This is a continuation about a previous post I wrote. First part is more about the episode in general and HM’s wish and ghost, while this one will focus more on Adrien/CN and the possible conflict rising between family vs duty.
Both parts contain spoilers about S2 ep8 (Hibou Noir/ Dark Owl) along with speculations and interpretation from my part. I have tagged the post, but if I have missed a spoiler tag from the fandom, I apologise and encourage you to scroll past this block of text.
Alright. so everyone else is good with reading what follows? Cool, buckle up.
Before Dark Owl, I had my doubts that Adrien could potentially team up with his father if he knew Gabriel is trying to bring Mama Agreste back. Now, unless Gabriel hides away the method (AKA going back in time), I would say that CN teaming up with HM is fairly nonexistent.
There was a time Adrien did value his family first. But Adrien is growing up and although family is still an important notion to him (he was very distressed upon hearing LB suspected Gabriel Agreste to be HM), he deeply values his friendships as well. Nino, Chloé, Marinette, Ladybug, Alya, Plagg, Kagami. They all are (or will be) very important people to him and he trusts them all.
In The Collector, CN did question LB if she had proofs to support her theory that Gabriel Agreste is HM. But he did not rebuke her. Instead, he was motivated they go investigating. He was stunned seeing his father akumatized, but few moments later relieved akumatized!Gabriel meant he couldn’t be HM (or so Gabriel made them believe). There was however a scene in that episode I interpreted as foreshadowing. When instead of doing the “Pound it” victory pose with LB, he instead scurried to Gabriel’s side to see if he was ok. In a way, his reaction was normal because he felt responsible for his father’s akumatization because he broke into his father’s safehold, snatched the grimoire and lost it. And that led me to worry to whom Adrien’s loyalty would go between family and duty (either way, the boy will be torn apart).
In Lady Wifi, it was implied that Marinette follows logic and rational thinking. Adrien, on the other hand, follows his heart. And we saw this happening in Simonsays. Gabriel was under the akumatized power and was heading to the roof. His life was in danger. CN’s instinct was first to pursue Gabriel to ensure his safety, but LB had to hold CN back and reasoned him to give priority into capturing the akuma. CN struggled but trusted his Lady.
Plus, since the beginning of S2, Marinette is learning about the miraculous lore. This is not the case with Adrien. The most important reason being the kwamis are not supposed to lead their charge to Master Fu unless extreme necessity. Tikki lead Marinette to Master Fu the first time because she was sick and he was the only one who could heal her. She was not supposed to bring Marinette to Master Fu’s place again but for the greater good, the grimoire needed to return under the care of the Guardian (and Tikki considered Marinette’s ready to officially meet him). Plagg is merely following orders. He will abide if the greater good coughtikkicough needs it. But right now, this drift of knowledge will probably lead to miscommunication. Eventually, they are supposed to gain new powers. And Chat Noir will ask questions to LB and Plagg. The duo started at the very same time yet she has more knowledge. I don’t think he will be jealous, but rather wounded that she doesn’t display him the same level of trust that he does to her. Same goes to Plagg. His kwami may not be the best advisor at times, but Plagg cares for Adrien the same Adrien cares for Plagg.
And then, we got an episode like Dark Owl.
During the Trust Me scene, we saw how deep LB and CN trust to one another is. LB didn’t need to check if CN has his eyes closed before detransforming, even though she is fully aware he wishes to know her. She wasn’t even scared. Her partner might be a goofball at times, but he takes his role seriously. And their superhero duty means their secret identity must remain a secret even to both of them. And CN respects his Lady. He is curious yet knows her boundaries and don’t push it, especially not in dire situations. So, when she closed her eyes, he closed his. And he didn’t even hesitate to remove and hand his miraculous to her for whatever plan she had in mind. His miraculous, the power of destruction, represents his freedom. Usually, he uses it to break him free. And it means a lot to Adrien.
“What good is a superhero imprisoned in his own house?!”
“No good. That’s why it is all going to change soon. If you are willing to change, that is.”
And he embraced that change immediately. He was so eager too, he didn’t let Plagg finished.
Now, if for whatever reasons, Gabriel changes of mind and decides to persuade his superhero son in his quest for them to be reunited with Mama Agreste again AND doesn’t question Adrien’s loyalty to him, I am in disbelief Adrien would follow. Especially if he ever learns the timeline would be rewritten.
Adrien was able to become a superhero, meet the love of his life, have friends all because his mother wasn’t around anymore. He was looking for a new balance and to him, it was going to school. He would never give that up. All those memories. Sacrificing them and rewrite new ones with his mother around means he would never meet Plagg, Nino, Marinette/Ladybug among all people.
Instead, he would both attempt to save Gabriel and stop this madness. And it won’t be easy. Adrien does not want to lose another loved one. He has already lost his mother. Even if he has accepted her absence and moved on, he still misses her. There could be even a period in which Adrien/CN shuts in and tries to solve everything by himself because he would fear to completely lose his father as well. But thanks to the Dark Owl episode, if he can blindly trust Ladybug, his partner, with his Miraculous, the symbol of his new life, surely he can trust her with his struggle if this ever happens, right?
One thing is sure, he won’t show such level of trust toward his father who has disappointed and frustrated him several times now. And he won’t team up with someone who doesn’t listen to his advises or answer his questions. Adrien is not the obedient boy he was before.