Summary:
If Ladybug went away, he could cuddle his Princess forever.
Warning: This chapter includes implied character death and spoilers for season 2.
Memories were fleeting. He could remember the darkness clearly. There were swirls of violet and patterns of red, but mostly vast blankness. Angry galaxies swirled in his mind as a voice whispered seductive words to him. At one point, those whispered promises would have been revolting.
'Give me Ladybug's Miraculous and I'll keep the girl safe.'
So many akumas. Bug Eyes had trouble keeping up. He himself had gotten exhausted. Yet Hawk Moth was relentless. Somehow, he had seen that night on Marinette's balcony. He had mistaken it for what it was.
That Chat had loved her.
And maybe he did; if his heart stopping fear each time those little black butterflies danced towards her. Maybe the nightmares of her bloody and broken were the final piece of his puzzled emotions. Were those nightmares his own or did Hawk Moth implant them? The more he tried to figure it out, the more muddled everything became. It was easier to just fight Bug Eyes.
Those gemstone eyes of hers were swimming when they met that night. 'Please, Kitty. Don't do this. Fight him.'
Why couldn't she understand? Marinette was in trouble and it was his fault. If Ladybug just went away, then Hawk Moth wouldn't need to attack anyone. Specifically, Marinette. If Ladybug went away, he could cuddle his Princess forever.
And maybe he did love Marinette.
And that was why he decided to end this. Now. Tonight.
Ladybug was on her knees before him; the fight had simply gone out of her. She was babbling nonsense about having always loved him. He ignored her as he called upon his power; his destruction, her destruction.
Angry galaxies swirled in his hand as a voice whispered seductive words to him. All it took was one gentle touch and Ladybug crumbled away.
The nightmares of Marinette bloody and broken never went away.
'I've never been lucky with love either...'