Miraculous Ladybug- AU

Discovery Part 2

"I am a raging sea trapped inside of a raindrop."

The heavy ivory keys pressed under the boy's nimble fingers. Adrien squinted, straining to read the sheet music. He'd been learning piano since he was six, but sight-reading was still hard for him. Today, he was practicing A-flat minor for the first time, stumbling over the keys. Frustrated, he finally dropped his head onto the piano, the keys echoing in the empty room. His mother would be furious if he couldn't perfect it.

Taking a deep breath, he sat up and started again. His finger missed the last note. Trying again, he moved more slowly this time, but impatience ruined his timing, and his hands slipped. Adrien's frustration spilled over into a soft sob.

"Adrien, my child, what's wrong?" A woman's voice came softly from the hallway. From a glance, it was easy to see she was his mother: they both had the same golden hair and bright green eyes.

Adrien wiped his tears. "Nothing's wrong, Mother, I'm just...practicing," he said, his voice choked.

Emily Agreste sighed. She'd been watching her son's dedication for some time and now could see how hard he was struggling. She knelt and gathered him into her arms. "You don't have to hide it from me, my sweet child. I'm glad you didn't give up." She paused, brushing his hair. Though she knew her high expectations put pressure on Adrien, she felt it was necessary. A child of his status needed to handle it. At least, she tried to reassure herself of that.

The room they were in was an example of his privilege, filled with shelves of stuffed toys, game consoles, and stacks of books that Adrien adored. The room's warmth softened the demands she placed on him. As she held him, she felt his breathing slow and noticed he had drifted off to sleep in her arms. She attempted to wake him but was stopped by her husband.

"Let him rest, Emily. He's just a child." Gabriel Agreste's voice was calm but firm. Emily glanced up, feeling a surge of mild frustration. Sometimes she thought Gabriel was too soft. But in this moment, she gave in and laid Adrien down on his bed, carefully stepping around the toy train tracks scattered on the floor before joining her husband in the hall.

"You know why I must do this, Gabriel," she whispered, looking down the dim corridor. "If he doesn't learn now, he'll pay the price later."

Gabriel didn't respond right away, watching her with an understanding that held a hint of sadness. "I know," he said, finally. "But you can't forget he's a child."

Emily's gaze softened, but she said nothing. Gabriel understood her, but he'd never fully know what it was like to grow up with the pressures and expectations she had faced in a high-status family. They walked down the dreary hallway in silence, stopping by the only spot of color—a vibrant abstract painting of Emily.

"I still love this painting," she said, allowing herself a small smile.

"I know. You remind me every time we pass it," Gabriel replied with a fond look. He pressed two buttons hidden in the wall, and a concealed door opened, revealing a room filled with fluttering butterflies.

Emily stifled an annoyed sigh. "Really, Gabriel. Butterflies everywhere in our workspace?"

Gabriel chuckled. "I thought you liked my sense of style." The butterflies gave him a strange comfort; they'd become symbolic of his hopes and ambitions. He activated a projector, which displayed footage of a supposed petty criminal from the city. In the background, a green silhouette stood out. Emily's brow furrowed as she watched, her irritation growing.

"We've been noticed," she said, her voice tight. "How is this possible? We've hardly made ourselves obvious." Her fists clenched as she turned to her husband. "We need to find this... this other holder."

Gabriel gave a quiet sigh. "And then what, Emily? We don't even fully understand our powers yet. Whoever this is, they're clearly more advanced than we are. Rushing this would only be foolish."

Emily looked toward the locked wardrobe where their own Miraculous were securely stored. As much as she wanted to challenge this unknown rival, she couldn't deny Gabriel's logic. She took a deep breath, nodding reluctantly. "You're right. We'll wait for the Cat and Ladybug holders to emerge, as we planned. And we'll be ready. No one will stand in our way."

Adrien awoke later that evening to the soft orange glow of the setting sun casting warm light across his room. He stretched and walked to his window, gazing at the Paris skyline as the last light of day touched the buildings. Turning on his lamp, he reached for his favorite book, James and the Giant Peach. As he opened it, a black box fell out, landing on his bed.

Adrien raised an eyebrow. "Weird." The box had intricate red engravings, its design unlike anything he'd seen. He opened it, revealing a pair of earrings nestled inside. He touched them with curiosity, and instantly, they transformed into a rose-gold chain.

His eyes widened. Compelled by some instinct he didn't fully understand, Adrien put on the chain. A warm, red light flashed, filling his vision momentarily, and as it dimmed, he found himself face-to-face with a small, floating creature that looked like one of his stuffed animals come to life.

"Hello, Adrien Agreste," said the creature, its voice soft but resonant.

Note:I am so glad to get the prologue out of the way. Now I can finally begin to execute some of my good ideas. Honestly, I never personally thought that Emily Agreste was the innocent the show made her out to be. She used to peacock miraculous and she also never let Adrien go to school and pushed him into this lifestyle. I intend for a completely different arc for her.I dont have as much of Adrien's POV here however there will be a lot more in the future. I intend on both of them being protagonists, not just Marinette.I wont be uploading much in the future, I have exams. I'll get back to uploading as soon as I get time again.(I'm literally writing this in the middle of my math lecture lmao)