MariChat: Chat Out Of The Bag

Almost Losing You

Chat Noir had no real idea if he had made it to the construction site in time to prevent Ladybug's identity from becoming public Parisian domain. Thanks to the massive speed increase his miraculous always gave him, and the ability to avoid traffic thanks to leaping over rooftops, it only took him roughly ten minutes, but he still couldn't be sure that that was short enough. He had never wished for the power to teleport more in his life.

He couldn't even begin to imagine the backlash Ladybug would suffer if her identity was revealed. Marinette Dupain Cheng. The person whom everyone had heard was dating Adrien Agreste, Chat Noir, out of their own desires to not hide who they were despite Adrien having to wear a mask. The person who already received a lot of flack from people who hid behind monitors. The person who... Who he loved....

Adrien had received attention he had never wanted. His life had been shaken. Shattered. Never to be the same as it was before all of this happened. All because of his identity being showcased to everyone in Paris. But he was fine. He was upset about it, but it wasn't something he couldn't survive. As a model, famous and well known throughout the country, he was used to that sort of attention wherever he went. 

But Marinette... She saw what happened when she was Ladybug. When she was a heroine. When she had saved the day. She saw the sort of frenzy people got themselves into... But it was so different when it was your alter ego. If they found out who she was underneath that polka dotted mask...

He wouldn't let that happen to Marinette. He couldn't. He'd never forgive himself if he let her down like that.

He overlooked the compound, and began to plan his next move. There was nothing he wanted to do more, absolutely nothing, than to dash in there and see if Ladybug was okay. He wanted nothing more than that. To make sure the love of his life was safe and sound...

But going in recklessly like that was foolish. Stupid even. He may confirm his loves safety, but he could run right into a trap. But if he didn't run in now, Ladybug's time could run out. But if he got caught, then it wouldn't matter anyway. Every action he could take had a negative to it. Had a downside he couldn't account for. Each choice had a dire consequence that could change the fate of Paris dramatically. He had to choose correctly.

"Please, hang on just a little longer..." He said silently to Ladybug, to Marinette. He felt himself tremble in a fear of what would happen should he fail. He had to do this correctly. Despite the enormous pressure placed upon the young heroes shoulders, he forced himself to scout the courtyard first. To search for his opponent. To search for Ladybug from afar. To see if there was anything in the environment that could give him an advantage. Anything.

As he leapt from roof to roof, like a ninja, he tried to get some sort of visual on his beloved girl. It was worrying to him. All he could think about was just how much he loved the girl he was trying to save. How much she meant to him. How alive and worthwhile she made him feel. How concerned he was for her safety.

"Pay attention!"

Reflexes that he didn't know existed activated instantly, and his body moved on its own, leaping off the roof before it was covered in a bellowing, shattering smoke from a heavy, powerful punch. It had been a mere few seconds before the punch commented that Chat's reflexes shot into motion. Had they not, he would have certainly been crushed by the sheer power of that attack. As the cat was thrown into the air, he saw the villain, Rampage. The one who took his love from him, and by the looks of things, his opponent.

The black, cat themed hero landed on the ground with a loud thud, failing to land on his feet due to his lack of preparation time. He felt like several sharp rocks jabbed into his back, but he couldn't feel any blood. The miraculous he wore limited the pain he felt, but it still stung underneath his suit. Using the claws on his hands, he jammed them into the dusty, dry earth, letting his skidding come to an end, leaving a dust trail in front of him as he dug into the ground.