(A/N Just gonna go ahead and apologize for the fact that it took me over a WEEK to get this chapter out. I've just been really struggling lately and have lost any motivation to do anything at all, writing included. I'm starting to feel a bit better now so hopefully I'll be able to jump back into this story wholeheartedly soon. Until then, I hope y'all enjoy this chapter.)

"Is that-" Carapace yelled through his comm unit as they arrived on scene.

"Gabriel Agreste, Akumatized." Pegasus finished for him. "Yes. He's strong. Mind the cane. It appears to be his weapon and he can shoot something from it. I haven't gotten close enough to figure out what. I've been holding him off the best I can, but between him and Lila's goons I can barely dodge, forget landing a hit."

"Any idea what we're looking for?" Ladybug swung on scene, Chat landing right behind her.

"Didn't we leave after you?" Rena asked with furrowed eyebrows. "How'd we beat you here?"

"We may have gotten a little distracted on the way over." Chat smiled cheekily and Queen Bee pretended to gag.

"No idea what the akumatized object is." Pegasus answered back after they had hushed. "No one witnessed the akumatization which isn't surprising considering who the victim is."

"Can we even call him a victim at this point? It's fairly obvious he's consented to this." Rena grumbled as she rolled her eyes.

"You guys take care of Lila and her goons. I'll take Gabriel, see if I can figure out where his akumatized object is." Ladybug was already moving before Carapace called out to her.

"Are you sure?"

"I can do it." Ladybug swore as she raced toward her old enemy. "The past is the past and I'm breaking free of it."

Polymouse whooped as Chat cheered

"That's my girl! Be careful. I'll be at your side the second you need me."

"Thanks Chat." Ladybug crossed three rooftops to engage with Gabriel, sliding into his line of sight with a determined grin.

"Ah. Ladybug. We meet again." Gabriel laughed, swiping a cane at her feet. Ladybug bounced backwards with a sigh.

"What is it with you and canes, Gabriel? You're awfully attached to them." Ladybug swung her yo-yo aimlessly at her side, watching Gabriel with an intent stare. The akuma most likely wasn't in the cane, so what could it be…there! Her gaze locked onto the jewelry on his chest. "You know, that's a pretty nice brooch you've got. Almost looks like the butterfly miraculous. But we know Lila's the one running the show now. She gave you that out of pity, didn't she?"

Gabriel grabbed for the brooch and yanked it off his chest, throwing it at Ladybug who barely had time to dodge. Her cheek stung and she raised a finger to wipe off the blood.

"Hm. Touchy today." Ladybug remarked, flinging out her yo-yo at her opponent as she studied him. If not the brooch, then what? Gabriel ducked and made the poor decision of trying to grab the string just as Ladybug recalled the weapon, letting the string slice through the skin on Gabriel's fingers. "Did you think that was going to work? You really are getting old." Ladybug threw out her yo-yo again, this time lassoing an exposed pipe on the adjacent building and pulling herself up and over Gabriel, aiming a kick at his head. Gabriel grabbed for her ankle but immediately let go when her momentum threatened to knock him off the roof. "Slowing down too." She teased with a smirk.

"Come here, gnat." Gabriel growled, raising his cane and conjuring balls of purple matter that he used as steps to follow after her. As he approached, Ladybug called for her lucky charm, eyebrows drawing together in confusion at the cat charm that landed in her outstretched palm. Her momentary distraction allowed Gabriel to catch her off guard, his cane making contact with the side of her head. She cried out in a mix of pain and shock as she went down, scrambling to right herself as Gabriel advanced.

"I've been waiting for this you little roach." Gabriel sneered as she crawled backwards, nearing the edge of the roof as she tried to recall her yo-yo. Gabriel's boot came down on the string just as it began to move, effectively cutting off any escape route for the young hero. A beeping in her ear alerted Ladybug to her impending transformation as her eyes glanced nervously around the battlefield.

The other heroes were all fighting their own battles, doing their best to keep the riot to a minimum as the press watched on from the sidelines. A news helicopter flew overhead, camera trained on her and her teammates. Ladybug wracked her brain for something, anything to help her, as Gabriel's fingers grabbed at and latched onto her hair, kicking her yo-yo to the side as he dragged her toward the edge. Her miraculous beeped another warning, the sharp sound spurring her into action. Ladybug kicked and pushed against him, arms lashing out in a flurry of punches and suddenly Gabriel stopped, a purple butterfly symbol appearing over his face.

"I don't care!" He growled, tightening his grip on Ladybug's hair. "I'll get her miraculous once she's dead."

Her miraculous beeped it's final warning as Gabriel lifted her flailing body off the concrete and tossed her over the side.

Ladybug screamed and screwed her eyes shut as she fell, body tense and ready for impact as her transformation released. Tikki flew from the miraculous, eyes wide and mouth open in a shrill cry as she realized what was happening to her holder.

Marinette tried not to think as she fell.

Not about Gabriel or Lila.

Not about the reporters in the helicopter who were getting a front row seat as her identity was revealed to all of Paris.

And not about leaving Chat Noir…leaving Adrien.

Tears gathered in her eyes just as her body made contact.

———

Chat Noir downed his opponent just as a terrified scream rang through the air. Head shooting up and scanning the area, his eyes locked onto her.

Falling. Detransforming. Marinette.

He moved before he could make a conscious decision, his muscles moving from memory as he leapt toward her. He nearly flew the last few feet, arms wrapping around her and sighing in relief when he felt Tikki land in his hair with a soft thud. His baton fell to the ground with a loud clang as he landed and Marinette trembled in his arms. He glanced upwards, cursing under his breath at the sight of his father making his way towards them. As if they were all in sync, their teammates began to retreat to recharge their miraculous and Lila's goons turned toward him, creating a massive army.

———

Marinette had been prepared for death.

And she had certainly had the wind knocked out of her. But her life? Her life was left intact.

She was vaguely aware of mumbling, Chat talking to someone. Himself? No. Plagg, she realized. He was talking to Plagg. Her eyes opened just as Chat growled, latching onto her tightly as he called a new power.

———

"Plagg, I don't know what to do. I can't fight them all off. I have to protect her, I have to-"

"Hand over your miraculous!" Gabriel demanded as his feet touched the ground in front of his son.

Feral

The word was whispered inside his head.

"What?" Chat demanded, ears swiveling as he took in the horde of people around him.

"I said, hand over your miraculous!" Gabriel roared, raising his cane. "She's defenseless, you're surrounded. Give up now. I can bring her back. I can bring your mother back."

Feral

"I don't know what that means!" Chat cried, causing Gabriel to frown and lower the cane.

"Son, I can bring your mother back. Cooperate. Give me the miraculous and the girl. We can be a family again."

Feral!

The voice yelled in his head and Chat could do nothing but obey.

"Feral!" Chat Noir cried, eyes and sclera turning red as he looked up to face his father. His claws lengthened, his hair stood on end and his ears pinned to his head, hissing loudly at those around him as Marinette's eyes shot open.

Immediately there was chaos.

———

"What's going on?" Rena called to the others as they returned to battle, fully charged.

"It's Chat Noir..he's..he's got a new power." Polymouse watched as Lila's goons turned and fled, each of them screaming in horror and stumbling over each other to escape as Chat Noir lashed out at his father, attacking even with Marinette clutching to him like a tiny koala. "And Marinette! She's detransformed!"

"Shit!" Carapace yelled just as Gabriel used his cane to summon more balls of energy and escape the field. Chat nearly followed but stopped suddenly as his team surrounded him.

"Shouldn't we go after him?" Pegasus questioned, readying his power.

"No!" Queen Bee reached out to a snarling Chat Noir. "There's minor damage. It's not worth it. Chat, put her down."

"No! Mine! Keep safe." Chat growled, tightening his grip on Marinette who looked up at her partner with still-shocked eyes.

"Kitty, it's okay. They're gone. You scared them off." Marinette raised a hand to gently cup Chat's cheek and his shoulders heaved as he struggled to calm himself, sinking to the ground once his eyes returned back to their normal shade of green. "Breathe." She commanded, watching closely as he sucked in a breath and turned his eyes to study her.

"Marinette." He sighed apologetically.

"Chat, I-" Her voice broke on his name and Chat Noir heartily kissed her, pulling back to examine her.

"I told you. The second you need me."

"My identity.." She began, a single tear falling as she glanced up at the reporters beginning to surround them.

"No comment!" Rena yelled, whisking out her flute and casting a mirage to allow them a quick escape.

"Thank you, Alya." Marinette whispered through her comm unit as Chat carried her away.

"No need. It's the least I can do. Are we going to meet back at headquarters to discuss or.."

Marinette sighed, looking up at her partner's worried face.

"It's all we can do now."