Author's note: HOLY MOTHER OF CRAP, this took so long to write, I wasn't sure how to go about writing this chapter since I had several ideas. However, it finally came together and just took a really long time to write. So I hope you guys enjoy and have a great Valentine's day! I am so sorry though, this chapter hurt a lot and I hope you're all prepared for this. Tell what you think!
Louis could feel himself panicking as he felt his fingers shake over the keys. He didn't know why, but he couldn't play, was he afraid? Taking a shuddering breath, he looked at the song he was playing, it was one of his favorites, he asked his teacher to write an arrangement for him. It was "Don't Speak Her Name" a song from one of his favorite games, Fire Emblem Awakening. It was a beautiful song, but the arrangement that he's playing is hard, and he can barely play it perfectly. Louis then felt two presences next to him as he turned around to find Elena and Gavin looking at the song.
"Geez man, you must be a masochist, this looks so difficult!" Gavin exclaimed as Elena nodded her head.
"It's true, you've always chosen the hardest songs for the longest time I've known you," Elena added as Louis scoffed and smirked a little.
"You guys are just jealous that I like to challenge myself, this song is special, I want to be able to play it with all my heart," Louis sighed as he took his hands off the piano and leaned back slightly. Gavin smirked and gave Louis a friendly shove, brushing his own curly hair to the side.
"That's not what I meant dude, I just don't want you to stress out over it," Gavin started but Elena cut him off and agreed with him.
"Gavin's right, all of your recitals we've been to, you've been perfect, I don't think you should stress out over it," Elena gave Louis a sweet smile as he reasserted himself and laughed.
"You're right, you're right!" Louis tried to tell himself, trying to ignore the fact that his dad was also coming to see the recital. He tried so ridiculously hard to not let that bother him at all since he picked out the song for his mom, but it still gave his stomach a reason to leap and squirm, "other than the fact that this is the first time my dad will see me perform." Louis laughed nervously as Elena and Gavin shot wary looks at each other.
"Ok dude, I think you just need to unwind, you're extremely tense, and since your mom's out right now with your siblings, why don't we have some ice cream and talk it all out?" Gavin suggested as Louis perked up slightly at the suggestion, it did seem like a good idea actually.
"You know what? Why not?" Louis stood up and the three of them made their way over to the fridge to get out the strawberry, lemon, white chocolate triple-layered ice cream vat and served themselves.
"So tell me, why in the world are you so nervous?" Gavin asked as Elena joined them with her own cup, nodding in agreement. Louis sighed as he lifted the spoon to his lips, his tongue tentatively licking the ice cream off. It tasted really good actually.
"I just wonder if Mr. Agreste will even like my piano playing, it's so nerve wracking to even think about to be honest," Louis sighed even harder as Elena gave him a stern look.
"Oh course he's gonna love it, he adores your family, why wouldn't he?" Elena asked as Louis leaned forward on his elbows and twirled the spoon in his mouth. Louis eventually dropped the spoon from his lips and smiled a little.
"Yeah, you're right, it's just those nervous jitters," Louis sighed for the umpteenth time and smiled to himself:
"It'll be fine."
Meanwhile...
"We're gonna see our big brother perform! Isn't this great!?" Emma sang in the car as Hugo softly smiled to himself. He and his sister have always enjoyed Louis' performances; he would always play melodious songs for them when they were younger and Louis could now play amazing songs for the public to hear.
"I mean... we've always seen him perform, his songs are always amazing, he never messes up," Hugo bragged confidently as Marinette eyed both of them from the front mirror and smirked.
"We're going to support Louis at this recital because Adrien is going to watch Louis' performance for the first time ever, you guys saw how skittish your brother was this morning?" Marinette asked as Hugo tilted his head to the side for a moment thinking before he confirmed with her.
"He did act rather anxious this morning, but we got his back and we wouldn't miss his performance for the world!" Hugo agreed as he let out a wide grin and Emma nodded with him. Marinette smiled once more before continuing to drive.
Meanwhile... again...
"It's the boy's recital today, and Adrien is going to be attending... honestly, this farce is starting to get annoying. I thought I made it clear when Miss Dupain Cheng almost died," Gabriel grimaced as he set his phone that was opened to a surveillance app down on the table. Nathalie gulped silently and shifted uncomfortably in her standing position as she continued to stare at Gabriel.
"Gabriel... sir, you're not possibly thinking of doing something else are you?" Nathalie asked carefully as Gabriel sighed and leaned back in his chair as he narrowed his eyes at the woman in question.
"Tch, Nathalie, you know me better than that, of course I'm trying something else," Gabriel chuckled darkly as Nathalie felt herself take an sharp intake of breath. The things that Gabriel's willing to do baffled her, she didn't know what else to do other than just stand there. She could have ran, cried, prayed to dear heaven that she worked somewhere else, but she has to bear witness to this horrifying story.
"What else could you possibly try? Actually you know what? Don't answer that," Nathalie asked exasperatedly before quickly reverting her question as Gabriel chuckled so more, lacing his voice with the dark utter hatred she had grown to feel throughout the years. Sometimes, actually most of the time, she doesn't understand where all this hatred even comes from.
"If targeting Marinette doesn't work, I'll just have to shift the focus from her to the things she's trying to protect," Gabriel murmured as Nathalie took a step back in shock and gripped her tablet tighter.
"You mean?" Nathalie broke off without really expecting an answer.
"Yes... precisely, Louis..." Gabriel answered, earning a look of horror in Nathalie's eyes, "This will be the last recital he ever plays... ever." Nathalie gasped as she looked up at the golden tapestry of Mrs. Agreste, wondering if there was any way to pray for Louis' safety.
"Oh dear Emilie, protect him, your grandson's life is in danger, there's nothing I can do for him."
Adrien made his way down to find Nathalie and Gabriel waiting for him. It was a rare sight to see him though. Every echoing step was filled with anticipation as Gabriel eyed him coldly as Adrien gave him a small obligatory smile.
"Hello father, I assume you know that I'm going to be attending a recital today," Adrien said as Gabriel nodded and Nathalie frantically looked between the two men.
"Yes I am aware, it's the boy, Louis' recital if I remember correctly? The oldest son of Miss Dupain Cheng?" Gabriel said lowly as Adrien nodded and quirked an eyebrow.
"Yes... surprised you remember," Adrien said slowly as he walked past the air and headed towards the door. However, he stopped when he heard Gabriel says something else.
"Well, I'm coming with you, it's been such a long time since I've been to a piano recital, I hope it will be enjoyable," Gabriel murmured as he walked past Adrien with Nathalie following and out the door, "let's go then Adrien, you got cold feet?"
Adrien nodded mutely as he couldn't believe his ears; his father wanted to come to Louis' recital? He barely knows the kid, why in the world would he want to go? However, he knew better than to question his father... but he did it anyway.
"No, no, not at all, it's just... you barely know Louis and it just kinda shocks me that you would want to come to his piano recital," Adrien spoke up as Gabriel looked over his shoulder to look at Adrien calmly. Nathalie felt herself bite her nails as she honestly couldn't tell if Gabriel was one button away from snapping or not.
"Well, a man has a right to change his mind and I don't recommend you question me again," Gabriel replied pointedly before walking out and smirking with Adrien and Nathalie following him, "Then again, it'll be a truly great finale for the boy's story..."
"The finale?" Adrien wondered aloud as he narrowed his eyes at Gabriel; what was he planning? Is he going to do something? Adrien had avoided confronting Gabriel about the blackmail; there was no telling what else he could do, so he decided against it.
It was going to be the finale, a recital that was going to go down in flames; the crucial moment when the important things to hold dear to one's heart becomes clouded with smoke and uncertainty. There is a tragic decision to be made, a decision that makes a love a martyr. Louis straightened out his dark mahogany suit as he ran his hands through his hands through his hair with hair gel, making his curled fringe more of a plateaued fringe. He smiled proudly at himself in the mirror and walked out of the bathroom, earning the admiration of his friends.
"So, what do you think?" Louis asked as he strode out confidently to meet his friends and family, who were waiting for him. They were all dressed up and ready as well, but performers had to be even more formal than their family and friends since it's a requirement. Marinette clapped her hands together and shot him a smile, "you did a pretty good job this time Mom, as usual."
"Of course I did! You look so handsome, just like every other time you performed," Marinette ran up to him and hugged him tight before his siblings bombarded him as well with Louis chuckling happily. He got complimented by Gavin and Elena before all of them proceeded to head to the recital in their respective cars because there was no way Marinette could fit them all and Gavin and Elena's respective parents were already waiting outside so that was convenient.
"Are you excited Lu-Lu?" Emma asked as Louis turned around in the car seat to look at Emma incredulously.
"You haven't called me by that nickname in forever, what did you do?" Louis asked accusingly as Emma brushed him off and smiled.
"No, I'm just happy that Daddy and all of us get to watch you at this recital, it's so special and I just felt like it, I totally didn't do anything," Emma replied as Hugo arched an eyebrow and scoffed.
"Yeah I don't believe her, we all know you'll do great," Hugo grinned as Louis felt a new courage well up from within him. He can do this, he can play both his songs without a hitch. The family smiled as they drove off to the recital hall, the site of Louis' catalyst of martyrdom, the site where multiple destinies converge and Lady Luck loses her smile.
After the family parked and made their way across the street from the parking garage to the prestigious Bourgeoisie Theater, the home of all of Louis' performances. Louis made his way up to the front entrance and was greeted by his piano teacher, Monsieur Lee. Monsieur Lee was a graying man with a tongue as sharp as a tack, he was strict at times but he had a compassionate heart for bonding with his students. Louis regarded him as a musical genius since he had a doctorate as a professor of the musical arts.
"Ah Louis! And Louis' family, always a pleasure to see you, you know the drill," Monsieur Lee smiled warmly at Louis and his family as they walked up to greet him, "grab the program that's inside so you know who's going when, otherwise, I hope your family has a nice time, assuming Louis doesn't mess up," Monsieur Lee joked as Louis rolled his eyes and walked briskly inside with his family sharing a chuckle. Marinette picked up the program paper from the pile next to the entrance and scanned it.
"Hmmm.. Louis, it looks like you're going near the end, and you're playing two songs instead of one this time! Ooooooh!" Marinette looked over Louis' name with the two songs he's playing: "Don't Speak Her Name" by Hiroki Morishita/ Fire Emblem Awakening and "New Alberia" by Dragalia Lost. She's hear him practice the first one, but not the second, so it'll be new for the family. Although, was he practicing that one in secret?
"Alright, Adrien, you head inside the theater first," Gabriel directed as the trio headed from the lobby to the entrance of the theater, which was actually quite large and the stage had spotlights trained on it. The piano wasn't there yet, which was odd, "I have some business to attend to, I believe Miss Dupain Cheng must be arriving now, why don't you join her?" Gabriel gave a curt nod to Adrien before he and Nathalie disappeared down the regal and classily illuminated halls of the Bourgeoisie Theater. Adrien nodded back and noticed Marinette's family heading towards him and when Marinette saw him, she smiled wide and hugged him to which he hugged back with the same energy.
"Nice to see you're early Agreste," Marinette smiled as Adrien smirked back at her and directed his attention towards Louis, who beamed at him.
"Well of course, I'm seeing one of my favorite people perform, I wouldn't miss it for the world, thanks again for inviting me Marinette," Adrien replied as he have cheerful greetings to Emma and Hugo, who smiled at him before heading inside first.
"It's not a problem, alright, it should be starting soon, we should get seated," Marinette brushed her hair back slightly before she and Adrien headed in together, their shoulders bumping slightly. Louis smiled before he headed in, but before he could, an usher came up to him with a slightly nervous air.
"Greetings, you are Louis Dupain Cheng correct?"
"Yes, that would be me," Louis sported a confused look as the usher nodded and gestured his hand towards one of the other hallways in the theater.
"Yes, there is someone who requests your presence, your family has already assigned seats in theater, they are front row VIP guests, and you'll accompany them soon enough, but you have a small business to attend to before you can," The usher said rather quickly and nervously. Louis nodded before smiling apologetically at the usher.
"Alright, relax, you look half scared out of your mind, who needs me?" Louis asked as the usher nodded mutely before turning and gesturing Louis to follow.
"You'll know soon enough, just follow me," Louis followed the usher upstairs and walked down one of the hallways of the theater to stop at a rather fancy conference room door.
"Your host is waiting in the Grand Conference Room, I bid you good day," The usher bowed before leaving Louis at the double doors. Louis took a slow intake of breath before resting his hand on the doorknob and entering the room with a steeled resolve that was almost shattered upon seeing who was inside.
Meanwhile...
"Hey Chloe, Luka, Alya, Nino! I am so glad you guys could make it!" Adrien exclaimed as the aforementioned group smiled and beckoned for the family to come over.
"Elena practically begged us to go, your son better be good Marinette, otherwise this might as well be a waste of time," Chloe murmured as everyone took their seats and Luka shot Chloe a look.
"Well, it's not gonna be a total waste of time, I'm looking forward to Louis' playing... speaking of which, where is he anyway?" Luka asked as Marinette thought back.
"I think he was called to deal with an issue with something with his teacher, I saw an usher request something of him," Marinette thought aloud before suddenly remembering something; she didn't pay it any mind before but she suddenly remembered seeing Gabriel out of the corner of her eye when she met up with Adrien. Marinette froze as she turned to Adrien and quickly got his attention.
"Adrien, is Gabriel here with you?" Marinette asked as Adrien froze as well before nodding.
"Yeah he was, he... displayed a weird interest in coming here today, he's never shown interest to coming to one of these before... you don't think he's gonna try something in broad daylight do you?" Adrien asked as Marinette looked around nervously at the filling theater as more people are started to fill into the seats.
"I don't really know at this point, Adrien, could you go look for him?" Marinette asked as Adrien nodded and placed his hand over hers.
"Don't worry, I'll look for him, it'll be a while before his turn so we have time," Adrien excused himself and went out into the lobby, Louis was nowhere to be seen. He asked around for Louis and he finally placed together fragmentary accounts of Louis heading upstairs and into a conference room at the end of the hall. What would Louis be doing in a conference room? Realizing his worst nightmare would be a pretty good guess.
Louis felt himself freeze as the door closed behind him to reveal Gabriel on the other side of the grand table in the middle of the room. He walked up slowly to the end of the table and narrowed his eyes at Gabriel and Nathalie, who were waiting for him.
"Well well, look who it is: Mr. Fashion Hack Sociopath and his sidekick who doesn't know the meaning of self dignity," Louis sneered at the pair, who tensed right back at him, "I am honestly so tired of you two showing up in the most coincidental places; would you two honestly get a life?!" Louis huffed as Gabriel smirked knowingly at him and Louis felt a pit drop into the abyss of his stomach. It wasn't a good feeling, it never was.
"Oh it wouldn't do for me to not attend my grandson's piano recital-" Gabriel started but Louis cut him off.
"Oh cut the family bullshit! You know that doesn't matter to you and you know it. You always have some sort of deeper aim while disguising it in pleasantries. Well sucks for you, this theater is holding a massive amount of people, it's too public for you to try something here," Louis reasoned angrily as Gabriel held his finger up to his chin and pretended to think thoughtfully.
"You think just because it's public and it could endanger innocent civilians, that's gonna stop me, that's cute," Gabriel said with a condescending manner that made Louis narrow his eyes until it hurt.
"So you would drag innocent people the game we're playing huh? What do you want with my family this time?" Louis asked as Gabriel grinned wickedly as Nathalie looked fearfully between the two. Louis had no intention of backing down from Gabriel's evil agenda, that she could see. However, Louis had no chance even with his admirable courage. That courage was just a mask that was asking to be broken, because the truth is, she could see that he was terrified inside. Louis had a responsibility to be strong, he couldn't afford to show that he was terrified and Nathalie awarded him for that.
"True, my business is with your family, however, what's going to transpire today is going to be entirely of your doing Louis," Gabriel explained lowly as Louis grit his teeth and immediately argued back.
"What do you mean by it's going to be my own doing? What did you do?" Louis asked harshly as Gabriel laughed and lifted what appeared to be a timer on the table.
"You see, you're going to set off a bomb at this recital," Gabriel explained as a matter of factly as Nathalie and Louis' eyes widened and narrowed again at the timer that hasn't started yet.
"A bomb?! You're insane and mentally sick if you think I'm gonna help you set off a bomb in here, there are other people inn this theater and they're gonna think it's a terrorist attack!" Louis scoffed as he turned around and just as he was about to take another step forward, Gabriel stopped him in his tracks.
"I don't really think you have a choice, you see, take a look here," Gabriel explained as Louis took a closer look at the computer screen Nathalie just lifted on top of the table, he could see film footage of the theater and he could see his family in the front row, but Adrien was missing, "there's a reason why your family is in the first row."
"And why is that?"
"The bomb is in the piano," Gabriel answered as Louis' eyes widened and looked closer at the black grand piano on the stage with a newfound horror, but Louis found one more flaw in Gabriel's plan.
"And you need me to detonate the bomb apparently and it's painfully obvious that I am not going to help you," Louis retorted but he had another thought: WHY did Gabriel need him? Another thought he had was since his family was in the front row, they would be within the blast radius, so Gabriel's intentions were like that are they? Louis could now see the dangerous round in the game they're playing now.
"Now, for your ultimatum," Gabriel grinned as Louis turned back slightly towards Gabriel and leered at him.
"Go to hell..." Louis whispered lowly as he continued back to the door.
"Either detonate the bomb by your hand or have your family sniped right within this theater," Gabriel grinned evilly as Louis stopped in his tracks and Nathalie gasped quietly.
"So he was going that far after all, Louis doesn't have a hope in hell now, his story is ending today and his last page will be burned in the explosion. Louis... I'm sorry, you're right, I don't have self dignity and I'm letting this happen to you. Unless a miracle happens, this feud is ending today," Nathalie thought as Louis slowly turned around to stare at Gabriel in horror.
"You wouldn't..." Louis started.
"Try me," Gabriel challenged as Louis grit his teeth as Gabriel continued, "one word from me and you can kiss your perfect family goodbye..."
"You'd even shoot your own son?!" Louis asked as Gabriel scoffed and laughed at him.
"He's thrown in with your lot, he'll go down with you and your family. After all, he is your father," Gabriel replied as Louis yelled back.
"But he's also your son! How could you do this to him! Oh wait! I believe I said it before, you're a sociopath!" Louis exclaimed as he slammed his hands down on the table and glared at Gabriel who raised his eyebrows at Louis.
"So I'm assuming you'll do what I say," Gabriel asked as Louis' face fell as he suddenly realized what the alternate option was and letting it sink in. Check and mate. Louis has lost, in this sick game, there must be pawns that are willing, or at the very least, forced to be sacrificed in the name of the game. Louis became nothing more than a sacrificial piece that struck at the heart of the Dupain Cheng family's defense. Louis looked down at the table, gripping hands together so hard that his knuckles were white. It was his recital with his dad watching, and he was going to die today? Somehow, he hopes somewhere in his heart that his family somehow survives, because it's better than all of them perishing in the blast. Only Louis had to be the one to throw away his life today, not anyone else.
"Alright... what do I do?" Louis asked as Gabriel sported a triumphant smirk and continued to explain. Nathalie said nothing as he started.
"This bomb is special, you see, it activates with your piano playing, there is no timer on the bomb and it detonates when you finish playing. I will shoot your family if you don't finish make no mistake and I'll know that you didn't finish if you try something like leaving the last note out," Gabriel explained as everything felt distant and fuzzy to Louis, it was like he could hear what he was saying, but couldn't comprehend it, "The progress bar for the detonation sequence is in sync with your playing, so it stops when you stop and it detonates when you finish and you'll die. Isn't that a fitting end for such a impudent excuse of a hero? You're not going to save your family, and they'll most likely die in the blast as well, it is a rather powerful bomb. It's not a nuclear bomb, but it does have enough firepower to desecrate the room and barely damage the lobby I surmise."
Louis closed his eyes tight as he thought of any other possible way out of his situation, there was nothing he could do to prevent the bomb. All he could do was just accept it, "Very well, you win Gabriel..."
Gabriel smirked as he concluded their meeting, "By the way, nobody can know that this is going to happen... it was nice toying with your life Louis, your family as well, I do believe I'm going to enjoy watching that room burn with your remains. Farewell..."
Louis gave a blank stare towards Gabriel before turning and going out the door. As he closed the door behind him, he felt tears streak down the sides of his cheeks. The gravity of the situation becoming too much for him, as he weakly took a step forward, he heard a voice from down the hallway.
"Louis! There you are! Where were you? Wait... Louis, are you ok?" Adrien ran down the hall to him as Louis raised his head slightly to get a good look as his dad. Louis couldn't help but step forward to cry in Adrien's chest, wrapping his arms tight around him.
"N-n-n-no... Adrien... you need to take my family and run... Gabriel... he's..." Louis choked out in broken sobs as Adrien tensed and looked at the door in front of him, did he meet Gabriel in there?
"Louis, buddy, tell me what's going on."
"I-I-I can't... he'll... he'll..." Louis tried to say but he ended up choking again and continued to cry into Adrien.
"Louis, it's ok... shhhhh," Adrien comfortingly rubbed Louis' back and leaned his head on top of Louis', "what did my father say to you?"
"Adrien... there's a bomb in the piano... it'll explode as soon as I'm done performing my two songs..." Louis explained weakly as Adrien's eyes widened and narrowed in anger. Adrien then hugged Louis tighter and the two of them began to walk down the hall together.
"Then you just don't play Louis-" Adrien started but Louis cut him off.
"No... it's not a simple as that... he'll kill you and my family if I don't do it, there're snipers in the theater," Louis ended with a weak whimper as Adrien couldn't believe his ears, his father will go to that length just to lord his blackmail over Marinette and her family? There's no way, not without a deeper reason.
"Louis, why is he going to such lengths for this blackmail he has over you and the others? You know don't you?" Adrien asked as Louis tensed as they started down the stairs.
"You'll know soon enough... just please don't tell my mom or the others.. I'll tell them when it's the end... ok? Trust me..." Louis whispered as Adrien slowly nodded but still felt the burning anger within him. This entire situation was maddening. The pair made their way back into the theater and into their seats.
"You guys took a while, Louis, are you crying? What happened?" Marinette asked as the twins looked over the seats to look worriedly at their brother as they took their seats.
"It's nothing... just nerves you know?" Louis lied as the others looked at him weirdly before shrugging and looking back at whoever was performing. Adrien tensed as Louis hid the truth, what was he waiting for? After a long silence in the family, Louis spoke again, "I love you Mom... Emma... Hugo, thank you for being here today."
"Of course Louis, we wouldn't miss this for the world!" Hugo exclaimed quietly as Marinette agreed with him, making Louis tear up even more.
"We love you Louis, we know you're gonna do great, and you're almost up!" Marinette exclaimed as Louis looked weakly at the performer who just just finished and he realized that there was only one more person to go before he dies. There was such a gripping sense of despair that he felt like he couldn't breathe. It clawed at him from the inside and he felt like he didn't have any organs. Finally, his turn arrived and Louis could feel himself shaking as he stood up, without looking at anyone and headed quietly towards the stage. Each step was torture, each sending a chill and numbing feeling up his legs. Louis approached the piano with a look of dismay and horror as he adjusted the seat and sat down.
"This is it... the bomb should go off when I play my second one... so I have time... at least... to take a final look at my family..." Louis thought as he took a deep breath and set his prepared hands on the sleek ivory keys. He started playing, moving his hand up the piano to play grand staffs to open, then she started the song; a soft and emotional ballad that hid the vigor of passion and bravery. Louis felt the music getting to him and the tears stung and blurred his eyes, it was just too much. He abruptly stopped, squeezing his eyes shut and praying that somehow the theater can fall away, the people who were watching to disappear. He prayed and wished for the strength to play would come, but it failed him and his hands laid frozen on the keys. Suddenly Louis felt a presence fill in the space next to him on the bench, and he looked up to find Adrien smiling warmly at him.
"It's ok Louis, I know you're scared, but before you think about giving up, think of the reason why you've held on for so long," Adrien murmured as Louis stared blankly at the keys and Adrien gently set the piano sheets down on the piano, "I won't let you die here."
"Please... please help me..." Louis whimpered as Adrien nodded and continued to play, focusing on reading the notes. Adrien was a master player, he read the notes as he continued along, without missing a beat or a note. Louis felt himself get revived out of his reverie of despair and he smiled for the first time in a while. Renewed with a new courage, he started to play the treble clef of the song while Adrien omitted his right hand from Louis' side of the piano to create a more intricate and complicated bass clef. Soon both of them fell into a harmonious rhythm. The song was so enchanting and alluring; the sound was complementary to a journey of battles and hardships, a lingering sadness loomed over the song. As Louis resolved to tell himself to don't say her name, because he knew it would kill him inside.
(A/N: Alright guys! Try listening to the song "Don't Speak Her Name" from Fire Emblem Awakening, it's a beautiful song, full of heart and emotion. Those who played the game, we both know what's up and when this song is played in the game. The feels man)
Gabriel and Nathalie were also watching in the back of the audience, actually enjoying their performance. Nathalie watched with a pleasant warm feeling as she saw Adrien and Louis, father and son, playing together on that stage. It was a truly moving thing to see. However, at the same time, she was wracked with the feeling of dramatic irony, the sick twisted notion of knowing something that the other person does not know. The guilt was building thanks to the music that rang through her ears.
"Gabriel, sir, are you sure we should be doing this? They seem so in sync, so natural with each other, just like how a father and his son should be like. Are we actually going to ruin a relationship like this?" Nathalie whispered as Gabriel huffed and relaxed even more back into his seat.
"They are the reminder of my mistake, they weren't meant to exist, their entire family was a mistake!" Gabriel muttered angrily as Nathalie argued back.
"But what if this was meant to be? Adrien had always wanted three children of his own and now he has three wonderful kids! This is his dream! His destiny!" Nathalie interjected as Gabriel shook his head and looked at the timer, the detonation sequence almost reaching the halfway point, meaning that Louis is almost done with the first song.
"And you're an utter fool if you believe in things such as fate and destiny, fate has never been kind so why should we believe in its power? This is not Adrien's path, this is merely a setback," Gabriel said coldly as Nathalie bit her lip and felt herself be filled with a newfound bitterness. She could faintly hear the piano duet ending and huge wave of applause shook throughout the theater. She heard comments like: "Wow is that Adrien Agreste?" and "he's such a good piano player!" as well as "A father son duet is a truly beautiful, the way he went up to help his son. Truly moving."
"Thank you..." Louis breathed as he gave Adrien a weak smile as he could barely hear the faint beeping of the bomb in the piano. Adrien gave him a look of concern as Louis stood up in front of the audience and take a bow, "and thank you everyone... for witnessing this beautiful duet... I'm glad I got to play piano not just for him, but with him." Louis turned his head to give Adrien a tearful look, who gripped the piano seat tightly as he heard the beeping as well.
"That was amazing Louis! It was wonderful, absolutely beautiful!" Marinette exclaimed as she joined her hands together and looked at him with a pride she couldn't help but feel herself filled by. She was his mother of course.
"Before... I continue... I wanted to ask everyone to run... run as far away as they can from here..." Louis stated sharply but with a monotonous edge that scared the audience. The audience was buzzing with confusion and murmurs could be heard throughout the theater, "I want you all to leave when I play my next and last song... if me telling you isn't enough, then perhaps an ultimatum will. Isn't that right Gabriel?" Louis looked straight at Gabriel, who clenched his jaw and narrowed his eyes back at his grandson.
"And just what kind of game do you think you're playing? Do you seriously have a death wish?" Gabriel asked as Louis looked unfazed as Marinette turned back towards Gabriel with a furious energy that screamed hatred. The others as well looked back at the fashion designer with a horror and confusion that failed to understand what this ultimatum is.
"A game where only one pawn has to die today." Louis replied as Adrien felt his heart clench at those words, "there's a bomb in the piano with enough explosive power to severely injure or kill everyone in this room. In light of this fact, I have to ask you all to leave." Those words were enough to send everyone into a panic as people made way to the exits and panicked screaming could be heard, echoing through the grand dome of the theater. Nathalie, who was observing, used this chance to slip out and pay a certain group a visit; while Louis was keeping Gabriel occupied, she knew what she had to do.
"Marinette! What are you going to do?" Alya asked as Marinette never took her eyes off of Gabriel and replied slowly.
"You guys get out of here, this is our fight," Marinette murmured as Alya slowly nodded and headed out with Chloe and the rest of the family.
"Nino, we need to call the police now! Their lives are in danger if what Louis says is true!" Alya pleaded as Nino nodded and quickly dialed the police, frantically glancing between the theater doors and his friends and family.
"Now Gabriel, what did you do!?" Marinette asked as Hugo and Emma looked on Gabriel with looks of utter terror.
"There's a bomb in the piano that responds to Louis' playing, when he finishes the second song, the bomb will explode. Simple as that. Louis has to do it or else," Gabriel explained and just when he said that last part, multiple lasers shot from openings in the ceiling balcony and were trained on the heads on every family member in the room, "you all get shot."
"So is this it? Your master plan to get rid of us? Gabriel! Seriously, I don't get why you would go to such lengths to kill us!" Marinette yelled as Adrien felt his anger boil and he angrily chimed in as well.
"Father, what did Marinette ever do to deserve this? What did any of them do?!" Adrien asked as Gabriel snarled back at him.
"And yet you boy don't have all the facts! I'm trying to save you from making my mistake with your mother!" Gabriel yelled as Adrien stood up and yelled back from the stage.
"And yet you and I are completely different people Father, Mom had no part in making your mistake so why should Marinette? You're the reason why Mom is in a hospital bed barely showing any vital signs to begin with!" Adrien barked back exasperatedly as Louis looked on and softly put his hand on his shoulder, "Louis?"
"Adrien... thank you... truly... but honestly I'm done... with all of this, I'm just glad I got to play piano one last time... with my dad," Louis cried as Adrien felt his mind pulse aggressively and do a complete 180.
"W-w-what? Dad? Louis I'm not," Adrien started but Louis softly cut him off as he started to play his last song.
"Wait Louis! Don't!" Marinette started but she didn't know what to say next.
"You are... Dad... Mom and I were lying before... the first time you found out and said we said it was joke. It was just a lie. As if it isn't that obvious? You really are dense Dad," Louis chuckled as he played the song slowly and gracefully.
"W-what? Louis... I really am your dad?" Adrien asked as he felt his heart swell and his body couldn't contain the sparking, giddy feeling. In his heart, he was so happy and glad that these kids that he got to know so well and grown to love are his kids. It was no wonder he took such an immediate liking to them.
"Hugo and Emma... are your twins too... you have three wonderful kids... that I'm glad you finally got to meet us as your kids," Louis murmured as Adrien turned to look at Hugo and Emma, who sent him tearful smiles. Adrien then looked at Marinette, who was crying and nodded at him, "finally... now I can be at peace..."
Nathalie climbed up the twisting stairs to the balcony of the theater and found herself in a secluded hallway with a circular view of what's going on below. She soon found the snipers and they looked at her in surprise when they finally noticed her presence.
"Lady Nathalie, what are you doing up here?" One of the snipers asked as Nathalie cleared her voice and spoke.
"I would like to ask you all to lay down your weapons and cease this madness at once," Nathalie said firmly as the snipers looked at her in confusion, however they didn't do anything as the sniper continued.
"Wait what? We were given specific orders to shoot the Dupain Cheng family if the boy refuses to play the song," The sniper argued as Nathalie's eyes flickered to the scene unfolding below.
"And think about what you're doing! You're killing a young boy's family, not to mention your employer's son. They didn't do anything to deserve this and do you really want the murder of an entire family on your conscious?" Nathalie asked as the snipers looked at each other with uncertainty as the laser pointers started wavering.
"Gabriel said we're doing this for Adrien's happiness," the sniper started but Nathalie cut him off.
"Really? And you think killing Adrien's family and the love of his life will accomplish that? Adrien needs to branch off and become his own man, and not follow in his father's shadow. Adrien is fighting for the right thing: a family, and he doesn't need this," Nathalie pleaded as the snipers looked at each once more as the piano playing continued. After another moment, the snipers nodded and lowered their guns.
"Alright, we'll back off, tell Lady Marinette later that we're sorry ok? We'll be leaving now," The sniper said as the rest of the squad went further back down the hallway and out of view. Nathalie let out a huge sigh of relief and had an epiphany as the melody of the piano hit her ears again.
"Oh god, Louis is still playing, I have to stop him, and he can't hear me from here. No no no no no no no!" Nathalie panicked as she ran back down the hallway and rushed to stop Louis.
"Marinette, why did you never tell me!? That these kids were ours?! I would have been there for you!" Adrien asked as Marinette wiped a tear away and nodded.
"I know... I know you would have been there for me. I never doubted that for a second... however, it wasn't you who found out first and got to me first..." Marinette trailed off but she didn't know how to continue but Adrien did as a flash of guilt crossed his face.
"My father got to you first didn't he? Oh god Marinette, I am so sorry and I know those words aren't even enough... but how are the twins mine?" Adrien asked as Marinette looked to the side to avoid his gaze, but she explained anyway.
"Remember when Chloe stole your sperm sample and tried to artificially inseminate herself?" Marinette asked as Adrien nodded and grimaced slightly at the memory, "well... there was a mix up, the doctor had to lie to you because I asked them too." Adrien looked at her incredulously as Louis tried to play as slowly as possible to buy more time.
"Alright, but how do you know that?"
"I was the hospital too, that day... you were under the misunderstanding that the insemination just didn't give. At least, that's what the doctor told you, however, the truth is, it did... but just with the wrong person," Marinette explained as Adrien put the pieces together and looked blankly at her.
"You mean?" Adrien asked and Marinette nodded.
"Yes, there was a mix up and I accidentally got artificially inseminated with your sample. I kept the twins without a second thought, and that's how my fate was sealed," Marinette explained as Adrien reached his hand out to cup her face.
"Marinette... I am so sorry... you must have been through so much, I've been kept blind to everything. And now it's come to this," Adrien whispered softly as Marinette let more tears falls and Adrien softly swept them away with the gentle brush of his thumb.
"Louis, finish the song so this can finally end," Gabriel narrowed his eyes at Louis, who cowered in fear and started to play faster. Adrien narrowed his eyes back at Gabriel and firmly held Marinette by his side.
"Louis, don't play any faster, don't worry, we're all getting out of this alive. Father or should I say Gabriel, you call off those snipers right now, your blackmail now means nothing as I now know that these three wonderful kids are mine," Adrien threatened as Gabriel grit his teeth as Adrien continued to refute his claim, "you made that blackmail under the pretense that it would ruin my career if people found out well guess what Gabriel? I love Marinette and her kids, so it doesn't matter to me. She doesn't have a reason to be afraid anymore, not with me around."
"You know what? Since it's come to this, we'll just let this game have a premature end wouldn't you say?" Gabriel chuckled as he walked to the door and stood outside, his figure illuminated in the doorway. The family then saw him take out a remote from his pants pocket and he held it dauntingly in his hands, "I don't really need to explain what this remote does do I? Cause you'll find out soon enough. Au revoir..." Adrien's and Marinette's eyes widened in terror as Gabriel pressed the button and a loud beeping could be heard, screeching throughout the room. Marinette quickly grabbed both twins and shielded them with her body while they ducked. The beeps increased in speed with each passing moment and Adrien had the sense to run back towards the stage and roughly grab Louis out the chair and tackle him barely off the stage before the beeps became almost like a machine gun and the whole room became awash in flames. From the outside, it looked like the theater part of the building crumbled with smoke and bright light and the glass windows shattered simultaneously. Just as Nathaie managed to get down to the lobby and to the double doors of the theater, she was blown back by the impact and remains of the doors and glass windows shattered everywhere. The screams of the people in the lobby could be heard as Nathalie weakly lifted her head to look at the door in despair.
"No... I was too late..." Nathalie weakly muttered as she saw Marinette's friends frantically rush into the ruined theater to find the family that was now trapped inside the theater.
"Marinette!" Alya screamed as she looked at the remains of the theater. The seats will singed and some seats at the front were completely blown away. The seats were either charred with the blackness of ash or they were aflame. The foundation of the building was crumbing as plaster and wood fell from the ceiling, "Alright guys split up, we need to find any survivors!"
"What?! Are you implying that some of them didn't survive? I won't have your pointless drivel Alya!" Chloe barked as she and Luka went further into the theater. Nino looked worriedly at Alya, who stood there, dumbfounded as she suddenly shook her head and rushed into the theater.
"The ambulance and firemen should be here soon, don't worry," Nino reassured Alya as they both rushed into the theater. Their kids waited impatiently outside as they didn't want them to come into contact with the smoke. Luka continued down the side of the theater, approaching the front when he saw a sight that horrified him. Chloe gasped as they found Hugo slumped against the wall, his clothes burning and smoking. They could see blood coming from his mouth and down his head in several places. His hair was mixed with soot and ash that dulled the familiar blueberry shine he shared with his mother. Luka immediately knelt beside Hugo and held his finger to his neck and nose. Luka then felt his heart clench as he felt a faint heartbeat, but Hugo wasn't breathing.
"Oh god... Hugo, let's get you out of here," Luka coughed from the smoke and lifted Hugo up into his arms and breathed a sigh of relief as he heard the familiar sirens of the police. Chloe gasped as she looked around through the smoke and gasped as she saw a familiar head of blond hair: Emma. Chloe covered her mouth as she came closer to inspect the girl and almost retched when she did. Emma was sprawled out unnaturally against the seats, ash and blood mixed with her hair. Her arms were burning and a good portion of the skin was burned away. Blood was also coming out of her mouth and ash streaked across her face. Chloe didn't think to check for vital signs but she immediately picked the girl and shouted.
"Alya! Nino! I have Emma and Luka has Hugo! Find the others!" Chloe called as she quickly exited the theater with Luka. Alya continued to look as she stepped into the middle aisle to find Marinette lying face down, most of her blue overcoat has burned away. Marinette slowly lifted herself up on one elbow, her other hand pressed against the ground, her face burned and bloodied from the blast.
"Marinette! Oh my god! What happened!? We have to get you out of here!" Alya exclaimed as she dodged a piece of flaming wood that was falling down and knelt down beside Marinette, her arms ready to lift her up.
"Alya... help Adrien and Louis... don't worry about me..." Marinette said in a raspy voice that was barely recognizable and slumped back down again, letting out a final breath as Alya panicked and immediately tried to pick her up, but she didn't have the strength, "help him... please save him... please..." Alya was at a loss for words as Luka entered back in and picked up Marinette, gently nestling her in his arms.
"I've got her Alya, help Nino and Chloe find the other two," Luka murmured as Alya nodded and covered her mouth once more. Alya met up with Nino on the stage and looked around, the piano blown to smithereens and a huge crater was in its place. The walls around the stage have been completely blown off and Alya looked outside to see the onlookers in the street, ogling at the smoking sight. Alya stepped outside and near the giant hole in the wall, she found two messy but recognizable blond mops of hair. Alya gasped as she stepped closer to examine the younger of the two mangled figures. Louis's hair was singed and burnt halfway down, his face was red and raw with exposed flesh. His suit was ruined and his formerly neat black undershirt remained with brunt holes. His body was absolutely riddled with burns as Alya ripped her eyes away from Louis to examine Adrien. Alya reached forward to touch him but flinched back when Adrien suddenly coughed and forced himself on his knees.
"Ughhhh... Alya?" Adrien asked tiredly as Alya knelt beside him and waved her arm to gesture the firemen that were entering the building.
"Adrien, try not to move, help is on its way," Alya murmured softly as a fireman made its way over and examined Louis, the only indication that he was disturbed by the sight was the grave look on his face. Adrien finally managed to raise his head slightly and looked at Louis.
"Louis... Oh god... sir... please tell me my son is still alive," Adrien asked in such a broken voice that Alya felt herself crying as the fireman checked Louis' pulse and after a moment, gently but quickly picked the boy up.
"He's alive, but he's not ok, there's not a moment to waste, your son could die on the way to the hospital. It's best to say that now than later," the fireman nodded as he took off with Louis' retreating figure. Adrien looked at the fireman in disbelief as he tried to haul himself to his feet but Alya stopped him, "there will be another fireman to assist you, please stay where you are."
"Adrien... stay down..." Alya cried as Adrien fell back down on his behind and looked back at the ruined building.
"How... are the others...? Marinette, is she alright?" Adrien asked as Alya looked away and replied without making eye contact.
"It's best if you don't look at them... Emma and Hugo are really bad, this isn't going to make you feel better but they looked like someone murdered them. Marinette as well... Chloe and Luka got them out. Nino went to go alert the authorities," Alya explained as Adrien looked blankly at the building and then the sky.
"I did this... god, I shouldn't even be near them. My father, or should I say my monster of a father, he's gonna kill them," Adrien murmured as another fireman came and helped him to his feet.
"And how would that make Marinette feel? She waited for you! For 15 years! What would she think if you abandoned them now!?" Alya asked incredulously as Adrien's eyes shaded over with a haze of uncertainty but it cleared when Alya continued, "You have children now! You are 15 years too late but your children have waited forever to meet you! And you are going to step up as their father to protect them!"
"And I couldn't even do that... look what happened here," Adrien murmured as Alya walked with the fireman. He sounded like he was just so tired of everything, ready to just drop everything and fade into complacency.
"You owe it to your kids to be their father, they love you, and you owe it to them to fight against your father. Marinette believes in you... and she always will," Alya murmured as Adrien nodded as he was loaded onto a stretcher and he turned his head to find his children's bodies being loaded into other ambulances. Adrien watched the faces of Hugo and Emma as they had air masks over their mouths and he saw the same on Marinette as he felt his heart drop.
"Adrien, is he ok?" Luka asked as Chloe looked worryingly at Adrien, who was loaded onto the ambulance. Nino sighed as he brushed his hand through his hair and looked at Gavin.
"And he was so excited to see Louis perform today too... he told me before we came here. It meant everything to him to see Louis perform. He saw himself in Louis, that's why he was so proud," Nino murmured as Gavin looked in disbelief as Elena cried into Gavin's shoulder; Gavin gently rubbing her back in comfort.
"How could this day gone so wrong?" Gavin asked as Chloe looked sharply at him, making him flinch back.
"It's Gabriel, that monster who did this... and yet no one can touch him," Chloe gritted her teeth and Alya nodded in agreement.
"Well regardless..." Alya added with the others looking at her with mirrored faces of anger and determination. The smoke billowing in waves off the building, the firemen hard at work to stop the fire. It may well be Louis' last recital... ever.
"He's going to pay."
