Miraculous Dragonus (Lila Rossi x Male Reader)

Arc 08: Chapter 08: Green-Eyed Wasp, Part 1

"Emilie..." Gabriel said as he stood at the foot of Emilie's pod, rubbing his ring thoughtfully. "Every day without you is another day of pain and failure. I'm slipping. I'm running out of time. Almost one hundred weeks, over two hundred attempts to get Ladybug and Cat Noir's Miraculouses... and I've failed every time. But I won't give up hope just yet. I have the Miraculouses we found. I have two Dark Miraculouses in my possession. Every victory scored against my creations, by either Ladybug or Dragonus, will be meaningless in the end for them."

He sighed. "I have a new plan. Your sister and Felix are arriving soon. She'll be my next masterpiece. And perhaps I can get Felix to return the ring he stole from us..."

A wave of rage as black as the wings of his akumas washed over him, raising his fist and was about to bring it slamming on the glass of Emilie's pod, but stopped himself at the last possible moment. Quickly regaining his composure, he brushed off his coat as his two kwamis floated up to his face.

"Oh, I assume this Felix fellow wounded your fragile pride at some point, o great and wise holder of my powers?" Rexx asked mockingly. Gabriel threw a snarl in the direction of the Manipulation kwami.

"Silence, Rexx. I must prepare." He replied. Rexx cast a bemused glance at Nooroo. "A shame when a great mind is reduced to lunacy, am I right?"

"Don't talk to me." Nooroo said timidly before floating back to Gabriel's side. Rexx shrugged and flew into Gabriel's jacket pocket himself.

Gabriel stepped into the elevator and rose silently into his office, contemplating the plan. Something still felt off about it. It would be his riskiest one to date, and it would only work if all parties fell for the bait. And Dragonus and his team didn't interfere.

Briefly, his mind wandered to Dragonus. The younger villain had offered him a way out, a way to revive Emilie without the need for Ladybug and Cat Noir's Miraculouses. Gabriel had no doubt Dragonus could've done it, but his actions might have burned that bridge.

Nathalie stepped into the atelier. "Sir, Amelie and Felix will be arriving in a half hour." She said. Gabriel nodded, then pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Nathalie... we can forgo this attempt. Think of a better plan." He said hesitantly. Nathalie's usually stoic expression was broken by her concern. "If there was a better option available to us, we would use it. But I can't see any better option." She replied. "You're not... worried, are you?"

Gabriel nodded. "I am. Because I remembered when Dragonus offered me a backup plan. He could've revived Emilie." He said with a sigh. "And I fear that even if the wish succeeds, he will find a way to claw his way back to me and take her away himself. As punishment for stealing the Dark Miraculouses."

"He's already punished our endeavors enough." Nathalie replied. "Between Drivereign and Scycilia and all the rest, he interfered in our plans... with an almost disturbing level of violence each time."

Gabriel seemed to chuckle. "It seems he's slipping. As if he hasn't quite gotten over losing two of his prized jewels. Have you informed Adrien of his cousin's visit?" He asked, changing the subject.

Nathalie nodded. "He asked if he could have a day out with Felix. I was tempted to say no. It could be problematic if he's there when the plan begins."

Gabriel turned away from her. "On the contrary. I do hate to put Adrien in harm's way, but the plan should pose no danger to him and will help us, in a way. If Adrien is seen threatened along with Felix, Amelie's reaction might be stronger and would, in turn, yield us a stronger villain. One that could turn our greatest enemy into the perfect weapon."