Marinette sighed and stretched, wincing a little as her back muscles twinged in protest. "At least that's the last of them," She said softly to Tikki.

"That was a lot of deliveries. It's starting to get dark," Tikki glanced up at the sky, one side taking on an indigo cast, the other still streaked with sunset's glory.

"Yeah. Hopefully I'm not late for movie night. Come on, we need to get back." With that, Marinette hefted her purse a little higher on her hip and turned to start back to the bakery.

Marinette had been Ladybug long enough that she had started to develop a 'sixth sense' for danger and being watched. Which was why, halfway back to the bakery, she didn't dismiss the hairs suddenly standing up on the back of her neck as an overactive imagination brought on by lengthening shadows.

She didn't stop, but did glance over her shoulder, only to find three guys in hoodies trailing after her.

Marinette swallowed hard and began to walk faster.

The guys picked up the pace.

Cold fear flashed through her chest, and Marinette faced forward again while breaking into a trot. It was wall to wall apartment buildings in this part of the city, no storefronts to find safety inside. If she could find an alley or something, she could duck in there and transform-

Marinette rounded a corner, broke into a run, then skidded to a halt. At the other end of the narrow street, the only outlet, three more guys were waiting. Her breath caught, and she glanced back, only to have her retreat cut off as the original three rounded the corner. Few windows, high up and none open, offered no hope of help.

Swallowing hard, heart thrumming in her chest like a bird frantically trying to escape, Marinette began backing towards a pile of assorted recycling on one side of the street, head whipping back and forth to try to keep the six in her sight as they began to close in.

A low chuckle made her start, and her hand automatically reached for her side, only to find just her purse, not a yoyo that could have served as protection and escape.

She couldn't transform, couldn't escape, no weapon-

Her groping left hand felt something solid and wooden, she gripped it and yanked-

A broken broom handle came free from the recycling pile, the end jagged and pointed. Marinette had little experience with a staff, but that didn't stop her from swinging the makeshift weapon forward, cracking one of the guys over the hand and making him jump back with a snarled curse.

"Stay back!"

"Stay baaaaack," One of the others mocked, and laughter broke out. Now that they were closer, she recognized them as the same group that had harassed them outside the movie theater.

"Look what we have here, boys. One of those sluts, all alone. Wonder what we should do with her." A cold chill went up Marinette's back, breath starting to come fast and hard in terror.

"Betcha she's good with her mouth. Probably gets plenty of practice," Another smirked, teeth glinting in the fading light.

"I say we find out, boys. Plus see if she's not too used up to be a good, tight-"

"Bro…" One of the guys, the one that had been hesitant last time, was looking up at something above and behind Marinette's head, face steadily going pale. Marinette couldn't spare the attention to look.

"Oh what now-"

Something dark-purple-glittery shot past Marinette's shoulder and sank into the broom handle, spreading like spilled ink.

I am Hawkmoth… sounded through Marinette's head, all encompassing as her fear-terror-rage surged, washing out everything else. Her vision blurred slightly, edged by glowing purple.

"Shit! Run!"

Marinette barely registered pounding footsteps as she fell to her knees, then all fours, gasping for air. She closed her eyes as she heard Tikki fly out of her purse, fuzzily thinking that she couldn't let Hawkmoth see the kwami through her eyes.

"Marinette-"

In return for the Miraculouses, I will give you the power to bring justice down upon those who would prey upon the weak. The voice was buttery smooth, dark like the finest chocolate, and even more tempting. Yes, vengeance, justice, clearly the police couldn't do anything if jerks like those were free to roam around preying on young girls-

"NO!" Marinette shouted, twisting and jerking as she tried to fight off the control. A sudden shock of pain went through her, and Marinette barely realized she was screaming.

You WILL do this. Think of the vengeance you can wreak on those who tried to hurt you…

"I don't… don't want to… to hurt…" Marinette screamed again as another electric shock surged through her, and collapsed against the concrete.

You WILL, Valkyrie. Rain down your justice over all of Paris, wipe out the corruption that stains the city!

Desperately, Marinette scrabbled at her earrings, managing to get the first off but nicking her ear, then the second. Blindly, she threw the bloodied Miraculous in Tikki's direction. "Take to… take to…"

"But Marinette!"

Hawkmoth couldn't get the Ladybug Miraculous, he couldn't have her hand it over to him on a silver platter. "Get to… others… tell… tell them…"

SUBMIT, VALKYRIE!

"Tell them not to let me hurt anyone!" Marinette screamed as Hawkmoth's corruption spread up her arm and washed over her.

Shaking, Tikki swooped down, scooped up the earrings, glanced at Marinette's writhing form, then shot off in the direction of the bakery.

A long moment after Tikki cleared a roof, the corruption fell away, and the figure on the ground picked itself up. The last of the dying light glinted off of a winged helm, flowing cape, gleaming armor, and the cruel edge of a spear point brushing the ground.

"Vengeance…" Valkyrie whispered, then leapt into the air.

A sharp, hard laugh echoed over Paris and pursued Tikki into the night.