Gabriel stood facing his wife, his hands together behind his back.
"Emilie and I went to Tibet on a trip together over a year ago. I had business to take care of, but a majority of the trip was to be spent just the two of us, exploring Tibet. We heard stories of an old temple, superheroes, and magic. We were intrigued, so we followed where the locals told us to go," he explained, sounding distant. "On our trek up the mountain, Emilie tripped over something, exposing part of the Peacock Miraculous. I uncovered the book and Moth Miraculous as well. We had heard stories of the very things we found and couldn't believe our luck. She thought the Peacock Miraculous was beautiful. Naturally, she picked it up, revealing a Kwami inside who thanked her for saving her, and told Emilie about her powers." He paused to gather his thoughts.
"My wife was always very adventurous. She couldn't pass up the opportunity, so she transformed. But we hadn't known that the Miraculous had been damaged, causing harm to her. We had simply thought she had fallen ill, but no matter what any doctor or healer did, nothing worked. Only when it was too late did I figure out the Miraculous caused her illness. She fell unconscious and hasn't woken up since. Adrien believes she simply disappeared when I came back from to Tibet alone, but I secretly brought her home and kept her here, hoping that somehow she'll wake up. I've tried everything I know, but I have no means to wake her up… except…"
Chat Noir was just a building away from his home when he stopped running. He stared at his darkened home, the only light emitting from it was the faint glow of light coming from his computer inside his room. The rest of the house was cold and uninviting.
He didn't know what to do or how he should go about this. Usually it was Ladybug that made all the plans. Chat Noir worried he was running out of time as he stood there, thinking of his next move. All he knew was if his father was in fact Hawk Moth, and he did have her and her Miraculous, he'd probably be walking into a trap. But he couldn't just let her stay there and walk away. The only thing he was sure of was that he must not let Hawk Moth get his hands on his Miraculous.
Chat Noir landed in his yard, below his bedroom windows. He had noticed his father spent a lot of time out in the garden. Adrien always thought that it was simply to admire the statue of his mother, but now he wasn't so sure that was the only reason.
He walked around, examining the the plants and knick knacks for anything unusual before he'd sneak inside.
Just when he was about to give up and brace himself to inevitably face his father, he heard something.
Voices. Barely audible, even with his heightened hearing, were coming from what he thought was a grate to his left. Chat got closer, pressing his ear to the grate.
"I did this for my son, you understand," he heard his father say, rather defensive, too.
"Your son…," she scoffed. "If Adrien knew that you were the man behind all the attacks, that put him in danger so many times, I don't think he'd be okay with you using him to justify your actions," Chat recognized her tone immediately. She was livid.
A slight sigh of relief escaped him, but only just. She was still trapped, and by his father of all people. Suddenly he wasn't sure if she'd be safe with him. He wouldn't actually harm her, he'd like to think. But even so, if she didn't have her Miraculous, that was reason in itself to rescue her.
"He misses his mother. I will do anything to bring her back to fill our home with joy and laughter again."
"He also misses his father!" she cut in. "It's hard enough for him that he lost his mother, but ever since she's been gone, he doesn't feel like he has a father, either. He dreads having to be home. All he wanted was some of your attention, but you've been too busy attacking Paris to give it to him. That is not the way to bring her back! There's always another way."
Chat didn't know Ladybug knew him that well. He wracked his brain, trying to remember when he ever told Ladybug anything about his personal life. Maybe a small comment here or there, but nothing about his mother or father specifically, he was sure of that. As Adrien, he barely said anything, too. Something about her understanding him, caring so much about him, made him feel warm and fuzzy inside.
"I have already tried everything I know of, using the Miraculous to change the past is the only way! Don't you want to see Adrien happy?" his voice was pleading, desperate.
"Of course I want him to be happy, but this isn't the way to do it! There are serious consequences to using the Miraculous to make a wish," she warned. "And you'd have no idea what those consequences could be until it's too late."
"I have nothing to lose," he replied calmly.
She sniffled. "What if the cost is Adrien?"
"That wouldn't happen," Gabriel answered confidently. "Where is Chat Noir?"
"I don't know."
He heard a cold chuckle come from his father. "You expect me to believe that you don't know where he is?"
"I don't know," she repeated firmly.
Chat Noir busted through what was actually a small window. He dropped his staff down, surprised by how far down it went.
Gabriel sighed. "I was hoping you'd comply, Miss Dupain-Cheng. I enjoyed working with you and I think you have such talent..."
Chat Noir slid down and landed on the ground with a thud. "Looking for me?" he asked. Instead of his usual, playfully mocking tone, he was serious and glacial. He turned around, expecting to see Ladybug standing there. But instead, he saw Marinette, hands bound and on the ground.
Something in him clicked, or snapped. He wasn't sure which. This wasn't just Ladybug anymore. This was Marinette in danger. She had no Miraculous, and was up against the man behind Hawk Moth's mask, and whatever or whoever else he had to dish out.
Slowly, he glanced up and met his father's cold blue eyes. "So it's you."