#also sending all my love to the ao3 volunteers and staff because they really deserve it

[koolfrogz]

finding out that the ao3 DDoS could continue for WEEKS is the worst news ever. how am I going to survive without my silly little tales?

[p-artsypants]

Longest Night (31)

Ao3 | FF.net

--

She awoke. The room was dim, and just the right amount of warm. Her throat felt dry and her limbs weak. She didn’t know if she had the energy to speak.

“Emilie?” A woman’s soft voice asked.

“Hmm?” She hummed back.

A hand fell on hers. “Good to see you awake. You’ve been asleep for a long time.”

“How…long?”

“Four years.”

She blinked more, trying to clear the haze on her mind.

“Shh, keep resting. You’re still very weak.”

“Where…?”

“We’re in Tibet, in the temple of the Guardians.”

“Temple…?”

The woman, now recognized as Gabriel’s secretary Nathalie, chuckled softly. “Go back to sleep. I’ll catch you up later.”

“Where’s…my husband? And Adrien?”

“Gabriel’s in Paris and…we’re not sure where Adrien is…that’s why Gabriel’s not here.”

Emilie pushed up on the mattress. “Adrien’s missing?! Why!?”

“Shh…” Nathalie pushed her back down by the shoulder. “Please Emilie, don’t strain yourself.”

“Well, I’m wide awake now, so you better get explaining!”

Nathalie rolled her eyes. “Will you relax if I do?”

“…Yes ma’am.”

“Alright…well. It started about a year after you fell asleep…”  

—

Everything happened in a whirlwind of action. Everyone wanted to know what was happening, and wanted to be a part of helping. The Gorilla got a police escort to the hospital, driving Alya and Gabriel, while Nino volunteered to stay behind and lock up. News vans followed the ambulance and car. Traffic stopped and pulled over as the cars zoomed through the city.

At the hospital, Marinette and Adrien were unloaded and rushed into surgery. Sabine, still transformed, and Tom were escorted to a private waiting room.

And then, silence.

All the rushing and shouting, it stopped.

Sabine stood in the room, trembling.

“I believe the phrase was ‘spots off’, darling.” Tom said softly.

“Hm? Oh, Spots Off.” The whirlwind pink disappeared just as it came, and Tikki appeared in front of her, barely staying afloat.  

“Madam Cheng?” She asked weakly.

“What is it, dear?”

“Um…I’m really hungry from the cure…do you have any cookies?”

Sabine gave her a sympathetic smile. “So you’re the little mouse that steals my cookies at night.”

Tikki smiled sheepishly.

“I don’t have any on me right now, but lets see what’s in this vending machine.”

Tikki settled for a bag of mini chocolate chip cookies and took her meal to eat on a chair.

Not much later, Gabriel, the Gorilla, and Alya were escorted into the room by a nurse.

“They got in alright?” Gabriel asked.

“Yes, they got right in. They didn’t even ask Tom and I for any medical information.”

“Ah, yes, that would be my doing.”

Tom and Sabine shared a look. “What do you mean?”

Gabriel thought for a second, then admitted, “I could have sworn I already told you, but perhaps in the rush of things, I forgot to mention it. I apologize. Do you remember a few weeks ago when I asked if you had packed up your medical files with your belongings?”

“Oh! Yes, you asked for Marinette’s!”

“Yes, this hospital has assembled a specific team of specialists to prepare for them. They studied the stream and have everything they need to get started right away.”

“Wow, that’s smart!” Commented Alya. “Was that your idea, Mr. Agreste?”

“I wish, but no. It was Dr. Ernest Boucher, an akuma victim who wanted to pay off his debt. We’ve taken care of everything. The bill is squared. You only have to worry about Marinette.”

Sabine let out a sob. “Thank you!”

Gabriel tried to smile, but it fell flat. “Don’t thank me yet. I’m not worthy of gratitude.”

At that, Tikki looked over to him, aware that she was exposed to the parents, but not really noticing it until now.

Alya knelt on the floor next to her chair. “Hi there, I’m Alya.” She introduced.

“Oh, I know.” Tikki said with a smile. “I’m well acquainted with you. So is Trixx.”

At the name, Trixx popped out of Alya’s shirt. “Heya Tik!”

“Hi Trixx!”

The fox floated down and joined Tikki on the chair. “Wayzz is with Nino and Pollen is with Chloe.”

“Nino should be here soon,” Alya provided. “He stayed behind to make sure everything was locked up at the bakery. Don’t want reporters getting in there after all.”

The door to the waiting room opened, a police officer entering. “Captain David Phillips,” he introduced with a bob of the head. “I’m in charge of security for your children during their stay here.”

Sabine breathed, another worry dissuaded. “Oh thank you!”

“Of course, Mrs. Cheng. There will be officers posted at each of their rooms. All staff working with them have already gone through background checks, and have been picked by Dr. Ernst Boucher to work on his team. If I may, I would like to write up a list of people with clearance to visit. My recommendation is that you keep the list short. It is likely the team won’t allow any guests besides immediate family in the beginning.”

“Right.”

He took out a notebook. “Of course, I have Sabine Cheng, Tom Dupain, and Gabriel Agreste on the list. Anyone else I should add?”

“Alya Cesaire and Nino Lahiffe,” Sabine stated. “And Roland and Gina Dupain.”

“Arthur Chevalier and Chloe Bourgeois.” Added Gabriel. “But not the mayor. I’d rather he stay away.”

The chief nodded, noting this all down. “Anyone else?”

“Oh! And Wang Fu.” Said Sabine.

“Alright. Anyone else?”

“Not at this time.”

“Alright. Just let me know if you need to edit the list. My men have strict instructions not to allow anyone in who does not have clearance. We are also keeping an eye out on both of your homes.”

“Thank you, Captain Phillips.”  

“My pleasure. I’ll leave you alone now.” And he left.

The Gorilla took a chair and gestured a thumb to the door, indicating he would wait outside.

“Thank you, Arthur.” Gabriel breathed.

Sabine collapsed into a chair next to Tikki, her hand resting on her face.

“Are you alright?” Tikki asked softly.

“I’m fine, dear. Just a little migraine.”

Tikki floated up and pressed her forehead to Sabine’s humming slightly. “Did that help?”

“Y-yes. It’s gone!”

Tikki smiled. “It’s not much, but I aid healing. You should give the earrings back to Marinette as soon as you can.”

“I was planning on it.”

Gabriel smirked at the conversation, and took a seat as well. There wasn’t much else to do but sit and wait. He took out his phone and checked his email. It wasn’t likely that he’d hear back from Nathalie on a constant basis. The Temple was out of cellular rage, and was still in the past as far as technology went. In order to send an email, she would have to hike down to the village. And that required her to be healed.

So it was to his great surprise that an email from Nathalie awaited him in his inbox.

Gabriel,

The Miraculous Guardians have been successful. I am writing this email on my first full hike down to the village with the monks. I’m feeling much better. Maybe the best I’ve felt in my life.

Emilie woke up yesterday evening. I told her a little bit of what’s happened while she’s been asleep. So far, she knows that you used the butterfly Miraculous to try to get a hold of the Ladybug and Black Cat Miraculous in order to wake her up. She fell back asleep after that. She doesn’t know Adrien was the Black Cat. She knows that Adrien is missing, but I didn’t get that far into the explanation. I also did not tell her that you are considered a villain in Paris.

She is very weak, but the guardians assure me that she’ll make a full recovery. It may be a few weeks still. I will stay with her until she is ready to go home.

On a more professional note, I would like to take some time off after this. Nothing against you or Emilie, but my heart is in a dangerous place in regards to you. I need some time to put aside my feelings. I will return to work with you eventually.

Please feel free to email me back. I will return to the village tomorrow, as I have been assured that it is good for my health.

I am eager to hear how things are going with the investigation of Marinette and Adrien.

Cordially,

Nathalie Sancoeur

A smile graced his face as relief flooded through him. Tears came to his eyes, but he blinked them away before anyone would notice.

Emilie was awake!

And Nathalie was better!

And now, just to wait for Adrien. And Marinette too, of course. But mostly Adrien.

Rereading the email, a sinking feeling settled on his stomach. How was he suppose to explain his actions to Emilie? He certainly couldn’t lie to make it seem less horrible than it was.

He was definitely regretting some of his desperation.

“Oh yes darling, I am a terrorist and our son was fighting day and night to defeat me. Because of my actions, Adrien was picked to be a hero, and subsequently got kidnapped and tortured. But he’s fine now.”

Yeah, that sounded like a sane man.

Dear Nathalie,

Thank you for emailing me so promptly. I’m overjoyed to hear that you are doing better and that Emilie is finally awake. Thank you for being brief with her about the situation. I would like to explain more of it to her in person. I believe she deserves to hear it from me at least.

I will approve your time off when the time comes. Take as long as you need, you’ve certainly earned it.

I must apologize, Nathalie. I know I took advantage of you. No other employee would have gone above and beyond the call of duty. You became ill because of my actions, and that’s something I can’t apologize enough for. Furthermore, I think it would be wise for us to part ways for a while. I know you have a special place in my heart as well, and that’s not fair to you with Emilie waking up. I desperately love my wife. And I love you too, but in a different way. As my colleague, my confident, my friend. Thank you for all you have done. For raising our son for us, for managing the company, for Mayura. All of it.

You are forever welcome in our home, whatever you choose to do.

What more, I know Adrien has high regards of you. And he will be missing you turning his recovery. That’s right, they’ve been found! Both Marinette and Adrien are in grave shape though. I’m writing this from the hospital. I’ll tell you everything later.

Enjoy Tibet.

Sincerely,

Gabriel

And he sent it.

What came next, who could tell? His emotions straddled somewhere in limbo between anxious and optimistic. Looking around to the various states of worry in the room, he decided he didn’t belong with them. So he stood, and walked out, not offering a word to anyone as to where he was going.

He wasn’t quite sure where that was either.

He passed Nino in the hall, who gave him a questioning look.

“Coffee,” he responded automatically, giving himself an excuse.

“I’ll come along.” Said the teenager, squashing his hopes to be alone.

But he didn’t blame Nino. He wouldn’t trust himself alone either. For a while, they walked in silence, riding the elevator down to the first floor without a word.

It was evening now, dinner time for most folks. But neither Gabriel or Nino found themselves to be hungry in any capacity. There was a small cafe within the food court open, with a short line. The men stood next to each other, lost in their own thoughts.

“Your arm healed with the cure, right?” Nino suddenly asked, quiet so others wouldn’t overhear.

“Yes. The stitches are gone and everything.”

They stepped up and made their order. Gabriel ordered a black coffee for himself, while Nino ordered specific drinks for everyone else.

“That’ll be 24.86.” Said the cashier.

Gabriel handed over his card. “I’ll take care of it.”

Nino smirked as they went to sit at a nearby table to wait for their order.

“Sorry…” Nino began. “I didn’t mean to tag along if you needed a minute, I just…”

“It’s fine,” Gabriel stated, fiddling with a salt shaker on the table. “I’m the enemy after all, I should be watched at all times.”

“That’s not what I meant…your son is…he’s in the hospital and the future is uncertain. I’m just worried about you.”

“Thank you, but I don’t need your concern.” He said, a little harshly.

Nino sighed. “Adrien told me…after you lost your wife, you became a lot colder. No offense, but I’m worried for you for Adrien’s sake.”

Gabriel took a moment to relax his hunched shoulders and exhale slowly. He was way too tense, and that wasn’t good for anyone. “I’m sorry. I know it’s been a few years now, but I treated you unfairly the first time we met. I called you something unsavory, when all you were trying to do was make Adrien happy. That’s all you’ve ever tried to do. Thank you for ignoring my wishes and continuing to be his friend.”

Nino actually smiled at him. “Don’t worry about it dude—er, sir. Besides, you let me DJ that one fashion show. That was super cool!”

“You did a fine job. I’ll let you know if any more opportunities arise.”

“Thanks dude!”

Gabriel smirked. “You’re welcome…dude.”  

Nino erupted in violent laughter, nearly falling out of his chair.

“Forget I said anything.” Gabriel said flatly.

“Agreste!” Called the Barista.

The boys gathered their drinks and returned to the waiting room, still in silence, but a lighter feeling than before.

In the waiting room, Nino set the drinks on the little table and confessed he just picked out six drinks that looked interesting. One for each person, and one for the kwami’s to share.

Gabriel sat against a wall, watching the exchange while sipping on his black coffee. It felt awkward, as the elephant in the room sat between him and all these kind people. He rubbed his thumb over his ring finger, a force of habit from when he wore a wedding ring. His had been taken by Felix, so he wore Emilie’s for a while. But when she was taken to Tibet, he gave it back. Now he longed to have something to fidget with.

He reached into his pocket, immediately feeling the cool metal of Adrien’s Miraculous.

He had forgotten he picked it up. He just assumed his pocket was a safer place for it than Marinette’s bedroom. He took it out, resting the ring on his palm. It looked and felt like any other ring. He turned it over with his fingers, studying the design before it flashed green.

Plagg rocketed out, awake. “Adrien!” He shouted.

Well, if anyone was unaware of Chat Noir’s identity, he just blew it. But luckily, that wasn’t a problem in this room.

Plagg spun around, his eyes frantic. This was not the last place he was awake. The last thing he saw was that woman and she took off the ring—

He turned around, facing Gabriel, and saw the ring in his hand.

“Why do you have that?” He asked darkly.

“I—…” Gabriel gaped.

“That doesn’t belong to you! Give it back! That’s my kitten’s!” He shouted.

“Plagg…” Tikki tried to calm him down.

“Where is he?! What did you do to him!?”

Gabriel raise his hands in a pacifying nature. “Adrien’s in surgery.”

“Surgery!?! What did you do to him?!”

“He didn’t do anything, Plagg!” Tikki shook him. “It was that woman! That woman that stole the Miraculous! She hurt Marinette too!”

And then Nooroo peeked ever so slightly out of Gabriel’s pocket.

All hell broke loose.

“You!” Plagg grabbed Gabriel’s shirt, and yanked him to stand. “You disgusting piece of filth! Give me one good reason not to kill you this second!”

“Plagg!” Tikki grabbed him and tried to force the fabric from his paws. “Let him go!”

“You monster! Do you know how many nights I had to comfort him because of your abuse!? How many times he cried because you neglected him!? You might be his father, but you aren’t his dad! You’re a walking shit stain! Scum of the earth! A selfish, evil, pathetic excuse for a man! I hate you! I hate what you did to him! I hate what you did to both of them! And now this!? How could you betray him!?”

Gabriel wasn’t able to fight back. He was too stunned to say anything. This tiny creature could destroy him with a single breath.

“Plagg, stop it. You’re not thinking clearly!”

“I’m not thinking clearly!? Tikki! He’s Hawkmoth!”

“What?!”

“Nooroo! Nooroo get your ass out here!”

Tikki gasped as the lilac butterfly came into view, looking completely ashamed.

Plagg continued his rant, oblivious to the slack jaws in the room. “Is there a single person in your life that you haven’t hurt?! Haven’t manipulated into doing your biding!?”

“I didn’t mean to—“

“I’ve seen centuries, you vile worm! I’ve lived among humans as long as they’ve existed! So you listen to me when I say you are nothing but evil, Gabriel Agreste! Your heart is full of hatred and you aren’t capable of love! Not towards your son! Not towards your wife! That’s why she left you!”

Gabriel ripped his shirt out of the kwami’s paws. “She didn’t leave me!”

Plagg let him go, curious, but still fuming, as to why that was the only thing he argued.

“You’re right. I’m vile, and cruel, and evil. But Emilie didn’t leave. She…” He swallowed.

Everyone was watching him carefully, partly in fear of his violence. Partly because they wanted to give him a chance to redeem himself.

“The Peacock Miraculous is broken.” He began. “It was broken when we got it, though I didn’t know at the time. Emilie and I…we bought them from a vender in Tibet. Along with a book. We used them as inspiration in our designs. And for a while, thats all we used them for. But…Emilie, she always wore the peacock because she loved her Kwami so dearly. But Dusuu…she stole Emilie’s energy. And eventually, she fell asleep and wouldn’t wake up.” Gabriel fell into his chair, his head in his hands. “I didn’t know what to do. The doctors had no answers. She wasn’t dead, but…” He shook his head. “Nooroo told me there was a chance to save her, if I could get the Ladybug and Black Cat Miraculous. I could unify their powers and make an ultimate wish.”

“So, you had to lure us out.” Said Tikki. “By akumatizing people.”

“Yes,” Gabriel breathed. “So many times, things went too far, and I told myself I’d quit. But then I’d get so close and…it just got worse and worse. I neglected everything. I was obsessed! And then—And then Salo captured them.” He hugged his arms around his waist, feeling sick. “I had a hunch once, that Adrien was Chat Noir. He always wore the same ring, and got defensive when I asked him about it. But he was too clever and diverted my attention from him. It came as a shock when I saw his costume come off. All this time, I was trying to protect him…trying to bring his mother back and make us a family again…but all I did was drive him away. This is all my fault. Not Master Fu’s, not even Salo’s…I’m responsible for this.”

Plagg said nothing, just glared and listened.

Gabriel raised his head to look into the kwami’s ancient green eyes. “So you’d be doing Adrien a favor by killing me.”

Plagg groaned at the sacrificial tone. Humans were just so stupid. “No, I wouldn’t. That kid loves you. I don’t know why, but he does. So, if you are really repentant, and whatever…then you better start acting like a father. Getting rid of you would just hurt him more…he doesn’t need any more loss.”

Gabriel smiled the tiniest bit. “There is something good that came out of this.”

Plagg looked at him skeptically.

“Master Fu revealed himself to us. In order to apologize. I took him aside and explained all of this. He arranged Emilie and Nathalie to go to Tibet and see the Guardian’s at the temple. Nathalie just emailed. Emilie…she’s awake. She’s alright. Adrien will have his mother back.”

Gabriel continued to smile as Plagg stared right back, something akin to pity on his face. “So what? You think this is happily ever after now?”

Gabriel’s smile fell.

“Adrien doesn’t need his mom anymore. He thought she was dead. He grieved. Alone. And then he healed and moved on. He found family in his friends. You’re the one that stayed behind in denial. Instead of dealing with the consequences of your actions, you brought everyone else down into madness with you. Do you know what seeing her alive again will do to him? Do you know how badly that will mess him up? Knowing that she was alive the whole time and she didn’t return? Or that you didn’t tell him!?”

Gabriel’s face paled. “I tried to tell him…but I didn’t think he’d understand.”

“He wouldn’t’ve. I barely understand it myself, and only because it’s over now.”

Tikki floated a few inches away from Plagg, as he continued to crackle with energy.

“This is stupid. I’ve wasted enough time here listening to your pathetic excuses. I have to see him! I promised I’d never leave him alone again!” He darted through the nearest door in frantic energy.

“Plagg!” Tikki shouted, flying after. Trixx and Wayzz hurried to catch up as well.

In the hall, Plagg rushed around, peeking in every room he came into, and stopping every time he saw a blond head.

When it became clear that Adrien wasn’t on the floor, he darted through the floor and went on his search.

“Adrien! Adrien!” He cried, startling nurses and patients alike.

Plagg pulled up short in front of a man in full scrubs, mask and gloves. “Where’s Adrien!?” He asked.

The man blinked. “I—What?”

“Adrien! Adrien Agreste! Where is he!? I need to see him!”

“I believe he’s in surgery…what are you?”

“Where!?” Plagg just screamed louder. Then he caught sight of the white board on the wall. A quick glance showed the name Agreste in room OR4.

He was off again, without a look back.

Frantic, he flitted from room to room, tracking the numbers.

Then finally, he found it. OR4.

He burst in the doors, startling those inside. “Adrien!”

A nurse looked at him, tilted her head, and said, “I’m sorry, you can’t be in here…”

“He needs me! Please!” But as he came closer, dread wrapped around him. It had to be Adrien. There was a young man on the operating table, laying on his stomach. The height was the same, the hair was still that golden wheat color. But he was so skinny and pale...

But the worst part was that from the base of his neck to his lower calves, deep gashes cut into his skin and muscle. The worst was around his shoulder blades, which were visible through the gore.

“What are you doing to him?” Plagg’s voice came out hollow, and afraid.

The head surgeon looked up at him, his eyes narrowing. “I’m Dr. Ernst Boucher, in charge of Adrien and Marinette’s surgeries and recoveries. Who…and what, are you?”

“I’m Plagg.”

“Ah, I see,” said he and then gestured him forward with a bloody finger.

The team watched him as he floated closer, and hovered over Adrien’s heart.

“We’ve studied the footage very carefully. He called for you, asking where you were.”

“Footage? What are you talking about?”

The doctor pointed to the table, right beside Adrien’s neck. “You can sit here.”

Plagg floated down and nuzzled against his chosen.

“Ladybug and Chat Noir were kidnapped and their identities were revealed on camera.”

“So everyone knows?”

“The whole world knows. They’ve been broadcasting them for about a month and a half now. Live torture at any hour of the day.”

“A month…?” Plagg’s voice was gravelly and weak. “They were tortured?”

“Yes.” Said the doctor, as he continued the surgery. “Adrien has a some pretty severe tissue damage all through here.”

“How did this happen?”

The doctor was quiet for a moment, giving instructions to his team members, before answering, “Several hours of flogging with a cat-o-nine tails.”

Plagg didn’t say anything after that, just let out a quiet sob and snuggled closer to Adrien’s neck.  

—

Hours later, the group in the waiting room were high with anxiety. Gabriel continued to sit in the corner with his head in his hands. Light conversation had flittered around the room, but no one dared bring up Hawkmoth’s sad origin.

Tikki, Trixx, and Wayzz had returned after about a half hour, when they concluded Plagg was nowhere to be found, and he likely wanted to be left alone.

Alya rested her head on Nino’s shoulder while she napped. Tom and Sabine played cards at the table.

Then the door opened. There stood a doctor in still bloody scrubs, with a black blob in his hand.

“Are you Dr. Boucher?” Gabriel asked, at attention.

“That’s right. Mr. Agreste?” He held out his free hand for a hand shake. “Nice to meet you in person. Glad we were able to get on this as soon as possible.” He turned to Tom and Sabine. “Mr. Dupain? Mrs. Cheng? Marinette’s all stitched up. She has received a blood transfusion and a whooping 19 stitches on her back. Right now, we’re monitoring a pretty severe case of pneumonia, as well as an infection in her hand and her feet. We have her on an IV with antibiotics to help with this. She’s also on a ventilator to help with her breathing. She has some scarring on her neck from strangulation, but as that happened a while ago, I think any damage has healed. Examining the footage, we’ve deduced that the food they were giving them is what’s known as ‘food loaf’ a old prison practice. Leftover meals are blended and then cooked into a flavorless loaf. But most of the nutrients are there. While they aren’t completely starved, we still will have to ease them into a regular diet to avoid refeeding syndrome. They will both be drinking a lot of water and juice high in electrolytes.” He noticed the other kwamis sitting on a chair, watching them, and brought Plagg over to join them. He was asleep and curled up into a ball. “Marinette will be extremely tired because of the infections. She’s not likely to wake up for several days. And when she does, I’m not certain about her mental state. She will be confused, but that’s understandable.”

“What about Adrien?” Gabriel asked, once the man seemed finished.

Dr. Boucher sighed. “Adrien is still in surgery, or…more precisely, he’s back in surgery. His flogging wounds were much more severe since he was whipped for a longer period of time. He is being stitched where he can, but we had to do a split-depth skin graft over his shoulder blades. The whip went deep into his muscles and tore out his flesh right down to the bone. We were able to suture the muscles back together, but the skin was too far apart to stitch back together. We took a sample from his inner thigh that was wide enough to cover his wound.”

“So what’s happening to him now?”

“Now the team is preparing to examine his sternum. In the early part of their stay, he sustained a wound from a crowbar to the chest. During the wedding, the bruising was visible and I can already tell he has a few broken ribs. He may even have flail chest, where the ribs float in the plural cavity and can damage other organs.” He frowned, his lip pulling further on one side. “This is a very difficult case. In order to do either surgery, Adrien had to risk the other wound. Obviously, the back was the most pressing, even with the pressure his akuma suit put on the wound, it was still bleeding fiercely. In order to get it properly cared for, he would have to lay on his front, risking the broken rib. It’s a tricky situation.”

Gabriel didn’t say anything, just closed his eyes in defeat.

“Besides those wounds, I’m assuming Adrien also has pneumonia, as he was exposed to the same conditions as Marinette. Because of the blood loss, he entered Hypovolemic shock, and achieved stage 4, which resulted in kidney and heart failure. With a blood transfusion, he should be on the mend, as his heart rate has steadily decreased and his hyperpnea has slowed. His breathing still doesn’t sound good, but it’s a lot slower and stable. That leads me to believe that he’s come out of shock. We will have to monitor his kidney output.”

Gabriel collapsed in a chair, his head in his hands.

“He also has infection in his hand where he was branded. And unfortunately, the upper part of his left ear will have to be removed. The infection has turned gangrenous and could infect the bloodstream.”

“Please tell me that’s all…” Gabriel whispered.

“Once he has stabilized, we will operate on his arm. The dislocation of his shoulder has likely stretched his tendons, and his arm will not be usable until that is fixed. And, I have no proof of this, but I think he may have vocal nodules, little growths on his vocal chords that prevent him from speaking. This is usually caused by excessive screaming.”

“Can I see him?”

Dr. Boucher sighed again, and rested a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Mr. Agreste, I can’t let you see your son right now. And it’s with a heavy heart I tell you…he may not survive the night. He lost a lot of blood.”

A sob broke out of the man. “But you gave him a transfusion! He has enough blood now!”

“Yes, but he’s not getting enough oxygen to his body! We’ve introduced a ventilator, but there’s not much else we can do with the pneumonia and nodules.” He swallowed. “It’s up to Adrien now.”

The room was silent as Nino embraced Alya, Tom held his wife, and misery choked Gabriel.

“I’m so sorry I couldn’t give you more good news, but I wanted to provide an update as soon as I could. I have to go back now. We’re beginning Adrien’s rib fixation.”

No one tried to stop him.

He nodded once, and left the room.

Gabriel didn’t move, couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. He was suffocating. And he was all alone. This was when he really needed his wife. She deserved to know what was happening. But there was no way, in good conscience he could tell her. Not after all he did to her.

“Mr. Agreste?” A tiny voice spoke up.

Gabriel raised his eyes to a little red kwami, looking at him with so much pity he could drown in it.

“I’m Tikki, Marinette’s kwami.” She introduced, pleasantly.

He looked away from her.

“You know, Adrien’s really strong. And he really loves Marinette, so I don’t think he’d give up on her.”

“Why are you talking to me?” It was just a curious question, but came out so harshly in his voice. “Don’t you know who I am?”

She blinked. “You’re Hawkmoth.”

His lip twitched in disgust.

“But you’re also Adrien’s father, and Marinette’s favorite fashion designer.”

“I’m also responsible for this.” He spat. “If not for me, then they wouldn’t—“

“Perhaps not.” Said Tikki, wisely. “But it could have been someone else. Someone who would have been tortured and killed. They wouldn’t have been rescued, and the woman wouldn’t have been caught. She would keep on hurting people. No matter what you’ve told yourself, or what others may have said…this isn’t your fault. It’s Salo’s.”

He shook his head. “Regardless, I’ve still hurt so many people. I’ve hurt my son! Everything would have been better without me.”

“Really? Because…without you, I would have never met Marinette. And Plagg would have never met Adrien. And he’ll never admit it, but Adrien’s his favorite wielder.”

Gabriel just stared at her and listened.

“Without you, people would have never gotten to experience the thrill of superheroes. Adrien and Marinette wouldn’t have gotten to be superheroes. We keep focusing on the trials they had to endure, but not the joys they felt. Marinette’s boost in confidence, Adrien’s freedom to let loose. Paris wouldn’t have a reason to fight for positivity…And Ladybug and Chat Noir would have never become friends.”

“Marinette and Adrien know each other from school.” He argued.

“But the unwavering trust, the absolute devotion, that came from their bond as heroes. Not from being classmates.”

Gabriel hugged his stomach with one arm, as a hand ran through his already wild hair. He chanced a glance to the other side of the room, to see everyone staring at him.

He swallowed. “I have to turn myself in. I have to go to prison.”

“No, don’t.” Said Sabine, standing to walk over to him. “Hawkmoth is retired. He saved them, and that’s enough for me.”

His eyebrows raised. “Are you sure?”

“I know you want to do the right thing, Gabriel. But think of Adrien. He’ll need all the love and support he can get. I know Tom loves him like a son, but there’s no replacement for a father.”

Gabriel hunched his shoulders.

“And besides, do you really want him dealing with the press of that discovery? Do you think that’s fair in the wake of what’s happened?”

He scowled. “No. That’s not fair to him at all.”

“Then, here’s the deal.” She sat in the chair next to him, and made herself look professional. “You are going to get your act together. You’re going to be better. You’re going to be a dad for that boy. You’re going to get therapy and leave the past in the dust. Do we have an agreement?” She held out her hand.

Gabriel inhaled deeply, sitting up. He combed his hair back. “It won’t be easy. But I’ll do my best. In return, I ask that you call me out if you see me slipping into previous behaviors.”

“Oh, I promise I will.”

“Then we have a deal.”

And they shook on it.      

[stolligaseptember]

With love comes a great waterfall

Gran quickly rapped her across the nose, like she had done when Zephyr was still just a little girl. “You wipe that frown off of your face, Zephyr Haddock. It’s not becoming of a Chief to cry over a life well lived."

Or; kind of a companion piece to Steady throne.

On AO3.

There were no dragons waiting for them on the rocky cliffs leading into the Hidden World.

Man had only ventured into the land of dragons once in recorded history, which had occurred during the height of summer, during which its temperate had been moderate to balmy. There was no way of telling what kind of climate the Hidden World kept in the long term, but if it was even just the tiniest bit warmer than the biting chill of Man’s world above, then there was no wonder that they hid.

Their ship swayed in its endeavour of trying to keep itself steady against the pull of the water, and Zephyr knew that she would only get one shot at this. Nuffink cursed lowly somewhere behind her as the ship gave one more violent lurch as it fought against the stream, and Zephyr knew that was her cue.

Allowing herself to only take a breath to steel herself, she jumped over the gunwale and landed as safely as she could on the uneven and narrow rocks ahead of them. Turning around again as quickly as she dared, she then grabbed a hold of the ship’s stern and pushed it as hard as she was capable of, sending it out into the open sea again.

Trusting her brother to keep her steady.

Feeling the draft of the massive waterfall at her back, and hearing nothing else but the deafening roar of it, she slowly turned around to face it. Trying not to be overwhelmed by the sheer size of it and being careful of where she placed her feet on the wet rock, she forced herself to be calm and steady, so as to not be dragged into the rushing water and into its endless depths below. Because even if she would survive the fall, she would have no way of getting out again.

As much as she loved dragons, she was quite fond of Man’s world too.

Inching closer to the fall only in order to grab a hold of one of the cliffs that jutted up from it in order to steady herself, she was suddenly forced to face just how idiotic this idea had been. This was why dad was not supposed to leave her unsupervised.

Stupid, stupid, stupid. So she had gotten them to the Hidden World, but there were no dragons waiting for them, so now what? It wasn’t like she could just knock-

A familiar pair of blue eyes suddenly stared up at her.

“Hey, boy,” she whispered as she held out her hand towards the dragon that had just peeked out from behind the cliff. The dragon growled low in his belly as he inspected her with slitted eyes, but Zephyr just continued to hold her hand still, allowing the dragon to get a scent of her. And surely enough, the thin slits of suspicion quickly widened with recognition, and Zephyr’s hand was soon covered in Night Light slobber. “No, no, Spots, no, down boy, I’m not here to play.”

Spots quickly retreated, his ears flattening down along his head with those blue eyes staring up at her with a confused expression. (And yes, Zephyr may have named a spotted dragon Spots, but she had also been 7 and been quite overwhelmed at the time. Her dad had also named the feared Night Fury, King of all dragons, Toothless though, so.) Zephyr kneeled down on the wet rock, instantly feeling a little more at ease with a dragon by her side, and returned the slobber favor by scratching the Night Light between his eyes.

Spots hummed low in approval, but cocked his head to the side in continued confusion. If she hadn’t come to play, then what had she come for?

Zephyr tried to swallow down the lump in her throat that had been her constant companion the last couple of weeks.

“Will you,” she started, her voice breaking. Running her hands over Spot’s smooth scales, she allowed his presence to fortify her. “Will you get Cloudjumper for us? It’s- It’s gran.”

Spots cocked his head to the other side, his eyes narrowing as he thought. Zephyr ran her hands down the sides of his face, digging her nails below the scales behind his jaw, willing him to understand. “Cloudjumper?”

Spots thought for another few seconds, before he suddenly perked up, his tail swooshing and his ears flapping. He quickly licked Zephyr’s cheek, and then he had taken off up into the air, only to swiftly dive down into the opening of the Hidden World again.

“Good boy!” she called after him, daring to lean just a little bit over the roaring waterfall.

Turning around to face the sea again, realizing just how destitute her situation on the rocks were once she was all alone again, she gestured that their mission was halfway to being a success.

The wait for Spots to return was torturously slow, with nothing but the rush of the waterfall to keep her company. Spots was a smart dragon, but he had never been used to following human commands the way his father had, so there were really no assurances that he would return, or what he would return with if he did.

Still Nuffink brought the ship closer again, daring to come closer than when Zephyr had first disembarked, having that unwavering faith that they had always had in their friend. And then they helped each other getting their grandmother safely onto the wet cliffs beneath them.

Nuffink had found a way to somehow secure the ship against the cliffs, resisting the constant pull of the water. It was still far from a steady docking though, the ship groaning and shuddering against the sharp edges of the rock.

Nuffink who always prided himself on never abusing a ship the way Zephyr did.

“Gran, careful,” Zephyr warned as she grabbed a firmer hold of her gran’s arm, steadying her just before she was about to slip on a patch of wet rock. Nuffink had reached out from where he was still standing on the gunwale, securing her stance from behind.

Gran just tutted as she found her footing again. “Oh, would you two stop fussing. What do I got to live for?”

Zephyr exchanged a quick look with her brother, needing the reminder that she wasn’t the only one who felt so… Helpless. She had not yet gotten used to the way gran had just accepted this all, and so quickly.

But gran quickly rapped her across the nose, like she had done when Zephyr was still just a little girl. “You wipe that frown off of your face, Zephyr Haddock. It’s not becoming of a Chief to cry over a life well lived.”

Zephyr accepted that as the reprimand it was, and once again tried to swallow down the persistent lump in her throat. “Yes, ma’am.”

Gran just smiled at her, before squeezing the hand she had wrapped over Zephyr’s shoulders a little tighter. “It’s okay, m’girl.”

Zephyr wasn’t really sure what that was really referring to, would probably not know how to reply even if she did anyway, and just focused on getting them safely onto the scraggly cliffs instead. Gran’s staff rattled against the rocks as they slowly made their way to the middle of the cliff, as safe as they could come from both the depths of the ocean and the height of the waterfall.

Spots’ head suddenly popped up over the cliff side again by the time Zephyr had made sure that gran was standing steadily, grinning proudly at them. Because surely enough, not long after he was followed by the sharp orange edges of a long and long lost friend.

Cloudjumper took his time rising over the edge, inspecting gran with old, wise eyes as he did. And those were definitely tears in gran’s own eyes as she watched him rise.

“Hello, you vicious beast.”

Gran let go of Zephyr after that. Suddenly moving faster than Zephyr thought her still capable of, she hobbled her way to the edge of the cliff before Zephyr had the chance to halt her, her staff rattling along until it hit one of Cloudjumper’s feet. Cloudjumper was quick to support her withering posture, and gran molded herself to him like she had spent her entire life doing nothing else.

Cloudjumper gave out a high-pitched, appreciative sound, and gran laughed as brightly as Zephyr had not heard in years.

Cloudjumper also flapped his tail and wriggled slightly under gran’s touch, causing her to laugh impossibly brighter.

“Oh, no, no, no, these poor bones are far too old to fly by now, my friend,” she said as she stroked him over his sharp nose. “I just wanted to see you one last time.”

Cloudjumper tilted his head in puzzlement, but gran just continued to smile that appeasing smile of hers, running her hands over his sharp features. “Oh, I’ve got so much to tell you. I’ve got more little ones on the way, three of them this time!” she said, and even from a distance Zephyr could see that her eyes shone with that proud light that they always did while on this certain topic.

It had felt a little weird, heading off to the Hidden World without their parents. But dad was halfway across the world, on one of Zephyr’s consular journeys, and wasn’t set to be back for at least another two weeks. And mom had volunteered to stay back on Berk with the very, very pregnant Inga. Li-Lee had declared that she was carrying triplets, and if there was one thing that they were all certain of, it was that there was definitely more than just one Hooligan kicking around in that big belly of hers.

Nuffink had been torn between not wanting to leave his wife’s side and the fact that they would most likely never succeed in their mission of getting gran to the Hidden World in the middle of the frost without their most experienced sailor. In the end the inescapable reality that gran would most likely not hang on long enough to see the triplets’ birth anyway had decided the conflict for him.

“You’ll look after them for me, won’t you?” gran whispered in a voice low enough that Zephyr felt it hadn’t been meant for her ears, her hands settling along Cloudjumper’s wide jaw.

Turning around, careful not to trip over her own feet or the wet rock, she retreated as far as she was able to the other side of the cliff. Letting them have their moment that they both deserved.

Spots was quick in attaching himself to her side again, and Zephyr was glad for his comforting presence, busying herself with scratching him behind the ears as she watched Nuffink struggle to find a way to steady the boat against the cliffs. They shared the same strain of obstinacy though, and she had no doubt that just given enough time he would find a way to succeed.

Her babe brother was just 27 years old, but he would most likely be able to challenge Njord himself for the title of master of the seas, and probably have a chance of coming out of it as champion.

Spots had flopped onto his back, obviously demanding to be scratched on his big, round, and white belly, and Zephyr had never been able to deny him much of anything, when she was suddenly surprised at the light nudge on her left shoulder. Turning around, she was less surprised to find a pair of bright and intelligent eyes staring at her.

She smiled as she reached out to rest her hand on his snout. “Sorry Toothless, no dad this time. This was- Kind of last minute.”

Toothless’ round green eyes shifted to the other edge of the cliff, to where gran and Cloudjumper were seemingly just holding each other by now. He made a hurmping, questioning sound, and Zephyr felt her heart contract. “Yeah, she. She doesn’t have long left.”

Toothless nudged at her hand, and then up the length of her arm, and Zephyr allowed him to wrap it around his neck. She was grateful for his comforting warmth. “But it’s okay. She’s going to see grandpa.”

Wrapping herself tighter around Toothless, burrowing her face in his smooth, wam scales, she forced herself to breathe deeply. Gran was right. There was no point in crying for a life well lived.

Holding onto Toothless until her breathing steadied, and until her eyes weren’t stinging so harshly, she squeezed him one last time before sniffing and straightening.

“But speaking of grandpa,” she said, unable to keep herself from smiling as she turned to where Nuffink had just lifted Stoick down onto the uneven rocks and quickly climbed out after him, leaving the ship in his shipmates perfectly capable hands now that the ship was resting stubbornly against the cliffs. “Stoick!” she called, gesturing to the little boy clutching onto his dad’s hand.

Toothless made another hurmping, questioning sound from deep in his belly, sounding a little more panicked and a lot more confused this time around. Zephyr just smiled at him, and patted him on the side one last time before she pushed herself up onto her feet again in order to walk over and crouch down to her nephew’s level.

“C’mon, Stoick, it’s okay.”

Stoick cast a frightened look up at his dad, but didn’t seem reassured when Nuffink just smiled down at him and urged him on. Zephyr let him take his time walking over to her, and he threw his tiny little arms around her neck as soon as he came close enough, wanting her to shield him from the hunkering beast behind them.

Zephyr hugged him tight, but rose to her full height as soon as he’d stopped shivering. Walking over to Toothless again, she let him hide in the crook of her neck, and ran her hand over the back of his head.

“Stoick, this is Toothless. Remember Toothless? Like grandpa used to tell you about?”

Stoick peeked out of his hiding spot only long enough to get a fleeting glance of the big black bulk in front of them, and then promptly disappeared behind the curtain of her hair again. Toothless cocked his head to the side as he watched them, and Zephyr had to resist the urge to laugh.

“It’s okay, Stoick, remember? The dragons are our friends.” The little boy made a sound against her neck that sounded an awful a lot like he didn’t believe her. This time Zephyr did laugh. Prying the tiny little fingers away from her neck, she nudged at him for long enough that he eventually turned half an eye in Toothless’ direction. “It’s okay. He’s not going to hurt you. I promise.

“Just hold your hand out like this,” she instructed him, like her dad had done so many years before. “And then you let him come to you.”

She could tell Stoick was scared, she would probably even say terrified; she could feel his little heart hammering away against her shoulder. But Zephyr could also remember the fear of meeting Toothless, The Unholy Offspring of Lightning and Death Itself, for the first time, and how all that fear had been worth it in the end.

They were Haddocks, and they didn’t let fear rule their lives.

Toothless’ eyes skipped in between her and Stoick a few times, obviously confused. But he could probably still tell that he was a Haddock, and all Haddocks were friends after all, and in the end he didn’t hesitate before placing his nose in Stoick’s tiny palm.

Stoick gasped once he felt the warm scales under his fingers, his head immediately whipping out from where it had been hiding in Zephyr’s neck. And Zephyr could only grin at the way he demanded to be able to pet the big “dagon” again.

Haddocks were friends indeed, but they also had a bit of an obsession.

Zephyr instructed him how to be careful, constantly vigilant of the edge of the cliff and the long drop below, but it wasn’t long before the toddler was shrieking in delight as he hung from the feared Night Fury’s ears. Toothless didn’t seem to mind though, and just gave Nuffink a curious look as he walked over.

Nuffink smiled as he reached out to pry tiny and insistent fingers from his old friend, making sure to give him a scratch for his troubles. “Hey, bud.”

Toothless made that hurmping, questioning sound again, this time with a significant look down at Stoick. Nuffink barely had time to pry his fingers away from Toothless’ ears and put him down on his feet again before he had found a way to poke and tug interestedly at the leathery wings folded against Toothless’ side. He was barely any younger than Nuffink himself had been when he had first met Toothless.

“Yeah,” Nuffink said, smiling wider, cupping his hands around Toothless’ face. “Yeah, he’s mine. Time really flies, huh?”

Toothless made a sound that sounded like he agreed, and Zephyr smiled as Spots shuffled his way under her hand again, demanding the attention she had neglected him for far too long.

Stoick was a curious mixture of his many heritages; he had his grandmother’s nose, and the dark mop of hair of his mom. But he had inherited his dad’s and aunt’s and grandfather’s lopsided grin, and his eyes were slowly paling into the famed Haddock green.

And Toothless was studying him intently as Nuffink showed him how to properly scratch the King of Dragons under his chin.

“We’ll come back in the summer,” Nuffink said to the dragon humming in contentment. “And bring dad with us.”

Toothless’ eyes drifted off gran and Cloudjumper again, before he made a sad sound and bumped his snout into Stoick’s head, much to the little boy’s delight. Nuffink just smiled, and scratched him between the ears again. “She’ll be fine.”

As if on cue, that was when the old dragon rider in question finally released her steady hold of her dragon. The Stormcutter didn’t seem pleased with the prospect of being left alone again at all, his head hanging low, but he slowly backed away as his rider started hobbling her way over to them.

“Well, that’s it darlings! Time to go!”

“Gran!” Zephyr called, her fingers dug deep under Spots’ scales. “We can stay a little longer!”

“Oh, no, no, no,” gran called back, making her way to the ship, as if she would be able to make it back in unassisted. If Zephyr and her brother had inherited their obstinate streak from where she thought they had, then she probably would, one way or another. “No need for that now!”

And looking over at Cloudjumper, with his head hung low and with his large, wise eyes looking after his rider the way Zephyr imagined someone looked after a long lost love, it also looked like closure.

Leaning down to rest her forehead against Spots’ own, she couldn’t stop the sigh that escaped her lips. She had learnt at a very young age that there was never any use arguing with her gran. “Goodbye, for now.”

Nuffink smiled, but it was with that sad glint in his eyes that he always got, as he rose and hitched Stoick up onto his hip. “We’ll be back with dad in the summer, don’t you worry, big guy.”

“Dagon,” Stoick said, flapping his hand so fiercely that his dad had to bend down to let him pet Toothless one final time.

“We’ll see them again,” Nuffink promised, and pressed a kiss to his son’s temple once he started to whine. Scratching Toothless between the ears one last time, he then hurried over to the edge of the cliff and to where their gran was currently trying to hop into the ship despite her bad legs, all while trying to soothe a crying toddler.

Zephyr watched them as Nuffink handed over Stoick to one of the shipmates in order to assist gran instead, and then turned back to the other set of father and son. Scratching them both behind the ears, she leaned down to kiss Toothless’ cheek. “We will be back with dad in the summer. I promise.”

Toothless made an appreciative sound and Spots licked her hand in farewell, and with that Zephyr set after her wayward family.

Most of them had been keeping vigil for several days. Inga had been forced to excuse herself, the delivery creeping closer with every hour that passed. Li-Lee had set up a semi-permanent camp of sorts among the Haddocks’, keeping an eye on both the life that was about to flicker out, and the lives just about to catch aflame.

It had been weird, standing on the threshold of life and death. Zephyr was glad that she had been surrounded by her family; her mom’s steady hand nestled into her own, her brother’s comforting warmth against her side, the soothing rhythm of her nephew’s snoring the little time she allowed herself to rest. The reminder that, as fickle and unpredictable as life could be, there were still some things as steady as the heartbeat in her own chest.

Gran had slept through most of it, her breathing shallow but persistent. She hadn’t been out of bed for over a week now, and had lost the strength to eat some days ago. Li-Lee had said that it was a miracle that she hadn’t moved on already, that the Norns hadn’t swept her away. She should have known that it took more than that before a Haddock gave up their right to define their own fate.

Dad was set to return any day now, and Zephyr would be damned if gran passed on without getting to say her most important goodbye.

It had been late on Thor’s day, Nuffink having just returned from putting Stoick to bed and checking up on Inga, Zephyr half asleep against her mom’s side, when there was a distinct set of footsteps on the staircase. Zephyr barely had time to blink herself into awareness before the heavy thunk of both leather and metal had made its way into the bedroom.

“Mom?”

There were already tears threatening to spill over her dad’s eyes, and his hair was even more unruly than it usually was. His chest was heaving, and Zephyr couldn’t tell if it was from the exertion of having run across the village to get to them as quickly as possible, or from something else entirely.

“Oh, don’t you worry about me, Hiccup,” gran said, like she always had, and Zephyr couldn’t remember is she had been awake of if she had woken up simply by the unconscious knowledge of her son’s presence. Gran reached a shaking hand out to him, and dad immediately walked over to clutch onto it, slowly sinking down on the stool next to her bed. “It was about time that I went to visit your father.”

Zephyr couldn’t tell what kind of reaction her dad had to that, seeing how he hid his face by pressing it into gran’s hand and how he stayed hidden there for a long time. After having inhaled deeply, and pressed a quick kiss to the back the hand he was holding, he finally looked up at her again. And it was with a shaking but sincere, oh so sincere, smile. “Tell him hi from me.”

Gran’s smile in turn was secure and steady, but she ran a weak thumb over his knuckles. “He’s going to be so proud of you,” she said, squeezing dad’s hand as tightly as she was capable of. Then she shifted her gaze to the rest of them hiding in the shadows. “Of all of you.”

Mom’s arm wrapped tighter around Zephyr’s shoulders, and Nuffink’s head came to rest against her knees, and she smiled at her gran as brightly as she knew how. The corners of gran’s eyes wrinkled before they closed, her content smile staying stubbornly on her lips.

Dad held gran’s hand all the way to her last breath.

“May the Valkyries welcome you, and lead you through Odin’s great battlefield.”

She had been placed in one of Zephyr’s old banged up boats. She had her staff in hand, like she had wished, and her old warrior’s mask had been placed on top of her pyre. The whole village had gathered to see her slow descent into the rocky waves below, to wish her safe travels.

It had been a funeral worthy of a former Chieftess; of a hero and a matriarch.

Dad had nocked the first arrow, as Zephyr knew he had also done so many years ago, when they had all been forced to bid farewell to grandpa. His aim had been as unwavering as his voice as he’d proclaimed gran’s final ode, and as soon as they’d seen his projectile take hold, it had been followed by a volley of others, the ship they had released to the sea quickly caught in flames.

Zephyr watched the blaze slowly disappear into the sunset, and had been helpless to think of another hero’s final journey. As sourly bittersweet those memories were, she was content in her knowledge that they would at least have each other. They all would.

And hugging her family close as they watched the flames be engulfed by the fire that was caught on the edge of her world, she didn’t cry. There was a chorus of restless cries on that horizon, impatient to pick up where their ancestors had left off.

The sun set and then it rose again, and life continued to move on.