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Chapter Text

One.

Everything is quiet. Dead. The only thing showing him that time doesn’t stand still is the sound of waves hitting ruins of concrete and metal. Nothing is left in the depths of the sea. People have long been buried under tons of water, their petrified bodies disintegrating as time passes on. 

Two.

He likes to visit the high balconies the force of a destructive moon hasn’t reached. A small reminder that life isn’t completely gone. Insects have no food. Animals no place. Fish have claimed the flooded city of Paris. Sometimes, a bird would come by, settle on his white glove before making its way to a better land. He understands. He doesn’t want to be here, too.

Three.

He dives down to where it all started. “Sorry,” he would say to his girlfriend if she could hear him. “I hate you,” he screams at his lifeless father. Their expressions haunt him. He thought he would be strong enough. But in the end, he was just a puppet in his father’s plan. A fool of emotions. It’s what ruined them, their perfect little love story. It’s his fault. Maybe he doesn’t deserve to be saved.

Four.

It’s weird how time goes by. Clocks have long stopped working, electricity is a thing of the past. At night, it is blackout dark, two halves of a moon the only things illuminating the former City of Lights. At least those haunting nights are getting shorter again, indicating a change. The air isn’t freezing anymore, although he doesn’t feel much through the manipulated powers. It is all numb.

Five.

Lying on his back, he sings his favorite lullabies to stop his voice from rusting. Flights of birds come back, going north. They wouldn’t stop here. Nobody does. It is easy to forget days and months when the boredom of solitude consumes every will of life. 

Six.

It must be April by now, maybe even May. Funny to think about how long it has been since he has seen another human being. They don’t come for him, but then again, he doesn’t know if and where they have survived. Keeping him company were the fractures of nature starting to rise. A pathetic attempt to bring life into the tristesse of grey. There is no creation with limitless destruction at his fingertips, he thinks, while the sixth flower blossoms on Marinette’s balcony.

Chapter Text

Every day dragged and bled into the other. She wondered how that was possible. She loved Adrien’s visits whenever he brought her food or a book – he would always find some silly excuse to come and rant.

About school, his friends, an unnecessarily complicated love, his father. 

The very man who looked at her in pity every time he came to rant about victories and losses as Shadowmoth. He believed it was his fault she was in that state.

“I spoke to Mrs. Tsurugi, and she might have a walking aid for you. It would assist your legs’ strength by AI movement detect-”

“I don’t want it.” Nathalie declined. 

“Why?” They had had conversations like this, he frowned.

“I can go to the bathroom on the crutches just fine.” Neither Gabriel nor Tomoe had to go the extra mile for her. They already did help enough by getting her a portable workstation, an electric bed, shower seat, everything her sick body needed to die slowly.

There was no cure for her illness. From here on, it would only get worse. It wasn’t his responsibility, though – and she would never blame him – but she was oh so tired of this help. She decided to use the broken miraculous.

“At least try it,” Gabriel took her hand, “for Adrien.”

Nathalie sighed; he was right to play that card. Adrien shouldn’t see her rotting away like his mother, not when she could keep the facade as long as possible. 

And so she agreed to have her measurements taken by the fashion designer, and three days later, a Tsurugi cartonnage dropped onto her rug with a thud. 

“It should be fitting like a glove,” Tomoe explained when Gabriel got the robo-legs from the box and held his hands out to help up a shaky Nathalie. 

“They might feel uncomfortable at first,” Gabriel explained while adjusting the exoskeleton, “but you will get used to them in no time.” He looked at her with hopeful eyes. “Are you ready?”

Steadying herself on Gabriel’s hands one step at a time, the technology whirred according to her movements. It worked, Nathalie smiled. She was walking . She could help Adrien again, attend brand meetings, go somewhere outside- 

“Watch out!” But she landed face-first in Gabriel’s chest. Vibrations of his chuckle rumbled through her as he held her body in his strong arms, stopping their almost-fall. “Are you alright, Nathalie?” 

“Yes,” she grinned up at him while his hands steadied her back, putting a hand on his cheek like she always did, “I’m fine.”

More than fine, actually, a bit of practice – and some more for good measure, definitely not because of Gabriel’s loving attention – and she would have at least some life quality back. 

There was no cure for her illness, she knew she wouldn’t get to see Adrien’s next birthday. 

But like this? This seemed manageable, it sent a spark of hope into her eyes that reflected Gabriel’s holding her just a tiny bit closer. His voice was soft, deprived of the previous humor, but laced with tenderness. “Are you sure?”

When she stoked her thumb across his cheek, she appreciated that this time, there was no Hawkmoth mask. “Mhm.”

“I assume my technology will be of good use here.”

Although she couldn’t see , Tomoe definitely noticed the now uncomfortable atmosphere. “Of course. Thank you, Tsurugi-san.”

Chapter Text

“Next year, I’ll buy softdrinks,” Caline Bustier scoffed as she sipped on her water since the punchbowl had been spiked with alcohol.

It was a 9th-grade graduation party, after all. 

“I don’t mind,” Nathalie – who was on her third drink – said, leaning against the brick wall of the schoolyard. 

They watched the teenagers dance and have fun under the colorful flood lamps piercing the moonlight. 

“I’m glad Adrien’s father allowed him this.” Adrien’s black suit was shaking with laughter when Nino told a hilarious joke. His arm was around Marinette, and Caline was glad these two had finally figured out their confusing signals.

Unlike her and the red-streaked villain.

After Caline’s encounter with Mayura a few weeks ago, they had shared, well, feelings . But when they had met for dinner, Nathalie explained that there was no place for a relationship at the moment. With Hawkmoth, Caline’s pregnancy, and her kind-of stepson being in her class, things would be too messy. 

Caline had agreed, it was logical not to rush when there could actually be a chance for them in the future. 

Except that she wanted to kiss Nathalie at every single moment. See if her lips tasted as good as Mayura’s. Her hormones went crazy just looking at the woman who had ditched the turtleneck for a red blouse, her dark-blue hair falling down to her chest. Unsure whether Nathalie dressed up for the occasion or her , Caline found it working all too well. 

And the instant the villain lady held out her hand with a smile, she was back in 2002 when school-hottie Gisele Corbyn asked her to dance at prom. Like her braces-faced self, Caline grinned and let herself be guided onto the dance floor.

Nathalie was skilled. In everything she did. Holding Caline tight without putting pressure on her growing belly, she led them to sway side to side to the slow song Nino was playing at the DJ table.

Lights dimmed for romantic effect, Caline’s face rested against the slightly taller one’s shoulder when she watched Adrien and Marinette share a kiss. If they deserved an evening without Hawkmoth, so did she. And hell, she would make the best of it.

“I really want to kiss you,” she murmured boldly, turning them around, so Nathalie could enjoy the view of her happy son. 

“Mhm,” Nathalie chuckled before she whispered teasingly, “is that so?”

“Every time I look at you.” She felt the hands on her waist tightening their grip, confirming the desired result to get cool and stern Nathalie flustered.

“You wouldn’t want to cause a scene, Caline, would you?” Her alcohol-mingled breath was warm on her cheek freckles, making the redhead lose her mind. 

But, “after tonight, I won’t be Adrien’s teacher,” and as much as she’d miss him, “nothing is stopping us from continuing where we left off.”

Miraculous, children, miraculous children – they could figure it out. Mayura was abandoned, the heroes' victory over Gabriel Agreste only a matter of time, and yes, it was messy, but Paris’ whole last year was a literal circus. 

And in Nathalie’s arms, she felt safer than under the heroes’ watch because having a villain felt so enthralling, and comforting, and secure. She needed that

“Let’s go somewhere private then.” Nathalie’s fingertips dug into Caline’s blazer. “Because when I kiss you,” she whispered into her ear, “I want you to be just mine.”

Heart pounding, chest fluttering, thoughts spinning, Caline breathed, “are you sure?”

“Unless you don’t want to?” 

With more of a smirk, it was meant to provoke, and still, she found herself in an eager, “yes.”

“I know,” Nathalie said with pride in her voice. “The peacock’s magic is in my blood. I knew you wanted to kiss me from the second I entered the party.”

“Oh my God.” Caline blushed. “You’re cruel.”

“Yes. I’m a supervillain, remember?”

Chapter Text

“Whatever happens today, it will be our last fight?” Nathalie had been acting weird for a few days. Ever since she had come up with the ultimate plan, she constantly checked the finiteness of their villainy.

“I know you’re tired of this. Believe me, Nathalie, so am I.” He brushed a strand out of her face where she was lying beside him on her side, facing him. “It’s the end this time.” 

A kiss to her lips before he got out of bed and to his own room, exhaling as he closed the door. 

Why was she so eager to end this? What caused the sudden shift from being careful and calculating to almost recklessly plotting their final attack?

-

Adrien was safe with his bodyguard when Mayura created a sentimonster of him, however ironic that might be. 

It got Ladybug, who had an obvious crush on the model, into the Agreste Mansion, followed by an annoyed Chat Noir. “It’s a trap, milady! It doesn’t even look like the real Adrien!” 

“How would you know?” But his partner only had eyes for the other blond boy. Pathetic teenagers, Hawkmoth grinned from his stakeout. 

“Because- ah! ” 

In the blink of an eye, the heroes’ hands were cuffed into metal cages, tying them to the floor. 

Their unsuccessful attempt to free themselves was interrupted by Hawkmoth coming down the main stage, enjoying putting on a show.

“Pesky heroes,” he chuckled, whatever bit of sunset creeping through the windows reflecting a glint in his manic eyes. “So eager to help everyone, you ran right into the lion’s den.”

“See, I told you-”

“Insolent child!” Hawkmoth sneered, and Chat Noir flinched. “You are not to speak.”

“Where’s the real Adrien? What have you done to him, Hawkmoth?!” Ladybug snarled as she pulled on the handcuffs.

“Oh my, what would your little love cat over here think upon hearing you’re into someone else?” He circled Ladybug, playing with their infuriating love triangle. Everything to get them on edge.

“I’m not in love with Adrien!”

“Really?” Chat Noir looked over interested, and Hawkmoth lost his patience.

“Enough of that! You give me your Miraculous, or I’ll take you out.” 

“Never!” The boy protested, “Cata-”

“Tsk tsk tsk.” Hawkmoth shook his head. “Those are magical handcuffs. Your powers will malfunction if you choose to use them.” 

Originally, they planned on disabling their Miraculous completely, but the Tsurugi technology hadn’t been able to. Despite being against the idea of using uncontrollable powers, Gabriel had convinced Nathalie that it would be their best shot. 

Checking behind him, Mayura silently observed the scene – still shaken by snapping the copied Sentimonster out of existence.

He regretted having asked her to do that. It had been unfair, he reprimanded.

And whatever was going on with her, the added emotional stress wasn’t beneficial. Soon, it would be different.

Soon, it would be over.

Whether he would spend the next night with his wife or crying in Nathalie’s arms – hell, even in jail – the miraculous chase would be over. 

Forever.

“Cataclysm!” 

An explosion so fast, Hawkmoth couldn’t comprehend before he was blasted against the atelier wall. 

With ringing ears, his dizzy vision spotted the hole in the ceiling, the view to the top floor obscured by black smoke. Through the fire falling from the main bedroom, Hawkmoth could make out his partner’s silhouette, struggling to stand up from her knees.

A bit of relief to see her alive in the ruins that used to be their home. 

It didn’t matter today.

Blocks of concrete and fireballs crashing onto the marble floor, Chat Noir stood frozen in the middle of the battlefield, suit torn and hair messy – fixated on the destructive force coming from his hands.

Mayura slowly limped towards Chat Noir while holding the ripped dress up at her chest. “Let me take the handcuffs off.”

“No!” His voice was shaking when he stepped back. “D- don’t come closer.”

“I want to help you, Chat Noir.” What was she doing?

“Please… leave me.” He looked towards the living room, “I- I killed her.” 

“She,” Mayura coughed, “She will be fine. We have to get you out of here. It’s unsafe.”

The building could collapse any minute. Structural damage like this couldn’t even preserve the mighty mansion. But why was she caring about him , the enemy, and not her partner? It didn’t make any sense.

Yet.

Because when Chat Noir was about to panic from the approaching villain, the attic collapsed, about to bury the pair under raining fire. 

On instinct, Mayura leaped to tackle the boy out of harm’s way.

“Adrien!”

Adrien?

Hawkmoth’s blood ran cold as smoke and dust forced him to shield his eyes.

His son was Chat Noir. And Nathalie had known. 

It was the reason she had urged to end this.

“No!” Adrenaline in his system, Hawkmoth ran to the debris. “No, no, no, no.”

Tears in his eyes, he knew he should’ve listened to Nathalie. She had always been the rational one, while his desire for utopia would stop at nothing.

“Come on,” he pleaded as he threw the concrete off them, ignoring embers burning through his gloves.

The suits were almost invulnerable to attacks but not the elements. Cosmic energy couldn’t cancel earthly forces.

He had learned that when he had saved Nathalie from drowning, when Paris had flooded under an Akuma’s power. Wet as a dog, he had brought her to the attic.

That once safe haven was now her grave. 

Their grave, he remembered, upon digging out a small hand. 

His thumb to Adrien’s wrist – no pulse. 

Breaking down in sobs with his son’s lifeless hand on his face, Ladybug squeezed his shoulder. 

“We have to-” she coughed, “dig them up.”

Of course, Hawkmoth nodded. Yes, they should. 

Because under what used to be a load-bearing component, his son’s body was still transformed. His hands and the left side of his face were burnt, everything else shielded by Mayura. 

“Mayura.” Frenzied, Hawkmoth looked around to find any trace of her. “Where is Mayura?”

Ladybug, with tears flowing from her eyes as she held Adrien’s hand, looked at him unable to provide an answer.

“Mayura!” Thick voice threw debris like it were pebbles. “M- Mayura!”

His eyes burning from crying and dust, he froze as his fingers graced softness. 

Indeed, it was her. Or what was left of her. 

Her right arm was black, suit destroyed to reveal blue skin overflowing with dark purple blood.

Instinctively taking off his jacket to lay it over her like a blanket for modesty, he turned to Ladybug. “They’re still transformed. It means they- they can be dead then… right?”

Because the Kwamis drained power from their holders, there must be some left. There was hope. 

“Kwamis and their energies are immortal,” Ladybug explained in a whisper. “The transformations sustain. Even though the holder is… no longer there.”

“Your Ladybugs! Of course! Cast the cure and bring them back!” It was the solution; Hawkmoth rejoiced over the newfound hope.

They could restore everything to the way it was and- 

“I can’t,” Ladybug said, defeated. “My power allows me to create a magical object that repairs damage caused by a specific villain. But there is no Akuma this time. They were killed by the technology amplifying Chat Noir’s power. There’s nothing I can do, Hawkmoth.”

Silence followed when Hawkmoth gazed at the disaster he had caused.

Then suddenly, “I’m the villain.”

“What?” Ladybug looked at him incredulously.

“I’m the one that killed them.” Sincerely, he turned towards her. “Use my energy to create your Lucky Charm, Ladybug.”

“Wh- No!” The traumatized teen shook her head. “I don’t know what will happen to you if I-”

“ Stop ,” Hawkmoth interrupted, looking her in the eye. His family needed to be okay.  “It will bring them back, right?”

“...yes.”

He took her hand and placed it on the brooch. “So be it.”

An exhale before Ladybug spins her yoyo in the air. “Lucky Charm.”

Out came a butterfly in Ladybug patterns that fluttered onto the hero’s finger. 

“It’s alive.” Hawkmoth was astonished by the little being. This was no fork or pillow, it was a real living being.

“This Lucky Charm is made from your life force,” she explained. “Once I cast the curse, it will transfer its magic to repair the harm you’ve inflicted. On the building and on them. But the cost...”

“It’s an exchange. I understand.” Like the wish. It made sense that with everything they had studied about the balance of the universe, the power of creation could only cancel the power of destruction for a prize. “Please. Tell them I’m sorry, Ladybug.”

He never meant for this to happen, he nodded. And there was no room for redemption. 

In fact, there was nothing.

“ Miraculous Ladybug! ”

It was the last thing Hawkmoth would hear. 

Chapter Text

A vibration to her wrist caused Nathalie to smile.

-

About two weeks earlier, Emilie had lain in her arms whining about how Nathalie had to get ready for work and couldn’t spend the whole day with the stay-at-home mom. 

Her acting career had been on hold since André had become mayor, and Adrien was out of the age he needed constant attention.

All in all, Emilie was bored.

That was why, during her excessive Internet shopping, she had found partner bracelets.

“See,” Emilie had explained enthusiastically, pointing to the image on the computer, “when you press the button, the other one vibrates.”

“Why do I already know mine will vibrate all the time?” Nathalie had kissed Emilie’s cheek from where she was leaning over her blonde shoulder. There was no denying Emilie whenever she had her mind set on something.

Being rich, Emilie had jumped into Nathalie’s room the next day and held a small box into her face. 

She had opened it to reveal two bracelets, a silver one with a moon engraved on the button and a golden one with the matching sun. One with the inscription Talking to the Moon , the other reading Bathing in the Sun .

They were solar opposites, not only because of their color palette. 

Emilie was the Sun – bright and warm for everyone to enjoy. 

Nathalie was the Moon – mysterious and cold for only some to see the beauty.

One was amenable to the public, the other beyond reach for everyone but a few.

Emilie’s name was on posters and magazine covers, while Nathalie was the fashion designer’s assistant. One face being recognized in the crowds, the other irrelevant to the rich and famous.

But when everyone looked at Emilie, Emilie looked at her . 

At Galas, when Gabriel consolidated business relations, Emilie sought her moon. Knowing she was only across the vast ballroom, it seemed an unbearable distance. 

Because for Emilie, she couldn’t keep her partner close enough.

And whenever Nathalie helped Adrien with his homework, or when she read Gabriel's schedule or answered emails, her bracelet vibrated.

It meant come here , or I need you , or sometimes I miss you . But it always meant I love you .

So right now, Nathalie was looking down at the moon button lighting up, knowing Emilie had messaged her. That she was thinking about her.

She pressed back with a smirk on her lips. 

“You know, Nathalie,” Gabriel said smugly, observing her from his workstation, “Emilie asked me to get one as well. I don’t regret my decision.”

“I’m having second thoughts.” 

-

Six years later, Nathalie finds Emilie’s bracelet when she helps Gabriel reorganize the spouses’ closet. Everything needs to be perfect once Hawkmoth makes the ultimate wish. 

Her fingers glide over the engraving; cold metal. 

Physically, Emilie is here, Nathalie can see her, she can paint her nails and brush her hair. She can tell her stories about Adrien and feel her hibernating pulse.

But her soul is not. Emilie’s laugh, her sparkling eyes, her hugs and touches – everything that has made Nathalie fall for her a bit more every day she woke up next to her, spent her lunch break stealing kisses, and fell asleep watching the mother being exhausted by her whirlwind son.

Gabriel looks over to Nathalie sitting on the floor. He grins, “She truly annoyed you with that, didn’t she?”

“It’s stupid.” Nathalie chuckles burdensomely. “But I still charge mine.”

Offering a sympathetic smile, he sinks to the floor and hugs her, in attempt to provide comfort for the love they both have lost. 

That the distance between their spirits can not be mended by something as trivial as electronic bracelets. Mighty cosmic energies in the hands of children who are unaware of the power they hold, who fancy themselves with meaningless love stories – keeping a mother away from her family.

The gravity of their sheer tragedy forces a great divide between hope and death. A father, reclusive and grieving, losing himself in a lunacy of denial, his alter ego tirelessly fighting battle after battle from afar. A son, isolated and alone, trying to understand his father's absence and the venomous thoughts blaming his likeness. A mother, peaceful and hurt, stuck in a realm between worlds, her disappearance voiding the once suave, kind-hearted mansion. An assistant, helpless and burdened, who can but watch the family falling apart, an endless spiral of lies and dreams.

Their gleam of sunshine in two jewels beyond their reach.

As a tear escapes and tickles Nathalie’s face, she knows to put her faith in the pursuit of victory.

That someday, the sun will rise again.

Chapter Text

Monarch was defeated. Paris’ number-one threat for over a year was gone as quickly as he had come. All the Miraculous were back in Ladybug’s possession.

With the Team Miraculous back in full force, 18 permanent holders and 18 secret identities turned out to be chaos. Because there was no danger, no more superpowered villains, Ladybug made a wide-ranging decision.

“Meet me at the Agreste Mansion at 8 pm. The front door is open. Don’t wear pajamas,” she sent to the other heroes.

“Are you sure this is the right decision, Milady?” Adrien asked. 

Their victory came at the price of revealing their secrets: Adrien’s, Marinette’s, and of course, Gabriel’s. The catastrophe failed to appear; their love and friendship were closer than ever. 

“It’s time.” Marinette put down the knife she was preparing a fruit bowl with and went over to Adrien at the other side of the high table. “No more secrets.”

Adrien smiled and bent down to kiss her. For a functioning team, they needed to come clean. Because what good were crime fighters full of lies, excuses, and hurt feelings?

-

Food and drinks stood prepared on the dining table when Ladybug and Chat Noir waited hand in hand for the heroes to arrive. 

Rena Rouge and Carapace were the first to jump over the main gates. Adrien had been almost sure that he would’ve kicked the door open just to spite Adrien’s father, even though he wasn’t there. 

They greeted Nino and Alya - their secrets Adrien had known for a while. Argos and Ryuko he was aware of since the beginning; how Felix got his Miraculous made sense after Monarch’s reveal. 

Marinette had told him all identities when their secrets were out. Because what point was in keeping the secondary heroes a mystery when he already figured the team revolved around their former class?

Shortly after the rendezvous time, the plain mansion was filled with colorful costumes and laughter. King Monkey and Pegasus were at the snacks, Miss Hound was in a conversation with Pigella and Purple Tigress, while Rena Rouge and Carapace observed the team with the leaders.

Next to Chat Noir, Ladybug took a deep breath before clinking her juice glass, gathering everyone’s attention. 

“You might wonder why we called you here today,” she started. “Monarch is defeated.” Cheers came from the group upon their victory. “So that’s why we decided to reveal our identities.” Suddenly, the room went silent; some heroes exchanged shocked looks. Their secrets had always had the highest priority, and an accidental reveal had meant the exclusion from holding the Miraculous in the future.

“Now the pajama thing makes sense!” Vesperia realized, and out of the corner of his eye, Chat Noir could see Ladybug blush under her mask. He smiled as he remembered their meeting at the cinema and their date in the garden – both featuring Marinette in her pajamas.

“Yes. So would you rather do it all at once or one at a time?” 

“We could make it a game?” Carapace offered. “Why not have some fun?”

“What do you have in mind?” Ladybug asked.

“You know, like ‘Guess Who’?”

“Oh, and who already knows that person’s identity!” Pigella chimed in.

“Alright.” Ladybug smiled. “Let’s see who already broke my rules. Who wants to go first?” 

Pigella raised her hand. “I hate secrets.”

“Who knows Pigella’s secret?” 

Rena Rouge and Purple Tigress raised their hands. Ladybug said, “Rena, you know everyone’s. Pigella, you’re free to detransform.”

When Rose stood in her place, Rooster Bold goes, “that bubbly personality could only be you.”

Purple Tigress’ reveal was a no-brainer, as the couple had already been holding hands before. 

Two more couples, Ivan and Mylène, and Marc and Nathaniel were revealed to have been a bit too open about their secret. Nobody knew Pegasus, Vesperia, or King Monkey - but everyone knew Bunnyx. Well, except Felix who, “never cared about any Miraculous except the peacock.”

He explained who it was pretty, as disclosing the Sentimonster secret was one of the few things not meant for this room.

When everyone was unveiled, only Ladybug and Chat Noir stood in their supersuits; 16 pairs of eyes watched in anticipation. “So, who knows Chat Noir’s secret? He’s always been way more careful than me.”

Luka and Bunnyx raised their hands. Chat Noir smiled. “See, I’m good at keeping secrets. Claws in.”

“Adrien?” His cousin gasped. “Oh, that must’ve been a hell of a reveal.”

Adrien and Ladybug both frowned, and Felix understood the hint to keep shut. 

“I think I’m rather obvious now.” Ladybug chuckled. “But I’m still curious who already knew.”

Luka and Bunnix again, Alya, Felix and Kagami - but also Rose, Juleka, Marc, and Nathaniel. 

“How?” She gasped. Adrien didn’t know whether he’d be angry or pity his girlfriend’s blabbermouth.

“Well, it was kinda obvious,” Juleka shrugged.

“Yeah, your excuses were more nonsense than ever,” Nathaniel said, as he had known Marinette for years, way before she became Ladybug. 

“I wanna see you try to defeat an Akuma during a history exam.” She challenged, crossing her arms. “Whatever. Spots off.”

“Marinette!” The group yelled, encasing her – and in extent Adrien – in a puddle of hugs. 

“Hey, guys,” Marinette grinned. 

“See, Milady. Was that so hard?” Adrien kissed her rose cheek. 

When the pile of giggles had resolved, Luka asked, “Who was Monarch?”

Adrien adverted his eyes at the memory of his father’s detransformation. That he had lived under the same roof with Monarch all this time. That his mother had been a victim of the peacock miraculous, the very thing that allowed his life in the first place. The knowledge that his existence had stolen her life. 

“We don’t know.” Marinette lied. 

“How can you be sure that he’s truly gone?” Luka dug deeper.

Adrien noticed his partner fidgeting with her hands as she also relived the memories of their final victory.

“He wrote a letter,” Felix came up to help. “Acknowledging his defeat and the relinquishment of his power.”

A faint smirk of spite graced Felix’ lips because Gabriel Agreste would never give up without going down swinging. 

Adrien didn’t know how to feel about all these revelations about his father yet. He put an arm around Marinette, the safe haven in this mess. “So, who wants soda?”

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.”