Wounded
There was a sudden gasp as the air left Ladybug's lungs. A silver knife was embedded in her abdomen, Chat hoped that the damage was not severe or fatal. Another knife collided with Ladybug, catching her on the right side of her chest, causing her to topple over. The Akuma laughed as they approached Ladybug, as she was trying to crawl away from the Akuma, leaving a trail of blood in her wake.
"Running won't save you, Bug." Sneered the Akuma, grabbing Ladybug by the throat and lifting her off her feet.
Ladybug kicked at the Akuma, before they threw her into a wall. As the impact occurred, Ladybug's transformation dropped, revealing her identity to everyone. The Akuma smirked, before stomping up to Marinette's prone form, as she coughed up blood. Marinette tried to push the Akuma away, only for him to grab her arm and tear it from her shoulder. The Akuma stomped hard on Marinette's chest, causing her to cough up more blood. The Akuma looked at the girls dismembered arm and tossed it aside, before raining blows down on the unmoving girl.
There were cries, yells and wails from the crowd.
But one was the loudest.
"MARINETTE!" Screamed Kagami, as her girlfriend started choking on her own blood.
That scream spurred Chat into action, grabbing the Akuma by the head, he pulled them away from Marinette, while the people in the crowd started to move Marinette out of the firing line.
"Oh, you want to die too?" Cackled the Akuma, "Fine by me, I get more trophies that way."
Chat's blood went cold, before it started to boil, "How many?"
The Akuma continued to laugh, "You'll never find all of them. All those pretty, pretty little girls."
There was a crunch as Chat's fist collided with the Akuma's nose, again and again and again. Soon the Akuma's face resembled a bloody sack of meat.
"CATACLYSM!" Screamed Chat, the dark energy lighting his hand up, as a look of terror appeared on the Akuma's face.
Chat shoved his hand down, connecting it with the pavement, which started to crack, before he threw the Akuma through the pavement and into the sewer. Chat kept hitting the Akuma until their face resembled a bruised fruit.
"CHAT NOIR!" Screamed Kagami, blood soaking her front, jerking the Hero from his rage.
"Yes?" Said Chat, his foot pressed against the Akuma's face.
"She needs to get to a hospital." Said Kagami, trying to put on a brave face.
Chat frowned, before striding over to Marinette, her white shirt stained red.
"I'll go as fast as I can." Said Chat, gently picking Marinette up and carefully using his baton to take him to the rooftops.
With their heroine out of harm's way, the mob turned to the Akuma.
"I don't suppose we can talk this out?" asked the Akuma.
W
Across the City, Chloe Bourgeois sat gaping at the TV, her mind continuously pulling blanks. Elsewhere, Alya Césaire was running out of her home at full speed, intent on finding the hospital Chat Noir was taking her best friend to.
Nino and Kim stared at the tv screen, lead lining their stomachs and their hearts frozen. All across the city, everyone who knew Marinette was in shock, Jagged was already sorting out the medical bills and Nadja Chamack had left the news studio.
Lila's jaw hung agape at the television, the one time she and her mother watch TV in ages and she finds out that Marinette is Ladybug, the two people she hates the most are the same person. It actually made sense why Ladybug had exposed her, since she found that Marinette was a private person. Of course, while Lila was mulling this over, the Akuma ripped Marinette's arm off. After that, Lila threw up.
Hawkmoth stood frozen; Ladybug had been Marinette Dupain-Cheng. The Ladybug earrings had been within his grasp. The girl that had captured the hearts of two people, was now dying. Hawkmoth grit his teeth, collecting the earrings from the hospital would be easy, but finding a way to make sure the insect was out of commission for the immediate future would be harder. He needed a way to destroy her. Of course, her months of captivity in a remote location did little to break her, no matter what method he used, he was unable to get the earrings off her, but he was able to manipulate her suit so it faded away in some areas. If only he had someone he could use.
Hawkmoth stopped, and smirked.
W
A medical team had been watching the battle as it was being streamed on the news channel, which had the unfortunate effect of showing them every detail of the fight.
"Alright, we're the closest hospital to the fight, and the most logical choice, given the severity of the patients wounds." Said a surgeon, already getting prepared.
As if on cue, Chat Noir burst into the room through a window.
"Line was too long." Gasped Chat, a jacket covering the stump where her arm used to be, "You can help her, right?"
Within moments, Marinette was on a gurney being rushed into the operating theatre. As soon as Marinette was out of sight, Chat looked down at his hands, covered in Marinette's blood. Chat took a deep breath, before leaving to de-transform and return as Adrien. Thankfully, Plagg removed all traces of blood from him.
Adrien ran around the corner and almost hit Kagami.
"I-I saw the news." Gasped Adrien, as he and Kagami went inside the lobby.
"Are her parents here?" Asked Kagami, looking around for the hulking frame of Tom and the small stature of Sabine.
"No, they might not have seen the news broadcast." Said Adrien, just as Tom burst through the doors.
"WHERE IS SHE?!" Bellowed Tom, storming up to the Reception desk.
"Where's who?" Asked the receptionist, her tone bored.
"My daughter," Said Tom, leaning on the desk, "Where. Is. She?"
"I'm going to need a name." The receptionist said in a snooty voice.
"Marinette Dupain-Cheng, the girl that was just revealed to be Ladybug." Said Kagami, "Where is she?"
"I think I'd know if 'Ladybug' was brought in here." Said the Receptionist, leaning back in her chair.
"Sylvia," Came a voice from one of the lifts, "Ladybug was brought in half-an-hour ago by Chat Noir, she's currently in surgery, Her id gives her name as Marinette Dupain-Cheng, if you'd contact her family and let them know."
Everyone looked over at a consultant leaning against the lift doors.
"Wait, Ladybug is actually here?" Asked the Receptionist, numbly.
"Yes, didn't you see the news?" Asked the Consultant, before the lift doors closed.
"I'm sorry, sir," Said the receptionist, quickly, "I'll have the room and floor up momentarily."
Tom quietly grumbled; his arms folded. A few minutes later, the group of four were standing outside the operating theatre Marinette was in.
A group of doctors crowded around her, one working on each wound, with the exception of her shoulder, where two were carefully removing any remaining fragments of her destroyed limb.
"Chat Noir left her arm behind." Said Kagami, hollowly, "He probably forgot about it in the rush to get her here."
"Where's her arm now?" Asked Tom, his voice quiet.
"A bystander took off with it." Replied Kagami, as one of the Doctors jerked back.
Marinette suddenly began to struggle, her remaining arm grabbing an orderly by the face and shoving them back. There was a flurry of movement, then Marinette went still as suddenly as she had started moving.
"They sedated her." Said Adrien, "She thought she was still out there."
The medical staff had a quick, quiet conversation, before returning to their tasks. An hour later, Marinette was removed from the Operating Theatre and placed in a high security room. An orderly showed the group of four to the room, before leaving them with Marinette.
Sabine reached for Marinette's hand, only to find thin air. Sabine let out a gasp and hunched forwards, her head falling into her hands, the stump on Marinette's left shoulder covered with a series of stitches sealing the wound shut.
"What happened to the Akuma?" Asked Tom, looking over at Kagami.
"His object was broken, turned out he was a serial child killer," Said Kagami, her voice thick, "There's not much left of him now."
Tom grimaced, before looking back at his daughter, "She had already been through so much, when will it stop?"
"What do you mean?" Asked Adrien, getting a sigh from Tom.
"Marinette had a twin brother, they were practically inseparable, until Jason ran into the road to pet a cat. Then Michael left, Toby following soon after and Skye taking residence in another country, Marinette's childhood was full of loss and now, she's forced to go through this."
Marinette's hand twitched, her eyebrows furrowing, before relaxing.
"What's happening?" Asked Kagami, leaning towards Marinette.
"I am." Croaked a high pitched, tired voice.
A small red creature floated into view, looking like she'd gone through a meat grinder.
"Who are you?" Kagami stuttered, recognizing the creature as a Kwami.
"I'm Tikki," Whispered Tikki, her voice hoarse, "The Kwami that inhabits the earrings."
"You're what gives Marinette her powers." Whispered Tom, getting a nod from Tikki.
"The reason she is twitching like that," Explained Tikki, "Is because I gave her body an order to randomly test different areas of itself. I was in Marinette's heart when she was brought here, one of the knives had nicked a major artery, I was keeping her alive for as long as possible."
"So, the reason Marinette is still alive, is because of you?" Asked Tom, looking down at Tikki.
Tikki gave a shaky nod, before she glowed for a second and then flickered out, dropping like a stone. Adrien dived towards her, catching her in cupped hands.
"Keeping Marinette this side of the death veil took more power than I originally anticipated." Whispered Tikki, her eyes drooping shut.
Marinette's jaw opened, before closing again, then Marinette opened her eyes and suddenly sat up with a loud gasp. She started to scramble towards the edge of the bed, almost ripping the IV out of her arm.
"Wait, Marinette!" Yelled Adrien, getting in her line of sight, "Calm down, please!"
Marinette made a noise that sounded a lot like someone gurgling, before she leant over the side of the bed and threw up on the floor.
"Akuma, The Akuma?!" Demanded Marinette, blearily looking around.
"The Akuma's been dealt with." Whispered Kagami, making Marinette's head turn towards her.
"Is the victim alright?" Asked Marinette, as if they hadn't almost killed her.
"The victim," Adrien spat out, "was a child rapist and murderer, and he was left for the mob."
"Oh." Said Marinette, quietly, slumping back against the bed, "It hurt worse than the months."
Adrien tried not to wince, both Ladybug and Marinette had vanished for three and a half months, with everyone seemingly being too stupid to connect the dots, himself and Kagami included.
"What actually happened?" Asked Kagami, making Marinette look at her.
"With the Akuma or the Months?" Asked Marinette, getting a raised eyebrow from Kagami, "You feel okay?"
Kagami's lip quivered, before she wrapped her arms around Marinette. Adrien found himself being pushed towards the two and pulled into the embrace.
The three sat there, before there was a knock on the door, before a nurse stepped in.
"There's someone with a guitar here." Said the Nurse, a look of confusion on her face.
"Oh, that's Luka." Said Adrien, as the blue haired teen rushed into the room.
"Sorry, I'm late," Gasped Luka, doubling over with his hands on his knees, "Had to take the stairs."
"You're here now." Said Adrien, his hand accidentally brushing over the stump where Marinette's arm used to be.
Marinette let out a small hiss from the pain.
"Sorry." Said Adrien quickly, before he heard shouting from the hallway.
"Do you know who I am?!" Demanded his father's voice.
"Yes, sir, I do," retorted a nurse, "I also know you are neither friends, family nor significant other of the patient. You can whine all about it as much as you like, but thar will not change the fact you cannot go into the patients room, we're having enough trouble keeping the general public out as it is."
"Ah, yes, trying to see their hero who couldn't defeat a simple Akuma." Sneered Gabriel's voice.
"That, simple Akuma, as you put it was both a murderer and a rapist who has killed more experienced people with ease, the only reason he was able to do that to the patient was due to that damned monster helping him." Came the Nurse's voice, "So you can mock the title all you want, but that girl has done wonders for this city and if anyone has the right to be called a hero, it's her."
"She is a menace that continuously puts the city in danger when she could've prevented all of this!" Shouted Gabriel.
"Yes, defend the actual terrorist who has killed more people because he wants some pieces of jewellery that just so happen to be powerful magical artifacts that could do who knows what!" Retorted the Nurse, "Sir, I believe security can escort you out of the building."
"I'm not leaving without my son!" Bellowed Gabriel, making Adrien flinch.
"With the behaviour you're exhibiting, Mr. Agreste," Came a cold tone of a Detective Ladybug and Chat Noir had worked with when searching for Hawkmoth, "Some of the hospital staff and members of the Police Force believe it better if your son stayed somewhere else."
There was spluttering coming from Gabriel, before the Nurse opened the door.
"I have no idea how that man can be called a fashion designer when he looks like a mouldy ice cream." Muttered the Nurse, making Marinette sit up slightly.
"Personally, I think he looks like a candy cane." Said Marinette, making the nurse look at her.
"I'm sorry you had to hear that, we honestly don't know how he got up this far." Said the nurse, getting a penlight from her pocket and shone it in Marinette's eyes, "Aside from the residual pain from your injuries, are you experiencing anything that you think we should know about?"
"My head hurts," Said Marinette, "although, I think that might be from how my head hit the ground."
The nurse hummed, checking the monitor before she left. Adrien quietly excused himself, before going towards the toilets, on his way back, a white gloved hand grabbed his arm and yanked him aside. Adrien stumbled, before catching sight of Bunnyx.
"You don't know how good your timing is!" Exclaimed Adrien, "Listen, Marinette's been hurt and…" "And her identity has been revealed and her arm has been ripped off." Bunnyx finished, slumping slightly, "I know what you're going to say, that I need to go back a stop it from happening."
"Yeah!" Said Adrien, turning to leave.
"I can't." Bunnyx's words stopped him dead in his tracks.
"What do you mean 'you can't'?!" Demanded Adrien, spinning around to face the rabbit themed heroine.
"I've tried everything, every scenario has folded out the same way, Marinette's identity is reveal and she is injured or harmed in some way." Said Bunnyx, "I've already changed the timestream once, on her orders, but every time I've tried to fix this, it's either gotten worse or caused even more problems."
"Oh, and what happened with the other scenarios?" Questioned Adrien, folding his arms.
"One instance was when I postponed the relationship you have with the others by three years, you would be on a date with Kagami when the Akuma attacked, in addition to her arm, Marinette would've lost her home and her parents, another instance resulted in both Marinette and Kagami being sent here."
"And those are the worst ones?" Asked Adrien, feeling slightly sick.
"No, the worst ones can't be said, because this is a children's show!" Snapped Bunnyx, getting a small smile from Adrien when he heard the running joke of the class.
"So, is Marinette going to be alright?" Asked Adrien, getting Bunnyx to look at him.
"I-I don't know, things have been manipulated so much that I can't even tell you what the weather is going to be like tomorrow." Said Bunnyx, before squaring her shoulders, "But something that's remained constant, is that you cannot trust Gabriel. I'm afraid that's all I can say now."
Bunnyx opened a Time Portal and hopped through, "We didn't have this conversation."
Adrien stood there, numb as a board, before making his way back to Marinette's hospital room. Adrien thought he heard them say something about Marinette getting out of Hospital soon.
W
Gabriel was fuming, first that Nurse dared to challenge him about that insignificant insect and then that Detective had the nerve to remove his son from his care.
"Do not disturb me!" Snarled Gabriel, as he passed Nathalie on his way to his Lair. He needed an Akuma, a strong one, one that would show everyone just how pathetic that half-breed mongrel really was.
Nathalie frowned at the computer screen, ever since Dussuu had been restored, she had started to have second thoughts on Gabriel's crusade to get Emilie back. To go against adults was one thing, but to go against children, against Adrien's friends was another. Nathalie didn't know how Gabriel captured Ladybug, or what he did to her in her three and a half months' worth of captivity, but he continued to look deranged, until that rabbit hero broke her out and delivered her to Ms. Tsurugi.
"He's going after that Italian girl again." Said Duusuu, as Nathalie started to rummage around in one of her desks draws, before removing a bottle of sleeping pills. She carefully removed ten pills, before putting the bottle back in the draw.
"This should be enough." Muttered Nathalie, as she started to put the pills into a small bag.
Hawkmoth smirked at his Akuma approached Lila Rossi, the girl had been a willing minion in the past, now knowing that the two people she hates the most were in fact the same person, she should be jumping at the chance to get her revenge.
"Volpina, we meet again." Said Hawkmoth, the smirk widening on his face.
"No."
Hawkmoth blinked. Once. Twice.
"What do you mean no?!" Demanded Hawkmoth, increasing the mental strain on the girl.
"I'm done being your toy." Came Lila's response.
"After all the times she humiliated you? Exposed you?" Goaded Hawkmoth, thinking it would get the girl on his side.
"Maybe I just need to grow up and move on with my life." Responded Lila, a blood started to leak out of her nose and ears.
Hawkmoth snarled, "You are mine to control, you will do as I say!"
Lila felt the trickle of blood start flowing into a stream, she was faintly aware of her mother screaming down the phone and then all she knew was darkness.
Hawkmoth smirked maliciously as he felt the girl's mind collapse in on itself and the Akuma take over control of her body. He was so ingrained with taking control of the girl, he didn't notice Nathalie coming up behind him.
The pipe stunned Hawkmoth long enough for Nathalie to force his mouth open and pour the contents of a glass of water into his mouth, before covering his nose and mouth, forcing him to swallow the liquid. Hawkmoth staggered, alarmed at how fast the substance was taking effect. The Butterfly broach was ripped from his chest, forcing him to detransform.
Gabriel blearily looked at Nathalie, as her fist collided with his face.
Nathalie shook her hand, before looking down at Gabriel, blood flowing from his nose. Nathalie looked down at the Butterfly Miraculous, before going back to Gabriel's study and retrieving the Spell book and Tablet and left for the Dupain-Cheng Bakery.
W
Marinette winced as the flashing cameras blinded her as she walked out of the Hospital, Kagami keeping her steady as they walked to her parent's delivery van. She was faintly aware of people calling out her name and her hero name, as well as a few derogatory remarks, one particular remark coming from Alec Cataldi and the responding rock hitting him on his forehead. After carefully piling into the back of the van, Marinette twisted and looked at Luka.
"Did you really need to throw the rock?" Asked Marinette, wincing as she felt a phantom pain run through her.
"Yes." Said Luka, his arms folded, "It was either a rock or a brick."
Marinette stared at him, before her eyes widened further and quickly turned to face the front. Luka was unnerved at Marinette's sudden change of attitude, with how Adrien and Kagami were gently saying her name and getting no response.
Marinette was in the fight against the Akuma, Chat had been thrown away from the battle and a crowd had formed beyond the barrier police had formed. She turned to face the Akuma, who started launching bricks at her, one colliding with her face, making her stumble. There was a sudden gasp as the air left Ladybug's lungs.
Marinette suddenly found herself in the back of her parent's delivery van, with her head pressed against Adrien's chest slowly calming down to the sound of Adrien's heartbeat. Kagami had her hand on Marinette's waist, carefully holding her while her head was against Adrien's chest. Marinette was vaguely aware of the van stopping and a sea of flashes outside her home. Adrien, Kagami and Luka surrounded her and guided her inside the bakery.
"Are you okay?" Asked Kagami, once they were all sat down, "You froze up in the van."
"S-sorry," Said Marinette ducking her head, "something made me remember the fight."
There was a collective wince, Kagami wrapped her arm around Marinette, carefully pressing her head against her chest. Marinette stiffened at the contact, before the sound of Kagami's heartbeat started to calm her down.
Sabine turned on the news, with Nadja Chamack hosting it.
"Following Ms. Dupain-Cheng's quick release from hospital earlier today, the Hospital in question has been blasted by numerous critics, all saying that she should have remained for at least a week to fully recover from her injuries." Said Nadja, her knuckles white, "We go to Alec at the scene."
No one missed the scowl that crossed her face at the mention of Alec.
The screen changed to Alec Cataldi, his forehead red.
"Thank you, Nadja," Said Alec, "Earlier today, Ladybug was taken out of the Hospital behind me and loaded into a relatives van, many believe that the Heroine should've remained in overnight, at least, in order to give her time to let her injuries settle."
Alec suddenly rocked forwards, as an egg smashed against the back of his head.
"Ms. Dupain-Cheng was brought here by Chat Noir after an Akuma managed to overpower her and forced her to change back, the Akuma then proceeded to near fatally wound her, before he was pulled away by Chat Noir. I must warn you that the following footage may be incredibly distressing to some viewers."
The scene changed to the battle zone, just as the Akuma threw a brick at Ladybug, hitting her on the forehead. Ladybug staggered back, her hand going to the wounded area, before two knives pierced her chest, one in her upper abdomen and the other on the right side of her chest, the Akuma bounded over and grabbed her by the throat as she tried to crawl away, before throwing the Heroine into a wall, when she promptly changed back into Marinette, blood spewing from her mouth. The Akuma slammed his foot into her chest and grabbed her arm as she tried to bat him away, he tore her arm from her shoulder, before tossing it behind him and started raining blows down on the heroine. This continued until Chat grabbed the Akuma, his face split into a picture of blind rage.
The scene suddenly changed back to Alec, as an ambulance pulled in behind him.
"Nadja, we're interrupting the footage, because there has been an attempted Akumatization," Rushed Alec, "Reports suggest that Hawkmoth attempted to Akumatize a teenage girl of Italian background, her mother called emergency services after she started to suffer from what appeared like a fit, before her condition deteriorated."
Marinette glanced at the screen in time to see Lila Rossi be unloaded from the back of the ambulance with gauze covering her ears and nose, Marinette caught sight of Lila's mother, trying to struggle to get next to her daughter.
"Many believe that Hawkmoth was attempting to capitalise on Ladybug's current incapacitated state and her currently known location." Said Alec, "Unfortunately, we are not allowed any closer than this at this current time."
The screen turned off.
"I know that Lila's been lying since she arrived," Said Luka, slowly, "but no one should have that happen to them."
"It's strange," Said Tikki, emerging from Marinette's pocket, "normally that only happens when an Akuma is being resisted and at that point, the Akuma takes over."
"So, Hawkmoth was stopped before the Akuma could take control." Said Adrien, before the doorbell rang.
There was muffled talking, before Sabine returned with a backpack.
"That was your father's secretary," Said Sabine, handing the back over to Adrien, "she said she'd packed you some clothes until all this is over."
Adrien took the bag and opened it, his face freezing at the sight of two miraculous boxes and a letter, Kagami reached in and opened a box, allowing the butterfly broach to be seen. The group stared as Nooroo shot out.
Meanwhile, Nathalie Sancoeur walked up to the Police Station.