Worth The Wait - Chat Noir x Fem!Reader

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR - Losing the Sun

I promise.

Word Count: 2371

My legs dangled off the edge of the roof, kicking my feet distractedly against the open air. The horizon was bathed in red as far as I could see, brought on by the death of the sun. The air crackled with passion from the burning piles of rubble far below, the fires being the only source of light in the darkness.

"What happened?" Chat whispered softly, nudging his foot against mine as he sat by my side.

"The illusion broke," I murmured softly, avoiding his gaze. "You can see what I see. This is what the world really looks like."

"What changed?" His voice came near my ear, but it sounded far away. His hand tucked a loose strand of sweaty hair behind my ear.

"You did. You stopped believing I was a monster." I turned to him, my lips tipping upwards in a small smile of relief. "You stopped believing in my power, so the illusion stopped being true."

I leaned my head against his shoulder, nestling my body into the lines of his to watch the burning sky. He lowered his face to press a kiss to the top of my head, pulling me closer with an arm around my waist.

"This is nice," Chat mumbled, green eyes reflecting the fire.

We settled into a silence before I broke it with my worries.

"Chat?"

"Hm?" He turned toward me.

"I mourned every day for you. For almost a year." My eyebrows softened, painting my face with sorrow. "Why come now for me, once I'm already so far gone? I'm beyond saving."

His voice rumbled in his chest, sending vibrations against my body. "Don't say that."

I looked at my gloved hands, examining the white fabric. No matter how many times I'd scrubbed my hands, I couldn't unsee the red stain. "He died thinking I was a monster. He's right. I am."

His thumb traced gentle circles into my cheek and I leaned into the touch, closing my eyes. Fuck, did I want this more than anything.

"Do you really think that?" Chat said gently after a moment of hesitation.

"Look, I know what you came here for. I can't ignore your mission." I took a deep breath, raising his hands to my lips to give his ring a kiss. "I will not be the reason you betray Ladybug."

Chat frowned. "It's not fair to you."

I shrugged and blinked back tears, trying to reassure myself more than him. "I got what I wanted. I got to see you one last time."

My hands drew closer to the hook dangling from my neck, and I started to unclip the clasp near the base of my hair.

"Wait!" Chat reached out and put his hands over mine, shaking his head as he stopped me. "Don't do this."

I blinked in confusion, my hands stilling as my eyes widened in confusion. "I thought you wanted this. Why are you stopping me?"

"I lied," Chat sighed, frowning with disappointment at himself. His voice was soft, as if begging me to forgive him. "Because I'd save you too even if it risked everything."

"Really?" I whispered, my slack hands falling to my sides.

His hands crept to cup my face, the soft skin of my cheek bubbling up between his fingers. "Yes. More than anything."

"So you don't hate me?" My voice was hoarse.

"I could never hate you. No matter how hard I tried." Chat looked away, past me at the burning city he had sworn to protect. He spoke after a moment of silence. "I should hate you for what you did."