Chapter Text
Gabriel told her that after Style Queen he was going to give up. He said Adrien being turned into a golden statue was a breaking point. He couldn’t allow anything to happen to Emilie’s perfect child. But she thought it might have more to do with the fact that Style Queen was going to be his masterpiece. There was no one who could ever come close to having such strong emotions as Audrey Bourgeois. Despite having the strongest emotions of any of his victims to date Ladybug was still able to defeat her alone, without the help of Chat Noir. He had put the broach away and joined Adrien at the fashion show even hugging him Adrien on the catwalk. She was happy Gabriel was finally going to move on and begin grieving Emilie.
Then Audrey’s daughter had to reveal she had somehow come into passion of a miraculous. This reignited Gabriel’s hopes that he still had a chance to bring back his wife. She hoped the Queen Wasps defeat would be the end, but even an Akumatized Miraculous holder still couldn’t beat Ladybug and Chat Noir. Unlike with Style Queen this loss did not deter him. With more Miraculous out there then there was now a greater chance he would be able to bring back his wife.
Nathalie didn’t see his reasoning. All she saw was a man descending into madness. She had to make a choice. She had to follow the promise she made to her friend and protect Adrien. Even from his own father if she had to. This is why she was outside Adrien’s door. She would take him away from this place, explain it all to him and apologize for her part in it. She just hoped he would forgive her.
***
He had been foolish. Natalie had explained everything to him, or at least she tried he couldn’t focus much on her words after she had admitted his father was Hawkmoth. He can recall some. It was the part about how his mother used a broken Peacock Miraculous for him that broke Adrien from his fog and made him stand. His father was his enemy. His father was the one attacking the city he swore to defend. His father was the one attacking his friends at their weakest. His father was the reason people didn’t feel safe to express their emotions. His father was the reason he was turned to gold today unable to help his lady. His father….
Nathalie wanted them to leave, to run. When they were safe away from him they would find a way to inform Ladybug and Chat Noir. The problem was he was Chat Noir, this was his responsibility. He left his room to confront his father. Nathalie tried to stop him. Even Plagg from inside his shirt pocket said to wait and get Ladybug first. It was clear they didn’t think it was a good idea to confront his father. He had to. He needed to be the one to end this. To stop his father once and for all
He doesn’t remember what they said to each other, more like screamed. His father said “I have to do this.” Adrien followed up with “and I have to stop you” and called on his transformation. Gabriel’s shock was short lived. He transformed and the two began to fight.
Hawkmoth was stronger than him but Chat Noir was faster. However not fast enough to avoid the cane to his middle that launched him out the window and across Paris. The fight felt like it was lasting hours when it was only minutes. Chat retreated to the top of the Eifel Tower in an attempt to gain the high ground but Hawkmoth was relentless. Like a man possessed he attacked without mercy not caring who it was under the mask.
Chat Noir moves along the railing at the top of the Eifel Tower breathing hard. Hawkmoth lunges at him and Chat immediately raises his baton to meet His cane. It begins to rain as they duel; Hawkmoth is gradually forcing Chat backward toward the edge. Hawkmoth is showing no sign of exhaustion.
“You are beaten. It is useless to resist son. Don't betray me as Natalie did.”
Chat answers by rolling sideways and thrusting his Baton at Hawkmoth so viciously landing a blow across the villains face. Hawkmoth seems to be hurt, but immediately recovers. Chat backs off along the narrow end of the platform as Hawkmoth comes at him in anger drawing the blade from his cane, slashing at the young hero with his sword. Chat makes a quick move to Hawkmoths left as his sword comes slashing down, cutting a large part of the side railing. Chat move to attack, at that instant Hawkmoth's sword comes down across Chats left forearm, cutting off his hand and sending his baton flying. In great pain, Chat squeezes his fore arm under his right armpit and moves back along the platform to the edge of the railing that was cut away moments ago. Hawkmoth follows.
“There is no escape. Don't make me destroy you.”
There is a pause as Hawkmoth takes a breath “Adrien, do you not yet realize what it is I’m trying to do? You have no idea what we can do with these powers. Join me, and I will show you. With our combined strength, we can take ladybugs earrings and create a perfect world for our family.”
In pain but still defiant Chat shouts “I’ll never join you!”
Hawkmoth was undeterred “If you only knew the power of the wish son.” He pauses. “Did Natalie tell you what happened to you mother”
“She told me enough! It was your need for perfection that her” Chat spat at him
“No.” Hawkmoth replies “You killed you mother”
Shocked, Chat looks at his father in utter disbelief.
“No. No. That's not true. That's impossible!”
“She used the damaged Peacock to create you our perfect son”
Chat cries out in anguish “No! No!”
Hawkmoth lets out a breath. Using a softer tone he addresses his son “Adrien. You can undo the damage you have done. It what your mother would want. Join me, and together we can bring her back and fix everything as father and son.”
The rain continues to pour down. Hawkmoth puts away his sword and holds his hand out to Chat. In it there is a purple butterfly.
“Come with me. It is the only way.”
Calm comes over Chat, and he makes a decision. In the next instant he rolled off the edge of the platform. Hawkmoth moves forward and looks over the edge but loses sight of his son as he falls into the darkness below.
The sound of wind and rain fills his ears as Chat falls.
He was a failure.
He couldn’t beat his father.
He killed his mother.
He wasn’t ever real.
Created to be the perfect puppet to obey his father’s commands.
He was glad his last act in this world was to defy him.
He closed his eyes accepting his fate. It will all be over soon.
He was about to remove the Miraculous from his hand so Plagg could escape with the ring, preventing his father from getting it when he came looking for his body, when suddenly there is the sound of a filmier Yo-yo then he was suddenly being jerked to the side hard and his world goes black.