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Dangerous Games	By : Cat_Eyes Category: +M through R > Miraculous LadyBug Views: 11603 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Miraculous Ladybug. Miraculous Ladybug is the intellectual property of Thomas Astruc and released by Zag studios. No profit was made writing this story.

Chapter List
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Despite Adrien’s misgivings, Marinette opted to go to work on Monday. She claimed she needed something to take her mind off of Nathaniel and the entire evening before, so he’d acquiesced, but he still worried.
It had shocked them both to see Nathaniel under the hood, his eyes wide and manic as he beseeched her to realise her love, and it was chilling to think someone he’d known for years had been so dangerously unhinged. But then too, he’d never realised his own father was Papillon.
Marinette had been withdrawn, heading to bed the moment they’d returned from the police station. Adrien had let her be, understanding her need to process. They had also been utterly exhausted. It had been almost two in the morning when Luka had phoned the police, and later still after they’d arrived home again.
When he had joined Marinette in bed, she immediately curled up with him, but still didn’t speak. So, he’d held her close until they fell asleep, hoping the rest would do them both some good.
Unfortunately, Marinette was still silent that morning, only saying she needed to work for the distraction it provided.
Adrien headed to work as well, wondering what he’d find when he got there.
To his surprise, everything was almost normal. Nathalie had come in to inform the employees that Gabriel was taking sick leave for an undisclosed amount of time. She had then turned to Adrien, and handed in her resignation in the privacy of Gabriel’s office.
He took the paper wordlessly, too shocked to respond properly. He watched her walk away, her posture rigid as the door swung shut behind her.
He sat in Gabriel’s too quiet office for a long time after that, his mind blank.
Still confounded, he cajoled Marinette out of her studio for lunch, heedless of the stares and whispering as he led her by the hand past her colleagues. They could go into workplace damage control later, though he didn’t see the point. He had plans to wed Marinette one day, so the sooner the employees came to terms with their relationship, the better.
The more pertinent issue would be Gabriel, if he ever decided to return to work. Adrien was no longer sure of his place in his father’s enterprise, and since Nathalie was no longer there, there was no one around to pick up all the loose threads that came with a business as extensive as Gabriel’s fashion empire. She had left everything well organised, and with proper instructions neatly laid out in a folder, but Adrien had no idea where to begin. Nathalie’s position managed many intricate details he was ignorant to. He supposed the next logical step would be to hire a replacement.
Except, Adrien was sure the entire label would crash and burn within the week. Their great visionary, Gabriel Agreste, was not in attendance, and his former right hand had quit, leaving Adrien in the lurch. It was enough to give him a headache, the fierce stabbing hitting him across his temples and hairline.
However, he could not mention his worries to Marinette. She no longer saw Gabriel as her idol, and probably wouldn’t care if his empire fell. She had always dreamed of having her own label one day, and with Gabriel’s downfall, there was one less obstacle in her way.
They shared a quiet lunch at a nearby café, barely speaking to each other. It was awkward, but not uncomfortable. Adrien suspected the awkwardness was entirely one-sided, as Marinette looked sleepy and distracted while she absently doodled on a napkin. What initially began as a skirt morphed into a cartoonish cat. He smiled at her whimsy as she added a ladybeetle to her picture. On their way back to Gabriel’s, Adrien took hold of Marinette’s hand, and didn’t let go until they arrived back at her studio.
Adrien pushed through the rest of the afternoon, sorting out the files and trying to read up on all the things Gabriel had not yet taught him. He was assisted by a secretary who had been under Nathalie’s direct authority, her help greatly appreciated as she winnowed out the lesser jobs, and made the whole ordeal seem more manageable.

After he and Marinette arrived home that afternoon, they were greeted by the sounds of construction finishing up for the day. Their landlord told them repairs had finally been given the green light, now that the stalker had been apprehended, thus ending the investigation.
He was so pleased with Adrien’s proactive approach, he offered a generous sum for the permanent placement of the security cameras. Adrien accepted, and shook the man’s hand.
He then told Adrien and Marinette that repairs would take several weeks, perhaps longer, with an apologetic expression. Adrien assured him they were fine with her staying in his apartment, Marinette nodding automatically. He wasn’t sure how much of the conversation she heard, but he supposed he could fill her in, and ask her opinions later.
‘Maybe we should just add your name to my lease,’ he suggested over dinner. Neither of them felt like cooking, so they spoiled themselves by having a pizza delivered.
Marinette curled her legs up, pressing into him where they sat on the couch in front of the tv, pizza slice in hand. ‘Would that be all right?’
He smiled, relieved to have gotten a response. ‘Absolutely. We can call it practice for when we’re married.’
‘You really like that idea, don’t you?’
‘Of course. Don’t you?’
‘Yeah, it’s just,’ she trailed off, glancing down.
He leaned closer, concerned. ‘What?’
‘It’s just some offhanded comment Alya made. There are no surprises left between us. We’ve shared all of ourselves with each other already. There’s no more to discover. The mystery’s gone. I guess I’m worried you’ll get bored of me soon.’
Adrien shook his head emphatically, wondering if this was what had kept Marinette so subdued.
‘The mystery may be gone, but I’m looking forward to starting a new adventure with you. One where we get to look at houses, sign papers with the same name, choose a pet. I’m especially looking forward to a family. I think that’s the greatest mystery and adventure. As for getting bored of you – how could I? You’re the best thing to ever happen to me. I’ve loved you since the day we met. As long as you never tire of me, I’ll be by your side for ever.’
Marinette smiled up at him, her eyes shimmering. ‘How do you always know what to say?’
‘Because I’m a genius,’ he answered, rubbing his nose against hers.
Marinette began to relax after that. She smiled again, and gently teased him for his silly behaviour.
Adrien released a quiet sigh of relief. He’d help her look for a professional to speak with soon. He had a feeling they’d both need the help before long.

The following day, Ladybug and Chat Noir left a small, but significant note on the Ladyblog confirming Papillon’s defeat. The news exploded, but the heroes remained elusive, citing the need for rest and privacy while they recovered. Many thought it was a hoax, but Alya stepped in and vouched for the statement’s authenticity.
She enjoyed her fifteen minutes of fame, many news programs begging for an interview and asking if she knew the identities of the superheroes. Alya kept their secrets, and refused to answer prying questions. In the end, no one was any more enlightened than they had been before the interviews.
Nathaniel’s court appearance was scheduled, but Marinette submitted her statement to the police, and was not required to attend court in person and face her tormentor. Adrien also provided a statement, as did Nino, Alya, Tom, and Sabine. None of them wanted to see Nathaniel, so when they were presented with the opportunity to provide their testimonies in private, they took it.
Marinette still feared Nathaniel could reveal her secret identity, but it was clear to Adrien the authorities put little stock in whatever drivel came out of his mouth. He assured her of her safety, but he could tell the fear still ate at her.
To take her mind off the faint possibility, he helped her finish move her things into his apartment. Space heretofore unoccupied was soon filled with Marinette’s possessions. Feminine touches soon brightened up the apartment, and her scent mingled with his.
Some of her things were sent back to her parents’ house, and he shunted some of his own rarely used items back to the manor. There was only the household staff to receive it, though, as Gabriel was still in the hospital after refusing to submit to tests.
Marinette apologised repeatedly for the imposition, but Adrien waved her off, stating compromise and working together were the basic building blocks of a successful relationship. Also, they could reclaim all of their stuff once they bought a bigger house. Marinette laughed at that.
He smiled. It was good to hear her laugh.

A week after they had all given their testimonies, Nino and Alya joined them for Mexican takeout and a movie.
Plagg devoured a quesadilla while Tikki nibbled a biscuit, ignoring the human chatter from their place on the kitchen counter. They conversed in their own language, Plagg spitting cheese across his plate, while Tikki dropped crumbs as she waved her arms about.
‘So, have you decided what you’re going to do about your old man?’ Nino asked.
They all stilled, only the sounds from the tv breaking the uncomfortable silence.
‘I want to try and talk with him,’ Adrien answered, quietly.
He waited, but no vociferous protests sounded against him.
‘We thought you might say that,’ Alya said, indicating Nino where he sat beside her.
Marinette looked up at him from her place on the floor, huddled against his legs. ‘I figured you’d want something like that too. It’s ok, he’s your dad. I think you should give it a shot.’
Alya and Nino voiced their agreement.
Adrien nodded. ‘Thanks, guys.’
‘Have you thought about what you want to say?’ asked Alya.
‘Not really. It’s daunting, you know. I may just end up winging it.’
‘If you need to talk your ideas out, we’re all here, ready to listen,’ Marinette assured him.
Adrien swallowed the sudden lump in his throat. ‘Thanks guys.’
‘You’ve been so reserved lately, I’ve been worried,’ she continued, her voice barely a whisper.
Adrien sighed. ‘I guess, but I’d hoped you hadn’t noticed, since you’ve been rather quiet, too.’
Marinette turned to face him. ‘Of course, I noticed. What kind of girlfriend would I be if I didn’t? I was only quiet because you didn’t seem ready to talk. Will you tell us what’s bothering you now?’
Unable to meet her eyes, he turned away and shrugged. ‘Everything, I guess. Father’s identity, and his prolonged stay in the hospital. Nathalie’s resignation, and the running of the business. The decisions I’ll have to make about the mansion, and Mother,’ his voice faded into silence.
Nino was watching them both with a steady gaze. ‘Just take it one day at a time, Man. There’s no sense working yourself up over things that may not even happen.’
‘You two are hopeless,’ Alya muttered with a shake of her head, though a small smile belied her true feelings. ‘Fancy both of you being quiet, trying to respect each other’s feelings, at the same time. All you’ve managed to do is make the other worry more.’
Adrien rubbed the back of his neck, while redness crawled up Marinette’s ears.
‘We may need to work on our communication,’ he admitted. ‘But, you’re right, Nino. A day at a time.’

That Saturday, Adrien finally worked up the nerve to visit Gabriel. It had been over a week since he’d seen his father, with only regular updates from hospital staff keeping him apprised of Gabriel’s condition. He’d been a difficult patient, and the nurse’s harried tone suggested she was keen to see him leave. Adrien always ended the calls with a rueful shake of his head.
‘Are you sure you don’t want me to come?’ Marinette asked again, worried.
He held her hand close to his chest. ‘Father still doesn’t know you’re Ladybug. I’d like to keep it that way.’
‘What does that have to do with today?’
Adrien hung his head. ‘I don’t want to accidentally reveal something if things get heated. The chances of me slipping will be reduced if you aren’t there. Tell me you understand.’
She released a long breath. ‘I don’t, but if this is what you want, then I won’t argue.’
‘Thank you.’
He kissed her hand, then turned to the door.
His commute to the hospital was tense, and felt like it took far too long. Plagg hid in his breast pocket, like a point of support he greatly appreciated.
He was greeted by the nurse when he approached her station, and was given directions to Gabriel’s private room. He nodded his thanks, and headed in the direction she pointed.
‘Room three zero five. This is it.’
‘You can do it, Kid,’ Plagg muttered.
Adrien sucked in a deep breath and knocked.
‘Enter,’ called an irritated voice.
Gingerly, Adrien pushed the door open, and stood on the threshold, uncertain of his welcome.
Gabriel turned toward him, then cured his lip in distaste. ‘What do you want?’
Adrien wilted. Covering his hurt, he replied, ‘hello to you, too.’
‘I don’t want your sass, Boy,’ Gabriel bit. ‘Haven’t I suffered enough?’
‘The house still stands, Father,’ Adrien told him, determinedly moving past his ornery behaviour. ‘I don’t know if anyone’s informed you of that yet, but Ladybug’s Cure restored everything.’
‘Not everything,’ Gabriel corrected him. ‘Emilie is still dead.’
Adrien cleared his throat, ignoring the bitterness in Gabriel’s tone.
‘I’d like you to tell me how to access the underground chamber. I want to give Mother a proper burial.’
Gabriel’s breath hissed as he sucked air in between his teeth. ‘No, you will not condemn her to the cold, filthy ground. I won’t have it.’
‘Then I’ll have her cremated,’ Adrien countered.
‘No,’ Gabriel repeated, vehemently. ‘She’s still there. I can bring her back.’
‘Stop it,’ Adrien interrupted, his voice rising. ‘You lost. She’s gone, and you can’t bring her back. Give up this deluded fantasy and let me put her to rest. Doesn’t she deserve that final dignity?’
Gabriel sagged, his frame shrinking before Adrien’s eyes. In that moment, he realised how thin Gabriel had become, how sallow his skin was, and how lank his hair was. Gabriel looked old and sickly, fragile in a way Adrien had never thought of before.
‘Father?’ he whispered, alarmed.
Gabriel’s breath exhaled in a whoosh. ‘Fine,’ he relented, ungraciously.
He snapped out the directions to Emilie’s tomb, while Adrien frantically scribbled the instructions down on hospital stationery.
‘There’s one other thing,’ Adrien said, tentatively.
‘What?’
‘Nathalie resigned. She no longer works as your assistant.’
Gabriel snorted derisively. ‘She was always an astute woman.’
‘What do you mean?’
Gabriel regarded Adrien with a withering stare. ‘Don’t be obtuse, boy. After that woman’s betrayal, you can’t seriously think I would have kept her on. She would have been fired immediately, if I’d been there.’
‘That’s just like you,’ Plagg growled from Adrien’s pocket.
He flew out to stare at Gabriel coldly, his arms crossed. ‘The moment someone disagrees with you, they do something you don’t like, you get rid of them. Other people mean nothing to you, nothing at all. You’re a cold-hearted brute, and you deserve to be miserable.’
‘Plagg,’ Adrien exclaimed, shocked.
But Plagg remained unrepentant. ‘No, he needs to hear this. You treated Adrien like an employee, as if he were replaceable, ever since he was a kid. You were never there when he needed you, only when you were barking orders or criticising. The Kid is a damned better person than you’ll ever be, and you don’t deserve him. He sure as hell doesn’t deserve a heartless bastard like you for a father. You certainly never deserved Nooroo, and vice versa. If you had any decency left, you’d bequeath Adrien your fortune, your business, and go spend the rest of your miserable life on a deserted island somewhere.’
‘I don’t need to be lectured to by this malformed creature,’ Gabriel seethed, his face turning red.
The room suddenly turned black, despite the sunlight streaming in through the windows. It grew colder, and the only thing visible was Plagg’s gleaming eyes as they grew bigger and bigger.
‘Listen, mortal,’ Plagg said, his voice growing impossibly deeper, with sepulchral tones. ‘Do not disrespect me or mine again. We are far older, and more powerful, than you can comprehend. You may have mastered Nooroo once, but I will not allow you speak to me with such contempt. Do so again, and I will destroy you.’
There was a loud, drawn out tearing sound, punctuating Plagg’s threat with the promise of unfathomable violence and pain.
The light came back gradually. Even when the sun shone unimpeded through the glass, the ominous chill remained. Plagg, back to his usual size, floated above Gabriel’s bed, staring at him.
Gabriel was pale and sweating as he gaped at the claw marks shredding his sheet. He nodded mutely, his breathing short and rapid.
The door opened, a preoccupied nurse shuffling in. She flipped through the papers in a folder while Plagg darted back into Adrien’s pocket.
‘Monsieur Agreste, your visiting time is over.’
Gabriel swallowed audibly, still goggling at his ruined sheets.
The nurse looked up. ‘Goodness me, what have you done?’
As she bustled about, trying to figure out how Gabriel had torn the sheet, Adrien saw himself out as unobtrusively as possible.
‘What did you do?’ he muttered into his lapel as the elevator carried him down to ground level.
Plagg appeared sullen. ‘Us Kwamies still retain all of our ancient powers, and our old forms. We can whip them out when we feel there’s a need, but our true forms are too terrifying for many humans, so it’s not something we do often. I only gave him a glimpse of what I really am. That prick needed the fear of God shoved up him.’
‘The fear of Kwamies, you mean,’ Adrien snickered, slightly manic, as the doors dinged open.
‘That’s what I said,’ Plagg stage-whispered.
Adrien refused to think about the implications of that statement.

‘How did it go?’ asked Marinette when he pushed through the front door.
Adrien sighed as Plagg flew away to join Tikki by the windows.
‘It was a start. He told me how to find the underground chamber, so I can finally begin to look into a funeral for Mother.’
Marinette crooned softly as she wrapped him in a hug. He told her the particulars of his visit as they cuddled on the couch, privately enjoying her awe as he told her of Plagg’s revelation. She gazed at their kwamies from the corner of her eye, looking trepidatious.
‘You don’t think he’d follow through on that threat, do you?’ she whispered.
Adrien raised an eyebrow. ‘It’s Plagg. What do you think?’
Marinette paled and changed the subject.
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Dangerous Games