A/N: Cyber Rogue and a guest or two have suggested a play off of Gorizilla. Hope you like it.

Chapter 18: A Small Step in the Right Direction

Gabriel and Adrien's exchange post Gorizilla. The beginning is a rough combination of what I liked from the English script and what I could pick out from the French version of the final scene from Gorizilla.

"You should have trusted me, son." Adrien glanced over at Gabriel skeptically and refrained from rolling his eyes. If he really wanted his trust, the man should make himself more available to his own flesh and blood. "It is important that our relationship be built on trust. If you were to begin hiding things from me, then I'd become liable to imagine the worst of scenarios..."

Adrien glanced up at that, a small smile of gratitude and forgiveness spreading over his face. Rarely was he ever able to talk with his father, let alone about something pertaining to his mother. It was nice to hear him speak so honestly for once. With how stoic the man always was, hearing his father expose even the tiniest amount of evidence that he had insecurities made Adrien feel like the man could actually be a normal-ish human being. It was something beyond their discussions on logistics and expectations or reminders of what he expected Adrien to accomplish. Gabriel smiled back at him as he placed his hand over Adrien's. The small gestures somehow brightened Adrien's mood even more.

"I understand, father. Thank you so much."

Both father and son then turned their attention to the screen in front of them, catching the tail end of the opening credits of the film. Adrien was on the edge of the couch in anticipation. Ever since he learned that his mother had starred in the film, he wanted so badly to see it. To actually be watching it now, with his father sitting beside him- Of all possible situations, in the best of his dreams he would never have thought this would ever happen. Adrien watched as the camera panned out, leading the story to the first scene when Gabriel abruptly took the remote and paused the film. The blonde looked over at him curiously. Surely he hadn't decided that they couldn't watch it?

"Adrien."

"Y-es?" Adrien asked nervously, noting the slight edge to Gabriel's voice.

"During the akuma attack today-"

There it was. Adrien's heart sank. He was certain the attack was the topic Gabriel would address first. When he didn't, however, Adrien had allowed himself to fall into a false sense of security. As if his father would be oblivious. Of course it was already on the news and of course his father had already seen it. He was on all of the billboards recently so the news broadcasters would never miss an opportunity to report an occasion like Adrien Agreste being taken hostage by a giant gorilla akuma. As little as Gabriel involved himself in his life, Adrien still wasn't surprised that the man wanted to discuss the fact that he had literally thrown himself from the top of the second tallest skyscraper in all of France. Not that he hadn't fallen from the top of the Eiffel Tower on more than one occasion. That was even higher. But Gabriel would never know he was Chat Noir, so it was moot point. Adrien tensed his fingertips against his thigh.

"Why did you do something so dangerous?" Gabriel's voice sounded gravelly. "You're lucky to be alive."

"I- Didn't- I didn't want to be crushed by the gorilla."

"So avoid something that may or may not happen to fall to what would certainly be death?" Gabriel asked, his voice raising slightly. "What if Ladybug hadn't been there?"

"Ladybug was there, father. I knew she would save me," Adrien argued confidently.

"But the gorilla could have prevented her from-"

"What would you have done if you were me, father?" Adrien retorted, resisting the urge to throw his hands in the air by opting to dig into the edge of the couch cushions instead. "You're talking about possibility but I didn't have any options!"

Plagg's words about becoming a pile of Camembert played in his mind and Adrien remembered the venerable feeling of plummeting to the ground without Chat Noir's power. But he had to do something. How else was he to get away and help Ladybug save Paris? It's not like he could just transform in front of everyone. In front of Hawkmoth. He had focused so hard on his faith in Ladybug and that certainly helped, but as the ground neared with every split second, so grew his urge to transform and save himself. Ladybug did save him though. He had been on a high since she caught him- Well, up until he realized Gabriel was awaiting him when he returned home. That, and now. The beautiful girl in red managed to wipe away any fear he may have had but as his father posed the what-ifs and what-could-have-beens, his fear returned. The reminder that he was a fragile human being, susceptible to mortality. Even if he had transformed, could he really guarantee that he could have saved himself? Traces of tears found their way onto the rims of his eyelids and Adrien found he needed to wipe at his nose again.

"You think you were scared?" Adrien asked quietly, looking away from where Gabriel sat.

Gabriel's furrowed brow softened a little. He had thought Adrien might be Chat Noir but Adrien didn't know that. All Adrien knew was that he wanted to escape the akuma he, Hawkmoth had sent after the boy. A pang of guilt pricked at Gabriel as he watched his son wipe away a tear before it was allowed to fall. He shouldn't have jeopardized Adrien like he did. Shaking the thought immediately from his head, Gabriel reminded himself that he couldn't dwell on what he shouldn't have done, he just needed to continue to focus on his goals. What he needed to do. And like Adrien said, Ladybug was there. That's the only reason Gabriel held off as long as he did before allowing Adrien to be saved. The ends would justify the means. And even if Adrien later learned that he was Hawkmoth, the teen would eventually forgive him and more importantly, they would have Emilie back.

"You're right," Gabriel relented, keeping his focus on Adrien who continued to look away. Gabriel closed his eyes and lowered his voice. "I'm sorry I didn't consider your feelings first."

Adrien sniffed and wiped his other eye with the back of his hand as he stared at the carpet near his feet. He couldn't fault Gabriel for being so worried as to overlook his emotions. The man had already lost the person most important to him. To feel like he would lose the only remaining member of his family. . . Adrien couldn't imagine what it would be like to be bereaved of his father as well. Stifling a whimper, Adrien turned suddenly and landed himself against Gabriel's chest, burying his face into the man's shoulder. He sniffed again as Gabriel reciprocated by pulling him into a hug. Gabriel placed his hand against the nape of the boy's neck and Adrien only buried his face in more, allowing himself to cry against the man when Gabriel didn't dismiss him. This is all he wanted. More than anything, he just wanted his father to understand him. To love him unconditionally. Adrien knew his mother's disappearance had been hard on the man, but it had been hard on him too. Especially when his one remaining parent had become so withdrawn.

For the moment, Adrien allowed himself to be vulnerable. Tears kept falling and his nose was dripping still, but his father didn't release him in the slightest. Instead, Gabriel placed his chin on the crown of Adrien's head, taking in the scent of the shampoo coming from his hair. It was the same stuff he had been using for years. His attention traveled to his peripheral to find the film still paused on the TV screen. Adrien shuddered with another snivel and Gabriel was brought back to a time when Adrien was small. A time where he comforted him when he was sad. He rocked the boy then, even hummed or mumbled the words to a lullaby a time or two. Blaming muscle memory, Gabriel started to sway in small motions. When Adrien seemed to relax a little, Gabriel passed his fingers gently through the ends of Adrien's hair. The crying and sniffing grew less frequent and the two sat silently in their embrace.

A long moment later, Gabriel reluctantly released his hold on the boy. Adrien slowly broke away and wiped his eyes sheepishly. Gabriel reached to an inside pocket of his suit jacket and offered the boy a handkerchief. The teen gratefully accepted it, wiping what remained before blowing his nose. Gabriel smiled gently. Adrien smiled back, jerking upright when he saw the clock face. Gabriel turned to see what caught his son's attention before turning back to Adrien with a small sigh. Adrien balled the handkerchief uncomfortably in his hands.

"I suppose you have to return to work now?" Adrien asked, failing to mask the disappointment in his heart. His eyes drifted to his knees, but Gabriel didn't stand like he anticipated. Instead, the man cleared his throat.

"We have yet to finish the film," Gabriel replied flatly, the corner of his mouth turning upwards slightly when Adrien looked back to him in surprise. "Why don't I have Nathalie bring us some sweets?"

A/N: Their relationship is so screwed up. At least in my headcanon.