"the moth's apprentice" chat noir x y/n

'Today, Raven'

TW: domestic abuse, sadness:(, mentions of SA

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I dreamt of Chat Blanc that night. He was cold and cruel and left nothing but destruction in his wake. 

Shivering, I pulled on a sweater. It was beginning to freeze to winter, and a thin layer of frost covered my window when I pushed it open. I blew on my hands, tucking my fingers into the sleeves of my sweater. 

A message flew into my window, cold and crinkly silver paper. The letters were encrypted in Hawkmoth's swirly handwriting, so I recognized it immediately. I reached down, picking it up. The silvery paper was so thin that I thought it was going to disintegrate in my hands. 

Today, Raven. 

Those were the only words. I peered out the window, and saw a butterfly flying away into the chilly Paris morning. Its black and purple wings seemed to taunt me. 

I pulled on my clothes, hands shaking, and went down the stairs. 

Mom and Seth were sitting at the table, and Seth was holding both her hands. His fingers looked massive compared to hers. It was like he was suffocating her under an icy grip. Seth stared me down like we were having a competition that I didn't know how to win. 

"Your Mom and I want to talk to you this morning, Y/N," he said, as I gathered my things for school. "It's important, Pumpkin. Please sit." 

I looked at my Mom, but she just nodded at me, without making eye contact. Her eyes were red and puffy and there were bruises crawling up her arms. 

I sat down at the table. "Yeah?" 

"Your Mother and I think that it's best if you took a bit of distance from us," he folded his hands, letting hers go. Mom instantly moved her hands under the table. Her eyes never left the brown wood. "We think that this is best for our relationship, and the direction we're taking as a family." 

"What?" I rolled my eyes. "Are you fucking serious? You're asking me to move out?" 

"Y/N, honey," Seth said patiently. A muscle in his jaw moved. "Don't take it too personally. We're all still figuring some things out." He pulled a ring out of his back pocket. "Your Mom has agreed to marry me, and we need some space to finalize plans." 

I laughed, but it sounded like a hollow and unfamiliar sound. My ears were ringing. 

"I'm glad you think this is funny," Seth frowned, his eyebrows taking a deep crease. 

"Oh my god," I slapped the table to keep tears from falling. "Mom — you know that he fucking assaulted me, right?" 

Seth opened his mouth. 

She stared down at the table. "It's best that you leave." 

Deep down, I wondered if she was doing this to protect me from him. "Go stay with Marinette," Mom whispered. "Please, Y/N." 

Hearing her say my name broke something within me and I nearly screamed. 

"Fine," I squeezed my eyes shut for a second. "Fine. I'll go pack." 

As I carried my small backpack of things — my entire life— down the street, I wondered what would become of me and this pathetic life. 

When I reached the school, a black car was parked outside. The driver was this really big man, who looked like a gorilla. 

"Y/N L/N," he called across the street. "Come here." 

I looked around, spotting Marinette and Alya talking by the front gates. They looked in my direction, but didn't bother to say anything. 

No other options in mind, I walked over to him. 

"Get in the car, please, your presence is requested by Gabriel Agreste," he said. 

I frowned. "The fashion designer — Adrien's dad?" A million thoughts were spinning around my head. I got in the car, locking eyes with Marinette as it pulled away from the school. 

The drive was silent and when we reached his mansion, the driver took my bag and gestured for me to go up the stairs. 

The door opened beforeI could even knock. 

"Y/N," Gabriel answered the door. He wore a stiff smile, but opened the door widely to let me inside. "I'm glad you were able to come." 

"...thanks, but what am I doing here?" 

Gabriel sat down in a chair next to the fireplace. "Sit, if you will." 

I sat. 

He poured a cup of tea, handing it to me. "Now, I know this may come as a surprise to you, but I've heard a lot about you." The way his eyes bore into my soul, in such a familiar way, made me wonder if I had met him before. "I know more than you think." 

"O-okay?" 

"I've heard intel about your home situation, and would like to offer you a room at Agreste Mansion." He clarified, folding his hands. 

"What?" I balked, frowning. "But we don't even know each other." 

Gabriel  reached up and tucked his tie further down into his jacket. "I've heard that you've been a good friend to Adrien." 

I remembered the day in the showers. He wouldn't have told his father—-

"Oh yeah...good friends..." I trailed off. 

"I think it would be wonderful for you two to spend more time together, seeing what a gifted young mind you are. Adrien isn't quite as....proficient and skilled as you, so it would benefit him to be around more brilliant minds." 

The words rang familiar tones in my head. "...yeah...okay." I didn't have any other options. "Thank you." 

Gabriel smiled again. "I know I've pulled you away from school so I won't keep you any longer. My driver would be happy to take you back." 

"Th-thank you," I stood up quickly, nearly knocking the cup of tea over. 

"I'll be seeing you soon," he said softly. "It's good to have you here, R—Y/N." 

I cast one last glance at him as I was escorted out the door.