Miraculous Startline

Gabriel's Trial - Part 2

~this is the second part to the trial!! who's ready? i'm sorry it's late but i got it to you before the end of the day <3 enjoy~

Pacing past Kagami and into the courtroom, Nino grabbed her arm and dragged her to the gallery. Settling down in the back row, Kagami aggressively whispered to Nino, their conversation unknown to the courtroom.

As the room began to settle, Chat Noir turned in his seat to face the front once again. Glancing at Ladybug on the way, his heart sank at the sight of Alya wiping away a tear from Ladybug's cheek. He winced and returned to the equally anxiety-inducing sight of the back of his father's head.

"Court is now in session." The judge announced, slamming the gavel down three times.

Gabriel and his lawyer stood, along with the persecutors, who represented the city of Paris.

"Defendant, please state your full, legal name." The judge said.

"Gabriel Agreste, your Honour."

"And the charges?" The judge asked, rummaging through a stack of papers which Ladybug assumed was evidence.

"Your Honour, the city of Paris is charging Mr. Agreste with multiple offences of child endangerment, child neglect, disruption of public organisations, damage of property, harassment, hate crime, theft..." The prosecution stated. Crimes and offences came one after another for what seemed like half an hour. When the list finally came to a stop- whispers and comments circled the courtroom.

Ladybug was in disbelief at the amount of laws Hawkmoth had broken... She watched as Chat Noir flinched in his seat at the mention of child neglect. Were they referring to Adrien? How he was overworked and ignored?

"And how does the defendant plead?"

"Guilty."

The court room erupted in disbelief as the audience dissolved into whispers and hushed tones. People had been skeptical that the Gabriel Agreste had committed such gruesome crimes. If a person so high in status had submitted to being guilty, then surely the accusations were true.

Chat Noir let out the breath he had been holding. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he had hoped that his father hadn't committed the wrong he had been accused of. Chat's fists trembled in his lap out of nerves, but suddenly, a hand was placed on his shoulder. A comforting gesture to anyone else, but for Chat Noir- it was nothing but a painful reminder of his past.

Chat Noir was reminded of how his father never touched him, and if he did, it would be in such a formal manner. Gabriel would reach out, and firmly grasp his shoulder, making Adrien look him in the eye. Gabriel's piercing gaze, usually reserved for those who were underneath him, would pin Adrien, making him feel like the lowest of the low. In a deep, clear voice, Gabriel would convey his disappointment, and remind Adrien of his responsibility to the company, and to him as his son. Adrien would nod, and push a smile to his face, even when tears were threatening to spill from his eyes.

With a shrug, Chat Noir knocked Amilie's hand off of his shoulder. He felt rude, and ungrateful- but right now he couldn't bear to be kind. All his will was going towards not crying. Right now he was Chat Noir. And Paris needed a hero they could put their faith in with Lady Darkmoth's new appearance.

"We can move straight onto sentencing then." The judge continued.

"We will hear statements from key witnesses and I will review the evidence submitted by both the prosecution and the defendant in order to decide an appropriate sentence. At the end of this process the defendant and prosecution will be given an opportunity to make their final argument surrounding sentence length. Mr. Agreste, your cooperation today will be taken into account when making this decision."