His Mute Princess

Chapter 28

Hospitals aren't so lenient but for the sake of the story let's just pretend they are lol

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The couple landed a few blocks away from the hospital. Marinette detransformed right as she landed. "We should ask if she's there," Chat said. Marinette nodded. "You should go!" Tikki piped in.

"Blue hair, blue eyes, you two are very similar! Say you're her sister!" Chat grinned, "Yeah! You know her name, besides, it'd be weird if Chat Noir walked in asking to see a civilian. Suspicion would arise."

Tikki nodded. Don't you want to see her? Marinette signed. "I do. Maybe she's in a room with a window. Please just go check on her first. I really want to know if she's ok." Marinette nodded.

She walked to the hospital and went inside to the front desk. A man sat in the desk and he looked up at her. "Hello," he said with a smile. Hi, she mouthed. He blinked in surprise. "Not to be rude, but, are you mute?" he asked. Marinette nodded.

"We don't have a translator but I do have some paper and a pen, what do you need?" he asked with a smile. He handed her a small pad and a pen. She wrote:

I want to know if there is a patient by the name of Jasmine Barousse. She was hurt badly and was taken by an ambulance. I am a relative of hers, her sister.

Marinette handed him the pad and he read it. He looked back up at her and eyed her. He noticed her dress and smiled. "Oh! Was it that young woman in a formal dress? The pregnant one? Oh you two look almost identical!" he gushed. He typed something into his computer and then made a short phone call.

He turned back to her with a warm smile. "She's fine now. I assume she was in the akuma attack of today as she was healed rather quickly. Visiting hours are over for today but you are more than welcome to visit her tomorrow!" He wrote down her room number on a piece of paper and handed it to her. "Have a happy new year!"

Marinette smiled and nodded at the man. She went back outside and looked for Chat. He walked over to her with an anxious look. "So?" he asked. She's fine, we can see her tomorrow, Marinette signed.

Chat sighed in relief, "Thank god, let's get you home." He picked her up bridal style and made his way over to the bakery. He landed in front of the building. Sabine and Tom must've been waiting as they both opened the door the second they landed.

Sabine and Tom both gave their daughter a big hug. "Oh we were so worried!" Sabine said. "We heard there was an akuma at the event and we heard someone got hurt badly. We were so worried, but thank god you're home. Thank you for bringing us our daughter, Chat Noir," Tom smiled at the hero.

Chat smiled, "Anytime." After a quick good-bye, Chat went back to his place. He landed in his room and threw himself onto his bed. Today had been an exhausting day. Physically and emotionally. He needed a good night's rest.

He woke up the next morning less exhausted than the previous day. He was still drained but he could manage the rest of the day. The thought of Ladybug in the hospital immediately made him bolt up. He needed to go see her.

He transformed and made his way over to Marinette's. He was stopped, however, when he saw her transformed and running towards him. She stopped and smiled, "There you are! I was hoping to find you!"

God her voice is beautiful, he thought. "This early?" he questioned. Marinette raised a brow, "Chat, it's past noon."

"Wait really?! Did I sleep that much?" Marinette laughed. Mon dieu, even that's beautiful, he thought. "Yes, Chat you did. Let's go visit Jasmine! I have her room number. It's an odd number, meaning it most likely is a room with a window.

"I'll go in, and confirm anyways." Chat nodded, "You can transform back inside, you can call me with your yoyo." "Ok. Let's go."

Both heros took off towards the hospital. They were stopped, however, by a helicopter. They both froze in place and looked at each other. The helicopter landed near them and Nadja came out.

"Chat Noir! Can we ask you and your new partner some questions?"

Marinette took a few steps and hid slightly behind Chat. Not this again, she thought. It's the prize you have to pay, she heard a small voice say. Chat looked at Marinette with an uneasy look.

"Are you his mistress?"

"Mistress?!" Marinette stared wide-eyed at the reporters. "Of course not! How many times do I have to say this? Ladybug and I are NOT a couple!"

Nadja raised a brow, "Well, how about you two? It's quite interesting how a new Ladybug showed up. You replaced the old one with a younger one. New year, new Ladybug?"

At this point, Chat was getting pissed. All he wanted to do was check up on Jasmine and now Nadja was bothering them with stupid questions. "Look, I did not replace her! Ladybug is not available right now so we both gave trust in someone else," Chat said through gritted teeth.

"Ladybug's younger sister?" she asked. "What?" both heroes questioned. "Blue hair, blue eyes, almost identical!" she laughed. "If it weren't for the height and difference in clothes, I would've thought she was the same!"

"N-no," Marinette quietly stuttered. Nadja raised a brow, "Hm, I guess blue hair and blue eyes are just Chat's type." Chat tried his best to keep his cool. He didn't want to snap again, it wouldn't be good and Ladybug — Jasmine — would definetely kill him. Also, Marinette was by his side and he knew she wouldn't like him snapping either.

Nadja turned to Marinette, "So, what's your name? Superhero name. We already have a Ladybug so you can't go with that, you're not her." Marinette's face saddened. She felt a sting with Nadja's words. You're not her. She wasn't the strong Ladybug everyone admired. She wasn't Chat's partner for years. She knew virtually nothing about the city or much on how to save it. Was she even worth being a ladybug?

Don't doubt yourself, she heard a small voice. Ladybug and Chat chose you for a reason. I know you're going to be an amazing Ladybug! What once was your weakness is now your strength. Use your gift, Marinette.

Tikki. Marinette smiled. She stepped next to Chat and stood up straight. Her smile dropped and her face grew serious. "I am Coccinette. Ladybug chose me to take her place for some time. I don't need to hear your comments, thank you.

"Now if you'll excuse us, we have something urgent! We don't have time for silly questions!"

Marinette — or Coccinette — took out her yoyo and swung it to a nearby building. She turned to Chat and signalled they were leaving. He only nodded due to being in shock. He used his staff to propel himself and Coccinette pulled on the string.

When they both got far enough from the reporters and close enough to the hospital, they stopped. Chat turned to Coccinette and grinned. "What?" she asked. "You did great Little Lady! Gosh, even when angry your voice sounds amazing," he breathed.

Coccinette blushed and uttered a quiet thank you. Adrenaline had taken over her and all the pent-up anger of not being able to defend herself came out. For the first time, she was able to defend herself with words. Outside she was calm, but inside, she was externally in joy.

"W-we should go ch-check on Ladybug," she said, pulling on her hair strands slightly. Chat found it to be a cute quirk. He nodded.

She turned around to swing her yoyo when she felt his hand on her shoulder. She turned back to him and he had a smile on his face. "I'm proud of you," he said. He gave her a kiss on her forehead before leaving off.

Coccinette stood flustered.

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Coccinette is a play on the work coccinelle, which is ladybug in French.