Gabriel stood beside the glass coffin that had contained his wife for the last seven years. While he felt the years in every inch of his being, she had not aged a single day, still his beautifully perfect butterfly as she had always been, as she always would be. He could see Adrien reflected in her features, he could see her eyes in their son's eyes and the pain swelled within him. Pressing his palm to the glass, he closed his eyes and channelled his anger through deep breaths. He had wanted to deal with Adrien quickly, ship him off, make the merger, payout Amelie for her share of the company, and then focus all his concentration into capturing Ladybug and Chat Noir, knowing that the company he had built would be secure enough to weather the storm. If only it had been that simple.
Gabriel took out an envelope from his jacket and reviewed the images inside again. Adrien, the sole heir of his company, his chance to save the business from Amelie and Félix through a strategic marriage, was locking lips with that damn girl from the bakery. The reporter had the gall to ask him for his comments on his son's 'happy' engagement before the image would run on the evening news. It was all he could do to pay the guy off to delay showing the images for 24hrs while he gathered his thoughts.
Adrien and his new fiancée, Gabriel grimmiced, the ring on her finger not having gone unnoticed by the reporter. This was no good at all and proved to Gabriel what an irrational fool his son really was. It wasn't even the ring Gabriel had given him, it was something small and insignificant like the girl wearing it.
There was something else though, something that he couldn't place. This girl was different from the other girls Adrien had known, and Gabriel didn't like it. This girl was never going to be an Agreste if he had anything to do with it.
Gabriel took out his phone and called Nathalie. "I want you to cancel dinner…just do as I ask...no we won't reschedule just tell Mrs Tsurugi I will call her later tomorrow." He hung the phone up abruptly. Once the news hits, the wedding and the merger would be well and truly off so he might as well get used to the idea. A deal with Amelie was now going to be inevitable, but he would be damned if he let Adrien out of his sight to marry that little gold digger.
Gabriel turned back to Emilie in her eternal sleep. He'll send someone else to Osaka. Adrien was still the face of the company, he was still under contract. There is always a plan B, and plan B was already in place. There was only enough room though for one gold digger in this company, and it wasn't going to be on his side.
A short time later Gabriel heard the rhythmic steps of Nathalie's footsteps as she approached where he stood.
"I have cancelled the dinner with Mrs Tsurugi and her daughter as per your request. Mrs Tsurugi is concerned as to this sudden change of plans, but trusts you have your reasons and that there is no need for concern." Gabriel pursed his lips and Nathalie approached closer with furrowed eyebrows. "Care to fill me in on what's going on?"
Gabriel didn't answer immediately, fixing his eyes on Emilie in the coffin. "I need you to clear Adrien's schedule for the next few days." He said in a measured voice, not looking at Nathalie. "He will be staying here in the mansion with me."
Nathalie gave him a strange look. "I see." She said with uncertainty. "Do you need me to assist in any way?"
Gabriel held his hands together behind him back before slowly turning to look at his assistant. There was a distant coldness in his eyes that made Nathalie shiver. "I have informed Adrien's bodyguard he can have a few extra days off, we won't be needing him for the rest of the week after he drops you off to the railway station." He said walking back towards the lift.
"Drops me off?" She questioned. "I'm going somewhere?"
Gabriel continued walking. "I need you to leave immediately for London. Pack a bag to take with you, you'll be staying a few weeks."
Nathalie stopped walking as Gabriel continued to the lift. "London? Now? What for?"
Gabriel stopped in front of the lift, a strange shift in his eyes. "It appears Félix has taken a liking to Miss Rossi as his assistant, but she needs more training. I want you to work with her over there and bring her up to standard. Make sure she is...invaluable to him."
Nathalie followed Gabriel to the lift in silence. Something felt off about all this sudden change in plans, but she wasn't sure what. "I don't see why I need to go. Surely there would be suitable trainers in London. My job is here, and what about Adrien…"
"I can take care of my own son." Gabriel snapped as the lift door opened. He then evened his tone. "Clearly he has been left to his own devices for too long. I expect you at the train station in an hour and report to me when you arrive. Your accommodation has been taken care of." Gabriel stood aside to allow Nathalie to exit the lift first. She gave him a perplexed look as she passed him towards the office door. "Where is Adrien now?" He asked.
"In his room." She replied. "He was going to have a shower and wash off all the products from the photoshoot. I haven't informed him yet of dinner being cancelled."
"I'll tell him." Gabriel replied flatly. "The marriage is off anyway." Nathalie looked at him surprised. "It appears that Adrien has been seeing another girl behind my back." Gabriel watched Nathalie for a reaction but noticed she was keeping a poker face. His nostrils flared. "You knew didn't you?"
Nathalie looked away. "Adrien has known Marinette for years. I only recently found out that he had been seeing her on a romantic level in secret. You announcing his marrying Kagami and kicking him off to Japan I feel has only sealed his resolve to stay here in Paris with Marinette."
Gabriel pursed his lips. "Something doesn't add up." He said between his teeth. "And I'm going to find out what it is. Now go and pack. You will be leaving immediately."
Once Nathalie left, Gabriel pulled up a locked file on his computer - MDC. "Marinette" he seethed under his breath. She had been slowly, but surely undermining him with her commissions, ever since she was a young teen and celebrities like Jagged Stone and Clara Nightingale had been showcasing her work. She appealed to a younger demographic, and with Adrien hanging off her arm…
Even his own models were wearing MDC designs on the weekends. It was irritating. Logically he knew he should have just taken her under his wing and made her one of his own, but he wasn't about to concede defeat to this girl from a bakery. She wasn't from their circles and he would be damned if he was going to give her a free leg up and his son. No, there had to be something more to this. Something she had over Adrien, and he would find out one way or another.
~~~~~
Adrien scrubbed the hairspray out of his hair. It had been a gruelling shoot and he was happy to have been done with it. Eloise had not been herself at the shoot. Her fiancé, David, had lost his coffee shop job and still couldn't get any work as a photographer. On top of that, his artistic photography collection had failed to make the finals of a major competition. Eloise was now considering returning to London if they can't get David a job in Paris as maintaining two apartments was becoming too difficult.
Adrien felt bad for her. He was fortunate that he had some money in reserve for him and Marinette to get a head start, even if it might be tight for a while. Adrien was determined though to do what he could to keep them going so Marinette could go back to ESMOD. She was too good of a designer to lose that opportunity, and he would never ask Marinette's parents for payment for helping in the bakery. He would figure something else out.
Adrien stepped out of the shower and rubbed the water out of his hair before wrapping the towel around his waist. He was surprised Plagg wasn't sitting on the vanity like he usually was. Walking out of the bathroom, he almost tripped on his feet to find his father standing in his room, two glasses of what looked like whiskey and a bottle on his coffee table.
"Father?" He asked as he walked across the room. Adrien noted his father was not dressed for dinner. "Shouldn't we be getting ready for…"
"I have cancelled dinner." Gabriel said flatly. "Put some clothes on and come sit, have a drink with me. I want to talk to you about something man to man."
Adrien looked at his father curiously, but grabbed a shirt and track pants and got dressed back in the bathroom. Plagg was back in there with his tail bristled and looking unsettled. Adrien didn't blame him, it was indeed rare for his father to ever come into his room. He gave the cat Kwami a comforting pat on the head and went back out to the bedroom. Gabriel was poking around his trophy cabinet, picking out one of the Ladybug pictures he had hidden in one of the trophy cups.
"Where did you get this photo from?" Gabriel asked. "This isn't from a magazine."
Adrien rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Oh, um...Alya gave it to me. You know, the Ladyblogger."
"Ah yes, the wannabe reporter. Is she still friends with that girl from the bakery?" Gabriel said with disdain. Adrien snatched the photo out of his father's hand and put it back where it had come from.
"She has a name you know." Adrien said curtly. Gabriel almost looked amused.
"Indeed she does." He replied, taking in Adrien's clear agitation. "Perhaps she is also interested in yours, or more specifically, your last name."
"What in hell in that supposed to mean?" The model growled. Gabriel eyed his son before giving him a fake smile.
"Let's talk, shall we." He said, indicating to the couch. Adrien sat down with his hands balled in fists on his knees. Gabriel could see he was already on the defensive. He handed Adrien a glass, clinking his own on it. "To your impending marriage." He said, taking a swig. Adrien noted the sarcasm in his father's voice as he spoke. He looked down into the glass at the amber liquid. "You know it's rude not to drink to a toast." Gabriel said. Adrien looked at him before taking a sip. He'd had wine and champagne before, even a little light beer, but he had never had much in the way of spirits. It burned a little and he coughed. Gabriel smirked at him.
"If you think you are such a big man now, then you should learn to drink like one." He said condescendingly. "Your defiance has not exactly gone unnoticed."
"Defiance?" Adrien asked.
"You and Miss Dupain-Cheng." He prompted. "You have been seeing the girl behind my back have you not?"
Adrien looked at him surprised, albeit a little out of focus. Surely one sip wouldn't be enough to get tipsy on? "But how did…?"
"A reporter saw you, so don't bother denying it. I have paid him off until tomorrow night, but then the photos go public and there isn't anything I can do about it. I will break the news to Mrs Tsurugi so you can rest assured your wedding is now off. Kagami already knew, didn't she?" Adrien nodded and looked back down into the glass in his hand. He'd been such an idiot, but his mind often did short circuit where his lady was concerned. He also knew both Marinette and Kagami would probably want to kick his tail for this. He took another drink before placing the glass down. Looking up he saw Plagg hiding behind the piano watching them. Gabriel picked up the bottle.
"What is it you want?" Adrien asked. Gabriel poured the liquid into the glasses, a little more than the recommended measure.
"I want the truth from you Adrien." He said in his usual monotone way. "Why Marinette? What has she got that you would defy your father's wishes for her?" He encouraged Adrien to have another drink. Plagg watched as Adrien took another sip and grimmanced, but noticed that Gabriel only lifted his own glass to his lips, not drinking the liquid himself.
"Ma...Marinette...she…" Adrien rubbed his forehead. What did everything suddenly feel so fuzzy? "She's my everything. I trust her more than anyone else, and she makes me happy. Just being near her fills my life with joy. She...she's my Princess." Adrien rubbed his temples where a full ache had started.
Gabriel rolled his eyes at his son's love declarations. "How long has this been going on for? You knew the girl for years, why the sudden interest now?" He asked, grabbing Adrien's arm as he started to sway on the couch.
"How long?" Adrien repeated, trying to focus. "Six months...six years...six lifetimes…" Adrien's head lolled to the side. Gabriel furrowed his eyebrows. He must have used too much in the mix.
"What about the ring on Miss Dupain-Cheng's finger? Do you actually intend to marry her or were you just trying to get under my skin?" He shook Adrien to make him look at him. Adrien tried to fix his eyes in one place. The blond's face then lit up into a lopsided grin.
"She's wearing my ring." He said with a small chuckle, his speech a little slurred. "Mine. She's all mine." Adrien leaned forward and grabbed Gabriel's shirt to steady himself, looking his father in the eyes. "You know she said she could never love me, but she was always in love with me, and I was always in love with her. You can't stop us. Nobody can stop us. It's always been her and I." He flopped back into the back of the couch with a dreamy look on his face. "We're going to have the most beautiful babies together."
Gabriel groaned and shook his head. This wasn't getting anywhere, and now Adrien was talking in circles. "Why do you love her Adrien?" Gabriel prodded with another shake of his son's arm. "What has she got over you?"
"Why?" Adrien mumbled sleepily. "She's beautiful and brave and smart and creative. She's so creative father. You should see what she can do with the most random things. She...she's amazing. I love her so much, I always have and I always will."
Adrien's head dropped onto his father's shoulder. Gabriel pinched his nose under his glasses. Surely there must have been something else. He couldn't be in love with this girl just because she's a good designer?
"Adrien...Adrien look at me." Gabriel demanded. Adrien slowly sat back up trying to figure out which of the two Gabriel's he was supposed to be focusing on. "What about Kagami?"
"Kagami?" Adrien said slowly with another goofy grin. "I like Kagami, she's my friend, but I don't love Kagami. I love...*yawn*...Marinette."
Gabriel let out an exasperated sigh as he helped Adrien to stand. Picking up the glass, he encouraged Adrien to finish the drink before helping him over to his bed.
"Is it bedtime father?" Adrien asked.
"Yes, bedtime." Gabriel said curtly as he helped Adrien down onto the bed. He'd have to let him sleep this lot off and try again tomorrow.
"Can mother...*yawn*...read me a story?" He asked sleepily. Gabriel stilled, but before he could answer Adrien had already begun to snore.
"Soon, Adrien." He said softly. Gabriel then picked up Adrien's phone, switching it off and taking it with him.
As soon as Gabriel left the room, Plagg darted out of his hiding spot. "Kid? Kid can you hear me?" He called, slapping Adrien on the cheek, but his chosen was out cold. Plagg looked around the room, but didn't know what to do. He needed to tell Ladybug, but he didn't dare leave his chosen alone in this state. Not knowing what else to do, he curled up next to Adrien in the dark and kept watch.
~~~~~
It was a very busy Wednesday at the bakery. From early in the morning there had been a steady stream of customers and several orders for the coming week. With the end of summer approaching, new school terms would be starting and people were getting in their last parties before hitting the books again. Fortunately there weren't any big orders for this weekend, although Mylène said she was happy to come in and cover for Marientte. The bluenette really wanted to tell Mylène the real reason she would be away, but felt it best that the less people that knew about her upcoming wedding and honeymoon the better for now.
In between making deliveries in the van, Marinette had also been taking small loads of things to the apartment. She had already made the bed and bought a few non-perishable items for the pantry. She had also sent a few messages to Adrien, but had yet to receive a reply, which was a little odd but she thought maybe he had an unscheduled photoshoot. Adrien had told her that his photographer Vincent was a stickler for no phones on set, and she didn't want to seem like a fiancée. She stopped and looked at the ring on her finger.
Tikki floated up to Marinette's face. "Are you alright Marinette? You seem kind of distracted."
"It's just that it's getting late and I haven't heard from Adrien all day. I thought he would have messaged me by this to tell me how last night went. I hope everything went okay with Kagami and her mother."
Tikki gave her a reassuring smile. "I'm sure things are fine. What's that saying again, no news is good news? I'm sure if something had been wrong you would have heard by now."
Marinette nodded. "I guess you're right." She said, but deep down she wasn't feeling it. Deep down was telling her that something was wrong. Locking up the apartment, Marinette got back into the van and made her way towards the bakery. The sun was starting to set and she was anxious to get her skylight open. Her Kitty said he would come tonight, and she wanted to be there waiting.
Walking back into the bakery, Sabine was just finishing up cleaning and getting ready to lock up. She saw her daughter's concerned look, but before she could ask her what was wrong, the bakery door burst open.
"Kagami?" Marinette said, as the Japanese girl ran over to her.
"Marinette!" She exclaimed, grabbing the young designer by the arms. "Marinette something is wrong. I've been trying to get a hold of Adrien all day with no response."
At the sound of raised voices, Tom came out into the bakery. "Has something happened?" He asked, wrapping his arm around his wife's shoulders.
"Did something happen at dinner last night?" Marinette asked the Japanese girl.
"Dinner was cancelled last night."
"What?"
"Nathalie called me and said she had already informed my mother that Mr Agreste had cancelled dinner. I didn't think much of it at the time, but now Adrien's phone seems to be disconnected and when I rang Nathalie, she said she was in London and Adrien's bodyguard has the rest of the week off."
Marinette crossed her arms across her body, her stomach twisting in knots. "So it's just Adrien and his father there." Kagami nodded.
"I went there earlier. It didn't even look like there was any staff there at all and no one answered when I buzzed. Then, I got this."
She took out her phone where a voice message had been left. Pressing play, Marinette felt a cold shiver at the voice of Gabriel Agreste. "I do not like to be taken for a fool Miss Tsurugi. This wedding is terminated. I have other plans for Adrien and you can inform Miss Dupain-Cheng that if she wishes to continue this game of cat and mouse she will find in me a formidable adversary."
Marinette's eyes widened. "Do you think he knows about us?"
"Did anything unusual happen yesterday?" Sabine asked her daughter. Marinette furrowed her eyebrows in thought and then covered her mouth with her hand. "I thought I heard a click yesterday when Adrien left and…"
"A click?" Sabine questioned. "Was it a reporter?"
"I doubt it." Kagami added. "It would have been all over the gossip columns if it had been, unless Mr Agreste paid a bribe or something. What were you doing before that happened?" Marinette's red face was answer enough. "Ugh, I told Adrien he wasn't being very careful."
"They shouldn't have to hide anyway." Tom said defensively, squeezing his wife closer to him. "Adrien and Marinette love each other and should be able to tell the world about it."
"I agree." Kagami nodded. "But his father has now cut him off from everyone and I have a bad feeling about it. We need to get him out."
Marinette's eyes fixed in determination. She placed a hand on Kagami's shoulder. "You're right, we need to get him out. Will you help me?"
"Of course." Kagami answered. "But how?"
Marinette looked at her parents and they gave her a supportive nod. "Can you keep a secret?" She said to the Japanese girl.
Kagami frowned. "Haven't I always?" She said.
Marinette took her by the hand and led Kagami up to the sitting room. "Wait here." She told her. A few moments later, Marinette returned with something closed in her hand.
"Aside from Adrien, my parents are the only other people who know about this, but I trust you." Marinette opened her hand and Kagami gasped as she recognised the Dragon Miraculous.
"Kagami Tsurugi, here is the Miraculous of the Dragon which gives the Power of Perfection. I know your identity is compromised in the past, but will you help me on this mission? For Adrien?"
Kagami stared at the Miraculous in Marinette's hand. So many things, so many pieces of the past suddenly fell into place.
"You're Ladybug." She said softly, almost like the world might shatter if it was spoken too loud. "And Adrien…He's Chat Noir." The revelation was overwhelming, and yet was so tight. The two only real friends Kagami had were the superheroes she had admired, the heroes she had fought beside. Kagami looked up into Marinette's eyes. Eyes that behind a mask once told her it wasn't important to have lots of friends, that what mattered was that the ones you had are true friends. Kagami knew that she had two of the truest friends anyone could ask for, friends who had been destined to be together.
Kagami stood up and took the Miraculous from Marinette's hand. "It would be my honour to serve by your side Ladybug-sama." She said with a respectful bow. Marinette placed both her hands on Kagami's shoulders and stood her up straight.
"I'm still just Marinette." She said to her with a smile. "You are my friend Kagami, and I need your help to save my partner."
Kagami gave her a soft smile. "I always knew he loved you." Kagami said. "Even when he tried to date me years ago, I knew there was someone else in his heart. It was always you."
"Well, Ladybug." Marinette said with a chuckle. Kagami shook her head.
"It was still you, even if neither of you knew it."
Kagami tied the choker around her neck and Longg appeared in a bright light. "Greetings Kagami-san". The dragon Kwami said with a bow.
"Greeting to you Long-sama." Kagami replied with a return bow. Another red Kwami suddenly rushed out, crushing Longg in a hug.
"Please make sure Plagg is safe." She said, a tear escaping her eye. "He worries so much about this kitten, more than most of the others."
"Do not worry Tikki." Longg said. "We will make sure Plagg is safe."
"Ready?" Marinette asked. Kagami nodded.
"Longg, Bring the storm."
"Tikki, Spots on."
Racing up to Marinette's room, Ladybug and Ryuko climbed out through her skylight into the dusk of the evening. Racing across the rooftops, they quickly made their way to the Agreste household. Crouching on a rooftop not far from the house, Ladybug used her bug phone to zoom in for a closer look. There was a light on in an upper level room, but Adrien's room seemed to have been in darkness. Indicating for Ryuko to follow, they landed carefully on the Agreste roof. Ladybug wrapped her arm around Ryuko and lowered them down to Adrien's windowsill. There was no movement or sound in the room.
Ladybug carefully tapped on the window and a pair of bright green eyes suddenly rushed towards her, phasing through the glass and crashing into her chest.
"I knew you would come, Pigtails." Plagg said, purring into her neck. He then saw Ryuko.
"It's fine Plagg, she knows." Ladybug said "Quick, open the window." Plagg phased back inside, unlocking the latch and pushing the window open. Ladybug and Ryuko slipped inside, the latter stealthy taking a place near to the door as the lookout while Ladybug ran over to where Adrien was prone on the bed.
"Adrien, Adrien can you hear me?" She asked, holding both sides of his face. There were only incoherent mumbles in responses. "Plagg, what's wrong with him?"
"That sorry excuse for a father of his drugged him."
"What?" Ladybug exclaimed. She heard the same sentiment echoed from Ryuko on the other side of the room.
"At first he gave him something in his drink last night and started to ask him questions about you."
"About me?"
"Don't worry, the kid might have been out of it, but he didn't say anything revealing. He let him sleep that lot off, but then when he came around this morning..." Plagg flipped Adrien's arm over and pointed to his forearm. "He poked him with a needle and tried asking him again, but the kid was still talking in lovesick riddles. He's been pretty incoherent since."
"But why?" Ryuko asked as she approached where they were.
"He's suspicious over the relationship. I'm not sure he was buying the whole secret dating thing. He thinks Pigtails here has something over him."
Suddenly all three went still as they heard footsteps approach through the corridor. Ryuko and Ladybug scrambled to hide behind the furniture in the room, using the darkness to their advantage. The door opened and the light streamed in, giving Gabriel enough to see by as he approached the bed. In his hands he held a syringe and a vial.
"You've cost me a lot of money Adrien." Gabriel said in a low voice. "Now I'm going to have to lose part of my company to your Aunt because of your little romance ruining my merger plans. I'll make that girl pay for having interfered."
Filling the syringe, Gabriel approached Adrien who was still mumbling incoherently. In the shadows, Ladybug saw Plagg holding up one of Adrien's shirts. She looked over to Ryuko who nodded in response. As Gabriel was about to inject the liquid, Plagg came up behind him, dropping the shirt over his head.
"What in the hell!" Gabriel exclaimed, completely blinded. Ryuko grabbed his arms, kicking his feet out from under him and pushing him to his knees. Ladybug grabbed the dropped syringe and plunged it into his arm. As the serum took effect, they lowered the now unconscious Gabriel to the ground.
"He's insane." Ryuko said, looking at Ladybug. "You sure you want this nutter for a father in law?" Ladybug chuckled as she leaned across to Adrien on the bed.
"Kitty? Kitty can you hear me?" She said gently near his ear.
"M...m'lady." He murmured.
"Yeah, it's me. I'm going to take you home now. Put your arm around my neck." Carefully she picked him up in her arms and the three of them, with Plagg, made their way back to the bakery.
Using the cover of darkness, they slipped through Marinette's skylight and into her room, dropping their transformations. Kagami raced down to get Sabine as Marinette laid Adrien down on her bed. Tikki and Longg sat together on the end of the bed as Plagg promptly curled up next to his chosen's head.
"M'lady?" He said weakly, trying to open his eyes.
"Shh, don't try and talk." She whispered, gently brushing the bangs from his eyes. "You're here now safe with me." She kissed him on the forehead and felt his hand gently caress her face.
"Thank you." He murmured.
Sabine and Kagami soon returned. Marinette's mother had a small cup with a strong smelling liquid in it.
"Kagami explained everything. I made this for him to drink. It will make him sleepy, and he'll sweat a bit, but will help get the drug out of his system."
She passed the cup to her daughter who helped Adrien to sip the bitter liquid. He pulled a face, but continued to drink.
"I'm going to sleep for a while dear, but if anyone needs anything, let me know." Sabine said, leaving the two girls in the room.
"If you want to go home and get some sleep too you can. I'm going to keep a watch on him." Marientte said to Kagami, who had climbed back up the ladder.
"I'll be back in the morning." She went to take off her choker, but Marientte stopped her, reaching out a hand to squeeze Kagami's.
"Keep it for now, and thank you." She said earnestly.
"You get some sleep too." Kagami added before she made her way down stairs, Longg following close behind.
Marientte looked back over to Adrien, lifting his hand and kissing the back of it. She saw a small smile creep across his lips.
"I love you." He whispered.
"I love you too." She replied.
"Stay with me." He said, his voice trailing off towards sleep. Marinette climbed up into the bed and curled herself up onto his side.
"Always." She promised.