[ it's the usual. chat had been doing his own bit of evacuation on his way to meet with ladybug, the cocktail of emotions that were the usual settling in his stomach as he approaches. an urgency in regards to the akuma, a small bloom of excitement at the chance to see her.
the bloom of excitement shifts to concern when he finally lands at her side, his ears perking up curiously when their routine doesn't continue as it should. this is where she comments on his tardy entrance, or enlightens him on the situation; this is where he's supposed to make some kind of joke, but it dies in his throat to make way for concern when he sees her face.
he's observant. and he knows ladybug too well (while simultaneously not really knowing her at all) to not sense that something is wrong. ]
My Lady?
[ tentatively, a hand outstretches to touch her shoulder. ]
[So lost in her panic--that's her mom out there--Ladybug jolts when she feels Chat's hand on her shoulder. She gives him a wide-eyed look that's more characteristic of Marinette than Ladybug, but right now she doesn't care.]
Chat... We--we need to come up with a plan. [Ladybug stumbles over her words slightly. What is she doing? Falling apart like this isn't going to help her mom in any way, and she needs to pull herself together.. Her jaw clenches stubbornly.]
[ definitely not usual. what's wrong comes up again but the akuma, the moment, means they don't have much time to waste. he's certain, too, that ladybug wouldn't be so open to discussing what's got her so riled up... he thinks, maybe, that it might have something to do with the akuma.
( he'd already gotten his own struggles out of the way by making sure marinette and her family weren't in their house or— affected; he'd just assumed they'd already evacuated. )
the question is clear in his eyes, as his hand lingers. ]
Is she ...
[ someone you know, he starts, but no. he shouldn't ask that. ]
... I can get it. [ he offers, slowly. to give her time to settle her feelings, or so she doesn't have to fight this person she seems close to—
—his gaze slips to the akuma victim. there's something oddly familiar about china doll that doesn't hit him just yet. ]
[She's being too obvious. Ladybug's not so far gone that she misses Chat's concern. She isn't going to fail to protect her mom from Hawkmoth and fail her partner in the same day.]
I'm fine, chaton. [It's a lie.] We're going to fix this together like we always do.
[She stands up, already swinging her yoyo and preparing to jump.] Come on. Let's catch up with her. [No matter how many times she reminds herself that she's faced people she cares about before, she just can't manage to summon up her usual playfulness. This time, the akuma's hit a little too close to home.]
[ the retort tumbling in his mind is obvious. it's okay, it's fine, i can handle it i swear, you can trust me— that don't evolve into anything more than thoughts, because in the end they were partners and he'd never tell ladybug she couldn't do something. if she felt she could handle it, she could, he knows, but... ]
Don't push yourself. [ is what he tells her carefully before they leap, and his next words come shyer. ] I mean— I'm here.
[ he pauses on that, feeling that maybe he's said too much. was that too bold? it's an honest statement, just an honest statement, as his hand fetches the baton at his back, expanding it to prepare.
[The look of worry melts into something softer when she turns to him.] I know, chaton. [Never has she been more grateful for him than at that moment.] Thanks.
[Shakily, she sighs and then flies through the air with a focused sort of determination. It's a miracle that she doesn't falter when China Doll sneers at her.]
Turning people into porcelain isn't really practical, is it?
[Rather than amused and playful, the words tumble out of her with a grim twist of her lips.]
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ლ(●ↀωↀ●)ლ my lady
the bloom of excitement shifts to concern when he finally lands at her side, his ears perking up curiously when their routine doesn't continue as it should. this is where she comments on his tardy entrance, or enlightens him on the situation; this is where he's supposed to make some kind of joke, but it dies in his throat to make way for concern when he sees her face.
he's observant. and he knows ladybug too well (while simultaneously not really knowing her at all) to not sense that something is wrong. ]
My Lady?
[ tentatively, a hand outstretches to touch her shoulder. ]
omg...
Chat... We--we need to come up with a plan. [Ladybug stumbles over her words slightly. What is she doing? Falling apart like this isn't going to help her mom in any way, and she needs to pull herself together.. Her jaw clenches stubbornly.]
The akuma's in the flower, the one in her hair.
(๑ↀᆺↀ๑)✧ bugaboo
( he'd already gotten his own struggles out of the way by making sure marinette and her family weren't in their house or— affected; he'd just assumed they'd already evacuated. )
the question is clear in his eyes, as his hand lingers. ]
Is she ...
[ someone you know, he starts, but no. he shouldn't ask that. ]
... I can get it. [ he offers, slowly. to give her time to settle her feelings, or so she doesn't have to fight this person she seems close to—
—his gaze slips to the akuma victim. there's something oddly familiar about china doll that doesn't hit him just yet. ]
chaton....
I'm fine, chaton. [It's a lie.] We're going to fix this together like we always do.
[She stands up, already swinging her yoyo and preparing to jump.] Come on. Let's catch up with her. [No matter how many times she reminds herself that she's faced people she cares about before, she just can't manage to summon up her usual playfulness. This time, the akuma's hit a little too close to home.]
~(=^‥^)_旦~ m'ladybug
Don't push yourself. [ is what he tells her carefully before they leap, and his next words come shyer. ] I mean— I'm here.
[ he pauses on that, feeling that maybe he's said too much. was that too bold? it's an honest statement, just an honest statement, as his hand fetches the baton at his back, expanding it to prepare.
and then he moves. ]
Kitty pls
[Shakily, she sighs and then flies through the air with a focused sort of determination. It's a miracle that she doesn't falter when China Doll sneers at her.]
Turning people into porcelain isn't really practical, is it?
[Rather than amused and playful, the words tumble out of her with a grim twist of her lips.]