"Power in the Hands of a Woman" (Miraculous Gabenath)

Chapter XV

An important day had come - today Gabriel and Nathalie were to obtain the coveted miraculous. In the morning, the designer found Nathalie in the kitchen preparing breakfast. The woman motioned him to a seat at the table, which he obediently took. -Here, I made you sandwiches. If that pleases you, you can throw the plate like I did yesterday. - she said, still looking at the plate. Gabriel looked at her out of the corner of his eye and, without saying anything, started eating breakfast.
-I'm not going to throw anything. Everyone for a bad day. - he stated and then handed her one sandwich. - You should eat something too.

They stood in front of a window with a butterfly pattern - this time it was supposed to work. Gabriel akumatized Mayura into Scarlet and she transformed him into the Scarlet Lord. They both stood glowing red and releasing countless amounts of akumas and amoks. The inhabitants turned into supervillains, helped by sentimonsters. Chaos was beginning to form in the city.
-Ha ha, what great destruction, isn't it? - Mayura exclaimed satisfied and looked at Hawk Moth with a small smile. He smiled at her.
-So dark and evil, yet so beautiful. - Gabriel thought, then said aloud. - This red suits your face. Suits you.
-What is he talking about again? - Nathalie thought. - He's acting like a dreamy kid... but it's nice...
Ladybug and Chat Noir arrived. Unfortunately, the numerical superiority of the villains' army overwhelmed them a bit. They started fighting but got hit way too many times. After a moment of awkward silence, Mayura, completely forgetting herself, screamed with satisfaction, unconsciously grabbing Hawk Moth's hand. -Look! Maybe we will finally succeed!
Gabriel felt his face flush with love and squeezed her hand tightly. However, this made the woman realize what she was doing and, flustered, she quickly removed her hand, looking away. As if something was stopping her from getting close to him again. Was she still mad at him? Or was she no longer in love with him? Or maybe she didn't want to be disappointed by his unrequited feelings again? Although on the outside it was obvious that he was trying, no one else knew what was going on in his heart and who it belonged to.

Suddenly the woman began to choke. With one violent fall, she landed on the floor, coughing. Hawkmoth crouched down next to her.
-Shall we stop? - he asked. But she couldn't catch her breath. Gabriel reached for her miraculous to rip the brooch off her chest, but she grabbed his hand so he couldn't do it. When she finally managed to catch her breath, she confessed:
-I won't be able to finish this, but we won't screw up this chance again because of me. Go and finish it. For us. - after these words she started choking again. Then she began to breathe heavily, feeling a burning sensation in her lungs, as if a fiery ember were burning there.
-But I won't leave you here. - he said, scared.
-Go! Get that stupid jewelry! - ordered the woman. The designer got up and left his hiding place as quickly as possible.
-She's in charge after all. If this is her will... - he thought.

Mayura was left alone in the hiding place, kneeling on the floor and suffocating. It got to the point where she was coughing up blood. She clutched her lungs, which were sore from coughing, and waited for death.
-What would I give for a glass of water now...? - she thought.
Suddenly, Hawkmoth returned to the hideout. However, he was not alone, but in the company of Ladybug and Chat Noir. Did they decide to give up the miraculous themselves? The thought flew like lightning through her mind. She wanted to get up and go to them, but she was too weak, she was too dizzy.
-Mayura, we came to help you. Give me your damaged miraculous. - said Hawk Moth.
-And the wish?
-Your life is worth more than any wish. Ladybug and Cat Noir will help you get back on your feet.
-I'm listening?! - the woman choked out reproachfully. - So now you're on their side?!
Gabriel took a step towards her. The heroes were still behind him.
-No! - the woman screamed, barely able to get up on her own. However, she only managed to take one step back, and then she fell again. - Don't come close to me! Get away from me! You are a traitor! Brazen, lying traitor!!! I have never turned my back on you, and you want to deprive me of fulfilling my wish! I would rather die, but knowing that I can rely on You, than seeing this happen in the last moment of my life! - she cried.
-It doesn't have to be the last moment! Let me help you.
-I already gave you a chance to help me. But you wasted it... - she replied contemptuously.