Marinette goes to school, then goes to a massage parlour, something like that. Gabriel, that is your son! I'm going to call the child's protection.
Grizzly Bear – Slow Life
The next morning hit Marinette like a train. She hadn't got a blink of sleep last night, every time she would close her eyes, images of her partner's flooded her mind, and not the nice ones like she had every now and then. Sometimes, when she closed her eyes, she would see her partner being attacked by Hawkmoth, the villain choking him brutally, not giving him a chance to cry for help, and when Adrien was finally unconscious, Hawkmoth would take his ring and run. Other times, Adrien would be alone in his massive room, sick and sobbing, asking her for forgiveness, and she could only stand there, not being able to comfort her love. So, she just stood on her bedroom, lying on her bed and staring at the ceiling.
What she wouldn't give to never see Adrien so miserable again. She would even switch places with him if that meant he could be happy.
"Marinette…" Tikki called.
"I know, Tikki. I have to go to school…" She said numbly.
"I was actually going to suggest skipping school and stay at home today. I know you didn't get any sleep after last night."
Marinette sighed, Tikki was probably right, she was exhausted, the bluenette wasn't going to enjoy any second of school, but that wasn't fair, was it? Adrien had always gone to school, even if he was having the worst of days, simply because that wasn't a granted thing for him, he had to fight with his only living relative to go there, and here she was, considering not going because she didn't get any sleep.
The teenager stood abruptly from her bed, startling her kwami, "No, Tikki. I must go, for Adrien! And then we're going to visit Master Fu, we need to talk to him."
Like a fresh wave of energy had enveloped her body, Marinette dressed quickly and after having a quick breakfast, she practically ran to school.
"Hey, girl! How are you here before time?" Alya asked with a teasing tone, as Marinette silently greeted her pulling out her notebook from her backpack.
"I can't be late every day, Alya. The teachers would kill me!" Marinette retorted back. She frowned as she stared at the vacant seat in front of her, remembering how its usual occupant would smile at her, every time she would come late. Nino was sitting silently, headphones on his ears, ignoring his surroundings, just like he used to be before he and Adrien became friends.
"How is he doing?" Marinette whispered to Alya, pointing at Nino.
Her best friend released a sad sigh "He's been like this since we went to Adrien's house… Mr Agreste's words really messed him up. The nerve of that man! Telling us to forget about his son! How could we do that Marinette? What kind of messed up father doesn't want his only child to be happy?"
The bluenette let those words sink in, her gazed travelled downwards as if to keep the tears that were already forming at bay. Alya looked at her, and realizing her friend's feelings, wrapped her in a tight hug, "I'm sorry, Marinette, I didn't even stop to think how you were doing! We're going to solve this, I promise you!"
Marinette smiled half-heartedly at the brunette, her best friend didn't even know the whole story, this was so much more complex than all of them imagined it.
Suddenly, a shadow loomed above her, and as she looked up, the teen was gobsmacked as to who was approaching them.
Chloé was standing, next to Adrien's place, looking at the three friends with a frown, however, it wasn't the usual disgusted look that she threw at them, this one was much sadder, adding that to the lack of make-up on her face, she didn't look like the same person at all.
"Hey." The blonde greeted quietly.
Nino took off his headphones curious as to why Chloé was just standing there. "What do you want?" Alya asked aggressively.
The secret bee hero raised her hands, as if she was intimidated by the brunette, "I come in peace, I promise!" She warned, "I, I just wanted to know if, if you know something about Adrien…" She asked quietly.
"You see, he didn't come to school yesterday, and he's late, which he never is. He's not answering any of my calls, or messages either. And you are all looking miserable, so maybe you know what's happening…" She pleaded.
"Why do you care? You can't show him around if he's not here?" Nino attacked.
"I care because I'm his friend, he's my best friend, I've known him for far longer than he has known any of you." She huffed "This was a mistake, I'll just wait for him to call me back." She muttered.
"His father has taken him from school, he's back to homeschooling," Marinette explained.
"He's what?" Chloé breathed, "Why wouldn't he tell me?" She whispered.
"He didn't tell anyone, nor he's answering our calls if it's any consolation." Nino retorted.
"That is not like him at all, do you think his father took his phone away?" The blonde asked.
"I wouldn't be surprised if he did… That bastard!"
"Well, I'm going there! That man will see that what he's doing is so unfair to my Adrikins!"
"We've already tried that, didn't work," Marinette muttered.
"That's because you're you! I, on the other hand, have a much better chance of convincing him."
"And how are you going to do that exactly? You're going to threaten Mr Agreste with your stupid 'My dad is the mayor' card?" Nino chuckled, "I could see that working, except for the fact that you would only be kicked out of the mansion faster than you can say mayor."
Chloé didn't answer, she just stood there looking at them gobsmacked. She then went to her seat next to Sabrina and rested her head on her arms defeated.
"You didn't need to be so aggressive to Chloé, Nino…" Marinette scolded.
The DJ only huffed and put his headphones back. Marinette stared at her friends and Chloé sadly. If only she could tell them everything, maybe it would all be easier, four brains think better than one after all.
"I hate this!" She whined frustrated.
"I know, Mari… I hate this too…" Alya whispered as Miss Bustier entered the class to start the lesson.
A violent cough erupted from his core, as Adrien shook violently. He put his hand in front of his mouth as he kept coughing. When they had finally subsided, he was left breathless.
He looked at his pale hand that had been covering his mouth and couldn't help but grimace at the blood splatters that were covering it. He then slowly lifted his head, noticing the red liquid on his pillow, had he been bleeding, but from where? Shaky fingers grazed his nose and felt the moisture covering it, and when he withdrew them, they were covered in the same red substance that was on his pillow.
The door to his bedroom opened suddenly, earning an involuntary flinch from the boy who had his back turned to it. He felt the bed lowering a bit, accommodating the person that was now sitting there, and silently whimpered as a hand rested on his shoulder.
"I know you're awake, son. Are you feeling better?" His father asked with genuine care.
"Yes…" The teenager breathed.
"Could you, could you look at me, Adrien?" Gabriel asked warily.
Adrien closed his eyes. He didn't want to look at his father if he could still call him a father. He felt so drained, he really felt like he was dying, his father had lied to him, he knew the miraculous would hurt him and he let him use it anyway, he was willing to watch his son slowly dying so he could get his wish.
"Please, son, look at me." Gabriel pleaded, turning Adrien slightly.
Eventually, the young Agreste stared at his father, hearing a gasp from the adult as he noticed his son's bloody nose and hands.
"Did you bleed from your nose? Are you really okay?" He said as he stood, preparing to walk to the bathroom.
"What do you think?" Adrien asked sarcastically.
The designer seemed to have ignored his response and walked to the bathroom, returning with a wet towel to clean his face and hands. Adrien noticed a croissant and a glass of orange juice on his bedside table, and Gabriel, following his gaze to the food commented: "I brought you breakfast, do you think you can eat it?"
The teenager could only weakly nod in response, he wasn't hungry at all, but he thought that he might as well eat since he didn't exactly remember when was the last time he had ingested some food.
Gabriel put the tray of food next to him and helped him sit on the bed, arranging some pillows to accommodate him better.
He started to eat slowly, lacking the energy to even chew, as he started to gulp down the food, it was like his stomach was twisting painfully keeping himself from eating, however, he continued to nibble the croissant, he needed all the energy he could get.
He warily looked at his father who was oddly silent, just staring at him with a frown. After a few seconds, the designer started, "It's good that you have the energy to eat, we're going to attack Ladybug again tomorrow."
Adrien stopped eating, his father was going to make him use the miraculous again, last time had been so excruciating, he didn't know if he could handle the transformation anymore.
"If you work fast, it won't hurt you so bad," Gabriel advised, he then grabbed Adrien's wrist, applying some pressure on it, which only increased the blonde's heed. "I know she was here last night." The teenager's eyes widened in fear, as the pressure on his wrist increased, "Did you tell her anything?"
"N-no!" He stuttered, his wrist now throbbing painfully from the pressure.
"You know what happens if you break your part of the deal. Your friends will pay!" Gabriel threatened coldly.
"Pl-please, you're hurting me!" Adrien cried, gasping for air.
Gabriel loosened his hold on his wrist, but didn't let go of it, "It doesn't matter, you're not safe in here! You're going to stay in the lair." He said with a crazed expression.
Adrien was now panicking, his father would never be capable of locking him up in that horrid place, at least not the father that he used to know, "Please don't!" His pleads fell into deaf ears.
Gabriel stood abruptly grabbing Adrien by his wrist, which earned a painful cry from the teen. He practically dragged him from the room, the blonde didn't have any energy left in his body to resist him, so he begged, trying to poke at his father's consciousness "Please, Father, I'll behave!" He gasped, "Don't lock me in there, please!"
However, all his words were ignored by the older Agreste. When they got to the study, Gabriel let go of him to push the secret code on the painting, making him fall to the floor from the lack of support. He then grabbed his abused wrist, which was already bruising, and dragged him until they reached his mother's glass coffin. He wanted to puke, his father was going to leave him here with her, he would have to look at his dying mother all the time.
"Pl-please, don't leave me here!" He sobbed uncontrollably.
"I'm going to leave you here, so you can look at her, and never forget the reason why we're doing this! Do you think I like to do this to you, Adrien? But you're not learning, you still haven't understood why we need to save her! I thought you loved your mother, I can see now how wrong I was." Gabriel taunted coldly.
"That isn't true! I- I love her! I understand you, please don't lock me in here!" Green eyes full of tears tried to reach the other man's soul to no avail.
"I'm sorry, son, nor you, nor anyone will deter me from my goal." He muttered to his child while handcuffing one of his wrists to one of the thick metal bars supporting Emilie's casket.
The designer then turned his back and walked away containing his own emotions, ignoring the cries for mercy from his child.
School had passed at an extremely slow pace. Chloé would glance at them every so often, Nino didn't talk to them at all, and Alya had tried very hard to cheer up the group but gave up around lunchtime when she realized how futile that was. Thankful all the lessons were relatively easy so Marinette was able to pay the slightest attention.
"Time to see Master Fu…" She muttered to herself.
When she got to the massage parlour, Master Fu was already waiting for her, as if he had guessed she was coming. Of course, he knew, an Akuma attack like the one yesterday had never happened before, so it was only natural that Marinette would seek him for advice.
"Come in, Marinette, quickly." He told her.
They sat on the pillows that were scattered on the floor as usual, and Master Fu started to prepare a tea, like every time Marinette would visit him. She let herself sink in the comfort that this routine brought upon her for a few seconds.
She then shook her head to focus, there were urgent affairs that they needed to tend. "Master, the Akuma, yesterday…" She started.
The older Chinese man sighed, "I saw it… Hawkmoth is not alone…" He confirmed her suspicions.
"So, that really was the Peacock miraculous? Hawkmoth has an accomplice?" Marinette couldn't wrap her head around the idea that someone was helping a villain.
"I'm afraid so, Ladybug… However, you must keep yourself from judging this person, as far as we know, they could be obligated to fight alongside him." He advised as if reading the girl's mind.
"I guess only time will tell us that then. Meanwhile, we will keep protecting Paris, and defeat both of them."
"A wise thought, Ladybug." He grinned proudly at her.
Marinette, then bit her lip, preparing herself to deliver the much darker news she had found last night.
"Is there something else you want to tell me?" Master Fu questioned, studying her expression.
"Yes, I- I visited Adrien last night… The peacock might not be the only other miraculous Hawkmoth has…"
"What do you mean?" He asked apprehensively.
"Adrien, Chat Noir was attacked, he lost his miraculous. I asked him if it was Hawkmoth and he didn't deny it. We lost Chat Noir." She cried.
Master Fu's expression got much darker, he looked at his kwami as if they were having a telepathic conversation, and then turned to Marinette "Ladybug, I'm afraid we have come to a crossroad, a dangerous one, I think it's time to end all the secrets, they only led us to this situation."
"What?" she stuttered.
"Bring your team here, Ladybug. Tomorrow. You're going to tell each other your identities."
"You want us to do what?" Marinette questioned gobsmacked.
"The time has come. If my instinct is correct, Chat Noir is still in grave danger." Master Fu warned lost in his own thoughts.
*Laughs evilly*
Next Chapter: All of them just stood there, staring at each other until they were interrupted by a phone, Alya's phone more precisely. She opened the text she had just received: "From: unknown; I know you can reach Ladybug, I need to speak to her urgently, I have important information."
UHHHHH! A mysterious text, from whom? About what?
Anyway, I hope you liked the chapter, review and follow if you did. Thank you for the reviews and favs/follows from the previous chapters, if I reach 50 follows I'll pay you all a coffee (jk, I'm a student, so I'm poor xD)
See you next chapter.