Adrien's skin was warm and soft, and he couldn't help but be reminded of when he was much younger. He had never been good with children -- Adrien's mother had been the one to want them, and she'd wanted him so badly.

Despite Gabriel's frigid old heart, Adrien was impossible not to care for. That quality drew people naturally to him, but as he watched Marinette brush his hair back from his face, he began to understand. For her, it was more than that.

This was deeper than a partnership.

Gabriel regarded her carefully.

"... you may."

He paused, then skipped over the heavy bandaging on one side of Adrien's head. "He will be moved home as soon as possible. You are welcome to visit him there."

This was assuming the hospital would let him. But even if it turned out that Adrien went downhill, he wanted him at home. Not here, not in the hands of people he didn't know and personally background check, where anyone might walk in, where anyone might take his picture and capitalize on the Agreste affinity for misfortune, speculate on what might have put him there...

No. He would see to it.