Ladybug Blues

Her Earrings

The force had knocked the wind out of him, making Chat sputter for air. He twisted his head to look at his attacker, expecting to see a new enemy, but it was Scarabella who hovered over him, her eyes ablaze with a fiery determination.

A hand reached for Chat Noir's ring, his miraculous.

"Chat Noir, as the holder of the miraculous of creation, I hereby demand you hand over the Black Cat Miraculous!" Scarabella's voice was a mix of anger and desperation. "You have proven to be a danger to not only me, but Paris as well. We can do this the easy way," Scarabella's fingers tightened around the ring. "Or we can do it the hard way, it's your choice."

Adrenaline spiked through Chat Noir's veins. He couldn't believe this was happening. He'd been so focused on getting the earrings, he hadn't even considered that Scarabella might come for his ring.

 "You think you can just take it from me?" He spat back, squirming under her grip. "You're wrong! Cataclysm!" He growled, black magic swirling around his fist as Scarabella quickly retreated her hand. He ignored the screams echoing throughout Paris.

The spotted heroine jumped away, creating distance between the two of them. She glared at him, her eyes welling up with tears. "What have you become, Chat Noir?" she exclaimed. "This isn't like you!"

"Isn't like me? You don't even know me!" Chat snarled. "How dare you call yourself the holder of creation? As if you could ever be Ladybug, you're the one who took her away from me!" He scrambled to his feet, the black magic still dancing around his fist. He sneered at the tears dripping from Scarabella's cheeks. Taking a few steps towards the girl, he shoved her against the alley wall, making sure not to use his ringed hand.

"I never wanted this," Scarabella whispered, her voice trembling. "But I'm not going to let you steal my miraculous! I know what you want it for, and I can't let you do it! You think I don't want to take your ring and wish for the chance to see her again, to be able to take back what happened?! But I won't! I'm not like you, I won't let my grief turn me into a monster!"

Chat Noir's eyes narrowed. "A monster..." He said through gritted teeth. "You've been a monster long before me, Alya!"

Scarabella's eyes grew wide, her grip on the brick wall loosening slightly. "How... How do you know my name..?" she stuttered.

The blonde smirked. "I know a lot of things, Alya. Things you wouldn't believe." His heart raced as he stepped closer, the magic surrounding his fist crackling with energy. "And I'm going to bring her back, no matter the cost."

"Even if the cost is your own life?! What if it were your father's -or your mother's?!" Scarabella gasped as Chat's claws suddenly dug into her throat, threatening to pierce through her suit. "Th-there's always a price, Chat! Think about this!"

He glared at her, his eyes reflecting the chaos of his thoughts. "I've already paid that price," he whispered, the anger in his voice palpable. "I've lost everything that ever mattered to me, and I'll be damned if I don't get her back." He glanced at his hand, and as if following a command, the bubbling magic receded, retreating into his ring. "We can do this the easy way, or the hard way, Alya, and trust me, I don't mind getting my hands dirty."

Scarabella's eyes searched his, desperation swirling in the depths of her hazel orbs. "Please, they're all I have left of her,"

Chat Noir's grip tightened around her throat, his eyes cold and unwavering. "Everything I had of her was stolen from me. You have no right to ask for mercy," he hissed.

Scarabella's eyes grew misty, and she swallowed hard. "I'm sorry," she choked out. "I can't let you do this!" She swung her leg up with every ounce of strength she had between Chat Noir's legs, sending waves of agony through him. He doubled over, and she took the opportunity to break free.