Missing My Other Half

Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind.

I love you. Marinette had almost said those three little words to Chat and he couldn't take his mind off of them. Those three little words were ones he'd been longing to hear from anyone since after his mother disappeared.

The moment Adrien and his father knew she was really gone, his life became lonely and cold. He couldn't help but feel unloved and unwanted because his father had shut him out, and Adrien saw no point in making an effort to change things.

He knew that her almost saying those words was just one of those accidental things people do at times. But Marinette being the one to almost say them made him feel safe. In a way not even Ladybug ever had. She seemed to take all the pain of his life away, making him feel as if it never existed.

He was drawn to her. Maybe it was the way she always stood up for what she believed in, or the way her quirkiness never failed to make him smile. After being in her class for the past year, Adrien had noticed just how kind her heart truly was. She was the positive light that everyone fluttered to when they needed someone to make them smile. She truly was an angel.

"Plagg, why is it that all of a sudden I feel like I need to know her?"

Plagg rose from his resting place on Marinette's pillow, releasing a groggy yawn. His mind traveled to the soulmate connection his and Tikki's chosen shared. He knew that as their bond grew stronger, as would their love. So much that someday they would become each other's reason for every breath they'd take. As well as every moment that would take their breath away. And when that happens Adrien would talk about her every second of the day and make him wonder, yet again why his chosen was a love struck cat. Plagg wished he could share this with his friend but knew it would come back to haunt him somehow.

"What can I say Adrien, you're a growing boy. But you'll figure it out. Just like I did."

The blonde shot his Kwami a glare that seemed to say don't you dare, earning himself an mischievous snicker in return.

"Even with my bad luck, I somehow found my one true love. The greatest thing about her is that I know she'll never leave me. She knows how to make me smile and is the sweetest thing in the whole world."

"You do realize you're referring to a stinky piece of cheese." he groaned.

Silly boy. Plagg thought to himself, knowing all Adrien thought he cared about was cheese. Which was in some ways true. But he couldn't just flat out tell him he was really describing Ladybug's Kwami. He missed Tikki with all his heart. No matter what they went through they always found their way back to each other. The somber kitten could only pray that this time wouldn't be any different.

Adrien was observing the wound on his leg. Marinette had sewn it up, and he knew it would leave a nasty scar. Plagg thought back to the past two weeks, remembering how awful it felt to see his chosen in so much pain.

And that's when they heard the screams rising from somewhere off in the distance.

Adrien didn't even hesitate to think of the consequences that could occur if he were to get wounded into battle. "Plagg, claws out."

~~~

Marinette was aware that Adrien wasn't in school that day but hardly noticed. She was too caught up in her thoughts about Chat. How could she have almost said those words to him? Was it pure accident? Or had she truly fallen for her catty partner without realizing?

She thought back to all the times in battle or on patrol when she played along with Chat's mindless flirting, but never took any of his words to heart. She'd just assumed he'd never truly meant any of them. Her thoughts were interrupted when a scream was heard from somewhere inside the building. An akuma.

Everyone swarmed out of the classroom to either get a glimpse of the akumatized victim or to find an exit.

Then a shrilling voice rose above the screams. "I'm Lady Nightmara. I have always been haunted by nightmares, keeping me awake for days. And yet I get suspended for falling asleep in class one time?! How is it fair for me to be punished for something I have no control over?! Now everyone will be trapped in their own endless nightmare!"

The victim was pale and dressed in a purple nightgown. Half of her face was obscured by an eye mask that had red, jagged beams shooting out of it. Aimed at Marinette's classmates, those who were hit fell to the ground into a restless sleep. Their nightmares seemed to be projected above their heads, and everyone was struggling against their own screams. They truly were trapped in the contents of their own minds.

Before Marinette knew what she was doing she yelled, "hey, just because someone wronged you doesn't mean you have to take it out on everyone else." That gave a group of nearby students a chance to escape. It made the unmasked heroine feel more confident, whilst assuring her that she wasn't completely helpless. Lady Nightmara turned in Marinette's direction, wearing an evil smirk on her face.

"Well then, why don't I just take it out on you?"

Marinette dodged her beams, keeping her distracted while the remaining, conscious students evacuated the school.

"Looks like someone is in need of a little cat nap." Marinette heard a familiar voice behind her say. "Maybe I can help with that."

She turned to him, looking him over to check if he seemed strong enough to fight. Thanks to his suit, he was only limping and wincing slightly. But it pained her heart to see him like that all the same.

"Good job little lady, but I think this cat's got it from here. Go find a safe place."

Marinette decided to keep watch from behind a pile of overturned tables, knowing she would never forgive herself if Chat was hurt again.

The exhausted hero and Nightmara continued to battle for what seemed like hours, but could have been no more than ten minutes. Chat successfully deflected the sleep beams with his staff, but Marinette could tell it was wearing him out.

A few moments later she watched in horror as his leg gave out and he slumped to the ground. Tears started welling up in her eyes, and before she knew it she was running to intercept the beam that was aimed straight for him.

Chat Noir knew it was coming. He had failed. He had failed Paris. He had failed Ladybug. Those were the only words running through his mind.

Just as the beam was about to meet his weak structure, it was stopped by a flash of blue.

For a second, time stood still. Chat looked down in horror and fear to see a restless Marinette. His Marinette. She had jumped in front of the beam to save him. She jumped because she cared. Chat's anger was boiling inside him, and all at once he was overtaken by a new power. Suddenly, he was running toward Lady Nightmara, fueled by pure hatred and the helpless screams escaping Marinette's mouth.

"Cataclysm!" Chat ran toward the akumatized girl and struck the eye mask on her face. It split in half and revealed the black and purple butterfly hiding within. Chat captured it and set it aside. There were more important things distracting him at the moment.

He watched as the girl reverted back to her normal self. Half of the sleeping students woke up, while the other remained dormant and in fear. One of those people being Marinette.

Their classmates attempted to wake them. They spoke soothing words and held their hands tightly, saying none of it was real. Some woke, but others needed a bit more persuading.

Chat walked over to Marinette, and caught a glimpse of her nightmare. What he saw surprised him.

There he was, projected in her misery, being beaten by a shadowed figure. He could hear Marinette's screams with every blow he took. Her biggest fear was... seeing him hurt?

Chat bent down, cradling the sleeping girl in his arms. He tried to speak to her but couldn't seem to get through to her.

He pulled her closer and began stroking her hair, lowering his head toward hers to kiss her forehead. All at once, she quit struggling and her face softened.

She opened her eyes. Her deep, beautiful, blue eyes.

"C-Chaton?"

"Thank you for saving me princess."