"Gabriel-"
"I know Emilie, I know. I heard her too." Gabriel Agreste, weary from yet another battle with Monarch and his own, mind controlled son, sighed "It seems, my love, that the cost of our sins has finally come home to roost."
His wife placed a hand on his arm, half out of comfort. Half to anchor herself so she didn't either break down, or fly into a impotent rage. Not now. Not when they needed to work this out. To process it.
"You think she's telling the truth, then? That this is Imperator's daughter, who knows what we did, and has somehow found the Butterfly to enact her vengeance?"
"Okhams razor, my love. The simplest answer is often the most correct. How much harder would it be for a total stranger to learn about the truth behind Imperator's death, that he had a Sentimonster child and specifically that it was a daughter? Let alone then find the Butterfly without access to all those notes on Miraculous that Imperator had squirreled away.
"No. It makes the most sense that this is his child. Returned after all these years for vengeance for what happened to her father. Vengance against us."
Emilie frowned, slumping into one of the plush couches scattered around their massive living room.
"A quest for vengeance for his death, as if we stuck a blade to his throat and slit it. We may have suspected his miraculous was broken, yes. We may have had some strong ideas of what could happen if he kept using it, but we didn't kill him. We aren't cold blooded killers.
"We're guilty of aiding in his death, certainly. As much as a company that sends men to demolish houses they know are filled with asbestos without proper protection are guilty of any of the deaths the inevitable cancer causes.
"We made a selfish, calculated choice for the chance to have a family at the cost of another. What we did was not right. We knew that when we did it. We knew that when we asked again for my sister. Or Tomoe. So, I understand wanting us punished.
"I can even understand wanting us dead. But Gabriel, tormenting our baby boy? Possessing him night after night? Terrorizing him in his own mind until he's convinced there's no escape? That no one can protect him and no one loves him? He's innocent! That's... That's too far.....
"....Do you think everything she's done to him has been for revenge? That she uses him as her favorite puppet as some cruel extra punishment for us?"
Gabriel stood for a moment in silence, before slumping down next to his wife on the couch, reaching for a bottle of brandy on the nearby coffee table. He took a long pull from the bottle, before offering it to Emilie. She took it without a word and knocked back a large gulp.
"The thought had crossed my mind, yes. I'd have to imagine it's some kind of cruel poetic justice in her eyes. To domineer, intimidate, and control the son her father made for us, is in some ways the perfect punishment to mete out on us. We made a deal with her father for something, then we ultimately broke that deal, so she's taking back what was given. It's very....Rumpelstiltskin of her."
Emilie pulled a look of disgust as she handed him back the bottle.
"I don't think I like how much you sound almost impressed by that woman."
"Emilie, if she's Imperator's daughter, then that means she's literally the same age as Adrien."
Emilie crooked an eyebrow, face devoid of emotion but eyes smoldering with a mother bears rage.
"So? She's torturing our boy, Gabriel! She's playing with his mind and emotions like so much clay!"
Gabriel took an even deeper drink from the bottle this time, having to gasp from the fire lighting in his chest before he replied.
"I know, Emilie! I know. And because of that, the moment I get the chance, I will relish Cataclysm-ing her into so much fine dust. Until that day comes, however, I will admire that one so young can play strategy that well. Or appreciate the fact that, if our roles were swapped, I would certainly do the same. Wouldn't you?"
Emilie just grunted, and grasped over her husband for the bottle, swaying as she did so. He couldn't help but laugh at the sight, holding it over his head so she had to half crawl up him to get to it.
"Gabrieeeeeelllll!" She whined, laughter clear in her voice, the dark topic shelved for now as the very much in love couple devolved into teasing and giggling with one another.
......
As the man and woman of the house devolved into laughter and playful teasing, a similare scene was playing out upstairs in their son's room. Though unlike his parents, Adrien and his love were communicating through their bond and not in person.
Also unlike his parents, his soft, romantic evening was being secretively observed by two Kwami that had gone to check on the young boy who was only now allowed to know of their existence. Two Kwami who saw the boy as just as much their son as the Agrestes, if not more so.
"Plagg, Plagg we need to go get Gabriel and Emilie right now!" Tiki whisper-squealed at her partner, trusting the vent they were hiding in to muffle most of the noise.
"Hold on a second sugar cube" Plagg said in an attempt to calm her "just wait a second and watch with me."
Tiki looked scandalized and horrified at the very idea of waiting.
"Absolutely not, Plagg! Do you hear him? What he's saying to her? She's clearly flirting with him, and he's flirting back! And I couldn't notice it in our fights, but this close now I'm certain: that's a Kamiko, not an Akuma! Adrien's been lying to them! To everyone! He's not being kidnapped, stalked, and controlled! He's a volunteer! He's working with Monarch! Goodness, they might even be dating!"
Plagg nods, a grin spreading across his face.
"I know! Wouldn't that be lovely, sugar cube? Our kitten having someone whose always looking out for him because she loves him, not because of any unhealthy obligations?"
"Not if she's a supervillain, Plagg!"
"Tiki. Tiki! Just listen for a second. Listen and watch."
Tiki humored her chaotic other half, watching as Adrien smiled a big, dumb, goofy smile and whispered a soft "I love you too, my lady" before shivering as if invisible fingers were trailing up his spine.
She watched as he laughed at some joke she must have made. As he told her about his favorite book and movies, and write down her own suggestions for later perusal. She watched their boy behave like a normal, happy teenager excited to be spending time with a peer. With someone he loved.
It was the happiest they'd ever seen him inside this eggshell white, minimalist hellscape of a house.
Tiki turned to Plagg, face resolute.
"We tell them nothing," she hissed through gritted teeth "They've taken too many other joys and normalcies from him. Even if this one is barely normal, I refuse to let him lose this too. To lose her."
"Agreed." Plagg nodded, face as serious as Tiki's.
And then the ladybug Kwami broke into an excited, giddy smile.
"Oh look at him Plagg! He's so happy!!! I wish we knew what she was saying! Oh, I bet they're so sweet together! Wait! Wait they are! We saw! Oh my goodness she was excited to see her boyfriend, not trying to torment his parents! That's so sweet!"
Plagg laughed at Tiki's complete 180, and moved closer to the vent slats to watch their Kitten be happy for the first time in a long, long time.