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miscelanea-007 · 1 year

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Sick boy

Anyone would have thought a sick hero meant a weak hero, and to have both heroes of Paris: Scarlet Lady and Chat Noir, sick at the same time? All logic would have pointed to disaster - and oh, what a disaster it was. For Monarch, that was.

He had managed to akumatized a couple, an athletic one, at that. And yet he did not recall another time his minion was defeated in such a short time. Just about what kind of monster was he dealing with?!

“Unbelievable,” Monarch huffs, shaking his head. Enraged, he commands to be de-transformed and barely spares a look at Nooro. The kwami remains silent, head low until Gabriel says the words and back to the brooch they go. “Simply unbelievable,” Gabriel repeats, making his way to the elevator, not capable of even looking in Emile’s direction.

Once back in his studio, Gabriel passes the room, back and forth with his hands behind his back, trying to make logic of an illness making anyone stronger.

“No,” he comes to a halt and shakes his head. “That simply doesn’t make sense.”

A soft knock on the door allows him to rest from a moment of such a nonsensical scenario.

“Come in,” he says and soon enough Nathalie opens the door.

“Mister Agreste, the bourgeois girl is waiting outside. She’s asking to see Adrien.”

Gabriel feels a headache incoming. He takes a deep breath.

“I’ll attend her myself this time,” he declares and Nathalie nods, following behind him as Gabriel makes his way out of his studio and towards the entrance of his mansion.

“I’ve come to see Adrikins,” Chloé Bourgeois stands with a basket in her hands and a fiery look in her eyes. “Good afternoon, Mister Agreste,” she adds. She lifts the basket. “I brought treats. Please allow me to see him.”

Gabriel levels her for a few seconds. As Chloé doesn’t budge, Gabriel declares: “You’re sick yourself.”

“Maybe so,” Chloé says, clearing her throat. “That only means there’s no risk of me getting sick because of him.”

Gabriel has to admit, the child of Audrey and André is certainly a stubborn one. How many times has she tried to see Adrien since he got sick? Five? Six?

“Please,” Chloé repeats, urgency in her voice. “I’ll be quick. Thirty minutes is all I’m asking.”

Gabriel turns to look at Nathalie, who checks the provisional camera placed in Adrien’s room to check on him faster. After a few seconds, she nods at her boss and Gabriel looks back at Chloé.

“You’ve got twenty minutes.” Chloé opens her mouth. “The clock is running, I suggest you go on your way.”

Chloé presses her lips together in a thin line, yet doesn’t utter a single word of protest. Nodding, she hurries inside the mansion and towards the staircase. Gabriel is pretty sure the only reason she doesn’t run is because of the basket she’s carrying.

“Allow her five extra minutes,” Gabriel commands Nathalie, who nods again. “Initiate the timer the moment Adrien speaks to her and not a second early.”

“Understood.”

Gabriel closes the door, moving to go back to his studio, before thinking better of it.

“Nathalie,” he calls and Nathalie is surprised to see him reach a hand in her direction. “Give me the tablet. I’ll monitor their interaction myself.”

Tablet in hand, Gabriel resumes his walk to his studio and closes the door carefully behind him.

Sitting on his desk, he props the tablet against a lamp and reaches for his notebook and pencil inside one of the drawers before turning on the volume to hear the conversation going on between his son and Audrey’s daughter.

“-ent flying in a-a… ugh, what do you call those…” Chloé makes a curve-up motion with her index and Adrien, sitting against the headboard of his bed, cheeks flushed, laughs softly. “Those things!”

“A parabola, Chlo.” Adrien offers and Chloé claps, delighted.

“Yes, yes! That, a prabola.”

“Parabola,” Adrien says just a bit slower, offering a reassuring smile.

“Mh,” Chloé nods, cheeks flushing slightly. She coughs. Gabriel isn’t sure it’s a fake one. “Point is, Scarlet Lady sent the ridiculous villain flying like that!” Taking two of the treats inside the basket, she gives one to Adrien before munching on the other one. “Take that, Monarch!”

“What about Chat Noir?” Adrien asks and Gabriel is surprised to see the girl scrunching her nose instead of signing praises to the other hero like he’s aware most other Parisians would do. He takes quick note of that reaction and keeps listening. “Still not a big fan of him?”

“I’ve told you,” Chloé puts. “He’s alright. But everyone knows Scarlet is the leader!”

“And I’ve told you,” Adrien uses the exact same tone as Chloé’s, just a tad bit condescending yet not mean. “They are partners. Equals. They depend on one another!”

Chloé sighs, taking a big bite of the treat and shrugging.

“Don’t give me that,” Adrien laughs. “Just because you’re Scarlet Lady’s biggest fan, doesn’t mean Chat’s any less awesome!”

“If that were so true,” Chloé says, “why didn’t you choose him to marry last week, hm?” She smiles wickedly. Gabriel is absolutely lost. “You chose Scarlet Lady!”

“Because I also happen to prefer Scarlet Lady. That doesn’t prove anything!”

“Of course it does!” Chloé stands up, turning to face her childhood friend and inadvertently blocking Gabriel’s view of his son in the process. “It proves we both have flawless taste, Adrikins. As expected!”

Adrien laughs, it’s such a spontaneous and contagious sound. Gabriel realizes he doesn’t recall the last time he’d heard Adrien laugh like that. Or laugh at all. Not since- He shakes his head. Not the time.

“Chat Noir and Scarlet Lady are a duo,” Adrien says, “I stand by it.”

“Well, no one is denying that,” Chloé crosses her arms. Gabriel notices her shoulders going up, tensing. She coughs and clears her throat. “Point is, Scarlet Lady for the win.”

“Chat Noir for the rescue!” Adrien chants happily. “Win and save, save and wiiin!”

Chloé sighs, shaking her head. Gabriel drums his fingers against the table. When is the child going to move so he can look at Adrien’s expression again?

“Have it your way,” as if on cue, she plops on the edge of Adrien’s beg again and takes another treat that she offers to Adrien. However, when Adrien reaches for it, she pulls away at the last second. “But I’m the one who’s right,” and she gives it to him.

“No, you’re not,” Adrien sings, taking a bite and closing his eyes, a pleased expression blooming on his face. Gabriel remembers that same expression all too well in- No, no. Focus, Gabriel. Focus.

“Yes, I am,” Chloé puffs her cheeks and takes a second treat for herself, playing with it between her fingers before speaking again. “I’m glad you look better.”

Adrien opens his eyes. He reaches for Chloé’s hand with her free one and smiles brightly at her when sky-blue stares at emerald green.

“I feel a lot better. Thank you for coming to pay me a visit,” he squeezes Chloé’s hand. “Especially when you’re sick as well.”

“Ah, pft!” Chloé laughs, face two shades redder than before. “This is nothing! I’ve taken medicine, I’ll be as good as new before you know it!”

Adrien hums, expression softening. “Did Mr. Cuddly help you out with taking your meds?”

“He did,” Chloé grins. “Is just like Jean Franc used to say back when we were kids, remember?”

“Of course!”

Both teenagers open their mouths, yet Gabriel doesn’t get to hear whatever phrase it might be, since the alarm goes off, muting the conversation automatically. Fumbling due to the surprise, Gabriel hurries to turn it off, standing up.

Before he can move, however, he sees his son and Aufrey’s daughter turn towards the door. Gabriel activates the sound again.

“-in,” he hears Adrien allow and Nathalie opens the door. He almost looks apologetic.

“Aw,” Chloé pouts and Gabriel sees her hand squeeze Adrien’s. “It’s been twenty minutes already?”

“I’m afraid so,” Nathalie declares. “Please follow me, Miss Bourgeois.”

Chloé launches herself into Adrien’s arms, startling him for a moment. She squeezes him in a tight hug, and Adrien pats Chloé’s back, burying his face in the space between her neck and shoulder for as long as the hug lasts.

When Nathalie clears her throat, Chloé slowly retreats.

“See you at school on Monday, Adrikins,” Chloé tells him. “Don’t miss me too much.”

Adrien smirks at her.

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

Chloé sticks her tongue out at him and snickers.

“I’ll tell Scarlet Lady what a clown you can be if you keep this up.”

Adrien puffs his chest.

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“Try me, Adrikins.” Chloé winks at him and waves at where the camera is positioned, startling Gabriel for a moment. “Bye, Mr. Agreste!” with that, she marches with a high head to where Nathalie stands and follows her out of the bedroom.

“Bye, Chlo!” Adrien shouts, hands at either side of his mouth before the door closes. “I’ll miss you,” he says in a soft voice before side-eyeing in the camera’s and therefore Gabriel’s direction. “If you can hear me… Thank you, father.” He smiles brightly. “Thank you so much.”

Gabriel stares for two heartbeats, eyes lowering to where his notebook is. He traces the lines he wrote before closing it and turning off the sound on the tablet, picking it up.

He counts to seventy before opening the door of his studio again and calling for Nathalie. He returns the tablet to his assistant and says: “Postpone the rest of my meeting from today. I’ll be spending the rest of the day with Adrien.”

If Nathalie is at a loss for words, she dissimulates it quite well by simply nodding and centring her whole attention on the tablet.

Hands behind his back, Gabriel ever so ceremoniously makes his way to Adrien’s bedroom, and he takes a deep breath before knocking on the door.

After three heartbeats, he hears Adrien’s voice. “Chlo?”

“No,” Gabriel says. “It’s me. May I come in?”

A single heartbeat of silence.

“Of course, father.”

Gabriel opens the door slowly, finding his son standing up.

“Go back to bed,” Gabriel says, a small frown on his brow. “You’re not well yet.”

Adrien does as he’s told. Gabriel approaches him and takes the spot where Audrey’s daughter had been minutes ago.

“Tell me,” Gabriel begins, uncertain. “How are you feeling?”

Adrien hesitates, yet Gabriel notices a sparkle in his eyes.

“I’m much better than yesterday…”

“That’s good,” Gabriel nods once. Then, he says. “Do you want to talk to me about what you and Miss Bourgeois talked about?”

Adrien beams, and something inside Gabriel’s chest tightens.

“Well, you’ve heard of Scarlet Lady and Chat Noir, right?” Gabriel nods again. “So, they fought this one villain…”

#scarlet lady au #chloe bourgeois #adrien agreste #chlodrien #platonic Chlodrien #scarlet lady

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