Mending A Broken Heart (+18)

Chapter 2

Chat didn't notice Ladybug's sudden change of expression at first. Instead, he kept talking. "I'm used to feeling lonely. My... parents aren't around much. Part of me was really hoping she'd say yes. She brought so much light and happiness to my otherwise dark and lonely life. But she likes someone else... it hurts like hell. It hurts so fucking much. I-I don't know how to feel. I understand she likes someone else and I can't change that but... at the same time... I feel so hopeless and lost. I feel like she was my only hope for happiness and it's lost now..."

Adrien wasn't getting any attention from his father or Nathalie. they barely spoke to him. Marinette's rejection was another big blow to him. 

When Ladybug didn't say anything or move, he looked up at her, noticing her horrified expression. Was he saying too much? Maybe he shouldn't have dumped all his problems on to her. "You ok bugaboo?" he asked.

Calling her that always got a smile from her, but this time she was avoiding eye contact. Her usually red cheeks were pale and she had a terrified look on her face.

"Ladybug," Chat said again, this time cupping her face to look up at him. She made eye contact with him and her face saddened.

"I'm so sorry Chat," she said softly. "Bugaboo, you don't have to be. It's not your fault. She had every right to reject me, even if it hurt. She deserves someone that'll make her happy."

That only made Ladybug feel worse. Marinette had just broken his heart and caused him to cry and he was still being so kind.

Ladybug shook her head, "No, Chat. You don't understand, I... I..."

"You what?" he asked.

Ladybug pulled his hands away and stood up. Chat sat there, his hands outstretched. For some reason, it hurt him. Maybe he was just being emotional and he still had to heal from Marinette's rejection, but Ladybug rejecting his affection stung. Now he felt even worse. First Marinette rejected him and told him she loved someone else, and now Ladybug was acting strange. 

"I have to go, it's late, bye kitty," she said, turning around and leaving.

Chat stood up, staring after her before sighing and leaving himself.

Ladybug didn't go home, instead, she followed him. She wanted to verify if her Kitty was Adrien.

She felt awkward and like a stalker following him, but she really wanted to know. I mean, he did say her name and Adrien confessed to her earlier that day, but still. She wanted to be 100% sure before she did anything else. 

Chat jumped a couple of rooftops with Ladybug following not too far behind. She made sure to stay in the shadows and hide behind roofs to avoid being seen. She looked around and noticed the area looked familiar. They weren't too far from Adrien's house. 

Ladybug swallowed and took a deep breath. She continued to follow Chat until he jumped down into an alleyway. Ladybug slowly walked over and peeked over the roof. 

Her eyes widened as her Kitty was engulfed in a bright green light before Adrien stood down below. She quickly covered her mouth to prevent herself from making any noise. 

Ladybug could see a small black kwami floating next to Adrien. She couldn't hear what they were saying but she did see Adrien hand him a small piece of cheese. 

Plagg flew back into Adrien's jacket and Adrien made his way over back home. Much to his surprise, neither Gabriel nor Nathalie noticed his absence or took any notice to him coming home far past the end of school. They were probably way too busy to notice. That only hurt Adrien even more. He felt so lonely.

He made his way to his room and stepped inside, closing the door behind him and sighing. He made his way over to his bed and let himself fall backward on his back. 

His mind was plagued with thoughts of Marinette. Did he ruin their friendship? Was she going to see him differently now that she knew he liked her? Who was the guy she liked? She seemed so hesitant to tell him. It seems like even Alya doesn't know of Marinette's crush.

Nino clearly knew of Adrien's crush, so Alya had to know too. If Alya knew Marinette liked someone else, then wouldn't have Alya have said something to Nino? Who was Marinette's crush? Why was he such a secret?

Was it an older guy? Someone she shouldn't be with? Adrien shook his head. No. Marinette wasn't like that and he shouldn't think of her like that. Maybe she just really wanted to be careful. 

Adrien's train of thought was stopped when he heard a knock on one of his windows. He frowned, confused before sitting up. He looked around until his eyes met Ladybug's blue eyes. Her cheeks were flushed and she sheepishly waved at him.

Adrien stood up, now even more confused. Why was she here? Didn't she leave? 

He walked over to his window and opened it up for her. She jumped inside and then turned to look at him. Ladybug gazed into green eyes and studied his face. How had she not noticed the similarities between Adrien and Chat?

"What are you doing here Ladybug?" he asked. Ladybug jumped slightly, startled by him breaking the silence. "Oh, um, I-I... I just... well um," she began, her cheeks flushed.

"I-I was going home, a-and I noticed you looked so down, s-so I wanted to st-stop by and make sure you were ok, i-in case you were to get akumatized," she said softly. Akumatized? He hadn't thought of that. If he was akumatized, that would be bad. He wouldn't be able to help his lady and she'd be on her own.

"Oh," he responded. "I'm fine, I guess, just a little down."

"Your puffy eyes say otherwise."

Ladybug's eyes widened and she quickly covered her mouth, "S-sorry." Adrien looked at her in surprise. 

"I was..." he trailed off. He was about to tell her, to open up again. But then he remembered he opened up to her as Chat Noir. If he said he was rejected, would he be giving himself away? No, that would be too crazy. Paris was a huge city, the odds of Chat Noir and some random civilian both getting rejected on the same day weren't that slim. Besides, he was feeling a little selfish and lonely. He liked the comfort she gave to Chat, maybe she could give that to Adrien.

"You were what?" she asked. "I'm s-sorry, I'm intruding, aren't I? I should leave. This isn't my place."

"No, no," he spoke. "It's ok. You stopped by because you were worried. It's fine, it's part of your job, isn't it?" 

Ladybug nodded. 

"I was turned down by the girl I liked," he responded. He looked at her, studying her facial expression. 

"Maybe it is good that I came then. Heartbreak is the most common way to get akumatized." 

"It is, isn't it?" Adrien said. Ladybug nodded in agreement. There wasn't any noticeable change in Ladybug's face and she was right, heartbroken akumas were quite common so it wasn't that crazy for him to get rejected the same day as Chat. Besides, he didn't mention getting rejected that exact day and it had been a couple of days since he had last seen Ladybug as Chat Noir. 

"Would you like to sit?" Adrien asked, motioning to his sofa. Ladybug tensed up a little and blushed. "It's alright if you have to go. It is late."

"Y-yeah, it is a little late. I-I should go," she stuttered out. Adrien nodded. 

Ladybug walked back to the window and used her yoyo to help her get out. Before pulling herself away, she sheepishly waved goodbye to Adrien and Adrien did so too, rubbing the back of his neck. 

It didn't seem like Ladybug had caught on to him being Chat Noir (to him at least) and he wasn't sure how he felt about her visit.