"I am owed what I am due. Vengeance is mine."

—Chat Noir on why he killed various people. [Taken from the initial interview with now-famous criminal defense lawyer, Adeline Beaufoy]

"These next few days are certainly going to be heated and I really wouldn't want to be Ladybug right now in regards to her partner's trial.

—A random male civilian

"Chat Noir deserves his sentence of thirty years and may he rot in hell for all eternity. Because of him, my baby boy is dead. That MONSTER killed my baby!"

-A grieving mother

CHAPTER THREE

In Ladybug We Trust

PARIS, FRANCE— PALAIS DE JUSTICE

2 HOURS BEFORE CHAT NOIR'S PRETRIAL

THURSDAY 12:30 PM

In the heart of the 4th Arrondissement of Paris, reporters and various members of the press crowd the steps of the Palais de Justice, also properly known as Paris's oldest court building. Police have cordoned off the streets in order to prevent civilians from entering the premise of the building and its surroundings. Usually their wouldn't be this much fanfare at the courthouse, but not today. For today and in less than two minutes, Ladybug's Press Conference regarding her partner is about to begin.

Now normally, their wouldn't be this kind of fanfare before a pre trail, but this was no ordinary murder case that the government of Paris was handed. This certain case involves a high-profile member of society being killed in his own home, not to mention the mayor and a superhero being one of the alleged killers. So, yes, there is going to be a press conference and debriefing.

Currently on the steps of the Courthouse, various news stations and reporters sat camped out, waiting for the pretrial and the press conference to commence. It seemed as if all of Paris was holding their breath, just…waiting.

PALAIS DE JUSTICE—CONFERENCE ROOM

2 HOURS BEFORE CHAT NOIR'S PRETRIAL

THURSDAY 12:32 PM

Inside the Palace of Justice, in a secluded conference room, Ladybug paced. Outside the room she could hear the anxious mummers of the press and the low hum of the cameras whirring. No doubt as soon as she got out to address them, she'd be blinded by the bright flashing of a multitude of cameras going off.

She could do this. She could address the whole city of Paris and say that her partner killed someone in a fit of rage. She could tell them, he went off the rails, was completely insane and that he thought Gabriel Agreste was Hawkmoth. Granted, if he escaped custody it would most likely start a citywide manhunt but whatever.

Another step. Nope, she couldn't say that. She was betraying her partner.

…Was he even her partner anymore?

Marinette stopped and looked at the assortment of sweets on the conference table. Being impulsive, she grabs a cookie.

She starts to pace again, eating this time. What was she going to do? What was she even doing at this point?

GOD, WHAT WAS SHE GOING TO DO?!

She resumed pacing.

'Tis the damn season @DrinkUpGrinches

Is everyone ready for shit to go down and for our minds to explode? #ChatNoirPretrial

NotAFurry @NekoNeee~

Let's get ready to ruuuumble!!!! #ChatNoirPretrial

H2-NO! @HydrateOrDydrate

I feel like a lot of this is going to go wrong… #ChatNoirPretrial

Okay? No, I'm not. @LiterallyDed

@HydrateOrDyrate everything about this is wrong. Otherwise we wouldn't have this trial in the first place.

Kags @KagamiPINKAgreste

My precious kitty needs to be saved! Oi, Ladybrat! Move your butt along and actually work for once in your life! #I'llSaveYouMyPrecious #LadybratMoveYourAss #ChatNoirUnfairTrial

Lex @Lexicon

@KagamiPINKAgreste Woah, coming on a little strong there aren't ya?

Dingdongditchin' @AintYourAveragePerson

@Lexicon Some people on the internet these days, I swear…

WITH ADELINE AND CHAT NOIR

EXACTLY TWO HOURS BEFORE HIS PRETRIAL

THURSDAY 12:40 PM

With a click and whirring sound, the tap recorder stopped. It was a finality, a done deal. It was a sign that everything was over and done with. For now.

Adeline gave Chat a smug look, she's gotten what she needs, she grilled him for nearly four hours straight not even stopping to get a drink of water.

"You done?" Chat Noir speaks, his voice no longer has an edge like a finely honed weapon to kill, it's more sharp and irritating, like he's totally done with her. Yes, she has truly torn into him.

She feels a smidge of regret but it's necessary.

"The lawyers and prosecutors will do worse." She says, "I'm preparing you for what is to come."

"That's even if I get a trial." The hero grumbled. "This is just a preliminary hearing."

"Oh, you'll get a trial alright." Adeline leaned back in her chair. "Especially with all the evidence stacked against you."

"None of them are innocent." He hissed out. "Especially Gabriel Agreste."

"That's for the judge to decide. You as well for the matter." Adeline pointed out. "Also, it's sentences like that which will definitely warrant a trial."

"Why are you even here? You're not even a prosecutor." He snarled.

"I'm a lawyer." She said looking him straight in the eye.

"Yeah, a defense lawyer." He snarked back.

"Still a lawyer, kid."

"Not a kid." He glared.

"Come on, get up. We have to go meet Prosecutor Lecroix in front of the Courtroom. Better to do it now than just before we go in, yes?"

"Sure." The kid, she was positive he was a teenager at this point, gave her a deadpan look.

Yep, definitely a teenager.

Wait…if he was a teenager that means that a minor had been saving Paris for the past four years! Hell, that was breaking the law. Adeline knew that Miraculous users had been around for centuries, they had certain laws in place for them in various world governments just for them because of that fact.

And one major and VERY important rule for their Guardians was that no Wielder was to be under the age of eighteen!

What. The. Fuck.

That's it, Adeline thinks. Once this is over I'm calling an arrest for his Guardian.

WITH LADYBUG

A MINUTE BEFORE THE PRESS CONFERENCE

THURSDAY 1:30

Ladybug was pacing again, and this time it wasn't in a conference room. It was behind a velvet curtain. As she paced, she occasionally unhooked her yo-yo from her waist and flicked it up and down, throwing it back and forth in a repetitive motion. It calmed her a bit, not by much. But just a bit.

On the other side of the curtain was the roar of the press, all hungry and desperate to hear what she was going to say. She peeked out once and saw that various police officers and AIU members (the unit she helped create) were trying to (unsuccessfully) hold them back. She knew when she went out, the dam would break. It was going to be madness. She wasn't ready, but she had to be.

"Mme. Ladybug?" Marinette's head snapped up, it was Officer Simon Lécuyer, Commissioner and Paris's Chief of Police.

"Yes?" She says looking up towards the taller man. Sadly as she got older, she did not hit a growth spurt. Thanks, Chinese genes. I owe you one.

"They're ready for you." He says this in a kind manner but Marinette's stomach is in knots. Obviously seeing her face, he says, "May I offer you a price of advice?"

"Yes, I could take all the advice you could offer,'' she says to him, gratefully.

"Never falter Mme. Ladybug," He says," for when you do, they'll come after you like sharks in the water."

"Who, the press?" Marinette spoke.

"No, Mademoiselle, the people of this city."

While the words were meant to be comforting, they couldn't help but send a chill down her spine.

"Thanks so much for the advice." Marinette says through a fake smile. "I really, really appreciate it!"

"I'm glad you think so, I hope it helps." He smiles like their old friends and pats her on her back. "Knock 'em, dead!" He smiles with pearly whites. Then, he turns and walks away whistling. Marinette knows the tune, she knows it by heart.

"Miraculous, simply the best. Up to the test when things go wrong…"

Normally someone whistling Clara's new single in honor of the fourth year anniversary of her and Chat's partnership wouldn't be bad, but the way he does it is low and creepy. Marinette shivers.

"Mme. Ladybug?" A stagehand says drawing her out of her stupor, "Are you coming?"

"Yes, yeah, I-I'm coming." She says smiling. She gives a thumbs up as an affirmation.

She takes a deep breath. She can do this.

LADYBUG'S PRESS CONFERENCE

THURSDAY 2:00 PM

Ladybug's steps are confident as she takes to the stage, her shoulders are back and she stands tall. She is sure of herself and of what she's doing. Cameras flash as she enters the scene, hoping to get a picture of the superhero at every possible angle.

Ladybug taps the microphone with one finger. A squeal of feedback.

"Hello," She says into the microphone. "As you know I'm here to address my partner's recent behavior in regards to the murder of one Gabriel Agreste and the fellow other witnesses that were present at the time of the murder who where then sequentially killed as a result. Now, I believe some of you have questions for me?"

The crowd roared, surging up as various cameras flashed in tandem. Many people shouted out various inquiries. Eventually, Ladybug singles out a reporter in the crowd.

"This is Arnold Fox with Time Magazine, what exactly can you say that prompted your partner's behavior and did you notice anything wrong with him leading up to the night before he went rogue?"

"First of all, "Going rogue" comes off a bit strong." The heroine said, fixing the man a fierce glare. "Second of all, I didn't notice any erratic behavior. If I did I would tell you. Next question."

Sum sum @somethingsum

Damn, Ladybug is roasting them out #LBPressCon

Connect 3 @ConnectTreeee

Yo, @LadyblogOG you seeing this? #TheLadyblog #LadybugRoast

The Ladyblog @LadyblogOG

Bitch, of course I am. I'm there! @ConnectTreeee #LBPressCon

"Lisabet with the Paris Tribune, Mme. Ladybug is it possible to undo Mr. Noir's Cataclysm with your Lucky Charm on the victims?"

"No, not after 24 hours have gone by. Next question."

"Mme. Ladybug, what did it feel like when you discovered that Chat Noir murdered many innocent people? What was running through your mind when you found that your partner of four years attacked the very same citizens you so desperately protect?"

"Excuse me?" Ladybug seems put off by the question.

"I said what did it feel like-" the reporter began, but Ladybug quickly cut her off.

"Oh, I heard you." She hissed out, gripping both sides of the podium. "Do you really wish to know what went on in my head? When I found out that my partner"—she practically spits the word—"killed those people? Here I'll tell you."

The reporter's face goes white as a sheet as Ladybug's face goes darker than before.

"He betrayedmy trust!" She yelled. "So why shouldn't I do the same to him! WHY SHOULDN'T I?!"

The group of reporters were silent, they didn't know what to say to that.

"Do you know what it feels like?" The heroine spoke to the crowd, her voice broken. "To have the very person you trusted implicitly betray you?"

Still, no one spoke.

"And for the record." Ladybug snarled. "If I ever see Chat Noir again, it's not going to be him fighting by my side. It's going when he's trapped behind bars."

With a face as cold as stone, Ladybug flicked her wrist. "This conference is over. Bug. Out."

THE COURTROOM

1 MINUTE BEFORE CHAT NOIR'S PRETRIAL

He was in handcuffs. Naturally.

Granted, Marinette expected this but this confirmation of fact made it all seem real. Not that it wasn't real before it just hadn't hit her yet. Her friend was murder.

Now, the fact hit her in full force.

Was Chat even aware of his actions? Was he aware of the Destruction he had caused? He most likely wasn't for once someone killed another, it changes a person indefinitely.

Tikki once told her that the Miraculous weren't meant to be used for evil, it drove its user to become the opposite of themselves. But, if the wielder of the Black Cat Miraculous killed another, it completely shattered their mind, turning them not only to a twisted person of their former self, but a creature that would only stop when their goal of Destruction was complete.

She had to save her partner, but first, she had to take on the law.

She was Ladybug, she dealt with rouge akumas, daily people infected with evil. Now, it was time she faced the people of Paris. It was time she took upon the weight of the world.

There was Law, and she would make it bend to her Will.

"…Will all those present in the Court please rise. This is the Honorable Judge Vanir preceding over the preliminary case of The People vs. Chat Noir."

The gavel banged. It seemed to echo throughout the chamber, sealing his fate. Ladybug looked over at her partner. No he was not her partner anymore. He was gone.

He was her former partner.

His eyes narrowed in distaste, as if challenging her.

"The pretrial of this case is now in session. You may be seated."

Another bang of gavel. It was like a gunshot in Ladybug's ears, no it was a Cataclysm.

I will find out the truth and nothing will ever stop me.

He smirked, saying nothing in return. Arrogant bastard.

So be it. Ladybug thought. You soon see what I am truly made of.