Chapter 4 - deal

-Present-

The meeting took place in the executive conference room of Dai Shi Designs. People with unenthused, serious expressions filled the long wooden table. The event planner, an over-the-top women that talked too fast, was in the middle of listing all the media outlets that were going to be in attendance. She waved her arms as she spoke trying to excite the room by any means necessary.

Marinette was there to provide updates on the Spring Show's pieces and where herself and the other designers were with their collections. So far she hadn't gotten a word in. She was the only one who volunteered for the role out of the 6 designers the show featured.

The event planner continued on to review the entertainment and the catering that were chosen as well as the talent. Most of the sponsors and executives perked up when they heard her mention Adrien Agreste's name.

She passed around the itinerary pointing out where the gaps were so they would know when they could have their press meetings and photo ops. After an hour of combing over the fine details and answering questions about costs, the event planner gave the floor over to Marinette.

Marinette rose from her leather chair and tugged her dress self consciously. She passed around booklets that contained copies of the designers concept sketches as well as photos of finished pieces. As everyone flipped through, she stood awkwardly at the head of the table to answer any questions. This wasn't her first time in one of these meetings but they never got any less nerve racking.

In the middle of answering a question, Marinette was cut off by a tall white haired figure entering the room. A timid secretary peaked in behind him mouthing 'sorry' to Marinette.

"Ah Gabriel! I didn't know you were participating in our Spring Show! Excellent! Another notable name to add to the list." The event planner said clapping her hands together.

"Actually I needed to have a word with Ms. Dupain-Cheng. Would you gentlemen, and ladies, excuse us?" Gabriel asked flatly.

The people in the room looked to one another, not sure how to react to this request. The head executive at the other end of the table rose and nodded.

"As you wish Mr. Agreste. We were just wrapping up. I do hope you will be in attendance to our event this Friday. There is a lot of young talent that might catch your eye. You seem to already have met our Ms. Dupain-Cheng."He said inquisitively and then left the conference room.

And with that, the rest of the group rose from their seats and followed suit. Marinette and Gabriel Agreste were left in silence glaring daggers at each other.

Gabriel broke the silence. "We had a deal girl." He hissed. "Are you testing me? You know I still hold the Moth Miraculous." Gabriel moved his striped tie aside showing a glimpse of the charm.

"I haven't done anything to give you away. You are wasting your time here." Marinette said carefully, not dropping her glare. How dare he confront her? He ruined everything for her. She lost Tikki, Chat Noir, and Master Fu, all because of him.

"My son." Gabriel hinted.

"I haven't said anything to him. He doesn't know anything. " Marinette felt her chest burn with anger. He had been watching them. She should have been more vigilant. She wondered how much had been reported to him. Did he know about the bar, their private moment in the bathroom? Marinette felt violated.

"So, you still feel the darkness in your heart," Gabriel mused feeling her emotions turn. "How easily I could use you again."

"I told you, you are wasting your time. I can threaten you too. If Adrien found out what you are…" Marinette paused as Gabriel gritted his teeth.

-Past-

Hawkmoth paced back and forth, the excitement of obtaining the Cat Miraculous after all this time overwhelmed him. This girl he created, she was unlike anything he'd ever seen. She had a raw power. It was unwise to have her come directly to his estate but his impatience had gotten the better of his judgement. He would de-akumatize her elsewhere and she would forget everything anyways, he decided.

"Sir, we haven't been able to locate Adrien. The last place he checked in was... the park." Nathalie reported carefully. She gave Gabriel a look of concern.

"That cant be right. He was supposed to be packing his things. Why didn't you tell me sooner, Nathalie?!" Gabriel yelled. "Check again!"

"Ah yes, I did see your son there, Gabriel Agreste." A female voice called. Trou Noir came hovering down in front of the watch tower opening, hair floating in all directions. The only light was the illumination from the moon and the spotlights of the property. And the wide white eyes of Trou Noir. The rest was shrouded in darkness.

She knew him. He should have expected as much, calling her here. She also knew Adrien. Gabriel thought carefully about his next move. He didn't feel in total control with this one. "Where is my son? Where is Adrien?" he asked trying not to let his fear enter his voice.

"Probably getting ripped apart by one of my black holes. With this power that you gave me. Isn't that ironic?" Marinette mused swirling a small black hole in front of her. A haunting smile on her face.

"That can't be true." Gabriel dropped to his knees, staring at his hands that were trembling. How could he have let this happen? His own son.

"I sucked in everyone there. They all are in darkness now. Including Adrien." Trou Noir said as she floated in, hovering above Gabriel's kneeling figure. Gabriel stared into her white eyes, a fury building in him.

"Oh don't worry though, I brought you this." She cooed holding out the ring. "Isn't this more important to you anyways? All of the terror you've inflected, it was all for this. All the times you neglected your son, wasn't this the goal that made it all worth it?"

Gabriel grabbed his staff and swung it in front, barely missing Trou Noir's face. "Bring him back. Bring back my son." Gabriel growled rising to his feet. He pointed his staff, using all of his power in an attempt to control Trou Noir.

Trou Noir's eyes remained white. She laughed. Hawkmoth had no control over her anymore. She was too strong. A strand of hair soared past Hawkmoth and wrapped itself around Nathalie pinning her to the wall.

"Adrien is gone. You were the one who said to share this feeling of loss and emptiness with everyone. I can't forget your faithful assistant. I sense a bond that is a bit stronger than a boss and subordinate Hawkmoth."

"Release her!" Hawkmoth yelled rushing towards the mass of hair. Another strand whipped the staff from his hand causing him to stop. He turned around and walked back towards Trou Noir. "What do you want girl?" he hissed stopping inches from her face.

"I will make a deal with you, Gabriel Agreste. Vow to never akumatize another person. Never use the Moth Miraculous again. Hand it over to m and I will bring back everyone. Your son Adrien." Trou Noir paused and realized she missed something. Something that could give her away.

"And Ladybug."

Hawkmoth hadn't realized it until now, but Ladybug had been missing from everything. How had he not noticed? Did Trou Noir get to her in her civilian form? Had she been fighting and he hadn't realized? No, something didn't add up. This girl knew too much about the Miraculous he possessed.

"You are saying you have Ladybug? How?" he questioned stepping back from Trou Noir.

A thick of hair holding a tiny black hole materialized next to Hawkmoth. He braced himself with his staff, trying his best to stay in place. The force was impressive for how small the black spot was.

"She couldn't escape my blackholes. She was taken in before I could get to her Miraculous. I was thinking of keeping it to myself anyways. I think I'd look good in spots." Trou Noir jested.

He put more space between himself and Trou Noir. Something didn't feel right about her story but he needed his son back and this felt like then only way. Once he had Adrien back, he would find out the truth.

"I will accept your deal girl. Only under the condition that I keep my Miraculous. I need to ensure my identity is never revealed. If you betray me, I will return as Hawkmoth with no restraints."

This wasn't a good idea. Getting the Moth Miraculous would stop everything. She studied Hawkmoth who glared back at her. He wasn't going to give it over, not now. Fighting the bad feeling, Trou Noir nodded in acceptance and began retreating through the watchtower opening. The strands holding Nathalie retracted dropping her to the ground. The black hole evaporated into nothing.

"Wait, how will you get my son back?" Gabriel called running to the opening. Trou Noir just disappeared over the roof and into the black sky.

Marinette held the torn ribbon in her hand. She had landed on the roof of Master Fu's, and de-transformed from Trou Noir. Feeling the rage melt away with the transformation, she was left with only the feelings of sadness and disappointment. Her heart was tainted. She could feel it as soon as she let the akuma take control. She had to set everything right.

She placed her earrings in her ears and called out "Spots On". Feeling the warmth of the Ladybug transformation almost made her think everything that just happened was a dream. She caught the moth that hovered next to the torn ribbon and purified it, letting the white butterfly float off into the night. One 'Miraculous Ladybug' later and everything was put back into place. Everyone was safely returned to the park awaking in a haze of confusion. The night was quiet and Marinette collapsed in her place on the roof. "Spots Off" she whispered. The warmth dropped away and everything came rushing back.

Tikki came flying out, placing herself in Marinette's cupped hands. Marinette let tears stream down her face with her eyes closed. She couldn't face her kwami. She had failed her worse than any other Ladybug user ever had. Tikki leaned her tiny face against Marinette's hands. "Are you alright Marinette?"

Hearing the worried voice of her kwami made Marinette cry more. She didn't deserve Tikki. She continued to sob as the terrible flashes of the day washed over her. A few minutes passed and Marinette wiped her face and caught her breath. "Let's go talk to Master Fu, Tikki."