Chapter Text
Nathalie Sancoeur thought herself a patient woman. After all, she had been waiting for this moment for the past four years. As she entered the correct code into the safe, satisfaction filled her core when it clicked open.
Gabriel Agreste was a frustrating man, whose love of demanding schedules and sophisticated security measures made her mission nearly unattainable. This safe, for example, possessed a feature that would lock it down if two wrong codes were entered in succession. Discovering the proper code was no easy task, with countless nights of sleuthing and scheming.
Once open, Nathalie’s fingers gently grazed the peacock miraculous. Such power held within the ancient object. Taking it, she pinned the item to the front of her jacket. A Kwami popped out, but Nathalie ignored its pleas and instead called for the transformation.
Instantly she felt stronger, lighter on her feet. Exactly as they described. Gliding to the master suite, she stole a look at herself from a mirror. No longer was she Nathalie, subservient to Gabriel Agreste, but Le Paon, a being who coursed with authority.
After tonight, she would be the one to force him to complete his task. They were tired of waiting. And she wouldn’t be a disappointment.
+++
Gabriel Agreste had retired to his room for the night, but sleep was a fleeting notion. Restlessly he tossed and turned, unable to shake the feeling of dread. Something was amiss, but what?
A quill shot through the air, landing dangerously close to his ear. Bolting upwards from the bed, he was immediately pinned back down by a figure in blue.
A woman with pink eyes stared back at him, holding a hand over his mouth. She straddled him, pressing her legs into the sides of his chest, keeping him from moving. Gabriel felt panic shoot down his spine as he recognized the woman.
“Nao..mi?” he tried to mumble.
“Tsk tsk, Gabriel,” she replied, tauntingly, “You fool, I’m not her.” She held up a quill with her free hand, grazing its sharp edge against his cheek.
“Noo…roo,” he tried to say before she clamped her hand tighter on his mouth.
“Oh no you don’t! Your Kwami can’t help you,” she spat vehemently down at him. He struggled against her form.
“Calm down, I am not here to kill you, but to deliver a message.” Gabriel stopped his flailing, choosing to glare back at her instead.
She leaned over to whisper in his ear. “You’ve run out of time. These constant failures won’t be tolerated anymore. They think you need more motivation.”
Gabriel’s heart quickened as he considered her words. First his wife…
“No!” he strangled out, fighting against her form again.
“Get us the miraculous and your loved ones will be returned safely. Fail again, and they’re blood will be on your hands.” She pulled some powder out from a pouch behind her back and blew it into his face.
“No…” he whispered as his vision slowly faded to blackness.
Adrien.
+++
Ever since Adrien became Chat Noir, he’s noticed that his senses have become slightly heightened in his civilian form. Not as much as when he’s transformed, but a noticeable difference. He can see further in the dark, detect scents from across the room (like that new camembert stash of Plagg’s, grrrr), and sounds from farther away.
Which was why Adrien was creeping down the hallway, after hearing a noise that sounded suspiciously like a yell coming from his father’s room.
“I think you’re chasing shadows, Kid,” Plagg whispered from his spot beneath his collar.
“Shhh!”
“Whatever, let me know when you’re done spooking yourself so I can go back to my cheese.”
A blue figure darted out into the hallway and Adrien flattened himself up against the wall, hoping it didn’t spot him. Should he transform? The light would certainly blow his cover, not to mention endanger his secret identity.
Something darted out of the air, pinning his sleeve to the wall. Ripping the fabric, Adrien barrel rolled to the floor, then sprinted away from the assailant. A blast of wind knocked him back to the ground. Before he could regain his footing she was upon him, trapping Adrien with her body. A knee to his chest held him firmly on the floor.
“What do you want?” he asked the woman. Looking at her appearance, Adrien tried to decipher what disturbed her enough to be akumatized. The outfit of light blues, dark blues, and pink was very coordinated and specific.
Was she angry over a peacock?
The woman continued to stare down at him, as if judging what her next move should be.
“I don’t know what upset you, but it’s not worth it. Don’t listen to Hawkmoth. You don’t have to do this,” he said, trying to reason with her. Not that it ever worked with akuma victims, but he had to give it a shot. Glancing over her form, Adrien tried to spot the akuma. Was it in the fan? Or the brooch?
“You think I’ve been akumatized, stupid boy? Here I thought you were brighter than that. A shame really, a failure, just like your father.”
God smacked, all Adrien could make out as a reply was a “…what?”
“My name is Le Paon. I hold the peacock miraculous. I’m here to send a message to your father. He’s had three years and shown nothing but failure. Perhaps with a little more motivation, he’ll give us what we want.”
Adrien did not like the sound of that one bit and tried to wiggle out from beneath her grasp.
“Goodnight, Adrien, you’ll be with your mother soon,” she whispered softly, blowing a powder into his face.
And the world turned to black.