Les Hors-la-loi || Outlaws

1

France, 1182

Chat Noir crept along the walls of the castle, reminding himself who he was doing it for. For the people who needed it, for Ladybug and what she believed in.

It was right there in sight, resting on the dresser, glinting in the moonlight. The string of pearls called out to him, taunting him for ignoring them previously. Just one of those to the right buyer would feed a family for months. But tonight, it wasn't his aim to be a hero to the people. Tonight, he wanted to reclaim that necklace. All previous plans had been forgotten at the sight he had happened upon.

He should have known it was a trap when the lump under the bedcovers lay still as if she were dead as he crept through the window. No sooner had his hand reached out for the necklace did something wrap around his wrist and bind him to the bed post.

Marinette glared at the intruder, her fabric cuffs holding surprisingly strong. "Explain yourself. Now."

Chat Noir held her sharp gaze, her bluebell eyes narrowed as she brandished a foot-long wand with a pale pink ribbon equal to her height hanging from the end and collecting on the ground. She had clearly been in the process of readying herself for bed, judging by the nightgown hidden by a large cloak. Her jet black hair was loose and shifted gently in the breeze from the open windown.

"You steal from the grain supply, I see you. I let you leave. You steal from the castle treasury, I let you leave. You hijack the carriages collecting the tax and I say nothing. Do you know why?"

He was surprised he had been noticed, let alone been let off -- apparently.

"I know what you do with what you steal. I know you distribute it amongst the poor. So tell me, why are you after my pearls? They will get you nothing. But you must know this. A man like yourself must be well versed in what the value of an item is. Unless your plan is to sell them at a price far higher than its worth, but I do not take you for a fraudulent man."

The man's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. He whipped out the knife she had known he would have and cut through the binding. With something akin to a hiss, he fled her quarters after giving her a brief glance.

Marinette wound the ribbon around its wand as she walked to the window. She noticed the criminal disappear into the foliage and shook her head. Tying the end of ribbon around the wand, she dropped it on her bed and snatched up the pearl necklace.

"I should have never taken it out," she mumbled, putting it in a small box that was then locked into the drawer of the dressing table. "Should've known it would catch his eye."

~~||~~

1181, one year ago

"Are you sure about this?"

"It's a small thing, Chat Noir. Just grab the necklace and run. I'll keep the man distracted."

Chat Noir grinned at his partner. "Well, you do have a tendency to be paw-sitively distracting."

"You know that's not what I meant," Ladybug grumbled, pushing him away. "Just do your job, or I'll tie you down --"

"How exciting."

"-- and tear your limbs off."

"Not exciting."

The heist did not take long. They had counted on the guard having more skills than he did and Ladybug overpowered him with ease. Once Chat Noir had the necklace, she fled behind him.

"It's fake!" Chat Noir cried in horror once they had found a safe spot to examine their booty.

"What! Are you sure?"