Chapter Text
Adrien was just having a normal day. He just finished his fencing lessons, and came back to the mansion. After he freshened up, he went down to dinner.
He expected the usual.
He expected just one plate.
He did not expect his father down here as well.
Adrien’s heart leapt up to his throat. Was his father finally going to have a meal with him!? It felt like a dream come true.
“F- Father?” he said in confusion. “What are you doing here?”
“Adrien,” he said, his voice cold. “Sit down. I have something important to tell you.”
Adrien sat down and started eating. After a few bites, he spoke.
“What is it you wanted to talk to me about?” he asked, politely, just like he was always supposed to.
“Adrien, I have something very important and valuable to talk to you about.” Gabriel replied. “But you have to promise me something. You cannot tell this to anyone. Not your teacher. Not your classmates. Not your friends. No one. Not a soul.”
Adrien was taken aback. What did he mean?
“I- I promise, Father,” he replied back stiffly.
“Good. Now, don’t freak out. Nooroo, Duusu, come out.”
Adrien frowned. Who’s Nooroo and Duusu?
Two Kwamis, one blue, one purple, emerged from Gabriel’s jacket, and Adrien gasped. There were Kwamis around the house? He obviously knows what a Kwami is, being Chat Noir, but he didn’t understand.
He had to pretend he didn’t know what a Kwami is though.
“Father!?” he said, feigning surprise. “W- what is this!”
Gabriel cleared his throat and Adrien went silent. “These are Kwamis,” Gabriel said, pointing to Nooroo and Duusu. “I’ve been wanting to tell you this for a long time, Adrien, and now, I think it’s the right time for you to finally know.”
Adrien braced himself for what he was going to hear, because he knew something was off about this.
“Many years ago, your mother, Nathalie, and I went on a trip to Tibet.” he started. “Then, during our journey, we came across some jewels. But they aren’t normal jewels. They’re Miraculouses.”
He cleared his throat. “We were overjoyed we found something so precious. So… valuable. But one day, your mother wanted something. Something she couldn’t get. A child.”
“What…” Adrien started, trailing off. “How am I… how am I here, then?”
“Your mother used the Miraculous of the Peacock to get herself pregnant. Pregnant with you,”
Adrien’s jaw dropped slightly. His head was spinning. His father had the Peacock Miraculous the whole time? He lifted up his hand to show his wedding ring, and Nathalie lifted hers up to show the other ring.
“The rings me and Nathalie have - they are your Amoks,” he said. “We have made sure these rings aren’t damaged or broken, or else you would have died.”
“Is that… is that why I haven’t been able to disobey you!?” Adrien said in shock.
“Yes, Adrien,” his father replied back.
Adrien was furious. His hand was shaking. His father had been controlling him the entire time!? Like a puppet!?
“After you were born, Emilie’s condition went down. The Peacock Miraculous was damaged, and using a damaged Miraculous is dangerous. She started having migraines. She constantly had dizzy spells. She started to eat less. Her skin became paler and paler as the days passed. One day, it was over. She fell into a coma,”
“What, but I thought she left us,” Adrien said, shocked.
“I lied, Adrien,” Gabriel continued. “I lied, because I couldn’t tell you the truth. You were too young. But now, I can tell you the truth. You may be wondering, ‘You found two Miraculouses, right?’ and yes, that is true. The other Miraculous is the Miraculous of the Butterfly,”
Adrien gasped. His eyes went wide.
“Butterfly Miraculous,” he said, shocked. “The only person who has it is-”
“-Hawkmoth,” Gabriel finished it for him. “Yes Adrien, I am Hawkmoth. I am telling you this now because you are old enough to handle this.”
“But… why!?” Adrien yelped.
“Adrien, don’t you see? I intend to heal your mother, so we can be a happy family again.”
Adrien was completely speechless. He could feel Plagg squirming in his inner jacket pocket, and he put a hand over his chest, instinctively.
Gabriel held out a brooch. “Adrien Agreste, this is the Miraculous of the Peacock. Join me. Together, we will bring your mother back to life. Accept this precious jewel. This is an order, not a question,”
Adrien gulped in fear. He was shaking. No, this couldn’t be happening! He- he had to do it. It wasn’t a question, after all.
“Yes, Father,” he said, closing his eyes and taking the brooch from his hand. “I accept.”