Rating: G
Genre: General, Fluff, Angst
Pairing(s): LadyNoir
Summary: Ladybug and Chat Noir take down Hawkmoth… both of them. Mayura is just by chance.
Warning: Preceded by “Blindsided” and “Giving Up”. Followed by “Sacrifice”. Also, no beta and minor spoilers (maybe) from Season Three! Oh, also, this follows the previous Oblivio divergence.
They trapped Lila first to cut off Hawkmoth’s backup by baiting her at school and leaving her to deal with the fallout in class. All it took was having Plagg recording Lila mocking Marinette on Adrien’s phone and then sending it to class. And while she was busy trying to remain calm and placate everyone (to which Adrien could only say good luck with Ms. Bustier and Principal Damocles), his father would undoubtedly transform to try akumatizing someone incensed by the truth.
Transformed, they arrived just as the akuma flew out the window. Chat Noir dove in first with Ladybug following after purifying the butterfly.
The ambush was a success and Ladybug took the Butterfly brooch into her hand. They then bound the unconscious Gabriel Agreste and rose, taking a moment to look around the location.
“It’s a secret hideout alright…” Chat Noir sighed.
Ladybug hummed, but then took a double take, “… Those… those are… he’s been raising butterflies here. No wonder he always had some, wow…”
“He even took the time to raise butterflies and not talk to me? Would ten minutes really have killed him??” Chat growled, but then stopped. His abrupt silence made Ladybug turn and notice his widened eyes and tense posture. Taking care to follow his gaze, her head snapped towards the glass coffin centered in the room – and it was occupied by a blonde woman, the machines surrounding her steadily beeping.
“… Adri-- Chat… i-isn’t that your…?”
“M-Mom…”
Both of them stared unmoving and probably would’ve remained were it not for an elevator opening behind them. Chat Noir choked when he caught sight of Nathalie, and Ladybug reacted the same moment the secretary did when she realized the heroes were there. Yo-yo striking her hand, it sent something glittering flying up and into Ladybug’s waiting hand.
“… A peacock pin,” she hissed, glowering at the woman now taking a step back.
Chat’s hackles rose, “You… You were in on this, too!? Why? How could you both!!”
Hands rose when Ladybug took pose to strike again, the corner of Nathalie’s lip curled. “… We intended on bringing her back.” As she spoke, she gestured to the coffin. “This family was going to be whole, powerful, and never in danger ever again.”
Chat Noir was at a loss and didn’t speak, but Ladybug didn’t change.
“So you would’ve made someone else suffer for her back and then controlled the world?” she hissed, feeling her partner’s eyes turn her way, but she maintained her glaring contest with Nathalie.
“That exchange--”
“It would still be murder!” Ladybug snapped.
“… Ladybug, what exchange is she talking about?” Chat finally managed to find his voice, his green eyes darting between the two women. “Why would it be murder?”
The room fell silent, neither Ladybug nor Nathalie speaking to answer the question. The older woman lowered her head and adjusted her glasses, holding her tablet tighter, but soon, the spotted heroine exhaled.
“… Chat, you like anime, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, you know the one with the siblings and alchemy. What’s the main rule in it?”
He didn’t answer. However, she could see the very moment recognition processed in his eyes and his lips parted without sound. Ladybug nodded once, “With the Ladybug and Cat Miraculous, someone would’ve lost their loved one. It could’ve been random, or it could’ve been his son-” She shot a look at the still unconscious Gabriel. “-but… it could’ve been Adrien’s loved one. I’m sure he would’ve loved to get rid of me…”
Nathalie still said nothing, but her fingers tightened.
Chat Noir’s ears rose, but then pulled back, his eyes narrowing. Lip curled, he wanted to say something, but he chose to spit instead.
“Let’s go… get these people to the police and return the Miraculous. It’s time for this to end.”
Stalking forward, he made Nathalie walk back to the elevator while Ladybug said nothing. She carried Gabriel, watching Chat Noir’s back all the way, and knew he was doing his best to hold it all together.
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