Hi everyone!
I just wanted to let you know that this story is now in AO3, but I'll keep updating in both platforms.
Disclaimer: I don't own miraculous ladybug nor the characters, only the plot.
His brother wouldn't come with him which was better. He still couldn't look him in the eye. The anger was way too strong. More importantly, he was sick of the pity looks everyone gave him. Couldn't they understand that if it hadn't affected him before it wouldn't now? If he hid it for so long it was because he could live with that. Yet, he was a pity case and thus no one would leave him alone.
It had taken him weeks to convince the social services lady, Barbie, to come here tonight. Thanks to Felix being in town they had allowed him to stay in his house only with constant supervision because of possible breakdown caused by trauma or if anything happened. It was like his bodyguard, only more annoying. Usually his caretaker would allow him to go out for school or to his friend's places (even if he had come back to having only Chloe as a friend. She might be brat but she wasn't the reason why his father was now imprisoned and she didn't treat him differently. It was all part of an old understanding: neither would ask or comment the difficulties they had before, except, of course, if they needed to vent out). But everytime he asked for this he got a strong "No" as an answer. He just didn't understand the problem. If he wanted to go visit Gabriel in prison he should be allowed to. Yeah, he wanted to see him. The fury had dissolved long ago leaving a yearning to see him go back to what he once was. Maybe now it would finally happen.
At last, his psychiatrist (the same that he had back at the hospital) had declared he was strong enough emotionally to face this. Honestly, he'd been ready since day one. Not that anyone had listened to him long enough to know that. All this fuss around him was only a façade. But of course, he wouldn't go alone: Barbie was coming too. Yay. He just wanted a moment alone with him. To talk to him. This time for real. Listen and be heard. The only thing he had wished for in the past five years. But it was clear it wouldn't happen, at least not without a little manipulation. His family did have an impact on him. He was no angel.
The prison was depressing. No color but grey and the orange of the prisoner's outfits. Everything was bordered with thick iron bars and each door was guarded by at least two armed policemen. And this wasn't even a center for dangerous criminals. Suddenly justice didn't seem so good. Chat Noir was less appealing. Maybe everything he had ever done was wrong… Seeing his father interrupted his contemplation and reconsiderations. He looked awful with bag under his eyes and messy locks which had never had a hair out of place before. Apparently, the place was not only depressing but also hellish. And the fashion designer was suffering it all because of Nino. To think he had considered him a friend. "Hello Adrien." God, even his voice had changed from the composed tone to a raspy sound." Dad" the word felt bittersweet in his mouth. For once calling him that sent him back to his early childhood when he would play with him and throw him in the air. As a counterpart was everything he had suffered lately: the distance, the scars, the infinite pain. He didn't know if Gabriel deserved that title anymore.
None of them said anything for a while. They weren't even capable of exchanging casualties. That was how broken their bond was. "Are you better now? Than when you were in the hospital, I mean." Avoid the topic. It was a good enough strategy. Adrien could play along. "Yeah, the trauma passed away when I had this dream about mom. Thanks for asking." Silence once again. It gave the teenager time to think about the day he had finally reacted.
He was starting to make peace with abandoning his lady and all of Paris when he had felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked there to see a blurry figure of a blond woman. Odd, he didn't remember any visits apart from Felix. Then came a voice: a harmonic song-like tune that reminded him of something he couldn't quite put his finger on. It was southing and made him want to sleep, but for some reason he fought the tiredness. He wanted to hear, to see more. It had been weeks since he saw, smelled, touched, tasted or heard anything. His grief was that strong.
Slowly everything became clearer; the fog in his thoughts was lifting. He recognized an old lullaby. It talked about the sea and a lighthouse. He could just catch a word now and then but it was already enough. Everything seemed to go back into place. Why was he so upset? It seemed so stupid now… The image started coming back to and he found out the lady had green eyes that stayed out of focus. It reminded him of someone. But who? Did it even matter? he could just seat back, close his eyes and enjoy it. Let it wash away his pain.
"That's it my little lion. Everything is okay. Mom is here." He jolted back to life. It was so obvious: who could have that effect on him if it wasn't Alice. "Mom?" tears stained his face, or at least he thought so. He was too busy being happy. She was back at last. It was probably the best thing that had ever happened to him. the smile he dreamed about answered him. Now he was sure he was crying. "Listen to me Adrien because I'll have to leave really soon. You did nothing bad. You deserve to rest in peace. And remember everything has a solution except for death. When it matters the most, you'll do the right thing."
And then she was gone. Her words stayed. Chat or not he would save those he cared about and he would find his mother.
For the first time in weeks he moved.
Why wouldn't Barbie get a hint and leave them alone? Adrien had already asked her if she could get him a drink, if she could ask the policemen how long they had left, and so much more. Her answer to everything was "we'll see later". Idiot. His father wouldn't talk to him, preferring to glare at the social service employee and he didn't have enough will to do all the conversation himself. "Can we please go?" he asked at last, resigned that he would never get to smile at his dad again. His caretaker just nodded and stood up, he followed suit. Not even goodbyes came out of their mouths. It was too late for that. And none of that would have been so bad if the imbecile had taken a hint.
When the young model was about to exit the room, the walls started to turn rusty and fall, separating him from everyone but his father. Plagg. Only he could do that kind of destruction. He was still with him. A smile broke his face. Maybe giving up his miraculous had been useless if no one else would use it. If his kwami was loyal to him. but that would have to wait. For now, he was alone with the fashion designer and he didn't intend to miss his chance. "Dad I have so much to tell you. I swear I didn't tell anyone. I tried to get you out of here, but I'll fix this mess. I swear I'll get you out. Just hold on, okay?" Gabriel smiled. And then became stoic again. "Now Adrien listen to me. The policemen will come but first I need to give you a mission. If you want to see your mother again you'll go to my room and in the third drawer of mi desk you'll find a blue box. Here is how you have to use it." He said as he put a crumbled piece of paper in his hand. The teenager nodded. Nothing could stop him. his family will be fixed. The two Agreste hugged each other for the first time in what seemed like forever. They stayed like that for an hour, relishing in what they had missed. After that the fireman and the police came and took each of them to a different place.
Adrien was laying on his bed, thinking about the day. Everything had been worth the trouble because his dad had come back to what he once was. That was all he could possibly ask for. It had been no surprise when he had found his ring laying in the car as he came back. The little god had proved his point: he wasn't going anywhere. It wasn't a big reunion; no emotions were shown but it was great for both of them. And as consequence Plagg was eating his tenth camembert cheese. It was good to have things go back to normal. And his dad had been…. Dad! The blue box! He ran off to the master bedroom and opened the right drawer. The blue box was there. He unfolded the paper he was given and found the next sentence: "Find the right champion. Win the right jewels and use their infinite power to find her." With dread closing in he opened the box and gasped.
Gabriel Agreste was Hauk Moth.