Miracle Box - an MLB rewrite

Book 2 - A Heavy Burden

A/N I really wanted to make art for this chapter just to remind yall what the kwamis look like but I am currently working on a three minute long animation and so long as I obsess over that, nothing else can get done. rip. (It's for TGCF tho if you're a TGCF fan)

"You freaked out back there," Chat Noir said, curling his body around his knees. He and Ladybug sat at the top of the auditorium, looking over the busy street below. Ladybug was crying but Chat Noir didn't want to corner her on that.

"I felt like my mind was about to become mentally unstable," Ladybug admitted, choking on her words, "every muscle in my body hurts."

"Lay down, then."

"I have to go soon. Though my time limit is extending, it's not gonna last forever."

"It seems to me like Tikki is letting you stay," Chat pointed out, "but if you want to leave, that's okay."

Ladybug slowly allowed herself to play on her side, curling up meekly, like a mouse. Chat didn't feel well looking at her. She was so precious to him but felt so far at the same time. He didn't know if it was right to look at her and console her, or look at Paris and try to understand what they were supposed to do next.

"What were you about to say back there?" she asked, "before you got turned to stone?"

"I don't know. I was just saying things."

"Did you mean them?"

"I guess."

"I see." She hid her face under her arms and sighed. "How is any of this real? I don't understand why we're still... doing this. I'm so tired, you know?"

"I know," Chat said, opting to lay down on the roof beside her. He looked up at the gray overcast sky. "Two akumas in a row... I won't be surprised if there's another one tomorrow, or even today for that matter."

"He's changing his technique," Ladybug said, "he's not gonna let us catch our breath."

"Is it bad that I miss Carapace, Rena and Queen Bee?"

"Not at all. I wish Rena would help us but she's got her own issues to sort out. Plus she's still hunting for the Fox miraculous. And Carapace is now the master of the Miracle Box so of course he's got more important duties than helping us. And Queen Bee... I miss her," Ladybug admitted.

"We could ask to have her back."

"It's too dangerous. Everyone knows her identity."

"I know."

"What were you trying to say earlier?"

"You're asking again?" Chat Noir's throat protested his continued use of speech.

"Sorry, I shouldn't be bothering you like this. It's just... Plagg was acting so strange earlier and he had me all worried about you."

"I'm fine," he promised, "genuinely, I have no idea why he got so spooked."

"Right... good."

"You okay?"

"I'm fine," she said.

"Are you?"

"No..." she admitted, "I think I- I need a hug."

Chat Noir's heart sank. She sounded so helpless and vulnerable right now it almost felt wrong to say anything or feel anything at all. He rolled to his side and discovered her still curled there, crying. He wrapped an arm around her and brought himself close to her.

"You're the toughest person I know," he said to her.

"I wish I didn't have to be," she cried.

***