A/N: After the last chapter, I wanted to go with a happier theme. It's still dark, per usual, but the resolution is more pleasing.

Chapter 12: Transformation

Chat saves Gabriel from a terrorist attack. The beginning dialogue is mostly inspired from the episode "Jackady". Me thinks Jackady is my favorite episode so far.

Surprisingly, for all the pandemonium, no one had yet been injured. Employees frantically exited the large building in mass, but not so un-orderly that anyone had fallen to the ground or been trampled, which by Chat's reckoning was a miracle only due to Ladybug's ability to appeal to the people to maintain some sense of calmness. Ladybug was leading the issue of mass warning and assisting those who were unable to help themselves, such as the elderly or otherwise handicapped. Meanwhile, Chat found himself futilely arguing with the most belligerent man he had ever dealt with in his life. His own father.

"Get out! It's not safe here!"

"I don't receive orders from anyone, not even from a superhero."

"Now you're running the same risks as anyone else. Stop thinking you're above everyone else and do as I say!"

Gabriel gaped at him and as frustrated as Adrien was, he didn't quite anticipate standing up to his father in such a manner. The masked boy watched the man cautiously, waiting for his reaction. But instead of lashing back, Gabriel paused, putting his fingers to his chin as a memory came to mind.

"Quite a temper, you remind me of someone. . ."

"Is that right?" Chat grumbled back. "Let's go!" he demanded again, grabbing Gabriel's wrist as he proceeded to drag him toward the main entrance.

Gabriel stopped immediately, tearing his arm from Chat's grasp.

"I won't say it again, I will leave when I feel like a real threat has been made."

"It's a bomb threat!" Chat exclaimed angrily, throwing his hands in the air. "What do you think is considered a threat?! And in case you forgot, an explosion already went off just down the street!"

"All the more reason to-"

The next few seconds of Adrien's life felt like a lifetime.

A high pitched beeping echoed in his ears, barely audible above the noise of rapid footfalls and panicked chatter. He glanced down at his ring with a start to find all of the pads were still green, but then it dawned on him. Without another thought, he launched himself at Gabriel, wrapping his arms around the man's shoulders as he took him down. A blast ripped through the air followed by screams, violently forcing all matter out of its wake and Chat felt himself thrown back suddenly. Sharp pain shredded into the entirety of his right side instantaneously and he crashed to the ground on top of the man, all sensations becoming lost on impact as his world went black.

Gabriel looked around the dust filled room in a daze, his ears ringing loudly, muffling the cries and shouts surrounding him. He groaned as he pushed himself from the ground to find the cat boy covering the side of his body that had been closest to the epicenter of the blast. Almost half of the hero's outfit was torn from his body which was now drenched in blood as portions of his subcutaneous skin was exposed, splinters of wood, metal, and various other debris cutting into his arm, face, and torso. The teen's breaths were severely labored and sweat poured from the unburned areas of his skin. The silver haired man grimaced at the boy's appearance wondering what in the world could have compelled him to protect a single complete stranger in such a manner.

A flash of green light blinded Gabriel momentarily when the teen suddenly transformed from the leather-clad cat boy to the more than familiar identity of his own son. Adrien. The incessant cat boy who had been ordering him around. Gabriel's eyes blew wide in horror at the sight of his mortally wounded son laying unconscious atop him. He pushed a bloodied hand across his forehead, pushing back some silver hair from his eyes and the headache that throbbed against his temple as he sat up more, shifting his legs under him as he carefully repositioned Adrien. Noticing the little black cat kwami on the floor at his side, he quickly gathered him up, tucking the kwami into a pocket before trying to stand. Vertigo threatened to send him back to the broken tile below him as he struggled to pull the teen into his arms. Gritting his teeth defiantly, he forced in a deep breath in an attempt to get his body under control again. Now wasn't the time to be useless.

He staggered arduously to his feet, keeping Adrien's body tight against his chest as he drunkenly made his way through the cluttered room, quickly passing over rubble and other injured victims. Great effort was made to block out the horrific cries and screams emanating around him. Gabriel wanted to cry too and it took every last fiber of his being to keep himself from breaking down and sobbing. Tears stung at the corners of his irritated eyes as he wandered through the clouded lobby of the office building, searching desperately for the entrance, hoping that emergency personnel had finally arrived. But he was deluding himself.

As he searched the room, it was becoming more and more apparent that there were too many injuries to count, and surely more than he could see. When help did arrive the paramedics would have to evaluate the scene and triage the victims. Adrien's state was severe enough he might be considered nearly dead and therefore left for someone who had a better chance of survival. . . Angry tears broke the dam and ran down Gabriel's aged face, now looking more old and worn than ever. He could buy privilege, he told himself. There wasn't anything he hadn't been able to buy before, whether it was time or priority. But with the current state of things, he advised himself that there was no way even his prestige would help Adrien's situation considering there had already been another attack just before. There needed to be a tremendous increase in medical personnel and supplies if Adrien would be saved.

His eyes darted once more around the scene when he then identified his location within the lobby. He turned around, darting purposefully past the central staircase, coming to a room with its door slightly ajar. Quickly peeking his head inside, he found the room to be vacant. Gabriel stealthily entered the room, closing the door behind him with a foot before proceeding to the far end. The thought to lay Adrien down as he worked crossed his mind, but he immediately pushed the thought away as fear reminded him this might be the last time he held the boy. He sucked in a deep breath as he tried to collect himself, expelling the tears that continued threatening his vision.

"Nooroo," he said evenly. A purple kwami appeared from the interior of his blazer. "Transform me!"

A purple light shrouded the man's features resulting in him being fully clad in a purple suit. White butterflies swarmed the windows of the room, breaking through the glass as they rushed through in a large wave. This power was rather convenient. A small gasp alerted his attention back down to Adrien, whereupon he noted the boy's rapidly paling skin and the blood quickly saturating his fresh suit. Despite his lack of consciousness, the teen was clearly still feeling the agony of his severely damaged nerves. Gabriel needed to work quickly.

He extended his consciousness, easily identifying the sadness and grief that flooded the surrounding area. But that's not what he needed. No, he redirected his focus to bystanders and those who were less injured, desperately wishing they could help. As he spread his thoughts, he found many an onlooker watching the news with great concern as replays and live footage of the disaster flicked across screens throughout Paris. There were so many who fit his his stipulations, and within a close proximity. This was perfect. The butterflies exited the room as a giant mass, passing through the broken windows or breaking through the door as they dashed straight for their successors.

Hundreds of white butterflies touched down and fused into the clothing or skin of hundreds of people simultaneously when a voice echoed through each individual's mind.

"Legion," Gabriel instructed, "I am Papillon. I grant you the power to achieve your desire to help those who have been injured. Go, and heal those who have suffered from these attacks."

Gabriel staggered as his knees suddenly buckled. He stuttered a gasp.

"D-de-transformation."

The purple kwami spiraled from the hold of the broach on Gabriel's collar as his original outfit was restored, a tie now covering the deep plum broach. Gabriel fell to his knees as he panted, sweat now pouring down his face as he shook with fatigue.

"Master," the timid kwami squeaked, "you know how much energy it takes to imbue someone with powers. And with so many at one time. . . That was quite reckle-"

"Yes, Nooroo," Gabriel interjected. "I am aware."

"And you're not exactly-"

"Nooroo."

"But-"

Gabriel tiredly raised an impatient stare at the kwami floating above him.

"That was very admirable of you, Gabriel," Nooroo finished, adding a bow.

The silver haired man cast a sidelong glance.

"It was purely selfish."

Of course it was selfish, he had only done it to save Adrien. If it weren't for him in the first place, Adrien might not have been injured. But Gabriel was stubborn, and he knew it. He had proudly rebuffed the cat boy's advice, the boy who was his son. Even if Chat Noir hadn't been his son, he still resisted a reasonable petition. But Adrien was Chat, and as a result, Adrien had taken the blow instead of him, all because he wanted to protect his stubborn, failure of a father. If Adrien had still been conscious, he would have been out there helping the other people. It was only right that Gabriel owed that much to him as well.

Nooroo shook his head. "That- is something we can discuss later."

Gabriel nodded, blinking away the tears that had again formed along his eyelids, motioning to his blazer to which Nooroo bowed before returning to his hiding place. Resolved to get back into a public vicinity, the man tried to get to his feet again, nearly causing himself to fall on his face and Adrien in the process. That wasn't going to work, his legs just wouldn't cooperate anymore and he could feel himself becoming lightheaded. It wasn't that far to the door, he told himself, dragging his knees across the floor as he shuffled back the way he came. Blood now passed through the thick fabric of his blazer next to a portion of his shoulder that had been torn open by the blast. From the looks of things, blood had stained the collar of his shirt as well, meaning his face must be damaged too. Funny, he hadn't noticed it before. That must be why he felt so completely exhausted. The thought crossed his mind just before he felt himself pitch forward, moving in time to extend his arms and prevent himself from landing on Adrien.

He landed to the floor with a grunt, turning onto his side to look around. They had somehow managed to get to the doorway, which was fortunately broken open completely thanks to the help of his butterflies. He prayed silently that someone would find Adrien, dazedly dragging himself closer to where the blonde laid sprawled. Carefully wiggling an arm under the boy's head as he curled the other arm around his back, he cradled Adrien's face under his chin. Even if it was just barely, the boy was still breathing, and for that, Gabriel was eternally grateful.

Now he had done everything in his power.

Now, he could cry.

A/N: Despite the subject matter, I felt this one to be refreshing. I hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading and reviewing!