It's the Little Things That Count - Gabenath Drabbles

Day 4: A New Enemy

"Your Miraculous are mine now, Hawk Moth and Mayura. And I'd appreciate it if you told me how to fix the broken one. I can't have the same thing happen to me that happened to you, now can I?" She looked at Nathalie.

"Give the Miraculous back!" Gabriel demanded.

"Let's make a trade," Swallowtail decided, moving with lightning speed. Before she realized what happened, Nathalie was pushed to the edge of the tower's platform, the tip of Swallowtail's cane hovering dangerously close to her face. "You tell me how to fix the Miraculous, or I'll toss her off the side. And I don't see any superheroes around to save her, so you have no choice."

Nathalie's stomach flipped as she looked over the railing. Then she turned her gaze to Gabriel, meeting his eyes. His expression mirrored the fear she felt as he said, "I don't know!"
It wasn't a total lie; they had yet to decipher the translations they'd taken from Master Fu.

"You're lying," Swallowtail replied. "And I know all about lies."

"It's the truth," he insisted, inching closer.

The girl narrowed her eyes. "In that case, good luck saving her without superpowers!"
Swallowtail kicked the railing, breaking it before she shoved Nathalie off the side.

Gabriel's cry cut through the air as she lost sight of him. The top of the tower rapidly grew smaller as she fell.

She didn't expect him to jump after her, keeping his arms close to him to catch up to her.

"Are you insane?!" She exclaimed over the wind. Now they would both be killed!

He reached her, managing to grasp her arms.

"You don't have superpowers! We're both going to die!" She was crying.

"I couldn't watch you die!" He reached out further, pulling her closer.

Knowing they were seconds from the ground, she closed her eyes. "I love you!"

Their fall was halted by a familiar yoyo stretching across the buildings, forming a kind of net. The heroes helped them safely to the ground.

Heart pounding, she fell to her knees, legs unable to support her. Gabriel collapsed next to her. Without thinking, she threw her arms around him.

He buried his hand in her now-loose hair, pressing her forehead to the crook of his neck. "We're alive," he whispered.

"Are you two okay?" Ladybug demanded, retracting her yoyo.

"Thanks to you," he replied shakily.

"Are you injured, Fa- Sir? Ma'am?" Cat Noir asked, clearly agitated.

"No. But you should go after her. The girl is calling herself 'Swallowtail', but her real name is Lila Rossi," Gabriel said.

Something changed in Ladybug's expression. "We'll get her! C'mon, kitty!"
She leaped away, Cat Noir sparing them one last concerned look before he followed.

For the first time, Nathalie found herself rooting for the superheroes.

But she had another matter to attend to.

"I can't believe you jumped after me!" she scolded Gabriel. "What were you expecting to happen if the superheroes didn't show up?" She drew back, frowning.

He watched her silently for a moment. "Do you really love me?"

Nathalie froze. She'd forgotten about that small revelation. "That's not what we're talking about right now, Gabriel! Why did you do it?"

"You're more important to me than getting our Miraculous back."
She faltered. "What?"

"Nathalie, do you really love me?" he repeated.

"I-" she huffed a sigh. "Yes."

"Then listen to me. Did you really think I'd let you die on the slim chance that I could've taken the Miraculous from her?"

"That doesn't explain why you jumped off the side of the Eiffel Tower!"

"I didn't want to see you die!"

"No, you were just going to die with me! How do you think Adrien would feel right now if we were both dead? He'd be all alone! Forever!"

She forced herself to her feet, ignoring her shaky legs. "You're always so impulsive. You never think things through!" She looked away. "I appreciate your concern, but-"

He grabbed her wrist, pulling her back down to his eye level. "You're right, I am impulsive. And that explains why I'm going to do this-"

Of all the things she expected, a kiss wasn't one of them.

She made a sound of surprise but moved her hands to his shoulders.

"So . . . I take it you guys are okay?" a girl's voice said slowly. "We just wanted to double-check. Lila got away . . ."

The heroes had returned, both looking slightly embarrassed. Cat Noir was grinning.

"We're alright," Gabriel replied, quickly hiding any sign of his own embarrassment. He stood, helping Nathalie to her feet.

"You might want to take this somewhere else," Cat Noir advised, "before Nadja shows up. Or you'll be all over the news."