the broken butterfly

Chapter 19

Nathaniel's POV

There was something between Marc and Gabriel Agreste that Nathaniel wasn't privy to, it stung a bit, but he couldn't be privy to everything in Marc's life. They went to Joris's house, where they reunited with Rutger and Joris. They talked of little things in the sitting room until about six, when Rutger took Marc with him to eat at home. Nathaniel and Joris began doing homework, having finished their food. After having finished homework, Joris and Nathaniel split up and sat alone in their separate rooms. Nathaniel called with Marc a while, talking of not much. His time was mostly spent drawing Marc and pictures of Joris and Rutger together.

The next day he went to school again and doodled more during the lessons. But, during first break, Marinette asked him to come. He went to where they were and saw that Marc, Alya, Adrien and Nino were there as well with their partners.

'Hey, Nath, we're going to play werewolves of miller's hollow this afternoon at Rutger's, are you coming with us?' Spoke Marinette.

'If Joris will go.' Said Nathaniel, looking at Joris.

'I'll go, yeah.' Said Joris. 'What time?'

'What's your latest hour?'

'Sixth.'

'Then we're going after sixth, till then.' Said Marinette, switching subjects to the couples in the classes. It came out that there was a group of teachers keeping a book with all the couples of the school. Nathaniel was grinning widely after break and going to the next class in a good mood, but it was mathematics.

The rest of the day was boring, like most schooldays were. After school, however, they went to Joris's and there they played werewolves of miller's hollow. In the first round, Nathaniel was a civilian, but in the second round he was a werewolf, together with Marc and Marinette. They lost, and in the third round Nathaniel was once again a civilian. In the fourth round, he was cupid, which he used to bind Joris and Rutger. He might be a bit too much. Joris and Rutger won, as Joris was a werewolf and Rutger the witch. After that round everyone went home excepting Joris and Nathaniel.

'Nath,' began Marc, 'I get you're trying to get them together . . . '

'Marc, look at them.' Said he, interrupting Marc, who turned to look at Joris and Rutger hugging.

'I don't know how much you've done, but at least they're happy together.' Said Marc, turning back to Nathaniel. He leaned in to peck him on the cheek. 'Let's work on a new series.'

'Do you have a story ready?'

'The major lines, yeah. So, Shadow Moth will be taken down, and be revealed to be the mayor of Paris.'

'Can I begin with the drawing of the first issue?'

'I'll be expanding the story as we go, but the first two pages can be done, yeah.' Said Marc giving him a copy of lines for the first two pages.

'I'll start on it, then.' Said he, suiting his words. They continued for much longer, until they split up so Nathaniel and Joris could go home for dinner. There they ate, talked a little, went to their rooms and went to bed.

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Marc's POV

After dinner, he went to Gabriel's hotel room, taking Rutger with him, who could then talk with Adrien or read if he wanted to. In the hotel room, Gabriel asked Rutger and Adrien to wait in the adjoining room.

'Marc, I . . . '

'I-I want to k-know something, will y-you answer my question?'

'I will answer any questions you have, if you promise me to tell no one about what I've done.'

'I-I promise not to tell.'

'Thank you, ask whatever you wish.'

'Why did you want the miraculous, you've got everything.'

'My wife . . . died because she used a broken miraculous. I wanted to bring her back.'

'A-and Mayura was Nathalie?'

'Yes.'

'Wh-why did you keep using the peacock a-after two people died using it?'

'Because the heroes had got too powerful. I couldn't win without it.' Tears were streaming down his face, and he was breaking down. Marc went forward, awkwardly hugging him.

'Sh-shall I ask Adrien to come?'

'Yes, thank you.' Marc called Adrien, who came swiftly with Rutger. Adrien and Gabriel hugged tightly, bringing tears to Adrien's eyes.

'Let's go.' Said Rutger next to him.

'I-if it doesn't b-bother you, s-sir, we're going.' Because Gabriel didn't answer, Marc left, going away to the house of Rutger's.

They went to bed quickly afterwards.

The next morning, having arrived at school, their lesson was interrupted by Ms. Bustier walking into the classroom.

'I do hope I'm not too terribly interruptive, but I wanted to remind the French students that they are to be at the Valkhof Museum at 1 PM. Thank you, miss Woodhouse.'

The day was boring, and the museum didn't have the most extraordinary things, but it did teach him a few things. The evening was spent with Rutger at his home. They didn't do much together, mostly just working on their own things; until Marc striked up conversation.

'Hey, Rutger, m-might be a w-weird question, b-but who in y-your class a-are a couple?' Rutger looked thoughtful for a minute, then gave two names and said two others had a relationship with someone outside the class. His own name was one of those two. 'Y-you're in a r-relationship?'

'Yeah,' said he with a blush. 'Joris asked me whilst you were in the Valkhof.'

'Congrats!'

'You and Nathaniel?' Marc nodded.

'W-we are a c-couple, yes.'

'You're cute together, but I have something I promised Joris I'd finish today.' With that their short-lived conversation died out, it was, incidentally, the last conversation they had that day. 

(A/N: 1011 words; So, this is the second to last chapter, and yeah. The ending's going to be abrupt. I just really wanted to finish this story. Perhaps I may decide to split the final chapter two other chapters, or a sequel, but that all depends on how well this is received. For now, it will remain in the current state, but I do wish you all merry days. It won't be long before I upload the last chapter.)