#leftovers for the zine are still open if you'd like to see this in print with spot art

[ladyofthenoodle]

(that kiss of mine is) a carved notice of destiny

written for the @lovesquarefanbook zine!

Chat Noir’s heart pounded in his chest as he leapt across rooftops towards the akuma battle, frenetic drumming in time with the voice in his head chanting: late, late, you’re late, you’re late, you’re late…

He’d always hated being late for akuma battles, but never quite like this—before, he’d only suffered a quiet but increasingly painful sense of fruitlessness as he raced towards a battle he hoped hadn’t already been won. Now, every wasted second tugged his stomach sideways and banged against his ribcage as he imagined Ladybug out there, without their teammates, swallowing down her fear as she stood alone. 

He knew she could handle an akuma by herself, of course: she’d managed on her own plenty before the battle with Sapotis. Hell, she’d even managed on her own fighting him. But with Monarch now in possession of sixteen Miraculous…

She’ll be fine, he told his fretful heart, to no avail. No matter how many memories he conjured of her single-handedly taking down an akuma without breaking a sweat, the sound of her voice through his bathroom door, defeated, lost, drowned them all out.

He was almost there… almost… just a few more blocks… she’d be fine, fine…

And finally, finally, the akuma came into view.

Chat Noir skidded to a breathless stop on a rooftop overlooking the Place du Châtelet, just in time to watch his worst fears being realized: a round, blue satin pillow arcing through the air; Ladybug noticing, too late; his own voice echoing “Ladybug!” in his ears as he watched her dodge; her limbs moving like molasses to his eyes as the pillow struck her heel; her eyes falling shut as time sped up again; her body collapsing down fast, too fast…

Chat Noir was faster. Not fast enough to save her, not this time, but he caught her before she hit the ground. His boots barely hit the pavement as he vaulted them both back up in the air, back up towards a different rooftop, one with a chimney that would cover them both while he got his bearings.

He couldn’t afford to get hit too.

Not when they didn’t have any backup.

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