Chapter Text
Charles laid on his bed, not registering the knocking on the door. Since the fight with Flashback, and the subsequent public outing and arrest of Gabriel Agreste, he had spent the last couple of days in a daze. Edwin had been fretting, worried about the apparent disappearance of Chat Noir. Ever since Hawkmoth had been beaten, and his miraculous jewels recovered by the superhero team, Chat Noir had yet to show his face. When interviews concerning the event took place, it was always Ladybug alone answering the questions and calming the masses. Niko and Crystal, who now seemed inseparable and were always cuddling or holding hands, tried to comfort Edwin by telling him that the hero probably just didn’t want to deal with the publicity, but Edwin seemed to be intent on fretting over the cat boy, almost as if he knew something the rest of them didn’t.
Charles was thinking about Adrien, Gabriel’s son. Nobody had heard from him, either. Authorities said he was safe and was being questioned, but Charles couldn’t help but wonder if the other boy was okay.
He was also worried about the Night Nurse. She seemed to have bonded with Gabriel Agreste’s employee, a stern woman named Nathalie Sancoeur, and was spending all her time with the other woman, “discussing logistics,” whatever that meant. Whenever she came by the hotel to make sure the agency members were doing alright, she had evaded Charles’ questions about her own well-being.
To be fair, he was avoiding her inquiries as well.
Between Niko and Crystal’s new relationship and Edwin being stressed over Chat Noir, nobody seemed to notice how out of it Charles was. Nobody except Jenny. She had been there when he had spilled his guts to Flashback. Charles would catch Jenny sending him knowing, concerned looks, but she didn’t pry or bring it up.
It seemed both Charles and Jenny both thought they preferred to suffer in silence.
KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK!
Charles sat upright, finally realizing that someone had been knocking at the door for a while now. Edwin was with the girls in the other room, watching Scooby Doo to try and calm down, so nobody had been there to snap Charles out of it. He jogged to the door and threw it open.
Chat Noir stood there, with two girls - Marinette and Kagami - standing behind him with their hands intertwined.
“Hey,” Chat Noir said shyly, with a soft smile. “I’m looking for the Dead Boy Detectives?”
* * *
Charles leaned against the wall of the girl’s room, watching Crystal, Niko, Marinette, and Kagami converse, whispering and smiling, in a huddle while Edwin clutched Chat Noir in an abnormally long hug. The Night Nurse and Nathalie sat on one of the beds, conversing quietly. Jenny joined Charles in his corner, giving him a nod as a greeting. He nodded back.
“I've been incredibly worried about you!” Edwin berated the blonde hero, finally pulling away from the hug, but not letting go quite yet. “Are you going to explain where you've been? Actually, it doesn't matter. I am simply glad you have chosen to return and let us know you're okay.” He paused, tilting his head. “…Are you okay?”
Chat Noir chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck. Charles frowned, wondering why the movement seemed so familiar.
“I'm okay, I just had a bit of a shock. It was... a tough battle,” He looked down at his boots. “I actually wanted to talk to you all about something. I've already told Marinette and Kagami, and Edwin, you've figured it out as well, but… I think the rest of you deserve to know, too.”
Charles stood up straight, suddenly interested in the conversation. The girls stopped talking as well, turning their attention to the bashful hero in front of them.
“Now that my fa- er, Hawkmoth, has been defeated, Marinette and I have decided that it's okay to share our identities with the general public. Mostly for legal reasons. Which you'll understand when I, well-”
“Wait a tick,” Edwin interrupted. “Why would you need to decide this with Marinette?”
“Chat,” Marinette laughed. “Mixing up my identities already?” She turned to the others, lips spread in a wide, joyful smile. “I already told Chat and Kagami that I'm actually Ladybug.”
Everyone gasped in awe, except Nathalie, the Night Nurse, and Jenny, who simply said, “I'm not sure why anyone is surprised. It seems obvious to anyone with eyes.”
“Your turn,” Kagami nudged Chat Noir gently. “You cannot hide forever. They'll find out either way.”
Chat took a deep breath and glanced at Charles. He seemed nervous about revealing his identity to Charles in particular, and Charles couldn't figure out why.
“Claws in,” Chat rasped. a green light overtook him, traveling down his body and transforming him into a normal boy.
A boy that Charles instantly recognized.
“Adrien?” Charles gasped, absolutely flabbergasted. “ You're the cat boy Edwin is so taken with?”
“Charles? Adrien? You know each other?” Edwin looked back and forth between them, bewilderment evident on his features.
“Charles,” Adrien swallowed hard. “I am so sorry for running off the other night. I didn't want to reject your friendship, it's just… it felt like a lie. I couldn't stand having your friendship as Adrien when you hated me as Chat Noir.”
“Oh,” Charles said. “I don't hate you, mate. Never did. I was just. Well,” Charles looked at his feet. He didn't want to admit it, but he knew it was necessary. “I was a bit… jealous. I could tell you and my best mate were really hitting it off, and I wanted it to be me he was looking at like that.”
Shocked silence filled the room.
“Uh, I don't say that to try and make anyone feel guilty,” Charles rushed to clarify. “I just wanted to clear the air. I was really jealous, and if I'm being honest, I still am, just a bit. But what makes me happiest is seeing my best friend in the world so happy and free. As for our friendship,” Charles looked at Adrien and smiled gently. “I really enjoyed spending time with you. And my offer still stands. If you ever need a friend, as Adrien or Chat Noir, I'm here for you, mate.”
Adrien looked at Charles for a moment, long enough for Charles to worry that he had said something wrong, before the blonde boy rushed forward to tackle Charles into a hug. After taking a moment to process what was happening, Charles smiled and hugged him back.
“Wait,” Crystal interjected, raising her hand. “Pause. I hate to break up this beautiful moment but… Adrien. You're the son of the villain, aren't you?”
“Excuse you,” Marinette bristled. “Adrien fought off his father almost every day as Chat Noir. He didn't know his dad was Hawkmoth! I refuse to let you talk about one of my best friends like-”
“Whoa! That's not what I meant, sorry,” Crystal rubbed her temples with her fingers for a second. “I just meant, is he okay ? Like, what happens now?”
“Well, I had to go through a lot of questioning,” Adrien stepped away from Charles to face them all. “And it wasn't really getting anywhere until a friend of mine, Plagg, convinced me that it was best to show the police I was Chat Noir. Once I did that, they let me off the hook and recommended I tell the whole world to keep them off my ass. Nathalie is getting me a therapist, and Marinette’s parents want to adopt me. My father is gonna go to jail, you know, for being a terrorist.”
“And child abuse,” Nathalie informed them.
The room fell into an uncomfortable silence.
“So… yeah. I'm fine.” Adrien chuckled awkwardly.
“Somehow I don't think you are,” Charles frowned. “You can tell us the truth, you know. You don't have to hide how you're feeling.”
“Oh, well!” The Night Nurse suddenly spoke up. “So glad Charles pointed that out! Since he is so wonderful at following his own advice.”
“...What do you mean?” Crystal asked her slowly. Charles felt his nonexistent heartbeat quicken.
“You lot weren't around to hear his little speech,” The Night Nurse huffed. “About how he feels like he doesn't belong anywhere or have a purpose. About how he wishes he didn't exist.”
Charles didn't believe in God, but at that moment, he was praying that the earth would swallow him whole.
“No…” Edwin said, voice pained. He looked at Charles, eyes pleading. “Charles? You can't really believe all that?”
“I-” Charles wanted to lie. To say he was aces and then laugh it off and move on. But the words stuck in his throat. He pointed at the Night Nurse. “She said most of it first. About thinking she doesn't belong and all that.”
“Oh, Charlie,” Niko said as she put a hand on the Night Nurse’s shoulder, using the nickname Charles had suggested for her that only Niko seemed to be allowed to use. “It isn't true. I know we leave you out a lot, but it's because Edwin and Charles are scared of you-”
“Hey!” Charles protested weakly, even though it was true.
“-and we will try to show our appreciation a bit more. Cases have been a lot easier and more organized thanks to you, and I'm sure that we can soon be good friends.” Niko finished.
“Niko’s right,’ Crystal said as the Night Nurse sniffled in response to Niko’s kind words, touched. “ Every member of the Dead Boy Detectives is valuable.” She gave Charles a pointed look.
“Charles,” Edwin hadn't taken his eyes off Charles for a second, even as the others were comforting the Night Nurse. He stepped forward and laid his hands firmly on Charles’ shoulders and made unwavering eye contact. “Charles, you are my dearest friend, and nothing will ever change that. If you didn't exist, I… I don't know what I would do. There would be no point for my own existence.”
Charles opened his mouth to argue, but Edwin barreled on.
“I apologize if I ever made you feel unappreciated. You're my person, Charles, and you always will be. I'll spend the rest of our afterlives proving it to you if I have to,” He squeezed Charles’ shoulders gently and smiled his brilliant smile. “I love you, Charles.”
Charles stood in a room full of people who loved him, and finally allowed himself to feel their love. Their affection for him was overwhelming, and he wasn't able to stop himself from weeping.
* * *
A week later, Charles found himself practically shoving Niko and Edwin out the door.
“Are you sure you don't want to come with us?” Edwin asked, eyebrows crinkled in worry. Charles resisted the urge to reach out and smooth it out for him. He was trying to keep things platonic.
It was proving difficult.
“Someone should stay here with Charlie,” Charles murmured quietly in response to Edwin’s question. “I know how fascinating this case is to you. Go on ahead, I'll hang out with Charlie while you two are investigating.”
Crystal was out for the day. She had been trying to make amends with all her old friends. Some responded positively to Crystal’s change of heart, while others weren't so quick to forgive. Charles admired her determination. But he couldn't help but miss her when they had to crack a case without her sharp wit and psychic abilities.
“If you insist,” Edwin sighed. “Shall we head out, Niko?”
“I'd be delighted, Edwin,” Niko smiled at him and took his hand as they walked out the door together. Charles smiled fondly at their retreating forms, before turning around and heading to the Night Nurse’s room.
But she wasn't there. On her desk sat a note that explained she was off to visit Nathalie again.
Charles shook his head in mock exasperation. He liked to complain about her frequent trips to France, but was actually glad she had found love with someone equally as stern, snippy, and secretly soft-hearted.
Charles sat on the desk, pulling out one of Edwin’s comic books to read. He would be here alone for a while. Might as well make the most of it.
There was a knock at the door.
Jenny stood at the threshold, looking pissed, as usual. Charles smiled at her and let her in.
“Well,” Jenny sighed and threw herself on the sofa. “Looks like we're both dying alone.”
“I'm already dead,” Charles said. “And I technically wasn't alone when I died. Edwin was there.”
“You know exactly what I mean, wipe that sappy smile off your face,” Jenny snapped. “Aren't you annoyed that Edwin goes through the mirror to visit his cat boyfriend all the time? Doesn't it depress you, knowing nobody will love you back?” She groaned and threw her head back. “Love is for other people. It never works out for me. At least I'm not the only one.”
“Well, if I had that attitude, I would be upset too,” Charles admitted. “But to answer your question, I do get jealous. I still am in love with Edwin. But Adrien… he's a really great guy. He's kind, thoughtful, and cute too. He and Edwin deserve each other. I can't be angry about that.”
Jenny side-eyed him. “You aren't depressed?”
“Sometimes,” Charles shrugged. “But honestly, is being single all that bad? It's a popular belief that people aren't whole unless they find their “other half” or whatever, but we're all our own people, aren't we? As long as we have friends who care about us and who we care about in return… well. Things can be pretty aces, that way, I think.”
“...Huh,” Jenny frowned. “I guess I've been so focused on all the relationship bullshit that I didn't think about what other things make me happy. Maybe I've been neglecting my platonic relationships in favor of being bitter about my lack of a romantic relationship. Huh. Now I feel like a shitty friend.”
“I think it's pretty common, innit?” Charles grinned at her encouragingly. “To focus on the romantic side of things. As long as we eventually realize there's much more to life. Or, afterlife.”
Edwin burst through the door suddenly, eyes wide and crazed and hair windblown. Niko was close behind, grinning like a maniac and clutching her hands together.
“Charles, Adrien just texted me something incredibly interesting through Niko’s cellular phone,” Edwin blurted.
“What is it?” Charles stood up quickly, looking around for a threat. “Is something wrong?”
Edwin shoved the device into Charles’ hand, showing him the article Adrien had sent.
“Charles, have you ever heard of polyamory?”
“Well fuck,” Jenny grumbled.