Chapter Text
"Are you really sure it's safe?"
"How many times will you ask?"
"Forgive me cautiousness," he rolled his eyes on this answer. "I just don't particarly dream of being seen while on number one public threat's arms, that's all."
Even if Hawkmoth took care of cleaning the area from presumable heroes' patrol, he had to give Nathalie credit for thinking ahead. As usual.
"Kids are busy fighting, and no one else would spot us on rooftops during the night." he reassured her, but ran slightly faster.
Soon after they arrived at the place: a small housetop with a view on the Eiffel Tower. Once she was put on the ground, Nathalie gasped; her sight reached obviously expensive wine bottle standing on the checked blanket, next to simple-designed white lantern. A perfect scenery for a perfect date.
And, of course, for celebrating her birthday almost a week later.
"I still don't think it's worth the risk. We could do this in the mansion or in the lair." she claimed, but the red on her cheeks was giving her away. He stood in front of her and titled his head. "Hawkmoth kept us from celebrating, so Hawkmoth will fix it. And don't tell me the view isn't beautiful."
Fifty minutes, four laughter attacks and one third of the liquor later they found themselves standing by the barriers, eyes set on the famous monument and her head leaning on his shoulder.
"Pretty night, huh?"
"Universe's gift for a pretty woman, I suppose."
She thanked every instance for him not seeing her blushing. "I should slap you for such inappropiate comment, but the mask would cover the mark."
He shrugged his shoulders. "Safety matters are saving my ass, I see..."
Suddenly Nathalie burst out a laugh so intense that she couldn't stand straight on her feet, and she would fall if not for Hawkmoth who grabbed her elbows and helped her. He was staring at her, trying to find a reason for this abrupt attack but failed. His mouth's corners uplifted as he asked, "What's so funny?"
Her petty attempt to answer and explain herself came to naught; Nathalie only laughed harder, also wondering why.
"Alright, alright," Hawkmoth said as he stabilized her so he could observe her eyes. She was only tipsy which soothed his mind. She also calmed down as they were keeping eye contact, laughter became gigge then smile. He couldn't leave her without equal response.
"So... mind telling me what is so funny that you can't stand on your own?" he requested softly.
"This night won't matter tomorrow, you know" she tittered like it was everything but painful truth. "Don't know, I just find it so funny... we're drinking on a fucking roof and in nine hours we are in the office like it never happened."
Easiness in her was amusing to him. And then it hit him, just when his mouth opened to conveniently agree with her.
Nathalie was right; whatever happened here and now, it would go officially unnoticed the very next day. That was the factor that eventually convinced the woman to this ridiculous escapade, and he was aware.
The longer Hawkmoth's gaze remained fixed on his companion's face, the more his blood was boiling under the spandex.
Dangerous mixture, alcohol and lust. Only the real champions wouldn't go with awakening impulse, with pinkish lips like hers in front of them... but if it didn't matter...
Hell with it, he had to try it. So he did.
Hard to tell which one of them caught who in bigger surprise: he when he kissed her, or she when she reciprocated. Nonethless, caring for consequences was far beyond their current abilities...
Suddenly, a flashing light and shutter sound got them back on Earth as they separated quickly.
"What was that?" Nathalie narrowed her eyes in directon she thought the noise was coming from.
Hawkmoth froze. It got him seconds to realize staying there wasn't an option and they should be on their way home by now. Nathalie didn't protest when he picked her up on his arms and started running as fast as he could, not bothering even to check what or who spotted them.
"Where we're going?"
"To your place, of course. I'm taking you home."
Nathalie felt his heart racing at light speed.
"Somebody took a picture, right?" Nathalie was walking back and forth.
Gabriel was sitting by her kitchen table, hands folded on his chin. Normally he would be the one pulling his hair out under pressure, but alcohol seemed to reverse their behaviour. "Nathalie, sit down for a minute."
Sitting down wasn't an option. "The patrol. It was the night patrol... but why didn't they confront us?" she pressed her lips together. "Fuck, my head hurts..."
"So sit down for gosh sake. I won't hear you refusing."
Sighting deep, she took the place next to him. "What?" she spotted him scrutinizing her.
"Go to bed." Gabriel finally let out a sentence. "Distress won't serve you well, especially combined with drinking and tiredness."
"We'll talk tomorrow then?"
"Of course."
"If it's not too late..."
"It's not. They took a picture in the dark, what could possibly happen because of that?"
Nathalie could barely speak or sit straight, so she definitely wasn't going to analyze this thing right now like she had tried at first. Something worried her, though.
"How are you going to go home?"
"Just like that? Nathalie, I'm not as drunk as you." he answered in the most airy tone she could hear from him. "Nooroo, dark wings rise..."
The entire way home his mind was working its hardest, trying to come up with every possible explanation and assess chances of getting exposed in any way. Of course, the booze in his blood didn't let him to, but the unease was present in him. This case wouldn't be as easy as he would want it to be...
Nathalie found out about it the second she checked the news in the morning. All parisan press media were drowned in articles about 'latest Hawkmoth's rendezvous', every single one with one damn photograph attached. The picture was showing the infamous villain kissing a woman no other than her and even if her face wasn't visible, the red streak on her hair was all too recognizable. She nearly ripped that fucking hair off.
As soon as she stepped in her office and saw her boss, from the look on his face she guessed he had already read the news.
"Thank God you're here." his voice trembled. He had worried his assistant would decide to stay home for safety matters... or that the kids were getting in her hair.
Was he seeing tears in her eyes?...
"Now everyone figured out I'm Mayura, I'm sure! And your identity's on the chopping block too..." her breathing quickened.
Gabriel's eyes were moving rapidly until he finally came closer to her, hesitantly put a hand on her arm which earned him a confused look from her. "The only thing they are asuming is that you're dating Hawkmoth, so please, calm down before I have to perform mouth-to-mouth on you."
He took Nathalie's giggle as a win, even if temporal.
"But... the perspective of whole Paris believing I'm in love with a supervillain is supposed to ease my mind how exactly?"
He didn't get to explain her a plan he had in mind because a doorbell sound reached them. Nathalie took it, anticipating nothing but the worst.
"Yes?"
"Officer Roger Raincomprix, Paris Police Prefecture. Is Nathalie Sancoeur here?"