Chapter Text
"Please, Papa," Adrien says from his place across from Gabriel at the dinner table. "I don't want to be homeschooled anymore. I want to go to school like a normal kid!"
This isn't the first time Adrien's brought up the topic, but previously he'd only mentioned it when he had some other complaint, like when he didn't get along with his Chinese tutor. That argument was particularly silly given that the local collège does not offer a competitive selection of languages, so even if Gabriel had agreed, Adrien would still have lessons with the tutor he disliked. Replacing the tutor had remedied the issue—or so Gabriel had thought anyway. If Adrien's bringing it up again, though, there must be more to the issue than Gabriel had realized.
"You're not a normal kid," Gabriel reminds his son gently. "Going to a—" he fights to keep the distaste out of his voice "—public school isn't going to change that."
Adrien pouts, and for a moment he looks so much like Emilie it hurts. Homeschooling Adrien had been her idea, allowing them to provide Adrien with a curriculum tailored to his aptitudes and inclinations. And by almost any metric it's been a great success. Adrien has excelled. According to his tutors, he's ahead of the standard curriculum in every subject.
And, most importantly, it's kept Adrien safe. Gabriel knows too well how dangerous the world can be. At home, Adrien is safe from crazed fans—Gabriel's as well as his own—and random acts of violence, as well as the more mundane tortures of a public education, such as bullying and harassment.
"I guess I wouldn't know since I never get to spend time with any normal kids," Adrien says, sulking. "I just want to have friends."
Despite his surprise, Gabriel keeps his expression neutral. "Friends," he repeats. "What about the children on your fencing team? And Chloé?"
Adrien shrugs instead of answering and Gabriel swallows down his annoyance. It's not like Adrien to be sullen or disrespectful. This must be bothering him more than Gabriel had realized.
"Adrien?" he prods. "What's this about?"
"I - I - I feel like a stupid princess locked in a tower! Like I don't get to be part of the world. And even when I'm at fencing, they're not my friends. Not like they are with each other. They all spend time together outside of lessons and I'm just on the outside like I am with everything!"
"We could invite some of the other fencing students over," Gabriel suggests reasonably.
"You don't get it!"
Clearly not. Gabriel inhales. He needs to model calmness. How else will Adrien learn to manage his emotions? "Help me understand then."
Adrien stares down at his plate without speaking for several long seconds while Gabriel tries to think where this could be coming from.
It can't be dissatisfaction with his curriculum.
If Adrien's feeling constrained in the mansion (Gabriel can't relate; he hates going out), perhaps more excursions? Learning opportunities with his tutors and bodyguard, but also perhaps Gabriel and Adrien could engage in some activities outside the home together.
Is that it? Has Gabriel not been spending enough time with Adrien? It's true that Gabriel has been distracted by figuring out the secrets of the brooch and determining how best to use it to fix their family, but he thought between the breakfasts and the dinners that he was still present. But maybe not enough.
Or maybe—
"Maybe I'm not a normal kid, but I at least want to see what that feels like. I want to be around people my own age. Is that really so bad?"
"I didn't say it was bad," Gabriel says. "I believe I can offer you a superior education at home, but it sounds like this isn't about the quality of your education."
"No," Adrien admits quietly.
"You're safer here too. Obviously the risks are compounded by your face being so recognizable from modeling, but it would still be a concern due to our family's wealth and status...which I suppose is my fault too."
"Chloé goes to public school and it's fine."
Gabriel refrains from commenting that he is hardly going to look to André Bourgeois as an example of good parenting. André may be useful and his daughter an appropriate friend for Adrien insofar as a spoiled teenager can be, but he's not someone Gabriel can respect.
Adrien must read some of that in his expression (not good) or else he's realized on his own what a terrible argument that is (better) because his shoulders slump. "Please, Papa."
"This is important to you," Gabriel realizes.
"Yes."
Gabriel sighs. "Even knowing the risks to your safety?"
"I'm not worried about that," Adrien insists.
Of course he isn't. The young always trust in their perceived invulnerability. It was foolish of Gabriel to raise it.
"And what of your education?" he tries. "I worry you'll be bored if you do not find your lessons challenging."
"I want to at least try. And - and I want to go to Francois Dupont," Adrien says before Gabriel can suggest some more suitable alternatives if Adrien is set on school.
"Why is that?"
Adrien lights up. "I already have a friend there. Chloé's promised to help me. Plus I'm already familiar with it because of fencing. Please?"
There is some merit to those arguments. And, even if it isn't what Gabriel would prefer, this is clearly important to Adrien's happiness. And Adrien's suffered so much with the loss of Emilie; he deserves whatever happiness Gabriel can give him. Gabriel is going to do everything in his power to bring Emilie back to them and make their family whole again. He's hopeful the butterfly miraculous will help him accomplish that quickly, but Gabriel will do whatever he can for their son in the meantime.
Gabriel summons Nathalie into the dining room.
"When does the term at Francois Dupont commence?" he asks, and Adrien positively glows at him.
Nathalie taps away at her tablet before answering, "Tomorrow, sir."
Well, Adrien's certainly left this to the last minute.
"See to Adrien's registration," Gabriel instructs. "Adrien, you will be accompanied to and from school by your bodyguard. Is that understood?"
"Yes, Papa! Thank you, Papa!" Adrien exclaims.
"Very well," Gabriel says, allowing himself a small smile, pleased to see Adrien so happy. "Perhaps you ought to go get ready. You have a big day ahead of you tomorrow."
Adrien jumps up from his seat, runs around the table and throws his arms around Gabriel's neck.
"Thank you," he repeats, pressing a kiss to Gabriel's cheek.
Gabriel returns the hug as well as he can from his seated position, smiling more fully.
"No running indoors," he reminds Adrien as his son races from the room, and Adrien dutifully slows to a brisk walk.
When Adrien is well clear, Nathalie shuts the door and turns to him. "Are you sure this is wise, sir? Given your...plans for tomorrow?"
"It's not ideal," Gabriel acknowledges, standing from the table. Although as much as he values Nathalie, he doesn't appreciate her questioning the wisdom of his parenting decisions. "But Adrien deserves whatever happiness I can give him. Besides, while the safest place for him would be inside the mansion, I can still ensure that no attack occurs anywhere near where I know Adrien to be. And, with any luck, this will be over with quickly and Adrien will have his mother back."
Nathalie nods in concession.
Tomorrow Gabriel will begin his quest to draw out the ladybug and black cat miraculous, save Emilie and restore their family. One thing is for certain, however.
Wherever he strikes, it will be far, far away from Francois Dupont.