I'm Sorry Chaton

Chapter 3

Ladybug was left alone with her thoughts for a while. Her thoughts wandered to the same battle that haunted Chat Noir.

3 months ago- Ladybug's POV

I saw Chat back away from an alley with a shocked expression on his face. "Umm kitty? You okay? I can't find Hawkmoth anywhere. You had me worried. I thought he took you or something! Are you sure you're okay?" I asked him. He didn't seem himself. 

When he didn't reply I rushed over to him. "Chat?! This isn't funny. What's going on?" 

He still didn't answer me. His face was expressionless and he stared straight ahead oblivious to my frenzied yelling. Now I was really concerned. Despite my shaking, he remained unresponsive. My incessant shaking was interrupted by his ring. Beep beep. Time was almost up. I looked around. I didn't know what to do. I obviously couldn't just leave him here, but revealing our identities would be too dangerous.

 I sighed. "I guess you're coming with me Chaton..." I picked him up in one arm and swung away with the other.

I landed on my balcony and set him down on a chair. Quickly, I rushed inside and wrote a quick note to leave for him:

Dear Chat,
I've left you here on my friend Marinette's balcony. You got injured or something in battle. I think it might have been a concussion- so go see a doctor! Anyways, when you wake up call me on my bug phone thingy so I know you're okay.

Love,
Ladybug

I took the note up to the balcony and placed it on the table next to the sleeping cat. 

"Goodnight kitty." I leaned down and placed a featherlight kiss on his forehead. His ring beeped for the final time, so I had to leave. Cheeks ablaze, I hurried to my room and tried to get a good night's sleep.

Present Time

"Pound it," Chat held out his fist after defeating the Akuma. 

"Ugh. Force of habit," he thought as he quickly lowered his fist remembering that Ladybug wasn't with him anymore. 

Ladybug. He had almost forgotten about her. He didn't think he'd hurt her too bad when he kicked her but it couldn't hurt to check. He jumped onto the Eiffel Tower to find her lying motionless where he had left her.

"Ladybug," he cried with fear in his voice. He didn't know what he would do if something ever happened to her. Especially if it was his fault. 

"I'm fine. No need to worry Chaton," Ladybug rasped with a scratchy voice. She slowly raised her head with a pained expression on her face.

Chat immediately replied, "You are not fine! Can you even stand up?"

"Of course I can stand up. I'm not weak." Ladybug grimaced as she forced herself to her feet. 

"See? Told you I could do—aah!" She screamed as she collapsed back to the ground in a very ungraceful manner. 

Chat couldn't hold back the chuckle that escaped his lips, but he was still concerned for Ladybug's health. 

If only she would trust me like she used to. Then I could help her or at least figure out why she has been acting this way. It's not like her to... to fight me.

"You need to get some help LB. You're injured!" Chat's voice was filled with concern.

"Chat. You know how I feel about—"

"I know, I know. No hospitals. We wouldn't want to risk your transformation falling and your identity being revealed. Is there anywhere safe I can take you? Family? Friends?"

Ladybug knew she couldn't show Chat where she lived and she knew Alya wouldn't even think about helping her former idol- Ladybug. After Ladybug had abandoned Chat and attempted to take his Miraculous, Alya had given up the LadyBlog and her respect for the beloved superhero. There was no way Alya would help her after everything she had done.

"I have nowhere to go. Just leave me here Chat. I'll be fine. I promise."

While Ladybug was speaking Chat remembered a time where he was in a similar situation during a battle and Ladybug took care of him.

3 months ago- Chat Noir's POV

My eyes fluttered open as I woke up to the bright Paris sky. It took a second to adjust to my surroundings. I know this place. It's Mari's house! But how did I get here? I recalled last night. Battle. Hawkmoth. Father. I must've blacked out and Ladybug took me here. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a light pink piece of paper on the side table. I picked up the note and it read:

Dear Chat,
I've left you here on my friend Marinette's balcony. You got injured or something in battle. I think it might have been a concussion- so go see a doctor! Anyways, when you wake up call me on my bug phone thingy so I know you're okay.

Love,
Ladybug

Ladybug took me to a safe place. Why does she make it so hard not to fall for her? She's just too nice... Of course she said I should see a doctor... always concerned for others. That's M'lady.
I thought about the more pressing matter. My father is Hawkmoth and he knows who I am. I'm not safe. If he could hurt hundreds of innocent people with his Akumas, then who's to say he won't hurt me? What do I do? I have no other family to turn to. I have to run away. No, that won't work. Father won't stop until he finds me. I have to truly disappear. I thought about all the good movies and books I'd seen or read. What do you do if you need to disappear? Fake your death.
If I died, Chat Noir could still live and keep fighting Akumas by Ladybug's side. I could take out a bunch of money I've saved up from modeling and rent an apartment or get a hotel room somewhere my father would never look. Yes. This faking my death thing could work. I thought about my friends: Alya, Nino, and Mari. They'd be upset and the last thing I want is to hurt them. But it's the only way. I sighed. Now I just need to figure out how to do it.

Present Time
"Ladybug, you helped me that night I blacked out. Now it's my turn to help you. Let me take you to my friend Mari's house. She's got a nice balcony where you can rest and recover."

"Why are you helping me Chat? I'm not on your side anymore. It's in your best interest to leave me here and hope I die." Ladybug stared straight at him.

"I guess love fades slowly." He stared straight back.

A/N: just comment here if you notice any mistakes in the last few chapters (I'm sure a made a few!). This whole story is kinda rushed, but it's really just for fun so I haven't been grammar checking or fact-checking super intensely.

Also, if you have any ideas for the story I'd be more than happy to hear them.