I am SO SORRY for this hiatus. Work got intense and hectic and then spiralled with other things.

Trying to balance drawing and writing is horrible but I'm trying.

But I finally managed to write the next chapter so if you are still around, enjoy!

Of silver tongues and do overs

Chapter 13: Approaching an end

Mauro placed the pen down and proceed to reread what he had just written. The usual, making sure the words were correct, the spelling important (one time he wrote "bears" instead of "pears" and that had been quite a problem) and that everything made sense altogether. His hand hurt, almost as if he had been writing for weeks nonstop (even if it hadn't been more than an hour) but he was relieved to see there were no mistakes on the words he had just added.

Marinette wouldn't take long to come back with Adrien. And then he would offer this, and after that? Either he took his leave or stayed for the aftermath.

"Right, first things first" he cleared his throat and looked back at the paper. The bigger reveal could wait a few more minutes. For now, it was time to make sure he finally did what he had set up to do since the moment he arrived to this universe.

oOo

Adrien's head felt funny. It didn't hurt per se but he felt like his body was moving on its own, his brain trying to recover a sense of normalcy in gathering thoughts.

He had been akumatized. He was saved, flawlessly by his Lady if he had to add, but he still had been victim of Hawkmoth. He was lucky enough it didn't happen while he was transformed, who knows how that would have ended up as, but it only made him worry more. He had seen miraculous holders getting akumatized, who's to say it wouldn't happen to him?

He reached the stairs of the school almost at the same time Marinette appeared.

"Adrien!" she called out and ran towards him, stopping right in front of him just to give him a tight hug. He blinked, surprised at the contact but it didn't feel unwelcome; in fact, he hugged her back, some of his worries easing away in the scent of vanilla and flowers that came from Marinette's hair.

"Are you alright?" she asked once she pulled away "how are you feeling?"

"I'm… better," he rubbed the back of his neck "I don't really remember what happened while I was…"

"You didn't do anything irredeemable if that's what worries you" Marinette looked back where Nino was making his way towards them "I promise you that."

Adrien gave her a small smile, only to be crushed in another hug by his friend this time.

"Dude, are you alright? How are you feeling?"

"I'm ok Nino" Adrien patted his back, looking at Marinette who had a small smile "really, as good as I'll ever be."

"Where's…"

"Alya got hold of Lila on our way here," Nino turned to Marinette "and heard what she told Rose and Juleka, about how Adrien got akumatized."

Marinette didn't have the time right now to deal with Lila, not when Mauro had suggested a way of taking down Hawkmoth once and for all.

"Nino,"

"No, wait" Nino looked at her "you were right Marinette."

Wait, what?

"I mean, dude I was, we were all here when it happened and none of what she said was what really happened, you get me? You were right about her all this time."

Marinette looked at him, really looked this time. She eyed Adrien but neither he nor she had felt the warmth of Mauro's magic, so this was all Nino.

"This is not about being right," Marinette said "but to stop something from getting worse."

It was then when the warmth feeling showed up, both Marinette and Adrien eyeing each other with the familiarity of the magic. Adrien looked around but there weren't any changes, nor sensations that were unusual.

"Nothing happened,"

"Give it time," Marinette said, remembering the last time "it's not immediate."

"What are you talking about?" Nino looked at the two teenagers "is something going to happen?"

Adrien turned to Nino, only to raise his eyebrows in surprise when he saw the principal of the school making his way to the stairs where they were.

"Now, now," Mr. Damocles looked at the three teenagers "I must admit to be surprised to see students around here on a free day."

"We uh-"

'This was Mauro's plan? 'Marinette thought as she eyed Adrien who was at odds of what to say as well. Granted, it didn't have to be something grand but how would the principal would solve this out on a Sunday?

"Principal Damocles?" a new voice called behind him, causing them to turn around and then it clicked on Marinette's mind.

"Ah! Madam Rossi," the principal walked towards the woman that had, by coincidence of sorts, walked past the school building "it's so good to finally get to see you, with your phone unavailable from the moving."

The woman, Marinette had to assume being Lila's mom from the last name, blinked at him "my phone works just fine, it is yours that hasn't been repaired," she frowned "since the suspension of classes because of the akumatization."

It was like a snowball falling down a slope. Marinette knew this was something the three teens weren't supposed to be listening, but this was the best coincidence ever. Both adults were looking at the other that clearly showed how bad the information they had was, but Marinette had seen before the principal's reaction and he was also turning the gears of his mind. A simple encounter, just a casual moment that had a 1% of chance to happen and yet here it was.

"It appears there has been a problem of miscommunication here" Principal Damocles said, turning to see the teenagers who jumped back startled "I would like to solve this during school hours, it seems to be a delicate situation."

"I agree, I will arrive to your office first thing in the morning" she shook his hand and walked away, the principal turning on his heels to the school.

"Ah right, what I came here for," he waved at Marinette and the others and went inside, probably to his office. Marinette had to wonder for a brief moment if it was principal work or Dark Owl one.

"Huh," Adrien was the first to pronounce a sound "this, is not going to end well."

"You can say that again," Marinette hummed, remembering why she was in a hurry "oh, we uh, we have to" she pointed at her house, glad to see Adrien's eyes blinking and the slow yet noticeable nod of his head.

"Hey Nino" Adrien looked at his friend "perhaps we all should get together and talk later? After this calms down a little."

"I, sure but-"

"I owe Marinette an ice cream too," he added as he held Marinette's hand to walk away "but catch up later, ok?"

Nino looked at them, at Marinette's slight blush and Adrien's smile and just nodded, already taking out his phone to look for Alya.

"Now they are going to make assumptions," Marinette couldn't help but frown once they were at the bakery "but, that was,"

"It was the magic right?" Adrien asked as Marinette guided him inside "the word magic?"

"It had to be," she replied, her motions automatic as she opened the door to her room "I mean it was the-"

Oh, they were in her room. Marinette panicked for a moment, eyeing around the walls.

"I already knew," Adrien piped from behind "remember when Jagged broa-"

"Ok!" Marinette pushed Adrien towards the stairs "no need to relive that."

Adrien couldn't help but to smile a little, even when they finally reached the balcony and spotted Mauro cloud gazing.

"Well that took a while" he sat up from the chaise he was occupying "what did I miss?" he turned to Adrien "and how are you feeling Tuxedo Mask?"

"What? Why do I get to be called him?"

"Give me a break," Mauro stretched out "I ran out of inspiration juice with that cheap out I did about Lila's mom."

"So it was you,"

"It was indeed" Mauro showed them his notebook with the full page written down "not as climatic as one would have wanted but at least it'll have the least damage on you guys."

Marinette grabbed the notebook to read it, surprised to see how Mauro had even described their arrival to the school and the two adults gathering.

"Thank you," she gave it back "really, thank you."

"Ahh, don't thank me for this" Mauro waved a hand and turned to Adrien "not when there is a bigger insect to catch in this mess."

"What?"

Mauro eyed Marinette, who nodded at him encouragingly.

"I think I can help you guys out with your nemesis" he frowned "but you might not like how that will end."

"Why wouldn't I?" Adrien frowned as well "you don't mean…you know who he is?"

Mauro nodded.

Adrien didn't say a word. Perhaps it was because the magic was still around him, or he had finally took off the blindfold of his eyes, but he didn't need Mauro to actively say it. A part of him had had his suspicions since Ladybug said it, and if he looked at the boy's face, it was more than obvious the answer to that dilemma.

"My father is Hawkmoth" Adrien muttered "that's what you are saying, isn't it?"

Marinette's eyes widened as she turned to Adrien, whose posture sagged until he slumped on the chaise next to Mauro, hugging his arms tight. It was true then? Gabriel Agreste was Hawkmoth?

She couldn't believe it, but she had to because Mauro was not smiling and Adrien was quiet and… he had been akumatized by his own father. Gabriel had used his own son as a weapon, the man that wanted to control every minute of Adrien's life, that wanted to keep him away from 'harm' had used him as a tool against them.

Shock changed to rage, to disbelief and frustration. How dare he? How dare he did such thing over his own family?

"I'm going to-"

"Woah!" Mauro held Marinette's wrists "easy there! We can't have any of you two possessed right now."

"But!"

"I know, I know" Mauro looked at her and Adrien "it is a lot to take in and it sucks, majorly sucks" he let go of her "but you have to calm down, ok? I have no more energy to give you guys a shield, this will have to be done the slow way."

Marinette sat next to Adrien and held onto one of his hands, which gave a squeeze back.

"Adrien," she didn't know what to say, what was she supposed to say?"

"Mauro is right" Adrien spoke first "let's… cool down, and then we can work this out, somehow."

Marinette knew Adrien was struggling to keep it together, but he was right. She pulled him to a hug and squeezed him as tight as she could.

"We are going to solve this," she said, her voice firm as she hugged her partner "I promise."