giorno giovanna x adrien agreste

Chapter 4- Because The Plural of Cactus is Cacti

Adrien's brain short-circuits. Chat's brain short-circuits?

It's not too surprising to him that Boss found out about this-but this quickly?

"I," he stammers, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Your father has informed me of several artifacts named miraculouses. I have reason to believe that you hold the Black Cat miraculous. You use your miraculous to turn into the superhero Chat Noir." Boss smiles, clearly pleased with himself. "Am I missing anything?"

Balking, Adrien shakes his head. "Whatever it is you want me for, I'm not going to do it." He gulps, then attempts to dive for the window. If only he could get out of this hotel room- but he finds that he can't move his body. Something's holding tightly to his arm. An invisible force, keeping him in place. And a growling sound, coming from behind him.

A wet, slimy substance drips onto Adrien's shoulder. It's invisible, again, but he's sure he can feel it. Something grotesque. There's something extremely disturbing holding onto him, and he can't see it, or run away. Involuntarily, he tries to scream, but air won't leave his lips.

The grip on his arm tightens. "You're hopelessly overpowered here, Chat." Boss' smile has warped into something more sinister. Quickly, the tone shifted from friendly conversation to an interrogation. And Adrien is intimidated. Paralyzed. Afraid to breathe, even. This is his worst nightmare. He may very well die here today.

But he spots movement out of the corner of his eye.

Through the window, a red flash.

Coming closer.

Shattering the window, a familiar face.

"LADYBUG?" Adrien shrieks, attempting to step forward towards the girl but failing, still glued down. "LADYBUG, GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE?"

His savior, broken glass at her feet, does not get the hell out of here. She does the exact opposite. Hand on hip, Ladybug points at Boss, saying "Let go of him, you akuma!"

Everyone in the room is a bit stunned. Well, Adrien's a whole lot stunned. He can't see Fugo's expression from this angle, and Boss...? Boss widened his eyes for a split second but now seems mildly amused by this.

Undeterred, Ladybug rushes Boss, prepared to kick him or punch him or something.

Boss simply shakes his head, golden hair floating about, then winds up a right hook, connecting with Ladybug's face. It packs an unexpected punch; Ladybug staggers back, frazzled. Satisfied, Boss steps backwards. But the punches keep coming. He's a few paces back from his target, but her body's still being jolted this way and that, spurts of blood coming from her mouth. Adrien can only watch in horror. Time seems to slow. This is torture.