Warning: This chapter contains pubic humiliation. I will continue to mark the chapters that contain torture if you wish to skip them. Adrien gets his arm dislocated, but that's the worst of the violence. I would recommend reading this one for plot at least.

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Ladybug woke up, thankfully still transformed, in a dark room. Her hands were bound behind her back and a gag was in her mouth. Her vision was blurry in the low light, and she couldn't quite parse two thoughts together. Did she have a concussion? She had hit her head, right? That's why it hurt so bad?

She tried to make some noise, but it just came out as a muffled moan.

A similar sound came from behind her, and she felt something move against her hand. Chat Noir, she supposed. She hoped. She was with him last…probably. At least, last she remembered.

A harsh light flicked on in her eyes, and she winced against it.

"Well well well, looks like you two finally decided to wake up. Good thing too, or you would have missed all the fun." It was a woman speaking, an Akuma? But they had just been fighting one! A huge, wrecking ball Akuma. Did Hawkmoth change tactics mid fight? Why couldn't she remember what happened?

"Don't worry, you take all the time you need to catch up. After all, GHB tends to wipe some memories."

GHB? Wasn't that a date rape drug? Had they been ambushed?

Another voice spoke. "We're all set ma'am."

"Wonderful, everyone in positions."

Ladybug's chair was turned around to face her partner. He looked just like her, bound and gagged. Confusion clouded his eyes, along with concern.

"Good evening Paris." The woman was speaking, her back to them. "Please excuse me for interrupting whatever pointless drivel you were consumed with. My name is Salo. I'm not an akuma, but you'll soon wish I was. I have succeeded where all the others have failed." She stepped back to show Ladybug and Chat Noir, bound and gagged.

Now Ladybug could get a good look at her. Red hair tied up in a bun, black leather suit, and reflective sunglasses. She looked physically fit, but there was no notable expression on her face. Slight wrinkles around her lips, so she was older. Maybe in her forties?

There was a hand gun at her hip.

"I have captured the so called heroes of Paris. In ten minutes, I will be revealing their identities on 'make ladybug suffer dot com.' Be sure to tune in, you won't want to miss it."

"Transmission ended." Called the man's voice again.

The light dimmed, and Ladybug could see a little better. The room was small and bare, save for several cameras, screens, lights and wires. The only furniture were the chairs they were currently occupying, a table behind the mysterious woman, and a table in the corner with computer monitors. There were no windows, and the only door was heavy iron. The walls, floor, and ceiling were all cement. In short, no escape.

"Starting to remember things yet?" This 'Salo' woman asked.

Ladybug just stared her down, anger in her eyes.

Salo and another man ripped off the duct tape over their mouths, and pulled out the gags.

"Who are you?" Was Ladybug's curt reply.

Salo smiled and prepared to answer, but she was interrupted by Chat's shout of, "Catacly—!" But the woman stuck her fingers down his throat, gagging him mid-word. He heaved, coughing up some fluid.

"Oh shush kitty kitty, we can't have you leaving now, can we? Now that we have so much planned." She nodded her head to the man standing nearby.

He was huge, just about the same size as the Gorilla, and he took hold of Chat's arm. With a yank and a sickening crack, Chat cried out in pain as his was arm was ripped out of socket.

"Chat!"

Salo smiled, "to answer your question, my name is not important, but you can call me Salo."

"What do you want?"

The woman grabbed her face, squeezing her cheeks hard. "What do I want? I want to destroy you, Ladybug." She said her name with venom. "You've had it too good for too long. You're the hero of Paris, the idol! You can do no wrong! But you've gotten cocky. Started working outside your job. Superheroes take down super villains. You should have stuck to those silly akumas." She let her face go, smiling with untapped anger. "But you didn't."

"Our job is to keep Paris safe, whether it's from akumas or petty thieves."

Salo slapped her cheek, right over her bullet wound, making white flash under her eyelids, and her ears ring.

"You're cute, Ladybug. Real cute. I thought you were fun. A Parisian idol, our very own Mickey Mouse. So did my Ed. You were bright and flashy, a wonderful distraction for the media. But you crossed a line, little insect. And now all of Paris, all of France, is going to watch you pay."

Ladybug swallowed, obviously nervous. There had to be a way out, but in the dark room and Chat's Cataclysm out of commission, things were beginning to look bleak.

"What did I do?"

The corner of Salo's mouth twitched. "Let me jog your memory."

The screen behind her lit up, and Nadja Chamack appeared with a news ticker underneath. "Don't be bemused, it's just the News. Ladybug and Chat Noir have done it again, with the capture of an elusive criminal. Top of the 'Most Wanted' lists in six countries, a Monsieur Edward Savauge. Ladybug and Chat Noir had an altercation with Savauge at the docks last night around 12am, resulting in the death of a young man identified as 25 year old Charles Exavier. Police arrived at the scene to find Savauge bound in Ladybug's yo-yo, several bodyguards unconscious, surrounded by illegal firearms, and the body of Exavier on the ground. Savauge was taken and charged with murder and illegal firearm possession. He has also been wanted for drug trafficking, illegal gambling, human trafficking, and 19 counts of murder. Edward Savauge was the boss of a Camorra crime syndicate. Ladybug and Chat Noir were unavailable for comment." The recording ended there, and the woman shut off the TV.

"He was my lover. A wonderfully powerful man...but because of you, he's in hot water. If he goes to prison, I'll never see him again...so you will never see your family, friends, or your beloved fans again."

Ladybug's eyes were blown wide, horrified. This was why she hadn't wanted anyone to find out their identities, in case someone went out for revenge.

"500,000 users are streaming the site, including three users at the TVi News Station." Another man stated from a computer in the corner.

"Excellent." Salo smiled. "Time?"

"T minus one minute."

"You hear that? One minute until I reveal your name to the whole world. I'll let you have that minute to escape. Go ahead, go."

Frantic, Ladybug wriggled against her bindings. Come on! She was supposed to be stronger in the suit. But pull as she did, she was only making her wrists hurt, and the ropes to tighten.

She glanced over to Chat to see what he was doing. His shoulder looked lumpy and unnatural. He was biting back tears as he tried to wriggle too, though one arm was not moving. She realized it was the arm with his ring.

"Time's up! Aw, you two do want to have fun! You stayed!"

Furious, Ladybug spit at the woman. "You won't get away with this!"

"Oh, but I already have." Salo tapped her on the nose. "You see, the Ladyblog really is an amazing resource! Every video of you two ever shot was on there. Theories and facts, all the information we needed was on there. I studied it carefully. All you had to do was show up for an akuma, and we took care of the rest. Though, I should probably thank that hulk, since he did the hard part for us. Seems like you're not so lucky after all."

Ladybug's lip trembled.

"We have over a million users online," spoke the man from the computer again.

"Then let's begin." Her voice was cold and merciless. "Let's start with Mr. Noir, shall we? Your ring, sir!" She reached for it.

"Cataclysm!" He shouted, finally activating his power. He couldn't move his arm, but it would give him a few minutes of protection.

"Oh you think you're so smug." Salo smirked. "But you see, there's more than one way to skin a cat." She snapped her fingers, and the large man standing by touched Chat's hand with a metal pole. The metal rusted and turned to dust. Chat's hand was useless once again.

She took hold of the ring between her fingers.

"Please," whispered Chat. "You don't have to do this."

"Of course I don't, pussy cat. But it's my great joy that I get too." Slowly, deliberately, she pulled his ring off his finger, watching as his transformation fell away in a flurry of green light.

Ladybug looked in horror as her long time crush and good friend Adrien Agreste sat in front of her, still bound and in immense pain without his suit.

Salo leaned on his bad shoulder, making him cry out in pain. "Well well well. A famous model and a superhero! How intriguing! Adrien Agreste…I bet your father would pay a pretty penny to have you home safe and sound, don't you think?" She dragged her fingers over his cheek.

Adrien was in tears. Not outright sobbing, but a few drops rolling off his chin. Whether it was the pain from his shoulder, or facing the reality that his freedom had just literally been stripped away, he wasn't sure himself.

Salo scoffed. "What a baby." She smacked his face just hard enough to sting. Then she stood and walked over to Ladybug. "Your turn, missy."

Ladybug struggled, not willing to go without a fight. She thrashed in her chair, kicked her legs, and frantically shook her head, so Salo had put her into a choke hold. She fought for breath and cried out with a choking gasp.

The earrings were plucked from her ears and sad little Marinette Dupain-Cheng remained. Adrien stared at her, a gasp bursting from his lips.

She didn't dare look at him.

"And who the heck are you?" Salo snorted. "We lucked out with Mr. Whiskers, but who knew Ladybug was just a nobody?" She leaned in closer. "Oh wait, I recognize you…yeah, you're a friend of the Ladyblogger, in some of her videos. Mmmm….Marinette, right? Yeah. How sad! You'd think the person most dedicated to finding out Ladybug's identity would have seen her sitting in front of her! You must either be too pathetic in your real life, or totally unimportant to the Ladyblogger."

Marinette sat still and quiet, not willing to let the words of this vile woman get to her. She just stared at Adrien, apologizing with her eyes, and begging him not to hate her. He stared back with fear and desperation.

Marinette pushed her fear aside, and summoned Ladybug's courage. "Alright, you've taken our Miraculous, and now everyone knows who we are. Can we go now?"

Salo slapped her cheek and sent her sprawling on the floor, the chair pressing awkwardly on her arm. "Didn't you hear me? You're never getting out of here. You'll never see daylight again. I intend to keep you here and torture you over and over. One day, you won't even know your own name anymore, but you'll beg me for death!"

This couldn't be happening. There was just no way.

She was roughly yanked off the ground, the chair settling back on the floor.

"Let's see, first thing first is to get you into uniform."

Uniform? Thought Marinette, with fear.

Her bindings were cut, and she was forced to her feet. She rubbed her wrists carefully. There were several men standing around, watching, plus Salo had a gun. She didn't know if it was loaded, but she wouldn't take that chance.

"Whatever you're thinking, don't." Said Salo. "Now strip."

Marinette was keenly aware of the camera pointed at her, and the spot light on her, forbidding any hiding. With trembling hands, she took off her jacket, purse, and shoes.

Salo crouched and picked up her purse. "Let's see, just as I thought." She took out her phone, looking at the screen. "18 missed calls? My my someone is worried about their baby." Then she dropped the phone and smashed it under her heel. "Not to worry. We'll let mommy know how much fun your having."

She then went over to Adrien and frisked him, finding his phone. "2 missed calls. Hmm, I wonder who's more loved?" She smashed his phone as well. The remnants of both were collected and tossed in a bucket of water, just to make sure all the circuitry was fried.

Salo gestured Marinette onward.

She then took off her shirt and pants, standing alone, trembling in her underwear.

"Well?" Said Salo. "The rest of it too."

So Marinette unhooked her bra and shimmied out of her panties, standing completely naked in front of all of Paris. And her crush.

Adrien wasn't looking at her, keeping his eyes politely on her toes.

"Oh what a gentleman!" Salo laughed, noticing. She grabbed his chin and forced him to look up. "But I know where you really want to look. You're in love with her, aren't you?"

Adrien couldn't help it, he glanced her up and down, and then met her eyes. "…I'm sorry."

"Did I say you could talk, pussy cat?"

He shook his head, immediately snapping to obedience.

"Aw, he already knows how to behave so well. This will be so fun!"

Marinette continued to stand there, trying in vain to cross her legs or wrap her arms around her chest. It was doing little good.

Salo gestured to someone in the room, and without warning, a bucket of cold water dropped over her head, soaking her through. "Ugh!" She yelped, in shock.

Next, Adrien was forced to his feet too, and also freed of his bindings, but his arm just hung limply at his side.

"He might need some help, Ladybug. So why don't you help him." Salo shoved her forward, as she tripped into his chest.

Any other day, she'd be blushing madly and apologizing. But right now, she just wanted to hug him and hide in his embrace.

"Tick tock, you two."

It became apparent that any movement caused Adrien pain, as she helped ease his arm out of his over shirt. His t-shirt followed, but with a lot more fumbling and wincing.

She had to undo his belt and unbutton his jeans, which was painfully awkward and uncomfortable for both of them. Especially with the snickers and wolf whistles from the shadows.

Then they were both naked, in front of Paris.

"Wow, the suit really holds everything in, doesn't it, Adrien?" Salo laughed, looking between his legs.

He was in too much pain to be embarrassed.

But just like with Marinette, a bucket of cold water drenched him. He tensed up, wincing all the while.

"Here," Salo spoke, dropping a folded cloth into Marinette's hands. "Your uniform."

Holding it up, she found it was just a hospital gown. And a short one at that.

She quickly put it on, tying it as tightly as she could in the back. As long as she didn't have to raise her hands, she would be covered.

"Now Mr. Whiskers." Salo gave her another gown, to help Adrien into.

She bunched up the sleeve to make it easier, and eased his hand into the sleeve, his other going in just fine. She pulled it up to drape over his shoulders and then stepped to go behind him.

"Uh uh uh…" Salo stopped her, "you can tie him from in front."

Marinette obeyed, reaching her arms around him and tying the strings tightly. She pressed against his chest, though she tried not too.

"My lady," he whispered oh so quietly. "It'll be alright."

She felt awful. She should be the one reassuring him. Wordlessly, she cupped his cheek and wiped his tears away.

The gown was short on him too, just barely keeping him covered.

Salo grabbed Marinette's arm and yanked her back. "Alright, that's enough. I've got some new jewelry for you, since I took your old ones."

Marinette's eyes widened. "Where did you put our miraculous? What did you do with them?"

Salo smiled, "Oh, you didn't notice? Why, they're right here."

There was a small safe on a table behind her. The lid was open, and Salo held it up to show the ring and earrings sitting dormant inside. Then she closed the lid and flipped the combination. "I don't worry showing you this. Because there's no way you'll be able get them. But I'd love to see you try."

Marinette clenched her fist, looking at the safe, the door, and the gun.

She had never felt so absolutely hopeless.

Salo picked something up from the table next to the safe, and came towards Marinette. "Alright bug, I'd stay still unless you want to get pinched."

She clamped on two wrist restraints, and then one to her neck, all connected with chains.

Then she did the same with Adrien, even clamping his bad arm.

"Now aren't you two just precious? All gussied up for your first day of camp! Smile for the camera! Let your parents know how much fun you're having!"

The camera swung in close to them, capturing their expressions of absolute humiliation and horror.

"I said, smile!" She pinched the underside of their arms, causing them both to wince, which they both tried to turn into a smile.

"Alright, now let's take you to your bunks. We have a really nice set up for our new campers. You'll just love it!"

They were both led from the room, chains rattling with each step.

Marinette paid attention to the direction of the hallways. Although, the walls were bare and grimy. It was unbelievably dark too.

Finally, they came to their 'cabin'. A room without a door, but two large metal ducts. The kind used in buildings for Air Conditioning, but they looked old and rusty. Crude doors had been sawed out of them, and chains welded to them.

"Take your pick." Salo giggled. "There's just enough room in there to sit."

Marinette took the one on the right, but Adrien just stood at the door.

"Well, go on." Salo pushed him forward.

Marinette watched with growing concern as each step he took was slow and shaky. He looked absolutely terrified. Finally, he took his place on the left, and turned to face the door.

The doors closed, but little slots opened in the middle, big enough to fit their wrists through.

"Arms up." Salo demanded.

Through the slot, their chains were removed, though the shackles remained. Then, the slot closed and several padlocks clicked into place outside.

"Get some sleep you two. Tomorrow we have a day chocked full of activities."

Several footsteps led away and then, silence.

Marinette grit her teeth. "Tikki can you—"

Tikki wasn't there. For the first time in three years, Tikki wasn't there. She was all alone.

Well, almost.

"Kitty?" She asked softly.

"I'm here." He answered, his voice broken.

"I...I'm going to figure a way out of this. I promise."

He didn't respond.

"Chat?"

"I'm...I'm sorry..." He was crying, and hyperventilating. "I…I don't like being locked up."

"Oh Kitty…"

"If only I had cataclysmed the wrecking ball, or—or arrived at the docks earlier—"

"Chat."

"I could have—Maybe we—"

"Adrien." She rested a hand on the cold metal of the cage. "This isn't your fault."

"But...I promised to protect you. And I failed."

"Don't do this to yourself. I need you right now, okay?"

He was quiet, and then finally agreed. "Okay."

"How's your arm?"

"I'm...getting used to it."

"Can you pop it back in?"

"I don't know how. I've never dislocated anything before."

"Me neither." She sighed. Slowly, and ever so carefully she sat on the ground, leaning against the metal walls. It was pitch black, she couldn't even see her own hand in front of her face. She reached forward, finding the door to the cage. The metal felt pretty thin, and if she was lucky, it would have some give. The door was several inches from the floor, leaving a gap large enough to reach her arm out. She grabbed hold of the edge, and trying to force it out, but she wasn't prepared for the sharp edge and cut herself.

She hissed in pain.

"Marinette?"

It was at that moment that she was struck with the realization that this was Adrien talking to her, and that he was Chat Noir, and that he knew who she was. Perhaps it was shock or adrenaline, but it didn't click until just this moment.

"Are you okay?" He asked, still sniffling.

"I just…yeah…be careful with the edges of the door, it's sharp."

"Yeah, I cut myself just sitting down. There's an edge along the wall."

"Oh…" She settled down then, not really knowing what to do.

Ladybug was out of ideas.

"My lady?"

"Y-Yeah?"

"Would...would you still think I was super cool even if I said I was scared?"

She managed a single laugh. "I'm…I'm terrified." She admitted. "Chat, we…we failed. Everyone knows who we are."

"Yeah…"

"My family…your dad…Alya and Nino…they all know. And they're all in danger…and th-there's nothing—" She choked out a sob. "There's nothing we can do."

Adrien didn't respond but she could hear him sniffling.

"I don't know…what are we going to do?" The last part was barely a whisper.

"Salo said she thought my dad might pay a hefty price to get me out. Money hasn't ever been an object to my father, so...I'm sure he'd pay your ransom too." There was a piece of doubt deep in his soul that wondered if he would. Gabriel Agreste was a good man. Sometimes.

"No." Marinette shook her head. "I can't allow that to happen. These people are dangerous. If your father gives them money, how many more people will die? What other crimes will they commit? We can't…no matter how scary it is…we can't let them win…"

It was a beat before Adrien agreed. "…yeah. I guess all our hard work goes away then."

She leaned her head back, the metal groaning as she did so.

"You know…" He spoke, taking a massive sigh. "We've spent the last three years saving Paris. I think…I think Paris can protect our loved ones for us." She could hear him moving, the metal groaning as he pushed against it. "Can you reach under the door, towards me?"

She scooted down too, laying on the ground on her side, and as she reached under the door, she found a warm hand, with strong fingers that quickly wrapped around her own.

"My lady….my beautiful lady…"

"Kitty cat…"

"We'll find a way out. Together."

"Partners?"

"Partners."