Miraculous Ladybug AU- Soulmates

Chapter 6 - Let Go

Cat Noir was completely frozen where he stood. His mind just couldn't seem to comprehend what Marinette had just said.

"It's you." The two words repeated in his mind, over and over again. His head spun.

Marinette tried to gauge his reaction. He was just staring at her, his eyes widened in shock, neither one of them saying anything.

"Cat? Are you okay? Say something," Marinette said, beginning to be worried.

"I.. I want to see your mark," he said slowly.

Marinette nodded and turned around, pulling her shirt down slightly to expose her shoulderblade, to give Cat Noir a view of the mark representing him - an ombré green and black CN. She looked downwards as he took it in - his mark, on her body. On Marinette's body.

He reached out and traced it slowly, mesmerized, sending chills down Marinette's spine. She blushed at the contact.

Then he stepped back.

"I... I have to go."

He turned around and didn't look back as he walked slowly to the window, and climbed out. Marinette was left, there, surprised and shocked that she'd actually told him,  but mostly... she was hurt.

The window closed with a sharp bang, and Marinette sat down on her bed suddenly. She felt as if all the air had gone out of her and she was deflated. She knew he didn't like her, but she couldn't believe that he was just gone. She wanted to talk to him about it, at least.

But she tried to be understanding, thinking of how she'd react if put in his place.

She breathed in and out, and that was when her trusty kwami flew out. She perched herself on Marinette's shoulder and just watched Marinette breathe shakily for a while. "I'm sorry that he left."

Marinette realized she was crying and hurriedly wiped the tears away from her blue eyes. "It's nothing. I wouldn't even care, except..."

"Except what?" Tikki gently pushed.

"Nothing. Nothing."

Tikki tried her best to be understanding, even though she knew that Marinette was hiding something: from the world, from Tikki, from herself.

"I mean, it's not like I have a crush on him. I love Adrien, and only Adrien. But Cat needs to accept that we are soulmates now. We're in this together. He can't just leave."

Tikki nodded and patted her shoulder a bit. "You're right, Marinette."

"I need him to understand that I didn't choose this either. This was sprung on both of us, and it's a shock to both of us. It's not like I love the situation more than him," Marinette groaned, putting her head in her hands.

"Just give him time, Mari. The soulmate marks appear in the right place. Everything has a reason," Tikki said soothingly.

"I know that, Tikki! You don't need to keep telling me!" Marinette snapped suddenly. Then she realized what she'd said, as Tikki looked at her, still completely understanding as Marinette was shouting at her. Her kwami was truly amazing to Marinette.

"I'm sorry, Tikki. I know you're right." Marinette paused, and sighed a little, an almost imperceptible sound. "I'm just... I'm not used to being angry, but I am. At this whole situation."

"I know, Marinette, and it's okay. I would be too."

"Why did it have to be Cat Noir? I know he loves me as Ladybug, but I think he could only ever love me in superhero form. The perfect, confident version of me. That's why he left. That's why he abandoned me."