When Gabriel was shown into the room to see Adrien sitting at a table and Nathalie standing off to one side, on her tablet as always, he would admit he was surprised. He didn't show it, of course.
The guard showed him to said table, locked his handcuffs to the table (really, what did they think he'd do?) and then backed away so they could talk privately. Well, as privately as they could in this place. He hadn't even been to trial yet, and they were already treating him like he would be a permanent resident.
The look Adrien shot him was what really surprised him, though. He'd expected anger, hurt, fear, maybe regret or sadness, probably a lot of the old submissiveness and blame. He got all of that, true, but it was how his son delivered it – in an expression of such utter coldness that Gabriel almost thought he'd looked into a mirror.
He didn't want to admit how much that scared him.
He also got hate. Not the overwhelming, burning desire to destroy, but the accusation so intense that Gabriel knew asking for forgiveness would be futile. Which was probably a good thing seeing as he didn't plan on doing so. He'd have to explain too much.
After several minutes of the two of them staring at each other, Gabriel finally decided to start the conversation.
"Well, I must admit that this is a surprise."
Adrien didn't answer. Instead he kept glaring.
After another long, tense pause, Gabriel felt his own expression cool. "I assume you're here for something?"
To his surprise, his son scoffed at him. Adrien had never scoffed at him. He wasn't sure Adrien could scoff before today. A feeling of ice began to grow in his stomach. He had to remind himself that he'd done it all to protect his family, but a small voice whispered in the back of his mind: Had he ruined Adrien in the process? He hadn't thought it would be this bad... Maybe he should try to apologize, no matter how pointless?
"It's not like you have anything better to do," the younger Agreste said.
Maybe it was the last several long days in prison; maybe it was just the fact that his last hope had been ripped from him by his own son; maybe it was just the sheer weight of how wrong everything had gone, but Gabriel decided he would let Adrien have this one. He was too tired to do anything else right now. Besides, the boy obviously needed to vent.
And yet he seemed perfectly happy to sit there and glare. "Adrien, I had my reasons—"
Unsurprisingly, Adrien interrupted. Surprisingly, though, he did so with a sort of cold, calculated tone that held no heat at all, whatsoever. It was so unlike his son that Gabriel stopped from the sheer strangeness of it.
"I don't care."
Then the former fashion designer registered what his son had said and he frowned.
"Your current actions state otherwise."
And there was the heat. Adrien's hands curled into fists as he leaned forward, green eyes narrowed. He hated that look. It almost felt like she was sending him that hated look...
"I have every right to be angry with you!" he ground out. "I had every right to be angry with you before you were outed as the terrorist super-villain trying to subvert Paris."
Gabriel wanted to deflate, back off and apologize. Adrien was right. He did have every right, and Gabriel didn't blame him in the slightest. He wanted to make this right... but wasn't that what had gotten him into this mess in the first place? Besides, his pride wouldn't let him back down.
"Is that so?" he countered. "Then why are you here?"
Adrien's mouth set firmly but he did back off. He didn't deflate or cower, though.
"Because she's more important than my anger."
Gabriel couldn't help but raise his eyebrows at that. Had something happened to Ladybug? But that didn't make a lot of sense. Why would Adrien think he could do anything at all? He was trapped in prison and most of his assets had been frozen. Was it something magical? He glanced down at Adrien's fists, noting the silver ring on the boy's hand still.
This was an intriguing, if puzzling, turn of events.
"I must admit that brings up more questions than answers," he pointed out. "What could I possibly do to help you? Or her?"
Unless she'd asked the boy to come and make amends with his father. In which case, it looked like she was wasting her breath. Adrien was not in a forgiving mood.
To his surprise, Adrien did deflate then. This kid was going to give him a heart attack with his whip-lash moods. So like hers...
"I... know everything," Adrien finally said, suddenly looking as old as Gabriel felt. "I know you were targeting people who were susceptible to a witch's kiss."
And suddenly, Gabriel's day took a terrible turn to the surreal. He felt his face pale and his stomach heaved. No... please no...
Either unaware of or ignoring Gabriel's reaction, Adrien continued. "You were countering the witches' magic by giving the despair a physical form and a magic of its own. Then, once Ladybug cleansed it, she would cleanse the witch's curse with it as well – from both you via your moth and the victim. I'm guessing, from what Plagg and the other kwami said, that your interference actually made the cleansing possible at all."
Gabriel's throat felt dry, but he forced himself to speak anyway. "How did you know that?" Why did his voice come out so raspy? And yet he couldn't find the will to do anything about it, his wide eyes remaining locked on his son's.
"I... well after talking, Ladybug and I came to a conclusion. We were wondering... I was wondering... I.." And there was the Adrien that Gabriel knew, stumbling around as he tried to find tactful words only to ultimately fail. The older Agreste realized that this discussion may very well be the death of him.
The teenager finally seemed to just decide to blurt his question out. Unsurprising. The question still caught Gabriel off guard.
"Was mom a magical girl?"
The room actually spun. He hadn't fainted in years, but he could recognize the signs and had to fight them off.
Apparently his reaction – or lack thereof – was enough for Adrien because he shrank in on himself even more and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I always thought she looked younger than she should. There's only so much that makeup can do for you after all."
When Adrien glanced back up at him, his eyes were full of pity. Gabriel decided he'd take the accusation over that any day. He still couldn't bring himself to speak.
"Is that why you were after the miraculous? What you wanted to wish for?" Adrien asked softly. "Is that why she... disappeared?"
The pieces were starting to form together in Gabriel's mind. Adrien was here for Ladybug. Adrien knew about magical girls and witches and... was there a curse on the Agreste name? Because why else would something like this happen to both of them?
"Don't tell me..." he practically croaked out.
And then the accusation was blessedly, mercifully, painfully back. "Yes," Adrien practically hissed. "You see, everything else, I could forgive you for. You were trying to help in your own, twisted way. But in another life, in another timeline, you took the earrings from her, threatened her, tied her down socially and emotionally – you took everything from her and so she made a wish. The terrorizing of Paris? I hated it, but I'd get over it eventually, especially with this new information. The lies and the endangering of my friends? That one would have been harder, but I still think I could have done it with time. Even the abandonment. Sure I'm going to have to have therapy, but again, I still think I could do it.
"But that? You took her earrings knowing she'd be vulnerable! By trying to prevent or undo the very thing you so desperately chased, you caused it! Now she's... she's..." he couldn't seem to form the words and Gabriel couldn't seem to breathe past the lump in his throat. "She's what she is now because of you! And I can't forgive that."
The silence that fell between them felt more like a chasm, filled to the brink with so much negativity... No, Gabriel realized, he couldn't cross this. By trying to reunite his family, he'd only torn it asunder more. By trying to save his wife, he really had lost his son too.
Yes, there had to be a curse on his family.
"Adrien," he started. "I..." but he didn't know what to say. 'Sorry' really didn't seem to cover it.
And yet again, his son surprised him by scoffing at him. "At least you understand how bad this is. That's the most reaction I've seen from you since mom disappeared." His mouth seemed to catch up with his words as Gabriel flinched.
"Did she... did she become a witch?" Adrien asked.
"I don't know," Gabriel responded. But he'd always suspected. Why else would she just up and disappear like that? Even if she did leave Dusuu behind – Dusuu who she kept around simply for company because she couldn't use his power. Why would another girl move into her territory? He'd seen her, the new girl, himself multiple times before... Why else? He couldn't think of another reason, unless she had to run from something... but what? He'd confronted the new girl as Hawk Moth before the battles between himself, Ladybug and Chat Noir had driven anything to do with the incubators away. She'd claimed she hadn't done anything to his wife. Nooroo had confirmed that she'd been telling the truth. So unless another girl with a grudge had come...
"I... I'm assuming your kwami told you everything," he finally managed to say, with some of his former dignity even.
Adrien nodded. "Yes."
Gabriel shook his head. "I'm confused. What do you possibly think I can do? I spent years tying to find a way to undo this very situation and in the end, it seems I only fed into the cycle." Why did he feel even more tired now than he ever had before?
"Well," Adrien replied, "you can start by telling me how the miraculous wishes work. I don't know if another wish is the answer here, but I'm going to explore all options."
"And what of the Guardian?" Gabriel asked, brow furrowing in confusion. "Wouldn't he be better to ask?"
Adrien frowned. "He isn't exactly the most... forthcoming. Although I do plan on discussing this all with him and My Lady later. You've been actively looking for a way to fix this, though, so as much as I may dislike it, your insights could prove to be invaluable."
The former villain raised an eyebrow at his son, more out of worry than amusement. "You speak like me when you're angry like this. Do you know that?"
Adrien's jaw visibly clenched.
For several seconds, Gabriel debated saying what came to his mind before he threw dignity to the wind.
"Adrien, please don't make the same mistakes I did. By doing what I did – by putting your mother's safety and existence above everyone else's – I hurt you, and apparently so many others. I don't expect your forgiveness, but I ask you to break the cycle." His voice quieted to a whisper. "Please."
For several moments, Adrien didn't say anything. When he finally did, his voice had softened considerably. "That's what I want to do; break this cycle. Fix it, change it, eliminate it... whatever we have to do. Not just for Ladybug, but for the world. For every person out there who has been hurt because of the incubators. Let's irradiate this whole, messed up system."
xXx
Chat Noir showed up at Marinette's house later that night looking far more serious and grim than she'd ever seen him. It didn't exactly reassure her. He still tried to put on a smile for her.
"Hello, Princess," he said.
She sighed, glanced at Tikki sleeping peacefully on her pillow, and pushed herself up onto the roof. "You don't have to fake it for me, kitty," she said softly, reaching up and pulling him into a hug when she could do so comfortably. He stiffened, surprised at first, before he ended up melting into her arms, clutching at her like his very life depended on it.
"You don't have to talk about it if you're not ready," she whispered, so grateful just to have him and to know that he'd always be there for her.
He squeezed just a little tighter for a moment before he sat back, shoulder slumping. "No, I need to tell you. It's... just not going to be easy."
"None of this is," she replied softly, her finger running over the ring on her finger that her soul gem became.
He snorted, but didn't comment on that further. Instead, he just cleared his throat. "I was right. Mom was a magical girl."
Marinette closed her eyes as she breathed deeply, her heart aching. It made so much sense. "Dad was looking for witches... looking for her. He was going to use the wish of the miraculous to bring her back. He... he was planning on giving up his own life for her."
Adrien choked and Marinette just stared at him in horror before reaching forward and taking hold of his hand, squeezing it hard. He returned the gesture, then coughed and took a deep breath.
"He gave me the spell. Apparently he had it memorized. Has had it memorized since she disappeared."
This time Marinette didn't respond and when Adrien looked up, she knew he'd only be able to see a blank mask because really, there were just too many revelations for her to just be able to keep up with it all.
"Oh," was all she finally said. "So... you told him."
Chat Noir shook his head. "No, he guessed."
She wasn't sure if that made her feel better or not.
He looked down at his ring. "Part of me is convinced that we should never use this wish," he said softly. "But part of me—"
"No," she said firmly, getting onto her feet and putting her hands on her hips as she glared down at him. "I told you, I will not give up someone else's soul for mine."
Adrien blinked at her for a moment before smiling sadly and shaking his head. "You've got me all wrong, My Lady."
Her brow furrowed and she crossed her arms. He took that as encouragement to continue (or at least not an outright rejection – she wasn't sure she wanted to hear what he had to say) because he went on.
"There are a few types of wishes that don't have collateral... at least not current collateral."
She frowned. "What do you mean?"
He swallowed. "If we wish about the future, it will balance itself out. As long as it had nothing to do with people currently living, then we could make a wish."
Her frown deepened. "Like what?"
He swallowed, but seemed to steel himself. "For instance, we could wish a child was born who could stop all of this somehow. Who will be able to change it all. A child with enough power, will and morals to conquer the incubators. Or with the potential to change the whole nasty situation. It's just..." he paused, glancing down at his hand. "We're not sure what kind of life that child would lead. I'm... not sure I could do that to them."
Marinette didn't answer, but one hand was still wrapped around her stomach while the other rested on it and cradled her chin thoughtfully.
"Can we put modifiers on the statement?" she asked. "Things that would make the child's life easier, like having a loving family and good friends and that they'll never want for food and what not?"
Adrien frowned in contemplation. "I don't see why not... but we should run this by Master Fu and the kwamis before we decide to do anything."
For several seconds, the only sounds that could be heard were the whistling of the breeze and the rumbling of a city that never really sleeps, despite the late hour.
"Since when did my chaton grow up into... this?" she asked quietly. "Where did the reckless abandon go?"
He seemed to smile despite himself, although he looked away from her. "There are a few things I would never be reckless with. One of them is Paris. The other is you."
Her own lips curved upwards into a soft smile. "That's the cheesy cat I've come to know and love."
Chat perked up a little at that. "You love me, My Lady?"
Instantly, Marinette felt her cheeks flush. "W-w-well, It's not like I never you hate – hated you! – or anything. Partner is Chat after... Um You're my hot – chat! You're my Chat Noir! My partner! Yes!"
The blond raised one eyebrow in amusement. "We're back to the stuttering now?"
"I st-stutter when nervous am. When I'm nervous!" her arms were flailing and she felt like she was only digging herself deeper.
"Do I make you nervous, Princess?"
Just when Marinette didn't think she could get any redder. She really should have known better. "No! I mean of course not! Why nervous would you – I mean why would you make me nervous?"
He sat there for several seconds, just scrutinizing her in a way that made her feel like she was about to faint because she hadn't really had the time to cope with the fact that Chat Noir was Adrien Agreste and he was standing right there and he'd offered her nothing but support and he was her partner and she didn't know exactly what she felt about all of this right now because it was just too much on top of everything else and were those spots climbing into her vision? Could she even faint as she was now?
"Mari," and suddenly he was right there, holding onto her, which was a very good thing because she may very well have collapsed if he hadn't. She may still collapse because now he was holding her. Oh, gosh, he was actually holding her and they were so close and...
"Hey," he said softly, "I want you to know that this..." he gestured to her, "doesn't matter to me. You're still human."
That brought her back down to earth really fast and she had to look away. "Am I?"
"Yes." He sounded so sure.
"I wish I knew that like you seem to," she muttered, leaning forward. For a moment she forgot that this was Adrien and just drew what strength she could from her long-time partner.
"Well, even if you weren't, that doesn't change who you are."
She shook her head. "How can it not change who I am? I'm inherently different now – from everyone else and from what I used to be."
She felt his chest rise beneath her and he let out a sigh. "Because you are the type of person who would rather shoulder the world instead of letting people get hurt. You refuse to trade your soul for another's. You still want to fight to protect Paris despite everything that has happened to you. And that is still the Marinette – and the Ladybug – that I fell in love with. Twice."
At that, she stiffened and pulled away, looking up into his earnest, kind face. She found no hint of dishonesty or exaggeration. Just a pure honesty that spoke of how strongly he believed his own words.
"Y-you love me?"
It was his turn to blush and stammer and put a hand to his head to rub it nervously.
"W-well I kind of always did, I think. Because I loved Ladybug from the first time I saw her, but I've loved Marinette for a while now even if I didn't really want to admit it, but you were always so strong and so cute and even if I don't know why you always stutter around me and I really hope that changes because I really like talking to you and... I should probably stop now, shouldn't I."
She snickered. "Might be a good idea."
"As my princess commands," he said with a deep bow.
Marinette rolled her eyes, "You're such a dork."
"But I'm your dork," he said, wiggling his eyebrows at her.
She sighed... then something occurred to her. "Do you really mean it?" she asked.
Chat looked over and blinked at her. "Excuse me?"
"When you said you loved me... do you mean it?"
He blinked at her as if it should be obvious... which, really, it kind of was. "Of course I did, Princess. You didn't think that my declarations were all for show, did you?" She didn't answer, and he wisely didn't press it. Instead, he just reiterated. "Yes, I love you, Marinette. And I will always be here for you."
"Even when I don't deserve it?"
He scoffed. "I can't think of a situation where you wouldn't deserve it, but even if that somehow did happen, yes."
She took a deep breath and rested her forehead on his chest again.
"Thank you, kitty," she whispered.
"Anything for you, My Lady."
xXx
Master Fu and the kwami's weren't exactly happy with the idea, and no one liked the fact that they would have to wait an indeterminate amount of years to see if their wish even worked, but when all was said and done, they laid out a carefully worded wish, performed the spell and said it together.
Within the year, half way across the world, two girls would be born; one with strawberry blond hair so bright it almost looked pink while the other would be sickly with dark hair. And they would be put on a path to meet.
xXx
AN: It seems I don't do angst for long. . . . Ah well. Not complaining too much here.
I may add more to this, because I think the universe is worth exploring, but for the most part, consider this the end. I'm going to mark it as complete.