The Cat And The Snake

Chapter 77 - Paper Rings (Narrator)

"Look out!" Adrien had shoved his friends out of the way as a large box landed on top of him and trapped him inside. "Adrien!" Chloe cried out in fear as the box covered him. "I'm fine! It's just dark and tight in here. Don't worry about me, just stop whoever trapped me in this damn box!" Adrien's frustration was well known. "Come on guys we gotta go," Marinette sent out a secret code to let the group know they needed to split up due to Rose only knowing Juleka's identity.

The others went in differnt directions while Juleka took Rose home before she joined them. When they all met up, one teammate was missing. "How are we going to do this without Chat?" Purple Tigress whispered to Ladybug. "Luka will get suspicous as to why he's not here," She added before the other Heroess could respond. Ladybug sighed. "I don't know, but we gotta just say he got trapped somewhere along the way and his Cataclysm didn't destroy the box." She told Purple Tigress.

"Where's Chat?" Purple Tigress was right to be worried about Luka being suspicous because it was him who asked that. "I met up with him on my way here but he got trapped by a box saving me." Queen Bee lied. She knew what had to be done to keep Adrien's secret hidden from Viperion. "I have to make sure Adrien is safe too, I just want to check on him. You know how he is with tight spaces feeling like he's trapped." Viperion jumped away to find where Adrien had been trapped.

"Adrien..? It's me, Viperion. Are you okay in there?" In the box, it was dark and closed off. "I can't transform and use my Catacysm with him out there, he'll know." Adrien whispered to Plagg. "You have to think of something fast before you run out of air." The Kwami responded. "I'm okay! Just get me out of here, I don't know how much air I have left." Viperion bit his lip in panic.

Ladybug, Queen Bee, Rena Rouge, Carapace and Purple Tigress arrived at that moment. "Stand back," Purple Tigress ordered her team and they backed up. "Clout!" She activated her power. "Brace yourself Adrien!" She warned him. Adrien ducked down inside the box and used his arms to cover his head. He knew what was about to happen. Purple Tigress was going to attempt to punch the box right off him. "I'm ready!" He let her know. She ran forward and her punch sent the box flying.

"It worked!" Adrien hardly had the time to stand up before Viperion ran for him and scooped him up off the ground. "My darling Angel I was so worried about you. Trapped in that tight space like you were. It was so dark and you were alone and probably scared out of your mind." Viperion had him lifted in the air so high his feet were off the ground. "I wasn't that scared. You know I've been through worse." Adrien did not like being off the ground. "You know I don't like being reminded of that." Viperion pouted.

"Okay, I promise to never bring it up again if you put me down." Adrien offered his promise. Viperion grinned like the Cheshire Cat. "Say the magic word and add a term of inderment in there." Adrien rolled his eyes and sighed. He had no other option. "Babe, can you please put me down?" Satisfied, Viperion set him down on his feet. "I love when you call me that." It was like Viperion got heart eyes. "That's the first time I've called you that," Adrien informed him. "That should be a hint my Angel." He kissed Adrien's cheek, forehead and mouth.

"There, now we have something to call eachother or whatever. You've been so busy attacking me with your love you forgot to attack the Supervillain with pain for trapping me in a goshdarn box." Viperion blinked at him. "Oh yes. My boyfriend is just a little more important than that. So I'll just take you to your room and get right on that." Viperion scooped Adrien in his arms again, bridal style and took him right back to the Hotel.

The snake hero sat Adrien down on his bed "You will keep calling me that, right?" Viperion expressed his concern that Adrien might quite calling him "babe" one day, or now. "Of course I will, if that's what you want. I just want you to be happy, with me." Adrien looked at the floor. Viperion cupped his face and lifted his head up. "Angel, I will love you even if you never call me that again. I'm with you because of who you are, not what you call me. That was just a bonus since I call you Angel." Viperion had the look of love in his eyes.