Disclaimer: I do not own Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir, and I am not affiliated with them in any way.

This is NOT the continuation of Issues. This is another story I wrote for a friend whose birthday is coming up. I hadn't meant to post it here at all, but Harvey is messing up my life in a lot of ways (thousands of dollars and possibly my house), so I wanted to post something to lift my spirits. Issues is still being worked on, I promise you. But this was already written, it's ten chapters, and my friend's birthday is in ten days. So, it's perfect.

Prelude

Chapter 1

Cat Noir landed softly on the balcony, noting that the room below him was dark. It was late, he shouldn't be here—but he had to make sure she was ok! She was his classmate, and one of his first friends! Biting his lip, he opened the hatch quietly. If she was sleeping, he didn't want to disturb—

A tiny gasp startled him and he quickly dropped down onto her bed, mindful of where his feet fell.

"Shh, shh, it's just me," he whispered reassuringly.

"Cat Noir?" Marinette mumbled sleepily. She started to get up, and he could see her wince.

"Don't move," he ordered quietly. "I don't want you to hurt yourself. I just came to see if you were okay."

Even now, he winced as he remembered the hit she had taken from the akuma earlier. The crack. The way she had rolled down the street to come to a terrifyingly-still stop…. He knew they had taken her to the hospital, and that she had only been released a few hours ago because the hospitals were filling up with other injured people from this akuma's attacks, but the sight of the bandages, the bulk of them visible underneath her nightshirt, wrapped around her ribs, still made him feel sick. Dammit, this was what he was supposed to prevent!

"I'm… well, I've been better," she admitted ruefully, gingerly touching her side. He frowned as he realized she was still trying to sit up to talk to him.

"I told you not to move," he chided, gently lifting her up to lay her back down.

"But I—"

"Here, I'll lay down beside you," he said, doing so. He saw her blush in the moonlight, and was sure his own face matched it, but at least now they could talk face-to-face without her straining herself. Besides, it really wasn't so bad, laying here with her. She was warm, and smelled sweet… and if his arm was casually draped across her waist, just below the bandages, well, he really didn't want her to try and get up again. (Admittedly, this had gotten a bit more intimate than he had originally intended when he came here, but at least he wasn't groping her like a pervert, right?)

"Did you get the akuma?" she asked, looking up at him shyly.

He shook his head. "It went into hiding, and Ladybug's still MIA," he admitted. Marinette winced and he felt a wave of annoyance at his partner again. Where was she? Ladybug hadn't shown up to the fight at all. He had tried calling, posting on the Ladyblog, addressing her directly on the news… nothing. She had disappeared completely. It was almost as if—no, he wasn't going to finish that thought. Just because a lot of people had been caught up in the latest monster's attacks didn't mean… surely she wasn't…. Besides, he'd already gone to the hospitals briefly to look for her, despite the withering looks and snide comments on how he might have better things to do, like stop the damn monster….

Marinette took a shuddering breath and he was startled to see tears seeping out of both her eyes.

"Marinette?" he yelped. "Are you hurt? Did I-?"

"No, no, I'm fine," she sobbed. "I'm just… sorry. I'm so sorry… I didn't mean to!"

"Hey, it's not your fault!" Cat Noir said reassuringly, pulling her closer as best he could around the bandages and giving her a gentle hug. More like resting his chin on her shoulder, honestly. He really didn't want to hurt her. To his surprise, she wound her arms around his neck and returned it, pressing her cheek against his. He felt himself automatically relax. God, he had forgotten how wonderful hugs could be. The awkward ones with his father couldn't compare. Not even to this. He was barely touching her, but it was still warm, and tight, and safe. He felt like purring.

"I was so stupid," Marinette muttered lowly. He wasn't sure if he was supposed to hear that, but he did have ultra-cool superhuman senses. "I should've—I should never have—"

"I don't think anyone's going to blame you for not knowing you couldn't go to the Trocadero today," he chuckled, pulling back to look at her.

"And for not running away with the other screaming civilians?" she asked, looking up at him guiltily. He pursed his lips as he remembered how she'd herded a bunch of tourists (including small children!) out of danger and had been running towards a flipped car when—

"Yeah, I am kinda peeved at you for that," he admitted, brushing her hair back. "Why don't you leave the superhero work for the superheroes next time, princess?"

"Well, we can't all have cat ears," she said, smiling and touching one of his.

"Are you kidding? You would look amazing in cat ears," he said, smirking at her. She giggled, then winced, touching her ribs. He grimaced. She was injured and he was making her laugh? How stupid was he? "Sorry, no more jokes."

"It's all right. At least it wasn't one of your purr-fectly claw-ful puns," she teased. His face brightened like Christmas come early.

"Oh, princess, I just fell in love with you."

As soon as the words left his mouth, he regretted them. He felt the blood drain from his face and watched her go pale as well. They broke apart, struggling to sit up, finally realizing just how close they had gotten, tangled in each other.

Then they both started stammering.

"That's not—I mean…"

"I just, well, I don't—"

"I LIKE SOMEONE ELSE!" they both exclaimed at the same time. They blinked at each other and laughed nervously. Marinette winced again.

"You shouldn't be up," Cat insisted, wanting to lay her back down, but not willing to breach the distance they had put between themselves just yet.

"It's okay, Cat Noir," she said, taking a deep, shuddering breath. "I think I needed to get up anyway. I'm not supposed to stay in one position too long."

"Right," he muttered. He should go. He shouldn't be here at all, honestly. There were plenty of people who had gotten injured in the attack. He had singled her out because he knew her from class. She was a friend. And he already knew where she lived as Cat Noir, so it wouldn't be weird, right? But if she started thinking—

"So… you… like someone?" she asked nervously. Despite himself, Cat Noir couldn't help grinning.

"Yep! The only Lady in this Cat's heart," he said, bowing. Awkwardly, since he was still crouched on the edge of her bed.

"Ladybug. Of course," she murmured, looking uncomfortable.

Oh no. Cat winced. Now he felt very guilty. Marinette had fallen for him! And then he had gone and paid her extra attention—the one thing his father always told him to never ever do for a fangirl, cause they got crazy notions—so, now…

"What about you?" he asked, grasping the one thing that could salvage this situation. "You said you liked someone else too, right? You already know my crush's name. What's yours?" Maybe he could help her snag this guy! Then Happily Ever Afters for everyone, right?

She smiled and shook her head. "Oh no, I don't think you would know who Adri—" She gasped and covered her mouth, looking at him, wide-eyed. He felt his stomach plummet and his mouth went dry.

Oh, princess.

"Adrien?" he rasped. She squeaked and covered her face with a pillow. He stared at her in horror. No way. Unbelievable. She liked… him? Both in the mask and out of it? He bit his lip and jumped down from her bed, needing to get a little more space between them. Great. Just great. Could this get any worse…? Looking away from her, his eyes landed on the walls and he felt his jaw drop.

There were pictures of him everywhere! Adrien Agreste was on every wall! Pages from magazines, candid shots, even a large poster from that stupid perfume ad that his father was so proud of. Despair flooded him. She had it bad. And there was nothing he could do for her. No hope he could offer. Adrien's heart had been stolen by a gorgeous red bug before he had ever even met Marinette.

"Cat Noir?" she called.

"You like Adrien Agreste," he muttered, unable to look her in the eye just yet. She laughed nervously, grimacing around the pain as she gingerly came down the ladder from her bed. He glanced at her. "And you shouldn't be up."

"I told you, the doctor said I need to move around every so often. And it can't be that much of a shock to know I have a crush on him, can it?" she asked, looking anxious.

"I just… I kinda know him? Not well, but we've kept in touch since I've saved him a few times," he said, trying hard not to outright lie to her. She paled. He flushed. "I should go." She caught his hand before he could flee.

"You can't tell him," she pleaded. "Please, Cat." His heart lurched at the desperation in her eyes. Too late, princess, he thought. I already don't know how I'm going to face you in class tomorrow.

"You think he's not going to notice all… this?" he asked instead, gesturing to her walls. He looked closer. "How did you even get some of these?" he asked. He knew for a fact that some of these shots were very rare. And some… he nearly smacked himself for his stupidity. He'd wondered at the time why Alya had been giggling so much when he'd agreed to pose for her to "improve her camera skills." Now he knew. She was really helping her best friend. He felt slightly used.

"I got some of those before I met him," Marinette admitted, sitting slowly in a chair. "I'm a big fan of his father's fashion line. I didn't even like him when we first met; I thought he was just another rich-kid bully. Then I got to know him and…," she gestured helplessly to the walls. She sighed. "But it's just a silly crush. Not like it's going to go anywhere."

He closed his eyes. If not for Ladybug, he might consider her. Marinette was sweet and smart, with a fun sense of humor. And he knew they liked some of the same things. It would've been a good match. But he already belonged to someone else. And he loved her with all his heart.

"Isn't there anyone else you like?" he asked, a little desperate to help Marinette get over him. "What about that kid who asked you out when he got akumatized?" he asked, pretending not to know their classmate's name. "The… Evillustrator?"

"Nathaniel?" she supplied. He nodded eagerly. Surely, if Nathaniel had liked her even after being turned evil, there had to be something there, right? To his surprise, she gave a short self-deprecating laugh. "He decided he was in love with Ladybug after she saved him. You should see some of the comics he's drawn. They're… uh, detailed." Cat Noir grimaced. No, he definitely did not want to see those. He might sock someone.

Marinette shrugged, huffing a bit. "I guess I just can't compete with a superhero."

Cat Noir opened his mouth to contradict her, but then closed it again. Wasn't that his whole problem? He couldn't go out with her because he had a crush on Ladybug too. Well, it wasn't because she was a superhero, of course. Right? Sure, he told himself he'd love his Bugaboo even without her powers, but the truth was, he'd never even seen her without her powers.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Marinette said, sounding guilty. Cat Noir looked over at her as she stood, wringing her hands. "Here I am, ragging on Ladybug and you must be so worried about her."

"It's all right," he assured her. "I can understand some of what you're feeling. And don't worry, I'm sure Ladybug is fine and we'll be back in action before you know it." He pumped his fist eagerly.

She smiled at him weakly. "Yeah, I'm sure she will be."

"Then we'll defeat this akuma and everything will be back to normal," he added, trying to get some more enthusiasm.

"I'm sure you will," she said. But her smile still didn't quite reach her eyes. He didn't like it.

Cat Noir stepped closer and held out his hand. "Hey, you believe in me, don't you, princess?" he asked. She blinked up at him for moment. Then, to his surprise, Marinette ignored his hand and stepped close to him to give him a soft, quick hug instead.

"Always," she whispered.

He felt his heart warm a bit and hugged her back. Lighter than he wanted to, because the absolute last thing he ever wanted to do was hurt her. And he was already going to have to hurt her… inside. He needed to leave. Now. He waved goodbye before taking back off through her hatch.

"Plagg, tell me I'm an idiot," Adrien said, collapsing on his bed after pacing for the umpteenth time. It was very nearly morning, but he still couldn't sleep.

"You're an idiot," Plagg said helpfully, chewing on a piece of cheese.

Adrien sighed. He didn't feel better. No, he felt awful. Poor Marinette. Caught between the two halves of him and she never had a chance with either of them. It'd be different if she was just some random girl (God knew he had a lot of fans that he'd never even given the time of day), but he knew her. He'd spent time with her. He knew she was a great person, who deserved to be in awesome relationship with someone who could give her his whole heart. Hugs and kisses every day. Good morning texts. I love yous each night. Someone who would hold her hand, and take her to all the romantic spots in the city, and dance with her until they collapsed from laughter, and shower her with gifts until she begged him to stop. And she would, he knew. She'd blush and tell him she didn't need those things to prove he loved her. And he'd laugh and do it anyway, just because he could—NO! Not HIM! Adrien nearly screamed at himself as he realized he was describing his own fantasy. Everything he'd ever wanted… but with Ladybug.

"I'm so screwed," he groaned, burying his face in his pillow.

"You're so screwed," Plagg agreed.

The worst part was, now he knew he could have her. He could have all that. She'd go out with him if he asked. She'd be ecstatic. She'd give him everything he wanted. Anything he asked for. She'd love him. Pay attention to him. They'd laugh and dance and play and kiss and… And—he glanced at the poster of Ladybug he kept in his room.

And she'd eventually realize it was all fake. That he didn't love her back—couldn't love her back. She wasn't stupid.

And he wasn't that much of an asshole.

"Plagg," he moaned.

"~You're stupid and an ass, and I'm having such a laugh,~" his kwami sang, flying in circles over his head.

"That doesn't even rhyme," Adrien muttered.

His alert on the Ladyblog went off and he sat up quickly. The akuma had resurfaced.

"Thank God, I need to hit something. Plagg, claws out!"

End Chapter 1.

As always, reviews are loved. This will be updated daily, if my internet holds out.