Secret Kiss

Carapace

Nino was already having an odd day. His girlfriend bailed on him to help her best friend, which he understood. His best friend disappeared as soon as they were out of the school after the akuma attack was made known. That was... par for the course really but he was growing tired of always worrying for the models safety. He could at the very least answer his phone but it would always go to voicemail. Every single akuma attack left the blonde unable to be contacted in any way. He could only assume that his home was reinforced or he had a panic room that cut off cell phone signals, or something.

The point is, his day was already odd, so the fact that the black clad cat themed hero was now standing in his room looking a mix of comfortable, terrified, and nervous barely cracked the shell of numbness that had settled over him. In fact he figured he had to have fallen on his way into his room and knocked himself out because hero's don't typically just invite themselves in through someone's bedroom window.

"Listen dude, If I'm dreaming just do what you gotta do. I'm gonna just be on the bed." Chat Noir did a double take as he moved past him, the hero's mouth was open slightly in shock as he watched Nino make his way across his room.

"What do you dream- no." Chat looked down as he shook the unfinished thought from his head. "I am not getting into that right now. I came to ask for your help." Nino paused, one leg already propped on his bed as he prepared to climb into it.

"You need, my help?" He asked, curiosity and confusion mingling as one in his mind.

"Yes, your classmate, Chloe, she was akumatized." Chat began.

"Not surprising." Nino sighed as he shook his head. Chat gave a sigh of his own as he rested his fist against his forehead, that was when Nino first noticed the box he was carrying.

"Anyway, she turned into Trophy bride-"

"Pfft, trophy... also not surprising."

"Dude, can I at least finish?" Chat seemed genuinely aggravated at this point and the sight of him in such a state sushed any remaining giggles Nino had. "Thank you." He shook his head as he lowered his hand from his forehead. "As I was saying, Trophy Bride has the power to turn people into golden statues, and the gold spreads. She got Ladybug and Rena Rogue already and the bird brain can't be too far behind. I need your help to save them."

"How am I supposed to help you out? I don't have any powers." Nino pointed out as he let his leg drop to the floor so he was standing before the hero once more.

"Yet." Chat said as he held the box out to him. "Nino Lahiffe, I offer you the power of protection and the turtle miraculous. With it you can join me in the fight to save Paris from the clutches of Hawkmoth." Chat paused, allowing his arm to drop slightly as he looked down. "Please Nino." He murmured softly, "Help me save Ma- help me save My Lady, Ladybug, please."

Nino was taken aback. Before him was a man who was breaking apart at the seams. With each word the hero, one of the heroes of Paris, was falling apart more and more to the point he looked more like a kitten who was kicked and beaten and left in the rain than a man who could destroy everything around him with a single touch if he wished it. His mouth went dry as he took in the way Chat's ears dropped forward, the way he was practically bowing down to him as he begged for help from someone so ordinary.

"How?" His brows pulled together as he asked the question, voice cracking even through the simple syllable. "How can I help?" Chat raised his head then, a soft light of hope shining behind his eyes.

"Let me show you." With that, he opened the box in his hand and Nino had to shield himself against the bright green light that it emitted.

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