17-Marinette

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I groan, my head aching as I try to sit up, only to find Cat Noir pushing me back down. 

"Milady, you need to rest. From what I can tell, you need it." I look back down to find myself still transformed along with my partner. My eyes widen as I think of my kwami. "Tikki! Our kwamis will be exhausted! I need to-" I try to sit up again, but Cat Noir just eases me back down. 

"Our kwamis have come out and released our transformation while you were asleep." My eyes widen in fright. Does he..? I look away ashamed. "Ladybug, I never looked at you. I don't know your identity. I have to admit however, that I met your kwami, who actually understands etiquette, unlike Plagg." I breathe a sigh of relief. After Chat Blanc, I really don't want to reveal. I don't, won't, can't lose my partner in that way again. I never learned the reasoning behind his akumatization in the alternate timeline, but if I had to guess, he must have been disappointed with who I am. 

A baker's daughter who is a disaster waiting to happen.

A girl who can't speak two sentences without stuttering. 

Someone who can't stand up for herself. 

Its Tikki's magic inside the miraculous that allows me to save all the civilians in Paris. 

It isn't me. 

It's just a power masked in the form of a human. 

"I can tell from your expression, Milady, that you are overthinking." I jump, slightly startled as I'm pulled out of my thoughts. I sigh, feeling so ridiculous. I'm in the suit, I should be strong, not the weak, pathetic side of me. Cat Noir's eyes darken and his expression goes with it. 

"Why do you say such insults about yourself?" My face goes slack. I said that out loud. Sighing again, I look away. "You don't know my civilian side. I'm the exact opposite of Ladybug. In fact, the only reason that I am able to save this city everyday is due to Tikki and her magic. Other than that, I'm just a Parisian girl who is pretending to be heroic under a masked persona." 

Cat Noir just stared at me before shaking his head in denial. I look away, I've made him upset. Why can't I do anything right? I feel a familiar gloved hand touch my cheek gently before turning my head to meet his gaze. All I see is concern and determination. 

"That's impossible, because all I see when working with you is intelligence, selflessness, strength, determination, and passion for what we do for these people. Ladybug, you are the one doing the deed, you cannot fake passion. Yet you have so much of it that it overflows, that's why Master Fu trusted you at such a young age to become Guardian of the Miracle Box. That's what makes you such a heroine for these civilians. That's what makes you and me such a successful team. That's why Hawkmoth hasn't won yet. That's how we will beat him." I stare at him, trying to understand. 

"You know Bugaboo, that this CATastrophe does have a MEWvelous side to it." I groan, shaking my head at his smirk from the cat puns and the nickname. I start to chuckle a little, mostly groaning at the cringyness of it. "And what is that exactly Mon Chaton? And don't call me Bugaboo!" He laughs before giving me a hard look, his eyes doing their hypnotic magic again. I can't look away from him, and he knows it. 

"I am finally able to convince you of the truth." 

"Which is?" 

"You are a good person who is going places. Now say that you are worth it." I stare at him in confusion. "What?"

"Say that you are worth it." I stare at him before sighing. "You are worth it." Cat Noir shakes his head, knowing that I was being stubborn. "I just don't see the reason for saying that." 

"I want you to believe it because it's the truth Milady. Saying it is the first step. Now, stop being stubborn and say the words." I look down, sighing in defeat, knowing there was no way to stop him. He's just as stubborn as I am. "I am worth it." Cat Noir smiles.

"Yes you are. Now say that you are beautiful." I look down. Cat Noir brings my face back up to meet his gaze again. He had this look in him, sheer concern and determination for me to say the words. For some reason, it was extremely hard speak, but I ended up choking them out.

"I am beautiful." His smile was back, tucking a stray hair behind my ear gently. 

"Yes you are, and I am going to do everything in my power to make you believe it." I stare at him. Why is he doing this? He just loves the idea of Ladybug, so why bother trying to change my mind from something I lost hope in believing a long time ago. "You'll fail Chaton." Cat Nor just smirks, his eyes light but overshadowed slightly by sadness. 

"That's where you are wrong Ladybug. You see, in this moment, I just made a vow to you, and I never go back on a vow." 

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