Chapter Text
In his defense, Adrien had only a split second to choose.
Somehow, his secret identity didn’t seem as important as the minuscule chance to save his father.
“Claws out!” he yelled, throwing his body between his aging parent and the out-of-control van heading straight for them.
They should’ve taken their usual car.
The one developed by Tsurugis.
Then, perhaps, all the safety innovations would’ve kept his sacrifice from going to waste.
But as it stood now, Chat was staring at the piece of their car's door impaled into his father's chest so deep, even he realized that Paris' most renowned designer had minutes left to live.
“No. No, no, no!” Chat’s eyes darted around the car.
Anything! There had to be something that could help him—
"Ahahahahhaha! All this time— Ugh!" Gabriel coughed blood, an almost maniacal, bone-chilling grin on his face twitching in pain at every rise of his chest. "You— Right under my nose— How did I not—?"
“Father, please.” The shock of discovering his son’s secret identity must have been hard on his failing body and mind, but if there was even the tiniest of chances, if there was anything he could do—Chat couldn’t stay still and watch his father die. “We’ll talk later. For now, just stay still. I’ll call for help.”
“No.” Gabriel jerked, grabbing at his son’s arm. “It’s too late—I’m done for. But not you. You’ll have to continue.”
“Continue what?”
“Your mother.” Gabriel reached behind his tie and tugged a brooch from under his shirt. “Bring back your mother… in my stead.”
The sirens and screams from outside their metal prison vanished the moment Chat laid his eyes on the object in his father's hands. He had never seen it before, but Ladybug had drawn him a picture once of how it was supposed to look.
The butterfly miraculous.
His father was handing him the butterfly miraculous.
The butterfly miraculous he was wearing on his person!
His stomach dropped. “Why do you—?”
“Finish my job, son.” The man grinned through a violent burst of coughs. His hand shook but he gripped at the brooch tightly. “Bring her back— For us.”
No.
It couldn’t be.
He refused to believe it.
Chat jerked back.
He needed air.
He had to get away.
He had to breathe.
Close his eyes and breathe…
Then, maybe, once he'd opened them again, his father wouldn't be at the brink of his passing. He wouldn't be offering him what looked like a butterfly miraculous. And he would certainly not be asking his to finish his job—
Hawkmoth’s job!
Because it could only be that—Hawkmoth’s job!
“Adrien!” Gabriel gargled, suppressing another cough. “She’s in the basement— your mother— in my office. Bring her back.”
His mom?
Chat shook his head. "No. My mother died when I was fourteen. That was ten years ago. She's dead. She's—"
"You can bring her back," Gabriel gritted through his teeth. "She's—"
“No!” Chat shook his head harder. No matter who it was, this was wrong. He knew the basics of how The Wish worked, and someone would have to take his mother’s place. He’d have to kill someone to bring his mother back! “This is wrong. What you’re trying to do is wrong. There will be a price to pay.”
“And we’ll pay it!” Gabriel barked. “She’s your mother! She’s worth it. You’re the reason she died in the first place, so you owe it to her!”
Chat stilled, blood freezing in his veins. His mother went missing ten years ago. Adrien had nothing to do with that. Why was—
“You may deny it all you want but it’s true.” Gabriel’s grin sent shivers down his skin. “ Your mother died because you were born. You will help me!”
His chest burned, his blood racing like a madman inside his veins. Ladybug had told him about The Wish. She had warned him multiple times. He couldn't do it. Not even for his mother. Everyone he cherished and loved, a multitude of strangers; not a single one of them deserved to have their lives put in jeopardy for someone whom Adrien still loved but had time to grieve and let go years ago.
He backed away, continuing to shake his head. “I won’t do it. Too many people might suffer. Too much might—”
"You will!" Gabriel barked, clenching his jaw. His body shook, he coughed out more blood, but his gaze turned icy cold and steel-strong as he reached for his wedding band and twirled it with his fingers. "I'm your father, Adrien. I’ve created you and you will obey me.”
Something gripped at Chat’s chest but he seethed. “No, I—”
“You will!” Gabriel paused, that sickening grin curling the corners of his lips again. “You’re a sentimonster, Adrien. A sentimonster that I’ve created and control. You will obey me even if I’m no longer here. You will bring her back!”
