A Masked Game

Level 17: Watching the Masks Fall

Flashback Cutscene: Reckless

9 years and 5 months ago...

"What do you mean you're staying?"

"I'm not giving up the miracle box, or my memories. I can't do that to Adrien! And I need to speak to Chat Noir. It's not right!"

Viperion reached out and grabbed Ladybug's arm, pulling her towards him with such force she thought he was going to rip her arm off.

"Viperion, you need to let me go."

She saw his face flicker through emotions, the final one cold and blank. One she'd never seen on him before and one which had her pause for a moment.

"Viperion?" she questioned moving forward. He remained staring, his face hard and irrational. "Luka!"

As if his name was the key to unlock the spell, he dropped her arm and took a step backwards. "Geez, Ladybug, I'm sorry."

"It's okay." She studied his face, the look of remorse front and centre. "Will you be okay? If I leave, I mean? I need to be home when Adrien arrives."

"Don't you think all this is a little reckless, Ladybug."

"Reckless? Why? You heard what he said."

"You knew it was his father all along, if he finds out who you are, how do you think he's going to feel?"

"He knows I was there, Viperion, he knows I knew his father was Monarch. Just because he thinks I was there as myself will make no difference. He knows the secret I've been keeping from him, if he wants to still be with me, he's going in with eyes wide open."

The two stood staring at each other and once again Ladybug couldn't read Viperion's face. He was blank, a skill learned and then mastered by the Guardians at the Temple.

"You're putting everyone at risk. I hope you understand that, Ladybug. If anything happens, you have to take some responsibility for this."

Ladybug shook her head. "That's where you're wrong, Luka," he winced as she said his civilian name; once again being brought out of the coma-like trance he'd found himself in. "Me and Adrien, we love each other, and he needs someone right now. Screw the guardians and their rules. I don't care anymore."

"He doesn't need, or want Ladybug."

"No, he doesn't. He needs and wants Marinette, and she's going to be there, by his side, until her dying days."

Viperion looked away, and she was glad she could stand up for herself against a guardian, for that was who Luka was now, a celestial guardian... he was no longer one of them. The divide between them grew from his new found hierarchy.

She began to walk out the alleyway, the sound of pounding feet echoing from behind her. "Marinette, please, be reasonable. I know you want to be there for Adrien, we all do. But you're putting the Miraculous at risk. They wanted me to bring the box back, what am I meant to say now?"

"You told them? Why?"

"Because you were finally making the right decision, an active holder shouldn't be the Guardian. It's too risky, and they know what has happened in your past regarding Adrien."

She saw red. How dare he! "You have no idea what went on! You haven't always been with us, you haven't seen and done what we have!"

"It's not my choice. It's what the guardians want."

"Well, it's quite simple really then, you tell them Ladybug isn't going down without a fight, and if they want the Miracle box they're going to need to pry it from my cold, dead hands."