mouth hanging open in shock. Marinette looked up at him, and took his silence as an affirmation of her fears. She sobbed, and covered her face with her hands.

"I'm sorry. Chat, I'm sorry. I'm- I'm not a hero, I know I'm just… just me. I've lied to everyone… my family, my friends. Ladybug's lied to you, to Paris. I'm not special, I'm not miraculous at all. I'm just… pathetic."

Chat pulled her hands away from her face, and his heart broke when he saw the shattered expression on her face.

"Disappointed? In you? How- why- I could never be disappointed in you, Marinette. Neither you nor Ladybug could ever disappoint me."

Marinette swallowed, her disbelief and pain evident on her face. She wiped some of the tears of her face, but more just replaced them.

"But… I'm just Marinette."

"Mari…'Just Marinette' is the best person I know. I'd never want Ladybug to be anyone else. And Ladybug isn't about the kwami or the suit and yo-yo, she's about you, she's about what's underneath the suit. Anyone can wear a costume and learn to throw a yo-yo, but it takes someone special to put their city's needs in front of their own well-being and health. It takes someone amazing to be brave and kind every day of their life. It takes a hero. And Marinette, you're that hero. Never think you're not good enough, because you are. Both sides of you are more than anyone deserves. And all of Paris, everyone who meets either of them loves them both." He put a hand under her chin and raised it so she was gazing up at him. Her breath fanned across his face as he worked up his courage. "I love them both."

Marinette blinked, her mouth falling open slightly. A breath huffed slowly out of her mouth and something sparked in her mind.

"Y- you love me?" She breathed. Chat gazed at her, his eyes roving over her face.

"Of course." He murmured. "You and Ladybug are the best things in my life. I can't live without either of you, Marinette. I adore you."

He loved her- all of her. She knew half of Paris was enamoured with Ladybug, she knew that Chat had feelings for her. Admittedly, until now, she'd never known just how strong those feelings were. But he loved Marinette too? Shy, clumsy, pathetic, little Marinette?

Warmth spread through her from the middle of her chest and suddenly the pain from her leg didn't seem so strong anymore.

Before she knew what she was doing, her arms reached up around his neck, and understanding barely had time to flicker through his eyes before she was pulling him towards her. She heard a slight intake of breath from her partner before their lips met.

She felt her heartbeat accelerate as she kissed him, and his did, too. One of his hands moved up to cup her cheek, and other snaked round her back to pull her closer to him. Her eyes closed as his mouth moved softly against hers, and she heard a low rumble she recognised as a purr.

Her breath was sweet as she opened her mouth, and he breathed back into her as he mirrored it. The kiss strengthened as they crouched in the dark alleyway, all the pain forgotten. Her hands wound into his shaggy golden hair, and he sucked in a breath. He pressed at the back of her neck to tilt her face up, and intensified the kiss. Then Chat moved so he was kneeling over her, and she pulled him back to her before either of them could catch a breath.

There was a hunger in his stomach, but only to touch her, to be near her. This was all he'd ever dreamed of, and he wished it could last forever. But when he wrapped one of his arms around her waist and twisted her upwards again, she let out a slight cry.

He pulled back and saw the pain on her face as she released him to clutch at her cast.

"Oh- your leg! I'm so sorry, I forgot, I- I didn't mean- Mari…"

His hands fluttered over her as he stammered apologetically, guilt flowing through him. Marinette reached up to grasp at his waving hands, the pain almost (but not entirely) leaving her face as she rushed to placate him.

"Chat- Chat, calm down! It's fine, really." She said soothingly, and his breathing slowed. She was the one in pain, broken and emotionally drained, but she was also the one comforting him? "Hey. I'm okay, honestly kitty."

The nickname was what did it. Tears sprung into Chat's eyes, and Marinette only just had time to register them before he was wrapped around her again, his face nestled into her shoulder. Confused but not unhappy, Marinette tucked her arms round him as he clutched at her.

"I love you, Marinette." He breathed. "And I don't expect you to say it back, not right now anyway. But I need you to know, okay? I love you, and from now on I will always be there for you, whether you're Marinette or Ladybug." His voice cracked as he spoke, overcome with emotion. He pulled back just enough that he could rest his forehead on hers and gaze into her eyes. "And I won't reveal myself until you're ready, I promise. To be honest, I don't think I'm ready for you to know."

A smile tugged at the corners of Mari's mouth as she stared at him.

"Thank you, kitty." She whispered softly. She tilted her face up just enough to press her mouth against his again. Chat barely had time to respond before she pulled away, and he immediately mourned the loss of contact. It was sweeter than their first kiss that night, shorter but more meaningful. They were hesitant and nervous about their feelings and the changes that were doubtless going to affect them. But it was still a good kiss.

Marinette gave a breathy giggle at the dazed, love-struck expression on his face, but it quickly turned into a moan of pain as her leg jolted again.

Chat recoiled, worried that he'd hurt her again.

"We need to get you to a hospital." He ordered, tucking his arms under her a moment later. He lifted her with ease and prepared to jump.

"Really?" She sighed. "I'm sure I'm fine, can't you just drop me home?"

Chat raised an eyebrow.

"Not a chance. You're getting that leg checked out, okay? Doctor's orders."

Marinette giggled again, brushing his fringe out of his eyes. The sound sent shivers of warmth and pleasure shooting through him, and he smiled before pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. When he pulled back, her eyes were closed and there was a smile lifting the corners of her mouth.

"Alright." Marinette agreed a little breathlessly. "But just a check-up, okay? I'll just ask them to check how it's healing, I don't want my parents to know."

Chat looked at her, surprised. "You're not going to fight me on this?"

She opened her eyes and grinned.

"I'm not going to argue with my knight in shining leather, am I?"

Wingless

A Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir Story
by spectaclesandbooks

Part 16 of 38

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