IF ONLY. marichat | ✔️

quatorze

Chapter Fourteen: In Hawkmoth's Lair

Ladybug fought valiantly against the onslaught of adversaries, using her lucky charm and miraculous abilities to defend herself. However, the villains were relentless, coming with her at brute force. As Ladybug was momentarily pinned down, a group of negatively influenced civilians, under Simon Says's control, managed to incapacitate her with their body weight.

Feeling weakened, Ladybug looked around and saw Rena Rouge desperately fighting off the remaining enemies. 

"Rena Rouge," she pleas. "A little help!"

Ladybug's body goes limp, their bodies crushing her limbs. Elbows cracking her joints, leaving them in a bent position. Rena Rouge, where are you? Suddenly, she feels them lifting her up. She tries to pull away, jerking her weight against them, to no avail. 

No, no, no.

With everything in her, she tries to fight this but it hurts. All her efforts, leave her sore. She was already tender. Sensitive. Fragile. All her resistance made the Parisians irritated, granting her a blow to the head. Ladybug felt her eyes getting heavy, pulling her into an unconscious state. This was it. This was fucking it. The end. 

:. *₊ ° . ° .•

Ladybug snaps her eyes open, darkness engulfing her once more. A large panned glass window slowly comes into focus in front of her. Where was she? It takes her a few more moments to put the pieces together. What's that flapping noise? Her eyes land on the butterflies and it all hits her at once.

I'm in Hawkmoth's lair. I'm so fucked.

Her heart contracts, gnashing at her chest. Stomach lurching to her shoes. Sweat stings her eyes as her blood races inside. This was an impossible situation. Wrists bonded to a structure against a wall, her legs pinned with something heavy. Was she meant to be a sitting duck, waiting for defeat to come? 

She couldn't wrap her mind around such a sorry fate. 

"Help!" 

"Please, it's Ladybug," she raises her voice, "Lives are at stake!"

No one.

Tears lay stagnant at the corners of her eyes, close to spilling down her cheeks, but she pushes her depressive thoughts away. She had to stay positive, no matter what. Maybe there was someone nearby. 

Ladybug screamed out until her throat ran raw. 

Screamed until her lungs burned. 

Screamed until her breath was stolen.

Screamed until she couldn't scream anymore.

Slow claps disrupt her from the deep sleep she'd fallen into. When she comes back into consciousness, lo and behold the Father-Son Duo were staring back at Ladybug. She was shocked her miraculous was still intact. What more could Hawkmoth want? Why play games with her hope? Was this part of this sadistic shit's thing? Dragging out his victory to raise his ego?

"Well, well, well," he lets out a long cackle,"how does it feel to be kissing failure?"

Ladybug spits on the ground in response.

A silent fuck you was all she had for him.

If this sick bastard wants to drag this out, she wouldn't give him the pleasure of moaning and groaning.

But she did want to know why Chat Noir would condone the slow drag. How will a power play bring his mom back if the miraculous is already within their grasp?

"Adrien, you have to understand," she softens her voice, hoping to lure him in,"this is bigger than you and me. I know you miss your mom but it's a fixed event an-"

"That's not Adrien."

"Bu-"

Chat Noir steps forward, an expression on his face she's never seen. "I'm Copycat," he bows,"m'lady."

Then, where is he?

A horrible thought crosses her mind. "Where is he? What did you do with me?" She cries out.

Her anger may run deep, but her love, whether she wanted to admit it or not, runs deeper.

Hawkmoth snarls. "Rest assured, he's fine."

"Wait, so you're telling me that you went through the trouble of akumatizing Theo, only to tell me it's not Chat Noir? What's the point of this?"

I don't understand, I don't get it.

"Ladybug, your partner went off to find you so," Hawkmoth walks towards her, phone in hand,"you're going to tell him to come home."

"Or what? You already have everything, Hawkmoth. I have nothing left to lose."

Copycat activates his Cataclysm, rushing toward her and halting a mere inch away.

"How about your life?" 

"Hello? Father, I already told you I'm not doing this." Adrien calls out.

He pushes the phone in her face. 

"It's Ladybug, actually. Look, I'm being held captive in your house somewhere but this is obviously a trap so don't-" Hawkmoth slams his cane against her stomach. A pool of pain, seeps out her mouth. 

"Ladybug?" 

"I'm...fine," she croaks.

"Father, what the hell!" 

Hawkmoth brings the phone back to his level. "Go to Nathalie when you arrive; otherwise..."

He swings his cane, ready to bang her up again.

"Wait, wait," she pleas desperately. He's sure to get that all on the phone's speaker.

"She dies," Hawkmoth finishes. "You have an hour." 

And with that he hangs up the phone.

Copycat had been on standby, the official Watch Dog and executioner. Hawkmoth had gone downstairs for a briefing, probably to talk to Nathalie. Ladybug wondered if this was the end or if this was a beacon of hope, a chance to turn things in her favor. If Adrien had truly gone rogue on his dad then he could help end this war. As far as she knew, Adrien was Hawkmoth's weak spot. If she could get out of here, she could use that angle to turn the tides. 

"Copycat, you know, I've always thought you were more handsome than Chat."

"Is that so?" 

Ladybug remembers Theo's whole thing being over his infatuation with her. It was time to turn her charm up to full speed.

"Yeah, I don't know if it's the size of your biceps or how white your teeth are, but damn."

Copycat get's so close to her, she's sure they're about to kiss. She closes her eyes. This will be quick, right?

He kisses her and she whispers. "Untie me so I can embrace you."

"You want that?"

"Yeah."

"How badly do you want that?"

"So, so bad."

He squints his eyes at her, backing away. "Hawkmoth!"

Fuck me in the ass.