Hide And Seek

Chapter 1

Nooroo, wings fall.”

Gabriel stood in a small room which resembled a study. The room seemed like it must’ve been filled with life and character at a time- the walls were a beautiful shade of light cyan. With the beautiful (if not a little musty) furniture and the charming air the rooms gave off, it couldn’ve been a grand house at one point.

But it hadn’t been stepped in for a decade before the remaining Agreste’s had moved in.

The paint was a little faded, and there were watermarks in some rooms. Gabriel had of course pushed much of the more bright or happy pieces of furniture to the sides and into the little storage the house provided. But it carried ghosts in Gabriel’s eyes, which only pushed him farther in his quest.

“Nathalie, do I have any interviews or meetings scheduled today?”

“No sir, only the Thursday deadline,” Nathalie was still in her stiff suit, Gabriel didn’t encourage sloppiness. “However, Chloe has been requesting to meet with Adrien for a week now, and she-“

“No, I will not be forced from my own home, only to have everything usurped because my son cannot bear to be away from his peers for a while.” He looked out the small window, with darkened glass and the white drapes tied to the side loosely. “We must’ve be foolish Nathalie, I’ve come too far.”

Nathalie paused, unsure wether or not it was wise to press the issue. Adrien had told them that Ladybug had suspected him as Hawkmoth in the past, and only ditched the idea when he became the collector and Chat Noir had discouraged searching the idea further. Gabriel knew that she might realize it could still be him since his son wasn’t steering her wrong, so he had made them pack bags and retreated to this property.

Officially; there was an attempt made on his life, and he was waiting for things to cool off. He still had virtual meetings and interviews, but was using his exile to further create chaos with the Akumas.

But he had never once considered Adrien.

Adrien had always been unhappy, but now he was bitter and wouldn’t talk to anyone for days. He reminded her of Gabriel actually, though he would hate the comparison.

“Of course sir. If thats everything?”

He paused, rubbing his brow for a moment before turning to face Nooroo. “No actually. I have an idea for the peacock.”

Nathalie’s shoulder hunched in at that in a rare glimpse of vulnerability. She really shouldn’t make this a habit, Gabriel was a hard man. She had nearly died a month ago, the strain too great on her. After a week of bedrest, Gabriel had asked her to take the mantel up again. It had been a wakeup call, and she had refused to touch the brooch since.

“I propose that we give it to Adrien. He will be trained in it first, and as he is family it is his duty and responsibility to do so.”

Nathalie was shocked, for what else could she be? The strain had nearly killed her after donning it maybe twenty times. Adrien was a teenager, and Gabriel’s own son to boot. “Sir, what if the strain kills him?”

Gabriel only turned his head in dismissal as he pulled his tablet and drawing pen closer to him. “If I succeed then it shall not matter. I could bring him back with his mother.”

“And if you fail?”

His hand didn’t pause as he began sketching his scribbles absently. “Then there was no good reason to continue living anyways.”