A/N: Been seeing a few animatics and some stories with the same gimmick, and decided to try my own take on it. Also know that if some things sound off as far as Gabriel's own plans, say that it's an AU for all that can help him be better than how he actually is.

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"Duusu, Nooroo, come to me."

SHIMMER~!!!

"Y-yes master!"

"W-what do you want?"

In the midst of a deep, dark room, a man sat behind his desk, sitting up straight with few lights in the room. Only thing that could illuminate the room was the small balls of light that came from two separate pendants on his chest. Now that they have stopped, the only thing left in the room was the light of the moon above from the glass window behind him on the far room. What floated before the man were two familiar creatures, one resembling a butterfly and the other a peacock.

Gulp~!!

Who both gulped nervously at his stare down on them.

"I wish for your assistance." The man said seriously as they flinched and backed away in the space of air they floated in.

'I was afraid of that...' Both thought while fearing for themselves.

"What do you want, m-master?" The butterfly, Nooroo, spoke up as the man held up a hand.

"Please, call me Gabriel." He said softly as their eyes shot open in surprise and looked at each other with quickly darted eyes.

"O-okay, Gabriel, w-what do you want?" Nooroo asked as he stood, or floated, at the ready for his demands.

All while they chatted, Gabriel looked down at the project he had been working on before summoning the duo. Laid perfectly straight on his desk was a drawing pad with a small sketch already on it, that of a beautiful woman. He briefly gave it a look as his steal gaze softened while better viewing it, particularly on the eyes of it.

"I wish to know the limits of the Ladybug Earrings and Cat Ring." He said as softly as he could, their eyes widening.

"W-well, Gabriel, as I've mentioned before, their power is indescribable and holding the most strength of any other miraculous-" Nooroo began as Gabriel nodded along.

"Yes yes, I'm aware of that. But I must ask, how powerful is this ultimate spell?" He interrupted him, the small creature flinching.

"Well it's the most prominent spell there is." Duusu spoke up as Nooru nodded.

"And the costs?" Gabriel pressed as, if he's learned anything with the Miraculous' powers, they have their limits.

Even with ones as powerful as the main ones, there were clear limitations to each user, even for the current users. If they were able to harness the power of destruction and creation fully, they wouldn't struggle as much with any other Akumatized victim.

"Sacrifice sir. On thing must be exchange for the other in equal measure, as is the fate of tempering with the natural order." Nooroo said as Gabriel bowed his head, hands on his desk.

"I see, and bringing someone from the brink of death?" He asked in a low voice as the two Kwami's shared a sad look. Gabriel dreaded, yet knew what the answer would be, something he's for so long known what it would be.

"...If someone is wished to be brought back..." Duusu began as he rubbed his "hands" together shyly.

"...Then someone must be used in exchange, putting them in the brink of death." Nooroo finished, knowing Gabriel needed to know this.

For too long he's tried to warn the man of his plans, as well as try and tell him how horrible it is to try any of them. But for the same amount of time, he's been ignored and used only for his power to create unwilling chaos to Paris and beyond. It was a painful topic, he knew that, but if Gabriel asked, then he will get the answer, despite what emotions the man felt. And he could feel it every time his power was used in order to fulfill the man's "selfless" plans in order to restore what he had lost.

Either way, he can only of the man's brewing fury isn't as bad as he's seen him display before.

Gabriel himself closed his eyes as he thought over that cost given all else he's done in the name of getting the one he loved most back. Sure he had risked many lives as far as choosing his Akumas, and terrorized his birth place time and again. Even past that he helped destroy and terrorize many parts of the rest of the world, most recently New York. That alone was what he deemed a "worthy" sacrifice in order for the plan to work, even almost losing his second in command.

"I see..." He said, his tone that of defeat and sadness, the two Kwami's frowning sadly at the man in front of them who had taken control of them both.

"And... if it did happen?" He asked, the two sharing a saddened glance before looking back, both answering.

"Immediate family."

...

Once again the man was completely silent as he stared down at the Kawmi's, who shivered under his hardened, calculating gazes. They had no reason to lie to him and he knew enough that they wouldn't try it, any outcome of saying a lie would be anything but calm. Ancient tombs or scribes be damned compared to the small magical creatures themselves, and even Gabriel was aware.

"How immediate?" He pressed further, this being the most he's asked about the limits of his secondary goal then just saying the combination of the cat and ladybug Miraculous'.

"D-direct family, siblings or parents or... c-children." Nooroo said, albeit nervously as Gabriel's eyes widened slightly when hearing that.

Slowly, his eyes turned to the side where a small framed photo sat beside the one of his beloved wife, as alive and perfect that he always knew. Beside it however was the image of the combination of their love, his only son and best model, Adrien. While they may not be close, he still cared deeply for his son and would sacrifice any plan or pray that his advisories stop them.

"So... even my son-"

"Would be in his mother's state, yes." Duusu said with a small nod as he clenched his hands tighter.

"Is there no other way?" He asked, trying to make sure what he's aiming for one take another thing for him, or how his wife would rather stay in that state then sacrifice her son.

"I-I'm sorry Gabriel, but the balance needs to stay, including that it taking something else of equal importance to you." Nooroo apologized as Gabriel looked down, internally frustrated as he relaxed his hands down on the desk, completely flat.

All this time he figured his greatest obstacle was to properly relinquish the cat and ladybug Miraculous with his own followers. Now, that he has this calm night, he's forced to really think over what he's really doing, more so with how much he needs to do.

"Gabriel?"

Looking back up, he saw the two creatures before him, and sighed slightly.

"Dismissed." He said with a wave as their forms lessened slightly.

"Sir-"

"I said dismissed."

Voice much firmer than before, which was much more what they were used to, both peacock and butterfly flinched and nodded.

GLEAM~!

Both turned into balls of light and disappeared into their responding Miraculous, leaving the man alone once again in his spacious office. When they left, his shoulders sagged with the tension he had kept up when speaking to his workers for his alter ego. For so long, he had only concerned himself with what he want most then he ever did believing all his efforts would be the easy route.

'Even if I did bring her back, what would would I be bringing her into...?'

His thoughts were harsh and saddened as he spun in his chair, turning to the windows on the opposing wall where he saw the night lights of Paris. If he had his wife back, she'd be in a world surrounded by fear and the combination of his current crimes. While his true identity is thankfully hidden, doesn't mean he won't be able to keep it hidden forever. He was considered an international terrorist who almost caused world war and had been attacking people for years. Not to mention when it does come out, his entire reputation would be affected for his son and his wife if she were still here.

No one would be willing to work with the son of one of the world's most wanted.

Giving his window enough of his gaze, he trailed his eyes through the spacious room toward a familiar painting he cherished. Something he spent a fortune on to make sure every detail, line, and extra image was perfect like the woman in the center. The painted image of his beloved wife, whom he held safe and secured down bellow just to make sure he can help her better than any doctor.

'Emilie...'

He thought as he steadily stood up off his chair to go to a place that always brought him peace.

Soon:

CLICK~!!

The door to his private elevator swung open as Gabriel stepped out and slowly made his way to the center of this expanded room. Sitting in the middle of a small garden was a large, clear glass container with a small bed on the bottom. But the focus of his now disheartened gaze before he soon stood right in front of him, his hand reaching down to slide across it.

Gleam~!

Where laid his very wife, looking as peaceful as a sleeping angel he always saw her as and knew was despite her often saying no.

'You were too good for me, I always knew it, yet you loved me, all my faults included...' He thought as he kept a hand on the chilled glass.

He didn't know what made him wish for the answers he was given by his Miraculous, or why he had such a clear mind that day. Be it his own constant longing to have her back in his life, the numerous failures to get her back, or it being a calmer night, he was somewhat glad to have them. It had hurt greatly to know his efforts are now ultimately in vain in order to bring her back from her endless dream, especially with actions even he questioned.

Now, that his mind was clear for the first time, truly clear of all his negative thinking, he can really consider what he had been doing. At first he thought it an easy catch, to take what he wanted, but now he had become the cliché villain other heroes face. Where all he's doing is for a wish he can't possibly ask for now as he would be living in a world without someone else.

"Adrien misses you everyday, as much as I am Emilie, to have you in his life to make things better." He said as for so long, be believed his grief to be worse than his son because of knowing her longer.

Grief however doesn't work that way, especially in regards to a person as important as a wife or mother in this complicated family. He shuts himself off from his son and make him do various activities just to make sure he's fit for his model job. But there was also the sub thought in his mind where he wished to he alone and not listen to his grief. Talking feelings wasn't his forte, so he wasn't the best to ask for it from his own son, who was most likely wishing for comfort.

'Can I even hope for that better life? You back or not?' He thought, his doubts only growing when seeing his wife, wishing he didn't have to have things this way.

But... maybe that was for the better.

This was the first time in the period between losing Emilie that he's ever considered what he was really focusing on his goals. Where he can consider what he's aiming for, being the perfect man with all the things he can ever wish for. He's one of the richest men in Paris, own his own fashion line, and currently own objects of power people only dream of.

'And nearly lost everything...'

Standing straighter, he stared down at his wife's slumbering form, but above that, his vision focused to see his own reflection. He had become more hardened, stricter, and focused on what he wanted more and more with each attempt. This time however, he needs to know that what he's doing isn't the answer, it's a way to deflect moving past it.

"This time... I will make things right."

With that, he gave the containment unit one final glance before going to his elevator, hoping for a decent night's rest instead of his usual all nighters to avoid any dreams.

And maybe, just maybe, things for everyone else will be for the better.

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A/N: May be wordy but I believe that there's more to Gabriel than just the one guy who makes one mistake after the other, and needed that known. It's why I wrote this, to further explore his own guilt and actions to make things, and maybe make things better for all those in the series.