My writing feels like it's just getting worse and worse. I don't particularly like this one, but I swear it'll get better soon. I have some really good stories planned out and partly written. I just have to get my original ideas out, first, or else they'll always haunt me. Even if they're bad.

Emilie Agreste had left her son without warning. She just disappeared one day, vanishing off the map and out of their lives.

Chat Noir could not do that to Ladybug. As much as he wanted to pull a cat and crawl into an empty alley way and allow himself to bleed out from the stab wound, he could not leave Ladybug alone. She didn't deserve to have him suddenly disappear on her then be left alone with no idea where he had vanished to. He would never do that to her.

So, the moment he got stabbed by a mugger, his first course of action was to finish the fight.

His second was to find a quiet place to sit where no one would find him easily.

And this third was to dial Ladybug's number onto his baton and pull it to his ear. His fingers brushed over his wound, pain alighting in his side as grotesque organs dripped from the open injury. Death would come quickly once he accepted it.

"Hi, Chat!" Ladybug cheerfully greeted, oblivious to his predicament. "What's up?"

Oh, she was too beautiful for this.

"Ladybug, I-I…" he stared down at the red, gulping. "I love you. You know?"

"Huh?" Ladybug inquired, sounding confused.

"I love you. More than 'just a friend'." He translated, sighing. She was going to crush him once she learned he was purposely enraging her so that she couldn't get any angrier once he revealed his pain.

"Chat, this isn't like you. No romantic gestures while proclaiming your love? Something's up. Am I, like, going to turn around and find fireworks in the shape of my face?"

He chuckled dryly, wondering why he had never thought of that before. "No, no…" she didn't sound angry, but he couldn't delay it longer. "Nothing like…that. I'm just…I'm…I'm sorry."

"Sorry? For what?" Ladybug questioned, and Chat Noir could practically hear her gears turning. "Being late to patrol? I don't blame you at all."

"I'm not…I'm not coming to patrol." He pressed.

"Um…okay. See you tomorrow instead?"

"I'm…" he gulped. This was harder than he thought. No wonder his mother disappeared without a farewell. Goodbyes weren't easy, even when the person wouldn't care as much as you wished them to. "I'm not coming tomorrow either. I'm… Ladybug, I…I'm not sure anymore."

"Is your family moving?! Why didn't you say anything earlier? I'll go run off and grab the Horse Miraculous, and you can use that to teleport during important missions."

"No! Not my family. I just…can I just have your attention for a minute? It's okay if you don't have the time, but-"

"O-oh, yeah, sure. Talk away. And stuff. Are you okay?"

"Um… Ladybug, I just learned that our suits aren't…" He bit back a sob, staring down at his red-stained suit. The blood was pounding out much more steadily, now, and it was terrifying. "…they're not indestructible. Not to knives."

"What?!" Ladybug screeched, vocal volume rising with every heartbeat.

She's just surprised by this information. Chat told himself sternly. It was easier to believe that she didn't care. That way, he didn't feel quite so bad or horrible. "Um…yeah. So just…yeah."

"Chat, how'd you figure this out? Were you stabbed? Are you hurt? Where are you? I'm on my way! Hold on, for just a minute! Are you loosing blood? What's the color of the sky? How many fingers am I holding-? Wait, no, he can't see you. Stupid LB, stupid…"

"I'm currently hanging out in an alley, M'lady. I'm okay for the time being, but I don't know how much longer… I can…I'm…there's a lot of red, if you catch my drift."

"Where are you? I'm calling an ambulance! Address? Nearby landmark? Anywhere?"

It was so cute how she rambled when she was…well, feeling anything at all. It was adorable and almost made him want to give up then and there and tell her everything. "Ladybug, it won't come here in time. I can tell." He glanced down, sighing. "And neither can you. Look, I just…I love ya, Bugaboo, m'kay? I don't want to leave but I-" he paused, taking a deep breath. "Yeah. Goodbye. See you round…"

He flicked off his baton, ignoring her protests, and tossed it carelessly to the side. It clattered, bringing him little satisfaction. He watched it until the green light turned off, then groaning a bit, rolling over to his other side and staring at the nearby wall.

Death take me quickly. He silently begged, but he knew that it would be lucky to die quick. Especially for an Agreste. No, this would take too long and stretch on. He'd just have to grin and bear it until the end came.