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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
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Ladybug’s eyes darted between Gabriel and Chat Noir. For all his spitefulness, it was clear Gabriel believed his own words. He saw his defeat, and the lost chance to resurrect Emilie, as the greatest punishment imaginable, the law nothing compared to his grief.
Chat Noir, too, looked pained. His face was drawn, and his eyes were tight with anguish.
‘How about we do this,’ she began. ‘Chat Noir and I will say we were closing in on Papillion, but in his panic, he threatened Gabriel’s life. We couldn’t prevent the explosives from detonating, but we did manage to get Gabriel out in time. Papillon, though, had been left unconscious after the fight, and we didn’t have time to get him out. He died in the explosion, and now his reign of terror is over.’
‘It’s a nice story, but why would Papillon target Gabriel?’ Alya asked, quietly. She handed Ladybug the book and the Peacock Miraculous, an almost wistful look on her face.
She accepted them, and shrugged. ‘Who can fathom the reasonings of a madman? We’ll say that his motives, and his Miraculous, died with him.’
‘I would like that very much,’ agreed a sad voice.
Floating beside Chat Noir’s hand was a weary looking kwami. Ladybug stepped closer, and held out her hand to let him rest on her palm, the book and Peacock Miraculous wedged under her other arm.
‘You must be Nooroo.’
Nooroo nodded. ‘Yes. My Miraculous has been abused for too long. It would be a comfort if people believed it destroyed, and not be tempted to use it for evil purposes again.’
Chat Noir turned around and nodded, a determined look on his face. ‘Ok, we can do that. We’ll take you back to Fu, too.’
‘Then I suppose you’ll have to call for a press release,’ Alya added.
‘I’m not sure I feel up to a media circus right now.’ Chat Noir wrapped his arms around himself, glancing down at Gabriel, before looking away.
Alya hummed sympathetically. ‘I can’t even imagine how you’re feeling right now. Until you do feel up to a press conference, I suggest you just release a text statement on the Ladyblog, and have the press conference in a few days.’
‘No, I refuse to let it end like this,’ Gabriel snarled as he lunged toward Ladybug, hands outstretched like claws.
She gasped, stepping back while shielding Nooroo and the other items with her body. Chat Noir moved to stand in front of her, and punched Gabriel in the stomach before he could reach her.
Gabriel fell forward, senseless, as Chat Noir caught him over his arm.
‘We’d better get him to the hospital,’ he said, voice devoid of emotion.
Ladybug nodded, as he hefted Gabriel across his back and carried him to the neighbouring rooftops.
Sirens approached from all directions as they were leaving, Alya and Nino vanishing discreetly into the night. Ladybug watched them for a moment, then picked up the remains of her shield.
‘Miraculous Ladybug,’ she called, tossing the halves skyward.
Even though her Lucky Charm had been broken, the magical swarm still appeared. They doused the flames, and rebuilt Adrien’s family home in a matter of seconds. They then dispersed in a flash of light, everything restored to its original grandeur.
Ladybug hoped they also preserved Emilie’s remains. The Cure could not resurrect the dead, but Emilie could now be properly laid to rest, once the tumult had calmed.
Ladybug then leapt away to chase after Chat Noir, as the emergency vehicles silenced their sirens and turned around, no longer required.

Leaving Gabriel at the hospital with a brief, and entirely falsified, explanation to the staff, Chat Noir and Ladybug left to detransform in a quiet alley, then went to find Fu.
Fu answered the deceptively casual knock, despite the late hour, with an affable smile.
‘Marinette, Adrien, come inside.’
‘Thank you, Master Fu,’ Marinette said, entering quickly so Adrien could duck in behind her.
Adrien tipped his head toward Fu. ‘How are you?’
‘I’m well, thank you for asking. How are you both this evening? Would you like some tea?’
Marinette answered with an absent hum she allowed Fu to interpret how he chose. Fu then ushered them into a room with a low table, boasting a full teapot and a set of cups.
‘Expecting company?’ she asked, cocking an eyebrow.
‘I heard about the fire at Agreste manor. How are you, Adrien?’
Adrien shrugged. ‘My childhood home is burning to the ground, my mother has been dead these past eleven years, rather than just missing like I’d been told, and my father was Papillon. I’m just peachy.’
Marinette rested a hand against his arm, offering support. ‘My Cure restored your home. It can’t help with the other things, I’m afraid, but the manor still stands.’
He patted her hand and nodded, but his eyes were dull and his expression was desolate. She bit her lip, concerned for his state of mind
Fu’s expression turned sombre. ‘I apologise. If I had known, I would have warned you, or chosen someone else to bear the Cat Miraculous.’
Adrien shook his head. ‘It’s not your fault, and I don’t regret being Chat Noir. I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything.’
‘I should hope not,’ Plagg grumbled, his tone lacking its usual acerbic bite.
Adrien smiled weakly as Plagg settled on his shoulder, and Tikki nestled in his hair. Marinette smiled as well when Tikki petted him, and Plagg began to purr.
Between them, they filled Fu in on what had happened, and what they planned to do next. He nodded along, agreeing they had chosen the better option. ‘Gabriel will be bitter, and his mourning for his late wife will start anew. Are you sure you can handle that, Adrien?’
Adrien took a deep breath. ‘Father’s already disowned me. I’ll learn to live without him. I’ve already lost one parent, so what’s losing the other?’
Marinette gasped. ‘No, don’t think like that. I’m sure your dad will come around, he just needs some time.’
‘He’s had over a decade to live with the loss of Mother. I don’t think he’s coming back from this.’
Fu placed his cup on the table. ‘The decision is yours. Considering your past relationship with him, no one would blame you for moving on. I do, however, think you should let him know you’ll be open to communication should he change his mind.’
‘I don’t know,’ he muttered.
‘Your family has always been important to you,’ Fu went on. ‘You’re hurting now, which is perfectly justified, but you would not forgive yourself if you never reached out before it was too late. Our time on earth is fleeting, and we shouldn’t waste it holding grudges. Try to mend the rift, and if Gabriel isn’t amenable, then at least you can say you tried.’
Adrien didn’t seem convinced.
‘We also got these,’ Marinette said, changing the subject.
She held out the old book, the Peacock Miraculous resting on top.
Adrien started, then offered the Butterfly Miraculous as well.
Nooroo had retreated inside the brooch after they’d left the Agreste grounds, citing fatigue.
Marinette and Adrien nodded their understanding, whispering soft farewells and heartfelt apologies.
Fu looked at the items in wonder. ‘I never thought they would still be together after all this time. Papillon had all of them?’
Marinette nodded. ‘He kept the Peacock and the book in a safe, behind a painting of his late wife.’
Adrien hung his head. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t recognise them when I saw them there as a kid.’
‘You saw these before?’ Fu asked, quirking an eyebrow.
‘When I was fifteen. I noticed Father had a safe there, and I was curious. Plagg opened it when I couldn’t. I looked at the book, wondering why Father had it. I was going to put it back, but Nathalie and Gorilla came along. I panicked, stuffed it in my bag, then lost it. Father was furious.’
Marinette coughed into her fist. ‘Technically, you didn’t lose it.’
Adrien turned to her in surprise, then narrowed his eyes. ‘Something you’d like to confess, Bug?’
Marinette pressed her lips together, before she blurted her confession. ‘Tikki and I saw you in the library reading the book, so then Tikki wanted to get a closer look. But before she could make sure it was the book she thought it was, Lila showed up.
‘Then, Lila stole the book when you dropped your bag. Tikki and I got the book back after she dumped in a trash bin, and I bet that was where the inspiration for her Volpina transformation came from.
‘Anyway, after she was changed back to herself, Tikki said the book needed to go back to Fu. However, then you were pulled out of school. I asked Fu for help, and he agreed to make a copy of the book, so I could return the real one to Gabriel. I had to fangirl an embarrassing amount to convince him to let you come back to school, just so you know.’
Adrien’s eyebrows had almost disappeared into his hair. ‘Wow.’
Fu nodded, covering a grin with his teacup. ‘Marinette was quite distraught when she thought she’d never see you again.’
Adrien’s expression turned smug. ‘Really?’
Heat flared across her face. ‘I was only doing what I thought was right. Chloe was having a full-on meltdown in the classroom.’
‘But your own crush on me had nothing to do with it,’ Adrien grinned. ‘Your motives were entirely altruistic.’
Crossing her arms with a harrumph, Marinette turned her nose up. ‘That’s right.’
‘You’re a terribly liar, Marinette.’ Adrien was laughing at her.
‘Shut up,’ she grumbled.
Fu accepted the book and the two Miraculous jewels. An expression akin to peace spread across his face as he sighed.
‘It is a relief to finally have these back where they belong. Thank you for returning them. Although, Plagg, I am disappointed you did not recognise your brethren, or the significance of the book at the time.’
Plagg merely rolled his eyes, choosing not to comment.
Fu stood up, and opened his old gramophone. Tenderly, he placed the jewellery inside before closing the secret compartments again. Wayzz watched silently from his shoulder as the hidden box sank into its hiding place.
‘What will you two do now?’ Fu asked as he resumed his place at the table.
Marinette exchanged a look with Adrien.
‘I don’t know,’ she replied.
Adrien looked pale. ‘Will you take our Miraculous back, too?’
Fu shook his head with a soft chuckle. ‘It is not my place to decide when you’re done.’
Marinette tilted her head. ‘Then, who does make that decision?’
‘Your Kwamies will tell you when it is time to part ways. Once you’re too old, or have lost your way, they will let you know. You also can decide when you’ve had enough. It happens sometimes, that a wielder wearies of the life. They wish to rest, to live out the remainder of their days as a normal citizen. Of course, parting with your Kwami is never easy.’
Tikki flew to Marinette to hug her cheek. Marinette returned the embrace with gentle hands.
‘I can’t even think about saying goodbye just yet,’ she murmured.
‘I’m not ready to leave either,’ Tikki admitted.
Plagg huffed. ‘This one would get into all sorts of trouble without me around to watch him. He needs me.’
Adrien’s lips tilted up in a wan smile. ‘It’s true. I’d be helpless without Plagg.’
‘See?’ demanded Plagg, paddling Adrien’s shoulder with both arms.
Fu nodded. ‘I understand. Now that Papillon is no longer a threat, there is no need for me to move on. I, or my successor, will be here when you decide to move on to the next stage of your lives.’
‘Your successor?’ Adrien and Marinette asked, simultaneously.
‘Yes,’ he affirmed. ‘I’ve been keeping an eye on a very promising young man. I think you will all like him very much.’

Holding Adrien’s hand, Marinette led him back to their apartment building. It was late, the streets were quiet, and a cool breeze rustled the leaves on the trees lining the avenue.
Marinette pulled her phone from her purse. ‘Alya and Nino made it home ok.’
Adrien gave a noncommittal hum in reply.
She squeezed his fingers, accepting his refusal to talk.
Plagg and Tikki were asleep inside his jacket pocket, worn out after their fight. Marinette didn’t want to rouse them, so she endured through shoes that pinched, and her own fatigue, leading Adrien the few blocks home in sad silence.
He’d become increasingly despondent the further they walked, and she was getting worried. She understood the reasons for his grief, but he was usually the one encouraging her to talk about her problems. It felt unnatural to be on the other side of that emotional barrier. She decided she would sit down with him to talk after they’d caught up on some sleep.
As they approached their building, a figure staggered out of the shadows. Adrien stepped forward, thrusting Marinette behind him.
‘Hey, it’s just me,’ announced Nathaniel, raising his hands as he stepped under a street light. ‘I just wanted to ask if you knew how I ended up out here.’
Marinette heard Adrien’s breath catch. Suddenly, he cocked an arm and slammed his fist into Nathaniel’s face.
Nathaniel fell on his backside with a pained cry, clutching his face and moaning.
‘What the fuck?’ exclaimed another voice.
Marinette looked up to see Luka sprinting toward them, his guitar bag swinging wildly on his back.
‘What the hell did you do that for?’ he demanded, crouching beside Nathaniel to inspect the damage.
Adrien huffed, crossing his arms. ‘Nathaniel was the stalker.’
Luka stilled as Nathaniel peered up from between his fingers.
‘You’re kidding,’ Luka whispered, his expression warring between puzzlement and disbelief.
Nathaniel’s eyes widened. ‘How did you know? I mean,’ he stopped himself.
Adrien’s eyes narrowed. ‘Ladybug and Chat Noir caught you in the act. We heard about it while we were on our date.’
Marinette released a silent sigh. She had thought Adrien might not stick to the story, or somehow give them away. Nathaniel’s memory loss was to be expected, but Adrien’s emotional reactions were not.
Luka pulled out his phone. ‘I’m calling the police.’
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Dangerous Games