A/N: Sorry for the lack of updates lately. I've decided to make what was going to be a sequel to chapter four- Follow-Through a story of its own. So that's what I've been working on lately. If you want to check it out, it's called "Rehabilitation". I didn't include it with these shorts because it's more Adrien/ Marinette-centric than Adrien's relationship with his father. But in order to refuel, I've decided to write up another short for a bit of a break. :) This one is a bit different from my previous chapters, but it still focuses on the Agreste family drama. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 6: Appearances

Gabriel asks Adrien about his bruise which leads to an interesting discovery.

"Adrien."

Gabriel's cold, flat voice reverberated through the spacious room causing Adrien to stiffen as the hairs on the back of his neck stood. He had just gotten home from school, making no pause between the front door to his room and yet, his father still managed to come out just in time to intercept him before he could complete his retreat. Adrien suppressed the sigh that threatened to escape him as his father's footsteps drew closer, the soft padding along the carpeted floor increasing his anxiety with each one to follow. Adrien hadn't turned to look at him yet, and he would wait until requested before he did so.

He knew why his father approached him, even when his work was far from over. His arrival coincided too closely to Adrien's return to be an accident. No, he was certain his father had planned to speak with him and received the necessary updates from Nathalie as to fit his work schedule around his availability. Adrien grimaced at the shadows that ran along the far end of the corridor. Gabriel was so obsessed with work any time Adrien wanted to speak with him. . . why, oh why did he insist on making himself available now? He knew the reason, of course, but it still irritated him that the man only spoke with him only when it was convenient. Gabriel stopped somewhere close behind him but Adrien continued to stare at the brightly lit wall, as if the paintings which had hung there for years were suddenly interesting. Gabriel cleared his throat as if he needed to announce his arrival.

"Adrien," he repeated, this time demanding the teen's full attention.

The blonde turned to face him, all the while shoving his apprehensions to the back of his mind. Perhaps his father just wanted to ask how his day went. Maybe all of his worries and concerns were unfounded. Gabriel's fingers gently touched his jaw eliciting a flinch, tilting the boy's head upward and to the side as his eyes appraised his appearance. Adrien felt his stomach knot as his father peered at him, the man's face falling with a disapproving frown when a deep purple discoloration had caught his eye. Nope. Adrien knew exactly what his father had come for.

"What is this?" he asked evenly, his voice void of any traceable emotion.

Adrien swallowed. Nothing ever got past his father's watchful eye, even with the painstaking time he had taken it to conceal it. The bruise he had obtained in the most recent akuma attack ran along his left cheekbone and was thickly coated in foundation. The reality was Adrien had only narrowly avoided a black eye, which would have been much more difficult to mask than a lousy bruise. Had Gabriel known that though, he probably would have confined him to the estate for life. Adrien knew he was skilled enough at applying makeup from all of the photo shoots he'd prepare for so the staff wouldn't ask questions (like for the aftermath of an akuma battles), so it wasn't the craft that lacked. The job had been good enough for school. Nobody, not even Nino had noticed. It was the man the cover up was being tested against. The man that saw through everything, even the perfect disguise.

"I fell and hit the edge of a desk," he lied, pulling away from his father's hold. Gabriel's grip tightened just enough to persuade him against fleeing. He wasn't done yet. The man shook his head before scrutinizing over him again, just in case he had attempted to conceal anything else.

"Now Adrien, you and I both know you're not clumsy."

That depended on if he was Chat or not, Adrien argued in his mind. As the masked hero he was agile but far more prone to 'bad luck' as it was. The steely gaze of his father caught his eyes again but this time, it seemed to communicate something entirely different. Like he could see something Adrien couldn't.

"Although," Gabriel continued, dropping his hand to his pocket, "with the number of injuries you've sustained lately, perhaps you are more clumsy than I thought."

Adrien's eyes grew wide as he stared at the silver haired man. Certainly he couldn't have-

"Don't think I haven't noticed."

"Noticed?" Adrien replied timidly, feeling sweat bead at his forehead from the increasing warmth courtesy of the overhead spotlights. "Noticed what?"

"Adrien," Gabriel pressed again, stepping closer as Adrien took a step back. "What have you not told me?"

A silent tension grew between them, Adrien remaining still so as not to fidget and give his innermost thoughts away. His father couldn't possibly know of his alter ego. But if he had any reason to believe Adrien was Chat Noir, he needed to put his suspicions to rest immediately. He couldn't afford to get worked up and lose focus now. He sucked in a breath before responding, his father's icy stare still boring holes through him as he waited for his response.

"If you're talking about my fencing lessons, I have increased my regimen," he replied as casually as manageable. "Despite appearances, I'm improving tremendously." He forced a grin after his last statement to punctuate his 'excitement'.

"Is that all?"

"That's all that comes to mind," Adrien replied flatly.

"Very well." And with that, his father turned back toward his study. Adrien gaped at him incredulously, although he remained unmoved for the most part, not trusting himself an inch of movement so long as his father might still take notice. "Take care that you don't stumble any more in the near future," Gabriel added. "Your next photo shoot is tomorrow."

"Yes, father."

Only after the doors to Gabriel's office closed shut did Adrien allow himself to turn around, quickly retiring to his room. His pulse fired rapidly as made it nervously through the doorway, closing the door behind him before sliding down its surface onto the floor. Plagg zipped out from his jacket.

"Do you think he knows?" Adrien whispered, still rattling with the newly freed adrenaline.

The black kwami shrugged, shaking his head. "We just need to be extra careful in the future."

Adrien nodded in agreement.

. . .

After ensuring the door was closed behind him, Gabriel took a seat behind his desk. His eyes traveled over the stack of paperwork and office clutter to a photo of his wife and son sitting on the corner of the desk's surface. He pulled a dark purple brooch from the inside of his blazer, turning it over thoughtfully in his fingers as his gaze pierced the image. There was no doubt in his mind now. He had confirmed his suspicions.

All he needed to do now was decide what to do with the information.

A/N: This one might merit a sequel. We'll see if I can come up with anything. Otherwise, the next update will be sporadic, but feel free to check out "Rehabilitation" for all your angst needs in the mean time. Thanks for reading!