A New Partner | #MLWattysAwards | ✔️

Comfort

Gabriel Agreste didn't like seeing his son like this.
Adrien was miserable all day, practically a walking travesty.

He didn't have the heart to make him do any photoshoots at this time. He needed to help Adrien emotionally heal and cope with his classmate's death, but he was unsure how to handle an angsty teenage boy. Gabriel knew his wife was the one for the task, but she was pronounced dead a while back. She always had the right words and would know how to present their son with comfort.

He, himself, was still sad about the death of Paris's hero. She seemed like a kind girl in civilian form as well, being that she was a bit shy, but enthusiastic towards design.

"Nathalie, set up a call with Mayor Bourgeois," Gabriel spoke less harshly towards his assistant than he normally would, with a slightly more soft look in his cold grey eyes.

A bit surprised by this less curt and strict behavior, Nathalie immediately went on to complete the task her boss assigned.

Meanwhile, Gabriel decided he would go check on his son in his room. He knocked on the door softly with his knuckles.

"What do you want, Father?" Adrien sneered, completely uncharacteristically.

"I know that someone who was very important to you recently passed, and I just came to see how you are doing," Gabriel said, sitting himself on Adrien's bed.

"Fine, Father. Leave me alone!" Adrien demanded, pulling a pillow over his head as he threw himself on the bed.

"If you wish," he responded, standing up, then turning to leave.

Unexpectedly, a hand grabbed his arm and he turned to look at his teary-eyed son.

"I'm sorry, Father. I- It's just that I miss her! I can't believe she died," Adrien started to sob. His own words couldn't help this boy.

Gabriel Agreste pulled Adrien into his arms and let him cry into his shoulder. He didn't say a word, but he used what remained of his fatherly instinct to help his crestfallen son.

Even though pain still stung Adrien's heart, he felt a little relief in his father's arms. It felt different. He hadn't felt like this since his mother's death.

He still remembered the last hug she gave him. She held him in her arms before she passed. He remembers sobbing and begging his mother to stay.

"Mommy! Please don't leave!" The child cried, sobbing.

"Come here, Adrien," she weakly patted a spot on her lap. He crawled into her lap and she cradled him in her arms.

"Give me the dazzler one last time," she wiped a tear from his small cheek. Adrien continued to sob, but he managed a fake smile for his mother.

"Mommy! I want to see you forever!" He whimpered, burying his head into her shoulder.

"Kitty, promise me one thing," she stroked his hair back ash she held the boy in her arms. Adrien looked up at his mother in response.

"Show the world your amazing dazzler for me," Adrien's mother smiled gently, kissing his head one last time.

"It's time," the doctors said, nodding.

"Kitty, I love you. I will always be with you," his mother told him one last time, giving him a tight hug. He snuggled his nose in her arms as he sobbed harder and harder.

Gabriel had to take Adrien away so he wouldn't have to see his mother's passing. "Goodbye honey," she hugged her husband and kissed him one last time.

"Take care of Adrien for me please," she begged him.

"I will," he promised, nodding and kissing her head.

Tears fell from Gabriel's eyes and he tried to keep them from Adrien. "We have to go, son," he said.