Ladybug would be lying if she said she wasn't the least bit concerned the first time Chat Noir made it through an entire night of patrol without trying to seduce her with his terrible puns.

It was like routine to Ladybug, so when he didn't flirt with her, she knew something was up.

But, she let it slide that first time.

She didn't say anything until the fourth time they had patrol together and he didn't make a pun at all. Nor bat his eyes at her in a flirtatious motion. What was up with him?

"Hey, everything alright?" Ladybug asked her partner, who was sitting beside her on the corner of the school rooftop, overlooking a magnificent sunset.

Chat peered over at her, blinking in surprise. "Uh, yeah, why?"

"I don't know, you've just seemed... off these last few patrols," Ladybug shrugged.

Chat gulped and understood why she was thinking this way. Still, he put on his best confused expression and tilted his head, "Why would mew think that?"

"Now you say the puns," she mumbled, shaking her head with a smile on her face. "You're not telling me the complete truth, Chat. You know why I'm thrown off."

He winced; he shouldn't have lied to her. She hates liars. And the fact that he just lied to her isn't going to make his next confession any easier...

When he didn't respond, Ladybug leaned in closer to him. "The flirting? How come it stopped all of a sudden? I know the disappointment sounds ridiculous coming from my end, but it's just not like you to act, I don't know, normal?"

"Fine," Chat exhaled. He really didn't want to tell her, but it was going to come out anyways. "I'm dating someone."

Ladybug widened her eyes. Oh. Oh.

"Well, that's a very valid reason for not flirting with me anymore," she laughed.

Chat scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, sorry I didn't tell you sooner. It just didn't feel right to do so."

"I understand. I'm happy for you, Chat."

"Thanks, LB," Chat replied.

Ladybug winked and pointed a finger gun at him. "I'll still be your Lady though, right?"

He chuckled, "Of course."

They both stood up and exchanged friendly hugs.

As much as she hated to admit it, she was really going to miss Chat's ridiculous attempts at trying to win her affection. But at least he was with someone who could reciprocate his love.

And by all means, that's all she ever wanted for Chat once she realized she could only ever love Adrien.

*

At school the next day, Marinette was chipper than ever. Even though Chat was no longer attracted to her alter ego and had no idea of her civilian identity, she felt free for some reason.

The mental battle of loving Adrien but also turning down the love of Chat Noir ate away at her and caused her guilt. But now that Chat had a girlfriend, she didn't have to worry about that anymore. She could love Adrien without feeling any remorse.

At least, that's what she thought until she walked into school that day.

Alya had alerted her to the terrible news as soon as she walked through the doors of the school.

"Girl! You won't believe this," Alya cried, racing up to the raven haired girl. She whipped out her trusty phone which displayed the profile page of a female French model by the name of Louise. She had luscious brown hair, aqua blue eyes, and a pristine figure.

Marinette wondered why Alya was showing her this until she noticed the bio of her profile:

"Adrien Agreste
❤Mon amour❤"

Marinette chuckled nervously. "Just a secret admirer, no big deal. He has a ton of fans."

"Secret admirer or secret girlfriend?" Alya stated sadly, pointing across the room.

Marinette's heart stopped when she saw Adrien holding hands with the same girl that owned that bio, Louise. He was talking to Nino, supposedly introducing him to his girlfriend that kinda appeared out of nowhere. Alya was right; if they were indeed together, it had been in secret. Why out of all days was he publicizing their relationship now?

The final nail in the coffin was when Adrien kissed her on the lips. She flinched.

"I can't watch anymore," Marinette quickly turned away, staring at the ground as tears threatened to fall from her eyes.

Alya placed her hand on her crestfallen friend's shoulder. "..Marinette?"

Adrien was dating that perfect girl. And he was so happy. It just broke Marinette's heart. She loved Adrien and he didn't love her back. He was giving his love to someone else. That had to be the worst feeling of her entire life.

Was this how Chat Noir felt all those times?

"I-I... need to go," Marinette stuttered, a tear slipping down her face as she allowed everything to sink in.

She clenched her bag and jogged out of the school as she allowed her emotions to spill out.

Marinette quickly jogged across the street and into her parents bakery. She made it through the front door and just crashed to the floor, a sputtering mess.

She let out a loud sob, rolling on her side and hugging herself tightly. Tears streamed relentlessly down her face as they carried away the pain she had bottled up inside of her.

Tikki flew out of the bag and looked up at her in sadness. "Marinette? Please don't cry..."

The image of Adrien and that girl made her cry even harder. Oh, how love was cruel. She had devoted her entire life to this boy, and for him to do this just destroyed her.

Sabine came running to her daughter's rescue, cuing Tikki to retreat back into Marinette's bag.

"Honey, what's wrong?" Sabine asked quickly, sitting on the floor and scooting close to her daughter.

Marinette shook her head, unable to speak. She just cried louder.

Unfortunately, Sabine knew the sight of this all too well. Teenage heartbreak.

"Oh, sweetie!" Sabine wailed helplessly, her eyes growing watery. The sight of seeing your child in so much pain was just heartbreaking in itself. She opened her arms and hugged her daughter's shaking body.

Tom appeared from upstairs, fresh out of the shower and a bath robe wrapped around himself. "I heard crying, what's going on?"

He saw Marinette crying in Sabine's arms and immediately grew worried, but before he could say anything else, Sabine shooed him away politely. She would mend this broken heart. Or, at least, she would try.

Tom took the hint and retreated back upstairs.

Sabine comfortingly rubbed the top of Marinette's head while she let all of her emotions out.

So the two stayed in the bakery like that, mother and daughter, until Marinette finally stopped crying.

Thankfully, the bakery was closed that day so no customers had to spectate the event.

Though, that didn't stop some curious onlookers from pausing at the scene as they walked by outside.

Marinette had never exerted such powerful emotions before, as she was well aware what this meant in terms of being akumatized, but she couldn't help herself now. Her heart was hurting.

Still, Marinette was Ladybug, and if she got akumatized there wouldn't be anyone to stop her. So she needed to calm down.

"How about I take you upstairs and get you something to eat, huh?" Sabine whispered.

Marinette nodded her head, trying to remain calm. She stopped letting the tears fall and wiped her cheeks.

Shakily, Marinette got to her feet with the help of Sabine. She inched to the back door of the bakery, eyes red and throat sore.

Little did she know, however, that a black butterfly was squeezing it's way into the bakery, gracefully fluttering after its prey...

She was far too late.