Gabriel Agreste took a seat by Natalie. He was telling her about the shocking events that had transpired only minutes ago. He had never seen anyone able to fight an Akuma like that. Gabriel explained the events little by little. As he did he, couldn't help but think that maybe this was a sign. That may be, this meant that it was him who needed to change. Who needed to stop akumatizing people once and for all. Marinette had said she forgives Adrien after he caused her so much pain, so if she could move on from the pain and she is only a young girl, maybe so can he?
Gabriel couldn't help but wonder if he made the right choice when he decided on being Hawkmoth. Of course, he loved his wife and wanted her back but was hurting people really the only way to do it? He began thinking that if only he had been stronger and moved on, he could have learned to be happy. But this was not just about him. After Emilie's death, Adrien was not the same, he thought maybe bringing her back would return him back to the happy child he was, but could he be wrong? Gabriel remembered the smile his son heald just last night as he thought of his pigtailed classmate. Was Adrien already happy?
"Gabriel, just talk to your son. Ask him how he feels. Be his father for once," Natalie spoke as she tiredly laid in the bed. "I don't even know how to do that Natalie, that was all Emilie's place. I was never good enough for that." "You never tried. It is time to be the father I know you can be. I will help you."
Gabriel gave himself a pep talk as he waited for his son to return home. Gabriel had always been a man to hide his emotions. He had gotten so good at it he began to really believe he had none. Well, that was until today. For some reason, just knowing he had to have an actual conversation with his son about his life had him feeling extremely nervous and somewhat scared? Gabriel turned to look at the clock and sighed, aware that his son would be walking through the doors any second now.
Finally hearing the gates open, Gabriel ready himself to talk to his son, but what he came across was definitely unexpected. Adrien ran inside his home, broken and bawling. The way he saw it, he had two choices, he could either change his life for the better and be a father to his son or use his pain for another attempt at regaining his wife.
"Adrien?" He had decided. Adrien winced and came to a halt at the sound of his name. Fear struck his body. Oh no, his father was going to kill him. Adrien cursed his luck. Was being the holder of the black cat miraculous really make him this unlucky? Adrien knew if there was one thing his father hated the most was showing signs of weakness. Adrien was quick to take a breath, wipe his eyes and stand up straight. Gabriel felt a wave of guilt upon the reaction of his son. Had he really been that bad? "Father," Adrien answered, clearing his throat. Adrien expected his father to scold him and send him to his room. To tell him how weak he was and how he brought shame to the Agreste name.
Adrien lowered his head in an attempt to hide the fact that he had been sobbing. He already knew his father would threaten to pull him from school after this, especially if he even thought about talking back to him. So, Adrien took a breath and got ready for his punishment. But, to his surprise, he heard nothing. Gabriel remained calmed and secretly a little hurt that his son thought he needed to hide his pain from him, but he guesses that was his own fault. He was aware he had changed during the past. Even he knew he had done things neither of them would be proud of doing.
"Son, is everything alright?" Gabriel asked, hoping that his relationship with his son would change. As much as Adrien wanted to be honest and run to his father for a hug, he couldn't help but think that this was all a test. It was no secret Adrien was afraid of his father. His father has never cared, so why would he care now? Lying, Adrien responded. "Everything is fine, father. I actually have a lot of homework and piano lessons to do. May I be excused?" Gabriel noded masking his disappointment.
Adrien was not sure what was going on with his father, but at this moment, he did not find it in him to care. He only wanted to be left alone. Adrien wanted to be able to cry without being scolded about being weak. He couldn't explain it, but the thought of having lost Marinette's friendship was the most heart-crushing experience in the world. Adrien picked up his cellphone and called her one more time but once again, no answer. Nino told him not to call, she had asked him to let him know she would not be answering, and he agreed. If only they knew he lied. Adrien would not stop calling. He could not stop, not until he talked to her. Adrien would try again and again until he heard her voice. Even if that meant it would tell a million calls. He would not give up. Giving up meant losing her forever. Adrien would fix this. He had to fix this.
*knock-knock* Adrien rolled his eyes at the sound of his door. Why couldn't they just leave him alone! "Come in, Natalie," Adrien called while once again cleaning the tears from his eyes. "Actually, it's me, son," Gabriel spoke. Adrien's body went stiff. His father hardly ever came to his room, and did he say, son? Adrien placed his phone down and made eye contact with his father. "Look, Adrien, I know that I have not been the best father, and I have not always been there for you, but I want to change that. I know something is wrong. I can see it in your face. Talk to me, son, tell me what's wrong?"
Adrien felt his heart explode. His father was actually in his room, wanting to talk and hear about his problems. At this, Adrien couldn't help but get up and run to embrace his father in a hug. Gabriel's body went stiff upon his son's touch. He was not really one to give physical contact but found himself liking it. He quickly relaxed and embraced his son.
Adrien did not speak. He simply held on to his father tightly while silently weeping. Upon noticing his son's silence, Gabriel decided to ask. "Is this about your mother?" Of course, he knew that some of this was about the young designer, but there was no way he could tell him he knew of it. Ms. Dupain Cheng's almost akumatization was only known to Hawkmoth. Although, Gabriel wondered what Adrien did to cause Marinette to feel this way. He then thought that maybe if he brought his mother up, Adrien could open up and talk to him about his feelings. Hopefully, starting from the disappearance of his mother to his love life. Gabriel was not sure if he was surprised or not when he felt his son shake his head, signaling a no.
"Talk to me, Adrien, tell me what is wrong." At that point, Adrien couldn't hold it in. He allowed himself to speak his truth. Every single thing that had been and was bothering him and hurting him he let out. "I am sorry, father. I never meant to disappoint you. I tried to be strong, but I am not you, father. I am not strong. I am hurting, father. I have been for a long time, but today, today, I felt the worst pain of them all.
"Father, after mother disappeared, I was alone. I was hurting. I needed you, but you turned cold and pushed me away. You wouldn't let me go to school. You began filling my schedule up with so many activities and photoshoots I started to believe they were all excuses for you not to have to see me. But even then, I did it. I tried to be the best at everything. Every day, I worked hard to make you proud. I tried so hard just so one day, you would hug me and tell me how proud I made you, but you never did.
"I modeled in my free times, took Chinese and piano lessons, learned to fence, and became the best, but you never once said you were proud. Instead, you said I could use work and should try harder. I knew you missed mom, and I did too, but I needed you. I need you because, unlike mother, I am still here. We are both still here. Mother is gone, and we will always love and miss her, but that does not mean we can't still be a happy family. When she disappeared, I felt destroyed, but I knew I had to move on. Mom would not be like it if she knew that we were still holding on to her instead of trying to find happiness. And the thing is that after all this time, I did.
I made friends, friends who care for me, the real me and not the rich model. They do whatever it takes to make sure I feel happy and normal. Friends, who you keep me from by saying they are bad influences when they are nothing but amazing and caring. Even then, I kept trying to make you proud. To the point where I began dating Kagami, and even after realizing that I will never feel anything but a friendship for her, I remained in the relationship because you looked proud. But I can't take this anymore, father, I do not love her. I do not want to be with her. I can't keep pretending that I am happy being the perfect son you want me to be.
"After the trip to New York, I realized that there was someone else I would rather be with for good. Someone amazing. Who is talented, very smart, funny, beautiful, and caring. Someone who has been there for me since the first day I step into that school. Someone who always made sure that I was happy even when it hurt her. My best friend. She always reminds me so much of mom. Father, she has the same beautiful smile and kind heart. With her, I feel so cared for and loved. But today, today, I lost her.
"This whole stupid charade of being the perfect son with an amazing modeling career, and the supposedly perfect girlfriend messed with my head. It made me push her away. All so that I could make you proud! I lost the girl I love all due to my confusion and the fear of what you would do if I stood up to you. But I am done, and I am tired of all this pretending. Father, this is not me. Can't you see that? I am not the perfect son. I dislike modeling and fencing. I hate being in a relationship with Kagami, and I despise the idea of being locked in a room. I feel like you do not know me.
"Like you do not care about me. I feel like I am alone, and the only person in this world that constantly showed me she cared and wanted my happiness is now gone. I lost her. She hates me and does not wish to see or speak to me anymore!" Adrien did not hold back. Not his words, and not his tears. He refused to keep it bottled in for one more second. He was just tired. All he wanted was to be happy.
"Son, I am sorry that I made you feel that way. Adrien, I am proud of you. I always have been. If I made you take all the extracurricular activities, it was for you. To help you be better in the future. I thought I was doing what was best for you." Gabriel spoke. "For me? How would you know what is best for me when you never bothered to ask me?! How could you try to make me happy when you never even asked what that was? You never listened to me when I told you what I wanted. You gave me all these things, the best money could buy, but they are just that, they are things. Things I never even wanted, and when I asked you for what I really wanted, you would shut me out. For the love of God, I had to make an appointment just to talk to you and even see you. I am your son! There should not be a need for an appointment!" Adrien interrupted angrily.
"I know, son, and I truly am sorry. I apologize for everything that I have done. I know I made a lot of mistakes. I have done things I know you wouldn't be proud of, but I want to change that. Son, talk to me and tell me what would make you happy, and we can compromise. I will listen now. I can be better." Gabriel spoke softly. Natalie smiled, proud of Gabriel, as she listened from outside the room. "Now there is the Gabriel I know," she whispered.
"I want my father back. I want to be normal and be able to hang out with my friends. I want to be able to date who I want without having to ask for your permission, and I want her back. I messed up, father. I lost the one person I loved, all because I realized it too late. I need Marinette back, father. I love her. I don't want to live without her." Gabriel hugged his son as he thought of what he could do. His son's happiness had a name. Marinette Dupain Cheng. And he would do whatever it takes to make it happen. He owed his son that much.
"And you will, son. I will make sure it happens. I promise."