Chapter Thirty
"I'm sorry, Adrien."
"H-huh?"
Adrien was jerked out of his thoughts by the sound of Tikki's voice, and he saw the kwami hovering above him, a sorrowful look on her face. He sat up slowly, having collapsed on his bed the moment he entered his room, drowning in his thoughts. His heart had been racing from his father's shouts, and even now it had yet to calm down.
"This is my fault," Tikki said. "If I hadn't told you to take the book you wouldn't be in trouble."
"...We needed it, though, didn't we?" Adrien muttered, looking away. It seemed pretty important to the two Guardians, and though he didn't fully know what was inside... maybe it could give them an edge against Monarch.
"I could've told you to come back later," Tikki said, antennae low. "I knew where it was, we could have come back at any time, and gotten it in a way that wouldn't have put you on camera."
Adrien sighed, pulling his knees up. "It doesn't matter. It was my choice to break into the safe. I would have gotten in trouble."
"But he wouldn't have gotten mad about you stealing!" Tikki protested.
"When Father gets upset, he gets upset," Adrien muttered. "Probably would have been the same either way." He let out a long sigh, looking away. "Either way, I invaded his privacy. He had every right to be mad."
Tikki drifted closer. "Well, he can't be upset forever."
Adrien let out a dry chuckle. "You don't know my father that well," he let out a long breath. "But you're right. The worst of it is probably over, I just have to hope he can forgive me..."
Adrien was cut off as the sunlight from his windows was suddenly drowned in darkness.
The duo jumped, fear pounding through them, and Adrien whipped his head towards where the windows had been– but instead they had been replaced by a seamless wall. Adrien's mouth went dry, and even within the large room, it felt like it was closing in on him– what had once been an open view and a means of escape now a large barrier.
Tikki zipped forward, phasing through the wall before he could say anything. He sat there on his bed, shivering as the house seemed to quiver, shaking just enough to create the feeling of unease, but not enough to knock anything over. If it wasn't for the clear magic at work Adrien's first thought would have been an earthquake, but instead he just sat frozen on his bed, waiting for Tikki to return.
You're okay. You're okay. The doors are still there. You can get out. You're not locked in here. You're okay–!
"The whole place looks like a fortress!" Tikki cried as she zipped back into the room. "The outside walls look like a castle and the house is a keep!"
Adrien forced himself to let out a shaky breath– he wasn't alone, he was fine... "Akuma?"
Tikki looked away. "...Undoubtedly."
His eyes widened, realizing what Tikki already had seemed to put together– there was only one person in the Agreste house that was probably upset enough to become an akuma, and Adrien threw himself off of his bed.
"Father!"
"Adrien, no!" Tikki yelped, zipping after him, lowering her voice as they headed into the hallway. She zipped into his pocket, voice a hiss. "Adrien, you can't run towards an akuma untransformed– especially when he was upset with you!"
"But this is my fault!" Adrien cried, running down the stairs– which were shifting from the familiar design of the manor, to the detailed stone brick of a castle.
By the time he reached the foyer, most of the inside had been transformed, and Adrien tried not to focus on the fact that the front doors were gone. He turned towards the atelier, and he was met with what looked to be the most barricaded room yet. The double doors were now large and grand– metal reinforced with a thick rod that fell across the doorway, locking his father in and him out. Adrien hesitated, before stepping forward, knocking on the door.
The intricate design on the door shifted, small little ports being revealed– spikes suddenly jutting out from them. Adrien scrambled back, thankful that he hadn't tried knocking again. "F-father?"
For a moment there was silence– then the spikes retreated back into the door. Adrien watched with bated breath as the rod that locked the door was retracted back into the doorway, and one of the large grand golden doors slowly swung open. Adrien was shaking slightly, before slowly stepping into his father's office– which looked nothing like it had before.
"You should be in your room," Gabriel's voice was low, emotionless– which startled Adrien. He had expected his father's anger to be magnified under the akuma, for him to be screaming and shouting like before.
"F-father, what's–"
"...The Protector."
"H-huh?"
His father's figure turned towards him, allowing Adrien a proper view of the akuma. "I am now the Protector," he replied. "...That is what I shall be called."
Adrien swallowed. "You're still my father."
His father's outfit was sleek, gleaming white silk with a design that matched the rest of the home– blending with ease with the castle decor. Unlike the cold-stone look of the rest of the house, his atelier looked more like what you'd find within a palace, and Adrien wasn't sure if his father was supposed to be the king, or the guard.
Silver metallic cuffs lined his wrists and boots, and silver tassets hung from his sides. His shirt and pants were made from the same fine, white silk, hemmed with a golden thread. His armor was minimal, silver shoulder plates resting on his upper arms, and a thick belt gilded with rubies. A silver circlet rested on his white hair, a single ruby on it.
On his arm was a tall kite shield, silver and white, embedded with rubies and carved with delicate designs Adrien could not make out.
Gray eyes had become a metallic silver, and Adrien shuddered slightly as his father gazed at him. "That is so," he said slowly. "And as such, you should be up in your room, where it is safe."
Adrien hesitated. "Aren't... aren't you mad at me?"
It wasn't often he saw an akuma waver, but in that moment his father's gaze went from emotionless to something he couldn't describe. It was only for a moment, and the Protector sat up straight, holding his shield out in front of him.
"My fight is not with you," he replied, voice hollow and echoed. "Retire to your room. You will be safe there."
"Father–"
"Now."
Adrien flinched, such a tone usually a last warning when it came to his father– but this was an akuma. Gabriel's mind warped into something else, something that he wouldn't even remember. Adrien hesitated, now understanding why family members of the akumas often tried to reason with them, stepping forward.
"Father," he said, those silver eyes boring into him. "Remember when the Gamer came after me? How worried and upset you were? Akumas are dangerous, you said so yourself– so how am I supposed to be safe when you're one?"
The Protector's gaze hardened. "If your response to an akuma is to run to them and try to reason, then I most certainly do have my worries."
"Monarch is the one that hurts people, Father, don't listen to her," Adrien said urgently. "If you want to protect me, then you shouldn't be helping her– where is your akuma?"
Adrien hadn't expected his words to do anything, and he had already decided the shield held the butterfly– but at his words his father's free hand fell across his chest, where a pocket rested on his outfit. His hand moved away moments afterwards, showing a handkerchief carefully folded away into it. Adrien's eyes locked onto it, and a glowing purple mask appeared over the Protector's face.
The akuma closed his eyes, listening.
"Father, don't!" Adrien cried. "Monarch's akumas have put me into danger before, you can't trust her! Don't listen to her!"
His father was focused on protection, that was probably the only way he could reason with him–
The glowing purple mask remained on the Protector's face as he strolled forward, his hand grabbing Adrien under the arm and dragging him towards the doors, which swung open as if responding to the Protector's presence. Adrien scrambled to pull free, but while the akuma's grasp wasn't painful it was still more powerful than his own strength.
"The heroes will be here soon, and I don't want you caught in the crossfire," the Protector said, in the same tone as if telling Adrien not to interrupt a business call. "You will remain in your room until this is over."
"Father!" Adrien protested as he was led up the stairs, stumbling as he was unable to keep up with the akuma's long strides. This caused the Protector to pause, allowing Adrien to regain his footing, before resuming guiding him upstairs.
"...I'm sorry," the Protector muttered slightly, then led him towards one of his bedroom doors. He pulled it open, revealing that Adrien's room had been transformed, too, and carefully guided him inside. "Stay here."
The door was shut, and Adrien felt a wave of nausea run through him as he watched the door to his room shift– changing into a wall just like the windows had before. Panic rushed through him, and he ran towards the other door– only to find that it had changed as well. He threw himself against the wall, as if hoping it were just an illusion, hands scrambling to find some means to open it.
"No!" Adrien cried, adrenaline flooding through him as fear took hold of his heart. "No– Father– please no! Don't lock me in here! Please!"
He could hear Tikki's voice, but he didn't know what she was saying. He didn't even see her– the only thing that held his attention was the horrid wall. The four walls that surrounded him with no escape. It didn't matter that the room remained as spacious as before– there was no door, no windows– he was trapped.
"Father!" Adrien screamed. "Let me out– let me out– please let me out of here!"
Fists hammered against the wall where the door had once stood, and he felt Tikki land on his head, reassuring strokes of her arms being run through his hair– but that did not change the fact that the horrible wall remained where it had before, the room blurring as he hiccupped. He tried to take in a breath, but that itself felt like a struggle.
"Dad!" Adrien screamed at the top of his lungs, a sob escaping his throat. "Dad– help me!"
He quivered, huddling near the ground as he leaned against the wall, horror pounding through him. There was no way out, there was no way out, no one could hear him here, no one could hear him–!
"Adrien," a soft voice whispered, and he drew in a sharp breath. "Adrien, I'm right here..."
"Maman?" Adrien croaked.
"No," the voice said, and he focused on the red blur in front him. "It's me, Adrien, I can hear you. I hear you..."
"Tikki," he whispered. "H-help me."
He shivered as he felt the wall beneath his hands shift, and he pulled back. He watched as stone melted away into wood– the door slowly materializing once more. A golden handle appeared, a lock firmly in place, but as Adrien reached up towards it he found that he could slide it open.
Tears of relief built up in his eyes, and he took in a quivering breath. Tikki hovered close to him, confused and worried. She stared at the door, as if expecting it to open, but there were no sounds on the other side. Adrien scrambled forward, clawing the door open. The stairs had changed– no longer any leading down to the foyer, only to the higher levels, but the mere fact that there was a door was enough for Adrien.
He stood there in the doorway, feeling like he could finally breathe again. He braced against the doorframe, and after a moment he hesitantly looked towards his kwami, trying to compose himself. He shouldn't have let his emotions get the better of him; there was an akuma, he was making Tikki worried.
"Did... did you open it up?" Adrien asked softly, and Tikki shook her head.
"...He must have heard you?" Tikki said uncertainly. "Akumas don't usually heed others–"
"The akuma must not have been targeting his anger," Adrien said, slowly sitting up. "He's focused on protecting me, he's turned the house into a fortress... do you think something else came up?"
"I don't know," Tikki said. "It's a strange power," she looked about the castle. "His powers appear defensive in origin, but it seems his ability is to manipulate the building itself," She bit her lip. "Maybe he was worried about you being linked to the book? That it could make you a target?"
"But the only ones who saw it were me and Lila."
"Your father believes Crimson Beetle approached you, and you're a recognizable face. Maybe, I don't know, he's afraid of you being seen talking to a hero when there's not an akuma out? And Monarch struck when those emotions were high?"
Adrien stiffened up. "If Father mentions anything about the book in this state, then Monarch will know about it."
"Maybe it's a good thing it's not here then, she might have ordered him to bring it to her."
Adrien looked away. "He wouldn't have been akumatized if I hadn't taken it, though."
"We can worry about this later," Tikki said. "We need to focus on finding a way out– it will be too suspicious if Crimson Beetle suddenly shows up transformed inside. There has to be a way out, if your father plans on confronting you and Lady."
"A way in, you mean," Adrien corrected, glancing down both hallways. Even if his home looked different, the layout seemed mostly the same– save for the fact that there were no stairs leading to the first floor. "He said he plans on the heroes showing up, remember?"
"But would he want them in here?" Tikki said uncertainly, floating after Adrien as he started climbing the stairs. "If this whole place is meant to be a defensive fortress, why would he let his enemies inside?"
"Father hasn't left the house in over a year," Adrien replied, eyes scanning what was once his home. There was no furniture, no familiar decor– just cold and empty stone. His room and the atelier were the only places that had looked remotely warm. He wondered if it was the same for the others in the household.
"He's an akuma now," Tikki reminded him.
"He's still Father, deep down," Adrien insisted.
They didn't say anything else as they traveled upwards, Tikki lingering close so she could hide in case they ran into Nathalie or anyone else. It wasn't long until Adrien at last found himself stepping into sunlight, relief running through him as he found himself standing on a turret. He stared out at what his home had become– the gardens looking nearly the same, but a large castle wall running along it as Tikki had described. Though taller and thicker, it honestly wasn't much different than what had been there before– except for the fact that there wasn't a gate.
"That isn't good," Tikki muttered, looking at the crowd that had gathered on the edge of the wall. "We can't transform up here, either."
"We won't have to– hide," Adrien said, his eyes instantly focusing on a figure lurking in the shadows of a nearby rooftop. "Lady Noire! Lady Noire– over here!"
He waved his arms over his head, and Tikki darted into his shirt. It was hard to tell at a distance, but it seemed like Lady Noire stiffened up slightly as he called out to her. A moment later, though, she was vaulting over the wall, eyes flickering about for any threat– but there was none. She landed on top of the keep, shrinking her baton down, before leaping towards him.
"Adrien?" She said softly, landing not far from him– and he was slightly startled at the sound of his name coming from her, but he wasn't surprised that he was recognized.
"H-hi," he said softly– not sure what to say now that she was here. How did he interact with her when she didn't realize it was her partner in front of her? "Um... do you think you could get me out of here?"
"...If you're comfortable with that," Lady Noire said softly. "I am sure Crimson Beetle will be here soon... if you would prefer that."
His heart lurched– not sure if she was misinterpreting his hesitation, or if that was simply what she expected. He forced his shoulders to relax, smiling at her. "I think any hero is capable of rescuing me."
Lady Noire's eyes widened slightly, and she gave a swift nod, carefully stepping so she was next to him. They both stood there awkwardly for a few moments, before she carefully reached out and scooped him into her arms. He wrapped his arms around her neck, to support himself a bit more so she could draw her baton to get them out of here.
"If you could take me a ways away... that would be nice," Adrien muttered. "My father is um... pretty protective right now. I don't think he'd react well if he saw me right outside the fortress he just made."
"So it's your father that's akumatized?" Lady Noire checked, expanding her baton.
"Yes," Adrien replied, glancing about. "I'll explain everything I know once we're out of here."
She vaulted them up into the air, and Adrien didn't even flinch as they were carried into the sky. Explaining things would take up a bit of time he could be sneaking away to transform– but it would make more sense for Adrien Agreste to know that information than Crimson Beetle, so it would have to do.
Lady Noire was swift, vaulting over the wall, but not landing them down onto the streets. She carried them onto the roofs, ignoring the voices from down before, running across the roofs and towards the next street over, swift with no sign of stopping.
She came to a rest on a rooftop a little ways away from his home– out of sight, but only a short trip back for a hero. She glanced about, but they couldn't be seen from the streets, and she carefully set him down.
"You should be able to get down from the roof entrance," Lady Noire said softly, backing away from him swiftly. "Or you can wait here until the battle is over."
"Alright," Adrien replied, not voicing any option– not sure what would happen after the fight. "So, um, my father– he's calling himself the Protector, and he seems to be able to manipulate the whole house. I'm not sure exactly how much he can do or the limits of what he can change."
Lady Noire gave a short nod. "Alright."
"Um, don't go knocking on doors– one of them had spikes in them," Adrien said hastily, trying to remember what would be important for her to know. "Father is also carrying a large shield– and I'm pretty sure his akumatized object is in his chest pocket."
"Did you see the akuma go into it?"
"Um, no, but I asked him where it was and it looked like he was going to reach into his pocket–" Adrien swiftly shook his head– he couldn't be wasting time right now! He wasn't transformed! This wasn't him talking to his partner about battle plans, he was a civilian that shouldn't be involved! "Um, I probably shouldn't keep you waiting. Crimson will probably be there soon and–"
"Y-yeah," Lady said quickly, turning to face towards the mansion. "Thank you for telling me everything."
"Thank you!" Adrien cried as he watched her leap away– not wanting his Lady to leave thinking someone she had just saved wasn't grateful– something this city did far too often.
Lady Noire leaped over the rooftops and out of sight, hurrying back towards the tower. Tikki zipped out from his pocket, and he didn't hesitate in calling a transformation– not wanting to risk his partner having to face the akuma on her own for even a moment.
Lady Noire let out a shaky sigh of relief when she felt the light energy that she always sensed with Crimson's presence. Her ears flicked back, listening to the sound of his yoyo as the hero landed behind her.
"I'm not sure how to get inside," she reported, not wanting to waste a moment. "I've circled the castle about two times– but there's no windows or doors to get in. Earlier, there was an entrance on the roof that the akuma's son used to get out of, but I checked and it's gone now."
"Well, I doubt the akuma is going to make it easy for us," Crimson said, his voice lacking the usual playful edge he often greeted her with. "But if he wants our Miraculous, he's going to have to let us inside."
"Or maybe he'll come out to fight us," Lady Noire replied, and she began circling the fortress once more, moving alongside the top of the wall with Crimson– but still there was no sign of how to get in.
"This is the Agreste place, isn't it?" Crimson said, hurrying so he was running alongside her. "He doesn't– I mean, doesn't the fashion designer like to never come outside?"
She bit her lip, not wanting to outright act like she was familiar with the Agrestes in any form. "That... that sounds familiar."
"Then I doubt that he's going to come to us," Crimson finished. "We'll have to go inside– so you probably want to save your Cataclysm in case he tries to trap us inside, since it seems he can manipulate the entrances and exits."
"We'll only get one shot at it, then," Lady said, giving a short nod. They were coming back around to the front of the Agreste manor, having made a lap in search of a way in. "Unless I–"
The words died in her throat, coming to a sudden stop– what had once been a blank wall at the front was now adorned with giant gilded doors, sitting there as if they had been present the entire time. She glanced at Crimson, feeling uneasy, but he didn't seem surprised at the new entrance at all.
"...Well, I guess we head inside, then," he said, hopping off of the wall and into the garden. She followed after him, the two of them slowly approaching the large doors. Adrien's warning about knocking flashed through her mind, but before she could warn Crimson the large double doors silently swung open, waiting to let them in.
"Here goes nothing," Lady said quietly, pulling out her baton.
Crimson gave her a tight smile, yoyo out, and he reached for her hand. "Don't worry, we got this– just like always."
It was amazing how even the smallest of his smiles seem to make everything seem better. His hand didn't let go of hers, something she'd probably over-analyze later, but for now it was into the jaws of the castle to face the akuma.
The doors swung shut behind them the moment they entered, and while they weren't too surprised, that didn't stop the heroes from jumping. They glanced over their shoulders, watching as the doors melted away into a wall once more, trapping them inside. They both tensed up, but unlike her, Crimson's stiffness didn't seem to ease away as they turned back to examine their surroundings.
"...I need your Miraculouses."
Lady Noire's eyes swept the room, and soon found the speaker standing atop the grand staircase. It was quite clearly Gabriel Agreste, though dressed in attire that matched the whole era his home now mimicked. The most noticeable feature was the large kite shield resting on an arm, like Adrien had mentioned. His outfit was made of white silk, sparse silver armor highlighting his form.
"And we need your akumatized object," Lady Noire replied, noticing that Crimson was still tensed by her side, hand tightly woven between hers. "We don't have to fight, M. Agreste."
A purple mask flared over his face. "...The Protector is what I shall be called right now. I don't wish to fight you, either, but..." He looked away. "My son is no longer in his room– where is he?"
It was strange, the akuma asking an almost casual question, no taunts or preparing to attack.
"...He asked me to move him to safety," Lady Noire said slowly after a few moments– remembering how Adrien had said the akuma was obsessed with protecting him. "Away from where any fight might take place."
The Protector seemed surprisingly calm with this declaration– no screaming that they had stolen his son, or that he was the only one that could protect him– though his expression remained worried.
"Was he alright?"
"I–" Lady began, not quite sure how to respond to this.
"...Earlier," the Protector whispered. "He... he wasn't doing well. I just need to know he's okay."
Lady risked letting go of Crimson's hand, taking a step forward– because it seemed like there was a chance the Protector could be reasoned with. If his sole focus was on Adrien and only that, then maybe they could reach him.
"He seemed fine to me, sir," she said softly, approaching the stairs. "He was worried about you– he wanted us to save you, to free you from the akuma."
The Protector watched them closely. "I do not need saving. I need those Miraculouses."
"Whatever Monarch promised you is false," Crimson said, stepping forward. "You can't trust her."
The Protector looked away, and a mask flickered over his face, and his face twisted slightly. "What is the harm in trying to reason with them?" He snapped, hand tightening on his shield. "But if that will not work– then a fight we shall have."
He slammed his shield against the stairs– and the steps immediately collapsed into a slope, the akuma sliding down with ease at startling speeds. The two heroes immediately scattered as the akuma leapt up into the air, bringing the shield down on where Lady Noire had been standing. She gritted her teeth, extending her baton.
"Ready, Crim?"
"...Yeah," her partner said in a soft voice, drawing his yoyo.
Crimson had fought akuma victims he had known before, but fighting his own family was something completely different.
Lady had taken the lead in the fight, and it seemed that with no audience to watch over them she showed little hesitation. However, the Protector lived up to his name– having a nearly flawless defensive fighting style. Getting past his shield had proven to be nothing but difficult, even with the two of them.
Crimson tried not to focus on the fact that they were closed in here, his panic crawling under his skin. It helped that he had known that it was going to happen beforehand, and more so that he knew a sure way out of it– the key out of there was getting the akuma, and that was the only thing allowing him to keep up the fight without his focus only being on the four walls around them.
Yet he found it impossible to let his yoyo fly with too much strength when it was his father's face looking at him. Not to obey when the akuma's voice was one that he had always listened to. And as such, it wasn't him that managed to penetrate the akuma's flawless defense, but rather his partner.
Lady Noire jabbed her baton between the Protector and his shield, expanding the weapon before the akuma had time to react. They were sent flying in opposite directions, the shield being painfully ripped from his father's hands with a cry that made Crimson Beetle flinch. But now wasn't the time to hesitate, and Lady Noire pounced on the shield.
"Cataclysm!" She cried, bringing her hand down onto it, and Crimson winced as he watched it crumble– knowing that no butterfly would come from it. He left a twinge of frustration that she hadn't listened to him– but to her, Adrien wasn't her partner, and his words on where the akuma might be had only been a guess.
The Protector pushed himself up to his feet, brushing himself off. "Now you've put yourself on a timer."
You've taken our only way out of here! Crimson's mind screamed– the realization that a Cataclysm couldn't break down the halls for them anymore. He was slowly becoming too aware of the four walls that surrounded them. It didn't matter that the foyer was tall and grand, it was still inclosed. Stairs that lead to nowhere, no doors in sight, just walls that would eventually close in.
His pocket. The akuma is in his pocket.
The shield was gone, the very thing that had prevented them from getting close to him throughout the fight. But now the shield was gone, they could get close. He could get the object, free his father, free himself–
"Lucky Charm!" Crimson cried, throwing his yoyo upward, and in a flare of pink light a square shape formed, falling down into his arms. Lady Noire turned to engage the Protector to keep him busy, while he turned the Lucky Charm over in his hands to see what it was.
It was a picture frame, red and spotted: only the image inside was not the classic colors of most of his Charms. He stiffened up as he saw what was inside of it though, his mouth going dry at the picture.
The family photo showed all the members smiling brightly, Gabriel Agreste having his arm wrapped around Emilie. In her arms was a blond toddler, green eyes mischievous, grinning. He stared at the picture of his young self and his family, everyone looking so joyful. So peaceful. A moment captured in time.
When was the last time his father had smiled like that?
A happy moment, but it was painful to look at, and he knew that it would be the same for his father. How this Lucky Charm was supposed to be used was so clear and simple, but the thought of forcing his father to remember a memory that would be painful was the last thing he wanted to do. So he stood there frozen, picture frame in hand, before shakingly looking up.
The Protector was still playing defensively even without his shield, swift footwork allowing him to move out of the way of Lady Noire's baton. It was like a dance, circling each other, one strike being met with swift ducks and evasive movements. For a moment, Lady Noire glanced down at her ring, and at the same time his earrings beeped in his ear.
They didn't have time to wait. He knew where the akuma was, and how to get to it.
Besides, his father wouldn't remember anything about being akumatized.
"Gabriel!" Crimson called, stepping forward, and the Protector whipped his head towards him, clearly accepting another attack. "Does this mean anything to you?"
He held up the image as he moved towards Lady and the Protector, the picture within large enough to be seen even at a distance. The Protector stiffened up the moment he realized what he was seeing, silver eyes going wide. He hesitated, stiffening up as a painful look flashed over his gaze, looking at what had once been his happy family.
Lady Noire didn't waste a moment, lashing out towards the Protector's legs, knocking him off balance, and onto his knees. She jabbed the baton under his arms, pulling his hands behind his back to restrain him.
Immediately, the walls of the house began to churn and shift, clearly about to start changing once more, but Crimson was now right in front of the akuma, and he let his hand reach towards the pocket on his chest, pulling out the cloth that was inside.
It was a folded handkerchief, and as it fell open he could see an image embroidered onto it. It wasn't all too different from what was on the Lucky Charm– the picture showing a happy family of three stitched into it, a familiar drawing made by a child– the same drawing of his that had been in his father's safe.
Crimson gritted his teeth– before ripping the cloth in two– and to his relief he watched a small butterfly emerge from the seams.
Dark energy bubbled around his father, his transformation falling away, and in the Protector's place sat Gabriel– who was still kneeling on the ground, unreacting as the magical energy dissolved from around him. Lady Noire let go of him, stepping back as she shrunk her weapon down.
"Sir?" Crimson said softly, and Gabriel looked at him.
"Crimson– the butterfly," Lady reminded him, and his eyes flickered towards the escaping akuma, and he drew his yoyo.
The insect was immediately snatched away into the yoyo, and Crimson could sense the energy shifting within. As it opened up once more a white butterfly came fluttering out, energy pulsing within the yoyo. Crimson didn't hesitate in throwing the Lucky Charm up into the air, calling for his Miraculous Ladybugs– the pink light instantly swirling about them, healing and restoring as it whisked through the castle.
Crimson let out a shaky breath of relief, grateful to find himself standing within his own home once more, instead of the fortress it had become– with the large front doors providing a sure way out. With the akuma taken care of, he wheeled back towards his father, who had already pushed himself to his feet, suit askew. Before he could say a word though, his father spoke, and Crimson instantly fell silent out of habit.
"Where's my son?"
"I'm sure he's safe, sir," Crimson said, and gray eyes flashed towards him in frustration.
Gabriel stormed past the heroes, heading up the large staircase. Crimson's heart twisted as he followed after, knowing that he wasn't going to be tucked away into his room like his father wanted. Gabriel threw the door open, calling his name. Crimson Beetle awkwardly stood outside of the room, feeling strange that he couldn't even walk into his own bedroom.
His and Lady's Miraculous beeped, and he knew that he needed to speak to Gabriel as Crimson Beetle before he left– but before he could attempt to speak again, his father stormed out of his room and past him, swiftly heading down the stairs and towards the front doors. They trailed after him, pausing halfway down the stairs to watch as his father paused outside the doors, hand hovering above the handle, staring at it.
Crimson wasn't surprised as Gabriel pulled his hand away, turning.
"Sir, can we talk for a moment?" He finally asked, taking a step down the stairs.
Gabriel's eyes swept up towards them, gaze turning cold. "What?"
"...Would your akumatization today happen to be linked to the book I... borrowed from your son?"
"I believe the correct term is 'stolen'," the man replied coolly. "It was not Adrien's to have, nor to give away."
"I'm sorry," Crimson said, a small waver in his voice even as he tried to keep it even. "I was not thinking when I took it, I just saw it and–"
"I'm not surprised," Gabriel said swiftly, turning sharply and pacing towards his atelier. "It wasn't too hard to tell that what was inside of it was real, once magic started to actually appear. It seems that your powers are pictured within it– at least from what I could decipher from the pictures." He looked back at them. "Is it something you can read?"
He and Lady hesitated, the two of them glancing at each other, not sure of how much they should say. A moment of silence passed, and Lady Noire was the one that replied. "We can't, but if someone were able to... that would be dangerous."
"Hm," Gabriel grunted– showing no sign of fear towards Lady Noire. "Then keep it."
"What?" Crimson said, eyes going wide in surprise.
"Keep the book," Gabriel said coolly. "I never had much care for it beyond a source of inspiration once– but there isn't much of that left. Besides, Monarch could see into my mind, could she not? If the book were to be returned here, she could target me again, and potentially my son. Keep the book."
"If... If you're sure, sir," Crimson said quietly.
"Very well. You may leave now."
"Sir–"
"Unless you have something else you wish to discuss, then I would prefer you to leave."
"...Of course," Crimson Beetle said softly. "Just... Just know that what happened while you were akumatized wasn't your fault."
"Leave," Gabriel hissed, and Crimson pulled back slightly. He and Lady Noire shared a glance, before they silently headed towards the door.
It felt strange to not be welcomed in his own house.
The only sound between them as they stepped outside was the beeping of their own Miraculouses. The sun shone down onto them, and Crimson stared up for a moment, confusion running through him. After how upset his father had been over the book going missing... how could he have been content enough to give up the book just like that?
"Crim?" Lady Noire's voice was quiet. "Are you okay?"
"Y-yeah," he said, shaking his head to force himself to focus. "Just... just a lot going on in my civilian life, and this akuma attack... didn't help." He closed his eyes. "Do you think you'd be able to tell... them that the book is now ours?"
Lady Noire shifted slightly. "Yeah... sure."
He glanced at her. "Is everything alright? I can do it if that would be better for you–"
"No, I can," Lady said swiftly. "Don't worry, Crim, I'll have it taken care of."
Still she hesitated, and Crimson watched her closely, even as their Miraculouses began to beep more urgently. "Are you sure?"
"Um," she looked down at her ring. "Did... did they say anything to you about kwamis? After I left?"
"...No?"
"Oh."
"Lady?"
"It's just... just when I was leaving," Lady muttered. "They said some stuff that... yeah. Stuff that I don't think Plagg wanted me to know, and it... upset him. I was just wondering if they said anything to you..." she shook her head, and her ring beeped more urgently. "I'll see you around."
She ran forward, drawing her baton and expanding it before he even had a chance to fully process what she had said. She leapt up, vaulting up and over the garden wall. He watched her go, utterly confused about what she had been saying– but the beeping in his own ears reminded him that he couldn't stand here until his timer ran out, and he moved off of the front steps.
He used his yoyo to get up into his room, not even thinking about the fact that his father was probably expecting him to come through the front door until he had already detransformed. Tikki immediately zipped off towards their stash of Valentine candy, looking exhausted, and so Adrien decided to just use himself as an excuse, and headed towards his door.
He shuddered at the memory of it vanishing away into nothing but a wall.
Adrien had expected his father to retire to his atelier with how urgently he had rushed the heroes out the door– but instead he found his father in the foyer, standing in front of the doors, clearly waiting for him. He hesitated, before clearing his throat. It echoed in the silence, and Gabriel spun around to look at him as he stood at the top of the stairs.
"Adrien?"
"G-glad to see you're back to yourself, Father," Adrien said, offering a hesitant smile. "Crimson Beetle brought me up to my room, so–"
"Adrien," Gabriel breathed, rushing up the stairs, and he found himself falling silent– and moments later he found himself suddenly brought into a crushing hug. He stood there as he was pulled against his father's chest, clutching him slightly. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
He blinked a few times. "It– it wasn't your fault, Father, you were akumatized."
That didn't seem to reassure Gabriel, however, and he simply held Adrien even tighter. Even as Adrien returned the embrace, his grasp didn't loosen, just allowing Adrien to feel how ragged his breathing was. They stood there in silence for a few moments, before Gabriel finally spoke again.
"...Nathalie," Gabriel whispered after a moment. "She... she heard you while I was akumatized. She heard you scream."
"Oh," Adrien said softly, realizing his father had been told what had happened. "D-don't worry, Father, I'm okay. You didn't do anything."
"No one screams like that and is 'okay'," Gabriel whispered fiercely, and he pulled back to look Adrien in the eyes. "I'm... I'm so sorry."
"It wasn't your fault!"
"I hurt you."
"You didn't hurt me!" Adrien blurted out, and he felt tears stinging his eyes. "You... you just put me in my room, that's all..."
Adrien knew his words weren't believed, though, because he had started shaking. He stared into his father's gaze, seeing nothing but guilt– even though his father couldn't remember a thing. Adrien grabbed his arm, not sure of what else to do, hesitating, not sure how to explain what had happened.
"The Protector– the akuma. He... he had the powers to alter the house, and you– he– he took away the windows and the doors..." Adrien closed his eyes. "I– I just overreacted. I felt like I was trapped and I– I panicked. I'm sorry, Father, I'm sorry I worried you, I'm sorry I got you akumatized–"
"I do not want to hear one more apology from you," Gabriel said, tightly gripping Adrien's shoulders. "I'd... I'd rather we just forgot about today."
Adrien hesitated. "Okay?"
His father's grasp seemed to loosen, and Gabriel took a step back. The two watched each other for a moment, and Adrien hated the fact that his father still looked guilty. The man adjusted his suit, before turning away. "You should get some rest, it's been a long day."
"But Father–"
"If you'd rather head out, that's fine as well," Gabriel replied, heading down the stairs. "Just inform your bodyguard of where you are. And... and do not worry yourself over the book. I already discussed it with the heroes."
"I..." Adrien began, but the words died in his throat, just watching as his father headed back towards his office, confusion running through him as the doors shut behind his father.
"Adrien?"
He turned, and watched Tikki drifting towards him, looking much more energized than before. He swallowed. "I... I just don't understand."
"Understand what?"
"Father," Adrien whispered. "I just, never know... how I– what to– I... I just don't know."
"I think you need to focus on yourself for a change," Tikki said, landing on his shoulder. "It's been a long day today, and perhaps some fresh air would do you some good."
"...Okay," He said softly.
Gabriel was trembling slightly as he shut the double doors behind him, leaning against the doors, and he closed his eyes.
The sound of Adrien's desperate cries echoed in his mind.
He gritted his teeth, sitting up, eyes flashing towards the painting of Emilie. He stormed forward towards it, but then turned away just as quickly. Gabriel stood there for a moment, before pacing the room– waiting in the silence, save for the sharp tapping of his footsteps.
She knew he was upset.
Eventually, however, the silence of the room was broken by the whirling of machinery. Gabriel paused from his pacing, once again turning to face the painting– the floor in front of it opening up, a platform rising to reveal a stoic woman standing there, gaze unreadable, simply regarding him.
"We are never doing that again," Gabriel snarled in a low voice.
"It was necessary."
He glowered at the woman, who wore a simple, but elegant, lavender dress. A mask in the shape of a butterfly rested across her face, black accents flecked across it. In her hand was a silver cane, a gleaming gem resting on top. Flaring out from the crown of the cane was metalwork reflecting the image of a butterfly. Long hair fell down to her shoulders, a streak of lavender running through it.
"Necessary?" Gabriel snarled at Monarch. "Necessary?"
"They found that you had that book," Monarch replied, tilting her head. "You would naturally be suspect in their eyes after that, and I gave you an alibi. Nooroo– wings fall."
A burst of lavender light filled the room, Monarch's transformation falling away. A kwami came flying out from the brooch on her chest, quickly darting away from his holder the moment he fully materialized, zipping over towards Gabriel.
The Butterfly tucked himself in his hands, and Gabriel uncertainly held the kwami, glancing between the two of them.
"...I refuse to act as a champion again," Gabriel said in a low tone, running a finger across Nooroo in an attempt to calm the kwami. "I... I can't do that again. Remembering. Acting like an akuma, the magic. I..." He closed his eyes. "I scared Adrien. That cannot happen again."
"...I'm sorry," she finally said after a moment.
"We've gone too far too many times," Gabriel whispered. "The Gamer went after Adrien. You nearly akumatized Tomoe's daughter– we can't keep doing this. We can't take these kinds of risks, Nathalie."
"I made sure the Gamer would not harm him, and I did not even go through with that akumatization of Kagami." Nathalie held his gaze. "These are not risks we're taking– I am being careful." She touched the brooch on her chest. "Now that we know it is safe, we can take bigger steps– we're closer than ever– do you want to give up now?"
Gabriel said nothing.
"No!" Nooroo cried, zipping up into the air. "It isn't safe, it–"
"You're whole, aren't you?" Nathalie snapped.
"But–"
Gabriel closed his eyes. "We will discuss this another time– I need to think. I... I need to rest. Nathalie– clear Adrien's schedule for the week."
"...Of course, sir. Come along, Nooroo," Nathalie said, carefully shifting the brooch so it was hidden beneath her jacket.
"He will stay here," Gabriel said, turning away.
Nathalie glanced at the two of them, Nooroo drifting back towards Gabriel, before she headed towards the door. "Very well, sir. Let me know if you need anything."
Gabriel didn't reply, only listening to the sound of the door shutting, and the fading footsteps of Nathalie. He closed his eyes, and Nooroo slowly approached the man, wings flicking lightly. The kwami looked worried and nervous, but less tense than when Nathalie had been here.
"Sir?" Nooroo asked.
"Yes, Nooroo?" Gabriel asked quietly, not looking back.
"Um... may I ask what happened with the grimoire?" He asked.
"...I told the heroes to keep it."
Nooroo seemed surprised at this. "You did, sir?"
He shrugged, walking forward. "I already have a digital copy in case we ever need it. Besides, that thing is filled with nothing but awful memories. If it had never been found..." He trailed off, before opening a cupboard hidden along the wall. "Would you like a drink?"
"Yes please, Gabriel," Nooroo said as Gabriel pulled out a wine bottle and two glasses. The kwami drifted forward, watching as the man filled up a wine glass and a shot glass with the red liquid, setting them both on his desk.
For a kwami, the shot glass was large, but he showed no trouble as he sipped from it. His wings flicked out contently, sitting on top of the desk as Gabriel sat in the chair, taking a long drink of his own glass. There was silence in the room, but it was comfortable. A tension was there, but it was not between them.
"You could stop this," Nooroo whispered.
"I could," Gabriel acknowledged. "But there would be no other options, would there?"
Nooroo's wings fell. "No sir, there wouldn't. You'd have to let her go." Gabriel's hand tightened on his glass, and Nooroo looked away. "I miss her too, sir. Even if my memories aren't perfectly clear... she was kind to me."
"She was," Gabriel said softly. "She was."
They drank in silence after that.
I will be taking a break from this story for the rest of the summer. I've been experiencing burnout when it comes to this story, and so I think a mental rest is what I need. I'll be using this time to finish up a few other fics of mine, and to work on an original story.
Thank you all for the support you've given this story! I'll be back this fall!
