Chapter Text
“What are these things?” Marinette asked as she took in the faces that protruded from the rock within the underground tunnels.
“They’re false alarms,” Plagg explained as he brushed past another face, calling out how they needed to turn back, “You get a lot of them down here, ‘specially when you’re on the right track.”
“So, they’re made to confuse and dissuade runners?” Marinette asked.
“Exactly,” Plagg affirmed, snapping at another one, “Shut up!”
“I’m just doing my job,” the false alarm protested.
“Well,” Plagg sneered jeeringly, “You don’t need to do it to us,”
“I’m honestly surprised,” Marinette commented, “Since when is a magical maze this forward thinking? For that matter, when did a magical maze decide it would be a good idea to have tunnels that go underground?”
“You don’t notice much, do you?” Plagg stopped and looked at her, hands on his hips and ears and tail swishing back and forth, “Because you seem unaware, this place does still exist even without runners. Needs to be as defensive as it is offensive, and it needs to have a place for its denizens to hide in the case of an emergency. There’s too many of us to hole up in the castle.”
“That sounds fascinating,” Marinette turned interested eyes on him, “Can you tell me more?”
“I could,” Plagg allowed, stopping his train of thought when he noticed a crystal rolling of its own accord throughout the tunnels, “Oh no, that can’t be good.”
“What can’t?” Marinette asked, watching the bauble roll ahead of them down the corridor and turning off.
“Welp, looks like we’ll have to find a new way,” Plagg said dismissively, “Come on then, this way I think.”
“But why not keep going the way we were?” Marinette asked, “What’s wrong with that way? You said you’d take me as far as you can.”
“And if you choose to go down that path this is as far as I goes,” Plagg hissed at her.
“Oh come on!” Marinette groaned, “You haven’t even taken me aboveground. There’s nothing wrong with that way, let’s go!”
“Are you blind or just dumb?” Plagg asked as she brushed past him. And suddenly, his person felt significantly lighter, “What the-” he looked down and saw that his bundle of jewels was missing from his hip, “Hey!”
Marinette was twirling the bundle through the air like it was nothing more than a yoyo. She stopped to look back at him, “What?” she asked, the picture of innocence even as she made no attempt to hide her guilt.
“Give those back!” Plagg hissed at her, lunging for her legs even as Marinette easily side-stepped him, by stepping backwards where Plagg had told her he would not go. But she kept him distracted by dangling his stolen property right in front of his nose. “Give ‘em back!” he kept yelling, “Them’s mine!”
“Ah, ah, ah!” Marinette teased, keeping them out of his reach, “You won’t get these back until we get to the castle. Now come on, you were leading me this way-” she stopped short as she saw a form in the gloomy tunnel.
Plagg hissed, hiding behind her leg. Marinette was wary, but drew forward anyways. Closer inspection revealed it to be a blind little beggar. Though that did beg the question as to how they’d gotten down here in the first place. He rattled his cup, and something sounded from within it. Marinette dazedly walked forward, she saw the crystal in his cup.
“Ah,” came his voice, “Now, what do we have here?”
“Nothing,” Plagg harshly ground out, “Nothing at all.”
“Nothing?” the beggar replied incredulously, tossing away his cup, “Nothing?” he began to tear at his visage, proving it to be nothing more than a clever disguise, “Nothing, nothing at all?”
Marinette was taken aback by the sight before her. It wasn’t the Goblin King, though they had to have shared a kinship, since she saw resemblance in them. Not in his coloring, more in the structure of the face, the same harsh lines belied in this one by the fat of youth still clinging to his cheeks. And then there was the eye markings, done in such a way to bring out the green of his eyes. Wait, green, wasn’t she too far away to tell-
Marinette blushed as she suddenly realized that this Fae was standing right before her, looming over her almost with his natural height advantage. Never more than now had Marinette cursed inheriting her mother’s height. His mouth was moving, but it was muted beneath the frantic beating of her own heart. He was… beautiful. But then again, the Goblin King had been too. A cold and callous beauty, but undeniable beauty all the same.
He stopped speaking and it took her a moment before she realized he was expecting a response. Pink instantly colored her cheeks as she stuttered out, “I- I’m sorry, could you repeat that?”
He raised a golden brow at her, “I said, how are you enjoying my Labyrinth, Marinette?” he caressed her name like a cat-lover might caress their pet. She fought down a shiver.
“Wait,” she placed a hand against his chest and took a much needed step back, “How do you know my name?”
“Father has his hands full with your… well, our newest charge, thanks to you. So, he put me in charge of this. And so I ask a third time Marinette , how are you enjoying my Labyrinth?”
Marinette flicked her gaze over to Plagg, who seemed to be doing everything in his power to indicate that she should say… something. Honestly she couldn’t tell what his body language was saying, only that it was frantic and panicked.
She returned his stare for but a moment more, and replied, “It’s a piece of cake,”
Marinette heard Plagg groan, accompanied by the sound of palm meeting face. The Fae Prince, he seemed amused by her response. To the point where he couldn’t contain himself and burst out laughing. Idly she thought that his laugh was far more charming, if only because it seemed more real. Her blush grew deeper without her realizing it. But before too long, he was back to business,
“Really,” he shook his head, “You are too much. So,” he dusted off his black jacket snapped his black clad fingers. He pointed to a clock which had appeared out of thin air, “How about upping the stakes a little?”
Before she could hazard a guess as to what he meant he twirled his finger and the clock sped up by about two hours. Marinette was aghast,
“That’s not fair!” she cried before she could help herself.
“Do you say that often?” Adrien mused, “I have to wonder what your basis for comparison might be.”
“Why you little-” Marinette went to insult him, but was stopped when Plagg crashed into her.
“If you value your sense of smell you won’t,” he hissed into her ear.
“Ah yes,” the prince continued, “And that brings me to you, Plagg,”
“M-me?” Plagg was instantly the picture of attempted innocence, “Why, Prince Adrien, what ever did I do?”
“Don’t forget I have eyes everywhere,” Adrien tsked, “And I think you know very well what you were doing. You know helping a runner is prohibited,”
“Me? Helping?” Plagg rebutted, “In what sense?”
“In the sense that you were leading her to the castle,” Adrien clarified.
“Oh,” Plagg nodded and began laughing, “I can see where you might get that idea. But actually, I was taking her back to the beginning, just like I was told to and-”
While he continued babbling out excuses that no one in the general vicinity seemed to buy, Adrien took a closer look, interrupting Plagg to ask, “What is that plastic thing you’ve got on your finger?”
Instantly Plagg looked down at the ring, and hid his hand behind his back. Adrien shook his head, “I’m sorry Plagg, but you know the rules. I have to punish this transgression.”
“Anything but the Bog your majesty,” Plagg began to grovel, “Anything but that!”
“Rest assured, I’m a bit more even tempered than Father,” Adrien replied, “If I threaten the bog then you know my patience is being pushed. Still,” he looked thoughtfully at Marinette, “ something has to be done. And I think I know just what. Marinette?” he caught her attention, “You think the Labyrinth is a ‘piece of cake’, right? Well,” he conjured a crystal in his hands and threw it into the blackness, “Let’s see how you two deal with this,”
As he disappeared the sound of mechanical grinding and whirring began to fill the air. Plagg and Marinette instantly began running.
“What is that?” Marinette screamed over the sound of the whirring machinery.
“It’s the Cleaners!” Plagg yelled back, “You really got their attention didn’t you? Still,” he managed to pull off a shrug as they continued to run for their lives, “It’s better than the bog, by any means.”
MLB
Even for a mortal who enjoyed books, she was entirely too amazed by his library. More time had passed than he would have figure her for. And when Gabriel went after her, he found the room empty. A muted sort of panic swept over him. He couldn’t lose a prize, that simply didn't happen. Then again, she was too old to turn, he hadn’t had that particular problem in more time than he cared to recall. But where could she have wandered off to? The castle was enormous, and liked to play tricks on those who were new to its layout, moving rooms and hallways around just to confound and confuse.
Gabriel returned to the throne room in order to hear the Goblins clamoring for his attention, “Your majesty! Your majesty!” they chorused.
“What? What is it?” he was already annoyed by needing to look for the infuriating chit, he didn’t have time to deal with whatever inanity they’d thought required his attention.
“The girl! The girl!” the chorused.
“Adrien’s taking care of her,” Gabriel dismissed, “Now,”
“No!” they cried, “The other one!”
By the other one he had to assume they meant Nathalie. Which meant they had seen her. Instantly he was feeling a lot more patient, “Where is she?”
“The gates! The gates, the gates!” the rabble answered.
Instantly Gabriel looked out the window. Sure enough, there was an unmistakable human shape making a break for it. And what the devil… was she in his clothes ? When, how, what the everloving hell was going on?
Without a second thought he transported himself to the edges of the Goblin City. And just in time too, because she managed to open one of the smaller doors built within the larger ones and dart through it. Her destination evident, she was willing to brave the Labyrinth in order to help his runner. Well, that wouldn’t do at all.
“Nice try,” he appeared in front of her, “How on earth did you manage to slip out of the castle?”
“Like I’m going to tell you,” Nathalie tossed her hair. Damn but it looked good loose like that, “I just remembered something important from Marinette’s book. That’s all.”
“And that would be?” he pushed.
“Said is said,” she replied cryptically, trying to circumvent him.
“Amusing,” Gabriel deadpanned, “Now how about you tell the truth?”
“What?” she made her face the picture of naivety, pure innocence. It was really just her playing coy, but damn if it wasn’t working on her, “All I did was make a wish,”
He narrowed his eyes at her, “You made a wish? What exactly for?”
Nathalie tapped the side of her nose, “Not telling,” she began walking towards him, attempting to brush past as she added, “Now, if you’ll excuse me-”
“Ah, ah, ah,” Gabriel caught her around the waist and transported them both back inside the castle, “A valiant attempt, but I don’t think so.”
He let her go and examined her closely. The breeches and boots fit her nicely, then again they were enchanted to always fit the wearer perfectly. She’d gotten around the deep dip of the shirt by keeping her nightgown on underneath it. Such a pity. “You know,” he purred, “If you wanted my clothes, all you had to do was ask.”
Nathalie glowered at him, “And I’m sure you’d be generous enough to give me the clothes off your back, wouldn’t you?” she retorted.
He leered more, making a point of looking down her front, “If you wish it,”
“You. Wish,” Nathalie growled at him, storming away.
“ I wish?” Gabriel chuckled as he plagued her back to the library, “Believe me Nathalie if I got what I wished for when I wished for it, we wouldn’t be having this conversation, or this insipid little deal for that matter.”
“Oh really?” Nathalie braced herself against the wall, crossing her arms to emphasize her chest and draw his attention to it, “And what would we be doing instead?” her tone was teasing, a challenge.
“Would you like a taste?” he offered.
“I don’t know,” she shrugged, the nightdress slipping just a little, “I thought I was winning. I wouldn’t want to lose because of a technicality. Besides,” she whispered into his ear, “I’m worried about Marinette.”
He conjured a crystal, which revealed his runner to be catching her breath topside from the tunnels. Plagg was at her side, practically kissing the ground with relief.
“Better?” he asked as he held out the vision for her to see.
“Much,” she agreed, ducking inside and closing the door behind her.
Gabriel blinked before following her in, he caught her stopping short, mouth open as though she’d been in the middle of saying something. And then it clicked, wishing, she’d made a wish. She’d wished to get the clothes, and she’d wished herself out of the castle. He had to assume that she’d tried wishing herself home to no avail, otherwise she wouldn’t have tried to get to Marinette.
“I think not,” he retorted, conjuring a crystal and throwing it at her. It popped before it could impact, raining sparkles down around her. She looked at him with confusion and he explained, “I have just suppressed your little wishing ability for the duration of Marinette’s challenge. It won’t do to have you running out and about on me whenever you so please. And it defeats the purpose of her running if you go running to her.”
“How fair is that?”
“It isn’t,” Gabriel admitted.
“But neither is life,” Nathalie sighed, “Fine, I concede. I’ll stay within the castle for the rest of the game.”
“Would that I could trust you,” Gabriel smirked as he grabbed her arm and began leading her out of the library, willfully ignoring all her protests, “But I simply cannot, as you’ve proven yourself untrustworthy. So, you will spend the rest of the hours under my watchful eye.”
“Even when I go to the bathroom?” Nathalie raised an unimpressed brow at him as he dragged her along.
“It wouldn’t have needed to come to this, had you simply been able to behave-”
“Behave?” she scoffed, “Allow me to educate you on something, Goblin King. I might be your prisoner, I might be willing to concede that I have to play by your rules, but I am no child nor am I some pet that needs to be taught right from wrong. Believe me, if I am doing something irritates you, I am doing it on purpose.”
“Hold your tongue or I’ll discipline you regardless of who’s watching,” Gabriel growled at her.
“I’m quaking in your boots,” Nathalie retorted, “What are you going to do? Take me over your knee like I’m some errant child?”
“If the shoe fits,” Gabriel trailed off meaningfully.
“You are without a doubt, the most pompous, arrogant, condescending man I’ve ever met. And I’ve dated a literal rockstar .”
“You are right on all counts but one, precious,” Gabriel parried lightly, “I am not a mere man , I am a Fae. and you would do well to remember that?”
“Man, Fae, I see no difference personally,” they had halted their progress in the corridor to continue their verbal parlay, “It’s not as though there’s anything that really separates you from any normal man except the way you dress. And again, I’ve dated a rockstar, your look isn’t that unique. Aren’t Fae supposed to be irresistible to mortals? Pure seduction? A fine job you’re doing of that, aren’t you-”
He stilled her mouth with his own, crushing her form to his. He didn’t care about the reactions she elicited within him that weren’t supposed to exist. She was insufferable, infuriating, and by all the gods above and below if it weren’t the most attractive thing he had seen in a long time. Fae women weren’t known for being coy, but very rarely were they this direct. Her force of will was quite impressive, and it made Gabriel want to dominate and decimate it utterly. He wanted to be the only one she would submit to. The only one she would do so willingly for. Gabriel felt the force of the stone wall against the backs of his hands which were utterly occupied roaming her form. Damn her clever wordplay and dealing, this wasn’t enough. No matter how hard he kissed her, unless she wanted to go to bed with him she could enjoy it all she wanted and still remain the victor. When was the last time he’d been outplayed like that? Not since Emilie, surely.
At the thought of his wife, former or present he did not know which in his own mind anymore, Gabriel pulled away. They were both panting and breathless. Nathalie opened her mouth, as though to say something. But either he could not hear it or she could not say it, the silence was deafening, even as it was punctured by their intake of air. Gabriel tried to recover his senses, he was a being who reveled in lust and debauchery. And yet, he felt as untried as a green youth. How pathetic was that?
“Come,” he said as he straightened the clothes she had managed to skew with her roaming hands, “We should… we should return to the throne room.”
“You can’t seriously want to bring me back there after what just happened,” Nathalie’s tone was nearly incredulous.
“I don’t,” he answered honestly, no tricks of wordplay this time, “Do you?”
“I…” it was then she paused, recalling their bargain. If she voiced her desire she would lose. And she was just stubborn enough not to want that, “I suppose the throne room would be acceptable. I’d sooner do almost anything else though.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I’m not exactly good with nothing to do,” Nathalie replied as they began walking again, “I need activities to occupy my time. When I’m alone with my thoughts… I just tend to overthink, and I don’t particularly like the person I become when I’m like that.”
“Is there usually alcohol involved when you begin to overthink?”
“Usually,” Nathalie nodded, “It’s mostly to numb my thoughts before they get too existential or maudlin.”
“I could do the same here, if you wanted,” Gabriel offered, “I can put you to sleep, and you won’t wake until it’s over.”
“How very kind of you,” Nathalie parried, “At least, it would be if I weren’t somewhat versed in folklore. I know of two things regarding fairies; never thank them directly, and never take food or drink from them.”
“You’re incredibly smart,” Gabriel remarked, “Though I can’t say I see someone like you knowing our legends,”
“My grandmother used to tell them to me all the time,” Nathalie remarked quietly, “When I began spending time with Marinette, it was an easy way for us to bond.”
“You’re incredibly close with her, aren’t you?”
“Close enough, I suppose,” Nathalie shrugged, “Another reason to stay awake; I want to be able to check in on her when I can. Can’t very well do that if I’m asleep, can I?”
“No, no I suppose you couldn’t,”
They returned to the throne room. Adrien was nowhere to be seen, though they didn’t know if he was still within the Labyrinth or not. Gabriel took his seat on the throne, and Nathalie sat on the small steps to the dais, resting her head against the frame and staring off into the space. Gabriel didn’t even realize how much he would have given to be able to enter her thoughts at that moment. He distracted himself by pulling up another crystal and gazing within its mirror like surface. These crystals could show one their dreams, they could show him anything he so desired to see. But the thing he wanted most to watch now, he didn’t need magic to visualize.