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“Miraculous Ladybug!” A swarm of bright, red bugs sweep the city stained in destruction and blood (of the innocent, of the bystander, of the heroes, of the akuma), bringing everything back to how it was. Those who may have died during the attack found themself waking up to the world once more, surrounded by paramedics and loved ones who prayed for Ladybug's miracle to come quick.
Today wasn't so bad. The Akuma has no mind control ability and is a mid-range attacker. People had been evacuated quickly too when the Akuma alarm blared across the city, police and security people worked fast—learning from past Akuma attacks. But even then, some unfortunate souls would still get caught in the fight. Either because the Akuma manage to move to where there are crowds despite the Hero's attempt at keeping the battle area limited or because one of the Akuma's hits manage to destroy public properties that’ll fall on people nearby.
In the end, people still died anyway. Despite everyone’s best effort.
In the end, they all relay on Ladybug’s healing swarm to bring the death back to life. To reset the destruction.
Ladybug is aware of that. Which is why she still casts her cure even when she herself is badly hurt. Even when one of her arms hangs loosely on her shoulder, unable to be moved without causing pain—Scars streaked across her body, a big gash across her left shoulder, along with bloods that stained her suit (both her own and others who fell on her hands or by accident).
She shouted the magic words and let the cure take as much of her energy as it needed to reset the destruction and to bring the death back. Tikki’s energy alone wouldn't be able to force the death to return as it’d disturb the balance—so Ladybug has to compromise and offer her own energy as payment for those poor souls to return.
Everyone bathed in the warm, healing swarm as they went past them. All wounds gone when the swarms gone.
… Or at least all wounds but Ladybug's. She’s a bit too tired to have the swarm do more than clean her blood stained suit, leaving her injuries alone.
… Ah. It’s awful. Ladybug can feel her visions blurry and her ears ringing loudly, but not from the warning beep signaling of her soon de-transformation—the warning beep never happened since that Akuma. Both she and Chat had never de-transformed again unless using the de-transformation phrase.
“.. Lady.. -ug..!” A voice seems to call her, then followed by something that sounds like many people approaching. The press are always quick, aren’t they?
“.. You can ask Chat the details..” She says, voice hoarse, “sorry Chatton, I’m a bit.. Tired.”
“Wait-! Yo-..... Ur..! -dic.. el..p..!” Chat’s voice sounds somewhat urgent, yet Ladybug can’t seem to understand him—her brain lack the ability to do so at the time. Her visions swam as she kept walking away anyway.
Without looking back, she starts to spread her wings—but stops when it hurts. She hissed, realizing that maybe something's broken back there. So she opted to use her yo-yo instead-
Thud. Something fell, and suddenly the ground looked so close. She can feel something wrapped around her middle, something warm and strong.
“B-.. g!” Chat shouted, this time he sounds really close. Yet for some reason, her brain drowned it behind whatever it is that rings in her ears. The world is silent and loud at the same time—Ladybug decided to bask in the loud ringing and the warmth that slowly coat the side of her face.
“Don't…. Sleep…”
Ladybug wondered who said that. She wanted to apologize to whoever it is since she can’t keep her eyes open for much longer. The world blurred more before she plunged into the darkness of her mind.
She wants to apologize—but she knows she doesn't have to. She’s not Santa after all.
… The dark is warm this time. She thought silently.
**
Soft ray of light enters the room, birds are chirping lively outside the window. Ladybug- Marinette sigh softly, but doesn't open her eyes. Too comfortable to care, and instead sinking further into her very soft pillow.
The bed however, isn’t as soft as she remembered.. But it’s fine, bed is bed as much as money is money. She’s home now-
Wait. Why does her left hand feel.. Heavier?
Curious, she slowly opened her eyes—reeling from the too bright light hitting her eyes. Slowly she noticed how the roof wasn't pink, but white. So are the walls. The big window to her right is where the light came from.
Huh. She’s not.. Home..?
Her breath hitched, eyes wide in shock, She’s NOT home?!-
“?!” She groaned painfully from the sudden movement. She had tried to get out of bed as soon as she could but paused when even sitting up was painful. Her left shoulder stung awfully, and her wings refused to move, as if binded.
So instead she moved to touch her earrings to check, then sigh in relief when her earrings are still in place. She also noticed that she’s still transformed—her jacket just missing, replaced with hospital clothes on top of her spandex suit instead. Looking around, she can find her jacket neatly folded on a nearby table.
It seems like she’s still.. Transformed, and in a hospital? The clothes make it obvious and the entire room is also painted in white. From the window she can also see the hospital’s front yard.
Her left hand still feels heavy…-
“Oh.” Chat was asleep on her bedside with one of his hands holding hers. How long had he been there?
How long had she been here?
She need to return fast, her parents must be worried. Not to mention school. A lot of things needed to be done in her civilian life-
“... Buh, Bug?” Chat stir awake, opening his eyes softly. Ladybug's eyes soften.
“Hi Chat,” she replied, voice better now.
Chat blinked at that. He didn't expect an answer- Wait.
“Bug!” He shout, standing up. His eyes wide, tears threatening to fall despite his puffy eyes, “you’re awake!”
Ladybug smiles, “yea. Good morning to you too, Chat–?!”
Chat threw himself to her, hugging her tightly as if he had lost her. Perhaps he was, considering how Ladybug’s injuries were barely healed by the Miraculous Cure. He had waited for who knows how long, despite knowing that the Miraculous does give them regeneration.
Ladybug’s shoulder got wet soon, but neither of them cared for the moment. Ladybug hugged him back, though careful when moving her left arm considering her injured shoulder. She tries to softly wrap her wings around them for extra comfort despite the pain. What is important is Chat—or maybe both of them.
Civilian live could wait for a moment longer.
Beside, this is not her first time.
(Ladybug winked secretly to a figure on the hospital’s right wing’s roof, a figure so similar to Marinette.)
(Her sword shines a soft blue, almost purple right on her bedside. The peacock head carving shines the brightest near the hilt and a soft white feather fell nearby.)
(Once an ancient sword from the museum that was given to her, now imbued with the miracles of the Chinese Miraculous with the promise of a Guardian)