Part 2: The Elusive Bond
"After recent events, I decided to have dinner here for today." Gabriel stated, vague with his intentions.
"Really?" I remarked full of hope.
"Yes…" Gabriel barely managed to say.
"Thank you, Father. Thank you… so much." I replied, embracing him in a hug.
"Of course." Gabriel remarked, not exactly knowing how to respond.
Once Gabriel and Adrien were at the table and eating, uncomfortable silence was in the air. Both father and son were trying to figure out what to say, neither of them are sure of how to address the other.
"So how has work been for you? I would love to see all of the clothes that you are designing." I opened up.
"You will see them when the next fashion showcase." Gabriel answered quickly.
"I sure you are doing well in school. Your teachers and fencing instructor spoke highly of you." Gabriel mentioned.
"School is awesome! It's great seeing all my friends. There's Nino, Alya, Kagami, Chloe, Mari…." I remarked, with excitement.
"A simple "it was fine" would suffice." Gabriel shut down to my dismay.
As the two continued eating, Gabriel was got an alert on his phone noting about a documentary about the akuma attacks that have been happening and how it has affected the people of Paris. During said documentary, it would also talk about the superheroes of Ladybug and Cat Noir alongside the other temporary superheroes.
"Oh yeah, I heard that Nadja Chamack is going to host this documentary about the effects the akuma's have on Paris."
"Why wouldn't they be grateful to gain the power to rightfully get what they deserved from the beginning. If anything these akumas are giving the people, the strength they need to finally get what they want and let no one take no for an answer." Gabriel justified.
"What?! How could you say that? These people were manipulated during their lowest moment and were meant to think that there was no other answer to their problems other than being a puppet for a much greater evil." I responded, disgusted at what my Father was saying.
"As far as I know, these akuma "victims" and the person who gave them these powers don't cause direct harm and are only after what they initially desire." Gabriel commented.
"Either way it doesn't matter because they still cause damage to the city and endanger the lives of several citizens. Not to mention the times you were endangered by an akumatized hypnotist." I reminded.
"If Ladybug and Cat Noir would just give Hawkmoth what he wanted maybe things will go back to normal." Gabriel tried to rationalize.
"Father, he's a madman. Do you know what he going to do with the miraculouses?" I talked back.
"I don't know." Gabriel lied. "But how do you know that these superheroes are not hiding something?" Gabriel remarked.
"What do you mean? I questioned
"They seem to have an unbalanced dynamic where one person takes control while the others hardly know anything." Gabriel pointed out. "Cat Noir is seen as a sidekick while the others are only temporary."
"I know." I stated, confirming my thoughts about my role as superhero.
"These people are just lost souls looking for a way to help themselves when everyone else has turned their back on them. And if it has to happen this way then so be it." Gabriel concluded.
"You know what, that's your problem! You don't care who is hurt as long as centered around "good intentions" and "the end result being worth it" I called out. "To you the ends justify the means."
"Name one example." Gabriel stated with rising anger.
"Like me! All my life I never had a father who was there for me! All the activities you forced me to take, I hate! Piano lessons, Chinese lessons, modeling…. I actually liked fencing but that ruined for me when I was forced to compete when I didn't want to. You have only seen me as a trophy or a prize to show off. You didn't even seem interested whenever I talk about these activities anyway. I always had to be perfect in your eyes, one mistake and it's suddenly the end of the world, like a certain book you cared more about than me! For years you have isolated me for so long to where I forgot what fun felt like! I don't even know the rest of my family that well because you never bothered to tell me about them. And if never met my friends I would have never known what real love is. Never once have you asked me to see how I was doing! Never once have you bother to spend time with me unless you were forced to! It been so long since you actually shown that you loved me. This is what I mean by you thinking that the ends justify the means. Just because I have everything that anyone could ask for with money and new stuff, doesn't mean it was worth me not having a father to look up to." I ranted. "Look, we both have been through a lot in the last year, what we need…."
"Lies! How dare you speak that way to me! You have no idea about what I need!" Gabriel yelled.
"What we need is professional help!" I yelled back.
"You know good and well why we can't do that. The second the press gets word that we are seeing a therapist, people will see us as freaks, psychos, our image will be forever ruined. No can understand what we go through." Gabriel denied.
"So our family's image is important than our mental health?!" I questioned, eyebrows raised.
"I think that's enough, Adrien." Gabriel stated.
"But..." I tried to say.
"I said that's enough. Now be a good son and learn some respect." Gabriel remarked with an authoritative voice.
"What would Mother think of this!" I screamed.
"This conversation is over with Adrien." Gabriel said, barely holding back his rage as I tried to respond.
"Not another word." Gabriel commented. "Now let's just continue eating, unless you want to take more drastic actions to keep you in line."
As Gabriel and Adrien continued eating, Adrien wondered why things had to be this way. He blamed himself for the current state with his father. He was filled with so much anger and sadness that he could barely. Under his ascot, Gabriel could sense the pain and sorrow coming from his son via his Miraculous. However, despite his ultimate goal, he would never akumatize his son out of necessity for his perfect life with him and Emilie. Meanwhile Nathalie and the Gorilla looked at the two and then each other not knowing what they could do.
After dinner, Adrien went back to his room while the Gorilla accompanied him. During that time Nathalie and Nooroo entered the dining room, and discuss how Gabriel has acted. Once in Adrien's room, the Gorilla gave the boy a look of sympathy and wondered if he wanted to talk.
"I appreciate your concern, but I just want to be alone right now." I said, trying to fight back tears as the Gorilla nodded and left.
"I'm going to bed, Plagg. If you want any cheese, it's on my computer desk." I replied, not in the mood for further conversation.
"Okay." Plagg stated, not trying to make Adrien upset. "Maybe tomorrow I can help you train, they're some abilities that I have picked up from my years of experience."
"That would be nice." I briefly smiled as Plagg nodded in agreement.
When Adrien eventually went to bed, all he could do was silently sob to himself over the unfair circumstances of his life. Between the death of his mother, the fractured relationship with his father, the lack of family available to talk to, his lack of praise when being a superhero, and his unrequited feelings towards Ladybug he was just done. He then curled himself in a ball completely under the covers as Nathalie came in the room to check on him. All she could do was find a way they could spend some time together.
It took 2 hours until Adrien cried himself to sleep.
Five Years Ago - March
We see a beautiful woman in her early 30s with her 9-year-old son outside of the Agreste Mansion in their backyard. She was tending to the flowers out in the garden while Adrien was watching the various bugs that were in the backyard.
"Mom, look at this!" the blonde haired boy stated. "A ladybug!"
"Quick, go ahead and make a wish." the blonde haired woman commented.
"Okay." The boy responded as he made his wish.
"You know; ladybugs are supposed to bring good luck. And if you believe hard enough your wishes may come true." the woman explained.
"Wow, that is awesome, if only there were only ladybugs in this world. Everything will be so much better." The boy optimistically declared.
"There are several important bugs in nature that help keep things in balance. The bees help pollenate the flowers, the spiders help keep flies away, the worms help plants grow, and the dragonflies help keep the other bugs in check." the woman expressed.
"I never knew how important these other bugs are. Nature, rocks!
"Just remember, my love. Not one thing or person is completely useless. They all have their roles in society and some can even go beyond their role and become even greater than one ever thought." the woman gently said as the boy internalized what she said.
"Like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly." the boy pieced together.
"Yeah… like a butterfly." The woman replied, briefly looking back at one of the mansion's windows.
"Hey, Mom. Do you want to know what I wished for?" the boy asked.
"What?" the woman replied excitedly.
"I wish that we can have more moments like this." the boy revealed.
"That's a very good wish." The woman admitted, smiling. "Now, go wash up because I'll have lunch ready soon."
"Okay, mom!" the boy remarked as he went back inside the house, while the Mom was thinking about her husband.
A/N: So each chapter will start with a journal entry from Adrien and then end with a flashback with him and his mother (two parters will be different). Said flashbacks will relate to what has happened to Adrien in said chapters. In regards of how I am going to portray Gabriel, I am going to make him slightly less awful than he is in canon. At this point in the timeline Gabriel has not gone full psychopath yet (see season 3's Cat Blanc), so he has somewhat of a chase to better himself. His thoughts about the akumas shows his mentality towards things like this, without him having to be Hawkmoth. Despite Adrien not knowing his father is Hawkmoth, he still has the mindset, that would allow him to justify the akumatizations (tunnel vision). Next chapter will be either be about Adrien's training under Plagg or about his school life. If you have any thoughts about that please let me know. By the end of this story Adrien will find a more supportive family member, gain the respect of Ladybug, and despite Gabriel's clear mental decline he will be slightly less awful. Be sure to leave reviews. Until next time.