Spoilers:
Gabriel Agreste is NOT Hawkmoth in this story, but he IS aware of the existence of Miraculouses. This story takes place after Simon Says/Jackady but before Volpina (because I honestly have no clue how Gabriel is going to react when he discovers his book is missing!)

Disclaimer:

I own nothing.

Chapter One

Gabriel Agreste clutched the remote in his hand so tightly thin cracks began to form on the plastic as it bent under the pressure. What does that idiot boy think he's doing? he thought, his eyes glued to the monitor in front of him. He glanced to his hand and for the first time appeared to notice his iron grip. He forced himself to unclench the remote, almost going as far as to physically pry his fingers off one by one. He steadied his nerves with a couple of deep breaths and risked another glance at the news report.

Just in time to witness Chat Noir sailing through the streets of Paris, smashing into a brick wall several blocks from his partner. Rubble rained down from the small crater he created on the side of the building.

*SNAP*

Dropping the now useless remote from his hand, Gabriel reached over and tapped a couple of buttons on his keyboard. The volume increased through the speakers.

"-Appears that Ladybug has activated her Lucky Charm in the wake of Chat Noir's successful Cataclysm attack." Shaky footage showed Ladybug's slight confusion as she stared at the object in her hands. She studied her surroundings for a moment. Then, without warning, she leaped forward, vanishing from sight as she vaulted under the villain before emerging on the other side of him, holding something in her hands. She snapped the object over her knee, purifying the darkened butterfly before restoring the city. Normally, Ladybug stuck around for a minute or two to provide some quick interviews, or words of advice or hope, but this time she flung her yo-yo out and zipped through the streets without a word. The camera followed her until she reached the spot where her partner had landed and she dropped out of sight. The video cut off.

"For the time being, Paris is once again safe from Hawkmoth's akumas and we have Ladybug and Chat Noir to thank for that. We'll head over to our studio to conduct our post-battle analysis and keep you further inform-"

Gabriel cut off the feed with a sharp tap of the key. He didn't care to hear about the inaccurate ramblings of so-called experts. He pulled up the Ladyblog, favored by Paris' heroes themselves. The owner of the blog attended classes with Adrien, so naturally she had the most up-to-date information. In fact, Gabriel wouldn't be at all surprised if the footage provided by the news station was from her own recording that the studio aired (with her permission, of course).

Sure enough, Alya had already updated her site with the news of the most recent attack, complete with a link to the footage, now archived on her site, along with a hearty assurance that Chat Noir was unharmed despite how bad it looked on the video. Gabriel should probably view it again, but later. Much later. Once his frazzled nerves had steadied.

The moment he spotted that blasted ring upon his son's finger, the pieces of the puzzle clicked together in his mind. One after another, dots connected and everywhere his mind turned more and more explanations unfolded with lightning-fast understanding. It was like walking down a surreal landscape where the path formed ahead of him with each footstep. He spent the next few nights in a panic, pacing up and down in his room, wondering what to do. He could... take the ring. Store it in his safe. Adrien wouldn't have to know. He shook his head. No, that would only further alienate his son. Not that he knew much of what was going on in his life anymore. Gabriel had a finger on the pulse of every one of Adrien's activities, even if he didn't have time to actually talk to him about them. He knew about Adrien landing first place in his last fencing meet, about the near-perfect score on his last physics exam, and about how he had distanced himself from Chloe's friendship, making several new friends since attending public school. Though not physically present in much of Adrien's life, Gabriel knew everything his son did.

Or so he thought.

Ice flooded through him the instant his eyes landed upon that ring. That damned ring. He had asked him about it without thinking, blurting out his fears and bringing attention to the one aspect of his life Adrien desperately hid. Adrien shied away, retreating and throwing up guarded shields. The defiant brushing off his questioning, firing back with his own mild accusation... the persona of Chat Noir certainly had bled over into Adrien's civilian life. Gabriel steadied himself and had done the hardest thing he had ever done in his life.

He walked away.

He had seen how much the boy loved being Chat Noir, even in that brief interaction with the superhero. He couldn't – wouldn't – tear that away from him for anything. Not that he suspected he had a say in the matter anyway. All that would accomplish would be pushing Adrien further away. Gabriel would have to keep a close eye on Adrien... from afar. Too much social interaction spooked the boy but Gabriel refused to give up. He built his fashion empire on a spark of talent and a mountain of teeth-gritted determination. He refused to give up on reconnecting with Adrien. The last few months he had distanced himself from Adrien without even realizing it, buried in his grief and consumed by his work in order to forget his own pain.

Adrien was healing, though agonizingly slow, through Chat Noir. And Gabriel would not stop him.

But did Adrien actually expect Gabriel to completely remain on the sidelines? Though he could do nothing but watch in frantic horror during those heart-wrenching moments of battle, he could advise his son on something else he had noticed. And just to make sure his inspirations for the spring fashion lineup had not impaired his judgment, he poured over the Ladyblog, seeking validation for his growing suspicions.

Adrien was in love.

With Ladybug.

Whom he didn't know outside of the suit.

Gabriel very nearly smacked his forehead in frustration. So it wasn't just springtime love fever after all. But really, how could his son woo the object of his heart's desire when he knew nothing about her? Did he honestly expect a few cheesy puns and buffoonish flirtations would be enough to bring Ladybug to her knees, ready to swoon over him?

To calm his nerves further after watching his son nearly die (again) at the hands of an akumatized victim, Gabriel turned his focus to his primary goal: teach Adrien how to win the heart of his love. Without his son detecting his interference. This would be a challenge. He liked challenges. He zipped through design after design for the spring line this year, inspired by videos of Ladybug and Chat Noir and their budding partnership. Another successful quarter and dozens of styles completed in a matter of days. Easy.

Gabriel clicked through a few videos, taking mental notes on how his son conversed with Ladybug and just studying their interactions in general. He focused on a video posted a few weeks after his own encounter with the duo in the mansion. He already watched every video dozens of times, poured over all theories and discussions on the Ladyblog, and even commented a couple of times to correct certain inaccuracies. Alya had grown suspicious of his input and correctly identified him as either a previous akuma victim or the target of a victim. He backed off a bit and stopped posting tips on how to improve the aesthetics of the site. Honestly, she just needed to tone down the red. He knew it was called the Ladyblog for a reason, but all he suggested was to soften up the garish color with some subtle whites. Negative space, as you will.

He had almost received a temporary ban from the forums for inciting the ensuing flame war. Perhaps he shouldn't have used the word "gaudy" when suggesting changes. How was he to know Alya had so many devoted followers. He had placated the peeved owner with a long apologetic message sent privately to her email, and that mollified her enough. He had since learned his lesson, and stuck to his own analysis instead of posting his opinions.

But a few weeks later he noticed the site had revamped its color scheme. He smiled.

Now, though, he watched a video that showed a bit more post-battle interaction between the two heroes. Maybe he should back away and let Adrien sort out his own way in life. The close relationship with his partner shone during their battles as they fought back-to-back. They trusted each other explicitly, even if they didn't know their identities outside of the masks.

A few minutes later, Gabriel rubbed a hand over his face with a low groan of disbelief. The shameless flirting, the overuse of banal puns, the casual way Chat Noir addressed his partner. That was how his son expected to win over the love of his life? Had his son learned nothing from his well-mannered upbringing? Gabriel winced as Ladybug sauntered a few steps away before flinging out her yo-yo and sailing through the streets, leaving his love-struck son staring wistfully at the spot she vacated. Adrien had it bad for his partner. Was that really the only way he knew how to flirt? That settled it. He would definitely have to guide his son to win over Ladybug's heart. Gabriel frowned. Subtly, of course. He didn't want to spook Adrien by revealing he knew of his son's extracurricular escapades.

He had sworn he wouldn't get involved with his son's superhero lifestyle. But those puns simply murdered the ears. Desperate times called for desperate measures. He just had to be careful. A hint here and there, a gentle nudge in the proper direction. Perhaps he can salvage his son's pathetic attempts at seduction. Though to be fair, if Gabriel was a betting man, even he wouldn't have wagered upon Adrien's success.

After a few more days of meticulously combing through every single video, interview, photo, and analysis on the Ladyblog, Gabriel believed he had a fair grasp of his son's flirting techniques. Or rather, the lack thereof. He twirled a pen, deep in thought over a new problem.

He hadn't been able to spend much time with Adrien as of late, and he couldn't exactly pull his son aside and declare "Adrien, your Chat Noir flirting techniques are horrendous. Show a bit of class." Nope. Wouldn't do. How would he be able to convey his advice to Adrien? He supposed he could lead by example. But on whom? The only lady he interacted with regularly was his assistant, and the mental image of him dropping suave pick-up lines on Nathalie caused an involuntary cringe. He didn't relish the thought of having her quit the instant the words left his mouth. Or walking away with a slapped cheek. Or both. She was such a good assistant. Hmm, perhaps he could ask her for her help in this matter. If she had a heads-up as to his intentions, she might be willing to play along. Ah, but then he would have to explain how he knew of Adrien's horrendous flirting habits. And that wasn't a conversation he was willing to have with his assistant, no matter how much he trusted her.

Back to square one.

As luck would have it, the first lesson occurred during a bit of an impromptu outing with his son. He needed to check on something at his main office. It was a beautiful spring day, sunny but still lingering with the faint chilly remains of winter. He eschewed his driver in favor of walking. He often drew inspiration from everyday encounters and enjoyed meandering through the Parisian streets, observing the world around him. The summer line would be due soon enough, and he could do with getting a head start. Adrien tagged along, fiddling with his earbuds and muttering something to his shirt pocket and dear lord he was so obvious it was a miracle in itself his identity hasn't been discovered already. Gabriel cleared his throat.

"Is your shirt dirty?" he asked, stopping in front of a nondescript window. He faced his son.

Adrien's hand dropped and he stared up at his father. "Uh... what?"

"Your shirt. I couldn't help but notice you keep looking down at it. Did you spill something on it?" Gabriel decided to tease Adrien a bit. "Let me have a look. I know how to get any stain out of any fabric." He bent down to peer at his son's pocket. Flustered, Adrien stumbled backwards a few steps and held out a hand to stop his father.

"No, no, it's nothing like that. I was getting... a little hot and wanted to fan myself. So I don't sweat."

Gabriel straightened and fixed his son with a steady look, one Adrien returned with ease. Where had his son learned to lie so well? A stiff wind blew through the narrow street then, fluttering Gabriel's coat and eliciting a small shudder from Adrien. Well, perhaps not that well. Sweating indeed. Gabriel chose to ignore Adrien's obvious lie and turned back around. Thankfully, his son won't be talking to thin air anytime soon. He hoped not, at least.

A vocal argument caught his attention at the same time as Adrien's. Father and son turned in unison to the source. A dark-haired woman sat across from a man, staring at him aghast.

"How dare you," she cried, clearly fighting tears. "Of all days, why today?" She buried her face into her hands.

The man stared down at her, his expression bland. At her sobs, guilt flashed through his eyes and he reached out with one tentative hand to attempt to comfort her. Thinking better of it, he sighed and murmured something to her in a low voice. She continued sobbing, ignoring his efforts to communicate. After a few seconds of this he stood, frustrated with her unyielding cries, and stalked away, not once looking back. Adrien's hand clenched into a fist and glared at the man, clearly wanting to chase after him, but Gabriel swiftly stepped forward. Adrien dropped his hand as his father's sudden actions caught him off guard.

Gabriel had instinctively cataloged her outfit the moment he spotted her – a chic skirt in pale orange and cream-colored silk blouse with a bright yellow scarf to add a pop of color. He paused a moment beside a flower cart and selected the brightest orange sunflower he could find, paid the vendor, and continued onward to the woman now attempting in vain to compose herself. Adrien trailed behind without a word, curiosity burning in his eyes as he no doubt wondered what exactly his father intended.

Gabriel reached the woman and stopped beside her chair, extending the sunflower to her. She looked up in astonishment. "I am so terribly sorry that man cannot see what a travesty it is to cause someone so beautiful to weep." The woman continued to gape at him. He offered a gentle smile. "I hope this brightens the darkness in your day."

A slight flush appeared on her cheeks as she accepted the sunflower with a small smile. "Thank you," she said, reaching in her purse for a tissue to dab her eyes. A square of white interrupted her search and she looked back up. Gabriel held out his handkerchief, decorated with his brand's logo and monogrammed initials. With another blush, she accepted and thanked him.

"Madam, in my humblest opinion, that man is worth neither your time nor your tears." With these parting words, Gabriel turned and left the table.

"Wait!" she called after him. He turned. She held out his handkerchief.

He shook his head. "It is yours, madam. I sincerely hope it never has to wipe tears from your eyes again."

"Thank you, Mr...?"

"Gabriel," he answered.

"Thank you, Gabriel," she said, "for your kindness."

"You're welcome."

He turned back and swept past Adrien, ignoring his open-mouthed stare. He knew the silence wouldn't last, and sure enough after a few dozen steps, Adrien voiced his disbelief.

"What was that?" he asked, falling in stride with his father.

"That, Adrien, was the devastation of a fool breaking up with a woman and leaving her to fend for herself in her grief." Gabriel continued walking past the shops. They were nearing his office, but he slowed his gait, guessing that this conversation might last a while longer.

Adrien frowned. "That's not what I meant, Father, why did you buy her a flower?"

Gabriel released a long-suffering sigh. "It was an orange sunflower, Adrien. Sunflowers, to signify that she should not give up on that which makes her happy and to signify my pure intentions. Orange because it complemented her outfit."

Adrien frowned at this revelation. "Uh, flowers have meanings?"

"Of course they do. Do you honestly expect that for centuries of courtship, men relied upon the intellectual romantics of a joke or a pun?"

Adrien bristled. "I like puns."

"And those are perfectly acceptable to banter about with friends, but not for romantic endeavors. Take, for instance, the actions of our intrepid hero Chat Noir."

As expected, Adrien's head shot up and he fixed Gabriel with an intense stare. "What about him?" His eyes bored into Gabriel.

"It's quite obvious that Ladybug and he are merely friends," Gabriel said, keeping his voice a steady tone of nonchalance, "despite the tabloid stories. Chat Noir jokes with Ladybug. You must have seen their interactions at our home. Casual flirts tossed about as frequently as insults to their opponent. Ladybug knows that Chat Noir doesn't take those seriously. She knows to him it's just playful banter with no romantic intent." As expected, his words struck a chord with Adrien. He hid a smile as his son frowned and slowed in his steps, thinking very carefully upon his words.

They walked the rest of the way to the office in silence and made it past the front desk before Adrien spoke again.

"What about all those times Chat Noir took a hit for Ladybug?" he asked as Gabriel pushed open the door to his office and stepped inside. He tapped a switch on the wall and light flooded the darkened room. Gabriel faced his son for a moment.

"Whatever do you mean?"

Adrien followed his father inside the office and closed the door behind him. "Well, you know," he said as he ticked them off on his fingers, "Puppeteer's puppets, Dark Cupid's arrow, Timebreaker's tou– Father? Are you okay?" Adrien's brows furrowed in concern. "You've gone pale. Are you feeling okay?"

Gabriel stood frozen, staring at Adrien, the blood drained from his face.

"Father?" Adrien's voice grew worried. "Father!" he cried.

Gabriel blinked. He shook his head. And immediately regretted his decision as the floor rushed up to meet him. Adrien darted forward in a flash. He grabbed Gabriel's elbow before he tumbled to the ground. Adrien secured his arm around Gabriel's back and guided him over to the couch. "Wait here, Father," Adrien ordered, "I'll go summon some help."

"No," Gabriel called out, gripping his head in his hands. Adrien paused with his hand on the doorknob. "I'll be okay. Just a sudden bout of dizziness."

"I'll get some water," Adrien said and slipped out the door before Gabriel could protest again. Gabriel closed his eyes. Only seconds passed before Adrien returned, hastily cracking the seal on a bottle of water. "Here," he commanded, thrusting the bottle in Gabriel's hands. He accepted with a murmur of thanks and forced himself to sip it instead of gulping it down. "Father, are you okay?"

Gabriel took a few more sips of water, still attempting to school his expression into one of calm indifference. "I'll be fine," he assured Adrien. "What did you mean earlier?" he questioned, going back to the reason he nearly collapsed in the first place.

Adrien peered at him in confusion. "Earlier?"

"About Chat Noir taking hits for Ladybug," Gabriel prompted, hoping he didn't sound too desperate.

"Oh." Adrien shrugged like it was no big deal. "It's just what he does. He's taken lots of hits for her, even getting temporarily controlled by the akuma victims. Doesn't that show that he loves her?"

Oh dear lord he could not handle this right now. His son – his brave, lovesick, stupid son – has nearly died on more than one occasion to protect Ladybug. How had he not known this? Why had he missed all of this? The videos showed none of this!

"Wha- H-how-" Gabriel gulped and started again, "How do you know this? It's not in the news reports."

Adrien flushed at first, then thought about it and turned his gaze to his father with suspicion. "Since when do you read the news reports on Ladybug and Chat Noir?"

"Since they personally saved me several weeks ago."

Adrien deflated. "Oh, well I think it's on the Ladyblog," Adrien offered.

No, it wasn't. He scoured every inch of that blog. Every link had been clicked, every picture downloaded and studied in detail, every video meticulously analyzed a half-dozen times. He let it drop. But made a mental note that his son needed to invent better excuses. Really, his constant trips to the shower made him seem like a germophobe. His friends either thought Adrien was weird or Gabriel had impressed that attitude into his son over a lifetime. Gabriel wasn't too pleased with either possibility.

"Isn't that enough?" Adrien's voice shook Gabriel from his musings. What were they discussing? Oh, right. His son's death wish.

"There are several kinds of love, Adrien," Gabriel explained. "Yes, while it shows that Chat Noir loves Ladybug, it doesn't show that they are in any way romantically in love." Gabriel toyed with the idea of pointing out that Adrien would jump in front of danger to protect someone like Nino but that didn't mean he was in love with him. He refrained, thinking that might lead to some uncomfortable confessions that Gabriel would jump in front of those same dangers to protect Adrien as well. He didn't want to stun the boy into a coma.

Oh, he was definitely going to punch Hawkmoth in the jaw once he finally laid eyes upon him.

Adrien quieted at that. Gabriel recapped the water and rose to his feet in slow, easy movements. He walked over to his desk, waving off Adrien's offer of assistance, and spent the next half-hour working on some last minute design changes. Adrien stuck his earbuds back in and played on his phone in silence until Gabriel was ready to leave.

The walk home was uneventful and Adrien didn't speak much during the time back. Gabriel hoped he was pondering the day. Or plotting for the future. When he caught Adrien's eyes near the mansion, they shone with grim determination. Gabriel hid a smile. It would appear Adrien inherited his resolve after all.

Author's Note: This is planned to be a three-chapter story (updated weekly). I hope you enjoy it! I love writing about little-used characters and I'm a total sucker for redemption-type stuff. I hope Gabriel is not Hawkmoth but he's able to grow into something that's not a complete jerkface (yes, I said jerkface). In that regard, I suppose he is wildly out-of-character in this story.