Second Chance

Chapter 3

"I should go home and try and sleep. I have... school tomorrow." Marinette sighed. The sky was darkening further as the sun set, but most of the storm clouds had passed.

"So do I."

Marinette glanced up at him, then she drew her arm back, ready to toss her yoyo to the next rooftop.
He set his black clawed hand on her shoulder. "Milady."

The tears again. All because of the way he said that—that ridiculous nickname that she loved because he was the one who called her by it, because it reminded her that he was always there.

"Don't run," he said simply. "You've been so courageous. The least I can do... is be brave too."

"Don't," she said, panic sending her pulse racing. "If Shadowmoth knows... he—"

"But I already know!" The raw pain in his tone made her close her eyes. "You said you're not going to push me away anymore."

"That's not what I'm doing." Marinette clamped her hand over her mouth. "I'm—I'm just protecting you," she whispered frantically. "You were already akumatized once because you—you knew who I was—you—I don't know why, or how, but you—you were in such torment and pain because of me. Now—I've—I've just put you in more danger. I can't stop hurting you, and I don't want to hurt you, Cat Noir, you mean too much to me, and I don't know how to—"

The rest of her words came out muffled against his chest as he pulled her close. "Milady," he said in her ear, "I'm sorry. I don't know when that was, but...I know this. It wasn't your fault."

"It was," Marinette wept, sinking against him. He held her tighter. "It was my fault. The reason you were akumatized and the reason Shadowmoth got all the miraculous is the same! Because of the boy I—I—"

"Shadowmoth uses those we love against us, for his own gain," Cat Noir said gently, when she couldn't go on. "He manipulates our emotions. He torments innocent people, seeking to destroy the purity of their hearts. How is any of that your fault, when you're the one who protects Paris? Who puts everything back to rights? Explain that to me, Marinette Dupain-Cheng," he said sternly, abruptly pushing her back and setting both hands firmly on her shoulders. She stared up at him, surprised and wide-eyed.

"How is any of that your fault?"

Marinette shrugged helplessly, and Cat Noir leaned in close, green, cat-like eyes glowing fiercely.

"It's. Not. Your. Fault. Yes, you made mistakes. We all make those. Stop blaming yourself, milady, and look forward. Stop looking back." He shook her gently, his eyes softening. "Look at... look at me."

Marinette went to do so, but then her gaze zeroed in on the big black butterfly fluttering straight toward them.

"Cat Noir!" She grabbed his arm and shoved him behind her, then threw her yoyo at it, snatching the akuma in midair. "Time to de-evillize!" She cried.

"He knows we're here," Cat Noir said grimly. Marinette looked over at him as she released the purified butterfly. His shoulders slumped and he sighed tiredly. "It's not safe here."

This was their place, a rooftop across from the Eiffel Tower, where they always met up for patrol, and it wasn't even safe here anymore.

Marinette wiped the tears from her cheeks and pulled back her shoulders. "We'd better go detransform," she said firmly. "We should... get some sleep before Shadowmoth's next attack. I mean... surely he has to rest too?"

Cat Noir was looking out at the darkening sky. The sun had slipped below the horizon and the moon had already made its appearance.

"Cat Noir?" Marinette hesitated, wondering what was going through his mind.

"If we knew who Shadowmoth was, we could stop him," he said lowly.

"It would be a huge advantage to know who he was," Marinette agreed. She sighed heavily. "But we haven't gotten any closer to figuring out his true identity."

Cat Noir nodded, his brow furrowed, and then he looked over at her and a smile softened his face. "Go get some rest, Milady," he said warmly. "I'm going to go see what I can find out."

Marinette reached out and grabbed his arm. "Alone? You don't have to do that, I can come with you."

"No. Go rest." He took hold of her shoulders and bent to her eye-level, giving her a wink. "I won't be out late. Cats need their naps, you know."

The joke was a weak one, especially for him, but Marinette clung to it thankfully. "See you later then. Bug out." She swung away toward home, glancing back long enough to see him launch himself in the opposite direction.

Marinette was so tired when she walked into the bakery she thought she might pass out if she sat down, but Maman called to her. "Marinette! Where have you been all day, honey?"

"Just out with friends, Maman," Marinette answered, mustering a smile. She leaned against the railing next to the stairs, groaning inwardly at the long trek to her room. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be out so late."

"That's alright honey-bun, just make sure you eat some food before you do your homework," Papa interjected.

Homework? After everything she, Cat Noir, Nino, and Alya had gone through today, the furthest thing from her mind was her homework. But normal, non-superhero Marinette duties called, so she obediently took a plate of buttered croissants up to her room and got to work.

Once again, Tikki didn't try to talk to her. The little kwami didn't say a word when Marinette kept pausing her homework to check the Miracle box, making sure the miraculous of the bee, fox, turtle, and snake were still there. Instead, Tikki pressed herself to Marinette's shoulder, a quiet support.

Finally, teary-eyed and sniffling, Marinette finished her homework, tossed it into her bag, and crawled into bed without putting on her pajamas. She fell asleep quickly, but was assaulted immediately with dreams of Shadowmoth stabbing Cat Noir, again, and again, and again.

But this time, Cat Noir didn't wake up. She kept throwing her lucky charm into the sky, and her fingers wouldn't let go of it. She kept calling his name, and he never opened his eyes.