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Dangerous Games	By : Cat_Eyes Category: +M through R > Miraculous LadyBug Views: 11606 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Miraculous Ladybug. Miraculous Ladybug is the intellectual property of Thomas Astruc and released by Zag studios. No profit was made writing this story.

Chapter List
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Chat Noir didn’t have the breath to scream. The force of his momentum robbed him of the ability, leaving him with no other choice but to hang on.
The paper plane did not go vertically upward, but to the west, taking him further and further away from the conflict. Before long, he was soaring a dizzying height above the outskirts of the city.
‘No, no, no,’ he muttered through clenched teeth.
Chancing a glance over the side, he attempted to calculate the distance and velocity at which he’d fall, should he risk jumping. However, his mind wouldn’t focus on the numbers.
‘Fuck it,’ he grunted, and jumped.
This was the greatest height he’d ever fallen from, wispy cloud banks obscuring his vision until he was below the lowest level of cloud cover. He would have screamed, but the wind tore the air from his lungs.
He began to feel lightheaded, and his vision blurred. He shook the fogginess from his mind, and focussed on finding a safe landing point.
There was nothing but concrete below him, but as he drew nearer, he pulled out his baton and extended one end toward the ground.
He felt the impact shiver up the shaft, and wrapped himself around the top, arresting his descent gradually.
After several heart stopping minutes, he was standing on an unfamiliar street corner, in a district he didn’t know.
He tapped his ear, intending to call on Alya and Nino, but found his earpiece had fallen out during his flight. He swore viciously, then vaulted to the rooftops and headed east.

He arrived back at his apartment block to find it quiet, Evillustrator gone, and Ladybug no longer on the roof. Unease gripped his gut as he let himself in through the rooftop access door, and ran down to Marinette’s apartment.
Her door was closed, so he knocked, worry making him thump harder than necessary.
The door inched open, Alya’s wary eye peering through the gap, before she opened it wider with a sigh of relief.
‘It’s Chat,’ she announced.
Marinette and Nino were sitting on the couch, their backs to him. Nino had placed his hand on her back, rubbing soothing circles, while she cried into her hands.
Chat Noir turned back to Alya. ‘What happened?’
She just shook her head. ‘I think Marinette should tell you.’
Chat Noir’s breath caught, the sick worry intensifying. He strode toward Marinette, and sat down beside her. Nino caught his eye and nodded, then got up to join Alya in the kitchen.
Chat Noir turned back to Marinette. He was about to ask what was wrong, when he noticed her bare earlobes.
‘Marinette, I’m so sorry. I should’ve been here.’
He gathered her up, pulling her into his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck and sobbed into his shoulder.
He hugged her tight. ‘I need to know what happened, Love.’
Marinette drew in a shuddering breath, but kept her face firmly on his shoulder. ‘I lost my Miraculous. I lost Tikki.’
‘We’ll get them back,’ he vowed. ‘But first, I need to know what happened.’
Sniffling, Marinette explained. ‘Just after Evillustrator sent you away, he attacked so suddenly, I barely had time to block the move. He shoved me down the stairs, and I rolled with the motion, trying to minimise the damage, but I hit my head. When I finally stopped falling, I felt nauseous and weak, and my legs wobbled when I tried to stand. Evillustrator found me at the base of the stairs, and struck again with an elbow to my face.’
‘That seems to be a favoured move of his,’ Chat Noir grumbled, with a dark scowl.
Marinette nodded. ‘He caught me by the hair while I was still reeling, then slammed my face into the wall. The last thing I remember, before blacking out, was making sure I landed face down.’
‘That’s how we found her,’ Alya took over the narrative. ‘She was in her civilian clothes, unconscious, a gash on her forehead, and her ears bloody. Her earrings were nowhere to be found, and Nathaniel was long gone.’
‘We monitored the camera footage,’ Nino added. ‘We saw him take her earrings and run, but once he was out the front door, we had no way of tracking him. I’m so sorry, guys.’
Chat Noir shook his head. ‘You guys have nothing to apologise for; you did an amazing job.’
He leaned back to get a look at Marinette. She drew back, rubbing her eyes, and he saw the small cut on her hairline through her fringe.
A dark fury swelled within him. He dropped his transformation, and ran cautious fingers through her hair. The cut on her forehead had been cleaned and sealed with a liquid bandage, with her earlobes similarly attended. He let her hair fall back into place, then turned to Plagg.
‘Is there some way we can track Tikki and Nathaniel? I mean, she is your other half.’
Plagg settled on the coffee table with a sombre expression. ‘Tikki and I are partners, and we were created at the same time, but we are whole beings unto ourselves; we are not two halves of a whole. We are complimentary opposites, equal in all things, but I cannot track her like how you mean. The best I can manage would be to give you a Miraculous tracking ability in your baton. It won’t be able to track a specific Miraculous, just whatever’s closest, but it will narrow down your search considerably.’
Adrien gaped at him. ‘How come you never mentioned this before? We could’ve defeated Papillon ages ago.’
Plagg looked affronted. ‘You never asked.’
‘Do all Miraculous have the tracker ability?’ Marinette asked.
Plagg shook his head. ‘Only the Cat, Fox, and Bee. They’re the hunters and trackers of the group. It’s a reflection of their real-life totems.’
‘Bees aren’t hunters,’ Nino scoffed.
‘But they are trackers,’ Plagg countered. ‘They find what they need for the colony, sometimes at great distances from their hives, and then return to communicate what they’ve found so the rest of them can contribute. They’re also tenacious attackers when threatened. Just because a creature’s methods don’t fit your definition of a term doesn’t make it any less accurate.’
Nino hung his head, rubbing the back of his neck. ‘I stand corrected.’
‘How soon can you put this tracker upgrade in?’ asked Adrien.
‘Right away, but I’ll need to replenish my energy, first.’
Adrien instructed Alya to fetch some cheese from his fridge, his apartment door left unlocked while he’d fought Nathaniel. She returned with a plate stacked high with camembert, much to Plagg’s delight. He ate it with enthusiasm.
Adrien set Marinette back on the couch cushions, and tilted her chin up. She looked at him with wide, watery eyes, her complexion waxy.
‘Everything’s going to be ok,’ he assured her. ‘We’ll get Tikki back, and beat Nathaniel into dust.’
Her answering smile was weak, but there. ‘I believe you. Will you let me come with you?’
He shook his head. ‘Absolutely not.’
She reared back. ‘Why not? I can’t let you face off against Evillustrator on your own. What if he’s already met with Papillon?’
‘No arguments, Marinette. I won’t risk your safety, or possibly revealing your identity to our enemies. Wait here, and I’ll be back as soon as possible.’
‘But I can help,’ she argued.
He took hold of her hands, caressing them with his thumbs. ‘You know I love you, and no offence, but you’d only slow me down and distract me if there’s a fight. I can’t be protecting you, and defending myself against two enemies at the same time.’
Marinette pouted. ‘You’re leaving me here, uselessly awaiting your return like some hapless damsel?’
‘Yes. Sorry, Love.’
She crossed her arms and turned away, still pouting.
He sighed, just as Plagg belched, sitting on his plate and surrounded by crumbs.
‘Ok, I’m ready to go.’
Quickly, he explained how to use the tracker, then Adrien transformed.
‘That is so cool,’ Nino murmured.
‘Freaking awesome,’ Alya said at the same moment.
Chat Noir spared them a brief grin, then retrieved his baton. He popped out the screen, and pulled up a map of the surrounding blocks, scrutinising it closely. A small triangle pointed toward the centre of Paris, like a compass needle, telling him which way to go.
‘Ok, I’ve got it. See you guys later,’ he said to Nino and Alya.
‘See you later,’ Alya said, optimistically.
Nino gave a firm nod. ‘Good luck, Man.’
Chat Noir stooped to Marinette’s eye level. ‘See you soon, Milady.’
She lunged forward, wrapping her arms around his neck.
‘Come back safe,’ she whispered.
He returned the embrace, then stepped back. With a final wave, he turned to the balcony, then launched into the night

He followed the little arrow to the Eiffel Tower, then paused to gather his bearings. He took a moment to catch his breath and settle his nerves, before consulting his screen again. The triangle was brighter, indicating he was getting close. Once he found his target, the triangle would turn into a circle around the immediate vicinity of another Miraculous.
Chat Noir sucked in a deep breath, and moved on.
During his childhood, and well into adulthood, he’d imagined facing Papillon with Ladybug by his side, defeating their greatest foe together. He’d since contemplated the possibility of standing against Papillon alone, trying to think of clever ways to bring him down. In his imaginings, he was always victorious, but Papillon was an unknown element. There was no way to predict his actions, or know his skillset, making him a dangerous opponent. He couldn't afford to think of Papillon as his father. In this scenario, they were two different people, and it would be foolish to think otherwise. Papillon would see his weakness, his hesitation, and expoit it mercilessly.
Questions buzzed incessantly through his mind. Did Papillon have any weapons? Was creating villains his only power? What kind of opponent was he in hand to hand combat?
Chat Noir shook his head. He didn’t even know if Evillustrator had met with him yet.
Except the akumas are always demanding our Miraculous for him. Chances are, he’s taken the earrings right to him, like a good little errand boy.
The thought made his stomach turn. Now that he was in this situation, he desperately wished he had Ladybug by his side. He felt vulnerable, exposed, without her watching his back.
He gritted his teeth and kept going. He briefly thought of going straight to Gabriel's place, but decided the risk was too great to gamble on a maybe. It would be safer to stick to the trail.
Finally, the tracker led him into an achingly familiar neighbourhood. He passed Marinette’s childhood home with a sigh of relief, and glanced briefly at their old school as he went by, remembering happier times.
Suddenly, his baton chirped. Chat Noir held it up, opening the screen and spinning hopefully in place as he watched the tiny arrow. It turned into a circle over its mark, letting out a little tune.
Chat Noir clenched his teeth. Slowly, he lowered the baton to stare at the destination.
Agreste mansion, his father’s house.
Chat Noir shook his head.
No, there’s no way he's here already.
Cautiously, Chat Noir leapt to the roof of the mansion, evading the security cameras with practiced ease.
He crept over the roof, inspecting every nook and cranny, but found nothing. Still needing confirmation, he moved to the front of the building, and lowered himself to Gabriel’s office windows.
Inside, Evillustrator stood mutely beside Gabriel’s desk, his arms stiff by his sides, and his face still. He looked on, unblinking, as Gabriel crowed over something he held in his cupped hands.
Gabriel then turned to Emilie’s portrait, opening the safe tucked away behind it, placing his prize inside before closing it. His smile when he turned back was chilling.
He held an arm out, gesturing for Evillustrator to leave. Evillustrator turned, and walked toward the door, his movements jerky and unnaturally stiff.
Chat Noir pressed into a dark crevice, watching as Evillustrator exited the building, and flew away with a jetpack he created for himself.
Chat Noir took advantage of his absence, slipping inside before the front door swung shut.
The foyer was brightly lit, leaving him no shadows to skulk around in. Squinting, he tiptoed up to Gabriel’s office door, and pressed his ear to the panels.
‘With the Ladybug Miraculous in my grasp, it won’t be long before I have Chat Noir’s as well. Soon, I’ll have you back by my side,’ Gabriel ranted.
Carefully, Chat Noir pushed the door ajar and peeked inside. Gabriel was still behind his desk, apparently talking to the portrait. Chat Noir stepped into the room, intent on Gabriel’s back as he approached on silent feet.
Just as he neared the desk, pain exploded at the back of his head. A shattered ceramic vase crashed to the floor as he fell to his knees, gripping his head with an agonised grunt.
Gabriel turned around, eyes wide, before his expression morphed into a smirk.
‘Well, Chat Noir, what a pleasant surprise, though not an unexpected one. Here to reclaim the earrings, I suppose.’
Chat Noir glared up at him, then chanced a brief glance over his shoulder. Nathalie stood at his back, watching him closely, and poised as if preparing to strike again.
You too? he thought with dawning horror.
‘I must thank you for making this so much easier,’ Gabriel went on. He was striding around his desk, moving to stand in front of Chat Noir. ‘I never imagined you would be so foolish as to approach me alone, yet here you are. You may as well surrender your Miraculous now, and spare yourself the pain of defeat.’
He held out a hand expectantly.
Chat Noir bared his teeth. ‘Why?’
Gabriel’s smirk turned into a scowl. ‘That’s none of your concern. Hand me your ring, now.’
Chat Noir stared from Gabriel to Emilie’s portrait, the pieces falling into place. ‘Is this what you wanted the Miraculous for, to bring your wife back?’
Gabriel stiffened. ‘What did you say?’
Chat Noir held his gaze, displaying a confidence he didn’t feel. ‘I know all about you. You’re Gabriel Agreste, father to Adrien Agreste, and CEO of the Gabriel brand. Is this why you became Papillon, to bring your missing wife home?’
Gabriel’s steady gaze bore into him. ‘My motives are none of your concern.’
‘Considering you took my partner’s Miraculous, and are now demanding mine, I disagree.’
The look Gabriel gave him sent a chill down his spine.
‘I wouldn’t expect you to understand. What do you know of loss, of family? What I’ve done was for the sake of my family, for my son, whom I’ve raised diligently since Emilie’s disappearance.’
‘You didn’t raise him at all. Before Emilie vanished, she was the only parent he saw with any regularity. After she was gone, you delegated his rearing to Nathalie and a bunch of tutors.’
Gabriel’s face turned an ugly puce. ‘You seem to know an awful lot, for an outsider. Who are you, to presume so much?’
Shrugging Nathalie’s restraining hand from his shoulder, Chat Noir got to his feet. ‘How very typical of you to not recognise your own son when he’s standing right in front of you.’
Gabriel stilled, his breath stuttering. Then, his eyes narrowed.
‘After everything I’ve done for you,’ he whispered. ‘I’ve given you everything you could’ve wanted.’
‘You never gave me what I needed,’ Chat Noir interrupted. ‘You gave me things, but when I needed you, you were never there. You thought you could solve your problems with money, but it doesn’t work that way with family, Father. Did you try to bring Mother home with money, too? I’ll bet she told you the same thing.’
‘Your Mother is dead, Adrien,’ Gabriel shouted. ‘She didn’t disappear, she didn’t just decide to walk out on us. She died, and only the Miraculous can bring her back.’
Chat Noir shook his head, eyes wide, as his gut hollowed out. ‘How could you keep this from me? Didn’t you think I had a right to know the truth?’
With a derisive snort, Gabriel looked down his nose at Chat Noir. ‘I didn’t think you could handle it. As much as I loved Emilie, there was no doubt she’d raised you to be an overemotional milksop. I kept it from you for your own good, pursued the Miraculous for your own good. If I brought her back, you’d never have known the truth.’
‘But all those people you put in danger, who were taken advantage of while they were most vulnerable. How can you justify that?’
‘I would have gotten her back,’ he roared. ‘What more justification do I need?’
Chat Noir felt a dangerous heat suffuse his face. ‘How would you have explained it to Mother? She would be disgusted to see what you’ve become.’
‘I don’t care,’ he yelled. ‘I just wanted our family to be whole again.’
Chat Noir faltered, his involuntary step back arrested by Nathalie. Sadly, he shook his head.
‘You’re so far gone, you don’t even see it, do you?’
‘Spare me your sentimental drivel. If you aren’t going to help me get her back, then you’re a part of the problem. Consider yourself disinherited.’
Chat Noir stood still, looking Gabriel steadily in the eyes. ‘I’m sorry, Father.’
He lunged forward as Gabriel’s face drained of colour.
Before Chat Noir could pin him, however, Gabriel ducked out of reach, darting toward the doors.
‘Traitor,’ he spat over his shoulder. ‘After all I’ve done for you. You’re an insult to Emilie’s memory.’
Chat Noir swore as he gave chase. For an older man, Gabriel was fast and agile; he wove around Chat Noir’s grasping hands, before fleeing to the foyer, and slamming the office door behind him
Chat Noir pulled out his staff and slammed it against the doors. They gave way after four hits, hanging askew from their hinges. Gabriel, however, was nowhere in sight.
‘Shit, where did he go?’
‘He’s probably retreated to his lair,’ Nathalie said.
Chat Noir spun around. ‘Tell me where, now.’
She sighed, then led him back to the portrait.
‘Stand here,’ she instructed, pointing to a spot on the floor.
He obeyed, glaring at her as she placed her fingers on the painting, then flinched when the floor began to sink.
‘That’ll take you to his lair,’ Nathalie explained, as he was lowered out of sight.
Down the rabbit hole we go.
The tunnel spat him out in a dimly lit room, the large window covered from the outside by a large, circular shutter. Butterflies rested on the floor, walls, and ceiling, flapping their wings idly while waiting for Papillon’s summons.
Through the gloom, Chat Noir saw Gabriel standing to the left of the window. He was hunched over, his arms pulled in tight, as though he were in pain.
‘Come on, Father, it doesn’t have to happen like this. Just give me your Miraculous, and it can all be over. We can get you the help you need, and I won’t report you to the police. If you let it all go now, nothing needs to come of it.’
Spinning on his heel, Gabriel turned to face him, a manic gleam in his eyes. ‘I won’t surrender to you, Traitor. I’ll never give up, not until Emilie is with me again.’
‘Father, please. You’re the only family I have left.’
‘Don’t call me that,’ Gabriel shrieked. ‘You are no son of mine. Nooroo, transformè moi.’
Papillon drew his sabre, pointing it at Chat Noir’s chest. ‘Give me your Miraculous.’
Chat Noir scowled, and lowered his bodyweight. Instead of answering, he drew his staff and held it in position.
Papillon leapt forward.
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Dangerous Games