Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Cat Noir’s eyes unfocused once again to see a menacing, orange blob moving swiftly.

His nose felt so dry it burned. He attempted to inhale a well needed deep breath, his nostril instead letting a sticky, metallic liquid run down his face.

He saw a red splotch of color running towards the amber blob of flickering fire.

His eyes watered from the thickness of the air. He’d like to close his eyes, to stop the wretched fog from touching his eyes, but that just made it worse. The second his eye lids covered his bare, disgustingly dry eyeballs, it burned like hell. The fact his eyes teared up didn’t help much because the liquid quickly left.

He guessed it hurt less than leaving them open but that didn’t stop him from trying to watch the fight happening.

He wanted to run, to go out there and help. He was determined, although that didn’t help much. He stood up and immediately stumbled, falling back onto his bottom. He propped himself up against a brick chimney wall. He was in this position where one arm leaned on the wall and the other rubbing his eyes.

A different shade of orange joined the battle, using something shaped like a stick to poke and prod at the beast.

His mouth and throat was coated with a film, it tasted horrid. He gagged, bending over slightly as a small amount of bile poured up and onto his tongue. He spat onto the ground, the taste of his own stomach fluid not leaving his taste buds.

A forest green figure sprinted with what he assumed was a shield, throwing it, attempting to hit the reddish-orange enemy.

His eardrums rang, over and over. His head felt like it was about to explode. The sound was so loud yet so fake. Or was it? He didn’t know at this point.

When was all this going to stop?

His eyes opened just barely enough to see the ugly monster being captured by the small dots of color.

His whole body shook while the world around him swayed in a fast circle motion. His eyes squinted. He needed to get rid of his sight. He didn’t care if it was permanent or not, he needed something.

He could cover his eyes with his hands, he could run to shelter and get away from the fog, he could pry his own eyes out with the claws on his hands-

“CAT NOIR!” A faint voice called for him.

That’s when he realized he had been falling.

—

“…at…”

Why did his head ache so much?

“…oir…”

Ew, his tongue tasted like death itself.

“Cat Noir?” A voice echoed.

His eyes fluttered open and he tried to turn his head to observe his surroundings-

“Don’t turn your head, dude.”

He should probably listen to him. His head ached and when he even slightly moved, it was this agonizing crushing in his skull that stopped him.

A hand softly brushed along his face. He urned for the touch, if only it didn’t feel like he was about vomit his guts out.

He felt the puke bubbling up his throat, he sat up. He grabbed for his head and dark crimson blood covered his hand.

That didn’t matter at the moment, he had to find a place to puke that wasn’t his Lady’s lap.

Ladybug gasped and tried to pull him back down onto her lap, but he resisted.

He quickly crawled to the side just in time for his small lunch to regurgitate.

“What’s happening?” Ladybug questioned quietly. The left over tears stuck to her face and made it shiny.

He spat out the rest of the chunky yak.

“…I don’t know. It’s serious, though.” Rena Rouge replied.

The red clad heroine fidgeted with her fingers. “Do you think it was the smoke?”

“Maybe, I mean, all the rest of us were affected by the fire. It just looks like he… had a stronger reaction.” Carapace said.

His eyes unfocused and colors blurred together, making the three heroes look like one big three-headed monster.

“It could’ve been that.” Rena glanced over at Cat. “It’s just too extreme for it to just be the akuma, right, girl?”

“Right.”

He sat down next to his pile of puke. As he took a glance down at it, he noticed something. There was blood in his vomit.

His eyes widened as he spoke, ”Am I going to die?”

The trio’s faces flashed with terror but then were replaced with something of worry.

Carapace’s hazel eyes widened and his lips parted.

Rena Rouge’s hands clenched her cape’s fabric. Her face looking as though she was thinking the thought through.

Ladybug’s tear ducts seemed to fail her and she let down a few tears, her gloved hands quickly moving to wipe her eyes.

Those few words were filled with so much hurt. Not that he wanted to hurt their feelings, no he would never.

It was barely a question, no it was more of a statement. Why? Because he knew.

His emerald eyes softened, he sighed.

It’s better to just accept it.

“No, you’re not dying, Cat.” Carapace said, shaking his head. His lip trembled slightly.

Ladybug quickly pulled him into a tight hug, he protested as the remaining puke on his lips touched her shoulder. But there was just something so comforting as she wiped his wet eyes to get rid of the tears he didn’t even know were there.

There was something so comforting by the way Carapace held his shoulder and Rena searched Ladybug for reassurance.

It made him happy, it made him content and warm inside. The thing is, it also made him feel guilty.

He was just taking all the attention to himself, wasn’t he? But he deserved to be selfish for once. He’s done everything in his power to help save Paris. To save his best friends.

They were his best friends, they were there for him. Always there for him.

But now? He was going to die on them.

They told him otherwise but he knew.

He knew they were wrong.

Chapter Text

Cat Noir gagged for what seemed the millionth time. Nothing came out of course, his stomach was basically empty.

“I have to go,” he blurted out.

Ladybug’s eyes narrowed, her mouth twisting into a tiny pout. Normally, he’d find that cute. He always did, but now? He knew she was about to deny him freedom.

“No, you can’t just leave after all that,” She said. “You’re still… sick.” She frantically waved her hands around him, showing him.

Her face was pale and her cheeks weren’t rosy.

“She’s right, bro.” Carapace agreed. “You can’t go yet. You’ve gotta go to a hospital or-or something.”

Carapace looked a little shaken, not nearly as worried as Ladybug, but still concerned.

Rena Rouge joined in, “But our miraculous are about to time out?” Rena pointed out.

“Beep, beep!” Ladybug’s earrings rung coincidentally.

His ears pinned back at the sudden noise and he winced.

Quickly composing himself, he spoke, “I’ll be fine. I just need some rest, so, let me go home.”

“But-“

He budded in, “My family might question why I’ve been gone so long.”

Although it wasn’t false, it was very unlikely. His father barely ever knew he was there, why would he notice if he wasn’t?

Ladybug bit her lip in frustration. “Alright, but you better take care of yourself, okay?” She looked like she was holding back tears. “And, and go to a doctor.”

“I will.” He lied.

He spun his baton with wobbly hands. He carefully extended it, giving a goodbye salute with one hand.

——

Ladybug sat with her legs criss-crossed with the other two heroes.

The three of them had just fed their kwamis and sat down to discuss the situation.

“Do any of you guys have an idea of what’s happening?” Rena questioned.

Ladybug squirmed in her spot on the rooftop. “He told me he had a cold a few days ago.” She said, “he told me that he had recovered.”

Carapace raised an eyebrow, “Last akuma he told me that he had a stomach bug.”

“He told me that he was just tired,” Rena added on.

Ladybug looked down at the metal in front of her. “So, he was lying to all of us?”

Carapace shrugged and Rena nodded shortly before saying, “I guess, that seems sort of unlike him, though.”

“Dude got mad at me for making a sarcastic joke once. Didn’t know I was joking, I guess.” Carapace said. “That kinda proves it, right?”

“He hates secrets.” Ladybug murmured.

Rena’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “Then why would he?”

“I don’t know.” She held her face in her hands. “He’s hated keeping our identities from each other ever since we met.”

Rena rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Do we… ask him?”

Ladybug stopped biting her nails and instead started moving her hands all over the place like a kite on a windy day.

“No, no, no!” Her bluebell eyes widened even further. “We can’t! What if- what if he gets upset and, and leaves?”

The red clad hero was fidgeting like crazy, she seemed anxious.

“Calm down, dudette. He’s not going to abandon his superhero life over that.”

Well, that was Marinette so there was no doubt she was making up every possible out come. Alya knew how nervous she could get.

“But-but what if-“

“It’s fine!” Rena finally declared.

Ladybug didn’t seem to be as relieved as she hoped she would be.

Rena added on, “If we just ask him, then we can figure out why the hell he’s vomiting blood!”

“…blood” Ladybug put her head in her hands again.

Rena rested a hand on Ladybug’s shoulder. “We’re going to help him.”

“Promise?”

The other two heroes looked at each other before Carapace shrugged and said, “Promise.”

“I promise.” She grabbed Ladybug’s pinky finger.

She knew how much Cat Noir meant to Marinette. Gosh, she knew how much he meant to all of Paris. She needed to figure this out, she was a reporter for darn sake!

She had her first official case.

Chapter Text

Adrien laid in his bed, staring at the ceiling. Counting the ceiling tiles.

One, two, three-

“Adrien, come on!” Plagg flew right up to his face. “You can’t just lay there forever. You need help.”

Plagg bumped his face, his small body smooshing against his cheek. Adrien didn’t budge, not even a flinch.

“No.” Adrien simply mumbled.

His voice was raspy, around his eyes puffy and red.

Plagg’s eyes softened as he observed his chosen’s state. He was probably feeling terrible.

The small embodiment of destruction moved to where there was a reasonable amount of emptiness between them.

“If you don’t get up, I’ll go tell Ladybug what happened.”

Adrien’s face paled and his eyes opened to where they were noticeably paying attention.

“You can’t!” His voice crackled from the dryness of his throat.

Plagg sighed, “I don’t know, at this point I’m this close to telling.” He used his nubby hands to measure the small amount of patience he had. “You need a doctor or even better Master Fu, but your father’s damn assistant won’t notice that you’re in pain!”

“I told her it was a cold.” Adrien rolled over and yanked on his thick comforter.

“That’s what you’re telling everyone. Adrien, don’t you get it?”

Plagg left a short amount of silence where Adrien just laid and stared at the floating god of destruction.

“You could DIE!” Plagg grabbed the blanket to remain eye contact with him.

“Mhm,” Adrien closed his eyes. “If I haven’t died yet, then I don’t think I will in the future.”

Plagg growled in frustration.

He heard Adrien say a muffled whisper through his blanket. “It wouldn’t be that bad, though.”

Plagg froze. He knew that Adrien could have his sad days, but those were only few. They were usually just him complaining about Ladybug not crushing on him back, or how his father acted.

Not him fantasizing over his own death.

—

Nino clicked the call button of his phone for the hundredth time.

“Ring, ring, ring.” His phone beeped.

The sound felt unreal at this point. It had played over and over.

Why couldn’t Adrien just call back? He’d been gone from school for three days now. That was just a normal thing for other kids if they were sick, but Adrien hadn’t missed a single day before this. Maybe he just got the stomach bug that was being passed around.

That wouldn’t explain why he couldn’t just answer one of his texts, though. It didn’t tell why he wouldn’t pick up any of his calls.

Nino scrolled on his screen before tapping the call button, this time it wasn’t for Adrien.

“What’s up, babe?” The familiar voice casually said.

“Has Adrien answered you at all?”

“No, I mean I think he’d answer you before me.” Alya answered. “He hasn’t replied to you, has he?” She said, knowing what he would say to the last question.

“He hasn’t.” He adjusted his hat on his head. “Do you think his father pulled him out of school?”

Alya sighed. “Maybe. We shouldn’t jump to conclusions, there’s lots of other possibilities.”

Nino moved his cap on his head again, it just didn’t feel right. “Possibly,” he said. “I’m just worried about my bro, you know?”

“We all are. Especially Marinette.”

He ruffled his hair. “Yeah, you can tell she’s been upset lately.”

“Mhm.” Alya paused. “Oh, speaking of Marinette, she just texted me. I’m heading over there.”

“Bye, Als.”

“Hope that Adrien answers soon.” The phone beeped as she left the call.

—

Alya sat on Marinette’s lounge as the other girl sat in her desk chair.

“How come both of my friends are missing?” Marinette groaned. “It’s like they’ve fallen off the face of earth!!”

“Friends, yeah right. You mean love interests?” She retorted.

Marinette’s race turned red, from love or embarrassment? She didn’t know. “I told you Alya! I’m over Adrien.”

“Girl, you need to stop lying to yourself.”

Marinette turned her chair to face Alya. “It’s beside the point, anyway.” She said. “We need to figure out what’s going on with Cat Noir.”

“What about Adrien?” Alya raised an eyebrow.

“He’s probably just sick.” Marinette sounded like she was unsure.

Alya shrugged. “Yeah, it happens. Cat Noir seemed ill, do you think that’s why he hasn’t shown up to akuma attacks?”

Marinette gasped. “What if he’s dead, Alya?!”

“Woah, girl. Let’s not go that far.”

Marinette stuttered. “But-but he was puking b-blood and, and he basically fainted last time we saw him.”

Alya looked around the room. “I don’t think he’s dead, though. Really hurt? Probably. But dead? No.” She reassured her.

“And his head was bleeding!” Marinette exclaimed.

“Right… uhm, do you have any way to check up on him?”

“I’ve called him on my bug-phone multiple times! He just won’t answer.” She info-dumped. “And his little icon hasn’t been online since then.”

“There haven’t been any sightings of him patrolling lately, either.” Alya gave input.

“What do we do?” She looked like she was at the brink of a breakdown. Her raven colored hair made up her statement pigtails, just very messily. Strands of hair poked out, not caught by the hair tie.

“Clink, clink.” They heard a sound that weirdly resembled someone tapping glass.

“What’s that?” Marinette looked around the room.

Alya did the same and spotted a small black figure touching the window.

Alya pointed, “Look.”

Marinette walked over to the window and unlatched it. “Plagg?!”

“Hey, Ladybug.”

“Oh my gosh,” she cupped her hands around the kwami.

His breath was unsteady and his eyes bigger than they already were.

“How’s Cat Noir?” Alya said before Marinette had the chance.

“Oh, Bug. He barely talks anymore!” Plagg roared. “And he just sits, staring at the ceiling as he’s dying.”

Alya rubbed her forehead. Marinette let out a little squeak. “Dying?” Marinette murmured.

Plagg flew out of her hands. “He’s really sick. I swore I wouldn’t tell you what.”

“Why can’t you tell us? We just want to help him!” Alya fumed.

“He told me not to, I’m not breaking my kitten’s trust.” Plagg told.

“Then do you at least know how we can help him?” Marinette said hopefully.

“We need to go to Master Fu.” Plagg answered.

“But he’s lost his memory?”

“Hold on, hold on. Who’s Master Fu?” Alya said, completely oblivious to what was happening.

“He was the guardian before me.” Marinette explained.

Alya nodded while Plagg went back to answering Marinette’s question. “It doesn’t matter, Marianne still knows plenty.”

“Oh, right! Marianne.”

“Again, who’s Marianne?!” Alya interjected.

“…you’ll find out.” Marinette said before waving Plagg into her bag.

Chapter Text

Marinette ran, breathing heavily. Her pink slippers clinked against the floor.

“Hurry up!” Alya shouted. She turned her head, looking around but still jogging. “Hold on, is this even the right part of the subway?”

Marinette slowed down as a train jerked to a stop. “Yes, Alya. I know what I’m doing!” She huffed.

“Well, I just gotta be sure because ninety percent of the time you have no concept of what you’re doing, or when.” Alya smirked, giving a chuckle.

Marinette groaned, “Yeah, yeah. Come on, we have a train to board.”

—

Marianne sat on a bench, pools of people hurried out the train. Fu painted next to her, his brush stroking against the canvas steadily. She hummed, admiring her spouse’s hobby.

That’s when she heard the ruckus of two teenagers sprinting at full speed.

“AH-“

Alya caught Marinette’s shoulders before she could fall face first into the concrete. “Marinette!” She scolded.

She tightened her pigtails, stumbling backwards. “It’s not my fault that there’s a step right there!”

“Girl, I know this might seem impossible, but have you ever looked at where you’re stepping?” Alya rolled her eyes.

“Whatever, come on!” She started to run again.

Marianne smiled wholeheartedly. “They’re always chaotic, aren’t they?” She murmured.

“Hmm?” Fu hummed in question. “Oh! That’s the girl who saved me.”

Marianne nodded. “Mhm, she is.”

Fu turned back to his painting, wetting his brush and dipping it in the water color.

Marinette spun in a circle, her eyes squinted and a hand placed on her forehead, seemingly to cover her eyes from the bright, white metro lights.

Her eyes widened in excitement. “Yes, Alya, there they are!”

Marinette yanked Alya’s hand, running towards to the two precious oldies. “Woah-“ Alya yelped in surprise.

“Marianne, Marianne!” Marinette called.

She halted to a stop, hands on her knees. Alya lost her balance, her arms trying to find a secure item to hold onto. That item just so happened to be Marinette’s shoulder, causing her to fall backwards, then both landing like a pile of roadkill on the side of a highway.

“Hello, girls.” Marianne calmly greeted them.

Marinette exclaimed, “Marianne! Something’s wrong with-“

Alya smacked her hand over Marinette’s mouth, the words muffled. “You can’t just scream that!”

Marianne nodded her head slightly. Her lips curled into a smile, the wrinkled lines around her cheeks more defined. “Follow me.”

Fu continued using his paintbrush. Carefully, Marianne stood up from her seat, her back making an uncomfortable ‘crunch’. Alya cringed at the noise, but that was normal for old people after all.

Marianne lead the path, walking on the crowded sidewalk. People to their left and right. The pair of best-friends followed close behind, trying not to get lost. It would be fairly easy, Marianne was quite slow, if only there weren’t so many city people bumping into them every chance they got.

Marianne finally walked into a small park, they rested on a picnic table bench. Alya sat down, noticing that Master Fu had been right behind them. He was holding a bag, most likely holding his painting supplies.

They all sat down, except Fu who set up his portable easel.

Marinette set her purse next to her, careful of Tikki.

“What seems to be the problem?” Marianne asked, her voice caring but fragile.

“Cat Noir-“ Marinette blurted out.

Alya started, “A hero-“

Their voices overlapped, the two girls looking at each other with a slight hint of frustration.

Marinette squeaked, clearly her throat. “Uhm, Cat Noir has been… sick?”

“He threw up blood.” Alya nodded. “It was just a few days ago.”

Marianne’s eyes softened, green sympathy showing through. “Are there any other symptoms you know about?”

“He- he was dizzy.” Marinette stumbled over her words. “I think.”

Alya added on. “And Plagg…” She paused. “Wait, where’s Plagg?”

Marinette’s eyes widened. “Oh, crap. Tikki?”

Marinette unlatched her purse, finding Tikki, no Plagg in sight.

Tikki peeked her head out of the opened purse. “…yes?”

“Where’s Plagg?” She looked at Tikki with her beady blue eyes.

Tikki looked down. “He went to tell his holder…”

Alya’s eyebrows raised. “About what?”

There were plenty of things he could tell Cat Noir. Some worse than the others.

“He’s telling Cat Noir that he’s getting help.” Tikki confirmed.

Marinette sighed softly, relieved it wasn’t as bad as she thought. Her pupils shrunk once again. “Why would he do that?!” She shrieked.

Marianne rubbed her temple. “You know the black cat holder better than I do, how would he react to that information?”

Marinette swallowed, making a final decision. “He’s not going to let us help him.”

—-

The silence was deafening. He sat there, trying his best not to absorb his surroundings. After all, they didn’t matter much anyway.

He’d die soon.

He wouldn’t have to worry about what was happening around him. No, none of it would matter.

It didn’t matter now, it wouldn’t matter in the future.

The future.

He promised his friends so much. He promised Alya that he’d come to upcoming hangouts. He promised Nino that they’d have a graduation party, and that he’d come. He promised Marinette that he’d help with her crafts, maybe even play video games with her if he had the chance. He promised Ladybug they’d always be partners, best-friends.

He promised Ladybug he’d always be there for her.

He’d lied.

—

Plagg soared through the sky, passing through a familiar window.

There lay his holder, curled into a ball. His face was buried into his pillow, his clothes still the same from days before.

“…Adrien.” Plagg finally managed to voice.

“What?” His voice was dry, unlike his face. Shadows of old tears stained his face.

“I got you help.” He said.

Adrien shifted, his movements shaky but fast. “What?” He repeated, louder and harsher than the one before.

Plagg hesitated. “I got you help, Marianne will figure something out.”

Adrien shouted, his body basically vibrating at this point. “No. No, no.”

Plagg winced, he definitely didn’t like that reaction. “Yes, but don’t worry. I didn’t tell Ladybug.” He lied.

Adrien seemed to calm a bit at that, but he was still noticeably shaken up. “Okay,” He mumbled. “I can fix that.”

‘What does he mean by that?’ Plagg’s thoughts wondered.

He decided to wait until Adrien cooled down. Plagg’d rather question a pile of flickering coals than a roaring fire.