Adrien tugged at the cuff on his wrist, ignoring the cold metal cutting into his flesh. A strip of thin skin separated from the inside of his wrist as the metal scraped against it, and Adrien hissed, biting his tongue. The metallic taste of blood danced across his tongue, and his stomach rolled in uneasy cartwheels.
Maybe he could pull the chain off the wall? One glance at the bolts holding it to the wall squashed that idea.
The TV flipped on, and Nadja Chamack's voice filled the room. "A ransom note was found at the Agreste mansion today. The demand was two million euros in exchange for Adrien Agreste."
"Smart. They didn't let the reporters see the meeting location." Santa chuckled behind Adrien. He rested a hand on the younger male's shoulder, squeezed. Adrien glanced at the man's chest, noticed his miraculous swaying against the red Santa suit. The man was wearing it on a chain. "We want to make this exchange as simple as easy. If anyone other than your father or his assistant is there, then..." the man's hand moved to Adrien's throat, and the blonde-haired boy whimpered. "Let's say it won't be a happy ending."
Adrien gulped, his throat restricting under Santa's touch. "This is cruel."
"No. It's called trade. It's been practiced for thousands of years, son. You're participating in an ancient tradition. You should feel honoured." Santa squeezed lightly, then removed his hand. "Be ready. We're meeting your father and his assistant at nine tonight." The man left without another word.
Adrien whimpered as the cuff finally slipped off his hand. Long, bleeding cuts covered his hand and wrist, but they were worth it. He wasn't an object to be traded. Dropping the cuff on the ground, he crept to the door, turned the knob. Unlocked. Not very smart. Santa probably didn't expect him to escape. He probably didn't expect Adrien to be willing to shred his hand to escape, either. What did he think? That models were delicate people who acted like they were dying at the slightest mar to their skin? it'd heal.
He creaked the door open, took in the hazy hall. The room at the far end of the hall was lit up with a bluish hue. If the sounds were anything to go by, Santa was in there watching TV.
Adrien took a deep breath, crept down the hall. He passed numerous doors, all of which were shut. He pressed his ear to one of the doors, but there was only silence. As he crept down the hall, he contemplated how he would get his ring and escape. By force sounded like a good option, but there was no telling what Santa was capable of.
At the end of the hall, he glanced into the room. Santa was seated in a recliner facing away from Adrien, snoring softly. The TV was turned onto the news, and different students from his school were being interviewed concerning his disappearance. He watched as Marinette nervously answered questions, explaining how much she loved him. She was such a great friend. He was glad to have her in his life. He crept across the room, glancing over the recliner at Santa. There was his ring.
Carefully, so as not to wake Santa, he tugged the chain around Santa's neck. It was secured. He frowned, looking at his surroundings. A wire cutter sat on top of the TV. The links of the chain were thin enough that they should break. He crept to the TV, grabbed the wire cutters, and came back. Grabbing a link, he cut, cringing at the clinking noise it made. Quickly, he slipped his ring off the chain, placed it on his finger.
Plagg instantly emerged. "What were you thinking trusting that man! Where are we? You got us in a big mess! I want camembert." The kwami frowned his disapproval.
Adrien pressed a finger to his lips, silencing the little cat.
He could see the front door a small distance from the TV. Silently, so as not to wake Santa, he walked to it, turned the knob. Locked. Of course. But next to it was a window. He tried it, to find it locked as well. He sighed. "Plagg, claws out!" He whispered.
After his transformation, he grinned. "Cataclysm!" He performed his little stunt for it, and then swiped at the door. It shattered, cold air rushing into the room.
"Wh-what?" Santa's eyes snapped open. As soon as they landed on Adrien, they widened. "Chat- Chat Noir?"
Adrien smirked. "I found Adrien. He's at his home, safe," he lied.
Santa's eyes widened further, but he said nothing. He wasn't going to challenge one of Paris' heroes.
Adrien chuckled. He glanced around, saw a rope hanging by the door. "I'm sure you meant to bind him with this?" He grabbed the rope, tilting his head. He'd take Santa to the authorities, then go home to his father and friends. And get his hand fixed.
He'd never trust Santa again.
I purposely didn't have no grand climax on this. I wanted it to end with this part, and I didn't know if that would happen if I tried to make a grand climax, so... hope you enjoyed, though. XP
