A Series of Ridiculous Reveals

Chat Noir crept back into his room through his bedroom window, just like he'd done many times before. It always gave him a thrill, knowing he had successfully snuck out and back in again, with his father none the wiser.

He called for Plagg to release the transformation just as his bedroom light flicked on. Adrien looked up in horror to see Gabriel standing beside the light switch, a knowing smirk twisting his lips.

'It's after your bedtime, Son,' Gabriel said, taking a step toward Adrien. 'You should have been asleep hours ago.'

Adrien backed towards his windows, keeping a wary eye on Gabriel, and prepared to transform and jump to safety, if necessary.

'Come now, Adrien, don't be like that. Be a good boy and hand me that ring,' Gabriel said, holding out a hand expectantly.

'What? No way,' Adrien replied, holding his right hand behind his back protectively.

Gabriel scowled. 'Don't be difficult, Adrien. If you give me your ring, we'll be one step closer to bringing your mother home.'

Adrien looked at Gabriel, comprehension dawning. Shaking his head, he said, 'no. You can't be him.'

Gabriel smiled. 'Oh, but I am. I am Papillon. Just think, Adrien, together we can bring your mother home. We can be a family again.'

'What are you talking about? You're crazy. Mother wouldn't want to be brought home like this.'

'Just give me the ring, Adrien,' Gabriel repeated as he held out his hand once more.

'No way,' Adrien said, defiantly.

'Give me the ring. Now.'

'No.'

'Give it.'

'You're insane. Get your own ring.'

'Now you're just being ridiculous.'

'Your face is ridiculous.'

Gabriel clenched his fists. 'Give me the ring before I do something we'll both regret.'

'I thought I was something you regret.'

Gabriel gasped and clutched at his chest. 'Adrien, how could you say that? I have never thought that. You've cut me, deep. How could you hurt me like this? Just stick my head in the stove and gas me, why don't you? It would hurt less. My heart is breaking, Adrien, breaking!'

Adrien rolled his eyes and transformed again, leaping out of his window to find Ladybug.

He left Gabriel to continue his theatrics in an empty room.

'Has he been like this the whole time?' asked Ladybug.

'Yup,' Chat Noir replied, straight-faced.

'How long ago was that?'

'I left here about ten thirty, so maybe forty-five minutes to an hour?'

'You're telling me, the whole time you were tracking me down, he's been like that?'

'Yup,' Chat Noir repeated.

They watched Gabriel from Adrien's windowsill as he continued to rant and wail about his unfilial son.

'Just put me in my grave now and be done with it,' Gabriel moaned, laying a hand across his forehead.

'You said he confessed to being Papillon?' Ladybug asked, heavily sceptical.

'He sure did,' Chat Noir confirmed.

Ladybug sighed. 'We'd better call the police.'