Ladybug cradled Chat Noir's head in her hands as she looked around the room. She held her hand up to shied her eyes from the light of the white burrow that opened a few metres away.
"Minibug?" Bunnyx stuck her head through the burrow, recognition lighting in her eyes when she saw the heroes.
"Yeah, hi... do you think you can show Chat Noir what caused him to become akumatised? I want him to see that it's not his fault that he became- no, would beco- no, that's not right... uh, just make him see that the whole Chat Blanc thing was not his fault."
Bunnyx nodded. "Obviously, we can't right now, because he's unconscious. He's going to wake up a about an hour. The sun will rise around then too, and there's going to be a lot of commotion, so I suggest you get some sleep."
"Okay... so in an hour you'll show us how he got akumatised?"
"Yep, I'll see you then, Minibug. You too, Kitty Noir." Bunnyx went back into the burrow and allowed it to close behind her.
Ladybug lay Chat Noir on the chaise, and pondered about taking his miraculous so he wouldn't run. He might still try, and he wouldn't heal nearly as quickly without being Chat Noir.
Maybe, she could restrain him somehow? Her eyes fell to the yoyo on her waist.
...
Félix sat down on the window seat as Amelia sat down next to him. She leaned back and closed her eyes, eager to have a few moments of rest before they arrived in Paris. Félix did the same, thinking about the coldness he had received from Gabriel when he was last there. The same Gabriel who had been a miraculous holder and was rumoured to have tortured Chat Noir.
The same Gabriel who had kept his son locked up in his house for pretty much his whole life.
Félix had no idea how Adrien was feeling, and wasn't sure he wanted to find out. He opened his eyes and turned on his phone, tuning in to a live stream held by Nadja Chamack.
"-re still unsure of how to deal with Miss Rossi, due to the lack of solid evidence to prove she has committed these crimes. Ladybug has been asked to show evidence to support her accusation. The officer who Ladybug came to has repeated what Ladybug said. Ladybug claimed Miss Rossi had 'stolen two miraculouses and had refused to hand them over'. As Ladybug also mentioned, this crime is theft."
Félix raised his eyebrows. If this 'Miss Rossi' managed to steal miraculouses, it probably meant either she was quite powerful, or Ladybug and Chat Noir were weak. Maybe even both.
"Gabriel Agreste's crimes are much more severe, as are Nathalie Sancoeur's. Their crimes involve forms of terrorism. There is a common rumour that the two, as Hawkmoth and Mayura respectively, have tortured Chat Noir. This has been previously stated by Ladybug, but Parisian officials are asking for confirmation. Chat Noir has not reciaved any medical attention, which is why some people doubt that he had been tortured. No motive has been put forward, either, other than Agreste and Sancoeur wishing to bring back Emilie Agreste."
Félix's eyes widened and he looked to Amelie. He gently shook her and she opened her eyes.
"Are we in Paris already?"
"No, I- uh... did you know about Aunt Emilie?"
Amelia looked at him sadly.
"Of course I know, Félix dear, we have know for over a year no-"
"No, not about her... passing. About her being underneath the Agreste mansion?"
"What? After all this time, Emilie was under the Agreste mansion... how do you know?"
Félix held up his phone, as Amelie's eyes filled with unspoken emotion.
"Did Gabriel-" Amelie cleared her throat. "Did Gabriel do something to her?"
"They didn't say. They just said she may have been a motive - like they wanted to bring her back."
"They could have brought her back? Why- why didn't they? If they could bring her back..." Amelie muttered, mostly to herself.
Félix heard her. She wanted her sister back.
Who should he be, to deny his mother of what she wants?
...
Chat Noir's eyes flickered open, and he looked around. He was in Marinette's bedroom, but he had no idea how he'd gotten there. The last thing he remembered was running away from Ladybug...
...because he had learnt about Chat Blanc.
He had learnt about how he had failed all of Paris, his friends, Ladybug, himself, and everyone, by letting himself get akumatised.
Chat Noir sniffed and tried to get up, but felt tight strings holding him to the chaise. He knitted his brows and pulled against them, feeling him heartbeat rapidly increasing. The string didn't come loose. He looked to the side of the chaise, seeing Ladybug's yoyo tucked roughly beneath the chaise.
Ladybug had done this to him?
No, she wouldn't... maybe his fa- Gabriel Agreste had?
No, he couldn't have as he was in hospital... because of him.
Nathalie was with Gabriel, so she wouldn't have tied him.
So, that left only Ladybug.
But why would she do this to him.
Maybe... maybe she wanted to teach him a lesson, just like Hawkmoth and Mayura had taught him how worthless he was.
Chat Noir gulped and looked around, grateful for his night vision. He saw Ladybug hop down onto the floor and walk towards him, a thin object in his hand.
Was that a knife, or were his panic filled eyes deceiving him?
Chat Noir struggled harder against the string, pressing himself into the chaise as she crouched down, dropping the object on the floor.
He furrowed his brow. Wasn't she going to hurt him with it?
He deserved it, that's for sure.
He stopped moving and held himself still, eyes pressed tightly as he waited for her to do something.
"Sorry, I just didn't want you running away again." Ladybug muttered quietly, softly stroking his cheek with her hand.
Chat Noir bit his lip. She didn't want him to run away again. She didn't want him to escape. She wanted him held still while she gave him what he deserved.
He heard her bend over him, and released a fearful whimper.
"Was I leaning on you? Sorry, I just need to unwrap you..." Ladybug took her yoyo off him, and heard him breathe normally as the pressure on his stomach was released. "Oh, I didn't realise it was that tight, sorry..."
Chat Noir murmured a quiet 'it's okay' to her, before sitting up with his hand on his stomach. He looked at Ladybug with a confused expression on his face as she called Bunnyx.
"She'll come. She's going to show us how you got akumatised into Chat Blanc, so that you see it's not your fault." Ladybug said, taking his hand.
"But it is my fault! I'm the one who let my emotions get the better of me! I'm the one who let the akuma win! I'm the one who can't control myself! I'm the one who's worthless!"
"What, Chat Noir, no! None of that's true! Of course you're not wor-"
"I am! I couldn't even escape Hawkmoth and Mayura when they had me!"
"You were chained the roof hanging from your broken arm, no one could have escaped!"
"When I was in that other room, the first one. I could have escaped, I had a chance, I saw it! But I walked to the window slowly, because I thought I was some hero who could actually escape. Why don't you just leave me? You'll be better off without me, and you know it." Chat Noir pulled his hand out of her grasp and was about to walk away from her when she tackled him to the ground.
"You are a hero, Chat Noir! And about how you didn't manage to escape, I am telling you that there was no way you could have escaped two adult miraculous holders, especially when you were in such a weak state. You mean everything to me, kitten, and I never want to lose you." Ladybug said, seeing him blink back tears. "I am never going to leave you, because I don't want to leave you. You're my partner, remember?"
Chat Noir swallowed and looked at her, his vision blurring. He got lost in her eyes, and in the sea of love that she had for him.
"Minibug?" Bunnyx's voice spoke out.
"Bunnyx, have you been... just standing there-"
"Maybe, anyway, you wanted to show him the origins of Chat Blanc?" Bunnyx asked, stepping aside so Ladybug could see the burrow.
Ladybug turned to Chat Noir and took his hand, helping him off the ground. She pulled him up and squeezed his hand, refusing to let go.
"Yes." Ladybug said firmly.
She led him to the burrow and stepped inside, grinning at the awed expression Chat Noir wore as he looked around inside the burrow. He tried pulling away to see closer into one of the other burrows, but Ladybug held him too tightly.
Bunnyx passed them and held her hand above one of the burrows, letting the image become clearer.
Ladybug was seen zipping out of Adrien's bedroom on her yoyo, while Adrien came in, just seeing her leave.
"I believe this was the first thing that caused Chat Noir's eventual akumatisation." Bunnyx said, watching Chat Noir's expression carefully.
...
Félix watched the video carefully, pausing the screen when Chat Noir's ring was clearly in view.
It looked like the ring was on the fourth finger on his right hand. Félix could easily take that.
He went onto a different video, one that featured Ladybug. Her miraculous was her earrings, and would be harder to take. Félix forwarded through the video, abruptly pausing when he had a clear shot of the back of Ladybug's head. He zoomed in, seeing small backs to the earrings. They would make taking the earrings a bit harder, but he could probably manage.
Now he knew where the miraculouses were, but how could he get them?
Working out their identities would probably take too long.
They probably wouldn't have any reason to come out of... wherever they are, unless there was an akuma attack or something, but, according to the news all the miraculouses had been taken back by Ladybug. He would have to find another way to lure them out.
"Do you think Ladybug and Chat Noir will make an appearance?" Félix asked.
Amelie yawned slightly, opening her eyes to look at him.
"I expect they will. They'll probably want to explain what happened with your uncle..." Amelie paused. "There was always something... cold... about him. Look out for your cousin, he will probably be dealing with painful emotions."
Félix nodded, thinking of the one person who shared the same face as his own. Maybe Adrien wanted to get his mother back, too.
Adrien had always been kept under lock and key, unable to do anything for himself. Perhaps bringing Emilie back for him would make his life brighter.
He would have to find Ladybug and Chat Noir, and take their miraculouses, and get them to tell him how to bring Emilie back.
Easy, right?"
...
"And that's what happened." Bunnyx said.
Chat Noir gulped.
"Are you okay?" Ladybug asked from beside him.
"I- d-don't know..."
Ladybug glanced uneasily at Bunnyx, who nodded to the burrow that would take them back to their present. Ladybug looked back to Chat Noir, and led him back to the burrow by his hand.
"I told you, kitten. Chat Blanc wasn't your fault. You don't need to worry about that."
"B-but he was me- I let the akuma win- you saw-"
"I saw you fight it as best as you could, and continue to fight the akuma when you became Chat Blanc. Who else would have been able to do that?"
"Someone better than me."
"No one would make a better Chat Noir than you." Ladybug stepped through the burrow and pulled Chat Noir in after her. "Come on now, I think someone's supposed to call you or something."
Ladybug and Chat Noir stepped back inside the bedroom, hearing Bunnyx say 'goodbye' before closing the burrow.
...
Amelie stood in one of the front rows, Félix be her side. They had dropped their stuff off at Le Grande Paris a while ago, and were now waiting for Ladybug and Chat Noir to show up. Her eyes widened as she spotted the two heroes running along the rooftops and then landing on the stage in front of the crowd.
Amelia had never seen the heroes so close before, and she could tell Félix was just as excited as she was to see them.
"Hello, people of Paris," Ladybug started, stepping forward confidently, while Chat Noir stood beside her nervously. "As you may already know, Gabriel Agreste and Nathalie Sancoeur have been revealed to be the miraculous holders Hawkmoth and Mayura. Chat Noir and I have taken their miraculouses, and we are happy to confirm that there will be no more akuma or amok attacks in Paris."
"You may be wondering what happened last night, when Agreste was found injured on the side of a road, Sancoeur with him. They had been attempting to retrieve the miraculouses, which I had taken from them a few hours prior. During those few hours, the Butterfly and Peacock miraculouses had been stolen by someone else, Lila Rossi."
Félix frowned. Lila Rossi was one of the people who had sent Adrien the video that last time Félix had visited.
"She is currently in the hands of justice. As for Agreste and Sancoeur, they have injuries which need to be attended to, which is why they are in the hospital." Ladybug paused. "Does anyone have any questions?"
There was silence for a moment, before a journalist spoke up.
"Ladybug, are the rumours about what happened with Chat Noir true?"
Ladybug opened her mouth, sucking in a breath as she looked behind her to Chat Noir. Félix saw him give her a tiny nod, before she looked back to the journalist.
"Yes, unfortunately, the rumours that involve Chat Noir being help against his will by Hawkmoth and Mayura are true."
"But was he tortured?" the journalist asked.
"Yes, he was." Ladybug said quickly. "Any other questions?"
Another journalist stepped forward with their hand raised.
"Will you and Chat Noir remain active?"
"We... we are thinking about that. Currently, there is no need for superheroes, but we could remain active, and focus more on crime perhaps." Ladybug said. "Or, we might retire as miraculous holders. I know we could use a break."
Félix frowned. If Ladybug and Chat Noir retired as superheroes, there would be no way he could get their miraculouses. He got lost in his thoughts, ignoring most of the other questions before the Mayor stepped onto the stage.
"Thank you, Ladybug, Chat Noir, and all your heroic friends. In honour of you, I am holding a party at my very own hotel to show Paris' gratitude for all that you've done."
The crowd cringed as a high pitched 'no!' was heard, originating from Chloé Bourgeois, who had been texting on her phone the entire time.
"You want to thank these- these- horrible people when they took away my miraculous! I am Queen Bee! I never got a party, so why should they?" Chloé screamed.
"Chloé dear, they have saved Paris from Hawkmoth and Mayura-"
"I don't care! I could have done it so much better and quicker as Queen Bee!"
"Chloé, I've already told you that you can not be Queen Bee again because Hawkmoth and Mayura had known your identity. I took your miraculous away to protect you and those around you. And, in case you didn't remember, you willingly became akumatised into Miracle Queen." Ladybug crossed her arms.
"What? No! Hawkmoth... forced me! He forced me into becoming Miracle Queen!" Chloé said, appearing desperate.
"No, he didn't. You were not in a weak emotional state. You could have tried to reject the akuma. I've seen people fight it." Ladybug said, not noticing Chat Noir's ears perk up. "If you really wanted to, you could have stopped the akuma from taking you over. Everyone who had been akumatised was in a negative emotional state, but you were just a bit frustrated."
Chloé scoffed.
"Ugh! Whatever! That party is going to be utterly ridiculous anyway!" ChloFélix said, flicking her hair into people's faces as she left.
Félix watched her leave. She was another one of Adrien's friends. Perhaps she could help him...
He slipped back into the people and called out to her as she turned the corner.
"Chloé? Chloé! Wait up! I think I-" Félix called, running after her.
"You wha-" Chloé's eyes widened as she saw him. "Adrien? What are you wearing... and what is with your hair?"
"No, I'm not Adrien, I'm Félix, his cousin. You... you really care about him, don't you?"
"Uh, duh! We are the closest people can ever get!" Chloé said, looking at him dreamily.
"Yeah... you are. You know about his mother, right?"
"Of course I do. Why?"
"I think we can bring her back for him."
Chloé stepped back, suddenly cautious. "Why? You-"
"I want to bring her back, for Adrien... and also my mother. She was devastated when she died."
"And why do you need me?"
"Because you can get me into that party." Félix said. "And, I think you also have a score to settle with Ladybug, don't you?"
...
"Are we going to go to that party?" Adrien asked.
He was lying on the chaise, Marinette checking his stomach to make sure it was healing well.
"Well, I guess it's a chance to be recognised for what we've done. Or, more like what you've done." Marinette said, pulling Adrien's shirt down over his almost-fully-healed stab wound.
"What do you mean?"
"I have always been recognised for being a hero... and you haven't. Like with all the other heroes, there was this constant buzz about them in Paris, like with Ladybug. But with you... no one seemed to notice you, even when you are the one who has sacrificed the most."
Marinette paused, drinking in the blush Adrien now wore.
"It's time you get the credit you deserve."
She placed a small kiss on his cheek, giggling when his cheek darkened even more. She turned when she heard someone knock on the trapdoor - Sabine calling them down to eat.
"Coming, Mama!" Marinette called, looking back to Adrien. "As I've said before, we're Ladybug and Chat Noir. Ladybug by itself doesn't sound half as cool."
"And then I said that you shouldn't stay things like that to me."
"And now, I'm going to say stuff like that to you as much as possible, because you look adorable when you get all flustered." Marinette leaned in close, poking his nose gently. "Don't you?"
"I- uh- m-me? N-no-"
Marinette grinned, opening the trapdoor and going down the steps, Adrien following her.
...
"So, this is the plan." Chloé said, laying the sheet of paper onto the table.
"Hang on, what are you wearing?" Félix asked.
"What do you mean? This is my spy gear!"
"We're not- we're not spies, Chloé..."
She rolled her eyes and looked back to the sheet.
"You'll be here. I'll get her to drink lots of wine, an-"
"Look, Chloé, how about you leave all this stuff to me, and you take care of getting me into the party?"
"That's easy, though! Come on, give me a real job!" Chloé protested.
"How is it 'easy' to get me into the party?"
"Uh, duh, just ruffle your hair!" Chloé reached up and messed up his hair.
A realisation hit Félix. If, at the party, he pretended to be Adrien, he could maybe ask to talk to Ladybug in private, and would be able to get her miraculous without anyone interrupting, and then he could do the same to Chat Noir.
Or, maybe, since Chat Noir had supposedly been tortured before, Ladybug wouldn't want him to get hurt again... Félix could use that to get them to tell him how to bring Emilie back.
"Oh, Chloé, you are a genius..." Félix muttered under his breath.
...
"Remember what we said, yes? If someone asks you something and you don't want to answer, what do you say?"
"I say- uh- I-I- say- I'm not comfortable with this?" Chat Noir said tightly, clutching her hand even tighter.
"That's it, kitten. You'll be fine. And, if you get nervous, I'm right here next to you."
Chat Noir nodded, walking beside Ladybug, the sun setting. He couldn't believe that, despite enjoying himself with Marinette for most of the day, he still hadn't been able to shake the jitters he felt when the party was announced in the morning.
Still, as she had said earlier, if he got too nervous they would leave, and she would still be by his side, as they were now.
"Ah, Ladybug, you came! And Chat Noir too! This is wonderful! Thank you so much for coming!" Mayor Bourgeois said, greeting them with open arms.
"It was our pleasure to come! Thank you for inviting us!" Ladybug smiled.
"Well, it is your party after all, Ladybug!"
"And Chat Noir's too." Ladybug said.
"Oh, yes, of course..." the Mayor said, nodding to Chat Noir. "There is a variety of drinks at the bar, so I'm sure you will be able to drink."
He nodded to them and walked off to Audrey. Ladybug went over to the bar, and Chat Noir followed her, weaving through the other guests.
"What drinks would be suitable for a cat, do you think?" Ladybug asked the bartender.
"I believe only water would be suitable for cats, especially underage ones, Ladybug," the bartender replied, picking up two glasses.
"Then it's a good thing he's not fully a cat. Chat Noir? What would you like? Chat Noir?" Ladybug said, waving her hand in his face.
"What? Oh, yeah, sorry, I thought I just saw... Adrien..." Chat Noir muttered.
"You saw Adrien? But you are..." Ladybug started, then looked at the bartender, who was casually filling the glasses.
"I think it was Félix." Chat Noir said, eyeing his cousin suspiciously as he walked over to the heroes.
"Hi, I'm Adrien. And, you're Ladybug of course." Félix smiled pleasantly. "Do you mind if we speak in private?"
Chat Noir narrowed his eyes into slits and quickly pulled Ladybug away, so they were out of earshot.
"Can I handle this?" Chat Noir asked, his face pleading her.
"Why?"
"Just so... you know, I can prove-"
"You have nothing to prove, kitten. You're a hero and that's that." Ladybug said.
"I-I know, but still... please? He's family, too!"
Ladybug narrowed her eyes at Félix, then looked back to Chat Noir.
"You handle him, but be careful. We have no idea why he was pretending to be you."
Chat Noir nodded and ran back to Félix, eager to take his chance and prove he could deal with things on his own.
"Hi, Fé- Adrien. Ladybug said I could talk to you, so-:
"Are you sure I can't talk to Ladybug instead?" Félix asked, still pretending to be Adrien. "It's about a personal matter..."
Chat Noir felt his confidence shatter, and subconsciously reached out with his hand to Ladybug, but she wasn't there. He looked around and spotted her talking to Jagged Stone. She offered his an encouraging smile.
"I- uh- L-Ladybug- she- she's busy... I can talk to you... uh... you know... if you want..."
Félix was silent for a few moments, then agreed. He led Chat Noir to the elevator and stepped inside, Chat Noir beside him. When the door closed, the tensions rose.
"I know you're not Adrien." ChatNoir blurted. "You- you're Félix."
Unexpectedly, Félix smiled.
"It looks like you're not as dim as they say."
"What?"
Chat Noir was greeted with a knock around the head, knocking him out cold.
...
Ladybug looked uneasily to Chat Noir as he stepped into the elevator beside Félix. She knew for a fact that Félix was a good fighter, from what she had seen when he sort of joined forces with the Trio of Punishers.
She hoped Chat Noir would be able to handle whatever Félix was planning, he was a superhero, after all!
She knew he was a hero, but she didn't think he knew he was a hero. For him, this was probably a way to prove himself to himself.
Ladybug opened her yoyo, going onto the tracking feature, in an attempt to reassure herself that he was fine. He was moving, quite slowly, through the hallway above. Ladybug put her yoyo back around her waist, smiling as someone else greeted her.
...
Félix sat back in the soft chair, watching the cat closely for any sign of movement. He raised an eyebrow as the hero raised his blindfolded head.
Chat Noir tried to move his head and speak, then a visible wave of horror washed over him as he felt the blindfold and binds keeping his limbs still.
He gulped and his cat ears perked up, trying to listen for any sounds.
Félix stood up, stepping steadily towards the shaking figure clad in black. He let his footsteps be heard.
He stepped slowly around the plush seat the hero was tied to, trailing a finger around Chat Noir's chest just below his neck.
He shivered, his shaking now obvious to Félix.
Félix lowered himself and whispered softly into his ear.
"You seem scared."
Chat Noir tried to squirm away from the voice, but the ropes' grip was too strong.
"Is it true, what they're saying? That you had been tortured before?"
Chat Noir lowered his head and gulped again, giving away his fear.
"I suggest you answer the question."
Félix placed the tip of his finger on the underside of Chat Noir's chin and slowly tipped his head back until his head was pressed against the back of the seat.
"Stay like that. I'm going to get us some drinks. Are you old enough to drink alcohol?"
Félix removed his finger, surprised when Chat Noir held his neck in the uncomfortable position.
He walked away, placing two glasses on the table and pouring water into both.
"Nevermind. You'll have water."
Félix sat down in the seat he had been sitting in before, and looked at the cat.
"I don't want to hurt you, you know."
Chat Noir Adam's apple bobbed in his throat.
"I can see that one if the only exposed areas in your suit, is your throat. It would certainly be a shame if that weakness were to be exploited."
Félix stood up again, and picked up a spoon. He softly rubbed the cold metal edge of the spoon along Chat Noir's neck, seeing him shiver again.
"This is a knife, as you can probably feel. But all you need to worry about, is telling my what I want to know. Is that clear?"
Chat Noir muttered something quietly.
"I'm sorry, I didn't hear you. Perhaps you would like some water?"
Félix took one of the glasses of water and splashed it over Chat Noir's face, seeing him splutter and cough and snort as the water went up his nose. He brought his head forward and shook as much of the water away as possible.
Félix sighed loudly and sat back down, placing the glass back on the table.
He let the empty silence sound for almost a minute before he spoke.
"Did I say you could move your head?"
Félix noticed the cat ears press down his head, and his shoulders drop.
"I didn't, did I?"
Chat Noir shook his head, water still dripping down his face.
"Use your voice. Did I say you could move your head?"
"N-no..."
"You're right, I didn't. Are you sorry?"
"Yes..."
"How sorry?"
"V-very s-sorry..."
Felix hummed in approval.
"How about you show me you're sorry, and then I'll let you go..."
Chat Noir looked up, clearly sensing a trick.
"I'm not tricking you, really." Félix walked over to Chat Noir and whispered into his ear. "Is that what they did? Hawkmoth and Mayura? Did they trick you? Did they hurt you?"
Chat Noir squirmed away, desperate not to relive those memories.
"They did, didn't they?"
Chat Noir nodded slowly, his head dropping with shame.
Félix frowned and slowly drew his finger down the side of Chat Noir's head.
"Aww, you poor... kitten." Félix paused. "Yes, I think that sums you up quite well. Completely vulnerable... scared... weak... you're a very easy target."
Félix stood behind Chat Noir and positioned his hands on his neck, his fingers resting just beneath his Adam's apple.
"Tell me, do you know how Gabriel Agreste planned on bringing back his wife?"
Chat Noir gulped again, trying to nudge the fingers away with his chin.
"That's not going to work." Félix leaned in closer. "All you need to do is answer a few simple questions. Are you that incapable? Maybe you deserved what Hawkmoth and Mayura did to you..."
"N-n-no-"
"Looks like someone's found his voice at last. How did Gabriel Agreste plan on bringing back his wife?"
Chat Noir shook his head, tiny droplets of water spraying around.
"Come on, kitten, don't make me have to press you any more than this."
Félix tightened his grip around Chat Noir's neck, hearing him gasp.
"I'm not getting anything out of you, am I? Maybe I'll have some fun with Ladybug instea-"
"No! Please, don't hurt her!"
"Then would you please be willing to participate?"
"I- uh-"
Félix pressed down with his fingers for a few seconds, blocking Chat Noir's airway. He released when he saw spots of dampness coming through the fabric of the blindfold.
"Will you be willing to participate now?"
Chat Noir held still, unsure of what to do or say. He breathed deeply, tearing up when he felt his airway become restricted again.
This time, for a lot longer.
...
Lila fiddled with her thumbs, anxious for one of the first times in her life. She would have a trial, and if she was lucky, no evidence would be found against her. She would get all her friends back, and her life would go back to the perfection it had been.
If she lost the trial...
Lila shook her head. That would surely not be the outcome, so she didn't need to think about that.
Lila thought about how much she had touched. She had been wearing the miraculous' suit when on the rooftops, so there was no chance of her fingerprints being found there, but what about on the actual miraculouses?
Hopefully Ladybug would be weary about giving in the Peacock and Butterfly miraculouses, so Lila's fingerprints would not be found.
If only Gabriel and Nathalie's cases would be that simple. They had so much evidence and crime stacked up against them that it would be practically impossible for them to get out of life-sentences.
Lila was lucky, though, she always had been.
She could deal with this, and she would deal with this with her head held high, because, as far as the public would soon know, she was innocent.
Unless Ladybug and Chat Noir had anything to say about it.
But they wouldn't, would they?
Because if they said a single word against Lila, she would be sure to make the torture Chat Noir supposedly endured feel like a little tickle.
This was their fault, all their fault. Lila was already plotting ways to get her revenge.
Bloody, gruesome, painful, agonising ways to make them pay for even looking in her direction.
Lila felt a thrill run through her. Her eyes darkened and the corners of her mouth perked up.
She would enjoy what she did to them.
They wouldn't, however.
...
Chat Noir shivered again, as his captor ran the cold metal against his neck.
"Wouldn't it just be so easy to let go? To let go of all your secrets? Let me know how Agreste and Sanoeur planned on bringing back Emilie Agreste. That's all I want."
Chat Noir shook his head again. He should have let Ladybug deal with whoever this was. She would have been able to deal with him in a matter of moments, while he was still here shaking because he couldn't get his superhero act together.
He felt his captor sigh against his exposed neck.
"If you don't want to talk, I'll just have to get Lady-"
"N-no!"
"I'm sorry, kitten."
Chat Noir felt his baton get pulled off his back.
"I want you to tell Ladybug that you need her help. Say you're on the top floor, third door down the hall. Tell her to knock." the voice paused for a few moments. "Start talking... now."
"Chat Noir? Are you okay? Do you need help?" Ladybug's worried voice came out of his baton.
"I- no, I- I- need you to come to- to come to- uh..." Chat Noir's mind went blank, and he heard the voice finish the sentence for him. He heard his baton disconnect the line a second later.
"Well, you just got your precious lady into the same position as you. Let's hope she's more willing to talk, for your sake."
...
Ladybug picked her yoyo up again as it started buzzing on her waist.
"Chat Noir? Are you okay? Do you need help?"
"I- no, I- I- need you to come to- to come to- uh..."
Ladybug frowned as he stuttered, then bit her lip as he continued, his voice suddenly firmer and colder.
"I need you to come to the top floor. I'm three doors down the hall, and I'll need you to knock before you come in."
Her yoyo closed, telling her Chat Noir had disconnected. Ladybug looked at the elevators, but sensed a trap. Instead, she made her way to the stairs, and used her yoyo to get to the top within a matter of seconds.
She walked down the hall, stopping when she passed the third door. She didn't bother knocking and just opened the door, coming face to face with Chloe and Félix and a fist that was moving way too fast towards her head.