Chapter Text
Catalyst held Ladybug captive, a small dagger at her throat. A thin trail of blood slid from a thin nick.
“Let her go,” Chat pleaded, his baton slipping from his fingers. He watched the blood soak into her red suit, his throat clogging from the growing lump there.
“Give me your Miraculous and I’ll consider it.” Catalyst’s smile widened, triumph flaring in her eyes.
Ladybug struggled in the akuma’s hold, hissing as the dagger nicked her again. “Don’t do it, Chat.”
His gaze bounced between his partner and his ring, his mind and heart torn. He wanted to save her, had to save her, but Catalyst had the upper hand. He didn’t have Ladybug’s ability to think through these situations.
“Chat, look at me,” Ladybug demanded.
He did.
“Fight, Chat. Don’t give up yet. We can still win this.” She groaned, the dagger digging into her neck and creating another nick.
“Win? Such foolish hope, Ladybug. You’ve lost.” Catalyst turned toward him, her smile full of malice. “Give me your ring now or your precious Lady dies.”
He met his partner’s gaze, his hand twisting his ring. Her eyes widened. Her mouth opened to speak, but it proved too late.
A sharp pain hit his side. He looked back to see Hawk Moth behind him. The villain’s blade had slid between his ribs without hesitation or resistance.
“I’ll be taking that.” Hawk Moth’s hand closed around his ring and slid it off.
The magic washed away from him, leaving only a blinding pain where the blade had entered him.
Plagg flew from the ring, staring in horror as his suit disappeared. The little cat reached for him, but he slumped to the floor.
“Adrien?” Hawk Moth’s voice sounded far away and horror-filled.
Adrien couldn’t imagine why, his hand going to the spot where the villain’s blade had entered.
“No,” Ladybug shouted. She renewed her struggle against Catalyst’s hold, not minding the nicks it created in her neck. “Adrien, no.”
She reached his side, having broken free of Catalyst’s hold. Or maybe Catalyst let her go, Adrien hadn’t a clue, his mind and body focused on his injury.
Her hand pressed against his wound, her voice trembling. “You’re going to be okay. Please, you’re going to be okay.”
He doubted it, his body beginning to numb. The transition from pain to numb not taking as long as he thought it should. It didn’t bode well, he mused. He tried to smile up at her, assure her it would be all right. She’d be fine without him, but she’d gone beyond hearing him.
A loud crash brought his attention back to the villain and his akuma.
Hawk Moth’s cane lay smashed beside him, a dark butterfly fluttering from its splinters and shards of glass. The man had dropped to his knees, his hands covering his face. His shoulders shook as giant sobs wracked his form.
“Ladybug, the butterfly,” he whispered. “Cleanse it before it’s too late.”
“Stay with me, Adrien.” She brought her face close to his, her lips brushing his. “Don’t leave me, Kitty. I love you. You can’t leave me.”
His heart soared at those words. How he’d longed to hear them. Too bad they came too late.