Chapter 2. A Cunning Plan. Pt. 2
"It has been a long time my friend." An old man dressed in a Hawaiian shirt stated, "What kept you?" the man chuckled.
"Apologies, Master Fu. My work has been very hectic." Replied Gabrial.
"Eh! No need for formalities Gabrial. We're friends, are we not?" chided the half Chinese man.
"Yes, Fu. We are friends in deed. But many years have passed, and I'm afraid my business has taken its toll on me in terms of addressing one's friends."
"I see. Perhaps, your business has changed you in more ways than in just addressing people, Gabrial." Fu hummed, "If I remember correctly. Is it not the child's responsibility to keep a father on his toes – and not a man's work – my friend?"
"I know. That is why I am here. I've made a terrible mistake, Fu. And I don't know what to do."
"Yes. I am aware of that." The wrinkled man stroked his beard wisely, "But I can help you, Agreste. Come, come."
Fu shoed Gabrial through the door as he turned to walk down the hallway. The Agreste following obediently.
At the end of the dusty, stale hallway, among the potted plants, rugs and old Chinese décor, there was another door engraved with the Chinese language. Master Fu waltzed through the entrance, a respectful Gabrial on his heels whom recognized the familiar room immediately.
"You haven't changed one bit, have you old man?" the designer chuckled softly – a first since Adrien was younger – as he saw the undusted portraits of previous Miraculous holders, one in particular featuring a young faced Gabrial and a less greyed Fu pulling silly faces at the camera.
"On the contrary to you, Agreste, who has seemed to have changed a lot."
Said man winced in obvious discomfort at the elder's words before clearing his throat, returning to his usual, cold demeanour, "Yes, well, times have changed. I can no longer be the ridiculous, hard-headed teen I once was."
"You got ridiculous right." Fu retorted, "But if I am still as wise as I once was, I do believe you were compassionate, quirky, rebellious and hysterical in your younger years!"
"Perhaps, not… hysterical." The platinum haired man defended. But this only succeeded in making the older man laugh.
"Ahh, but Agreste! I think you'll find that you are in denial!" Fu said cheerily pointing a thin finger accusingly at Gabrial – large wrinkles forming under the old man's eyes as they shone with mischief, "But never mind that! Those were traits you once had, and deep, deep, very deep down… I still believe you have. These are traits that your own son, Adrien, has inherited."
"What do I do, Fu? I've driven my own son away, I've hurt him emotionally and I've failed as a father. Before I know it he'll leave me just like Alexandra did… my dearest wife. I'm driving my own family away Fu."
At the end of his rambling, the designer found himself sitting in a small wooden chair – head in his hands – as Master Fu boiled a pot of tea on the stove in the next room.
"Do you love your son, Gabrial." It was said more like a statement than a question.
"OF COURSE, FU! Adrien's my entire world! My inspiration for everything I create."
"And yet he is the only one who does not know that. You claim to love him yet you show him only anger and displeasure. Why?"
"I don't want to hurt him Fu!" Gabrial had lost his calm. What is with me? He thought, I'm never this emotional I'm supposed to be collected!
"You are not only hurting the boy by staying away, Agreste. You are hurting yourself, also."
"I've already said that I was hurting him." The designer remarked, slowly regaining his composure.
In the background the kettle bubbled and squealed. Breaking the room's tension with a high pitch whistle, cutting through the dense air like a Japanese blade.
"Master Fu," Gabrial began, "I have come to you for help… not for counselling!"
"But you need it." The old man quipped, "Some anger management lessons would do some good also."
"I fear it is too late for me to fix the broken relationship between me and my son. I'm scared I will lash out at him… just like I did to his mother. One day soon, Fu, he is going to discover what I did… and he'll have no one to help him, no one to lend a shoulder to cry on… no one to love him properly. He'll end up just like me. A sour man whom buries himself in his work and unwillingly hurting his family. Adrien must not end up like me… he's too good of a kid. It ends with me. It is too late for me to change, Master Fu."
"You're giving up?" Fu asked astonished.
"Yes. I am no longer the compassionate, and in-control "Papillion" I used to be. I am nothing but an empty shell of who I once was. Even now, after years and years of my attempts to let go and move on I am still punishing myself and everyone around me. Even now, I am barely in control of my rage –"
"One sugar or two sugars?" Fu interrupted, holding a spoon in one hand and a teacup in the other.
"This is no time for tea, Fu!" Gabrial roared, hands thrashing at the stunned, short man, simultaneously knocking the cup from his grasp. Both men watched as the antique china split into jagged shards across the wooden floorboards.
Gabrial's face turned from that of rage, to shock, to horror, as he stared silently at his hands.
"I see." Murmured Fu as he finally grasped the severity of the situation. He stroked his beard in thought, making him appear all the more wiser.
Gabrial sat back down in his chair, eyes downcast, "Master Fu, my son needs someone to love in his life, someone who can in turn love him – not for his celebrity status – but for him. It is too late for me to make a difference."
"Are you positive you want to do this, Agreste? Give up on yourself?"
"Yes, Fu. I am certain. I will do anything to give him the love he deserves…"
"And you say you are no longer compassionate, Gabrial. There is hope for you." The old man encouraged.
"No, Fu. I don't want to do this anymore. The sooner this ends the better. I can no longer live with myself for what I did… for what I've done. Please Fu, respect my decision. Help me. Old friend, if you will not do it for me nor or friendship please, do it for my boy, Adrien." The elder Agreste pleaded, "I will do anything…"
"There was a minute of silence before Master Fu spoke, "I will help you help your son, Gabrial. For you are my friend. But there is a price to pay, for love."
"ANYTHING!" Gabrial shouted joyfully.
With this conformation, Fu turned towards his record player where a green, turtle creature slept, "Wakey, wakey Wayzz. We have to wake the others." Fu told his kwamii.
"Okay sir." The turtle replied as he flew out of the short man's way.
Master Fu slowly opened the hidden chests to reveal five pieces of jewellery divided by seven segments, with two of these segments missing jewellery.
"The Miraculouses…" Gabrial questioned, "How are they going to help?"
Fu said nothing as he took out a broach in the shape of a butterfly, "I believe… this is yours." The man said as he turned back to Gabrial with the broach held out before him.
"But I gave it back years ago," Gabrial protested, utterly astounded, "I am no longer fit to be a hero, to be the Papillion."
"Not 'Papillion'. Not a hero. But 'Hawkmoth'. A supervillain." The old man stated calmly.
"Are you mad, Fu?!" Gabrial was gobsmacked, to say the least.
"You and Alexandra were once Paris's mightiest heroes, battling the Bee Miraculous user whom had become corrupt after her sister's death. I believe the three of you were friends in your civilian lives?" Fu questioned.
"What does it matter now, Fu? That was all so long ago… I am the only one left now…"
"You and Alexandra fell in love after discovering whom your superhero counterparts were. I intend to achieve the same thing with your son and one other. Whomever they may be." The Chinese man said with a twinkle in his eye, secretly happy to be playing matchmaker again. However, he was sad to see that it was at the cost of one of his eldest friends.
"But if I am the Villain, my son the hero – we will be fighting against each other. He will despise me once he discovers who I am." Gabrial retorted.
"You said so yourself that it was too late to change anything Gabrial. You are the one who wants to depart, and be reunited with your wife."
"I want to apologise to her Fu… for everything. But I won't do that until Adrien is okay. But he'll hate me!"
"There is a fine line between love and hate. And you said so you would do 'anything'. You can always leave him a message explaining everything, Gabrial. And I mean, everything."
The Agreste was silenced by his master's words. He had said he'd so anything… but if he became a supervillain, it would be his intention to harm the superheros – his son! But his son would have the support of a fellow superheroine, a friend, a partner, a lover…
Pushing his own emotions aside like he so commonly did, Gabrial questioned "And what Miraculouses will my son and his partner have?"
"The black cat and the ladybug." Fu replied.
"That's insane." Gabrial exclaimed, his eyebrows drawn together showing his disapproval, "The ladybug and black cat are the most important Miraculouses. They haven't been used in decades because of the power Tiki and Plagg wield. Especially after the last wearers destroyed each other!"
"Precisely." Fu answered the usually stoic designer, "Tiki and Plagg deserve two individuals who will treat them right, who will give them back their happiness. The ladybug and cat Miraculouses will also be your objective, your supervillain objective."
Gabrial could do nothing but sigh in submission, this was his idea after all, "Alright. I'll do it. But who will be the bug and whom the cat? Who will we choose to be my son's partner?" the man asked.
"Oh no! There is no need for use to choose, for Tiki and Plagg have come to an agreement themselves." Fu said as he took out the ladybug earrings and cat ring from the chess before putting them into their own ornate boxes and handing the box holding the ring to Gabrial, "leave this in Adrien's room when he is absent. I will give the earrings to Tiki's chosen hostess, myself."
"But who is the girl?" the Agreste questioned.
Master Fu smirked, "she is Marinette. Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Baker's daughter and inspiring fashion designer. Tiki tells me she goes to a school called 'College Francoise DuPont', grade 10. If Plagg has not made a mistake with his information that this is the school Adrien was trying to attend this morning. Ami I wrong?" Fu asked.
"You seem to have been prepared for this, Fu. Already organising hosts and gathering information."
The old man chuckled uncomfortably, "well, let's just say I was planning on giving these out to those two whether or not there was a supervillain to fight. And whether or not you were wanting my help with your situation. He he…"
Saying nothing, Gabrial gave a nod towards the Chinese man before leaving silently. He had made up his mind. He would do good by committing evil. He would provide his son with someone to love. Adrien will love Marinette. Marinette will love Adrien. They both will hate Gabrial.
His son – Adrien Agreste – would become a well-loved hero.
He – Gabrial Agreste – would become a well despised villain.
The plan was set. It was perfect.
He would become, Hawkmoth.
Such is the price to pay for love.
Deep down, Gabrial was a good guy.
A/N: BUT WAIT! IT'S NOT OVER YET! We still have an epilogue! I will update this Tuesday afternoon (Sometime after 4:00pm) 'cause you know, school and junk. :P But anyways guys, I hope to hear from you in the reviews, don't forget to fave or follow as I am planning to do ML stories in the future (as soon as I finish my ROTG, HTTYD and SAO fics). So, until then!