Nathalie wasn't good for much anymore. She could still manage Gabriel's schedule, make some appointments for him, but she couldn't represent him at events anymore, nor could she assist with Adrien. Using the peacock miraculous was a trade-off: she was trying to help Gabriel accomplish his most important goal, but she could no longer help with the day-to-day.

She spent most of her time lying in bed now, conserving her strength, and spending time on her tablet. She looked up from it, sighing, wishing she could do more. As she did, a movement outside her window caught her eye. Before she had a chance to consider what it might be, the figures of Ladybug and Cat Noir came through the open window, landing gracefully at the foot of her bed.

She looked up at them with shock, then worry as she saw their expressions. She tried speaking, but went into a coughing fit before she could get any words out. Their faces are grim, she realized, seeing them walk silently to either side of her bed, do they know? Ladybug had a hard look on her face, but Cat Noir was different. He looked grim, determined, and… angry? His expression scared her the most. He looked like he was willing to do anything to get what he wanted. Clutching her tablet close, she subtly moved her fingers across the screen, quickly muting the sound.

"Ladybug," Nathalie finally spoke up, though her voice was hoarse, raspy, "Cat Noir, what… what are you… doing here?" She could feel the sweat starting to form on her brow. Normally she was calm, collected, able to keep a straight face through anything. Now she was a cripple, lying in bed and staring up at a superhero whose expression twitched with anger. For a moment, it looked like he might even attack her. Keeping her movements hidden behind the tablet, she found the icon to open a voice chat with Gabriel.

"Do you have the peacock miraculous?" Cat Noir asked bluntly.

"What?" Nathalie's eyes went wide in shock. She coughed again, hoping to push off having to answer them. They do know, she could feel her forehead was beaded with sweat now, but how? Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the voice chat had been accepted; Gabriel was listening now.

"Where is it?!" Cat Noir yelled, his anger now apparent. There was more to his tone, though. He sounded hurt, betrayed even. Ladybug, however, was turning a worried expression toward him.

"I don't know…" Nathalie began, but Cat Noir cut her off. As Ladybug watched in shock and horror, Cat Noir's claw shot out, roughly grabbing Nathalie's shoulder and pulling her upright. She barely managed to tilt the tablet toward her, ensuring the screen would remain hidden from them.

"I'm not in the mood for games!" Cat Noir growled in her face, a ferocious look of anger and hatred in his eyes, like one ready to kill, "WHERE IS IT?!"

"Cat Noir!" Ladybug scolded him, trying to tame his temper. All Nathalie could see was the mask of rage and sadness in front of her, feel the heat of his heavy breath on her cheek. She wanted to deny it, to protect Gabriel, but looking into those eyes, she felt something inside her break.

"I… I…" Nathalie's voice was shaky; she was no longer in control of anything, all she could do was give them what they wanted and hope for mercy, "I don't have it…"

"Then who does?" Cat Noir had calmed his tone, but his words still carried a deadly threat.

"Mr. Agreste," she blurted out, desperate to escape the crushing grip on her shoulder, "Mr. Agreste has it."

Cat Noir released her finally as tears started to form in the corners of her eyes. Nathalie was broken, no longer of any use to anyone. She had failed in all of her duties.

"Where is he?" Cat Noir still spoke with a deadly calm, though this time there was a quiver to his voice that surprised Nathalie. Something had upset him, though she couldn't imagine what.

"His lair…" Nathalie choked out, feeling so overwhelmed she couldn't even speak straight anymore, "Elevator… Buttons in… the portrait." She was breathing heavily and gave in to another coughing fit.

"Come on," Cat Noir spoke with irritation, walking out of the room with Ladybug on his heels. As they left, Nathalie's whole body relaxed into the bed as she began to cry. She lifted the tablet up so her weak voice could be heard.

"I'm sorry, sir," she cried, "They know."

Gabriel was having a hard time concentrating on his work anymore. Without Nathalie as an assistant, and with his guilt over her condition, he found his attention scattered. As he tried updating the color scheme on his current piece, his phone started vibrating. Looking down, he saw Nathalie was trying to start a voice chat.

"Yes?" he said as he picked up, expecting she needed some assistance. What he heard was not Nathalie's voice.

"Where is it?!" a voice yelled over the call, a strangely familiar voice. Who could that be? Gabriel's brow furrowed, what's going on?

"I don't know…" he heard Nathalie speaking now, but the other voice cut her off, speaking harshly.

"I'm not in the mood for games!" the voice growled, "WHERE IS IT?!"

"Cat Noir!" another voice sounded. A chill went down Gabriel's spine as he understood the reason for the call. They're here, he realized, how? Why?

"I… I…" Nathalie's voice was shaky, "I don't have it…"

Gabriel didn't waste another minute. He couldn't blame Nathalie for breaking, not in her state, but now he had to get away. Shoving the phone in his pocket, he turned and activated his secret elevator.

He heard the rest of the conversation muffled from his pocket as he ascended into his secret lair. What am I going to do? he wondered, I could akumatize someone! That will distract them, they'll have to stop my villain and they'll leave me alone.

"I'm sorry, sir," Nathalie's voice came through, choked with tears, "They know."

"Dark wings rise!" Gabriel declared, calling Nooroo into his miraculous. His powers came to him, the familiarity of them comforting. He always felt more confident like this. Yes, I'll find someone to akumatize, he closed his eyes as he started to concentrate, there has to be… A smirk spread across his face as he found his victim. Perfect.