Next of Kin

Chapter 15

A/N - I just want to send out a huge thank you for all your continued support. A little reminder that you can also follow me on Instagram @ liquifiedstars_mlb

The first thing Gabriel became conscious of was the distinct smell of chloroform clinging to his nostrils. The next was the thumping pain of a headache and the uncomfortable springs of the bed under him which was clearly not his own. Slowly he opened his eyes, the room unfamiliar and unclear.

Sitting up, Gabriel found his glasses on a side table. Putting them on, he could see more clearly the old dust covered furniture. As he stood he almost immediately fell back into the bed, his ankle writhing in pain. Looking down he found a crudely secured bandage with dried blood. Struggling up again, he hobbled his way over to the small window. He couldn't see much except for a high density of trees as though he was in some kind of forest, the long shadows they cast indicating the lateness of the hour.

"Nooroo." He said, but there was no answer. Gabriel reached up and felt for where his Miraculous should have been, but there was nothing there. "No... Nooroo." He said disparagingly.

"Looking for something!"

Gabriel turned to the source of the smug voice. Lila was leaning against the doorframe of the bedroom with her arms folded.

"I do apologise for your ankle." Lila said without a shred of sincerity. "It appears my boys were a little heavy handed with the car door as they shoved you in, but as I'm sure you could understand we were pressed for time. It could have been worse, you could have been conscious when it happened."

Gabriel furrowed his eyebrows at her and mused at the irony of the fact that he had used Lila many times over the years as one of his supervillain. She made an amazingly effective akuma because of her complete willingness to cooperate, but he had soon learned her unhinged hatred for Ladybug was making her a liability, not to mention her unhealthy obsession with his son. Gabriel was no fan of the spotted heroine, after all she stood between him and getting Emilie back, but he didn't have a wish to harm her. Lila on the other hand...

"How long do you think you can keep me hidden here? The police will be looking for me. I'm Gabriel Agreste, one of the wealthiest men in Paris."

Lila looked at him amused. "Yes, a man best known for his reclusive behaviour. I'm sure Nathalie will have explained away your absence and no one will have battered an eye. I seriously doubt anyone is looking for you right now, least of all the police."

She threw an envelope at him. Opening it, Gabriel found two photos of him in his home study, one of him dressed as himself, the other as Hawk Moth.

"I left a copy of those for Adrien in your office. I'm sure your loyal little assistant has already had to explain to him about your extracurricular activities. Poor Adrien, it must have been quite the shock to him to find out the real reason you pay him so little attention. I wouldn't be surprised if he left you here to rot as punishment, I know if it was me I would have."

Gabriel wasn't going to dignify that accusation with a response, although deep down he feared the shock of such a revelation would inevitably erode his already strained relationship with his son. Not that he would want her to know that. "If this is some desperate ploy on your part to win him over..." Gabriel was cut off by her infuriating laughter.

"Oh don't worry, I have no intention of trying to become an Agreste. Adrien was only ever a pretty face with no substance; you saw to that didn't you? The face of your brand, a perfect specimen to boost your sales... but he's damaged goods now isn't he, so what's the use of him?"

"That was your doing." Gabriel snarled. "You tried to kill him."

"I never wanted to kill him." She said, acting offended.  "I'll admit, Ricardo did let his jealousy get the better of him, and it was a shame to ruin such a beautiful bike, but I only really wanted to put him out of commission for a while, which we did. Tearing down your company was only phase one of my plan. Now the real fun begins, and I have my cap set on a new, more lucrative target."