AKUMA ALERT! AKUMA ALERT!

All citizens of Paris, this is a code black 'Akuma Alert' please make your way back to your homes, I repeat, this is a code black Akuma Alert.

Stay in your homes.

Code black: Chat Noir has gone rouge

•••••

Ladybug closed her eyes, bracing herself for impact as she felt her body cut through the air and possibly some bricks, too. Her stomach reacted with the free fall, itself moving up her body and trying to escape her throat. This was it. The moment she was going to die.

Her mind played through the happiness of the past week, her time with Adrien, of their love making and declarations, of their time together cooking and baking, Plagg and Tikki both complaining about their domesticality. They were made for each other, the time over the past couple of weeks only proving that more and more. They were each other's strengths and each other's failures and that had never been more true than now.

She could feel bricks and other items hitting her back, shoulders, neck and face, each one just another indication that something painful was about to happen, each of these mere fragments of the pain she was going to feel. The pain of her partner turning on her.

Chat Noir was still attached. She could feel him cling tighter, grasping onto her in a way she would have usually adored, but now she wanted nothing more than to break away. For him to let go and get away from her.

Ladybug braced herself for impact knowing full well it was going to come hard and unbearable against her back, once more being grateful for the indestructibility of her super suit. Though, even with the additional support, she still might be slightly winded giving her partner enough time to make his move and attack.

Scrunching her eyes tighter, she allowed Chat Noir to manoeuvre them, most likely preparing for her to hit the floor at full speed with the hopes of knocking her out.

Five...

Four...

Three...

Two...

One...

The oomph noise which sounded hadn't came from her. There was no pain in her back, or any loss of consciousness, everything seemed relatively normal. Maybe this is what death felt like? Sudden and without pain.

Relaxing her eyes, but keeping them closed she could smell the dust in the air as it circulated around them, an after effect of her partner's power. An indication that this was real; she hadn't died, she was still here.

Talking of her partner. She felt his arms slowly release from around her body, a groan leaving his mouth as one arm completely removed itself from her body. It seemed the original oomph she'd heard came from him.

Pushing hard against his chest, her eyes shot open and she stumbled backwards away from him, taking the opportunity to move away from his next attack and reach for her yo-yo, preparing to respond if she needed to.

Solidly in her battle stance, she watched as Chat Noir coughed and sputtered before standing up to his full height, one hand brushing dust from his black suit and the other messing in his ear.

Where they'd fallen to was dark, darker than her eyes were used to giving her a disadvantage against her partner. Only the dim light of day streaming through the roof and casting shadows onto the floor, allowing her limited vision of the area and allowing her to create a plan.

'Ladybug, are you there? Answer me? Are you okay?'

She could hear Alya's panic stricken voice sounding in her ear, but for the moment all that mattered was her eyes remaining on her partner, her partner who'd just sent them barrelling down into the dark catacombs of Paris.

'Come on girl, answer me, are you still alive?'

His glowing green eyes suddenly connected with hers, an unknown intention vibrating through the space between them, a look she could neither decide or decifere its meaning. She'd never been scared of his eyes, even when they were as blue as the bright spells of an icy winter. No, she was never scared of him, but for the first time in her life she felt the unease. Knowing full well the strength of the power of which he possessed.

'For fuck sake, Marinette! Answer me, or I swear to God someone else will be Godmother to my child.'

Ladybug had to decide which would be the best option and without giving him a chance to talk or even move an inch more, she flung out her yo-yo and wrapped him up; his arms held solidly in place. She lifted one hand to her ear, making sure the earpiece was still snuggly in her ear.

"I'm fine, don't be so dramatic," she announced to Alya, pulling on her yo-yo a little tighter, making sure Chat was completely bound and under her control.

As his arms were squeezed closer into his body, the stern unreadable glare he had changed rapidly into one she was familiar with, the one that was all him.

"Kinky," he coughed, looking down at the wire wrapped around his body. She couldn't help the betraying thoughts that he looked good all tightly wrapped up in her yo-yo, especially with his beautiful, harmless smile plastered over his face. "But I don't think this is the time, M'Lady."

It took a few moments for his words to sink in, connecting together with the smile on her face and without warning, she ran; launching herself onto him; wrapping him tighter than her yo-yo ever could as she took him into a rather aggressive hug, full of relief and reassurance.

"Oh my God!" she shrieked, "what did you do?"

"I," he answered, attempting to hug her back through the yo-yo string, "just came up with an amazing and genius plan."

He wiggled the finger by his ear and she noticed something was attached to one claw...a small piece of wax.

"Wax?" she questioned.

"Just like the sailors. You didn't think we'd come in as sitting ducks, did you? And with your reaction just now, Bugaboo, I think it's fair to say they believe everything they've done."

"You're a bastard," she laughed, pulling away and releasing him from the wire of her yo-yo. "A brilliant one though."

"I expect you to reward me later, but right now I need you to act captured. Do you trust me?" His eyes softened in their usual adoring way and there was no chance she wouldn't trust him.

"Until my dying breath, you asshole!"

"Not exactly the love declaration I was expecting, Bugaboo, but it'll do." He pressed a kiss to the tip of her nose, her smile reassuring him that she was with him all the way. "Prepare to act in the greatest show of your life, because me and the boys are about to win the battle."

Dropping her a wink, he took the yo-yo from her hip, using it to bind her wrists behind her back and hoist her over his shoulder. She wouldn't admit it but she wanted a full reenactment of this when they returned home, because thanks to her genius boyfriend she was certain everything was going to be okay, there wasn't anyway this wasn't going to work.

It seemed she hadn't been included in the whole plan, and where usually she'd be rather annoyed by that, knowing the brilliance of her boyfriend only added to the pride she felt inside. Yes. They were going to be okay.

Chat began to move, reaching for his baton and extending it to take them out of the hole he'd cataclysmed and back to the main level in the Louvre, where it seemed the next part of the plan was about to take place. The level where Äte and, most likely, Siren would be waiting.

"Any specifics I need to know?" she whispered through his hair and into his ear, lifting her body as much as she could in the tight hold of the yo-yo.

"Yeah," he muttered through clenched teeth, "don't get killed."

Finally springing back onto the solid ground of the museum, Chat Noir contracted his baton back to size and locked it in the holder behind his back. Ladybug took a few deep breaths and closed her eyes. This was going to be hard, but if once again her kitty had given up everything to save them all, then maybe it's about time she got her act together and played the hero too.

•••••

Chat Noir looked around the room making a mental note of who and what was where. As discussed, the gang had split up into their pairings, and without Ladybug's knowledge all of the males had placed tiny balls of wax in their ears—just as the sailors had done in the past.

Though Äte was still an unknown entity, there was a clear idea that if they could take Siren down then maybe Äte would fall with her. So, right now the only plan they had was to do what Siren wanted in hopes of getting close enough to pull the broach away from her skin.

Chat Noir walked forward towards the waiting villain, Ladybug still over his shoulder and her yo-yo firmly placed in his hand. Unless it was one of the other heroes, he would not be letting anyone else take her from him; she was going to stay firmly in his grasp as long as possible in case she was needed in battle.

Thanks to the advanced hearing that came with his Miraculous, he could hear Alya's muffled instructions and announcements to Ladybug. The girls should be outside now, alongside Lady Dragon, Eagle and Aeon ready to follow wherever he was to take Ladybug. From there it was anyone's guess—the final attack would be Ladybug's lead, her genius plans taking them to the end. He just needed to get them past now.

The girls were to be a source of distraction, a blockage of sorts; without knowing the clear powers of the villains they didn't want to put too many people in danger, opting for the lead heroes to attack first, but leaving Ladybug for the last line of defense.

"Do you have her?" The sultry voice of the Siren was a waste on him as he couldn't hear anything, thank god he could lip read.

He'd never been more grateful for his acting career. This was going to be all the help he needed, He just had to stay calm and keep that one foot ahead of them. One step at a time.

He looked over to Pegasus. Their eyes meeting in a knowing look he He turned his head to Flairmidable, his cousin meeting his eyes in a knowing glance, one Chat felt reassured by, one he never expected to come from his cousin of all people.

"She's here." His tone was frosty, one you'd never link with Chat Noir or Adrien Agreste, his hold tightening over his girlfriend, her yo-yo still firmly placed in his hand and ready to loosen if he needed the backup of his partner.

"Place her down over there."

Chat Noir noticed the sarcophagus situated over and alone in the corner, one where Äte was clearly pointing to.

What the fuck were they going to do with that?

Chat Noir attempted to keep his wits about him as he nodded in response to Äte, heading over to place Ladybug in the sarcophagus. He could feel her breath hitching as he walked knowing full well knowing her lack of calm when it came to dark, enclosed spaces.

He gently placed her inside noting the terrified expression on her face, one that crushed his soul and smashed his heart.

'I'm sorry' he mouthed, taking her yo-yo and setting it into breath mode. He coaxed her to open her mouth, allowing him to place the object in there before closing the lid—his own claustrophobia increasing tenfold with it. He knew she could break out if she wanted, after all, he'd left her with the base of the yo-yo plus she had super strength—that had to mean something.

"Good Kitty." Once again, he was glad of the wax in his ear because hearing someone else use his Lady's nickname for him was one step away from him cataclysming their ass.

He bowed in response, attempting to make himself seem like the perfect servant and taking the opportunity to pull himself together.

"Now, Pegasus, can you please open a portal? It's time we took the bug back to the boss."

The hero in question stepped forward, opening the portal and allowing Chat Noir to take the first look into what he considered the base of his enemies, only to find a base, should he say prison, that he knew all too well.

It seemed like he was going 'home'.

Turning his head, he tried to retain his strong stance and composure as Minotaurox and Carapace made their way to where Ladybug was being held hostage. Lifting the sarcophagus and heading towards the portal, one held the front as the other the rear. He watched in longing, oblivious to anything else that was happening around him and praying that he hadn't just made the biggest mistake of his life. If he lost her, he'd lose everything.

Unbeknownst to him, Äte and Siren were talking and from the look in Viperion's eyes he needed to turn quickly as they were talking to him.

Placing the best smile on his face, he turned around to face them both. His eyebrows turned down in a way to flirt with his foes, a full smoulder on his lips. Siren moved forward, her hips swishing from side to side as she sashayed towards him; a long golden nailed finger reached up and under his chin.

"You're mine now, Kitty." He read. "And together, we're going to destroy everyone who attempted to destroy us."

Her finger continued stroking under his chin, before her thumb came up to trail under his mask. It took every ounce of strength he possessed to make sure he didn't slap her hand away or worse, only for that feeling to increase as she took his chin between two fingers and held him still, guiding her own lips to his.

He'd never been so disgusted in his life. He wanted to scream, punch, throw up...instead he had to stand there and respond as Siren placed her tongue into his mouth, encouraging him to kiss her back—he had no other opinion.

Allowing the kiss, he responded by doing the only thing he could by imagining Marinette's lips attached to the face of this attacker. But as the kiss became deeper, he grew more uncomfortable. It was hard to imagine Marinette's lips when these weren't nearly as soft and tasty; they weren't made for him as his girlfriend's were. The kiss was unmoving, sloppy and disgusting.

He moved one hand to her head, twisting the long locks of her gold stranded hair in his fist and moving her into a less intrusive position, lessening the pressure against his lips and lightening the kiss. His other hand on her lower back, pulling her into his body more, as to take the attention away from the removal of his lips.

Feeling her moan sent a wave of disgust through his spine, the whole thought that she was enjoying it filled him with repulsion as he thought about Ladybug held up in a sarcophagus as he made out with someone who wasn't her. He knew the deal, yet going through with it felt like the biggest betrayal of his life.

Finally she pulled away, moving her hand down to his ass and giving it a quick unauthadox squeeze. Trying not to act suspicious, he lowered his hands and gently prized her hands off him and moved them to her sides.

"They'll be time for that later, my Queen." His false words were spoken with as much certainty as he could. His eyes flirting where his body language couldn't.

"And I can't wait," she replied, stepping forwards and placing both her hands to his chest, stroking them over his suit as he stood there stealing his nerves.

He felt his one fist tense. His claws digged into his palms as he stood stock still and allowed the hands of this villian to touch him. It would only be a matter of time before this was all over; he just hoped he didn't break first.

•••••

Ladybug was terrified, and she wasn't sure whether it was to do with being in the sarcophagus or the fear of what would happen once the lid is lifted and she finally met her fate.

Her Kitty had really thought of everything, the wax in the ear being a genius plan by anyone's level; she'd never even thought of it herself. Ms Bustier would not be happy with knowing she'd disregarded some of her history classes.

She took slow deep breaths, using the yo-yo to calm her as much as possible. Steadily controlling the panic, she allowing her breathing to calm back to a normal rhythm—that's when it became apparent that her eyes were shut. Knowing there would be no difference between them being open and closed, Ladybug decided to open them anyway.

Lifting her lids slowly and preparing her eyes to adjust to the dark atmosphere, she slammed them shut again as all of a sudden, the sarcophagus began to rock; lifting from the ground, she braced herself once more for what was about to come next, the next attack on her and her team.

'Psst, Ladybug? Can you hear me?'

She'd completely forgotten about the link to Alya she still had, relaxing to the sound of her friend's voice.

'Ladybug, can you hear me?"

With the yo-yo still firmly placed in her mouth, keeping her oxygen levels up, she couldn't afford to remove it even for a second; a lack of oxygen could make her pass out without a second thought, making her vulnerable.

'Shit!' She heard Jess' voice through her earpiece, the curse from her friend not being a response to good news. She knew Jess was the eyes of the operation, when it all went down it was Jess looking to make sure things were exactly as they should be. He's just kissed her! Well she kissed him. Damn the guys completely under her spell.'

The words stabbed her hard in the heart, the knife twisting before being yanked out of her chest. She wanted to scream, yell, break something, but she was stuck. Her hands remained tied around her back and yo-yo in mouth as she released tears of discomfort and jealousy. She understood him. She truly did, but that didn't stop it from hurting, from knowing her boyfriend, the love of her life, was out there kissing someone else by choice.

They didn't know who it was yet either. It could have been Lila, or Vivica, maybe even Franke, or worst of all...Nathalie.

Ladybug felt them continue moving, the sway and shift of her body from side to side, the indication it was happening, though she had to admit it was a welcome distraction to what was being reported on the outside. The movement was delicate. Almost as if they were looking out for her, not wanting to do any harm, she wasn't sure whether this was a good sign or one to be feared. Did they need her for something? Being shoved into such tight confines could only make her wonder if she was going to be used as some sort of human sacrifice? It just seemed too coincidental.

'Ladybug, we've lost you!'

Fei's voice sounded over Alya's check ins. Lose her? How could they lose her? The movement continued, the journey continuing as they advance onwards with their journey.

'What do you mean lost?' This time it was Polymouse's voice.

'Pegasus must have used a vortex or portal of some sort. They've all disappeared.'

'Ladybug, we can't find you. If you're still there we need your help. You need to give us a clue to where you are. Dammit girl! Come on!'

As if on cue, the sarcophagus stopped moving. The rocking motion gave way to the bottom of the sarcophagus end hitting the floor. She could feel the coffin she was contained in being pushed to standing, her feet solidly on the ground, or so she believed.

Without warning, the front opened, her eyes closing to protect them from the sudden change in light, blocking out the bright rays which seemed to be aimed directly at her; blinding and stunning.

"Well, well, good work Kitty. It seems you've caught us a bug."

The familiar sounds of the voice hit Ladybug before the face came into range; standing before her was none other than Mayura. The purple feathers accenting the outfit and making her look even more dangerous than Ladybug could remember, a slight added extra in the shape of wings on her back. Something had changed.

Her usual feather fan was positioned on a rather detailed cane. The sharp end placed firmly in the ground as the newcomer combed her fingers over the delicate feathers time and time again. The Peacock Miraculous sitting alongside the Butterfly.

"I bet you thought Lila was the mastermind behind all this? But young girls are easily manipulated when you bribe them with a pretty young face. It's a shame Adrien is too headstrong to fall for such tricks, pity really, getting in the way of absolute power like that."

Ladybug spat the yo-yo out of her mouth. "If you want my Miraculous," she hissed, "why don't you just take it?" She prayed Alya was listening in.

"It's simple really," she stroked her feathers and looked at them menacingly, her head tilted to the side and eyes glowing purple. "I don't want it."

"What?"

"When Emilié got herself trapped in her magical induced coma, she unknowingly protected herself; there's only one power strong enough to destroy her"

Ladybug's eyes widened, as she studied Nathalie and it all pieced together. "Cataclysm."

Mayura started a slow clap, patronising Ladybug and increasing her anger. "Bravo! I knew you were a smart one, and once Emilié is gone, Gabriel's all mine."

"So why aren't you just taking Chat Noir's ring and getting it over with?"

The laugh that followed was menacing. "Oh dear, and you call yourself a Guardian. Tell me Marinette have you ever read the grimoire? It seems such great power was put into the wrong hands."

Lifting the staff from the floor, Mayura moved forward and looked her dead in the eye. "Only the most powerful of cataclysms can break the spell and I happen to know the most powerful one of this millennium."

Ladybug knew they were strong, especially together. When they were in sync it was as though nothing could stop them. No trials or tribulations, it was them against the world — kicking ass.

"You know, I didn't think he'd do it. Knowing the way Adrien would die for you–" Ladybug sucked in a gasp as she heard her partner's name. "But it seems after some research we figured out how to break your link. You see, he always came back to you because of love, but now, he loves someone else more. Isn't that right, Vivica?"

Siren came waltzing from behind where Ladybug was held captive, Chat Noir holding her by the arm as he moved them both next to Mayura. She prayed to the Holy entities that Chat had a plan, because right now, even with Carapace and Minotaurox beside her, they would struggle to maintain the upper hand.

"Chat Noir, so nice of you to join us." Mayura's words, though spoken to Chat Noir, were aimed directly into Ladybug's heart, stinging in like a wasp. The additional hurt a bonus in the villainesses' attack on the Agreste's and those closest.

"Anything for my Little Mermaid." He turned to face Siren, moving in to join their lips together as he pulled her closer deepening the kiss.

She wanted to scream, yell at him to stop...anything, but she was frozen. Frozen in time as she watched the love of her life make out with one of the women she despised most in the world.

"See, we finally found a plan that worked. Don't you agree, Lila?"

Ladybug shot her head to the right to see Caprikid and Rooster Bold drag out a beaten and torn down Lila Rossi. Her toes dragging along the floor as they brought her closer to Mayura; a couple of stains of blood adorning her shirt.

"Now Lila here has played her part brilliantly. Ten out of ten for acting skills, you see she created Frankie for me and then manipulated her wonderfully, knowing the closeness between...what did she call you? The 'Core Four'. It's a shame she has to be used as the fall girl. Tsk, tsk. If only she'd not blabbed in jail, it's a good job with the help of Gabriel's money we could wipe the slate clean."

As Mayura continued her villainous rant, a speech which was lasting far too long, she was oblivious to what was happening with Siren and more to the point. Chat Noir. His hand move behind his back just as a small portal appeared, and the ball of the dog being placed firmly in it.