Thank you to Khan for beta-ing this chapter, like always! :)


Chapter Twenty-Six

"Master? Can we talk?"

The small kwami hesitantly drifted up to the woman, tapping his small paws together. She didn't move, giving no sign that she had heard him, just staring out the window. Butterfly wings flickered out as Nooroo came closer, and he spoke once more.

"Master, can we please speak?" The Butterfly kwami pleaded.

She let out a sigh. "What is it, Nooroo?"

"I'm really worried about the time you're spending as Monarch," Nooroo said softly, flying so he was next to her shoulder. "Or here, just waiting to transform."

"I need to be ready to akumatize someone at a moment's notice," Monarch replied.

"You can sense someone no matter where you are, though," Nooroo said, now flying in front of her face. "Besides, I don't think you should be sending out butterflies this often. My last holders–"

"What happened to your last holders does not apply to me," Monarch snapped, cutting him off. "Now, is the purpose of this conversation rooted in fact– or is this just another attempt of you trying to keep me from getting the Miraculouses?"

Nooroo shifted uncertainly. "I– I still don't think you should, but–"

"I already told you that you cannot talk me out of this," Monarch said. "We have used every resource possible, looked for other solutions– some of which were to help you. So, unless you can provide us with another option, we will be proceeding with our plans."

Nooroo hung his head. "I told you everything I know."

"Then we will continue on," Monarch replied. "And you can stop worrying about this city– Crimson Beetle will repair all damage after each of our failures, and once we have his Miraculous, we can fix it ourselves."

"It's not the city I'm worried about, Master."

Monarch didn't give him any reply, just touching the brooch on her chest. "Nooroo– wings rise."


"Adrien!" Rose beamed. "You were able to come!"

"Hi, guys," Adrien said softly, and Marinette raised her head, a smile on her face. "Fencing got canceled today, so we were able to swing by."

The 'we' was soon made clear with who was by his side, Kagami a step behind Adrien. Her expression seemed to be carefully neutral, but her stance looked a bit more unsure. She glanced around the music room, brown eyes flickering across everyone, before settling on Marinette, giving a nod.

"Hi, Kagami!" Marinette said warmly, not wanting her to feel unwelcome. "Hi, Adrien."

Ivan, Mylene, Rose, Juleka, and Luka were all here as well, having been allowed to use the music room after class for practice for their small band. Marinette had joined them, as they had approached her asking if she'd design them a logo. It was something she hadn't done before, but drawing a cat for Kitty Section wasn't too much of a challenge, as she found herself doodling Plagg quite often.

"Hello!" Rose said, instantly scurrying up to Kagami, who blinked at the blonde. "I don't think I've seen you around here before, what's your name?"

"Tsurugi Kagami."

"Kagami is new here," Adrien explained. "Kagami, these are my friends. This is Rose, and over there is her girlfriend Juleka. That's Juleka's brother, Luka; they're all in a band with Ivan, and then that's Ivan's girlfriend Mylene, and you already know Marinette."

"Well," Luka said with a soft smile. "I didn't expect to be introduced by someone I've never met."

Adrien's eyes widened. "O-oh, um, Juleka talked a lot about you when she invited me to the band."

Luka let out a soft laugh. "Well, I know who you are as well, so I suppose this is fair." He held out his hand. "So, M. Adrien, it's nice to officially meet you. Are you here to join us?"

Adrien blinked. "Um, haven't I kind of already missed that opportunity?"

"We could always use a keyboardist!" Rose chirped. "In fact, I think the school has one in the closet! Here– let's do some practicing right now!"

With that Rose looped her arm around Adrien's elbow, pulling off towards the storage closet of the music room. Kagami was left alone in the doorway, so Marinette closed her sketchbook and stood up to join her.

"Your school has a keyboard laying about?" Kagami asked.

"Mr. Damocles probably didn't want to bother trying to get a piano on the second floor," Marinette said, shaking her head slightly, before smiling at Kagami. "Come on, you won't get to know anyone just standing there."

"You draw?" Kagami asked, nodding at Marinette's sketchbook.

"Yeah, I love designing," Marinette said. "Mostly clothes, but right now I'm working on a logo for Kitty Section– that's the band name."

"How's it coming along?" Juleka asked quietly.

"Here, I'll show you what I've got so far– just mostly sketches, trying to find something that really says 'Kitty Section', you know?" She flipped open her sketchbook; Kagami, Juleka, Luka, and Ivan came to look over her shoulder.

Marinette couldn't help but feel a little nervous as they looked down at what she had done so far. What if she couldn't produce the look they wanted? These were her friends– so would they tell her 'yes' to whatever she made just to be nice? Leave them stuck with a design that they didn't like? Or maybe–

"I like the hollow eyes," Juleka said with a smile.

"Looks a bit like a mask," Ivan said– the first words he had said besides a 'hello' when she had first arrived. "Looks nice."

"Ooo!" Rose squealed– having been setting up the keyboard with Adrien. "What if we did make it a mask? We could all wear one– wouldn't that be awesome?"

"I'd be down for that," Luka said. "What do you think, Marinette?"

"I'd be happy to design some for you guys," she said. "I don't know if I'd have time to make four masks, though..." She glanced at Adrien. "Or five?"

"Don't be silly, we wouldn't make you do all that," Rose said. "We can do that ourselves– it could be band bonding time! A mask could even be our logo– Oh! I just had the greatest idea– what if we gave it a unicorn horn? Please? That'd be so cute."

Marinette grinned. "I'll see what I can do."

She set off to work, changing up her sketches slightly so it was more clearly a mask. Getting the basic shape down was probably the most important before she tried to make any customization, but she still couldn't help but start drawing in the unicorn horn that Rose had requested.

"So, Kagami," Rose chirped. "Do you like music? Do you play any instruments? Or sing? I'm the lead singer in our band– well, actually the only singer!"

"...I play the violin," Kagami said, eyes flickering across Ivan's drums and the Couffaines' electric guitars. "A bit of a different... tone, from what your band seems to be aiming for. I mostly play classical."

"Violins sound really pretty," Juleka muttered.

"I'd love to hear you play," Mylene said.

Kagami stared at them. "I do not have my violin with me."

"Another time, then?" Ivan asked.

"Oh!" Rose cried– bolting back towards the storage closet. "There's one in here that Kagami could use!"

Marinette had turned to a new page of her sketchbook, carefully starting another sketch. The low hum of strings filled the air, and she glanced up to find Kagami carefully tuning the borrowed violin. Everyone else was watching on, Rose looking eagerly, and Adrien playing a few notes on the keyboard to help her tune.

Once she seemed happy with the sound, she started playing, the bow swiftly moving across the strings. Marinette instantly recognized the song as one of Mozart's compositions– something that Plagg often put on while she was working. It had been annoying at first, but she did have to admit that his taste in music was calming compared to her favorite of Clara Nightingale. Marinette paused from her sketching, watching as Kagami played.

It honestly looked effortless, how she played with ease, but from Marinette's own experience of attempting to play an instrument, she knew it was anything but that. Kagami didn't seem at all focused on her audience, eyes closed as she played. Everyone was silent, even as she came to a stop, the final note drawn out a bit, before pulling the bow away from the violin.

"...I much prefer my own violin," Kagami said as she finished, before moving to put the borrowed instrument back into its case.

"That was amazing!" Mylene said in awe. "How long have you been playing?"

"Since I was eight," Kagami replied.

"It was so beautiful," Marinette said. "I would love to hear more– I wonder if you and Nino could do a duet, I bet you that would sound pretty."

"Nino?" Juleka said with a frown.

"Yeah, he's pretty good with a violin," Marinette said.

"Nino plays the violin?" Rose said, blinking. "Our Nino?"

"Yeah," Marinette said. "He tried to get me and Kim to take lessons as well when we were kids."

"Nino is your friend with the hat, correct?" Kagami asked, glancing at Adrien.

"Yep, he's my best friend."

"Interesting. I did not expect us to share a common interest," Kagami turned her focus towards Marinette. "Also, I have some free time later this week. I was wondering if you would like to spend some time 'hanging out'? Perhaps we could get some orange juice."

"Sounds like fun," Marinette said with a smile. "Could I bring Alya?"

Kagami gave a short nod. "Very well. Adrien, would you join us?" Kagami asked. "That way I could be bringing a friend as well."

Adrien gave a small smile. "Maybe another time."

Marinette was slightly surprised at this, as usually Adrien usually gave a mention of what was in his schedule when he couldn't make it to an event– often giving a 'maybe' before a 'no' when he could. As Marinette looked up at him she saw a far-off look in his eyes, one hand absentmindedly playing a few notes on the keyboard, letting out a soft sigh.

Marinette set her sketchbook aside, making her way over towards him. He didn't notice her right away, and when she put a hand on his shoulder, he jumped slightly.

"Heh," Adrien said with a smile Marinette had seen so many times on Gabriel ads– one that was not Adrien's true smile. "Not every day you're the one startling me."

Marinette gave a quick glance about, and while they were far from alone, no one's attention was on them. Ivan had gone to sit with Mylene, Juleka was with her brother, Rose seemed to be trying to discuss the possibility of Kagami playing an electric violin. When she turned her gaze back towards Adrien he was looking down at the keyboard once more, before turning it off.

"Is everything okay?" Marinette asked– and the only reply she got was a shrug. "Adrien."

"I just... I don't know," Adrien muttered, his voice trailing off slightly.

"If you don't want to talk about it, you don't have to," Marinette said softly. "But you know that we're all here for you, and I'm willing to listen to anything."

Adrien watched her for a moment, his green gaze soft– missing the mischievous spark she had grown so used to. "Thanks, Mari," he said softly, looking away. "It's just... it's going to be a whole year since my mom has been missing."

"Oh," Marinette said softly.

"I mean, it's been a whole year," Adrien muttered. "And I know I should probably be... over everything, but it's just hard. It feels like everything is reminding me that she's gone, and... and the fact that they never found out what happened to her." It looked as if he were about to cry, but he blinked the tears away. "I just don't know if something happened or if she just... left."

Marinette wrapped her arms around Adrien, pulling him close. He didn't move for a moment, but by the sharp intake of breath it seemed like he was still fighting tears.

"I don't know which one is worse," he whispered.

She could only hold him tighter– because she didn't know what to say. What words would bring comfort, and which ones would be just a hollow echo of words he'd heard many times before.

"I'm here for you, if you need anything," Marinette whispered.

Adrien could only give a short nod, and if any of the others in the room noticed them, they didn't make it known.


Kagami, Alya, and Marinette found themselves in a small breakfast cafe, Kagami and Marinette drinking the promised orange juice, while Alya had gone for a coffee. Orders had already been placed, the three just waiting for the meal to arrive, all of them sitting around the small table in the cafe. In the summer months, there were tables outside, but with spring just around the corner, the weather was not quite warm enough to enjoy the outdoors, even when the sun was shining.

"Adrien has shown me the BeetleBlog," Kagami remarked. "Said it was a good resource for seeing akuma attacks in full when I first arrived here. In Japan, the attacks have made the news multiple times, though I've never seen the full raw footage."

"Were they using my videos?" Alya asked, eager.

Kagami shrugged. "Never checked."

Alya didn't seem deterred. "Was one of the ones they showed Stoneheart? They were the first akuma– because I'm the only one that got any good footage on that fight, so if they did it had to be mine."

"I... I am not familiar with the names of each akuma, I'm afraid," Kagami said. "Still trying to get used to the way you all use the term 'akuma'. I am curious as to what prompted the use of a Japanese word, though."

Alya was scrolling through her phone, having pulled up a picture of Stoneheart, but paused. "Akuma is Japanese?"

"The word is, yes. Or, at least we have a word that sounds the same," Kagami said. "It doesn't really translate perfectly, but it essentially means 'demon'– which in a sense does seem to align with the idea of akumas."

"You know, now that I think about it," Marinette said. "It was Monarch that named the akumas, isn't it? During the Cameraman attack that's what she called them– everything else was just 'monsters' before that, wasn't it?"

"And after," Alya said bitterly, before sighing. "You know, I still get some comments on the blog with people calling the akumas that... guess the word 'akuma' isn't any better, though, is it?"

"Depends," Kagami said. "I think here in Paris it has developed its own meaning, hasn't it?"

It was then their server came over their food, swiftly setting the three plates down in front of them, before topping off their drinks. The three girls gave their thanks to the waiter, who nodded in reply, before heading off towards another table.

"I actually have a pretty big article I will be posting in a few days," Alya said with a grin. "Can't say too much– but let's just say I don't think Crimson Beetle and Lady Noire are the only heroes out there."

"Makes sense," Kagami said after a moment of thought. Clearly this wasn't the reaction Alya was expecting, blinking, and Kagami continued. "If something exists, then it's logical that more of it is out there. We know that magic, or at least a power that appears to us as that, is out there– and it probably didn't show up yesterday. I am sure there are many examples across history, things that we may have disregarded before now. My father always says there is more out there than what we can see, and there are stories my grandfather used to tell me that I do not think are quite as fantastical as before." Kagami took a sip of orange juice. "If anything, it actually makes more sense for them to be true– my grandfather was never one interested in stories and tall tales."

"What kind of stories?" Alya asked. "Was it anything like what we're seeing here in Paris? That's what my whole article is about looking at possible magic in history– World War II, especially."

"Well, my grandfather's stories were about his father, who served in the war," Kagami said. "But I don't know if there was any further connection. Besides, they'd be the third account coming from me, and this is assuming that they are in fact true, and not just made up to entertain a child."

"Well, never hurts to look into things," Alya said with a smile.

"Alya was able to find some really cool things in her research," Marinette said.

"It was actually thanks to Marinette that everything came together in the first place," Alya said, throwing an arm around Marinette's shoulder. "She was the one that made the connection with Citrine, and figured out that we were possibly looking at another animal-based hero; it was amazing, she just pieced everything together in just like two seconds, remembered these stories about these fox spirits, um, huli... huli..."

Alya glanced at Marinette. "Húlijīng are the fox spirits, and húlí on its own just means fox."

"Yeah, but the way Clovis described Citrine Húlí seemed very spirit-like, didn't it?" Alya said. "I was looking them up to see if maybe I could find anything, like maybe the powers could be similar? I didn't find anything that was connected; from what Clovis and some of the others I talked to said, Citrine Húlí seemed to have the ability to control fog, and in the stories I was reading about the foxes were shapeshifters. And like you said with Clovis there were the nine tailed ones, though not always–" She paused, laughing. "Sorry, I'm rambling. In short I couldn't find anything power-wise that seemed to be related with Citrine Húlí and the stories about the huli... huli-ting?"

"Húlíjīng," Marinette replied.

"I think you mean kitsune," Kagami said, a small smile playing on her lips as the two looked over at her.

"Húlíjīng."

"Zenko," Kagami said after a moment.

"Jiǔwěihú," Marinette replied, smirking.

"Feunard?" Alya offered– and at the mention of the Pokemon, Marinette found herself bursting out laughing.


Adrien did not get up with his alarm.

He just let it blare as he laid there in bed, staring up at the ceiling. The dread that had been lurking in the back of his mind all week had finally made its way so it hung above him– dark and foreboding– yet doing nothing more than letting its presence be known. That itself was enough, though; the truth it brought being the most painful.

One year. One year since his mother had officially been declared missing.

He closed his eyes, as if hoping that sleep would reclaim the day, and let him waste it away. Instead, the alarm kept beeping, telling him to get up. Telling him that the world outside was still spinning, and that it wasn't going to wait for him. However, it was not just the fact that his mother was gone that hurt– today held so many other pains and reminders.

The knowledge that he never got to say goodbye to her. The fact that the chances of her being alive were now next to nothing. The little things– how he could never sit at the piano with her and play another duet. That he would never again see her laughing with his father, or all of them simply being together.

One year since his mother had vanished. And one year since his father had officially retreated from Adrien's life.

"Adrien?" A small voice asked, and at last his alarm fell silent. "Are you going to get up?"

His eyes flickered towards Tikki, who was sitting on top of his now-silent phone. She was watching him in concern, and he pulled his eyes away. "No."

"We have school."

"Yeah."

"I know that your friends will want to support you today," she offered, drifting forward. "They'll be there, waiting. You just have to take the step of getting to school– can you do that?"

"...It's not them I want to see," Adrien whispered.

"Oh, Adrien..." Tikki said softly.

"He's been getting worse all week," Adrien muttered– even with the little he saw his father, the man still managed to vanish further from his life. Adrien could understand the dread for today, though– as he had been feeling the exact same fear. "I... I need him, Tikki. I need him."

"Ask to see him?" Tikki offered, but he couldn't miss the hesitation in her voice– because she had seen that request denied before.

"I want Father," Adrien whispered, and he felt like a child as tears stung his eyes– but it had been a whole year since he had truly felt like a parent had been near. By his side, rather than just fleeting moments that never lasted long enough.

He didn't want a sliver of comfort only for it to vanish the next day. He didn't want a promising moment only to learn that hope was for nothing.

He just wanted something constant in his life once more.

"I want Dad," Adrien croaked.

Tikki dove down towards him, her small arms wrapping around his cheek as she pressed against him, trying to embrace him despite her small form. Small noises came from her, sounding almost like the ringing of bells. The words were ones he did not know, but they seemed to be words of comfort regardless.

A hand reached up to cup Tikki, reminding him that she was there at the very least– but even that wasn't enough. He felt the tears sliding from his eyes, the taste of salt in his mouth, and he couldn't keep them back. Tikki let out more words in the musical language, holding him tighter.

Then suddenly the kwami was slipping between his fingers– swooping away and vanishing under his covers as his door cracked open– letting light from the hallway spill in. Adrien stayed still, as if hoping the door would close again, but instead he heard his name.

"Adrien?" Nathalie asked. "You should be up now. You have school soon."

He closed his eyes. "...No."

"No?" Nathalie echoed, sounding surprised.

"I don't feel well," Adrien muttered, forcing the words out. Nathalie stood in the doorway– both of them knowing what he meant. After a moment, she let out a long sigh.

"I will call the school and inform them that you won't be coming in today," Nathalie finally said. "But you need to get up and eat breakfast."

"I'm not hungry."

"That doesn't matter. You will get up and eat. Don't keep me waiting."

With that the door closed, and Adrien was left in the darkness once more. He rolled over onto his back, staring up at the ceiling once more, and Tikki came out of hiding. The kwami was easy to see, even in the darkness, as if glowing with just the faintest hint of pink light. Blue eyes stared down at him, warm and full of worry– and he let out a long sigh.

A year ago, he hadn't wanted to get out of bed either, but he had. If he could do it then, then he could do it now. So with strength he was sure he did not have, he pulled the blankets back, and forced himself to sit up.

Adrien didn't bother to turn on the lights, walking blindly across the room towards his bathroom. Tikki was right behind him, and while sounds were coming from her, he did not comprehend any of it. If she was talking in French or that strange language again, he could not tell you. He just forced himself to get ready for the day as he always had, blindly following the same routine that had slowly begun to make up his life.

Tikki made her way into his pocket as he neared the end, carefully combing and gelling his hair, and he felt the kwami giving him reassuring nudges through his pocket. Adrien stared into the mirror as he finished, looking the same as he always did, except for his green eyes were dull.

"No, you really aren't looking that good," Nathalie commented as he came down the stairs, and he just looked at her. "Your school has been informed that you won't be coming in, and you will have the day off. M. Lahiffe will drop off notes and your assignments tonight."

"Thank you, Nathalie," he muttered.

"Come along now, your breakfast is on the table," Nathalie said, walking ahead. Adrien forced himself to follow, and she looked back on him. "You seemed to be doing well last night."

"I..." Adrien began, and he shook his head. "Everything just hit again this morning."

"...I'm sorry," Nathalie said after a moment, and he couldn't help but feel dizzy. She sounded so genuine as she spoke, as if it were her to blame. He swallowed– feeling slightly comforted in seeing this side of Nathalie again, rather than the stoic mask she always wore. It was nice seeing a sign that she cared.

"It's not your fault," Adrien said quietly as he was led into the dining room. The smell of food wafted past his nose, and despite the rumble his stomach gave, he felt no desire to eat. "If anything, I should be thanking you, you've done so much..."

"...I'm trying my best," Nathalie said, before pulling out the chair at the head of the table. "Take a seat now, you need to eat."

Adrien sat down. "I'm not hungry, Nathalie."

"You need to eat," the woman insisted.

Adrien picked up the fork, staring down at his plate, and slowly poked at the eggs. Nathalie gave a short nod of approval– then left the room without another word. As soon as she was gone, he set it back down, and Tikki popped her head from out of his pocket.

"You heard her, Adrien, and you know she's right," the kwami said. "At least get something in your stomach, please."

"Do you want anything?" Adrien offered.

"I want you to at least eat those eggs," Tikki said, pointing to the omelet. "There's not too much, you can manage that, right?"

"...Alright," Adrien said softly, and picked up the fork once more. Tikki smiled softly as he began eating, and she nuzzled up against him. Silence hovered in the air, and slowly the food on the plate was being eaten.

When Tikki hid away in his pocket, he knew that Nathalie was coming, looking up before he could even hear her footsteps. The woman looked at his plate as she came back in, clearly satisfied to see that he had started eating.

"Are you going to have anything more?"

Adrien shook his head.

"Very well. If you find that you're hungry later, then please notify the cook," Nathalie said, looking over her tablet. "If you're finished, then please head to your father's atelier, he would like to speak with you."

Adrien jerked slightly as he rose to his feet, staring at her. "He does?"

"Yes," Nathalie said. "Don't keep him waiting."

Adrien gave an awkward nod, pushing in his chair before heading towards the door. His footsteps echoed through the mansion. Despite the hope that had swelled up in his chest, he still couldn't help but feel slightly nervous as he headed towards his father's office. What if he was upset about him staying home from school? He wouldn't be, right? He would understand why...

Adrien paused as he paused outside the double doors, Tikki sticking her head out. She gave him an encouraging nod, and he slowly raised his hand to knock.

His father's voice was so quiet that he barely made it out. "Come in."

Tikki ducked back into his pocket as Adrien pushed one door open. He carefully closed it behind him, before looking towards his father– who had his back towards him. Gabriel was standing away from his workspace, in front of the large painting of his mother that took up nearly an entire wall. The man was staring up at the painting, his arms behind his back. Adrien couldn't help but look at it as well, a pain in his heart at the image of his mother. It was something Gabriel had gotten painted long before Emilie had vanished– but he was sure that his father's dependency on it had only grown in the last year.

"Father?" Adrien asked softly, his eyes moving away from the image of his mother, to his father.

The man didn't reply for a moment, before letting out a soft sigh, and looking back at him. Adrien looked up into those gray eyes, not sure what he was searching for, but it wasn't long before Gabriel's attention turned towards the picture one more. Adrien swallowed, hating the silence that hung between them.

"Nathalie told me that you weren't feeling well."

"It's... it's hard," Adrien said quietly. "...I miss her."

"I miss her too, son," Gabriel said with a sigh. "Emilie... there was no one quite like her." Again he fell silent. "Come here."

Adrien silently approached his Father's side, able to now see the image of his mother in full. He felt his breath get caught in his throat as he stared up at the picture, and tears stung his eyes, the hurt he had been feeling all morning returning to the surface once more. He blinked several times, as his vision blurred, and looked towards his father when he felt a hand on her shoulder.

Gabriel's hand moved from his shoulder to his face, gently cupping his cheek so he was looking up at him. He held his breath as his father's thumb slid across his face, wiping away a tear that had slipped free.

"You look so much like her," Gabriel said softly, before sighing. "It's hard sometimes, you know. Your eyes look just like hers." The smallest hint of a smile climbed onto his face. "Your mother, though– she was stubborn– never met anyone quite as stubborn as her. You're not like that."

"Oh?" Adrien echoed, not sure how to respond. Was it supposed to mean something– or was he just rambling? It felt like the latter, but with his father, he never felt like he could be sure.

"Sometimes that stubborn side of hers does shine through with you," Gabriel said continued. His hand moved from his face to his hair, and Adrien had no idea how to respond. He shuddered, wanting to lean into the affection– but his mind seemed to not know quite what to do when it was Gabriel giving it. "Like last fall, you wouldn't take 'no' as an answer when it came to school."

"I... I wanted to go," Adrien muttered.

"Have you been enjoying it?"

"Y-yes?"

"Are you happy there?" Gabriel asked, clarifying the question despite the answer he received.

"I am, Father. I love my classes, and my classmates."

"Hmm," Gabriel said, pulling his hand away, and he looked back up at the picture once more. "Your mother... she did not want you in public school. The idea made her panic, she didn't think it was safe. You're better off here, she'd tell me, with tutors we know and can watch. When I let you go, I felt like I was betraying her, in a way. She knew so much more about children, after all."

Gabriel looked back at him again, expression emotionless for a moment, and Adrien felt his heart thump.

"I am glad to see it wasn't a poor decision on my part in that regard," Gabriel finally said. "I still do have my worries, however. That akuma that went after you... that should not have happened."

"We don't control what happens to the akumas."

"...That does not alleviate the danger."

Adrien wasn't sure what was happening– but he felt like he needed to defend school, that agreeing with his words would be a reason for his father to pull him out. "I'll be in danger no matter where I go in life, Father. And akumas... one could find me both at school and at home. This is magic we're talking about, and I don't think we're capable of just... stopping it."

"I can't lose you," Gabriel muttered, looking at him with almost a desperate look. "You're all I have left, Adrien, you're the only family I have."

"If I'm all you have," Adrien muttered, bitter tears forming in his eyes. "Why do you keep pushing me away?"

He couldn't quite see his father's expression, not with the tears in his eyes.

"I... I never see you," Adrien croaked. "I thought you just needed time, but... it's been a year, Father. A year without her, and a year without you."

Gabriel said nothing.

"I miss you," Adrien whispered. "You want to keep me here, but I feel so alone. I... I just don't understand..."

So many things he wanted to say, so many feelings running through him– but he didn't know where to begin. Growing up, 'busy' was something his father always was, but he had still been present. He had been at dinners. He had been at tournaments. It wasn't always everyday, but he had still been there.

Adrien's tears spilled over when he felt a pair of arms wrap around him. His father pulled him against his chest, and Adrien took in a sharp breath as he tried to keep his tears in check– but they fell down his face even as he pressed his eyes closed as his father embraced him. Adrien's own arms wrapped around the man, attempting to pull him close now that he at last had contact.

"I'm sorry," Gabriel said quietly.

"I miss you so much," Adrien whispered. "And you're not even gone."

Fingers ran through his hair. "I am not good at these sorts of things. Your mother..." he sighed. "She always knew what to do."

"But she isn't here," Adrien said– those words bitter on his tongue. "You're the one here."

Gabriel's arms coiled around him tightly, and Adrien could feel the man shaking. He took in a sharp breath– because his father never cried. Adrien stood there for a moment, before shakily wrapping his arms around his father, holding him close.

"I'm sorry," Gabriel murmured, and unlike the times he muttered the words before, it seemed to actually mean something.

"I love you, Dad," Adrien whispered, tasting salt in his mouth.

"I love you too," Gabriel said softly into his ear. "You're the most important thing in my life."


"Sir?"

"I thought I asked to be alone today, Nathalie."

"Sorry, sir," the woman said briskly, and Gabriel looked back at her. "Nino Lahiffe is here to drop off Adrien's assignments and some notes, and has requested to come inside. I declined, but Adrien insisted I ask you."

"...Let him in," Gabriel said after a moment. Nathalie gave a short nod, typing a few things into her tablet, and Gabriel knew that the front gate would be opening. He sighed, looking up at the image of his wife. "I need things to be quiet today, Nathalie."

"I already cleared your schedule."

"...Thank you," Gabriel said slowly. "Clear yours as well– you've been working hard, you should take a rest."

"I am doing fine, sir, but thank you for your concern."

Gabriel didn't reply, staring at the picture of his wife intently. After a moment, he gritted his teeth, taking a step forward, pulling the painting open, revealing the safe embedded into the wall behind it. Nathalie watched him stoically as he typed in the password, opening up the door to look into the safe.

A picture of Emillie, an old leather book, two college diplomas, several pieces of jewelry resting in a shallow dish, a framed drawing of a toddler's scribbles, and scattered knickknacks. Gabriel stared into the safe for a moment, before letting out a long breath.

"...She'd hate me."

Nathalie didn't reply.

Gabriel carefully reached in, pulling out the framed drawing, looking down at it, his gaze softening. Three figures were scrawled in pencil, all hand in hand. Crayon added splotches of color to the clothes and hair, pointed mountains making up the background, and a bright yellow orb for the sun. There were smiles on each face, the child's family portrait displaying a moment captured in time. Gabriel ran a hand across Adrien's name carefully written in the bottom corner, the last few letters squished together so they would fit on the page.

Gabriel closed his eyes, before carefully replacing the drawing back into the safe, tucked away among the other memories carefully stored there, before shutting the safe. Soon, the portrait of Emilie was draped across the hidden safe, the woman once again looking over the atelier.

"Would you like to be alone, sir?" Nathalie asked.

"...I don't know," Gabriel murmured, turning his back on the painting. He took in a deep breath, before carefully making his way across the office, eyes never quite settling as they flickered across the room. His eyes landed on the doors, one still part way open from Nathalie coming in, and he reached out a hand to pull it shut, but he paused as he looked out into the hall.

Adrien stood out there, talking quietly with his friend. He couldn't hear their words, so he just watched them for a moment. The boy– Nino?– adjusted his cap, saying something, which made Adrien give a short nod. They didn't seem to notice that they were being watched, and after a moment Nino laid a hand on Adrien's shoulder, offering a gentle smile to the blond.

"Nathalie?" Gabriel asked after a moment.

"Yes, sir?"

"Adjust Adrien's schedule, make sure there's some time for Adrien to spend with his friends in the coming weeks," Gabriel said, carefully pulling the atelier door shut.

"Of course, sir."