Miraculous Dragonus (Lila Rossi x Male Reader)

Arc 05: Chapter 02: The Current of the Cocytus

 Adrien ran down a long dark hallway, trying to outrun the black butterfly that fluttered ever so closer to him. Doors swung open, carts coming out of them, trying to block his escape. He ran past them all, determined to get as far from the akuma as possible. A bit of carpet popped up from the floor and tripped him, making him stumble, then fall as the akuma flew closer, almost right on top of him.

"No!" He would have screamed if any sound could have come out of his throat. He squeezed his eyes tightly, hoping the transformation into one of Hawk Moth's minions wasn't painful. But the akuma flew over him, completely uninterested. Adrien opened his eyes. Marinette was kneeling on the ground, face in her hands and racking with silent sobs. The akuma sank into her purse, and Marinette slumped over. A darkness, like her own shadow, grew over her, taking her face and build, but warping them with dark makeup and a black suit. Princess Justice smirked down at him.

"Now, my prince." She purred. "You will join me, and we can watch our enemies fall together!" She unlatched her purse, red and gold ribbons surging out around him, pinning his arms and legs, slowly suffocating him as they wrapped over his face and squeezed his body. Adrien let out a scream...

And Cat Noir bolted upright, snapping out of his nightmare. He checked his surroundings and pinched himself, wondering if he was still dreaming. The twinge revealed that he was indeed awake, in quite possibly his worst nightmare.

Surprisingly, the surroundings were pleasant enough. The Grand Paris hotel dining room met his vision, strangely deserted, especially for a Friday. Tables upturned, chairs thrown aside, a lot of burn marks on other assorted furniture. A small tray of crescent sausages, cookies and cheese lay out on one of the few tables still rightside-up. He looked down at where he was sitting, finally realizing that he had been resting on tables.

Dragonus sat on a bar chair, either filing his claws or sharpening them, Cat Noir couldn't tell which. The draconian villain noticed him. "Looks like Cat-sicle finally thawed out." He remarked. "Hey, Tikki. You want to fill him in or should I?"

Tikki had been sitting on the bar itself, a space away from Dragonus. " I'll fill him in. You'd sooner tell him it was all your idea." She said as she rolled her eyes. Dragonus scoffed. "So I'm forced to be a pack mule and not take some of the credit?" Tikki shot a quick glare at him. Dragonus went back to muttering and sharpening.

"What happened?" Cat Noir asked. "How long was I out?" Tikki looked down. "You passed out about two hours ago." She said. "I told Dragonus to bring you here so we could rest."

Dragonus coughed. "There were some of Princess Justice's goons in here, but I eloquently talked them down and manipulated them into leaving." He added. Tikki rolled her eyes. "He means he blasted fire at them until they ran away. That's why parts of the room are burned."

Cat Noir shot Dragonus a glare. "Do you have any restraint?" He asked angrily. Dragonus only chuckled. "I'm using it right now to not punch you in the teeth. You know how heavy you are when you're unconscious? Spoiler alert: you're really heavy. Especially when I have to balance you on my back."

Cat Noir grimaced. "Why are you helping us?" He asked Dragonus. "Did you have a change of heart, or is this just for you?" Dragonus hopped off the chair he was sitting on. "This is one of the few times my personal gain and the greater good overlap." He replied as he picked up and fingered one of the meat snacks. He pulled off his helmet, showing off his dark brown hair, golden eyes and scale patterned mask.

"What, you expected a clear face reveal?" Dragonus asked as he popped the mini-dog into his mouth.

Cat Noir nodded half-heartedly. "At the very least, something recognizable." He replied. Dragonus just laughed. "The only reason I would reveal my identity to you or anyone else in this city is if things totally went wrong. So far, it's just mostly gone wrong."