Chapter 36

Both Adrien and his father remained silent during the ride. Adrien had no idea where he was going, if he was going anywhere at all. He was half expecting the limo to take him back to Hell, but it didn't seem like the case. At least, not yet.

Adrien carefully eyed his father while he tried to figure out what his Father wanted. He knew that he didn't take time away from his business and make himself known in broad daylight just to meet Marinette face-to-face. Something was up, and it was killing Adrien that he didn't know what it was.

"Well?" his father spoke up, breaking the silence.

"Well what?" Adrien replied back with a sneer.

"I'm waiting."

"Waiting for what?"

"Countless things. I'd most prefer an apology and a progress report with your new plan to capture the girl's soul once and for all but I'm expecting excuses and accusations. Or have you not thought of any as of yet?"

Adrien narrowed his eyes even more at his father. "You know what I'm waiting for? For you to tell me why you're here."

"I told you." he said as he chuckled. "I'm here to introduce myself to that girl. Make my presence known."

"No, why are you really here?" Adrien said as he folded his arms. "If that was the truth then you would've just introduced yourself and left. You don't need me here and yet, here I am."

Gabriel began chuckling once again. "You're as sharp as always son. You are correct, there is something else that I am here for but I do not wish to discuss them in this disgusting shell."

Dark shadows began surrounding Gabriel's body and consumed his appearance. When they disappeared, they left a humanoid figure with a dashing purple suit on his body and a black leather mask adorned on his head. A butterfly brooch was present on his suit, taking place instead of a tie. His eyes began glowing red and horns began to grow out from the top of his head. His form had completely changed into that of a demon.

"Ah, yes, this is more preferable." he said as he straightened out his sleeves. "I advise you to do the same."

"I'm comfortable like this." Adrien said, slumping back in his seat.

"That was not a request. It was a demand." Hawkmoth said, narrowing his eyes at Adrien. "I wish to speak to my son, not an illusion."

Adrien wanted to snap at his father and protest, taking offense that his current form was nothing more than an illusion to him. However, he knew that it would get him nowhere and only stir up troublr. He was reluctant, but he snapped his fingers which caused shadows to change his appearance as well into that of Chat Noir.

"Happy?" Chat Noir asked.

"I'd much prefer if your red eyes and horns returned but I will take what I can get." A cane suddenly formed in his hands, which he used to promptly place on the ground and lean on. "Now then, let's get down to business. You have entered a romantic relationship with the girl whose soul I ordered you to collect."

"Yeah? So what."

"Do you not see the problems with this, son?"

Chat narrowed his eyes even more at Hawkmoth. "Not a single one and I have no idea what you're talking about."

Hawkmoth began holding his head as he shook it, feeling irritated by his son's ignorance. He let out a sigh and returned to his former position. "Barring the obvious, let's talk about who she's in a relationship with."

"With me. So what?"

"No, she is not." Hawkmoth held out his hand with his palm facing the ceiling. Two blobs of shadows began hovering above it. They began squirming wildly and after a few seconds, they took shape so that one resembled Chat Noir and the other resembled Adrien. "She is in a relationship with who she believes to be Adrien Agreste."

"Yeah…?"

"You are not Adrien Agreste, however. You are Chat Noir who takes the form of Adrien Agreste for a pathetic charade."

Chat Noir winced, feeling stung by Hawkmoth's words. The taller demon smiled, happy that his son realized what he meant. He continued on with his point so that it was made clear and so that his son couldn't deny his words. "She believes she's in a relationship with a human, not a demon. How do you think she'll react once she realizes you deceived her?"

Chat began biting his lower lip. He knew what the answer was but didn't want to admit to it.

"You haven't even thought this through. Even if I did allow this relationship, she is a mortal; destined to perish one day and have her soul claimed. You are an immortal demon confined to the chains to Hell. What do you think will happen when that time comes? Once the old man claims it then it's gone forever."

"Then I'll get it before he does!" Chat barked back. "I'll meet her at the Crossroads and claim her soul for myself!"

"And then what? She'll want you to claim Adrien's as well. Do you tell her the truth that you were Adrien the whole time? Do you really think she'll want to go with you once she realizes you've been lying to her for however many years?"

"…"

"Or do you continue to lie for all of eternity? Say the old man claimed his soul before you could get your claws into it? Make her soul weep as she thinks that they've been separated until the end of time?"

"…"

"Face it; you were a fool to get involved with this girl. You should have just done your job like you were told."

Chat began clenching his fists. His rage was quickly building. Everything his father was saying was correct but he didn't want to accept it. He wanted to lash out and deny everything, but there was one small part of him that held him back, and that was the part that was telling him that his father was right.

"Let me ask you something Chat Noir, why does this girl not love you?"

"E-… excuse me?"

"Have you ever stopped and asked yourself why she felt romantic attraction to your Adrien persona and not your true self?"

"I- I…" Chat thought about the question. He thought hard and deep about it, but he wasn't able to formulate an answer. At least, he didn't formulate an answer that he liked. "I don't know."

"It's because she believes she's in love with a human. She does not have the capacity to love a demon like she does a human."

"Th- THAT'S NOT TRUE! MARINETTE'S NOT LIKE THAT!" Chat yelled, unable to contain his emotions anymore.

"THEN WHY DOES SHE LOVE ADRIEN AND NOT YOU!" Hawkmoth yelled back. "ANSWER ME BOY!"

Chat Noir remained silent. He couldn't answer his father and didn't want to dignify him with a response either.

Hawkmoth sighed as he calmed down. He leaned back in his seat and smirked. "You see my point."

"I have a question for you father, why do you care so much about what I do? I'm happy! Why can't you let me be happy?!"

"Because this is a false illusion of happiness you've casted upon yourself. It's foolish and unbearable to watch. I am merely making you realize the situation in its entirety and guide you back to the true path; the one you were meant to take." Hawkmoth waited for Chat Noir to respond but continued speaking when he realized his son wouldn't talk. "To answer your previous question, I do not personally care what do you or do not do. However, it is affecting our duties down there so I take it upon myself to get things back on track."

"If it's that important to you then why don't you have someone replace me so you can let me be?"

"You think I have not tried?"

Hawkmoth snapped his fingers, which caused a bunch of shadows to appear in the seat beside him. Chat Noir's eyes widened with surprise when he saw the figure once the shadows faded away. It was a demon that looked almost exactly like him. The only difference was that the new demon's hair was longer than his and the jumpsuit that the new demon sported was slightly unzipped at the front, which revealed a bit of his chest.

"This is my brother?" the new demon asked.

Hawkmoth nodded at the cat-like demon. "Yes it is."

"He looks rather… pathetic."

"Who is this?!" Chat Noir spoke up, being completely baffled by the situation.

"Where are my manners? Chat Noir, allow me to introduce you to your brother, Chat Noir." Hawkmoth's grin began to slightly grow. "However, you may call him Felix."

"I would say it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance," Felix spoke. "However, it isn't a pleasure at all. I expected more out of my big brother."

Chat glared at Hawkmoth, his fists beginning to glow with a dark rage. "Why does he keep calling me his brother?"

"At ease Chat Noir. He calls you that because I crafted him in your image, made from only the darkest and sinister shadows our realm has. As such, you have a slight familial connection with him but that is all." Hawkmoth wrapped his arms around Felix's shoulders and held him. "He is much more superior to you though. He obeys orders without question, he has no attachment to humans or the human realm, and he doesn't let his emotions cloud his judgement. One could even say he is the ideal son."

"Please," Felix used his thumb and index finger to pick up Hawkmoth's arm and push it away. "Do not touch me."

Hawkmoth grumbled. He collected himself and turned his attention back to Chat Noir. "However, he is not perfect. He is rather… rude to our clients. While he is superior, his track record is not as impressive. He does not have the silver tongue that you possess. He was only meant to serve as a temporary replacement while you collected the girl's soul. I only wish for you to return so that you can take your place back and I can dismiss Felix. You are my son but just like Felix, you are also an asset."

Chat was trembling, trembling from rage. He didn't care if he was replaced in Hell but he was replaced as Hawkmoth's son! At least, that's what it felt like to him. He was hurt, and it didn't help any that his father also called him an asset.

The fire burning around Chat Noir's hands intensified greatly, to the point where the outline couldn't even be seen anymore. Chat Noir was furious and he couldn't control his rage anymore!

He swiped at Felix with a quick and decisive strike. However, Felix moved to his side and let the cushion behind him take the blow. Chat Noir tried to swipe again, but Felix ducked and let the cushion take yet another blow. Chat roared, his frustration growing even more since he couldn't land a single blow on his target.

Chat swiped at Felix multiple times rapidly but each and every time Felix managed to dodge them perfectly. He wasn't even looking at Chat Noir either. His arms were folded and his eyes were closed and he was dodging all of Chat's attacks without so much as breaking a sweat.

Eventually, Chat became too tired to fight and slumped back into his seat. Felix chuckled triumphantly, seeing his so called "brother" in such a state. Chat Noir just glared at him while panting, hoping somehow that Felix would spontaneously combust and never return.

"Are you calm now?" Hawkmoth asked. Chat didn't respond but just nodded at him. "Good. Then I will extend one final offer to you."

He held up his right index finger at Chat Noir. "I will give you one week to collect the girl's soul. Just one week. If you do, all will be forgiven and we'll pretend all of this never happened and carry on with the rest of our eternal lives normally. Do you understand?"

Chat locked eyes with his Father and looked deep into them. He said to him as he panted, "I… refuse…"

"You refuse?" Hawkmoth's eyes began to flare with rage but Chat Noir didn't care. This was just an intimidation tactic and it wasn't working. He turned around and yelled at the driver. "Hey you Big Gorilla, stop!"

The man slammed on the breaks and caused the limo to stop. With another snap of his fingers, Chat Noir transformed back into Adrien and stared his father down. "Yes, I refuse. You may be the Devil but replacing your son is a new low. I don't care if the happiness I made for myself is false and temporary; I love Marinette and at least she cares for me as Chat Noir and doesn't seem him as some asset!"

Adrien opened the limo's door and stepped out. He took one last look at his father and said to him, "By the way, Adrien is not an illusion. It's who I really am! And who I really am is a magical girl!"

Without another word, Adrien slammed to the door and stormed off. Hawkmoth and Felix sat in the limo in silence, thinking about Adrien's words.

"What do we do?" Felix asked Hawkmoth.

"We wait." he responded. "An opportunity will soon arise which we will be able to take advantage of. One way or another that girl's soul will be mine and Chat Noir will assume his position back in Hell. All we need to do is be patient. But for now, we drive."

The driver took that as the cue to continue.

As they drove, Hawkmoth's mind began to fixate itself on something that Adrien said. "Felix."

"Yes Father?"

"What's a magical girl?"

Author's Note: Hope you guys liked the cameo I tossed in here ;D
For those that don't know who Felix is, I suggest going to Youtube and looking up "Ladybug 2D PV"~ He's basically the original Chat Noir until he was scrapped in favour of Adrien~
I thought it'd be cool to toss him in this story~

Also, I'm curious too~
What did you guys interpret as the reason why Adrien told his father he's a magical girl? :3
I meant for it as a way for Adrien to stand up to his father and say "I can be whoever I want to be and this is the path I chose/am choosing" but my Beta Reader interpreted it as he's losing his marbles XD;;
So I'm curious to read all the different perspectives with that line~