I am so, so sorry. So sorry.
I can't even, holy shit what did I write.
This one is also scratching on explicit but not as much as much as the one before, I'm still putting a Trigger Warning out here.
Also, I'm so sorry.
This is set at the end of the 50th chapter, Alya did not manage to get Mari's Miraculous back yet, so Hawkmoth is still in possession of them. Also, this alternate ending DOES NOT mean Gabriel is Hawkmoth in Breeze. It's been the suggestion, not what I'm planning.
Or maybe he is Hawkmoth. But maybe not. Who knows.
Thanks for Lily's suggestion on the server!

"NINO, DON'T!"

Marinette's head shot around as she watched the boy surge forward, to Chat and Hawkmoth. Only then she understood.

Hawkmoth had his arm raised, his sword ready to stab Chat who was too busy holding his cane off.

Nino jumped over the gap on the floor and stretched his hands out – too late.

With a sickening sound the sword went through Chat's chest and came out at the other side again. Something was ripping and it sounded like a muffled hit as the handle of the sword bumped against Chat's suit at the front.

"NOOOOOOO!", Marinette yelled, not caring about the immediate danger, not caring about anything as she sprinted to them.

Hawkmoth pulled his sword out and stumbled back, an expression on his face that held so many emotions as well as not a single one at the same time. He took another step back and his gaze was fixed on his sword as Marinette fell to her knees beside Chat, cradling his head in her lap.

"No, no, Chat! Chat! Adrien, please, please, look at me! Look at me, please!"

He coughed and clenched his teeth, looking up to her through squinted eyes.

"… M-Mari…", he choked out and she sobbed, desperately caressing his cheeks, "… S-S-… Or-ry-…"

"No, no, please… Please, please don't give up… C'mon, stay with me-… Stay with me!"

A green flash washed over his body and Marinette just looked up as Hawkmoth took a step back, the ring in his hand, the bulge of her own Miraculous still on his chest. Alya and Nino fell to their knees next to her but Marinette's gaze was fixed on Hawkmoth. He was obviously shocked before but now that he held both Miraculous, now that he saw Adrien laying in her arms, pain and fear surging through him in waves, he looked downright terrified.

"Go on.", she hissed through her teeth, attracting Hawkmoth's attention. His eyes slowly broke from Adrien's face, now looking at her, "Do what you want with those. I don't care. You killed him, you killed Ladybug. Go on, kill me if you must."

"Wha-"

"No! Don't touch her!"

Nino and Alya immediately jumped to action, to their feet, ready to attack, but Hawkmoth didn't move. He just stared down at Adrien again, following Marinette's gaze. Plagg had snuggled into his kitten's blonde hair, hiding his face from everyone. She didn't want to know how often he had to lose a holder like this already.

Adrien slowly relaxed, his breath coming out in short, wet puffs. Blood sprinkled on her already red costume as he slowly gave up fighting. With a last rattling breath, he stilled, his body going slack. Marinette bent down, leaning her forehead against his, forcefully holding back her sobs.

He was gone.

"… I never wanted it to go like this…", Hawkmoth's voice now finally sounded, making everyone tense up. They watched as the villain slowly sank to his knees, his gaze still fixed on Adrien's face, "… I-… I studied the Miraculous and I was sure… I was so sure it would go well… I never wanted to kill someone and-… Especially not him…"

"Why-", Marinette was about to ask as a purple light began shining on Hawkmoth's feet, making its way up his legs. Red pants became visible the further the light went. A white jacket.

A few seconds later, Gabriel Agreste kneeled before them, holding a little box and the ring in both of his hands. His eyes were filled with tears and he couldn't seem to look away from Adrien in her lap.

A heavy silence spread in the observatory and Nino beside her gulped as Gabriel lifted a hand, as if to brush a strand of hair from Adrien's face but he stopped himself midair, letting the hand drop again.

"I-… I was like in trance… I didn't even realize my Akumas were killing people because-… Because I was so sure of my goal… I never-… W-Wanted to kill him…"

"… What are you talking about?", Marinette carefully asked, surprised at how soft her voice sounded at the broken father in front of her.

"My-… My wife… Adrien loved his mother… He loved her so much…"

Conjoining the key Miraculous, Marinette finally understood, meant ultimate power. He had wanted to bring her back. But-… Something in the equation didn't add up yet.

"… Who?", a higher voice asked into the silence, letting Gabriel recoil slightly. Plagg hovered up, then rested on Marinette's shoulder, "Who would you have killed for her? Bringing someone back means sacrificing someone else. Who would you have killed?"

Marinette narrowed her eyes. He had never wanted to kill, he had said that. So why would he tolerate becoming a murderer to bring back his wife?

Gabriel's gaze sunk and he lowered his head, his shoulders slumping.

"Adrien missed her so much… He used to be so cheerful… He missed her so much…"

… Oh.

"You wanted to sacrifice yourself.", Marinette stated. It wasn't a surprise, not anymore, it was a fact. It became more and more obvious the longer she thought about it, "You-… You wanted our Miraculous to sacrifice yourself and reunite Adrien with his mother again. You knew they'd have a good life."

He nodded, his Kwami now sitting on his thigh. The Kwami looked like a small purple butterfly, a sympathetic expression on its face.

"… We never were a functioning family…", the man finally admitted, "It-… It was always Adrien and Adele. They were the perfect team. I was-… I was never an emotional or cheerful man. I never fit in but they-… It was so unfair that Adrien was stuck with me…"

Tears pooled up in Marinette's eyes and she held Adrien closer.

"… You wanted to kill yourself to make your son happy…?"

Gabriel looked up, a strained smile on his quivering lips.

"He deserved it.", he finally said, the first tears rolling down his cheeks, "I loved Adele so much and I didn't pay attention when I should've. Adrien-…"

A sob echoed through the building and tears began to drop into his lap, sinking into the red fabric on his pants.

"… I never deserved these two… Adrien was so happy with her and became so silent with me… I didn't have a choice.", suddenly, he lifted his gaze and a determined spark was ignited in his eyes, "But I do have a choice now."

Before Marinette could hold him back, he had slid the ring on his finger and opened the box. Her earrings laid in it, as she had assumed. He ripped the butterfly Miraculous from his chest and then clenched his fist around the earrings, blood slowly dropping out between his fingers.

"Monsieur Agreste, what-"

"I'll combine the powers and I'll bring him back. I-… I have to.", he forced out through clenched teeth, standing up. Tikki appeared in a flash of light and Gabriel didn't even leave her any time to orientate.

He clenched his fist tighter, pushing the earrings deeper into his palm. Then he cried out to finally breathe in, starting to shout.

"Plagg, Tikki, transform me!"

A flash blinded them all as both transformations rushed up his body, merged with each other, linking their power. He screamed because he wasn't chosen to wear the key Miraculous but he stayed standing, letting the transformation happen.

As Marinette could look at him again, he wore a purple suit with golden lines. She could see that much because a strange type of light emitted from him, as well as an aura so powerful she had to look away.

The transformed man stepped to them, wheezing in an attempt to withstand the power, before dropping to his knees. He extended his hand, touching Adrien's forehead. Marinette could barely notice him trembling over the incredible power that forced her to look away.

"… Adrien… My son…", he forced out, "I-… I give myself-… For you…!"

Her pigtails were pulled out of their hairbands as a golden wave of energy washed over them. Just a second later, everything stopped. The light went out, the power was gone and it felt easier to breathe again. All that still moved was a slight breeze, weaving through her open hair. As she opened her eyes again Gabriel Agreste laid sprawled out in front of her, his face peaceful and his eyes closed.

He could just as well be sleeping.

Just when Mariette wanted to lean forward as Alya and Nino began squirming beside her again, testing Gabriel's heartbeat, something moved in her arms.

Then a groan sounded. And shortly after, a yelp.

She looked down and saw Adrien, alive and well, his cheeks even a bit reddened again, as he stared at his father.

Horrified.