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Another defeat, another surge of hopelessness coursed through him. Shadow Moth took off from the streets of Paris, immediately bolting back to his home. This was supposed to work, and all his pain, suffering, and emotional distress was to end today. How come it didn't? How embarrassing to be outplayed by a teenager, who is a lot more clever than she leads herself to be. Just like a fox. No wonder Ladybug chose her to use the fox miraculous. The farther he ran, the more anger builds deep within his being. That is, until he reaches his home, and it plateaued. He jumped over the tall fence, running along the top of it. She had left the window open for him, and she was awaiting his return. When he reached the window, he climbed in, and shut it behind him.
He breathed heavily, before uttering, "Nooroo, Duusu, divide." He turned back into Hawk Moth. "Nooroo, dark wings fall." And then he was Gabriel again. His breath became harsher, as he took a seat beside her on the bed. He picked up the tablet to his left and glared at it. His grip grew tighter. "It's not fair! Ladybug never makes any mistakes!" As he shook, the audible crunching of the glass screen cracking was heard. Its display began to pixelate, the plan on it becoming muddled. The more his thoughts of failure, embarrassment and utter hopelessness consumed him, the higher he felt his blood pressure and anger rise.
Nathalie watched, eyes widening when the tablet broke beneath his grip. "Don't worry, Gabriel... soon, Ladybug will make a fatal mistake, and your dreams will come true. I'm sure of it."
He blinked back tears of fury that came to his eyes, hurriedly placing the broken piece of technology next to him. His fists remained tightly clenched. His teeth were grinding against each other. But suddenly, her hand was atop his right fist, and the other one on his right shoulder. His rage melted away slowly as his heartrate slowed. His breathing also returned to normal, as he took a deep breath. As he exhaled, the rest of his seething anger left with it. Her hands simultaneously rubbed his shoulder and squeezed his fist. It was assuring him to relax. He did just that. When he relaxed his muscles, that fist soon turned into an open, upturned hand to hold hers. He lifted his head up, staring out the window in front of him. "Thank you, Nathalie."
"You're welcome."
He then turned to look at her. "Do you really mean that? That Ladybug will make a mistake, and it will soon be over?"
"Of course I do." She assured him, the squeeze of her hand to emphasize her point.
He smiled softly, as he closed his eyes. "You know what? Yes, I believe you're right. Thank you for the reassurance... and your support."
She shuffled forward some, now wrapping both her arms around him. "You know I'll always be here for you, no matter what."
He responded by doing the same. "And for that, I am forever grateful."