Epilogue: Running Interference

Marinette Dupain-Cheng's skills of deception were worse than Adrien's. And considering that his son's friends currently believe he takes about five showers a day whenever an akuma attacks, that was saying quite a lot. It wasn't that her stories were outlandishly absurd or her excuses overused. In fact, Marinette often had an active imagination and an endless supply of realistic excuses. The problem lay in her delivery.

Gabriel didn't know if it was harder to believe Adrien's frequent bathroom breaks or Marinette's continuous stammering as she delivered her lines. He had hoped after the two of them finally started dating that each would accent the good points of each other.

Instead, they only brought out the bad.

Over the last few weeks since Adrien had introduced his girlfriend, Gabriel noticed a consistent decline in both the quality of Marinette's stories and the delivery of Adrien's lies. In fact, today Marinette was in his office critiquing a new Ladybug-themed boot at his request when they both heard the faint screams outside of the mansion. Gabriel frowned. He really wanted to get this design finalized today. Marinette peeked at him, nibbling on her lip worriedly. She opened and closed her mouth several times, clearly struggling to find a suitable excuse which would allow her to escape the room and fight the akuma victim. But if Gabriel had to hear one more time how thirsty she was and could she just hop over to the kitchens to grab some water he would confront her about her secret identity right then and there. Nevermind that he had bottles of water in a mini-fridge built into the wall. In fact, one such bottle currently sat open right on his desk at this very moment. Every akuma attack thus far seemed to parch her throat.

"Go," he snapped at her instead. Her eyes widened in fright and he wondered why she was- oh... she must still be a bit nervous around him. He softened his tone. "I know you're worried about Adrien. Go on, he's in his room." He bit his tongue before he could add probably taking a shower with much more sarcasm than he could safely explain away.

With a relieved "thank you" called over her shoulder, she darted from the room. Seconds later, he spotted Ladybug and Chat Noir sailing through the air in the direction of the screams. Gabriel sat down at his desk, pulled up the Ladyblog and took out his sketchpad. He recalled with a faint grin how just a couple of months ago, he used that same sketchpad to brainstorm ideas to slip to Adrien on how to romance Ladybug. It worked. As a bonus, he got to use the talented designer's opinions for some of his own work. He hoped a bit of Ladybug's good fortune would rub off on him as he opened to a fresh page and began to think as he waited for Alya to update the blog with news of the most recent attack.

Where he once used his creativity to develop ideas on teaching Adrien to woo Ladybug, he now needed that spark of ingenuity to invent lies. Adrien and Marinette may be unstoppable as Ladybug and Chat Noir, but in their civilian forms they risked their whole identities blowing up in their faces over a few pathetic excuses. Or in Adrien's case, just the one excuse used a few dozen times.

When he looked back at the page, he was surprised to find a few words written there already. Photoshoot. Hiding. Protected from attack. Want him home safe. Hmm, he must have subconsciously written those. Not too bad. A bit on the standard side, but might be useful in a pinch. He needed to create more elaborate excuses. No one would ever question if Gabriel Agreste needed to borrow Marinette's precision sewing hand to help bead his latest dress for an emergency. Or if Adrien's photos somehow needed to be reshot and he had to spend a bit more time in wardrobe before appearing on set.

Huh, those were actually pretty good. He jotted them down on the pad. He was saved from further musings when at last the Ladyblog began to stream the attack. Gabriel flipped the book closed and focused his attentions on Chat Noir and Ladybug, leaning back in his chair. Gabriel didn't clench the edge of his desk anymore when he watched Chat Noir fighting. At least not every time. The boy certainly utilized a unique fighting style and Gabriel often wished he would sometimes try to remain at a bit of a ranged distance like Ladybug.

Thankfully, the battle ended quick enough and before long, Marinette burst back into his office as she flustered over excuses. But that created another dilemma. He needed more time to plan. If he was to cover for two people, he might need help. He had a nagging suspicion he needed to verify. "I believe we've completed enough on this design for today," he told her as she settled back down into her critique of the boot. "Let's rest on our ideas and resume at another time."

Her eyebrows rose and she stared at him, holding her pen in mid-air. He could practically see the wheels turning in her mind as she agonized over the possibility she may have offended him. He groaned internally. He really didn't want to have to deal with an emotional teenager right now. "Something came up while you were away that unfortunately requires my immediate attention." There, that should suffice. Without waiting for her reply, he ushered her out of the office and headed out of the mansion, leaving her staring at his retreating figure in confusion.

He set a clipped pace toward the Dupain-Cheng bakery. By his calculations, he theorized that Marinette may take advantage of his absence and spend more time with Adrien, but should she decline to remain at his home very long, he needed to be gone from the bakery by the time she arrived.

The tiny bell tinkled as he stepped inside the small shop. Immediately, delicious smells assaulted him. He inhaled deeply, an involuntary act, and identified several savory scents. Nutmeg, vanilla, strawberry, cinnamon... No wonder Adrien liked to spend time here.

"Good afternoon, sir," a soft voice greeted him. He looked around and spotted a petite woman arranging the display of prepackaged cookies. She shared Marinette's silky hair. Her eyes flickered open in recognition. "Ah, but you must be Mr. Agreste, Adrien's father," she exclaimed. "Tom," she called out, "come meet Adrien's father. I'm Sabine, Marinette's mother. Adrien is an absolutely delightful young man."

He accepted her handshake and introduced himself as a man stepped through the back door. He towered nearly as tall as Gabriel, but strong muscles rippled across his shoulders, dwarfing Gabriel's lanky frame. He beamed at Gabriel. "Pleasure to meet you at last, Mr. Agreste," he said, sticking out his own hand.

For a man of his size, Tom had a surprisingly gentle grip. Firm, but not crushing. Gabriel offered a thin smile. "I'm terribly sorry to barge in unannounced," he said, "but I needed to discuss something with you both. Is this an inconvenient time?" He pulled out his tablet and flicked at the screen. "I can come back at a different date if it fits with your schedule better."

Tom laughed. "Nonsense! We're nearly closed anyway. Come on in the back." He vanished once again through the back door. Sabine pulled out some sandwiches from the glass display and set them on a plate. She led Gabriel behind the sales counter into a private kitchen. Tom was already pulling down teacups.

"It's not too late for an afternoon tea session," he said.

Gabriel couldn't recall the last time he had actually sat down and had the time to enjoy afternoon tea. Sabine ducked around him, holding the plate of sandwiches in one hand while she guided him to a chair with the other. "Sit down, Mr. Agreste."

Looking around a bit in uncertainty, Gabriel perched on the edge of a chair. "What about your customers?" he inquired. He didn't want the business to suffer because of his intrusion.

"We'll hear if anyone enters," Sabine assured him. "What's on your mind?"

Tom joined him with a teapot and a plate of cookies. He poured out some tea as Gabriel attempted to collect his thoughts, relaxing and easing back in the chair. He needed to tread lightly. Suss out information with delicate subtlety. "I came to ease your minds about some rumors you might have heard."

"Rumors?" Sabine exchanged a concerned look with her husband.

Gabriel nodded. "Do you know where your daughter is?"

Concern changed into confusion. "She said she would be with Adrien at your house all day," Sabine answered.

Okay, so far so good. Nothing earth-shattering yet. "Yes, that's correct." He sipped his tea. "I know you must have heard the rumors surrounding the akuma attacks. A couple of them have targeted me at my house. I just want to assure you that when Marinette is in my home, she is in very capable hands."

He studied them after that. They both continued watching him, expecting something more. When it became clear that was all Gabriel would say, they exchanged a look before Tom said at last, "Er, we're not all that worried, but thank you for your assurances. We wouldn't dream of keeping Marinette away from Adrien, nor forbid her from visiting your home."

"Oh, so then you know," Gabriel stated rather than asked.

Confusion swept across their faces. Sabine tilted her head. "Know what?"

Oops. He couldn't reveal anything just yet. He wasn't certain. Think fast, Agreste! "Er, about the many security features at my home?" he offered in a weak voice, at odds with his normally commanding tone.

Tom and Sabine shared a smile. "Adrien has already reassured us as much," Sabine replied as Tom picked up a cookie and bit into it. Gabriel eyed him. Those looked delicious.

Gabriel continued, "Right. So when she's over at my house during an attack, she's completely and utterly safe. There's no way she can accidentally wander into the street. Just like when she's here, right?" He surrendered to temptation and reached for a cookie. Still warm from the oven. He bit into it. Delicious, just as he suspected. He wondered if they would share the recipe with his chef, so he could have warm cookies more often.

Tom and Sabine chuckled, snapping Gabriel back to the present. "Honestly," Tom laughed aloud, "whenever there's an akuma attack, half of the time we don't know where Marinette is. Sometimes she's in her room, other times she's in the park or at school. With as many as we've had though, we trust her to come back safely. We believe in Ladybug and Chat Noir, that they'll always see our city kept safe. I do thank you for your concern."

Gabriel's mind froze. They didn't know. They didn't know that their daughter was Ladybug. Ugh. So much for his plan to enlist their help in devising cover stories. Well, he had what he came for. Better to depart before Marinette arrived. He stood. "Thank you ever so much for your hospitality. I really must be getting back home."

"You're quite welcome," Sabine said, smiling warmly at him. "Marinette loves having Adrien around. As do we."

As Gabriel made his way out to the front sales floor, Sabine picked up a bag of cookies. "Can we persuade you to take some for the walk back? I noticed you didn't ride here in your car."

Gabriel shook his head. "Thank you, Mrs. Dupain-Cheng," he said, "but I'll be okay." He turned and spotted Marinette across the street. He turned around, his eyes scanning the shelves, thinking fast as he processed his surroundings and outlined an impromptu idea. "Actually, I would like to purchase two dozen assorted macarons."

Sabine smiled. "Certainly!" She folded a box and began stacking different macarons inside. He had just finished paying and accepted his box when the bell chimed and Marinette walked in, startled to discover him in her parents' bakery.

"Mr. Agreste," she said, "what are you doing here?"

Gabriel lifted the box. "I came to buy some macarons. I'm certain I'll see you around in the future. Good day, Miss Marinette." He stepped around her, called a goodbye to Sabine, and departed the shop. He missed Marinette's eyes narrow after him in suspicion.

However, he didn't miss the red blur streaking through the skies, following him at a discrete pace. He turned a corner, ducked into an alleyway and waited. A moment later, Ladybug dropped in front of him.

"Good afternoon, Ladybug," he said. "To what do I owe the pleasure? Has there been an attack in the area?"

"Why were you in the Dupain-Cheng bakery?" She wasted no time with pleasantries.

He opened up the box and offered it to her. "Buying macarons. Want one?"

She frowned at him, holding her yo-yo ready. "Don't mock me. You're supposed to be..." She faltered.

He could have pressed her. She slipped up and she knew it. But if he was going to help his son and his girlfriend with their lies, he had to get them to trust him, even if only a little. "At home," he answered with a drawn-out sigh. "I know."

Ladybug recovered quickly. "So why are you here? Without your bodyguard, driver, or assistant?"

"Buying-"

"If you say 'buying macarons' one more time I will lose my temper," she growled, beginning to twirl her yo-yo.

Gabriel closed his mouth.

Ladybug flushed. "I'm sorry," she said. "I saw you leave your home so quickly and was concerned uh..."

Gabriel shut his eyes. Focused for a moment. How did this look to the teenager behind the mask? He bolted almost as soon as she returned from the akuma battle and then beelined it for her parents' home. He opened his eyes and offered her a tired smile. "That there might be an akuma nearby?" he supplied her with an easy answer. "Because you were doing one last sweep of the city after that earlier battle and was concerned about me after our last encounter? That was smart of you to follow me to ensure otherwise. But maybe not so smart to confront me." He wasn't going to let her off that easy.

She nodded sheepishly, tugging on a strand of hair in embarrassment. "Why did you leave in a such a hurry without your bodyguard?"

A valid question. He smiled and opened the box of macarons again. "I really was buying macarons. Tell me, Ladybug, what do you see here?"

She cast him a puzzled look before turning her attentions to study the box. "Uh, delicious desserts?"

"Now what would I, a designer, see here?"

"...Delicious desserts?"

Gabriel chuckled softly at her bewilderment. "I received notice that a designer friend of mine was in trouble. I elected to assist her."

"With... macarons?"

He pointed to the different macarons. "Look at the different color schemes. Pastels with a splash of vibrant color. Complementary colors. Smooth texture with a hint of roughness around the edges. Imagine the texture differences that can be expressed through satin, lace, cotton or silk. So many possibilities."

"She's going to design macarons?" At least Ladybug had replaced her yo-yo around her waist and stepped closer to him, dismissing him as a threat.

"These would make great colors for a summer line, wouldn't you agree?"

Ah, the moment when the spark of comprehension takes hold. "But aren't you rivals? Why would you help a rival?"

Gabriel scoffed. "She designs clothes for infants and young children. Nothing like my designs. She needed some inspiration for her upcoming deadline and I thought perhaps a box of macarons might spark her brilliant mind. If not, well then she has two dozen of the most delicious macarons in Paris to eat while she works."

Ladybug blushed almost as red as her suit. "I-I'm sorry for confronting you, Mr. Agreste."

"Do try not to jump to the wrong conclusions next time, Ladybug." He pressed his lips into a thin line. He still was not letting her off that easily.

She nodded, unhooking her yo-yo and flinging it to the rooftop. "I'll certainly try." With a gentle tug, she launched herself into the air.

Once out of sight, Gabriel sagged against the wall in relief. That was intense! That girl had a protective streak wider than Paris coupled with a fierceness to rival his own. Unfortunately, his excursion yielded nothing but a couple dozen macarons. Marinette's parents did not know of their daughter's secret escapades. He had hoped to maybe team up with them to create excuses and lay false trails but it appeared he was on his own. He reached into the box and grabbed a macaron, biting into it forlornly. Delicious, as promised. Mmm, maybe the trip wasn't a total waste.

"Sir, it's Adrien's school," Nathalie began, hanging up the phone from where she had been conversing in a low voice. Gabriel stilled, lowering his sketchpad slowly. "I'm sorry, I tried to explain you were a busy man-"

"What is it, Nathalie?" Gabriel cut in.

She hesitated, worry crinkling the corners of her eyes. "They want you to go to a parent-teacher conference."

What? Gabriel stared at Nathalie, wondering if this was some prank. Was someone watching to see his reaction? Like that talent competition he had been tricked into appearing on. He glanced around the room, looking for hidden cameras. Surely Nathalie wouldn't cooperate with a television studio, just to allow them into his home to plant cameras and-

"I tried to tell them you were much too busy to attend and offered to go in your stead," Nathalie repeated, breaking his wandering thoughts. "They insisted. I even offered to allow you to link via your tablet, but they refused. They want you there in person."

At Gabriel's blank look, Nathalie pulled up his schedule. "It's to be this Friday afternoon. I've made certain the appropriate time is vacated." She favored him with a sympathetic look. "It's Adrien's attendance," she finally stated.

Attendance? Certainly his son loved going to school. After all, he had begged to attend. It would make absolutely no sense whatsoever if Adrien began to skip classes. What possible reason could he have to- oh. Akuma attacks.

"Apparently Adrien and another student have come in late or missed several classes, enough that their teachers and headmaster wish to meet together with everyone," Nathalie continued.

Another student? That must be Ladybug. Gabriel frowned. If Adrien was cutting class to spend time with Marinette and not fighting akumatized victims, he would have strong words with his son. Gabriel's frown relaxed. Wait, that couldn't be right. Adrien loved school and would never jeopardize the chance to attend over something silly like spending time with his girlfriend.

Especially not since he could easily slip out of his window and visit her outside of school.

They must be fighting akumas. "Nathalie," he said, speaking up at last, "I would like a list of every single time they've marked Adrien tardy or absent."

"Yes, sir," she said, typing something on the keyboard.

He would compare the schedule given to him with the Ladyblog reports of attacks. If even a single day did not match up...

But if they did, then he would have to go into the meeting fully prepared to cover for his son's heroic activities. And his girlfriend's. He couldn't rely upon those two to talk themselves out of trouble and with Marinette's parents in the dark, they would be looking for answers just as much as the teachers.

That left him.

How troublesome.

"I could always remove Adrien and home-school him again," Gabriel offered thoughtfully even as Nathalie flattened her eyebrows at him. "Or... not?" he amended, catching her expression.

"You will not," she stated with such defiance it startled him. "Adrien needs this experience. He's thriving from it. Whatever troubles he's having at school can be solved, I'm certain of it."

An idea began to form in his mind on how to address Adrien and Marinette's absences and late arrivals but he might need Nathalie's help. Nathalie handed him a printed sheet of paper and departed, leaving him alone with his thoughts. The paper contained every one of Adrien's documented absences. There weren't that many, as Adrien obviously tried to arrive at school on time diligently. But as Hawkmoth's akumatizations grew with erratic frequency, so did the absences. He imagined that the two heroes staggered the times that they ran into class, to not alert their friends to suspiciously timed entrances. And based on his brief interaction with Marinette's parents, he also suspected Marinette took the brunt of the unexcused absences, allowing Adrien to slip in first.

He pulled up the Ladyblog and began to meticulously compare the attacks with Adrien's absences. As he thought, they matched. Much to his relief, Adrien took his schooling seriously and only missed classes when he absolutely had to – even if it meant invoking Gabriel's wrath.

His fingers flew across the sketchpad as his mind began to lay out a plan for the headmaster.

Adrien had been avoiding Gabriel for the past few days, ever since he discovered Gabriel had been forced into attending a parent-teacher conference. He knew Gabriel hated his schedule interrupted and for something as trivial as addressing Adrien's insolence at school... well, the citizens of Paris got a lot more glimpses of their black-clad hero that week as Chat Noir took to the rooftops to escape his worries.

Gabriel let him stew. Partly because he was annoyed that his son couldn't squirm out of his own troubles, partly because he was busy with his own business, and partly because he spent a lot of time scribbling down excuses in a notebook whenever he encountered a decent one. He needed to have his plan ironed out; perfectly worded to both cover for the heroes and allow them to escape unpunished.

And he finally had it. The perfect plan, the perfect speech written to reflect his concern as a parent but also provide a reasonable explanation. He was ready.

So of course, an akuma had to attack.

But he was getting ahead of himself. For starters, when he awoke on Friday, he made his way down to the dining room to overhear Nathalie telling Adrien the schedule for the day in a low voice.

"And after school, your father will meet you there for your conference," she concluded, sympathy tinged her voice. Gabriel paused outside the door for a moment, listening.

"I suppose I should just enjoy my last day at school," Adrien replied, his voice heavy with regret.

Gabriel couldn't listen to his son's depressed thoughts anymore and pushed open the door. Adrien and Nathalie both looked up at his entrance. "Are you expecting to be expelled?" Gabriel demanded.

Adrien gaped at him. "I- no?"

Huffing in exasperation, Gabriel sat at the table. "Then why would this be your last day at school?" He flicked through his tablet. "Last I checked, your next break wasn't until next month."

Hope bloomed on Adrien's face. "You're not going to pull me out?"

"No," Gabriel said. Adrien brightened. "I've studied your list of unexcused absences. Adrien, tell me this right now: are you sneaking off to spend time with Marinette?" Gabriel fixed his son with a steady look.

Adrien blushed bright red. "W-what? No! We're not... we don't... no!"

Gabriel picked up his tablet again, unruffled by the fact that he just nearly caused his son to internally combust. "I thought not. I had to hear it from you directly. You're a poor liar, you know."

He almost laughed at the affronted look that replaced Adrien's blush. Surely his son must be thinking that he successfully lied to Gabriel several times in the past as Chat Noir... idiot boy.

Soon Adrien pushed back his plate and left with a downcast look. Gabriel double checked his tablet for his notes and left not long after Adrien, intending to lock himself in his office and finish all of his work by the time he needed to appear at school for the conference.

A few hours later, Gabriel stood before the steps of the school, appraising the structure for a moment as students filed around him, happily departing for the day. He flagged a nearby student and the kid pointed him in the direction of the headmaster's office. He paused outside of the door, listening to the voices inside. He heard Marinette's parents talking to the headmaster – Mr. Damocles, Nathalie had informed him. He couldn't hear either Adrien or Marinette, but even if they were inside, they were probably nervously awaiting their fate.

Gabriel pushed open the door and the voices fell silent. As he suspected, Marinette and Adrien sat off to one side, heads bowed low, while Marinette's parents talked with the headmaster and their homeroom teacher, Ms. Bustier. All heads turned to him as he entered.

"Ah, Mr. Agreste," Mr. Damocles said, rising from his chair. "Thank you for coming today. Please, have a seat."

Gabriel sat at the indicated chair without a word, studying the people around him. He didn't have to wait long, because it appeared everyone was waiting for him. Not long after he got settled, Mr. Damocles cleared his throat, directing everyone's attentions to him.

"Thank you all for coming," he began, "especially with your busy schedules. As you know, some of the teachers have expressed concern over Adrien and Marinette's constant absences. We are here to discuss that." He directed his gaze to the two teens sitting despondently in the chairs. "Do you two have an explanation?"

The two looked at each other for a moment. Adrien clenched his fist and Marinette's eyes hardened. They both nodded to each other with an expression of finality. The hair on the back of Gabriel's neck rose. Were they going to...?

Marinette reached over and gripped Adrien's hand, as if in support. She took a deep breath.

"Actually," she began, her voice steady with determination, "we both have a very good reason for missing so many classes."

Gabriel panicked.

"Excuse me, Headmaster," he interrupted, pushing ahead with his agenda before the two kids outed themselves, "but might I inquire as to why these are considered unexcused?"

Marinette paused, her mouth hanging open. Adrien mirrored her astonishment. Even the homeroom teacher blinked in surprise. Sabine, however, smiled at him.

"Yes, Mr. Damocles," she began in her soft voice, "Tom and I were wondering quite the same. Marinette is often late, we know, because she has a problem waking up to her alarm clock."

Marinette blushed a furious red and let out an embarrassed squawk.

Gabriel forged ahead, knowing it was the only way to maintain an upper hand. He pulled out the schedule. "As far as I can see, most of their absences occurred on days that an akuma victim attacked the school. Surely you cannot hold my son responsible for valuing his safety over a science lecture." Gabriel made sure to inflect as much cynicism as possible into the remark. "Have Adrien's grades slipped at all?"

At this, their teacher spoke. "They are both high-performing students, Mr. Agreste," Ms. Bustier stated in a kind voice, "that is why were are concerned. It is not like either of them to miss so many classes and we wish to solve any mishap before it becomes an irreparable problem."

Gabriel nodded. "I understand. However, I would like to know which of Adrien's absences have been considered unexcused." He took out his own copy of Adrien's schedule. "From what I can tell, the attacks have all coincided with missed classes."

"But not all of them," Mr. Damocles pointed out. "Take, for instance, the day before last..."

A loud scream stopped everyone in their place.

In this city, everyone knew what that kind of scream meant. Not some joyful stadium cry or desperate plea for help. This soul-wrenching wail curdled the blood with it's inhuman cry – bellowing with primordial rage at the injustice surrounding them.

Another akuma victim. And close, if the thunderous rumbling in Gabriel's chest was anything to go by.

The air seemed to drain from the room. Everyone froze, barely breathing, as the hair-raising shriek trembled through the room, shaking the windows before fading away.

Gabriel drew a heavy breath and his gasp shattered the silence like broken glass. Everyone snapped out of their trance. He leaped to his feet. "Adrien," he barked, "go and hide!"

That set off a chain of motion. Adrien and Marinette stood, along with Ms. Bustier and Mr. Damocles.

"Wait, you can't possible expect to go out in there," Mr. Damocles protested.

"It's too dangerous," Ms. Bustier agreed, her wide eyes filling with concern. "I won't let my students get hurt."

"It's much safer in here," Mr. Damocles said.

Marinette fidgeted with her purse, anxious to depart. The worry reflected in Adrien's face. Gabriel narrowed his eyes. Those two had to get out of the office before the akuma leveled the city with its sonic screams. Time to amp up the Agreste intimidation. He scoffed at Mr. Damocles.

"Don't insult me, Headmaster," he commanded in a fierce voice, "all of Paris has seen how often your office is targeted or destroyed by an akuma. Stay here if you must, but you will not put my son into danger with your arrogance." He turned to Adrien once more. "Go and hide in a safe place. Do not come out until Ladybug's healing wave indicates all is safe. Is that understood?"

Adrien nodded and turned toward the door. Marinette hesitated, her eyes darting around as she scrambled for a suitable excuse. Gabriel provided one. "Make sure my son stays put," he ordered Marinette. Her eyes widened and she nodded before scurrying after Adrien.

Gabriel turned to Marinette's parents. "They'll be safe," he assured them, "but perhaps you should consider getting to safety as well. The more people gathered in an area, the easier the akuma will have finding us."

Another sonic cry pounded the room. The roof shook and a bit of dust floated down. Ms. Bustier sneezed. "I believe I'll seek haven in my classroom."

"We'll join you," Sabine added, and she and Tom followed behind Ms. Bustier.

That left Gabriel and Mr. Damocles. "I'm not abandoning my office," the headmaster stated, sitting behind his desk with an air of defiant acceptance.

"I wouldn't dream of forcing you," Gabriel returned, settling back down in his chair.

"Aren't you going to seek a safer room?"

Gabriel shook his head. "My son's safety is the only thing that matters to me. I'm much too old to be dodging behind walls and crawling under desks."

They sat in silence, occasionally punctuated by the sonorous cries. Mr. Damocles pulled up the Ladyblog at Gabriel's suggestion and they both watched the footage of the fight. Despite the piercing intensity of the screams, the fight ended quickly. Gabriel seized his moment in the resulting lull before the two teens arrived.

"Mr. Damocles," he began as the headmaster brushed off dirt from his desk, "I understand you believe that Adrien's absences have been unexcused, but I assure you they are not."

The door behind him pushed open and Ms. Bustier, Tom, and Sabine entered. "We are all ears, Mr. Agreste," Ms. Bustier said.

Gabriel pulled out his notebook. "As you know, I've been planning a new show. And though I have yet to formally announce it to the press, the dates I have scheduled here have coincided with the times I've had to pull Adrien and Marinette out of class. It's all in the letter you received."

The headmaster's eyes furrowed in confusion. "What letter?"

"What show?" Tom said.

"Why Marinette?"

Gabriel smoothed his face and briefly threw out a silent apology for what he was about to do to Nathalie. Just for added sincerity, he threw in a touch of annoyance during his explanation.

"My assistant has provided you with all the necessary information," he began. "As you can see, the times they have both missed are identical to the times I have requested their presence. Adrien's private tutor has seen to it that neither of them have missed critical lessons, and you've just confirmed that their grades are maintained. I fail to see how this could have escalated to this point."

Four pairs of shocked eyes met his. Mr. Damocles recovered first. "Mr. Agreste, with all due respect, I received no such notice from your assistant."

Perfect! So far, so good. Gabriel frowned and narrowed his eyes. "Is that so?" he demanded, the faintest hint of anger tinging his voice.

"Ah, but I'm sure there was some kind of mistake," Mr. Damocles added, raising his hands in a placating manner.

"Of that I have no doubt," Gabriel agreed in a chilly voice. "I shall have words with my assistant." Such as giving her a long weekend at the best spa in the country, plus a hefty bonus for all of the work I'm about to throw on her, he thought. "I apologize for this confusion, Headmaster, but if there are no further objections, I would continue to have Marinette and Adrien assist with my show. After all, it's to benefit your school's art programs, and Marinette has earned repute as the winner of the previous contest you allowed."

Mr. Damocles shook his head so fast Gabriel wondered if his head wasn't about to spin off. "Of course not, Mr. Agreste! If there's anything else we can do to assist, please don't hesitate to ask."

Gabriel stood. "I thank you for your time and continued secrecy until I am ready to announce this to the press. I am still finalizing the details. I assume then, that no punishment shall befall Adrien nor Marinette?"

"Of course not!" Mr. Damocles assured him. "I wouldn't dream of it."

Ms. Bustier stepped forward. "That is, of course, providing that your tutor can adequately cover the material in class that they miss? I don't want them to fall behind."

Tom and Sabine looked thrilled at the possibility of their daughter assisting with her first fashion show, but their joy faded a bit at Ms. Bustier's words.

"School does come first," Sabine murmured. Tom nodded in agreement.

Gabriel reassured them with a thin smile. "If there are any issues, I will not allow Marinette to participate as fully as she has been with my designs." As if I could keep her from her duties as Ladybug, he thought wryly.

"Then I believe this settles the matter to everyone's satisfaction," Mr. Damocles declared.

Gabriel nodded once and turned to depart. His eyes swept past everyone and settled upon Adrien and Marinette, framed in the doorway, both staring at him with decidedly odd expressions. Gabriel's breath caught. How much had they heard? He swallowed hard and schooled his expression into one of indifference. "Ah, Adrien, there you are. Come along, our meeting is over."

He strode past the two teens even as Marinette's parents gushed with pride over their daughter's "first fashion show". Adrien followed Gabriel out the door without a word.

They had descended the stone steps and Gabriel was nearly certain that he has successfully escaped when a voice stopped him in his tracks.

"Excuse me, Mr. Agreste."

So close.

He turned. Marinette marched toward him with a look on her face that could only be described as a Ladybug look. "Why did you do that?"

"Do what?" he asked, drawing out the false innocence in his tone.

Marinette folded her arms across her chest. "Lie on our behalf."

Straight to the point then. Adrien, surprisingly enough, stood beside Marinette and fixed him with a curious look as well. He appraised his father as if he would a problem he hadn't yet solved. Or much like Ladybug looked just before she figured out what to do with her Lucky Charm.

What to do?

He could continue with the same vein and spin a convincing tale sure to appease their suspicions. And yet... these two children had just found support in each other. To bear the burdens of the city on their shoulders – alone – must be overwhelming. Adrien stumbled on the verge of collapsing most nights and only Marinette's nervous enthusiasm masked her own exhaustion. They needed... well, they had each other, but they needed something more. Something to show them that there would always be a hand outstretched to help when the oceans of their destinies began to drown them.

He was stupidly sentimental but the past couple of months of sly plotting and planning had invigorated something inside Gabriel. He needed to keep it going. He wanted to keep it going. To ignite the fire that had once burned inside him.

He realized they were both expecting him to answer. "I've grown rather fond of your parents' macarons," he said. "After all, you were the one who convinced me that they were 'delicious desserts'." He grinned. "And you couldn't have been more correct."

He turned around and began walking away even as Marinette gasped and Adrien inquired after her in confusion. "I'll see you at home, Adrien," he called over his shoulder. Then, he stopped and glanced back at the two of them, fixing them each with a solemn look. "Oh, and one last thing to the both of you... please be careful."

The End

Author's Note: This was originally intended to be the start of a sequel (or at least the first half of the epilogue was) but I've decided against it because the plot started to get grander than I could handle. Special thanks to PerditaAlottachocolate for helping me select an ending for Gabriel!

Keeping this strictly from Gabriel's point-of-view was by far the HARDEST aspect of this story to write. I agonized whether it was too boring or Gabriel was too OOC many many times.

Which brings me to...

Thank you all for all of your support! I never thought I would get so many positive responses to a "Gabriel is not Hawkmoth" story, and one where he is a bit of a nice guy, too. I thoroughly enjoyed interacting with all of my reviewers (the ones that I could reply to) and I loved debating theories with you guys. Drop me a line, I'm always willing to gush about different ideas!

Thank you all again!