To Fall

Skeletons

Halsey leaned against the desk of Officer Page, the plump black man showing him pictures of his newborn as they sipped coffee together. Halsey smiled at the photos, proud of his friend and his family.

"Give me a minute man, I need a refill."

Page smiled and waved him off, returning to his paperwork as Halsey chuckled, making his way to the breakroom. He poured a new steaming cup of coffee, a chill running up his spine at the abnormally cold room. His eyes found the side door, an exit to the outside smoking area, cracked and he frowned. He grumbled about irresponsible and made his way to the door, hand reaching out to grip the handle.

Before he could close it, a hand reached out, gripping him tight and yanking him out into the break area. The door slammed shut behind him as he was thrown to the ground, cursing as he looked up. 

Chat looked down at him, ice eyes slits and fangs bared. Halsey jumped up, drawing his holstered weapon and training it on the cat as he pressed the button on his hip, a silent panic button. Chat grinned and flexed his arms, claws ready as he stared at the officer.

"Hello Halsey. Let's have a little chat."

Halsey growled and fingered the trigger, body stiff. "I think the fuck not. Get on the ground, take off the ring and surrender. Ladybug will be here soon." Chat strolled forward, tail swishing lazily behind him as he stopped in front of Halsey, the barrel of the gun almost touching his chest. He leaned down into Halsey's face, pure chaos dancing in his eyes. 

"Oh, I sure hope so."

Chat lashed out, claws aiming for the officer's face and growling as he dodged, both hands coming to grip his weapon as he fired. Chat's eyes widened as he dodged, staring at the officer in surprise. Halsey grinned and aimed again, using one hand to give chat the middle finger.

"I'm swamped with paperwork and need a damn nap. I'm not dying to a damn Cat Woman rip off today."

Chat grinned and lunged, tackling Halsey around his middle and sending them both to the floor. His hand found Halsey's throat, claws digging in as blood slowly trickled.

"Master said nothing about killing you. We have plenty of time to play."

More officers burst through the door; weapons trained as they took in the sight. Chat growled and sprung forward, claws lashing out at the new officers. 

Shots rang out as they fired on the white cat, the screams of pain mixing in as officers fell to the ground. Chat glared at them, eyes blazing as he wiped blood from his face.

"Stay out of my way! You don't have to die today!"

Halsey glared as the cat shook, claws clenching in and out as his head swiveled around. Guns were trained on him, fingers on triggers. They all yelled at him to get down, some preparing to fire and others helping the injured. Chat glared as Ellis stepped through the door, gun aimed and eyes hard. 

"You."

Chat growled and stared at him, body tensing. "Hello, captain." Ellis clicked his tongue and fired, Chat jumping out of the way and hissing at the tall man. "You aren't playing around, huh cap?" Ellis grinned and moved forward; a calm look on his face. 

"No. Just getting you where I want you."

Chat tensed as wire wrapped around his body, his feet leaving the ground as he was thrown backwards at the feet of Ladybug. She glared down at him, her blue eyes full of emotion as she tightened the wire around his body.

"Chat. Stop this!"

He grinned up at her and kicked his foot out, distracting her slightly as her grip loosened on the wire. He flung it off and jumped to his feet, pouncing at her. She grabbed him by the middle and slammed him down, wincing as he cried out in pain. She rolled to the side as a fist impacted where she just sat, Chat's eyes glaring at her with burning need. 

"Just give me your miraculous Ladybug! That's all he wants!"

She shook her head and blocked his kick, her eyes sad as he lashed out at her with an unseen vigor. "You know I can't do that Chat!" Blow after blow rained down on her, claws slashing and kicks flying. Tears sprung to his eyes as he lashed out, his attacks stiff and his eyes wild.

"Please! I can't fail him again!"

Her heart ached as he slowly broke in front of her, gripping his last punch and spinning him around, pinning his arm behind his back. He growled and clenched his fist, his voice trembling as he slashed his hand back at her. 

"Cataclysm." 

"Shelter!" 

The green barrier disappeared as quickly as it appeared, the turtle hero landing behind Ladybug as Viperion and Rena jumped down from the nearby roof. They all stared at Chat as his ragged breathing echoed in the quiet, all eyes trained on him and his attempt at her life. Viperion rushed forward and grabbed his other arm, he and Ladybug throwing Chat onto his stomach on the ground.

"Chat! Calm down! You don't have to do this!"

He struggled under them, his shoulders shaking as he looked around wildly. "Please! Just give them to me! You don't understand!" Viperion looked to Ellis, jerking his head toward the station. "Get everyone inside. We got this." Ellis nodded and ushered everyone inside, casting a side eye at the group. 

Rena ran forward and reached for the ring, jumping back when he called his power. He glared at her and clenched his fist, securing his ring. "Try that again fox." Ladybug looked down at him sadly, her hand running softly over his tense shoulder.

"Chat, you can fight this. You can fight him."

Tears leaked from his eyes as ice met blue, pain and fear flashing in a race inside his eyes. "No. No, I can't." Viperion ran his own hand over his other shoulder, gently gripping him. Rena and Carapace looked at the trio and shrugged to each other as they made their way inside, feeling as though they were interrupting something beyond them. Rena shot Ladybug a knowing look that promised questioning and she nodded back, mouthing a thank you. 

"Kitty... stop this."

Chat gasped for air as he started to break, his mind struggling with the situation. He did his job. He got Ladybug and he attacked Halsey. He attacked someone close to his kitten. He let the tears fall as he curled in on himself, the two heroes loosening their grips slightly. "I can't say no to him. I'm sorry Ladybug. I'm so sorry." Viperion hissed and pulled his chin up to look at him, eyes glaring as he clenched his jaw.

"Why! Why can't you just stop!?"

"Because. Your little cat isn't fully human. He's a Senti- monster. Isn't that right, Blanc?"

All eyes snapped up as a purple figure leaned over the edge of the roof, a blank expression on his face. Feathers wrapped around the ribs of his cloak; hood pulled up over light green hair. Purple eyes stared at ice, a hand reaching up to play with the feather on each side of his head. Ladybug looked between the two as they stared at each other, confused. The figure dropped down and knelt in front of Chat, a small sympathetic smile on his face. 

"Hello Chat."

"Argos."