Adult-FanFiction.org : Cartoons

Dangerous Games	By : Cat_Eyes Category: +M through R > Miraculous LadyBug Views: 11603 -:- 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
- 45
- 46
- 47
Chat Noir felt sweat rolling down his face and neck. It dripped into his eyes, and plastered his hair against his skin. He blinked the moisture away, flicking his hair back with an irritated toss of his head. He couldn’t afford to take his eyes off his adversary for longer than a moment. He’d had to pull his hood back to free his peripheral vision, after Papillon had used his blindness against him.
Now, he and Papillon circled each other, weapons held up, with their knees bent. They were equally matched, Papillon’s experience against Chat Noir’s youth. They’d come to a stalemate, and now, neither one wanted to commit first for fear of giving the other an opening.
‘It doesn’t have to be this way, Father,’ Chat Noir tried.
It was a desperate appeal to Gabriel’s senses, a last hope for getting him to see reason and surrender before anyone else had to suffer. Chat Noir did not want to fight his own father, to add to the emotional burden of the situation. Nor did he want to be the one to crush his dreams of getting Emilie back. Unfortunately, there was no one else capable of fighting him.
‘I’ve told you not to call me that,’ Papillon snarled. ‘If you truly believed yourself my son, you would join me, aid me in brining her back. Instead, you oppose me. Did you ever truly love her at all?’
Pain lanced Chat Noir’s heart. It was a low blow, and Papillon knew it. He sneered as Chat Noir’s steps faltered.
‘You’ve abandoned her, betrayed her, and for what? The chance to be called a hero? How selfish and shallow. Emilie would weep if she knew you had cast her aside for the attention of some mere chit, and a pat on the back from strangers on the street.’
Chat Noir shook his head. ‘Shut up. I did what I had to. She’d understand that, even if you don’t. Do you think she’d appreciate being brought back this way? She wouldn’t even recognise you anymore.’
Papillon’s face twisted into a ferocious scowl. ‘Do not presume to know her. I was married to her for longer than you’d been alive.’
Distantly, Chat Noir felt Ladybug re-enter the room after dealing with Evillustrator. She hung back, unsure, to watch.
He didn’t want her to interfere; this fight was between him and his father. It wasn’t about the Miraculous anymore, but taking responsibility for his father’s actions, and finally stopping him.
He knew it was a futile hope. Ladybug had stated in the past that she wouldn’t let him face this battle alone, firmly believing it would take both of them to bring Papillon down. He willed her to hold back for a few moments longer.
‘Come on, Father. Surely your kwami told you of the dangers of wielding an improperly acquired Miraculous, and the drawback to using the Cat and the Bug simultaneously.’
‘I am not your father, Chat Noir,’ Papillon spat, his name sounding like a vile oath. ‘Whatever your kwami told you was a lie. By wielding the ring and the earrings, I will be given ultimate power; a single wish to change reality. It would be as if my dear Emilie had never died.’
‘Do you know the cost of that wish?’ Chat Noir interrupted.
Papillon’s eyes snapped back into focus. ‘Don’t be absurd. There’s no cost too great once I reign supreme.’
Chat Noir shook his head. ‘You think you’d have to pay in material wealth? That’s not how this works. The price for your wish would be too high. I don’t think you’re prepared for that sacrifice, no matter what you tell me.’
Papillon merely stared, his eyes bulging and lips pulled back.
‘To bring someone back from the dead,’ Chat Noir explained, ‘you must be willing to sacrifice someone else equally important to you.’
‘Nonsense,’ Papillon growled.
‘It’s true,’ Ladybug added, quietly. ‘The Guardian told me so himself. What if the person sacrificed was Adrien, do you think you could live with that? How would you explain it to Emilie?’
‘Stop talking about her,’ Papillon shrieked. ‘You defile her name with your filthy tongues.’
‘This needs to stop, Father,’ Chat Noir repeated. ‘Mother died a long time ago. It’s time to let her go, and move on. We’ll get you grief counselling, help you come to terms with her loss however we can. The first step to recovery is admitting you’re hurting, and agreeing to speak with a professional.
‘We can all walk away from this right now. The police don’t need to get involved, and you can get off scot-free, if you just give me your Miraculous.’
Chat Noir held out his hand, silently begging Papillon to surrender.
Papillon stared at his open hand for a long moment.
‘We can’t all be as well-adjusted as you, Adrien,’ he answered, darkly.
In one fluid motion, he flicked his blade up and lunged, aiming for Chat Noir’s chest.
He jumped out of the way, raising his own weapon defensively, while Ladybug stifled a gasp behind him.
The fight began anew. They thrust and parried, relentlessly trying to expose and utilise the other’s weak points.
Ladybug hovered nearby, darting in to jab at Papillon’s back or kick his legs, then retreating before he could retaliate.
Despite the valuable openings she gave him, Chat Noir wanted to tell her to stay back, but knew she wouldn’t have listened. Instead, he turned his attention solely to Papillon, shoving the knowledge of his real identity to the back of his mind.
Sparkes flew when their weapons met, the clash echoing around the room. They struggled for a moment, pushing against each other and hoping their brute strength would be enough to cow their opponent.
When neither of them backed down, or emerged as the victor, they jumped back, panting for breath.
Suddenly, Papillon smiled, his eyes lit up maniacally.
‘Eschaton protocol, activate.’
‘Eschaton protocol activated,’ replied an automated voice.
Suddenly, red bubble lights emerged from the walls, their internal reflectors spinning around, as a high-pitched siren began to wail. Missiles sprang out of hidden shafts, to aim at the centre of the room, where the three of them stood.
Chat Noir stared, panic mounting as the automated voice began to count down.
‘One minute from self-destruct.’
Papillon began to laugh. ‘What are you going to do, Hero? Once the eschaton protocol has been initiated, it can’t be undone by anyone but me. The blast will obliterate the premises, and everyone still inside will perish.’
Chat Noir dithered, his mind refusing to focus on anything other than the annihilation of his childhood home, and the potential deaths should people still be around.
Instinctively, he leapt back when Papillon surged forward, his sword missing him by millimetres.
‘You’re still trying to fight me?’ Chat Noir exclaimed.
Papillon continued his attack, swinging his sabre underhand for an upward thrust to Chat Noir’s chin.
‘Victory or death,’ he hissed.
Chat Noir returned the attack desperately, pressing forward and forcing Papillon back, step by step. After he’d been pushed close the rear wall, Chat Noir lowered his weapon to catch his breath, letting Ladybug take over, to throw the remains of her yoyo at Papillon’s head. She struck his temple, hard enough to make him stagger.
Chat Noir used the opportunity to close the distance and punch Papillon in the face. He fell to his knees with a shout, dropping his sword to cradle his face in both hands.
Ladybug darted in, swooping low to pick up her detached yoyo string, and tied Papillon’s arms behind his back.
Chat Noir stared at the missiles. The countdown drew inexorably lower, and he had no way of knowing if Nathalie and the household staff were still inside.
Ladybug appeared before him, shaking his shoulders while Papillon struggled against his binds, his sabre kicked out of reach by Ladybug.
‘We need to get out of here,’ she shouted over the siren.
Chat Noir snapped back to attention. ‘Where’s Nathalie? I have to make sure everyone got out of here.’
‘Call her on your baton. Make sure Alya and Nino got out as well.’
‘You brought them along, too?’ he yelped, fear turning his guts over. ‘What were you thinking?’
‘Just call them,’ she ordered.
While she made sure Papillon was secured, he called Nathalie with his baton. She took too long to pick up, but confirmed she was well away from the premises, and that the staff had been released from duty hours ago.
Then, his heart beating unnaturally fast, he called Nino.
‘Where are you?’ he demanded, once Nino answered.
‘Alya and I are in the foyer. Where the hell are you?’
Chat Noir swallowed his terror. ‘Get out of the house, now. The building’s about to blow.’
‘Fuck,’ Nino squawked.
‘Get out,’ he repeated. ‘Now.’
He looked back to Ladybug as she struggled to keep Papillon contained. He continued to strain against the ties, spitting epithets all the while.
Biting his lip, Chat Noir stepped forward, raising his weapon high. He brought it down hard on Papillon’s head, knocking him out instantly.
While Ladybug collected the pieces of her yoyo, he hoisted the older man over his shoulder, and leapt for the broken window, the countdown giving them less than ten seconds to vacate the area.
Together, they raced for the perimeter, a spectacular boom propelling them into the solid fence.
He heard Ladybug scream as she was blown off balance, and thrown against the concrete. He also found himself suddenly airborne, before crashing heavily into the wall, then the cobblestones inside the perimeter, Papillon rolling out of his grasp.
They got to their feet, staggering as they reoriented themselves, the blast making his ears ring. He scooped up the lazily stirring Papillon, then made his way gracelessly to the front courtyard. Ladybug followed wordlessly, as his childhood home burned to the ground beside them.
They stopped just inside the gates, warped and hanging open after the heat of the blast. Nino and Alya raced over from beyond the perimeter with twin panicked expressions to slip inside. Ladybug slumped to the ground, leaning against the charred fence, while Chat Noir unceremoniously dumped Papillon on his backside.
He glared up at Chat Noir, loathing emanating from his very being.
Silently, Chat Noir reached down, intending to pluck the brooch from Papillon’s chest. However, Papillon leaned back, aimed a kick at his head, and broke free of Ladybug’s restraints. He stood up, keeping his centre of gravity low, and held up his fists.
‘You’ll have to kill me first,’ he declared.
Chat Noir sighed, but held his staff defensively. ‘Give it up, Father. It’s over. You lost.’
Nino and Alya moved back, watching them warily. Ladybug remained where she was, but watched closely, ready to leap into the fray.
Papillon ran in, screaming raggedly, a fanatical light blazing in his eyes. ‘You have no idea what you’ve done. You’ve ruined everything. It’s all gone now.’
‘What are you talking about?’ asked Chat Noir.
He avoided Papillon’s increasingly frenzied attacks, puzzled by the sudden change in demeanour.
‘She was in there,’ Papillon snarled. ‘She’s been there the whole time.’
‘What?’ Chat Noir began.
‘Emilie was kept below the mansion in an underground chamber,’ Papillon screamed. ‘She was preserved in a special crypt. Nooroo told me that in order to bring her back, her soul would require its old vessel to return to. But now, it’s all gone because of you.’
Pallid and sweating, he continued his assault, the intensity of his emotions undiluted. He began ranting darkly, clawing at Chat Noir’s face.
Chat Noir defended himself, holding up his baton to keep Papillon at bay and shoving him back.
Ladybug swore as thousands of butterflies descended on them, fluttering around Papillon in a white maelstrom. A flash of light blinded them, forcing Chat Noir to turn away. When he looked back at Papillon, he was standing rigidly straight, and holding his cane, his teeth bared. The mansion continued to burn behind him, the light of the flames casting sinister shadows over his face.
He lunged forward with a scream, the sudden appearance of his butterflies and cane rendering Chat Noir immobile. The sabre sliced Chat Noir’s shoulder, the pain bringing him out of his fugue.
Their battle began again, Ladybug hustling Nino and Alya back to a safe distance.
Once they were out of danger, she came racing back.
‘Lucky Charm,’ she cried, throwing her broken yoyo into the air.
Even though the string had been severed, her charm still gave her a tool. He saw from the corner of his eye as she caught the item, staring at it in surprise.
Papillon noticed his moment of distraction. With a triumphant shout, he rammed Chat Noir with his shoulder, forcing him to the ground.
Chat Noir looked up as Papillon raised his sword above his head, then brought it down for a killing blow.
Red invaded Chat Noir’s view. Before him, Ladybug stood facing Papillon, a bright shield blocking his fatal blow.
Papillon screamed and struck again, only to be thwarted once more by Ladybug’s Lucky Charm.
When he pulled back to try again, Ladybug surged forward, shoving her shield into his chest, and sending him reeling. Then, she lifted it overhead to hit him with the rim.
Papillon staggered, his sword arm dropping to his side. Chat Noir leapt forward, engaging Papillon once more.
Chat Noir and Ladybug took turns to attack, catching their breath while the other forced Papillon back, giving him no quarter or respite.
Papillon’s attacks grew sluggish, but his zeal remained strong.
A lucky strike cut Chat Noir’s cheek, just below his mask, and Ladybug caught a glancing blow on her shoulder, but the relentlessness of their dual attack method was taking its toll on Papillon.
With a feral scream, he ran headlong toward them in a reckless attack, foam dripping from his lips. He struck Ladybug’s shield so hard it split down the middle, and her knees buckled. Papillon raised his blade, executioner style.
‘Goodnight, Ladybug.’
‘Cataclysm,’ Chat Noir screamed.
Just as the sword came down, Chat Noir leapt into its path, holding out his right hand.
Papillon’s weapon disintegrated. Chat Noir pressed on, punching Papillon in the jaw, and knocking him back. Papillon staggered, then came back with a return blow.
Chat Noir took the hit, using the force to twist at the waist, bow low, and come up under Papillon’s guard. He feinted an uppercut, and while Papillon protected his face, Chat Noir dived in and snatched his brooch from his chest.
Gabriel’s transformation unravelled in a flash of sickly purple light. Either he didn’t notice, or Gabriel was too far gone to care. He continued to attack, his attempts growing steadily weaker, now that his suit no longer sustained him.
Eventually, he sagged to the ground, his clothing sweat stained, and his hair dishevelled. Gabriel lowered his head, mumbling under his breath, as tears dripped from his chin.
Chat Noir stood over him, panting for breath, weary and heartsore.
‘What do you want to do with him?’ Ladybug asked quietly, as she sidled up to him.
‘What more can you do to me?’ Gabriel spat. ‘You’ve taken everything I ever wanted away. You’ve taken my Miraculous, my hope, and my beloved wife. Congratulations, you’ve killed me.’
Chat Noir turned away, the Butterfly brooch clenched firmly in his fist. ‘Enough with the melodrama.’
‘You’ve killed me,’ Gabriel repeated, ‘as well as Emilie. You killed her again.’
Chat Noir clenched his teeth, then turned his back on Gabriel. Silently, he watched his old home burn, ignoring Gabriel’s accusatory mumblings.
- 45
- 46
- 47
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Dangerous Games