Adrien's POV

"Marinette!" I yelled after her as she raced passed me. Was... Was she crying? I thought I had seen tears streaking down her face.

I immediately turned into an alley and let Plagg out of his hiding place in my over shirt. "Home already?" The kwami asked. "I want food."

"Plagg," I said worryingly. "Marinette was running home, and I think she... She was crying."

"What did you do?" The kwami narrowed his eyes.

"Nothing! At least, I don't think I did anything."

"She's your friend, right?" Plagg asked. "Go check on her."

"I don't know if I should." I sighed. "She has Alya."

"Why can't she have you there for her too?"

"What if it was me who made her cry?" I looked down feeling guilty. "I can't face her."

"At least if you did make Marinette cry, you didn't mean too." Plagg said. "Try talking to her about it."

I didn't reply. I felt my own eyes forming tears. I hope it wasn't me who made her cry.

"Well?" Plagg asked impatiently. "Go check on her!"

"Won't it be weird?" I asked. "For me to check on her? What if she refuses to talk to me?"

"Kid, if you don't at least try, she may be akumatized."

"You're right, Plagg." I said. "I have to transform." For once Plagg didn't complain. "Claws out!"

I only truly felt myself as Chat Noir. I leaped from house to house, enjoying the rush of wind through my hair. I made my way over to Marinette's house performing flips and twists with the help of my baton.

Landing on a building right next to the Dupain-Cheng bakery, I noticed it. A small black butterfly could be seen high in the darkening sky, floating lower and lower. Looking onto Marinette's balcony, I realized that's where the akuma was headed.

"Not on my watch." I muttered as I pulled my baton out from behind me. I extended it upward, letting my weapon carry me towards the akuma. "Cataclysm!" I yelled as I neared it.

As my hand made contact with the dark butterfly, I almost immediately regretted destroying it. The akuma turned into dust and blew away with the wind.

It was Hawk Moth's evil doings, not this butterfly's. I quickly lowered myself and detransformed.

"I can't believe I did that." I muttered. "I destroyed it... It was innocent." I slumped down, sitting on the roof resting my head in my hands.

Plagg lay on the rooftop next to my feet. "Kid, you did the right thing." The kwami said weakly. "If it wasn't for you, Marinette would have become akumatized. Now go see her before Hawk Moth sends another."

"But I don't have any Camembert, Plagg." I sighed sadly.

"I can live without it." Plagg reluctantly said, flying up so his was in front of my head.

I lowered my hands to look at Plagg with surprise. "You mean it?" I asked, still not believing my kwami.

"I would never make this offer lightly." Plagg said, his normal tone returning. "So don't you get used to it."

"Wouldn't dream of it." I smiled, standing up. "Plagg, claws out!"

As soon as I was transformed once more, I leaped onto Marinette's balcony. During my landing, I tripped over my tail, and crashed into the flower pots, sending petals and dirt everywhere.

Smooth... Real smooth. I stood up and brushed the dirt off of me. I heard the trap door leading to Marinette's room being flung open. I turned to see Marinette staring at me with wide eyes.

"Hey, Marinette. I'm sorry that I-" I started to say. Her wide eyes narrowed, and she cut me off.

"What are you doing here, Chat?"

That I crashed onto your balcony...

"I wanted to make sure you were okay." I said. The feeling of guilt prickles at my stomach, and I tried to push it away. "I saw you running here as if you were upset, then I saw an akuma flying nearby so I..."

I broke off as I saw a tear streak down her cheek. I brought a hand up to her cheek to wipe it away. "I... I could've been akumatized?" She asked.

"It's okay!" I said quickly. "I... Stopped it from coming any closer."

"Chat," Marinette said as another tear ran down her face. Again, I wiped it away. "Did you use Cataclysm on it?"

I nodded, but stopped as soon as I noticed the worry in her eyes. "Why... Why would you do that?" She asked. "For me?"

I chuckled softly. "Marinette, you are an amazing girl and I don't know what I would do if you were akumatized." I smiled warmly at her.

My eyes widened in surprise and a slight blush crept across my cheeks as Marinette pulled me into a tight hug. "Thank... You." She cried onto my shoulder.

I hugged her back. "Will you tell me... Who made you upset?" I asked.

"A-" Marinette stopped herself quickly, then continued. "A... Boy I like..."

"What did he do to you?" I asked. Am I the boy she likes?

"He... I... I just know that he likes someone else." Marinette said sadly.

"And how are you so sure he doesn't like you?" I asked, feeling a little more guilty.

"He said... That he would tell the girl... that he likes that he loves her the next time he sees her... And..." Marinette broke into tears, hugging me tightly.

I am the boy... I felt bad for what I had done, so I hugged Marinette back tightly. "I'm sure he... Never meant to hurt you."

"What do you mean?" Marinette looked into my green eyes. The area around her pretty bluebell eyes was red and puffy.

"I'm so sorry..." I said, tears forming in my eyes. I never meant to hurt her... If only I knew how she felt.

"Chat," Marinette said with a hint of surprise on her voice. "Chat, you did nothing wrong."

"I'm sorry that he hurt you this badly." I felt a tear slide down my cheek, but ignored it. "You don't deserve it."

Marinette only cried onto his shoulder. I felt terrible. "I'm sure he likes you, Marinette." I continued. "Why wouldn't he?"

"Because I'm me." She cried. "I'm Marinette. I don't see how anyone could like me."

"But I do like you!" I said. Realization struck me hard. I do like her... But... Ladybug?

"Why?" Marinette demanded. "Why do you like me?"

I didn't realize that I truly did like her until now. "Marinette, you are so smart." I said. "You're kind, you're very talented, you're beautiful, you're adorably clumsy. Those are just a few things."

"How do you know so much about me?" Marinette asked. "Do... Do I know you as a civilian?"

"Yes." I said. I'm not going to lie to her. "But you would be mad if you knew who I was."

"Chat," Marinette said. "You are amazing. I'm sure I wouldn't be mad at you."

After what she said, I know she'd at least be disappointed.

"Marinette," I said, reluctantly ending our hug. "I'm sorry, but I need to go. I have a patrol with Ladybug."

Marinette backed away. "I should probably let you go. Don't want to keep 'your lady' waiting." She gave me a small smile.

I leaped onto the railing of the balcony. Just as I was about to jump to the next building, I heard Marinette's soft words. "Thank you for checking on me, Chat."

I smiled at her. "Anytime." I jumped off of the bakery and made my way over to the Eiffel Tower to meet up with Ladybug.

Usually I'm excited to see Ladybug... But this time, all I want to do is stay with Marinette.

I knew something about me was off, but I tried to push the feeling away. I climbed to the top of the Tower, the usual meeting place, and sat waiting for my partner to show up.

"Hey, Chaton."

I didn't have to wait long.