Chapter 1 – The End

The colour red didn't look good on him. The contrast it made against the black was startling. This thought crossed his mind briefly as he limped across the rooftop. The akuma had been more difficult than usual, as if Hawkmoth was putting more and more into each of his attacks. They had managed, but Ladybug barely had time for their fist bump ritual before she had to run off to the sound of beeping. If he hadn't been so focused on hiding the blood, he would have seen the sharp burst of light of her transformation as she swung away from view. The light he so desperately wanted to see.

He didn't want her to know he was injured. He had taken the blow to protect her, like he always did, and she had given up on telling him not to. They had been fighting akuma attacks for years now, but neither of them had been seriously injured. Until now. He hadn't expected the akama's attack to rip through his suit, and the adrenaline of the fight numbed the feeling of the gash that opened up just below his last set of ribs. He had brushed off the reporters and swung away to the nearest rooftop, before anyone else noticed his face paling and his hand wrapped tight around his waist.

"Fuck!" He gasped, his foot slipping on the slick roof tiles. He grabbed at the nearby chimney, swaying, his vision blurring. He needed help, fast. The Argeste mansion was too far, he'd never be able to make it. He stumbled again and dropped to lean his back against the chimney, taking in a deep breath, trying to steady the panic that was starting to bubble inside him. Rubbing the threatening tears from his eyes before they could spill, he tried to stand again, but he could feel himself getting weaker by the second. He lifted his hand up to see the damage, and his vision swam again as the pain shot up his side.

A flash lit up the rooftops, and somewhere in the distance he heard the clash of thunder, and a light rainfall started to hit to roof around him. What am I supposed to do? he thought, once more trying to get to his feet. He couldn't go to the hospital, his miraculous had time but it was sure to wear off before he could get patched up and leave. He couldn't go in as himself. He was one of the most famous faces in Paris. His father would disown him.

He couldn't go home; his father didn't even know that he wasn't in bed where he was meant to be. That said, sneaking in and out had steadily become easier over the years. His father had only grown more distant, but this made it so much easier for Adrien to hide his alter ego. He stumbled towards the next chimney in the row, stepping dangerously close to the edge of the roof. He didn't have anywhere else to go. The panic that was rearing its head started to take over, and he couldn't control the tears from rolling down his face. He dropped onto his hands and knees, the pain getting too much for him. He gasped again, blood splattering the roof beneath him where he'd moved his hand away to catch his fall. A sob bubbled from his throat as he tried once more to slow down the bleeding.

This is it, he thought, as another sob escaped him. This is how it ends. He knew this was always a risk that came with the job, but with years of close calls he never thought it would happen like this. Alone.

His vision blurred again, the edges of his sight starting to go black. He moaned in pain again, louder this time, hoping the people living in the building below him were fast asleep. It was all too much. He slumped over, bringing his knees in towards him. "Ladybug…" he whimpered, his breathing getting slower. He watched his blood swirling with the rain gathering in puddles around him and the rooftop was lit up again by lightning, the thunder growling louder this time. As his vision went dark, all he could think was that he would never see her face again, never see her smile, or roll her eyes at one of her puns. She would never know just how much he loved her.