"You are Catnoir, aren't you?" Adrien tenses up. He wasn't expecting that. How fast can he come up with a lie? He jerked his hand away from Gabriel.
"Wh... What? Why would you say that? I'm not Catnoir." Gabriel studied him, saying nothing.
"I am not Catnoir." Adrien said again firmly, hoping that Gabriel believes him.
"What did I just say about keeping secrets? I know you are Catnoir. All the signs are pointing to it. You found my miraculous book, didn't you? So you know that I have information about what the miraculous looks like. Remember when that akumatized hypnotist tried to kidnap me. Catnoir knew so much about the house which wasn't possible unless he lives here. The height, the hair... No more lies Adrien. Trust me with the truth. Are you Catnoir?" Gabriel's eyes bored into Adrien. Adrien weighed his options. There were none, except to come clean. This was the first time in a long while his dad wants to bond with him. He had to trust him.
"I also saw your kwami. The cat miraculous, right?" Gabriel asked, looking towards the bookshelf where plagg hid.
"Y..yes... Yes, I am Catnoir. But it stays between us. No one is supposed to find out my secret Identity." For the first time, Gabriel smiled and placed a hand on Adrien's shoulder.
"It makes me happy that you can trust me with such a big secret. Can I trust you with mine?" Adrien's ears perked up. What secret could his dad actually have? Oh no! Does he like Natalie and is secretly dating her? Is he finally going to accept her and move on from his mom?
Gabriel stood up.
"Follow me. There is something I would like to show you." Adrien followed him and he led him to a secret basement.
"Wow! I never knew we had..." He trailed off as he saw the glass case with... His mom? He stood rooted to the ground. He couldn't believe his eyes.
"What is mom doing here? How can... can she be in that glass case when we... What is going on?!" Adrien yelled, furious. Gabriel ignored him and walked closer to the case.
"I kept her here all these while."
"Why?"
"I will tell you. But first, I want you to understand someone." Gabriel said calmly, turning his back to Adrien.
"As Catnoir, you and ladybug has always had problems with Hawkmoth. Have you ever stopped to ask yourself why he wants yours and ladybug's miraculous?" Adrien didn't answer. He clenched his fists, tightening his grip on his ring.
"Combining your miraculous and ladybug's, I will be able to bring your mother back." Adrien wasn't sure he was hearing correctly. What? Then that would mean...
"You will be able? You are Hawkmoth?"
"Yes." Adrien was dazed. No way! All this time, his father was the enemy?
"Adrien... All I have done, the people I took control of... I did all that so that I can bring your mother back. We have never been the same without her. I don't think we will ever recover from her loss. But then, we don't have to because if you and the girl are true superheroes, you will understand my situation and want to help me. Tell me Adrien, do you not want your mother back? We have a chance to get her back... Won't you take it?" Adrien didn't reply. He was in a dilemma. Of course he wanted his mother back... Getting her back will make things normal again. Ladybug won't understand... They aren't supposed to...
He just stood there, lost in his thoughts.
##endofepisode🐼🐼🐼
