Chapter Text
He was on his knees as Ladybug removed the butterfly miraculous from his person, finally exposing the true identity of the villain that the entire city of Paris feared. She didn’t know what she had expected, but it certainly hadn’t been Gabriel Agreste . Gabriel Agreste Adrien’s father, Gabriel Agreste the famous designer, Gabriel fucking Agreste .
Through Chat Noir’s head replayed the man’s words, from the first time the duo of heroes had faced him in person, “Watch what a man who’s got nothing to lose can do! ” Chat Noir took a step back and blinked to avoid the stinging of his eyes. His whisper was soft and shaky as he parroted his father.
“A man with.. nothing to lose.”
As if his words had triggered her memory, Ladybug stepped forward, jaw clenched with teeth bared. Her eyes sharpened as outrage sparked her into roaring. “A man with,” she rapidly moved to loom over him, causing him to topple backward in recoil onto the flat rooftop and face the darkened sky, “ nothing to lose?! ”
“You don’t understand-”
“Understand? I don’t understand ? You have a son ! A son! What about Adrien?!” Ladybug fumed. What in the audacity of audacities allowed him to say such a thing! How dare he undervalue his son. How dare he undervalue Adrien . Kind Adrien. Smart Adrien. The boy who always did his best for everyone. Adrien .
“My wife,” the villain pleaded, “You don’t understand. All I ever wanted was my wife back, she’s in a coma. I only wanted to heal her, to-”
Chat froze. His mom was alive? And his father never told him? He stopped trying to hold back his tears. It would be pointless now, anyway. It didn’t matter though, neither of the other people on the rooftop noticed. He sat down on the flat concrete, trying to tune out his partner and his father. He focused instead on how the small raindrops, now falling from the sprinkling sky, felt cold as they landed on his cheeks and mixed with his tears.
Ladybug’s voice was low and somehow sharper. “Do you understand how the wishes work? ”
M. Agreste scoffed at her from where he laid on the ground, “Of course I understand how they work.”
“So then, you understand the price? ”
Ladybug only hoped that he somehow missed it in what must have been months, if not years, of research on the topic. He had to know what he’d have to give in return for a wish like that. But if he didn’t.. If he didn’t even consider what he’d have to lose… No. No one would be that reckless, right?
Gabriel Agreste paused for a long moment as he finally sat back up. “...What do you mean?”
Did he really not know?! He didn’t even realize . He was dumber than she had ever thought he could be, even after making them fight Mr. Pigeon almost a hundred times.
“The equivalent exchange. ”
“Yes, yes, some unfortunate soul has to get erased from reality. Why would I care about someone I’ve likely never met?” He seemed to have decided to make an attempt to keep up the villain persona.
“Who, who do you think would have to die if you had your wish?”
“Again, Ladybug, it’s more than likely I’ve never met them. The world is a very large place. Try thinking with your head, hero, the world is far larger than Paris.” His tone was cold and detached, as though speaking to his lesser.
“Is your wife’s life equivalent to a stranger’s?” She was talking slower now, as if dealing with a particularly stubborn child.
“Well, not to me, but that hardly matters. It’s still just a life for a life.”
“It would be your wish, and therefore, your equivalence ,” she seethed, “So I ask you again, who do you think would die? ” Her words were punctuated with the booming of far-off thunder.
Gabriel did not answer, but a mixture of realization and horror crossed his face. Chat spoke instead, wiping his eyes as he did, “Did you even consider that it could be your son who paid the consequence of your actions? Did you even think to tell him his mother was still alive? She wasn’t just your wife, you know.”
Gabriel remained silent.
Ladybug had now moved on to another topic, “Not to even mention your damn riches! Are you really that privileged? Ignoring what this implies about you as a father, you, a multimillionaire, have nothing to lose ?” Ladybug laughed a bitter laugh at the ridiculousness of it. “Really? ”
“Money will never be worth my wife’s life. There could never be enough of it. She’s worth everything to me; I’d trade almost anything to get her back.”
“And does almost anything include or exclude your son? ” Ladybug snarled.
“She is everything to me. I barely live without her. The thought of her is all that keeps me going.” He paused, “...we could always create another, no one would ever need to know the difference.”
“How could you- How dare you- To even say- ” Ladybug fumbled, at a sudden loss for words, instead grabbing him with one hand by the collar and moving to strike him with the second, only to stop just inches away from his face. She released him and he crumpled to the ground pathetically once more. His formerly immaculate suit was now dirtied, soaked with rain and collecting traces of mud from the unwashed wet cement.
In the silence, Chat spoke. “Is that really how you feel?”
“Did you ever take any time to get to know Adrien?” Ladybug regained her voice once again. “He isn’t just your model, or just your son. Adrien is a real person who deserves your love, your time, and most of all, your respect . He has never tried to harm anyone in any way! This world doesn’t deserve him, so don’t you dare think you have the right to sacrifice him.”
The man on the floor laughed. “Oh, how we've fooled the world, Emilie.” Rain caught in the grooves of his face as an arrogant grin overtook his features.
“What are you talking about?”
“Adrien has never been a real child, not like you are. My wife used the peacock miraculous to create him. It took five attempts, but it was all worth it in the end; the final product came out perfect . Wouldn’t you agree?” A thunder clap shook the roof as it rattled through the night, mirroring the impact of his speech.
“That can’t be true,” Ladybug quietly denied.
“It isn’t.” Chat murmured to himself, voice starting to break. “I’m real, I have to be.” He failed to notice the other two both turn towards him in shocked silence. He looked down towards his hands, illuminated by a flash of lightning, but they were obscured by his hero suit. He needed to see his hands , his real hands .
“Plagg,” Adrien inhaled shakily, “claws in.”