Delicate, Chapter 32 (Epilogue 3A)
TRIGGER WARNING: Discussion of sexual assault, female vulnerability and diminished consent issues. More predicament than follow-through, but those sensitive to such issues and situations should be aware.
"MARINETTE DUPAIN-CHENG! This is the worst idea in the universe."
"Of course it is."
Marinette stood firm against Tikki's shock and loud discouragement. "It's a dangerous and risky idea. But it would be fifty times more dangerous for any other girl in that position! And that's why I need to do this."
"Tikki... listen to my reasoning for a minute," she began. "Those people didn't... molest Adrien that night. But they did humiliate him, steal his clothes and leave him bound in a completely vulnerable position. What if someone who wasn't Ladybug had found him? They could've done anything to Adrien and he couldn't have stopped them."
"They didn't molest me... physically. Likely because I'm a boy," Adrien noted. "And while we do get assaulted, too... I think it's rarer. But in the state I was in, even if I had gotten what I'd gone up there wanting - anonymous sex - would I have known it if someone else came in, or if people I didn't know took turns with me, or if someone had wanted to do something painful or dangerous to me?"
He gathered his resolve, then added, "I put myself in that position. I know that I did. I was sober, and I made a terrible decision, and only got away okay because Ladybug found me... which was a one-in-a-million chance. But I don't know that these guys put any thought at all into only targeting people who are sober and willing. I can picture them talking someone half-drunk into it - or completely wasted - who couldn't give any kind of consent that'd matter."
"Now picture some random girl like that. Drunk, alone, naked and tied up. I don't have to spell out for you what might happen for the rest of the night, do I?" Marinette glared. "I don't know that people at that party would do that. I don't know that they haven't! If they're not doing that, if they're happy just being assholes and humiliating vulnerable people... they still deserve a full-scale ass-whipping for leaving Adrien like that. But if they are..."
Marinette shuddered. "I want to shut this down, once and for all."
"And I agree! I completely agree with what you want to accomplish," Tikki retorted. "But is this the right way to do it? Putting yourself in danger like this?"
"There are parts of this plan that I really don't like," Marinette acknowledged. "But Adrien will be nearby to make sure that it goes as planned. I can say a couple of words and be free of any handcuffs; some other girl couldn't do that. And we're kind of between a rock and a hard place if we don't do it this way."
"Let's say that we make an anonymous call to the police. What then?" argued Adrien. "Will they arrive and get upstairs and catch them in the act, before everyone scatters? Will they believe us on face value, and when faced with he-said-she-said accounts, will they do what they ought to? Can they, if they don't have the evidence?"
"We need to catch them in the act... and then put the fear of God into them in a way they've never felt before," declared Marinette. "And this could do that. Someone might end up helpless there tonight like Adrien was that night. And every bit of me needs to keep that from happening."
"You could think up something else! Like... have Nooroo turn you invisible, like Vanisher, or something... Watching from within the room..." suggested Tikki.
"I need to be sure," Marinette insisted. "And I don't want anyone else to be put in danger, or be traumatized because I wanted to play it safer."
"You're still setting yourself for unbelievable trouble, doing it this way! I understand why you want to do this... but I refuse to be a part of it," Tikki replied, folding her tiny arms.
"You don't have to be," Marinette pointed out. "I need two Miraculous to do this how I've planned it... but you're not one of them."
"Fine. Just be careful," shuddered Tikki. "I'll have the willies all over until you get back."
"If you think that I would let anyone lay a cruel finger on my Marinette... you're crazy," Adrien smiled. "Trust us. Like I trust her."
"All right. Fetch Nooroo, please; he's most definitely needed," Marinette said. "Now, let me see what else I have here that I can use..."
She bent over in her closet, rummaging through some old boxes. "I can't believe that I still have some of this stuff..." she muttered. "Here."
Emerging with a bright yellow wig and a colorful, skimpy top, Marinette grinned. "I went as a raver girl last year for Halloween. I think I can do something with this, and a couple of props and a little makeup..."
"Okay. This part, I've got to see," conceded Tikki.
A short while later...
Adrien walked through the front door of the party house, followed by his companion. They nodded at each other, then separated, with the girl following him at a reasonable distance as both began to mingle.
There are a few people here who remember me, I see, thought Adrien. Some of them, I'm actually glad to see again... though they probably ought to know better than to be in a place like this. Some of them... not so much.
And there's the king of 'not so much,' right there.
A tall, thin boy was leaning against the back of a sofa, a beer in one hand, the other arm wrapped around a sultry-looking red-haired girl. As he saw Adrien approach, his posture changed rapidly; he turned to face Adrien with a sneer on his face, but in a defensive stance, just in case.
"Well!" he declared. "Adrien Agreste. You finally found the nerve to come back."
"Hello, Michel... Suzie," Adrien answered, calmly. "It's been a while."
"It sure has," Suzie agreed. "We haven't seen a lot of you around campus... I guess we saw enough of you that night, huh?"
"Did you see anything that I should be ashamed of?" asked Adrien.
"Actually, I have to admit... no, I didn't," she grinned. "No complaints from me."
"So what are you doing here?" Michel blurted. "If you're looking for a fight, or for payback, I'll tell you straight... bad idea, bro. Real bad idea."
"Nah, nothing like that," Adrien replied. "It took me a while to get over what you did to me... but I had to admit, you got me, fair and square, right? And it just so happens that I've got a bit of a problem... and your special methods might just take care of it."
"...What kind of problem?" asked Michel, suspiciously.
"She's right over there," Adrien gestured.
The three of them looked across the room at whom Adrien was indicating.
The girl was short, thin and highly animated, as they watched her dance her way from one group to another, getting brushed off repeatedly. Her hair was medium-length and bright yellow; not a classic light blonde, but more like a color straight out of a child's crayon box. She had a candy necklace around her neck, plastic cat ears on her head, glitter on her face, a crop-top, short shorts and platform shoes. Her dance moves were... unique, as if she'd seen someone being electrocuted once and decided to use that as her role model for self-expression.
"Whoa! Holy cow," Suzie laughed. "Who let her in?"
"That's Molly," Adrien replied. "I met her at another party tonight, and she's been latched onto me ever since, following me everywhere. She's nice, but she's just not my type... and she told me she won't let up until she has me tonight. And every time I get close to another girl, she's right there, acting jealous and butting in. There's no way that I'm going to get laid tonight with her tailing me."
"...Are you sure you don't want a piece of that?" wondered Michel. "I mean... yeah, she kinda looks like a rave in 2005 coughed and she fell out. But she's kinda hot, too, right? You wouldn't at least tap that?"
"Oh, she's very cute, but... just wait," said Adrien, feigning a grimace.
As if on schedule, Molly turned in Adrien's direction... and started dancing his way quite rapidly, intent on catching up to him. When she got close enough...
"...Adriekinnnnns!" Molly blurted out in a far-too-loud tone, throwing her arms around Adrien's neck. "There you are! I was looking all over for you, cutie."
"Oh, God," mumbled Michel, quietly.
"...Yeah!" Adrien muttered back. Don't lay it on TOO thick, honey! he laughed, internally. "Yeah. I was... just talking to a couple of people I know here."
"Uh-huh," Molly said, sizing them up. "Who's she?"
"This is Suzie... and her boyfriend, Michel," answered Adrien. "I know them from around campus."
"Ohhh," smiled Molly, the word 'boyfriend' defusing Suzie's potential threat somewhat. "Is this your party? It's great!"
"Kind of, yeah?" Michel replied. "There are, like, five or six of us who make things happen here. About once a month or so, we throw down like this."
"Adrieee," she cooed, "is there anywhere around here that we could be... alone for a while?"
She batted her eyes at him, then looked at Michel intently, as if asking, "...Well?"
"Wait right here a minute, k?" Michel told her, then pulled Suzie and Adrien aside.
"Okay. Up close, she's smokin' hot, but she's a piece of work upstairs, huh?" Michel grinned. "So... you wanna run on her what we ran on you?"
"Something like that. Once she's all set up, I can make my escape... and she'll be too mortified to follow me, once it happens," Adrien declared. "Now... she's been drinking at every place we've been. She's got to be at least a little wasted. Is that going to make a difference for you?"
I'm going to let you dig yourself into this hole, Adrien thought. I'm giving you every reason to say 'No, leave that girl alone.'
"Doesn't bother me," shrugged Michel. "Who here isn't drinking?"
"You're not going to... do anything to her once she's set up, right?" Adrien worried. "You know."
"Dude," Michel stared back. "We're sleazy. We're not rapists."
"That's good to know. I mean... I didn't think you were," Adrien parried, "but I do at least like the girl. I don't want anything that bad to happen... just to get her off my tail."
"I mean..." Michel added, "look at her, though. "The way she's dressed, how she's acting... she does want it tonight. So if you don't want any, I may as well ask her if she wants some once we've got her tied up... and then we'll run the photobomb on her, if she doesn't."
Bingo, thought Adrien, grimly. You're a full scumbag, after all.
"Hell, I might even take a crack at her," Suzie leered, "if she's into that."
"I... don't know if she would be or not," Adrien worried. "But... shall we?"
"Yeah. Let's talk to her, and Suzie can go up with her and get her prepared..." laughed Michel. "I'll go around and tell people to get ready for it."
Adrien strode back towards Molly with Suzie at his side, feeling soiled from just being this close to the redhead.
"Hey," he greeted Molly, warmly. "It sounds like there's a place upstairs where we could get down... if you want to."
"Oh!" Molly grinned, excitedly. "It's about time! I've wanted a piece of you for hours!"
"I was thinking... that we'd give you the full treatment. That room's set up special for really steamy sex... if you're game," Suzie grinned back. "Adrien wanted to know if we can tie you up in there, and put a blindfold on you... so he can do you that way. Everything'll be that much more intense, right?"
"Mmmm," Molly smiled, then frowned as if weighing the possibilities in her mind. "Oh, but what if someone else walked in on me?"
"Oh, we promise! Adrien will watch the door. Nobody but him will come in, once I leave," Suzie declared.
She turned and winked at Adrien, conspiratorally...
Adrien forced a smile in return, so as to not give his disgust away. And I actually wanted to have sex with you once? he frowned, inside. How desperate WAS I?
"If Adriekins is kinky like that... I'd do anything for him," Molly breathed. "Here. I'll tell you what I want you to do to me..."
She leaned in very close, whispering in Adrien's ear. "Sounds like our fears were justified. They're setting me up and not really caring what happens to me, aren't they? Nod if I'm right."
Adrien nodded.
"And this girl and her boyfriend are the ringleaders?"
Adrien nodded again.
"Act like I just told you how much I want you to do me, hard."
She leaned back, as Adrien forced a wide grin. "Let's go, then," he declared.
Inside the room, 'Molly' did her best to remain calm. I've got this, Marinette thought to herself. I'm in control of this, even though I'm letting her think I'm not.
"You are a lucky girl," Suzie declared. "I've seen Adrien naked once... and he's ripped. You're in for a good time."
"I sure hope so," she bubbled.
"And speaking of naked... let's get those clothes off now."
'Molly' took a deep breath... then stripped down, slowly. She couldn't help but notice that Suzie's eyes were roaming all over her as she disrobed, being careful not to dislodge her wig. Good thing that I don't have any tattoos or identifying marks on my body, she grinned to herself.
Still... I have nothing to be ashamed of, either... I'm in pretty good shape... but this still feels STRANGE, being naked and having a strange girl looking me over!
"Nice," Suzie admired. "You've got more going on under that rave getup than I thought."
"Th-thank you," she replied. "Is Adrien coming in yet?"
"Not yet," leered Suzie. "Are you going to keep that necklace on?"
"I am," 'Molly' said. "You could say that it's my... lucky charm."
"Well, you're about to get lucky, huh? Now... get on the bed."
Examining the bed didn't reveal anything particularly unsanitary, so with her pulse racing, 'Molly' laid down on the rickety bed, her head on a pillow... and her eyes riveted on the colorful scarves tied to each of the bedposts.
"First... this," Suzie declared.
A thick blindfold went over her eyes, one that wrapped around twice and did an excellent job of blocking out light... and Marinette's nervousness increased dramatically. I can shout out the transformation phrase any time, she reminded herself. They don't know who I am, so I wouldn't be compromising my identity.
"And now..." said Suzie, in a teasing tone.
It only took Suzie about a minute to secure 'Molly' in place. First one wrist had soft cloth wrapped around it several times, then knotted... then the other. She felt gentle hands lift her left ankle and tie it just as tightly, then the other.
She tested her bonds, pulling with all four limbs. Clearly, she was going nowhere fast. With her legs tied to separate bedposts, she felt completely exposed... and knew that she truly was.
"Maybe I should gag you, too..." Marinette heard... and panicked. THAT would be a big problem! Adrien would remove it, I'm sure, but...!
"I'm pretty sure that Adriekins will want my mouth... available," she purred, hoping that it was convincing.
"Yeah, I'll let him decide that," she heard Suzie declare. "If he has time."
"Why wouldn't he have time? He's not in a hurry, is he?" wondered 'Molly.'
"Oh, never mind," giggled Suzie. "Though as far as I'm concerned, he should stick around... mmmmmm. Honey, you look good enough to eat."
Fingertips grazed her inner arm, and Marinette felt like screaming from the sensitivity. Warm breath told her that a mouth had leaned down next to her ear. "I could... warm you up, if you want. Get you ready for Adrien," she purred. "I guarantee that I can make you scream louder than he can... or we could take turns, if you're interested."
"That's... um..."
Uh-uh! Marinette shouted, internally, her transformation phrase on her lips. For one thing, you're dead wrong about that... NO ONE makes me shake like Adrien does. And, besides. I've never been with a girl before... it's not really my thing... but even if it was, I certainly wouldn't pick a scuzzy partner like YOU!
"...Wait!" she gasped, ready to transform at the slightest touch. "M-maybe you should untie me? I'm not sure about this... I might've had a little too much to drink tonight..."
"Too late to back out now," Suzie cackled. "Sure you don't want a taste of me, first?"
Welp! Marinette declared to herself, shaking her head negatively. You failed THAT test miserably! Girl, you just made my shit list... and you deserve everything that's coming to you.
"Ah, well. Your loss. I won't force you... though your loverboy sure can, now," the girl sighed. "Oh, Adriennnn?"
Outside, Michel and Adrien engaged in an awkward conversation... or at least Adrien found it awkward.
"I have to admit," Michel declared, "that I was wrong about you. I thought that you were way too goody-two-shoes to be a part of something like this."
"I thought I was, too," admitted Adrien. "I'm surprising myself a bit that I came back."
"But if you can keep bringing us girls this hot, you'll have an open invite to our parties for life," leered Michel. "Where'd you find this one, anyway?"
"Oh... I knew her from a while back..." Adrien evaded. "It's a long story."
A voice calling "Oh, Adriennnn?" from the bedroom got his attention.
"I think that's my cue. I'm gonna go talk to Molly for a minute... maybe she can talk me into a little something extra first," he said.
"That's my boy," grinned Michel.
No... it's really not your boy, grimaced Adrien as he entered, passing a grinning Suzie on her way out.
The anticipation in Marinette's mind was excruciating. Being immobilized and blinded made every sound seem five times louder, and as for touch... she knew that Suzie had barely grazed her arm a moment ago, and probably hadn't even meant to be seductive by it... but the sensation on a sensitive spot had sent Marinette reeling.
And here I am. What happens when someone DOES intend on driving me crazy, with me restrained like this?
This is... this is a really bad thing that they're doing, Marinette thought. It's one thing knowing that I deliberately PUT myself here... and I can get out any time I want to... and I'm sober. Imagine if I was drunk and confused, got talked into this, and all of a sudden I was naked and spread and helpless and when I asked to be freed, they said 'no!'
Once I'm free... payback is about to get Biblical.
Ohhhh... I can only imagine how Adrien felt that night. What if I hadn't been there? Lying here, helpless, knowing that someone could come along and do whatever they wanted to him.
Or, she giggled nervously, once he knew that LADYBUG was on top of him... and could do... whatever she wanted with him...
...just like I am right now.
And Adrien's about to walk through that door. And he knows how to get me panting and needing more in a matter of seconds.
Whoof...!
Abruptly, Marinette quivered a bit as she heard the door open and close. "Who is it?" she called.
"It's me," Adrien said as he approached, in a low voice. "It's just you and me now."
Her tensed muscles relaxed at that. "Thank goodness. I was right on the edge of transforming early. Remind me to never set a trap like this again," she told him. "I think that girl wanted a turn with me, too!"
"Well, who could blame her?" Adrien smiled. "You look absolutely stunning like this... except for the terrified part. I can't believe you didn't call me in quicker!"
"I thought about it," said Marinette, "but I wanted to stick to the plan unless absolutely necessary. But it was close!"
"Are you okay?" asked Adrien, in a soft voice. "I know that nothing happened so far... but this whole situation is intense. That look on your face, the way that you're laying... you're on edge, I can tell. I want to know that you're still on board with this... I can transform and have you out that window and we'll never have to look at this place again."
"I'm okay, Adrien," Marinette breathed. "Our plan is working just like we thought it would. But we were right to be worried... really right to be worried, if this is their standard routine. I told her I was drunk and asked to bail out, to see what she would do, and she left me like this! And since they pulled the same stunt on you..."
"Yeah, these are scummy people," Adrien agreed. "They didn't care if you were drunk, or scared, or both. They just wanted you helpless and about to be humiliated. And Michel thinks he's going to 'ask' you if you want to do him first."
"Not in a million years."
"I can't blame you there. I wouldn't, either."
His fists balled up with rage. "With me... they were just humiliating me. But they're treating you like you're just meat. Something to use and laugh at and just throw away," he growled.
"That's what we were afraid they were doing to girls," said Marinette. "And that's what we're here to stop."
"I should have known this the first time I was here... I should've stopped them then! ...Somehow."
"Adrien... you had no way of knowing," Marinette soothed him. "I don't think most of the people at this party are on in this, either... it's just a core group. An inner circle of assholes."
"Probably... yeah."
Marinette paused, briefly. "Adrien?" she added, her tone changing. "There's something I want you to know... before we trash these people."
"Hmmm?"
"That we're here... back in that filthy house again, with those people nearby... that does nothing for me. Obviously," she breathed. "But being tied up like this, knowing that it's you here with me, that we're alone and I'm safe with you, and you can tease and please me all you want..."
"Uh-huh?" Adrien whispered.
"A part of me is really, really, really turned on right now," Marinette admitted. "Like, I'm boiling down here."
"You are?"
"I am," gasped Marinette. "This is how I found you that night... and I remember every second of that night, and I always will. But you know how I told you, the first night that you visited me at my apartment, that I didn't need kinks like this but that, maybe, we'd try it out someday? When we get home tonight," she told him, "...I want you to do this with me. On our own bed, by ourselves. For as long as you want."
She breathed, "When I was here as Ladybug and found you like this... seeing you so helpless, but trusting me, watching you gasp and wriggle and squirm at my touch... it felt amazing. It's only fair that you get a turn to feel what that's like. And even in this rathole, I'm fighting the urge to beg you to do it right now!"
Adrien reached out and caressed her face. "If you're sure... of course we can play like this," he whispered. "I'll be very gentle."
"That night that we had the get-together at my apartment... when you felt me up in the kitchen, and then you did everything extra-slowly in the bedroom, holding me on top of you?" gulped Marinette. "I thought the top of my head was going to blow off. It was sooooo intense. And I want to... I want to feel like that again tonight, when we're alone together. Okay?"
"You're that excited by that idea?" smiled Adrien.
"Feel for yourself," she replied, in a seductive tone.
He did... and was rewarded with not just tactile confirmation, but a bodywide reaction that made him keep going, barely maintaining contact.
"Oh, my god, that is... amazing," Marinette breathed, wriggling as much as she could against his fingers. The scarves were tight enough that while they weren't cutting off her circulation, she really couldn't stretch very far in any direction. She pulled at each of them, straining hard... and knew that, without transforming, she was at Adrien's mercy.
"Okay... that's enough for now," she gasped.
"What if I say that it isn't?"
Adrien's words made Marinette flinch slightly. His fingers remained moving, and she threw her head back against the pillow, hard.
"What if I want to keep doing this for as long as I want to... watching you burn down there, staying right on the edge... knowing that you can't do a thing to stop me? Or to make me go any faster?" he asked her, with some authority ringing behind his words.
Unable to see Adrien, unable to get up, unable to move, feeling helpless under slow waves of intense pleasure... Marinette's mouth flew open, but found no words to come out of it.
"Be careful what you wish for later, my love," Adrien grinned, withdrawing his touch. "That's all I'll say for now. And you can always stop me, of course! But before I get too into this... let's do the plan, okay?"
"...Yes," she replied, with a big smile as she caught her breath. "Once I hear the door close behind you, I'll get started."
"Do you need me to free you?" asked Adrien.
"I don't think we have much time before they suspect something's up," Marinette warned him. "Can you get this hand?" she asked, wiggling it. "If you can, I can get the rest."
"If you're sure..." he replied, working on the knot.
"Yes. Thank you... now, go!"
Adrien stepped outside of the room, closing the door behind him. Michel and Suzie grinned at him, having gathered several other people for the run-in; Adrien noted with dismay how many of them were holding cameraphones at the ready.
"I'm... going to make a run for it. I think she's had enough for one night... too nervous to really be in the mood," Adrien said, slowly. "You're not going to do anything... weird to her, right?"
"Same as always," Michel laughed. "She's going to shit herself blind when we bust in. I doubt she'll be in much of a mood for sex after that!"
"Wait five minutes... let her think about what's about to happen for that long... and then when I yell from outside, do your thing," nodded Adrien.
He exited down the stairs... then made a mad dash out the front door, around the corner of the house and for the nearest cover he could find.
Behind a small shed at the rear of the house, Adrien looked around and noted that his cover was satisfactory.
"All right, Nooroo. With the costume that I requested, okay?" he asked.
"Just this once," Nooroo grumbled.
"You know why I'm using it. Nooroo... spread my wings!"
Marinette took a deep breath. Okay... time to go to work, she grinned. And fast!
"Mullo... get squeaky!"
In a white flash, the naked figure was replaced with a grey-and-pink-clad Multimouse... still bound at her ankles and one wrist, but at least somewhat more dignified in appearance.
"Multitude," the heroine declared, twirling the jumprope at her hip as best she could with one hand... and shrunk down quickly into a smaller version of herself, with several tiny clones popping into existence beside her.
Whew, she smiled, it worked! I was pretty sure that I didn't need to twirl the jumprope completely to start my power, that movement and intent were enough... like how Chat can Cataclysm with one finger if he has to. I could've busted loose with force if this didn't work, but this way was so much cleaner and easier.
"Squeak out," she declared in a high-pitched voice. The clones, the shrinking and the costume all disappeared in sequence, leaving her naked and free sitting on the edge of the bed.
Hurriedly, she dashed over to her small clothes pile and dressed herself. I don't want to leave these behind, she noted. I paid good money for that wig. Skimpy and uncomplicated outfits go on quickly... yet another reason that I picked this one!
"Thank you, Mullo," smiled Marinette, as she finished. "You might want to hide now... we're about to get visitors."
"Any time," Mullo grinned back. "I hadn't... expected you to be adventurous like this, but if you are... my powers could make things interesting with your boyfriend."
"Don't give me these ideas," declared Marinette... then thought better of that. "Actually... do give me those ideas! Just not right now," she laughed. "Hide!"
And... done, she thought. Now... your turn, Adrien!
A small light at the window told her that Adrien's part of the plan was also in motion. Smiling, she reached out towards it.
I could clean house here as Multimouse, she reasoned, but this calls for something with a bit more... presence. Yes, I will accept this power!
Come and get me, you bastards, she grinned evilly, as the transformation took her. It's showtime!
Michel checked his phone, counting down the moments to impact. "He should yell... any time now," he mumbled.
"C'mon, let's just go!" complained Suzie.
"Yeah... it's been four minutes. Close enough," he decided. He gestured to the rest of the group, who got ready to charge in.
"Five... four... three... two... one... go!"
He pressed his weight against the door and turned the knob, shoving it open roughly. The group ran inside, yelling "SURPRISE!" together...
...then tripped over each other, falling all over the bedroom floor, as Michel and Suzie froze in their tracks and were overrun by the others.
"What the hell is that?" Suzie shrieked.
Michel could do nothing but stare...
...at the glowing figure in front of him, floating off the ground, encased in dazzling light. Instead of a nude girl, blindfolded, restrained and screaming in terror, it was obvious at a glance that she was no longer captive; she wore the transformed bedsheet or something like it like a toga, her blindfold still covering her eyes loosely. A set of glowing scales filled one hand, a dangerous-looking sword the other. Her eyes crackled with power as she floated before them, a small tiara popping into existence atop her head.
"YOU MAY CALL ME... PRINCESS JUSTICE," her deep and commanding voice echoed.
Adrien's transformed form strode through the front door confidently. I want to run, he thought, but I can feel that the butterfly connected... so Marinette should have things well in hand. I could tell that she was standing, so she did get free, like she'd said. And I want to appear unhurried... and in control.
People who saw him coming turned and ran screaming, which amused him as he approached the stairs. Yes, run, he grinned. You're the smart ones. I'm going to assume that most of the people downstairs weren't involved in the run-ins; them, I'll let go. But the bunch that are by that bedroom door right now... well, you wanted an exciting night, didn't you?
And here we come to give it to you.
"MICHEL GALLITZI... SUSAN MYERS..."
"HOW does she know our NAMES?" Suzie bawled.
"I don't know, but I'm not staying here to find out!" shouted Michel, who turned to run.
"YOUR TRIAL HAS BEGUN. NONE SHALL LEAVE THIS PLACE," commanded Princess Justice, who waved her hand; a wave of force seized the two of them, lifting them a small distance off the ground and holding them aloft.
"YOU STAND ACCUSED OF TORMENTING THE INNOCENT... LURING IN PEOPLE WITH PROMISES OF CARNAL DELIGHTS, THEN WICKEDLY HUMILIATING AND ASSAULTING THEM," Princess Justice boomed.
The pair saw an energy signature form on the Princess's face, as she ran down additional charges like "SEXUAL ASSAULT," "RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT," "DEPRAVED INDIFFERENCE" and "ASSHOLE-ISM." It spoke to her in a deep voice:
"Are we ready?"
"WE ARE," the Princess smiled. "I WILL SERVE AS JURY AND AS EXECUTIONER."
"That's a freakin' AKUMA!" Michel panicked. "She's a supervillain!"
"If you're jury and executioner... who's our judge, then?" Suzie dared to ask.
"Welp... you two have fun finding out!" yelled one of their nearby friends, who turned with the others to retreat down the stairs... only to yell, "Oh, SHIT!" and return quickly. "We're TRAPPED!"
"YOUR JUDGE HAS ARRIVED," smiled the Princess.
"Indeed, I have," boomed a sinister voice.
A familiar visage rose to meet the accused... a silver mask, a walking staff, a neatly-tailored suit, an aura of power.
"For whom would be better to judge the wicked... than the most wicked of them all?" Hawkmoth smiled.
Inside the suit, Adrien was howling at their reactions. I'm a little bit shorter than Father, he noted, but how many of them have seen the real Hawkmoth up close? I think they're about to cry.
This is still Nooroo's light mode, not dark... just with a temporary costume, and I don't think that I got all the details right when I imagined it... but they have no way of knowing that!
"You, there," he barked, indicating the group not caught in the Princess's telekinetic grasp. "Do not dare to attempt to flee. It will annoy me greatly."
The hangers-on retreated slightly, not daring to run, cowering before him.
"Oh god... Oh god..." whimpered Michel, pitifully.
"Hawkmoth?" cried Suzie, in fear and disbelief. "Why are you even here?"
"I am a villain, but I am a gentleman as well," Hawkmoth intoned, imitating his father's formal tones. "I have resorted to underhanded deeds, mass destruction and deception in accomplishing my aims... but I have a code of morality, as well. I do not kill... I do not maim... and I do not pander to the basest of urges. Torturing the innocent, humiliating others for the sheer glee of it... using sex as a weapon of fraud... I find that tawdry and distasteful. And I will not have it in my city."
"But why now? Why her?" Suzie yelped, indicating Princess Justice.
Hawkmoth considered that for a moment.
"I do not know how many others you have subjected to this poor treatment. But tonight... you chose most poorly. You targeted my niece."
Michel's jaw dropped at that. "No, no, no... We... we are so fucked," he gasped.
"Language!" Hawkmoth snapped. "A lady is present."
Princess Justice choked down a giant laugh at that.
HAAAAA! she roared, inside. I wasn't sure how we were going to answer that question, if it came up... but what a great comeback! Now they know that Hawkmoth has a PERSONAL stake in this.
"I thought we weren't going to tell them that part... Uncle," she ventured.
"Well... they asked," shrugged Hawkmoth.
Suzie's eyes darted back and forth between them... desperate for an out, any out.
"Adrien! Adrien Agreste!" she shouted, suddenly. "HE brought her here tonight and set her up, not us! Kill him, instead!"
She looked confused when both villains chuckled at that.
"Worry not about young Mr. Agreste," Hawkmoth informed them. "He did my bidding tonight, and had no choice about it. I will deal with him in my own way, my own time."
"The night that you tormented him and abandoned him... my uncle's Akuma found him first, before any rescuers," Princess Justice added. "We decided that he would be a perfect agent to find out who was responsible, and destroy them."
"So he brought my dearest here and baited the trap... and you stepped right into it. So predictable," Hawkmoth sighed.
"As for Adrien... oh, I have my own special plans for him," the Princess grinned. "Once I get him alone tonight... he will have a night that he'll never forget."
She put enough menace in her tone to make the others think that Adrien should say his prayers... but Hawkmoth grinned, slowly. He certainly will, he thought.
"BUT ENOUGH OF THIS," the Princess declared, her tone of command returning, energy arcing to the walls and ceiling near her. "NOW... you will tell us the truth of the matter. Justice will be served."
"Princess Justice possesses the power to sense truth... and lies," smirked Hawkmoth. "Lest you assume that this will be some rigged kangaroo court... Michel. What is two plus two?"
"...Four?" he offered, hesitantly.
Nothing much happened.
"There is nothing to fear from the truth, as you see. Now, any of you... what is the capital city of Burkina Faso?"
Everyone stared back blankly, afraid to answer.
"Come, come. You can say it," Hawkmoth gestured at one of the hangers-on.
"I... don't know?" the boy blurted out.
Nothing much happened.
"You see? This is not a trivia contest, where you know the answers or die," smiled Hawkmoth, turning back to Michel and Suzie. "His lack of knowledge was also honest. Now... Miss Suzie. Did you make a pass at my niece a few minutes ago? Trying to convince a drunken, helpless girl to pleasure you, and let you have your way with her?"
"N-no! I would never..." Suzie babbled... then cringed as the field around her glowed red, and Princess Justice's eyes began to crackle. "Aiiigh!" Suzie cringed, as small bolts arced into her.
"THE PENALTY FOR PERJURY IS SIMPLE. ONCE WILL BE PAINFUL. TWICE WILL BE UNBEARABLE AGONY. AND THREE TIMES..." she intoned.
Hawkmoth chuckled. "Best you not reach that stage and find out, hmmm? Now, let us begin..."
It was amazing how cooperative certain people could be, given the right incentive, and the knowledge that both truth and lies would be detected. Michel admitted to his role in a variety of unfortunate acts: giving alcohol with the intent of "loosening up" reluctant participants, ignoring pleas for help, leaving Adrien alone and unattended ("We don't usually do that!" he whimpered. "We thought the police were busting the house, so we all scattered! Someone was supposed to come back for him!"), and letting some of the risque pictures taken of victims be posted to web sites.
"It's not like their names or faces were on them," sulked Suzie, as much as she dared to. "What's the big deal?"
"WHAT'S THE BIG _DEAL_?" the Princess growled.
"Well, if they weren't into it, they wouldn't have let us put them in that posit-"
"Suzie?" Michel stammered. "Shut up. Now."
Before long, Michel even admitted to one thing that he hadn't done, which drew his first warning shot from Princess Justice.
"This is not torture, dragging out of you whatever it is that we wish to hear!" Hawkmoth scolded him. "Where you are innocent, we wish to know that as well. You will take this seriously... or you will wish that you had."
Suzie proved a bit more reluctant to discuss her part in things, reaching her second warning shot quickly and cringing as it struck. "Owwww!" she whimpered. "That really hurt!"
"Are you insane?" Michel howled at her. "Stop lying! Do you have any idea what she might do next?"
Princess Justice said nothing... but the light gleamed off of her sword blade as she smiled coldly. To Marinette's relief, Suzie didn't test her a third time to call her bluff, and fessed up. After that, the others volunteered their own wrongdoings without further prodding.
At the end of the confessions, Hawkmoth stroked his chin, thoughtfully. "Now... what am I to do with you all?" he pondered aloud.
"YOU COULD LEAVE THEM TO MY... PUNISHMENTS OF CHOICE," the Princess boomed, with a nasty grin.
"Aiiiiiigh!" wailed Michel... as a trickle of fluid running down his pantleg became obvious.
"Or... euuugh," frowned Hawkmoth, stepping back slightly. "Perhaps a small tinge of mercy is called for... greater than what they showed to others."
"A SMALL TINGE," the Princess agreed. "NO MORE THAN THAT. BUT ONLY IF YOU'RE SURE."
"What... are you going to do to us?" one of the hangers-on whimpered.
"You are all university students here, correct?" Hawkmoth asked. When he received a chorus of nods in return, he closed his eyes.
"You will each write a letter to the Dean of your university, telling him or her what you have told us tonight. You will explain your behavior in detail... with not a single sin left out, and you will hand-deliver those letters to that office. What you know of others' behavior... you will include, as well. While you have held yourselves back from the most serious crimes," glared Hawkmoth, "or violating the helpless in the most unspeakable ways that you could have... you have done more than enough to humiliate and traumatize them without need or reason. These, too, are crimes, and ones upon which I look with disgust."
"And while I do wish you all to be thorough... the same rules apply as in this tribunal. Write the truth; nothing more, and nothing less. That is what I require."
"Wh-what if he wants to kick us out of school?" Michel asked, on the verge of tears. "Or if he refers this to the police?"
I hate to think it, Marinette admitted, but without hard evidence and actual police catching them in the act, I'm not sure that the police would take this seriously! And I don't know how we could testify without exposing our OWN secrets.
From what I learned from our questions... they DON'T seem like rapists or full-on sociopaths. There are SOME lines they don't cross lightly. But depraved indifference? Intentional cruelty? No doubt about that... and that's not to be taken lightly, either.
"IF HE DOES... YOU WILL HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO PRESENT YOUR SIDE OF EVENTS. I COULD SIMPLY PASS RICHLY DESERVED SENTENCES RIGHT NOW... BUT JUSTICE DEMANDS THAT," the Princess declared.
"And should any of you fail to render this confession in a timely manner..."
"JUSTICE KNOWS YOUR NAMES. IT KNOWS WHERE YOU LIVE. AND IT KNOWS WHERE YOU SLEEP."
Michel and Suzie looked nervously at each other, as the field suspending them off the ground began to spark and crackle...
"It's your choice... all of you. You can face your Dean, or... her," Hawkmoth suggested, wryly. "But justice will prevail... one way or the other."
At an unspoken nod... the Princess dropped the ringleaders to the floor, then turned up the electric lightshow all around them.
"NOW... RUN!" she challenged them. "OR FACE YOUR SENTENCE _NOW!_"
With shrieks, stumbling and utter chaos, the group flooded down the stairs and out the front door as if Hell itself was pursuing them.
Hawkmoth and Princess Justice waited for all to be still in the house once more... then burst into hysterical laughter as their transformations dropped.
"That was priceless! It worked just like you'd hoped it would," Adrien cackled. "I think that Michel even wet himself!"
"Well, he had a good reason to... Uncle Hawkmoth," grinned Marinette, cracking up again at the thought.
"I just stood there and sounded mean and authoritative," grinned Adrien. "You made them fear for their lives!"
"They... deserved that," she replied, calming down. "Let's get out of here before somebody does come back... and talk about it at home?"
"That sounds good. Plus, I'll bet that you'll want to get that makeup and glitter off your face..."
"Yeah... and yuck! I was lying naked on that bedsheet! I don't know where it's been! A shower comes first."
Once soaped, rinsed and dried, Marinette sat quietly on her bed with her towel around her, a similarly-unclad Adrien by her side.
"I hope that we did the right thing back there," she began. "I mean... it was what we'd come up with together, and it went like we'd planned... but... do you honestly think that was enough?"
"This whole thing was in a very awkward area," Adrien said. "Like, what happened to me... was thoughtless and cruel and endangered me. But I did put myself in that situation, at least initially. I couldn't tell someone that I didn't."
"And I put myself in that situation, just to see how they'd handle it," admitted Marinette. "But they handled it terribly! From the way that I was acting and what we both told them, I was in no position to give any kind of consent. We both told them I'd been drinking pretty heavily, and they ignored that! I asked to stop, and they refused. And other girls they've done that to couldn't use a Miraculous to get loose."
She sighed. "Part of me feels like dragging all of them to the police station, this minute. And part of me knows that it probably wouldn't get us what we'd want."
"I should have thought of recording all of that with my phone, getting their confessions... but then, how would I have explained Hawkmoth and an Akuma being there to the police?" Adrien pondered. "We kind of cut some corners tonight, that we never used to cut."
"Life was a little easier when we had big, colorful villains to fight. There's no Akuma to purify this time," Marinette frowned. "The everyday world's not so easy to manage."
"Well... we can do what we can. We do know their names. We can give them a couple of days to make good on what we ordered them to do, and then Ladybug or Chat Noir could visit the Dean's office and make sure that they did it. If any of them haven't, it's midnight visit time... and we can escalate from there," Adrien suggested. "And the heroes of Paris confirming that, yes, those confessions are real will lend some weight."
"Can a university Dean do anything, though?" worried Marinette. "Or will he?"
"I don't know. We're in he-said-she-said territory on that," Adrien acknowledged. "Michel seemed terrified that they'd get kicked out, so there are disciplinary protocols in place for this kind of behavior... and he might be more likely to act than the cops would, with the situation as it is. At the very least, they'll find it hard to fight their own confessions that corroborate each other, once they give them. And I highly doubt that they'll ever pull that stunt in that house again. If the Dean does refer them to the police for prosecution... and he might... we'll back him up, one way or another."
He put an arm around Marinette, comforting her. "We made the best we could of a terrible situation," he reminded her. "And we did our best to make sure that they won't hurt people again. If we hadn't been there tonight, someone else might've been in that bed, naked and afraid and abused, and we stopped that from happening. That's something good, right?"
"It is," smiled Marinette, leaning into him.
"We're not done with them, especially Michel and Suzie, until you say that we are," Adrien insisted. "If you decide that it's not enough, that we need the police... we'll go to the police, as ourselves or as heroes. But we'll see what happens this way first, if you'd rather."
"That girl was just... ohhhh! Rotten," Marinette snapped. "You really wanted to have sex with her, back then before I found you?"
"I was desperate," Adrien allowed, rolling his eyes. "And I... wasn't in a mental place where I could track you down, or anyone else that I'd known, and feel like I was worthy of your attention... let alone that."
"Adrien Agreste... I would always drop everything and come running to your side. Any time you call," Marinette told him, her eyes big. "Ever."
"I know that now," he smiled. "And I couldn't be happier."
They kissed, lightly at first, then beginning to linger...
"And I'm pretty sure that she wanted to have sex with you more than me," grinned Adrien, pushing his luck.
"Don't remind me!" gagged Marinette. "I mean, the outside is kind of pretty... but her mindset, ugh! I'm just lucky that she didn't get all... gropey before I could transform."
"Like I did."
"When you did it," she grinned, "that was completely different! I thought that I was going to soak the bed."
"Which reminds me..." purred Adrien, "someone wanted to be helplessly ravished by me tonight. Didn't she? And do you still want that?"
Marinette's body cried out, YES! Her mind took a moment to decide...
Her silent nod spoke volumes.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: The end-of-story author's notes will discuss this chapter further. The conclusion to our tale awaits!