Alya went home.

She wasn't convinced that Marinette was alright, but she didn't have anything else she felt like she could do. Marinette hadn't said or done anything that needed immediate attention.

And honestly, Alya didn't know what to do.

No one prepares you for situations like these, where you know someone isn't doing well, but there's nothing to pin in on.

Marinette had been upset before, but every other time she had bounced back, almost immediately.

But Alya hadn't seen anything like this before.

And another thing, she knew her friend was clumsy, but how in the world had she managed such an injury? Sometimes, Alya figured that Marinette would forget about it, because she'd try to stand up and walk like normal, only to let out a frustrated grunt in realization.

She felt awful, watching her like that.

Marinette, on the other hand, couldn't figure out what Alya had meant.

No one had pressured her into defending them, Marinette had decided to on her own.

But she never said she could do it alone. Someone should have helped.

Perhaps that was the problem, but Marinette wasn't one to blame someone else.

It had gotten dark outside, and she was ready to fall asleep sitting at her desk. She hadn't realized how long she and Alya had been hanging out, and even Tikki was fast asleep in her drawer.

She smiled, gently closing it after checking on her small companion, leaving the small creature snuggled inside.

She figured, if she was going to go to bed soon, she might as well use the rest of her energy getting to her bed.

A loft sounded great when she first got to choose it, but now it was a nightmare. She'd gotten pretty good at climbing it now, using mostly her elbows and knees, to keep her foot as far away from any more damage as possible.

It was cold on her bed, and she soon found it was due to the wind blowing in from her trap door, it was left ajar for who knows how long.

"Great."

She mumbled, pushing the door open the rest of the way.

It flopped against the bottom of her balcony, and she hoisted herself through the opening. She hadn't even gotten halfway through, when a pair of black boots made contact with the flooring.

"Oh! You must've been expecting me."

She could feel the Cheshire grin before she could see it, the electric eyes and shining teeth in her head.

"I was not. This is pure coincidence." She pointed at him.

He was squatting down to her level, head tilted like a curious puppy.

"Well it's a pretty good one, is it not?" His teeth dazzling against his lips.

"Why are you here Chat?" She rolled her eyes, resting her head against her arms.

"I'm just here to say hello." He mocked offense, placing his hand over his heart.

"I don't have any snacks for you, you stray."

She wanted to be mad, but the way he was looking at her made it impossible for her not to smile.

Everything was so much. But this was not so much. Maybe she needed a little not so much right now.

It felt peaceful.

"Actually, purrincess, I'm here to check up on you."

"What? Check up on me? You pay attention to civilian life like this?" She squinted at him.

She was pulling herself up, shooing him from helping her. He stood up next to her, voice ringing again.

"Yep. You live in the best bakery I've had the pleasure of buying from, of course I've noticed you."

"Uh huh..." she nodded, unconvinced by his reasoning, but too tired to ask about it.

"Well I'm doing just fine Chat." She shrugged.

He took his turn to squint at her, seemingly finding her tone untrue.

"Just fine? Is that really all?"

She glanced at him with her eyebrows nearly touching her upper lid. She was leaning against her balcony now.

"Yes? What else would I feel?"

"Overwhelming joy over being in my presence?" He flaunted, the way he always did, gesturing outwardly with confidence.

She shook her head, pretending she wasn't giggling underneath her tightly closed lips.

"I'm just..." she felt everything starting to flood in again.

Hawkmoth.

He was scaring her. More than that, he was....

"I'm not sure." She swallowed, bitter taste on her tongue, her mouth feeling suddenly dry.

He stared at the her for a moment.

"You know, superhero's need breaks too." He was suddenly serious, as if he'd been trying to say this all along.

"Is that what you came here for?" She asked.

He didn't come there to take a break. He was trying to get her to take one.

He was telling her. She needed a break.

"I guess so." He sighed, leaning against the railing.

His shoulders relaxed, and he noticed finally the cool breeze blowing through the air. This part of the city was never truly silent, but perhaps he'd gotten good at tuning it all out. Because right now, all he could hear was the steady thumping in his chest, and Marinette's soft breathing in his ears.

"You know..." she began.

Her eyes looked like they were wandering, and they seemed to be trying to catch up with the gears in her mind. She was trying to find something up there, lost. He wasn't sure if she ever did find what she had wanted to say. But she spoke.

"This." Was all that left her lips.

He didn't say anything. There was a silent understanding between them, for once in what felt like forever. This.

This was all there was right now.

And it was enough.

He didn't see Ladybug when he looked at Marinette. He didn't see Marinette when he looked at Ladybug.

No.

All he saw was her. So effortlessly beautiful. She was a star stolen from the night sky, held captive in his dreams forever. Her soul a whisper, soft and quiet, and her spirit a lion. Her heart is gold and her mind is a fire.

No she can't be measured on any scale.

She, imperfect and human, and wonderfully so.

She doesn't know that.

That was the only thing he didn't like about her eyes. She couldn't see what he did.

What everyone did.

Alya knew it too, heck Nino could see it.

Chloe knew it, why else would she fight so hard to tear it down?

Master Fu saw it, he saw it and he chose it. Tikki saw it, Plagg even saw it.

But Marinette, how could she?

When your mind is constantly telling you everything you are is wrong, how could you see it?

"Hey."

He almost jumped at her voice. He'd been looking at her for so long, he almost felt as if he were marveling the art of a fine ancient statue. Neither of them had been moving during that time, perhaps they were both a work of modern art now.

"Thanks." She nudged him.

"For?"

She smiled weakly, but not forcibly. She was forgetting what she was trying to figure out, and losing the concerns that had been yanking her around.

"Coming to visit." She felt her eyes getting heavier, as she weight of her stress began falling to her feet.

"Anytime." He smiled.

Something about him had made her tired. She didn't think she could be tired, not physically, but here she was, barely able to keep her eyes opened.

Relaxing.

That's what she was doing.

When was the last time she had done that?

Alya, Chat, they did something to her head. They made everything dissolve.

It'll come back.

The thought was a whisper, and for tonight she didn't want to focus on whispers. She wanted to focus on wonders.

And he was her wonder for the night.

She wondered why he had really come in the first place. But she decided she was just glad he had done it.

Thank you.

Had she ever appreciated him like she should? After everything? He'd always been there. Always.

Had she told him how much he meant? Did he know he was cared for? Sought after? Wanted?

Chat watched as her eyes closed, and he became acutely aware of her head beginning to look wobbly against her neck.

"I should call it a night."

She snapped her head up at his voice.

"Oh yeah...goodnight."

Why was she so sleepy? What in the world was all of this?

"Goodnight princess."

He did something weird just then. He leaned over and kissed the top of her head. He almost kicked himself for it, but when he saw her content expression, he couldn't seem to make himself regret it

She'd think about it tomorrow morning. She'd send the thoughts spinning with the rest of her questions.

In the morning.

But right now, she sank into the feeling, and soon after, her bed.

In the morning.

That's where all the worries would go.