…..Gabriel…..

"Dark wings fall." Hawkmoth said. He groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and index fingers. The skylight was just closing on the mid-spring sunset. He watched it close and caught one last glimpse of the orange and pink-flecked sky.

Gabriel put his red and white striped ascot and his black-rimmed glasses back on. Nooroo flew tentatively by his master's shoulder. Hawkmoth opened a pantry door in the room of white butterflies and uncovered a slice of store-bought-present-style cheesecake.

"Thank you, Master." Nooroo said. He sighed a little and took the small piece of cake. He kept his eyes low to the ground.

Contrary to what the Kwami probably thought, Gabriel didn't hate Nooroo, he merely saw him as a means to an end. He didn't love the creature by any stretch he felt perfectly indifferent.

"How did it go, sir?" Nathalie asked robotically. She didn't hesitate to make eye contact with him as he rose through the elevator in the floor. Gabriel pushed up his glasses.

"Another failure." He replied.

"My apologies sir," Nathalie said, she looked down and made the slightest expression of disappointment.

Gabriel walked over to the couch and sat down. He started flipping through channels and stopped when he reached the news. A helicopter was recording Ladybug and Cat Noir fist-bumping and celebrating their success. Cat Noir attempted to kiss Ladybug and she gently pushed him away. Gabriel noticed the slight blush rise on Ladybug's cheeks. He rolled his eyes. I may be able to use their affections against them. If those insolent children only knew the power they- The fast movement of Ladybug touching her earring stopped his thought. He glanced at Cat Noir and he too touched his ring. Her hands whipped back down to reach for her yoyo to leave. She swung out of the shot. Followed by Cat Noir in the opposite direction. Gabriel rewound the footage and zoomed in on Ladybug's Miraculous. The picture was blurrier than he would have liked, but it was undeniable one of the spots on Ladybug's earring was blinking in and out and disappeared. Ah, so they're on a time limit. She must go somewhere before she transforms back. The same could easily be said about Cat Noir.

Nathalie was watching him do this and came to a similar conclusion. "Sir, if we could send someone to follow Ladybug or Cat Noir to catch them when they transform back we could get their Miraculous' from them without their costumes."

"That was my thought precisely Nathalie," Gabriel replied. He got up, walked over to Nathalie and squeezed her shoulder before leaving his office to meet Adrien for dinner.

…..Adrien…..

Cat Noir landed silently on his veranda. "Claws in." He whispered.

"Haa." Plagg sighed. "You should really give it a rest with that Ladybug girl she's so not interested."

Adrien entered his massive room. Full of toys and presents from when he was a kid, things his father gave to him to shut him up. It's not like he really loves me. He winced at the passing thought. "You know why I can't do that Plagg. And besides, I think she'll come around eventually. She has before." He thought of the photo Aliya took of himself and Ladybug. That time they had amnesia. "I'll just have to keep trying." He shrugged to himself and kept walking. He stopped in front of his mirror.

Adrien checked his watch, he still had fifteen minutes until dinner with his father. He changed into his formal wear and combed back his messy hair, he should really slow down when he's fighting at least a little. But at the moment he can't really control himself it's like flying it's way too fun to just go slow for the sake of his hair.

"Why don't you go for that Marinette girl? She's totally into you." Plagg said between bites of camembert.

"No way. She's just a nice girl. She's just a friend. I even confronted her about it." Adrien replied while doing one final check in the mirror. He had to look his best and do his best maybe then his father would notice him more.

"Aaand?" Plagg got into Adrien's face. The little Kwami's breath wreaked of stinky cheese.

"And nothing Plagg. Come on. I've got a dinner to go to." Adrien gave a little smile and opened his jacket for Plagg to fly into.

When Adrien reached the table the meal was already set out. He checked his watch again, he was five minutes late. He cursed in his head, then sat down.

He and his father ate silently. "Uh, Father?" Adrien's voice quivered a little his hair was still a mess even though he spent so much time trying to fix it.

….. Gabriel…..

"What is it, Adrien." Gabriel tried on a smile. Emilie if only you where here, this is so hard without you. His left hand was on his knee under the table. He thumbed his wedding ring.

"I'm grateful that we are eating together tonight." Adrien returned his father's smile and went back to his meal.

"Of course Adrien." His heart panged. He didn't know what else to say. Gabriel forced down another forkful of flavorless food.

….The Following Morning….

"M-Master? Your son is leaving for school would you like to wish him well?" Nooroo asked as Gabriel was getting ready for his day.

"You are not to speak to me about matters that don't concern you. Unless you'd like to never speak again." Gabriel didn't even bother to look at Nooroo in the mirror. Gabriel wanted to have a more active role in his son's life but what would he even say? "Nooroo go to… our place of work. I will join you momentarily." Gabriel hated it when Nooroo was right and he didn't want to give him the satisfaction of seeing him do as Nooroo requested.

"Yes, master." Nooroo nodded meekly and fluttered off as he was told.

Gabriel stood in the stairway and watched his son leave.

Adrien saw him standing and smiled brightly he waved and said. "Goodbye, Father."

"Goodbye, Adrien."

Nathalie smiled at Gabriel. "That was very kind of you, sir."

Gabriel left without another word. He retreated to his sketchbook and worked on finalizing two of his greatest designs for his summer collection his first wasn't working he'd likely have to start over with it. The other he found pleasure in and finished it off. When he was halfway through new concepts for his first piece. his miraculous alerted him that there was someone in need of power. He left his work unfinished for the time being.

…..Nooroo…..

"Nooroo we have something different in mind today." Gabriel walked to the pedestal in large strides and removed his glasses and ascot.

"Really master?" Nooroo's expression was excited and quizzical. He rose a bit to meet Gabriel at eye level but was still careful enough to not make eye contact.

"You are to follow Ladybug after this villain is defeated to find out her identity. If you are found out and evaded by Ladybug I will take away your voice for as long as you serve me. You will never be able to open your mouth unless it's to eat to recharge your power."

There was wild energy to his eyes and only his eyes. If he wasn't paying attention Nooroo would think that his master was simply behaving as he normally does. Excitement perhaps…? Nooroo thought. Yes, this was the first time he had ever seen his master this excited.

"Is that understood Nooroo." That wasn't a question. Nooroo knew full well that his master would follow through with this if he were to fail.

"Yes, Master." Nooroo replied crestfallen.