A/N: With the great reception of the first chapter, I decided to delve into my imagination and see if I could come up with anything else. I came up with a few ideas to start with, but as stand alone shorts instead of an addition to the first chapter. And so continues a compilation of shorts examining the broken father/son relationship between Adrien and Gabriel. Hope you continue to enjoy reading. :)

WARNING: More blood than the last chapter, and a fair bit darker.

Chapter 2: Backfire

Gabriel finds out Adrien is Chat Noir. In order to keep Adrien safe he tries to take the Miraculous.

It was a last result. That's what he continued to remind himself. He had long suspected the boy to hold the Miraculous. But he confirmed his suspicions the day he was saved from Simon Says. The ring the teen wore everyday on his right hand looked remarkably similar to the ring Chat Noir wore. His own Miraculous changed slightly in appearance when his alter ego was summoned, so why would the Cat Miraculous behave any differently?

He had tried for a month or so to get it by conventional means, searching for it anytime jewelry was typically removed. But the teen had it with him always. The boy slept with it, took it into the bathroom when he showered, didn't bother removing it while swimming... anything and everything. It was always with him, and Gabriel had run out of ideas. There was only so much he could do and still remain inconspicuous. And so he determined, the only way to get it from the boy was to take it by force.

Previous efforts to obtain the Miraculouses hadn't worked, and summoning akumas only put his son at risk, the exact opposite to what he desired. So for the past month, akuma sightings were rare at most. Gabriel played it safe by summoning the most innocent of akuma which were to serve as distractions for Ladybug, but they never lasted long. He wanted to keep Adrien safe, and allowing him to play hero and bound recklessly across the rooftops of Paris was a surefire recipe for injury or death. He had to be stopped, but there was no way the teen would listen to him, let alone reason. So Gabriel hatched his plan. He would find a way to separate the duo, isolate Chat, and scare him so badly he'd willingly release the Miraculous, or shelf it for good. If Adrien was going to stay safe, he needed to retire from the superhero business, once and for all.

Chat Noir was in his grasp now. He had managed to confine him to the observatory and now it was only a matter of convincing him. The only problem was, when Gabriel arrived in the room as Hawkmoth, Chat's expression went immediately from irritated to terrified. The boy frantically pulled against his restraints that bound his wrists to the wall. He hunched against the wall, making himself appear smaller. The cat's pupils were slit with anticipation as his ears folded back, his tail hid behind his legs, beating back and forth in agitation. A low hiss emerged from the back of Chat's throat when Hawkmoth took a step toward him and if he didn't know any better, Gabriel would have thought the child might actually be a feral cat.

"Chat Noir," Hawkmoth began, "we meet at last."

"What are you planning?" Chat growled, still tugging unsuccessfully against the wall. "You haven't taken my Miraculous. What do you want now?"

The voice of reason chimed within Gabriel's thoughts. He was scaring the boy. His son. But that was the point, wasn't it? To put a stop to this dangerous business the boy had fallen into, by who knows what means, thereby restoring the teen's safety and chance for a normal life. But this was excessive. The emotional state of the boy was compromised enough already, what with the disappearance of his mother. Subjecting him to a living nightmare would only scar him further and possibly break him. Couldn't he just express his concerns to him as a normal father would to his son?

No. It was clear the boy was infatuated by the false, enticing life being a hero promised him. It was an addiction, an appetite that would and could not be satiated, not in the life of an attention deprived teenager anyway. Gabriel's stomach dropped at the realization. He did this to Adrien. While he had the best of intentions for his son, he could not deny those intentions and attempt at resolve came at the price of neglect. That neglect had led the boy to seek another form of validation that was eagerly provided to him through the adulation of the citizens of Paris. But he could make it right. All of this could be repaired. Gabriel strengthened his resolve, shoving the voice of concern to the back of his mind. This was the first step on the road to recovery. It would be about as gentle as tearing a bandage from a festering wound, but it was necessary to initiate proper healing.

Hawkmoth leaned into Chat abruptly. The cat immediately pulled away as far as the hold on his arms would allow, but Hawkmoth was still mere inches from his face. Chat slammed his eyes shut, sweat rolling down his face as he attempted to get his breathing under control. If he couldn't see the man, it wouldn't hurt as much... the sentiment was a lie, and Adrien knew it, but he chose to believe it for the moment. Hawkmoth wrapped his hand tightly around the boy's jaw, forcing his head upward to look him in the eyes. Chat whimpered as he cracked his eyes open, looking back into the cold gaze of his captor.

"Heed my warning well," Hawkmoth said. The voice was just above that of a whisper and the breath on his neck sent an involuntary shudder down the length of Chat's spine causing his knees to buckle. "If you ever want to see your friends or family again, you will do as I say.

Never don the Cat Miraculous again."

"Are you out of your mind?" Chat replied incredulously, his fiery personality regaining some momentum.

Without a second thought, Hawkmoth struck the boy's face aside with the head of his cane. The boy yelped. Gabriel froze. He stared blankly past Chat's shoulder. His hand holding the cane quivered at his side as he tried to process his reaction. Chat winced as pain bloomed across his cheek just under the edge of his mask, an angry red swelling at the site of impact pulsed into greater visibility with each moment of silence that further permeated the room.

"Do you think I deal idle threats, boy?" Hawkmoth asked, his voice distinctly darker than previously.

Chat remained tight lipped, staring at the floor, but his folded ears and tucked tail betrayed his fear. Hawkmoth stepped in front of the boy again, the head of his cane thrust under Chat's chin forcing him to face his oppressor again. He wriggled against the pressure of the object, but Hawkmoth shoved it further against his throat, stilling his resistance immediately. This wasn't enough. The boy still wasn't taking this seriously.

"You're not nearly frightened enough, boy. Do you think this is a game?"

A dark vapor slowly rose behind Hawkmoth, forming into a wall of stark black akuma butterflies. The darkness closed in around them, enhancing the glint in the man's eyes. Hawkmoth took a step back and Chat grew increasingly uncomfortable as the butterflies came closer. Their immense presence was stifling and he was finding the thick air difficult to breathe. Hawkmoth watched apathetically as Chat continually shifted in response to the incoming wave of akuma. Alarm filled Chat's eyes as the butterflies washed over him, the depth of the insects surrounded him at the height of his neck like a pile of leaves. Pitch black, demonic leaves that fluttered and seemed to materialize from the unlit areas of the room. The akuma undulated like the ocean, a tide growing deeper and deeper around Chat with each additional insect that entered the mass. Chat struggled to his tip toes, gasping desperately when the butterflies retreated slightly from his face before surging over him again.

"No, h-help!" Chat gasped, thrashing against the mob of insects overtaking him. "Ladybug! Someone!"

The man trembled as he watched the akuma bury Adrien. The teen's clawed fingers extended with anxiety as his arms pulled yet again against his restraints. Gabriel would stop the akuma before it went too far, of course, but the boy was stubborn. Why couldn't he just agree to surrender? The dark wings were well up to the Chat's raised elbows by now, but the teen still fought. Another cry from Adrien broke free of the cover of akuma.

"Mothe-"

He sputtered a cough expelling a mouth full of butterflies before choking in another gasp.

"Father! Somebody, please!"

Gabriel couldn't take anymore. The akuma suddenly fell from Chat, who gasped heavily upon release. The boy dripped with sweat, shaking furiously as his strength caved, the restraints being the only things that kept him from face-planting onto the floor. Gabriel watched in horror as his son convulsed, hyperventilating as he tried frantically to return oxygen to his deprived lungs. Chat's head jerked back and forth with each contortion and gasp, saliva dropping freely from his lips to the tile. Adrien shuddered violently as tears gathered at his eyes, spilling over as he released an uneven, broken sob.

Enough. Gabriel couldn't continue. Not when he knew the rebellious teenager was his son. What good was trying to protect him if he had to break him in order to do so? Gabriel turned to leave, looking regretfully upon the black clad boy one more time. He would free him in the same manner as he had bound him, remotely, after he was no longer within sight.

As soon as he made to leave, however, Gabriel was overtaken.

He needed the Miraculous.

The boy wouldn't give it up, so why shouldn't he take it by force? He was vulnerable now, after all. It was the opportune moment. But he didn't want it. Not at the expense of Adrien. The voice in his head said he did. It was the only way to fix everything. Hawkmoth grasped his cane with such force, the polished wood groaned under his fingers. He wheeled back toward the boy who shrank at his approach.

"Stay back!" Chat shouted, his eyes darting around in a frenzy. There had to be some way he could get out. Anyway. An-y-thing.

Hawkmoth unsheathed a short sword from the body of the cane, pointing it at the boy's chest.

"I will have your Miraculous."

He lunged forward, thrusting the blade at Chat. Hawkmoth yelled again as he burst at the boy.

"NO!" Gabriel shouted as the blade touched the surface of Chat's armor.

He redirected the sword at the last moment, slicing across the surface of the boy's chest down along the side of his rib cage before piercing the wall, breaking part of the surface off. Chat yelled as his flesh split open, exposing his muscles and sinew to the sting of the air. He crumpled as the strength in his arms gave out, leaving him to dangle at the wrists. A fresh series of tears coated his cheeks as the pain radiated across his torso into his neck, causing him to tense with only made it hurt worse. Gabriel quickly retracted the blade as he gaped at the blood spilling from the boy's side. Chat inhaled sharply as the metal brushed back against his skin. Gabriel vomited vehemently.

"No, NO!" Gabriel cried, shaking madly. "I don't want this! I don't want this!"

Chat's chest continued to heave. What was Hawkmoth doing? His behavior was overtly strange. Beyond strange, actually. It was downright disturbing. Chat peered at the man cautiously, watching as the man twisted oddly, as if he were fighting against some invisible force. A voice resonated in Hawkmoth's head.

"I gaveyou the ability to imbue your akuma with dark energy. Do you really think you could taint the Miraculous with your own power? You have no room to defy me, mortal. I will have that Miraculous."

Hawkmoth's distorted movements halted once he stood straight. He rapped the point of the blade against the floor, as if testing the flexibility of the blade. Chat watched in terror as the man posed to strike again, almost seemingly against his own will. He buried his head against his shoulder and crammed his eyes shut as he braced for the next strike. Gabriel let out a roar and Chat felt the swipe of the blade fly past his head. The resounding of metal hitting the wall echoed against his ears and the boy felt himself drop to the floor. Hawkmoth had severed the restraints.

Chat dared to look up at the man, who stood unnaturally ridgedly as his sword wielding hand rattled rapidly against the wall.

"Adrien."

The voice was forced.

"Run!"

Hawkmoth knew his identity? But how? Chat's mind whirled at an insane rate as he started to run down a long corridor leading from the observatory. Adrenaline coursed through him, giving Chat the extra boost he needed to ignore the burning sensation he felt across his chest. Whatever drove Hawkmoth was far quicker though as the man was at his heel in moments. Chat flipped instinctively, narrowly avoiding another jab of the sword at his back. He rounded on his opponent, just in time to respond to another swipe. Chat reached for his baton, but Hawkmoth's sword connected with his shoulder just as he attempted to extend it.

The baton slipped from his grasp immediately, clattering as it struck the ground. Chat hissed, jumping from another strike only to find Hawkmoth's foot hitting him in the gut, barreling him back into a wall. The teen rebounded to his feet but caught a jab along the side of his forearm. Hawkmoth's stamina felt infinite. The strikes and jabs continued, Chat narrowing missing them, taking a shallow hit here and there. It was only a matter of time until he would make a serious error of judgment. … It wasn't pessimism, he told himself as he dodged another blow and delivered a kick of his own. Fatigue was a solidly consistent contributor to mistakes and miscalculations. If only he could get back to his baton.

"Adrien!" Hawkmoth called to him again as he lunged with another slash. "Adrien, you have to stop me."

"Yeah, right. If you give me an opening, maybe. But- how do you know my name?!"

That's when he took the chance. He panted heavily as he leapt, running along the wall, up and over the man's head. His baton was right ther- The blade jabbed into his side, slicing outward after impact. The slice tore a chunk of flesh from him, causing cat to double over, landing in a clumsy pile a couple of meters from his goal.

"NOO!" Hawkmoth shrieked. "You already have me, just leave him out of this!" he bellowed.

Chat cringed, yelping as he tried to force himself up. His abdomen was on fire, blood flowing freely from the hole in his body as he struggled to get to his knees. Hawkmoth continued to shout in protest at the unseen entity as he strolled causally to where the crippled boy lay. Chat twitched spasmodically as the pain receptors fired repeatedly. He knew he was injured already. He glowered weakly as the reminder only inhibited him further.

"Give me your Miraculous, boy, and I will spare you," Hawkmoth said, his sword pointing at Chat as a promise of what was to come if he was disobeyed. "Don't do it, Adrien!" the other Hawkmoth shouted. "Destroy him. Destroy me!"

Hawkmoth gestured at the broach at his collar. Chat's thoughts swam, directionless. He tried to process Hawkmoth's behavior but quickly recalled his own state before he couldn't decide if there was an actual solution for escape. And Plagg. What about him? Or how, or if, he could use his wild card. He couldn't keep his thoughts straight, as his brain was constantly being bombarded with alerts of the injuries he had sustained. Hawkmoth knew his identity. Hawkmoth wanted Chat to destroy him? Nothing made sense. Maybe the blood loss was causing him to lose his grip on reality. He released a breath as he determined his next move.

"Fine," Chat replied in between labored breaths. "You'll have to. Come. And get it- though. I can't- stand."

"There's a good cat," Hawkmoth replied.

Were it possible to regain control, Gabriel would have run himself through with his own blade. The sight of Chat- Adrien- sprawled on the ground sent a repetitive supply of bile up his throat. His heart felt like it could seize at any moment. How could this be happening? He couldn't stop it. He wanted Chat to destroy him before he had the chance to hurt Adrien any more. He could destroy Hawkmoth, couldn't he? He was a hero, after all and Hawkmoth had well demonstrated his villainy. He wouldn't destroy Gabriel. No matter how many times he had failed him, no matter how many times he had failed to be the father he deserved, Adrien was too forgiving. No. He had to destroy Hawkmoth and with him, his own father. But it was no less than Gabriel deserved.

Chat struggled to roll onto his back. He could feel his heart bang rapidly against his chest as he watched Hawkmoth stalk closer. Hawkmoth bent forward as the teen rose his hand slowly, still wracked with spasms.

He extended his fingers willingly as an offering.

The man's fingers closed around the ring.

"Cataclysm!"

Chat rasped the command as loudly as he could manage. There was no fancy dance preceding it, he simply released the energy contained in his Miraculous. The dark energy flowed into Hawkmoth's hand, surging up his arm and into his torso, resulting in a nasty smelling puff of smoke reminiscent of burnt flesh and wet dirt. The man's eyes rolled to the back of his head as he let out a scream, writhing in agony as he hit the ground.

But not until after the sword's tip had been embedded in Chat's stomach.

Chat screamed.

The man known as Hawkmoth dragged himself across the floor to Chat's side. From his fingers to his shoulder, to the base of his neck to his hairline, the man looked like the victim of a bomb blast. His skin was a blistering, blood oozing, patch of burns. But as Chat watched Hawkmoth from his dazed state, he noticed the man no longer wore the mask. The man had blue eyes, and while it was difficult to tell for certain, mostly due to the charring, his hair appeared a lightly grayed blonde. The man looked so much like- his father.

Chat's stomach churned terribly. He choked on a cough before he could turn his head to the side. Blood dribbled out from his lips, splattering carelessly along the stone flooring as he rattled uncontrollably when shock set in. A gentle touch reached his shoulder. Chat looked up to find the mutilated face of Gabriel Agreste. Chat stared at him, dumbfounded.

"Adrien."

Tears fell down his face as looked at Chat.

"Thank you. For stopping me. I-"

He gasped sharply as he grabbed as his chest, buckling at the waist.

"Father!" Adrien's voice came out in a hoarse gurgle. "Father, why-?"

"I'm- sorry," he grunted.

Gabriel's knuckles were as white as a sheets. He continued to gasp in short bursts, but still struggled to pull himself to Adrien's side.

"I'm. So- sorry. I didn't mean. For, thistohappen."

He sucked in another sharp breath before he allowed himself to fall back on the floor. Chat's Miraculous chirped and he de-transformed. Adrien looked back at his father as angry tears ran down his face. He hiccuped, sending his innards into a rage, but he pushed through it and lifted his head to get a better look at his maddening- father.

"Why didn't you- tell me?!"

Gabriel balked at the sudden anger that appeared in his son's expression.

"I-"

Adrien cut him off.

"I -hic- wouldn't have. I- if you had- if I knew -hic- was you!"

Adrien's head dropped back to the ground as he was overcome with exhaustion. Gabriel's shaky hand reached up to clumsily wipe the tears from the boy's cheek.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't save- you."

"I'm not, going to die..." Adrien responded tiredly as his eyes drifted shut. "So. You had better... not. Either."

"Deal," Gabriel replied knowingly with a small, sad smile, finding his son's hand and clasping it under his.

Adrien squeezed his own hand as acknowledgment of their agreement.

Everything would be just fine. . .

A/N: I don't think every short will trend toward such a dark direction, but I make no promises.