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Chapter Text

Gabriel Agreste was not a fool whatever anybody may believe. He surely knew what kind of woman Emilie Graham de Vanily was. She and her sister were kind of gossip girls in the upper community, and they were a perfect target for his goals.

Fortunately Amelie was already married and pregnant with a boy. She was the more eccentric of the two, and Emilie had a more kinder character.

However, both were vicious if they wanted to be.

Amelie more than Emilie. The latter was a sneak and a good actress, but had a naive view of the world and tried to be kind if she wanted to be. That’s why she was a perfect partner for Gabriel, and as an emerging fashion designer he could see the potential within her body and personality. Her connection, her aura and her prestige was too valuable to him to miss the opportunity.

So Gabriel began his courting, and before he knew they were already ‘happily’ engaged. He was already building his own powerhouse with the help of Audrey Bourgeois who recently got married to a politician.

So he didn’t quite pay attention when Emilie and her branch planned her bachelorette party. It didn’t even register in his mind that they went somewhere until their apartment was too quiet at the weekend.

He got some SMS and MMS from Amelie and Audrey, but nothing from his fiance. And it was indeed a surprise. Emilie was always really communicative if he could say that. There was never a day when she didn’t send him something foolish or absurd, but now… Now she didn’t even call him at all.

Something was up. He was sure.

Nevertheless he didn’t quite find out anything until long after the wedding. Of course they spend the wedding night traditionally against every will of Gabriel. He didn’t hate intimacy, however he hated everything about his wife’s hunger.

They were married about four weeks when the symptoms started showing. Emilie hurried to the bathroom every half an hour. Her taste in food turned upside and down.

And five weeks after the wedding they sat down before a doctor and got the news.

She was pregnant.

At first Gabriel wasn’t against it. A heir was necessary and if it came sooner than later, he didn’t complain. However Emilie was weird about it. Like she wasn’t exactly happy about it, and on some level he understood it. Her body will change and she will need to care about someone else too.

Even so Gabriel also had some other ideas about the sudden mood change. Audrey and Amelie were too smug for his likeness and they asked about the pregnancy in every opportunity.

So he did the only thing when the child finally was born.

A DNA test.

Chapter Text

Nino felt like a panther’s shit which dried out in the middle of the desert. (And right now he didn’t even fish for points from his girlfriend’s dad for the analogy.) Two days ago Alya called him crying as she tried to explain what happened. He barely understood something between sobs. Then he sat in a frozen state with his family as the TV news reported about the sentimonster and the Gotham heroes.

He tried to call Adrien or text him to ask him about it, but the first one always went to voicemail, and the other one was unread all weekend. He was worried for his friend.

And now he hesitantly stood in front of the school just like many other students, in fact they gossiped about the Rossi-incident - as they came to call. Nino felt shame, guilt and disappointment hearing the different stories. He felt them all at once. He recalled how Marinette time and time again tried to say something about Lila. And even Adrien dropped some pointed sentences against the Italian.

Of course, he didn’t listen.

Just like the others.

Just like the teachers, he thought bitterly.

“Hey, Nino!” He was brought back to the stairs and the students. His mind started to realize who spoke to him after his overthinking. The tall boy with a blond hand waved to him in a friendly manner.

“Adrien?” His friend was okay.

“Nino… Something is… Ugh!”

He hugged the blonde model with his full force. For minutes he wasn’t able to let his best friend go, he had to be sure he was alright.

“Nino?” Adrien tentatively pushed him away gently. “Are you alright?” The green eyes were worried for him. For him! Why?

“Am I alright?” He knew his voice was higher than it used to, but his nerves did things with it. “You modelled daily with that… that girl… And I didn’t… didn’t think she was that dangerous. And…”

“Nino!” His friend squeezed his shoulders with a little more force. “Breath!”

And Nino obeyed.

It was hard at first, then his breathing started to slow down and he finally was able to think clearly and not panicking. He nodded, reassuring the model. He nodded again to reassure himself.

“I am sorry!” he said first and foremost, because in his mind it was the most important thing: to apologize to his friends. “I am sorry I didn’t listen to Marinette and didn’t hear you out when you jabbed some holes in her stories. I… I thought a lot of things and… and they are not that important right now… And…”

“It’s okay.” Adrien looked at him with his brightest smile. It was not his model-smile or his polite smile. No, it was vulnerable, but honestly happy. And it was rare, that’s why Nino preferred it more and more.

Nino shook his head resignedly as he looked at the other students. “I… We… the whole class fucked up.”

“No. You all are just kids.” the model told him with a worn-out voice. Nino glanced back at him for moment. He just now saw how tired his friend really was. Like he didn’t sleep for days or… or like he cried a lot.

“You are too kind, dude.” he smiled back weakly as.

“And you are too hard on yourself.”

Chapter Text

Nathalie still felt the impact of using a broken Miraculous, however she didn’t regret that hydra. That girl always danced on her nerves from their first encounter to their last meeting. Lila Rossi was a harpy and she loathed her with every fiber in her body. She kind of understood why the Waynes made that big sensation about those lies, it was a good warning to every gold-digger.

However she didn’t wholly comprehend the reasons for their email. The GABRIEL and the WAYNE Enterprise were not in any kind of relationship. Not in business, nor foundation. So she was indeed quite surprised when that Monday a formal email waited for her from the Waynes.

At first she debated whether to read it or forward it to Gabriel, but after some minutes she decided to read it. It was the safer option, so she could prepare every information when he would learn about it.

And how smart a decision was it.

Nathalie knew about Gabriel’s hatred of the Waynes. It was not a big secret, but she didn’t understand it wholly. Nevertheless she had to work around it before, and because of this email it would be much harder to do her job now.

With experience she opened a new tab where she only placed everything about the Waynes and their businesses. Then listed every pro- and contra so she could move on the opportunities. And lastly, she made a document for every Wayne and their associates.

If she, or rather the GABRIEL will do things right, it could be one of the most profitable contracts in the past five years. Their innovations and capital with Gabriel’s creative mind…

But first, she needed more information.

Mister Fox,

We, in the GABRIEL, appreciate your innovative suggestions between our companies, however before we decide anything too concrete, we, the GABRIEL, would like to get a more detailed plan about the project in question.

Furthermore I will inform our management about the WAYNE Enterprise’s interest in our next meeting, and will forward their answer to you immediately afterward.

Looking forward to working together!

Sincerely:

Nathalie Sancoeur

Executive Personal Assistant of the GABRIEL

[email protected]

She sent the email quite satisfied with herself. She got two or three days before the management has a meeting again. Until then she easily put together a presentation within the project bases and the advantages and disadvantages for the GABRIEL.

She wasn’t afraid of the majority of the board, Nathalie was more worried about her direct boss. Audrey Bourgeois and Amelie Graham de Vanily always were talents for seeing the potential where it was, however Gabriel… Yeah, he is the bigger problem. With his emotional artist mind and hypochondriac behavior, it will be rather difficult to convince him.

Not to mention the attendance of the lawyers who represented Adrien’s share. They always rilled up Gabriel quite easily.

Chapter Text

“A sociopath, again.” Tim Drake moaned loudly as he proofread through Gabriel Agreste’s finished file. It was clear as his coffee mug. The man was reclusive, narcissistic and had habits of child (It’s Adrien.) neglect and endangerment. And those were just the public approach.

It was honestly a miracle how anybody thought that man could be the father of the Adrien Agreste, the sunshine of Paris. Like, the man had more politicians in his hand than the rookie Lex Luthor. And the bald was a genius in that area when he was only teens.

His musing was interrupted with his sibling’s arrival.

“Soooo, what you got, Timmy boy?” Jason dropped himself down next to Tim’s chair.

“Our newest addition has his own tragic story.” Tim answered in resentment just like every time if they met something like this situation. “His only fault is his hair.” he pointed out the bright gold hair raising the mood - his and his brother’s too.

“Yeah.” his brother nodded smugly at the picture. “I was shocked that Brucie was able to make a kid with a blond head.”

“Right?!” Dick also appeared behind his chair loudly with a righteous expression. “And B never let me dye my hair when I was teen. At least Adrien has the cat instincts for this family. Finally I have someone other than Selina to pun.”

“Tt.” Yapp, Damian was also within foots. The gremlin glared at the computer just like them.

“Someone is jealouuuuus.” Jay sang in his irritatingly high voice, then bent down right away as a batarang flew over his head. The little demon didn’t tolerate any commentary about his feelings toward the french teen since they arrived back. It was quite amusing to watch him change colors every one hour as they dropped something related to Adrien.

While his two - relatively more aggressive - brothers fought about their own stupid things, Dick sat down at Jason’s place and went through the file. Tim watched in interest as the most positive person in the family started scowling, then growling in anger within minutes.

The oldest turned to him with a frown. “Does Bruce know?”

Tim shook his head negatively. “I only finished up ten minutes ago, and just proofread it when you all came down.”

His oldest brother hummed as he immersed in his thoughts. Then opened some other files up. “It’s quite interesting how he employed the Rossi girl without any prior experience.”

Tim nodded. “And if you scan the company database you will see there were flags about her behavior. The photographer, the stylists, even Adrien’s bodyguard made a complaint about what she was doing in sets… Or with Adrien.” He pointed at one of the text documents. “Here, their set builder commented how she didn’t even listen to Adrien about letting him go. Or the bruises on his arms.” Tim grabbed his empty coffee mug with a little too much force. “It’s really messed up.”

“Do you think he knew about it?” Dick lowered his voice so the other two didn’t hear his question. Tim leaned closer.

“About what?”

“About not being the biological father.”

Tim’s brain froze up at hearing the assumption. If Gabriel knew about not being the father, then… Then there had to be some proof for some DNA test or something. And that knowledge was kind of hard to take in for Tim. He felt how neglectful parents treat their own blood kid, he was one of that many kids. But if Gabriel knew about not being the father, he was not just neglectful, he was straight cruel.

“Gabriel obviously doesn’t care much about Adrien’s safety expect his value for the company. He is the face, but he doesn’t have any contract. Didn’t get any money, and he let the kid be harassed.” Dick continued his train of thought quietly as he pointed out some of the opened documents, barely disguised his own rage. “Gabriel used, and is still using our little brother like some puppet to his own success.”

Tim gulped at Dick’s face. Of course, he also was disgusted, but he almost felt sorry for the Agreste for what waited for him. Dick rarely was that angry.

Chapter Text

Damian had a not very good day. If he wanted to be honest he also never had a normal good day ever, so he didn’t know what he even expected.

His father, the man with all of the money within the Earth, was so moronic, that he wanted to embarrass Damian in front of the whole snobbish academy, acting as one of the chaperones of that childish party. Like what the hell?! It was not enough to avoid those imbeciles at school but by his father’s acceptance of that chaperone-volunteer he, as Damian-he, had to go to that fucking school dance.

Why?

In his nerves he ran straight through the cave’s Zeta-tube and didn’t stop while he stood in front of that famous Parisian bakery. The kittens in his arm as that day was his babysitting-day.

Of course, he knew it was foolish to go there, but Ladybug was the only one who didn’t treat him as a fussy child. At least last time she didn’t try to be that moronic like his - supposed - brothers. And if he learnt something from Alfred that these kinds of people were rare. Really rare.

However, when he sneaked up to the apartment above that bakery, and opened the girl’s room door… Yeah. Even he had to admit, it was not something he expected that day.

“Damian, right?” His newly found blood sibling couldn’t even look at him as he addressed him. “What… what are you doing here?”

“I was hoping to discuss some matters with your partner - as she is more competent than our adopted brothers, nevertheless I think you are quite lucky.” he said absently as he scanned the very pink and very messed up room.

The other two blushed more intensively. “What… what do you want to discuss?” Dupain-Cheng asked while inviting him to sit down on the - very pink - chaise.

“How do you say to your parents proficiently that you don’t want to attend a childish event?” He gently put down the cat carrier, so he didn’t disturb the sleeping kittens. Damian carefully opened the carrier door and looked in as the two little red fuzzball didn’t move in their rest. He was glad they were already comfortable with him and that they were able to sleep that soundly.

When he turned back to the two humans he saw how they observed him with wide eyes. “What?”

“Those kittens…” His new brother -, Adrien, - smiled broadly. Damian even could bet on he had stars in his eyes. “Do you have animals?”

He nodded. “A dog, a cow, a turkey and now three cats.” he listed proudly. Then he startled as the other boy started jumping up and down and squealed like a five years old.

How infantile.

Next he saw as Dupain-Cheng shook her head absently and watched them with a clear melancholic face. “Rich kids.”

What does that supposed to mean? Damian - of course - knew he was rich, like he was the son of an international assassin and a billionaire, but he didn’t understand the pointed emphasis and the added fondness.

Then suddenly she focused on him completely. “So you want to circumvent your father’s wishes?”

And yes, Damian wanted exactly that… But he was a little afraid of the gleam in the girl’s eyes.

Chapter Text

He almost finished the piece when he heard the door’s cracking. Whoever was it they weren’t that quiet as they wanted to be. He easily could count the steps, then saw the shadow behind him.

Again a rookie.

“What do you want?” he stopped his play when it was obvious the newcomer didn’t make the welcoming move.

“Hmm… You are quite good for your age, kid.” came the hard voice from behind him. He didn’t recognize it, he never heard it before. However whoever was it they thought he was disadvantaged. What a fool.

He lazily started a new theme. It was much slower than earlier and more of background music than the main piece. He let himself lose for a minute before reacting. “I hope you have a good reason to break into my house.” The calm of the piano washed through him as his focus shifted to the intruder more and more.

“They think you have the skills to do this job.” Some file was dropped at his hands on the keys. He, without any emotion, took them and opened the first one. A familiar face looked back at him. Then he promptly went through the others and he absently noted how he knew all of the targets.

A metallic glove showed up in his periphery as it placed a plain white mask on the piano. It was a rather interesting gantlet which - if he remembered correctly, - was used by an ex-enemy of the court. And if those files were accurate about the ex-foe then he should be behind closed doors in one of the many Spyral facilities.

“Deadline?” he asked instead of musing about his uninvited guest.

“The start is next month.” The answer was simple. “However any other date wasn’t specified.”

He hummed. So it needs my full focus.

“Results?” He put the files down, then reorganized the music sheets. He needed another piece to plan his starting steps for this mission.

“100%. A single loss of one of the targets and you failed.” His guest surely grinned, he heard it from his voice. It was quite clear how the other looked down on him. Yes, he was only a teenager, but he was thought to live this life since he was born.

He finally found the perfect piece. “Thank you. You can go.” he dismissed that fool.

The departing steps were quiet, nevertheless he again was able to count them to the door. “I hope we meet again, Felix Graham de Vanily.” And Raptor, the newest talon disappeared from the music room.

Chapter Text

Adrien wasn’t comfortable. Or happy. Or alright. No, he was not. Despite his new girlfriend - who, of course, was the only light in his chaotic life, - he was rather lethargic. Even the little bro-time didn’t help him with Damian.

He was glad they spent some time together and knew each other better, however the other boy was… not funny. It was a shock to him how different they were. While he tried to be open with his emotions after being home-schooled so long, Damian neither smiled or softened with them for hours. He was always on guard and only let himself a little bit gentle with the two kittens.

And Adrien had another shock that week when his father turned up at one of his many lonely breakfasts.

(He couldn’t help himself. Calling him ‘father’ was a habit, but it was starting to feel more and more uncomfortable.)

The man wore a familiar disappointed face which was a usual Thursday in Adrien’s book. He didn’t speak to him while they waited for the food. Then fa…

No, he isn’t my father.

Gabriel began his unmistakable annoyed glances, like when he started staring at him critically and trying to find anything for him to scold Adrien. And after drinking his glass of water, Adrien got his predicted telling of from the man.

“Your performance with Miss Rossi was unacceptable. I hope in the future you will choose a more accomplished partner for your after-school events.”

At first Adrien couldn’t believe what he heard from this man. Was he at fault that this cold control freak was canceled on social media because of his own actions. Or was he the one who asked that harlot to model for GABRIEL? No. And. No.

He stayed silent for a minute, until Gabriel started to berate his real friends too. Of course the man started with Nino, then Alya, and finally Marinette. It’s enough. Adrien in gentle move placed his utensils on the plate and faced his not-father completely.

“And I hope next time you will not look above the complaints from myself or other employees, who all told you more than one time that Miss Lila Rossi is not a good person and she is dangerous.”

He took one more sip. “And I am hopeful you will not pretend that I am one of your loved one, because after your fit with the investigators yesterday, I am ashamed of you.”

“Enjoy your meal, father!” He stood up, finished with this abrupt eating-together. He didn’t even wait the dismissal, just went straight to his room bypassing Nathalie.

The assistant starred him just like Gabriel. Big wide eyes. Like they never saw someone who was capable of talking back. Adiren smirked, maybe Damian’s approach to life is not so bad.

Chapter Text

“What are you doing?” Jason asked, amazed as his two little brothers were able to sit next to each other in a comfortable manner and without a need to kill the other. Replacement and the Gremlin rarely were that civil in the other’s presence, and he didn’t know it was a good or a bad sign.

“Playing.” Timmy offhandedly answered as his eyes sticked to the screen. And indeed they were playing. Together. In peace.

“What the fucking hell?” Jason whispered in horror. And if he saw it right, they were even in the same team. The same fucking team!?

“I got challenged by one of my meme-friends and he wanted to play a team-fight. Con didn’t have time because he is going on a mission with Sups, so I needed a mate for the match.” Timmy explained as he didn’t even glance at him again. Just like the Gremlin whose focus was entirely on the screen.

Jason blinked in shock for minutes, then tried to proceed with a good question when the little Demon jumped up and started yelling angrily.

“It’s CHEATING!” he shouted, pointing at the screen. “‘SourisMar’ used cheat-code. I am sure of it.” After some debate he opened his mouth again. “I don’t care. If you’re moving here I demand cheatless competitions with an impartial judge.”

The kid just pouted on the end of his tirade. What’s happening here? Then Jason’s brain started working: who is moving where? He almost asked again when his little less angry brother got the audio for the room, not just their ear-pods.

“…not cheating if I’m good at something. It’s skill, my little padawan.” He heard a girl voice through the speakers. And he vaguely remembered he heard her before surely. That french accent was quite unforgettable.

“Mari!” A boy whined, again in a familiar voice. “Don’t corrupt my little bro!”

Little bro? Little BRO! “You mean you’re playing with our new kitten and you don’t even tell me!?” He glared at Timmy in betrayment. That’s it, he won’t be any help to him when the Gremlin will go a little rampage again.

“Don’t be stupid, Todd!” Damian also had to speak up. Of course, why not? “Why spoil our own game with your questionable talent?” He had the nerve to look at him in pride as they heard the quiet giggle from the other side of the speakers.

Jason didn’t need more, he snatched the Replacement’s controller, sat down in front of the screen and eagerly selected a new match. He didn’t even wait for the Gremlin, so he would be able to adjust to the game. No, he will show them.

Haah, questionable talent? You little shit.

Chapter Text

Alya was glad that she had loyal friends. She was really grateful, especially after that disastrous last week. And it hadn’t quite ended yet. She was called in on an interview with her parents to the police station.

Of course, she knew she made a mistake when she didn’t hear out Marinette at first. She vaguely remembered the moment when her best friends tried to ask questions about Lila. The face was in front of her, then the next one, then another one. They showed all the hurt and disappointment that Marinette felt when they… She chose Lila over her.

After last week she decided that she would do anything to provide justice, even if it’s just to be honest in the interview with the police.

Nevertheless the man and woman officers were really polite, but Alya stepped out of the station like she ran the marathon. Her adrenaline was high, her body trembled with the nerves as her dad led her to their car.

She almost got in the car when she looked up absently, and that was the moment when she saw him. The boy with blond hair and quite slim frame for his height. Alya already was starting to walk to him when she stopped.

The boy was not Adrien.

His posture was wrong. His clothes were wrong. His companion was wrong.

Felix.

He was so similar to Adrien and yet too different to mix them up with a closer look. She only met him once in person and once by that ominous video, but she didn’t like him at all. He was standoffish and rude, and too snobbish to Alya.

And right now the cousin of her friend stared at Alya with a bored expression, then abruptly turned to his associate. It was a rough looking man with a yellow accent jacket and a rather ugly scar under his eyes. And she didn’t know why that man’s stare sent a chill through her. His yellow eyes were cold and… and… dangerous.

“Alya!” His father pulled her back gently, and she obeyed without a word.

On the way home she wasn’t able to talk, only saw the man’s cold eyes. Her only accomplishment was to send a short text to Nino. When they got home she - for a moment - forgot about it as the twins and Nora tried to cheer her up.

They also were really nervous about her interrogation. And she let them. They played games, competed with each other and made dinner together, then after all of it watched a movie in a peaceful silence.

Alya only thought of the man willingly when she finally went to bed.

She absently got her phone out and sent a text to Marinette and Adrien.

She had a very bad feeling about Felix and that man.

Chapter Text

Bruce Wayne never expected that kind of betrayal. Yes, he had some of it from time to time, but more of them came from strangers or villains, not from his own son. One of his sons, specified.

“Damian, I am really disappointed in you.” he stared down his youngest.

“I understand, father.” came the quiet reply.

The boy didn’t meet his eyes, his head was lowered and he fidgeted his hands. Bruce never saw his son this kind of embarrassed. Even with the blue paint on his face and on his suit, it was clear the boy didn’t expect that big result from the prank.

Alfred stood behind Damian with a displeased expression, while Dick and Tim tried to not die from laughter. Even though the prank was aimed for one of them. Bruce signed.

“Go to wash it off!” he said. “We don’t have much time.”

He heard a little huff then watched as his youngest turned around and went to his room. Why did he even grow up? He would be less tired without children with their prank-weeks. And now he needed to make some calls so they wouldn’t be berated by their lateness.

As he walked to the manor’s hall as he called the Parental Community’s president so he could tell they would be a little late. He had to explain for half an hour that they would only be late for minutes at best to the dance, and at the end of the call he was more stressed than after a League meeting which sometimes became a kindergarten party.

He almost picked up his coat when he heard Damian’s confident steps from the main stairs. “You better hurry up!” He shuffled his communicator. “Mrs Rosery isn’t pleased with… us.” He finally looked up at his youngest son.

The boy’s face was still blue, however where he wasn’t blue, he was red. Like really, unhealthy red. “What happened?”

He turned his head away. “It doesn’t come down.” he said in a reluctant voice.

Bruce took a big breath so his brain would get enough oxygen.

His boy… His most standoffish boy with a big snobbish attitude was blue.

And that blue pain didn’t come down.

Fantastic.

Selina never will let it go.

“Alfre…?”

“Wasn’t able to help.” The man himself came down and stopped next to the boy. His face revealed much about his scandalized emotions.

“Then we dodn…”

“Master Bruce, you promised to attend this middle-school dance five month ago. I hope you don’t plan to go back on your word.” The displeasure was directed at him.

“No.” he answered reluctantly.

“Good.” the butler said sternly and motioned the boy to follow him.

Chapter Text

Chat Noir waited for his Lady on one of the many rooftops which were between their houses when he saw them. Two dark silhouettes approached his house from the sky level. And as he saw, they weren’t amateurs. Their movements and calculated jumps said a lot about their talents. However, under that surprised awe, he felt some kind of uneasy as he watched them jumping through the rooftops.

For moments he debated about calling his Lady, then he rather sent a text, explaining the situation and stalked the two strangers to his house. It was a more silent solution than a call.

Their uniforms reminded him a little of the Owl’s costume. He didn’t even know why because it was nothing alike in fact. The mask was full face hide, the armor’s color was matte black with only some muted gold accent. And there were weapons. Lots of deadly weapons. Thankfully for his cat eyes, he actually was able to do a mental list…

Two long swords, six weird looking kunai, a dagger and claws. Very sharp and long claws on both of the hands.

Any who knows what else…

He would ask Nightwing and Nightrunner help to study some of the weapons, and maybe even the two unknown people if they already met them. And if he was just thinking of his mentors, he hurriedly snapped some reference photos with his baton and sent them directly to the cave and the base.

‘Regroup. aND’

His Lady was always the more careful one, he thought as he read the really short message. He silently withdrew from those roofs from where he was able to observe the events in secret. Even taking care to not make any noise, however before he lost the sites of the two he saw how they were entered on his father’s (Not your father!) window.

He froze up in his motion.

“LB!” He called his partner immediately. “They broke into Gabriel Agreste’s house. Directly into his room.”

He heard a short cuss, then Ladybug answered solemnly. “Stay where you are. I notify the bats and ‘runner.” she ordered. He already knew his Lady was on her way to him, so he obeyed without any protest, but he couldn’t take his eyes off the windows.

“Please Chaton, be careful!” he heard lastly, then the other side of the line was hanged up.

Chat Noir absently nodded, nevertheless his mind was elsewhere.

What did they want from his fa… Gabriel? Who were they? And why did he have that really bad feeling about this whole situation?

Chapter Text

Dick had a really good mood as he stepped out of the locker room. He happily hummed one of his favorite pop-songs, it was really a good afternoon and the night would be even better.

Yapp.

Bruce would be at home soon from that kid-prom and Damian - finally - would be resting a little after that blue-paint fiasco. Dick chuckled to himself as he remembered his little bird’s face. And B’s face. Hah, not everything goes according to the plan, even for a bat, he thought, then waved to Timmy.

The younger boy sat in front of the batcomputer and searched up some cases in the idle time till the patrol. It was a daily routine for them. If Jay had been here tonight, he would have cleaned his guns. And Dick? He always did some aerial tricks with his trapeze to warm up for the night.

And it was a good relaxing and nostalgic time for him. He felt like a real bird in the wind. Weightless, free and light-hearted.

It was his freedom.

However Dick knew every freedom had its own end, and his ended with a loud shouting from the entrance of the cave. He carefully landed on his feet as the yelling got closer. Of course - as he predicted already in the air - it was the Wayne-combo in their wake with Alfred. And before he understood the shouting-match he noticed the butler’s annoyed face.

Yikes.

“…don’t care how you got that blue off of your face, Damian.” Bruce stared at his son. “You are grounded because of the prank itself.”

The boy, already in the Robin uniform, ruffled himself like an angry little bird. Dick awed on his cute face. “It was a mistake, father, I admit it. But I don’t understand the logic about me being grounded. Grayson, Todd and Drake also participated with their own pranks!” he pointed angrily at the two of them.

Bruce nodded. “Yes.” he said. “But they weren’t caught in the act.”

Uaaw.

Dick didn’t know it was the instant kill from his adoptive dad’s side or the adorable pout from his little brother’s face that warmed his heart up within moments. How wonderful this family truly is!

“SUIT Up!” The idyllic family picture was broken by Timmy’s urgent voice. “Talons in the Agreste mansion.”

Chapter Text

Ladybug stood beside her partner, who was one little step from the total panic. And she kind of understood why. Not even within a month his family life was upside down. He - finally - admitted to himself that he was assaulted emotionally and physically by Lila. They got themselves revealed to each other (and a bunch of other people).

And he learnt about his biological father as a byproduct to reassure a murderous kid (who turned out to be his younger brother). And she didn’t even go on the whole Batman-Bruce Wayne train, because she also would be in panic mode.

Back to the present, now they waited for Nightrunner and the Bats because of the threat level of the pair in the Agreste mansion.

Their Parisian hero-partner didn’t tell much to them about the two figures, however he commended them to stay in the shadows. And glancing at Chat Noir’s shaking body, it was the right demand.

Ladybug hugged her Chaton closer. “It will be alright.” she whispered to him. “Just some minutes and we get our answers.”

Chat Noir nodded hesitantly and leaned in her more.

“What if… if they killed him?” His voice was thin. She was kind of surprised how they didn’t attract any akuma yet. He was not in the right mind and in a stable emotional state.

“Then we can adopt you, ex officio.” someone replied from behind them.

Ladybug almost immediately recognized the low bariton, however her kitty wasn’t that alert of their surroundings. He jumped promptly in a battle stance (as Nightwing himself thought to them), and swayed his baton at their help.

“Chaton!”

Luckily the Bats easily avoided the attack and Chat Noir also woke up from his panicking. “Sorry.” he said quietly.

“No problem.” The oldest bird smiled naturally at him. However the two young heroes already were busy staring down the unfamiliar vigilant. Between him and Batman stood a teenager, maybe the same age as them.

“Red Robin.” he waved in a professional manner. “We haven’t met in person yet.”

Ladybug greeted him with a short ‘welcome’ just like his Chaton. “And Robin?”

The three bats flinched at once. All of the Parisian heroes blinked at them in surprise. For their unsaid question, Batman was the one who answered reluctantly. “He is benched.”

Oh. “For the blue paint.”

“You know?”

“I was the one who helped him to get it off.” And to get it on.

Chapter Text

Gabriel wasn’t able to move. They injected something in his neck so his body didn’t obey him, and he didn’t even yell to Nathalie or Adrien’s bodyguard as he couldn’t even use his lips. While the two intruders continued to research his room, not paying attention to his quite miserable position.

He tried to grunt, he tried to throw himself off the bed. Nothing succeeds.

Then suddenly he met the eyes of his kwami. Nooro hesitantly glanced at him then back to the intruders. They gave no indication that they saw the flying lilac thing.

Go to Nathalie! Gabriel tried to focus on this particular thought.

Go to Nathalie, and get help from her!

As Mayura, she maybe could create something from his distress and get some answers from those two intruders. Who were already in his closet, tearing apart his perfectly arranged clothes and furniture. Furthermore, with an easy move - what he was able to see from the thrown mirror, - his second safe was torn from the wall.

It was Emilie’s safe so he wasn’t worried about them finding something valuable, however he didn’t account that they didn’t find what they searched for.

“Agreste!” One of them stood in front of him. “Where are the rings?” he asked in a distorted voice.

Those fools injected him, how was he able to answer them? Gabriel rolled his eyes, then focused again on his mantra, go to Nathalie!

“Don’t be that barbaric simpleton! Who doesn’t understand the means of paralyzing serum?!” said the other, who -, if Gabriel could believe his own judgment from this perspective, - was shorter and younger than the brutal one.

“And you don’t be all-mighty to me!” The older leant closer to him. “You see that?” He showed his hand armor. “Its name is Suyolak, who will help you to sing us a little bit about those rings.”

Gabriel stared harder at the weapon. It was a golden gauntlet with extremely sharp claws and -, Gabriel was sure, - hidden poisons as he saw an unnatural green drop on one of the many claws.

He tried to look at Nooro again who hid himself behind the two intruders.

Go to Nathalie!

Get help from Mayura!

Chapter Text

There were a lot of things that Nathalie could appreciate in her life. Her work, the occasional silence and her tea leaves collection. She carefully brewed herself an oolong tea with hibiscus petals.

She loved the flower’s sweet fruity aroma in her drinks, and it added a little pink color to it too.

As Nathalie prepared to go to bed, she took one of her favorite books from the shelves and sat down under the blankets. The cup of tea was on the nightstand, the book was in her hands.

Yes.

This silence was really peaceful.

She almost took a sip from the delicious tea when she felt it. At first it was a small uncomfortable feeling. Then came a really strong emotion from above of her room. It felt as desperation, outrage and was very strong. It was also so raw that it almost felt as a stab of pain where her miraculous was.

“Someone is in danger.” her kwami flew up to her face. His eyes also on the ceiling.

From above…

“Gabriel?” she frowned, then got her tablet. She opened up the building’s security and the private cameras with the emergency passwords.

Oh…

“What is it, Mademoiselle Nathalie?” Duusu asked hesitantly as he didn’t have enough courage to watch the tablet without his master’s permission.

She looked up at the blue peacock. “Duusu! Spread my feathers!”

As she was finished changing, she immediately started extending her emotional borders. And she within moments found the causes of her boss’s distress. Two men, one with a strong, but broken soul full of emotional potential and a younger one with repressed wrath. And there was - of course - Gabriel.

His emotions felt much stronger in the suit. Nathalie’s weakened body barely held together.

But even if she collapses, she would help him.

“Fly… Fly away, beautiful amok, and enhance and hone that desperation!”

She felt the quite satisfaction when the amok met its holder. She quietly heard as Gabriel tried to squeeze out a reply to accept the power. She faintly smiled as his deadly creature raised up and almost at the same time - as it was created - attacked the two intruders.

Maybe this monster will teach them some manners about breaking into others’ houses.

Chapter Text

“What the hell is happening there?” He heard Red Robin’s groaning as they all only were able to watch how the mansion’s windows broke out by some mucoid creature.

“Is there some law when we are there that needs to be a monster too?” Nightwing also opened his mouth. Bruce grunted at this, like Gotham didn’t have her own monsters…

For a second he glanced at his newest son worriedly. The boy just stood there and gaped at the destruction of the mysterious creature. He was very pale and his body shook from the shock? Maybe. However there was no time to be shocked.

“We need to plan.” he said loudly enough so that everybody turned to him.

Ladybug agreed with a nod. “We are lucky, it’s nighttime, but there are always some crazy fangirls.” she started. “Nightrunner, you are on the civilians.” The young man nodded in agreement.

“And what about that… that something?” Nightwing pointed at the wriggling snake-thing.

Bruce sighed. Of course, Nightwing would be too busy focusing on the creature, before waiting to hear out all of the plan. Of course, he always grabbed the essence of every situation. Bruce sighed again, then tiredly turned back to Ladybug. He was curious what she would do in the situation where there were also unknown enemies, not just the usual’s.

The girl rolled her eyes at the dramatic display, then she exchanged a telling look with Chat Noir. The boy - thanks to the older bird’s unreasonable gasps (“You already fought aliens, Gra… Nightwing! Don’t be coward!”), - was already in a better mood with a tentative smile on his face.

“We can predict that the sentimonster was created for Gabriel, so the two figure…”

“Talons.” Red Robin interjected quietly, surprising everyone with his soft voice.

“The two talons” Ladybug corrected herself with a thankful nod. “would be the target as we don’t see any akuma sighting yet.” She paused. “Nevertheless we can’t base all our movement on this so be careful about a hidden akuma. It won’t be the first time for that.”

“It’s good and everything, but what about the monster?” Red Robin looked at the creature which was still in the mansion’s room and they also didn’t see any talons to leave.

The young heroine tilted her head. “What do you think it looks like?”

Everybody looked at it.

“Snake?”

“With that rooster comb?”

“Then what?”

…

“A basilisk.” Finally Chat Noir spoke up.

Chapter Text

The basilisk was ten meter long with two tent-like batwings and a big rooster head. Its tail ended in an arrow-like spike like a dragon’s. The creature thrashed its foot everywhere to hit the two talons.

Red Robin wasn’t sure about the animal’s real power next to the obvious physical force and size. If he remembered correctly, basilisk could freeze living beings to death, but the talons still weren’t frozen after fighting the creature for half an hour already. Maybe there was some loophole in its magic.

“Don’t look at the sentimonster’s eyes directly.” Chat Noir spoke up again.

“He is right. It could kill you with one glance.” Red Robin nodded at the monster.

The others also faced the mansion. “How do we know that Gabriel isn’t dead already?” Nightwing asked. The oldest of the group groaned, however instead of him, Ladybug answered.

“We wouldn’t look at the basilisk and my magic will bring him back.” she said simply. “But we need to get some information about what is happening in the room. Could you do it?” she asked in a tired voice as she also was a little annoyed by the question.

Red Robin almost immediately started to play with his arm guard. After some moment he already brought up the footage of the room with a triumphant smirk. On the screen the man laid on his bed by himself, however he didn’t move an inch to protect his body from the events of the room. “Is he immobile?” Chat Noir raised his eyebrows worriedly.

Interesting…

“One of the talons’ favorite thing is to paralyze the people.” His… their father growled with a little edge in his voice. He never liked the court’s gameplays.

“Then first of all, we need to find the amok. And we only could do it, if the sentimonster is far away from Gabriel.” Ladybug started planning again pointing out the obvious.

“Maybe it would be wise to focus on the talons first and lure them away, since they are the targets.” Nightrunner said with a wave to the jumping figures.

Nightwing nodded. “B and I can do it, while Baby Bug and Kitty Junior search up the amok-thing.”

“And I?” Red Robin pointed at himself.

“And us…” growled someone really familiar behind them. So he came… “Red can do the monitoring from here.”

“And Red Hood comes with us, if the talons aren’t alone.” His newest brother added it, surprising everybody with his quick thinking. “We aren’t that good with weapons besides ours.”

He is right.

The strategy was repeated again so everybody knew what was their own task, then they were already on their way. Hood jumped after his two new acquaintances and Tim watched them move in harmony. He was a little curious about being partnered up with the Miraculous Team, but he was a little glad.

He finally could observe them in real fight.

Chapter Text

Chat Noir didn’t think that he would once again fight with an owl, however…

Yepp, he would like to get back to Monsieur Damocles, thank you very much. This something was not ‘an owl’, it was ‘the’ wild predator from the biology books. The one with killing mice or even big birds. The talon, who obviously didn’t go with his partner (and the basilisk, thank you Plagg for your luck…) as Nightwing and Batman thought, almost got his head with his claws.

Red Hood -, who was actually really really cool, - got out his sword and his crowbar (Why a crowbar?) as the talon tried to attack his Lady too. “Your fucking zombie! Fight with your own kind!”

“Oh kid, your brother is much more fun!” the owl groaned back as his gold claws were pulled along the crowbar almost immediately. “He has that kind of humor that you are lacking, you know?” Under that brown mask this guy surely enjoyed how rilled up Red Hood became.

“Raptor!” his - new (?), second (?) big (!) - brother growled. “Just tell us already why are you with the chickens?” His crowbar shattered fa… Gabriel’s antique chest with one big swinging as the owl evaded.. “You hated them!”

“And I hate your father too. What’s the difference?” The two jumped up the bed which was fortunately empty because Ladybug already hauled fa… Gabriel to one of the corners, and stood in front of him for protection. She looked a little bit worried about the catfight before them.

Chat Noir also felt kind of useless. They obviously weren’t that skilled as the two before them. And even if it had come to physical strength, he wasn’t sure their magic costume would have helped them that much.

They could only watch by the sidelines.

Until…

Till he finally saw what was the biggest mistake of the talon. It was one of his powers as Plagg explained to him once, but hadn’t manifest yet. Or he thought… While the Ladybugs always saw the potential strength, then the Chat Noirs saw all of the potential weaknesses. But it’s power hadn’t kicked in full length until now.

The Talon’s gold claws lighted up with toxic green.

So his strongest weapon is his biggest weakness.

Interesting.

He looked at Ladybug who watched the two fighting figures, but turned to him as she felt his gaze. He grinned, getting courage from her beautifurr blue eyes, then winked at her as he whispered a ‘cataclysm’.

Adrien was kind of surprised how he became that confident from his new powers manifested fully to actually using them smartly. It was a big adrenaline rush. One moment he hesitated to get closer to Red Hood and the Talon, and the other moment he was already grabbing the golden claws, destroying them to ashes.

“What the fu…!”