Chapter 14

Immediately after Gabriel's transformation, the akuma victims fell and returned to their normal states, releasing a large strain of black butterflies into the sky. The people fell to the ground, confused and panicked.

Gabriel was still grabbing onto me, I took his hands and stood him up, keeping sharp eye contact with the man I once called my father. His hands shook vigorously beneath my grasp.

"Tikki," I uttered under my breath. "Take the earrings and give them to Alya. We need Ladybug." I felt Tiki's presence leave my side and float over to first, Marinette, then Alya, who transformed behind me. She touched my shoulder gently, comfortingly, for a mere second and then was gone.

Gabriel looked at me with sad, tired eyes. His glasses had slid down his nose a bit, and his tears were lost to the rain.

The reveal had left my insides twisted, I wasn't sure what to think. Especially with the way he was acting now, as if he knew he made a mistake. However, the things he'd done, were unforgivable. The things he'd done to my family, and my town, it just wasn't something you could forget about overnight. I knew I couldn't act too drastically, he didn't know who I was after all, not yet anyway.

I unhooked my belt from around my waist and wrapped the tight leather around Gabriel's wrists, tying them together in a tight bind like handcuffs. He didn't make a single move to get away.

An ambulance sounded behind me, snapping my attention towards it. The town had been evacuated hours ago, it was strange to hear civilians again. However, I had never been more thankful to see a group that refused to leave. The survival of my team made sense to me now, people like this, they were heroes too.

Nino walked up to the ambulance and conversed with the driver while two other paramedics rounded the vehicle and opened the doors to pull out a gurney.

My heart sunk.

"Nino!" I called out. Nino jogged over, panting heavily with fatigue.

I placed Gabriel's hands in Ninos. "Watch him. Don't let him out of your sight." Nino nodded in understanding and took Gabriel from me. Turning around quickly, I ran halfway to Marinette's broken body, laying still in the rain. The paramedics had just reached her.

At the halfway mark between Gabriel and Marinette, I stole a glance back at Gabriel. I wanted to make sure he was watching, I wanted him to see the damage.

We made eye contact, his purple eyes meeting mine, then, I uttered the words, "Plagg, Claws in." A green light surrounded me, wind whipping around me in a frenzy as my mask, my suit, and my ears all melted away to reveal Adrien. Me.

Without waiting to see his reaction, I ran the rest of the way to Marinette.

…

Chat Noir stopped, I didn't think he would. But, when he turned around with that damaged look in his eyes I understood.

A bright green light surrounded Chat Noir and dissipated into the misty air, leaving Adrien standing in its wake.

I thought I had been broken before this. I thought I was already beaten to my core and put through the hellfire with my actions in the past few hours, but this was a whole new level of torture.

It ripped through me like lava, tearing my muscles and stomach to shreds, melting my insides into a boiling puddle of blood. The guilt, the terrible feeling of I did this. I did this… to my family.

I tried to kill my son.

…

The paramedics had gotten Marinette up onto the gurney but before they could wheel her off, I stopped them.

Marinette blinked up at me, her eyes were starting to cloud over making it difficult for her to focus on me. She had lost so much blood to the 2-inch deep puddle at my feet. It soaked into the soles of my tennis shoes, squishing around in my socks. But, I couldn't focus on that.

Instead, I focused on Marinette's hands which were so cold and wet in mine. Her pale thumb traced itself over my knuckle shakily. Carefully, I tugged her hand up to my cheek, pressing her palm against my skin. We didn't say a word to each other, we didn't need to.

Marinette was still touching me when they pulled her away, refusing to let go until only our fingertips remained against each other's, and then the cold air replaced her touch.

The doors of the ambulance shut, closing her off from me.

Her parents. I thought. Her parents would want to know.

My heart started racing and my hands started shaking. I ran them through my hair to try to come myself down.

"I need a phone," I whispered, then, "I need a goddamn phone!" I screamed, voice echoing around the quiet square. Breathing heavily, I dropped to my knees, the reality of the last few hours settling in, embedding itself in my memories and in my heart. I sobbed into my hands, broken on the cobblestone beneath the tower. My heart had left in an ambulance, and I needed a goddamn phone.

…

Nino had tied me to a bar of the Eiffel Tower, keeping a watchful eye on me. I pressed my forehead against the cold wet metal, watching the sky blacken with storm clouds. The rain hadn't lightened any, and it didn't look like it was about to anytime soon.

Thunder rumbled in the distance.

Adrien screamed, and the world fell silent, but I didn't want to look. Didn't want to look at my disaster.

I just wanted my wife.

My eyes squeezed shut beneath my glasses, and like magic, she appeared on the backs of my eyelids.

Emilie's green eyes looked at me cheerfully, and her blonde hair was curled over her shoulder, just like it was every day. The sun bounced off her tan skin, illuminating the smile on her face.

She ran barefoot through the grass and the lavender dress she wore swayed back and forth as I stood and watched from the hill.

Adrien sat behind her on a green and white picnic blanket, waving at us with a strawberry plopped in his mouth.

Emilie waved back, then turned around to look at me. She raised her brow curiously at me, for I had not been following her.

Gabe, my papillon, aren't you coming? She asked. Her voice was like melted chocolate to my ears.

I smiled at her, taking a step closer, Of course, I just had to stop to smell the flowers. I responded.

Emilie grabbed my hand, a light blush brushing her cheeks, I love you, Gabriel.

I wished I could respond aloud, but instead, in my mind, I said, I love you too, Emilie.

…

I was starting to get sick of crying, especially since the rain concealed them, making it feel as though I had never been crying at all. Like, I wasn't letting it out, even though I obviously was.

A brown-skinned hand touched my shoulder, and I looked up. Nino stood over me, still bound in his war uniform. He crouched down beside me and without a word, wrapped me in a tight hug.

My arms hung loosely around his shoulders, aching from even the smallest movements. Nino didn't say a word, just held me while I bawled into his shoulder, clutching him as tight as my muscles allowed.

I wasn't sure how much time had passed by the time I was able to stand again, but it had felt like hours, and Nino was careful to keep a hand on me until I could steady myself. Giving Nino a look of thanks, I took a determined step towards Gabriel.

Nino stopped me, grabbing my shoulder.

"Man, don't do this if you're not ready." He said with concern.

I shook my head, "I just want to talk, but first we need to move him to a more secure location. Will you help me?"

Nino nodded, then followed me to the spot Gabriel was tied too.

He was sitting with his hands tied to a high bar and his forehead against the cold steel, his eyes were closed.

I shook his shoulder, and his eyes snapped open, a warmth in them I hadn't seen in a long time. It made me angry.

"We're going to untie you," I swallowed thickly, taking in my fathers bruised features and prisoner-like appearance before continuing, "we're going to have to lock you in a prison cell."

Reaching up, I untied my Chat Noir belt and with the help of Nino, we got Gabriel into a vacant car. Using the com system, I got together a small team to travel with Gabriel across town. They sped off, and Ladybug approached me carefully.

"How are you?" Alya asked.

I sighed, "It doesn't matter. I need a phone. Can I use the yo-yo?"

Alya unhooked the yo-yo from around her waist and placed it in the palm of my hand, "I'll be over there when you're done." she said, then walked off to help an injured person.

Quickly, I dialed Marinette's parents number, biting back tears as their happy faces lit up the screen.

"Marinette!" Tom said gleefully. Then, immediately, his smile dropped. "Adrien, where is my daughter?"

I touched the bracelet on my wrist and took a deep breath, the next words out of my mouth were the hardest words I ever had to say.

"She- Marinette… she-" My voice broke, but no tears came. Sabine covered her mouth and tears welled up in her eyes. Hugo started crying in the background and Tom quickly excused himself to go check on him. Hugo's cry supported me somehow, giving me the little bit of strength, I needed to finish the sentence.

"Marinette was stabbed, she's headed to the hospital now. The town is safe, please Sabine, go see her. She needs you guys."

Tom came back with Hugo, who looked at me for a split second through the phone, his blue eyes lit up with happiness upon seeing me. I gave him a small wave.

Sabine grabbed Tom's shoulder and sobbed into it, he reached around her shoulders and ran his rough fingers through her hair comfortingly before turning back to the phone.

"We will see you at the hospital, Adrien." Tom said.

No, I thought, shaking my head. There's business to take care of.

Tom seemed to read my mind because he said, "She'll only get better if she's surrounded by the people she loves, no matter the circumstances."

I paused for a moment, considering his words. No matter the circumstances.

As long as Gabriel was locked up, Paris was safe.

As long as Gabriel was locked up, I could see Marinette. What did I tell Marinette? Family comes first.

"I'll see you guys there."

Hello fellow Miraculousers!

I have such a bad writers block :( So, this chapter is mostly filler, and also slower due to all the action of the last few chapters.

Posting this chapter a little late because I've been working on designing a cover for this story. Are there any scenes that stand out to you guys that you think would make a great cover? (Without spoiling the story for others of course :) Let me know and I'll draw it up and play around with some ideas! Thank you, guys!