A/N: Wow, guys. Twenty chapters! I honestly didn't know how long I'd be creating these, but it's been a fun challenge trying to come up with so many different scenarios.

Chapter 20: Unsatisfactory Performance

Adrien did his best to adhere to his father's expectations, but even some of his best days were still spent walking on eggshells. What would happen when they finally broke?

This addition is pretty heavy and might be closer to an M rating, idk. Please tell me if you think I should up the overall maturity rating of this collection from T to M as some of my previous chapters feel a bit borderline to me as well.

Trigger warning: Abuse

"Shouldn't you be practicing the piano right now? Return to your room. I will speak with you later. Nathalie, ensure he does not leave." Gabriel shot a finger at the teen as he voiced his command. Nathalie nodded timidly and directed Adrien hastily out of the office. The anger that blazed in the man's eyes colored them an even harder steel and it made Adrien's stomach churn with anxiety. He shouldn't have been so careless. As stubborn and unrelenting as his father was, Adrien should have known better than to think he could take a break from his routine to make a simple request. Like everything else, he should have kept his desires bottled up and shoved far into the recesses of his soul as to prevent them from ever rising to the surface. He had tried to ask for permission to see a film, one featuring his mother, only to be automatically denied as Gabriel's schedule apparently didn't leave room for casual inquiries. To make things worse, the man's mood seemed irritable at best and upon realizing Adrien wasn't where he was expected to be, he promptly dismissed the boy.

For many months Adrien had evaded his father's wrath. With the occasional exception of a verbal berating for failing to meet specific details of his expectations, all other interactions with his father had been extremely mild. The lack of aggression Gabriel had displayed initially put Adrien on edge, resulting in him tiptoeing around every interaction with his father as though he were walking on broken glass. However, as more and more time passed without event, Adrien had grown more relaxed, likely as a result from the newfound freedom he had gained since becoming Chat Noir. More recently, Gabriel seemed to be preoccupied with something more pressing than regulating schedules and Adrien's respite seemed to have evolved into something more permanent. That's why, despite what the last couple years of experience had taught him, Adrien decided it was probably- possibly okay to make a small, little request in between extracurricular studies. His reprieve, however, immediately came crashing to a halt as a result of his less than perfect behavior and Adrien was left to wait and anxiously ponder what would greet him once Gabriel took his leave from work.

Plagg hovered about the teen nervously, wishing he could alleviate the boy's concerns, even if only by some small way. Adrien's room had been completely sealed off from the outside. With Nathalie and Gorilla observing either exit to the room and the security walls in force there was nowhere to escape to. The metal wall also blocked out any trace of sunlight, leaving the only provision of illumination to come from a floor lamp next to the wall and Plagg was certain the gloomy atmosphere was only contributing to Adrien's mounting dread. So the kwami said what came to his mind, suggesting they use cataclysm to blow the wall to pieces and run. Adrien vetoed the idea saying the last thing he needed was an addition to his current list of transgressions. When Plagg attempted to interject with the second half of his plan, Adrien continued, explaining why fleeing was futile. While he still disagreed, Plagg silently debated with himself as to what he could do to help the boy, his concern growing with Adrien's as each minute ticked past. Plagg had never actually seen Gabriel completely lose his temper around his son but the teen had alluded to more than one occasion where the man had done so. Grumpily shoving a wedge of Camembert into his maw, Plagg made a face of disgust. Adrien didn't deserve any of the poor treatment he received, least of all anxiety over having tried to ask an innocent question.

A door opened and Plagg hid away in the teen's shirt. Adrien jerked upright at attention as Gabriel entered the dim room and pulled the door shut behind him. The tension was suffocating as Adrien didn't dare take so much as a breath as the tall man walked further into the room, placing his hands in his pockets. Adrien hadn't meant to anger Gabriel. It was an honest miscalculation, but here he was, about to pay for his carelessness. Trembling hands rose to between him and his father as Adrien hoped there was still a chance to reason with the man and de-escalate the situation before he completely exploded.

"Father- about the film," he rattled off hastily, "I didn't mean-"

"I don't give a damn about the film, Adrien," Gabriel replied icilly, his shadow growing to cover Adrien. "What have I said regarding adhering to your schedule?"

Adrien cowered as Gabriel continued to advance toward him, shrinking in on himself with the vain hope that he might disappear into thin air. He raised his arms closer to his head in defence, still spreading his fingers as he tried to calm the man down. "I- I just thought-"

"I don't want you to think, I expect obedience. Now stop cowering and face your consequences like a man." Gabriel took hold of the belt around his waist and removed it letting the buckle drop as he held the other end. "Arms," he said simply when the teen didn't react. Adrien nervously extended his exposed forearms, holding them outward running parallel to each other with his palms facing up.

A stinging slap resounded in the room as leather met flesh. Adrien silenced a yelp as it escaped him, cramming his eyes shut as he tensed in preparation for another round when the slap occurred a second time. Tears beaded at the corners of his eyes and he trembled as terror continued to surge through him. The man expelled a puff of air and Adrien heard the buckle clack against itself upon being set down. The blonde risked a peek to find his lashings were on hold- at least for the time being. Swelling red stripes illuminated by the dim light ran across his arms and Adrien could already feel the bruises forming. It was going to be long sleeves for the remainder of the week, that much was certain.

Gabriel sighed in frustration. "Adrien." The teen peered timidly up at the man, still not pulling his arms away as he wasn't sure if he was yet finished. "Why do you make me do this to you?"

Adrien hung his head guiltily, looking down toward his socked toes as he tried to formulate an answer. Gabriel was right, after all. He deserved what had come to him. Adrien knew the rules and he knew what happened if he failed to pay strict heed to said laws."I- I'm sorry, father. I didn't mean to show you any disrespect."

"You may not return to school until I see a convincing improvement in your obedience."

Adrien felt his hopes crumble as his shred of freedom was revoked. "But, father, if I may-"

Gabriel turned his steely, stone faced gaze directly to Adrien.

"The condition on which you attended that school was that you would continue to fulfil your schedule here as I outlined. You failed to meet my only requirement when you decided to shirk your piano studies."

Fighting the tears of disappointment, Adrien swallowed hard as he nodded to signify his understanding. "Yes, father," he replied quietly, letting his arms fall when Gabriel reached out and caught his right wrist. Adrien's expression blew wide with alarm when he noticed where the man's eyes fell. "I- no wait!"

Unable to stop him in time, Gabriel slipped Adrien's silver ring from his finger. Adrien choked on his gasp when the ring reverted to its original black form with a green paw print. Gabriel turned it over in his fingers with great interest, clasping it in his hand when he turned to face Adrien, arching his eyebrows. Adrien didn't have to ask to know the question on Gabriel's mind. The man's piercing glare sent the teen's stomach into somersaults and he found himself shivering nervously. Shoving the ring in a pocket on his blazer, the man then rounded on Adrien, sweeping his feet out from under him to send him crashing on the floor. A swift kick to the gut followed and Adrien found himself flying through the air briefly before skidding to a halt on the wooden flooring. Had he not already been in a mode of panic, his brain would have told him his elbows and forearms stung immensely from being rubbed raw by the friction. Instead, he hacked a deep cough and pushed himself from the ground as rapidly as manageable.

"What are my rules concerning secrets, Chat Noir?" Gabriel voice dripped with venom as he grabbed the belt from earlier and stalked toward the boy. Adrien backed away as he advanced, raising his hands between them as the visceral defensive instinct directed him to. "I had my suspicions for quite some time now, hence the activation of the security system," Gabriel explained. "But I thought you had already learned that I do not tolerate lies."

"Wait- father, please- Please!"

Bumping into an ottoman, Adrien fell backward upon losing his footing. The man stepped over the furniture and towered above him. Frantic, Adrien waved his arms madly as he begged the man to stop. The bargaining plea fell on deaf ears, however, as a heavy swing of the belt caught Adrien on the side of the arm. He stumbled in an effort to catch his balance for a moment when another strike smacked down against the back of his shoulder and sent him to the ground. He barely had time to orient himself when the man then dropped the disciplinary tool and grabbed a fistful of the teen's hair. Yanking Adrien into the air, Gabriel growled with rage.

"I- I'm sorry," was all Adrien could manage, puckering his face before he could be hit.

A curled set of fingers were driven into his abdomen, knocking the wind out of him. It was the one thing about his beatings that brought Adrien some relief. In any of the instances Gabriel lost his temper, Adrien had never been hit above the neck. Facial injuries required a hold to be put on marketing which in turn threatened stock value. Everything else apart from that could be easily managed with layers of clothing which subsequently, also saved him the embarrassment of having to explain to his friends that he had once again disappointed his father. Another strike came to the same place before he could breathe, sending his vision into a swirl of flashing white stars as his ears sang a monotone pitch. Another blow followed when he was dropped to the ground to promptly be sent flying with a rounding kick. He hacked and gasped, clutching his abdomen in agony as he tried again to pull himself up before the man could get any closer.

"Plagg! Help me!"

A small part of him thought if he shouted loudly enough, Plagg would be able to exit the miraculous and come to his aid. Nothing happened and Adrien's fears were confirmed. He was alone. Gabriel let out a derisive snort as he sneered down at his miserable offspring. Shooting at the boy suddenly, Adrien threw his hands up only to have them blocked, finding a large hand had wrapped itself around his neck. His toes left the ground and he clawed desperately at the fingers cutting off his airway as the dim room became even darker.

"I trust you won't retain anything from me in the future," Gabriel inquired calmly.

Adrien's flailing slowed and a tiny, broken response came from his lips. The hand released its grip and Adrien fell to his knees, sucking in a breath only to cough it back out. He tipped over with a thud and the coolness of the wood flooring refreshed his heated face. Tears dribbled across his nose, down his cheek onto the ground and Adrien watched the man he called father mix into darkness. His heart ached as he longed for what couldn't be, feeling as if part of him was actually dying as Plagg's presence faded away. How he wished Plagg could ignore all of the laws that bound him to the miraculous. That he might return to Adrien's side to talk his ear off about cheese, or the beauty of stench. He wished his mother could be there. Perhaps, if she was still there, Adrien would finally receive the approval he worked so hard for. Perhaps if his mother hadn't left, his father wouldn't have become the monster that now stood before him. Perhaps if Adrien were a better son, he wouldn't have merited the pain that he now drowned in.

"Remember your engagements," Gabriel admonished, his voice devoid of feeling as his eyes stared through Adrien. "I expect you to be back to your regular schedule within the next two days." Light from the grand hallway flooded the room as the man departed and Adrien dropped further into unconsciousness. "Nathalie, if you will please ensure the injuries are taken care of, I have some pressing business to attend to."

A/N: Another unhappy chapter, but I think most of the scenarios come out that way because as much as I would like it to be, I don't see Gabriel and Adrien's dynamic being one of harmony. Could their perceived relationship become healthier? Sure. But realistically speaking, even the kind of relationship they have canonically would take a lot of work to become healthy. Abuse is a sensitive topic for me and one I feel very strongly about. Trying to control someone through the use of fear, emotional or physical manipulation/ abuse, isolation, restricting access to basic needs, etc. is never justifiable.