Chapter Text
They had the translated Grimoire, Gabriel hugged Nathalie tight. They could fix the peacock Miraculous now, she held onto him with the bit of strength she had.
They could heal her and Emilie.
“Wait here.” Gabriel gestured to the sick woman in the car seat. “I’ll be right back.”
There had been a pharmacy right around the corner, Gabriel remembered as he closed the door to their silver Mercedes.
They must have some Aspirin for Nathalie’s headache because even though no cure had been found – until now – it seemed to ease the pain.
It would be the last pack he had to buy for her.
Miracle Queen’s defeat was inconvenient, but they had won today. They had-
Gabriel stumbled into darkness and suddenly found himself inside, “the Rabbit Miraculous?”
Only through the Grimoire had he read about the headquarters of time, the one where all timelines combine.
“Bunnix?” Gabriel remembered the name from that future villain a few weeks ago. “What am I-”
His eyes landed on the portal next to him. Nathalie.
She seemed okay.
Suddenly, Gabriel – or well, a version of him – stormed in, enraged.
As the original one leaned closer to eavesdrop on their conversation, he lost balance and stumbled into the room, hiding next to the chimney.
The other Gabriel was too enraged to notice. “You gave Adrien a counter-order?”
Huh. How could Nathalie- “The power you have over him doesn’t mean you can go that far!”
He looked at her hand, and even though it was hidden behind the workstation, Gabriel knew instantly. The twin rings .
They were using them to control Adrien? And why did Nathalie have Emilie’s? Did they- did they get married?
“You were right, Nathalie.” He said in the fakest voice ever, as he made no effort to hide his anger on the way out.
Emerging from the corner, Nathalie was shocked, then she grinned before starting to laugh. “I never thought I would miss those hideous red pants.”
“Nathalie.” He pushed the computer to the side and sat on the bed, looking at her gently. She was still alive in the future. “Who was that? I mean, I know who that is, but why? What made him- me become like this, Nathalie?”
“Where, or rather, when are you from? I assume you came here with the Rabbit Miraculous?”
Gabriel nodded. “The day Ladybug became Guardian. How long ago was that?”
“About four months. I was wondering why you weren’t wearing any miraculous.”
“Why would I?” And how many miraculous were they talking?
“Nevermind that.” Nathalie smiled. “Tell me, what are you doing here, Gabriel? And why me?”
“Fate, I suppose.” But it wasn’t important. More of all, he needed to know, “Are you healed? And Emilie? Is she alive in the future? We found the cure for peacock miraculous.”
When Nathalie’s face fell, his heart dropped all the same. “It heals the magic but not those affected by it.” She took his hand, Emilie’s ring cold against his palm. “I’m sorry.”
There was no cure for what had been done. Emilie was still dead. Nathalie would die. Spending her last days under the wrath of a reckless madman.
“Is that why he is so ill-tempered?” Gabriel nodded at the door. Not sure how much time he had, he really wanted to punch that man for treating her that way.
“You and I both know how wrongly-used power corrupts the wearer’s mind.” Nathalie sighed while sympathy was still written over her face.
Gabriel frowned. “He has no right to treat you like this.”
“Doesn’t he?”
“No, this is wrong.” Shaking his head, realization dawned on him out of nowhere. “This is the wrong timeline.”
“You’re my Gabriel.” With a loving smile, she put her hand on his cheek like Mayura had done minutes ago. “But I’m not your Nathalie.”
“I’m sorry,” when her tragedy had already been sealed.
“You need to stop before it’s too late.”
Never would he become the coldhearted monster in white, Gabriel swore. With Ladybug as the Guardian, a deathless way seemed possible. But not here, he sighed, leaning over to kiss Nathalie’s forehead.
Among conflict and control, a wicked part of him was glad this was the wrong timeline.
“So?” Back in the burrow, indeed, there stood Bunnyx, smugly crossed arms. She had staged this. She had pushed him.
“Thank you.” She nodded before he went through the portal.
Pharmacy bag in hand, Gabriel returned to the car, quietly opening the back door.
“Did you get everything you needed?” Her half-lidded blue eyes reflected the sun.
“Yes.” He kissed his Nathalie’s forehead. “Let’s go home.”