How Gabriel (almost) Got Away With It
The final battle is won by the heroes, HawkMoth is unmasked, his Miraculous taken, and sent to jail. That should be how the story ends.
Gabriel of course ends up hiring the best lawyers money can buy. The prosecution isn’t worried though, trying HawkMoth will be a piece of cake. His crimes are obvious.
Then Gabriel is put on the stand and tells the world something no one wanted to hear, the actions of those he chose to give powers to were their own choice. He did not control anyone.
The few former akumas that are still willing to go on the stand, and many don’t want to now, reliving their actions was bad enough but now it seemed they were forced to confirm what Gabriel said for the most part, the only coercion were times like with Nathaniel and even that wouldn’t be enough to give Gabriel anything more than a light sentence. The prosecution was not prepared for this at all, they have no plans for attack.
Adrien is beside himself, because of course when the final battle happened Gabriel learned about his son. What will Gabriel do once free! Adrien wasn’t worried about his future until now, despite those that love him insisting they won’t let Gabriel hurt him.
Chloé wants to go on the stand, but the prosecution isn’t having any of that. Daughter of the Mayor of Paris isn’t going to sway them. She was akumatized more than once and will only make this trial worse! If not the favorite daughter of Paris, how about Queen Bee!
They relent and Gabriel is almost gleefully when the superhero goes onto the stand. What she says though puts the awful truth into perspective. “Did I want to do those things? Sure, but it’s like when someone cuts you off on the road and you want to run your car into them. It’s like being given a roofie. You wouldn’t do anything remotely like that, powers or not, if you were in a right state of mind, but HawkMoth makes sure you’re not. Yes sometimes his akumas had their own agendas, but is that any different then getting someone drunk or high to commit a crime for you and they go off for ice cream first?”
