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Marinette resolutely sat facing away from the television, and fought the urge to look.
The desire to use her lucky charm was overwhelming, but she knew that she would be leaving herself vulnerable to Hawkmoth if she didn't figure out what it was and how to use it before the villain returned. Then she would have to run like hell before the transformation wore off. There were too many risks associated with that plan, but what other choice did she have? Give Hawkmoth what he wanted?
Marinette knew that the lives of Alya and Nino were riding on this; and not just because of the two Akumas they had been fighting. They had transformed right in front of the Akumas; Hawkmoth knew their secret identities, and if he was thwarted today he would no doubt exploit them mercilessly. She sighed. This was the entire reason she had wanted to keep their identities secret in the first place! She would have to make sure they never touched a Miraculous again until Hawkmoth was defeated. She knew they would hate it, but there was no alternative.
That train of thought led her slowly, inexorably, much against her will, to Chat Noir.
She had really messed up there. How could she have been so stupid as to out herself like that? Even Chat had been able to put the pieces together, and he could be remarkably oblivious at times. And then he'd blown up at her about what she'd told him in Venice.
But she'd done the right thing there, hadn't she? It was too dangerous to reveal their identities, what was happening to Alya and Nino only confirmed it. But now, because of that, she wasn't sure what he would do. Was the sanctity of her identity really worth burning her bridges with Chat Noir entirely for?
Regret washed over her like icy water. She had treated her partner like an idiot, and had lost him because of it.
Temoli had warned her this would happen too. Several times. She wished she had listened to her. She fought the urge to curl up. She had to stay strong; despair would do nothing. She had to get out of here, and she needed to be calm and rational for that.
If she had ended up in this cage before, when their bond was iron and their loyalty to one another absolute, Marinette would have been counting down the minutes until Chat busted through the door and cataclysmed the lock; although apparently, that wouldn't have worked, according to Hawkmoth. Now though? With Chat Noir furious at her, and their partnership seemingly at an end? She wouldn't have blamed him for just staying in 1794.
Maybe she could bait Hawkmoth with a pair of fake earrings and then escape when he opened the cage? No, that would involve revealing her identity to Hawkmoth, and she would have to escape within five minutes or all would be lost.
"Come on Ladybug, think!" She willed herself. But no plan came, and she growled in frustration.
"Idiot!" She cursed.
"I would have thought you would be more pleased to see me, you know." A voice said with an old-fashioned French accent behind her.
Marinette felt hope surge through her and spun around, but Chat Noir wasn't there. Instead, a red-costumed figure approached the cage, sizing it up.
"Impressive," Ladybird said. "Are you alright?"
"You?" Marinette asked in shock.
"Don't sound surprised, of course it's me!" Ladybird replied, poking at the lock on the door experimentally. "Did he do anything to you?"
Marinette shook her head. "No, his plan is to wait me out."
That reminded her.
"Wait, Hawkmoth will be coming!"
"Oh, don't worry about him," Ladybird replied, pulling out a hairpin and sticking it into the lock. She narrowed her eyes slightly in concentration. "He'll be otherwise occupied for at least a few minutes."
Marinette watched her predecessor work for a few seconds.
"Where's Chat?"
"Your partner?" Ladybird asked. "He's outside, watching the door. I thought this would go quicker without a teary reunion to contend with. The key with this sort of thing is always to get in and out as quickly and as quietly as possible."
"You sound like you know that from experience," Marinette observed.
"Believe me, you wouldn't be the first Parisian I've rescued from a cell awaiting a terrible fate," Ladybird replied, grinning. "So yes, I would like to think I've become reasonably good at it."
"Is that what you were doing in Paris before?" Marinette wondered, the pieces clicking together smoothly.
"Yes, but don't tell anyone. They're already gossipy enough as it is. They've even given me some ridiculous nickname. I mean, what sort of a name is the Scarlet Pimpernel?" Ladybird complained.
"You're the Scarlet Pimpernel?" Marinette was vaguely aware of the stories, and had heard the name.
"Apparently so," Ladybird confirmed. "But they do think the Scarlet Pimpernel is a man."
"Really?" Marinette sympathised. "That can't be nice."
"Actually, it benefits me," Ladybird pointed out. "The Revolutionaries also think I'm a man, so they're looking for a man."
Her French accent changed, becoming rougher and more working-class.
"Meanwhile they never think to check whether the famous Scarlet Pimpernel might be sneaking past right under their very noses."
She groaned.
"This Hawkmoth might be a complete hang-in-chains, but he knows how to build a cage. This lock is very good."
"Then what are we going to do?" Marinette asked, worriedly.
Ladybird crossed over to the door, and opened it, saying something to Chat Noir on the other side.
"Excellent!" She said. "The coast is clear."
She shut the door, and approached the cage again.
"You might want to stand back for this."
"What?" Marinette asked, as Ladybird reached into her belt and pulled out-
"A pistol? Why have you got a pistol?" Marinette squeaked.
"Relax, I've only ever used it on inanimate objects," Ladybird reassured her, cocking the weapon. She aimed it at the lock, and Marinette jumped out of the way just as she pulled the trigger. There was a flash, then a bang, then a wallop, and then the door popped open.
"That's all I use it for," Ladybird explained, putting the weapon back as smoke rose around her. "But it does mean we have to run away quickly when I do it, so I would suggest we get moving."
The door burst open, and Marinette found herself face-to-face with Chat Noir.
"What happened?" He asked worriedly. "I heard-"
Ladybird pointed to the lock, which hung ruined from the door.
"Oh," Chat relaxed, and then made eye contact with Ladybug.
"Chat..." Marinette whispered, stepping out of the cage. "You actually came..."
"Of course I came," Chat replied brusquely. "We're partners, aren't we?"
"I'm sorry," Marinette confessed. "I shouldn't have said that in Venice. I lied to you to protect my identity."
"Then I'm sorry too," Chat replied. "About comparing you to Lila. You're nowhere near comparable to her."
Marinette could hardly stand to look at him, but forced herself to look up, into his big green eyes. Chat smiled a rueful smile.
"Are we good?" He asked. Marinette nodded gratefully.
"We're good," she confirmed.
"Great!" Chat said. But then he pointed his baton at her.
"Just don't do it again," he told her in a half-serious tone.
"I'll try not to," Marinette replied seriously.
"And your secret is safe with me," Chat replied. "You can trust me, My Lady. You always have."
Marinette threw herself at him, and embraced him fiercely.
"You know I didn't know if I had lost you, Chaton," she told him.
Ladybird watched the proceedings with folded arms.
"We need to get a move on!" She warned. "A lot of the street probably heard that gunshot!"
Marinette and Chat broke apart hastily.
"Right," Chat said sheepishly.
"Sorry," Marinette apologised.
"Then get moving!" Ladybird prompted. "We've got work to do!"