Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Three years was a long time to fight against one man. Hundreds of Akuma, thousands of frightened citizens, and yet they were no more closer to finding Hawkmoth than day one. He came out when it was convenient for him.

Because of the continued attacks, Paris was starting to grow concerned. It came out on forums and political talks on TV.

What was taking Ladybug and Chat Noir so long? What were they doing? Why haven’t they stopped him yet?

It started out slowly, and just in the most radical groups. But as time went on, more and more jumped on the band wagon.

Ladybug’s saving grace was the Ladyblog, that always reported every detail of any Ladybug related news. And Alya, reporter that she was, was quick to remind everyone that Ladybug fixed all damage that was done, and criticizing them wasn’t helping.

Still, concern and restlessness persisted in the back of minds.

But Ladybug and Chat Noir persisted in their promise to protect. They patrolled more often, and started to branch out into other crime fighting. Thieves, muggers, carjackers, pickpockets, any sort of criminal was taken care of.

But since they weren’t the police, there was no arrests made. It was mostly just a slap on the wrist and making them return what they’ve stolen. It was effective in the moment, and helped ease some minds about the heroes.

Then came Edward Savauge. 

If there ever was a god on earth, it was Mr. Savauge. A man who held no qualms about doing what needed to be done in business. He held all the cards, could pull any string, and had a lot of people wrapped around his fingers.

By trade, a drug dealer, a pimp, and a casino owner. And he excelled in all of those areas. Ask most people, they had either never heard of him, or pretended not to.

The most powerful man on earth, and his existence was only a rumor.

Until that fateful night when Ladybug and Chat Noir did their evening patrols.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s start in the morning, when Marinette and Adrien had to face what would become a minor problem.

Yet felt like the world was crashing down around them.

Marinette’s alarm blared some awful tune at maximum volume. She jumped, flailing, not knowing where she was in her sleep addled mind.

“That’s one way to wake up.” Tikki snickered, having also been startled.

Marinette sat up, her hair a tangled mess, and her legs twisted in her sheets. Blearily, she blinked to wake herself up. What a crummy night’s sleep. It was too hot with the sheets, too cold without them. The bed was just a little lumpy. And there had been an firetruck at work down the street. (Ladybug had checked in. It was just a false alarm) but the truck had remained there for at least an hour with its lights on.

“The point of setting the alarm was to make you actually get up and get to school on time.” Tikki chastised.

Marinette turned her bleary eyes on the floating red dot, and tossed her blanket over it.

“Hey!”

“Snooze.”

“I don’t work like that Marinette! Come on!” She phased through the comforter. “Don’t you want to see Adrien?”

Marinette smiled. “Adrien…” Then she groaned. “Fine!” She actually got up, throwing her blankets off, and got out of bed. Her hair took too long to untangle, her clothes were just a little too tight, or a little too itchy. And despite waking up early, she was still running late.

She threw her hands up into the air in the courtyard. “Anything else wanna go wrong today!? Go on! Take your best shot!”

Oh, how she regretted that.

She walked into the classroom, five minutes before the bell, and the room fell absolutely silent. Lila was sitting on a desk as everyone was gathered around her, but as Marinette entered, they all turned to look at her. The other thing of important note, was that Adrien’s face was bright red and he looked absolutely mortified.

This was very not good.

“G-Good morning?” She asked, tactfully, hoping to break the silence.

“Girl…you’re not serious…”

Marinette looked down at her clothes. She wasn’t wearing her pajamas, right? She didn’t have any embarrassing stains on her clothes, nothing on backwards. “Um…what?”

Alix crossed her arms with a ‘hmph,’ “You know very well what we’re talking about, pervert.”

Pervert? That was really really not good. “I’m…I’m sorry? I’m not sure what you’re talking about?”

Kim backed Alix up. “Lila just spilled. She said she caught you taking pictures of Adrien while he was changing in the locker room.”

Marinette’s eyebrows flew up to her hairline. “I would never do that!”

Alya couldn’t meet her eyes. “I don’t know, girl…you tend to go overboard when it comes to Adrien…”

“But I didn’t!”

“I’m sorry Marinette,” Lila said, pathetic little snivels between words. “I saw you, and I wasn’t going to say anything, because it’s none of my business, but…Adrien is my friend. He deserved to know. Everyone deserved to know.”

She dared to look at Adrien, who still was red and extremely embarrassed. “I would never do that to you.” She told him.

“I believe you.” He assured, but his eyes darted away.

Lila had hit hard and right in the weak spot. Adrien couldn’t support her here, because how would he know?

“Everyone knows you’re basically a stalker,” Alix said again. “Everyone has seen all of his pictures all over your walls.”

“And don’t forget that you have his schedule all written out.” Added Mylene. “And all those plans you made so that you could just be alone together.”

“Marinette, you’re obsessed. And you definitely crossed a line here. You need serious help.” Alya said, concern in her features.

Marinette frowned, her chest unbelievably tight, and her eyes prickling with the tears of betrayal. “So that’s how it’s gonna be, huh? Fine.” She took off her bag, and placed in at her desk, then she stood in the front of the room, and addressed her peers.

“I’m in love with Adrien Agreste.” She announced.

Adrien looked to her, his mouth opening slightly. He didn’t know how far this lie went, but it seemed pretty steep.

“I figured out his schedule, and made a calendar, so I could know where he was at any given point in the day. Because I wanted to be able to find him if I ever actually got up the courage to talk to him. I think he’s super cute, so I hung pictures of him all over my room. And that was easy, since he was a model.” She let out a sob, as tears started rolling down her cheeks.

Bless her heart, Rose started crying too.

She rubbed her cheek with her fist, and sniffed, but continued. “I stole his phone once. I called and left the world’s most embarrassing voicemail. So I stole his phone and deleted it before he could hear it.”

Lila just sat there, looking smug and triumphant. Though no one else saw it, since they were all focused on Marinette.

“Every week, I made a special macaron, passion fruit, just for him. But I never got the courage to ever give it to him. I stole a note he threw away in the trash, that was a love letter for someone, and I dared to hope it was for me, so I responded to it. I even tried to kiss a wax statue of him at the museum…only it turned out it was actually Adrien, and not a statue.”

There was some snickering at that.

“So yeah. I love Adrien. I don’t always think clearly when it comes to him. But I’m a dumb teenager, and I’m allowed to make mistakes and do cringey things.”

She wiped her face and swallowed hard. “But I swear, on all that is good and holy, that I have never taken pictures of him in any context without his permission. I respect him too much for that.” Then she took out her phone, unlocked it, and placed it in front of Adrien. “To prove it, I want you to go through my photos. If there’s any of you that shouldn’t be seen, you’ll be the only one to see them.” 

So the class waited in silence as Adrien swiped through her phone. He checked her recents, and then some other albums, including the biggest one labelled ‘Adrien <3’

“There’s…a lot of pictures of me…” he said sheepishly. “But none of me changing. They all look like they were saved from shoots. Which…isn’t that weird.”

“So,” Marinette spoke up, evening her glare at Lila. “One of us is lying, and it isn’t me.”

Lila pouted, and said with an irritatingly concerned voice, “Well, I’m just glad that you recognized what you were doing was wrong, and decided to delete the pictures.”

Marinette punched the table, overcome with palpable rage.

Adrien glanced around the room, keeping a watch for an akuma. Doubtless, one was on the way.

Marinette seemed to notice this gesture, and took a massive breath. When she spoke, her voice was eerily calm. “What did I do? What made all of you suddenly so eager to distrust me? Since when did I become a liar?”

“Marinette...” Alya tried to say.

“You doomed yourself, Dupain-Cheng.” Said Chloe, speaking for the first time. “If you were willing to do all that other stuff, what’s stopping you from doing this?”

“Because it’s not only wrong, it’s a felony.” She returned.

“So is stealing a phone.”

“I gave it back!” She nearly shouted. “Yes! I get it! I…I have a problem…but I wouldn’t do this. Please believe me, I wouldn’t.”

“But Lila saw you…”

“She’s lying! She’s always lying! All she’s ever done is lied!”

“Marinette,” Lila said, hiding her face in her hands, hiding the fact she wasn’t even crying. “All I ever wanted was to be your friend, but you let your jealousy get in the way of it. You need to face the truth.”

“The truth?” Marinette let out a humorless laugh. “The truth is that I have done everything I could to help everyone in this room. I bent over backwards to arrange parties, to make banners, give encouragement, talk to teachers, stand up to bullies! And the moment I need support, everyone is gone! There’s no proof! No evidence! Just some faked tears from a girl who has lied to get attention.”

She snatched her backpack up from her desk. “Congratulations Lila, you made good on your threat. You’ve turned everyone against me, just like you said you would. But I’m ending things on my own terms.” She glanced around the room. “If you ever need me again, think twice.” She shouldered her backpack to leave, and then looked at Adrien.

He had tears in his eyes, his heart breaking for her.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “For all the immature stuff I did. I…I still love you. I hope you can forgive me.”

Then she bolted, without looking back. 

—

Back at home, Marinette darted into the bakery.

“Marinette! Why are you home? Oh goodness, what happened?” Sabine noticed her daughter’s distress almost immediately.

“Girls are catty and stupid!” She cried out.

Sabine took off her apron and called to her husband. “Tom, I need you to take over the register! Marinette needs me.”

“Okie dokie darling!”

Sabine led her upstairs, as she sobbed and squeaked out everything that had happened. Sabine just held her, hushing her silently.

“And-And then I just…I just left! I didn’t know what else to do!”

“No, honey, leaving was a good idea. That was a terrible thing for your so-called friends to do.” She handed her a cup of tea. “Don’t even worry, darling. I’ll make sure to pick up any homework you miss. There’s no reason for you to have to see your classmates, unless they come groveling and begging for forgiveness.”

Marinette managed a laugh. “Thanks maman.”

Sabine kissed her on the forehead. “So what do you want to do? Wanna watch a movie? Or play some games?”

Marinette shook her head. “I…I just want to be alone for a while.”

Sabine seemed hesitant, the thought of an akuma taking her daughter…

“I’ll be okay. I’m just kind of tired from all the crying. I’m going to lay down. Maybe I’ll watch some funny videos.”

“Okay, honey. but if you need anything, don’t hesitate to call for me.” She gave her another kiss, and then returned to the bakery.

Tikki appeared the moment they were alone. “Marinette…” She sniveled. “I’m so sorry…”

“Oh Tikki…” She cupped her in her hands, holding her gently to her cheek. “Thank you. I’m so glad you’re with me.”

“I won’t leave you alone for a second.” The kwami insisted. “Not until you’re smiling again.”

Marinette stood and went upstairs, closing the door behind her. “Will you keep watch?”

“Of course.”

She hooked up her phone to her speakers, and started blasting Jagged Stone as loud as she could stand. The bass rattled in her chest and the shred of the guitar numbed her skull. Over the next few minutes, she went around and yanked every last picture of Adrien off her walls.

When the song ended, and the walls were bare, she collapsed on her chaise, spent and exhausted.

Chapter Text

Now, I bet you’re wondering about that criminal I mentioned earlier. Not to worry, we’ll get to him soon. It’s now around lunchtime, the day where everything went wrong.

Adrien was on his way to the bakery, as he had been buzzing in his seat ever since this morning.

“Dude, where are you going?” Nino asked, grabbing his arm.

“To Marinette.” He answered, plainly. “I have to talk to her.”

“Dude…let it go. You dodged a bullet. Good thing she got caught now instead of when she’s sitting in a tree outside your house.”

Adrien frowned at his best friend. “Wait…you believe Lila?”

“Why wouldn’t I? You heard what Marinette said…all the things she’s done.”

“But she said she didn’t do it.”

“And you believe her?”

“She’s never given me a reason not to…she’s never given you a reason not to either.”

“But—“

“Lila, on the other hand, has lied. About a few things. Especially about knowing Ladybug.”

“But she does know Ladybug. It was on the Ladyblog.”

Adrien rolled his eyes. “Yeah, because she lied to Alya, and Alya didn’t check her sources!”

”How do you know she was lying?”

“Ladybug told me. She was extremely mad about it too. Ladybug claimed she had never met Lila, and hated it when people lied. It was…a little extreme, to be honest, but as someone who hates being used as a ticket of association, I understood.”

“Wait…when did that happen?”

“Back when Lila first moved here. Like…three years ago?” This was added sheepishly.

“Why didn’t you say anything earlier?”

“Because after Ladybug called her out, she was akumatized. I…I didn’t want that to happen again.” He sighed. “Still, she was akumatized again later, as Chameleon? That day I had told her that she didn’t need to lie to make friends. I remember her saying, specifically, ‘oh, so you’re going to lecture me just like Ladybug?’ She just got really defensive and nasty. Even though I was nothing but nice to her.”

“That’s…that’s freaky. I thought she was the sweetest person.”

“She’s been in contact with my father too. He thinks we’re best friends, but I tell him that I don’t think we should trust her. He never listens.”

“Shocker.”

Adrien chuckled. “Yeah, true. Still…I didn’t want to get involved, but I have to now. I know Marinette wouldn’t do this.”

“Dude, you don’t think she’ll tell your dad, do you?”

“Oh god I hope not.”

“Better get in contact with your lawyer.”

“No kidding. I just…I just hope she doesn’t get akumatized again.” 

Nino slugged an arm around his shoulder. “Dude, you’re a really nice guy, but sometimes your priorities are off.”

“Yeah yeah. Look, I told Marinette to just take the high road because I assumed Lila would get caught in her own web. But…she didn’t. She caught everyone else instead. And now Marinette is probably the one about to get akumatized.”

“What are you planning on saying to her? You don’t like her like that.”

“No…but I don’t hate her, and I definitely don’t mind that she likes me. I’ll just invite her for some ice cream, and then we’ll go from there.”

“You’re a good guy. Better man than me.”

“You just…pass along what I told you to Alya, and we’ll call it even.”

—

Marinette had fallen asleep, thankfully, and didn’t have to wrestle with her inner turmoil. She awoke, her eyes opening, as she looked across the room. She didn’t move much else.

“Hi,” said Tikki, softly. “Feel any better?”

“A little numb. Like…it was all a bad dream.” But looking at the state of chaos in her room, she could tell it wasn’t. It was all too real. “Adrien knows I’m in love with him…that I…I stalked him.”

“You didn’t stalk him.” Tikki reminded, gently. “You were obsessed, but you stayed a healthy distance. You never broke into his house.”

“The birthday party?”

“You forgot to sign a card. That’s hardly a crime.”

Marinette smiled shortly. “Still…I learned my lesson.”

“You’re not at fault here, Marinette. Lila lied. You’ve taken the high road, just like Adrien suggested, and your hands are clean. You only told the truth. Adrien believes you, and that’s all that matters. Let’s just…let’s just see where this goes.”

Marinette sighed. “I wish it was the weekend.”

“Well, your mom seemed pretty cool with it. She’ll probably let you stay home for a few days.”

“Marinette? Are you awake?” Called her mom’s voice from below.

“Kinda.” She groaned.

“You have a guest.”

She frowned. Her mom wouldn’t have even let Lila into the bakery at least. “Have they come to grovel?”

“If that’s what I need to do to talk to you, I will.” Adrien’s voice answered.

She was so startled she fell off the settee, her feet tangled in the blanket. “Shit.”

The hatch opened, and Adrien came in. “Are you ok—oh...”

Marinette scrambled, sitting on the floor. “I...I wasn’t expecting—you didn’t have to...I’m okay!”

He looked meaningfully around the room, noticing the paper crumbled everywhere, and corners still stuck to the walls. “I don’t think you are.”

She grabbed a picture off the floor. It was ripped, and crumbled already. “It’s nothing against you...it’s the pictures themselves I’m mad at.”

He sat down daintily on the settee, as she remained on the floor.

“I never wanted you to find out like this.”

“Of course not.”

“I just...I don’t know who to be mad at. Lila, obviously for making up that story, but...I made it very easy for her to do so.” She crumbled the picture into a ball, and threw it to the trash can, missing.

“Can...can I confess something embarrassing?” Adrien asked, flipping her ponytail over her shoulder.

“Do you have a near stalker-ish crush on someone?”

He was silent, then, “...yeah, and it might be worse than yours.”

She turned and looked at him through her lashes. “How could you possibly be worse?”

He sighed. “Because I don’t know who she is.”

Marinette sputtered. “W-What?!”

“To be fair, I’m pretty sure everyone has a crush on her. It’s Ladybug.”

She wanted to laugh. A big laugh, that went on and on. A laugh that turned into a sob, because of course this would happen to her.

A laugh at the irony that he loved her, but not her. And probably never would.

Instead, she just managed out, “oh really?”

“Yeah...from nearly the beginning. I have all her action figures, posters, comic books...I leapt on the chance to voice Chat Noir in the movie. She’s saved me a few times, but whenever I talk to her, I just...I melt. Sort of...like you do, when you talk to me.”

“Did you ever steal her phone to delete an embarrassing voicemail?”

“Well, no—“

“Then you’re not as bad. I think your crush is on par with...a fan girl loving her favorite band member.”

Adrien wanted to protest, to argue that no, it wasn’t like that at all. But it would be impossible to explain that without outing himself as Chat Noir. So he just shrugged. “Well, if you say so. You are the expert after all.”

She groaned, her head flopping on the settee. “Gee thanks.”

He laughed, and then stood, starting to pick up the photos.

“Oh, you don’t have too!” She placed her hand on the floor, making to get up.

“It’s fine, I don’t mind. You’re having a rough day anyways.”

She sighed, falling to her rear.

“So...” he began, conversationally. “How long?”

“What?”

“How long have you loved me?”

She blushed. “You’re not supposed to ask things like that.”

“But I did.”

She glared at him, while he giddily smiled back.

“Fine...you remember that day you gave me your umbrella?”

“No...oh wait! You mean all the way back then?!”

“Yeah...”

“Marinette! Why didn’t you say anything?!”

“I tried too! I just—I just got nervous. And then...ugh. The second I look into your gorgeous eyes, all thought flies out of my head. Then I’m just stuck standing there with ‘I’m talking to Adrien, I’m going to say something wrong, he’ll hate me forever’ on repeat in my head.”

“You’re not doing that now.”

“...I have nothing to be embarrassed about anymore. You know everything.” She exhaled deeply. “So, when are you going to start never talking to me again?”

Adrien laughed, not because it was funny, but because she said it so nonchalant. “I’m not going to stop talking to you. You’re one of my best friends. I don’t mind you being...eccentric.”

“Nice word for it.”

“Look, Marinette, I’m a celebrity. I get idolized and objectified by fans all the time. Pictures and posters don’t bother me. Knowing my schedule? Thank god someone does. Making my favorite macaron to give to me? Awesome. I would eat it every time. Stealing my phone? Eh, a little extreme, but you gave it back instead of trying to sell it on eBay. These things are pretty typical for me, which is why I didn’t notice it sooner. You want to know the sure-fire way to get me to never talk to you again?”

“Take pictures of you changing in the locker room?” She asked with a smirk.

“Worse. Mail me your dirty underwear.”

“What! Ew! That’s so gross!”

“It’s happened more than once. I think they think I’ll smell their pheromones and insta-love them.”

“That’s insane! I promise I’ll never do that! Even if you ask me too!”

He laughed. “Then we’ll be just fine. I promise.”

“Good,” she smiled back.

“And one other thing,” he rubbed the back of his neck. “You said you found a love letter I wrote and responded to it.”

“Yeah, I did. But I never signed the card. Regretted that one for a long time.”

“What was it like?”

She flapped her lips like a horse, “boy, that was...that was like three years ago. I wrote it on a little pink heart. Something like...Your hair shines like the sun, your eyes are gorgeous green...”

“I look at you and wonder your innermost thoughts and dreams. Yes, your Valentine I will be, our love will be so true, together for eternity, my heart belongs to you.” He finished.

“Yeah...that’s the one.”

“I loved it. I read it like, everyday for a year. It’s still sitting on my desk.”

Her eyes became misty as she sniffed.

Adrien stacked all the pictures he had gathered on her desk, then sat on the floor across from her, taking her hands in his. “Marinette...you are an amazing girl. You’re sweet, kind, funny, and just...an amazing person. I don’t...I don’t feel the same way about you, as you do for me...but I wish I did. I don’t deserve to be loved by someone like you.”

She looked downwards. “Adrien...”

“These next few days are going to be hard. But I promise you, I’ll actually support you. Not like I did today...”

“You couldn’t do anything today,” she assured. “Lila made sure you couldn’t. You don’t have to beat yourself up over that.”

“Okay,” he squeezed her hands. “I told Nino that I knew she was lying, and I think he believed me. I’ll do my best to convince everyone else.”

“Thank you...you really are too good for me.”

He shook his head. “I’d say you’re too good for all of them.” Then he reached forward and pulled her into a hug.

She sighed deeply, inhaling his cologne and resting her cheek against his chest. He was warm and soft, and she actually began to relax.

“Marinette…?” He seemed to remember something else.

“Hmm?”

“Before you left this morning, you said something to Lila that’s been bothering me. You said, she went through with her threat? Did she really threaten you?”

Marinette pulled away, skirting her hands down his arms to take hold of his hands. “Promise you’ll believe me?”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”

“Because she comes off as so sweet all the time…back when…she had returned to school, and we all switched seats around.”

“I remember. That was like…two-ish years ago?”

“Something like that. Anyway, I kept trying to call her out on her lies, and everyone just kept blowing it off as jealousy.”

“Jealousy of what? I wasn’t giving her that much attention.”

“Jealousy that she had friends, I guess?” She huffed. “Anyway, I was upset, and went into the bathroom. She followed me in there, and I told her that she would slip up and everyone would see her lies. She turned a 180, and threatened to turn all my friends against me, and take you away from me…not that you were mine in the first place…”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

She shrugged. “You told me to take the high road.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t know she was outright threatening you. That changes things!”

“What do you mean?”

He offered a smile, “look, you don’t worry about anything right at this moment, okay? You just…keep being beautiful.”

She made a soft little, “oh.”

“We’ll get through this. As a team.”

“Partners?”

“Partners.”

Chapter Text

Adrien returned to school after that, and Marinette stayed home. She spent her time designing, watching movies, helping in the bakery, anything to keep her mind occupied. It was unfair that she had to stifle her emotions, but she refused to be a pawn for Hawkmoth.

Her phone laid still all day. No word from Adrien, no apologies or further harassment from anyone else. And that was totally fine with her.

It was now evening, on the day where Ladybug made a new enemy.

—

After school, and after fencing, which was an absolute mess, Adrien returned home to his cage.

Something that Nino had mentioned at lunch time had really stuck with Adrien, and he decided to act on it before things were too late.

“Nathalie? Can I talk to my dad? It’s...it’s kind of urgent.”

She considered for moment. “I’ll see if he’s free.”

God, how awful. Having to make an appointment with his own father. But such was the life of the son of a famous designer. “Thank you.”

Nathalie walked into the office and closed the door behind her.

Adrien dropped his bag on the floor, and then collapsed in a chair with a huff.

“What a day,” said Plagg, coming out to sit on his leg.

“Yeah, no kidding.”

“I told you that Lila girl was trouble, but you decided to be all high and mighty.”

“Again, I didn’t know that she was threatening Marinette, or else I would have done something else.”

“I guess I can’t give you a hard time for being stupid.”

“Ignorant,” Adrien corrected, “I was ignorant of the problem.”

“Stupid, ignorant. The thing is that pigtails needed your support, and as a hero, you should have done more.”

“Well, what was I supposed to do?! If I called her out, she’d get hurt and get akumatized. If I let her lie, she gets caught and gets akumatized, or other people feel betrayed and get akumatized! I’m between a rock and a hard place here!”

Plagg smirked, “one of those options had a higher Akuma probability than the other.”

Adrien rolled his eyes.

“Akuma-wise, I think you made out well this time. Pig tails is strong. And checking in and making up with her was good move.”

“Thanks...it just felt like the right thing to do. It was kinda of my fault anyways.”

“By doing what? Being cute?!”

Adrien chuckled. “I mean, there had to be a reason that Lila picked me as Marinette’s victim.”

“Marinette had a crush on you. The only person who is at fault here is Liar.”

“Lila.”

“See! Even her name gives her away!”

“Plagg...”

“I’m just sore that you got dragged into petty high school drama. Same with pig tails, she seems like a nice girl.”

“She is a nice girl!” Adrien confirmed.

Plagg snickered to himself, then continued. “But because you both saw through her, you’re being dragged through the mud.”

Adrien huffed. “It’s stupid. It’s totally unfair.”

“I agree. Chat Noir should pay her a visit and hold her over the edge of building by the ankle.”

Adrien laughed. “I’m not doing that. I bet Hawkmoth would love it though.”

“Eh, probably.” The Kwami gave him a proud little pat on the cheek. “Just promising pig tails that you’d be there for her was a good move. You could have ignored it, to avoid getting involved.”

“No way, there’s no way I could have done that.”

Plagg smiled with his fangs. “And that’s why Master Fu picked you.”

“Oh you.”

The door to Gabriel’s office clicked, and Plagg swooped away to his hiding place.

Adrien looked in horror as Lila walked out of Gabriel’s office.

“Thank you again for seeing me on such short notice, Mr. Agreste.” She said, her voice laced with faked concern.

“Yes, Miss Rossi. I’m glad you decided to come right to me with this. It greatly concerns me. I’ll be talking to the police to get that camera confiscated, and I’ll be having a word with my lawyer about a restraining order.”

“I’m happy to hear that.”

“You’re welcome here anytime. My secretary will show you out.” Then he glanced to Adrien. “Nathalie says you wanted a word with me?”

Adrien didn’t respond immediately, since he was too busy glaring at Lila. His fists clenched at his sides, as he trembled.

She just sent him an innocent wave and turned to leave.

“Adrien?”

He stood and walked briskly into the office, standing rigidly.

“You seem uncomfortable, does this have anything to do with those pictures from Miss Dupain-Cheng? Rest assured, Miss Rossi just informed me of the matter and I’m about to take care of it.”

“Lila is a compulsive liar.” Adrien spat, pressing his index finger down on his desk for emphasis.

“Excuse me?”

“Marinette admitted that she has a crush on me, but she insisted that she has never taken a photo of me, ever, without my consent. Furthermore, Lila has been threatening her for the last two years.”

Gabriel sat in his chair and crossed his arms. “You’re saying no photographs were ever taken?”

“None! Marinette let me look through her phone. The only photos she had of me were photos from shoots or ones of us with our friends.”

“And you believe her?”

“Absolutely. Marinette is honest, kind, and good. You know that! She made that derby hat that Chloe Bourgeois copied and tried to play it off as her own.”

“Oh yes, I remember that.”

Adrien began to pace as he ranted, “Marinette is the class president. She’s always bent backwards to help others, including me. But when Lila started lying to everyone, Marinette called her out for it, and Lila in turn threatened her. Marinette kept being the amazing person that she is, and I guess Lila finally had enough and pulled this...this stunt! Lila has turned everyone against her except for me.”

“So you’re the only one that believes Marinette?”

“Only because no one else knows that Lila is a liar! She claimed to know Ladybug! But Ladybug appeared one day and shut that down.”

Gabriel met his eyes. “You’ve met Ladybug?”

“She’s saved me from some Akuma, so yes.”

Gabriel narrowed his eyes. “Be that as it may, I can’t allow you to be involved in such childish drama. If there’s even a chance that Miss Dupain-Cheng took any photos, I have to pursue legal action.”

Adrien crossed his arms. “No.”

This surprised Gabriel, as he raised his brows. “No?”

“No. Marinette is not a threat to me. However, Lila is.”

“Oh really?”

“Lila has insisted that I will ‘belong’ to her one day. She doesn’t take my feelings into consideration, and someone who compulsively lies is not the kind of person I should be professionally associating with.”

“I see—“

“Marinette, on the other hand, is interested in the fashion industry and has been recognized by you, Jagged Stone, and Audrey Bourgeois! And even though her parents aren’t in fashion, they are still well known business owners with a good reputation and creditability!”

“I didn’t say—“

“And furthermore!” Adrien cut him off. “We have never pursued any legal action action people who have done far worse!”

“Like who?”

“Like that model that groped my butt on the runway? Or that fangirl that tackled me on the street and pulled out a chunk of my hair? The rabid fan girls that send me their unmentionables in the mail? Or Chloe Bourgeois in general? All of those incidences, I told you that I was uncomfortable and wanted you to take action. Instead, you told me that was the life of a celebrity, and I had to deal with it.”

“I never said—“

“But the one time there’s a rumor about a very good friend of mine, you want to pull out all the stops! And you’re not taking my feelings into consideration!”

“Adrien—“

“Marinette is one of my best friends, dad! It’s like you purposely want me to be miserable!”

“Are you quite done?” Gabriel bit.

Adrien snapped his jaw shut, and stood silently.

Gabriel exhaled loudly. “You’ve made your point quite clear. I will withhold any legal action for now, but once there is undeniable prove that she did take explicit photos, I will be getting a restraining order.”

“Thank you. As long as this undeniable proof isn’t just Lila’s words again.”

“It would have to hold up in a court of law. If Miss Rossi gets up to testify, and the court fines that she is lying, she can be charged with perjury. That’s not something I want to deal with.”

“Oh.”

Gabriel sighed again, rubbing his forehead. “Have you had any contact with Miss Dupain-Cheng since this came out?”

“Yeah, I visited her during lunch.”

“Alone?”

“My bodyguard stayed in the living room.”

“Nothing happened?”

“No. She was crying, we talked. That’s about it.”

“Alright.” He tapped his fingers on the surface of his desk. “You…you seem to have some warm regards towards Miss Dupain-Cheng.”

“She is a very good friend of mine.”

“Just a friend?”

Adrien blushed. “Yeah…just a friend.”

Gabriel hid a twitch of a smile, “of course. Well, you know my rules for dating. You’re eighteen now, so you may pursue whomever you wish. I would just like to meet them first, and approve of them.”

“uh, yeah, but—“

“And you must be prepared for your fans. In an age with social media, people will make assumptions and become irrational. You’re significant other must be prepared to ignore the criticism that happens from dating a celebrity, you understand.”

“Yes, I do. But why are you bringing this up now?”

Gabriel rolled his eyes. “Girls are fighting over you. Eventually, you’ll pick one. And gauging your protectiveness of Miss Dupain-Cheng, it’s not hard to guess.”

“Wait. First you were accusing her of stalking, now you’re accusing me of having a crush on her?”

“Miss Rossi was the one to accuse her of stalking. I’m only acting as a concerned father. You’re a teenager, about the same age I was when I started dating. I’m not an idiot.”

“I didn’t mean to insinuate that you were. I just…I don’t feel that way about Marinette.”

“If that’s what you say, then that’s what I’ll believe.” He turned toward his computer and started to type something, while Adrien just stood there awkwardly. “Don’t you have homework to do?”

Ah, the abrupt dismissal. “I—yes, uh…thanks.”

“Mmhmm.” Gabriel replied without looking up.

Adrien sighed and left the room, closing the door on the way out.

Gabriel waited a few minutes, then went to the painting of his wife.

—

A few moments later, Hawkmoth stood in his lair, his eyes gazing out the window into the fresh fall evening. Paris was a large city of course, and there were many hearts in pain. They echoed and ebbed together in a chorus of agony, dropping out once the emotion was spent, only to be replaced with another.

He stood waiting, focusing on a pinprick of emotion. A girl in distress and anguish, who lived not too far away.

There.

A slow burn, one that had been rolling for hours. A controlled, focused burn. These were the most dangerous akuma. The ones that felt injustice and stewed in it for a long time. The white hot flashes were sufficient and numerous, but those that burned with wrath were powerful.

But he didn’t call for an akuma.

He imagined a young kid, a designer with hope on the horizon, though she was drowning in the drama bestowed upon her as a high schooler.

It’s like you purposely want me to be miserable!

Gabriel clenched his fist. How dare he! How dare his son question his decisions! Didn’t he know it was for the best? Didn’t he know he was doing this for him!?

No. He didn’t. Because if Adrien knew who he was, he’d run. He’d scratch and claw and scream and beg to be let go.

And if he found out he had akumatized his crush, he’d never speak to him again.   

“Dark Wings Fall.”

Gabriel Agreste remained in the big empty room, surrounded by his little butterflies.

“Master?” Asked sad little Nooroo.

Gabriel shook his head. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Am I…am I forgetting her? Am I giving up?”

The little kwami didn’t say anything, but floated up to meet his eyes. “You’ve been passing on the ones who are grieving. You have no problems akumatizing those who are selfishly angry. You…I think you’re healing yourself, by not hurting others.”

Gabriel didn’t answer, but looked back outside.

“I think…it’s a little nicer that way.”

Chapter Text

Then it came time for patrol. And here, dear reader, is where it all goes wrong.

A fall evening, not long after sunset, cool winds, but not unpleasant. Ladybug and Chat Noir were doing their weekly rounds. Looking for any sign of Hawkmoth or an Akuma. But so far, nothing ‘super’ had been seen.

Ladybug arrived at the Eiffel Tower first, having left 15 minutes ahead of time out of restlessness.

Still, Chat was late, and she made sure to mention it as he landed next to her with a ‘thwump’.

“You’re late, Kitty.”

“My apologies, it’s so rude to keep a lady waiting.”

“You better have a good excuse.”

“But of course!” He smiled. “Caught a pickpocket on the way here. Walked him to the police station and had him turn over his wallets. They’re taking it from there.”

“Good Kitty!” She praised, scratching under his chin.

He relished in it. “What about you? You…you don’t look so hot. You feeling okay?”

She shook her head. “I feel fine Chat. Just…just a bad day. I don’t really want to talk about it.”

“Are you sure?”

She offered a smile. “Maybe after patrol, if I’m feeling like it.”

“Okay. You can talk to me about anything, My Lady. I don’t judge.”

“I know. It’s just…its fresh. And I don’t want to cry anymore.”

His ears flattened to his head. “Oh…”

She sighed, trying to breach a new topic. “ugh, I haven’t seen a thing. I haven’t even seen any angry couples fighting.”

“We could fight?” He offered.

She rolled her eyes at him. “Very funny.”

“I thought it was!”

“Give it up Chat, you’re going to win me the day pigs fly.”

“Be careful what you wish for. You never know, Hawkmoth might make a flying pig Akuma.”

She hummed. “You know, that wouldn’t be the weirdest Akuma he’s made.”

Chat laughed, “besides, there’s nothing wrong with being a little flirty, right?”

“As long as it’s not in the middle of a fight.” She reprimanded.

He held his hands up in surrender. “Of course, of course.”

She offered a smile. “Well, I’m going to check the docks first. Been catching a few drug deals happening down there.”

“Good idea. I’ll double back on Barbes Boulevard. Just to double check.”

“Call me if you need backup.”

“Likewise, Bug. Be safe.”

“You know I will.” She blew him a kiss and leapt away towards the Seine.

The docks were never really a civilian hotspot. People rarely even went there in the day, unless they worked there. So at night, it was safe to assume anyone there was up to no good.

So of course, when Ladybug saw headlights shining in an alleyway, she knew something was up. She crept over, and watched from the rooftop.

There were several men, most in expensive suits. One with a white suit that Marinette could already tell was so luxurious, her father couldn’t afford it with two years profits at the bakery.

The man himself was huge, reminding her of Kingpin from the Spider-Man comics Alya had in her bathroom. He stood in front of the head lights, his shadow cast against the ground and to the wall somehow bigger than his associates. 

About five men, including this rich one, were facing a young man, in a classic showdown.

The large man spoke, his voice ricocheting off the wall and settling in her stomach with nausea. “I gave you a month. That’s more time than I’ve ever given anyone before. I saw promise in you. I took you in.”

“Eddy, please—“ The younger man begged. Ladybug couldn’t see his face, but she could hear his panic.   

The man grunted.

“M-Mr. Savauge. You gotta understand! I was doing great! I made all of it back, with interest! But-but my buddy double crossed me! He took all of it. But I know where he’s going! If you give me just a little more time—“

Ladybug took out her compact and silently sent her coordinates to Chat.

“Charles...” the man, this Mr. Savauge drawled out. “This was your last chance. I warned you in the beginning. You’re just not made for dealing. Not dealing cards, not dealing drugs...but I will get my money from you. And I know...just what to do. Got plenty of rich old bitches looking for companions.”

“No...no please sir! I don’t want to do that! I got a girl! I can’t do that to her!”

“No girls huh? That’s fine, got lots of bull queers too. They’d love that cute little ass of yours.”

“No! No please!!”

Mr. Savauge laughed, a sick sound that made Ladybug curl her lips in disgust. “I’m just kidding, Charles. You’re too ugly to be a prostitute.”

The other men laughed.

Mr. Savauge held up a fist, silencing them. “You know Charles, it’s surprisingly easy to get information on people these days. Especially for someone like me. I know everything! I even know who Hawkmoth is!”

Ladybug gripped her yo-yo. She would be confronting this man, one way or another.

“So you know, trying to hide you and your wife’s life insurance policy from me? It ain’t gonna cut it.”

“No...please not my wife!”

“I’m not gonna touch your wife. That is, as long as she complies. You’re worth more dead than alive to me, Charles. And I much as I liked your spunk, I’m going to have to make a decision based on business.”

There was some clicking noises as the man’s goons withdrew guns.

“Nothing personal, kid.”

Ladybug leapt, her yo-yo spinning to create a shield, as she landed in between Charles and the fire.

“Hold it!” Mr. Savauge called out.

The gunfire ceased, and Ladybug stopped spinning her yo-yo. But she was still on defense, ready to start again at a moment’s notice.

From this perspective, the man was just a silhouette against the light. LED headlights, super bright, made her squint.

“Why, if it ain’t the cutesy little bug girl. What’re you doing here, kid? Don’t you got a moth to catch?”

She answered calmly, her voice a pitch deeper than usual. “I happened to be in the area. I overheard you mention you know who Hawkmoth is.”

He barked out a laugh. “It’s an expression! Come on, no one knows who that psychopath is.”

But Ladybug still didn’t budge. She fixed her glare on him.

“Oh, you really got that menacing look down! If you weren’t an actual child, I might be scared!” He chuckled. “But I’m being honest Ladybug. I don’t know who Mothman is. Don’t know, don’t care. Now move along, this doesn’t concern you.”

“I promised to protect Paris, and that’s what I’ll do.”

The man winced, “man, superhero types are just no joke. Fine, have it your way, Bug. Open fire.”

Ladybug spun her yo-yo frantically as a hail of bullets came raining down on her and Charles. She felt his hands on her back, and knew he was trying to hide behind her.

“Distract them for me, okay?” He said into her ear.

“Wait! Don’t!”

But it was too late. Charles tried to run. He only made it a single step out from her shield, before being shot several times in the chest. He didn’t even scream. Just stopped, collapsed onto his knees, and fell flat on the ground.

“No!” Her line fell slack for a moment and a bullet whizzed just passed her cheek, leaving a burning sensation just below the mask line and a ringing in her ears. She snapped back to attention quickly, and avoided any other nasty blows. The gunfire was suppressive and her arms were getting tired.

Her saving grace came from her partner arriving, coming up behind the goons and taking them out quickly, before they could turn to shoot.

But that didn’t mean they didn’t try.

Chat weaved in between them, not standing still and always staying close enough to be a risk of them shooting each other.

Ladybug took the opportunity to also take out a goon, who had been distracted. A clear shot with her yo-yo to the back of the head, and the gun fire ceased.

Mr. Savauge had wisely ducked down during the fight, and right as he returned to his feet, he found himself tied up in a yo-yo line.

“End of the road, scum.”

“Scum? Me? Do you even know who I am?” He laughed. “Who am I kidding, of course you don’t.”

Chat stood opposite Ladybug, effectively cutting off the exit should he try to escape. Not that he would be able to break his bonds though.

“I don’t care who you are. A young man is dead because of you. I will make sure you go to prison for your crimes.”

The man laughed. “That’s real cute bug. Real cute. But here’s the thing, I’m Edward Savauge. I can buy and sell you. I know every dirty secret of every cop and politician in Europe. You try to do anything to me, and I promise you’ll suffer instead.”

Her line grew tighter.

“I’ll give you to the count of three to let me go...1...”

“Don’t listen to him, my lady. He’s full of hot air.”

“2...”

Ladybug didn’t waver. She didn’t even consider it.

“...3...we’re enemies now, Ladybug. You’re going to regret that for the rest of your short life.”

“Get in line.”

Neither party said another word until the police arrived. Ladybug explained the situation, but there was little to explain, considering the guns and body on the ground.

Mr. Savauge was taken away without a word.

After all was done, now long after midnight, the heroes returned to the rooftops.

“My lady, you’re bleeding.”

“I know, I can feel it. Must have been a bullet.”

“Who was that guy?”

“Some gangster drug lord pimp. I don’t know. A bad dude.”

“Well, he’s going to prison.”

“...I hope.”

“You hope? There was a body on the ground with gunshot wounds, and a whole bunch of guns! There’s no way!”

“Something he said bothered me. About knowing everyone’s secrets. He even claimed to know Hawkmoth’s identity.”

“...you don’t think he knows ours?”

“I don’t know, Kitty. But I’d stay on your toes.”

“Absolutely.” He nodded. “You should go see Master Fu about that cut. Then maybe come up with an excuse when people ask what happened.”

“I’m really clumsy in my normal life, I’ll just say I tripped and hit a corner of my table.”

“Perfect! Next time I see you, I’ll be sure to give you a little kiss to make it better.”

“You’d infect it.”

“Rude.”

“Maybe some day, kitten.” She said, looking at the ground. The police cars were long gone, and the other car was powered off. In the dark of the night, the blood stain from the young man was impossible to see. Still, in her mind, she could see it. She could hear the sound of his breath coming up short, since it didn’t even get the chance to scream.

“My lady?”

“I saw a man die today. I could have saved him, but he darted out from behind me.”

“He would have died regardless,” Chat reminded her gently. “You did your best, and that’s all that matters.”

She didn’t respond, just kept looking to the ground.

“You wanna talk about what was bothering you earlier?”

She shook her head. “That seems so…so minor now. My crush found out I liked him, I mean, I told him, but I was forced into it. There was a bunch of other shitty things, too. But that’s the main thing.”

“I’m so sorry, Bug.”

“It’s…it’s not a big deal anymore. We talked, and we’re good. So I just…” Tears started rolling down her bloody cheeks. “I’m scared.”

His arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer. “It’s going to be okay, Bug.”

“How can you be sure?”

“Cat intuition.”

“That’s not a thing.”

“Well, it is now.” He nuzzled his nose in her hair. “Look, the guy in the suit? He’s full of hot air. We’re both wearing masks, and no one knows who we are. People have been trying for years. He was just trying to psych you out.”

Ladybug swallowed thickly. “If that’s what you think…”

“I know so. You were right to be so diligent about our secret identities. This will blow over. Trust me.”

“I guess I have no choice.” She chuckled. “Now I got to go, my face hurts.”

He warmly brushed his hand over her arm. “I’ll catch you later Bug.”

—

Later that night, Marinette laid awake in bed. It was nearing 4 in the morning, and she just couldn’t sleep.

Who could, seeing what she had seen? Hearing what she heard?

The pain in her face was numbed by some ointment that Fu had applied, so that was one less thing to bother her.

She’d been in the superhero business a long time now. She’d seen plenty of awful things. Most of them were fixed with a ‘Miraculous Ladybug’.

But she couldn’t bring that young man back.

He didn’t deserve that. Even if he was a drug dealer, even if he was doing something he shouldn’t, he didn’t deserve that. And neither did his wife, who would probably have to give that life insurance money over for her own safety.

Life was so much easier when all she had to do worry about was her grades and her crush on Adrien. Even an akuma was nothing compared to hard crime.

Akumas could be fixed. Things could go back to normal. But this stuff was dirty and awful. She wondered if this is how it felt to be part of the police.

She wondered if Chat was wide awake too. Probably not, he hadn’t seen Charles get shot after all.

“Tikki,” Marinette spoke.

“Hmm?”

“What have other Ladybug’s done, in times like this…when they knew they could have saved someone, but didn’t?”

Tikki pondered the question. “Well, it was hard at first. But eventually, they just had to just used to it. Joan cried nights on end. Her time was the hardest I think.”

“I…I don’t want to ‘get used to it’.”

“You don’t have to be callus. Just…know that it’s something that comes with the job. Charles still would have died if you hadn’t intervened. But you tried, and that’s what matters, just like Chat said. You also got that man arrested, and justice will be served.”

“Hopefully.”

“Yes, hopefully.”

Silence reigned for a little longer. “Tikki, I’m scared.”

“Of Savauge?”

“Yeah…Paris is a big city with a lot of people and cameras…It would be pretty lucky if no one ever saw me.”

“Even if they did, it wouldn’t be likely that they’d identify you. I wouldn’t worry, Marinette.”

“…I can’t help it.”

Tikki floated down to lay against her skull and gently petted her hair. “I know. Humans are such anxious creatures.”

“I bet you’ve seen much worse in your life, huh?”

“I’ve seen horrible things. But what happened tonight was traumatic and I don’t expect you to just get over it. So I’ll be here to comfort you in the meantime.”

“Thanks Tikki.”

“Now try to get some sleep. You have school tomorrow.”

Marinette sighed. “I have school in a few hours…maybe I can get a nap in.”

Chapter Text

The next morning, Marinette awoke to a blaring alarm, again. Another day. But today there was no arguing with Tikki, no begging for a few more hours of sleep. She just got up, took her shower, got dressed and came downstairs for breakfast.

“Well, look at you, sunshine!” Sabine smiled at her. “Uh oh, what happened to your cheek?”

Marinette had practiced her lie and explained that she had fallen out of bed, and hit her cheek on the corner of her desk, and yes she dressed the wound all by her self, wasn’t she very clever?

“I’m proud of you,” Sabine said, as she wrapped up her breakfast. “You’ve taken this very well.”

Well of course. She’s very clumsy, she hurts herself all the time. Why would a scratch on the cheek be any different? “Thanks mom, love you!”

And she hurried off to school.

The moment she stepped on school property though, she was suddenly aware of wary glances in her direction.

That’s right, everyone hated her.

“Oh shit.” She said aloud. 

“You forgot about that, didn’t you?” Asked Tikki.

Marinette sighed, and continued on. “Yeah, but it’s nothing compared to what I’m actually worried about. Honestly, I’d rather deal with this.”

Tikki zipped back in her bag, as Marinette went inside and up the stairs.

Not a word of greeting. Not a friendly face. Not that she had been expecting one, of course.

In the classroom, Alya, Adrien, and Nino were all talking, and when she entered, they all gave her a surprised look.

“You came!” Adrien chirped.

“Yep.”

Alya turned away, still disappointed.

Nino saw the exchange, shrugged and stood. He gathered his things and moved to sit next to Alya.

Marinette looked at the vacant seat. “Can I...do you mind if I sit here?”

“No, please, be my guest.”

She sighed in relief. “Thank you, Adrien.” She set her book bag down and relaxed into the seat. Who knew how long she’d have it before Lila concocted another lie and get her moved?

“What happened to your cheek?” He asked.

“Uh, I fell. I got my feet tangled in my sheets and hit my face in the corner of my desk. I’m such a klutz.”

He gave her a look, one she was unfamiliar with, but then he just smiled and said, “I’m glad you’re alright.”

“Thanks.”

His cheeks tinged a slight pink. “I actually have a gift for you.”

Her eyebrows rose. “Really?”

“Yeah, I was going to bring it to you at lunch, but since you’re here...” He dug around in his bag and pulled out a black portfolio, handing it to her. Inside were the most beautiful and high quality prints of various shoots. Some that were never even released to the public.

“Adrien…”

“You took down all those other photos, and I know you really do like fashion. So I put this together. We had some extra prints at home.”

She flipped through them, her cheeks warm. Then she closed it and hugged the book to her chest. “Thank you so much! This means a lot to me.”

He smiled in return. “Anything for my friend.”

The ‘f’ word didn’t even sting anymore, because it was such a sweet and thoughtful gift.

A few moments later, Lila came in. She looked at Marinette, and opened her mouth to speak, but thought better of it and went to her seat. Possibly preparing the next stage of her master plan.

Marinette and Adrien talked briefly, as the bell wrung and Miss Bustier came in.

She noted the changed seating arrangements, and then stated, “Marinette, I’d like a word with you after class.”

Marinette sighed. “Yes ma’am.”

—

True to her promise, Marinette stayed behind while her classmates went to Ms. Mendeleiev’s class.

All except Adrien.

Miss Bustier looked between them, but didn’t ask him to leave. “Marinette, Lila told me something pretty concerning yesterday...”

“If it’s about me taking pictures of Adrien in the locker room, it’s not true. She’s lying.”

“Marinette...” Miss Bustier said with a reprimanding tone.

“I’m serious! I didn’t do it! She told the whole class that I did, and I had to get up in front of everyone and admit that I had a crush on Adrien! She told everyone first! Just to humiliate me!”

“I’m sure that’s not her intention. But she should have told a teacher first.”

Marinette groaned. “But I didn’t even take any photos! She’s lying!”

“It’s true, Miss Bustier.” Adrien added, bless his heart. “I even went through her phone. She had some pictures, but none of me changing.”

Miss Bustier sighed. “Well, Lila also had witnesses to corroborate her story. I don’t know who to believe.”

“That’s impossible! I didn’t do it in the first place! And yesterday she said she was the only one that saw me! Her witnesses are lying!” Marinette was growing more and more frustrated as the conversation went on.

Miss Bustier rested a hand on Marinette’s shoulder. “Marinette, you’re a good kid. You always have done good and made sure there was justice for all. But this is it.”

It felt like the floor opened up beneath her and swallowed her whole. “W-What?”

“You’re becoming increasingly more absent from my class. And when you are here, you fall asleep half the time. Your grades are slipping, and Alya has had to fill in for a lot of your duties as President.”

“That’s—that’s just because I’m—I’m always helping in the bakery! I have to wake up early to help and—“

“Marinette, I’m sorry.” Miss Bustier smiled at her so sadly. “But if you’re this busy, then having you as President isn’t helping. We’ll find someone else.”

Her mouth felt dry, but her eyes welled up with tears and her vision blurred. “But…but I worked so hard…”

“I know you did.”

Adrien tried to say something, anything to help, but there was nothing to say.

Marinette clenched her fists and then stormed out of the room without a word.

Adrien was quick to follow after. “Marinette…”

She stopped walking and turned to him. “This is stupid!”

“I agree.”

“I don’t need this right now! I’m dealing with a lot! It’s not—It’s totally unfair!” Tears escaped. “I didn’t take any pictures…”

“I know you didn’t, Marinette. I believe you.”

“Are you sure? Because every time someone doesn’t believe me, I start to think that you’re only here for pity. That you’re trying to keep me from becoming an akuma.”

“I don’t want you to become an akuma,” he confirmed, “But I also believe you. You’re our everyday Ladybug. I still believe that.”

She rubbed under her eyes. “Thank you, Adrien. I’m sorry, if…if I’m causing you trouble.”

He waved her off. “Don’t even worry about it.” He placed a warm hand on her back and steered her towards the next class. “Once she trips up, you’ll have people lining up to apologize, and I’ll be right next to you, smiling.”

He opened the door for her, “After you.”

She grinned. “Thank you, sir.”

The second they stepped in the room, Mendeleiev was shouting. “Adrien! Marinette! So glad you decided to come to class! Where were you?”

“We were talking to Miss Bustier.” Adrien supplied.

“Oh that’s it? Do you have a pass then?”

Marinette paled. “Oh…no…I walked out before—“

“Detention. Both of you.”

“What!” They both cried out indignantly.   

“If you’re late for class, at least don’t lie about it!”

“I’m not lying!” Marinette cried out.

“Yeah, like you’re not lying about taking photos of Adrien.” Alix muttered under her breath.

“Miss Mendeleiev, Miss Bustier held us back after class, everyone heard it. Right?” Adrien asked the room.

No one came to their rescue.

Marinette was at her wits end. She balled up her fists and trembled. “Anybody else want to drop anything on me?!” She cried out. “Anyone else want to be my enemy!?”

We’re enemies now, Ladybug. You’re going to regret that for the rest of your short life.

She suddenly felt nauseous. “I need to go…”

“You’ve missed enough of my classes. If you don’t want to have another detention, sit down.”

“But—“

Chloe snickered, “Well, do you want her akumatized in the room, or outside?”

Marinette wanted to cry. “I’m not going to become an akuma!” She shrieked.

“Sit!”

So she sat, in the front of the room, where Nino usually sat. He had taken her spot again, and that was fine with her. If Alya wasn’t going to be helpful, then good riddance.

She glanced over to Adrien, who had his head in his hands and looked absolutely devastated. “You okay?” She whispered.

“I’ve never had detention before. My dad’s going to kill me…or at least pull me out of school.”

She exhaled, dejected. Today really was the worst day.   

But it’s not like it could get worse.

Right?

It came quite suddenly. A large boom from across the street. Debris and shrapnel flew across the street and crashed through the windows, ending class for the day.

“I would have thought Dupain-Cheng would have been our akuma.” Chloe said, just loud enough to be heard as they all evacuated the building.

Marinette ignored everyone, the teachers, her old friends, and even Adrien, and ran.

An akuma is exactly what she needed right now. Something to fight, something to direct her anger on, and for Marinette to disappear for a few hours.

She snuck into the bathroom and Ladybug escaped through the window.

—

Chat Noir was on the scene nearly the same time she was, surveying the damage.

“This one’s going to suck.” He said, plainly, his eyes focused on the giant gaping hole in the building.

“Yeah. You haven’t seen a glimpse of it yet, have you?”

“Nope, just heard it.”

There was another boom a few blocks away, and they both turned towards it.

But someone else was already running towards the sound.

Ladybug groaned. “Alya!”

The reporter perked up immediately. “Ladybug! The Akuma is this way!”

“I know! You need to get out of here!”

“No way! I need to get footage for the blog!”

She had it with her. Ladybug clamped her hand down on Alya’s shoulder and forced her to look at her. “Would you listen to me for once?!”

Alya shrank at the anger, completely blindsided by it. “Ladybug...?”

“Go home. This one is too dangerous. Just...please.”

Alya swallowed, hurt, but understanding. “Yes ma’am. I’ll go.”

Ladybug simply nodded and continued on.

Chat caught up with her quickly. “You having a bad day too?”

“Like you wouldn’t believe.”

“Then let’s end this quickly so we can get some ice cream and sulk.”

She actually smiled. “That sounds awesome.”

Around the corner, they found themselves to the back of the akuma. A gargantuan man, with long stringy hair hanging down. Instead of arms, he had long, thick chains that dragged. And at the end of the chains, two massive iron balls scraped against the ground in place of fists.

Each step he took punctured a hole in the street.

“Shit.” Ladybug said under her breath.

The akuma stopped, hearing her speak and turned to her.

“Double shit.”

It didn’t say anything. No grand announcement or introduction, which was standard for most Akuma.

Instead, he simply grunted, and the left wrecking ball came barreling towards them.

Chat hooked her around the waist, and vaulted them away, leaving a crater in their wake.

“Okay, so he’s fast too. Great.” Ladybug huffed.

The next second, another wrecking ball came at them, prompting them to run farther away.

“Stay away from the buildings,” Ladybug reprimanded. “They won’t stop him.”

“Right.”

Ladybug dodged the next attack by slinging out her yo-yo around a flag pole, and then going over the akuma, careful to avoid the arch of his swing.

Ladybug landed next to the last crater, with Chat landing behind her shortly.

“I don’t particularly like being a fly when the akuma has such a permanent swatter, My Lady.”

“I agree.”

The wrecking ball was coming back around, being swung around sideways.

“But I barely have a moment to run, let alone think!” She wrapped an arm around him, and flung them both in the air. The smaller the target, the better.

They watched from above as the akuma stomped his way towards them, the ground shaking with each step.

“So he can swing the wrecking balls really fast, but he can’t run, or even walk quickly.”

“I can cataclysm one of the chains, so that way we only have to worry about one instead of two.”

“That’s as good of a plan as any.” With that, she released them to fall, just as the akuma was going to take a swing at the building they were attached to.

“Catacls—AUGH!” Mid shout, Chat was struck and went flying backwards and slammed into a building, hard.

“Chat!” Ladybug called out for him.

He laid on the ground, unmoving.

The akuma turned towards him, as the ground started shaking with each step. He wound up to bring his wrecking ball down on him.

“Don’t you dare!” Ladybug sent out her yo-yo, wrapping around the wrecking ball, but it didn’t stop it. Instead, she went flying, and collided with the building right next to her partner.

Her vision swam, as she tried to move. The akuma was coming their way, and she could feel the ground shaking. Turning to her side, she found her self alone, with no sign of Chat anywhere.

“Ng…Cha—?” She managed to choke out.

Turning back towards the akuma, she saw another figure there instead. They grabbed her arm, and began to drag her away.

“Where…?” She managed again, her head pounding.

“Shh…” said the figure, pulling her up short.

Ladybug would remember seeing her reflection in a pair of sunglasses, and a salty taste on her tongue, before she fell unconscious.   

Chapter Text

Ladybug woke up, thankfully still transformed, in a dark room. Her hands were bound behind her back and a gag was in her mouth. Her vision was blurry in the low light, and she couldn’t quite parse two thoughts together. Did she have a concussion? She had hit her head, right? That’s why it hurt so bad?

She tried to make some noise, but it just came out as a muffled moan.

A similar sound came from behind her, and she felt something move against her hand. Chat Noir, she supposed. She hoped. She was with him last…probably. At least, last she remembered.

A harsh light flicked on in her eyes, and she winced against it.

“Well well well, looks like you two finally decided to wake up. Good thing too, or you would have missed all the fun.” It was a woman speaking, an Akuma? But they had just been fighting one! A huge, wrecking ball Akuma. Did Hawkmoth change tactics mid fight? Why couldn’t she remember what happened?

“Don’t worry, you take all the time you need to catch up. After all, GHB tends to wipe some memories.”

GHB? Wasn’t that a date rape drug? Had they been ambushed?

Another voice spoke. “We’re all set ma’am.”

“Wonderful, everyone in positions.”

Ladybug’s chair was turned around to face her partner. He looked just like her, bound and gagged. Confusion clouded his eyes, along with concern.

“Good evening Paris.” The woman was speaking, her back to them. “Please excuse me for interrupting whatever pointless drivel you were consumed with. My name is Salo. I’m not an akuma, but you’ll soon wish I was. I have succeeded where all the others have failed.” She stepped back to show Ladybug and Chat Noir, bound and gagged.

Now Ladybug could get a good look at her. Red hair tied up in a bun, black leather suit, and reflective sunglasses. She looked physically fit, but there was no notable expression on her face. Slight wrinkles around her lips, so she was older. Maybe in her forties?

There was a hand gun at her hip.

“I have captured the so called heroes of Paris. In ten minutes, I will be revealing their identities on ‘make ladybug suffer dot com.’ Be sure to tune in, you won’t want to miss it.”

“Transmission ended.” Called the man’s voice again.

The light dimmed, and Ladybug could see a little better. The room was small and bare, save for several cameras, screens, lights and wires. The only furniture were the chairs they were currently occupying, a table behind the mysterious woman, and a table in the corner with computer monitors. There were no windows, and the only door was heavy iron. The walls, floor, and ceiling were all cement. In short, no escape.

“Starting to remember things yet?” This ‘Salo’ woman asked.

Ladybug just stared her down, anger in her eyes.

Salo and another man ripped off the duct tape over their mouths, and pulled out the gags.

“Who are you?” Was Ladybug’s curt reply.

Salo smiled and prepared to answer, but she was interrupted by Chat’s shout of, “Catacly—!” But the woman stuck her fingers down his throat, gagging him mid-word. He heaved, coughing up some fluid.

“Oh shush kitty kitty, we can’t have you leaving now, can we? Now that we have so much planned.” She nodded her head to the man standing nearby.

He was huge, just about the same size as the Gorilla, and he took hold of Chat’s arm. With a yank and a sickening crack, Chat cried out in pain as his was arm was ripped out of socket.

“Chat!”

Salo smiled, “to answer your question, my name is not important, but you can call me Salo.”

“What do you want?”

The woman grabbed her face, squeezing her cheeks hard. “What do I want? I want to destroy you, Ladybug.” She said her name with venom. “You’ve had it too good for too long. You’re the hero of Paris, the idol! You can do no wrong! But you’ve gotten cocky. Started working outside your job. Superheroes take down super villains. You should have stuck to those silly akumas.” She let her face go, smiling with untapped anger. “But you didn’t.”

“Our job is to keep Paris safe, whether it’s from akumas or petty thieves.”

Salo slapped her cheek, right over her bullet wound, making white flash under her eyelids, and her ears ring. 

“You’re cute, Ladybug. Real cute. I thought you were fun. A Parisian idol, our very own Mickey Mouse. So did my Ed. You were bright and flashy, a wonderful distraction for the media. But you crossed a line, little insect. And now all of Paris, all of France, is going to watch you pay.”

Ladybug swallowed, obviously nervous. There had to be a way out, but in the dark room and Chat’s Cataclysm out of commission, things were beginning to look bleak.

“What did I do?”

The corner of Salo’s mouth twitched. “Let me jog your memory.”

The screen behind her lit up, and Nadja Chamack appeared with a news ticker underneath. “Don’t be bemused, it’s just the News. Ladybug and Chat Noir have done it again, with the capture of an elusive criminal. Top of the ‘Most Wanted’ lists in six countries, a Monsieur Edward Savauge. Ladybug and Chat Noir had an altercation with Savauge at the docks last night around 12am, resulting in the death of a young man identified as 25 year old Charles Exavier. Police arrived at the scene to find Savauge bound in Ladybug’s yo-yo, several bodyguards unconscious, surrounded by illegal firearms, and the body of Exavier on the ground. Savauge was taken and charged with murder and illegal firearm possession. He has also been wanted for drug trafficking, illegal gambling, human trafficking, and 19 counts of murder. Edward Savauge was the boss of a Camorra crime syndicate. Ladybug and Chat Noir were unavailable for comment.” The recording ended there, and the woman shut off the TV. 

“He was my lover. A wonderfully powerful man...but because of you, he’s in hot water. If he goes to prison, I’ll never see him again...so you will never see your family, friends, or your beloved fans again.”

Ladybug’s eyes were blown wide, horrified. This was why she hadn’t wanted anyone to find out their identities, in case someone went out for revenge.

“500,000 users are streaming the site, including three users at the TVi News Station.” Another man stated from a computer in the corner.

“Excellent.” Salo smiled. “Time?”

“T minus one minute.”

“You hear that? One minute until I reveal your name to the whole world. I’ll let you have that minute to escape. Go ahead, go.”

Frantic, Ladybug wriggled against her bindings. Come on! She was supposed to be stronger in the suit. But pull as she did, she was only making her wrists hurt, and the ropes to tighten.

She glanced over to Chat to see what he was doing. His shoulder looked lumpy and unnatural. He was biting back tears as he tried to wriggle too, though one arm was not moving. She realized it was the arm with his ring.

“Time’s up! Aw, you two do want to have fun! You stayed!”

Furious, Ladybug spit at the woman. “You won’t get away with this!”

“Oh, but I already have.” Salo tapped her on the nose. “You see, the Ladyblog really is an amazing resource! Every video of you two ever shot was on there. Theories and facts, all the information we needed was on there. I studied it carefully. All you had to do was show up for an akuma, and we took care of the rest. Though, I should probably thank that hulk, since he did the hard part for us. Seems like you’re not so lucky after all.”

Ladybug’s lip trembled.

“We have over a million users online,” spoke the man from the computer again. 

“Then let’s begin.” Her voice was cold and merciless. “Let’s start with Mr. Noir, shall we? Your ring, sir!” She reached for it.

“Cataclysm!” He shouted, finally activating his power. He couldn’t move his arm, but it would give him a few minutes of protection.

“Oh you think you’re so smug.” Salo smirked. “But you see, there’s more than one way to skin a cat.” She snapped her fingers, and the large man standing by touched Chat’s hand with a metal pole. The metal rusted and turned to dust. Chat’s hand was useless once again.

She took hold of the ring between her fingers.

“Please,” whispered Chat. “You don’t have to do this.”

“Of course I don’t, pussy cat. But it’s my great joy that I get too.” Slowly, deliberately, she pulled his ring off his finger, watching as his transformation fell away in a flurry of green light.

Ladybug looked in horror as her long time crush and good friend Adrien Agreste sat in front of her, still bound and in immense pain without his suit.

Salo leaned on his bad shoulder, making him cry out in pain. “Well well well. A famous model and a superhero! How intriguing! Adrien Agreste…I bet your father would pay a pretty penny to have you home safe and sound, don’t you think?” She dragged her fingers over his cheek.

Adrien was in tears. Not outright sobbing, but a few drops rolling off his chin. Whether it was the pain from his shoulder, or facing the reality that his freedom had just literally been stripped away, he wasn’t sure himself.

Salo scoffed. “What a baby.” She smacked his face just hard enough to sting. Then she stood and walked over to Ladybug. “Your turn, missy.”

Ladybug struggled, not willing to go without a fight. She thrashed in her chair, kicked her legs, and frantically shook her head, so Salo had put her into a choke hold. She fought for breath and cried out with a choking gasp.

The earrings were plucked from her ears and sad little Marinette Dupain-Cheng remained. Adrien stared at her, a gasp bursting from his lips.

She didn’t dare look at him.

“And who the heck are you?” Salo snorted. “We lucked out with Mr. Whiskers, but who knew Ladybug was just a nobody?” She leaned in closer. “Oh wait, I recognize you…yeah, you’re a friend of the Ladyblogger, in some of her videos. Mmmm….Marinette, right? Yeah. How sad! You’d think the person most dedicated to finding out Ladybug’s identity would have seen her sitting in front of her! You must either be too pathetic in your real life, or totally unimportant to the Ladyblogger.”

Marinette sat still and quiet, not willing to let the words of this vile woman get to her. She just stared at Adrien, apologizing with her eyes, and begging him not to hate her. He stared back with fear and desperation.

Marinette pushed her fear aside, and summoned Ladybug’s courage. “Alright, you’ve taken our Miraculous, and now everyone knows who we are. Can we go now?”

Salo slapped her cheek and sent her sprawling on the floor, the chair pressing awkwardly on her arm. “Didn’t you hear me? You’re never getting out of here. You’ll never see daylight again. I intend to keep you here and torture you over and over. One day, you won’t even know your own name anymore, but you’ll beg me for death!”

This couldn’t be happening. There was just no way.

She was roughly yanked off the ground, the chair settling back on the floor.

“Let’s see, first thing first is to get you into uniform.”

Uniform? Thought Marinette, with fear.

Her bindings were cut, and she was forced to her feet. She rubbed her wrists carefully. There were several men standing around, watching, plus Salo had a gun. She didn’t know if it was loaded, but she wouldn’t take that chance.

“Whatever you’re thinking, don’t.” Said Salo. “Now strip.”

Marinette was keenly aware of the camera pointed at her, and the spot light on her, forbidding any hiding. With trembling hands, she took off her jacket, purse, and shoes.

Salo crouched and picked up her purse. “Let’s see, just as I thought.” She took out her phone, looking at the screen. “18 missed calls? My my someone is worried about their baby.” Then she dropped the phone and smashed it under her heel. “Not to worry. We’ll let mommy know how much fun your having.”

She then went over to Adrien and frisked him, finding his phone. “2 missed calls. Hmm, I wonder who’s more loved?” She smashed his phone as well. The remnants of both were collected and tossed in a bucket of water, just to make sure all the circuitry was fried.

Salo gestured Marinette onward.

She then took off her shirt and pants, standing alone, trembling in her underwear.

“Well?” Said Salo. “The rest of it too.”

So Marinette unhooked her bra and shimmied out of her panties, standing completely naked in front of all of Paris. And her crush.

Adrien wasn’t looking at her, keeping his eyes politely on her toes.

“Oh what a gentleman!” Salo laughed, noticing. She grabbed his chin and forced him to look up. “But I know where you really want to look. You’re in love with her, aren’t you?”

Adrien couldn’t help it, he glanced her up and down, and then met her eyes. “…I’m sorry.”

“Did I say you could talk, pussy cat?”

He shook his head, immediately snapping to obedience.

“Aw, he already knows how to behave so well. This will be so fun!”

Marinette continued to stand there, trying in vain to cross her legs or wrap her arms around her chest. It was doing little good.

Salo gestured to someone in the room, and without warning, a bucket of cold water dropped over her head, soaking her through. “Ugh!” She yelped, in shock.

Next, Adrien was forced to his feet too, and also freed of his bindings, but his arm just hung limply at his side.

“He might need some help, Ladybug. So why don’t you help him.” Salo shoved her forward, as she tripped into his chest.

Any other day, she’d be blushing madly and apologizing. But right now, she just wanted to hug him and hide in his embrace.

“Tick tock, you two.”

It became apparent that any movement caused Adrien pain, as she helped ease his arm out of his over shirt. His t-shirt followed, but with a lot more fumbling and wincing.

She had to undo his belt and unbutton his jeans, which was painfully awkward and uncomfortable for both of them. Especially with the snickers and wolf whistles from the shadows.

Then they were both naked, in front of Paris.

“Wow, the suit really holds everything in, doesn’t it, Adrien?” Salo laughed, looking between his legs.

He was in too much pain to be embarrassed.

But just like with Marinette, a bucket of cold water drenched him. He tensed up, wincing all the while.

“Here,” Salo spoke, dropping a folded cloth into Marinette’s hands. “Your uniform.”

Holding it up, she found it was just a hospital gown. And a short one at that.

She quickly put it on, tying it as tightly as she could in the back. As long as she didn’t have to raise her hands, she would be covered.

“Now Mr. Whiskers.” Salo gave her another gown, to help Adrien into.

She bunched up the sleeve to make it easier, and eased his hand into the sleeve, his other going in just fine. She pulled it up to drape over his shoulders and then stepped to go behind him.

“Uh uh uh…” Salo stopped her, “you can tie him from in front.”

Marinette obeyed, reaching her arms around him and tying the strings tightly. She pressed against his chest, though she tried not too.

“My lady,” he whispered oh so quietly. “It’ll be alright.”

She felt awful. She should be the one reassuring him. Wordlessly, she cupped his cheek and wiped his tears away.

The gown was short on him too, just barely keeping him covered.

Salo grabbed Marinette’s arm and yanked her back. “Alright, that’s enough. I’ve got some new jewelry for you, since I took your old ones.”

Marinette’s eyes widened. “Where did you put our miraculous? What did you do with them?”

Salo smiled, “Oh, you didn’t notice? Why, they’re right here.”

There was a small safe on a table behind her. The lid was open, and Salo held it up to show the ring and earrings sitting dormant inside. Then she closed the lid and flipped the combination. “I don’t worry showing you this. Because there’s no way you’ll be able get them. But I’d love to see you try.”

Marinette clenched her fist, looking at the safe, the door, and the gun.

She had never felt so absolutely hopeless.

Salo picked something up from the table next to the safe, and came towards Marinette. “Alright bug, I’d stay still unless you want to get pinched.”

She clamped on two wrist restraints, and then one to her neck, all connected with chains.

Then she did the same with Adrien, even clamping his bad arm.

“Now aren’t you two just precious? All gussied up for your first day of camp! Smile for the camera! Let your parents know how much fun you’re having!”

The camera swung in close to them, capturing their expressions of absolute humiliation and horror.

“I said, smile!” She pinched the underside of their arms, causing them both to wince, which they both tried to turn into a smile.

“Alright, now let’s take you to your bunks. We have a really nice set up for our new campers. You’ll just love it!”

They were both led from the room, chains rattling with each step.

Marinette paid attention to the direction of the hallways. Although, the walls were bare and grimy. It was unbelievably dark too.

Finally, they came to their ‘cabin’. A room without a door, but two large metal ducts. The kind used in buildings for Air Conditioning, but they looked old and rusty. Crude doors had been sawed out of them, and chains welded to them.

“Take your pick.” Salo giggled. “There’s just enough room in there to sit.”

Marinette took the one on the right, but Adrien just stood at the door.

“Well, go on.” Salo pushed him forward.

Marinette watched with growing concern as each step he took was slow and shaky. He looked absolutely terrified. Finally, he took his place on the left, and turned to face the door. 

The doors closed, but little slots opened in the middle, big enough to fit their wrists through.

“Arms up.” Salo demanded.

Through the slot, their chains were removed, though the shackles remained. Then, the slot closed and several padlocks clicked into place outside.

“Get some sleep you two. Tomorrow we have a day chocked full of activities.”

Several footsteps led away and then, silence.

Marinette grit her teeth. “Tikki can you—“

Tikki wasn’t there. For the first time in three years, Tikki wasn’t there. She was all alone.

Well, almost.

“Kitty?” She asked softly.

“I’m here.” He answered, his voice broken.

“I...I’m going to figure a way out of this. I promise.”

He didn’t respond.

“Chat?”

“I’m...I’m sorry...” He was crying, and hyperventilating. “I…I don’t like being locked up.”

“Oh Kitty…”

“If only I had cataclysmed the wrecking ball, or—or arrived at the docks earlier—“

“Chat.”

“I could have—Maybe we—“

“Adrien.” She rested a hand on the cold metal of the cage. “This isn’t your fault.”

“But...I promised to protect you. And I failed.”

“Don’t do this to yourself. I need you right now, okay?”

He was quiet, and then finally agreed. “Okay.”

“How’s your arm?”

“I’m...getting used to it.”

“Can you pop it back in?”

“I don’t know how. I’ve never dislocated anything before.”

“Me neither.” She sighed. Slowly, and ever so carefully she sat on the ground, leaning against the metal walls. It was pitch black, she couldn’t even see her own hand in front of her face. She reached forward, finding the door to the cage. The metal felt pretty thin, and if she was lucky, it would have some give. The door was several inches from the floor, leaving a gap large enough to reach her arm out. She grabbed hold of the edge, and trying to force it out, but she wasn’t prepared for the sharp edge and cut herself.

She hissed in pain.

“Marinette?”

It was at that moment that she was struck with the realization that this was Adrien talking to her, and that he was Chat Noir, and that he knew who she was. Perhaps it was shock or adrenaline, but it didn’t click until just this moment.

“Are you okay?” He asked, still sniffling.

“I just…yeah…be careful with the edges of the door, it’s sharp.”

“Yeah, I cut myself just sitting down. There’s an edge along the wall.”

“Oh…” She settled down then, not really knowing what to do.

Ladybug was out of ideas.

“My lady?”

“Y-Yeah?”

“Would...would you still think I was super cool even if I said I was scared?”

She managed a single laugh. “I’m…I’m terrified.” She admitted. “Chat, we…we failed. Everyone knows who we are.”

“Yeah…”

“My family…your dad…Alya and Nino…they all know. And they’re all in danger…and th-there’s nothing—“ She choked out a sob. “There’s nothing we can do.”

Adrien didn’t respond but she could hear him sniffling.

“I don’t know…what are we going to do?” The last part was barely a whisper.

“Salo said she thought my dad might pay a hefty price to get me out. Money hasn’t ever been an object to my father, so...I’m sure he’d pay your ransom too.” There was a piece of doubt deep in his soul that wondered if he would. Gabriel Agreste was a good man. Sometimes.

“No.” Marinette shook her head. “I can’t allow that to happen. These people are dangerous. If your father gives them money, how many more people will die? What other crimes will they commit? We can’t…no matter how scary it is…we can’t let them win…”

It was a beat before Adrien agreed. “…yeah. I guess all our hard work goes away then.”

She leaned her head back, the metal groaning as she did so.

“You know…” He spoke, taking a massive sigh. “We’ve spent the last three years saving Paris. I think…I think Paris can protect our loved ones for us.” She could hear him moving, the metal groaning as he pushed against it. “Can you reach under the door, towards me?”

She scooted down too, laying on the ground on her side, and as she reached under the door, she found a warm hand, with strong fingers that quickly wrapped around her own.

“My lady….my beautiful lady…”

“Kitty cat…”

“We’ll find a way out. Together.”

“Partners?”

“Partners.”

Chapter Text

“Why can’t you just listen to me for once?”

It was startling hearing Ladybug say something so harsh. Sure, Alya was a little enthusiastic when it came to superheroes, but she never really felt ‘in the way’ before.

It came from a place of concern, she thought. Or maybe Ladybug was having a bad day.

Either way, the tone in her voice offered no room for argument and Alya was left with no choice but to go home.

An hour later, she still heard booms across Paris, and her journalistic integrity got the better of her.

Soon she, along with a begrudging Nino, were off to investigate what was taking so long.

The path of the Akuma was not hard to find, considering all the damage to the roads. Occasionally, there was a building with a hole in it, but mostly just the roads.

“I hope they’re okay.” Nino said, staring at a crater in the cement.

“They’re fine. They’re superheroes after all!”

Then Alya’s phone rang, with Sabine Cheng on the ID. “Hi mom,” Alya greeted casually.

“Hi honey, you haven’t happened to have seen Marinette, have you? I know you two aren’t...really getting along right now.”

Alya rolled her eyes. She and Marinette could be just fine if she just admitted she had a problem and went too far. “I wouldn’t worry about it too much, we’ll be okay. Marinette hasn’t come home?”

“No! It’s been nearly two hours since the Akuma came out and she hasn’t checked in! I haven’t gotten a text or anything! I tried calling her, but it’s going straight to voicemail. I even tried to track her phone, but I can’t find her. So she’s somewhere out of service…”

“That’s odd...”

“What’s up?” Asked Nino, helpfully.

“Marinette didn’t come home.”

“Huh...”

“Nino and I are out trying to get the scoop on the Akuma. If I see any sign of her, I’ll let you know.”

“Thank you, Alya!”

“Oh!” Alya shouted right before Sabine could hang up. “Hold on, did you call the school? I think Marinette had detention with Miss Mendeleiev. She might be serving it somewhere else.”

“Detention? What for?”

“She…she was talking to Miss Bustier, and then came to class without a pass.” Alya said this with guilt in her chest. She should have said something. No matter how she felt about her friend. She should have stuck up for her when she was telling the truth.

I’m not lying!

“Oh my…well, I’ll try Miss Mendeleiev’s cell. Thank you Alya.”

“We’ll still keep our eyes out. Let me know if you find her!” And with that, she ended the call. But she just stared at the phone in worry.

“Now you’re worried about Marinette?” Nino asked. It came out harsher than he meant, but it was an honest question.

“Of course, she’s my best friend.”

Nino crossed his arms. “Look, I know that’s what you want to believe, but—“

“But what, Nino? You heard what Lila said! She was caught red handed taking dirty pictures of him!”

“Adrien said Lila is lying.”

“He wouldn’t know! He doesn’t know her like I do!”

He gave her a look. “Okay, step back for a second. Do you think Marinette is really the kind of person to do this?”

“She stole his phone, Nino.”

“So? That’s not the same thing. Adrien said Lila lied about knowing Ladybug.”

“No way! Lila does know Ladybug! They’re on a first name basis!”

“So are you.”

“That’s different!” She got closer and whispered conspiratorially, “she says she knows Ladybug’s identity.”

His eye brows rose. “And you believe her?”

“Of course!”

“Why?”

Alya opened her mouth, and then shut it. Why indeed? Because she wanted to? Because it was easy? She bristled and shot back, “who’s side are you on, anyway? I thought Adrien was your best friend?”

“He is,” Nino said easily. “And I’m on his side. And he’s on Marinette’s side.”

Alya scoffed, “he’s just being nice! Or naïve! I don’t know! He doesn’t know how dangerous she is!”

Nino gave her a look of question. “Marinette? Dangerous?”

“He doesn’t know her like I do. She can be...intense.”

“I mean...I’m pretty sure he knows, Alya. She told everyone what she’s done.”

“Well, Lila can’t be lying!”

“Why not?”

“Because that means I totally disregarded my integrity as a journalist and listened to some nobody, simultaneously betraying my hero and my best friend…More so my best friend. Thus, making me a terrible person, a shitty reporter, and a useless friend.”

“At least you admitted it.”

“Ugh!” She buried her face in her hands. “Why would you say that? You’re not helping!”

“I think I am. That’s what couples do, right? Help each other become better people?”

“Nino…if she ran away or worse…it’ll be my fault. And she’ll never know how sorry I am!”

“Well, you know Marinette, better than anybody. If anyone can find her, it’s you. And you know what it takes to apologize.”

Alya frowned, “still…I’m confused about Lila.”

“What do you mean?”

“She’s always been so nice. I don’t understand why she would be lying.”

“She could be telling the truth, or think she is and it wasn’t Marinette. It could be a misunderstanding.”

“Maybe…” Alya frowned, in thought. “I don’t like this. I don’t even care about the akuma anymore, let’s go find Marinette.”

“Now that is something I don’t mind investigating.”    

—

They stopped at Kim’s first, because he was the closest at the time.

“Kim!” Alya shouted, while pounding on the wood. “Open up! We have an emergency!”

“Hold your horses!” He shouted from inside. “I’m coming!” A few seconds passed, before he opened the door, just slightly. “The whole city is in an emergency! Didn’t you see the akuma?!”

“Of course I did!” She crossed her arms, pissed at the notion. She had been the first to post about it, after all. “But we have bigger problems! Marinette’s missing!”

He scoffed. “She’s probably just ignoring you. Ignoring all of us. I…don’t really blame her.”

“No, she hasn’t been home either. Her mom can’t get ahold of her.”

“Wait wait,” he opened the door fully. “She didn’t go home?”

“No!”

He frowned. “Look, I don’t really feel good about the whole naked Agreste photo thing, but Marinette is still my friend. So I’m going to put that aside. Just let me grab my shoes.”

It went like that from house to house of all their classmates. The second that Alya mentioned she was missing, they all got over their grudge. Mostly. 

—

Sabine was sick with worry. It had been six hours since Marinette had gone missing and she still hadn’t come home. Tom came in, panting from his run. “Is she back? Have you heard anything?”

“No, nothing!” She cried. “Alya and Nino went to check around school and at their classmate’s houses. But there’s been no word!”

Her phone dinged, a message from Alya. “We’ve asked everyone, even Chloe. No one saw her since the Akuma attack. Any word from the police? “

Sabine typed back. “No, not one bit. They said they can’t help with someone over the age of sixteen unless they’ve been missing for 24 hours! But they said they’ll let us know if they find anything. But that sounded like…if they find her body.”

“That’s bullcrap. We’re on our way back. Maybe we can brainstorm a place that we haven’t checked yet.”

“Did you check with Adrien too?”

“We rang the bell and texted him, but no answer. He’s the only one we can’t get ahold of. But that’s not that unusual.”

“I’ll try calling Gabriel’s secretary.”

“Okay, we’re on our way back.”

Sabine then went to her contacts and scrolled through the list. Then she dialed Nathalie Sancouer.

“Hello, Who is this?”

“Hi there, this is Sabine Cheng. My daughter Marinette is in Adrien’s class.”

“Ah, yes. Mrs. Cheng. How can I help you?”

“Well, we’re panicking over here. Marinette never came home after that Akuma appeared and we can’t find her anywhere. No one has seen her. We were wondering if Adrien did?”

Nathalie was quiet on the other line, before she said, “can you hold on for a moment?”

“Of course.”

Tom turned on the tv, where Nadja was covering the Akuma, who had disappeared two hours ago, but the damage had remained. There had been a brief appearance of Ladybug and Chat Noir, but no word of them since.

“Any luck?” He asked.

“She has me on hold.”

Then, there was a thundering of footsteps up the stairs before Alya, Nino, and the rest of the class, excluding Chloe and Sabrina, all came in the room.

“Anything?” Asked Alya, panting.

“I’m talking to Mr. Agreste’s secretary right now. I think she’s asking Adrien.”

“Mrs. Cheng?” Nathalie asked over the phone.

“Yes, I’m here!”

“Are you home right now?”

“Yes?”

“And you live at the bakery by the school, correct?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Mr. Agreste and I will be over shortly. He would like to discuss this in person.” That was surprising. Mr. Agreste? Here?

“Ah, okay. Yes, we’ll see you soon then. The door is unlocked, just come up.”

“We’ll there shortly.”

Sabine hung up, staring at the phone.

“Well?” Asked Alya, “did Adrien say anything?”

“No...Gabriel is on his way over. He wants to talk to us in person.”

Nino winced, “that can’t be good.”

“You don’t think...” began Alix, “that they ran away together?”

This was waved off with a snort from Kim. “Yeah right, after that whole photo fiasco, I think he’d try to stay as far away as possible.”

“You must be blind if you didn’t notice the way Adrien was treating her. If he hasn’t dropped her by now, I doubt he will.”

Lila sniffed. “Oh, this is all my fault. I just wanted Adrien to know what I saw, and I knew it would be best to get her friends involved, I just didn’t realize she would take it so badly.”

Alix scoffed. “Well, she got caught and called out. How did you think she would react?”

“I thought, maybe she’d see the error of her ways, and that we’d all be friends.”

Alya scrunched up her nose. Something didn’t feel right about this situation. Glancing over at Tom and Sabine, it was visible that they were put off by the topic.

“Did you tell Mr. Agreste?” Mylene asked. “You know how protective he is of Adrien.”

“I did. I thought he deserved to know. He thanked me and said he was considering a restraining order. That’s not what I intended, but maybe it’s for the best.” She glanced at Tom and Sabine. “Do…do you know what Marinette did?”

Sabine frowned, hard. “Yes, I know all about the rumor.”

“It’s not a rumor, Mrs. Cheng. I saw her for real—“

“Let me stop you, sweetheart.” Sabine held up a hand. “Right now, we are worried about Marinette’s safety. I don’t want to hear about your petty drama.”

“I understand, but please, you need to know—“

“I know.” Sabine snapped, angrily. It wasn’t often that she got angry, but when her daughter’s safety and well being were attacked, then she turned into mama bear. “I know what you think you saw, or what you’re insisting you saw. But if you’re trying to tell me that my daughter, my flesh and blood that I have raised to be a wonderful woman being, is a liar and a creep, then you have another thing coming. I’m tired, and I’m worried sick. Don’t test me.”

Lila stared at the woman in shock, and then held her arm, sheepishly. “I was just trying to do the right thing for Marinette.”

“Just drop it, Lila.” Alix drawled. “We’ve all heard the story, and no one cares anymore.”

“Let’s all just take a deep breath.” Alya insisted. “Mr. Agreste will be here at any minute. He might have snagged Marinette for some fashion thing and forgot to tell anyone, right?”

While that was the best case scenario, it was highly unlikely.

Nadja was back on the screen, near the Arc De Triomphe. “This was the last location the Akuma was spotted, and the damage to the structure still remains. The Akuma spawned at the renovation site of Notre Dame, where witnesses say a construction worker was akumatized after accidentally collapsing a scaffolding. No casualties have been reported, luckily. According to the Ladyblog, the official new source for all things Ladybug, Ladybug and Chat Noir were spotted on their way to intercept the akuma, though reporter Alya Cesaire was asked to leave by Ladybug, for her own safety. No one else has seen or heard from the heroes since. Which begs the question:

“Has Hawkmoth finally won?”

“No,” said Alya easily. “There’s no way. We would have known.”

“Lila!” Kim exclaimed. “You know Ladybug personally! Can’t you call her? See what’s going on!”

Lila shyly shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea. What if she’s in the middle of a fight? What if I distract her?”

There was then a knock at the door.

Sabine swiftly answered it, to find Gabriel, Nathalie, and the Gorilla on the other side. “Mr. Agreste, thank you for coming. Please come in.” She gestured inside.

The rest of the classmates were quiet, half watching the TV and half watching Gabriel.

“I’m sorry, we’re a little crowded here. The kids just came back from their search party.”

“Any word?” Gabriel asked.

Alya spoke up. “Nothing. We checked the school, the library, everyone’s house, even Chloe’s. Officer Raincomprix is out looking in the parks. We were just waiting to hear back from Adrien.”

Gabriel looked at the assembled students, deflating slightly. “Adrien…hasn’t been home yet. We can’t find him either. He texted his driver at noon, around the time the akuma surfaced and said he was going somewhere safe to hide. That was the last we heard from him.”

“Where’s ‘somewhere safe’?” Sabine asked.

Gabriel looked at the Gorilla, who simply shook his head. “I assumed it was with a friend. Perhaps Mr. Lahiffe or Miss Bourgeois. Though I was not made aware of the problem until a few hours too late. I was…busy.” He frowned. “Adrien made me aware of classroom drama that was taking place. When you called, I immediately deduced that they would be together. At least, that is my hope.”

“When was the last time anyone saw either of them?” Alya asked the room.

Nino answered. “When that akuma attacked, we all evacuated the building. Me and Adrien were together, but I saw him dart into the locker room. I assumed he was just grabbing something. Then I waited for a while outside, and then I saw you, Alya, coming back from chasing the akuma.”

“So Adrien never came out of the locker room?” Gabriel asked.

“Not while I was waiting for him, which was like, 15 minutes? We checked the whole school though. No one’s there.”

“Okay, anyone see him in the locker room?” Alya continued.

No one spoke up.

“What about Marinette?” Sabine asked.

“She was the first one out the door when the akuma appeared.” Nathaniel stated. “She took off pretty quickly.”

“So the school,” said Gabriel, “that was the last place both of them were seen.”

“No one saw them anywhere else?” Alya asked.

Again, silence.

“This doesn’t make sense. We checked everywhere they go. Where else could they have gone? What could have happened?”

“Maybe she killed herself.” Alix stated, rather harshly.

Sabine gasped in horror.

Kim elbowed Alix. “Dude, shut up. Marinette wouldn’t do that. Even if she was having a bad day.”

Rose spoke up, “did you make sure to check with other family members? Her grandma?”

“I’ve called everyone in our address book. No one has seen her.” Sabine offered, starting to cry.

Tom wrapped an arm around his wife. “Oh, my little honey bun. It’ll be alright, we’ll find them.”

“Unfortunately,” said Gabriel, “I believe we’ve exhausted our resources here. I’ll call my Private Investigator and get a more thorough search started.”

Just as he took out his phone, the TV cut to static and the picture fuzzed out. Max noticed it first, and went to fix it.

A woman in reflective sunglasses appeared on the screen. “Good evening Paris.” She said.

The volume was just loud enough to get everyone’s attention.

“Please excuse me for interrupting whatever pointless drivel you were consumed with. My name is Salo. I’m not an akuma, but you’ll soon wish I was. I have succeeded where all the others have failed.” She stepped back to show Ladybug and Chat Noir, bound and gagged.

Chapter Text

“Please excuse me for interrupting whatever pointless drivel you were consumed with. My name is Salo. I’m not an akuma, but you’ll soon wish I was. I have succeeded where all the others have failed.” She stepped back to show Ladybug and Chat Noir, bound and gagged.

Gabriel was the first to react, his eyes wide with horror as he blindly stumbled towards the TV. Everyone else had similar reactions and levels of horror.

“I have captured the so called heroes of Paris. In ten minutes, I will be revealing their identities on ‘make ladybug suffer dot com.’ Be sure to tune in, you won’t want to miss it.” Her mouth quirked up in a malicious smile, and the picture fuzzed out again.

“I need to get to a computer—“ Gabriel panicked.

But Max was already on it, plugging Markov into the screen. Soon, a website came up. A black background, with red text. But the majority of it was filled with various video streams. All the same room, in different angles, but the main large video showed Ladybug and Chat Noir from the side, still bound. Chat’s face had tears streaming down it.

Sabine turned up the volume. Yes, she should have been focused on finding her daughter, but at that moment a very harrowing feeling settled on the room.

Somehow, these events weren’t a coincidence.

“You hear that? One minute until I reveal your name to the whole world. I’ll let you have that minute to escape. Go ahead, go.”

They were both fighting, frantic to get free. It was like watching a wild animal caught in a trap.

“Time’s up! Aw, you two do want to have fun! You stayed!”

Furious, Ladybug spit at the woman. “You won’t get away with this!”

“Oh, but I already have.” Salo tapped her on the nose. “You see, the Ladyblog really is an amazing resource! Every video of you two ever shot was on there. Theories and facts, all the information we needed was on there. I studied it carefully. All you had to do was show up for an akuma, and we took care of the rest. Though, I should probably thank that hulk, since he did the hard part for us. Seems like you’re not so lucky after all.”

Alya felt sick.

“Then let’s begin…Let’s start with Mr. Noir, shall we? Your ring, sir!” She reached for it.

“Cataclysm!” He shouted.
“Oh you think you’re so smug. But you see, there’s more than one way to skin a cat.” She snapped her fingers, and the large man standing by touched Chat’s hand with a metal pole. The metal rusted and turned to dust. Chat’s hand was useless once again.

The assembled watched as she took hold of the ring. A few words were exchanged, in what sounded like begging from Chat. Then there was a flash of green light.

“Oh god…” Gabriel whispered, falling to his knees. “Adrien…”

Salo leaned on his bad shoulder, making him cry out in pain. “Well well well. A famous model and a superhero! How intriguing! Adrien Agreste…I bet your father would pay a pretty penny to have you home safe and sound, don’t you think?” She dragged her fingers over his cheek.

What was left of Gabriel’s heart broke. Seeing his son like that, in so much pain. He cried out as the woman leaned on his arm. His shoulder looked misshapen and limp.

Salo scoffed. “What a baby.” She smacked his face, then she stood and walked over to Ladybug. “Your turn, missy.”

Ladybug didn’t go down without a fight, thrashing and kicking, anything she could do to fight. But with strong headlock, she didn’t get the chance, and in a moment, there was a flash of pink.

Sabine started crying before her brain fully processed what she was seeing. “…Marinette?”

Gabriel covered his mouth with his hand. “Oh no…no no no…”

“And who the heck are you?” Salo snorted. “We lucked out with Mr. Whiskers, but who knew Ladybug was just a nobody?” She leaned in closer. “Oh wait, I recognize you…yeah, you’re a friend of the Ladyblogger, in some of her videos. Mmmm….Marinette, right? Yeah. How sad! You’d think the person most dedicated to finding out Ladybug’s identity would have seen her sitting in front of her! You must either be too pathetic in your real life, or totally unimportant to the Ladyblogger.”

Alya was frozen to the spot, much like everyone else, but she trembled in every limb. Half sorrow, half rage.

Marinette looked up at the woman. “Alright, you’ve taken our Miraculous, and now everyone knows who we are. Can we go now?”

Salo slapped her cheek and sent her sprawling on the floor. “Didn’t you hear me? You’re never getting out of here. You’ll never see daylight again. I intend to keep you here and torture you over and over. One day, you won’t even know your own name anymore, but you’ll beg me for death!”

“We have to call the police.” Tom said, “Or the army! Or—or—!” He didn’t know what to do. No one did. For so long, everyone was reliant on Ladybug and Chat Noir to save the day.

Who was supposed to save them?

Gabriel didn’t move. He couldn’t bare to miss a detail.

“Let’s see, first thing first is to get you into uniform.”

Marinette was freed from her bindings and forced to her feet. She rubbed her wrists and looked around.

“Whatever you’re thinking, don’t.” Said Salo. “Now strip.”

She took off her shoes, purse and jacket.

Salo crouched and picked up her purse. “Let’s see, just as I thought…18 missed calls? My my someone is worried about their baby.” Then she dropped the phone and smashed it under her heel. “Not to worry. We’ll let mommy know how much fun you’re having.”

Sabine sobbed.

She then went over to Adrien and frisked him, finding his phone. “2 missed calls. Hmm, I wonder who’s more loved?” She smashed his phone as well. The remnants of both were collected and tossed in a bucket of water, just to make sure all the circuitry was fried.

“I tried to track her, earlier…but she was transformed and her phone was gone, and—and...”

Tom hushed her gently.

Salo gestured Marinette onward.

She then took off her shirt and pants, standing alone, trembling in her underwear.

“Well?” Said Salo. “The rest of it too.”

So Marinette unhooked her bra and shimmied out of her panties, standing completely naked in front of all of Paris.

The boys in the room tried to look away from the screen, but they also didn’t want to miss any key details.

“Oh what a gentleman!” They heard the woman laugh. “But I know where you really want to look. You’re in love with her, aren’t you?”

Adrien whispered out, “…I’m sorry.”

“Did I say you could talk, pussy cat?…Aw, he already knows how to behave so well. This will be so fun!”

The girls winced as Marinette was drenched with a bucket of water, crying out in shock.

Adrien was forced to his feet, his arm hanging limply at his side.

“That looks dislocated,” said Kim, trying to be helpful.

“He might need some help, Ladybug. So why don’t you help him.” Salo shoved her forward, as she tripped into his chest.

Marinette stood there awkwardly for a moment, her shoulders hunched.

“Tick tock, you two.”

She slowly helped him undress, as he hissed and winced with each movement. As she got lower, there was snickering and wolf whistles from their captors.

Then they were both naked, in front of Paris.

“Wow, the suit really holds everything in, doesn’t it, Adrien?” Salo laughed, looking between his legs.

He didn’t even look like he cared about it. He just held his arm, his face scrunched up in pain.

“Here,” Salo spoke, dropping a folded cloth into Marinette’s hands. “Your uniform.”

It was just a short hospital gown, but at least it was something.

Salo gave another one to Marinette for Adrien, and she helped him dress, awkwardly having to reach around to tie the strings in the back.

When she was done, she cupped his cheek, a gesture that did not go unnoticed by the group.

Salo grabbed Marinette’s arm and yanked her back. “Alright, that’s enough. I’ve got some new jewelry for you, since I took your old ones.”

“Where did you put our miraculous? What did you do with them?”

Salo smiled, “Oh, you didn’t notice? Why, they’re right here.”

She walked off screen, and the camera didn’t move, only continued to show Marinette’s furious expression. “I don’t worry showing you this. Because there’s no way you’ll be able get them. But I’d love to see you try.”

Salo picked something up from the table next to the safe, and came towards Marinette. “Alright bug, I’d stay still unless you want to get pinched.”

She clamped on two wrist restraints, and then one to her neck, all connected with chains.

Then she did the same with Adrien, even clamping his bad arm.

“Now aren’t you two just precious? All gussied up for your first day of camp! Smile for the camera! Let your parents know how much fun you’re having!”

The camera swung in close to them, capturing their expressions of absolute humiliation and horror.

“I said, smile!” They both winced in pain, but morphed it into a pained smile.

“Alright, now let’s take you to your bunks. We have a really nice set up for our new campers. You’ll just love it!”   

Then the video went black. A message appeared, saying, “The next stream will be tomorrow morning at 6am. It would be best watch on an empty stomach.”

Alya was shaking with rage. At herself, at her classmates, at this ‘Salo’ woman, but not at Marinette or Adrien.

Never at them.

She swiveled her head around, looking for a target to unleash her fury on, and she found it in a very pale Lila. “You liar!” She screamed as she leapt. Alya tackled Lila to the floor, her fists flying without hesitation.

She only got a few licks in before Ivan and Kim grabbed her by the arms and yanked her to her feet. “We trusted you! I trusted you!”

Lila held her bleeding nose, desperate to not be made a villain. “Alya please…I know you’re upset. Everyone is…but that’s no reason to be mad at me.”

“Shut up! Shut up! You’re a liar! Just like Marinette said! I never should have believed you! Ladybug would never—My Ladybug would never take unsolicited photos! She’d never lie about this!” She was bawling her eyes out, and Kim and Ivan were the only things keeping her from collapsing on the floor. “You said you knew! You knew who Ladybug was! That you were best friends with her!”

“I thought I was!” Lila teared up, “she said she was someone else, most likely to protect me!”

“Stop lying!” Alya screamed. “Marinette hated you! And the only other person Marinette ever hated, was Hawkmoth! She doesn’t even hate Chloe! Now, because of you, she’s suffering! Adrien’s suffering! Ladybug and Chat Noir—it’s over! And it’s all your fault!”

“I had nothing to do with this!” Lila stated vehemently.

“Why should I believe you?” Alya snarled. “Why should any of us believe you?”

Lila balled up her fists. “Because—Because all I wanted was to discredit her! Like she was trying to do to me!”

Nino wrapped his arm around Alya’s shoulders, prompting Kim and Ivan to let go. He asked, “so how much of that photo story was a lie?”

Lila exhaled, her nostrils flaring. “All of it, okay? Marinette knew that I was lying, and kept trying to get everyone else to notice. But I warned her to knock it off. But she wouldn’t. She just kept on antagonizing me. All I wanted was to make friends and tell people what they wanted to hear, but she wouldn’t let me!”

Alix crossed her arms and spat, “Are you seriously trying to blame Marinette for this? Man, we all should have listened to her.”

While this argument was going on, Gabriel remained frozen in place, staring at the screen with tears in his eyes. A thousand thoughts rolled through his head, ideas, revelations, plans, too many things to parse at once.

“Sir?” Asked Nathalie, crouching by his side and touching his arm.

She grounded him slightly, as he took in the room around him. Tom was embracing his wife as she wailed. He didn’t blame her at all.

The children were fighting, pointing fingers and blaming each other.

Chaos.

His brooch burned on his chest at all the unbearably hot rage. Not just from the room, but Paris in general. The city was on fire with righteous anger, sadness, and hopelessness.

His fingers curled into fists, his resolve strengthening. He thrived in chaos. Not just as Hawkmoth, but as Gabriel as well. The man who built a fashion empire on his own. A man who didn’t allow himself to crumble in the face of grief.

He didn’t then, and he wouldn’t now.

Of course, his first priority was to save Adrien, but the consequences of what just occurred were not lost on him. After all, he had a secret identity of his own. If he wanted to save the children, he had to keep himself safe.

“That’s enough.” He spoke just loud enough to catch their attention, but not enough to shout.

“Oh Mr. Agreste, you understand don’t you? After all, I only wanted to do what was best for Adrien.”

He met Lila’s eyes, his own cold and steely. “You lied to my face. I refuse to be involved in petty high school squabbles. I have real, visceral problems to deal with, and you will gain no sympathy from me for your fabricated delusions. I suggest you leave.”

“But—“

“Now. And in case it wasn’t clear, I rescind that invitation into my home.”

Now, faced with real, true defeat, Lila had no choice but to save face and walk, sniveling with her crocodile tears all the while. No one gave her a second glance.

With that problem out of the way, Gabriel collected himself a little more. “Mr. Dupain, Mrs. Cheng.”

Tom and Sabine looked at him, faces drained of hope.

“Ladybug and Chat Noir’s identities have been compromised. We are no longer safe in this house. I suggest you stay with me until further notice, since I have extensive security measures. Miss Cesaire, and Mr. Lahiffe, that goes for you too. Since a simple glance over social media would reveal how close you are to them.”

“What do you mean, we’re no longer safe?”

“Our children are heroes, and heroes have plenty of enemies, as we can see with this woman.” He gestured to the TV. “No doubt, they would be after us for revenge soon enough. If we want to save Marinette and Adrien, we have to stay safe while we figure out how to do that.”

“Yes, of course!” Sabine collected herself, wiping her eyes. “I’m so glad you thought of that! I—I can barely process what I just saw.”

“I can assure you, I am still in shock too.” He swallowed hard, looking to the classmates. “Who’s the fastest runner here?”

Both Alix and Kim raised their hands.

“Perfect, go together.” He took a key out of his wallet, and handed it to Kim. “The passcode for the gate is ’7539’. There’s a shed in the back side of the lot. In the cupboard, there’s a roll of duct tape hanging on a nail. The spare key to the kitchen door is behind it. I want you to go inside, and into my office. Next to my computer, there’s a short table with a keyhole. This is the manual key. Switch it to on, and it will activate the self defense system, effectively barricading all windows. The sooner we get the system on, the sooner we prevent anyone coming inside.”

“What about you, Mr. Agreste?”

“I have an override code. We’ll be fine. Now go, and don’t let anyone in the house!”

“Yes sir!” They both shouted, before running out of the room.

“You two,” Gabriel pointed at Alya and Nino. “Go through Marinette’s belongings as quickly as you can. Anything that can be used as blackmail or has sentimental value needs to get packed up. Same thing for you, Mrs. Cheng, Mr. Dupain. Anything that could be used as leverage against them needs to come with us to the house. Any documents, computers, phones, family albums, any information about you.”

The students gathered got to work, helping them pack up most of their belongings. They’d have to make a few trips, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

Nino set Marinette’s computer tower on the floor at the base of the stairs. “Her monitor is too big, but this should be fine.”

Alya set down the duffle bag. “I have her sketchbooks, old diaries, and plenty of clothes for her to wear when we rescue her. I also emptied her filing cabinet. I don’t know what all was in there, but I’d rather not leave her social security card out.”

Gorilla took the items downstairs.

“Alright, thank you all for your hard work,” Gabriel said to the assembled students. “But I think it’s in everyone’s best interest if you all go home. If any reporters approach you to get more information about either of them, be vague. Pretend that you don’t them for your own safety.”

The students all looked at each other, feeling hesitant.

Gabriel’s voice was demanding and firm, “The temptation to do something on your own to help will be strong, but please, leave this to us now. Understand?”

There was a murmuring of voices before they trickled out the door, one by one.

Then Alya and Nino, Tom and Sabine, Gabriel, Nathalie, and the Gorilla remained.

“You two should go home and pack up your bags. Brief your parents on what’s happening. If they need to, they can call me.” He held a hand out, asking for their phones, which he entered his number into. “Go together, and do not separate. My bodyguard will pick you up once you are ready. Understood?”

“Yes sir.”

He nodded once, and looked to Tom and Sabine. “There’s not much else we can do tonight. Let’s go.”

They loaded up what they could in the car, and then put the house on lock down. Then they were off.

Sabine sat in the middle, sandwiched between her husband and Gabriel, with an overnight bag of her most bare essentials on her lap.. “I—I can’t thank you enough, for watching out for us like this.”

“You’re worrying about enough right now, Mrs. Cheng. You don’t need to worry about yourself too.”

“Sabine. Please just call me Sabine.”

“And call me Tom. If your son is…is Chat Noir. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing a lot of each other in the future.”

Gabriel cracked a minute smile. “Tom, Sabine, I agree. Though I wish we could come to this…friendship in a different way.”

Sabine raised a hand to wipe at her cheeks, but Gabriel held out a handkerchief for her to use instead. “I just can’t believe…the last few years, my Marinette…she’s been saving the city. With Adrien. They…they just took down that drug lord the other night! That must be why she had that cut on her cheek!”

“And why this woman is involved now.” Finished Gabriel.

“So what are we going to do?” Asked Tom. “We know nothing about these people.”

“No, not yet we don’t. But they’re broadcasting plenty to the public. They will make a mistake. And as much as we think of Adrien and Marinette as children, they are superheroes. Ladybug comes up with solutions in every situation. They aren’t completely helpless.”

“But…without the Miraculous…” Sabine nearly whispered.

Gabriel was trying to be optimistic for their sake, but he really had nothing to say to that. He took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose, forcing himself to keep from crying.

It was more than likely that he’d never see his son again. And if by some miracle he did, Adrien would never be the same.

They arrived at the mansion, a crowd of reporters in front of the gate. They parted at the sight of the car, allowing them to pull in.

“Damn it, the paparazzi never rests. I suggest you cover your faces, to hide the fact that you’re staying with me.”

The car pulled up to the gate, and Gabriel stepped out to enter the code, being followed by his bodyguard.

“M. Agreste, did you have knowledge that your son is Chat Noir?”

“Do you have any more information about Ladybug’s identity?”

“Have you been in contact with her parents?”

“What are you going to do to save your son?”

Gabriel was usually very good about ignoring the press. Or sometimes just giving vague enough answers to satisfy, but he had no patience for it today. “I didn’t know that Adrien was Chat Noir. I’m dealing with a lot right now, and I would like you all to leave. Please just leave…”

The reporters mostly backed off, standing back to give him some room. He entered the override code, opening the gate just enough for the car to go through. He drove in himself, his bodyguard keeping everyone back outside the gate.

Reporters continued to shout questions as Sabine and Tom got out of the car, keeping their faces forward and away from any cameras.

Finally inside, the voices of the reporters were muted. Gabriel glanced out the window, his eyes narrowed in anger. “We’ll have to go back for your other items later, once things calm down.”

Nathalie gestured them upstairs. “I will show you to the guest room. You can make yourselves at home.”

Gabriel watched them go, and then went to his office.

—

Hawkmoth emerged in the large room, butterflies fluttering all around at his presence. The akuma that had been rampaging around the city was now sullenly flapping around in his cane. He had called it back that minute he heard Adrien was missing, fearing that his akuma had been the cause. 

But now he was looking for a new target, with a new goal in mind.

There was so much anger and grief in Paris. So much that it was overwhelming. Nausea was building every minute he was transformed.

He couldn’t pinpoint Adrien or Marinette. Their suffering must have been in the waves, but it was like looking for a grain of sand on the beach.

“Nooroo, dark wings fall.”

“Master?” Nooroo asked, reappearing.

“It’s no use. It’s like listening for someone’s shout in a crowd of thousands. I have to have an idea of where to feel from.”

Nooroo stayed silent as Gabriel fell to his knees, scrubbing his hands through his hair. “All I wanted…was my family. To keep Adrien safe! But now I—“ His words were cut off with a sob as he leaned forward and rested his head on the ground.

Hawkmoth struck fear into the hearts of Parisians. He created akuma that could grind the city to a halt.

But this woman…she had succeeded where he had failed, and done it so effortlessly.

And he didn’t even care about the Miraculous anymore.

Now it was personal. He would wreak his own revenge in time.

He just needed a clue.

Chapter Text

Master Fu was a simple man these days. He drank his tea without milk or sugar. He took evening strolls through the park. And he always, always watched the six o’clock news.

Today, he closed his clinic the second there was an Akuma attack, just as he always did. And he had yet to reopen. Due to the nature of the akuma, he had stayed as far away as possible, keeping with reports online.

Now, at a quarter to six, he sat watching the TV with rapt attention.

Well, not really. There was some sitcom on. The news was next, and he was eagerly waiting for it.

“Still no word on the akuma?”

“No.” Fu answered, glancing at the police blotter. “This is very suspicious. If they defeated it and nothing healed, then Marinette should have come to me for help by now.”

“You don’t think…that the akuma won, do you?”

Master Fu was quiet, not wanting to admit it, but knowing that that was the most likely scenario.

“What do we do?”

“I would like to see what is being reported. If there hasn’t been anymore news, we will go to Alya Cesaire, Nino Lahiffe, and Chloe Bourgeois.”

“Do you think that’s a good idea? If Ladybug and Chat Noir weren’t able to stop this akuma, should the others, who are more inexperienced join the fray?”

“We don’t have a choice. I can’t allow Hawkmoth to get ahold of their Miraculous.”

The show ended, and on came the TVi news logo. All of the facts that Fu already knew were rehashed again, and Fu was forced to wait longer still, knowing his hesitation could mean the difference between victory and defeat.

Finally, they cut over to Nadja on the scene of the Arc De Triomphe. “This was the last location the Akuma was spotted, and the damage to the structure still remains. The Akuma spawned at the renovation site of Notre Dame, where witnesses say a construction worker was akumatized after accidentally collapsing a scaffolding. No casualties have been reported, luckily. According to the Ladyblog, the official new source for all things Ladybug, Ladybug and Chat Noir were spotted on their way to intercept the akuma, though reporter Alya Cesaire was asked to leave by Ladybug, for her own safety. No one else has seen or heard from the heroes since. Which begs the question:

“Has Hawkmoth finally won?”

Master Fu stood. “That’s it, I’m recruiting the others.”

He went to the Miracle box, opening it and taking out the Fox necklace and the Bee comb.

He gathered some other necessary items, and just when he was about to go out the door, the TV turned to static.

“Good evening Paris.” A woman in black appeared, with reflective sunglasses on her face. “Please excuse me for interrupting whatever pointless drivel you were consumed with. My name is Salo. I’m not an akuma, but you’ll soon wish I was. I have succeeded where all the others have failed.” She stepped back to show Ladybug and Chat Noir, bound and gagged.

Master Fu dropped everything in his arms and ran to the Tv, holding the sides to get a better look. “Oh no...no no no...this can’t be happening...”

“I have captured the so called heroes of Paris. In ten minutes, I will be revealing their identities on ‘make ladybug suffer dot com.’ Be sure to tune in, you won’t want to miss it.” Her mouth quirked up in a malicious smile, and the picture went to static, the news coming back on without a pause.

Master Fu scrambled to grab his phone and pulled up the explorer. The website loaded slowly, but the live feed turned on just in time for him to see Chat Noir’s arm get dislocated.

Master Fu had seen some hard things in his long life as a guardian. But he had become so fond of Marinette and Adrien that the thought of them suffering brought pain to his heart.

He knew the risks. They knew the risks. But that didn’t make this any easier.

While the video was still playing, he gathered the Miraculous and headed outside.

Paris was at a standstill. Even traffic had ground to a halt, as people everywhere were staring at their phones in various stages of shock.

Master Fu hurried to find Alya and Nino, not knowing where they’d be. Home, perhaps? Not at the school, not at this time of night. Though, Alya ran the Ladyblog and was often out chasing akuma. They could be anywhere!

“Well well well. A famous model and a superhero! How intriguing! Adrien Agreste…I bet your father would pay a pretty penny to have you home safe and sound, don’t you think?”

Master Fu winced. There was one. Adrien was no longer safe. Especially since he was a celebrity and everyone knew where he lived.

He walked faster.

Maybe Alya and Nino were looking for them? Maybe they’d run into each other. Gah! He was wasting time! Where, where, where!?

“I’ll try the bakery. It’s nearby and…maybe they are there waiting for Marinette.”

“And who the heck are you?” Salo snorted. “We lucked out with Mr. Whiskers, but who knew Ladybug was just a nobody?” She leaned in closer. “Oh wait, I recognize you…yeah, you’re a friend of the Ladyblogger, in some of her videos. Mmmm….Marinette, right? Yeah. How sad! You’d think the person most dedicated to finding out Ladybug’s identity would have seen her sitting in front of her! You must either be too pathetic in your real life, or totally unimportant to the Ladyblogger.”

Master Fu swore under his breath. Now Ladybug was compromised. Strangers gasped in shock all around him, as they cried out ‘oh no she’s just a kid!’

A kid with the burden of the world on her shoulders.

Master Fu stopped, leaning against a building to catch his breath. He was too old for this job. He heard Salo demanding Marinette to strip and turned off his phone. He’d give her the privacy of at least one person.

“What are we going to do?” He whispered. “This is all my fault…”

Wayzz, ever faithful and wise, asked, “how is it your fault?”

“I gave them the Miraculous. I entrusted them, two children, with magic stones to fight crime!”

“Yes, but you wouldn’t have if Hawkmoth hadn’t come out of hiding.”

That was a very true point. One that eased the burden of guilt ever so slightly.

“Still…”

“And you never told them to fight crime outside of akumas. They did that on their own.”

“Well of course they were going to do that!” Master Fu chastised. “There’s no way they would sit by and let things happen. You know that.”

“Of course. But I’d venture to say that this woman is responsible for this. If you had picked anyone else, I’d wager that this would have still happened. It’s not fair to blame yourself.”

“I can’t…I can’t help it. They were my chosen.”

“All may not be lost yet.” Wayzz reminded gently. “This woman isn’t an akuma. Hawkmoth will be searching for them, and his akuma are hard to miss.”

Master Fu straightened up at that. “You’re right! Let’s hurry then.”

When they reached the bakery, they found the lobby door was open, but no one was in the first floor.

“I’ll peek upstairs.” Wayzz suggested, floating towards the stairs.

There was some shouting from the living room, and Wayzz returned quickly. “Alya and Nino are up there, but so are the rest of their classmates, and Adrien’s guardians.”

Fu frowned. “Alright. It would be best for them to keep their secret identities. We will wait until they leave to announce our presence.”

So Master Fu and Wayzz left the bakery and waited across the street. He pulled out his phone, only to see that the stream had ended, a message stating that more would happened in the morning. He didn’t know if he even wanted to know what happened when he wasn’t watching.

Soon enough, he saw two classmates come bolting out of the bakery and down the street.

Finally, the bodyguard that was always around Adrien exited with a bag over his shoulder and a heavy tote in his hands. He placed it in the car and went back inside.

“Ah, I see.”

“What?” Asked Wayzz.

“I believe the Dupain-Cheng’s are relocating, now that the world knows who Ladybug is. Smart. Very smart.”

He continued to wait as the other classmates trickled out. Sabine and Tom came out, more luggage on them, and got in the car. Then, Alya and Nino left together, hand in hand.

“Alright, that’s our cue.”

He followed them at a healthy distance for a block or so, before catching up to them and announcing his presence.  “Nino Lahiffe? Alya Cesaire?”

They spun around, very obviously on edge, as Nino pulled Alya behind him. “Who wants to know?”

He smiled at them softly. “You have every right to be on edge right now, and I’m glad you are.” He glanced around, checking to see how safe it was to talk in the open. There weren’t very many people out, since the stream had made everyone nervous and retreat to their homes. Though there was no one immediately near them, he still walked a few slow steps forward.

The teens didn’t budge, but kept a wary eye on the man.

“I must apologize. You two are going through a great deal right now, but I must ask a favor of you.”

Alya and Nino shared a look, and then she said, “who are you again?”

“You may call me Master Fu. I am the guardian of the miraculous.”

At the reveal, Wayzz appeared from his pocket, and waved to Nino. The two teens sighed in relief and relaxed.

“Surely you’ve seen the website?” Master Fu asked.

“Yeah…” Alya breathed. “It’s…the worst thing I’ve ever seen.”

“You would be in good company with most of Paris. That is why I have called on you.” He took out the box with the Fox Miraculous. “Alya Cesaire, this is the Miraculous of the Fox, you will use it for good.”

She nodded fiercely and held her hand out to accept it.

Trixx came alive once the lid was opened. “Hey pretty girl! How’s it going?”

“I’ve been better.” Alya admitted with a sad smile, as she hooked the necklace on.

Then Master Fu removed the bracelet from his arm. “Nino Lahiffe, this is the Miraculous of the Turtle. You will use it for good.”

“Of course dude—er, Master.” He took the bracelet and slipped it on, Wayzz reappearing.

“In your care, I will also leave the Bee Miraculous. It will be up to you to decide if Chloe Bourgeois is worthy of being a hero once more. Marinette had mentioned that she was not on good terms with her. This may hinder Chloe’s potential as an ally. Either way, it is up to you.”

“Thank you Master,” they both said with a bow.

“Now, I must state again, the enemy you face is not an akuma. She is not a Miraculous user. This is a matter that should be left up to the police, but I can’t sit by and left Hawkmoth have an opening to take the Miraculous. There is no Miraculous Cure to fix any damages. These people don’t have beams or magic swords. They have guns and no hesitation. Don’t do anything too rashly.”

“Yes Master,” they agreed.

“When do you want us to return these?” Alya asked, with good reason.

“I don’t have an answer for that.” Fu said, “I would say…at least when the Ladybug and Chat Noir Miraculous are safe. If…Marinette and Adrien can still be saved when that happens, then…”

The insinuation was not lost on the other two, though it was a fate they were not ready to accept.

“We’ll save them,” said Alya, resolutely. “We’ll save both of them. And the Miraculous.”

Master Fu smiled at them, a proud look in his eyes. “Marinette choose well. I’ve always thought so.” Then he sobered. “It is important that you continue to hide your identities, and I suggest you don’t bring any attention to yourselves as heroes. I don’t know how this ‘Salo’ woman captured them so easily, but I would venture they’d get you too if you step out of line. Keep under the radar.”

“We’ll be careful.” Nino assured.

“I know you will do your best…I’m just…I don’t want anyone else to get hurt. I can’t help but feel that…this is my fault, for giving them the Miraculous. Wayzz assures me that anyone could have been taken by these people. But…just promise me that you’ll stay safe? That I won’t regret this decision.”

Alya held up a pinky. “It may be juvenile, but I pinky swear.”

Master Fu smiled at her, and hooked his finger with hers. He did the same with Nino. “There, you’ve made an oath with the guardian. It’s unbreakable.”

Alya smirked. “You said something that made a lot of sense. This is an opening for Hawkmoth to retrieve the Miraculous. He’ll have an akuma out looking soon enough. We just need to follow it.”

“Clever girl. Those were my thoughts exactly.” He glanced at his watch. “We’ve been talking for much too long. As tempting as it sounds, don’t begin your search just yet. Go home, and reassure your parents. They are probably already worried.”

“Yes Master!”

“I’ll see you again,” he nodded sagely, and departed.

With Wayzz gone, the walk home was quiet, and he was left with his thoughts. Several times he found himself turning around to take the Miraculous back, but ultimately he let it go. What other choice did he have?

—

It was now 10 pm. Ten hours since Adrien and Marinette went missing. And four hours since their fate became known to the world.

Nino and Alya arrived at the Agreste residence, by car driven by the Gorilla. They both had large duffle bags with them. Enough clothes and necessities to last them two weeks. Alya doubted she’d get through all of it, because surely, they’d find a way to save Marinette and Adrien within the week. Surely.

Tom and Sabine met them at the door, readily embracing the kids. Four hours was a long enough time to worry about another missing pair.

Gabriel stood off to the side, watching, his hand over his mouth. He dared not to say anything, lest he out himself as incapable of making decisions that were in the best interest of everyone. Someone had to keep a level head.

Once everyone had calmed down again, Nathalie approached the teens. “I will show you to your rooms.”

Nino spoke up. “Could we…could we stay in Adrien’s room?”

Nathalie looked at Gabriel who only nodded. It was an innocent request, and he could understand it.

In Adrien’s room, Alya and Nino set their bags on the ground and just stood there. The room was huge, and full of stuff…but it felt so empty. Empty, lonely, and cold.

The duffle of Marinette’s stuff that Alya had packed sat behind the couch. An odd place for it, but convenient for tonight.

Nino took off his hat. “Do you want me to take the couch?”

Alya shook her head. “No…I want you close.”

He nodded in understanding.

They made themselves comfortable, knowing that’s what Adrien would want. They explored a little, without prying.

“Alya, look at this.” Nino said with a fond little hum.

“Ew, is that…cheese?”

“I bet it’s for his kwami.”

Alya laughed then too. “You know, every once in a while, I’d get a whiff of cheese from him. I didn’t think it was actually him, but…now I know.” 

It was late and they were exhausted. They took turns in the bathroom, getting ready for bed. Then they fumbled for the lights, and crawled into Adrien’s bed. Alya had a shirt in her arms.

“What’s that?” Nino asked.

“It’s Marinette’s.” She answered, giving it a little sniff. “It smells like her.”

“Babe, we’re going to find them. We’re going to save them.”

“Absolutely.”

“There is one blessing in all of this.”

“And that is?”

“They’re together. They aren’t suffering alone. And as long as they have each other…I think they’ll make it.”

Alya nodded, reaching her hand out. “I think you’re right.”

He grasped her hand back, lacing their fingers together. 

Neither slept well, not only from worry, but anxious for what awaited their friends in the morning.

Chapter Text

They say the first night in prison is the hardest. But at least in prison, there was a bed, a toilet, and three square meals a day.

By the soreness in her neck, Marinette figured she had gotten some sort of rest. Calling it sleep was generous. It was more like a shock induced trance.

She moved her arm that was sticking out of the door, sending a tingling sensation all down the limb. Her hand was tight, still attached to Adrien.

Then she heard sniveling.

“Kitty?” She asked softly.

He responded with a broken voice. “My lady…did I wake you?”

“I…don’t know if I ever got to sleep.”

“I didn’t.” He said without hesitation. “Thank you for holding my hand all night. It helped.”

“Of course kitty.” She rubbed her thumb over his knuckles. “How’s your arm?”

“I can’t feel it anymore. It’s totally numb.”

“Well, I guess that’s a blessing in this case.” She had her head resting on the ground, and peered under the door, trying to gauge what time it was. But there was only darkness.

Soon enough though, there was the light of flashlights in the hallway, followed by footsteps.

“They’re coming for us.” She said, untangling their fingers.

They drew their hands back in, and waited.

It was only a moment before the light fed through the cracks of the door and the clicking of heels came to a halt on the cement floor.

“Rise and shine happy campers!” Salo’s sickening voice called.

The little slots in the doors opened, the brightness of the flashlight painful against the eyes.

“Arms out.” One of the men demanded.

They both presented their wrists, so the chains could be reattached.

Then in a series of clicks, the locks were undone, and the doors opened.

Adrien nearly fell in his rush to get out, but he was grabbed by the arm to stay still.

“Eager are we?” Salo laughed. “Well, no worries, we’ll get started right away.”

They were ushered back to the room they were in yesterday. “Look at you kiddies. Bright eyed and bushy tailed. You wouldn’t believe it, but so many people are excited to see you this morning.”

They were both yanked into place, just barely out of reach from each other. Chains were bolted to the floor, replacing the ones on their wrists. While another pair hung from the ceiling, most likely for later.

Marinette looked up to Adrien, finally able to see his face.

He looked awful. Hair disheveled, skin pale and clammy, and his eyes dark with bags.

“Over a million viewers on the site.” Stated a man from the corner. 

“And it’s not even six yet. Can you believe it?” Salo walked up to Adrien and started to untie his gown in the back. “Let’s see, how is this arm doing today?” She pulled the gown sleeve forward, displaying a blackened bruise covering his shoulder. His arm looked bizarrely flattened and unnatural. “Oh, what a lovely shade of purple. Don’t worry, we’ll make sure you match all over soon enough.” She patted his face. “But we’re going to start with your lady first, is that okay?”

Adrien shook his head. “Hurt me first. Whatever you what to do to her, do to me instead.”

Salo laughed, loudly and manically. “Oh you are so cute! But it doesn’t work like that kitty cat! You see, she was the one who jailed my Eddy. So she has to be punished.”

“Please,” Adrien begged. “Don’t hurt her.”

“Hmph.” Salo smirked. “You haven’t seen anything yet.”

The clock struck six am.

“Congratulations. Now begins day one of your sentence. Before we begin, I’d like to tell you the rules.” She folded her hands in front of her, like a teacher talking to a particularly thick student. “Rule number one: There is no escape. So you can just forget that right now. Rule number two: We take turns here during our games. So when your partner is having fun, you are expected to be quiet and wait your turn. Rule three: If I ask you a question, you answer it. And rule four: you do exactly what I tell you to do, when I tell you to.”

Marinette sneered. “And what happens if we break one of these rules?”

Salo smiled at the gumption. “Why don’t you try me and find out?”

Marinette thought better of it, and stayed silent.

Salo turned to Marinette, appraising her. “So…Marinette Dupain-Cheng. How old are you, again? State it for those at home, so they can know.”

“17.” She breathed. So Salo knew her full name. She must have done her research last night.

“17! 17 goddamn years old! And you’re playing superhero! The fate of the city of Paris rested solely on your shoulders, and you haven’t even finished Highschool! That’s…that’s embarrassing! Who let you do this?”

Marinette didn’t answer.

“I said, who gave you the earrings, Marinette?”

Marinette glared, making it clear she wasn’t going to answer.

Salo punched her squarely in the nose, sending her stumbling, but the chains were too short to go anywhere and she fell on the floor.

Salo snorted. “Wow, you have no balance. Who knew Ladybug was such a klutz?”

Marinette glared up at her, blood dripping from her nose.

“You really look ridiculous with those stupid pigtails. Like a baby. A toddler. Not a superhero in the slightest.”

Marinette continued to glare, as she rubbed under her nose, smearing the blood away. This kind of thing wasn’t that bothersome. Chloe had said worse before. People on the Ladyblog forums said worse.

Salo grabbed her pigtails and yanked, forcing Marinette to stand, while tears came to her eyes. “Is that what you are? A baby?”

Marinette rolled her eyes.

“Are you a baby?!” She yelled, shaking her. “That was a question!”

“Obviously not!” Marinette shot back.

Salo gave her hair another yank, rendering her silent.

“No…pigtails are for pigs! You’re a little piggy, aren’t you?”

Adrien watched, on edge. That punch looked like it hurt, but Marinette was tough.

“Yeah…let’s make you a little piggy.” She walked over to her table, and grabbed something.

Marinette and Adrien shared a look of apprehension.

Salo returned with a strap with two sharp, metal hooks on the end.

Marinette could see were this was going and backed away, reaching the end of her chains. Then she crouched and attempted to hide her face.

“Now now, that’s no way to behave. Hold still!”

Just like with her earrings, Marinette kicked and wriggled, anything to keep that woman away from her. But Salo was a lot rougher this time, slapping her, hitting her, pinching her, anything to inflict pain. Finally, she trapped her face against the floor, and the hooks took hold in her nostrils. Not enough to pierce all the way through, but enough to hurt and draw blood. The strap went over the top of her head and attached to the collar, forcing her nose up like a pig snout.

Salo got off of her, and looked down on her with a grin. “You look absolutely ridiculous.”

“Mari…” Adrien began, taking a step forward.

“You, shut up!” Salo commanded with a slap. “You are not allowed to speak. You are here to watch in silence!”

Adrien flinched at the tone.

Salo whirled around right as Marinette was trying to take the strap off. “On your hands and knees.”

She did as she was told, her gaze on the floor.

“Look at me.”

Glancing up, Marinette saw a camera right behind Salo, recording her humiliation for the world to see.

“What does the little piggy say?”

Her heart pounded and her cheeks burned. But she croaked out, “…oink.”

“What was that?”

“Oink!”

Salo snickered. “No no, that’s not what a real piggy sounds like. What noise does a real piggy make?”

Marinette snorted in her throat.

“That’s a good piggy! Nice and loud! So everyone can hear!”      

She snorted again, louder, making a really gross sound.

“Again!”

Over and over, she snorted like a pig, the camera swooping into her face and catching it all.

“Over this way now.” Salo demanded, walking over to her other side.

The chains were heavy, but allowed for Marinette to crawl on her hands and knees over to where Salo demanded.

“Now over here.”

Marinette crawled back and forth and back and forth. The cement was rough on her palms and bloodied her knees. But she did as told, choosing to be humiliated than to be beaten again.

Though she assumed that’s what it would be like for a while, having to pick between two awful options.

“Oh, goodness me. You haven’t eaten yet, have you? You must be starving!”

The last time she had eaten was breakfast yesterday morning, since the Akuma cropped up before lunch. Her stomach coiled tightly, nausea replacing the thought of food.

“Here, food for the piggy.”

A rotten apple plopped in front of her.

Marinette turned up her nose in disgust. There was no way she was going to eat that.

“It’s that, or nothing.”

She rather take the nothing. She sat back, glancing up at the woman in refusal.

“You sure? I won’t give you anything else today.”

Marinette shook her head slightly. She wasn’t desperate enough.

Salo kicked the apple away, not too far out of reach. “You’ll want that eventually.”

Marinette glanced at Adrien, who was looking at her with disgust. Not her, per say, but what was happening to her. Though it didn’t exactly help.

“I can see you’re tired of this game. Do you want to stop being a piggy?”

“Please…” Marinette groaned.

Salo grinned. “Alright then, stay still.” She blessedly removed the hooks, Marinette’s nose sore and still bleeding.

Then she tried to stand, but Salo kicked her in the side. “Did I say you could stand?!”

“No…” Marinette breathed.

“No, what?”

“No ma’am.”

“Good girl,” Salo snorted. “Stay.”

Marinette remained on her hands and knees, her arms trembling and her knees aching. She could hear Salo coming around behind her, but didn’t dare turn to look. Her hands were on her head, forcing her to look down.

Then, there was some snipping, and then a little more, and then something black fell on the ground in front of her.

Her pigtails.

Salo tussled what was left her hair, making it wild.

“What do you think, kitty cat? doesn’t she look more mature?”

Adrien was staring, his mouth slightly open, and his eyebrows pinched.

“I asked you a question, maggot.”

“Yes, she…she looks…nice.”

Marinette took that as a clue that her hair cut was not well done.

Salo stood and studied her. “Hmm, you know, I don’t really see it. I think…once a pig, always a pig.”

Marinette snarled at her, spitting at her feet.

“A wild pig. Don’t you think so, Pasolini?” She glanced at a man in the room, the same one who had dislocated Adrien’s arm.

With a completely neutral expression, he started coming towards her, his steps slow and menacing.

Marinette immediately started to backpedal, scooting on the floor away from him. But soon, she was on the end of her rope and there was no where left to go.

Pasolini easily pinned her to the ground, her temple forced against the cement. Try as she may, there was no pushing up. Thankfully, he was only pinning her, and not doing anything else.

“Get off of her!” Adrien barked. “You’re hurting—ugh!” Adrien was elbowed in the stomach, his words coming up short.

“It’s only day one, so I’ll give you a break, but remember the rules! No talking.”

Adrien winced, but didn’t say any more.

Marinette was breathing hard, her nostrils flaring as she glared up at Salo. The light was directly behind her, casting her into darkness.

She felt the piercing pain of the hooks in her nose again, forcing her nose up. The pain ease slightly if she raised her chin.

There was a buzzing sound as Salo rested a knee on her back. “Now, hold still.”

Despite her rapid breathing, Marinette did hold firm. She had no idea what was happening and didn’t want to cause herself anymore pain.

Something slid across her scalp, just on the side of her head above her ear. Then she felt the sensation of loose hair by her ear.

She was being shaved.

“No…no please…”

“Oh it’s just a little.” Said Salo. “It’s in style right now.”

She shaved right down to the skin, as Marinette felt her fingertips brushing against her.

Then the buzzing stopped.

“Hold her still, Pasolini, we can’t have her move an inch for this.”

The man moved a hand to her jaw, pressing her face hard against the cement. Then he replaced the knee on her lower back. She couldn’t move, and she could barely breathe.

A new buzzing sound started, and Marinette felt Salo rest her hand on the side of her head. This buzzing was incredibly loud, and she could feel the vibrations in her skull.

Whatever she was doing, it hurt. Burning, stinging, itching, like a nail was being dragged over her scalp.

Or a needle.

A needle!

“What…are you doing…to me?” Marinette grit through her teeth.

“Shh…” Salo hushed, in a way that would have been soothing if it wasn’t so condescending. “It’ll all be over soon.”

Marinette could barely see Adrien from here, but she could see that his teeth were exposed in a snarl.

Finally, finally, Salo finished her deed, and Marinette was pulled back to her feet. Her head hurt, and reaching up, she found blood on her fingers.

Then a mirror was in front of her, Salo holding it with a proud grin. “What do you think? I think it’s so you.”   

Tears came immediately, because for a half second, she couldn’t recognize her own face.

Blood was smeared all around her nose and mouth, and fresh drips still came from her upturned nose. Her eye was blackened with bruises. Her hair was chopped awkwardly and uneven, with her right side shaved clean. In fresh red ink, ’cochon’, the French word for pig, was tattooed on her scalp.

Marinette choked out a sob. She was marked for life.

“You now how much people pay for tattoos these days? And I gave you one for free! No gratitude?”

Marinette just continued to cry. She felt hideous. She felt like a pig.

“I said, no gratitude?” Salo pinched the underside of her arm.

Marinette cried out, and then answered, “T-thank—Thank you ma’am!”

“You’re welcome, little piggy.” Salo laughed, and then shoved her so she fell on her rear.

Marinette glanced up to meet Adrien’s eyes. He was also crying, but his nostrils flared in anger. How dare this woman? How dare she!?

Salo just waltzed around the room, looking between the two of them and her table filled with unimaginable torture devices.

“Now let’s see. Before I damage the goods…” She waved over to a man at a computer. “I’m ready to connect that call, now.”

“Connecting.” He replied.

The screen that had been used the day before to show the news report lit up again, a phone icon on it. Then, Gabriel Agreste’s face. It looked to be his personal cellphone.

Tom and Sabine were in the background, looking between him and another screen on their end.

“Monsieur Agreste! Wonderful for you to join us.”   

“I don’t need your false pleasantries. Where are you? How did you get this number?”

“Oh come now Gabe, if you want to win, you have to play the game.”

“I don’t see a game. I see a sick creature torturing children.”

She scoffed. “You’re no fun.” Then she tapped her chin, deep in thought. “Alright then, we’ll start the bid at 50 million. Just a smidgen less than your net profit for this year. That’s doable right? Surely your son is worth that much.”

Gabriel clenched his jaw. “How much for both of them?”

“I’m afraid Chat Noir is the only one up for sale. I still have so much planned for Ladybug.”

Gabriel opened his mouth to respond, but Adrien beat him to the punch. “Don’t you dare give her a single cent, Father!”

Salo whipped around, glaring at him. “Shut up!”

But Adrien was undeterred. “They’ll just spend the money to do this to others! Don’t let that happen!” His speech was cut short as Salo clocked him in the jaw.

He hit the ground hard, and she gave him no time to recover as she kicked him over and over with her steel toed boots. She didn’t finish until he was gasping for breath.

Then she turned back to the screen. “60 million. And the price will continue to rise day by day. And you’ll end up having a very expensive funeral with a closed casket.” 

Gabriel had his eyes shut tight, like he was being presented with the hardest choice in the world.

Because he was.

Finally, he swallowed and looked off to the side. He gave whoever was there a soft smile and nodded. “No deal, Salo. I don’t negotiate with terrorists. I will find my own way to save my son. One that doesn’t benefit you. I love Paris, almost as much as they do. And I refuse to be responsible for its downfall. Not when my son has worked so hard to protect it.”

Salo frowned hard. “You’ve spurned me, Gabriel Agreste. I’ll take you next. Once I’ve finished with your son. This was your only chance to save him. But I’ll let you say goodbye.”

The camera moved past Salo to Adrien who was lying on the ground. “D-Dad…”

“Hang in there, Chat Noir. Just a little while longer.”

“I…I love you, dad.”

“I love you too, son.”

The call ended.

“Sickening.” Salo scoffed. “You’d think a man that rich wouldn’t care about the money. But I guess I was wrong. He doesn’t really love you. He was just trying to make it easier on you. How does it feel to be rejected by your own father, huh?”

Adrien took steadying breaths, his chest hurting from her kicks. At least, that’s what he assumed the pain was from.

“That was a question!” Salo shouted, right in his ear.

“He didn’t reject me,” he breathed. “I wanted him to stay out of it.”

“You’re an idiot. But everyone knew that. Chat Noir has always been the dumb one. Isn’t that right, Ladybug?”

Marinette was still lying on the floor. She didn’t sit up, but she answered, “Chat Noir is a genius. He’s goofy, but he’s smart.”

“He’s an idiot!” Salo yelled back. “He’s a retarded piece of shit!”

Adrien clenched his eyes shut. It was just words. Just words. Lies.

“You’re not trying to drown me out, are you?” Salo asked, getting in his face. “Because I can do this all day, dumbass.”

“We hate liars.” He stated, firmly. “And you’re nothing but a liar.”

Salo laughed. “You’re a child. You don’t think I can hurt you? Didn’t you see what I did to your little Love Bug earlier? You looked so angry.”

Adrien opened his eyes to glare at her.

She smiled maliciously. “Want to see if we can make her look that angry, too?” Then she looked over his head, to Pasolini.

The man came over and pressed a hand to Adrien’s head with little effort. He was already exhausted.

“Now let’s see.” Salo’s hand caressed his cheek. “My my, you don’t have your ears pierced. I would have thought you did, considering Ladybug’s Miraculous are earrings. What if there was an emergency, idiot? What would you have done then?”

“Just…hope there wasn’t one?” He asked, nervously as she traced his ear with her finger.

“Childish. Stupid. No matter, I’ll fix that now.”

There was a hard pinch, and Adrien felt something sharp on his neck, right beneath his earlobe.

“There, we have a pretty diamond one. Well, it’s not really diamond. I think it might be glass. Either way, it was on sale for like five bucks. You’re not allergic to any metals are you?”

“…no? Did…did you pierce my ear?”

“Doesn’t hurt as much as you’re expecting it too, hmm? Not to worry, we have plenty more to do. Let’s see…oh, we’ll do this pretty gold one next.”

So she pierced his ears. One piercing after another, passed the lobe and into the cartilage, where the gun snapped through with a crack. Where it hurt significantly more.

Ten piercings on each side. By the end of it, his ears were red, itchy, and pulsing. 

“Well what do you know? I’m all out of studs. Oh, but I think this is a good look for you. Don’t you think so, Ladybug?”

Marinette watched from where she laid on the ground, her tears never stopping. “You’re still handsome.” She stated.

“Hmm, still handsome, huh? Well, we’ll work on that in a bit.”

Pasolini sat Adrien up, as the camera zoomed in on the fresh piercings.

“We made Ladybug into a piggy, but I think we’ll keep the cat theme for you. A mangy, feral alleycat.” She took out the studs from his middle cartilage piercings and replaced them with small hoops. Then she threaded twine through the hoops on both sides and tied them together on top of his head, yanking it tight so his ears pinched to a point.

Like a cat.

Adrien hissed in pain.

It wasn’t enough to scream, but it sucked. And the pain got worse the longer it was held. It would have been surprising if the piercings didn’t just rip out of his ears.

“Meow meow kitty cat?” Said Salo in a disgusting sugary voice. “Can you say meow meow?”

“Meow meow...” Adrien forced out, despite the pain.

“Like a real kitty.” She demanded.

He rolled his eyes and meowed, imitating a cat. He did it often enough as Chat Noir that it was easy. But outside of the mask...it was just weird.

“Is kitty cat hungry?”

Not if she was going to give him a rotten apple too.

A can opened, and with a splat, a cylinder of meat plopped on the ground in front of him.

Cat food.

Of course. This woman loved being literal.

“This isn’t rotten. Fresh from the store. You’re a growing kitty. Go on...” She pushed his face into the food with her foot on the back of his head. “Eat it.”

He got some of the mush up his nose as a result.

“I’m not hungry.” He argued.

“Nonsense, I could hear your stomach growling all night. Eat up.”

Adrien closed his eyes. Just pretend it’s pate, like at one of father’s fancy dinner parties. He told himself.

Then he took a bite. It wasn’t the worst thing he had eaten, and it smelled better than Camembert. But the texture was disgusting, and he was eating off of a dirty cement floor.

Knowing that his father was watching him at that moment also was a kick in the shin.

Salo waited until he swallowed to laugh. “Ha! He actually ate it! What a dumb pussy cat!”

Adrien spat out the second bite in his mouth.

“No? Not hungry?”

“You bitch…” He hissed.

She scowled, her fist clenching. “Oh, you don’t get to call me names.”

“That wasn’t one of your rules.” Adrien spat.

Her hands darted out, latching onto his throat above his collar. Her fingers curled into his skin as she pressed down on his adam’s apple. He coughed and choked, taking hold of her wrist with his good arm.

“I could crush you under my thumbs. I could break you, kill you with no problem. It’s a mercy that I haven’t already. Do you understand?”

Adrien’s gagging and choking was her only answer.

She dropped him, and he fell to the ground.

Salo snapped her fingers and Adrien was yanked up on his knees. Pasolini grabbed hold of the twine between his ears and forced him to look up.

“I thought you were smart enough not to pick a fight with me. Guess that’s what I get for thinking so highly of a big dumb idiot.” She scooped the rest of the cat food in her hand and shoved it in his face.

Adrien kept his mouth firmly shut, but the food smeared all over, even going up his nose. Salo wiped her hands clean on his robe.

“We’re going to mark him.” She told Pasolini, who simply nodded and pushed Adrien back down on the ground, a knee on his back and his hands holding his face flat.

Just like with Marinette, Adrien’s head was shaved on the side, the left, right above his ear.

Then, the tattoo gun started up and Salo got to work etching a foul name on the side of his head. It ached, and the drumming of the gun was unbearable. Adrien clenched his eyes shut and willed the pain to go away, but it went on and on.

“There. Fitting, for you.”

Adrien sat up on his own, his battered knees aching at the movement.

Salo thrust the mirror into his face, showing the abuse she put him through.

His word was ‘chatte’ the French word for pussy, but not the feline form.

“Are you going to think twice before sassing me next time?” She asked, pinching his cheek.

“Yes ma’am.” He whispered back.

“Good.” She snorted. “Now, I’ve got other things to do. But we’ll have more fun tonight.” Then she called to the others in the room. “Suspend them for now.”

The cameras were still rolling as Salo left the room. Men came and changed out their chains, attaching them to the ceiling instead. With a loud cranking sound, the chains shortened, so they were just barely able to reach the ground. Adrien cried out in pain from his bad arm.

Then slowly, the others left the room, until Adrien and Marinette were alone.

“Do you think they’re watching?” Marinette asked.

“They have to be.” Adrien gestured towards a camera with his head. “They’re broadcasting us to all of France.”

“Yeah…” She breathed. She didn’t have an escape plan anyways. The chains were almost medieval in design, the kind with a pin that had to be broken with a chisel. Breaking the link to the chains was the only way out, and that wasn’t happening anytime soon.

“How’s your nose?” Adrien asked.

“It hurts. How’re your ears?”

“Hurts.”

He was tired. Such little sleep and all he had gone through already, he just closed his eyes, and begged for sleep to come.

Chapter Text

It’s 5:30am. A half an hour until the next broadcast begins. The large screen in the Agreste living room was hooked up to the computer, and the site was open and waiting. According to the counter on the bottom of the screen, another 100,000 people were waiting as well.

Sleep didn’t come easy for those in the house. Sabine hadn’t slept at all, spending most of the night awake in the kitchen with a pot of coffee. Tom had tried to stay up with her, but the day before had been a long one in the bakery, and his eyes fell shut against his will. There was little rest to be had with his head on the counter.

Gabriel hadn’t slept at all either, as he had stayed up all night as Hawkmoth in his lair.

One would think it would be easy for someone like Hawkmoth to feel the emotions from Adrien and Marinette. But in a city of millions, there were all sorts of emotions running high. Even in the middle of the night.

He even tried feeling for intense happiness, of someone like Salo. But there were plenty of people who hadn’t heard about Ladybug and Chat Noir’s capture, or they just weren’t concerned.

What if they weren’t even in Paris anymore? Salo had an Italian accent, what if they were in Italy?

The second problem Hawkmoth had was his fear of akumatizing someone without Ladybug being around. With so many people in such volatile states, akumatizing the wrong person could mean the difference between finding them, or tearing the city apart.   

It was a risky move. One that he knew he’d employ soon enough, but he still hesitated.

He’d wait a little longer, just until people came to terms with this new reality. Once people were a little more stable.

Then perhaps he’d employ Mr. Lahiffe or Miss. Cesaire. Someone who was close to Adrien or Marinette. Maybe he’d even akumatize himself.

Or maybe he wouldn’t even need to use his powers. Maybe the police would figure it out. They had to be working on it, right?

But it was morning now, and blearily, he emerged from his office and came into the living room. Nathalie was in, deep bags under her eyes. She had gone to bed not long after midnight, but it was obvious she spent most of the night tossing and turning. The Gorilla had slept, but looked just as he always had, not giving any idea to his exhaustion.

Nino and Alya were awake as well, still in their pajamas.

Sabine came out of the kitchen with a tray. Coffee, cups, and fresh baked croissants. “I’m sorry, Tom and I bake under pressure. And I just…if no one is hungry, I won’t be offended.”

Gabriel was the first to take a croissant and a cup of coffee. “Thank you Sabine, this is quite welcomed after such a long night. You may use the kitchen as you like. Please let me know if you need anything else.”

“Thank you Gabriel.” She smiled calmly.

The kids and Nathalie took coffee and a croissant as well, as Tom finally joined the group. He had an indent on his forehead from laying on the counter.

Then they sat around, looking at each other and the screen. No one knew what to say.

The doorbell rang, and Gabriel scowled. “The media? At this hour of the morning?”

“I’ll go see who it is,” said Nathalie, standing. But Gabriel was quick to follow her, preparing to reprimand whoever was bothering them so soon. The Gorilla followed them as well, ready to knock some heads in.

Indeed, the media was out there, but the man that rang the doorbell didn’t look like a reporter. He looked like a police officer, but his windbreaker had ‘EUROPOL’ printed on it. The man himself was carrying a briefcase and had an eyepatch.

Nathalie spoke into the mic. “Yes?”

“Detective Joseph Bertony, European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation.” He held up a badge and ID card. “I’d like a word with Mr. Agreste.”

“Let him in.” Gabriel agreed.

The gate swung up swiftly, and Detective Bertony entered quickly, before the media could try to slide in.

Nathalie opened the door, and gestured him inside.

“Mr. Agreste, thank you for agreeing to speak with me.”

“I assume this is about Adrien?”

“And Marinette Dupain-Cheng, of course. I’ve been to the bakery, and it’s on lock down. Have you been in contact with the family?”

“Yes, they are here with me.”

“Excellent. If you wouldn’t mind, could I speak to them as well? I understand that this is a difficult time, but we need to act quickly.”

Gabriel swallowed, still apprehensive, but he nodded and gestured Detective Bertony to follow.

In the living room, Tom and Sabine stood at the presence of this newcomer.

He held out his hand to shake their hands. “Detective Bertony, Europol.”

“Tom Dupain.”

“Sabine Cheng.” She smiled.

Then he glanced at the kids. Gabriel answered for them. “This is Alya Cesaire and Nino Lahiffe, close friends of Adrien and Marinette.”

“Hi,” said Alya.

“Hello,” said Nino.

He shook their hands too, with a nod. “You’re the creator of the Ladyblog, right?” He asked Alya.

“That’s me…” She said with a little shrug. She was so close to pulling the plug on the blog, since got her best friend captured.

“We’ve been reviewing it as evidence for this case. You’re not in any trouble, conversely, we’d like to work with you. If Salo is using your blog, we might be able to use it as well.”

Alya perked up considerably. Anything to right her wrongs. “Sure! Just say the word!”

He winked at her, and then addressed the group.

“I’m sure you’re all wondering why I’m here, if not a little on edge. I would be too, if I was in your place.” He gestured to an open chair by the coffee table. “May I?”

“Yes, of course,” replied Gabriel.

The detective took his seat, and scooted his chair closer to the table. Then he opened his briefcase and set a file on the table. Inside were several pictures of women. Mugshots, to be precise.

Upon closer inspection, they were all the same woman, with different hair styles and makeup.

“Bianca Furtoli. Age 46, born in Sicily. Committed her first crime at 15, carjacking. Widowed four times, with her first husband barely surviving after she stabbed him in the eye with a knife.” He looked up, noticing they were looking at his eyepatch meaningfully. He continued, “she worked as a prostitute in her twenties, and became a prolific dominatrix. In 1997, she was arrested for her first murder, but the sentencing was reversed for lack of evidence. Since then, she’s been known as an alleged serial killer, not a dominatrix, all throughout Italy and Germany, and now France. This is the woman who has captured your children.”

Sabine sobbed.

“So, you know her identity. That’s good, right? Then you can find her?” Asked Nino.

Detective Bertony sighed, screwing up his lips. “I’ve been tracking Furtoli for the last fifteen years, after she fell in with Savauge and became an international threat. Both of them are very talented at disguise and covering their tracks. They operate under the motto, ‘everyone has a dark secret,’ and they use it to get out of sticky situations. The right person is blackmailed, evidence goes missing, testimonies get changed. They are slippery, and nearly impossible to catch. Of course, we have no hard proof of this, but it’s our best guess, since the same patterns happen over and over with them. This will be the first time we have real, hard evidence to convict her. She’s been seen on camera assaulting them, and she admitted to kidnapping. If we can find her, we will have a real case.”

Alya cracked her knuckles. “Alright, so what do we do?”

He cracked a smile. “During her first broadcast yesterday, Salo gave us two clues, though I doubt she meant to. A hint on how to track her, and a time limit.”

“Time limit? For what?” Asked Gabriel, with a tremor in his voice.

“A time limit for them. ‘Salo’ refers to the Socialist Republic of Italy, under the control of Mussolini in World War II, but it’s also the title of a horrendous movie from the ’70s, about a group of fascists that kidnap and torture nine adolescents. It’s surname is ‘120 days of Sodom’ and it’s well known as one of the most horrendous films ever made. It’s banned in most countries.”

“I think I remember when that came out,” said Gabriel. “There was a big controversy because the director called it ‘art’ but it was so foul that no one could watch it.”

“I can only assume that given enough time, Salo will try to reenact the events of the movie.” 

“...how does the movie end?” Asked Nino, cautiously.

“The victims are killed brutally. And the kidnappers laugh about it.”

Gabriel didn’t want to acknowledge it, and so he asked, “you said she gave a hint on how to find her?”

“Yes,” said Bertony, with a little more hope in his voice. “That clue was you, Mr. Agreste. She mentioned the idea of ransoming Adrien back to you. Knowing her, it’s highly likely she will do just that. So here,” he handed over a little device.

“What is it, exactly?”

“It’s a tracking device, used to trace incoming calls. Plug it into your phone and all calls will be monitored to get an approximate location.  I understand that you’re a business man, and tracking your calls wouldn’t be ideal…”

“This number is unlisted. She wouldn’t be able to get it.”

“That won’t stop her. Any calls made will be classified information.”

“I’m not concerned with clients’ calls.” Gabriel said, clicking the device into his phone. “I’m just…suspicious of her pulling it off.”

“For now, it’s the best lead we have, but we are monitoring the site to see if she makes any more mistakes.”

Then the stream turned on, and Adrien and Marinette were shown in the room.

Detective Bertony took out his laptop, glancing between the tv and his screen.

“Over a million viewers on the site.” Stated a man from the stream.

“And it’s not even six yet. Can you believe it?” Salo walked up to Adrien and started to untie his gown in the back. “Let’s see, how is this arm doing today?” The assembled winced at the bruised and battered arm. “Oh, what a lovely shade of purple. Don’t worry, we’ll make sure you match all over soon enough.” She patted his face. “But we’re going to start with your lady first, is that okay?”

“Hurt me first. Whatever you what to do to her, do to me instead.”

Sabine gasped a little, resting her hand on her heart.

Salo laughed, loudly and manically. “Oh you are so cute! But it doesn’t work like that kitty cat! You see, she was the one who jailed my Eddy. So she has to be punished.”

“Please,” Adrien begged. “Don’t hurt her.”

“Hmph.” Salo smirked. “You haven’t seen anything yet.”

The clock struck six am.

“Congratulations. Now begins day one of your sentence. Before we begin, I’d like to tell you the rules.” She folded her hands in front of her, like a teacher talking to a particularly thick student. “Rule number one: There is no escape. So you can just forget that right now. Rule number two: We take turns here during our games. So when your partner is having fun, you are expected to be quiet and wait your turn. Rule three: If I ask you a question, you answer it. And rule four: you do exactly what I tell you to do, when I tell you to.”

Detective Bertony typed some notes as she spoke.

“And what happens if we break one of these rules?”

“Why don’t you try me and find out?”

Tom bit his lip, worried that Marinette would take the bait. But she didn’t, so nothing happened.

“So…Marinette Dupain-Cheng. How old are you, again? State it for those at home, so they can know.”

“17.”

“So now everyone has her name.” Stated the detective, “if they didn’t before.”

“17! 17 goddamn years old! And you’re playing superhero! The fate of the city of Paris rested solely on your shoulders, and you haven’t even finished Highschool! That’s…that’s embarrassing! Who let you do this?”

Marinette didn’t answer.

“I said, who gave you the earrings, Marinette?”

Marinette glared, making it clear she wasn’t going to answer.

Sabine turned her face away when Salo pulled her fist back. She heard a crack and someone fall.

Salo snorted. “Wow, you have no balance. Who knew Ladybug was such a klutz?…You really look ridiculous with those stupid pigtails. Like a baby. A toddler. Not a superhero in the slightest.”

Marinette continued to glare, as she rubbed under her nose, smearing the blood away.

Salo grabbed her pigtails and yanked, forcing Marinette to stand, while tears came to her eyes. “Is that what you are? A baby?…Are you a baby?!” She yelled, shaking her. “That was a question!”

“Obviously not!” Marinette shot back.

Salo gave her hair another yank, rendering her silent.

“No…pigtails are for pigs! You’re a little piggy, aren’t you? Yeah…let’s make you a little piggy.” She walked off screen.

Salo returned with a strap with two sharp, metal hooks on the end.

Marinette crouched and pressed her face into the ground.

“Now now, that’s no way to behave. Hold still!”

Sabine got up and left the room, unable to watch. Alya hid her face in Nino’s shoulder.

Soon the strap was in place, forcing Marinette’s nose up like a pig.

“You look absolutely ridiculous.”

“Mari…” Adrien began, taking a step forward.

“You, shut up!” Salo commanded with a slap. “You are not allowed to speak. You are here to watch in silence!”

Adrien flinched at the tone.

Then she turned back to Marinette. “On your hands and knees…Look at me.”

The camera moved in, right to Marinette’s face and showed her abuse in clear detail.

“What does the little piggy say?”

“…oink.”

“What was that?”

“Oink!”

Salo snickered. “No no, that’s not what a real piggy sounds like. What noise does a real piggy make?”

Marinette snorted.

“That’s a good piggy! Nice and loud! So everyone can hear!”      

She snorted again, louder, making a really gross sound.

“Again!”

The group watched with coiling stomachs as Marinette was degraded to an animal, oinking like a pig and crawling around on her hands and knees. It was disgusting.

“Oh, goodness me. You haven’t eaten yet, have you? You must be starving! Here, food for the piggy.”

A rotten apple plopped in front of her.

“It’s that, or nothing.”

But Marinette did not make any move to take it. She just sat back, and let the rebellion in her eyes answer for her.

“You sure? I won’t give you anything else today.” Salo kicked the apple away, not too far out of reach. “You’ll want that eventually.”

Alya sighed in relief. She didn’t know if her stomach could handle watching that.

“I can see you’re tired of this game. Do you want to stop being a piggy?”

“Please…” Marinette groaned.

Salo grinned. “Alright then, stay still.” She removed the hooks, then kicked her in the side as she tried to move. “Did I say you could stand?!”

“No…”

“No, what?”

“No ma’am.”

“Good girl,” Salo snorted. “Stay.”

Salo again went off screen, as Marinette stayed put.

“What’s happening now?” Asked Sabine from the hall.

“I’m not sure…” Answered Nino. “Salo’s coming back and she…she has scissors.”

“I can’t watch!” Alya shrieked as she also stood and left the room.

Those remaining watched as Salo snipped off her pigtails, and only that. It was a little relieving, to be honest.

“She cut her hair.” Tom provided, his voice in his throat.

“It…It’ll grow back.” Sabine sobbed from the hall. “Her hair always grows fast.”

Salo tussled what was left her hair, making it wild.

“What do you think, kitty cat? Doesn’t she look more mature?…I asked you a question, maggot.”

“Yes, she…she looks…nice.”

“It can be fixed,” said Gabriel. “I know some very talented hairdressers. It’s alright.”

Salo stood and studied her. “Hmm, you know, I don’t really see it. I think…once a pig, always a pig.”

Marinette snarled at her, spitting at her feet.

“A wild pig. Don’t you think so, Pasolini?” She glanced off camera.

A shadow casted on Marinette as her eyes grew wide and she began to backpedal. But there was no where to run.

A man pinned her to the ground, a hand on her face and a knee on her lower back. She breathed harshly.

“Get off of her!” Adrien barked. “You’re hurting—ugh!” There wasn’t a camera on Adrien at the moment, but it sounded like he got hit.

“It’s only day one, so I’ll give you a break, but remember the rules! No talking.”

Salo replaced the hooks in her nose, and then held up an electric razor in the light.

“Now, hold still.” She demanded, and lowered the razor.

“She’s being shaved.” Nino provided, his voice hallow.

Alya hugged Sabine.

“No…no please…” Marinette begged.

“Oh it’s just a little.” Said Salo. “It’s in style right now…Hold her still, Pasolini, we can’t have her move an inch for this.”

They shifted a little, and Marinette was barely visible on camera, since she was buried under the two people pinning her to the ground. The view switched to a different camera, zoomed in on her head, where Salo had a tattoo gun and was getting to work.

“Oh god…my baby girl…” Tom moaned.

“What? What’s happening now?” Sabine begged, though she didn’t want to hear it.

“She’s…they’re tattooing her.”

“Tattooing what?”

“It-it looks like a word—oh…’Cochon’.”

“Where? Where did they put it?”

“On her head, above her ear…her hair will grow out…but…” 

Marinette was pulled to her feet and a mirror was thrust in front of her. Immediately, she started crying, and so did Tom.

“You now how much people pay for tattoos these days? And I gave you one for free! No gratitude?”

Marinette only cried.

“I said, no gratitude?”

Marinette cried out, and then answered, “T-thank—Thank you ma’am!”

“You’re welcome, little piggy.” Salo laughed, and then shoved her so she fell on her rear.

Salo waltzed around the room, looking absolutely delighted.

The camera angle changed again to include Adrien. He was also crying.

Sabine and Alya dared to come back into the room. Though new tears cropped up when they saw Marinette’s new look.

“That woman is dead.” Hissed Alya.

“Now let’s see. Before I damage the goods…” She waved over to a man off screen. “I’m ready to connect that call, now.”

“Connecting.”

It was that moment that what Detective Bertony has predicted happened.

Gabriel’s phone rang.

“Answer it.” Said the detective. “Keep her on until I give the signal that it’s been traced.”

Gabriel nodded, and with a trembling hand, he answered the video call.

Salo’s face shone back at him, though it was hard to discern what she looked like behind the glasses. He assumed that was on purpose.

“Monsieur Agreste! Wonderful for you to join us.”   

Immediately, he went into his boss mode. The voice of a man who hated to be inconvenienced and wronged. He made sure people knew of his distaste and had them groveling for forgiveness.

She would join the rest of them, soon enough. Once this call was over and they found her location. “I don’t need your false pleasantries. Where are you? How did you get this number?”

“Oh come now Gabe, if you want to win, you have to play the game.”

“I don’t see a game. I see a sick creature torturing children.”

She scoffed. “You’re no fun.” Then she tapped her chin, deep in thought. “Alright then, we’ll start the bid at 50 million. Just a smidgen less than your net profit for this year. That’s doable right? Surely your son is worth that much.”

He’d pay every cent he had to get his son back. He’d go bankrupt. He’d even give up his own Miraculous. Anything, as long as Adrien came back. He clenched his jaw. “How much for both of them?”

“I’m afraid Chat Noir is the only one up for sale. I still have so much planned for Ladybug.”

Gabriel opened his mouth to respond, but Adrien beat him to the punch. “Don’t you dare give her a single cent, Father!”

Salo whipped around, glaring at him. “Shut up!”

But Adrien was undeterred. “They’ll just spend the money to do this to others! Don’t let that happen!” His speech was cut short as Salo clocked him in the jaw.

He hit the ground hard, and she gave him no time to recover as she kicked him over and over with her steel toed boots. She didn’t finish until he was gasping for breath.

Gabriel was going to puke. But he let nothing give way to his emotions but a deeper scowl.

She turned back to the camera. “60 million. And the price will continue to rise day by day. And you’ll end up having a very expensive funeral with a closed casket.” 

Her message was clear.

He often argued that Adrien didn’t know what was good for him. Every action that Gabriel, or Hawkmoth, made were for his benefit. He was still a kid, not quite 18 yet. What did he know about life?

A lot, apparently. Being a superhero meant that he was forced to grow up.

Gabriel saw the news. A man was dead because of that drug dealer they took down. That could have been Adrien. He was out there, every day, putting his life on the line and protecting Paris.

And even now, when they were on the brink of tragedy, when there was a glimmer of light to rescue them, he was begging for Paris.

How was Gabriel, a father, supposed to respond to that?

Finally, he swallowed and looked off to the side. Detective Bertony met his eyes with a soft smile.

“We got it.” He said softly.

The words offered hope, and Gabriel gave the tiniest of smiles back.

“No deal, Salo. I don’t negotiate with terrorists. I will find my own way to save my son. One that doesn’t benefit you. I love Paris, almost as much as they do. And I refuse to be responsible for its downfall. Not when my son has worked so hard to protect it.”

Salo frowned hard. “You’ve spurned me, Gabriel Agreste. I’ll take you next. Once I’ve finished with your son. This was your only chance to save him. But I’ll let you say goodbye.”

The camera moved past Salo to Adrien who was lying on the ground. He was pale and looked exhausted. Gabriel didn’t know if he’d ever seen his son look so tired. “D-Dad…” His voice was full of pain.

“Hang in there, Chat Noir. Just a little while longer.” 

“I…I love you, dad.”

How long had it been since they shared those words? “I love you too, son.”

The call ended.

Gabriel dropped the phone back to the coffee table and buried his face in his hands.

“Sickening.” Salo said from the screen. “You’d think a man that rich wouldn’t care about the money. But I guess I was wrong. He doesn’t really love you. He was just trying to make it easier on you. How does it feel to be rejected by your own father, huh?”

“Shut up, bitch.” Gabriel muttered under his breath.

“That was a question!” Salo shouted.

“He didn’t reject me,” he breathed. “I wanted him to stay out of it.”

“You’re an idiot. But everyone knew that. Chat Noir has always been the dumb one. Isn’t that right, Ladybug?”

Marinette answered from where she lied on the floor, “Chat Noir is a genius. He’s goofy, but he’s smart.”

“He’s an idiot!” Salo yelled back. “He’s a retarded piece of shit!”

Gabriel trembled in anger. No one talked about his son like that! Once he found her, he’d—he’d—

Words did not exist that expressed the hatred Gabriel felt for this woman.

“You’re not trying to drown me out, are you?” Salo asked, getting in his face. “Because I can do this all day, dumbass.”

“We hate liars.” He stated, firmly. “And you’re nothing but a liar.”

Salo laughed. “You’re a child. You don’t think I can hurt you? Didn’t you see what I did to your little Love Bug earlier? You looked so angry. Want to see if we can make her look that angry, too?” Then she looked over his head, passed the camera.

And so they watched as Adrien’s ears were pierced. Gabriel closed his eyes and could only listen to the snap of the gun over and over, and Adrien’s winces of pain.

The man sat Adrien up, as the camera zoomed in on the fresh piercings, his ears red. 

“We made Ladybug into a piggy, but I think we’ll keep the cat theme for you. A mangy, feral alleycat.”

Gabriel stood, “I’m sorry, but this is…unbearable.” He walked out, briskly, the sound of Adrien wincing and moaning echoing behind him.

Once in the hall and out of sight from the others, Gabriel collapsed.

He already regretted not agreeing to the ransom. What if the call wasn’t traced correctly? What if it was for somewhere else? What if, what if….what if that really was his only chance to save his son?

“Mr. Agreste?” Nathalie asked.

“What is she doing to him now?” He asked, hollowly.

“He’s…he’s eating cat food.”

Gabriel scoffed. “…could be worse. I guess.”

“Can I get you some water?”

“Yes, thank you.” He replied, swallowing thickly. When was the last time Adrien and Marinette had any water?

The sounds from the tv echoed in the silence.

“You bitch…” Adrien hissed.

“Oh, you don’t get to call me names.”

“That wasn’t one of your rules.”

“I could crush you under my thumbs. I could break you, kill you with no problem. It’s a mercy that I haven’t already. Do you understand?”

Adrien’s gagging and choking was her only answer.

Gabriel covered his mouth, lest he sob and miss a detail.

Adrien was dying. He was alone and afraid and this woman was killing him.

“I thought you were smart enough not to pick a fight with me. Guess that’s what I get for thinking so highly of a big dumb idiot.”

He heard buzzing from the room, knowing it was exactly the same with Marinette.

Nino came out into the hall and sat next to Gabriel, not making a sound. But he looked stricken and his eyes were wide with fear. He kept shaking his head.

“There. Fitting, for you.”

“It says chatte.” Nino said softly. “Just like Marinette.”

“Are you going to think twice before sassing me next time?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Good.” She snorted. “Now, I’ve got other things to do. But we’ll have more fun tonight…Suspend them for now.”

That seemed like the cue that the session was over, and both Gabriel and Nino returned to the room. But the stream was still on, while Marinette and Adrien hung alone.

At the sight of Adrien, Gabriel nearly flew into a rage.

“Do you think they’re watching?” Marinette asked softly.

“They have to be.” Adrien gestured towards a camera with his head. “They’re broadcasting us to all of France.”

“Yeah…” 

“How’s your nose?” Adrien asked.

“It hurts. How’re your ears?”

“Hurts.”

Then they grew silent. No message ever appeared, and no one came back in the room.

Detective Bertony put his computer away. “Thank you all for your time. Is there someone I can contact when we have more information?”

“Here’s my business card.” Gabriel stated, handing it to the man.

“Thank you. I’ll let you know the minute we have anything. I sent the coordinates to my department, and they’re sending some men here. Once I have back up, we’ll raid the place.”

Tom wrapped an arm around his wife and hugged her a little closer. This was good news. Their nightmare was almost over.

“Where exactly did these coordinates come from?”

“Oh, around Montparnasse. I don’t have an address, just coordinates.”

“Thank you.”

“One more thing,” the detective warned. “I mentioned earlier that Salo and Savauge have dirt everyone. I would strongly caution against telling anyone that Europol is involved, especially my name. With stuff like this, you never know who you can trust.”

Gabriel couldn’t help but wonder if this would be a very different conversation if they all knew that Hawkmoth was listening.

The detective nodded his head, and then left.

The assembled were left with a weird feeling. Sickened and disheartened by what they had seen, and yet, hopeful that their children and friends could be home by bedtime.

Could it be so easy?

Gabriel looked at the kids. “Adrien…he always tried to go to school, no matter what. Is that something you two want to do?”

Alya and Nino looked at each other, both in various stages of grief.

“It…might help get our minds off of it for a while.” Nino supposed.

“And we should see how the others are doing.”

“Alright, Adrien’s bodyguard will accompany you. Remember what the detective said.”

“Mum’s the word.” Alya said with a little smirk.

Sabine yawned.

“Why don’t you take a nap, darling?” Tom asked. “You’ve been up all night.”

“But—“

“I’ll send Nathalie if I hear anything.” Gabriel assured.

Sabine smiled at him. “Thank you Gabriel, you’ve been so kind and helpful to us. How can we ever repay you?”

He offered a smile back, “I’m just glad we get along. No repayment required.”

“What is your favorite flavor of macaroon?” Tom asked.

Gabriel chuckled. “Well, if you insist. It’s raspberry.”

“Mind if I use your kitchen?”

“Be my guest.”

Once the Dupain-Chengs departed, Gabriel let his pleasant host act disappear. “Nathalie.”

“Sir.”

“I will leave my phone with you. Let me know if the detective calls.”

“Of course sir.”

—

After all he had learned, Hawkmoth returned to his lair, ready to start fresh. He had a general location now! Montparnasse! Still a highly populated area, but it was significantly smaller.

Montparnasse wasn’t a problem area. It wasn’t even residential or industrial. No large warehouses, no abandoned buildings that he could think of. An art hub, with lots of theaters and museums, quaint cafes and bars.

An ideal hiding place, really.

He reached out, zoning in on the area. Feeling the emotions, listening.

Pain. Anguish. Sadness.

Could it be them? Could it possibly be?!

He summoned a butterfly, and evilized it, then let it go.

A scout, this time. But if this feeling was right…

He went with the akuma, feeling the emotions get stronger and stronger as the akuma neared. Then they multiplied. Pain. So much pain. So many people in pain!

Something was wrong.

This wasn’t the pain of people being tortured.

This was…

“A hospital.” He groaned. Stupid.

He called the akuma back, frustrated. He knew there were hospitals over there. And the emotions they cause were like a signal jammer. He couldn’t feel anything outside of them without knowing what he was looking for.

Frustrated, angry, and ashamed, he detransformed, and hoped that the detective would have some good news soon.

Chapter Text

Alya and Nino, now both dressed and ready for the day, rode to school in the Agreste car.

“This is what it must feel like for Adrien, on the way to school.” Alya said softly.

The ride was quiet, as the Gorilla was a silent man.

“Yeah...got any tunes?” Asked Nino.

The man grunted, but reached over and tapped a preset on the console.

Jagged Stone started playing.

“Yep, this is Adrien’s ride.” Nino laughed a little.

At school, the Gorilla dropped them off, and then went to go park.

Students milling around all noticed the Agreste car arrive, and stopped to look with curiosity. Seeing Alya and Nino exit just made sense, and they carried on without another thought.

Hand in hand, Alya and Nino went into the school and to their lockers. Their classmates weren’t hanging out in the commons, so it was a guess that they were all together in the classroom, probably taking Mr. Agreste’s advice to heart.

As they put their backpacks away, there was a soft clearing of the throat from Alya’s pocket.

Trixx was peaking out, and then gestured his head outside.

Oh yeah! They had their Miraculous!

Surely the teacher would understand if they didn’t show up to class right away, right?

—

Rena Rouge and Carapace crouched on a roof, across the street, careful to keep out of sight of the pedestrians.

“So, where do we start?” Asked Carapace. “Do we want to get Chloe?”

“Not yet. We haven’t talked to her at all to see what state she’s in…No, I think we should go to Montparnasse and check in with the detective.”

“Do you think he’s trustworthy?”

“I’m…not sure. I think so. I hope so.”

“Well, he said the coordinates led over to Montparnasse, right? Let’s go and see if we can stalk them! If they’re on our side, then we can help them out.”

Rena Rouge was quiet, thinking.

He took her silence as hesitation. “No?”

“I mean, yeah, we should.” She clarified. “It’s just...being Rena Rouge was fun. Fighting side by side with my hero, fighting ridiculous villains. But this...this is sobering. These aren’t wacky villains that control pigeons or turn people into ice cream. These are evil humans that like to kill and are good at it. It’s just...scary.”

“Like that scene in the Incredibles.” Carapace said.

“What?”

“The scene where they’re in the cave? And the mom says something like, ‘these aren’t like the bad guys from your cartoons. They won’t hesitate to kill you just because you’re children.’”

“Yeah,” she laughed hollowly. “Exactly like that.”

“Well, Dash and Violet joined the fight anyway.”

“Yeah but…we don’t actually have superpowers. Just…suits with a charge. A charge that can run out.” She clenched her eyes shut. “If Ladybug and Chat Noir couldn’t beat this woman, what chance do we have?”

Carapace took her hands. “Babe. Look at me.”

She did.

“Ladybug and Chat Noir had no idea she was after them. But Salo has no idea that we’re after her.”

That did ease her mind, at least a little.

“Aren’t you scared?” She asked.

“Oh I’m petrified!” Carapace laughed. “And if it was anyone other than you on this roof, I would be gone. Home. Under my covers.”

She snickered.

“But…I have you. My partner. And…I suddenly remembered that scene from Wonder Woman, where they’re in the trenches? She literally goes up against machine guns with a shield. She wasn’t fighting crazy supervillians with wacky powers. Just…trained men with guns. And—and Captain America! He was fighting Nazis!”

Strength came back into her limbs, and she sat up a little straighter.   

“You have my shelter, my shield. I will protect you.” He kissed her lips gently. “Now, are you ready to save our best friends?”

Rena Rouge smiled wildly. “Absolutely.”

—

The run to Montparnasse wasn’t too long, considering they were leaping across rooftops.

Despite Fu’s warning to lay low, they were spotted by civilians pretty quickly.

“Look! It’s Rena Rouge and Carapace!”

“They must be looking for Ladybug and Chat Noir!”

“Go team go!”

It was nice to have people cheering them on, and Alya felt a little stronger.

They closer they drew to Montparnasse, the more stealth they tried to practice. It would be awful if Salo found out they were nearby and looking. Their entire plan of action would be ruined.

“Look!” Rena pointed out three black utility vans driving together towards the north end of the district. “That’s either Europol or more of Salo’s men, I’m sure of it.”

“What makes you so sure?”

“Fox intuition.”

“That’s not a thing.”

“Let’s just follow and see!”

Sure enough, the vans all came to stop outside a dilapidated apartment building. Though the rest of the buildings were nice enough, this one was just a little grungy. The windows were either painted, or boarded up. The door was covered with a sign that simply said ‘condemned’.

A needle in a haystack.

Men exited the vans, dressed in bullet proof vests and all black. They all kind of looked similar, but one stood out among them, a man with an eye-patch.

“Secure the perimeter, make sure no one can come in or out unnoticed.”

So they got to work, blocking off the streets from by standers and surrounding the building.

“Okay,” said Carapace, “I feel like we can trust them now.”

“You didn’t before?”

“It was the whole eye-patch thing that threw me off. Only villains have eye-patches.”

“That’s rude. My uncle has an eye-patch.”

“He’s also in prison.”

“Other uncle.”

“Your point?”

“Didn’t you hear? Salo’s the reason he has that patch in the first place.”

“What? How do you know?”

“She was widowed four times, after she stabbed her first husband in the eye with a butter knife!”

“How do you know he was talking about himself?!”

“Fox intuition!”

“That’s not a thing!”

“Hey!” A voice shouted up to them. “What are you two doing up there?!” It was the detective.

“Whoops.” Said Carapace. He and Rena descended to the street, approaching the group of officers. They stood tall, and tried to appear as authoritative as possible.

“Detective Bertony?” Rena Rouge asked.

The man became defensive, frowning. “How did you know my name?”

“I’m Rena Rouge, and this is Carapace.”

“Yes, the auxiliary heroes for Ladybug and Chat Noir. It’s hard to forget you.”

“Alya Cesaire, author of the Ladyblog, told us what you discovered, and we’re here to help.”

The detective groaned, “told them not to tell—“ then he sighed. “No, you know what? It’s fine. We can use the extra help. And...I can assume you’re trustworthy. Given your affiliation with the victims.”

Hearing Adrien and Marinette referred to as ‘victims’ was like a punch to the gut.

“Ladybug wouldn’t have entrusted us with Miraculous if we weren’t.” Carapace said firmly.

The detective breathed a sigh of relief. “Alright, I’ll bite. Here’s a radio, would you two be willing to go in first? We can get bullet vests for you too, if you need it.”

Rena smiled sheepishly. “I’ll take a vest. I haven’t tested to see if the suit bullet proof, and I’m not keen on finding out today.”

“Radio us if you find anything. Anything at all.”

Rena nodded, securing the vest and putting the radio in her front pocket.

He rested a hand on her arm. “You’re being extremely brave, but please, call for back up. I couldn’t live with myself if anything happened to you too.”

“We’ll be careful.” She assured. “Ready partner?”

He nodded once and they headed to the door.

With their super strength, it too nothing to break the door down, dust on the floor flying up in the action.

Rena turned on her lapel flashlight, since it was so dark.

The building was a mess. Trash littered the floor, the labels on cans and chip bags looked dated, like from the 90’s. There were holes in the walls, where the dry wall had crumbled and only wooden slats remained.

They paused and listened, straining to hear any noise.

There was nothing.

“Work our way up?” Asked Rena.

“Sounds as good of a plan as any other.”

Carefully and quietly, they made their way through the building. Some rooms had gross furniture, some were completely bare. But there was a healthy spread of burnt spoons, used syringes, and razor blades.

“A drug den,” said Rena simply. She turned on the radio, and stated, “we finished our sweep of the first floor. There’s a lot of drug paraphernalia. No sign of anyone being here recently.”

“Copy that, move onto the next floor.”

“Roger dodger.”

“Wait,” Said Carapace, nodding at a grisly door under the stairs. “Let’s check the basement.”

She shuttered, “yeah, just stay close.”

The stairs creaked madly with each step, giving up any semblance of stealth they had. It was only a few steps before they came to the bottom. It was totally dark, cold, and stank like mold.

“How are your allergies?” Asked Rena.

“I’m probably going to have hives everywhere, but I’m not worried about that right now.”

They wandered their way further in, Alya’s light landing on the heavily graffitied walls, stained mattresses, and used condoms.

“This isn’t right,” she said suddenly.

“What do you mean?”

“Can you pull up the site on your phone?”

Having turned into the turtle, Nino’s phone had merged into his shield, and he was able to pull up the stream. Adrien and Marinette were still suspended from chains.
Rena pointed at the background. “Look at the walls. They’re made of concrete, old concrete. But there’s no graffiti. They’re totally bare. All the walls we’ve passed have been spray painted somehow.”

“Maybe…there’s a room that was off limits to the artists?” He asked hopefully.

She shown her light in the last few rooms, noting much of the same. A drug den from some 20 odd years ago. “Let’s go back up.” She spoke into her radio, “basement is clear. Graffitied walls, and dirty mattresses.”

“Nothing looks like it’s being used?”

“Not by people, rats maybe.” As she said that, a little black blob ran by her feet and she shrieked.

“Rena Rouge! Come in! What is it?”

“Sorry! Sorry! It was just a rat!”

She heard some chuckling from the other end, like the other officers were laughing at her expense.

“You still alright?” The detective asked.

“Fine, fine. We’re going upstairs now.”

They returned to the first floor, and then travelled the steps to the second floor. A door closed on the end of the stairwell, with a padlock in place.

“I got this,” Said Carapace, driving his shield into the door.

Luckily the hinges were so old the whole door came off the frame with a clatter, again, shattering the element of surprise.

This hallway was much, much different from the floor below. Cables ran every which way, along the floors, over boxes, even some stringing across the hall.

Rena turned on her radio. “We found something on the second floor. Lots of cables…not sure what else.”

“Copy. We’ll move in.”

“You know,” said Carapace, walking slowly down the hall, to where all the cables were leading. “I’m thinking of another movie right now.”

“What’s that?”

“Incredibles 2, when Elastigal finds that old apartment building with all the cables in it from the evil computer guy?”

“Yeah…?”

“And it turns out it was just a decoy?”

Rena stopped. “What…what makes you think that?”

“Turtle intuition?”

“Shut up.”

They reached the end of the hall, standing on either side of the door.

“Ready? On three…one…two…three!”

Carapace busted down the door, while Rena shouted behind him. “Freeze!”

There was no one in the room.

No one anymore, at least.

But there were dozens of computers lined up along the walls. Website servers. Huge fans were blowing on them, but the room was still incredibly hot.

In the middle of them all was a large antenna.

“What!” Rena shouted in anger.

“This must be the website hub. They’d need this many servers with the amount of traffic they get.”

“Okay, so it’s a clue! But I didn’t want a clue! I wanted my best friend! I want—“ Rena clenched her fists as the sound of footsteps clambered up the steps. 

Men flooded into the room, already getting to work inspecting the equipment and plugging in.

Rena ghosted past all of them and into a room down the hall that was less crowded with equipment. Carapace was quick to follow.

“Alya—“

“It was supposed to be over by now! It’s been…24 hours.” She shook her head. “A full day. How many more are our friends going to have to suffer through in that—that hell!?”

“Al…”

“We slept in a bed last night! We had coffee and croissants…I got to take a shower and I got to use a very nice toilet! What about them!? When was the last thing they ate? Drank? Where do they sleep?!”

Carapace laid his hands on her shoulders, gripping her tightly. “Al. I get it.” By the hoarseness in his voice, she couldn’t doubt him. “I’m worried about them too.” Then he pulled her into a sure hug, holding her while she fought to keep the tears at bay.

She was Rena Rouge right now. She couldn’t cry.

They didn’t know how long they had been holding each other until there was a knock at the door. “Sorry, I hope I’m not interrupting.”

Rena wiped under her eye. “No…just…just expressing some disappointment.”

“Well, the good news is that this is where that call came from. This is also the server for their website.”

“…what’s the bad news?”

“The bad news is that the call was sent through wifi. And the website is updated through an FTP client. After trying to trace the IP address, we found thousands of them that could be potential matches. Our best guess is that they’re using a VPN. It’s…it’s not likely that we’ll be able to track them from here.”

Rena shut her eyes tight, bringing her fist up to her mouth. Anger? Grief? Blackened rage? She was a whirlwind of emotion. Finally, she spoke, “So, what? This was all a waste?”

“I wouldn’t call it a waste. We might not find anything right away, but we’ll monitor their activity. They’ll make a mistake. And if the server goes down, they’ll have to come back and fix it. We’ll be here waiting. This is a good lead.”

Rena didn’t know if she should bare to hope. “Okay.” She breathed, “we…we have to go now.”

“I understand. I’ll be sure to update our mutual acquaintance when I have more information for you.”

Without another word, they left. Hearts heavy, and hope draining. 

Chapter Text

Alya and Nino returned to school. It was nearing lunch time, but everyone was still in class, allowing Rena Rouge and Carapace to slip into their respective bathrooms undetected.

“Hey pretty girl,” said Trixx sympathetically, “how you doing?”

“I…I’m not great.”

“That’s okay.” The little fox said, nuzzling her cheek. “It’s okay to be upset, especially in this situation. But you’ve got me, Nino, Wayzz, and the parents.”

Alya smiled a little at that. “Thanks Trixx. It’s nice to have encouragement in my pocket.”

The bell rang, indicating that lunch was starting and students would be coming out soon.
The fox grinned back and then swooped into his hiding place.

Nino was waiting for her outside, and held out his hand as she approached.

She worried her lip, “hey um…I’m…I’m not sure if I’m up to going to class. After all that…”

“I think we should.” Nino said simply. “Our classmates know what’s happening, and they know how close we are. I think it’s best if we’re around a group of people that can support us, rather than be alone in Adrien’s room.”

She thought about it for a moment, and then agreed. “I’ll give it a shot.”

“Let’s see if we can find a group to tag along with to lunch, huh?”

Coming back into the courtyard, they noticed plenty of schoolmates milling around and chatting. Upper classmen, lower classmen, other classes, they were all just together in the courtyard. But the aura was rather somber.

In one such circle were several students, including Kim, Mylene, Rose, and Juleka (unfortunately, the most gullible group in the class) gathered around a bench.

“Hey guys,” said Nino, approaching. Though his voice stopped when realized someone else was talking.

Lila.

“Of course, the FBI even came to talk to me! All the way from the U.S.! Since I am Ladybug’s best friend, I would be a large target. They thought that maybe Salo would try to use me against them. But as Rena Rouge, I would be able to defend myself. I’m actually stronger than Ladybug and Chat Noir, but that power is exhausting, so I have to just be an auxiliary member.”

Nino cleared his throat, and the group parted like the red sea, revealing Lila who looked smug and not the least bit stricken. Despite what they knew she saw yesterday.

“You guys aren’t actually believing this garbage, are you?” Nino asked with malice.

It’s exactly what Alya was thinking, but she was overcome with so much rage, she wasn’t able to articulate any sentences.

“Well…” began Mylene. “No one knows who Rena Rouge is…”

“It’s not her.” Said Alya, shaking.

“How do you know?” Asked Kim. “Ladybug and Chat Noir don’t know each other’s identities, so maybe whoever gave them their Miraculous also gave Lila one.”

Alya tightened her fist. “I talked to Ladybug about this. Only the Ladybug and Black Cat where given by…the Guardian. Ladybug has dealt all the others. And I’m 100% certain she didn’t give it to you.”

“What’s your proof?” Asked Kim, challenging her.

“What’s hers!?” Alya shrieked. “She admitted to lying about Marinette taking those photos! Why are any of you giving her the time of day?!”

Lila had that faux look of concern on her face. “Why Alya, you mean you didn’t know?”

“…know what?” Alya asked, with her heart in her shoes.

“Marinette’s not really Ladybug. And Adrien isn’t Chat Noir. The stream is a performance piece. I thought, surely you would know! I know the director and he told me all about—“

The next second, Lila was on the ground, again, her nose bleeding like a fountain.

“Don’t. You. Dare.” Alya seethed. “You bitch.”

People were backing away from the two quickly, eyes to the sky.

“Alya!” Lila cried out. “You need to calm down! It’s not that big of a deal!”

“You’re…a piece…of shit.” Alya managed out between her grit teeth and heavy sobs. “It is a big deal! I don’t know if you live in some sort of fantasy or delusion, but you will not drag everyone else into it! Marinette and Adrien, Ladybug and Chat Noir, are in hell, being tortured on live stream and you have—you have the gaul to make it about you! You disgust me! I can’t believe I ever listened to you!”

“Alya!!” Nino shouted, startling her.

But it wasn’t enough warning. A long forgotten chill ran down her spine and purple light covered her vision.

“So, we meet again, Miss Cesaire.” Hawkmoth’s voice was thick with concern, and false comfort.

“No!” Alya shouted, gripping her head. “Leave me alone! I won’t—I won’t listen to you! I—I can’t! They need me!”

“They certainly do. And I’m going to help you save them.”

“I will never work with you! Leave me alone! Leave me alone!”

The butterfly flew out of the fox pendant around her neck, and flapped around in the air innocently. It waited a moment, and then departed from wince it came.

Alya fell to her knees, sobbing. Nino was at her side instantly, holding her and trying to stay calm himself, though he was boiling inside.

No one spoke for a moment, but all were eager to hear who would speak up.

Lila recovered first. “Look Alya. I’m really sorry. I know it’s hard to find out that your friendship with someone...isn’t as mutual as you thought. Maybe Marinette just didn’t tell you. I know her and I don’t see eye to eye after I caught her stalking Adrien, but I swear this all isn’t as horrible as it seems.”

“That’s enough,” a sharp voice spoke.

A young woman, a fellow student, stepped into the group. Usually one to keep her head down, but never one to back away from the fight. And Lila sure looked like the enemy here.

Kagami Tsurugi crossed her arms and stared Lila down with a scowl. “Can’t you see you’re hurting them?”

Lila twitched her eyebrow at the appearance of this new foe. “I don’t know what you mean! Alya’s thinking the worst, but it really is a performance piece. A prank, really.”

“I meant, you’re not just hurting those two, but Adrien and Marinette.”

Lila scoffed. “I just thought everyone deserved the truth!”

“They do!” Kagami barked. “And you’re not giving it to them!”

“I swear I am!”

“Then swear to Mr. Agreste!” Kagami spat. “He called my mother this morning to cancel a meeting, and he was extremely upset. Of course he has no idea where Adrien is, and he’s beside himself!”

“Oh, Mr. Agreste didn’t know about it? I’ll make sure to let him know.”

Kagami barked out a laugh. “You’re really trying to say that Mr. Agreste didn’t know about an activity that Adrien was participating in? One on such a national scale? Yeah right.”

“M-maybe the director forgot to mention it?”

Kagami rolled her eyes. “You’re pathetic. Not only do you refuse to admit to your failures, you refuse to understand that the world doesn’t revolve around you. I thought you were in love with Adrien.”

“I-I-I am! We’re dating! Look!” She took out her phone, where the picture of her kissing Adrien on the cheek shone as her wallpaper.

“You already used that against me.” Kagami said blankly, “that photo is a couple years old now. That’s the only photo of you two together?”

“I-I...I was just—“

“Lying. Wasting everyone’s time. Giving false hope. Taking attention away from where it’s supposed to belong. You scum.”

Lila clenched her fists in anger, and then stalked off in rage.

Kagami sighed, her shoulders releasing from her tight hold.

“That was...really cool.” Nino stated, still kneeling on the ground. Alya wasn’t crying anymore thankfully.

“Thank you, for that.” She stated, wiping her eyes. “I don’t usually have a hard time arguing with people, but this is...” Alya shook her head. “Lila is so good at improvising lies. It makes it impossible to convince people otherwise...Marinette was never able to.”

Kagami held her hands out. “Come on. We’re going to lunch. I’m Kagami Tsurugi.”

“Yeah,” said Alya, automatically taking her hand. “Alya Cesaire.”

“Nino Lahiffe.”

—

Alya and Nino decided to return to the Agreste mansion for lunch, mostly just to check in with Tom and Sabine.

Nathalie looked at the three that entered, and nodded to Kagami. “I hope you all brought your appetites.” She said dryly, leading them to the dining room.

“Huh?”

Inside, there were platters and platters of pastries and breads of all sorts of varieties.

Tom was bringing out another tray from the kitchen. “Oh! You’re back! Please kids, feel free to help yourselves!”

“Did you make all of this, Mr. Dupain?” Asked Nino.

“Ah, Yeah...But, I think I may have gone a bit overboard. I can’t sit still! I know I can’t do anything to help, but I’m just—I can’t just sit around worrying. We’ll be giving whatever we don’t eat to the soup kitchen, but feel free to take whatever you want back with you.” Then he noticed Kagami. “Ah, sorry, I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Tom, Marinette’s father.”

“Kagami. Adrien’s friend.”

“Well, I’ll go get Sabine and we’ll all have a proper meal. We’ve got stuff for sandwiches! I’ve got sliced ham and roast beef and mustard and so many cheeses...” he continued to talk as he left the room.

Kagami smiled softly as he left. “Marinette is a lot like her parents then.”

“Yeah, they’re crazy close.” Nino supplied, “I’m surprised they’re taking this so well.”

“You think this is taking it well?” Asked Alya, gesturing to the spread.

Nino shrugged.

They both sat at the table, and glanced through the food. As much as they hated to admit it, they were both hungry from their morning activities.

Despite what they had seen before that.

“It’s okay, Kagami, come and sit down.” Nino beckoned.

The girl nodded at took a seat as well.

Tom returned with yet another platter, of sandwich fixings, before he left again without a word, his mind seemingly in another place.

“So…” began Alya. “Not that I’m complaining or anything, but why did you want to have lunch with us?”

“To talk.” Kagami answered simply, cutting into a ciabatta roll with a knife.

“About something specific, or are you just lonely?”

She paused, then answered, “A little of both, I think.” She looked to Alya, who was very much still suffering from the after effects of her near akumatization. “I’ve seen you two the most, on their instagrams. You’re the ones they’re the most close too. I knew if I needed to talk to someone, surely I could trust you.”

Alya offered a sad little smile. “I see. We…we’ll listen if you need us to, but…” She sighed. “It’s hard.”

“I know.” Kagami put her sandwich down, having taken two bites. She wasn’t that hungry anyways. “I thought—I thought I loved Adrien.”

Nino choked on his sandwich. “Oh dude, sorry!” He coughed. “I’m super bad in the love department.”

Kagami shook her head. “I don’t need advice. I just…I’ve been thinking about things. All my life, I’ve had to strive for perfection. Grades, arts, fencing…everything. So, naturally, when it came to having a crush, it fell on Adrien. He was…perfect. Gorgeous, kind, smart, talented…everything I ever could have wanted. To find out that…that this whole time, he’s been Chat Noir…it felt like I was being lied to.”

Nino folded his hands in front of him. “Yeah…it felt like that for me for a little bit. Just long enough for it to sink in that he had hid his identity from me for so long, before it was replaced with worry for his well being.”

Kagami looked at her plate. “You’re a better friend than I. I…I was only angry. I felt deceived. Chat Noir…he’s not bad. He’s a hero, of course, but…he’s reckless, goofy, and just…doesn’t take things seriously. Those I qualities I resent in people.” She rubbed under her eye. “If his secret was more…secret, I guess, more private, that is, I might not have been so angry. Like if he was a closeted alcoholic, or he was a messy person, I might not have been so mad. But because he’s shown to be two different people, so publicly…I felt like I didn’t know who my friend was. Who was the real Adrien? The model, or the superhero?” She shook her head. “Then I realized that I didn’t actually love him at all. I idolized him. I fantasized being together, because I thought we would be good together. But that’s what I get for putting him on a pedestal.

“I realize that saying all of this is…extremely selfish and shallow. Adrien doesn’t deserve that. He needs people that love and support both sides of him, in and out of the mask. Now, more than ever. And…and I know I’m not the only person who’s felt this way. All over the internet, girls are talking about how disappointed they are to find out who he is…if I knew how to hack, I’d erase all those comments before Adrien got the chance to see them. And…and Marinette. She deserves so much of my respect. She…she had, or still has, a crush on Adrien, and she still volunteered to accompany him on a date with me, because he was nervous. She put her own heart on the line for the comfort of her friend. She really is Ladybug.”

“You don’t have to beat yourself up so much.” Said Alya, finally breaking her silence. “You deserve someone that you can love wholly and completely, without their flaws feeling like they’re ‘tainting perfection’.”

“That…would be nice…but it’s not going to happen. I’m sorry if what I said offended you. It know it must be hard to hear someone talk about your friend like that…”

“Do you hate him?” Asked Nino. “Now, with everything you know?”

Kagami shook her head easily. “No. But now, more than ever, I realize that I’ve never really been a good friend. To either of them. So I want to help. In any way I can.”

Alya sighed in relief. “Well…directly, there’s not much we can do. We can watch the streams, and look and listen for clues and report them to investigators. But we don’t have the resources to do more than that.”

“I see…”

“But,” said Alya, with a little more hope in her voice. “There is something we can do. There’s someone out there spreading lies and trying to make this whole thing seem not as bad as it actually is.”

“You mean that Lila girl?”

“Yep. Most of our class knows better, since we were basically all together when the stream went live. But…some are still gullible. We have to stop her now. I took down her interview where she claimed to be Ladybug’s best friend, but a lot of people saw that. No doubt, reporters will try to find her to ask questions. That would…that would be devastating.”

Kagami stood, taking her sandwich and wrapping it up in a napkin. “I will take care of it. It seems like Lila is a sore topic for you.”

“A sore topic is putting it nicely. She incites me to violence.”

“And that doesn’t help anybody.”

“Exactly. Thanks…Sorry we couldn’t really make you feel better about Adrien.” Alya sighed.

But Kagami had a soft smile on her face. “I’ll get over it myself. For now, I just want to do what’s right.” She nodded her head. “Give my thanks to Mr. Dupain for the sandwich. The bread is fantastic.”

It was at that moment that Tom came back out, this time with a stack of boxes. “Oh are you leaving? Here, take this and fill it with whatever looks good. Take it home for your family.”

Kagami couldn’t help but giggle a little. The man was so warm and kind.

It was reassuring to know that when Adrien and Marinette got out, they’d have a man like him to take care of them.

Not that she thought badly of Gabriel, of course. But she couldn’t imagine him having good bedside manners.

She would also need to work on her stoic disposition. Anything to get Adrien to smile again.

—

After lunch, Alya and Nino returned to school. Strengthened by her conversation with Kagami, Alya felt a little better. She would go and talk to the other classmates to see what they were believing in this mess.

Nino walked with her, holding her hand. Though he didn’t say much until they reached the locker room. “Hey Al?”

“Yeah, babe?”

“What…what did Hawkmoth say to you earlier? Do you remember?”

She closed her locker, biting her lip in thought. “I do. It’s just…it’s weird.”

“What?”

“He called me by my name. I was sure that he addressed people as their akumatized names.”

“Oh? What else did he say?”

“I told him to go away, and that they needed me. He said ‘indeed they do, and I want to help you find them.’”

Nino frowned in thought. “That…that is weird. And you’d think he’d have plenty of people to akumatize. Watching the stream had been more upsetting than listening to Lila.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” Alya took out her phone and took down some notes. “I wonder…what Hawkmoth is thinking.”

“He’s probably thinking of the best way to get those miraculous while causing the least amount of damage, since there is no Ladybug to fix things.”

She typed it out. “That’s a good theory. For now, we’ll keep our eyes peeled for akumas. He ought to be looking for another victim soon.” She turned to leave the room, but managed to bump into someone, knocking their books out of their hands.

“I’m so sorry!” Alya gasped.

“It’s fine Alya.” Said the girl. Though Alya didn’t recognize her at first. Was it another new student?

Blonde hair tied up in a messy bun, track pants, and a hoodie.

“Do I know you?” Alya asked.

The other student looked up with a weak glare. “Oh please, I know I look horrible. But it’s not that bad.”

Alya’s eyes blew wide. “Chloe?”

“Who else?”

“I just…I’ve never seen you without makeup before. It was…jarring.”

“Yeah well…I didn’t feel like putting on makeup, or doing my hair, or wearing a cute outfit…because…because Adrien and Marinette probably haven’t gotten to even take a shower, or—or brush their hair…” She let out a sob.

“Oh Chloe…” Alya found herself saying with great sympathy.

“No. Don’t talk to me like that. Please just…keep being sassy. Let me have some normalcy for a little while.”

“Okay.” Agreed Alya. She cleared her throat. “Uh, geez Chloe, can you fit any more rats up in that bun?”

Chloe’s response was watery. “Can you fit any more in yours?”

Alya gave her a little smile. “We’ll work on it.”

—

In the classroom, Alya was swarmed by classmates, all running to hug her. Rose was bawling her eyes out. “Alya! I’m so sorry! I shouldn’t have listened to Lila! I was—I was just so scared for Marinette and Adrien and to hear that they weren’t actually in trouble was so nice and-and—!”

Alya hugged her tightly. “It’s okay Rose. I understand. I almost wanted to believe her too. But…That’s not fair to Adrien and Marinette.”

“I feel stupid,” said Kim. “For even giving her any attention. It’s not gonna happen again.”

“What did that bitch say this time?” asked Chloe.

“She was trying to convince people that Adrien and Marinette weren’t actually being tortured. That they weren’t actually Ladybug and Chat Noir, and that they were only doing a performance piece. When Alya called her out, Lila kept lying and Alya almost got akumatized.”

Chloe seethed. “No one does that to my Adrikins! Of course he’s Chat Noir! How could anyone doubt that he’s so selfless and caring and wonderful and—he’s a hero! And Dupain-Cheng—!” Her voice choked on a sob. “My daddy will be hearing about this! I’ll get her banished from the city! No! The country!”

Alya had the smallest hint of a smile at that. “Now that, is something I’d like to see.”

“Let’s all make a pact.” Said Nathaniel.

“Yeah, a blood oath.” Said Alix, with gusto.

“No…” Nathaniel clarified. “I mean, let’s just all swear from here on out to take everything Lila says with a grain of salt, and to do whatever we can to support Adrien and Marinette, now and when they get out…especially Marinette.”

Congratulations Lila, you made good on your threat. You’ve turned everyone against me, just like you said you would. But I’m ending things on my own terms. If you ever need me again, think twice.

Everyone seemed to remember her final words to them collectively. She only delivered them two days ago, but it already felt so long ago.

“Didn’t Marinette say something about a threat?” Asked Alix, aloud.

“…maybe…there’s more to Lila than we thought.”

Juleka broke the silence, standing up and looking at her phone. “Uh, Alya…? Have you updated your blog?”

“No, I haven’t even looked at it since this all happened. Why?”

“Uh…you should…”

Quickly, Alya took out her phone and opened her blog tab.

Right there on the front page, where everyone would see it, was a brand new post that she hadn’t written at all. It was short, but the contents were chilling.

There was a link. And the caption stated, “Hawkmoth. We need to talk. —Salo.”

Chapter Text

7:00 am.

As strange as it would seem, this was the most comfortable Adrien had been in the last 24 hours. The chain held his bum arm up so weight wasn’t pulling on it. He wasn’t in a small enclosed space, and he wasn’t laying on hard dirty ground. The stage lights were warm as they beat down on him from all sides.

Finally, he could get some rest. Though again, rest was to loose term.

Marinette didn’t bother him. She just watched from across him to make sure he was still breathing.

All that was left to do was wait. Wait for Salo to come back and inflict more pain. Wait for her to mess up, give someone a clue. Wait for the authorities or someone to find them.

She tried pulling at the chains, and tried to make her hand slide through the cuff, but it was solid, and cutting into her wrist the more she moved.

So her feeble escape plan ended prematurely.

8:00 am

There were people looking for them right? Mr. Agreste had certainly seemed like he had been following their tribulations. Her parents had been in that room too, right?

What about the others? What about Alya and Nino? The rest of their classmates?

With the way they had left things in the classroom, she wouldn’t be surprised if they had abandoned them. At least her. Adrien didn’t do anything wrong.

Well, neither did she, but sometimes that’s enough to draw enemies.

What was Lila saying about her now? Not that it mattered anyways, but it was impossible to not think about it.

Don’t let people who hate you take up real estate in your head. That was something her mom had always said. Meaning not to give thought to how others have wronged you, if you can’t do anything about it. It made more sense than ‘forgive and forget’. Right now, Lila was none of her concern. And depending on what she was like when and if they got out, she may not ever be a problem again.

Marinette wanted to believe they would beat this foe like anything other. She wanted to believe that they’d fight the good fight. But without Miraculous, what could a model and a baker’s daughter do? Sure, they had the brains of a superhero team, but what good were brains against guns?

9:00 am

She surveyed the room. There was one man sitting in the shadows, his reflective classes illuminated by the light of the computer screen. He hadn’t so much as sneezed in the hours they had been here.

“Hey,” Marinette called.

He didn’t reply.

“Can I ask for water? Does Salo want us to die of dehydration?”

He finally turned to look at her. Then after a beat, he stood and went to Salo’s table of horrors.

Marinette couldn’t see what he was doing, but she heard him pouring something.

He came over with a glass of water, or so she hoped. It had a straw.

“This isn’t poisoned, is it?” She frowned.

He only held it up to her, face impassive.

Well, If this was the opportunity to get a drink, she wasn’t going to miss it.

Hesitantly, she took the straw and sucked up some water. Well, what was partly water. And partly something else? It burned and certainly didn’t taste good. If anything, it dried her mouth out more.

“Ugh!” She shivered as the liquid sloshed uncomfortably in her empty stomach. “What is that?”

“Water.” Said the man. “With a little Vodka. To kill the bacteria.”

“What?”

“It’s not tap water.”

“Then...where did it come from?”

The man shrugged. He walked over to Adrien, smacking his face.

He blinked blearily, noting the glass and took a drink. He finished all the water, before he shuttered and coughed. Then, almost immediately, he fell back to sleep.

The man set down the glass, and meandered back to the computer, off frame. She could see as he moved, he had an earpiece in. Most likely to hear Salo’s commands.

Even if the woman wasn’t in the room, she was still in control of it.

11:00am

Marinette’s stomach was growling quite loudly. She wouldn’t be surprised if those at home watching could hear it.

Noon

In vain, she tried to swing her arms around, trying to get the feeling back in them. Her hands tingled unpleasantly and her arms trembled. She swallowed, trying to quell the dryness in her throat, but it did little good. She didn’t bother asking for more water. Salo was going to make sure they didn’t die until she wanted them to. She didn’t want to make herself sick in the meantime.

1:00pm

She started to feel lightheaded and nauseous. There was a large chance it was the lack of food. On the other hand, she had had her arms raised above her head for the last few hours.

2:00pm

It was stifling under these lights. She needed more water, even with the alcohol in it.

3:00pm

There were at least four cameras in the room. One behind Adrien, pointed at her; one behind her, pointed at Adrien; one on their side, and one towards the ceiling looking down.

Marinette kept staring at the one behind Adrien, looking right in the lens. She imagined those who were watching. Her parents, Gabriel Agreste and Nathalie. Maybe her classmates. Fans. Children.

“Hey,” she spoke to them. “If you’re watching this, you…you’re probably feeling a little hopeless. I don’t blame you. I feel…pretty hopeless too. I mean, I’m…I’m stuck. I’m not sure how I’m going to get out of this. But…but Ladybug always saves the day, right?” She glanced away, choosing her words. “My name is Marinette Dupain-Cheng. I’m 17 years old, and my favorite color is pink. I’m the daughter of the best bakers in Paris, though I might be a little bias.” She smiled slightly. “Before I became Ladybug, I was a normal girl, with a normal life. What made me extraordinary, was my willingness to help others, and my kindness. So Paris, I have a favor to ask:

“Be helpful and kind. Go out of your way do something nice for someone once a day. If you can do this for me, then I know Paris will be safe until we return.”

She glanced over to Adrien, then the man at the computer, and then back at the camera. “Maman, Papa...I’m really really sorry I had to hide this from you. I didn’t want to, and some days I thought about how much easer it would be if I just told you. How I could explain the lateness and absences, and my bad grades. But I just had to let you think I was a bad kid. It was for your safety, after all...but despite my best efforts, this still happened, and now you’re in danger. Please get somewhere safe. Leave Paris if you have to. I love you so much. I promise I’ll be out soon.”

Her bit the inside of her cheek, hesitating, but then said, “Alya, I’m sorry too. You…you probably feel kinda betrayed right now. But, like I said, it was for your own safety. You were put in peril so many times because of me. How many more would that have been if Hawkmoth thought you knew my identity? After everything, I hope you finally believe me now...sorry, that was harsh. I...I’ll forgive you, if you forgive me. Deal?”

Then she was out of words. What else could she possibly say? ‘It’s going to be okay?’ Because she had no idea if it was.

4:00pm

She started to follow the cracks in the walls with her eyes. It was hard to see them in the shadows, but she’d follow a line until she couldn’t any longer.

Then, her eyes ran into a letter. And another. And another. Squinting, she could sort of make out a word. Not one she immediately recognized, but it was a word none the less.

‘Notausgang’

Marinette stared at it for a long time. Was it an acronym?

Adrien inhaled harshly, then squinted against the light. “My lady?” He whispered, his voice soft with sleep.

“I’m here kitty. Did you get some sleep?”

“Yeah, I…I was exhausted. Sorry to leave you alone.”

“It’s fine, Cat. You were awake alone last night. I say we’re even.”

“Did I miss anything?”

“Not really. I tried to give a pep talk to those watching us. But I don’t know how genuine it sounded.”

“I bet it was lovely, My Lady.”

She smiled at him, longingly. She desperately wanted to wrap her arms around him and hold him for hours. Somewhere safe, where the Salo’s and Lila’s and Hawkmoth’s of the world could never find them.

It was odd, staring at Adrien like this. It had nearly been a full 24 hours since they were revealed to each other, and now, he felt like a stranger to her, rather than Chat Noir or Adrien. Both. And Neither. She still loved him, of course, that was undeniable, but her view of him was skewed.

It didn’t matter anyway. There was no point in asking the big questions right now. What were they now? How did this change their dynamic? If Chat loved Ladybug, did that mean—

“Notausgang.” She blurted.

“Pardon?”

“Notausgang. Does that word sound familiar?”

He creased his brow, thinking. “No...it sounds German though. Why?”

“It’s written on the wall behind you.”

“Like Graffiti?”

“No...it looks like it’s supposed to be there. Like a sign.”

“A German sign on the wall? You don’t think...we’re in Germany, do you?”

She swallowed thickly. “I have no clue where we are, but...why else would there be German on the wall?”

“Well, maybe we’re still in France. Maybe not Paris, but Alsace-Lorraine or...” he choked.

“Oh Kitty,” she tried to console, though this revelation had shaken her too. If they weren’t in Paris, what were the chances they’d be found? How likely would it be for Rena Rouge and Carapace to take trip to Germany without raising suspicion in their normal lives?

Did the authorities in Germany even care about Parisian superheroes?

6:00pm

The door opened with a loud creak.

Up until this moment, Marinette had been silently praying for Salo to come back and just get it over with, because the suspense was killing her. But now, her stomach was in her shoes and she was terrified.

“Well well well, how are we doing now? 12 hours is a long time to leave you hanging around. I’m so sorry, I meant to come back sooner, but I had errands to run.”

She set a paper bag down on her table in the shadows.

“I heard your little speech, Ladybug. Very moving. I’m sure mommy and daddy loved to hear all about how you lied to them over and over for years. And the Ladyblogger! Oh, she must be absolutely crushed. Her best friend, her hero, lying selfishly. Dangling that one bit of knowledge that she always wanted just out of reach. What a friend!”

Marinette looked away, in an attempt to block out her lies.

“But I’d like to correct one thing, however. You told Paris to be kind and all that junk, to make sure it stays safe until you could come back. Sorry, Ladyliar, you’re not leaving. Gabriel Agreste blew the only chance of Adrien getting out, and you…you have no chance. I have you right where I want you.”

Marinette glared at her, her eyes full of malice and rebellion.

“So much spirit in you still. That’s fine, we’ll cure you of that soon enough.”

Pasolini came over, undoing the chains that kept them hanging from the ceiling, and instead had their hands link behind their backs.

Adrien’s bum arm flopped uselessly down, and a wince pulled from his mouth.

Another man came forward with two steel buckets, and placed them on the floor in front of them, upside down.

“Step up.” Salo commanded.

They had to be careful, as the buckets wobbled with the uneven weight.

Marinette’s flipped out underneath her, and she fell shoulder first on the ground.

“My lady!” Adrien called out, but he was swiftly silenced with an elbow to the gut.

“Get up.” Salo demanded, standing above her.

Without the use of her arms, Marinette struggled to stand. Finally figuring out how to do so, she returned to her feet. The bucket was righted, and she stood back on it again, no fumbling this time.

Salo held her hands up like she was framing a picture. “Yes, yes this is all coming together.”

With a little swing in her step and a hum on her lips, Salo waltz over to her table, and returned with two black cloth bags.

The first one, she brought over to Adrien, holding it open and bringing it towards his face.

“No…no, no please don’t! Please!”

“Oh, what’s wrong kitty cat? Afraid of the dark?”

Adrien didn’t answer, just continued to stare with wide, fearful eyes.

“Or are we…claw-strophobic?” She grinned.

He never hated a pun. Until now. Was this woman going to ruin puns for him?

Without his consent, he whimpered, his lips trembling.

With a chuckle, she raised the hood again, ready to put it over his head.

“Incoming call ma’am.” The man at the computer spoke.

Salo backed off, gleefully going towards him. “Oh, a call, hmm?”

“The facial recognition program found a match.”

“Oh goody. We mustn’t keep him waiting then!”

The large screen opposite of them blinked to life, and there, in a dark room, with a completely phlegmatic expression, stood Hawkmoth. The man who had spent years trying to kill them.

Marinette couldn’t imagine this conversation going well.

“My my, took you long enough. I would have thought Hawkmoth would have the Ladyblog as the home screen on his computer.”

“Did you summon me to antagonize me?”

“Summon you? What, like you’re some sort of demon? Some kind of god?”

He remained emotionless.

“Your face says I’m wasting your time, but your eyes say you’re jealous.”

“Get on with it.”    

She chuckled, “And impatient too. No wonder you always lost.”

She walked over to the safe, entering a combination that Marinette couldn’t quite make out. Then she walked to the camera and held out her hand. “Here, the Ladybug earrings and the Black Cat ring. Bonafide jewels of magic. Now, what will you give me for them?”

Hawkmoth narrowed his eyes.

“I have no idea what you want with these. I can’t see the appeal of a grown man running around playing superhero. Perhaps you want the Black Cat to use for heists? But I couldn’t fathom a use for the Ladybug earrings. Unless you want them to be a circus performer.”

Marinette bit her lip, she desperately hoped that Hawkmoth wouldn’t say anything about the ultimate power of their combination.

Luckily, Hawkmoth just kept his mouth shut, and continued to glare with his steely expression.

“You know, in bartering, there has to actually be, you know…bartering.”

“What about the children?” He asked. “If I want the gems, and those two along with them. What’s the price?”

Salo barked out a laugh. “You-you want—oh that’s rich! What? You want to torture them yourself?” She shook her head. “No can do, Hawkman. I have business with them. But that was a good joke.” She wiped a pretend tear from her eyes. “Look, these are useless to me. I have all the power anyone could ever want. I’m being reasonable by offering these to you first, since you so desperately want them. But if you don’t want them, then I’ll just put them for auction up online. You can try to get them there, before some other yahoo outbids you. So, do you want them, or not?”

Hawkmoth’s lip twitched in a scowl. “Oh, I want them. But I’m not making any deals with you. I abhor torture.”

She scoffed. “Oh yeah, and what would you have done with these two if you had gotten their miraculous on your own?”

“I would have sent them home. I have nothing against them personally. It is their job to fight the akuma. And once relieved of that duty, they are free to go. In the same way, they have a duty to Paris to stop criminals. But now they’re only teenagers. What you’re doing goes beyond revenge, it’s insanity.”

“Oh, so now the terrorist is trying to lecture me? You’re playing all high and mighty, now that you’re not the villain anymore. But I guarantee you, if it was you verses them, and the Miraculous were in sight, you would do anything, including killing them, to get them. Don’t talk to me about insanity.”

Hawkmoth grit his teeth in anger, a fire of hatred burning in his eyes. “I will be taking those Miraculous on my own.”

“I’d love to see you try. Tell you what, I won’t put these up for auction until I’ve disposed of these two maggots. Go ahead, akumatize any random, innocent civilian you want and send them to me. But unlike them,” she thrust a thumb over her shoulder, “I won’t hesitate to kill your little minions.”    

Hawkmoth ‘hmph’ed and the call ended.

Salo laughed. “What a moron! No wonder he loses all the battles. No strategy, no thinking, just ‘I’m gonna get them’. It’s pretty sad actually. You weren’t even good heroes, just better than the villains you faced.”

Marinette had basically tuned out all of Salo’s blathering. She was more focused on what Hawkmoth had said. I would have sent them home.

“Alright, now that that flaming garbage is over…where were we?”

Adrien tensed, seeing her go for the hood again.

Then he had a stroke of genius, or idiocy. His arms were bound, but his legs weren’t. He was free to run.

Salo picked up the hood, and brought it closer to his face. He waited until the last moment and collided the top of his head with her chin, making her bite her tongue.

“You motherfu—!” Salo bit, before covering her bloody mouth.

Adrien skirted around her, running to the door. It was open! If he could just—

A gunshot echoed and whizzed passed his good arm, putting a hole in the wall. Adrien halted immediately.

“Next time I won’t miss.” She hissed.

He turned to look back.

Marinette was still on the bucket, biting her lip to keep from screaming out. Salo had her gun pointed right between her eyes.

“It’s your decision kitty cat. The door is right there. You can run, or you can save your little girlfriend.”

The choice was simple, and he complacently walked back to his place.

“What do you say?”

“…sorry, ma’am.”

She punched him solidly in the gut, knocking the wind out of him, and sending him to the floor.

He rolled onto his side, desperately gasping for breath.

“What do we say?”

He gasped over and over, trying to breathe. “I’m—I’m sorry, ma’am.”

She kicked him in the side, making him cry out.

“What do we say!?”

“I’m sorry! I won’t do it again!” He all but screamed.

Pasolini grabbed his arms and hauled him to his feet.

“Then stand on the bucket.” Salo demanded fiercely.

His legs were a lot more wobbly now, and he trembled all over. But he stood on the bucket, not eager to upset her again.

He clenched his eyes shut as the bag slipped over his head. It blocked out all light, and he could feel the heat of his breath on his face. It was too hot, and the cloth pressed into his nostrils as he inhaled. He couldn’t get any air. He couldn’t—

“I can’t breathe,” he choked.

“What was that, kitty cat?”

“I can’t breathe! I can’t breathe!” Desperately, he shook his head, trying to shake it off. “Please, I can’t breathe! Get it off!”

Salo was silent. The room was quiet. Could anyone hear him?

“I can’t breathe!” He wailed. “Help!”

“Adrien!” Marinette’s voice cut through the darkness, making his panic subside for the moment. “Take a slow, deep breath.”

“I-I can’t! I-I-!”

“Sshh…” She hushed him. “Just inhale….and exhale…”

He did as she instructed. Keeping his eyes shut tight and focusing on his breathing.

Shortly after he was bagged, she was too, and she understood why he was so terrified. The hoods did make it harder to breathe, but not impossible.

Salo and her men were doing something, though neither of them could tell what it was.

“What’s happening, my lady?” Adrien asked, panic still very much taken hold of his body.

“I…I don’t know. Just keep breathing…”

“I’m—I’m scared.”

“Me too, kitty. Just keep breathing.”

And then, there was something else over their heads, and resting on their shoulders.

“Do you know what this is?” Asked Salo, sounding ever like a kindergarten teacher.

Adrien shuttered.

Marinette answered. “It’s…a rope…”

No.

A noose.

“Oh god…” She started to cry. Was this it then? Was this the end to their torture?

“This is a very easy game to play.” Said Salo. “All you have to do, is stay very still. As long as you don’t fall, you won’t lose! Now won’t this be so much fun?”

Adrien made a noise that sounded halfway between a sob and heave.

“Oh come now! You’ve been standing for 12 hours already, what’s one more?”

One hour of this.

One hour of looming demise.

All she had to do was stand still. Very still. Marinette controlled her breathing, and tried her damnedest not to even twitch.

Her heart broke as Adrien’s haggard breathing reached her ears. He was hyperventilating, choking on the hood, being swallowed by it.

“Breathe…” she said again. “Inhale…exhale…”

“No no,” Salo chastised, “we don’t speak!” She hit Marinette, not enough to push her, just just hard enough to knock her off balance.

The bucket wobbled under her.

Oh god please no…if there was ever a time for her to be graceful and balanced, now would be the time!

Unfortunately, Marinette was doomed to fall.

The bucket toppled, and skidded across the ground, clanking loudly.

“My lady!” Adrien shouted, hearing the commotion.

Marinette didn’t answer, just let out pathetic gasps for air.

“Marinette! Marinette please say something!”

But she didn’t. She couldn’t. She just kept gasping, gurgling, and coughing.

With nothing to keep him calm, Adrien spiraled into another panic attack.

Marinette landed on the pads of her feet, thankfully, but the rope tightened around her neck.

She was choking. Her breathing asthmatic, her pulse thundering in her ears. If she could just stay still like this, she’d still be safe! Just a little longer!

Bright lights danced in her vision as her jaw felt tight. She didn’t have much longer. How long had it been? A few minutes?

Finally, the rope was cut and she collapsed on the floor.

“My lady…my lady…” Adrien kept calling for her. Begging her to answer.

The hood was ripped off her head, and she could see him, still playing Salo’s game.

“Adrien…” she whispered. “Hang…hang in there…”

“My lady!” His voice was wet with relief, and he outright sobbed.

The hour ended, and his noose and hood were pulled off as well. 

He met her tired eyes, nothing but longing and relief in his gaze.

“So, Adrien’s our big winner for the day, hm? Well, you get a very special prize! I know you’ll just love it! Come now, it’s getting late. It’s been a big day! And tomorrow’s going to be big too!”

Adrien obediently stood and waited to be escorted back to their cages, but Marinette still laid on the ground.

“I said, it’s time to go. Get up.”

She turned on her side, but she looked extremely weak and couldn’t find the strength to get up.

Pasolini simply grabbed hold of her arm and dragged her across the cement.

Back in the cages, Marinette was uncuffed, and then tossed into her cage. Adrien got a little more ceremony, where he was able to walk in on his own.

The cage, by comparison to the hood, felt a lot less suffocating, and he felt much more relaxed than the first night.

The slot in the door opened, and a deep voice said, “your prize.”

A blanket dropped on him. Wool, smelly, itchy, and maybe a little moldy, but it was much much warmer than nothing. He wrapped the blanket around himself and then settled on the floor, reaching his arm out under the door. “My lady? Are you there?”

Her small hand weakly grasped his, her fingers cold in the dampness of the room.

“That was a stupid thing you did.” She chastised. “Brave, but stupid.”

“…I know…I was just…I saw the hood and my flight or fight kicked in…I’m sorry.”

She squeezed his hand, but didn’t reply.

“So…what happened? I couldn’t see anything.”

“I fell, but the rope was long enough that it didn’t kill me, just choked me.”

“Salo sure knows what she’s doing.”

“Yeah.”

They lapsed into silence.

“Can I confess something?” Asked Adrien.

“Anything.”

“I hope…I hope Hawkmoth is successful in getting our Miraculous.”

“You think he’d show us mercy?”

“…at least, more than Salo.”

“I don’t know…but I think he might just be our only hope.” Marinette’s eyes closed, her body begging for rest. “I’m sorry, I’m so tired…”

“Sleep, my lady. I’m right here.”

And so sleep, she did.

Chapter Text

Her nap was cut short with the loud pounding on the metal of the cage. It echoed and rattled, startling her suddenly.

“Dinner time!” Salo sang with delight.

Dinner?

Food!

Yes! She was so so hungry! It probably wasn’t going to be good food, in any capacity, but food!

The slots in the door opened, and a plate was set on the edge. There was a little plastic cup of water too.

“Thank you.” Marinette said genuinely, taking the plate.

The meal was not identifiable. It looked like a slice of meatloaf, but it had a strange smell to it. Something that smelled familiar and but unrecognizable. She bit into it, finding it hard and bland in flavor. But it was food, and hunger was the best spice.

“What is this?” She asked outside.

“Food loaf.” A voice, not Salo, said.

“What’s…what’s in it?” She asked.

“We had a nice dinner last night. What ever was left over, we ground up, and baked it into a loaf. It was all good at the time.”

She looked at the rubbery slab, taking another bite out of it. “Would you tell me what you had for dinner?” She begged.

The voice laughed. “Oh let’s see…fresh salmon, with some broccoli, and mashed potatoes. There was some avocado toast, and this strawberry gelatin dessert. Oh, and the Miss made some coleslaw that had celery, mayonnaise, grapes, and pineapple chunks in it.”

“And…all of that is in here?”

“A little bit of all of it, yeah.”

She shouldn’t have asked. “Thank you…”

The slot closed again, and she was left to her meal.

“You don’t realize how much texture goes into food,” Adrien stated, his mouth full.

“No kidding. I still can’t tell what’s in this. Though, I can definitely get a fishy aftertaste from the salmon.”

“It’s not any worse than that cat food, at least.”

They lapsed into silence again, eating their dinner.

“This is weird.” Marinette finally said.

“Yeah, not how I expected my week to go.”

“Adrien...”

“Sorry, Yeah...uh, my coping skills aren’t the best.”

“I...I figured.”

“You figured?”

“Er, yeah…I didn’t think you found our situation amusing.”

“No, absolutely not.” He paused, to chew and swallow. “What were you saying about this being weird?”

“Oh…I just…I was thinking, earlier, when we were chained up and waiting…I was looking at you, as you slept. And…I felt like I was looking at a stranger. You’re my best friend, and I care so so much about you, but…You’re not Adrien anymore, and you aren’t Chat. You’re just…different.”

“Oh…yeah, I see what you mean. I…I kinda feel the same. I’m so used to seeing Ladybug so fearless and sassy, and then Marinette shy and adorable…seeing Marinette being rebellious and…humiliated like this is…foreign.”

“Were you disappointed?” She whispered.

“What?”

“Were you disappointed? You said, a few days ago, that you were in love with Ladybug. Were you disappointed when you found out I was her?”

“No.” He said without hesitation. “Well…I was disappointed in myself. I promised that I would know you immediately, out of the mask. And so allowed myself to fall head over heels in love with you. In fact, there was a handful of people I would have been disappointed with if you had turned out to be them. But you were with them in person, so I didn’t worry.”

“Oh, like who?”

“My father for example.”

She barked a laugh. A real true laugh, her first in many days. “Your father, Gabriel Agreste, as Ladybug!? How the hell did you think that as an option!?”

“You don’t know! The miraculous could drastically alter someone’s appearance! If my father wanted to look like a 15 year old girl…then that’s on him, I guess.”

She giggled some more. “Boy, I hope Salo doesn’t have cameras in here right now.”

“In case she does…sorry father, that was a joke.”

Marinette calmed herself, before anyone could hear her and punish her for it.

“I looked for you.” He said softly. “I looked everywhere for you. But…you had been there, all this time. And I never noticed. I’m so sorry.”

“You don’t have anything to apologize for.”

“What about you?” He asked. “You have, or had, a crush on me. But you always rejected Chat Noir.”

“I’m so happy that you’re my kitty.” She croaked, emotional. “I always thought that you were so kind and forgiving…it makes sense that you’re him.”

“I’m glad.” He hummed. “Back before all this, before the photo thing…I thought you hated me.”

“What?”

“Yeah! I mean, you were always so…uncomfortable around me. I thought maybe you were still holding a grudge a little from the whole gum incident.”

“What! I would never!”

“I know that now.” He snickered. “I just...I’m sheltered. I still haven’t picked up on all social cues.”

“Oh, I think you’re doing pretty okay.”

“Yeah?”

“Most of the time.”

He hummed. “Then I guess you’ll just have to stay with me to help me with the few I miss.”

“Adrien.”

“What?”

“What what?”

“Didn’t you just say my name?”

“No...?”

“Adrien.”

“You so did! Just now!”

“I said ‘most of the time’ and that’s it!”

“I could have sworn—“

“Adrien.”

“What?”

“I didn’t say anything!”

“Well someone did! I just heard my name! I keep hearing someone calling for me!”

Marinette was quiet, then, “You…you didn’t just say my name, did you?”

“No…and I didn’t hear it either.”

“Adrien.”

“Ugh this is freaking me out! Is it a ghost?”

Marinette scoffed. “More than likely, it’s a tiny speaker that Salo hid in your cell. Mine too.”

“Adrien.”

Adrien felt his hands go clammy, and his face flushed. A tingling sensation started in his toes. “Oh…I don’t feel too good.”

Marinette didn’t answer.

“My lady?”

He was sitting on the floor, bare butt to the cement, and suddenly, it started to bow underneath him. “Oh whoa whoa!”

The ground was moving, it was falling, he was falling. His stomach was weak and nausea took place, but he had finally gotten food and he wasn’t about to loose it all. Instead, he clawed at the door, prying the metal off the hinges.

It came clean off, and he stumbled out. The rumbling of the cement cracking, breaking, crumbling into dust.

“Adrien.”

That wasn’t Marinette’s voice. That wasn’t his lady.

But it was coming from her cell.

So he started walking towards it, the ground under his feet turning to goo and melted at each step. Each step took longer than the last, and the cell was getting farther and farther away.

“I’m not dreaming, am I?” He asked aloud, though his voice echoed on and on. His arm felt heavy, heavier than normal. He glanced over, seeing his arm turned into cement.

Oh yeah, that’s right. That happened.

“I’m not dreaming, am I?” He asked again. “Didn’t I just say that?”

He had.

Finally, finally he reached the door, and pulled it open.

Inside was a corpse. Nearly blue in skin, and eyes open and unseeing.

“You’re not Marinette.” He told the body.

Its neck popped as its head moved slightly. “Oh, would you rather have her than me?”

It then occurred to Adrien that the corpse was someone he knew.

Who?

“Have we met before?”

“Have we met before?” Parroted the body.

“Yes of course!” Said Adrien, “I’m your son!”

The body snapped and popped back into a living, breathing person, Emilie Agreste standing in front of him like all was right in the world. “Hi Hunny Bunny.”

“You’re my mommy!” Adrien giggled, his hands over his mouth.

“That’s right!” she covered her face.

“Peeka boo!”

Adrien giggled.

“Peeka boo!”

He giggled again.

“P̴̨̮̹̪̮̮͎̻̩̩̀͊̓͌ę̵̛̯̱̻̠͓͙̻̦̠̈́͗͊̔̍̕ͅḛ̷̢̡̢̯̜̺̦͎͍̙̮̱͓̌̍͆̏̒̀͆̆̒̒̀̍͆k̵̡̢̺̤̲̜̥̺̮̈́͊̎̔́̽͒͆͂̾͐̂͌̐̚a̴̫͋̚͠ ̸̮̰̠͓͙̾̾̓͌̇͋͆͠ͅb̴̤̙̠̮͖̦̔ǫ̵̢̛̜͓̙̘̼̳̳̠̲̋̂̈́́́͋̄̊͊o̶͙̭̣͛̏̊́̋̚͜!̶̺̳̮̭͍̥͓̳͓͎͓̥͈͍̪̆̉̆̎̈̌̉̂͊̊̌̚͝͝”

Adrien screamed. 

That was definitely not his mother. His mother was beautiful and sweet, and did not have snakes for teeth! Or mouths for eyes! Or—Or!!

He panicked and began to run. But he ran so fast that he ripped right out of his skin. His body frozen and staring in horror.

Thinking quickly, Adrien grabbed his wrist and pulled his body along with him. Occasionally, they would fuse back together, but then he would run too fast and they’d pull apart from each other, and separate.

“Come back hunny bunny! I just want your heart!” Emilie sang. “I just want to chew it up nice and tasty like!”

If Adrien ran fast enough, he could break through that wall, right? That sounded reasonable.

So he ran at top speed, ripping out of his clothes, his skin, his muscles, his bones, and collided head on with the wall, all of his layers congealing into one amalgamation of teenage boy.

“Oh, did that hurt?” Emilie asked, standing over him. Her features looked human enough, though she had a halo around her head of blue and then red and then green.

“I’m not dreaming am I?”

“You already said that.”

“I’m losing my mind.”

“Quite possibly.”

She lifted him off the ground, dusting off the leather of his suit, straightening his belt. “My my, how much you’ve grown.”

“Did I finally find you? After all this time?”

She smiled at him. “No, hunny bunny. I found you.” She weaved her fingers through her hair, turning it red on the way down. Then she tied her hair up in a bun and put a pair of reflective sunglasses on her face.

“No.” Adrien fell on his rear, the floor bowing very slowly beneath him, swallowing him up. “This is not happening. It can’t be. It can’t.”

“Oh, but it can be. And it is.” Salo’s too long fingers reached out, scratching his cheek. “What’s wrong hunny bunny? Thought mommy was too perfect for this? Never thought mommy would hurt you?”

The goo of the ground wrapped around his legs, pulling him into the abyss. The tendrils were sharp and burned against his skin, and once again he found his soul ripping from his body.

The walls spun and twisted, converging into one surface, and then many. He became the walls, the floor, the air, everything. He was everything and nothing.

He was…

He was…

Who was he again?

The world undulated and twisted, pulsing and throbbing in his ears, in his mind. All the pain that ever existed in the world crushed upon him, beating against his chest, clawing its way to his heart.

Was he screaming? Or was he singing? His mouth opened and noise came out. But his jaw was tense, and he gnashed his teeth.

He was floating.

He was sinking.

Everything was beautiful, but yet so so ugly.

This had to stop. This had to be a dream, or something. There was no way any of this could be real! But it felt more real than anything in his life. He felt real pain, searing, stinging, aching pain, and it was swallowing him whole. He tried to fight back against it, pressing his hands against the floor. His cat claws dug in, and he began to claw his way out of the darkness.

For a moment, everything settled, his heart beat was the only thing echoing still thundering.

It was a dark room, with only a flashlight laying on the floor. His cage was nearby, the door open, as well as the cage next to him. He was on the floor, in his robe, and above him was Marinette, poised with a crowbar raised above her head, ready to strike. She had tears rolling down her cheeks.

“My lady?” He asked softly.

The clanging of the metal against the ground was incredibly loud, and it echoed with voices of those who he had killed.

Obviously, he had to have killed people if he was in prison and Ladybug was fighting him.

“Chat? Is that you?” She asked.

“I…I don’t know.” He answered honestly. “I feel like…I’m not me.”

“Me neither.”

The floor bowed once again, and the whole delusion started over again.

—   

“What?” Adrien asked.

“What what?” Marinette asked back.

“Didn’t you just say my name?”

“No...?”

“You so did! Just now!”

“I said ‘most of the time’ and that’s it!”

“I could have sworn—...What?”

“I didn’t say anything!”

“Well someone did! I just heard my name! I keep hearing someone calling for me!”

“Marinette.”

Marinette was quiet, then, “You…you didn’t just say my name, did you?”

“No…and I didn’t hear it either.” He moaned, “Ugh this is freaking me out! Is it a ghost?”

Marinette scoffed. “More than likely, it’s a tiny speaker that Salo hid in your cell. Mine too.”

“Marinette.”

“Look, let’s just ignore them, okay?”

Adrien didn’t respond.

“Kitty?” She asked softly.

There was silence. An awful, deafening silence.

Her heart pounded, and her fingers started to tingle. “Adrien, if you can hear me, please answer me!”

But he didn’t. He was long gone.

Marinette braced herself against the walls of her cage, the metal starting to push back against her, growing tighter, constricting. Like a snake, or the grip of a giant.

“Chat!!” She screamed. But it came out slow, like water overflowing.

The metal was now pressing on all sides of her, crushing her as if she was made of glass. She felt herself cracking, shattering, shards of her very being flaking off and falling into another world.

Because that’s where she was being forced, wasn’t it? Forced to another world, another dimension. Spirited away, and erased from all she knew, and all that knew her. Her parents would never know they had a daughter, her room a guest room, her possessions losing their attachment. There would never be a Ladybug, and Adrien would have never known her.

A mistake of the universe, being folded over and ironed out.

She was pinned flat, paper thin, all air being forced from her lungs. Frozen in a solitary form.

Then there was a door opening, a breeze catching hold of her paper thin form and rustling her.

There stood a figure in the way, formless, and ever changing.

“You’re not Marinette.” They said.

“I’m not?” She replied. Well, then why was the world trying to erase her? What had she done to treated like so?

“Have we met before?” Asked the stranger.

“Have we met before?” She asked right back.

“Yes of course!” Alya responded, stepping closer. “Don’t you know me?”

“I don’t know who you are anymore,” said Marinette, her head cocking to the side.

“I’m not dreaming, am I?” asked Chloe.

Marinette breathed, her three dimensionality returning as she stepped forward. The action made her dizzy, her head growing huge, inflating like a balloon.

She put her hands over her face, trying to stop the sensation.

Manon giggled.

She removed her hands to see, only to find Lila standing in front of her, laughing.

“Look at you! Look how far the great Ladybug has fallen! Too bad! Maybe I’ll go tell the others where to find you! I’ll tell Salo where to find your parents!” She started to run away, teasing her as she moved.

Ladybug, furious, took chase, her body not moving like she wanted to. Lila was so much faster, so much much more nimble.

The hallway twisted, turning sideways, upside-down, the walls dividing into more sides, a hexagon, a decagon, spinning.

Hawkmoth turned around, laughing as he ran, then splated against the wall, turning into an amoeba-shaped blob, all sorts of radiant colors exploding from the collision.

“Oh, did that hurt?” She asked, as the figure’s blood flowed over her shoes.   

“I’m not dreaming am I?”

“You already said that.”

“I’m losing my mind.”

“Quite possibly.”

An arm snapped out of the goo, grabbing hold of her wrist. The fingers curled and twined around her wrist, forcing their way up her body. “And you’re being so brave. Faced with nothing.”

“No!” Marinette screamed, lashing out to scratch the face emerging from the ooze.

Salo’s face.

“You can definitely try to stop me, but it won’t work! No one’s coming for you! No one remembers you! No one wants you!”

“No! No no no!” She shrieked, pulling away from the monster. “I don’t believe you! This isn’t real! It can’t be real!”

But it felt more real than anything she’d ever experienced before.

She felt like she was finally awake.

Chat Noir! He’d know how to help! He could save her!

“Chat!” She screamed.

He didn’t come, but something cold touched her foot.

His baton.

Yes! Yes that would work!

“Try and stop me. I’d love to see you try!”

She grasped hold of the baton, and began to hack at the figure. Like a rose, blood gushed from the chest, flowing and gurgling forth. She kept hitting them. First Salo, then Hawkmoth, then Lila.

Then…

“My Lady?”

Adrien.

She paused, the crowbar over her head, ready to swing down.

Terrified, and taking a grasp of reality, the crowbar slipped from her hands and clattered on the ground.

“Chat? Is that you?” She asked.

“I…I don’t know.” He answered honestly. “I feel like…I’m not me.”

“Me neither.” She whispered back.

A mistake. She had made a mistake. And the world need to fix it!

The ceiling began to fall, crushing her into pulp, and the delusion started all over again.

—

How long had it been?

Hours? Minutes? Days?

Marinette didn’t know. She had been flattened and folded over and over, like a paper crane.

Adrien had been ripped apart and sewn back together.

Both laid on their backs in silence. They were uncaged, and nothing kept them from running out the door.

Nothing but the inevitability of reality slipping away again. As dazzling colors and beautiful patterns twisted in their visions, all they could do was lay on the ground, and cry.

Because who were they now? What were they? Humans? Higher beings? Cosmic dust?

There was no way to know.

“Wow, that did a doozy on you two.” Salo said.

Marinette flicked her eyes over, unable to move any part of her twisted body.

“Well, it’s been over 14 hours. I’m sure it’ll wear off soon. Let’s get you two back to where you need to be.”

Neither moved, both having to be dragged back into their cages.

Things were starting to make sense now. Breathing evened. Hearts slowed. And the bitter cold settled on their shoulders.

There was no peace to be had.

This was hell.

Chapter Text

Hawkmoth. We need to talk. —Salo.

Alya stared at the sentence over and over, her breath hitching in her throat. How could this happen? It couldn’t! It just couldn’t!

“I have to remove this link!” Alya stated. “Max, can I get on your computer?”

“Of course,” he stated, taking out his laptop. “It’s pretty obvious how she posted that. You are using a public server through blogspot, after all.”

“Can you prevent her from doing it again?” She asked, logging into her account.

“Of course. No problem.”

Incorrect username.

Alya clenched her fists. “That bitch kicked me out!”

“Now now, hold on.” Max assured, resting a hand on her shoulder. “Let Markov try.”

“Of course, this will be easy. One moment please.” Markov plugged into the computer, and in a few seconds, the Ladyblog’s dashboard appeared.

“Wonderful! I’ll change my email and password too. After I delete this post!”

It was right up top, in the most plain and boring formatting. Just a white box with black text.

“Huh.” Alya said aloud, staring at it.

“What’s wrong, Al?” Asked Nino.

“There’s no trash icon. No comment section, no share icon, nothing. I can’t edit it or delete it.”

“Allow me,” stated Markov again.

A red triangle with an exclamation point came up on his face. “Whoopsies, we don’t have access to the post.”

“Whaddya mean we don’t have access!? This is my blog, isn’t it?”

“Yes and no.” Said Max. “Everything around this post is your blog. But this box itself is not.”

“Huh?”

“Think of it…as Salo cut a hole in your website and has this in the background, showing through.”

“You can do that?” Asked Nino.

“Not easily, by any means. It’s extremely complicated. I’ve never tried it myself. No need to.”

“So…what do we do?” Alya crossed her arms, looking anxious.

Max screwed up his lip in thought, turning the laptop towards himself. He typed away, a next window coming up. In a flash of textual garbage, too complexed for anyone else to understand, he had a diagnosis. “Okay…well, the post has a slightly different URL, that’s associated with the blog. But it’s being hosted on a private server, which I can’t access. At least not yet. I can try to take it down, but it will take me a few hours, at least.”

“But we don’t have a few hours! Hawkmoth could see this post at any second!”

“I understand. The other thing we could do, is delete the blog in its entirety. Then the post won’t have a URL to associate with and will be unviewable.”

Delete the Ladyblog.

Alya felt sick.

What was two years of hard work in exchange for her friend’s safety? She still had all the videos, all the pictures, she could make a new website, right? One that got Marinette’s approval before every posting.

“Okay—“

“Wait,” said Nino. “Shouldn’t we see where the link goes first? What if it helps the police find them?”

Alya gasped slightly. “I’m glad you thought of that!”

“Markov, initiate Backdraft operations.” Max said.

“Backdraft initiated.”

“What’s backdraft?” Asked Alya.

“It’s simply a protocol I use if I think my presence is being tracked, or I may be counter hacked. It’s basically a fancy firewall.”

“Oh, I see.”

With the class gathered around, Max clicked on the link.

Another window popped up, with a loading wheel. It spun for a moment, then a big red ‘X’ covered the screen and the window closed.

“Hmm…how very interesting.”

“What the heck was that?” Asked Kim, resting his chin on Max’s head like a pest.

“Believe it or not, that was a video chat. But it uses facial recognition to get in.”

“So it’s not going to be helpful to us at all. Huh?”

“I can try to track it. Though it may be difficult since the page closes so quickly.”

Nino whispered as quietly as possible. “Didn’t the detective say he wanted to use your blog to help with the investigation?”

Alya scrunched up her face. Now she had to make two decisions. Stop Hawkmoth, or take the chance and maybe get a lead on Salo.

Any normal person would have gone with the absolute, but Alya was desperate.

“Leave the blog up. Do you think you can track the link?”

“I’ll give it my best shot.” Said Max, honestly.

Alya gave a twitch of a smile.

Something about her conversation with Hawkmoth earlier niggled in her brain. He had addressed her by her name, not as an Akuma. And when she asked him to leave, he left.

Of course, there was no trusting the man, that was obvious, but as far as villains go, she was much more willing to deal with him than Salo.

Alya shook her head. That was an insane thought.

Then the bell rang, and lunch was officially over. Alya and Nino found their seats, now feeling keenly aware that Adrien and Marinette were both absent from class.

“Oh,” said Nino, holding up a pink backpack. “She left it here. Adrien’s is here too.”

Alya smiled fondly. “We’ll carry them back with us.”

—

Miss Bustier was nothing if not understanding. None of the students had their homework done from yesterday, so she just cancelled the assignment. Alya and Nino weren’t given the missed work from this morning either. 

She had a feeling they probably wouldn’t be doing it anyways.

Alya had her phone out all day, plugged into a portable charger.

She constantly refreshed the page, hoping for something different.

But no. For hours now, Adrien and Marinette has been hanging by the wrists from chains.

Near the end of the day, Alya looked over to see Marinette speaking to the camera.

She rewound, found the time stamp and raised her hand.

“Yes Alya?”

“Marinette’s saying something! She’s speaking to us!”

“Are you sure?” Miss Bustier asked.

Nino was already next to her, looking at the screen.

“She’s looking right at the camera. I don’t think she’s talking to Adrien.”

“Can I turn on the projector?” Asked Max.

“Well…” Miss Bustier saw the first broadcast. She had turned away the moment Marinette was demanded to strip. She hadn’t watched anything since, and didn’t know if it was safe to show the students.

But looking around, she saw that they were all worried, and eager to see what Marinette had to say.

And so she nodded at Max.

In a matter of seconds, the website was up, and Adrien and Marinette’s states were now visible to the room.

There was a round of gasps.

No one had watched the stream this morning.

“Is that…is that Adrien?” Chloe asked, with choking breath.

Regardless of the state of room, Alya hit play.

Marinette looked around, and then looked directly at the camera. She gave a tired little smile.

“Hey,” she spoke in an absolutely broken voice. “If you’re watching this, you…you’re probably feeling a little hopeless. I don’t blame you. I feel…pretty hopeless too. I mean, I’m…I’m stuck. I’m not sure how I’m going to get out of this. But…but Ladybug always saves the day, right?” She glanced away, choosing her words. “My name is Marinette Dupain-Cheng. I’m 17 years old, and my favorite color is pink. I’m the daughter of the best bakers in Paris, though I might be a little bias.” She smiled slightly. “Before I became Ladybug, I was a normal girl, with a normal life. What made me extraordinary, was my willingness to help others, and my kindness. So Paris, I have a favor to ask:

“Be helpful and kind. Go out of your way do something nice for someone once a day. If you can do this for me, then I know Paris will be safe until we return.”

“I promise.” Alya heard Chloe whisper.

She glanced over to Adrien, then off screen, and then back at the camera. “Maman, Papa...I’m really really sorry I had to hide this from you. I didn’t want to, and some days I thought about how much easer it would be if I just told you. How I could explain the lateness and absences, and my bad grades. But I just had to let you think I was a bad kid. It was for your safety, after all...but despite my best efforts, this still happened, and now you’re in danger. Please get somewhere safe. Leave Paris if you have to. I love you so much. I promise I’ll be out soon.”

Her brow crinkled, as she hesitated. Then, “Alya, I’m sorry too. You…you probably feel kinda betrayed right now. But, like I said, it was for your own safety. You were put in peril so many times because of me. How many more would that have been if Hawkmoth thought you knew my identity? After everything, I hope you finally believe me now...sorry, that was harsh. I...I’ll forgive you, if you forgive me. Deal?”

Alya broke down sobbing. If there was anything else to be heard, she missed it. Of course she forgave Marinette! How could she not? Marinette picked her as Rena Rouge, time and time again!

And what did she do in return?

Stab her in the back.

Some best friend she was.

“Al…” Nino comforted. “It’s alright.”

“It’s not alright!” Alya shouted, startling everyone. She hated how much of a mess she was. She was supposed to be a superhero, damnit! But at this rate, Hawkmoth would try to akumatize her again.

“She’s right, you know.” Said Miss Bustier, rubbing a hand under her eye. “It’s not alright.” She cleared her throat and spoke to the class. “I know things seem bleak right now. And it’s okay to be upset. It’s okay to grieve and to hurt. But it’s never okay to hurt others to make yourself feel better. That’s exactly what Salo is doing. That’s what Hawkmoth has done for years. I know it hurts, and things seem hopeless. But we need to listen to Marinette, to Ladybug. Go out of your way to be kind to someone.”

Alya breathed a sigh. Miss Bustier always knew what to say to make things better.

“Alya, can you come stand with me please?”

She nodded, getting to her feet. Up front, Miss Bustier hugged her, and held her around the waist, as she beckoned each one of her students forward.

“Alya, you’re so smart.”

“You’ve got a wicked sense of humor!”

“You’re really perceptive, and notice things that others don’t!”

“You always put in that extra bit of work to make a project look amazing!”

On and on, each student complimented her, as was custom in Miss Bustier’s class. But all of them were genuine, not just going through the motions.

Except maybe Lila, but still, it was hard to tell. “You are really dedicated to your blog, and put everything on it, to make it just right.”

Alya swallowed. That comment fell flat in comparison to the others.

Chloe came up, a scowl directed in Lila’s direction, then she grabbed Alya by the upper arms. “You are fiercely protective to your friends. No matter who they are. If you feel friendly towards them, you protect them. And that’s something I’ve always admired about you.”

Alya wanted to cry again, but she spared Chloe the satisfaction. “You’re just trying to be nice.”

“Me? Nice? As if!” She scoffed, but they both knew it was true.

“The reason we do these activities,” explained Miss Bustier, “is so that when you see someone having hard time, you take the time to cheer them up. It should be an automatic response.”

“For Marinette and Adrien!” Cheered Kim in the back.

“For Marinette and Adrien!”

—

After school, Alya and Nino gathered their stuff from their lockers. It was time to head back to the Agreste Mansion, for their own safety. Though, the temptation to go out and patrol was strong. Yet the heat was still on, and it wasn’t smart to risk it just quite yet.

“Alya?” A soft voice asked.

It was Choe. And she looked shy. Sabrina was no where to be seen.

“Hey Chloe,” Alya said pleasantly. It felt better to just be nice, like Miss Bustier suggested.

“I…” Chloe started, then she turned away. It took a few tries, each time she started differently. Then, she finally managed out. “I don’t know what to do.”

“What?”

“I…I don’t know what to do. Normally, when I want something, daddy just buys it for me. He takes care of everything. I’ve never been in a situation where I couldn’t have what I wanted. But…but I can’t do that with this. I begged daddy to save them. Both of them. And he tried! He talked to the chief of police and they got in contact with Europol…but basically…there’s nothing they can do. So…I have to do it myself. I have to save them.”

Alya scoffed slightly. “You can’t save them yourself.”

“I have too.” Chloe said right back, her daily stubbornness shining through. “You don’t understand!”

“Chloe…”

“I found the Bee Miraculous. Marinette dropped it, and I found it. Despite all my mistakes, all my insults and my cruelty, Marinette…Marinette let me become Queen Bee. Several times. She threw a party for me, when I felt like no one liked me. She went out of her way to help me reconnect with my mother. And…” She started to sob.

Chloe, it’s me, Ladybug. You can trust me, you can tell me the truth.

You have a purpose.

“She spoke to me in a way no one else had before. She was so…so nice! And she meant it! Only Adrien ever treated me like that! But I was never mean to him!” She sniffed and rubbed her eyes. “That’s why I have to save them! She has to know how sorry I am! How much I appreciate her! And how much Ladybug still means to me!”

Alya was touched. “Why you telling me this?”

“Because you’re the Ladyblogger, duh! You’ve got to know something! Don’t you have a hint to who Rena Rouge are Carapace are? Any way to contact them? I want to help them! As Queen Bee!”

Alya screwed up her lip. “And you don’t care about the attention of being a superhero in the limelight again?”

“Puh-lease, if I cared about attention, I wouldn’t look like this!” She gestured to herself.

Nino snickered. “I didn’t even think you owned a track suit.”

“How do you think I stay in peak physical form? By Instagraming all day?!”

“Still…”

“Fine! It’s Givenchy! Give me a break!”

Alya and Nino shared a look of understanding. Now was the time to use all the help they could get. Alya reached into her bag and pulled out a little black box. “Chloe Bourgeois. This is the Miraculous of the Bee. You will use it for good. Until such a time that Ladybug and Chat Noir are safe, you will keep it safe and protect it.”

“And you won’t put it on your snap story!” Nino added, harshly.

Chloe took the box, reverently. “Are…are you sure?”

“The guardian gave it to us, and told us to give it to you when we felt it was safe.”

Chloe, smiling, opened the lid, and a glittering yellow light appeared.

“Hello my queen!” Pollen sang.

“Pollen!” She scooped her up and held her to her cheek. Then she looked back to Alya and Nino. “When do we start our patrol?”

Alya laughed, happy to see Chloe so eager. “Soon. But we have some catch up to play.”

—

It had never been this hard to akumatize someone.

Granted, Chloe Bourgeois had put up a great fight. But it was nothing like this.

Hawkmoth had assumed Alya would be the perfect candidate to become an Akuma. In all the times he had been around her, granted it was only a handful, she had been absolutely devastated.

Lady WiFi had been amazing, and given her powers of pausing, she would have been great.

But, she was not cooperative. Sure, maybe he could have pushed her a little more, put on the pressure. But it didn’t feel right.

Nothing about this felt right.

And that’s what made him so conflicted.

Because we was willing to do whatever it took to get Emilie back. Exploiting people who were having the worst day, who were in unbearable pain.

So why the hesitation now? This was Adrien, the light of his life. The only family he had left. He loved his son, although he often had a hard time showing it.

He reached out to Nino Lahiffe, who, admittedly, was not as visibly upset as Alya had been, but his hurt was still present. Nino was unbearably calm as he asked Hawkmoth to ‘kindly f—- off.’

Next was Chloe Bourgeois. Surely she would agree, right? She loved Adrien!

Oh but she was nearly feral trying to get rid of him. She yanked on her hair and screamed and cried.

He left quickly, feeling her pain as his own.

He looked at Tom and Sabine, but didn’t have the heart to even try. Ladybug’s parents, now that was cruel.

He was beginning to run out of victims. Gorilla? Nathalie? Himself?

Lila Rossi! She was always ready and willing to be akumatized!

But then, he remembered with growing horror that she hated Marinette Dupain-Cheng. She may try to save Adrien, but she’d leave Marinette all alone to suffer. And that was almost worse.

He dropped his transformation, a dropped to his knees.

“Master? Please don’t cry.”

“I disgust myself.” He whined in the back of his throat. “Why…why can’t I do it? What makes this so different? Am I not desperate enough? Do I not love Adrien enough?!"

Noroo swooped in and nuzzled against Gabriel’s cheek. “You love Adrien plenty. Don’t beat yourself up over having sympathy for others in pain.”

Gabriel swallowed, digesting the kwami’s words. “I suppose...that means there’s hope for me yet.”

The elevator rose, bringing Nathalie into the room. “Sir, Madame Cheng has something to show you on the stream.”

“She found something?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Then we’ll continue this later Noroo, let’s go.”

—

Sabine stood in the lobby, her phone in hand. Thankfully, the stream could be rewound to repeat anything that had happened. And so when Gabriel finally emerged from his office, she went to him, thrust the phone in his face, and pressed play.

“Notausgang.”

“Pardon?”

“Notausgang. Does that word sound familiar?”

“No...it sounds German though. Why?”

“It’s written on the wall behind you.”

“Like Graffiti?”

“No...it looks like it’s supposed to be there. Like a sign.”

“A German sign on the wall? You don’t think...we’re in Germany, do you?”

“I have no clue where we are, but...why else would there be German on the wall?”

“Well, maybe we’re still in France. Maybe not Paris, but Alsace-Lorraine or...”

“Notausgang is German for ‘Emergency Exit’. It’s everywhere in Germany.” Gabriel responded. “Not so much in Alsace-Lorraine. If there’s no French by it, it’s safe to assume they are in Germany.”

Sabine choked. “Oh no…no no no…”

Gabriel rested a calm hand on her arm. “Sabine, it’s alright. This is good. We know we’re looking in the wrong place, and we can tell the detective what we learned. Okay?”

She nodded, wiping her cheeks. “I just…they’re so far…I feel so helpless!”

“I feel the same.” He assured. 

And he did. Not only did he have no clue where they were in Germany, but his akumas couldn’t reach farther than Paris. Even if he were to go to Germany, he’d have to spend days hopping around from city to city. And that wasn’t suspicious at all.

Still…if that’s what it took.

First, they’d talk to the detective. Then they’d plan the next move.

Chapter Text

Believe it or not, there were a handful of people in Paris that actually hated Ladybug and Chat Noir. Salo and Hawkmoth were the obvious ones, of course. And then there was Lila Rossi, who had been spurned by Ladybug time and time again. But she tended to keep her distaste a secret.

But there was one other in the City of Lovers whose life was continually complicated by Ladybug and Chat Noir.

Minster of the Interior, Arthur Vanderguard.

As Minister of Interior, one of his most important jobs of late was to protect the city in the event of an akuma attack.

Something that he was wholly unprepared for every time.

It was getting increasingly frustrating to do his job when his men, the police, decided to listen to a little girl before listening to him. Everyone listened to Ladybug first. And then when her plans failed, he had to pick up the slack. He had to hold off hoards of zombies or knights or whatever the akuma of the week was, while she was given the floor to do her little superhero routine and stop the big bad. Of course, she always fixed everything afterwards, which was the only reason he hadn’t resigned completely.

But if anyone, the mayor, his chief of police, anyone at all, decided to listen to his plans, he would be able to stop Hawkmoth with ease.

But no.

It was always, “Ladybug and Chat Noir know what to do!” “They’ll stop them for sure!”

Arthur couldn’t believe the people of this city could be dense enough to trust children with the safety of a highly populated and historic city. It floored him really.

And of course, when things went catastrophic and people got hurt, who did the media, the mayor, and the people of Paris blame?

I’ll give you a hint: It wasn’t Ladybug.

No, the amount of times he had to speak at a press conference and apologize for a gruesome mistake that one of his men made because they listened to Ladybug was astounding. And then he had to thank the little insect, for fixing her mistake with her magical Ladybugs. And then the cycle would continue on and on in a dizzying spiral.

The day Salo appeared on the TV and announced that she had captured Ladybug and Chat Noir, he was elated. But only on the inside, of course. Ladybug and Chat Noir were out of the way!

But now, he was fairly certain that he would be responsible for rescuing them.

Why this punishment? What had he done in his life to deserve this?

Then Salo had taken the Miraculous, and Arthur was met face to face with the children that kept stepping on his toes. Children, for sure.

Marinette Dupain-Cheng was 17, Adrien Agreste 18.

If he wasn’t so pissed, he might have been impressed.

But as it was, his boss, the Mayor, his men, and Paris itself was completely enraptured by a baker’s daughter and a model.

As he watched the stream, he couldn’t help but feel bad for them. This was torture, and they didn’t deserve this at all. Because Ladybug did fix everything in the end. So even when his job had him stressed, things still worked out okay.

But as of right now, he was off the clock, and it wasn’t his problem.

Until his phone rang.

An unknown number.

“Hello?”

“Is this the Minister of Interior?”

“Who is this? How did you get this number?”

“This is Chloe Bourgeois. The mayor’s daughter. Daddy gave me your number.”

Arthur groaned and slapped a hand to his face. Not this. “What do you need, M. Bourgeois?”

“I demand to know how you plan to save my Adrikin’s and Marinette Dupain-Cheng!”

He rolled his eyes. It hadn’t even been ten minutes since they were revealed to everyone! Surely it wouldn’t be a problem, right? “I assure you, I will do everything in my power to save your friends.”

“See that you do.” And she, blessedly, hung up.

Great. Another thing he was getting blamed for.

Well, maybe if he saved them, people might finally start listening to him again. If he was really lucky, he might get a raise. Who knows? Maybe he could swing this in his favor.

He’d meet with the mayor in the morning.

—

Chloe went back to the Agreste estate with Alya and Nino after school.

They gathered in Adrien’s room, and Nino hooked the computer up to the TV, so they could watch the stream.

Marinette and Adrien still hung from their wrists, as they had for hours now.

“Let’s go over our facts.” Stated Alya, looking at her notebook.

“We know the ‘who.’” She took out a piece of paper, which was a photocopy of the folder Detective Bertony had. “The Detective gave me this to give to Rena Rouge and Carapace. This is the most pertinent information he has, but I can get copies of the rest of the file. Bianca Furtoli, age 46. Lover of Edward Savauge, the drug dealer that Ladybug and Chat Noir captured two days ago. That’s also the ‘why.’ Apparently, this is revenge for sending him to jail.”

“We also know a vague ‘how’. Ladybug and Chat Noir were fighting a very large akuma when they were thrown into a building and disorientated. From there, Salo administered ‘GHB’ a drug commonly used to knock people out for assault.”

“Now we’re just left with the ‘where.’” Said Nino.

Alya smiled slightly, “But I have a pretty good guess. Marinette and Adrien were last seen in Paris at 12:15, according to my post on the blog. Give or take a few minutes. Salo had them at least by the 6 o’clock news. That gives them a little over 5 hours to get them to the location that they are in now.”

A map of France and its surrounding countries laid on the coffee table, with a circle drawn around it. “In a five hour period, you can get to most of these destinations. Most of France, and the outer edge of England, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, and Switzerland. Now, with the word ‘Notausgang’ that Marinette stated she saw on the wall, that boils it down to a primarily German speaking country. ‘Notausgang’ means emergency exit, which would be written in French too if it was in a area that spoke several languages like Alsace-Lorraine. So we are looking at, of course Germany, and maybe Luxembourg, depending on the area. But if we are looking at Germany, we are somewhere between the border, Cologne, Frankfurt, and Stuttgart.”

Chloe and Nino both frowned at the map. “That’s still a lot of ground to cover.”

“True.”

“But,” added Nino, “we also need to point out this little location in Montparnasse.” He drew a little dot on the map.

“Yeah, but Rena Rouge and Carapace already checked there. That’s where they are broadcasting from, and where their servers are.”

“Sure, but I think we shouldn’t forget about it.”

“Fair.”

Chloe looked at the map, as she had been silent this entire time. “Is that everything?”

Alya crunched her face up as she flipped through her notes. “Well, I think they’re in a cellar or basement, given the cement walls. Maybe an old building.”    

Chloe tapped her chin. “Well, I’ll just tell my daddy that we’re going to Germany, and we’ll borrow the private jet and get over there!”

“It’s not that simple, Chloe.” Alya said calmly, “We can’t just up and leave for Germany. Especially if we go with you, and then Rena Rouge and Carapace are seen with Queen Bee! Salo figured out how to catch Marinette and Adrien like that.” She snapped her fingers. “If we’re not careful, she could take our families too. I have little sisters—“ She cut herself off before she became too distressed. “And, if Salo finds out we’re on to her, what’s stopping them from moving somewhere else?”

“What do you expect us to do?”

Alya frowned. “We need more time, and more clues.”

“We don’t have more time! How long do we have before they’re killed?”

“118 days.” Alya stated, blank faced.

Chloe blinked. “What?”

Alya got her notes out again. “Sorry, I missed this part. ‘Salo’ is a name of a torture porn from the 70s. Its surname is ’120 days of Sodom’. Salo is leaving us a clue for a time limit.”

“Are you sure?”

“That’s what the detective believes.”

“And you trust him?”

Alya shrugged. “I really don’t know who to trust anymore.”

Chloe stood and walked to the window, holding herself. Pollen floated up next to her, nuzzling her cheek. “I’m not used to things being bigger than me.” Chloe confessed. “The world, no matter how big it was, felt small. I could go anywhere, do anything…If daddy couldn’t fix something, he had people for that. So…not being able to lift my finger and have it fix is…it’s really messing with me. Sorry.”

Alya and Nino shared a look. “Chloe,” Alya said, trying to be comforting. “We didn’t recruit you so that you could fix it with a snap…although I wish you could.”

Chloe gave a watery chuckle.

“We gave you the Miraculous because you want to help, and you’re capable of it. We might need that private jet. I don’t know. But just you being here, ready to help, says volumes about you.”

Chloe gave a shaky nod and then came back to sit at the couch, feeling like she could breathe better. “Gotta make Dupain-Cheng proud, right?”

—

It was around 6pm when something started to happen on the stream.

“Well well well, how are we doing now? 12 hours is a long time to leave you hanging around. I’m so sorry, I meant to come back sooner, but I had errands to run.”

Alya turned the volume up, and got her notebook ready. The main hope was that since Salo was so cocky, she’d let something else slip.

“I heard your little speech, Ladybug. Very moving. I’m sure mommy and daddy loved to hear all about how you lied to them over and over for years. And the Ladyblogger! Oh, she must be absolutely crushed. Her best friend, her hero, lying selfishly. Dangling that one bit of knowledge that she always wanted just out of reach. What a friend!”

“Bitch.” Alya muttered.

“But I’d like to correct one thing, however. You told Paris to be kind and all that junk, to make sure it stays safe until you could come back. Sorry, Ladyliar, you’re not leaving. Gabriel Agreste blew the only chance of Adrien getting out, and you…you have no chance. I have you right where I want you…So much spirit in you still. That’s fine, we’ll cure you of that soon enough.”

The group watched as Marinette and Adrien were re-chained behind their backs, and forced to stand on galvanized buckets. Salo brought a black sack over, and went to put in on Adrien’s face.

“No…no, no please don’t! Please!”

“Oh, what’s wrong kitty cat? Afraid of the dark? Or are we…claw-strophobic?”

“Oh dude…” Nino breathed. “He is. He is claustrophobic!”

Chloe buried her face in her hands. “I can’t watch!”

Thankfully, they were spared, as someone spoke off screen. “Incoming call ma’am.”

“Oh, a call, hmm?”

“The facial recognition program found a match.”

“Oh goody. We mustn’t keep him waiting then!”

One of the camera’s switched from showing the room, to showing the caller.

Hawkmoth, looking as stone cold as ever.

Alya bit her thumb.

“My my, took you long enough. I would have thought Hawkmoth would have the Ladyblog as the home screen on his computer.”

“Did you summon me to antagonize me?”

“Summon you? What, like you’re some sort of demon? Some kind of god?”

He remained emotionless.

“Your face says I’m wasting your time, but your eyes say you’re jealous.”

“Get on with it.”    

She chuckled, “And impatient too. No wonder you always lost.”

Salo walked off camera, and when she returned, she held both of the miraculous in her hand. “Here, the Ladybug earrings and the Black Cat ring. Bonafide jewels of magic. Now, what will you give me for them?”

Hawkmoth narrowed his eyes.

“I knew she was going to try this.” Said Alya, pressing her fingers to her temple. “I should have taken down the blog when I had the chance.”

Salo went on. “I have no idea what you want with these. I can’t see the appeal of a grown man running around playing superhero. Perhaps you want the Black Cat to use for heists? But I couldn’t fathom a use for the Ladybug earrings. Unless you want them to be a circus performer.”

Hawkmoth remained emotionless and silent.

“You know, in bartering, there has to actually be, you know…bartering.”

“What about the children?” He asked. “If I want the gems, and those two along with them. What’s the price?”

Alya’s heart dropped into her shoes. What on earth did Hawkmoth want with them?!

Salo barked out a laugh. “You-you want—oh that’s rich! What? You want to torture them yourself?” She shook her head. “No can do, Hawkman. I have business with them. But that was a good joke.” She wiped a pretend tear from her eyes. “Look, these are useless to me. I have all the power anyone could ever want. I’m being reasonable by offering these to you first, since you so desperately want them. But if you don’t want them, then I’ll just put them for auction up online. You can try to get them there, before some other yahoo outbids you. So, do you want them, or not?”

Hawkmoth’s lip twitched in a scowl. “Oh, I want them. But I’m not making any deals with you. I abhor torture.”

She scoffed. “Oh yeah, and what would you have done with these two if you had gotten their miraculous on your own?”

“I would have sent them home. I have nothing against them personally. It is their job to fight the akuma. And once relieved of that duty, they are free to go. In the same way, they have a duty to Paris to stop criminals. But now they’re only teenagers. What you’re doing goes beyond revenge, it’s insanity.”

The notebook slipped out of Alya’s hands. This was…unbelievable.

“Oh, so now the terrorist is trying to lecture me? You’re playing all high and mighty, now that you’re not the villain anymore. But I guarantee you, if it was you verses them, and the Miraculous were in sight, you would do anything, including killing them, to get them. Don’t talk to me about insanity.”

Hawkmoth grit his teeth in anger, a fire of hatred burning in his eyes. “I will be taking those Miraculous on my own.”

“I’d love to see you try. Tell you what, I won’t put these up for auction until I’ve disposed of these two maggots. Go ahead, akumatize any random, innocent civilian you want and send them to me. But unlike them,” she thrust a thumb over her shoulder, “I won’t hesitate to kill your little minions.” 

Hawkmoth ‘hmph’ed and the call ended.

The room was silent for a moment, as everyone digested what just happened.

“What…the…ever-loving—“ Started Nino.

“That is…not what I expected him to do.”

Salo laughed. “What a moron! No wonder he loses all the battles. No strategy, no thinking, just ‘I’m gonna get them’. It’s pretty sad actually. You weren’t even good heroes, just better than the villains you faced.”

Chloe was staring ahead, blankly, and then turned to look at Alya. “What…what did Hawkmoth want with the Miraculous?”

“We don’t know.” Alya answered, just as listlessly. “I never understood why he wanted those two, specifically…Marinette might have a guess.”

The group was startled as Adrien darted forward, head butting Salo in the face, before running towards the door.

A gunshot ran out over the speakers, and Chloe shrieked.

“Next time I won’t miss.”

The gun was trained right between Marinette’s eyes, who stared her down fearlessly.

“It’s your decision kitty cat. The door is right there. You can run, or you can save your little girlfriend.”

Adrien hesitated for just a second, and Alya thought that was the end.

But, blessedly, he walked back to his place. 

“What do you say?”

“…sorry, ma’am.”

She punched him solidly in the gut, knocking the wind out of him, and sending him to the floor.

He rolled onto his side, desperately gasping for breath.

“What do we say?”

He gasped over and over, trying to breathe. “I’m—I’m sorry, ma’am.”

She kicked him in the side, making him cry out.

“What do we say!?”

“I’m sorry! I won’t do it again!” He all but screamed.

Pasolini grabbed his arms and hauled him to his feet.

“Then stand on the bucket.”

Salo slipped the hood on, making sure it covered him completely, before she stepped away.

“I can’t breathe,” he choked.

“What was that, kitty cat?”

“I can’t breathe! I can’t breathe!” His shoulders hunched as he flailed his head. “Please, I can’t breathe! Get it off!”

Salo ignored him, and slipped a hood onto Marinette.

“I can’t breathe!” He wailed. “Help!”

“Adrien!” Marinette cried. “Take a slow, deep breath.”

“I-I can’t! I-I-!”

“Sshh…” She hushed him. “Just inhale….and exhale…”

Marinette continued to comfort him, as Salo and her men got out ladders, and began to tie rope to the ceiling. At the end were nooses.

“You said we had time!” Chloe shouted at Alya.

“I thought we did!” She shouted right back.

“What’s happening, my lady?”

“I…I don’t know. Just keep breathing…”

“I’m—I’m scared.”

“Me too, kitty. Just keep breathing.”

Then the nooses were around their necks, and those watching began to sob.

“Do you know what this is?”

Adrien shuttered.

Marinette answered. “It’s…a rope…Oh god…” She started to cry.

“This is a very easy game to play.” Said Salo. “All you have to do, is stay very still. As long as you don’t fall, you won’t lose! Now won’t this be so much fun?”

Adrien made a noise that sounded halfway between a sob and heave.

“Oh come now! You’ve been standing for 12 hours already, what’s one more?”

It was agony. This woman sure knew her stuff. Salo walked off screen, as Marinette and Adrien stood, waiting for their demise.

All of Paris listened to the heartbroken sobs of their heroes. Terrified out of their minds.

As Adrien cried out, Marinette spoke to comfort him, but Salo smacked her in punishment.

She began to wobble.

“Oh Mari, no…please don’t fall.” Alya whispered. “Girl please…”

The bucket toppled, the rope tightened, and Marinette let out a choked gasp.

“No!!” The three leapt from the couch and screamed.

“My lady!” Adrien shouted.

Marinette was standing on her tippy toes, her neck extended as far as it would go. And she was desperately gasping for air.

“Marinette! Marinette please say something!”

Alya’s pulse pounded in her ears. How long could she stay like that? How long could she survive?

Finally, the rope was cut and she collapsed on the floor.

“My lady…my lady…” Adrien kept calling for her. Begging her to answer.

She was freed of her hood, as she continued to lay on the ground.

“Adrien…” she whispered. “Hang…hang in there…”

“My lady!” His voice was wet with relief, and he outright sobbed.

The hour ended, and his noose and hood were pulled off as well. He was weeping, tears soaking his face, as his lips pulled into a grimace.

They watched as they were both led from the room, Marinette having to be dragged.

“I’m going to kill her.” Alya stated, not for the first time. “I’m going to put her in a noose for an hour and see how she likes it!”

“Al, calm down.”

Alya shot to her feet. “No! I won’t calm down! Maybe I’ll attract another akuma! I’ll take it this time! Let me be Lady Wifi again! Akumatize me!”

But there was no akuma to be found, and Alya collapsed back onto the couch, crying into her palms. “I’m a superhero, damnit…why am I so useless?”

“How do you think everyone else in this city feels?” He asked. “Yeah, we have Miraculous. Yeah, we know them personally. But what about all the other people who love them? Who were saved by them?”

Alya shook her head. “But we’re the ones who have a chance! We can save them!”

“Alya…we’re just kids.”

Her hands flopped down to her legs, as she stared at the floor in silence. “So…we give up?”

“No, of course not.” He petted her hair. “I just think you’re being too hard on yourself. We can’t help them if we’re too busy having a pity party.”

The stream was still going, even though there was no one in the room.

“Last time, Salo had a message of when the next stream was.”

“Then we’ll just wait for it.” 

About a half hour passed until the stream changed. The camera views were different, and the footage was only in black and white. Marinette and Adrien were sitting on the floor, eating something.

“They get food!” Chloe cried with relief.

“It doesn’t look like much.” Nino added.

Alya just watched with wet eyes.

Marinette was speaking.“Oh…I just…I was thinking, earlier, when we were chained up and waiting…I was looking at you, as you slept. And…I felt like I was looking at a stranger. You’re my best friend, and I care so so much about you, but…You’re not Adrien anymore, and you aren’t Chat. You’re just…different.”

“Oh…yeah, I see what you mean. I…I kinda feel the same. I’m so used to seeing Ladybug so fearless and sassy, and then Marinette shy and adorable…seeing Marinette being rebellious and…humiliated like this is…foreign.”

“Were you disappointed?” She whispered.

“What?”

“Were you disappointed? You said, a few days ago, that you were in love with Ladybug. Were you disappointed when you found out I was her?”

“No…Well…I was disappointed in myself. I promised that I would know you immediately, out of the mask. And so allowed myself to fall head over heels in love with you. In fact, there was a handful of people I would have been disappointed with if you had turned out to be them. But you were with them in person, so I didn’t worry.”

“Oh, like who?”

“My father for example.”

That managed to give smiles to those at home. “Your father, Gabriel Agreste, as Ladybug!? How the hell did you think that as an option!?”

“You don’t know! The miraculous could drastically alter someone’s appearance! If my father wanted to look like a 15 year old girl…then that’s on him, I guess.”

She giggled some more. “Boy, I hope Salo doesn’t have cameras in here right now.”

“In case she does…sorry father, that was a joke.”

This was a private moment. A conversation between two partners. Two friends.

No one had the right to listen in.

And yet Salo broadcasted it to everyone.

It was kind of uplifting, hearing Ladybug and Chat Noir admit, in some capacity, that they loved each other. Although, they didn’t outright say it.

“I looked for you.” He said softly. “I looked everywhere for you. But…you had been there, all this time. And I never noticed. I’m so sorry.”

“You don’t have anything to apologize for.”

“What about you?” He asked. “You have, or had, a crush on me. But you always rejected Chat Noir.”

“I’m so happy that you’re my kitty.” She croaked, emotional. “I always thought that you were so kind and forgiving…it makes sense that you’re him.”

“I’m glad.” He hummed. “Back before all this, before the photo thing…I thought you hated me.”

“What?”

“Yeah! I mean, you were always so…uncomfortable around me. I thought maybe you were still holding a grudge a little from the whole gum incident.”

“What! I would never!”

“I know that now.” He snickered. “I just...I’m sheltered. I still haven’t picked up on all social cues.”

“Oh, I think you’re doing pretty okay.”

“Yeah?”

“Most of the time.”

He hummed. “Then I guess you’ll just have to stay with me to help me with the few I miss.”

There was a pause, and Adrien made a confused face. “What?”

“What what?”

“Didn’t you just say my name?”

“No...?”

“You so did! Just now!” Adrien turned in his cell towards her.

“I said ‘most of the time’ and that’s it!”

“I could have sworn—What?”

“I didn’t say anything!”

“Well someone did! I just heard my name! I keep hearing someone calling for me!”

Marinette was sat up a little bit, “You…you didn’t just say my name, did you?”

“No…and I didn’t hear it either…Ugh this is freaking me out! Is it a ghost?”

Marinette scoffed. “More than likely, it’s a tiny speaker that Salo hid in your cell. Mine too.”

Almost instantly, Marinette’s body went slack and she slumped against the wall.

Adrien called out for her, but likewise, he collapsed.

“What’s happening to them?” Asked Chloe.

“I have no idea. They were fine just a minute ago.”

Marinette’s mouth opened, and she called out for him. “Cccccchhhhhhaaaaatttttt…” Her voice was slow and drawn out, some drool tripping off her lip.

Adrien started flailing, like he was losing his balance. Then he pulled at the door of his cell. It opened without any resistance and he wandered out.

The camera changed angles to show the room they were in. The three could see the cages they were being kept in, that looked like old duct work. The rest of the room was mostly empty. Some junk scattered around, and a plank of wood over the doorway.

Adrien stumbled out, swaying back and forth, looking like a drunkard. He turned towards Marinette’s cage and started walking, with a heavy lean backwards, like he was fighting gravity.

“What is wrong with him?” Chloe demanded. “He looks drunk.”

Nino opened his mouth a few times, then said, “Dehydration?”

Alya shook her head. “Not like this. It has to be drugs. Of some kind. Maybe in the food.”

“I’m not dreaming am I?” Adrien asked aloud.

He turned around in a circle, then tried to swing his bum arm around. “I’m not dreaming, am I?” He asked again. “Didn’t I just say that?”

He wobbled and finally reached Marinette’s cage. Opening the door, he leaned against the opening.

“You’re not Marinette.” He said.

The camera showed Marinette looking up at him. He was definitely looking at her, but he was seeing someone else. And so was she.

“I’m not?” She asked right back.

“Have we met before?”

“Have we met before?” Parroted Marinette.

“Yes of course!” Said Adrien, then muttered something incomprehensible.

Marinette stood slowly, her world swaying.

“You’re my mommy!” Adrien giggled, his hands over his mouth.

“They’re hallucinating.” Alya breathed.

“That’s sick.” Nino spat.

Then Adrien screamed. Screamed bloody murder, blowing out the microphones. He scrambled, his movement frantic, but graceless, as he whirled around in space.

Marinette was scrambling after him, rage on her face, and thus began the slowest chase anyone had ever seen. Multiple times, they both fell on the floor, rolling around like they were drowning.

Adrien gathered his footing and ran at full speed at the wall, colliding with it, over and over and over again, like if he hit it hard enough, he would break through.

Nino winced with each impact.

“Oh, did that hurt?” She asked, as Adrien slid to lay on the floor.   

“I’m not dreaming am I?”

“You already said that.”

“I’m losing my mind.”

“Quite possibly.”

They reached out for each other, taking hold of the other’s wrist. They both pulled, Adrien raising off the floor, only to fall back down again. They were both screaming incomprehensible garbage at each other.

Adrien just started rolling around on the floor, squawking and squealing, making ungodly noises of pain and fear.

They couldn’t begin to imagine what he was seeing.

Marinette wasn’t much better. She wasn’t on the ground, but she was still screaming. Alya heard her call out for Chat once or twice. She staggered a few steps, her foot colliding with something metal on the ground. She stooped and picked it up.

A crowbar.

“Put it down, Mari.” Alya begged. “Drop it!”

With a shriek, she started to hack at Adrien with the crowbar, hitting him in the chest as he continued to scream.

Blood came out of his mouth with each hit.

Finally, Marinette stopped, just at the apex of her swing.

“My lady?” He asked softly.

The crowbar clattered to the ground loudly.

“Chat? Is that you?” She asked.

“I…I don’t know.” He answered honestly. “I feel like…I’m not me.”

“Me neither.”

Marinette staggered backwards, and started screaming again. And Adrien started to roll around. It was starting over again.

—

Many hours passed. The sun had set, and the streetlights had gone on. Chloe wandered over to Adrien’s bed and collapsed. She laid there crying for several hours before she finally fell asleep. Nino watched for much longer, but his head lolled, and he fell asleep on the couch.

Alya was the only one still awake, watching as Adrien and Marinette continued their drug induced haze. Her eyes burned, her tears all dried up.

Trixx floated up to her face. “You should go to sleep, pretty girl.”

“Can’t.” Alya shook her head. “I have to…have to watch for clues.”

“If there hasn’t been any so far, I don’t think there will be any.”

Alya rubbed her eyes, blinking back the emotion that threatened to take her. She glanced at her phone. “School starts in two hours.”

“You aren’t going to school,” her kwami scolded gently. “You need to sleep or your going to start hallucinating too.”

“I…don’t think I can sleep. Even if I wanted to.”

Trip swooped over and turned off the TV. “Then do something else for a little while. If you watch this any longer, you’re not going to be any help to them.”

Alya sighed. “Fine. I’ll do something else.”

Adrien’s computer was just over there. Maybe he wouldn’t have a password on it. She sat down, and shook the mouse, the screen coming to life. His wallpaper was him with his mother, which was almost too painful to look at.

She clicked on Chrome, pulling up the internet. His most recent page was the Ladyblog, and he was logged in.

As Chat Noir.

Alya chuckled to herself. “If anyone had gotten on this computer at any time, they would have figured you out.”

Allowing him some privacy, she logged him out, and logged in as herself.

Salo’s post to Hawkmoth was gone. Whether she took it down or Max did, Alya didn’t know. And she didn’t really care.

She opened a new post, knowing she should probably do this before things got out of hand, and people starting asking questions. They probably were, but she hadn’t checked her notifications since they went missing.

Hi Ladybloggers, Alya here.

I’m sure you’ve seen the news. If you haven’t, it is with a heavy heart that I announce that Ladybug and Chat Noir have been captured by a woman going by the name Salo. She has them held hostage somewhere undisclosed. She’s been streaming on this site (WARNING: What she is doing to them is graphic and not for the faint of heart. Those under the age of 18 probably shouldn’t look.) They have had their Miraculous stolen and their identities exposed.

Ladybug is my best friend, Marinette Dupain-Cheng, who I have talked about several times on the blog.

Chat Noir is also a good friend of mine, Adrien Agreste, head model for Gabriel Agreste. He’s in my class.

I’m sure many articles and news sites will try to get the scoop on what kind of people they are. I’m in contact with their parents right now, and I’d just like to say, if a story is not endorsed by my blog, it most likely is not factual, and not authorized by either family. (This does not include any interviews that Adrien did prior to being captured.)

When I am ready, I will share some clips of Marinette that we took together. I want everyone to know how amazing, wonderful, thoughtful, helpful and kind they both are in their other lives. They took the superhero duty above and beyond the mask and always tried to help others and do the right thing.

Soon, I will also be making a detailed transcript of what happens in the stream, for those of you who are unwilling to watch it. Anyone willing to help with this endeavor, please message me.

First thing first though. Marinette, Ladybug, had said something earlier today that I want to share and hammer home.

“If you’re watching this, you…you’re probably feeling a little hopeless. I don’t blame you. I feel…pretty hopeless too. I mean, I’m stuck. I’m not sure how I’m going to get out of this. But Ladybug always saves the day, right?

My name is Marinette Dupain-Cheng. I’m 17 years old, and my favorite color is pink. I’m the daughter of the best bakers in Paris, though I might be a little bias. Before I became Ladybug, I was a normal girl, with a normal life. What made me extraordinary, was my willingness to help others, and my kindness. So Paris, I have a favor to ask:

“Be helpful and kind. Go out of your way do something nice for someone once a day. If you can do this for me, then I know Paris will be safe until we return.”

This is Ladybug’s favor to us, and it’s the least we can do.

More info to come.

Alya out.

Chapter Text

Marinette had officially lost track of the days. It was a feat that she had kept up with it as long as she had. But given there were no clocks and no sunlight, she was forced to conclude that time didn’t matter in this place.

Given the amount of times she ‘rested’ in her cage, she’d put their stay at either 5 days or a full week.

Could torture grow stagnant? Because that’s what it was starting to feel like.

In the mornings, there was some form of humiliation tactic being used. Degrading names, dehumanizing acts. Forced to eat food off the ground, forced to crawl and act like animals. 

She was getting used to it.

And that was concerning.

In the afternoon, they’d hang from their chains, and in the evenings, they played the noose game.

Adrien at least coped better than he did at the beginning. He kept his eyes clenched shut and refused to cry out. When he began to hyperventilate, he would remember how to breathe, and calm down for a moment, before repeating the cycle.

Had Salo run out of ideas? Or was something worse coming?

It seemed the questioned would be answered after the fifth ‘rest’.

Marinette awoke to someone stomping on her hand, which was outside of the cage, holding Adrien’s.

She recoiled with a hiss, pulling her hand back in and holding it.

“Isn’t that just so disgustingly sweet?” Salo asked, as the chains on her door were unlocked. “You’re sure going to like what we do today!”

Marinette was grabbed by the wrist and pulled into another room. Obediently, she didn’t ask any questions, but she was keenly aware that Adrien wasn’t following her.

In the new room, Marinette was made to stand. It was a small room, one light on the ceiling, with a table off to the side. A paper bag sat on the table.

She was alone with Salo. But that gun was still on her hip.

“Are you ready for the most important day of your life?”

Marinette hunched her shoulders. What was that supposed to mean?

“I…I don’t know.”

“Of course you don’t, you stupid bitch.” Salo laughed. “Now strip.”

A precursory glance around the room showed that there where no cameras in the room.

It’s not like it mattered though. Paris had already seen her naked.

So she pulled at the ties and took off her robe, laying it on the table nearby.

Salo didn’t say anything, just took out some white fabric from the bag. A corset and tutu, to be exact.

Marinette stared at the outfit with some degree of confusion.

“What, you’ve never seen a wedding dress before?” Asked Salo, with a little grin.

“Not…one that looked like that.”

She laughed. “Oh I know it’s a little different. But you’ll look so stunning!” She opened up the corset and wrapped it around her waist, fastening it in the front. “Oh good, perfect fit. I worried we’d have to starve you for another week before you could fit into it.” She turned her around, and began to tighten the ribbons.

“Why...am I wearing a wedding dress?”

Salo giggled, “why do you think silly girl? You’re getting married!”

Marinette’s heart felt unbelievably heavy at that announcement. “To who?”

“Why, to Chat Noir, of course. No one else wants you like this.”

Well, that was a relief. And it wasn’t like they were actually getting married, right? This was another one of her sick games. Making a mockery of something beautiful, joyful. Desecrating the sacred, and ruining the perfect.

Salo pulled the ribbons tight, making it hard to breathe.

“Oh, but I know what you’re thinking. This is just some sort of joke, right? No no, my dear. I’ve got a mayor here to make it official. I’m not going to tell you where he’s from, but all the paperwork has already been submitted. In a few hours, you’ll be Mrs. Adrien Agreste. Isn’t that just exciting?”

No.

It wasn’t.

Not like this.

Of course, she loved Adrien. And she loved Chat Noir too, by extension. She always dreamed of marrying him and having three kids and a hamster.

But that was when she was a kid. She was older now, and recognized that she wasn’t ready for marriage. Her and Chat had good camaraderie, Adrien and her were good friends. But a good friendship and business partnership did not a marriage make.

“Aw, you’re so happy you’re crying!” Salo cooed.

Marinette covered her face with her hands.

Her mother was supposed to be here, helping her put on the dress. And Alya, she was supposed to be here too. And her father was going to walk her down the aisle!

Where was the dress that she designed herself? Her flowers? The lovely chateau for the reception?

No, all she had was cold, dirty cement, and a too-revealing dress. If you could even call it that.

“There, let’s do your makeup. No bride is complete without a makeover!”

Marinette shook her head and backed into a corner. “No, no please, I don’t want to do this!”

“What’s wrong? Do you not love him?”

“No, I do! But I—“

Shit.

A malevolent smile came over Salo’s face, snagging onto the information and tucking it away for future use.

“No!” Marinette protested. “I meant that I love him, I care for him, but he’s like my brother! I love him platonically!”

Salo obviously wasn’t buying it. 

“You know I hear everything you two say in that room, right? And so does everyone else in Paris. We all know that you had a crush on Adrien, and that he’s in love with you. There’s no use lying to make it easier.”

Salo walked slowly over to her as she talked, and then grabbed Marinette by the hair and forced her to look her in the eye. “Because whether you ‘love’ him, or not, torturing him in front of you is still going to hurt like a bitch.”

Marinette just moaned in pain. There was no winning with this woman.

Salo grabbed her by the wrists and had her sit at the table.  “There there, pumpkin. We can’t have you crying while I put on your makeup.” She wiped her face with a handkerchief. “Now, to make you all pretty.”

Clown makeup.

Specifically Pagliacci.

A white face, with thick red lips, black outlines around the eyes, and black lines that looked like tears.

She looked demented.

Crying would only make it look worse.

“Now come along,” Salo grabbed her wrist again. “Your groom awaits you.”

Marinette was dragged by the wrist into the room she was so familiar with. The air reeked of alcohol. Men sat in chairs in rows, forming an aisle. At the end, a man with a book stood at attention.

And Adrien. Who was completely naked except for a bowtie. The bruise from his arm was now a sickly green, while the bruise on his chest from the crowbar was dark purple.

At her entrance, his jaw dropped, his eyes sparkling with tears. Sure, she had wanted her future husband to cry when he saw her in her wedding dress.

But not like this.

Never like this.

The audience stood, wobbling. She recognized that most were some sort of drunk.

Salo looped an arm around hers and started to walk her down the aisle.

The assembled started to sing, in a slur of drunken gaiety.

Here comes the bride,

All dressed in white.

Marinette couldn’t help it. She started to cry. How desperately she wished to hide, to cover herself, to never leave the house again.

Sweetly, serenely in the soft glowing light.

A hand grabbed her butt, and she sobbed outright.

Lovely to see, marching to thee.

Sweet love united for eternity.

Then she was next to Adrien, his mouth still open, searching for words to say.

But he had nothing.

No comfort.

No affection.

Just hopeless silence.

She wasn’t much better.

“Why are you doing this?” She asked Salo, in a stint of bravery.

Salo smiled, in what looked like patience. “In my research of the Ladyblog, I found a recurring theme. A lot of people in the forums wanted you two to get together. Not only that, but they wanted you to have a public ceremony, so everyone could be a part of it. And you see…you both are going to die here. I figure, you probably both wanted to get married someday. Who am I to take that away from you?”

Who indeed?

Adrien reached out and took her hand, squeezing.

Now that she was in front, Marinette noticed something very off about the officiant.

He was shaking like a leaf, and very pale. He didn’t look the least bit jolly like the rest of them. He actually looked downright terrified.

Salo needed an officiant. So, it was likely that he was being held here against his will. Just like them.

“Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today to join…Chat Noir and Ladybug together in holy matrimony.”

Holy. There wasn’t anything holy about this. God had his face turned away.

“Adrien, do you take Marinette to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poor, until death do you part?”

Adrien swallowed and answered with a whisper. “I do.”

“And Marinette, do you take Adrien to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poor, until death do you part?”

“Yes, I do.”

The officiant sighed heavily. “The brands?”

Now, Adrien may have had his entire wedding to Ladybug all planned, but no where in all his research, did he read anything about brands.

There was an echoing squeaking coming from the hall, before another one of Salo’s men wheeled in a cart. On it, there was a cast iron pot with hot coals in it, and two pieces of metal sticking out.

Marinette stood a little closer to Adrien, fear overwhelming her. Likewise, he held her hand a little tighter.

Salo, and two men stood from the crowd, and went to Adrien, and took his bad arm, laying it flat, palm up on the cart.

Salo took a pair of heavy gloves and gave them to Marinette. “Alright, you’re going to take this brand right here, and you’re going to press it to his palm for five seconds.”

“I’m not doing that.” Marinette protested.

“Fine, then I’ll do it for you, and make it hurt so much worse. I’ll burn right through his hand.”

“No, wait…” Marinette clenched her fist. “I’ll…I’ll do it.”

“That’s a good girl.”

Marinette slipped the gloves over her shaking hands, and picked up the designated brand. Trembling, she held it over his open palm.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“Repeat after me: with this brand, I thee wed.”

“With this brand…I thee wed.” She trembled, before plunging it down.

It sizzled on his skin as a scream ripped from his throat. His fingers twitched, and his other hand grabbed at the nearest body and fisted in their shirt.

It couldn’t have been five seconds. Surely she counted too fast. But she couldn’t stand the sound, the smell. She ripped the brand off of him and dropped it on the floor.

In an act of mercy, Salo dropped his hand in ice water, which made it better before numbing his hand completely.

Marinette tore the gloves off. Wanting to take him and hold him, begging for forgiveness.

But she didn’t. She just stood there sniveling.

Without anyone forcing her to, she laid her arm down, where Adrien’s had been, palm up.

“No, no Mari, don’t.” Adrien begged.

“Please…it’s only fair.”

Adrien took his arm out of the water, holding his palm open for her to see.

The skin was blood red and bubbling, but in center of all the gruesome gore, the word ‘Ladybug’ was written in a fancy cursive font.

A brand. He belonged to her.

And soon she’d belong to him too.

She nodded him on.

Salo put the glove on for him and pointed out the correct brand for him to use. Because he was using his non-dominant hand, he braced his elbow on the edge of the cart to keep steady. The last thing he wanted to do was mess this up and cause her unnecessary pain.

A rivulet of sweat broke through her face paint and tracked down her cheek.

The officiant, with his eyes shut tight, spoke, “repeat after me: with this brand, I thee wed.”

“With this…this brand, I…I thee wed.” He stuttered, not even processing what he was saying. Then, after a moment of hesitation, he pressed the brand into her skin.

Marinette seemed to take it better than him. She turned her face away so she didn’t have to see. Her freehand came up to bite her knuckle as a very slightly muted scream rose from her chest.

White hot searing pain, that burned and sizzled all the way up her arm.

And just when she stopped feeling it, he pulled away.

The brand clattered to the floor, and Adrien held her fingers as she panted. Finally, she dared to look at her hand.

‘Chat Noir’ was written in matching script to Adrien, and the surrounding skin was raw, blistering, and bleeding.

The officiant took a trembling breath. “Then, by the power invested in me, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

It felt too weird, and too inappropriate to kiss at a time like this. This bastardized wedding didn’t deserve romance. It was wrong and awful.

But Adrien came closer, and caressed her arm gently, full of affection and love.

“May I?” He whispered.

“Yes,” she returned, just as softly.

It was just a peck. Certainly not the type of firework-filled kisses in the movies.

Neither of them enjoyed it anyway.

“Oh that’s not a kiss! Give her a real smooch!” A man heckled in the crowd.

Adrien bent and kissed her again, lingering longer this time.

“Nah kid! Use the tongue!”

Adrien grimaced, and helplessly shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know how to tongue kiss.”

“Me niether.”

“Then ya better get ta practicin’!”

There were days in school, where Marinette would gaze longingly at the back of Adrien’s head, imagining him pining her to the wall, running his hands up her thighs, and swirling his tongue with hers.

But this just felt lewd and wrong. Especially with everyone whooping and hollering in the background.

She kissed him back, her heart pounding in her chest.

Just for once, she wanted to enjoy and remember a kiss with Adrien. Was that too much to ask?

Adrien pulled away, looking incredibly sheepish.

“Presenting Mr. and Mrs. Adrien Agreste.” Said the officiant, with some relief. He rested a shaky hand on both of their shoulders as he presented them to the crowd. A tear rolled down his cheek. “Will you let me go now?”

Salo smirked, standing, as her hand went to her hip. “Yeah, you can join your wife and daughter.” Then she withdrew her gun and without warning, shot the man in the head.

Marinette shrieked as he hit the floor.

The drunken mass of an audience all started singing the wedding march, out of tune and too loud.

“Daaa! Daaa! Dadadada—!”

Marinette just started bawling, her tears making the black paint melt and run down her cheeks in thick lines.

This was the second murder she had to witness in a week. And it wasn’t getting any easier.

Was this supposed to be a farce? A mockery of everything pure and clean?

Marinette looked and Adrien, only to see him covering his eyes with his hand as he sobbed.

Everyday, she felt more and more helpless. But this took the cake.

The chairs in the room rearranged and tables were brought in. She and Adrien were sat alone together at a little table, while everyone else gathered around. Then, the smell of food wafted through the air, and Marinette’s stomach twisted.

The body of the dead officiant was right there, his soulless eyes looking up at her.

The food came. Dishes passed between the men, drinks being refilled and clanged together.

No one brought anything to the sordid couple.

Salo stood, raising a wine glass. “I’d like to make a toast.”

The laughter settled down.

“To Ladybug and Chat Noir. May their last hours together be pleasurable and full of love.”

The words settled on Marinette’s shoulders heavily, making the floor feel like it was opening up beneath her.

Their last hours together?

She looked to Adrien, seeing his face full of panic as well.

“What do you mean by that?” Marinette asked.

But Salo didn’t answer, and the party continued without them.

They sat alone at the sweet heart table, the difference in the attitude of the room being palpable. The door to freedom was just on the other side of the buffet table of burly, well armed men. A perfect wall.

Adrien lifted his dead arm onto the table, looking at the branding on his hand. He gave a little smile, and confessed, “If I had to be branded with anyone’s name, I’m glad it was yours.”

Marinette mimicked him, setting her hand next to his. “Me too.”

He reached up and swiped some of the paint off her cheek. “I miss your face. You were hiding behind a mask all this time, and now you’re hiding again.”

“I want to take it off. I look so ugly.”

He shook his head. “It’s impossible for you to look ugly. Even with bad makeup.”

She took hold of his hand that rested on her cheek, and brought it to her lips to kiss, leaving some red paint behind.

Salo stood again, her chair scraping on the cement.

Marinette clenched her eyes shut and held his hand tightly. She didn’t want to be separated from him. Not now, not ever.

“I think it’s time for our lovely couple to go on their honeymoon! What do you fellas think?”

Of course, there was a drunken cheer that hurt the ears.

Two people each grabbed them, and hauled them down the hall. This time, they were led past their normal room, and into a closet. It couldn’t have been more than three or four feet wide on each side, and with both of them in there at the same time, space was limited.

Salo was giggling like a schoolgirl. “Now, have fun you two! We’ve got plenty of cameras and mics in here, so make sure you put on a good show for everyone at home!”

With that, the door slammed shut, and the laughter on the other side faded.

“Adrien…I…I can’t.”

“No, don’t worry about that. I would never make you…” He felt along the walls. “Here, let’s sit.”

He sat down first, and then pulled her to sit on his lap, their skin pressed against each other.

“Are you comfortable?” She asked, shifting.

“As much as I can be. Don’t move like that, please.”

Her face tinged pink. She leaned back against the wall, and just tried to allow herself to breathe.

Adrien’s good hand wondered over her back and shoulders, absently. She was sure if she asked him to stop, he would have, but she didn’t want him to.

“We’re not going to do what Salo wants us to do in here,” he said with finality. “I’m not ready for that.”

Marinette breathed a sigh in relief.

“But…I would like to hold you.” He whispered.

Marinette turned to lean into him. “I want you to hold me.”

She arranged his bum arm to rest on her legs while his other arm wrapped around her waist and held her tighter.

“So…” he began, “I’m the ‘other boy’ right? The one you kept rejecting me for?”

She scoffed. “You just figured that out?”

“Yeah well, it just hit me. I asked you how long you’d been in love with me for, and you said since that day in the rain…”

She ran her hand up his arm. “We really are stupid, aren’t we? If…if I had just agreed to let us share our identities…”

“No.” He said, a bit forceful. “You were smart on having us keep them to ourselves. Look at us now. Everyone knows who we are, and…” He rested his head against hers, as a way of ending the thought. “I’m just happy I have you now. I love you so much, Mari.”

“I love you too,” she whispered back.

This was cruel and unusual. Adrien was finally in love with her.

And this was the last time she see him for a while. Maybe ever.

The closet they were in was much too dark. A scant bit of light leaked in through the bottom of the door, but that wasn’t enough to see him.

“Can…can I kiss you? Properly this time?”

She took his face in her hands. “Please.”

This kiss felt much better. Prompted on their own, in their own world, despite the threat of cameras. It was soft and sweet, and everything she wanted in a first kiss.

Though it didn’t come first, this is the one she counted.

When they broke apart, he leaned his forehead on hers.

Timidly, she pushed some hair behind her ear. “I…I dreamt about marrying you. You know? I had the whole ceremony planned out.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah…”

“Would you tell me about it?”

She blinked with a blush, not expecting such an intimate question. “Well...” she swallowed. “I was expecting my father to walk me down the aisle. And for my mother to help me put on my dress.”

“One that you designed?” He asked, his voice soft and eyes closed, like he was trying to imagine it.

“Yeah.”

“What would it look like?”

She smiled slightly, picturing the drawing she had in her sketchbook. “A soft rose pink. Made of silk, with lace sleeves. I want to honor my heritage by embroidering a rose gold phoenix on the skirts.”

“That’s a really nice touch,” he hummed. “You’d look beautiful in it.”

She blushed again, ducking her head to lay on his shoulder.

“What about the ceremony? Where would it take place?”

“A chateau in Giverny. Where we can get married out in the gardens, under a wisteria tree. I just want lots and lots of flowers.”

“I like that idea. Certainly better than mine.”

She giggled. “You had a wedding plan?”

“Every bit of it. Even down to the color of the napkins.”

“Then pray tell, what does our wedding look like to you?”

“Well, it was going to be in Notre Dame…and then I had to change it to Chartres Cathedral.”

“I could get behind a Cathedral.”

“It’s so beautiful in there, My Lady. The gothic architecture and the stain glass windows. It’s like a castle, fit for a princess.”

“Do they allow cats in cathedrals?” She joked.

“Rude.”   

“What kind of cake?”

At the same time, they said, “Vanilla Raspberry delight from the Dupain-Cheng Boulangerie Patisserie!” They laughed together.

“And what about the honeymoon?” He asked, “We can go anywhere in the whole wide world. Where do you want to go?”

She was quiet for moment, thinking. “Have you ever seen ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’?”

“Every Christmas.”

“I like the scene, where George and Mary loan out all of their money to the people in town, so Mary goes back to the abandoned mansion and makes a resort just for them. With posters of all the places they wanted to go, and a little dinner. And then they kiss to the sound of the rain, and Bert and Ernie singing ‘I love you truly, truly dear’.”

“That part always makes me cry.” He admitted.

“My point, is that it doesn’t matter where we go, as long as I can be with you.”

He kissed her forehead. “In that case, let’s get a sailboat. Sail the world. At night, we’ll be just a silhouette surrounded by a myriad of stars. Spend our nights on the glassy water, where you can't tell where the sky begins and ends. Just the two of us, free to go wherever we want.”

“That just sounds too good to pass on. You promise? We can do that?”

“When we’re out of here, we’ll have our perfect wedding. And then we’ll go, and never look back.”

Chapter Text

Marinette and Adrien stayed awake as long as possible, just trying to get any joy they could from being with each other. They recounted times where they had been in school and had to leave to fight an Akuma, along with all of the bad excuses that they had come up with along the way.

“I remember being in class and there was boom across the street, I can’t even remember what akuma it was, but we both raised our hands at the same time, and at that second, I just found myself thinking, ‘no Adrien! Stay in your seat!’”

“I remember that! Because Miss Bustier let you go, and said that I had to wait until you came back! I had to make a big fuss and pretend that I was going to piss my pants before she let me go! And then when Chat arrived to the fight, you gave me a hard time about being tardy!”

Marinette outright laughed, unable to contain her amusement at the irony that was their life.

“I hope the school retroactively excuses all our absences,” Marinette giggled. “I had perfect attendance before I became Ladybug.”

“They better.” Adrien added. “I’m not even close to getting perfect attendance because of all the times I had to miss for photoshoots.” He paused, thinking. “You know, it’s a marvel that I had as good of grades as I did, given how often I wasn’t actually there.”

“Well, we can’t all be geniuses.”

“Oh, what are you talking about? You’re the smart one, my lady.” Then he gave her a little kiss, one that sent goosebumps down her spine.

“Flatterer.” She said flatly, despite the smile on her lips.

His stomach growled loudly, and he cringed. “I’m sorry, I’m just…really hungry.”

“You don’t need to apologize. I’m hungry too.”

“How’s your hand?” He asked.

“Probably the same as yours. It sucks.”

“Yep, that’s where I’m at too.”

“And your ears?” She asked, knowing that they were still being pulled by that string.

“Definitely infected.” He grimaced. “I can’t touch them.”

“Oh kitty…”

“It’s fine. I guess. We can’t do anything about it. Sorry to worry you.”

She kissed his cheek. “I still worry about you, no matter.”

“I worry about you too, Princess.”

Marinette nuzzled her face into his shoulder, the good one. He smelled awful, since he hadn’t bathed in a week, and she could smell the infection in his ears. But it didn’t matter one bit. Because it was Adrien, and he was warm and alive, and right here.

For who knew how long.

He pressed his nose into her hair.

“Ugh, don’t smell my hair. It hasn’t been washed in days.”

“Smells wonderful to me,” he cheeked.

Marinette was quiet, pensive, as dread creeped up on her shoulders. “What…do you think Salo meant, when she said we should enjoy our last hours together?”

“I think she’s going to kill me.” Adrien said, softly. “She acted like she was the most angry with you…”

Marinette bit her lip, hugging him tighter. “I don’t think so. Before the wedding, she told me she wanted to torture you in front of me, because it would hurt more.”

“Then maybe we’ll just be separated for a little while.”

Marinette hoped that’s what it was. God, she hoped that was it. For a week of this, she sure was taking things better than she ever thought she would. But she attributed all of that to Adrien. Just having him here, being a source of strength, and a reason to keep fighting, had allowed her to keep her sanity.

Without him, surely she’d lose herself to an abyss.

Far too soon, sooner than they were willing, the locks to the door were clicking, and the door was opening.

“Well, I’m disappointed.” Salo stated with her arms crossed. “You had several hours to pork, and all you did was kiss and talk about mushy corny shit. I thought kids your age where supposed to be horn dogs.”

Neither of them answered.

“Come on, on your feet.”

Hesitantly, they both stood, a lot weaker than they had been the first day. Keeping their hands together, they walked out of the closet, and prepared for the next round of torture.

Salo rested her hands on her waist, her expression impossible to discern underneath her sunglasses. “As much as I love being here and taking care of you two, I have some other business to attend to. I have to clean up the mess you made for me. But not to worry, Pasolini will be here, as well as our chef. We will continue to provide the excellent service we have been providing you with. And, I’ve even updated your rooms! Free of charge!” She gave a nod, and a man on each side took hold of Marinette and Adrien, and began pulling them in opposite directions.

“No!” Adrien cried out, clenching Marinette’s hand.   

“Come on, Chat, your room is this way.” Salo pulled on his bum arm, making him cry out. “Just let go.”

“No! My Lady!”

Marinette clenched him just as hard. “Adrien!”

Salo had to manually pry their fingers apart to get them to let go, and even then, they continued to reach out for each other.

“Adrien!”

“My Lady!”

Marinette was dragged down the hall and around the corner, out of sight. She could still hear him crying for her, and she shouted right back until there was silence in return.

“In you go, Miss Bug.” Said the man dragging her along. It was another closet. Just as small as the last. But without Adrien, it felt incredibly cold.

The door slammed behind her, and the locks were put in place.

Then, she was all alone.

And it was so quiet.

No hum of an air conditioner, no rush of traffic, nothing. Absolutely nothing but dead silence broken with her own short breaths.

She sat down on the ground, the cold cement floor covered with debris and dust from a bygone era.

So this was it then? Isolation? Solitary? For how long?

At least until the next session of torture. Which would probably be in a few hours at least.

Marinette saw no point in sitting awake with her thoughts, and so she curled up into a ball, and eventually fell asleep.

—

And Adrien thought he was overcoming his claustrophobia.

But being put into a closet that was only a little bit taller than him, and only allowed him to stretch his arms out to his elbows really undid all the progress he was making.

How thick was the door? Would he run out of air in here? There weren’t any vents. No slot like there had been in his first cage.

He knelt, and felt along the bottom of the door. The space between it and the floor was barely wide enough to fit his pinkie through.

He needed to calm down and breathe. Slowly. Or else he would suck up all the oxygen and start to suffocate and—

“Oh god!” He shouted, his breathing erratic.

There was no calming down.

Were the walls closer than they were before? This room felt smaller!

Adrien braced his hand on one wall, and his back on the other and pushed.

Solid concrete, it wasn’t budging.

“They’re going to crush me!” He cried, using every bit of his strength to hold the wall still.

He spent a long time, just holding that pose, until his weak arm started to ache. When it felt like the wall wasn’t moving, Adrien slowly slid down the wall onto the floor, pressing his face against the cold metal door, and just trying to catch his breath.   

—

Day 3.

As future guardian of the Miraculous, Master Fu and Marinette tried to make a habit of meditating together on Sunday afternoons.

She wasn’t buddhist, and neither was her family. Master Fu made it a point that the meditation wasn’t religious in nature, but simply a way to keep emotions in order, and not to let anger overwhelm them.

It would be disastrous if either of them were akumatized, after all.

So Marinette crossed her legs, resting her wrists on her knees and just tried to clear all thought from her head.

There was nothing to focus on. No chirping of birds. No chimes singing in the wind.

Nothing to prevent her thoughts from wandering.

Adrien’s probably gone by now.

She shook her head, forcing the thought away.

“I am in control. I control my thoughts. Things look bleak, but it’s alright. Right now, everything is alright.”

Everyone has given up.

“Everything will be fine.”

No one cares about a Ladybug that messes up all the time.

Marinette tightened her fists.

“Tikki, help me.”

—

Day 7.

They say you should spend every day like it’s your last. But for Adrien, every minute, every second, he feared would be his last.

How would they do it? Would they leak gas in under the door? Would it be painless? Or violent?

He refused his food for a few days, afraid that they would poison it, or put whatever drug they had put in a while back. But eventually, his hunger got the best of him, and he devoured the food loaf before he even tasted it.

For a while, Adrien wondered if they had forgotten about killing him. That is what they were going to do, after all, right? If Salo was so hellbent on hating Ladybug, why keep Chat Noir around?

For several hours, maybe a whole day, he stood in the corner, his hands over his mouth, lest they hear him and remember their job.

—

Day 10.

Back and forth. Back and forth. Marinette shuffled her feet over the dusty floor, trying to get some exercise. Her legs felt weak, and it was getting harder and harder just to stand.

As Ladybug, and by extension Chat Noir, she didn’t have any body fat. The type of acrobatics and daredevil stunts she performed on the daily burned through any fat she had.

Now, her hunger was burning through her muscles.

The corset she was forced into some two weeks ago, was now loose, and slipped down her form. It was only for the cold that she even wore it.

—

Day 15.

What if Ladybug forgot him?

What if she had escaped, but thought he was dead, and so she left without him?

What if she left him on purpose?

No.

She wouldn’t do that.

Of course she wouldn’t. She loved him, right? She kissed him.

No, she was probably still here somewhere, suffering.

This was all his fault. If he had gotten to the docks sooner, or if he had catcylsmed the akuma’s chains when he had the chance…

That fight repeated itself over and over in his mind. He could clearly see all the mistakes he made. All the openings he missed. All the time he wasted.

It was like that with every akuma fight though, wasn’t it? He goofed around too much. He was having fun being a superhero. He dragged out the fight, and thus his freedom. He teased and flirted and was just over all…

A pain.

A failure.

He deserved this.

His father had kept him home, secluded and safe, and if he had just listened to him and stayed put, none of this would have happened.

Marinette would still be Ladybug, but she’d have a different Chat Noir.

A more capable Chat Noir.

They would have found Hawkmoth by now.

“I’m so sorry, My Lady.” He said out loud. “I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you. I’m sorry I was so useless. If…If we get out of here…I promise to always protect you. I promise…to always be by your side. I’ll make this up to you…”

If he said anything else, no one else would hear it, since he had covered his face with his hand to sob.

—

Day 21.

Being a woman was hard enough without being locked up in a closet with nothing.

She didn’t need to get her period too.

That was like…turning on the sprinkler when it’s raining.

This all already sucked. So why did she have to deal with this too?

No toilet. No hygiene products. Heck, she wasn’t even wearing anything that would help.

When her biweekly meal came, she begged the man, “can I please have some napkins?”

He just laughed in her face.

Up until then, she hadn’t realized how much she bled in a week.

The floor was already disgusting, and the cell reeked of the most disgusting smells a person could come across.

She was surprised she hadn’t caught some disease and died already.

She was filthy. She hadn’t showered in about a month, and she slept in her own waste.

Marinette was barely hanging on to her humanity. People don’t live like this. People don’t exist like this.

Unless they were in the holocaust?

Maybe. She couldn’t remember all that much about that event. She was having a hard time remembering basic things.

Like what her mom’s voice sounded like.

And what sunshine felt like.

And what her dad smelled like after a day in the bakery.

These things were slipping away.

—

Day 27.

Adrien clenched his hands into fists and banged on the door.

Hours and hours, he pounded against the metal, hoping anyone would hear him.

There had to be someone nearby that was on his side! A pedestrian! Or a neighbor!

Or…

Plagg!

His miraculous was still in the safe, right? If he could just…tap into that link that he had with the ring…not that there was any sort of link when the ring was off...

But he’d be damned if he didn’t try!

“Plagg!” He screamed. “Plagg wake up!”

He only stopped when he got lightheaded. And then only to catch his breath before he was screaming and banging his fists on his doo again.

“PLAGG! PLAGG!”

After a while, it didn’t even sound like a name anymore. The word just poured out of his mouth endlessly, his voice breaking with each scream.

“PLAGG! PLAGG!”

“PLAGG!”

He screamed and screamed until his voice went out.

—

Day 32.

No one was coming.

No one was waiting for them.

They had all given up.

So why should she fight anymore?

How long had they been held here? A year?

It felt like it.

Every time she tried to fall into sleep, someone would bang against her door, startling her.

She was done with this.

“Just kill me already.”

—

Day 36.

Adrien couldn’t stand anymore.

Physically.

His legs were too weak to support him.

His knees ached, because he was unable to stretch his legs in any direction. This cage was just too damn small!

There was supposed to be a fencing tournament coming up. Or maybe it had already passed. He wasn’t quite sure how many days he’d been in here.

But there was no way to practice his moves anyway. Not if he couldn’t stand.

Wouldn’t his father be disappointed? If he forgot all of his skills he worked so hard to learn…

Carefully, he swept the area right in front of the door clear of filth and debris.

Then, he took a sharp bit of concrete and drew a keyboard out on the ground, just barely able to make out the shapes in the faint light.

Once it was all drawn, he began to practice.

Of course, the solid keys didn’t make any sound, so he just had to sing the notes out loud to himself. But with the shape his vocal chords were in, they came out as faint whispers instead.

It was good enough. It had to be good enough. Or else he wasn’t good enough, and there wouldn’t be any point in escaping.

—

Day 39.

She sat in the corner. Her food loaf on the tray sat just inside in the door. It had been there for hours now, but she couldn’t find the motivation to eat. Salo was gone, off doing God-knows-what. If she just stopped eating, then she could just die, and spare Salo the satisfaction of finishing her off.

The door opened with a creak, as it always did when dinner arrived.

“Ugh,” Salo’s voice pierced through the darkness. “Disgusting. I told you not to kill them.”

“We didn’t!”

A flashlight shone in her eyes and she winced against it, the harsh light like a stab to the brain.

“Would you look at that!” Salo laughed. “Still just barely hanging on.”

One of the men nearby gagged loudly.

“Yeah, that’s foul. Ugh…she certainly smells like she’s dead. Alright piggy, on your feet.”

But Marinette didn’t move.

“I said stand, Maggot! Did you forget how to listen?”

“…can’t…” she whispered.

“What?”

“I…I can’t…stand…”

Salo rolled her eyes, and then snapped her fingers.

The men were hesitant. “Do we really have to touch her? She looks like she has the plague.”

“Just get her over to the old showers. There’s a drain, we’ll hose her off.”

Marinette turned her face away in the beam of the flashlight, hiding her face in the wall.

A man grabbed her arm and hauled her far too easily onto her feet.

She wobbled on her legs, but eventually found some sort of balance.

The corset slipped right off her body, as if it hadn’t been tied on at all.

Salo gagged at the sight of her naked body, what was left of it, at least.

Slowly, she was led to a room that looked like it had once been communal showers. The pipes were rusted and eroded.

But there was a hose with a sprayer on the end running from down the hall.

Her escort let go of her, and gestured her into the room.

She had to use the tile to walk farther in. But eventually, she got to the place they wanted her, and they blasted her with the hose.

The water was absolutely bone chilling, and the pressure nearly knocked her on her ass. But instead she just slowly turned around, allowing them to power wash her.

There was no soap, so the blood and filth still stained her skin, but it wasn’t caked on anymore.

After Salo deemed her clean enough, her beloved hospital gown dropped into her hands. She scrambled to put it on, and warm up.

Then she was led from the showers into another room with a table and chairs.

“Take a seat. The next session starts in a few hours, and I have a visitor for you.”

“…who?”

“A good friend of yours. They missed you so so much. Talked about you all the time.”

Marinette just sighed, her eyes going to the table.

“No? You don’t care?”

“…doesn’t matter.”

“Oh!” Salo sang, a chill running down her spine. “That’s just what I wanted to hear! You’ve finally cracked, haven’t you? Oh it took a while, but man, that was worth it! Alright. On to the next phase!” She laughed and laughed, slamming the door behind her as she left.

Marinette sauntered over and sat in the chair, still shivering.

The next phase? There was more?

“Just let me die.” She whispered. “I just want to die.”

Chapter Text

Alya didn’t go to school the day after Marinette and Adrien’s drug trip, or their ‘wedding’.

After the drug trip had finally ended, Marinette and Adrien were thrown into their cages to ‘sleep’ through the day. Then at around 8pm, the stream changed to the big room where they had been tortured.

Sabine noticed it first, the TV in the living room always showing the stream. She was the one to gather everyone together, so they could watch.

The reactions were no different than the last dozen times they watched a session, and as unbearable as it was to watch, it was better to all be together than watching alone. They took turns leaving the room when things got too bleak.

Specifically, the branding.

The wedding lasted only 15 minutes, but it was so painful to watch, it felt like an hour.

When the stream switched to the closet, the ‘Honeymoon,’ it was easier. Much easier. Alya had taken notes when she could bear it, and made sure to write down every detail she could about the wedding, and Marinette’s dream wedding.

As the night went on, Nino and Tom felt hopeful enough to go to bed. Eventually Gabriel felt himself nodding off too much and called it a night. Then Sabine left as well.

Alya, still on her strange sleep schedule from the night before, stayed up all the way until dawn, when Marinette and Adrien were taken out and separated. 

After posting on the Ladyblog, Alya took a shower to calm down.

In Adrien’s room, Nino had stretched out on the couch and slept with a hard frown.

Alya draped a blanket over him, and crawled into bed.

Hours later, she woke midday.

Nino was gone, and she was alone.

Well, not quite.

“Nino went to school,” Trixx provided, helpfully. “He was going to wake you up, but I told him not to. You needed your rest.”

Alya sat up, a flash in her mind of the horrors she had seen the night before. But she shook her head to get rid of the image. “Thanks, Trixx. I don’t know how I was supposed to function with how little sleep I got. You were right.”

“I tend to be,” he said smugly.

“What time is it?” She rolled over and looked at the clock. “Ugh, noon.”

“I smelled something really delicious downstairs if you’re hungry.”

“I could eat. What about you? What do fox kwami’s eat?”

“I like eggs!”

Alya blinked. “Eggs?”

“Sunny side up, scrambled, runny, on toast, all eggs!”

“…okay. I’ll see if we can whip you up some eggs.”

Alya slipped into a robe, and shuffled down the stairs.

Gabriel came out of his office at the same time, a familiar pink sketch book under his arm, making eye-contact with her. “Miss Cesaire, I didn’t realize you were here.”

“Yeah…I stayed up all night watching the stream. I only went to bed an hour before school started.” She rubbed her tired eyes. “Again.”

Looking at him a little longer, she could see the bags under his eyes, his unshaven face, blood shot eyes and hair that didn’t quite cooperate with the comb.

“I understand, completely.” He said with a nod. “Unfortunately, I had to turn in around midnight. It was…just too painful.”

Alya nodded. “Yeah…it was awful. I should have stopped there too.”

“Did…did anything…helpful happen, at least?”

“Hmm?”

“Was there anything said that could have helped us find them?”

She shook her head. “No. Marinette and Adrien were in the closet, talking. They mostly just talked about all the times they had to give flimsy excuses to go fight akumas. Honestly, I’m just happy they were able to talk like that.”

“I agree.”

It was like a switch was flipped, and Alya suddenly realized she was taking to a fashion mongol while just wearing her pajamas, and hunched her shoulders.

“Well, you must be hungry. Go on, Tom’s made these wonderful raspberry danishes.” He gestured to the dining room.

“Mr. Agreste?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you...for being so...cool. I know you didn’t really want Adrien hanging out with Nino and I...so it means a lot that you’d let us stay here.”

Mr. Agreste screwed up his lips, thinking. “I thought I knew what was good for Adrien. I thought it was being at home, safe and protected, with no outside influences. But I was wrong. After his mother disappeared, he became withdrawn, quiet…depressed. Going to school and having friends, being Chat Noir, it brought that light back into his eyes. I just…didn’t realize it. I was grieving myself.” He sighed. “I know now, that there was nothing I could have done to prevent this.”

That was a big fat lie and he knew it. If he hadn’t emerged as Hawkmoth, the guardian wouldn’t have had to pick wielders for the Ladybug and Black Cat Miraculous.

And of course, the guardian would pick Adrien, because he is perfect. This was Gabriel’s opinion, and he couldn’t fault the guardian for the decision. Why choose someone second rate?

And Marinette Dupain-Cheng proved herself time and time again as a perfect pick for Ladybug.

Yes, they were kids.

But they were perfect for the Miraculous. For each other.

And Gabriel had a hard time blaming the guardian over himself.

“You did what you thought was right.” Alya shrugged. “No one can fault you for that.”

Gabriel gave her a half smile. “I appreciate the sentiment. When Adrien gets out, I promise he can have all the free time he likes.”

Alya smiled at that. She had been certain Gabriel would double down and lock Adrien up again for the rest of his natural life.

What went unspoken was the mutual thought: He’s not getting out.

Nathalie came out of the office. “Pardon me, Mr. Agreste, there is an elderly couple here, wanting to speak to Tom and Sabine, by name of Gina and Roland. Should I let them in?”

“That’s Mr. Dupain’s parents,” Alya provided helpfully.

“Then let them in.” Mr. Agreste agreed.

“I’ll go tell Tom and Sabine,” Alya scurried off.

Nathalie buzzed the grandparents in, and welcomed them into the manor.

A few days after the initial broadcast, the media had completely given up loitering outside the gate. If no one in the house had given an interview yet, they weren’t likely to do so. So there was no worrying about anyone unwanted coming in the gate.

“Mr. and Mrs. Dupain, thank you for coming, Tom and Sabine will be out shortly.”

“Thank you for having us,” Gina said with a nod, her eyes wandering all over the fine atrium. “Please, just call me Gina, and this is my husband Roland.”

“Nice to know you,” the old man greeted with a bone breaking hand shake.

“The pleasure is mine.” Gabriel stated, hiding a grimace.

A moment later, Sabine came hurrying out of the kitchen. “Gina!”

“Oh my sweet cannoli!” Gina hurried to her and hugged her tightly. “How is the momma today?”

“Exhausted, I haven’t been able to sleep all week.”

“I understand my dear, I’ve been worried sick too.”

Then Tom came into the room, followed by Alya. “Mom, what are you doing here?”

Gina embraced him next, cupping his cheeks with her hands. “Oh my sweet boy…Sabine texted me and told me you were here. I was just happy to know you were safe.”

Roland spoke up. “When Gina told me what happened, I was absolutely horrified. The audacity of that woman—“

“Roland,” Gina warned. “We’re not here to bring that up.”

Marinette’s grandfather trembled with anger, obviously not wanting to drop it, but doing so for his family.

“We stopped by the bakery,” Gina was saying, “I used the spare key to get in the back door.”

“Was there any media out there?” Asked Tom.

“No. But there was a ton of flowers and cards. We gathered what was salvageable and have them in the car, if you’re interested.”

Sabine looked at Gabriel.

“I think flowers and cards are fine to bring in. But I wouldn’t touch anything that would be edible. There’s no telling what people could do to tamper with them.”

A shiver went down Alya’s spine at the thought. The idea that someone would try to hurt them during this time of grieving was horrible.

“We also cleaned out the bakery shelves and any perishable foods upstairs,” said Roland. “It won’t do to come home to mold and flies everywhere. That would be devastating to a bakery.”

That was one of Tom’s biggest worries, and he sighed in relief. “Thanks dad.” 

It lessened the stress from them ever so slightly, knowing that everything at home would be okay when they could return. It was a small gesture, that helped.

“Did you check upstairs and in Marinette’s room?” Asked Sabine. “Did it look like anyone tried to break in?”

“I did check, but all the windows were closed and locked. Except for one small window in Marinette’s room. It was opened a little and I couldn’t get it to shut. But it would be nearly impossible for anyone to get in there, unless they’re a tiny acrobat.”

“That window has always been opened. There’s no ledges nearby, so I wouldn’t worry about it.” Sabine assured.

Nathalie came back into the room from the office, and spoke to Gabriel. “Sir, there’s a Nadja Chamack outside. She’s a reporter from TVi news.”

“I supposed she’d like to speak to us?”

“That is what she said, yes.”

Gabriel frowned in thought. At some point, he would have to make a statement to the media. And he’d rather do it on his own terms than to be accidentally cornered on the street.

“Oh, Nadja did you say?” Asked Sabine. “Marinette babysat her daughter Manon all the time! She’s a really nice woman.”

“Alright, if Sabine says she’s good, I’ll believe it. You can let her in.”

A moment later, Nadja came in, shaking Gabriel’s hand in greeting. “Thank you for speaking with me on such short notice.”

“You can thank Sabine Cheng, she’s the one who pointed out that you personally know Marinette.”

Nadja then noticed that the Dupain-Cheng’s were in the room too. “Oh Sabine!”

“Hi Nadja.” She greeted with a sad smile.

Nadja kissed her cheek and held her arms. “How are you doing?”

Sabine may crack if she was asked that one more time. “I’m…I’m holding in there.” She delicately wiped her cheek. “Did you want to talk to us?”

Nadja gave a sympathetic squeeze to Sabine’s arm. “Yes, I wanted to talk to you and Tom, and Mr. Agreste—I’m sorry, I’m not interrupting anything, am I?”

“Oh no no, these are Tom’s parents, Roland and Gina.”

“Hello!”

“Ciao!”

“And I think you’ve met Alya, Marinette’s friend?”

Nadja smiled at her. “Yes, but I know her as the Ladyblogger and Princess Unicorn!” She stated the last bit with a bit of pizazz.

Alya laughed. “Manon told you all about that, huh?”

“Yes, she told me all about the times Marinette ditched her and you had to watch her…usually during an akuma attack,” she winked.

Yet another piece of the puzzle clicked into place.

“Anyways,” said Nadja, “I know this is an extremely sensitive time for you all. But other news stations are putting stories out about Adrien and Marinette, and frankly, some of them just aren’t true. From what I’ve seen, they’re pulling information from their instagrams and making everything else up. I was hoping to sit down with you…where ever is most comfortable. You’d be given questions ahead of time so you’d know what I’d ask, and if there’s any topic you’d like to stay away from, we won’t talk about it. I just…I know Marinette. I love her, and I want to do her justice. I’d be honored if you’d let me do a news segment on them.”

Sabine and Tom shared a look, and then glanced over to Gabriel.

“Well,” Said Tom. “It’s alright with Sabine and I, since we know you and know you’d take good care of them.”

“Thank you, I will.”

“…but ultimately, it’s up to Gabriel. He’s kind of been our PR director.”

Nadja looked at him, barely holding back the need to outright beg.

“I remember now,” said Gabriel, eyes narrowing. “You did that interview with Ladybug and Chat Noir and pried about their relationship. You prodded Ladybug to the point where she left and you became akumatized over it.”

Nadja shrank over the accusations. “Yes…that did happen. That was awful, but…to be honest with you, Mr. Agreste, that was my editor’s fault. She threatened to fire me if I didn’t get a juicy secret from Ladybug. But, that editor is no longer with the studio, and I’m free to conduct this interview how I see fit.”

“Ah, the editors.” Gabriel chuckled darkly. “Always wanting the best scoops, and never taking no for an answer.”

“I will though,” she assured. “I know this is difficult, so if you’d rather not, I completely understand.”

Gabriel raised his chin, looking at her evenly. “You’ll only ask us questions that we’ve approved ahead of time?”

“Yes sir.”

“And it will be recorded and edited before it airs?”

“If you don’t want to do it live, we won’t.”

“And I will approve those who will be interviewed?”

“Of course.”

He nodded in agreement. “Then I see no reason it would be a problem. If things are just like you said, and people are making up stories about them, I’d rather we get the facts straight.”

“Oh wonderful! Thank you so much, Mr. Agreste!” Nadja clenched her hands in front of her heart, mostly in relief.

“Oh Nadja, have you had lunch yet? Tom was just about to bake some fresh bread for sandwiches, if you’d like to join us.”

“That’s sounds wonderful! I’d love to!”

Alya took the opportunity to scoot back upstairs and get dressed. It may have been fairly pointless now that everyone had already seen her in her pajamas, but she’d be damned if she had to sit through a meal like that.

As she came back downstairs, Nathalie was going to the door.

“My, they all decided to come at once, hmm?” She muttered to herself.

This time, the mayor and Chloe were at the door.

“Please come in, Gabriel is entertaining some guests in the dining room.” Nathalie gestured them onward.

Chloe sided up to Alya. “What guests?”

“Marinette’s parents and Nadja Chamack.” Alya answered easily.

In the dining room, the mayor and Chloe were enveloped in the Dupain-Cheng hospitality, whisked into seats with plates placed in front of them. No questions asked.

“Mayor Bourgeois, Chloe, you know Nadja Chamack.” Gabriel gestured.

“How are you?” The reporter greeted kindly.

“And then of course, Tom Dupain and Sabine Cheng, Marinette’s parents.”

“Nice to see you again, Mr. Mayor,” Sabine greeted, as she set down a pitcher of water and finally took a seat. “These are my in-laws, Gina and Roland.”

“Yes, very good,” the Mayor finally got out, not quite expecting to be swept into a party of people.

“To what do we owe the pleasure?” Gabriel asked, noticing the man’s unease.

“Oh, yes, well…” He took out a folded piece of paper from his coat. “I’ve just been to the Civil Registrations office. I was curious, you see. I watched the wedding last night, and…well, you know an elected official has to be the one to conduct a wedding ceremony, but the marriage certificate must be registered with the Civil Office.” He handed the paper over. “I’m afraid, that wedding was legitimate.”

There, in plain writing, the document stated that Marinette Dupain-Cheng and Adrien Agreste were married by a Dr. Jean-Pierre Baptiste. It was dated and notarized. The city of the ceremony was blank, however. “Despite the city not being filled in, it is still valid.”

“So…what?” Asked Gabriel. “There’s nothing we can do?”

“Since they were forced into it, and Marinette is under 18, we can annul the marriage, but one of them has to consent to it first. Until we hear from that from them, the marriage is still legally acknowledged.”

Sabine pursed her lips. “Is there any problems that makes for us? I know for them, where they are, it might be easier for them to just be married. But does that effect us at all?”

“It makes you, as parents, no longer guardians of them. Adrien is 18, so he becomes Marinette’s guardian. I’m not sure what that will effect right now, but…if one of them passes away, the other will receive any inheritance they may be entitled to. Once they get out, it is ultimately up to them what happens next. In all honesty, I wouldn’t worry about it right now. Neither of them are vindictive enough to try to use this against the other for unlawful gain.”

Tom stood behind his wife, resting a hand on her shoulder. “So that’s it then? Let’s say…they want to be married. They want it officially. Do we need to do anything else?”

“Nope. Unless you want to have a religious ceremony or blessing, that is. The civil registration is done, so you’re all set to do any sort of traditional ceremony you’d like.”

Gabriel smiled slightly to himself, an idea forming in his head.

Alya finally placed the pink sketchbook that he had earlier. It was on the table next to him, though he didn’t seem to be thinking about it at the moment.

It was Marinette’s. Alya was sure that was the same one she had packed earlier. So why did Gabriel have it? When did he grab it?

“I was wondering, Mr. Mayor,” began Sabine, “…I don’t know if you’re at liberty to talk about it, but I wondered if you knew the status of Edward Savauge?”

The mayor set his fork down and took a shaky drink of his wine. “I’m afraid I’m not at liberty to tell. The Minister of Interior and I are working very hard to come up with a plea deal.”

Alya, smart as she was, wasn’t an expert in law. As the Mayor explained the situation in not so plain terms, most likely to keep things vague, she focused instead on the Gorilla, who was bringing in boxes full of flowers and cards from the bakery.

“What’s happening now?” Asked Chloe, from her side. “In the stream. I haven’t watched since the other night when they were hanged. Daddy said they were married…”

“Yeah,” Alya said softly. “Its better that you didn’t see it. At bare bones, it was a wedding, but…they were both branded with each other’s names on their palms. Marinette wore just a corset with a tutu, and Adrien only wore a bowtie. Afterwards, they were put in a closet together. Early this morning, they were both taken and placed in separate closets. I…I haven’t actually checked to see what’s happened since then.”

“They’re still there.” Supplied Gina, eavesdropping. “I checked just before we came here. They’re both in those closets.”

Alya sighed. “I guess they get some sort of a break then.”

Nathalie came in the room and cleared her throat. “Ahem, a…Mr. Jagged Stone, sir.”

Jagged Stone strolled in, looking far less Rock and Roll is usual, and a bit more serious. “Sorry for popping in like this. I just had this totally rock and roll idea that I wanted to share with you, Gabriel! But if I had known you were having a party, I would have brought my guitar!”

Sabine greeted him first, standing to get him a place at the table. “Hello again, Jagged. Won’t you join us for lunch?”

“Sabine!” He sang, kissing her on the cheek. “Lunch sounds fabulous! How are you doing, love?”

A wobbly smiled graced her cheeks. “I’m…I’m hanging on.”

“Who is this, Sabine?” Asked Roland.

“Who am I?” Jagged laughed, “I’m the Jagged Stone, Old Man. And who are you?”

“Never heard of you. I’m Roland Dupain! The grandfather of Ladybug!” He boasted.

Jagged laughed. “Oh your Marinette’s grandfather! Too awesome!”

“He’s a famous musician,” Gina told her husband. “All the kids like him these days.”

“Oh yeah? One of those techno-mumbo-rappers?”

Jagged made a gagging sound. “Eugh, no way! I’m all about Rock and Roll!”

“Rock and Roll huh? Like the Beatles?”

“A bit more…passionate than the Beatles.” Jagged clarified. “But I’m prone to a ballad or two.”

“Then you’re alright by me.” Roland gave him a thumbs up.

He took a seat between the mayor and Gabriel, helping himself to four raspberry danishes.

“So, Jagged,” began Gabriel. “What was this…totally Rock-and-Roll idea you had?”

Jagged shifted in his chair, gesturing broadly like he was presenting a million dollar idea. “Picture this. A benefit concert in honor of Ladybug and Chat Noir, with me as the headliner. We take donations at the door, and all money goes to Adrien and Marinette’s recovery when they get rescued.”

Gabriel screwed up his lip. “A benefit concert, hm?”

“And we can get pictures and videos of them from their friends, and play them in between songs. And maybe we could have their friends tell some favorite stories too!”

“Too risky.” Gabriel said definitively. “I’ve asked Adrien and Marinette’s classmates not to say anything to anyone for their own safety. Salo could potentially capture someone else to use against Adrien and Marinette. Anyone they are associated with could be a target for this woman.”

Jagged crossed his arms and sat back in his chair, thinking. “Well. That is a pickle. But you know, I figure a lot of people don’t really know what to do right now. I think gathering everyone together to just…think about them, and pray…that’s really the best some of us can do. I have the resources to put on a concert, but I can’t even imagine where to start tracking down some mafia types. ”

“I do like the idea of the benefit concert.” Gabriel assured. “I know Adrien really enjoyed your music. He begged me to let him go to one of your concerts with his friends. I think he would be honored if you did that. I just…we can’t put anyone in jeopardy.”

“What about recording their voices?” Asked Alya. “I know I have plenty of videos of us hanging out. We could dub over them with stories.”

“Hey, now there’s an idea! And no one gets stage fright!”     

“And…” Alya pushed her luck, “you could get Kitty Section to join you.”

“Kitty What-who?”

“Kitty Section. It’s a band that Adrien and Marinette were both involved with. Oh! I think you met them once. Mrs. Couffaine’s family?”

“Anarka! That’s right! Her scraps have a band! Aw, if Adrien and Marinette were involved with them, I’d sure like to play with them.”

“Oh! And I know what Marinette’s favorite songs of yours were! If you hang around after until after school, my boyfriend could tell you Adrien’s. And I have some of Kitty Section’s songs on my phone!”

Jagged clapped his hands and rubbed them together. “Alright! Let’s get this concert in the works!”

An hour later, after most ‘business’ had been taken care of, everyone continued to sit around and chat. These were people from all different walks of life, each individually effected by Marinette and Adrien, in or out of the suit. They talked and laughed, reminiscing and sharing funny stories.

“And even though it was an all boys party, Marinette still ended up there. She was wearing this really ridiculous outfit that made her look like a Mexican biker. Oh she was a riot!” Jagged was saying fondly.

“I can’t believe my daughter would sneak into a party like that! I knew she was goo-goo over Adrien, but that’s just ridiculous!” Sabine laughed.

“She’s always been ridiculous, utterly ridiculous!” Chloe stated, “You know that, despite her ginormous crush on Adrien, she still organized a double date for him with another girl?”

“How did you know about that?” Asked Alya.

“Adrikins told me. He gushed about Marinette more than he did about Kagami after that date. If you ask me, he’s ridiculous too!”

They all laughed at that.

Sure, airing out Adrien and Marinette’s dirty laundry wasn’t the most wholesome thing to do, but it was refreshing to see how much nonsense they had gone through together. How ironic their relationship was over the last few years.

Alya watched all of this with a smile.

Then a tear rolled down her cheek, followed by another.

It startled her, and she sniffed heavily, catching Sabine’s attention.

“Alya...honey, what’s wrong?”

She shook her head. “No, I’m fine. I just...I got emotional for minute. I’m just...happy that everyone is having a good time and have nothing but good things to say about them...” she wiped her eyes. “The last few days before...before the capture, Marinette wasn’t always talked so fondly of by our classmates. That’s mostly Lila’s doing. They were trying to take Lila’s side, since she was new to the class and couldn’t possibly be lying...It’s just nice that everyone knows the truth now. That Marinette is good and mostly honest. She only lied to keep her identity, to protect her secret. To keep all of us safe from Hawkmoth.” She covered her face with her hands. “I’m sorry...I just—“

Several pairs of arms wrapped around her.

“It’s alright, honey.” Said Sabine, with the calming voice of a mother. “We know.”

This was a safe place, a room of people who loved her friends. On at least one side of the mask.

“Ahem,” Nathalie spoke from the door. “You have another visitor, sir.”

“Yes, Nathalie, who is it?”

“A Mr. Wang Fu. He said he’d like to talk to Tom and Sabine as well.”

Alya’s eyes widened, though she tried not to show any semblance of recognition at the name.

“…let him in.” Gabriel stated, suspiciously.

A little old Chinese man in a Hawaiian shirt entered the room, and both Alya and Gabriel froze at his sudden appearance.

But Gabriel wasn’t supposed to know who he was, so he just stood and greeted the man cordially, “Welcome Mr. Fu. Is there something I can help you with?”

The man sighed, knotting his hands together. “I’ve come to apologize. My name is Wang Fu…and I am the one that bestowed the Miraculous on your children.”

Chapter Text

“I’ve come to apologize. My name is Wang Fu…and I am the one that bestowed the Miraculous on your children.”

The jolly atmosphere of the room turned to ice in a second, as everyone sat too stunned to say a word.

Sabine stood suddenly, her chair clattering on the floor behind her. “You—You did this?”

He nodded solemnly. “Words…cannot express how sorry I am, for what has happened.”

Sabine slammed her fist down on the table. “They were children! They still are children!” All the fake smiles she had been holding onto all day fluttered away, and all that was left was a seething, grieving mother. “How could you think that was a good idea!?”

They waited for his response.

He waited for someone else to yell at him.

When silence passed for far too long, Master Fu finally confessed, “Hawkmoth had to be stopped. I tried to stop him on my own…but I’m far too old for that.”  He sighed, gathering his thoughts. “I’m sure, whatever excuse I will say won’t feel like enough. But…I ask you to please, understand where I came from.” He swallowed. “I was just a few years younger than them when I was picked to be a guardian. Children…they bond with the Miraculous far easier than adults. And they can drop their lives much easier than an adult. You’ve seen it. Marinette’s absence from a class, Adrien being in a different place than he’s expected to be. They get a slap on the wrist, but if they were adults with jobs? Fired, easily. Being a superhero is a full time job, one that you can’t plan around. One that you can’t use as an excuse.”

Sabine began to relax her tense shoulders, not liking what he was saying, but still understanding it logically.

“But why them?” Tom whispered. “What did our little girl do to deserve this?”

“I gave them a test. Who would be most willing to drop everything in a given moment to do the right thing? And they both passed. And most importantly, they had to be compatible. Soulmates even.”

“They…they’re soulmates?” Sabine whispered.

“Two halves of the same whole. They were made to wield their Miraculous stones. Once, Marinette picked Adrien to be the wielder of the Snake Miraculous, but it wasn’t the right stone for him. They didn’t achieve victory until he passed on the snake to someone else, and returned to being Chat Noir.”

The assembled considered this with some thought.

“Anyone could have picked up those Miraculous. But no one could have gotten this far. And…their only job was to stop Hawkmoth. Because of who they are, they took the extra initiative to stop regular criminals too.” Master Fu raised his head and looked levelly at each of the parents. “Your children are exceptional, I recognized it right away and rewarded them for it. I never wanted…never expected—“ He choked.

Sabine’s anger disappeared as she watched this old man collapse into tears.

“I mentored them. I trained Marinette to be a guardian, to be the greatest hero in the whole world…but I never expected this…this woman to…”

The room was silent, as everyone mulled over his words.

Sabine was still angry, but seeing this man so filled with regret…it eased her slightly. She was so angry and hopeless all week long, she had basically burnt out.

With a short sigh, she righted her chair. “I need a moment,” she declared, walking out of the room.

Tom didn’t move. He was in shock. And he wasn’t an angry man, so there wasn’t anything to say. ‘How could you?’ and ‘You’re insane!’ Came to the tip of his tongue, but he didn’t end up voicing those thoughts. Because Fu’s explanation made sense, and Tom was finding it increasingly difficult to blame the old man.

“This is Hawkmoth’s fault.” He finally said, his voice wavering. “If he hadn’t sent out that first akuma, no one would have been picked as Ladybug or Chat Noir. No one would be in this place.”

“I agree.” Said Gabriel, who had been eerily quiet this whole time. “If Hawkmoth wasn’t…such a monster. This never would have happened.”

The Mayor and Nadja both clenched their fists in anticipation. Gabriel was not known for his mercy, and for endangering his son, surely this man would be ripped to shreds.

But his wrath never came. Instead, he just sat at the head of the table, staring at his plate in thought.

“And another thing!” Sabine shouted, coming back into the room. “What about the other Miraculous users!? Are they children too?! Do you plan to take all these kids away from their parents!?”

“Most of the other users identities, I don’t even know. Marinette was entrusted with the decisions of bestowing the Miraculous. She chose people she trusted and people she could work with. I…would assume most of them are people her age.”

Everyone turned and looked at Alya and Chloe.

“My Chloe is Queen Bee.” Stated the Mayor, “so does that mean…?”

Alya glanced at Master Fu, trying to gauge what she was supposed to do.

He gave her a solemn nod.

She sighed, “Yeah…I’m Rena Rouge.”

At the announcement, Trixx flew out of his hiding spot. “Hiya! This looks super yummy and I’m starving!” He swooped up a brioche bun and started to tear into it. 

“I apologize, Alya, my intention in coming was not to reveal your identity.”

“It’s alright Master. I…I kinda figured since Marinette was outed, it wouldn’t be too hard to figure me out.”

“Then what was your intention of coming here, Mr. Fu?” Asked Sabine with an edge to the question.

“Well, most importantly…to apologize. And secondly, to assure you I’m trying to make it right. I…have a plan. It’s risky, but…it’s a plan.”

“Well, let’s hear it!” Jagged stated, kicking his feet up on the table. “Are you going to give us Miraculous? Because I think I’d be amazing at the Snake. Or is there an alligator? Or maybe a lion?”

Master Fu shook his head. “I’m not comfortable with giving out any more Miraculous. I enlisted Rena Rouge, Carapace, and Queen Bee the moment I saw the broadcast. But it is far too dangerous to let anyone else have that kind of power. Especially right now, when the Ladybug Miraculous is dormant, and unable to use cure.”

“Then what do you suppose we do?” Sabine asked. “We barely know what country they’re in.”

Master Fu inhaled deeply, preparing the for the reaction he was about to receive. “It would require…Hawkmoth’s assistance. We would need to lure him out, and then I could bribe him with the Miraculous—“

“You are insane!” Sabine shouted. “How dare you! My daughter has been working tirelessly for years trying to keep the Miraculous out of Hawkmoth’s hands! And you’d give them away?! Just like that?!”

The old man tensed. “I’m open for other suggestions! There’s no Miraculous that can help with this! The Horse can create portals, but only if he knows where it’s supposed to go! The Rabbit can travel back in time and stop this from happening, but I don’t even have that one right now! All the other Miraculous would require us to actually know where they are! I have nothing else!” 

“What did you expect Hawkmoth to do?” Gabriel asked, his voice completely neutral.

“How are you so calm about this, Gabriel!? Aren’t you upset?! This man endangered your son!”

“No.” Gabriel replied calmly. “Hawkmoth endangered my son. Adrien is as close to perfect as man can get. Academically brilliant, an athletic champion, accomplished in everything he does. Why wouldn’t he be picked to be Chat Noir?”

Sabine just stared at him. Rightfully unable to comprehend the insanity that just came from his mouth.

“I ask again, Mr. Fu. What were you expecting from Hawkmoth?”

Again, the old man clenched his fists. “The champions created by Hawkmoth are extremely powerful, especially the more volatile the emotions of the victim. I went through the Ladyblog, looking back at the akumatized villains and their traits. He turned Alya Cesaire an akuma named Lady Wifi, who was able to travel through wifi signals, and pause people in real time. If we can convince Hawkmoth to get on our side, we can have him recreate her. She would be able to travel through the broadcast, and find out where they are.”

“Absolutely!” Alya shouted. “I’d do it in a heartbeat! I’m totally on board with this plan!”

“Can you pause bullets?” Asked Gabriel, with a stony voice.

“W-what?”

“If there were several men with guns shooting at you in a ten foot room, could you pause them fast enough that you wouldn’t get shot?”

Alya swallowed, but didn’t answer.

“And if they simply turned off the router, would you be able to find an escape? Knowing we know nothing about the building they’re in?”

She grimaced. He made a very good point. “We have to try! We have to risk it! What else can we do!?”

Gabriel rested his elbows on the table, folding his hands in front of his face. “If I’m right, Hawkmoth is looking for them anyways. And once he finds them, he’s going to akumatize them.”

“How can you be so sure?” Asked Nadja. “He hasn’t made a single akuma since the capture.”

“He’s tried.” Clarified Chloe. “Both me and Ces—er, Alya have both almost been akumatized. I think Nino too. But Hawkmoth removed it once we told him no.”

“Still…” wondered Nadja, “there’s a lot of people upset right now. It’s amazing that he hasn’t had someone akumatized just…rampaging and looking through abandoned places.”

“Salo still has the Miraculous. I’ve had my people scouring the internet and blackmarket for any trace of them. If she does try to sell them, I will snatch them up. But until then, we have to assume that the Miraculous are wherever Marinette and Adrien are. And akumatizing them would be the easiest way to get them.”

“So, we have two objectives,” stated Alya, pulling out her notebook. “One, get Hawkmoth on our side. And two, find out an approximate location of Adrien and Marinette. And an akuma could help us accomplish that second one.” She scribbled some notes down, and then crossed them out. “We still can’t do this!”

“Alya, it’s all we have.” Said Master Fu.

“No it’s not!” She turned to the Mayor. “Mr. Mayor, you said you and the Minister of Interior are entering a plea deal with Edward Savauge, right? Does that mean a lighter sentence if he tells us where they are?”

The Mayor looked away, his cheeks becoming more and more red. “Well, I’m not sure exactly…the Minister is the one that’s in charge of that.”

Chloe slapped her hand against the table. “Are you going to save my Adrikins or not?!”

“Chloe dear, you don’t understand…there’s a lot of politics involved…”

“Politics.” Jagged scoffed. “Why bring politics into this? You know what really makes people nervous? Attention. We throw the biggest most rocking concert ever, and we really turn up the heat on these goons!”

“If these people didn’t want attention, they wouldn’t be broadcasting everything!”

“They aren’t.” Gabriel clarified. “These people haven’t said their names on camera. They wear big sunglasses so they can’t be completely ID’d. The only reason we have an idea of who Salo is, is because she let it slip that she was involved with Savauge.”

“The detective gave her name too.” Said Tom.

“Detective?” Asked the Mayor.

Gabriel shot Tom a warning look.

“I mean…yeah. There was a detective…don’t really know who he was though…” He swallowed.

The Mayor wiped his forehead with his napkin. “You’ll have to excuse me. I’m not really used to situations like these. The appearance of superheroes was bizarre enough, but such a public kidnapping is so…so nerve wracking. I’m trying my best, I promise.”

“But politics.” Scoffed Chloe. “What do politics even have to do with anything? Doesn’t everyone want Ladybug and Chat Noir to come back? Shouldn’t that be something to unite over?”

“You’d be surprised.” Said Alya with a shrug. “You’d think that everyone would be grateful for them and all they do…but theres a lot of people who think the akumas and Hawkmoth are just part of Ladybug’s plan.”

“Wait so…like conspiracy theorists?” Asked Jagged. “They shouldn’t count!”

“Exactly. They shouldn’t. But they are very loud and dangerous. Like anti-vaxxers. Their stance is spreading. I see it all the time in the forums on the blog. And there’s a rumor going around that this broadcast is being staged too.”

Sabine gasped and covered her mouth. “How could they think that?”

Alya shrugged. “I first heard about it because Lila was telling it to some of our classmates. Sometimes, it’s nicer to think that someone couldn’t actually be this awful. They’re in denial.”

The Mayor stood. “Miss Sabine, thank you for the wonderful meal. I’m afraid I must be getting back to the office.”

“Andre.” Gabriel stood as well, his voice an octave deeper. “Don’t breathe a word of what’s been spoken to anyone. Do you understand me? Not a word.”

“Crystal clear, Mr. Agreste.”

“That goes for everyone. Mr. Fu and Rena Rouge’s identities must remain a secret. As well as all talk of Hawkmoth. Forget everything that you heard at this table.”

“Of course, Mr. Agreste.” Nadja agreed, getting her stuff together. “I should be going too. I will send an email to your secretary with the questions for the interview. Feel free to add or nix any you’d like.” She stooped and pressed a kiss to Sabine’s cheek. “Goodbye dear, let me know if I can do anything for you.”

“Thank you Nadja. This was already a great help.”

She shook Tom and Gabriel’s hand, and then finally Master Fu’s. “It was nice meeting you. Er—actually, I have no idea who you are and I’ve never seen you before in my life.” She shot a thumbs up back at Gabriel, before leaving the room.

The Mayor was quick to follow, only offering an awkward wave as he left.

“Well, that wasn’t suspicious at all.” Said Jagged, putting a toothpick in his mouth.

Master Fu was frowning, deep in thought, before Gabriel cleared his throat. “Mr. Fu, may I talk to you in my office? Alone?”

Master Fu cringed, but knew it was inevitable. “Yes, I suppose that would be fine.” 

“You don’t mind if I hang around a while, do you Mr. Agreste? Alya and I are going to plan that concert.”

“Not at all, Jagged. Please make yourself at home.” And with that, he and Master Fu left the room.

As they crossed the lobby in silence, Fu couldn’t help but feel like a child again. He was 150 years older than this man, but he felt like a young guardian in training, about to be scolded by his master.

“It was foolish of you to reveal your identity like that, in front of those people.” Gabriel scolded once the door closed to the office, his back turned.

Master Fu nodded solemnly. “That may be. But I had to get you to listen. This is a very dangerous time for you and Marinette’s parents. You wouldn’t trust a stranger.”

Gabriel sighed. “I understand that. But I knew who you were the moment I saw you.”

Master Fu frowned at that, still standing just in front of the door of the office. “A hunch?”

“No…from Feast.”

Fu’s eyes widened, with growing horror in his stomach. “Then, I suppose it really was foolish for me to reveal myself.” He backed up into the door. “I…I must be on my way.”

“I’m not finished with you yet.” Gabriel said with a bite. “You have to understand the position I’m in.”

Fu was immensely happy that he purposefully left the Miracle Box in the care of Marianne for the evening. He knew he was taking a risk when he came here and decided to reveal himself to them. At least he had that much forethought. “What position? I will not ease the burden of guilt you have put on your own shoulders.”

“Nor do I expect you to. Please, come away from there. Have a seat.”

Hesitantly, Fu did as the man instructed, and sat in a chair in front of his desk.

“You wanted to get in contact with Hawkmoth, correct? You wanted to persuade him to get on your side.”

“Yes, I was just…not expecting to deal with him without preparation.”

“I’m not going to hurt you.” Gabriel said with finality. “I…need your help.”

“I understand,” said Fu with a nod. “But I can only offer my assistance, not any more Miraculous. I already said this.”

“And that is something I understand as well.” Gabriel sighed. “I…I will worry about Adrien and Marinette. My plan is to akumatize them the moment I can figure out where they are. Alya and Nino suspect they’re in Germany, so I plan to take my leave and see if I can sense them.”

“I see.”

Gabriel rested his elbows on the desk, steepling his fingers. “Many years ago, when Adrien was still a boy, my wife and I took a trip to Tibet.”

Master Fu was startled by this abrupt change in topic, but didn’t comment.

“There was a jewelry artisan there, peddling his wares. Most of his pieces were garbage, but there were two that stood out from the rest. A peacock and a butterfly brooch. I bought them as a pair, the butterfly for me, and the peacock for my wife. The artisan admitted that he wasn’t the original creator, that the jewels had been discovered in a cavern nearby, along with a book. I bought that as well.”

Master Fu listened intently, not saying a word.

“Soon after returning to Paris, my wife and I discovered the truth of our brooches. The kwamis appeared one day, and allowed us to transform. I used Nooroo as a muse, taking inspiration when given. My wife, likewise used Duusuu to create sentimonsters, just of small size, to keep around as pets, and even more artistic inspiration. We, of course, hid this from Adrien.” Gabriel stood suddenly, and beckoned Fu to follow him.

The old man did so, with some level of caution.

Gabriel went to the painting of his wife, gesturing to the spot next to him.

As Master Fu stepped up to look at the woman, Gabriel continued. “While we prospered in business and bonded over this magic and strengthened our marriage, my wife became sick. It started with a cough. Then coughing fits that had her doubled over. She was extremely weak and had more and more dizzy spells. Eventually, we realized it was because the peacock Miraculous was broken, but by then, it was too late.” He reached out, and pushed a sequence of buttons on the canvas, the floor shuddering and beginning to sink underneath them.

Master Fu had to scoot closer as the elevator descended.

They took the ride in silence, eventually coming into a cavernous atrium. There were trees and a garden up ahead.

Still wary, Master Fu followed Gabriel down the steel bridge, ending up in front of a glass coffin, with the woman in the painting asleep inside.

Fu gasped at the sight.

“She’s in a coma.” Gabriel explained, with real, actual sorrow in his voice. “And there’s no way for her to wake up. I wanted the Black Cat and Ladybug miraculous…because Nooroo told me together they create ultimate power, and that I could make any wish I wanted. I could wish for Emilie to wake up. I’d…I’d have her back again. Then I wouldn’t need the Miraculous after that. You could have them back!” He swallowed. “I know the world thinks I’m selfish, awful, cruel, and they probably imagine the worst case scenario if I were to get them. I might take over the world, or destroy it…or something equally evil. But…all I wanted was my wife back…for my son to have his mother back.”

They stood there in silence, as Master Fu digested all the information he just received.

“I’m sorry.” He began. “But…even if you had both of the Miraculous, things would not go the way you’d want them to.”

Gabriel turned to face him, indicating that he was listening, but not doing more than that.

“The wish from ultimate power works in equivalent exchange. It changes what is true, but only by a step. If you wished for unfathomable riches, someone else would lose their wealth. If you wished for power, someone in power would fall. And…if you wished for your wife to wake, someone else dearly beloved by you would fall into a coma in her stead. Most likely, Adrien.”

Gabriel let out an anguished moan at the news, holding his arms over his chest.

“Further more, the Miraculous, when used together, take a toll on the body. Marinette used the mouse, the fox, the cat, and the Ladybug at the same time, but as different versions of herself, because of the mouse miraculous. If she had activated them all together at once, she would have fallen ill, or even died. It was a heavy enough burden even to wear them.

“If you were to activate the Cat and Ladybug at the same time, and survive that intense power, you’d never be the same person.”

“So what am I going to do?” He dropped his arms in frustration. “Let her go? I can’t! She’s still here! Still alive!”

Master Fu looked back to the coffin. “Do you mind if I examine her?”

With a sigh, Gabriel pressed a button on the coffin, opening it. “Please hurry. She can’t survive long without the respirator.”

Fu nodded and got to work, feeling her wrist, and her neck right under her jaw. He pressed softly on her temple, and pinched the base of her neck.

“How long has she been in this state?”

“Four years.”

He rested the back of his hand against her nose.

“Well?” Asked Gabriel, now becoming impatient.

“She can be saved.” Fu determined, backing away from her and allowing the lid to close again.

“What will it take?”

“Time, and money.” Fu said outright. “Because of you awakening the old sentimonster from Tibet, the temple of the guardians has been restored. If you were to send Emilie and the peacock miraculous there, they would surely be able to help her. But they will most likely take the Miraculous in exchange. And…I don’t know how long it will take for her to be healed.”

Gabriel breathed. A real, true breath of relief. “Money is no problem. I can send the private jet there and have a helicopter waiting on site. As for time…I’ve waited this long. I can wait a little longer.”

“You should also send whoever is currently using the Peacock too. Mayura is not well.”

“Nathalie…she would be the best to go anyways, to explain to the monks what has happened.”

“I will write a letter,” said Fu. “They don’t speak French.”

“I would go too, but I have to be here for Adrien. I…I hate that I have to pick between them.”

“Emilie will be in good hands.” Master Fu assured.

Gabriel took Fu’s hand in a firm handshake. “Thank you, Mr. Fu. This eases my mind. The thought of losing both of them…” He harshly inhaled, holding in emotion. “…is not something I’d like to think about.”

“I understand. I will prepare the arrangements for the flight.”

—

Detective Joseph Bertony. One of Europol’s best and brightest. A sharp man who lived a hard life.

He’d seen some shit.

At present, he’s at his hotel room in Le Grand Paris, reviewing the facts. Again.

There were countless coffee cups strewn all over the room, as he had been awake for days watching and noting everything in the stream.

The hotel room looked like a library had diarrhea. Papers and maps were scattered across every surface.

Among it all, the detective stood looking at the map on the coffee table. The very same map that Alya and Nino had marked a few days prior. The detective had his own map, in which he cross-referenced with theirs.

His map was covered in little red ‘X’s, of all the places his hunches had taken him to.

Given the report he had just received, he crossed one more location off.

There was only one left.

It couldn’t be.

But all the evidence made sense! Every scrap of information he had snagged, every bit of information logged from the servers in Montparnasse. 

They weren’t in Germany at all! They were—

There was a knock at the door.

The detective didn’t answer. He had put the ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign on the handle. Why was anyone bothering him?

Another knock. “Room service.”

“I’m busy!” He shouted back, rather harshly. God, he was so tired!

The interloper persisted, and knocked again, harder.

Annoyed about being interrupted, the detective crossed the floor to the threshold. “Look, I’m really not in need of anything, so if you could just leave me—“

He opened the door, only to stare into the barrel of a gun.

And then—

Chapter Text

“Don’t be bemused, it’s just the news. I’m Nadja Chamack, you’re watching TVi news at six. It’s been two weeks since the capture of famed Superheroes Ladybug and Chat Noir, and Paris is abuzz with news, rumors, and theories. Tonight, I’ll be sitting down with the friends and family of the two heroes, to find out what they are really like beneath the mask.”

She turned in her chair, “but first, in a stunning twist, Edward Savauge walks free! On the top of the most wanted lists in six countries, Savauge was arrested after a fight with Ladybug and Chat Noir. At the scene, Ladybug told police that Savauge threatened and had his men open fire on 25-year-old Charles Exavier. The trial was set to take place at the end of the month, but Savauge was released yesterday, on the grounds of lack of evidence. No witnesses were able to take the stand, as Ladybug and Chat Noir are being held as captives, and the six men that were with Savauge the night of the murder have been pronounced dead from cranial trauma sustained by Chat Noir and Ladybug during the altercation.”

The shot changed to Minster of the Interior, Arthur Vanderguard, at a press conference. “Talking with M. Savauge, we have ruled out his involvement with Salo and the capture of Ladybug and Chat Noir. He has agreed to cooperate with us to find them, so that they can be rescued.”

The shot changed back to Nadja. “Though Savauge has stated publicly he is willing to cooperate with investigators, he hasn’t followed up on that promise, a move that has critics questioning the Minister’s choice.”

A still shot of the Le Grand Paris came up on the screen behind Nadja. “Paris Police Department has finally released the name of the body found murdered in the Le Grand Paris hotel. Detective Joseph Bertony was shot point blank in the head five days ago. The night of the murder, officers were alerted by hotel staff that there was a fire on the balcony of the hotel room, and the occupant was not responding to staff at the door. When the officers broke down the door, they found Detective Bertony’s body on the floor, and all of his belongings burning on the balcony. There was no sign of forced entry, and the security tapes were wiped clean the night of the murder. Detective Bertony was the lead investigator on the Ladybug and Chat Noir case. This marks the fourth investigator linked with the case that has been killed off duty.”

The shot again changed to the Minister of Interior at the Press Conference. “My officers assume the risk of bodily harm and losing their life when they join the force. But they don’t expect to be in danger when they go home to be with their wives and children. Being assigned to the task force of looking for M. Agreste and Mlle. Dupain-Cheng, is a death sentence. We unfortunately have not made any headway in the investigation, despite all that has been broadcasted. We believe that Detective Bertony had a lead, but all information with him in his hotel room was reduced to ash on the balcony. Because of the nature of these murders, I will be launching an inside investigation among the police in Paris, conducted by an outside attorney. Mayor Bourgeois has approved the city’s plan for a comprehensive, independent, transparent investigation of the task force members' misconduct. As much as we owe to Ladybug and Chat Noir, we can’t afford to lose anyone else to these terrorists. This investigation will most likely further disrupt our work on the Ladybug and Chat Noir case.

“While this investigation goes on, I ask that everyone stop watching the stream on ‘make ladybug suffer dot com’. Giving Salo and her men attention is only fueling their torment of the victims. Ladybug and Chat Noir will be safer if we stop watching.

“To the families of M. Agreste and Mlle. Dupain-Cheng, I am truly sorry.”

Nadja was back on the screen. “Mayor Bourgeois was unavailable for comment. Though the police urge everyone to stop watching and paying attention to the capture, other Parisians have a different opinion. One such case is President of the Adrien Agreste Fan club, Wayhem Marot.”

The shot changed to outside of Tom and Sabine’s Bakery, where there were heaps of flowers, gifts, and balloons strewn everywhere. Wayhem was in front of the camera, a lit candle in hand. “I’m the same age as Adrien. We’re friends. There’s not much I can do, but I have to do something, you know? So I organized this candlelight vigil for Adrien and Marinette, outside her parent’s bakery. I have a voice, and I know how much my generation can change through social media. We can make ourselves heard. Someone out there has to know something, right? I started using the hashtag #freeAdrienette on Instagram, and it’s taken off. Everyone is using it! The more we can get people talking, the better!”

There were various shots of different kids taking pictures with the bakery and their gifts that they left. Nadja was speaking over the footage. “Classmates, friends, family, akuma victims, and just plain strangers. People from all walks of life have showed up to pay respects to the heroes of our city. There’s been people praying together, singing hymns, and just sharing stories, all in the hopes that their words will reach Marinette and Adrien wherever they are.”

The shot came back to Nadja in the studio. “Several churches are offering counseling and support in wake of the traumatic footage. You can find the full list on our website.”

There was a cut to Jagged Stone, playing the keyboard on a houseboat parked in the Seine. Nadja dubbed over the footage. “It’s not just teens getting vocal. Rock legend and long time fan of Ladybug and Chat Noir, Jagged Stone, has been the biggest proponent of turning up the heat on Salo.”

“I love Marinette,” said Jagged. “She’s designed two of my album covers and these wicked sweet glasses I wear every time I’m in France. She’s just the sweetest girl with the best ‘can do’ attitude. She was the reason I decided to participate in that reality show where I tried to bake at her parents bakery. She always has good ideas! And Adrien! He’s one cool dude! I met him a few times, because of his career, and despite being a sheltered rich boy, he’s very humble and generous. As for Ladybug and Chat Noir, I really love them. They’ve saved my hide several times, and always in the most rock and roll ways!”

“Jagged Stone and Kitty Section, a young band Adrien and Marinette are both affiliated with, will be performing next week at a benefit concert under the Eiffel Tower. Entry is free, but they will be taking donations for M. Agreste and Mlle. Dupain-Cheng’s recovery.”

“I hope everyone comes. I sat down with some of their friends and planned the perfect set list, just for them. We also have some really radical surprises in store!” Said Jagged.

They went back to Nadja in the studio. “That concert will be happening next week on Thursday, at 7 pm.”

The image changed to a protest outside of the TVi news station. “Among the chorus of voices shouting to save Ladybug and Chat Noir, there’s a group singing a different tune. For the last two days, protesters have gathered in front of our news station, and they have a completely different take on the situation.”

A protestor came up on the screen, holding a sign that said, ‘This isn’t art, it’s torture porn.’ “We know the truth. This broadcast is completely fake. It’s a performance piece created to incite emotion. But it’s gone too far, and it needs to stop.”

Nadja’s voice again dubbed over the footage. “This is an opinion held by a lot of people, who are becoming more and more vocal as the stream goes on. One such opponent is long time friend and fellow model to Adrien, Lila Rossi.”

Lila came up on the screen, standing with the protestors outside the station. She was teary-eyed and delicately dabbed her cheek with a napkin. “It sickens me. Adrien isn’t actually Chat Noir, and Marinette Dupain-Cheng isn’t Ladybug. You see, Adrien and I…well, I see no point in keeping it a secret anymore, we were dating. Under the radar, of course, he’s not allowed to date. And then he told me that he came up with this idea of a performance piece and asked if I wanted to play the role of Ladybug. I said no, absolutely not, and so he broke up with me. I think the whole wedding bit was really just a ploy to make me jealous and have me crawl back to him. But now I know that he’s just sick and wants attention. Marinette has been that way since I met her. She’s always tried to get attention and lied to do so. I think we should all stop giving it to them and turn off the stream.”

They went back to Nadja in the studio. “Though Rossi’s relationship with Adrien Agreste is unconfirmed by Adrien himself, friends and classmates of the two have been vocal on social media, saying things like,” a screen shot came up. “‘Lila is a liar and attention hog. Don’t take attention away from where it should be. #saveAdrienette’ And, ‘Adrien and Marinette are Ladybug and Chat Noir in and out of the masks. That much should be obvious! #saveAdrienette’.

“If Marinette Dupain-Cheng and Adrien Agreste are not the real Ladybug and Chat Noir, the real heroes have decided to stay silent. When we come back from the break, I’ll be sitting down with some of the people that know Mlle. Dupain-Cheng and M. Agreste the best.”

—

Commercial Break

—

“Welcome back to TVi news. I’m Nadja Chamack. Earlier this week, I had the privilege to sit down with some of the most important people in Marinette Dupain-Cheng and Adrien Agreste’s lives. I wanted to know the truth, and in the wake of Ladybug and Chat Noir’s identity reveal, there’s more fiction than fact.

“The first guest I interviewed was my own daughter, Manon Chamack. Marinette babysat her once or twice a week, for the last three years, during the entire duration of her being Ladybug. Because Manon is so young and such a fan, I haven’t told her exactly what is happening to Marinette and M. Agreste. Please keep this in mind as you watch the interview.”

The shot changed to a previous recording, of Manon sitting in a comfy arm chair, facing Nadja.

“Hi Manon, thank you for letting me interview you.”

“Of course mommy! I love being interviewed! What did you want to talk about?”

“I want to talk about your babysitter, Marinette.”

“Marinette? She’s the best! What do you want to know?”

“What words would you use to describe Marinette?”

Manon rested a finger on her chin in thought. “Um…pink.”

“Pink?” Laughed Nadja.

“Yeah! She loves pink! Her whole room is pink!”

“Alright! What about her personality? How does she act?”

“Goofy!”

“Goofy? How so?”

“Well, she tries really hard to be serious, but then she trips over her feet or drops stuff or says her words all backwards! It’s really funny! Especially when she gets around this blonde boy from her school!” Manon covered her mouth. “Whoops! That’s a secret!”

Nadja smiled. “That’s alright Manon. Would you say that Marinette is responsible?”

“Mmmm, most of the time.”

“Not all the time?”

“No, ‘cause sometimes she has to leave me with someone else while she goes and does something. She’s kind of scatter-brained.” 

“What would you say if I told you that Marinette is actually Ladybug?”

Manon jumped up on the chair. “I knew it!”

That was actually surprising. “You did?”

“Yeah! She made me these Chat Noir and Ladybug dolls! They’re at her house right now, so I can’t show you, but whenever we play with them, she always knows exactly how Ladybug and Chat Noir act! That, and she’s really smart! She always knows what to do!”

“You really like her then?”

“Of course! When is she coming back from vacation? I really miss her!”

Nadja gave her a little smile. “Hopefully soon. Thank you so talking with me, Manon.”

“You’re welcome, Mommy! Can I go play now?”

“Yes, go on ahead.”

Manon beamed and skipped off stage.

Nadja turned to face the camera.

“Our next guests are close and personal friends of both Adrien and Marinette, as well as Chat Noir and Ladybug. One of them even claims to be the foremost Ladybug expert. Nino Lahiffe and Alya Cesaire.”

Nino and Alya came from backstage, hand in hand, and sat in the chairs across from Nadja.

“Thank you for having us, Nadja.” Alya said.

“Oh, well thank you for being willing to speak! I really wanted to get both of you here because, as a mom, there’s just some things you hide from your parents.”

Alya and Nino both nodded at that.

“Now, I don’t want you to get them in trouble, but if your willing to share…”

“Ask away!” Said Nino, with a little too much gusto.

Nadja smiled. “How would you describe your relationship with Marinette and Adrien, as them, not in the masks?”

Alya spoke first. “Marinette is my best friend. I’d like to say I’m hers too…but I think Chat really gets that title…and before they were captured, there was some drama at school, and I wasn’t being a very good friend. So as of right now, she might not think too fondly of me.”

“I see. We’ll come back to that drama, though. What about Adrien?”

She laughed. “I have a love-hate relationship with Adrien. He sits in front of me in class, so we talk quite a bit, but he’s kind of oblivious. So whenever Marinette tried to get her to notice him, he would consistently put her in the friend zone. I can’t be mad at him for that though. He’s way too nice.”

“Fascinating! So Marinette had a crush on Adrien?”

“Yes. It seemed like everyone knew it except for him. We even had bets over it.”

Nadja laughed at that. “And you Nino?”

“Adrien’s my best bud, hands down, uncontested. Before he came to school, I didn’t really have any friends. Then he sat next to me and we hit it off pretty quickly. He’s the best.”

“If I’m not mistaken, you were akumatized over him, right?”

“Yep! I wanted to throw him a birthday party, so I went to his dad to ask. Mr. Agreste is pretty strict, so he turned me down, and I got super angry, and pow! The Bubbler was born! I’m not really proud of it, but I definitely think there’s worse reasons to be akumatized.”

“Of course there are.” Nadja offered with a smile. “And how would you describe your relationship with Marinette?”

“Well, she’s…we’re a quad, the four of us. Since Alya and I are dating, we usually do things as a group. And 90% of the time, Alya tries to turn it into a double date.”

“Hey! Don’t throw me under the bus!”

“Just sayin’! Anyways…I’ve known Marinette since kindergarten. But we only really became friends when Alya and Adrien came to school.” Then he laughed. “Actually, I used to have a major crush on her.”

Nadja honed in on this juicy detail. “Oh you did, did you?”

“Sure did! I asked Adrien about it, and he convinced me to ask her out on a date to the zoo. I was beyond nervous, so Adrien sat in the bushes with a mic, while I had an earpiece in.”

Nadja out right laughed. “That’s adorable! How did it end?”

“Well, before I could mention I had a crush, there was an akuma attack. Marinette and I got separated, but soon Ladybug came on the scene, and pushed Alya and I into an empty cage for several hours. After that, well…I realized I had more in common with Alya than Marinette. I think it worked out okay.”

“That is just the most precious story! I love hearing about them as normal teens! So, Ladybug is responsible for setting you two up?”

“Absolutely!” Giggled Alya. “And she knows it. I talk about how grateful I am to Marinette all the time.”

“Precious!” Nadja smiled. “Now, you also run the Ladyblog, correct?”

“Yes.”

“Can you tell me a little more about that?”

“It started the day Ladybug debuted. Stoneheart appeared and my first instinct was, ‘A supervillain? There must be a superhero too!’ And so I took off after him. I always loved superheroes, and the chance to be Lois Lane was just too strong. So I was the first person to get footage of Ladybug and Chat Noir in action. I made a blog around it and made sure to chase every akuma I could, just to catch a glimpse of them.”

“You still hold the privilege of the longest interview with Ladybug to date, correct?”

“That’s right. Now that I know who she is, I know exactly how that happened. I mean, I know it’s because she trusted me, but up until that interview, Ladybug had been kind of personally closed off. She didn’t stick around after battles for more than a few minutes, and she didn’t give any reporters any clues to what she was like. Until she made it a priority to say hi to me, specifically. I had footage of her coming up and talking to me that I recorded on my phone. Right after I took it, I went to show Marinette, and she accidentally deleted it! Luckily, I had backed it up, but she didn’t know that. But, she gave me a private interview as an apology.”

“So you are pretty close to her in both aspects of her life.”

“Yep! I’ve even gotten to help her a few times, because I’m there. I mean, it’s also gotten me in trouble. But it keeps things exciting.”

“I bet! And you, Nino? Are you close with Chat Noir too?”

“Uh…not really. I mean, he’s really cool and I’m always ready to help, but I’m not as gung-ho on superheroes as Alya is. Don’t get me wrong, I love them! I just…kind of lament being dragged around town during an akuma attack.”

“Kinda scary, right?”

“Exactly. I don’t like getting caught in the crossfire of akumas.”

“That’s understandable.” Nadja said with a nod. “So, in your opinion, Alya…what do you think prevented you from noticing Ladybug was Marinette? I watched your blog plenty of times and you made some major break throughs. You’re probably the person that got the closest to ever figuring out who she was. What about Marinette ruled her out as a suspect?”

Alya laughed. “She’s so clumsy! I love her to death, but oh my god, the amount of times she’d trip on nothing or fall down the stairs was no joke. Nino and I actually had an inside joke that she was only tripping to get closer to Adrien, because nearly every time she fell, he was there to catch her.”

“Kind of like their superhero dynamic too?”

“Yeah, actually.”

“Do you think they knew who each other were?”

“No, they didn’t.” Alya said confidently.

“What makes you so sure?”

“Well, Marinette could barely talk to Adrien, and she’d get really shy around him. But out on the field, she was constantly rebuffing his flirting. I don’t think either was an act.”

“And likewise,” added Nino. “Adrien is friendly with Marinette, but never flirted with her, but when they’re Ladybug and Chat Noir, he’s almost irritating with how corny he is. That never changed the whole time they’ve known each other.”

“I see! How funny is it that they were crushing on each other, and didn’t even know it was the other?”

“It’s so ironic, and only something like this would Marinette.” Alya laughed, but her smile started to fade. “I just…wish we could have found this out some other way. I just hope that this means when they get out, they can just depend on each other and be happy.”

Nadja offered a soft smile. “Yes, I think they have more than earned a lifetime of happiness after this.” She glanced at her notes. “So, you said that Marinette is clumsy, and shy behind the mask. I’m sure there’s much more to her, right?”

“Oh of course! Those are just some of her less-Ladybug qualities. She’s also extremely creative! She’s been recognized by Audrey Bourgeois and Gabriel Agreste for her fashion work. And she’d even designed stuff for Jagged Stone!”

“Manon mentioned some dolls that she made too,” added Nadja.

“Yeah! They look like something you’d buy in store! And her creativity wasn’t just a ‘Marinette’ trait. She also had these crazy ridiculous plans that she pulled off with her Lucky Charm. I think that’s why she was such a good Ladybug, because she was able to drum up these surprise solutions that Hawkmoth never saw coming.”

“That is something I’ve always appreciated about Ladybug,” Nadja said, “I always found myself asking ‘how in the world will they win this time?’” She shifted in her seat. “I’d love to just keep gushing about Marinette, but I’d like to know more about Adrien. Nino, did you ever suspect Adrien might be Chat Noir?”

“Oh, dozens of times,” he chuckled.

“What!” Cried Alya, “And you never told me?!”

“I was never sure! And you never would have believed me, anyways.”

“Why? What tipped you off?” Asked Nadja, leaning closer.

“That guy loves cat puns way too much.”

Alya looked at him blankly. “Really? That was the clue?”

“Okay, hear me out. Adrien, being a famous model, was always putting his best foot forward. He is extremely polite, well mannered, and very smart. Top of our class across the board, all around stellar guy. But one on one, he’s a huge dork.”

“Tell me more.”

“Well, I don’t want to get too deep into it on national television, but like I said, he loves his puns. He’s also a huge video game and anime nerd. He spent most of his life homeschooled, so he consumed a lot of media. His reference game is on point.”

“I think that explains some of his more theatrical performances as Chat Noir.”

“Exactly. I swear he has way too much fun with his job. Oh! And, he is not shy about his massive crush on Ladybug. When I found that out, I kind of regretted it, because he would go on and on about her beauty and elegance, and how smart and amazing she was. It was disgusting.”

“So he’s as romantic in real life as he is as Chat Noir?”

“No no, it’s way more subdued. He only talks about Ladybug in private. And to all his other girl friends, he’s just super nice. Like Marinette, he really liked her.”

“But not, like-like, right?”

“I always thought he was in denial, because he would get this soft look around her, and always compliment her. She was special to him, for sure.”

Nadja rested her hand on her heart. “I’m sorry, I just keep getting swept up in the romance of it all. I’m a hard core LadyNoir shipper.”

“Me too!” Cried Alya. “Oh my gosh! Marinette hated it when I talked about LadyNoir, and now I know why! Whenever someone would go, ‘oh they’re destined to be together’ she’d go, ‘platonically?’ I think she was the only one in our class that wasn’t a LadyNoir shipper.”

“Oh that’s hilarious! That poor girl had to listen to people talk about her love life all the time, but couldn’t do a thing about it. Meanwhile, Adrien was doing the same thing, and loving every minute of it.”

“We were probably adding fuel to his fire.”

“Okay okay okay,” said Nadja, still giggling. “Now, earlier, you said there was drama going on at school. Are you comfortable talking about that?”

“Oh…yeah. You know, this thing happened right before they went missing, so it helps put them in context. So…” Alya thought back to that day, which already felt like a year ago, even though it was only a couple of weeks. “I won’t mention any names. But the same day Ladybug and Chat Noir caught that drug dealer, a classmate of ours shared that she had seen Marinette taking pictures of Adrien while he was in the locker room.”

Nadja’s expression was doubtful. “That doesn’t sound like Marinette.”

“You’re right, it doesn’t. But the person who said this hadn’t given us a reason to not believe her, and so we did. Adrien was the only one who stood up for her, but he wouldn’t have known. Up until that point, he was oblivious to how she felt about him, so he had no reason to believe she would do such a thing.”

“But you thought otherwise?”

“Unfortunately, yes. Marinette is a very…strong person. Morally upstanding and strong sense of justice. But they always say you do crazy things when you’re in love. I, and everyone else in class, thought this was something like that. Adrien went through her phone, and found no photos, and I should have believed her at that point…but I didn’t. Adrien talked to Nino, and tried to get him to understand that both he and Marinette were aware that this person had a problem with lying. I chose not to believe it…until I was faced with the truth that Marinette was Ladybug. Then I felt like an idiot. More than just falling for a very obvious lie, but also for not using my journalistic integrity to investigate the situation and get proof. That’s something I’d like to apologize on public television for.”

Nadja gestured at the camera.

Alya turned at looked right in the lens, pretending it was the eyes of her best friend. “Marinette, and Adrien, I am so sorry. I was a bad friend, and I could have helped ease unnecessary suffering, but I listened to my head, and not my guts. I’m sorry for everything, and I will do whatever it takes to regain your trust.”

“Same for me, dudes.” Said Nino. “Adrien shouldn’t have had to convince me of anything. I should have just known. I’m sorry.”

Nadja hummed with a small smile. “That felt really genuine. I hope they see that.”

“I hope so too.” Alya stated, rubbing her wrist over her cheek.

“Well, thank you, again, for talking with me. I know this must be difficult talking about them right now.”

Alya sighed. “It hurts, but I want people to know that they were—are even more amazing in real life as they are as superheroes.”

“I believe it! When we come back, I’ll be talking to the parents of the Ladybug and Chat Noir. We’ll learn a little more about their upbringing and what they did in their free time.”

—     

Commercial Break

—

“Welcome back. Tonight I’m sitting down with friends and family of Ladybug and Chat Noir. My next guests are the parents of Marinette Dupain-Cheng, also known as Ladybug, Tom Dupain and Sabine Cheng.”

The couple came out from backstage, and shook hands with Nadja before sitting down.

“Thank you, both of you, for coming here to talk with me. I know this is a really hard time for your family.”

“It is,” said Sabine, “But, when we saw some of the things being said about Marinette, we couldn’t just sit silently anymore. Someone sent me an article that claimed that she was a drug addict that had been to rehab several times…and that’s just not true.”

“Well, that’s why I asked you here. I only want the truth.”

“Thank you, Nadja.”

“Of course, Sabine.” She glanced down to her notes. “Now, the big question that’s on everyone’s minds: did you know that Marinette was Ladybug?”

They both shook their heads. “No idea. There were days when I would see Ladybug on the news, and my heart would clench, because she looked so much like Marinette, and I would have this thought like, what if that was my baby girl?” Sabine swallowed. “But that’s as close as it got. I’m sure other mothers had thoughts like that.”

“It wasn’t that big of a surprise,” added Tom. “Marinette is the class president, she’s always been very vocal about justice and doing what is right. When she started having unexplained absences from class, we asked her what was wrong and she just shrugged and said ‘I don’t know.’ She couldn’t tell us she was Ladybug, but she also didn’t want to lie. I think that speaks strongly to her character.”

“Did you ever interact with her as Ladybug?”

“A few times,” answered Sabine. “There was a time were Jagged Stone came to our bakery for a reality show. While there, his assistant was akumatized and trapped all of us in our house. We really had some one on one time with Ladybug and Chat Noir then.”

“Can you tell me a little more about Marinette’s childhood?”

“Oh I love talking about baby Marinette!” Gushed Sabine, “she was just the most precious and adorable thing! Very shy. She did not like people very much. But she was definitely a girly-girl. She’s always loved pink, and making things. From a young age, we taught her all about baking, and she picked it up quickly. She’s not perfect, but she’s got macaroons down pat! She’s an avid gardener too, having her own roses and spices growing up on her balcony.”

“It’s been mentioned a few times that she’s very creative, can you elaborate on that?”

“She absolutely loves fashion. Ever since she was a little girl, she loved designing dresses out of tissue paper for her dolls. I think it really started after watching ‘Sleeping Beauty’ and watching the fairies making the dress that turns pink and blue throughout the film. After that, I saw her paying special attention to the clothes others were wearing, and she stared drawing them out more and more. A few years ago, she designed a derby hat that won a contest run by Gabriel Agreste, and even Audrey Bourgeois was impressed by it—“ She suddenly stopped, and smiled a little wistfully. “Madame Bourgeois offered her an internship in New York, and we all encouraged her to pursue it, and I thought, surely this was her big break. She was ready to go…but at the last minute, she decided to stay in Paris, saying she would miss her friends and family too much. But I realize she really stayed because of her sense of duty. She had to give up her dream of fashion, because of Ladybug.”

“She was really dedicated to Paris. Hopefully, she can still pursue that dream.”

“She’ll find a way. We’ll find a way to help her do so. I know she’d want to get in on her merit too, she wouldn’t want anyone giving her special treatment because of her being Ladybug or what’s happened to her.”

“You mentioned that someone sent you an article about her being a drug addict. There have been other rumors like that going around, that she’s a delinquent and gets weekly detentions. Is there any sort of merit to those?”

“I want to say no. She’s a good kid, and she gets excellent grades. But because of her absences, she has gotten a handful of detentions. I don’t think that’s her fault at all, of course. Her duties as Ladybug do come first. But she’s never done drugs, never committed any crimes, never even fought with us. She’s a really good kid, and I’m so proud of her.”

“You would say you had a good relationship, then?”

“Absolutely,” confirmed Tom. “We make time to spend together as a family, whether it’s preparing a meal, or playing video games. She shared everything with us…which is why I think hiding Ladybug was so hard for her.”

“Well, it’s all out in the open now, so you can work on healing when she comes home.”

“Yeah,” said Sabine, softly. “We just want her home.”

“One last question: what was your reaction to the reveal?”

Tom spoke, “I was angry at first. For the smallest, fleeting second, it was directed at Marinette, for lying, but then I realized that was completely unfair to her, and…I’ve just been angry with Salo ever since.”

“For me,” began Sabine. “I was just horrified. My baby was putting herself in danger almost everyday, for the people of Paris. She doesn’t need that responsibility. She’s just a kid. She does an amazing job, but she doesn’t deserve this.”

Nadja nodded in agreement. “Thank you for speaking with me today.”

“Thank you for having us Nadja,” Sabine stated as she stood. Together, her and Tom went backstage, as Nadja spoke to the camera. “Next, we have Adrien Agreste’s father, fashion mongol Gabriel Agreste, joining me. Despite his fame and influence, Gabriel has been relatively silent on the reveal of Chat Noir’s identity. He has graciously agreed to speak with me tonight.”

Gabriel came out, looking as stoic as ever in a black suit with a green tie. He shook Nadja’s hand briefly, and sat, one leg crossed over the other.

“Thank you for joining me this evening.”

“Thank you for having me, Nadja. I am grateful that you decided to interview us instead of pulling information from social media.”

“If there’s one thing I pride myself on, it’s getting the truth. Now, you saw all the questions I had for you ahead of time, so you know what I’m going to ask. Did you have any idea that Adrien was Chat Noir?”      

“Yes, I had suspected it.” He said easily. “As my son, he only wears the clothes I design, but he always wore a silver ring, and I never knew where it came from. There were times where he would be places he wasn’t supposed to be. Little things really, things that most people wouldn’t notice. In the case where his bodyguard was akumatized, Chat Noir and someone who looked a lot like Adrien were in the same place at the same time, so I chalked up all these circumstances as coincidence. So, when it came out, I was…shocked, but it really didn’t last long. I really don’t believe there’s anyone more capable of wielding a Miraculous than Adrien. The shock just came that he had been kidnapped by some…random thug.”

“I think anyone would find that shocking. Adrien is pretty well known here in Paris. He’s been known as a teenage heartthrob both as himself and as Chat. He’s done plenty of interviews as both too. But, his persona is pretty vastly different between one side compared to the other. Which one would you say is the ‘real’ Adrien?”

Gabriel tapped his fingers on his leg. “I’m not sure if I’m the best judge of that. Loss does something to a person…the last few years, after I lost my wife, I…” he sighed, having a hard time admitting this out loud. “I wasn’t always there. I threw myself into my work. When…when Adrien was little, he was a wild child. He would run and dart and scream and just be completely out of control. As he got older, he calmed down, especially in public. When you are in the limelight as much as we are, you learn to hold yourself to a certain code of conduct, in order to reflect positively on the brand. Watching Chat Noir is like watching that same little boy running around. Adrien is good, kind, helpful, and hardworking. He’s positive and cares a lot about his friends and family. This is true no matter what he’s wearing. That’s the real Adrien.”

“I’m interested to know what Adrien does in his free time.”

“Adrien…doesn’t have a lot of free time. He’s very involved in his studies and extracurricular activities. He does fencing, piano, and Chinese. And that’s on top of school and modeling. But he does enjoy reading and playing video games.”

“My, he certainly is busy! Do you think he’ll continue to model?”

Gabriel winced. “Probably not. If he really wants to, I’ll allow him to. I wanted him to get involved with the brand somehow, so that he’d get work experience. He didn’t enjoy designing at all, but he took to modeling fairly quickly. It was something I wanted him to do. But once he’s free, he’s only doing what he wants. He’s more than earned it.”

“I’m curious to know, how do you feel about the wedding that happened?”

“Marinette Dupain-Cheng has always impressed me. By her talent and skill, and her strong character. I don’t think there’s a more fitting Ladybug, and I’m happy that they could have each other for support in this…terrible time.”

“Will you try to contest it?”

“No. If they want to be married, then they’ll be married. Who am I to stand in their way?”

“A common question that people are asking is: why didn’t you pay the ransom at the beginning?”

Gabriel sighed, looking down, then he collected himself and spoke calmly, almost emotionlessly. “That was the hardest decision I had to make. But for the good of Paris, I refused. Adrien was right, if I gave them millions, what else would they have done? Before he spoke, I was ready to pay any amount of money to get him back…but I wanted to respect his wishes.”

“I don’t think anyone could have made that decision. If anyone faults you for it, they clearly don’t understand where you were coming from.”

“I expect others to be angry about my choice, but it’s something I feel awful about on my own, and I choose not to listen to them.”

“One last question, M. Agreste. Are you personally doing something to look for and rescue them?”

He nodded. “I am. I can’t say what, obviously, but I can see that the authorities are having trouble on their own. So I am using my own resources.”

“Thank you for your honesty and being willing to speak with me this evening.”

“It was my pleasure.”

They went back to Nadja in the studio. “That interview was conducted a few days ago. The families have yet to speak out about Savauge’s release, or the protests outside the station. I’m Nadja Chamack, TVi news.”     

Chapter Text

Four weeks earlier

Luka was four hours late coming home from work. As a delivery driver, work was often impeded by akuma attacks. As it was, Paris had yet to be given the all clear from the newest akuma, a wreck ball man who was causing absolute chaos through the town. As it grew later and later, Luka’s boss decidedly sent him home, with the warning to be careful.

So Luka biked home. In a city as big as Paris, as accustomed it was to Akumas, people were still out and about, rushing to get where they needed to go. There was no slowing down.

It helped keep life to some sort of normality.

When Luka arrived back home, he parked his bike and headed inside.

“Home, ma!” He called.

“Aye laddie! About time! I’ll warm up yer dinner.”

Luka sat on the couch, catching his breath from his rushed trip home. “Where’s Jules?”

“Oh!” called Anarka, with a gasp. “Her and Rose went off with their classmates! Seems Marinette’s gone missing!”

Luka was back on his feet and hurrying into his shoes. “Where did they go? I’ll catch up with them!”

“You’ll do no such thing! You’re going to eat your dinner, and then you’ll wait here. I was worried sick having you both out there with that akuma still on the loose!”

“The akuma hasn’t been seen in several hours,” he pleaded. “Come on ma, you know how much I like Marinette!”

“Butt! Chair! Now!”

Luka did as his mother instructed, but not without crossing his arms in protest.

As he waited, he flicked on the TV. The cooking channel was on. He didn’t much care about cooking, but he didn’t feel like watching anything else.

Any news about Marinette? He texted his sister.

Then it was back to waiting, his foot tapping too quickly, and his eyes darting between the TV and his phone.

Five minutes passed before Juleka texted back, ‘No, Adrien is missing too.’

He was already feeling sick to his stomach, but a knot coiled in his gut. He couldn’t help but feel like their disappearance wasn’t just a coincidence.

Think positive. He told himself. Maybe Adrien finally opened his eyes, and they’re together, and just lost track of time.

Luka knew what was going on at school. Juleka had told him, confessing that Lila’s story didn’t sit right with her. It sure as hell sounded like utter garbage to him. Marinette had been forced to confess her crush in front of her class, in front of Adrien.

That had to have been painful, and Luka bemoaned the fact he wasn’t in her grade. He would have protected her from this! He would have done something!

“Here ya go, boy-o. Hot soup!” Anarka handed him a tray with a bowl and a baguette.

“Thanks ma.”

Still not hungry, Luka stirred the soup with his spoon, unable to do anything else.

He felt useless. Utterly useless.

Suddenly, the TV turned to static, the show cutting out.

“Damn antenna…” he muttered as he lifted the tray off his lap.

The picture came back, but there was a woman with reflective sunglasses instead.

“Good evening Paris. Please excuse me for interrupting whatever pointless drivel you were consumed with. My name is Salo. I’m not an akuma, but you’ll soon wish I was. I have succeeded where all the others have failed.” She stepped back to show Ladybug and Chat Noir, bound and gagged.

That had been nearly a month ago, and the truth that Ladybug and Chat noir were Marinette and Adrien still hadn’t sunk all the way in.

Yes, Luka acknowledged it. Yes, he believed they were both more than capable.

But he didn’t want it to be true.

Because that meant he didn’t stand a chance.

And that was a very selfish thought.

Ladybug, Marinette, had entrusted him with a Miraculous of his own (on loan of course) a couple of times. That had to mean something, right?

If she trusted him enough for that, then that was enough. She did care about him.

But now it was time to move on from liking her, to supporting her. Things would get rough once they got out. And he was absolutely confident that they would! Ladybug and Chat Noir! Heroes!

Still, as he sat back stage, there a flash of anger that course through his veins.

How did he not notice earlier? Surely, Chat Noir was pretty different from Adrien, but he should have at least had a hunch about Ladybug. He was usually pretty good about reading people.

And yet, the girl he cared about the most…he hadn’t even suspected it.

He shook his head in frustration.

“Nervous?” A voice cut into his thoughts.

Looking up, Luka made eye-contact with Jagged Stone, who was wearing an outfit Gabriel designed to match their costumes.  Another fact that he hadn’t quite gotten over yet. He was playing a concert with Jagged Stone tonight!

In front of millions of people.

“No…well, yeah, of course, but…I was just thinking about Marinette.”

“Ah, a young heart in love. A lot of pain, a lot of joy…a pain in the arse.”

Luka chuckled at that.

“Look kid, you’re not gonna be alone out there…for the most part. That solo was your idea.”

“I won’t even be alone for that,” Luka smirked. “I’ll have Adrien with me.”

Jagged gave a hard pat to his shoulder. “I know it’s a somber occasion, but try to have some fun, huh? I know they’d really want it.”

“Yeah, I’ll do my best.”

The city had set up a stage under the Eiffel Tower, one that had no curtains, so the crowd could surround it on all sides. Technically, the band was under the stage, until it was time to begin.

Luka was all ready to go, having tuned his guitars, one electric, one acoustic. He glanced around the space watching people scurry about. Jagged’s band, Kitty Section, Clara Nightingale, Alya and Nino, and a handful of staff. There were some other people he didn’t know.

When he was approached about the concert, he had enthusiastically agreed, though he was warned what could happen if the people who took Marinette found out he was close to them.

They hadn’t taken anyone else yet, but it was just a matter of time.

Still, Luka wasn’t afraid, and he wanted to do this for them.

“Luka?” A girl asked.

He blinked out of his reverie again. “Uh…Kagami, right?”

“Yeah, it’s been a while.”

“Yeah.”

She sat next to him, without another word.

Without much thought, he started to pick at his strings, a soft little melody hanging in the air.

“That’s nice,” said Kagami.

“Thanks…it’s not much.”

“You’re playing tonight, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Nervous?”

“Who wouldn’t be?” He shrugged. He really hoped he wasn’t coming off as short. He just didn’t feel much like talking. That was something Marinette was good about, just willing share her presence and allow herself to get lost in the music with him.

But now she was lost in silence. And even after all was said and done, she’d probably be listening for a piano.

He hit a bad chord, and winced. Then he sighed, and stopped.

“You are fond of her, aren’t you? You went on that double date with us, after all.”

He began to play again. “Yeah, you could say I was fond of her.”

“Did you love her?”

He paused. And then continued to strum. “You know, for all the love songs I’ve ever played and ever wrote…I don’t think I’ve ever been in love before. I think I liked her, a lot. But…”

“Knowing who she is, and seeing it in comparison…it’s not love, right?” She finished for him.

“Yeah…you—you got it right on the head. What about you? Did you love Adrien?”

She shook her head. “Same as you. Thought I did…but…Adrien was my first real friend. I think I assumed the admiration I felt for him was love, when it was just…well, love. But not in the way that I thought. I’m sorry, I’m not great at explaining my feelings. I didn’t mean to heap this on you. You’re about to perform and I’m bothering you—“ She stood.

“Hey, no, Kagami…you’re not bothering me at all.” And she wasn’t. Not anymore. “You put what I’ve been feeling into words, and I’m really thankful for that.”

“Really?” She asked, sitting back down.

“For sure! I’ve felt…kind of selfish lately. Like…really really selfish. I should be worried sick for both of them, and I am! Believe me! But…I’m also hurting. Knowing the feelings I had for her are nothing in comparison for how Adrien feels for her…”

“Hey.” She said sternly. “You felt for her. That’s enough. You’re allowed to be upset. Everyone in this whole darn city is upset. No one will judge your reasoning.”

His lip twitched in a smile. “Darn?”

“I’m not allowed to swear.”

“Well, I won’t tell.”

She glanced around and then finally uttered a soft, “…damn.”

Luka snickered. “That’s the spirit.”

“Thanks for talking with me, Luka.”

“Of course, any time.” And when she stood, he gently grasped her wrist. “I mean it. Any time. We broken hearts have to stick together, right?”

She smirked at him. “Just don’t expect me to fall for you right away.”

His eyes widened. “Right away?”

“Uh—“ She blushed. “Or at all.” She cleared her throat. “Well, break a leg.”

Luka felt himself missing her once she had left, even though she’d only been here for a moment.

Maybe he was just lonely. Despite his still conflicted heart.

“Five minutes!” The stage manager shouted. 

And just like that, all of Luka’s frustrations and sadness disappeared to be replaced with total and complete nervousness.

He exhaled slowly, and put on his mask—the one Marinette had made—and got into position.

He was a few steps behind Jagged, surrounded by other band members, waiting on a hydraulic lift. Any minute now, it would raise up and he’d see the thousands and thousands of people that had come out.

He could already hear them. The crowd was talking, voices muddled together in waves and waves of humming garbage.

His heart pounded in his chest as he swallowed thickly.

Jagged looked over to Clara and nodded. Then they both looked to Luka, who nodded too.

He wanted to do this. For Adrien. For Marinette.

The floor started to move.

Oh god

Oh god

Oh god

Jagged strummed his guitar, beginning the first song. A favorite of Adrien’s, he was told. The whole set list was made up of their favorite songs from the three bands.

Including one that Luka wrote.

Jagged started to sing.

I do not

Understand

What it is

I've done wrong

Full of holes

Check for pulse

Blink your eyes

One for yes

Two for no

I have no idea what I am talking about

I'm trapped in this body and can't get out

Oh, oh

Now that the music started, it was a lot easier to breathe. If he just focused on his guitar and on Jagged and Clara, he’d be fine, totally fine.

Make a sound

Move back home

Pale imitation

With the edges

Sawn off

I have no idea what you are talking about

I'm trapped in this body and can't get out

Oh, oh

Feeling braver, Luka looked up and out into the audience. He almost stopped playing completely. It was an ocean of people, jumping up and down, cheering and singing along. They flooded the entirety of Champ de Mars, so far back he couldn’t see the end of the crowd. Speakers dotted the edge of the park, assuring that everyone could hear the music.

The concert of the century.

Has the light gone out for you?

'Cause the light's gone for me

It is the 21st century

It is the 21st century

You can fight it like a dog

And they brought me to my knees

They got scared and they put me in

They got scared and they put me in

All the lies run around my face

All the lies run around my face

And for anyone else to see

And for anyone else to see

I'm alive

I've seen it coming

The roar of the crowd was incredible. Thousands and thousands of people gathering together, to support his friends. It made Luka nearly weak in the knees.

“Thank you!” Jagged called, the crowd quieting down more. “Thank you all for coming out tonight. It is my esteemed honor to play tribute to the heroes of Paris…Marinette Dupain-Cheng and Adrien Agreste…that’s Ladybug and Chat Noir, if you didn’t already know.” 

More cheering, a sonic boom of devotion and praise.

It was touching to hear Jagged refer to them by their real names first, and not their titles.

“The first time I encountered Marinette was not too many months after she debuted as a superhero. She was helping out at Le Grand Hotel where I was staying, and she was assigned as my gopher. I tasked her with finding a pair of glasses with Eiffel Towers on them, nice and big and totally rock and roll. The first pair she brought back weren’t what I wanted, and I told her as much. She went away and returned an hour later with these glasses,” he gestured to his face. “She couldn’t find the ones I wanted, so she decided to make them herself. I was so thrilled with them! They’re still my favorite accessory! Of course, that same day, Ladybug and Chat Noir both saved my butt from an akuma. Since then, Marinette has designed two of my album covers, and Ladybug and Chat Noir have saved me from akumas, and from akumatization. The moment I saw what happened…I was devastated. Marinette’s become like a little sister to me. I appreciate all the things that she and Adrien do for Paris. And tonight I want to give back. I want to let the world know that we’re not giving up! We are looking! And eventually, we will find them!”

Again, the roar of the crowd was incredible. The sound made the strings of his guitar vibrate against his fingers. It almost hurt!

“This is a song—This song is called Lucky, and I wrote it for Ladybug the first time she saved me.”

The bass guitar started in, a rolling chord setting the tone.

I'm on a roll

I'm on a roll this time

I feel my luck could change

Kill me, cera

Kill me again with love

It's gonna be a glorious day

Pull me out of the aircrash

Pull me out of the lake

'Cause I'm your superhero

We are standing on the edge

The sun hadn’t quite set yet, but the light in the park was rapidly dimming. As the crowd sang along with Jagged and Clara, little lights flickered on in the throng of people. Lighters, cell phones, and candles were raised and swayed in time with the beat.

The head of state has called for me by name

But I don't have time for him

It's gonna be a glorious day

I feel my luck could change

Pull me out of the aircrash

Pull me out of the lake

'Cause I'm your superhero

We are standing on the edge

We are standing on the edge

When the song ended, Luka had to take a steadying breath as he was overwhelmed with emotion. It was just too much.

Above them was a giant screen. Several others were on the edges of the park, with the speakers, assuring that everyone could see the band and the footage that was shown.

What followed was Clara Nightingale’s music video she had created for Ladybug and Chat Noir back when they started out. It was an edited version, instead of shots of Clara, it was B-Roll footage that was taken while Adrien and Marinette were auditioning for Ladybug and Chat Noir. It was almost startling to see them in the costumes without the masks.

Because it was so painfully obvious at that point, and yet no one had noticed.

Luka had gotten to be in the final product, wearing a Ladybug mask and dancing with Marinette and Adrien. That was an incredible experience, one he treasured.

He watched as there were pictures of Adrien and Marinette posing together in costume, looking to all the world like the happiest couple.

The ache in his heart started to subside the longer he watched.

Clara spoke as the video ended. “Such wonderful heroes, together they make,

Marinette and Adrien are truly the best.

To raise awareness for both of their sake,

And so with this concert, I just couldn’t rest!

I met them first one warm November,

Adrien was naturally the perfect cat.

Nervous at first, but his eyes full of ember,

he picked up the role in no time flat!

Ladybug was hard to cast,

My blue eyed, black haired beauty missing,

And Marinette auditioned next to last.

I was becoming dismayed spending the whole day dismissing.

Marinette wasn’t even auditioning for the role,

But Adrien batted his eyes big and green,

And tickled something deep inside her soul.

She was whisked off to makeup and we started the scene!

But alas, what a shame!

Both of their masks had completely disappeared!

It was hard to know who was to blame,

But in the end the video wasn’t even cleared!

How sad I was, and angry too,

For my tribute to be shattered.

My heroes then came to push through, 

And finished the battle only slightly battered!

I’m thankful for them every single day,

And hope they come home soon.

But their trials have inspired me in a new way,

So I’ll say it all with a brand new tune.”

She had a ukulele, plucked out a little melody, and started to sing.

When I am with you

I feel naked

I can't hide my scars

Piece by piece

You put me together

Till I am no longer

Broken

In between shots of Clara singing, there were photos of Marinette and Adrien together, with friends, in costume, anywhere together. One such was them asleep together on the train to London, looking absolutely adorable.

When I am with you

I can be myself

I don't have to wear a mask anymore

You see who I am

Deep down inside

I grow by the light of your gaze

You fill me with wonder

Fill me with hope

You have opened up my mind

I see eternity in every little thing

When you're by my side

Luka took more calming breaths and tried to think about the concert, rather than his suffering friends. He had two songs coming up, and it wouldn’t do them justice if he burst out into tears in the middle of them.

He glanced over at his band mates for Kitty Section. Rose was standing by Juleka, and she looked like she was shaking like a leaf. Quietly, he went over and rested a hand on her shoulder. “You okay?”

“Yeah…just nervous, and I miss Marinette and Adrien. They were both really good at comforting.”

Luka sighed softly, noting that Rose had said ‘were’ and not ‘are’. Past tense.

“There’s nothing to be nervous about. Everyone here is here to support them. If you get emotional, they’ll understand.”

Rose nodded.

“Besides, this is a battle song. We’re waging a war! We’re fighting back.”

Rose nodded harder. “Yeah!” She said a bit too loudly, though the mics didn’t pick her up. 

When I am with you

I don't fear silence

The voices in my head

Leave me peace

Piece by piece

You put me together

And now

I am no longer

Broken.

The song ended and the applause was much more subdued from Jagged’s songs. It was obvious that people had been moved, and not hyped. Still there were whistles and tearful cheers.

A video began to play on the screen, one that Alya had shot a while ago. It showed Marinette outside of school, a bright blush on her face as she clenched the bottom of her shirt.

Alya’s voice spoke from behind the camera, in a nature documenter’s voice. “Here we see the nervousous pigtailious, commonly known as a Marinette, as she prepares to attract a mate.”

Marinette’s head swiveled over to look at her. “Are you seriously recording me right now?”

“A Marinette cannot detect our camera’s if we stay still. Perhaps we can capture the Marinette’s mating ritual for the first time.”

“You are mean and unhelpful.” Marinette said flatly.

“The Marinette is not typically a hostile creature, but will, on occasion, protect itself with a verbal lashing.”

“Well, I’m officially not nervous anymore, but I am annoyed. At you. If this blows up in my face, purge the evidence. If I succeed…play this at my wedding.”

Alya giggled as she said, “The Marinette has targeted her perspective mate,” she turned the camera to lock onto Adrien and Nino, who were a few feet away, chatting by the stairs of the school. “Her target is the sunshinious handsomous, a gentle and docile creature, most commonly known as an Adrien. Here, we see him interacting with a dorkus maximus.”

“I’m telling Nino you said that.”

“The Marinette gathers her courage to approach.”

Marinette glared back, and then inhaled deeply, her shoulders heaving. Then she stormed over to Adrien and Nino, who both beamed at her approach. From this distance, it wasn’t possible to hear what Marinette was saying.

“And thus begins the dance,” said Alya. “The Marinette is a creature of vast ingenuity, and capable of many surprises, but when it comes to finding a mate, she has had no such luck this season.”

The shot showed Marinette flailing her arms, as she backpedalled over her words. She was now shouting. “Not falling for you! Falling here! I fell!”

“And now the Marinette begins her mating call. A different one to be sure, unlike any other in nature. The Adrien has responded to it, but not with a mating call of his own…”

Adrien had taken his bag off his shoulder, digging through it before he took out a little white bottle, and a bottle of water. He tapped the white bottle on her hand, and then gave her the water.

“It seems the Adrien has misunderstood the call, and has determined the Marinette is in distress. A common miscommunication between the Marinette and the Adrien.”

Adrien patted her shoulder warmly, waved to Nino and walked over to his car.

“Once the situation is rectified, the Adrien takes his leave.”

Marinette stomped back over to Alya, her face red and shoulders hunched, as Nino followed behind, laughing uproariously.

“I tried to do the old, ‘did it hurt when you fell from heaven?’ schtick, but instead I said, ‘it hurt when I fell for you. No, when I fell down the stairs, not falling for you. Falling here. I fell. I think I hit my head, and I’m loosing my mind.’ Then he gave me some ibuprofen from his bag and I love him so much!”

After Alya stopped laughing so hard, she finished the recording by saying, “Nature is beautiful.” 

Luka watched the video fondly, having seen it earlier in rehearsal. But now it was his turn. Jagged Stone and Clara Nightingale both nodded him on.

Oh god

Oh god

Oh god

Rose cleared her throat and spoke into the mic, with her incredibly sweet voice, “It’s been said a dozen times already, but thank you all for coming out tonight. We’re Kitty Section. Adrien played the piano for us on occasion, and Marinette designed our costumes. Tonight we’ll be performing a song called ‘Take Me to War’. It wasn’t originally written with Adrien or Marinette in mind, but I think it certainly fits. And they both really liked it too.”

Luka had originally written the song as a response to all the negative feedback they were receiving online. Metal heads didn’t take kindly to metal about glitter and unicorns.

But after watching the stream, Luka had tweaked the lyrics ever so slightly, and found it was a perfect fit.

He started out with a funky beat, before Rose came in on vocals.

I've earned myself a reputation

That my bark is much worse than my bite

But I keep snapping at Goliath's hands

With all of my tiny might

There are no stones at my disposal

There's no God to award me a crown

But I am always swinging at

Somebody I can't knock down

All of the fire I've swallowed

All of the sparks that went dark in my gut

I am always burning up

Luka tried to focus on the music, as his heart thundered in his ears. The sun had set now, and all he could see was an ocean of glittering stars, swaying in time with the music.

Dress me in red and throw your roses

And I'll rankle the beasts with words

It's a graceless dance of epithets

We learn to make someone hurt

They will consume your sweet resistance

And they'll carry your heart in their teeth

But I am always feeding them

The ugliest parts of me

All of the words I've swallowed

All of the sharp things I've kept in my mouth

I am always bleeding out

Up on the screen, between shots of the band members, there were photos and short videos of Ladybug and Chat Noir, fighting their battles. Whether it was akumas or the media, Paris was getting another reminder of the hard work and dedication the heroes always put forward.

Take me to war

Honey, I dare you

I'll be the sweetest thing

To ever scare you

Give me a fight I can't resist

Give me something to break with my fists

Take me to war

Oh, honey, I dare you

Distantly, Luka thought about the parents. Alya had told them that Tom, Sabine, and Gabriel wouldn’t be at the concert, for their own safety, but he at least hoped they were watching. He had seen Nadja Chamack somewhere under the stage, right? They were broadcasting this, right?

Oh god he was on TV!

I watched a weed usurp the garden

And it poisoned the rest of the crops

It would take days of fighting stubborn roots

To tear the whole damn thing out

So I will leave it where it's standing

And instead I will find me a match

I'll turn it all to kindling

I'll burn it all down to ash

All of the ire I've swallowed

All of the coals that still sit in my gut

I am always burning up

As they came back to the chorus, Luka pushed all other thoughts out of his head, and played his heart out. This was for Marinette!

Take me to war

Honey, I dare you

I'll be the sweetest thing

To ever scare you

Give me a fight I can't resist

Give me something to break with my fists

Take me to war

Oh, honey, I dare you

The applause this time was breathtaking. Maybe it was a little selfish, but he reveled in the praise, savoring it. He worked hard, practiced day after day, and wrote the words in his heart. This concert was for Adrien and Marinette, but the applause was for him, for his sister, for all of Kitty Section. It felt nice.

Another video began to play. One of a young Ladybug, right at the beginning of their run during Stoneheart. She stood on the beams of the Eiffel Tower, proclaiming to all of Paris:

“Nice try, Hawkmoth, but we know who the bad guy is. Let's not reverse the roles here. Without you, none of these innocent victims would be transformed into villains. Hawkmoth, no matter how long it takes, we will find you, and you will hand us your Miraculous!” Using amazing acrobatics, Ladybug proceeded to capture every akuma that had appeared, destroying the hideous mask that Hawkmoth had conjured. “Let me make this promise to you. No matter who wants to harm you, Ladybug and Cat Noir will do everything in our power to keep you safe!” She opened her yo-yo, a cloud of Butterflies bursting forth and disappearing into the sky, the video transitioning to black.

While the video played, Luka had switched out his electric guitar with an acoustic, and took a seat on a stool. The lights on the rest of the stage went out, bringing the focus to Luka.

The crowd settled down, to a small murmur.

Luka swallowed, and spoke. “I…I’m not much of gamer.” He began. “Of course, I like a round or two of UMS, but, I’m not the dedicated fan that Adrien apparently is.” He licked his lips as his mouth felt incredibly dry with ten thousand eyes staring at him. “I was watching the stream really late one night, just checking up on them, since I couldn’t sleep, and I saw this moment…well, you’ll see.”

Up on the screen, there was a clip of Adrien from the stream, in his dark cage. The film was green, being shot with night vision. He had his head rested against the wall, and looked up towards the ceiling. The word ‘chatte’ was perfectly visible on the side of his head.

Luka picked out the notes, before Adrien began to sing.

Alduin's wings, they did darken the sky.

His roar fury's fire and his scales sharpened scythes.

Men ran and they cowered and they fought and they died.

They burned and they bled as they issued their cries.

Immediately, people recognized the song, as Luka could hear little gasps. But no one sang along right away, just listening to Adrien. When the chorus broke, a murmur of voices rolled over the stage, in a cloud of harmony, as kindred spirits sang together.

Dovahkiin Dovahkiin naal ok zin los vahriin

Wah dein vokul mahfaeraak ahst vaal

Ahrk fin norok paal graan fod nust hon zindro zaan

Dovahkiin fah hin kogaan mu draal

As Adrien sang, he became a little more triumphant in tune, as his notes filled the silence he was suffocating with.

The crowd fell silent again, listening to Adrien’s tale.

We need saviors to free us from Alduin's rage.

Heroes on the field of this new war to wage.

And if Alduin wins, man is gone from this world.

Lost in the shadow of the black wings unfurled.

Adrien closed his eyes, rocking back and forth, letting the music transport him out and away. To a land of dragons and warriors. It was the best thing for him, pretending to be somewhere where he wasn’t.

But then came the Tongues on that terrible day.

Steadfast as winter, they entered the fray.

And all heard the music of Alduin's doom.

The sweet song of Skyrim, sky-shattering Thu'um.

And so the Tongues freed us from Alduin's rage.

Gave the gift of the Voice, ushered in a new Age.

If Alduin is eternal, then eternity's done.

For his story is over and the dragons... are gone.

When the song was over, and the video cut out, the cheers were deafening. People were crying and sobbing. Adrien was the least prepared to sing in front of an audience. His voice was raw and breaking, some of his notes a little sour. The mic he had wasn’t great, and his throat was dry. He was singing for himself only.

But it was him. He was here with them all. It was his voice. 

And that was enough to make everyone that felt completely useless to feel just a little bit better.

“One last song,” said Jagged, with his own acoustic. “A favorite of Adrien’s…and a bit ironic, if I’m being honest.”

Wake from your sleep

The drying of your tears

Today we escape

We escape

Pack and get dressed

Before your father hears us

Before all hell breaks loose

Breathe

Keep breathing

Don't loose your nerve

Breathe

Keep breathing

I can't do this alone

Sing us a song

A song to keep us warm

There's such a chill

Such a chill

You can laugh

A spineless laugh

We hope your rules and wisdom choke you

Now

We are one

In everlasting peace

We hope that you choke

That you choke

We hope that you choke

That you choke

We hope

That you choke

That you choke

Chapter Text

A small room. Concrete walls, ceiling and floor. A single metal door, with a cold metal table and chair. Illuminated with single flickering lightbulb, casting a sickly yellow light around the surfaces. This kind of room most people would avoid. It offered no comfort, no safety. It held secrets, and no mercy.

To Marinette, it felt like home.

Silence had been a constant companion this last month. Where as Marinette had gotten used to Tikki’s constant presence before, now she was startled by noise. Any noise. She could hear from this dank, secluded room, the sound of water running. Most likely someone else getting a shower.

And the light. There was only an old bulb to illuminate the room, but it was still much too bright for her eyes. So she rested her head in her arms on the table top. The icy water from her power washing still clung to her body, the hospital gown hanging on her turning damp. There was no warmth from the table or chair. Only cold, hard, unforgiving silence.

All there was to do was wait. All there ever was now.

Wait for death.

Something heinous happened in the dark. Every minute of every day, she stewed in fear, in anger, in injustice. The cold bony hand of wrath squeezed her heart, crushing compassion, mercy, and care from her very soul.

No one was coming.

Then she could let them all go. If they were watching, then they could all suffer with guilt.

Sure, she was Ladybug, but she was also a kid. Didn’t that mean anything to anyone? Or were they all expecting her to save herself?

But they had abandoned her. With whatever had happened back at school. The facts were blurry at this point, but she remembered everyone shunning her.

So why would her being Ladybug change anything?

But Adrien…

Her heart softened. He didn’t deserve whatever fate had befallen him. He had fought so hard, so valiantly, there was no blame on him.

He was the only person she could forgive.

But he was gone. And now she alone.

Alone in the silence.

So now the question remained: Dare she save herself?

What kind of life awaited her outside, anyway? What kinds of things were they saying about her?

Ladybug, the failure. The little girl that fooled the whole city. The disgusting pig.

There’d be hell to pay. She’d show Salo what revenge really looked like.

They thought Ladybug was red? She’d give them red.

Marinette sat up slightly, her bangs shielding the light from her eyes. She looked down at her hands.

Bony, dry, callus, and bruised. The hands of a corpse. That’s what she felt like at least. This was some sort of limbo she lived in. Half aware, plotting and calculating her revenge…the other half…twisted. The hallucinations in the cell were so vivid, so real. It was hard to tell the difference between them and what was real.

I’ve gone insane. She insisted in her mind. Normal people didn’t think like this. Normal people didn’t daydream about strangling people with their intestines.

This room was too big. She wanted back in the closet. 

The door opened again, Salo and one of her henchmen escorting another prisoner onto the bleak room. They had them by the arm, and all but shoved them into the room before slamming the door shut behind them.

Then suddenly, Marinette wasn’t alone in the silence anymore.

A young man, tall, pale. He was just a skeleton with skin stretched over him. He was incredibly bruised, and his legs were stained with filth. His blonde hair was drenched and also looked stringy and dull.

Did she look like that too? She wondered.

The young man toddled into the room, using the wall for balance.

Then he looked up, and met her eyes.

An impossible green. A green that haunted her for days. The green that accompanied the last echoes of his voice.

My Lady! My Lady!

It was Adrien.

And she hadn’t recognized him.

Marinette bolted from her chair and staggered over to him.

“Kitty?” She whispered, ever so gently.

Tears gathered in his eyes as he reached his one working arm out to caress her face. “My lady?” His whisper was even softer, his voice was gone, and he only spoke with the air in his lungs. 

“What have they done to you?” One hand held his cheek, as the other rested on his chest. She could feel his ribs, and the dent in his sternum she had caused with her crowbar.

He didn’t answer, his lips pulling into a thin line.

Adrien leaned down, pressing a soft kiss on her lips. Then he rested his forehead against hers. There was a purr deep down in his chest, a remnant of being the Black Cat for so long. He still only spoke with a breath. “For better or for worse, in sickness and in health. I may have been forced to say that, but I take my vows seriously.”

“Kitty…” She cried, resting her hand on the back of his neck. “I love you so much. I thought…I thought they had killed you by now.”

“They gave it a good shot.” He nuzzled against her. “But as long as I know you’re still with me, I’ll keep fighting.”

Her fingers curled into his skin, her voice dripping with ferocity. “I will never leave you.”

The door opened again, much too soon for both of them, and they clung tighter together.

“Together again for five minutes and you just can’t keep your hands off of each other. Young love…what a joke.”  Salo’s voice pierced through their bubble.

Adrien didn’t look up, didn’t give her any attention. His lady was back in his arms, and that’s all that mattered.

“So selfish.” She scoffed. “You two aren’t even interested in the guest I’ve brought?”

Marinette shook her head. She didn’t want to see anyone from outside. They all abandoned her, abandoned them, why should she care?

But Salo had never given them a choice, and so they were dragged back into that big room where evil persisted.

The lights were blinding, and they both had to hide their faces in their arms.

Then they were being chained up, and there was nothing to do but clench their eyes shut and wait until they adjusted.

“What’re the stats, Harken?” Salo asked a corner of the room.

“Over 2 million online. We have some from Japan and Australia tuned in this time too.”

“My my, this is becoming a very big deal.”

Marinette, squinting heavily, peered up and looked around. The room was still pretty bare, save for a wooden chair that sat between her and Adrien.

“You two missed out on so much while you were sleeping. You remember my Eddy, right?”

Neither of them answered, but it was a given. The arrest of Edward Savauge is what had gotten them here in the first place.

“Well, looks like he’s been released on lack of evidence. No witnesses. Sure is interesting, don’t you think?”

Marinette rolled her eyes. It really wasn’t the surprising. It just sucked that their effort of bagging him had gone to waste. “So?” Marinette asked. “There’s no reason to keep us anymore.”

“On the contrary, Miss Bug. Now there’s no possible way I can let you leave. Not even if you pinky promise that you won’t say a word.”

“I figured as much.” She drawled.

“Now, don’t you want to know what’s being said about you out there?”

“Not particularly.”

“Come on, aren’t you just the tiniest bit curious?”

“If you’re trying to egg me on, I’m assuming it can’t be good.”

Salo laughed. “Boy, you are so full of spite! I love it!” She called over her shoulder. “Pasolini, I think you can bring our guest in.”

Marinette looked over to Adrien, who’s eyes were downcast. Seemed he was just as unenthused about their guest as she was.

A young woman was ushered in. She had a bag over her head.

But Marinette recognized the orange sweater immediately.

The girl was shoved into the chair before Salo ripped the bag off of her head.

Adrien and Marinette shared looks of disgust.

Salo grinned. “Glad you could join us, Miss Rossi. I’m Salo, and I’d like to ask you a few questions.”

Lila, for all the acting that she had performed, was downright terrified. “Please, let me go! I didn’t do anything! Please!”

Salo looked to her prisoners, finding them stone faced. “Why Marinette, aren’t you happy to see your best friend? And Adrien, I know you must feel guilty for cheating on her with Marinette, but you must be happy to see your girlfriend, right?”

Adrien scowled at them both, not saying anything with his mouth, but volumes with his eyes.

“Hmm, there seems to be some misunderstandings here. Let’s see if we can find that interview.”

The tv behind Salo lit up, Lila’s face on it with a news ticker underneath. She was teary-eyed and delicately dabbed her cheek with a napkin. “It sickens me. Adrien isn’t actually Chat Noir, and Marinette Dupain-Cheng isn’t Ladybug. You see, Adrien and I…well, I see no point in keeping it a secret anymore, we were dating. Under the radar, of course, he’s not allowed to date. And then he told me that he came up with this idea of a performance piece and asked if I wanted to play the role of Ladybug. I said no, absolutely not, and so he broke up with me. I think the whole wedding bit was really just a ploy to make me jealous and have me crawl back to him. But now I know that he’s just sick and wants attention. Marinette has been that way since I met her. She’s always tried to get attention and lied to do so. I think we should all stop giving it to them and turn off the stream.”

Lila turned pale and shrank in her seat at the absolute rage on Marinette’s face, as she turned her gaze to stare at Lila.

Salo shrugged. “Well Marinette, looks like we’ve been found out. Now everyone knows about our performance piece. And Adrien…your relationship isn’t so secret anymore, I’m afraid.”

Adrien trembled in his anger, before an inhuman sound ripped from his throat. The sound of a caged animal breaking.

Salo just laughed at him. “Mm, interesting. I wonder…who’s lying?” Sang Salo. “Ladybug always wants justice, right?” She leaned on Lila’s shoulder, a spool of thread with a needle in her hand. “Then will you snitch? Knowing that snitches get stitches?”

Lila sobbed. “Marinette, I’m sorry! You know me—Always good for a j-joke!”

“Ah ah ah, I wasn’t talking to you Miss Rossi.”

Marinette saw the needle and thread for what it was. Another torture device. Maybe the old Marinette would have taken the easy way out. ‘Taken the high road’ so to speak, and let things unfold by themselves. She would give Lila this lie, setting her free, and saving herself from unnecessary pain.

But this Marinette was ready to hit where it hurt, no matter the sacrifice. And Salo was giving her the platform to do so.

“A joke.” Marinette repeated. “I’m a joke to you.”

“No! That’s not—! What I mean is—“

“My suffering has always been a joke to you.” Marinette interrupted. “When you got me expelled for something I didn’t do. When you tricked everyone into thinking I was some sort of creep. When you endangered me as Ladybug by taking Chat Noir out of the fight with a lie.”

“But—no! I was—I was just trying to make friends and get Adrien to like me! None of that stuff was on purpose!”

Marinette scoffed, and turned her head away. Even here, after all this, Lila was still lying. Arguing with her was not worth it.

Salo was the one to poke the bear. “So you hate her, Marinette? Having her here angers you?”

Marinette considered this. Then answered coldly. “No. She is annoying. Irritating. If you had asked me when I first came here how I felt, I would have said yes, I hated her. But now, after all I’ve felt, all I’ve learned…what I feel for her is not nearly what I feel for you, Salo.”

“Oh!” Salo rested a hand on her chest. “Aww, Marinette, I feel the same for you! Would you…be my enemy?”

Marinette glared at her. “I hope you choke.”

Salo laughed. “She’s so sassy! I love this new Ladybug! What about you, kitty cat? How do you feel about all of this?”

They looked to Adrien, who was staring at the floor. He looked like he wasn’t paying attention.

Salo snapped in front of his face. “Hey, I asked you a question, Pussy Cat.”

He looked up at Salo, then at Lila, and then back down to the floor.

Salo whistled lowly, “man, isolation was not good for you.”

Adrien didn’t respond to that, and kept his gaze on the floor.

To the outside, he looked resigned and obedient, but in his head, dark thoughts of revenge circled. Violent, unnatural, evil thoughts.

“Well,” said Salo, patting Lila’s head. “If having her here isn’t that big of a deal, I might as well get rid of her.” Her hand went to her hip.

Lila started crying. “Marinette! Please help me! Tell her to let me go! Please! I beg you!”

Marinette let out a dark laugh. “You think I can do anything? You think if I had any power, I wouldn’t have saved myself by now?”

Salo withdrew the gun, pointing it between Lila’s eyes.

“Please Marinette!”

Salo smiled. “My goodness! Ladybug, savior of Paris, would allow a civilian to get hurt?”

“Lila isn’t a civilian.” Marinette corrected, her voice deep. “She’s a parasite. A liar and a manipulator. She hurts everyone around her, and only causes trouble. Her disappearance would only be a good thing.”

The barrel rested between Lila’s eyebrows. “So I can dispose of her? You don’t mind?”

Marinette shrugged, her face blank. “Blow her brains out.”

Lila sobbed. “I lied!” She screamed. “I lied about everything! This is real! There’s no performance going on! I never dated Adrien and Marinette never lied! Marinette never took any pictures of Adrien! She never stole anything! She didn’t cheat on her test! She didn’t push me down the stairs! I never met any celebrities! And I hate Ladybug!”

Salo looked at her with surprise. “What? Is this a confessional?”

“I told the truth! Isn’t that what you wanted from me?”

Salo barked a laugh. “You think this is about you?! You’re such a stupid bitch! I can’t believe you actually thought you had anything to do with this!”

“…then…why was I here?” She asked, trembling.

“You were the one broadcasting yourself all over the news! You know, I thought you did have some connection to them, but you actually lied and put yourself in trouble! You’re such an idiot. Why did you think this was a good idea? You’re so desperate for attention that you painted a giant target on your back.” She laughed again, being amused by the whole thing. “You have the gall to believe that you’re important in any capacity? My revenge is against Ladybug and Chat Noir! If you have nothing to do with them, then you’re useless to me!” 

“Marinette!” Lila screamed. “Help me! Please!”

Marinette glared at her. “Even if I could, I wouldn’t.”

Lila cried out, bawling her eyes out, pleading with everyone.

Then the barrel of the gun pulled away. And Salo started laughing. “Wow, harsh. And I thought I went through petty high school drama.” She clicked the gun back into the holster. “But I can’t let Marinette have to satisfaction of you being killed. Warren?” She nodded to a man in the back of the room. “Take her out to some park and leave her. They’ll find her.”

“Yes ma’am,” said the brute.

“But before you go…I want Miss Rossi to witness this.” She held up the spool and needle, holding it in the light. “Pasolini, if you would be so kind?”

Marinette didn’t show any outside signs of panic or fear, but tightened her hands into fists.

Pasolini came from behind, resting one hand on her shoulder, and the other other throat, tilting her chin up.

“You’re not going to fight?” Asked Salo. “No screaming? No kicking?”

“Why? Is it not as fun for you if I behave?” Marinette bit back.

Salo grinned, snapping a rubber glove onto her hand. “You got me there. Still going to sew your mouth shut though.”

Marinette looked to all the world calm and collected, as Salo used a sharpie to mark the inside and outside of her lips, creating the guide.

She took hold of her bottom lip and pulled it forward.

Marinette’s eyebrows drew together as the needle pierced her skin, going in the bottom and out the top. There was no numbing, no relief, only stinging sharp pain. Even when the needle was through, the cotton thread ripped through the puncture. Then Salo moved to the top lip, puncturing through the bottom to the top, and then back down again.

Under and over, a basic stitch pattern. Marinette didn’t make a peep, but the tears still rolled down her cheeks. Blood oozed from the piercings, smearing around and turning Marinette’s mouth red.

Finally, Salo made one last stitch, eight in total, and made sure it was pulled tight. Then she tied it off and snipped the access. “I’m not much of a seamstress, but I think I did pretty good!”

She brought a mirror over so Marinette could see her new look. The way she had done it forced her lips into a pout, and right around the edges there were little black lines were the thread was visible. Testing the strength, Marinette found she could very slightly open her mouth, enough to maybe drink some water, before it hurt.

“Ah, much better! Now I don’t have to listen to your god awful annoying voice anymore!” Salo cheered.

Marinette tore her gaze away from her reflection, to glare at Salo. There was a threat in her eyes, but it would continue to be unvoiced.

“What do you think, Adrien?” asked Salo, turning to him. “You’ve been awfully quiet this evening.”

Adrien whipped his head up, his face full of rage, eyes burning, and hissed at her.

Salo grimaced. “Yikes. Nothing worse than a poorly behaved kitty. Well, we’ll just have to train that out of you.” She waved at a man in the shadows, gesturing him forward. “Warren, you can escort Miss Rossi out now. I don’t particularly care for keeping her around.”

The room went into motion. Lila was bagged again and dragged out of the room, while other devices were brought forward.

For Adrien, it was a large metal rack, with straps for the arms and legs, and a link for the collar around his neck. It almost looked like a cross. He was strapped in, both arms, and his feet were splayed apart.

Then they attached pads with wires to his palms, the pads of his feet, the underside of his arms by his armpits, and the area right below his bellybutton.

Marinette watched all of this with a careful eye, not able to ask questions, but extremely wary. She could have sworn she had seen those pads in a movie or something.

Next, the men moved two metal hoops on stands on either side of her. They weren’t too big. Large enough to comfortably fit her arms through. At it seemed exactly what they wanted her to do.

Then finally, Salo brought over two buckets and a pitcher of water. “Well, don’t you look just absolutely curious?”

Marinette flicked her eyes over all the components in the room, an answer to her question starting to form.

“Now this is a fairly simple device of my own design. You’ll be putting your hands through these hoops, and holding up these buckets of water. As time goes on, I’ll add a little water at a time. All you have to do is hold them still. If you touch the hoop…well…” Instead of finishing the sentence, Salo rested a wooden dowel on the edge of the ring, just touching it ever so briefly.

A spark flew off of it, and Adrien’s whole body seized up for a second. He let out a grunt of pain.

“The longer you touch the ring, the longer the shock. But you can handle this, right? Ladybug is so strong!”

But Marinette wasn’t about to tell her that it was only because of the earrings that she had such heightened strength. It’s not like she could, anyways.

Two goons took hold of her arms and fed them through the hoops. They placed the handles of the buckets in her hands, and then taped her fist closed, so she couldn’t drop them. With the buckets in place, it was impossible to pull her hands back through the hoops.

Even with a few inches of clearance on all sides, she still could feel the static around her wrists. It didn’t help that she was still pretty wet and she was holding metal buckets.

“One last thing,” Salo snickered, placing a bag over Marinette’s head. “Can’t have you knowing where the ring is, right?”

Despite the tape, Marinette clenched the bucket tighter. If that spark was any indication, she’d be shocked too, and a shock could contract her muscles and freeze her in place.

Then water started to pour into the buckets. Just about a cup on each side. But Marinette had lost a lot of muscle in isolation. 

“15 minutes, and then you can go back in your little cage.” Salo giggled, the chair Lila had sat in scrapping across the floor. “Oh, and by the way, if you touch the ring for too long, you could kill Adrien. Those bolts will cross the body, passing by his heart. I know his heart stops when you walk into the room, but let’s not get too literal, huh?”

Maybe it would be a mercy to kill him. Surely it would be painful the whole time, but…no. No, she couldn’t do that. It was just her twisted brain obsessed with death.

Five minutes in, and she was already struggling. Her shoulders, biceps, and even her neck hurt. She hadn’t hit the hoop yet, but it was only a matter of time. Salo added a little more water.

At seven minutes, her arms lowered the tiniest amount too much and she touched the bottom of the ring, sending out a bolt of pain up her arm for a millisecond.

Somewhere in front of her, Adrien barked in pain.

Shortly after, the pain had mostly disappeared, only leaving a slight tingle behind instead.

Another minute passed, and Marinette sank again, the touch lasting a little longer this time. She yelped in pain, pulling at her stitches.

“Uh oh, are we giving up already?”

Marinette was sweating, her muscles trembling. Her elbows felt like they were hyper extended and her wrists ached. The metal handle dug into the crease of her fingers.

Another round of tears cleaned streaks on her dirty face.

Another touch, longer this time. And when she over corrected, she touched the top too, her whole arm convulsing and violently jerking.

Adrien wasn’t fairing much better. He closed his eyes, unable to watch, and waited for the inevitable pain to come.

The first was short, and it also didn’t even hurt. It just caused all of his muscles to contract. The wires in the paddles left a tingling sensation behind.

The next one was worse. There was really no way to describe the sensation except for painful. Excruciatingly painful. A flash of white behind his eyes, every muscle in his body contracting, tightening, and feeling like he was tearing apart. The bolts burned his skin, heat zipping across his flesh and into his bones.

Each touch, even the most gentle, brought agonizing pain to every inch of his body.

He knew he was screaming, but it was unbidden. Happening without his consent.

Once the shock had ended, and the pain had just about subsided, another shock would be inflicted.

Marinette felt like her arms were going to rip off. There couldn’t be more than a liter in either bucket, but they were just so heavy.

She trembled as she tried to hang on. But finally, at the 14 minute mark, her arms gave out, and she collapsed, bringing the rings down with her to the floor.

Sparks flew everywhere, not just burning her arms, but the rest of her as well.

Adrien’s screams sounded like a garbage disposal in the sink. His voice had been destroyed in isolation, and all that was left was gurgling and yowling.

Then it all stopped.

Marinette laid on the floor, her arms itching from burns. She was exhausted, and couldn’t find the strength to do anything but breathe.

“Is that it?” Someone asked.

“Johnson, Check for a pulse.”

Marinette felt someone holding her wrist. “She’s still got one.” Then she waited on bated breath. “He’s got one too.”

Salo pulled the hood off of her head as men ripped the tape off her fingers. “Wow! What a shocking development!”

Marinette opened her mouth to protest, finding the thread looser, but not undone. She also tasted a lot of blood.

Salo plucked one end of the thread and pulled it tight again. “Hmm, that might just leave a scar.”

Marinette pushed up on one arm so she could look at Adrien.

He hung lifelessly by the wrists. His skin was blackened in some areas, in bolt shaped lines. His hair had fluffed up from the static.

Salo snapped in front of his face, but there was no response. “Ugh, guess we’re done. Can hurt someone who’s unconscious, right?”

They were lead back to the first set of cells they had been kept in. She wobbled, but walked on her own, while Adrien was dragged by his working arm.

The tiny cell was almost comforting. Being in the cold, quiet dark. Tucked into a small corner of the world.

She couldn’t speak, but she moaned, making noise to get Adrien’s attention.

He didn’t answer.

Not that she really expected him to.

With a sigh, she slid down to sit, resting her feet against the door.

It groaned in response.

That’s right, these cells were just old ductwork that had been repurposed. The metal wasn’t very thick, like sheets of steel, but it was sharp.

An idea started to roll around in her head. Risky, but plausible. If they were desperate enough.

She was certainly angry enough. But the truth of the matter was that she wasn’t doing anything without Adrien.

So she waited.

Her body demanded rest, but she knew she couldn’t indulge. Not yet. Her arms throbbed from holding up the buckets, and her legs ached from standing after sitting for so long.

But enough wallowing in pain. Now was time for action.

She reached under the door towards Adrien’s cell, her arm fitting a lot easier than when they were first inducted. Perhaps her wasting would be beneficial.

She stood back up, and ran her hands all over the inside of the cell, finding a small camera. She twisted it so it faced away from the door. Then she knelt and got to work.

Very slowly and quietly, she pushed on the bottom of the door, easing it away from her. No sudden movements, or the metal would rattle loudly.

Only a few minutes passed before Adrien groaned from his cell, and shifted, the metal groaning. “My Lady?” He whispered.

She grunted back.

He reached his arm under his door towards her.

For assurance, she patted his hand, but went back to work.

Soon enough, the metal had bent far enough that she could fit her shoulders through. She had to be careful, or else she’d cut herself.

As her feet cleared the threshold, her heart began to pick up in anxiety. She was out. But they weren’t free yet, so she knelt in front of Adrien’s door, and began pulling.

Adrien caught on quickly, and moved the camera just like she had.

This was it. Marinette was banking on the idea that Salo and her men had gotten cocky, and had lowered security for the night.

If not, they were in for a world of pain.

Finally, Adrien was able to crawl out of the little space they had created. He met her eyes in the dim light and smiled at her.

Phase one complete.

Chapter Text

Unchained. Free from their cages. It was almost too much. They hadn’t even gotten out yet and Adrien was already overwhelmed. He expressed this with a small whine in the back of his throat.

Marinette took Adrien’s hand, her thumb rubbing over his knuckles. She wanted to tell him so many things. How much she loved him, how no matter what happened, they could handle it.

You and me against the world, right?

Adrien squeezed her hand back, seemingly understanding what she was trying to say.

They quietly made their way into the hall. It was long, and lit every ten feet with a little light by the floor, like a movie theatre. It was lined with several doors, all with vault locks on them. All but the room they had been in. She hoped they were just lucky in that respect, and that it wasn’t some sort of trick.

So far, everything was quiet, as no one had noticed their escape. But they were both incredibly weak, and so they went slow.

The path to the torture chamber was well worn by now. Despite the halls being unmarked and dark, they still found their way there. The only problem was finding their way out.

They came to the door to the room, it only was open a crack.

It was time for phase two: retrieve the Miraculous.

Marinette peered inside. On the table on the far side of the room was the safe with the Miraculous. At least, she hoped they were still in there.

She nudged the door a little more, trying to see in the rest of the room. She could see the table with the computer, and the man named Harken sitting behind it. He had his arms crossed while he lulled his head in sleep.

The rest of the room looked empty.

Marinette turned to Adrien, making a ‘V’ shape over her eyes and gestured down the hall.

He nodded curtly, keeping watch.

Slowly, and ever so carefully, Marinette pushed the door open a fraction more, and slid inside.

There were a few cameras pointing around the room, and she made sure to stay out of their sight...though that meant coming closer to Harken.

The man wasn’t snoring, and he had big reflective glasses on like Salo, so it was hard to tell if he was sleeping or not.

But he didn’t move, so she made an assumption, and kept going.

Finally she reached the table, grabbing the safe and testing the lock.

It was locked alright, and Marinette had no guess for the combination.

Still, she scooped it up, and went back the way she came. Thankfully, the lockbox was like a briefcase and had a handle on it.

Her pulse throbbed in her ears, a silent clock in her mind, saying that all could go up in smoke at any second.

But so far so good.

Adrien was a step behind her, and he was slowly falling farther and farther behind.

She looked at him in question.

He was breathing harshly, but shook his head, gesturing her onward.

She only squeezed his hand tighter, and pulled him along.

Then they came to a fork, and Marinette hesitated. The lights on the floor stopped here, and there was no way to guess which way to go.

So she picked the right.

And ended up face to face with Pasolini.

“Hey!” He shouted, his voice much too loud in the infinite hallway.

After years of fighting, some things were still instinctual. With all the strength left in her trembling arms, she wound up, and careened the lock box into Pasolini’s face, knocking him on his ass.

Then she turned face and tried to run down the other hall.

But Pasolini, disorientated as he was, still had half a mind to reach out, and grab whatever was nearest to him. Which happened to be Adrien’s leg. His hand wrapped all the way around Adrien’s ankle, with no hope of kicking it off.

Marinette pulled on him, trying to tug him with her, grunting. All the while, lights were coming down the hall from behind Pasolini, and she could hear Salo’s voice.

“You have to let me go, My Lady.” He croaked.

Her eyes widened, and she moaned in protest.

“You have the Miraculous! Go! Run!”

I will never leave you. She had promised him that only a few hours ago.

But he was right.

As his fingers slipped from hers, a tear fell from her eyes. She backed away, unable to tear her eyes from him, until the shadows swallowed her.

Then she was alone. And the weight of her actions fell solidly on her gut.

She would never see Adrien again.

She stumbled, wandering blind. Guilt crashing into her with each step. Maybe if she went back, maybe if she offered the Miraculous back, they’d spare him.

But he’d never forgive her for giving up her chance at freedom.

She glanced back, the flashlights from her tormentors were just dots in the distance.

The hall was long, old, and covered with sharp rocks. Each step was painful, physically and emotionally. Eventually, she came to an intersection, and she took a turn without thinking, then another, then another, just trying to put distance between herself and her tormentors.

She hugged the lockbox to her chest. I wish Tikki and Plagg were here.

Well, they kind of were. She just couldn’t get to them. So she took a second to kneel and hold the box out. It was pitch black, but she felt along the box to find the opening. Then she felt along the floor for a sharp edge to hit it against.

She reeled up, and slammed the box down, hearing the Miraculous dingle from inside the box. But there was no give, so she slammed it again. And again. And again.

Her arms were so sore, and she knew she wasn’t making any progress, but she was desperate to open it.

There were footsteps. Someone had heard her and they were coming this way!

She wobbled to her feet, took up the safe again, and ran.

Left, right, right, left. She just continued to duck and weave to throw off her pursuer.

Then her legs gave out.

Exhausted, scared, and guilt ridden, Marinette sat on the cold dusty floor, and tried to catch her breath. She didn’t feel like she was making any progress. Where even was she? This building just kept going on and on like a Labyrinth. It was cold, and wet, and so so quiet, just like a grave.

Marinette took a sharp inhale. She…she couldn’t be…

Once she caught her breath, she pushed back up on her feet and began her trek again. She had to find some kind of hint to where she was.

Since she was so weak, she had to use the wall for support, feeling the cold limestone on her palms. And then for a moment, it was smooth and flat, with little grooves carved into it.

Are these words? She wondered. She felt all along the flat square and tried to make out the letters.

Sous les murs de la pépinière

Under the walls of the nursery. What nursery?

But that was French! She had seen German earlier, so why now French? Except, this was carved in the wall, while the German had been painted. Could this be older?

So there was a chance they were still in France. Where though, she had only a hunch. And she hoped she was wrong.

Marinette could hear the echo of voices, disorientated as they bounced around the cavern. But she’d rather move than stand still.

This was the stuff of nightmares. Being trapped in the dark, with no idea where you are, or who or what was with you. Every step was unknown, unsure. The only sounds were her rapid breath, her heart pounding in her ears, or rocks skittering around the ground.

And then, the inevitable threat of her captors, or something even more sinister, held in the dark. Even the path was a mystery. Would the ground give out beneath her? Would she run into something, like a wall, or something sharp?

She took a turn too quickly and stepped on something round. She rolled forward and landed in a pile of sticks. She groaned in the pain from the fall, her knee and arm taking the brunt of it.

As she went to stand, Marinette realized she had flung the lockbox forward in her trip, and she began to feel around for it.

A lot of smooth sticks is what she found, all clattering around with each movement.

Then her hand rested on a stone.  The perfect tool to help her get into the box!

But as she lifted it, she found it much lighter than a rock. It was smooth, and had little grooves on the top, but as she felt down, she felt a hole, two holes, a sort of heart shaped hole, and then some jagged pieces towards the bottom—

Marinette threw it away from her, realization dawning on her in horror.

That was a skull. And these weren’t sticks, they were bones. An entire pile of bones.

It wasn’t just a hunch anymore. She was in the catacombs! A maze of death, that went on for miles and miles under Paris!

She scrambled to her feet, and quickly found the lockbox among the bones. Then she backtracked away, going the opposite direction from them. 

Being a native Parisian, she had heard the stories. People obsessed with the catacombs, venturing down through forbidden entrances, only to get lost and never heard from again.

It was a horror story that every child knew. Don’t wander where you’re not supposed to, or you’ll join the 8 million remains under the city.

And right now, she very well could. She was so hungry, so tired, in so much pain…

She was lost. Utterly and completely lost. No light to see, no mouth to cry for help, barely any legs to stand on…

And no partner with her.

She just started crying. Like a toddler lost in the mall, helpless to figure out any solution, she just crouched and cried.

She had been staggering around for hours now, and all there was was darkness. Surely Adrien had met his demise by now. Even if she went back, there would be no saving him.

Not that she could find her way back anyway. She was lost in the depths of hell.

Part of her wondered why she was even bothering with escaping now. What was left? A lifetime of suffering from trauma and loneliness.

She had lost Adrien and Chat Noir. The two people who continued to stand by her side through everything. Her partner, her best friend, the love of her life.

Resigned, her head lulled back and hit the wall behind her.

God, if you’re there, please…please help me. I don’t want it to end like this.

She opened her eyes, and in the infinite blackness that surrounded her, there was a dot of light.

Daylight.

The first glimpse of it she had seen in what seemed like forever.

A hole in the surface, with fifty feet of concrete between them, with no way to get to it.

But it was a glimmer of hope in utter desolation.

It filled her with just enough hope for her to stand again, and start wandering.

She tried to push out all of the hopelessness in her brain that kept telling her to lay down and die. Yes, she had lost it all. Yes, she was alone…but once she got out, she was putting on both Miraculous. Then Salo would pay.

Wait, couldn’t the Miraculous give her a wish? She could have Adrien back!

She hurried her steps.

Within an hour or so, she reached an end. A wall with a series of bars on it.

A ladder!

She slid the handle of the lockbox over her wrist, and then slowly began to climb.

She climbed and she climbed. The ladder just kept going, up and up. It was exhausting, but once she reached the top, she’d be free!

The ladder came to an end on a platform. In front of her, she could see a line of light on the floor, the underside of a door!

Right there! Right in front of her!

She ran to it, her palms resting on the cold metal. A door! Here! And daylight beyond it!

Tears overflowed as she was overwhelmed with joy in the first time in days.

What was she waiting for!?

She felt along the edges of the door, finding an old rusty knob. She turned it, only to have it jam.

Locked.

Of course.

But she was so damn close!

Marinette made a fist and pounded at the surface, her knocks loud and echoing throughout the cavern. Someone would hear her! Surely someone would!

—

On the outside, a two teenage boys, brothers, were walking home from school. The path led through Montparnasse, a path they had known all their lives.

And yet, they had never paid too much attention to the utility door between two old buildings.

Until today, when frantic pounding came from it.

“Did you hear that?” Asked the older boy.

“What?”

“It sounds like someone’s knocking.”

BANG BANG BANG

“Yeah…yeah, I hear it too. It’s coming from over here.” The younger boy wandered over to the side street. “Hello? Is someone there?”

The banging got louder, like two fists rapidly drumming on the surface.

“It’s coming from this door.” Said the older boy. “Are you in there?!” He called.

There was a muffled scream in response.

“Are you in trouble?!”

Along with the screaming came a much louder bang, like a rock or something hit the door.

“Alright, don’t panic! We’ll get you out!”

As Marinette had found, the knob was locked. “It’s locked, we’ll have to get something to break the knob off.”

“Oh my god,” said the younger boy. “Charlie, I just had a thought.”

“What?”

“What if that’s Ladybug?”

The older boy gave him a doubtful look. “I thought they said it’s likely that they’re in Germany. I bet this is just some utility worker that lost his keys.”

The younger brother ignored him and asked. “Are you Ladybug or Chat Noir?”

The answer was an unintelligible squeal.

“One knock for yes, two for no!”

They waited.

BANG

“Oh my god…”

“We have to go to the police!” Said the younger brother.

“No, we need to…look, there’s some real shit going down with this stuff. We need to go to Gabriel Agreste himself.”

“Why?”

“Because the cops aren’t doing anything, and I bet you fifty bucks a man like that has some PIs at work. Or something, I don’t know!”

“You’re right!”

From the other side came frantic screaming, and the pounding got louder and faster.

And then it stopped.

“Ladybug?! Hey, are you still there?!”

No answer.

“We’re going to get help! We’ll let you out! Just hang on!”

—

It was one of the unknown men that found her.

Salo hadn’t introduced any of her lackeys at any point, but Marinette was well acquainted with them by now. This was a bald guy who usually operated a camera.

“She told us to check all the entrances. Said if you weren’t at one, you’d probably be dead. And what do you know, this was the last one to check.”

Marinette didn’t even fight as he scooped her up. The boys weren’t able to open the door, and she wouldn’t be able to fend this man off long enough for them to find something to use.

“Now come along, Miss Bug. The Mistress has some words for you.” He lifted her and flopped her over his shoulders like a sack of potatoes. Then he descended the ladder.

As the man carried her back to the torture chamber, Marinette was saddened to find that she hadn’t gotten very far. In all her twists and turns, she had doubled back on herself, and made little progress.

Still, it took about an hour to walk all the way back. But the man was walking at a steady clip, in comparison to her uneasy staggering.

And he had a headlamp so he could see where he was going.

“You know,” he said, his tone a lot more gentle. “If I’m being honest, I was really hoping you’d gotten out. I’d like to let you go...but Salo always knows when you lie. And you never lie to them, you know? Or else you end up down here.”

Marinette hummed with curiosity, latching onto that statement.

He seemingly understood and continued. “The place you’ve been, it’s an old World War II Nazi bunker. Salo and Savauge have been using it for years as a...final punishment for people that betray them. Videos are recorded of their demise, and are mailed back to their families.” He sighed. “You don’t quit a job like this. You get to retire, when your debt is paid and they’re confident you’ll keep your mouth shut.” He jostled her, trying to make her more comfortable as she laid in his arms. It didn’t seem to take any effort to hold her. “I’m riskin’ a lot telling you all this. If Salo finds out, I’m next in line after you. But I have to confess to someone. The guilt is eating me alive.”

Marinette just listened as he spoke, holding onto every word.

“You know, it’s amazing how willing people become when they have a family member on the line. My kid sister, just graduated from college, is my bartering chip. I love her to death, but she hasn’t spoken to me since I went to prison three years ago. I can’t blame her though. She was always a good kid. You’d like her, Ladybug.”

It was a long walk, and Marinette found herself dozing slightly as the man spoke.

“You know, when Elise, that’s my sister, when Elise was a kid, she watched The Little Mermaid all the time. At least ten times a day. I’d watch it with her, too. That sea witch, Ursula? She made me so angry, because she’d make these deals with people that sounded really easy, but then it would be too hard to come through on the payment. “Get a kiss from your true love in three days, and you can keep your legs permanently. Work for me for one year, and I’ll have your record expunged, and then your sister will speak to you again.”

He sighed. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to face Elise after this. I’m taking Ladybug, hero of Paris, to her death...”

He stopped walking, gave her a little squeeze of a hug and continued on. “Salo knows we’re she lives, where my mom and my dad live...I can’t. I can’t help you, Bug. I’m sorry.”

Fear was a terrible state to live in.

Then the halls changed from limestone to cement, faintly illuminated by floor lamps, and Marinette knew she was back.

Her gut twisted as dread grabbed hold with its icy grip.

“Well well well...” Salo’s putrid voice cut through her despair. “Looks who’s back. Ten hours is quite the long time to run. And a very long time to leave your kitten alone.”

The man, who had wisely not given his name, set her on her feet.

“You’ve done well, I’ll be deducting this from your balance.”

“Thank you ma’am.” He nodded.

“Now darling,” Salo continued. “I must admit, I’m very impressed. I said I wanted to see you try to take your jewels back, and you did. You really did!”

The man handed back the lock box, as she inspected the outside. “Couldn’t get inside though. That’s a shame. Oh well, that’s why I sprung for the industrial case!”

Was Salo just patronizing her now?

“I should have known eventually you were going to bend that ductwork to get out. I just assumed you weren’t going to wait over a month to do so. But I guess that’s what I get for assuming.” She shrugged. “Anyway, there was a major flaw in your escape plan. You left the dead weight behind, knowing that you’d probably have to come back for him, or else the population would look at you like the monster you are.” Salo led her over to the familiar room, where nightmares became reality, and Marinette was frozen at the sight she beheld.

There was blood everywhere. Splattered on the walls and even the ceiling. It pooled on the floor under a body sitting it a chair. Or the frame of a chair, at least. It had no back, and no bottom, but just enough edge to balance on it. He was bound by his arms and legs.

From the base of neck, to the back of his calves, his skin was torn to shreds.

A cat-o-nine tails laid on the floor nearby.

Marinette rushed to him, kneeling on the ground in front of him, and reached up to touch his face.

His eyes were open, dull, looking right through her like she wasn’t even there. His mouth was open, the most painful sounding breaths leaving his lungs. He drooled.

“That would be one lash a minute, over the ten hours you were gone...so, 600? Does that sound right?”

“Technically 487, madam,” Said one of the men in the room. He was shirtless, sweating, and spattered with blood. “We broke for lunch.”

“Oh yes, I’m glad someone was taking count. You know, the science of lashings is very interesting. The more time you give the body between strikes, the more time it has to clot blood, and deal with pain. And if you spread out the lashes over more parts of the body, the less likely a person is to suffer nerve damage or organ failure. We did make sure to spritz him down with rubbing alcohol, so he shouldn’t get infected.”

Marinette was barely listening to Salo, as she just held Adrien’s face, begging him to look at her.

Her time was cut short however, as Pasolini took hold of her arm and started to drag her backwards.

There was another chair waiting.

Her heart pounded as the ties on her gown were undone, and she was forced into her seat. She never looked away from Adrien as the ropes coiled around her upper arms and knees. She balanced on the edge of the frame, and made her hands into fists, waiting for the blows.

“We’ve wasted enough time on these two today. Let’s get this over with.”

Marinette’s lashes were much faster. One about every fifteen seconds. They started at her back, making her groan out in pain. Each stroke went lower, the ones on her buttocks hurt the least, since she still had padding there.

But the first lash to the back of her thighs made her cry out, tearing at her stitching. It was a sensation she had never felt before, and wished never to feel again.

After about twenty, the pain started to increase, if that was even possible, and slowly, her body started to feel like it was on fire.

Her stitches were loose, letting her cry out freely and loudly. After a while, she couldn’t even tell where the blows were landing, just that everything burned and she wanted to die.

Then it was over. Her whole body shaking, covered in sweat, and in absolute anguish. She unfurled her fingers from her fists, but even that took great effort.

“How many was that?” Asked Salo.

“150, on the nose.”

“How do you feel, Little Piggy?” Asked Salo, rubbing her head.

Marinette knew the first thing she wanted to say once she was able to. A clue, if anyone was watching anymore. “…I have…a bone to pick…with you…” She managed between trembling breaths.

Salo smiled. “Oh honey…you’re not doing anything to me. Even if I just stood here, unarmed, undefended…you wouldn’t be able to hurt me. You’re too weak.” She snapped her fingers.

The ropes holding Marinette to the chair fell, and she almost sunk through the hole in the middle, if Pasolini hadn’t grabbed her first.

“On your feet. Both of you.”

Standing brought new pain to her whole body, as her skin stretched.

Adrien had yet to move.

“I said stand, dammnit!” Salo shouted in his face.

His leg twitched, as he tried to find his footing. His working arm pushed against the chair, trying to force himself to stand.

Salo, becoming impatient, grabbed his arm and yanked him to his feet.

He staggered, barely catching himself.

“March!”

Marinette walked slowly, keeping her eyes on Adrien as they moved into the hall.

He was not doing good. His breathing sounded like an out of tune cello. His steps came slower and slower…

Until he collapsed completely.

“Ma’am, he’s not going to make it.” One of the men stated. “He’ll probably pass tonight.”

“No!!” Marinette cried out for him.

“Ah…well, that’s how it goes then.” Salo unholstered her gun. “Might as well put the wrenched thing out of his misery, huh?”

Marinette grabbed Salo by the coat, and shook. “Don’t! Please don’t!”

“Bug, come on…you love him don’t you? You’re really going to let him suffer like this?”

Marinette knelt, grief and guilt swirling in her veins. “Here kitty kitty,” she begged. “Please…”

Adrien heard her, as he pushed up on his arm. It wasn’t much, but he sort of army crawled over to her, smearing blood as he slid.

Salo sighed and put the gun away. “Fine, you want to watch him die a slow and painful death? Be my guest.”

She at least had enough humanity to have someone pick Adrien off the ground and drag both of them to their new cell. The very same closet they had spend their ‘honeymoon’ in. This time, Marinette sat down first, and Adrien was placed in her lap.

The door slammed and locked.

The longest night of her life began.

Adrien laid his head on her chest, as she snuggled him closer. Blood was oozing all over her, soaking her arms and gown.

“Oh Adrien…” She breathed. “I’m so sorry…I got so close. I was at a door…I heard some boys…” She wiped her tears off of his cheek. “But the door was locked. That’s just my luck, huh?”

She pressed a kiss to his head, as he continued his slow breaths. She didn’t expect him to respond.

“A boat on the water. Do you remember? That’s what you told me. We’d…we’d go sailing. A silhouette on a mirror, with thousands of stars surrounding us.” She shuttered with a sob. “But I think…I think you might have to go without me. I’ll join you when I can.”

In…

Out…

“You…you always take the hits for me, don’t you? Well…I’m really sick and tired of watching you die.”

In…

Out…

Marinette hugged him fiercely, desperate not to loose him. “You’re my best friend…the best partner I ever could have asked for. I love you so much.” She sobbed, clutching his head to her chest. “It’s been an honor.”

“Ladybug…Chat Noir…”

Marinette sat up straight at the foreign voice. The closet was cast into a soothing purple light.

“It’s been a long time. We’ve all missed you. I’m sorry it took me so long to find you. It wasn’t as easy as I had hoped. You’ve taken care of Paris for so long. Now let me take care of you. In exchange, I ask that you go home and get healed. No Miraculous required. What do you say?”

It was a voice she thought she’d never be happy to hear. She didn’t even think, just responded:

“Yes, Hawkmoth.”

Chapter Text

It was a rough day at the Agreste mansion.

Nino had risen for school far too early, after not having slept much. He showered and dressed before coming downstairs and picking through the pastries in the kitchen for breakfast. He came into the living room, being the first one there, and sat on the couch to watch the stream for an hour or so before going to classes.

Except what he saw on the screen made him drop his croissant.

Or better, what he didn’t see. Adrien and Marinette were gone.

The website showed three live videos. One of each of their cells, and one of the ‘torture chamber’. The footage of the cells had a green hue to it, being shot with night vision cameras.

But those feeds were just a dark green blankness, while the torture chamber was empty.

Afraid he might of missed something, Nino rewound the stream, checking to see what happened.

Then he caught it. First Marinette turning her camera in, and then Adrien doing the same.

So what next? He brought back to the live feed, and waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Tom came in, yawning. “You’re up early.”

“Marinette and Adrien turned their cameras away.”

Tom frowned slightly, and then shrugged. “Maybe they got tired of people watching them, and they wanted some privacy.”

“I don’t think—look!”

About twenty minutes after they had moved the cameras, Adrien was being pulled back into big room. The stream to the two cells cut off completely.

“Where’s Marinette?” Tom wondered with panic.

“Isn’t life just so unfair?” Salo said, shoving Adrien into the room. “You actually made it out! But your precious Lady threw you to the dogs. That’s what she’s always done, hasn’t she? Let you take the hits, let you get hurt or straight up die? As long as she sets things right, who cares? You can take all the hits, all the trauma. You’re her meat shield. You don’t matter to her at all. You’re just a tool. A sidekick. And she left you behind, because you’re a dead weight.”

Adrien wasn’t protesting.

“Come on dude! You know Marinette cares about you! Don’t let her get inside your head!”

“They got out? Marinette’s out?” Tom breathed.

Salo snapped in front of his face. “Bah, he’s so out of it, I doubt he can even hear us.”

“Did someone put something in his food?” A man spoke from off camera.

“No, it’s a sign that he’s dying. Close to death, people get really disorientated and can hallucinate. It’s a common sight down here.” 

After that, Nino didn’t really stand a chance. Dignity be damned. He sat with his head in his hands, and just cried.

Hours passed, and slowly the others in the hours came to check the stream.

Tom updated them on the development, since Nino couldn’t even speak.

Gabriel was livid. Watching Adrien be flogged, what little life he had left in him fleeting with each lash, it was unbearable.

But what could they do? There were no leads.

And where was Marinette?

Gabriel had lost his mother to old age. He remembered sitting in the hospice room, just waiting. Each breath sounding like the final pull on a bow of a cello. All he could do was wait for the symphony to end.

Despite the living room having Alya, Nino, Tom, Sabine, and Gabriel all gathered together, it was quiet. Nothing but the ticking of the clock, and the crack of a whip and a scream every minute.

Gabriel couldn’t bare watching, but he couldn’t leave the room, because he didn’t want to miss a second of his son’s heart still beating. So he took to pacing.

Any minute could be his last, and it was agony just sitting and waiting.

A little before sunset, the assembled were startled by the rapid ringing of a doorbell.

Gabriel snarled in anger. How dare someone interrupt such an important moment!

They went ignored, for a minute, before the ringing became more and more insistent. The interloper was not leaving.

With a huff, Gabriel stormed into the lobby to yell at them.

Curious, Alya, Nino, and Sabine followed, but kept in line to see the television.

“Who is it, and what do you want?” Gabriel snapped at the intercom.

“I-I’m so sorry!” A teenage boy was standing at the gate, and he was panting. “My name…is Tanner Chevalier, I think we found Ladybug!” 

Gabriel’s eyes widened, but he didn’t get his hopes up. “What do you mean?! Explain yourself!”

“Yes sir! My brother and I were walking home from school through Montparnasse, and I heard someone banging on an old utility door. My brother had this hunch that it might be Ladybug or Chat Noir, and so we asked. They couldn’t talk, probably because her mouth was sewn shut! But we asked if she could knock once for yes, and she did and we couldn’t get the door opened so my brother went home to get our dad and a crowbar but I came here to tell you—“

“You came and told me first? Not the police?”

The boy curled in on himself. “Sorry, I just—everyone kind of knows that the police haven’t been doing a very good job, so  I thought I’d tell you first…”

“No no, Tanner was it?”

“Yes?”

“You did good. Don’t go to the police. Anyone with any leads in the case have been killed. I will take care of this.”

“Oh!” The boy said, producing a piece of paper. “Here’s a map we made with the door on it, and our contact information, if you need to ask us anything.”

Gabriel opened the hatch so he could drop the slip in. “This is…if you’re right, I will be indebted to you.”

“My mom almost died during an akuma attack. We’ll call it even.” And at that, the boy took off again.

Sabine was right behind Gabriel at this point. “I’ll call the police,” she stated, her phone already in hand.

“Don’t.”

She blinked at him. “Don’t?! What do you mean don’t?! This is the first real lead! You can’t think that boy was lying, do you?!”

“No, I’m certain he wasn’t.”

“Then what are you doing?! My daughter—Marinette’s right behind a door in Montparnasse! We have a map!” She just groaned and unlocked her phone.

“I said don’t!” He barked. “I’ll handle this!”

Tom peered out of the room at the shouting, ready to protect his wife, while Alya and Nino looked on in horror.

Sabine, a normally pretty understanding woman, became frantic. “How the hell do you expect to do anything on your own!? Do you have an army at your disposal?!”

He grabbed her shoulders and gave her a shake. “I am the only chance we have at saving them!”

Sabine stared at him wide-eyed, before Tom rested a heavy hand on his shoulder.

“Gabriel. You’d better explain yourself. Now.”

Gabriel let go of Sabine, taking a deep breath. “I…I will explain my actions. All of them. Once Adrien and Marinette are safe and in the hospital, I’ll tell everything. But right now, I just need you all to trust me.”

The other four watched him, but didn’t try anything.

Gabriel lifted the lapel of his jacket. “Nooroo?”

A little purple kwami came out, and Alya and Nino, the only others in the room that knew what a Kwami looked like, froze in shock.

“Would I be able to make two akuma, without Catalyst’s aid?”

The little kwami looked hesitatingly around at those gathered.

Gabriel snapped his fingers by him. “Focus Nooroo, we are on a time crunch.”

“Yes, sorry Master. You…you can make multiple akuma on your own, but you know they become a lot harder to control. Especially if they have different goals from each other and you. If you plan to akumatize Marinette and Adrien…they’ll most likely work together, but they will be extremely volatile…and they could potentially break free from your control.”

“That’s fine. We just need to give them the strength and means to get out. They’ll be akumatized for a hour at most.”

Nooroo nodded in understanding. “Then it should work.”

“You…” Sabine spat, with venom. “You’re Hawkmoth?!”

Gabriel sighed. “Yes, I know it comes as quite the shock but—“

Sabine didn’t let him finish that sentence before ramming her knee into his groin, and then elbowing him in the back of the head. “Does anyone else have a Miraculous in this room!?”

Nino sheepishly raised his hand, before Alya elbowed him, and he lowered it back down.

Gabriel caught his breath. “…I deserved that. I agree. And I owe you all an explanation…but we have to work quickly if we want to save them.”

Alya stepped forward, showing her necklace. “Trixx, let’s pounce!” In a flash of orange, Rena Rouge stood in Alya’s place. “As cool as Gabriel Agreste has been the last few weeks, I still don’t trust Hawkmoth.”

“Fine,” said Gabriel with a huff. “Don’t believe me. But don’t you dare try to stop me from saving my son.” He removed his tie, revealing his brooch to the room.

Tom snagged his wife and stepped back.

“Nooroo, Dark Wings Rise!” A flash of purple light took over the room, stunning the others for a moment. Then, Hawkmoth was standing in the room, in all of his unholy terror.

It was one thing to hear him confirm it, but to see the suit and the mask, that changed everything.

Sabine let out a sob.

That urged Nino to transform into Carapace too.

“Alright,” Hawkmoth began. “Rena Rouge, Carapace, I need to get to my butterflies. You are welcome to follow. Tom, Sabine, I recommend you return to the living room. I promise, I mean no harm.”

Tom steered his wife towards the living room. “I guess we have no choice. Just know we still expect that explanation, Gabriel.”

Hawkmoth nodded once, and headed to his office.

Rena Rouge and Carapace followed silently, as Gabriel activated the hidden elevator. They travelled together to the dark room filled with little white butterflies.

“I want to be angry, but my fan girl is freaking out.” Whispered Rena.

“Would one of you pull up the stream, please?” Hawkmoth spoke softly, as the window opened.

Carapace held out his shield, a screen lighting up on the inside.

Adrien cried out in pain as the stream came up.

“He’s still with us,” Hawkmoth said with a tightness in his voice. “We can’t waste anymore time.” He coaxed a butterfly to his hand, evilizing it. “Don’t go far, my little akuma, I have a friend for you.” He made another, and together they headed out the window.

“And now we wait.”

Looking back at the stream, it was then that Marinette was escorted into the room. She looked dirtier and even more exhausted, if that was possible. Her feet dark with dirt and bruises.

“That would be one lash a minute, over the ten hours you were gone...so, 600? Does that sound right?” Salo spoke.

“Technically 487, madam,” Said a voice off screen. “We broke for lunch.”

“Oh yes, I’m glad someone was taking count. You know, the science of lashings is very interesting. The more time you give the body between strikes, the more time it has to clot blood, and deal with pain. And if you spread out the lashes over more parts of the body, the less likely a person is to suffer nerve damage or organ failure. We did make sure to spritz him down with rubbing alcohol, so he shouldn’t get infected.”

“They’re in Montparnasse.” Hawkmoth announced. “I’m feeling a lot of frustration and anger, but it’s hard to pinpoint one source.”

“What do you mean?” Rena demanded.

“There’s a lot of upset people over here. And a lot in pain from the hospital.”

“But there’s got to be a stronger feeling somewhere, right?” Asked Nino. “Marinette and Adrien should be angrier and in more pain than everyone else.”

“Yes, I agree. I’ll keep looking.”

The assembled winced as Marinette was tied up too, and her flogging began.

Hawkmoth grit his teeth. “Damn them. That just brought up the anger of everyone in Paris.” He grunted in pain. “It’s overwhelming!”

“Don’t you dare give up!” Rena scolded. “You said you were our last hope! You fail, and I’ll—I’ll beat you to a pulp!” It was a weak threat, she knew.

“I’m not giving up!” Hawkmoth barked back. “I’m just—stating that it’s not as easy as it seems.” He groaned. “It’s like having thousands of people shouting at once, and trying to pick out one voice. Now, quiet. I have to focus.”

His explanation did make sense, she supposed. But Rena was still on edge, and worried that this wouldn’t be enough.

They waited, as Hawkmoth stood silently with his eyes closed. He looked increasingly nauseous as time went on.

“How many was that?” Asked Salo, from the stream.

“150, on the nose.”

“How do you feel, Little Piggy?” 

Marinette’s voice was barely audible, but Hawkmoth heard it. “…I have…a bone to pick…with you…” She managed between trembling breaths.

“Oh honey…you’re not doing anything to me. Even if I just stood here, unarmed, undefended…you wouldn’t be able to hurt me. You’re too weak.”

“Why would she say that?” Said Rena, aloud. “It doesn’t answer the question, and it’s not much of a threat…”

Hawkmoth gasped. “That clever girl!”

“What? What is it? Did you find them?!”

“Not quite, but I will!” Said the man, grinning maniacally. “I wasn’t looking deep enough!”

“Deep enough?” Rena parroted.

“The catacombs.”

Deep deep underground. Sealed off from the city by forbidden entrances. Almost impossible to get to unless you knew how. Or if you were small, like a butterfly.

The two akuma found their way down through a sewer grate, and then followed the trail of pain.

Hawkmoth doubled over once they were underground.

“Mr. Agreste…?” Rena wondered carefully.

“This…these feelings…” He gasped. “Are so strong…they have to be…”

The akuma slid under the door of a small closet, and melted into the thick metal collars around both of their necks.

His eyes shot open as he was overcome with the most putrid, raw, painful anger he’d ever felt. It made him heave. Then Hawkmoth took a massive breath and stood slowly. “I’ve got them.”

“You found them!?” Rena shouted, grabbing onto his jacket.

“Yes, but we still need to get them out.”

“But…they both looked so weak. Can akumatizing them really be enough?”

“I think so.” He assured. Then with a deep breath, he gathered himself and activated the connection. “Ladybug…Chat Noir…”

On the stream, the butterfly mask was barely noticeable. Marinette sat up a little straighter.

“It’s been a long time. We’ve all missed you. I’m sorry it took me so long to find you. It wasn’t as easy as I had hoped. You’ve taken care of Paris for so long. Now let me take care of you. In exchange, I ask that you go home and get healed. No Miraculous required. What do you say?”

Marinette smiled, relieved tears flowing from her eyes.

“Yes, Hawkmoth.” And a purple smoke engulfed them both.

—

All she could see was purple. Her wounds soothed, her muscles strengthened, her exhaustion waned. It was almost like being Ladybug again. Almost.

“Lady Lacrima, named for the tears that brought me to you. I am giving you powers you are familiar with. The powers to create. Though you may summon as much as you like, you are bound to those only made of metal.”

“I can make due, Hawkmoth.”

“Grimalkin,” He addressed Adrien. “A bastardization of your hero name, I gift you a version of your old powers. With just a touch, you can destroy. It’s not as powerful as your old cataclysm, but you can use it as many times as you’d like.”

Grimalkin’s reply was a pleased growl.

“I look forward to seeing you soon.” And with that, he ended the connection.

Lady Lacrima stood, the anger that had been on a rolling boil for the last month, now hot as magma, and lethal to the touch. She offered a hand to her companion. “Are you ready Kitty?”

He purred in response, nuzzling against her hand.

“Then after you.”

With just a touch of his finger-length long claws, the door blew open.

Lady Lacrima cracked her neck. “This’ll be fun.”

Of course, when a door is down off it’s hinges, it’s bound to make a lot of noise. It was Pasolini that came to check.

The flashlight landed on them, and then soon dropped on the floor. “Don’t—Don’t come any closer! I’m warning you!”

Lady Lacrima smiled. “Oh, you hear that, kitty? He’s warning us.”

Pasolini spoke into the mic on his lapel. “We’ve been compromised! Ladybug and Chat Noir have been—“

Hawkmoth had been kind enough to replace the yo-yo on Ladybug’s waist with a whip, and with a snap she caught Pasolini around the neck, silencing him.

“Hush…we’ll let them all know we’re here soon enough…but first…we want to pay special attention to you.” She wrapped the whip around her wrist, bringing the man closer to her. “We pleaded and begged for help, we were humiliated, tortured, starved, and driven to madness, and you didn’t care. You laughed at our suffering, and willingly pinned me in place day after day as that bitch scarred me for life. So now the question is…what do we do to you, to make up for it?”

Pasolini had grabbed the end of the whip that was choking him, and pulled on it in an attempt to speak. “Let…me go…”

Lady Lacrima tilted her head to listen.

“Let me…go…and I’ll…I’ll make it worth…your while…I..I promise!”

Lady Lacrima looked at him flatly. “You promise? What would you do?”

“Money…power…protection…anything you want…I can get it for you.”

She smiled at him, pulling the whip tighter. “I want my innocence back.”

Pasolini only had a second to think before a knife materialized in her hand, and she stabbed it through his eye. The cord around his neck prevented his cry of pain from escaping.

Grimalkin let out a sound that was a cross between a laugh and a hiss.

Lady Lacrima forced the man down to his knees, and rested her foot on his shoulder. “I suppose we’ll make this quick. We have a lot of revenge to inflict.” She pressed down her heel, forcing the man to face ground, then she summoned a javelin. With a mighty heave, she sent it through his shoulder and into the floor, pinning him like an insect.

Grimalkin chattered, circling him like a jungle cat.

Another javelin and another pin. Then she released her whip. “I’m sorry, love. You’ve been so patient. Why don’t you finish him off?”

Grimalkin let out a sickening snarl before brandishing his claws.

“What are you doing?!” Pasolini asked, his voice hoarse and full of terror. “Please!”

But Lady Lacrima and Grimalkin were beyond mercy. There was no compassion, no hesitation, no empathy.

Only dark horrible thoughts that could only stew in the minds of tormented souls.

Though he only had use of one hand, Grimalkin tore into the flesh of his tormentor, pulling out muscle and tissue with ease.

Pasolini screamed like a little child, blood splattering over everything.

As the blood landed on Lady Lacrima, her suit sizzled and stained, giving her red spots.

Finally, the man’s suffering came to an end when Grimalkin placed a boot on his rib cage, took hold of his spine, and ripped it out of his body.

Lady Lacrima petted him like he was an innocent kitten. “Hawkmoth didn’t give you a baton. Guess you’ll just have to use that.”

Grimalkin bared his fangs in a smile.

Another flashlight shone down the hall, the figures in shadow. But Salo’s voice pierced through the darkness.

“This bunker is off limits. You have three seconds to run before we open fire!”

Lady Lacrima and Grimalkin shared a loving look, and then they turned and walked towards the light.

“Three…”

Salo could hear something scraping on the wall, and see sparks flickering.

As the intruders approached the group, Salo could hear some of her men gasping in shock and fear. There were only three of them between her and the intruders.

“T-two…” she continued to count down, pretending that she wasn’t afraid of what was only a few feet ahead. They stepped into the light, and Salo swallowed thickly.

Lady Lacrima wore an all black suit, insulated with plates to look like armor. She wore a red domino mask, just as she had as Ladybug, but it was broken up with thick black lines running down her face, resembling her namesake. As if she was a reversed Ladybug, blood red spots splattered over her body. A whip instead of a yo-yo dragged across the floor.

Beside her, Grimalkin stalked like a predator. His suit was similar to what it had been as Chat Noir, with cat ears on his head and a belt fashioned as a tail. But instead of small claws at his finger tips, his fingers were coated in metal, making long, razor sharp blades. His bum arm was strapped to his chest in a way resembling a straight jacket. Instead of friendly feline eyes, he had glowing red eyes like a beast, and fangs that looked absolutely lethal.

“One! Open fire!”

Grimalkin darted behind Lady Lacrima, as a shield materialized in front of her. The bullets hailed down on them, drilling against the shield and ricocheting back at them.

“Careful!” Salo demanded over the gunfire, though she could barely be heard.

Lady Lacrima walked over to one side of the hall, leaning one side of the shield against it.

Then the gunfire started to subside as they ran out of bullets.

“Hold your fire,” Salo demanded, withdrawing her handgun. Carefully, she stepped forward, and once she was close enough, she kicked the shield away…only to find a hole in the wall.

Then one of the men behind her screamed.

She spun to face him, finding Grimalkin coiled on him like a snake, his claws in his face and his fangs digging into his neck.

Salo took aim, but a whip took hold of her wrist and pulled. The shot meant for Grimalkin hit one of her men in the leg instead. The follow through with the whip brought Salo around, unbalanced, to face Lady Lacrima who held a knife.

But Salo was a fighter. She didn’t get where she was on looks alone. She grabbed the wrist with the knife, watching the blade inch closer and closer to her face.

Fighting dirty, the only way she fought, she kicked Lady Lacrima in the side of knee, bringing her to the ground. Then she took the opportunity to run, leaving her last henchman to cover her escape.

Salo escaped back into the torture chamber, where the other ten men in her group were assembled, preparing the next session.

“Arm yourselves! Ladybug and Chat Noir have been akumatized and they have no mercy!”

That was the only warning they got before Grimalkin swept into the room, feral and dripping with blood.

“Jesus Christ!” Someone shouted, before opening fire.

Grimalkin ducked and weaved through the room, never letting himself be a target. He locked onto the man that had flogged him the day before and smiled with sinister intent.

“Oh hell no!” The man shouted in protest. But Grimalkin was too fast, and jammed his claws up the man’s nose and pulled forward.

With Grimalkin standing still for the briefest moment, another man with a full auto rifle sighted up.

A red knife tore through his hand before he could get the shot in. The man next to him yanked the weapon away, and took aim at Grimalkin.

Unfortunately for him, Grimalkin was already finished with the poor sod, and leaped at the next available target. The man pointing a rifle at him.

Six shots fired, none hitting Grimalkin, and all hitting Harken, who was sitting behind the computer. Grimalkin grabbed the barrel of the weapon, and snarled. The gun exploded on the man’s shoulder and Grimalkin finished the job.

Lady Lacrima went head to head with a huge man wearing brass knuckles. Each swing of his fists whistled, as she danced around just out of reach. Another man with a lead pipe joined the fight, attacking from behind. But the akuma had greatly enhanced Lady Lacrima’s speed and perception. She leaned back to avoid the blow, and summoned a machete on the upswing.

Cutting through flesh and bone was not easy, but she sure made it look like it. Two pairs of arms, one brandishing a pipe and the other brass knuckles, clattered to the floor.

The room filled with blood curdling screams.

Lady Lacrima moved onto the next closest victim. A bald man behind the camera. As she made eye contact with him, he held out his arms, defenseless.

“Just end me,” he begged.

She stared at him, remembering the pathetic sob story he had concocted earlier when he dragged her back. As an akuma, she found it hard to believe, but decided not to waste the energy. “Make sure you get all this,” she told him, gesturing to the camera, before racing off to do more work.

While all of this chaos was going on, Salo sat under the table in the corner, the safe with the Miraculous in her lap. “Come on…come on…” she muttered to it. “1680, that’s the combo! Work damn it!”

But in all of Marinette’s frantic slamming just an hour before, the lock was jammed.

She looked up to check the state of her men. One was being eviscerated by Grimalkin, while Lady Lacrima strangled one with her whip and had another in the chest with a katana.

It was an absolute bloodbath, and it happened in only a few minutes.

She slammed the safe down in one final attempt to get to the Miraculous.

But it was too late.

A bloody hand enclosed on her ankle, and dragged her out. Salo looked up to glowing red eyes, wide and frantic and bouncing with untapped rage.

She would not go down without a fight. And thankfully, she still had a gun on her hip. She whipped it out and aimed right at his face.

“Let me go, you beast! Or I’ll shoot you right between the eyes.”

Grimalkin opened his jaw, his fangs glistening with blood. He let out an inhuman snarl, and lunged.

Salo pulled the trigger.

The gun jammed.

But Grimalkin wasn’t about to give her a swift death. He grabbed the hand with the gun and pinned it to the floor above her head. Then he growled, activating his power, and a shooting pain took over her hand as she screamed in pain. He knocked her glasses off as he leapt, and crouched next to Lady Lacrima.

“End of the road.” She said, her face blank and emotionless.

Salo pulled her hand, or rather her wrist, to her chest. “How the hell did he find you?”

Lady Lacrima shrugged. “You must have gotten sloppy.”

“Or you gave him clues! I should have killed you weeks ago!”

“You should have,” Lady Lacrima agreed. “You should have let me die with compassion in my heart. But you didn’t. You created a monster. Two of them.”

Salo spat at her. “You’re a product of Hawkmoth! I only avenged my Eddy!”

“After all this, you’re still justifying your heinous actions. You’re so lost in your depravity, that you can’t even see how low you’ve sunk.”

“So what now?” She sneered. “Now that the roles are reversed, what are you going to do?”

Lady Lacrima reach out and caressed the woman’s face, leaving a smear of blood on her cheek. “The roles are far from reversed, Salo.” She stated, holding out her arms. A buster sword, one bigger than any human could wield, materialized in her hands. “I’m more powerful than you could ever hope to be. And you…there’s no punishment on Earth that befits you.”

“Will you kill me then?”

“That depends…do you believe in God?”

Salo scoffed. “What are you, my Nonna? Go ahead, kill me. Let your God punish me.”

Lady Lacrima adjusted the sword in her hand. “He’ll get his turn.”

Salo’s lip trembled as she attempted to scoot away.

“It’s funny. Without those glasses, you look almost human. And all this time, I thought you were a soulless machine. But if you have a soul…you can burn in hell.” And she slammed the blade down, down through flesh and bone and into the cement, separating her legs from her torso.

The woman screamed in agony, clawing at the ground to escape.

Claws ripped into her stomach, pulling her intestines out and spilling them on the floor.

“What do you think Salo? Should we leave you like this?”

Salo didn’t answer, only squealed and cried out as she writhed on the floor like a worm. Her vision was blurred, but she could see the lights above her head.

Then there was a silhouette, holding out long claws. Claws that pulsed and churned with dark energy. They came closer and closer to her face.

It burned. Hotter than any fire she’d felt before. She heard her skin sizzling and cracking.

Then there was nothing.

—

Lady Lacrima looked down at her tormentor’s remains. A head turning to dust, a torso disemboweled…and legs separated from the rest.

She wished she could have done more.

A purple mask lit up over her face. “My dear, you are free. Find your way to the surface, and I will have an ambulance waiting for you. Once you are with the paramedics, I will take back the akuma.”

“No.”

Lady Lacrima felt his fear. “No? What do you mean, no?”

“Paris has gotten lazy with Ladybug and Chat Noir around. And in our absence, things have only gotten worse.”

“You’re not well, Marinette. And Adrien was almost…you need help.”

“And we’ll get it. But we have business to attend too. Thank you for the akuma, I’ll be taking it now. Goodbye.” And she cut the connection.

The bald man who had pissed himself behind the camera trembled as Lady Lacrima looked to him.

“I am Lady Lacrima. This is Grimalkin. We seek Justice, and Justice will be what we get.”

Grimalkin pounced at the camera, destroying it with his touch.

The man skittered over to Salo’s torture table and grabbed a flashlight and the lockbox with the Miraculous. “Here! There’s—There’s arrows on the walls to lead you to the surface! Just follow the trail, and you should come up in an alleyway in Montparnasse!”

Lady Lacrima took the flashlight. “I thank you. I knew it would be smart to spare you.”

The man cried like a child. “I don’t—I don’t deserve it!”

“You will call the police, and escort them down here.”

“Yes ma’am!”

Then she turned to Grimalkin. “Would you be so kind as to open the safe, kitty?”

He just dragged his claw over the lock, and the lid popped open. She took the Miraculous and put them in his suit pocket. “Hold on to these for us, please? I don’t think I could bare to let Tikki see me like this.”

Grimalkin growled in agreement.

Then with a solemn nod to the remaining henchman, she took Grimalkin’s hand, and together, they left.

The hall was just as long and dark, but with the flashlight, she could see the endless tunnels she had wandered earlier. “I tried, kitty. But it’s a maze down here. We’re in the catacombs, you know? I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, I didn’t want Salo to overhear and move us. But I guess Hawkmoth got my hint.”

Grimalkin let out a happy chirp.

“Well, we don’t have to worry about that anymore. Come on, we’re almost there!”

They came to a ladder that led to a manhole cover. With her enhanced strength, popping it off was a cinch.

It was night now, and a thunderstorm had rolled in. Rain poured as they climbed out of the tunnel and out to the street. Paris was a blur in the torrent. Lights flickered and sounds of the city interrupted by the slapping of water.

Both teens stood, letting the rain rush over them like a healing shower.

Marinette looked at her partner, and let out a breath. Exhausted and relieved, she leaned on his chest.

He wrapped an arm around her showers and turned his face to the sky.

Justice would reign, blood would be shed. But for the moment, they just stood.

Just being free.

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

Paris was a city trapped in time. The rain blurred the past from the future, the happy and the sad, the night and the day. Erik Satie tried to emulate this effect with his Gymnopedie, and the impressionist painters worked with soft edges to create an atmosphere of calming mystery.

Here, on the sidewalk somewhere in Montparnasse, Adrien and Marinette, or rather, Grimalkin and Lady Lacrima, stood in the haze, freedom and imprisonment blurring lines. They were out, Salo was dead…

But it didn’t really feel real.

Lady Lacrima stood back and looked to her partner.

His eyes were dilated, a small smile on his lips. He ever so gently reached up and brushed her bangs out of her face.

Returning his smile, she took his hand and interlaced their fingers. Then they started to walk.

It was too wet to take to the rooftops, and in this weather, no one was out. Still, as they walked, they passed big picture windows. Businesses closed for the night, cafés dimmed with candlelight, people in their own little bubbles, completely unaware of the monsters stalking outside.

They walked passed a salon, empty, save for a woman with a blonde bun sweeping. The lights were warm, and the atmosphere looked friendly and inviting. There was a tv on the wall, with Nadja on the screen. She was reporting on them. A screen capture of their final words to the camera shown on a small screen next to her. Lady Lacrima couldn’t hear what was being said, but by the grave look on Nadja’s face, it wasn’t good.

Without much thought, Lady Lacrima pushed on the door, and went inside.

The air smelled of chemicals, of hairspray and dye. But also fruity and clean. Soft music played as the woman worked.

“Just a second!” Called the woman, alerted by a bell at their entrance. She leaned the broom against the wall. “I’m so sorry, we’re about to close, but I can take you down for an appointment to—AHHH!” She spoke before turning around, but when she saw them in their appearance, she shrieked.

Neither of the akuma reacted to it, considering the amount of screams they had heard not so long ago.

Another woman with short black hair ran out of the back room at the scream and skittered to a stop at the sight of them. She looked like she was about to scream too, but held it back.

“We wanted out of the rain.” Explained Lady Lacrima, blankly.

The blonde woman snatched up the broom like a weapon, trembling in her limbs.

But the other woman relaxed ever so slightly, and took a few steps towards them. “Marinette? Honey, it’s me, Jillian. You remember right?”

“…Jillian?”

“That’s right. I cut your hair every few months. It’s alright.” She took another step towards her, but Grimalkin stood in between and hissed.

“Oh! And Adrien! We’ve…we’ve never met, but we’re all big fans of yours.” She pointed to a poster on the wall, an old ad with his face on it.

Grimalkin’s eye twitched, but he calmed down slightly.

Jillian looked to her coworker. “Kelly, put that thing down. We have guests.”

“Didn’t you just see the news?” Kelly whispered harshly. “They just murdered like ten people.”

“Fourteen.” Lady Lacrima clarified. “We killed fourteen people.”

“See!?”

Jillian took a shaky breath. “Look…I’m not…I’m not sure what we should do in this scenario.”

“We should call the police!” Shouted Kelly.

Grimalkin snarled, getting on edge again.

Jillian hushed her. “Would you calm down a second?”

“No!”

“They’ve been through a lot of trauma, okay? I’m not going to pretend like those people didn’t deserve it—“

“Oh they definitely did!” Kelly agreed. “I’m just saying—“

“Look at them Kelly.” Jillian gestured. “They’re tired, dirty, and hurt. I’m sure there’s going to be a whirlwind of police and hospitals and…whatever. Let’s just…give them a few minutes out of the rain, okay? Where they can breathe and…I don’t know, relax?”

Marinette frowned to herself. Relax? What did that mean anymore?

“Marinette honey,” Jillian said walking closer. “Your hair is disgusting.” She chuckled.

That was something Lady Lacrima couldn’t argue with, and she twitched her lip in a smile.

“Can I wash your hair? Give you a trim? It might make you feel better.”

Feel better. That’s all they wanted. They wanted all this rage and pain and hurt to go away.

She nodded stiltedly.

Kelly seemed to come to grips with what they were doing and smiled a little more at Grimalkin. “And what about you Adrien? Would you like your hair washed? I know cats don’t really like water…” She chuckled.

The joke made Grimalkin’s eyes dilate and his ears perk up. He looked to his lady, asking her to answer.

She met his gaze, translating his look. “As long as he can keep an eye on me.”

“Of course! We’ll put you right next to each other, and you can hold hands!” Jillian grinned. “C’mon, right here. Just settle in and relax.” She gestured to two chairs with sinks connected to the head rests.

Kelly walked over to the door. “I’m going to lock the door so no one comes in. You can still leave anytime you want, though.” Then she closed the blinds on the windows so no one would look in.

Both of the akuma sat down carefully, watching the hairdressers as they got their supplies ready.

“Now,” began Jillian, playing with Lady Lacrima’s hair. “I can see already that your tattoo has some infection on it. It’s not really bad, the first letter just has some blistering on it. I can apply some rubbing alcohol to help…but you really need to get to a hospital when you can.” She ran her thumb over it lightly, making Lady Lacrima wince. “For other reasons too, of course.”

Grimalkin heard her wince and sat up to growl at Jillian, but Lady Lacrima just squeezed his hand in reassurance. Hesitantly, he leaned back again.

Kelly came around to make eye contact with him. “Chat, your left ear is really infected, and the right may be so too. I can also put some rubbing alcohol on it, but it won’t really help. Don’t take out the earrings either, or else the holes will close with the infection still inside. I’ll try to be careful, but I might bump them while I wash your hair.”

Grimalkin frowned slightly, but gave a little nod in understanding.

Then they both heard the sinks turn on, and braced for cold water to splash them.

But it didn’t. Jillian and Kelly just sprayed their scalps with a warm, gentle stream. Then they started to massage shampoo into their long overdue hair.

“This shampoo is specially designed for thick blonde hair,” Kelly commented, carefully scrubbing days of oil out of his locks and making the color shine again. “It’s Diamond Oil from Redken. Your color has faded with your natural oils and lack of vitamins. This should make your hair feel nice and silky.”

A loud purr cut through the air as Grimalkin closed his eyes and enjoyed the ministrations.

Lady Lacrima sighed softly in return. “This feels nice.”

“Good, you deserve it. I’m sorry I can’t offer more.”

“This is fine.” She insisted. “We have some business to take care of after this. Then we’ll be getting proper treatment.”

“Oh good!” Chirped Kelly. “I was worried! Because akumas aren’t really…they don’t really give up on their own…”

“The suits that Hawkmoth have provided us act like exoskeletons. Our wounds are packed.”

“Still…” said Jillian. “Don’t let this business take you too long. A lot of people are worried about you both.”

Lady Lacrima rolled her eyes despite the sad tone she spoke with. “You mean my parents? They’re just about the only people that ever believed me. Everyone else thinks this whole thing was a hoax. No one even tried to save us.”

Jillian rinsed the shampoo, and then knelt at Lady Lacrima’s side and took her hand. “Marinette, a handful of gullible people believed it was a hoax. Everyone else in Paris, in France, the whole world even…we believed it was really happening. And people tried to find you…I’m sorry that they couldn’t.”

“Like who?” she challenged back.

“Like the police. At least four investigators were killed while looking for you.”

Lady Lacrima didn’t have an answer for that, and so she didn’t say anything.

“Rena Rouge, Carapace, and Queen Bee were also spotted a handful of times,” Kelly added. “But for a while, the police were saying you were in Germany.”

Rena Rouge.

That name sparked anger in Lady Lacrima.

Alya.

Her best friend.

Ex-best friend.

Who had turned her back when Marinette needed it the most, trusted a liar and left her in the dust. It was a petty high school squabble, one that most people would have forgotten and let go of, considering the circumstances.

But Marinette had a lot of time alone with her thoughts. A lot of time to stew in her hurt from her betrayal.

The Cesaire apartment wasn’t that far away. Alya would be first. A warm up.

Jillian spoke again. “You’re tensing up. I’m supposed to be helping you relax. I’m sorry. I’ll shut up.”

Yes, revenge would come, but this was now. And she wanted to feel better.

Jillian rinsed the conditioner. “You know, I’ve got this facial cleanser from Lancôme, would you like to try it?”

“Alright,” Said Lady Lacrima.

Jillian squirted some mousse onto her fingertips and gently began to massage the cleanser onto her face. “Smells nice, right?”

“Feels nice.”

The bubbles turned pink with the blood they picked up. But the black streaks under her eyes remained. Jillian passed the cleanser to Kelly so she could put some on Grimalkin’s face.

“There,” said Jillian as she dried off her hands. “Just relax for a minute and let the cleanser have a chance to get into your pores. We’ll be right here.”

At first it was relaxing, the month of grease being lifted from her skin as the bubbles tingled. But then the silence became maddening, and she became paranoid. And by the way Grimalkin squeezed her hand, he was too.

“Jillian? What are you doing?”

“I’m getting you some wine. Just a little. I don’t have any food unless you want a sucker.” She chuckled.

“And Kelly?”

“I’m just sweeping!” She called from the other side of the room.

Jillian came back over, and a wet washcloth delicately cleaned off the suds. She then placed a dry towel on her hair. “Alright, let’s get you into a chair.”

Kelly mirrored the action with Grimalkin, careful of his ears, both fake and real.

They moved over to a pair of barber chairs, positioned just a little too far away to hold hands.

Grimalkin whimpered.

“I’m right here, love.” Lady Lacrima said softly. “It’s alright.”

Jillian handed them both a glass of red wine, before getting to work tying a smock on their shoulders. Then they were both turned to face the mirrors.

In this lighting, the damage was even worse. This was the first glance they got to their akumatized forms.

“Is that me?” Lady Lacrima asked, distressed by how deranged she looked.

“You look pretty badass.” Said Kelly. “Don’t stress out about it. You don’t plan to be akumatized forever, right?”

“I…I guess not…”

Still, it was a jarring sight. She barely recognized herself.

“Marinette, I used a lot of conditioner, but your hair is still pretty tangled. This might hurt.”

“Okay.”

She could hear Grimalkin whimper again as Kelly started to pick through his tangled mess. She cooed over him. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

It didn’t last too long though. Soon, the teeth of the comb were gliding through her locks and dragging across her itchy scalp. Lady Lacrima sunk into her chair and exhaled loudly.

“Will it bother you if I use an electric razor?”

“Since you warned me, it should be alright. What about you kitty? Can you handle that?”

Grimalkin let out a relaxed sigh.

“He’s alright with it.”

So Jillian and Kelly got to work, trimming and evening out the hack job Salo had done.

“There. That’ll do for now.” Jillian took off the smock and brushed the loose hair from her neck. “Come see me again sometime. We’ll make sure to take good care of you.”

Lady Lacrima finished off her glass. “Thank you, Jillian. Kelly. Once we give up our akumas, I doubt we will remember this. But we do appreciate your hospitality.”

Kelly towel dried Grimalkin’s hair, fluffing it up. “There, now you look a little less threatening.”

With a smile, Lady Lacrima pet his head, eliciting a purr from deep in his chest.

Jillian let out a trembling exhale. “Alright. We won’t keep you any longer. We won’t tell a soul you were here. Do what you need to do and then get to a hospital. I beg you.”

Lady Lacrima gave a half smile. “We’ll do our best.” Then she took Grimalkin’s hand and led him out of the salon.

Once they were gone, Kelly fell into a chair. “That was the scariest thing I’ve ever done! Why did you let them stay?! Why didn’t you call the police!?”

Jillian also sat in a chair, swinging around to lean her arms on the back. “I was watching the stream on my break. I saw what they did. I saw…how they killed all those people. Part of me was worried that if we turned on them, they’d kill us too. But the other part of me was just worried about Marinette. I’ve been cutting her hair for…probably 15 years. I love her…and I just wanted to help.”

“Jill. You are too kind for your own good.”

“I try. Let’s clean up and head to the bar.”

“Sounds good to me!”

—

The rain continued, but it eased into a manageable drizzle. Now, people were starting to venture out onto the streets.

Lady Lacrima summoned a grappling hook with a steel cable, then tossed it up to the rooftops. “You ready, kitty cat?”

Grimalkin purred deviously, as he wrapped an arm around her waist.

Together, they launched into the air and landed on a familiar terrain of sloping roofs and terra cotta chimneys. Old friends greeted them. Pigeons and the wind.

Grimalkin sneezed.

“Gesundheit.”

He stood a little taller and looked her in the eye, asking her a question.

“You remember Alya, right?”

His lip twitched in a preempted snarl. 

“After all this time, her actions still hurt me. Her home isn’t far from here…let’s take care of her first, before the others.”

Grimalkin’s eyes were wide and his ears back as he whimpered lowly.

“No darling, we’re not going to hurt her…just scare her. Shake her up a bit.”

He seemed much more receptive to that plan as he gestured her on, in a ‘ladies first’ sort of way.

The path to the Cesaire household was muscle memory. It was one of their landmarks for patrol in Montparnasse. The corner, top-floor apartment on a few story building.

They landed on the balcony outside Alya’s room. The windows were shut and locked. Peering inside, the room was dark and void of people.

“I don’t see her. She may not be home, or she might be in the living room.”

Grimalkin leapt to the next balcony over, pointing at the window cracked open.

“This is the twin’s room. We must be quiet.”

She opened the window slowly, and crawled inside. Both of the little girls were in their beds, sleeping peacefully. Grimalkin stepped in too, slinking in like a cat.

Unfortunately, the girl’s room was not as tidy as they had hoped, and Grimalkin’s first step on the floor landed on a doll.

Let it go! Let it go!

Grimalkin growled at the sound.

Ella stirred. “Mmm?”

The akumas froze, hoping the girl would go back to sleep.

But instead, she sat up and rubbed her eyes.

Lady Lacrima waited, crouching close to the ground to try to remain unseen.

But as Ella blinked to alertness, she noticed Grimalkin’s eyes, which glowed red in the dark.

She inhaled to scream, and Lady Lacrima leapt, pressing a hand on the girl’s mouth. “Sshhh…” she hushed, quietly.

A scream tore out from the other side of the room, where Etta had awakened.

“Shit,” Lady Lacrima swore under her breath.

There was no time to hide. Frantic steps ran to the room and the door swung open to reveal Nora.

“Who the hell—!?”

Grimalkin leapt at her, slammed her against the wall, and pressed his claws to her throat with a deep jungle cat growl.

But Nora was a fighter, and she didn’t take to being slammed around kindly. She slammed her fist into Grimalkin’s stomach, making him recoil.

In the chaos, Etta and Ella dove under a bed to hide.

“That’s enough, Nora.” Lady Lacrima demanded, summoning a machete. “We have no quarrel with you.”

“Like hell you don’t! You were trying to hurt my little sister!” She barked, ready to punch again.

Otis and Marlena came running after the shout, and stood in the doorway, horrified.

“You misunderstand. We’re looking for Alya.”

Nora’s face twisted slightly in confusion, then realization. “Beetle? Mr. Whiskers?”

Marlena stepped into the room. “Marinette? Is that you? How did you…? They said you were…you…” She sobbed and ran and hugged her. “We’ve all been so worried about you!”

The machete fell to the ground and disappeared.

Grimalkin growled, but didn’t attack.

Marlena pulled back. “Alya’s safe. Don’t worry.”

“Where? I need to talk to her!”

“You need to get to a hospital.”

“Tell me where Alya is!” Lady Lacrima screamed, startling the woman.

Nora rested a hand on her mother’s shoulder and pulled her back. “She’s an akuma mom, she’s dangerous.”

“Tell me where Alya is right now or I’ll force it out of you!” She trembled. Her wrath and her innate moral compass warred with each other, the urge to hurt becoming stronger and stronger.

“She’s at the Agreste Manor, with your parents,” Nora answered. “Mr. Agreste has the whole place on lockdown. There’s no way to get in unless he lets you in. And I doubt he will if you’re like this.”

Like this.

She said it like Lady Lacrima was a monster. Inhuman.

Maybe she was. Marinette had lost her humanity in the darkness. Only pieces of it remained.

Grimalkin paced the room, unsure what to do. No one was attacking, and his lady wasn’t giving any commands. It was easier not to think for himself. Just protect his lady, and do as she asks. That was all he had to do.

Lady Lacrima let out a strangled cry.

She just wanted to fix her hurt!

“Ladybug?” A little voice spoke.

Etta and Ella poked out from under the bed, looking at her with teary eyes.

“I…am not Ladybug. Not anymore.”

“Why not?” They asked.

She didn’t answer, just looked at them with some degree of disgust.

“They didn’t watch the stream.” Marlena explained. “We couldn’t bare to let them. Would you really like little kids watching that?”

Lady Lacrima hugged herself.

Grimalkin crouched, coming closer to the little girls.

“And you’re Chat Noir!” Etta chirped, touching his cat ears.

He shook his head, backing away.

Marlena took a different approach to diffuse the situation. “You two must be hungry, why don’t you come in and eat?”

Eat.

Lady Lacrima swallowed. She was hungry. So hungry!

Grimalkin’s stomach grumbled loudly.

Nora rolled her eyes and grabbed Lady Lacrima’s wrist. “Come on. That wasn’t a suggestion, it was a demand.”

Lady Lacrima pulled at the hand tugging her, instincts telling her that a firm grasp on the wrist meant pain, but her brain and her stomach felt otherwise. Everyone being so nice to them was throwing a wrench in their revenge plot.

Grimalkin was being led by the hand and tail by the twins.

In the light of the apartment, the Cesaire’s got a better look at them.

“Is that blood?” Ella asked, pointing to the red stains on Grimalkin’s suit.

He nodded.

“Cool.”

Marlena gestured to the couch. “Take a seat here. I’ll get something warmed up for you.”

So they sat, hunched, tense, and uncomfortable, no matter how soft and plush the cushions felt. Ella and Etta sat on the couch on either side of them, making the akuma scoot closer together.

Otis sat at the other end of the couch, and turned on the TV.

“…over a several hour period of absence, it was concluded that Marinette Dupain-Cheng actually escaped Salo and her men, though Adrien Agreste was left behind.” Nadja was on the screen, with a banner under her name that read, ’Breaking news: Ladybug and Chat Noir Escape Torture.’ “In the hours of her disappearance, Agreste was flogged near death. Then finally, after ten hours, Dupain-Cheng was brought back and was flogged as well.

“Then, in a stunning twist, Hawkmoth was the first to locate the heroes and come to their rescue, akumatizing them to aid in their own escape. They seem to go by the name ‘Lady Lacrima’ and ‘Grimalkin’. The cameras caught this chilling scene from the final broadcast on ‘make ladybug suffer dot com’. Please be advised, the footage is graphic, and not suitable for young audiences.”

The scene jumped to a recording of the torture chamber. Salo’s body laid on the floor in shadow, so the gore wasn’t completely seen. But Lady Lacrima and Grimalkin were still dripping red as they looked down at her. Butterfly masks appeared over their faces.

“No…Paris has gotten lazy with Ladybug and Chat Noir around. And in our absence, things have only gotten worse.” She paused. “And we’ll get it. But we have business to attend too. Thank you for the akuma, I’ll be taking it now. Goodbye.”

She turned to face the camera, with eyes that held no mercy. “I am Lady Lacrima. This is Grimalkin. We seek Justice, and Justice will be what we get.”

Grimalkin pounced at the camera, and the feed ended.

Nadja came back on the screen. “This scene took place one hour ago, and we are continuing our coverage as the story updates. It is not yet known if Ladybug and Chat Noir are still akumatized, or whether or not they are even in Paris. No sightings have yet to be reported.

“Fifteen minutes ago, Minster of Interior, Arthur Vanderguard, tweeted the following: ‘The reign of Salo is over. Thank you to the brave men and women who have put their lives on the line in the investigation of this case. We will not rest until Marinette and Adrien are home.’”

Lady Lacrima tilted her head in confusion. “Who is this Arthur Vanderguard?”

Otis answered, “The Minister of Interior is the government official in charge of homeland security. He’s like the boss of the chief of police and the Secret service. He’s been catching a lot of flack for your case.”

Lady Lacrima squinted her eyes, the name was familiar, but she couldn’t place it.

“Here we are!” Said Malena, placing a plate on the coffee table. “The soup is warming up, but I’ve got some fresh bread from your father, and these appetizers left over from a dinner at the hotel tonight. Honeycrisp apples with brie, wrapped in prosciutto, with a balsamic glaze.”

Lady Lacrima licked her lips. “…thank you.”

“Of course dear.”

“…has been criticized over the last month and a half since Ladybug and Chat Noir’s capture. Most notably for withdrawing troops from the investigation and allowing Edward Savauge to walk free.”

Lady Lacrima looked up at the screen and zeroed in on the story.

It was a previous recording, of Arthur Vandergaurd at a press conference. “Talking with M. Savauge, we have ruled out his involvement with Salo and the capture of Ladybug and Chat Noir. He has agreed to cooperate with us to find them, so that they can be rescued.”

“That press conference was held two weeks ago, and even now, Edward Savauge hasn’t even met with investigators. He most likely will not be holding up his end of the bargain.”

Lady Lacrima’s spoon clattered to the floor.

“During the course of the investigation, four investigators were killed under uncertain circumstances. The only connection between the murders was, of course, the link to the Ladybug and Chat Noir case. After the death of Detective Bertony, resources were pulled from the case, a move that contradicts normal procedure. In response, Mr. Vanderguard had this to say.”

The shot again changed to the Minister of Interior at the Press Conference. “My officers assume the risk of bodily harm and losing their life when they join the force. But they don’t expect to be in danger when they go home to be with their wives and children. Being assigned to the task force of looking for M. Agreste and Mlle. Dupain-Cheng, is a death sentence. We unfortunately have not made any headway in the investigation, despite all that has been broadcasted. We believe that Detective Bertony had a lead, but all information with him in his hotel room was reduced to ash on the balcony. Because of the nature of these murders, I will be launching an inside investigation among the police in Paris, conducted by an outside attorney. Mayor Bourgeois has approved the city’s plan for a comprehensive, independent, transparent investigation of the task force members' misconduct. As much as we owe to Ladybug and Chat Noir, we can’t afford to lose anyone else to these terrorists. This investigation will most likely further disrupt our work on the Ladybug and Chat Noir case.

“While this investigation goes on, I ask that everyone stop watching the stream on ‘make ladybug suffer dot com’. Giving Salo and her men attention is only fueling their torment of the victims. Ladybug and Chat Noir will be safer if we stop watching.

“To the families of M. Agreste and Mlle. Dupain-Cheng, I am truly sorry.”    

Nadja came back to the screen. “Though the apologies of the Minister seem to be well intentioned, critics have been asking the same question that goes unanswered. Where is the French Gendarmerie? Isn’t it made for situations like this?”

Lady Lacrima stood. “Thank you for the food. We must be going now.”

“Are you sure?”

“We have wasted enough time. Tell no one we were here…for your own safety.”

And just like that, she threw open the window, and they leapt out into the night.

Malena sighed as she collected their dishes, noticing how little they had eaten. “That was sudden. I wonder if it had anything to do with the news?”

“I think it had everything to do with the news. If I was the Minister of Interior, I’d pray to God right now.”

Chapter Text

Six Weeks Prior

—

Arthur Vanderguard’s already full plate just got another heaping helping dropped on top. Just ten minutes after the first broadcast ended, he found his phone ringing off the hook. The Chief of Police, the Mayor, the Prime Minister…everyone had questions, orders, ideas.

He just wanted a minute to think.

Chloe Bourgeois had been the first to call, demanding to know what he planned on doing to save her friends. He assured that he’d do everything in his power to make that happen.

But it had to be Ladybug and Chat Noir he was saving…

And it had to be Edward Savauge’s family he was dealing with.

Every time that man came to town, it was trouble. How many good officers had he lost to him? How many men had thought they would be the one to tackle the Big Fish?

At this point in his career, he knew that dealing with Savauge was an impossible task. The man knew too much. Knew more than Arthur did. Or he knew people that knew things. Even with undeniable evidence, he was still able to weasel his way out of the system. It was unbearable.

As for Ladybug and Chat Noir…he didn’t hate them, but he didn’t like them either. If they had just stuck to fighting akumas and Hawkmoth, they would have gotten along well enough. But when they started to branch out into regular crime, then it became a headache.

Because they weren’t equipped to handle criminals. They couldn’t make arrests. The best they could do was tie them up and call an officer out. And then, unless they stuck around to describe the crime, the person had to be let go.

It was a red tape nightmare, these vigilantes.

So saving people he actively disliked from people he had never beaten?

He needed a drink.

Hours later, late into the night, the bottle of Mondavi was half empty, and the broadcast had been rewatched about 18 times. His notebook laid on the table, scribbled notes for plans of action. He’d have to talk with Europol, and the French Gendarmerie. Because this wasn’t a typical kidnapping, they’d have to be careful. Salo and her men could move at any moment, undoing everything, if they got a whiff of what was going on. And knowing Edward Savauge, there was little that they could hide. 

There was a knock at the door.

Arthur muted his tv, and glanced at the clock. It was nearing 4am.

The knock was a little more insistent.

It was probably his police chief, coming to seek him out in person after ignoring several phone calls.

But as he opened the door, he saw a woman with red hair up in a bun with reflective sunglasses instead, flanked by huge bodyguards on both sides.

“Nope.” He said as he attempted to close the door.

A hand took hold and forced the door open, letting the group inside.

“Hello Arthur, you’re looking well.”

Arthur backed up into his couch, nearly flipping over the back. “How did you find me?”

“A wild guess.” Said Salo, waltzing around the apartment and making herself at home. The large men blocked the exits.

Salo wandered into the kitchen area, seeing the wine on the island. “Mondavi? How rude, I didn’t take you as a Napa Valley man.” She sniffed the bottle and then poured herself a glass. “It’s been a while. What, three years since you last tried to arrest me?”

Arthur didn’t respond, just looked at the men she had with her.

“Relax. We’re not here to hurt you.”

“Then why did you come?”

“Just to chat.” She sat down on his couch and kicked her boots up on his coffee table. “I can see you watched my work.”

The muted stream was still looping on the TV.

“It was hard to miss.” He answered.

“Let’s be honest. You don’t really like Ladybug and Chat Noir, do you?”

He didn’t answer.

“I mean, that’s what the word around town is. At least by my ears. You complain every time they step in to save the day.”

“Ladybug’s magic reset button is invaluable to the city. As long as she fixes damage from the akumas, I’m fine.”

“You’re avoiding the question, Artie.”

“Fine, sometimes they make my job harder. Is that what you want to hear? They’re children. I can’t hate them for wanting to keep Paris safe. Especially since they have super powers.”

“Interesting. Good to see you haven’t grown completely callus. Your ex-wife might think differently though.”

Arthur’s eyes widened.

“And your little girl, Ava. She loves Chat Noir, doesn’t she?” Salo smiled, showing her cards.

Arthur got her point. “What do you want?”

“I’m just here to give you a reminder. I have ears in Place Beauvau and The Police Prefecture. We let you take care of crimes that get in our way. We let you look like you’re keeping Paris safe. So we’ll let you look like you’re investigating this case too, because everyone will be watching you. But if you or any of your men step a toe out of line, you’ll regret it.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“No. Just warning. For your sake, and for Ava’s.” She threw her wine glass down on the floor, smashing the glass and sending little red droplets on the white carpet. “I suggest you act like a babbling moron. After all, you’d rather lose your job than lose the little family you have left, right?”

Arthur swallowed. “You make your point clear.”

“Good. Can’t wait to see what kind of lame excuses you put out when people start asking questions.”

He nodded in understanding.

“And one more thing…Eddy is going free.”

“I…will try to make that happen without looking suspicious.”

“That’s a good man.” She stood. “Now, I’m afraid I can’t sit around and talk. I have work to do. And I suppose you do too.”

He nodded sheepishly.

“I’ll be taking the rest of the Mondavi. You shouldn’t be drinking it with your heart medication.”

He didn’t say anything. He couldn’t say anything. But as soon as that door shut, he felt a cold hand on his throat. In his haze, he wandered into the bathroom. His face was pale in the mirror, and he looked ten years older. He opened the medicine cabinet and looked at the medication Salo had mentioned. How had she known about his heart condition? He had just been diagnosed a few weeks ago. He hadn’t told anyone…

The bottle was half full. Plenty to end his problems.

Since when did he become such a coward? Watching people die, having things run out of control, the stress of an entire city on your shoulders…it changes a person. It changed him.

He shook two tablets into his palm and put the rest back into his cabinet.

There would be a loophole to save the kids.

And tomorrow’s Arthur Vanderguard had to be here to find it.

—

Present Day

—

The night crept onward. The darkness deepening in the hours. Lights in homes and businesses went out as people went home and went to bed. Unsuspecting innocents that had no idea of the danger that lurked.

Minister of Interior, Arthur Vanderguard, was a dead man. And he knew it, judging how he kept his head on a swivel.

Ladybug and Chat Noir were free and akumatized. Salo was dead, along with several of her henchmen.

And now everyone was waiting apprehensively while the aftermath unfolded.

Arthur himself sat at his desk, while the mayor sat in a chair nearby. The mayor’s daughter, Chloe Bourgeois, who refused to listen to anyone, sat next to him. Officers were dispatched all over the city, keeping an eye out for the akumas, while the phones were manned, waiting for any sightings.

They could be anywhere.

Doubtless, Edward Savauge knew that they were free and someone was responsible for it.

So Arthur was understandably stressed.

Chloe was not helping, with the tapping of the keys on her phone.

“Miss Bourgeois, I must state again that this is a very sensitive situation—“

“And I’ll state again that Adrien is my best friend and I’m one of the only other heroes out there that can stop them. I’m in contact with Rena Rouge and Carapace. I’m staying.”

Arthur grunted, tapping his fingers on his desk.

A knock came from the door.

“Yes?”

“A man is here to see you sir, a witness.”

“Bring him in.”

A bald man, dripping with blood, but relatively unharmed, was escorted into his office.

“M. Pierre Rouso.” One of the officers introduced. “He said he was the camera man during the akuma attack with Salo.”

Arthur paled. “Someone survived?”

“Y-yes sir,” said the man. He was sweaty, panting, and pale. “I…I think she let me live so I could give them directions out.”

“She?”

“Lady Lacrima.”

“Alright. How much time do we have until they reach Paris?”

“They never left.”

Arthur flicked his gaze up to the two lower ranked officers. “Close and lock the door.”

He waited until the deed was done before asking quietly. “What do you mean, they never left?”

“We’ve been in Paris the whole time. In a bunker in the catacombs.”

Arthur rolled his eyes in disgust. The catacombs. Wasn’t it obvious? “Does anyone know you came here?”

“Only Lady Lacrima and Grimalkin.”

“You haven’t talked to anyone else? Not any pedestrians?”

“No! I ran straight here…well, I disconnected from the server and locked the gate so no one came get in or out.”

Arthur came closer to the man. “Out? There’s other survivors?”

“No, I mean…prisoners. Ladybug and Chat Noir weren’t the only one’s being tortured down there.”

“Sweet Jesus…”

“I think she wanted me to come here to get men down there right away…cleaning up the bodies and rescuing the other prisoners. I’m willing to work with you 100%. I was being blackmailed and—“

“Everyone’s being blackmailed.” Arthur interrupted. “There’s no one working under Salo or Savauge that hasn’t been blackmailed or threatened in some capacity. That’s how they stay on top. If M. Savauge finds out you’re still alive…you’re going to wish Lady Lacrima had killed you.”

The man shrunk back. “Are…are you being blackmailed?”

Arthur’s gaze flicked over to Chloe. It would be so much easier to just confess the truth. He had been hiding it for so long… “I’m afraid that’s none of your business.”

Mayor Bourgeois took out a handkerchief and dabbed his forehead. “Surely M. Savauge wouldn’t be angry with a survivor, right?”

A new voice spoke from the window. “You’re worried about the wrong person, M. Vanderguard.”

Arthur whipped his head around, coming face to face with Lady Lacrima and Grimalkin. They looked much more volatile in real life. “How—How did you get in?”

“Just because you’re on the top floor, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t lock your windows.” The curtains fluttered in the evening breeze.

Arthur went to take his gun from his holster, but before he could, steel claws closed around his throat.

Chloe shrieked.

Pierre fell to the ground while the other officers withdrew guns. “Freeze!”

Lady Lacrima took no heed as she summoned a lance.

The men opened fire on her as she leapt off the desk and impaled one of the officers with a pole. The other grabbed her and flipped her into a glass cabinet.

“Bad move!” She hissed, grabbing a vase nearby. She careened it into the side of his head, knocking him out. Still filled with rage, she summoned a pipe and wailed on his body.

Chloe watched this all in stunned horror before she ran to Grimalkin and grabbed his wrist. “Let him go Adrien! You don’t hurt people! Please!”

Grimalkin turned his blood red eyes on her, boring holes into her soul. This was not the Adrien she knew. Not by a long shot.

“Adrikins…?”

Lady Lacrima grabbed her by the shoulder and yanked her back so she fell on her rear. “Chloe, Chloe, Chloe…” She chastised.

Chloe scooted back, trying in vain to get away.

“You know, you’re on my list too. Years and years of being the bigger person, trying to turn the other cheek…years of suffering, self doubt, injustice…and now there’s nothing you or your ‘daddy’ can do to stop me.” She summoned a giant meat hook.

Chloe’s back ran into a bookshelf. She was overwhelmed with fear. “I’m sorry, Marinette!”

“You’re sorry now, now that there’s no where to run.” 

Chloe summoned every ounce of courage left inside her. “I was sorry the second I saw you were Ladybug!”

Lady Lacrima stopped her advancement and listened.

“Ladybug made me want to be a better person. The person I respected the most…and I was so awful to you. And you still put up with me! I’ve been doing everything I could to find you! Why do you think I’m here right now?!”

Lady Lacrima snarled. “I just hear a bunch of excuses!”

“Pollen, Buzz On!”

In a flash of gold light, Queen Bee appeared in Chloe’s place.

That only served to enrage Lady Lacrima as she plunged the hook into the wood of the shelf. “You don’t deserve that! I took that from you!”

Chloe scrambled to her feet. She was too terrified to argue.

“He replaced me!” Lady Lacrima screamed. “He just gave out more Miraculous!”

“To save you! Not to replace you!” Chloe called, as she ran to her father. “You’re irreplaceable!”

“They why didn’t you come for me!?”

The Mayor grabbed his daughter. “Don’t argue with her Chloe! She can’t hear you!”

“She won’t remember what I say anyways!” Chloe cried back, wrapping her arm around her father. “Let’s get out of here!” She cast her spinning top out the open window and together they fled.

Lady Lacrima scoffed. “Cowards.”

Grimalkin still had Arthur by the throat.

Pierre sat on the ground not too far away, watching them with horror.

Lady Lacrima stood over him, smiling gently. “You did good. Just as I asked. So I’ll spare you.”

The man sniveled in response.

“But you…” she stated, walking up to Arthur. His face was red as sweat and tears covered his skin. “You have some explaining to do.”

Arthur clawed at the hand on his throat, trying to get air to speak. “I—I tried…” he choked.

“I heard you though.” She said, plainly. “You’re just another one of Edward Savauge’s pawns. Too afraid to get your hands dirty.”

“I—I have a little girl—“ He begged.

“You have a job! And you failed us!”

Arthur choked.

Grimalkin grunted and dragged the man over to the window. Then with ungodly strength, he held him out, dangling freely over the street.

Arthur held onto his wrist and kicked his legs.

“Where is Edward Savauge?” She asked.

He didn’t answer, staring her right in the eye.

Grimalkin removed a finger from his throat, and Arthur could feel himself sliding.

“Where is Edward Savauge!?” She screamed.

“At—At his Penthouse—on the south side of the Arc de Triomphe—blue roof—orange…bricks…top floor…”

Lady Lacrima simply nodded at Grimalkin, prompting him to let go.

They didn’t watch him fall. Didn’t wait for him to hit the ground. Only dropped, and then moved onto the next target.

—

Edward Savauge was a patriot through and through. He loved Italy. It gave him everything. He only ever left for business.

France was…a disappointment, but he chose to enjoy the finer things Paris had to offer. That’s why he had a penthouse with a view to his favorite Landmark.

He had stayed much longer than he ever had before, and longed with every part of his being to go home. He was only supposed to be in town for a week, to deal with his failed contact. After disposing of Charles, he would collect the insurance money from his wife, and then set up a new contact. And even then, finding a new dealer wouldn’t necessitate him to stay in Paris.

But alas, he had to stay now. Especially now that those children were loose. Honestly, he expected more from his top girl.

But Hawkmoth’s secret was just one of a few he didn’t know. The man was shaping up to be a real rival. After he took care of those kids, he’d find the Mothman, and take his jewelry from him!

“Sir, if I may be so bold...aren’t you afraid of the Akuma?” Asked his butler, an older gentleman.

Edward sat is his library, ambient light casting the room with a soft glow. He swirled the grappa in his glass, and leaned his head on his hand.

“A man like me doesn’t feel fear, Rupert. Do you have children?”

“You know the answer to that, sir.”

“Play with me.” Edward smiled.

“No, I have no children.”

“Then allow me to explain something to you. When children become afraid, they become unreasonable. I simply intend to show them there’s nothing to be afraid of, and they will submit.”

“That’s awfully presumptuous of you, sir.”

“Hawkmoth, Ladybug and Chat Noir, the police, all of them are predictable.”

“What…if they aren’t afraid?”

Edward laughed. “Why wouldn’t they be afraid? I’m the reason they were captured. Fear doesn’t mean they’d hide from me. It can mean they’re taking advantage of their heightened state to attack me.”

“And you don’t believe they could be a threat to you?”

“Not those kids. They’re too soft. They won’t kill me.”

“Just like they killed Miss Bianca and her men?”

“You’ve got me there, friend.” He sipped his drink. “But that’s what the men downstairs are for. We’ll wrangle them, and they’ll just be another pawn for my collection. It’s as I’ve done to every enemy of mine. Now that I know the identities of the Cat and Bug, they will be even more willing to listen to reason.” He gestured to a manilla envelope on the table. “Miss Dupain-Cheng has family in close proximity to our home office. And Mr. Agreste has family unprotected and unaware in England. Plenty of reasons why getting on my bad side is a bad idea…if they haven’t already figured that out.” He set down his glass and picked up a box of Toscanos. “Would you like one Rupert?”

“You’re offering me one of your cigars?”

“Think of it as a special occasion.”

The butler came closer and took a cigar, allowing his boss to light it.

“Take a seat, old friend. I could use the company.”

Rupert did as he was told, sitting and smoking in the silent night. He chanced a glance at Edward, seeing the cigar shaking slightly in his hand.

Ah.

They were going to die, then.

When music started to play from the other room, Edward tensed and closed his eyes. He sighed, smoke exhaling. “How ironic. Una Furtiva Lacrima. I used to love that song.”   

A single secret tear

from her eye did spring:

as if she envied all the youths

that laughingly passed her by.

The door behind them creaked open. There was no bursting down the door, no shouting and yelling, no gun shots. They had made their way here almost effortlessly.

Swallowing, Edward swiveled his chair around. “It seems you and I both have a penchant for theatrics. Not something I would have expected from you.”

But as he looked to the opened doorway, there was no one there. No light coming from the hall, just a wall of darkness.

Then a thump of something hitting the floor, before a red stain bled over into the carpet. 
What more searching need I do?

What more searching need I do?

She loves me! Yes, she loves me, I see it. I see it.

For just an instant the beating

of her beautiful heart I could feel!

Lady Lacrima stood in the frame, the blood that had washed off by the rain was accompanied by even more. Splatters on her cheek, blood dripping from the deadly mace in her hand. Her face showed no emotion, no mercy, no anger, nothing.

She looked like the angel of death, coming to claim his soul.

As if my sighs were hers,

and her sighs were mine!

The beating, the beating of her heart I could feel,

to merge my sighs with hers...

“I don’t suppose we could talk this out? You know, I can give you anything you want. And unlike with my usual contacts, I wouldn’t ask for much in return. Just my life spared, as well as my friend Rupert here. He’s my butler, you see. Never did a thing wrong, just worked for an honest wage.”

Lady Lacrima just stared him down, and it felt impossible to tell if she was listening or not.

Or if she was just trying to make him squirm.

Finally, she raised her chin to look at him levelly. “Others begged. Salo, she spent her last breath threatening me, Pasolini promised us wealth and power…and you are here bartering, as if this is another day in business.”

Edward took another puff on his cigar. “No one’s ever beaten me before, you know? I haven’t served prison time since I was a boy. Plenty of guns have pointed me down, but not a single has gone off. Ladybug, you’ve been the first to get so close. I might actually be scared of you.”

“This is how you show fear? By flattery?”

“Is it working?”

She shook her head.

“Thought not.” He finished off his grappa. “But what can I say, I’m a gambling man. I thought I’d try my luck.” His brows furrowed. “Where’s the Cat?”

Lady Lacrima didn’t answer, but judging by the ever so slight smile on her lips, he didn’t want to hear it.      

Heavens! Yes, I could die!

I could ask for nothing more, nothing more.

Oh, heavens! Yes, I could, I could die!

I could ask for nothing more, nothing more.

A thud hit the ground behind him and a ball rolled forward between his feet.

No, not a ball.

A head.

The head of one of his men downstairs, completely covered in blood. It stopped, facing him, jaw open and eyes staring lifelessly into his.

Yes, I could die! Yes, I could die.

—

Queen Bee and Mayor Bourgeois swung through the pouring rain to the Agreste Mansion. She landed inside the gate, before running up the stairs and pounding on the door. “Madam Cheng! Madam Cheng!” She cried.

In mere seconds, the door flew open and Sabine gaped at them in shock.

“Chloe?”

Chloe, still reeling from the horrific scene at the police prefecture, all but collapsed against the woman, sobbing.

Sabine looked to the Mayor in confusion.

He was pale, windswept, and stricken.

She led them both inside.

“Where’s Gabriel? Alya?”

Sabine didn’t answer. “What happened to you two?”

The mayor responded, “I received a call from the chief of police that Adrien and Marinette had become akumatized and escaped. So Chloe and I went to the precinct to check in with the Minister of Interior…”

“They showed up and killed some police officers! We didn’t stay but I’m sure they killed the minister too!” Chloe lamented. “And Marinette! She tried to—she tried to kill me too! She was so angry! I didn’t know what to do!”

Tom and Sabine looked at each other, holding a silent conversation.

Tom took an arm around the Mayor and led him away, “you look like you can use a nice drink Mr. Mayor. M. Agreste has a bottle of Sherry in the kitchen. We’ll let the superheroes take care of this.”

The mayor nodded. “Yes, yes…at this point, the less I know the better…”

Once they left the room, Sabine gently pulled Queen Bee away from her. “Come with me.” Together, they went into the office, and Queen Bee fell into a chair.

“It was horrifying! I heard they were akumatized, but I had no idea—I’m so scared!”

Sabine petted her hair, her voice shaking. “It’s going to be alright Chloe. We’re going to fix this.” She then took out her phone and called Alya.

“Yes, mom?”

“Queen Bee is here, Tom took the Mayor to the kitchen. Marinette and Adrien were spotted over at the police station…and it seems they did some damage.”

“We’ll be right down.”

“Now Chloe,” Sabine said patiently after hanging up. “A lot has happened in the last few hours. What was the last thing you saw?”

Chloe wiped her eyes. “I saw Adrien getting—getting whipped! I couldn’t—I haven’t be able to even think about watching since then. It hurt too much!”

“Yes, I know.” Sabine agreed, gently moving her bangs from her face. “Well…we’ll wait for the others to get here, and then we’ll get you up to date, alright?”

At that moment, the sound of hydraulics came from the other side of the room. Rena Rouge, Carapace, and Hawkmoth emerged from the floor.

“Hawk…moth…?” She squeaked.

“Hello Chloe,” he said, his voice much more calm than she’d ever heard from the villain.

“No…you’re…” She leapt to her feet. “Gabriel!?”

He nodded.

“This whole time—you’ve—! I can’t believe—!” She ran at him, angry and feral, beating on him with her fists. “Adrien trusted you! You let him down over and over and he swore to me that you were good! That you only had his best interests at heart! He never listened to me! But he insisted—!” Overwhelmed with emotion, she slid to the floor, only to be caught around the arm by Rena. “The whole time…you neglected him in favor of—of hurting people! Of taking advantage of people suffering!”

Hawkmoth just stared down at her.

“He’s cried so many times because of you! And all you’ve done is lied! And now you—“ She grit her teeth and spat at him. “You’ve turned him into a monster! A heartless killing machine!”

“Chloe…” Alya placated.

“What was this even for?!” She screamed. “You have fame! Wealth! Power! What were you even trying to do with the Miraculous!?”

Hawkmoth couldn’t meet her eyes. “It’s a long story…one we don’t have time for right now.”

“Actually, I’d really like to know too.” Said Nino. “Chloe makes a great point. You always forced Adrien to stay home for his own safety, but you were the most dangerous thing in Paris. I know you put him in danger too. Besides Chat Noir.”  He frowned. “Hey, did you purposefully piss me off when I asked about his birthday party? Did you purposely set me up to be akumatized?!”

The brooch on Hawkmoth’s chest burned with the anger in the room.

“Yeah! And you akumatized Adrien’s bodyguard! The big gorilla threw Adrien off the side of the building!” Alya added.

Hawkmoth growled. “We’re wasting time!”

“I’m not working with you until you explain yourself!” Chloe shrieked.

A very sharp pain, right to the heart, emanated from the brooch. Gabriel collapsed, ripping the brooch off and sending it clattering across the floor.

For a tense moment, he knelt on the floor, grasping at his chest and trying to catch his breath.

Sabine, who had been silently watching, stood up and stepped closer. “Gabriel?”

“The anger…” he moaned. “They must have done something else…I was just…suddenly overwhelmed with a lot of negative emotion. Not just from the room, but from the city.”

Queen Bee shuttered. “They killed two police officers and the Minster of Interior. Others must have found them.”

Rena gasped. “What?”

Queen Bee took a deep sigh and recounted everything that she had witnessed that evening at the police station. When she was done, everyone stood in stunned silence.

Gabriel, who had slightly recovered, slowly stood and picked up his Miraculous. “Using the Ladybug and Black Cat Miraculous together allows the user to make an ultimate wish. I wanted to bring my wife back. But…as I spoke with the Guardian, I found that trying to do so would have likely killed Adrien and I both in the process. Master Fu is taking care of the situation in exchange for the Butterfly and Peacock Miraculous.” He pinned the brooch back on. “I was desperate and wrong. Is that enough for you?”

Chloe sniffed and wiped her cheeks. “For now.”

Gabriel sighed as he paced the room. “Then…we have to confront them.”

“Can’t you just un-akumatize them?” Queen Bee asked.

“No. Making two akuma divides the control I have. They’ve taken my akuma from me. And I can’t make anymore until I get them back.”

“Then what do we do?” Asked Rena.

“The only thing we can do. We have to get the Ladybug Miraculous from them, purify them, and use the cure. That should bring back the officers and the Minister…but that will also bring back Salo.”

They all sighed at that. It was wrong and unfair.

“But couldn’t she twist the truth once she was back? There has to be another way!”

“No, this time, I think it will be impossible for her to get out of it. Her and Edward Savauge.”

“I bet that’s who they’re going for next, if they haven’t already.” Said Rena. “What’s our move?”

“We’ll try to talk them down first,” explained Gabriel. “And if that doesn’t work, we’ll just have to take the Miraculous by force.”

Chapter Text

It neared midnight when the team finally tracked down the akumas. The rain persisted as a drizzle, enough to cast the lights in a haze. A news crew had spotted them on the Arc de Triomphe, and broadcasted the scene as an update, both from a van from below and a helicopter circling overhead.

The crowd of spectators that gathered at the base of the Arc was alarming.

Rena wanted to shout at them to run. Didn’t they know the akuma were the most dangerous they’d ever had? But she stayed quiet, just as Hawkmoth had instructed. They waited on a nearby rooftop, watching from the distance, and the newscast on Carapaces’ screen.

“It is unknown what the goal of the akuma is at this time, but it seems that they are planning to hang something from the Arc.”

Indeed, it seemed that way, as Lady Lacrima continued to summon long steel cables with hooks at the end. She slid down them, and checked to make sure each was equal in length.

“What is she doing?” Carapace asked quietly.

“Look!” Queen Bee pointed on top of the Arc. “Adrien’s up there.”

“He’s got something. I can’t tell what.”

“I’m almost afraid to find out.” Said Hawkmoth. “There’s not going to be any way for us to get up there but to climb the stairs.”

“Or we can lure them over here…” Suggested Rena Rouge. “Let’s just see what they’re doing. Then we’ll make our move.”

“Um…” Started Chloe.

“What’s up?”

“I was just thinking…Alya, maybe you should stay back here while the rest of us go up.”

“What?! Why?!”

“I was just thinking about the last time I saw them in person, back before this whole thing. And then I remembered the stupid trick that Lila pulled.”

Rena frowned at that. “Yeah, and?”

“Well, you took Lila’s side. I mean, I did too, but I wasn’t friends with Marinette.”

“I-!! It was a mistake, Chloe! You don’t think I’ve learned my lesson!?”

Chloe scoffed with a roll of her eyes, exasperated. “That’s not what I’m saying at all. I’m saying…Marinette doesn’t know how much work you’ve put into trying to save her. To her…you’re still a traitor. She’s likely to go for the kill.”

“I gotcha,” said Carapace. “I’ve got my shield, and Chloe’s got her top to swing away, and Hawkmoth has a sword. Rena, you’ve just got your flute. You’re the least protected.”

Rena frowned, seeing reason, but not particularly liking it.

“She’s terrifying.” Chloe continued. “She wouldn’t listen to a word I said. Neither would Adrien.”

“Strategically speaking,” added Hawkmoth. “It would be better if Rena stayed back so she could cover our retreat if something goes awry. But she won’t be able to do that unless she has her flute. Grimalkin’s cataclysm can damage our weapons.”

Rena sighed loudly. “Then I don’t see how this is going to work. If neither of them will listen, and Adrien can blow up our weapons, what do we do?”

“They didn’t listen to Chloe,” said Hawkmoth. “But I’m the one that gave them the akuma.”

“And I took Adrien’s side in the argument, so we’re good,” Carapace added. “Between the two of us, we might be able to talk them down.”     

“Are we even sure they have the Miraculous on them?”

“Even as an akuma, I can’t imagine Marinette would leave her Miraculous behind. I believe Grimalkin’s suit is almost the same as his Chat Noir costume. He should have pockets.”

“Okay,” began Nino. “If we have to...I can pin Marinette down with my shield, while Chloe freezes Adrien with her venom. It’s not going to be easy, but I need some sort of plan before we go in. I’m not good at winging it.”

“Sounds as good of a plan as any.”

“Looks like they’re ready.” Rena pointed as the group watched as Lady Lacrima pulled all the cables back up. And then Grimalkin got to work doing something while she lowered herself down on a lip of the Arc.

“We need to get over there.” Hawkmoth spoke softly. “Stick to the shadows and make your way up top. Adrien might be watching the stairs, so step lightly.”

The team departed, while Rena remained back, not liking the situation one bit.

“Paris!” Lady Lacrima shouted, her voice echoing over all the traffic and thousands of voices.

It seemed like the world stood still to hear what she had to say.

“I’m disappointed in you.” She began. That hurt more than it should have. The hero that everyone adored, respected, disappointed with them?

“Do we mean nothing to you? Are we just trophies for you to show off to the world? ‘Here! Look at our wonderful heroes! They can do anything!’” She threw her arms open in a wide gesture. “‘Ladybug and Chat Noir will handle everything! We don’t need to do anything for them! They’ll save themselves!’” Her voice wobbled with anger. “Well, we did. We saved ourselves, with a little help from the person we were fighting against the whole time! It seems that we had the wrong enemy! The man that creates distracting little minions that turn people into Ice Cream should have been the biggest problem with this city! But he’s not!”

With a wave of her hand, Grimalkin heaved their project over the edge of the Arc, a cacophony of screams bursting forth at the reveal.

Bodies.

Eight bloody, mangled bodies, all hanging in an array of deranged marionette dolls. In the middle, a huge business man in a blood-soaked white tux.

“It’s the parasites of the underbelly!” Lady Lacrima continued. “This city is controlled by the likes of men who consider themselves Gods! They know the worst of the worst, every dark detail that you try to bury! They feed off the cowardice of the feckless elite, pulling the strings and rewriting the rules! You were never safe! You never knew how awful it was!

“Many years ago, I made a promise that Chat and I would keep you safe.” Lady Lacrima continued. “But Ladybug failed. She couldn’t even stop Hawkmoth. So that is why I, Lady Lacrima, and Grimalkin have stepped up and did what no one else in this goddamn city had the brains to do! End things permanently!”

Someone wailed from below.

“Let this be a warning to anyone who thinks they can cross us. We offer no trial, we cannot hear begging. God has turned his face away from Paris, for he cannot bare to witness the Justice we demand!” She inhaled, trembling. Her voice was so raw and broken. “I’m tired!” She spat. “Tired of holding this city up on my shoulders! Tired of lying, of making flimsy excuses! Tired of having to do everything myself! I’m tired of being an object of affection instead of a human with emotions! I'm tired of pretending like everything is okay, that life just moves on, when the fact of the matter is, I can't. I'm done with this place. I'm done with entertaining the Pharisees and playing nice! I’m tired!”

“Then you should rest,” a man’s voice cut in.

Lady Lacrima leapt back up to the top of the arc to find Grimalkin glaring down their intruder.

Hawkmoth stood just at the other end by the stairs. He appeared alone, as Carapace and Queen Bee stood just out of sight. He rested his weight on his cane, and tried to play the role of a non-threatening business partner.

Neither of the Akuma bought it, as they both poised to strike, if anything went awry.

“What do you want?” Lady Lacrima asked, a bite in her tone.

“Just to talk.”

She said nothing, allowing him to elaborate.   

“Well, for one thing, I will be needing those akuma’s back, you know. I can’t make any more. And having them in use is exhausting me.”

“You’ll get them back in time, Hawkmoth. But we have work to be done.”

“I can see that.” He looked pointedly at the cables hanging over the edge. “I’m just worried about you.”

“Worried?” She scoffed. “Since when have you ever been worried about us?”

Hawkmoth sighed. “I know. I know I don’t have a right to be concerned, after all I did. But I am. Even more so now. This isn’t like you both. You’re good, and just.”

“We were good!” Lady Lacrima corrected, harshly. “But Salo took that away from us!”

Hawkmoth raised his hand and spoke softly. “You still are good. The akuma are just clouding your judgement right now. Just…give me the Miraculous, and we can fix all of this. Okay?”

Lady Lacrima shrieked at him, her voice breaking with the passion. “You don’t want to help us! You’re a liar!”

“Marinette—“

She gripped the side of her head as she continued wailing, then she hit herself in the temples over and over.

“Stop that!” Hawkmoth demanded.

“Stay away from us!”

“Just listen to me!”

Grimalkin, who had be semi-willing to hear Hawkmoth out, growled instead and ran at him, claws out.

Hawkmoth defended himself by drawing his sword. “Plan B!” He shouted.

Carapace then leapt from the stairwell and ran at Grimalkin, colliding his shield with his shoulder. “Sorry dude!”

Grimalkin was knocked off balance and rolled across the ground, and back onto his feet.

Carapace attempted to make a run at Lady Lacrima, to execute his plan, but Grimalkin was already on him again, and snagged him by the hood.

Okay, changing plans. Carapace thought, whirling around to hit Grimalkin with his shield. Once we do Miraculous Cure, this should fix anything I do to hurt him… Still, it was painful to hit his best friend.

Meanwhile, Hawkmoth had darted around to go for Lady Lacrima, as Queen Bee attacked from the rear. Lady Lacrima took her whip with one hand and summoned a shield in the other. She threw the shield up to block Hawkmoth’s incoming swing, and used the whip to snag Queen Bee by the ankle, and pull her to the ground.

“You’re with them!?” she shouted at Hawkmoth, accusingly. “I thought you wanted to help us! But you—you just want to make us disappear! Erase the failures!”

Queen Bee had regained her footing, only to be bashed by the shield and sent sprawling again. Lady Lacrima focused her efforts on Hawkmoth, deflecting his blows and attempting to disarm him by snapping the whip at his hand.

“We’re all trying to help you, Marinette!” Hawkmoth shouted at her. “There’s no one against you!”

“That’s not my name!” She shrieked, as more black lines drew under her mask. “That’s not my name! Marinette was a coward and a liar! She couldn’t even find the nerve to talk to the boy she loved! I don’t want to be her anymore!”

“Marinette is wonderful!” Hawkmoth argued right back, “she’s smart, and creative, and kind! Why wouldn’t you want to be her!?”

Lady Lacrima heard Queen Bee’s exclamation of “venom!” from behind her.

Faster than Hawkmoth could comprehend, she snapped her whip out to grab his wrist, and yanked him right into her shield, stunning him. Then she dismissed the shield and turned around.   

Queen Bee was almost about to sting her, and Lady Lacrima only had to redirect her forward momentum onwards, right into Hawkmoth.

He froze, stung by the venom, and Queen Bee was all alone in the fight, and only had five minutes left.

Carapace hadn’t faired much better with Grimalkin. Each swipe of the claws against the shield sounded like nails on a chalkboard, and made his skin crawl.

The worst part of it all was that Adrien was just not speaking at all. He snarled and growled and frothed from the mouth. But no matter how hard he tried, Carapace could not get a word from his best friend.

“Come on dude! We don’t have to fight! You need help! Please!”

But Grimalkin grew tired of all of his attacks being blocked. He brought his hand back and clenched it into a fist, pulsating with energy.

Carapace watched in horror as his shield disintegrated in his hand. With only one trick left up his sleeve, he called “Shell—“ before being body slammed in the ground.

Grimalkin ripped the bracelet off his arm and flung it away from him.

“Adrien!” Nino shouted in fear.

As Grimalkin stared back at him, the narrow slits in his eyes dilating until his eyes were mostly black. His ears laid flat on his head, and he backed away shamefully.

“Hey, hey dude…come on man…you didn’t know.”

Grimalkin started crying, a sensation that was not familiar to his akumatized form.

“I’m not mad, I promise. It’s going to be alright…just hand over the Miraculous and we’ll get you to a hospital, okay?”

Grimalkin let out at mournful wail, and continued to back away.

Rena Rouge watched the fight, biting her nails. Once Hawkmoth was frozen, she prepared her flute for the worst.

Then Nino’s transformation went out, and she jumped into action. The illusion would either cause Lady Lacrima and Grimalkin to flee, or allow her teammates to escape.

Lady Lacrima stood, one foot pressing on Hawkmoth’s chest. “You never deserved that Miraculous,” she said to Queen Bee. “You don’t know how to use it, and even your best attempts end in failure. Why do you think I never called on you for help?”

“You said you were trying to keep me safe, because Hawkmoth knew my identity…”

“It’s a lot nicer than calling you a failure and an embarrassment, hmm?”

If Chloe was going to respond to that, she didn’t get the chance. Ryuko and Viperion stepped in between them, protecting Queen Bee.

Lady Lacrima let out a gasp of horror as she glanced around the arc.

King Monkey, Pegasus, Mayura, and Bunnyx had all appeared as backup.

Lady Lacrima panicked, but only for a moment, because of one key detail. That being that Rena Rouge was not among the group. She looked over to see Grimalkin standing awkwardly over Nino, unsure of what to do.

“Rena Rouge is here.” She told him. “I’ll find her. Keep an eye on these nuisances.”

Grimalkin nodded in acknowledgement, not taking his eyes off Nino. 

Lady Lacrima scanned the area, looking across the Place Charles de Gaulle. It was far too dark to spot her from the arc, especially with the light of the helicopter on them.

Oh, but the helicopter would work for her.

Summoning another steel cable and a grappling hook, she hooked a foot of the helicopter, ran, and leapt off the arc and out of the spotlight.

In the dark haze of the city, Lady Lacrima soared over to the nearest building, and started searching for the color orange.

“You’ve used your power!” She shouted. “You’ve only got five minutes left! Then what will you do?! You’ll be completely defenseless! It’s only a matter of time Alya!”

Alya had been picked as the first auxiliary member for a reason. Marinette trusted her. She was smart and passionate about doing a good job.

And she knew when to run and fight another day.

Silently, she slunk from her place on a roof to a fire escape, then released her transformation. She knew the light would likely draw Lady Lacrima’s attention, so she leapt down the ladder and tried to get down into the alley as soon as possible.

“You can’t hide from me!” Lady Lacrima’s voice teased from above.

Some tenants of the building thankfully left a few bags of garbage out on the escape and Alya was quick to dive under them.

“Alya!” Lady Lacrima screamed. “Come out and face me! Face judgement for your neglect and betrayal!”

But Alya just laid still, her heart hammering in her chest, threatening to give her away.

The hunt was over as soon as it began. A loud yowl caught Lady Lacrima’s attention, and brought her gaze back to the Arc.

Chloe’s transformation had worn off, and with it, her paralyzing venom. Hawkmoth had recovered, and held Grimalkin in a headlock, his arm behind his back.

Horrified, Lady Lacrima took her cable and returned to the battlefield.

“Get the Miraculous!” Hawkmoth screamed at Nino.

“I’m sorry dude! But this is for your own good!” Nino unzipped his pocket and reached his hand in.

Only to be body slammed by Lady Lacrima. She summoned a knife, and pointed it at Hawkmoth. “Let him go!”

“Marinette, please…just listen…”

“I’m only giving you a warning because you’re the only person that cared enough to save us! Now let him go! Or I’ll jam this in your eye!”

“I can’t—“

At his protest, she stabbed the knife into his shoulder, forcing him to drop Grimalkin and cry out in pain.

Lady Lacrima gathered Grimalkin, and in a flash, disappeared from the rooftop.

Chloe and Nino came to Hawkmoth’s assistance immediately.

“Don’t—Don’t pull the knife out,” Hawkmoth advised. “It’ll bleed worse.”

“Oh god…” Nino moaned, unsure of what to do. His hands fretted, though didn’t touch him.

Chloe just rested her hand on his good shoulder, offering him comfort.

“Get…get your Miraculous back. The police will be up here at any second…”

“R-right,” he agreed, scrambling off to the corner.

Just as Nino recovered his bracelet and called his transformation back on, a fleet of police officers stormed the roof. Carapace looked up to the helicopter, his gut sinking. His identity had probably been compromised too. And with the amount of police surrounding them, there was no way they were letting Hawkmoth get out of this.

And Alya…where was she? He could only hope she was safe.

Setting his fears aside, he pushed through the crowd and made his way back to Hawkmoth. Then he used his shield to bash apart the handcuffs they had already put on his wrists.

“What are you doing, kid?!”

“This man is a hero! He saved Ladybug and Chat Noir!”

“Yeah, and he turned them into monsters too!” The officer shot back. “Do you know how many people are dead because of those akuma?! Because we don’t! We haven’t found them all!”

“What do you expect?!” Carapace shrieked back, “no one else could find them! The second Hawkmoth could reach them, he took the chance to give them powers so they could get out! They’re hurt and angry and scared! Why the hell to you think we’re here!? To have a tea party!?”

“Carapace…” Hawkmoth tried to placate by grabbing his wrist.

“No! No, everyone needs to hear this! I just fought my best friend, okay!? He’s confused and in pain…and so lost! We need everyone on deck to help bring them in, and that includes Hawkmoth!” He gestured to man. “He’s the one who lasted the longest against them! Ladybug—er, Lady Lacrima gave him mercy! He’s the only one they’re willing to listen too!”

Hawkmoth gripped his wrist harder. “No. This plan failed. We should have never approached them like this.”

“Come on, man, what else were we supposed to do?”

“I have another idea. I just…we need to regroup.”

“We will,” said Chloe. “After you get stitches.”

He stood on shaky legs. “I’ll be fine. Carapace, go find Rena. Chloe, recharge and suit up. We’ll meet up back home.”

—

Lady Lacrima cried furiously as she swung her and Grimalkin away from the fight. She held him tightly to her as they moved, his breath pulling slowly. That low grating breath that had plagued her since the moment they were akumatized.

It didn’t take long to find cover in a hidden rooftop alcove. It was dark and out of the rain, and she gathered him close to her chest.

“I never learn, do I?” She sobbed. “I keep leaving you behind…I’m so so sorry.”

A quiet purr rumbled through his throat as a soft smile graced his features. His breathing was coming smoother now, as he recovered from the fight.

“I’m not trying to drag you along on my revenge plot, but—“

He nuzzled her cheek with his nose, assuring her it was alright with him.

“Are you sure? I…we only have one more person to pay back, but I think you’ll agree with me…they won’t put up a fight.”

His red eyes glanced up at her, gleaming with malicious intent.

“Oh kitty,” she purred, caressing his hair. “Get your strength back, and then we’ll go. And when we’re done,” she pecked his lips, “We’ll rest.”

—

Lila Rossi was grounded.

Not that she could really blame her mom, what with getting kidnapped and almost dying. Lila supposed it was fair. Besides, having a phone, internet, and TV would only allow for her to watch people ridicule her.

And she wasn’t really fond of that idea.

So she slept, completely and utterly unaware that Marinette and Adrien were akumatized, and on a rampage.

That is, until her window shattered.

She jolted to wakefulness as glass rained down on her.

“Wha—?” Was all she was able to utter, before sharp claws grabbed her ponytail and yanked her out of bed.

Two people were in the room, one of them a woman who was locking her bedroom door.

“Lila Rossi. Oh, you have no idea how good it feels to be here right now.”

“Who—Who are you?” Lila sobbed in fear.

Grimalkin tilted her head to face him, getting a clear shot of his red feline eyes and glistening fangs.

“Us? We’re your worst nightmare.” A glimmer appeared in her hand, shortly replaced by a pair of clamps. “We’re the consequences of your actions.” 

“My…actions?”

“You have a nasty lying habit, Lila. It’s even in your name.”

Lila grasped at the hand holding her. “I made a mistake! No ones perfect! My classmates hate me, I’m grounded for life, and I’m drowning in guilt! And I’m sure there’s going to be a hell of lawsuits coming my way! What else do I have to endure!?”

Lady Lacrima snapped the clamps a few times, to test them. “Oh, I want you to go though all of that still…but we’re going to make sure you can’t weasel your way out of any of it.”

Lila tried to back away, though Grimalkin held her tight.

Lila gasped, finally realizing who she was looking at. “Marinette? Adrien?!”

“My, you’re even dumber than I thought. Pity. Now stay still, this will only hurt a lot.”

—

“Lila! Lila answer me! Open this door!” Called her mother from the other side.

Her fingers trembled as she turned the lock.

The door swung open and Mrs. Rossi gasped in horror. “Darling! Are you alright?! You’re covered in blood! What happened!?”

“…ey…am…ey…ough…me…ongue…”

“What? What are you saying!?”

Lila opened her mouth, blood rushing down her jaw.

Her tongue was gone.

—

Some dozen blocks away, Lady Lacrima and Grimalkin landed on an old familiar balcony.

“Hawkmoth said my parents are with your father at his mansion.” She provided. “Which should give us a little time to hide out here before they come looking.”

Grimalkin blinked a few times, his eyelids growing heavy.

She pulled on the hatch, but it didn’t budge. “Locked…wait, I can get us in.”

Grimalkin watched as she swung over the side of the balcony, and pushed on a little window that was cracked open. It gave way, and she weaseled her way in.

In seconds, the lock flicked and the hatch popped open. “Please come in, kitty cat.”

With a purr, Grimalkin obliged, and slunk in the window, forgoing the ladder to just flop on the bed. The softness of the comforter and warmth of the blankets only enhanced his purring as he nuzzled the blankets.

“Hey! You’re getting the sheets all bloody and wet!” Lady Lacrima scolded.

Grimalkin hunched his shoulders in shame.

“Oh, it’s not that big of a deal, love. Just wait here a second, alright?”

He nodded to her, politely sitting on the edge of the bed.

She jumped down into her main room, noting that it had been ransacked of valuables and personal belongings.

But the towels by her sink were still there, and so she snatched them up and got to work drying her cat. She placed the towel on his head and tussled it gently, like Kelly had done, then she rubbed at his cheeks.

“There’s my good boy, he was hiding under all that blood.”

He grinned.

She finished him off by buffing the towel over his suit.

When she took a fresh towel to clean herself, he stopped her and returned the favor, gently cleaning her face. The black marks wouldn’t disappear, but that was alright.

Once she was clean, he placed a teasing lick on her cheekbone.

“Oh you’re a naughty kitty!” She teased back. Then tackled him to the bed.

They tumbled around, playing roughly, before Grimalkin let out a long yawn…which proceeded to make Lady Lacrima yawn.

They both settled down, Grimalkin nuzzling into her chest as she wrapped her arms around him. “Good night my sweet prince.”

He purred in response.

Chapter Text

The day went on, the sun hiding behind November clouds. Lady Lacrima and Grimalkin slept the day away, nestled in their bed. The third floor kept nice and warm despite the nip in the air. As if the world knew they were resting, things seemed quiet. No construction, no endless honking, just peace.

Just before sunset, Grimalkin roused with a rumbling stomach. Exhaustion fogged his brain, and all he registered around him were the cloud-like bed and the angel upon it. He pressed himself further against her, his purr rolling in his chest.

And then the rumble of his stomach got in the way.

He sat up, noting the time on the clock above her bed. 4:30 pm.

Lady Lacrima groaned softly, disturbed by his movement.

He pressed a kiss to her forehead and urged her back to sleep.

Then he weaseled his way out of the blankets and snuck downstairs, his stomach being his guide. The air was stale and the blinds were all shut, making the house dark. Despite sitting empty for so long, the house still retained the sweet smells of the bakery, of sugars and spices. Surely, the Dupain-Cheng’s kept their kitchen well stocked.

Right?

Disappointment took him as he found a barren fridge. There were sauces and dressings and jams. But nothing to make a meal. No fruits or veggies, no milk, and no meat.

He riffled through the pantry, finding spices, and mixes for various dishes.

The only thing he found that was edible by itself, was a can of baked beans.

He plopped it on the table and sat at the high chair, head resting in his hand.

He supposed he could eat that. Or...

There was a corner store about a block down the way. He and Ladybug would often stop there for sodas and snacks during long patrols.

The owner was a kind old man, who was always happy to see them. Surely, he wouldn’t turn him away.

But just in case, it was probably smart to take a disguise. Grimalkin rifled through the apartment, eventually finding a coat closet. Tom’s rain coat was huge on him, but did the job of covering his suit. He struggled to tie the waist band, but eventually got it to stay closed. Then he found a hat and a pair of sunglasses. Of course people would notice the mask, but it would be better if they couldn’t see his blood red eyes.

His stomach growled again, and he hissed right back at it. He was working on it!

Now all he needed was money. The state of the apartment made him wonder if thieves had pilfered through their belongings already, but some things were still in place. Like the TV. There was probably some spare change around here somewhere, right? His first guess was that they forgot to clear the register before they left.

And what luck he had. He felt a little guilty for destroying the register drawer to get it open, but he was far too hungry to pay too much thought to it. He stuffed some bills into his pocket, and then returned upstairs.

Back in Marinette’s room, Lady Lacrima was still sleeping peacefully. He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead and climbed up the ladder to the balcony.

Her cable with grappling hook that got them up to the balcony was still hooked to the railing, and he used it to ease himself down to the street.

Once his feet touched the sidewalk, dread fell on him like a blanket. What if something happened to his lady while he was gone? What if Hawkmoth and Carapace and Queen Bee attacked him and she lost him? He looked back up to the balcony with a whimper, but his stomach growled back.

He was beginning to feel more nauseous than hungry, but figured food would help with that. The sooner he went, the sooner he could return.

So, with great reluctance, he headed down the street.

As he walked, he felt the stares of people watching him walk. Surely they all knew what he was guilty of. He was a murderer, not a hero.

A failure.

He shouldn’t be walking the streets. He should be locked up. He wasn’t safe.

But before he could beat himself up anymore, he arrived at the grocer. Down a stairwell plastered with flyers, he pulled the coat a little tighter and popped his collar.

The door chimed with his entrance, prompting a voice to call from the other side of the store, “Guten Abend!” which startled him.

He didn’t reply, not that he could.

His senses were so heightened in this state, despite being an akuma. He was able to map out the room in just a glance. The owner of the store, the name that escaped him now, was in the aisle with the alcohol, stocking shelves. There was another customer by the bread. Other than that, the store was empty. Perfect.

He just tried to quietly and inconspicuously walk to the refrigerator to get a bottle of milk. Should he have grabbed a basket? How much was he getting? How much did he have money for? Probably not much, since he only had one arm to carry it all back with.

The door chimed again, a group of college aged boys coming in. Grimalkin paid them little mind, only noticing that they had separated, one staying by the door.

As he closed the fridge door with his hip, something pressed into his back.

“Don’t move.” A young man’s voice warned.

Did they find out where he was? Were they with the police? He didn’t really want to fight anymore. He just wanted food!

“Hands in the air! Where I can see them!” Came a shout from a few rows down.

Grimalkin relaxed slightly. They weren’t here for him. But he’d be damned if he’d let them leave.

Chat Noir was alive deep down inside…somewhere.

He quickly turned and nailed the guy behind him in the head with the glass bottle, shattering it on impact.

“—the hell!?”

Grimalkin slunk behind some shelves, making his way over to where the leader was holding up the owner of the store.

“Please please, I give you money in register, ja? No need for knife, ja?”

Indeed the leader had a knife in his hand, and the collar of the owner in the other. “Shut up, old man!” He shouted. He looked frantic. “Sound off!”

“Door’s blocked!”

“I’ve got a weird looking dude over here.”

Then where there should have been a third voice, there was silence.

“Hey Jean! What’s going on over there?!”

Still no response.

“I swear to God you better not be goofing around over there!”

Grimalkin snuck closer, keeping his steps light. The owner noticed him and held back a gasp.

Then he pounced, knocking the leader to the ground, and subsequently the owner of the store. Grimalkin yanked the robber away from him, allowing the owner to run behind the counter and call the police.

“Who the hell are you!?”

Grimalkin took off the sunglasses, and bared his fangs.

The robber looked like he was about to piss himself.

Not wasting a second, Grimalkin swooped in and grabbed the man’s arm with the knife, and cranked it backwards, against the way it was supposed to fold, and dislocated the elbow.

A second man, who had been holding up the other customer, ran out of his aisle, also holding a knife. At the sight of Grimalkin, he dropped it on the ground, kicked it away from him, and fell to his knees with his hands behind his head.

The last man, who was standing guard at the door, peered around the corner, saw what had happened, and attempted to flee. But Grimalkin dashed to him and grabbed his ankle just as he cleared the doorway. He dragged him back in, as the man took desperate hold of the the door frame.

“No no! Please! I’m sorry! Don’t hurt me!”

With a grunt, Grimalkin suplexed him into the ground next to his leader. Then he frisked him while he laid groaning on his back, found a knife, and destroyed it.

Breathing became hard again, though he hadn’t done much, for his enhanced abilities at least. He stood in the middle of the grocer, panting while his knees trembled.

“Yes, a customer has disarmed them. Three are injured.” Said the owner of the store.

So much for being inconspicuous…

With a little whine, Grimalkin crawled back to where he smashed the milk bottle, finding a white puddle taking up most of the floor. He’d have to run soon, but it was such a waste…Maybe it was guilt. Maybe it was animal tendencies, or even his own hunger clouding his mind, but he crouched and began to lap up the milk on the floor with his tongue.

An arm linked with his and pulled him away. “Oh Chat Noir, you shouldn’t drink that. The floor is dirty…”

Grimalkin whined, and met the eyes of the stranger.

No, not a stranger. A tall man, wearing a gray and pink suit with a hat. Mr. Ramier. “Thank you for stopping those muggers, even though you’re in no condition to do so.”

Grimalkin wanted to hiss and pull away and hide, but the pigeon man had always been kind to him. Unless he was akumatized, and even then, it was a relief to be fighting him.

“Come along now, the police will be here any minute.”

Grimalkin whined again and tried to pull away, with little effort.

“Mr. Kemper wants you to hide in the back room. No doubt they’re looking for you!”

He…wanted him to hide? That was unexpected, but not unwelcome. Grimalkin followed Mr. Ramier to the back room that Mr. Kemper was gesturing to.

“Wait here, okay?” Then he almost closed the door, letting the light in a crack.

Sitting in the dark, Grimalkin pondered the circumstance. Alya, Hawkmoth, Chloe, and…and Nino…they were all trying to get the Miraculous from him. But Mr. Ramier wasn’t. He was trying to hide him from the police. Who was the bad guy? Wasn’t he? He was an akuma after all.

All this thinking gave him a headache. The haze from hunger and akumatization was thick on his brain, making it nearly impossible to think straight or logically. That’s why he had his lady. She had the plans, the itinerary…he just followed her lead.

The door rang, and many voices entered.

“Thank you for coming so quickly!” Mr. Kemper called out.

“You said a civilian incapacitated these men? Where are they now?”

“Oh they left as soon as it was over. Didn’t stick around for gratitude.”

The man chuckled. “Another vigilante. Unbelievable.”

“Are there a lot?”

“You have no idea. Ever since Ladybug and Chat Noir were captured, there’s been people walking pickpockets down to the station daily. It’s hard telling them to stop. Ah well. This guy did a number on them.”

A EMT called over from one side of the room. “He’ll be alright, just concussed.”

Grimalkin waited for the police to clean up, listening as the EMTs took care of the injured robbers.

Then, when he was afraid his rumbling stomach would give him away, Mr. Kemper opened the door. “You can come out now. They’ve gone.”

Skittish, Grimalkin slunk out of the store room and stood awkwardly beside the counter.

Mr. Ramier appeared with a basket. Milk, eggs, sausage links, all sorts of foods. Even a bottle of wine.

Grimalkin licked his lips.

“Thank you for saving us, Chat Noir!” Said Mr. Kemper. “I told Mr. Ramier, you know, ‘he is my best customer!’ Didn’t feel the same without you coming in here every week!”

Grimalkin just slowly blinked.

“We take care of each other,” he assured. “You take care of the robbers, I take care of you! All of this, on me! Ja?” He gestured to the basket.

Grimalkin’s lip twitched a sort of half-smile before nodding meekly.

“That’s a good boy! You’re so hungry, right Mr. Noir? I know you’re hurting…so please take care of yourself and your Lady Love? For me please?”

Grimalkin nodded again.

“Do you need help carrying this?” Mr. Ramier offered, seeing his arm trapped inside his coat.

Chat looked at the three bags of groceries and humbly nodded.

“Ah, here, don’t want your ears to give you away.” He plopped his hat on his head.

With a stilted nod of gratitude, Grimalkin took one of the bags on the counter and headed back out into the street.

Mr. Ramier walked beside him, street side, to help hide him.    

“You know what they’re saying about you on the news right?” The man finally asked.

Grimalkin glanced up at him, saying nothing.

“They said you and Ladybug murdered 27 people.”

Was that right? Why did it feel like more?

“But I’m not afraid of you. I don’t know if anyone who knows you really is. I know you’re just trying to protect yourselves.”

Grimalkin huffed, and turned the corner by the bakery.

“Oh, here?”

Grimalkin held a finger to his lips, demanding the man to stay silent.

“Oh of course, I won’t tell a soul. But uh…how do you plan to get this all up there?”

Grimalkin looked up to the balcony, an idea forming in his head. He dropped his bag to the sidewalk, and then climbed up the rope to the top (which was a feat with only one arm.) Once at the top, he dislodged the grappling hook and lowered it to the ground, so Mr. Ramier could drape the handles on the hooks, before raising it up again.

Mr. Ramier gave him a wave and headed back down the street without a word.

He pulled the groceries up to the balcony, and then fell into the chair, breathing hard. His back ached.

“Kitty?” A sleepy voice spoke from the trap door.

Grimalkin flopped onto the floor and scooted over to her.

Lady Lacrima caught his face with her hands, petting him gently. “Where did you go? I woke up and you were gone!”

He whined slightly, blinking his kitten eyes up at her.

“Oh, you brought us food? Did anyone see you?”

He cooed.

“Mr. Ramier? I suppose that’s not the worst person to catch you.”

He brought his quarry over and helped her bring it inside and down to the kitchen.

“My my, what a wonderful spread you got us, kitty! Eggs, milk, ham, cheese…I think we could make some omelets with this. Does that sound yummy?”

His stomach answered for him.

She smiled in return, pressing a kiss to his cheek. “Then wash up, and you can help me cook.”

—

About 15 minutes later, they were huddled together on the chair on the balcony, a blanket on their laps and a shared plate between them. Lady Lacrima held it so he could eat.

The faintest bit of sunset remained, slowly disappearing over the horizon, casting the sky into lush pinks and purples.

“We can’t continue like this.” She decided.

He hummed at her, resting his head on top of hers.

“I can’t allow you to be like this anymore. You…” her mind flashed back to the closet. To the deep breathing, the exhaustion, watching him collapse on the floor… “We’re not getting any better. Hawkmoth never intended for us to stay transformed this long.” She looked at her hand, the black material had turned red, and no amount of water would wash it clean. “I wonder…are we already dead? Is spite and wrath controlling our bodies like a puppeteer?”

Of course, Grimalkin didn’t answer. The parts of him that held wisdom and conversation laid dormant. So she was forced to think this through alone.

A yawn pulled from her, as the bed below them called out to her. “I’m still tired,” she confessed. 

He took the empty plate from her hands and set it on the floor, then stood, holding his hand out for her. Together, they dropped back down into the room, and snuggled into the blankets.

“Kitty…I don’t know what happens next…but I love you.”

He purred and nuzzled his nose against her cheek before kissing her lips. I love you too, was what he said.

—

It was Tom who suggested going to the bakery.

“They wouldn’t go there!” Alya protested, “Marinette would know that’s the first place we’d look!”

“Well, did we?” He countered back. “I know my daughter. When she’s feeling scared or hurt, she wants to be home. And she wants a hug from her mama and papa.”

Gabriel sat nearby, wearing an old t-shirt while his arm rested in a sling. “I suppose that’s what children should do. When they’re scared, they want their parents.”

“Then why didn’t Adrien come here?” Alya snarked back.

Gabriel knew the real answer to that question, but instead stated, “One, Hawkmoth told them that we were all here, and two, he’s following Marinette’s lead.”

“So, what do you suggest we do?” Asked Alya. “Ambush them there?”

“Nope.” He looked at Tom and Sabine. “We’re taking a different route this time.”

—

The Gorilla drove Gabriel, Tom, Sabine, Alya, and Nino over to the bakery, while Chloe stayed at the Mansion with her father. And even for the plan, Alya and Nino were just there for back up.

The real MVPs were the parents. And even then, Gabriel was going to be quiet.

After Tom unlocked the gate, Gorilla stood guard at the door. Sabine went up the stairs first, keeping her steps light. When she found the apartment empty, she urged them all up. There were groceries on the counter, and a recently used pan on the stove.

With a swallow, Tom and Sabine pushed up the trapdoor to Marinette’s room.

The room was dark, as the blinds were closed, but there was a large form on the bed.

As Tom opened the trap door all the way, it tapped against the floor. The form in the bed shifted and a sleepy pair of red eyes peered over the rail.

Sabine held her breath as Tom’s hand squeezed her shoulder.

Grimalkin blinked a few times, as he realized what he was seeing. He sat up fully, and let the blanket fall off of him. Then he crawled over the mattress and crept down the stairs, his tail lashing. Not once did he bare his teeth, but he didn’t appear welcoming either.

Sabine tried to put him at ease. “Hi Sweetie,” she said softly.

Grimalkin’s ears went back and his eyes dilated.

“Hmm…Kitty?” Lady Lacrima’s voice spoke from the bed. She sat up, and immediately made eye contact with her mother.

There was a tense silence for only a moment as Sabine stared at her, tears gathering in her eyes. “My baby…” she choked out.

Lady Lacrima swallowed harshly, and looked to Grimalkin, who was watching her carefully.

She got out of bed, coming down the ladder to stand next to him. Then they just stared.

Tom took a step closer. “My beautiful little girl…won’t you let me hug you?”

She hesitated, clenching and unclenching her fist. Finally, she asked, “you…couldn’t do anything?”

Sabine let out a sob. “We did everything we could! You know the second we found out where you were, we would have gone in person to save you! Please believe me Marinette! We love you so much!”

Lady Lacrima could not find fault in her parents. What influence did bakers have?

But she spotted Gabriel, who was hiding behind them. Her eyes narrowed as she stared at him. “And what about you?”

Gabriel opened his mouth, and then shut it with a trembling lip as Grimalkin snarled at him.

What a thin rope to tread.

“Honey…Mr. Agreste has also worked really hard to find you. He almost paid a ransom to get Adrien back, remember? He only didn’t because Adrien asked him not to. Don’t be mad at him…”

Grimalkin crept closer, staying on his knuckles, and each step halting, until he was right in front of Tom. Who was, despite his teddy-bear disposition, the biggest threat in the room.

Tom gave him a soft smile, and simply scooped him up in a hug, and held him in a cradle. “There there, just relax.”

Tom felt the way he tensed, his breathing becoming erratic, and his pulse quickening. Like a cat that was about to bolt.

“Shh, I gotcha.” He assured.

Gabriel stood by, and began to pet his hair. “It’s alright, son. You’re safe now.”

Grimalkin melted. His eyelids grew heavy as a loud purr cut through the tension of the room.

Sabine watched the interaction fondly, before turning her eyes back to her daughter. Lady Lacrima still stood back, watching from the corner of the room. Sabine walked to her slowly, holding out her hands in a comforting way.

Lady Lacrima watched her approach, but didn’t run. She didn’t want to run.

Sabine’s hand rested on her cheek, and swiped across the black lines.

“They’re stains.” Lady Lacrima explained. “They won’t come off.”

“Oh, I see.”

Lady Lacrima swallowed and admitted out loud, because it felt too much like a sin not too, “we killed 34 people.”

“Yeah,” Sabine nodded. No berating, but no condoning. Just acknowledgement.

“I thought…it was supposed to make me feel better. Hurting those that hurt me. But…I just feel worse. I’m sorry, maman…”

Sabine kissed her cheek. “My precious baby girl…I am so so proud of you. You’re brave, and smart, and kind and so creative!” Her voice was warm and soothing, in the way that a mother’s was. “You’re my hero, and I love you so much!”

Lady Lacrima exhaled with relief and slumped against her mother. “I’m so tired.”

“I bet you are. We’ll get you to a hospital, and then you can rest. No more secrets, no more hiding…just healing and love. Is that alright with you?”

Lady Lacrima looked back over to Grimalkin who appeared to be almost asleep in Tom’s arms. “And him?”

“You’ll be together. Through all of it. Right, Gabriel?”

Gabriel didn’t even pause from stroking Adrien’s head. “Of course. Every second of every day, you’ll be together.”

Wordlessly, she went to her kitty, touching his cheek gently. “I guess the jig is up, love.”

He nuzzled his face against her hand, purring louder, and she couldn’t help but smile broader. Then she went to his pocket and took out the Ladybug earrings.

“Here,” she put them in her mom’s hands.

Sabine nodded to her in reassurance, and put the earrings in.

In a pink flash, a little red sprite appeared, looking panicked. She met Sabine’s gaze with confusion and fear. “Where’s…?”

“Tikki.” Lady Lacrima said softly.

Tikki whirled around to face her, a gasp ripping from the being violently. “Marinette!”

Lady Lacrima looked away, hugging herself. “I…I didn’t want you to see me like this. But I know it’s for my own good that you do.”

“Oh Marinette!” Tikki wailed. “You’re…you’re hurt…and an akuma?”

She nodded.

“What…how long have I been dormant?”

Lady Lacrima gained another stripe under her eye before saying, “a little less than two months. We were captured, and she took our Miraculous…”

“And then she…hurt you?”

“Yeah.”

“I—I….” Tikki tried to find the words, but ended up dissolving into sobs as she nuzzled her cheek. “I’m so so sorry Marinette…”

“It’s not your fault, Tikki.”

“If the earrings had fallen off or if you took them off without denouncing me, I could have been active and saved you!” Another thought occurred to her. “Where’s Chat? Where’s Plagg?”

“Plagg’s still dormant. And Adrien’s right over there.” She gestured to Tom.

Tikki flitted over to him, and pressed a kiss to his forehead. “Everything’s going to be okay now.”

Grimalkin furrowed his brows at her, but didn’t respond.

Tikki came back to Marinette.

“I know you’ve seen her, but you’ve never formally met. Tikki, this is my mother.”

“A pleasure,” Sabine smiled.

“Tikki is what allows me to turn into Ladybug. To put on the suit, all you have to do is say, ‘Tikki, spots on.’”

“Tikki, spots on?”

In a whirl of pink, Sabine’s clothes changed from her simple white Cheongsam, to a red and black robe, that tied at the waist like a ruqun. She wore black leggings and black flats that were visible under the tails of the robe. A silk mask tied securely around her face.

“You look lovely, darling.” Tom complimented.   

“Oh you!”

Lady Lacrima couldn’t help but smile. “All you have to do is capture the akuma with the yo-yo, you do that by drawing your finger down the middle.”

“Oh yes, I remember seeing you do it. Then I just fling it at them?”

“Yep, the yo-yo will catch and purify. Then you let them go.”

“And how do I cast the cure?”

Lady Lacrima hesitated, her fingers curling into fists.

Gabriel came over a rested a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Her body is at the morgue. If the cure brings her back, she’ll be in police custody. There’s absolutely no way she’s getting away.”

She screwed up her lip, still thinking it through.

“It’s for the best, Ladybug. No one will hurt you ever again, alright?”

She swallowed. “To cast cure without a Lucky Charm, all you do is toss the yo-yo up in the air and call ‘Miraculous Ladybug’ and it will activate. To detransform, say ‘spots off’. Pretty simple.”

Sabine patted her cheek. “Only because the akuma is being so understanding.”

“Let’s hold off on this for just a moment,” suggested Gabriel. “Let’s call an ambulance and have them here when their transformation drops.”

Sabine and Tom agreed.

Gabriel took out his phone and headed back down into the apartment to make the call.

“I’m…I’m scared. Doesn’t Paris hate us now?”

“No no, darling. They never stopped loving you.”

“Even after this?” She gestured to her bloodstained suit.

“That’s why the cure is a good idea. Yes, we’re all upset that Sa—er…that woman will be alive again, but there’s some people that got caught up in the violence that didn’t deserve it. Police officers, blackmail victims…”

Lady Lacrima nodded in understanding, though she tightened her fists. “I did what I had to.”

“And now everything is going to be okay. I promise…I can’t promise it’ll be okay right away, but it will someday. I swear.”

Gabriel returned. “The police are outside. It seems that our car was spotted by the paparazzi. An ambulance is on the way.”

Nerves built up in her. “Will they yell at me?”

“There will probably be shouting, but you don’t listen to them.”

“With any luck,” said Gabriel. “You’ll be asleep before you even get that far.”

Lady Lacrima went back over to her partner, smiling at him as he continued to lazily purr. “We probably won’t remember these last few days. And…I’d honestly rather forget, but…we must remember to thank Kelly and Jillian, the Cesaires, and Mr. Ramier. Promise that we’ll remember to thank them?”

He chirped at her.

There was a clamber of footsteps before two EMTs peeked their heads into the room. “We have our stretchers down in the bakery, whenever you’re ready.”

Lady Lacrima cupped Grimalkin’s face. “Ready, my love?”

He raised a claw to her neck, before nodding. Then he broke her collar with his claw and released her akuma before doing the same with himself.

Sabine caught the two rogue butterflies with one swipe, and released them to fly away. “Bye bye little butterflies.” Then with a sigh, she tossed the yo-yo up in the air. “Miraculous Ladybug!”

The healing light exploded, rushing through the room, removing the suits from Adrien and Marinette and healing Gabriel’s shoulder before disappearing out into Paris.

The ring that was in Grimalkin’s pocket dropped on the floor, and Gabriel was quick to grab it and put it in his pocket.

Marinette remained standing, though she leaned heavily on her father for support.

Adrien’s eyes were almost open, as the slow cello-like breathing returned. In the absence of the suit, his wounds immediately started bleeding again.

“Let’s hurry,” Gabriel urged, reaching to carry Marinette.

“I can walk,” she said briskly, not taking her eyes off Adrien. Though the blood oozing down her back said otherwise.

In the apartment, she didn’t even take notice of Alya and Nino before following her father down into the bakery.

An EMT rushed to her and tried to coax her over to a stretcher.

“No, I need to be with him!”

“He’s alright now, Ladybug. You need to lay down.”

“No! He needs me!” She shoved the man way from her, weakly.

Tom placed him on the stretcher as the EMTs automatically got to work. A mask was placed on his mouth. As they secured a brace around his neck. “Patient is pale and unresponsive. Will require a blood transfusion immediately.”

“Adrien!” Marinette reached for his hand, before another EMT took hold of her’s first. “Come on, Miss Ladybug, let’s get you on a stretcher.”

“No! I need to ride with him!”

“If you want to help him, you have to help yourself. Please.”

A wave of dizziness took her as she swayed on her feet. The paramedic caught her and helped her lay down. “It’s alright, Ladybug. You’re both safe. Just rest now, okay?”

She didn’t really have a choice anymore, did she?

Another mask was placed over her face as the bed started to move. Someone covered her with a blanket, affording her an ounce of privacy.

They rolled out of bakery, and into chaos of flashing lights and shouting.

“I’m right here, honey.” Her mother said, taking her hand. “Adrien’s in the other ambulance with your father. Just breathe. Everything’s alright.”

Alright.

Alright. 

Chapter Text

She awoke. The room was dim, and just the right amount of warm. Her throat felt dry and her limbs weak. She didn’t know if she had the energy to speak.

“Emilie?” A woman’s soft voice asked.

“Hmm?” She hummed back.

A hand fell on hers. “Good to see you awake. You’ve been asleep for a long time.”

“How…long?”

“Four years.”

She blinked more, trying to clear the haze on her mind.

“Shh, keep resting. You’re still very weak.”

“Where…?”

“We’re in Tibet, in the temple of the Guardians.”

“Temple…?”

The woman, now recognized as Gabriel’s secretary Nathalie, chuckled softly. “Go back to sleep. I’ll catch you up later.”

“Where’s…my husband? And Adrien?”

“Gabriel’s in Paris and…we’re not sure where Adrien is…that’s why Gabriel’s not here.”

Emilie pushed up on the mattress. “Adrien’s missing?! Why!?”

“Shh…” Nathalie pushed her back down by the shoulder. “Please Emilie, don’t strain yourself.”

“Well, I’m wide awake now, so you better get explaining!”

Nathalie rolled her eyes. “Will you relax if I do?”

“…Yes ma’am.”

“Alright…well. It started about a year after you fell asleep…” 

—

Everything happened in a whirlwind of action. Everyone wanted to know what was happening, and wanted to be a part of helping. The Gorilla got a police escort to the hospital, driving Alya and Gabriel, while Nino volunteered to stay behind and lock up. News vans followed the ambulance and car. Traffic stopped and pulled over as the cars zoomed through the city.

At the hospital, Marinette and Adrien were unloaded and rushed into surgery. Sabine, still transformed, and Tom were escorted to a private waiting room.

And then, silence.

All the rushing and shouting, it stopped.

Sabine stood in the room, trembling.

“I believe the phrase was ‘spots off’, darling.” Tom said softly.

“Hm? Oh, Spots Off.” The whirlwind pink disappeared just as it came, and Tikki appeared in front of her, barely staying afloat. 

“Madam Cheng?” She asked weakly.

“What is it, dear?”

“Um…I’m really hungry from the cure…do you have any cookies?”

Sabine gave her a sympathetic smile. “So you’re the little mouse that steals my cookies at night.”

Tikki smiled sheepishly.

“I don’t have any on me right now, but lets see what’s in this vending machine.”

Tikki settled for a bag of mini chocolate chip cookies and took her meal to eat on a chair.

Not much later, Gabriel, the Gorilla, and Alya were escorted into the room by a nurse.

“They got in alright?” Gabriel asked.

“Yes, they got right in. They didn’t even ask Tom and I for any medical information.”

“Ah, yes, that would be my doing.”

Tom and Sabine shared a look. “What do you mean?”

Gabriel thought for a second, then admitted, “I could have sworn I already told you, but perhaps in the rush of things, I forgot to mention it. I apologize. Do you remember a few weeks ago when I asked if you had packed up your medical files with your belongings?”

“Oh! Yes, you asked for Marinette’s!”

“Yes, this hospital has assembled a specific team of specialists to prepare for them. They studied the stream and have everything they need to get started right away.”

“Wow, that’s smart!” Commented Alya. “Was that your idea, Mr. Agreste?”

“I wish, but no. It was Dr. Ernest Boucher, an akuma victim who wanted to pay off his debt. We’ve taken care of everything. The bill is squared. You only have to worry about Marinette.”

Sabine let out a sob. “Thank you!”

Gabriel tried to smile, but it fell flat. “Don’t thank me yet. I’m not worthy of gratitude.”

At that, Tikki looked over to him, aware that she was exposed to the parents, but not really noticing it until now.

Alya knelt on the floor next to her chair. “Hi there, I’m Alya.” She introduced.

“Oh, I know.” Tikki said with a smile. “I’m well acquainted with you. So is Trixx.”

At the name, Trixx popped out of Alya’s shirt. “Heya Tik!”

“Hi Trixx!”

The fox floated down and joined Tikki on the chair. “Wayzz is with Nino and Pollen is with Chloe.”

“Nino should be here soon,” Alya provided. “He stayed behind to make sure everything was locked up at the bakery. Don’t want reporters getting in there after all.”

The door to the waiting room opened, a police officer entering. “Captain David Phillips,” he introduced with a bob of the head. “I’m in charge of security for your children during their stay here.”

Sabine breathed, another worry dissuaded. “Oh thank you!”

“Of course, Mrs. Cheng. There will be officers posted at each of their rooms. All staff working with them have already gone through background checks, and have been picked by Dr. Ernst Boucher to work on his team. If I may, I would like to write up a list of people with clearance to visit. My recommendation is that you keep the list short. It is likely the team won’t allow any guests besides immediate family in the beginning.”

“Right.”

He took out a notebook. “Of course, I have Sabine Cheng, Tom Dupain, and Gabriel Agreste on the list. Anyone else I should add?”

“Alya Cesaire and Nino Lahiffe,” Sabine stated. “And Roland and Gina Dupain.”

“Arthur Chevalier and Chloe Bourgeois.” Added Gabriel. “But not the mayor. I’d rather he stay away.”

The chief nodded, noting this all down. “Anyone else?”

“Oh! And Wang Fu.” Said Sabine.

“Alright. Anyone else?”

“Not at this time.”

“Alright. Just let me know if you need to edit the list. My men have strict instructions not to allow anyone in who does not have clearance. We are also keeping an eye out on both of your homes.”

“Thank you, Captain Phillips.” 

“My pleasure. I’ll leave you alone now.” And he left.

The Gorilla took a chair and gestured a thumb to the door, indicating he would wait outside.

“Thank you, Arthur.” Gabriel breathed.

Sabine collapsed into a chair next to Tikki, her hand resting on her face.

“Are you alright?” Tikki asked softly.

“I’m fine, dear. Just a little migraine.”

Tikki floated up and pressed her forehead to Sabine’s humming slightly. “Did that help?”

“Y-yes. It’s gone!”

Tikki smiled. “It’s not much, but I aid healing. You should give the earrings back to Marinette as soon as you can.”

“I was planning on it.”

Gabriel smirked at the conversation, and took a seat as well. There wasn’t much else to do but sit and wait. He took out his phone and checked his email. It wasn’t likely that he’d hear back from Nathalie on a constant basis. The Temple was out of cellular rage, and was still in the past as far as technology went. In order to send an email, she would have to hike down to the village. And that required her to be healed.

So it was to his great surprise that an email from Nathalie awaited him in his inbox.

Gabriel,

The Miraculous Guardians have been successful. I am writing this email on my first full hike down to the village with the monks. I’m feeling much better. Maybe the best I’ve felt in my life.

Emilie woke up yesterday evening. I told her a little bit of what’s happened while she’s been asleep. So far, she knows that you used the butterfly Miraculous to try to get a hold of the Ladybug and Black Cat Miraculous in order to wake her up. She fell back asleep after that. She doesn’t know Adrien was the Black Cat. She knows that Adrien is missing, but I didn’t get that far into the explanation. I also did not tell her that you are considered a villain in Paris.

She is very weak, but the guardians assure me that she’ll make a full recovery. It may be a few weeks still. I will stay with her until she is ready to go home.

On a more professional note, I would like to take some time off after this. Nothing against you or Emilie, but my heart is in a dangerous place in regards to you. I need some time to put aside my feelings. I will return to work with you eventually.

Please feel free to email me back. I will return to the village tomorrow, as I have been assured that it is good for my health.

I am eager to hear how things are going with the investigation of Marinette and Adrien.

Cordially,

Nathalie Sancoeur

A smile graced his face as relief flooded through him. Tears came to his eyes, but he blinked them away before anyone would notice.

Emilie was awake!

And Nathalie was better!

And now, just to wait for Adrien. And Marinette too, of course. But mostly Adrien.

Rereading the email, a sinking feeling settled on his stomach. How was he suppose to explain his actions to Emilie? He certainly couldn’t lie to make it seem less horrible than it was.

He was definitely regretting some of his desperation.

“Oh yes darling, I am a terrorist and our son was fighting day and night to defeat me. Because of my actions, Adrien was picked to be a hero, and subsequently got kidnapped and tortured. But he’s fine now.”

Yeah, that sounded like a sane man.

Dear Nathalie,

Thank you for emailing me so promptly. I’m overjoyed to hear that you are doing better and that Emilie is finally awake. Thank you for being brief with her about the situation. I would like to explain more of it to her in person. I believe she deserves to hear it from me at least.

I will approve your time off when the time comes. Take as long as you need, you’ve certainly earned it.

I must apologize, Nathalie. I know I took advantage of you. No other employee would have gone above and beyond the call of duty. You became ill because of my actions, and that’s something I can’t apologize enough for. Furthermore, I think it would be wise for us to part ways for a while. I know you have a special place in my heart as well, and that’s not fair to you with Emilie waking up. I desperately love my wife. And I love you too, but in a different way. As my colleague, my confident, my friend. Thank you for all you have done. For raising our son for us, for managing the company, for Mayura. All of it.

You are forever welcome in our home, whatever you choose to do.

What more, I know Adrien has high regards of you. And he will be missing you turning his recovery. That’s right, they’ve been found! Both Marinette and Adrien are in grave shape though. I’m writing this from the hospital. I’ll tell you everything later.

Enjoy Tibet.

Sincerely,

Gabriel

And he sent it.

What came next, who could tell? His emotions straddled somewhere in limbo between anxious and optimistic. Looking around to the various states of worry in the room, he decided he didn’t belong with them. So he stood, and walked out, not offering a word to anyone as to where he was going.

He wasn’t quite sure where that was either.

He passed Nino in the hall, who gave him a questioning look.