He was not prepared for her to come so soon.
He had actually thought he would've succeeded his mission at least, that Marinette would be better and happier. Then he'd be ready to face Ladybug, for the most part.
And yet, here she was in all her scarlet, spotted splendor, gazing at him from the doorway. Sir Night frowned as he peered at her. Something was wrong with her. Her posture was slumped, her shoulders low, her eyes half lidded.
She looked exhausted.
He turned to her, frowning. "You don't look too good, Ladybug," he noted aloud, conscious of the connection to a certain villain. A villain that wanted her earrings, and here she was, no Chat Noir coming to her aide this time.
A temptation for Hawkmoth, one Sir Night didn't want to risk.
Ladybug in turn faltered as she gazed at him. She slumped with a sigh, confirming, "I am tired."
"You shouldn't be out and about when you're tired," Sir Night lectured, his tone soft.
She shook her head back at him, her smile fond and bittersweet. "You always have to be so kind, even as an akuma."
He only smiled slightly in turn, ignoring the glowing butterfly symbol on his face and Hawkmoth's excited murmur in his ear.
"Yes, she trusts you. Get her Sir Night. Strike her when she leasts expect it!"
Only he made no move too when Ladybug turned and slipped out of the fabric shop. He did as she trusted, following her outside, making the villain rage and snarl in his ears.
Still Sir Night made no aggressive move towards Ladybug. He only stopped beside her, looking up towards the Eiffel Tower, frowning.
"She's not up there anymore," Ladybug told him.
"You move quickly," he noted, the words My Lady just at the tip of his tongue. Words he couldn't utter. He turned to her, asking, "Did you take her back home?"
Ladybug didn't answer, just frowning as she gazed up at the Eiffel Tower. Instead, she asked, "Can I have your akuma, Adrien?"
He moved to say yes, only to find himself pausing.
Maybe it was the akuma, maybe it was his personal wish; but he made no move to give her the akuma. Gently, he told her, "My objective isn't met."
"It's not an easy objective to meet," Ladybug returned.
Sir Night glanced to her, wondering if possibly Marinette told her of what was going on. Probably. Marinette and Ladybug were close. She was good at informing the superheroes what was going on, keeping them in the loop.
Sir Night pushed, "It can't be impossible Ladybug. I have to help her feel better."
"You can't," Ladybug stated.
"Ladybug-"
"Adrien."
He turned to her, grimacing.
Ladybug peered back, calm and frowning. Gentle, yet firm, she pointed out, "You don't return her feelings, of course she's going to be sad about that."
"But she's-"
"Will be fine," Ladybug sighed, looking away. "It, it just takes time." How much, she would like to know as well. But she doesn't. She just knows that sometime the hurt will fade and get better. It will just take time, something both she and Adrien will have to accept.
They'll get past, she knows they will.
It just takes time.
But at Sir Night's frown, it looked like that was something he didn't want to accept or acknowledge.
Ladybug gave a start when he pulled out a sword, pointing it to her warningly, forcing her back from that point. "Sorry Ladybug, I know you mean well and you're here to help but…" His stance faltered, a grimace on his lips. He shook his head, straightening out, resolute. "I hurt her. I have to help her feel better. She's my friend."
"A friend who's worried for you," Ladybug said, warily drawing away from that sword's point. She kept her gaze on Sir Night, determined and resolute despite her exhaustion.
Sir Night faltered for a moment, then shook his head. "I'm ok," he stated.
'You're not Adrien," Ladybug stated.
The scarf rose up, giving an angry lash coming out of it.
Sir Night tightened his grip on his sword, looking ready to charge and slash, only to falter, gazing to Ladybug. His love. His light.
He couldn't fight her.
But he wasn't willing to just give up either.
He lowered his sword and Ladybug relaxed. She tensed again, surprised when he whipped around and tore off to the Dupain-Chengs. Swearing, Ladybug pursued.
Sir Night arrived first, dropping into the room and startling Alya, who was trying to call Marinette from where she stood on the lower section, wondering where her friend disappeared too.
Alya stared at the akuma, eyes wide, her cell in hand still chiming as it tried to reach Marinette.
Green eyes stared back down at her, then sharply looked around the room, grimacing when he didn't see who he wanted to see.
Ladybug landed on the balcony, gazing down and warningly calling out, "Sir Night."
"Where is she Ladybug?" Sir Night asked aloud, not turning to her, still searching around the room, like Marinette may be hiding there. She had to be here. Unless Ladybug put her someplace else.
"M-Marinette?" Alya asked, backing away slightly, eyes locked on the akuma in the room, hunched up on Marinette's bed. She shakily demanded, "Why, why do you want Marinette?" Her gaze flickered past him to the trapdoor. "Where is she?!"
"Ask Ladybug," Sir Night huffed, rising up and turning to the trapdoor, glaring at Ladybug.
She peered down at him, unintimidated. She spared a fast glance at Alya, who peered back at her, wide eyed and concerned.
Ladybug turned and tore off, missing the frustrated noise Sir Night made. He pursued, shouting, "Where is my friend, Ladybug?!"
She offered no answer, racing away, pushing forward, keeping ahead of him.
With an angry swish of his scarf, Sir Night sped up, hand twitching towards the sword at his side. He jerked his hand away and kept pursuing.
Ladybug can be reasonable.
He won't have to—
He whipped out his sword, blocking a yo-yo that came flying at him.
"Good reflexes," Ladybug called out in a teasing tone.
He gave her a dry look, his scarf still twitching. His expression shifting to something more serious, he drew near, calling out once more, "Ladybug, where's Marinette?"
"You can see her after you give me your akuma, Adrien."
Frustrated with Ladybug, with Marinette seemingly lost to him, and that Ladybug won't reveal anything to him; he went with the feeling, bringing his sword back for swing. Ladybug jumped over him, and he knew instinctively she was aiming to dive away, use the momentum for speed, put space between them.
His long scarf rose up, making her squeak in surprise as it slammed into her, toppling her to the ground and wrapping around her.
Ladybug struggled, and the scarf returned it, keeping her under wraps, keeping her from escaping him.
Sir Night loomed over her, Hawkmoth shouting in his ear. "Yes! Her miraculous Sir Night! Get it, now!"
"Marinette Ladybug, else I'll take the earrings," Sir Night warned.
She gave him a glare. "You'll have to take them first," she told him.
"Do it!" Hawkmoth cried.
Sir Night faltered. Then gave her a glare. Curse his Lady! She knows him too well! Not that Hawkmoth did.
"THE MIRACULOUS SIR NIGHT!"
"Oh shut up," Sir Night muttered.
He tensed at a flash of pain going through him, Hawkmoth snarling out, ending it was a venomous sneer, "Don't get arrogaunt, boy, I can take your powers away and then you'll never be able to help your princess."
Sir Night gritted teeth, squinting out to see an infuriated look cross Ladybug's features. And noticed that she had brought out her yo-yo.
Oh no.
Hawkmoth's hold broke as she threw her weapon into the air, summoning, "Lucky Charm!"
Sir Night dove forward, reaching to grab her charm, but he he moved too late as a large red and black spotted rock came down towards Ladybug. Both alarmed, the scarf freed Ladybug and she rolled away, just as that rock hit his scarf.
After a moment of relief, Sir Night tensed and realized that he was stuck. He tried to pull his scarf out, the end flailing around, trying to get free. But the rock was too heavy. And with Sir Night stuck, his ever cunning Ladybug took her chance.
The sword was taken from his side, the akuma useless to do anything to stop her as she fled away with her prize.
"No!" he cried desperate as Ladybug started to move to break it. "Ladybug! Please! No! I, I have to help her! Ladybug don't!"
She faltered, turning to him.
He peered back, wide eyed, desperate, and hopeful.
In his ear, Hawkmoth was snarling about his stupidity, his uselessness. Sir Night didn't listen, his gaze locked on Ladybug, pleading. He had to help her. He won't harm anyone, he won't go after Ladybug, he just wanted to help Marinette. Have a real chance too.
Ladybug shook her head, her tired gaze resolute. "I'm sorry Sir Night," she offered, and slammed the sword over her knee, breaking it.
His butterfly came out, frantic to escape.
A useless effort as Ladybug easily caught it and released it, wishing it safe travels, her tone more gentle than usual.
He fell to his knees as he felt the world shift and roll around him, the magic on him fading away. He was barely aware of her light touch, resting her warm hand on his shoulder. "I'll get better," he faintly heard her say, though whether that was Marinette or Ladybug, he didn't know. He faintly heard the command of "Miraculous Ladybug!" and the darkness washed over him.