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Paris, France

September 14th

0640

Marinette awoke with a sudden start from a slight pressure on her face.

"Ladybug, wake up," Tikki pleaded as her paws tapped Marinette's chin in an effort to wake her.

Marinette grumbled before burrowing further into the warmth at her back. "Hmm…"

"Hey! Pigtails! Wake up," an irritating kwami shouted into Marinette's ear.

She jumped from the noise, attempting to sit up, but a heavy arm prevented her movement causing her to slump once more into her blankets. She huffed in irritation as adrenaline forced her mind awake.

"Plagg, what the heck," Chat's irritation rumbled from behind her and she felt him tighten his hold on her.

"We rarely ever get the chance to sleep. Who knows when we will get the chance to again. Why are you yelling," Chat questioned his kwami in irritation.

Plagg said with disinterest, "Pah, it's Tikki's deal. I was just helping her out."

With that, Plagg patted the top of Tikki's head—earning him a solid glare—before he flew back to his bag of cheese. Tikki stared after him as if considering if she would retaliate now or later. Tikki must have chosen the latter, for she quickly turned to the duo with sympathetic eyes.

"I'm sorry. I know neither of you gets the chance to sleep as often as you should. But, this was important! I overheard some of the locals during the morning rush say they saw a male figure dressed in all black at the graveyard! I think we have a lead," Tikki's voice had gradually gotten higher in her excitement as she smiled brightly at her charge. Her words stirred the pair into action.

Within minutes, the duo transformed with excited anticipation—eager to defeat the akuma. After securing their belongings at the warehouse, Ladybug and Chat Noir took to the roofs with a jump in their step. Stopping a few blocks from the graveyard, Chat asked, "So, My Lady, what's the plan?"

Ladybug paused in consideration. She wasn't sure how they could approach this akuma without risking him attacking them with another terrible wave. They needed to be swift and silent when they approached him. Only then did they stand a chance at grabbing the item and bringing things to rights.

"How do you feel about embracing your inner stealth?"

Chat's smile turned wicked as the glint in his eyes showed he'd understood.

"Why, My Lady, this cat is eager to paw-lease."

The relief of hearing Chat pun had been unexpected, causing Ladybug to giggle.

"Good. If you could come at him from above, he would remain unexpecting. You can grab his hands just before he has the chance to touch the watch. Then, I will grab the item and- BANG- miraculous cure!"

Ladybug knew the plan seemed too simple. Her plans were elaborate and unpredictable—even to Chat. Yet, this was all her mind would give her. One of their hardest akumas and her mind fails her. Chat seemed to recognize her thoughts but said nothing to contradict her. Instead, he said with enthusiasm, "Let's do it!"

...

With adrenaline pumping through their veins in the anticipation of battle, the heroes swiftly began enacting their simple plan. Chat silently climbed an enormous statue placed in the center of the graveyard and then waited for the right moment to pounce. The akuma was silent, dressed as before in black with a golden ribbon in his hair. The nameless akuma traced his pale fingers over the engraving of the gravestone he had stood beside a few days prior. Chat watched the akuma—their suspicions of him being a grieving man solidified.

Time continued to move with no change in the akuma's position. Chat felt his muscles buckle as he worked not to falter or make a sound. A flash of red appeared at the corner of Chat's vision after a few minutes had passed and he knew Ladybug had changed positions.

Eyes once more fully trained on the akumas features, Chat saw something that caused a chill to crawl down his spine. The akuma's pale lips tilted upward. It was brief and subtle, hardly noticeable before it vanished into neutrality. Unease assaulted Chat's senses, his instincts begging him to either attack or run.

Something wasn't right.

...

Ladybug hid behind a tall gravestone a few yards away from the akuma with baited anticipation. Her eyes scanned the akuma, searching for the golden pocket watch. The akuma held nothing in his grasp. It must be in his coat pocket. Either that or Ladybug couldn't see it from her angle.

Eager for a change in her position, Ladybug dashed silently to the gravestone to her right, hoping to see the akuma from a better vantage point. Fully hidden, she honed her eyes in on him. Ladybug noticed with creeping dread as the akuma showed the barest hints of a smile, his head tilted slightly in her direction, before returning to a passive emptiness.

In that one moment, Ladybug understood. He knows.

Just before she could place an alternative plan into motion—one where she would likely have needed her charm—the akuma gave up all pretense and turned his crimson eyes to her. The telltale flicker of a purple butterfly mask embraced his pale features, but the akuma remained unresponsive, his attention solely on Ladybug.

Ladybug briefly wondered why Papillion had allowed the akuma to keep his power when the akuma wasn't following his orders. Everyone knew Papillion worked using bargaining as his principal weapon of choice. If Papillion doesn't get what he wants, he will take away the power he has given. Why would this akuma be the exception?

Ladybug brought herself out of her thoughts when her eyes met the akuma. His cold, hollow orbs stared into her, and Ladybug felt frozen in place.

A blanket of death seemed to drown her as their eyes remained connected. Fear and uncertainty attacked her as her mind reeled at the unexpected turn of events. Thankfully, her wonderful partner made do with the situation.

Ladybug watched with apprehension and affection as her partner dove at the akuma, intent on restraining the villain's body so Ladybug could grab the item. But the akuma was faster.

Just before Chat's weight projected to land on top of him, the nameless akuma disintegrated into the air, leaving nothingness in his wake. Chat looked startled at the akuma retreat, flailing in the air to slow his speed, before attempting to grab his baton. The ground came too fast, and Chat braced himself for impact.

Ladybug winced when his body slammed into the graveled floor where the akuma had just vacated. With little thought, Ladybug launched herself toward her partner, eager to assess for injuries. His shoulder had taken the brunt of his fall, but he seemed otherwise alright. Just as she placed a hand on his injured shoulder, she felt a chill in the air as a soft breeze blew random strands of hair into her face.

Then, as if traveling with the wind, the hollow voice of the akuma reached her and the chill of his presence seeped into her skin, causing her to tremble.

"It seems you still do not know," the akuma wickedly said.

Ladybug frantically looked around, hoping to find the villain's location. Chat's cat ears twitched as the dreaded voice reached him. Chat turned his face toward her with a pained expression. Fear connected them at that moment. It gripped at her chest before clawing its way up her throat and causing her lips to tremble.

Another chill and brush of wind was the only warning they had before the akuma's next words froze any remaining warmth that lingered in Ladybug's chest.

"You will know."

Ladybug heard herself whimper at the akuma's promise before she turned to Chat. His face was one of both fury and fear. He rubbed his sore shoulder while his attentive eyes scanned their perimeter. Ladybug doesn't remember how her hands found him or when he had cradled her to his chest.

Chat whispered in her ear, "It's not safe. I'm getting us out of here."

Ladybug allowed Chat to lift her from the ground, her arms automatically wrapping around his neck as her legs clung to his waist, and submitted herself to his care. There was a blur of time and reality. Ladybug only registered the icy wind, the weight of Chat's arms, the warmth of his body, and the fear of the unknown clawing through her. Soon, Ladybug found herself at a familiar place, one the pair frequented often.

Ladybug gave Chat a questioning glance as he climbed to the top of the Eiffel Tower.

"The akuma could be following us and the warehouse is our only real safe-zone at this moment."

Ladybug nodded in agreement, keeping her arms and legs around him even as he seated himself. He adjusted her to a comfortable seat before pulling her into a warm, comforting hug. She rested her head in the nook between his shoulder and neck, breathing in his scent while resting in his warmth.

Neither of them spoke for a while. They just listened to each other's rhythmic breathing while processing the disaster that was their second encounter with the nameless akuma. They had failed… again. How will they defeat him?! What were they missing?!

Ladybug's mind cycled through multiple scenarios as she rationalized and planned. So consumed was she in her thoughts that the sudden pressure that surrounded them, showing the beginnings of another wave, caused a startled cry to escape her lips just before she could no longer take in a breath.

Ladybug looked to Chat in a panic, watching as his chest seemed to collapse on itself. His grip on her remained tight, as if he was afraid of letting go. Ladybug stared into his gleaming green eyes and felt understood. The body's instinct to stay alive drove their reactions even while they knew it would only last a few seconds. Ladybug's hands clawed at her throat as if an unseen force strangled the air from her. Chat's chest made a rocking motion to release the pressure. Still, they did not break their gaze even as the relief hit them. They gasped in unison, collapsing onto the other as they devoured each inhale. Past the ringing in her ears, Ladybug felt Chat's silent reassurance as he began running his hand up and down her back.

She buried her forehead into his neck, still inhaling deeply while clinging to him as whimpers escaped her. Once he'd caught his breath, Chat sighed into her, curling around her in a protective embrace. Ladybug brought a hand to the back of his head and began rubbing soothing circles on his key pressure points. The pair relaxed while they held one another, fear still coursing through their veins.

Then, a possibility that she had never considered—one she hadn't imagined possible—happened.

Just as each before him, it was slow and tortuous.

Ladybug felt a familiar ripple on her thighs before she was suddenly on the ground. Her eyes bulged as she registered why she was no longer sitting in Chat's lap. A gargled gasp of fear escaped her mouth as her heart pounded painfully in her chest. Frantically, Ladybug's hands began grasping onto all that remained of him as shocked tears streamed down her face. This could not be happening…

...

When his boots had evaporated into the black dust before melding with the cold air, Chat had felt cold, startled shock. He fought to breathe, but his inhales became strangled as he struggled to remain calm. Ladybug didn't realize what was happening till each of his boots had disappeared, leaving her bottom to fall to the cold ground.

Chat watched the progression of emotions on her face as understanding registered. Her hands began roaming his chest and shoulders as her eyes gleamed with tears. He felt something inside of him break at the sight of her. Her panic and despair brought tears to his eyes. Her breaths came in pants as she cried, "No, no, no!"

The progression had reached his waist, leaving the small particles of black and green to float around Ladybug's frantic form before dissipating into the wind. He stared transfixed by the sight before a thought—one that should have come sooner—hit him with desperate urgency.

In a frantic motion that jostled Ladybug's grasp on him, Chat made a move to rip his miraculous from his finger. Chat felt dread and apprehension run through him as his fingers lost their grip on the ring as they slowly crumbled into nothingness. Ladybug recognized his movement and quickly attempted to take the ring from his finger herself, but she had been too late. The ring crumbled just as she'd grabbed it.

A whimper escaped Chat's mouth as tears fell free. His mind had been too slow. He should have thought of his miraculous first. She could have found someone to replace him in his absence. But he had been blind with fear and shock. His thoughtlessness was a price she would have to pay.

As if reading his mind, Ladybug quickly said through her tears, "No, Kitty. I should have grabbed it when I realized what was happening. This is not on you alone."

Just then, his chest turned to dust, and a brief whimper escaped her. He felt her grab his cheek gently with her hand. She seemed about to speak, but no words came.

Feeling desperation claw at him, Chat stared into her eyes intensely before whispering, "My Lady…"

He could see that she was listening, her fingers stroking just under his mask, and the top of his shoulders disappeared.

"I love you."

The words were thick. He hoped his tone expressed the magnitude of his emotion and how deep it went. His love for her was beyond the emotional lust and infatuation that was common among their peers.

He loved her with every compromise for their partnership, every tear for her pain, and every action to put their friendship over his selfish desires. He loved her with the intention to extend grace when his patience wavered, with the willingness to tell her the truth when she's messed up, and with the promise of choosing her—even if the feeling of love seems gone.

He wishes he had more time so he could tell her that his love wasn't empty, but he had reached his end for now.

No other words passed between them. He watched Ladybug as she cried, her face close to his. His throat crumbled. He couldn't speak even if he wanted to. Ladybug's lips moved, but his human ears must have dissolved because he couldn't hear her. He did his best to communicate with only his eyes.

I love you. It will be okay.

Too soon, his world became engulfed in darkness and time was no more.

...

Gabriel Agress felt a surge of victory encompass him as he listened to the people of Paris cry in mourning. He couldn't help but smile wickedly while he watched the news broadcast videoing people in panic. Paris is in chaos. His plan was coming together well.

Gabriel glanced at Nooroo beside him, the kwami subdue and forlorn. Gabriel felt irritated at his kwami's serious disposition.

"Well!?"

Nooroo seemed to jump from his master's harsh question. The kwami's features grew drawn and pathetic. Gabriel felt disgust rage though him as he waited for Nooroo to speak.

"Master, I no longer sense Plagg. The akuma erased him from existence."

Relief and satisfaction instantly melted Gabriel's insides, and he smiled at Nooroo. Nooroo visibly shuttered before turning back to the television. Gabriel's voice was wicked and calculating when his next word echoed in the room.

"Excellent."

Fun fact: this story was supposed to be a one shot. How it became a multi-chapter fic is still a little beyond me.

Random Note: I'm not sure if anyone else has experienced this, but it is becoming a common theme for me. I will start off writing a scene with the intent that it will be fun and lighthearted… Before I know it, my protagonist is in pain because of the drama I just made them endure and the entire scene has become angst central. By the end of it all, I sit back and think, "What in the world just happened? How is this lighthearted or fun?!" This is my lament for the week.