Chapter Text
A week later…
On Avelyn's wall hung a clock that blinked a very unholy 5:01 am.
Avelyn stared on, with her back against her beanbag, as she flipped through one of her drama scripts on the tablet. Flamme floated nearby in a lazy abandonment with her eyelids drooping, presumably mourning every wrong turn that had led to her bonding with a teen who regarded sleep as a myth.
"Why are we awake again?" Flamme grunted from the comfort of her floating puff of a throw pillow.
“Because I have school and if I go back to sleep again now, I won’t wake up on time, and Mr. Chao will scold me in silence with that creepy stare of his from behind the wheel, ” Avelyn muttered back. Just then, the phone buzzed in her lap. There appeared a name she had not expected in such an early hour on her screen.
Adrien 🐾 calling…
Avelyn blinked in confusion but also lit up with realization. Her thumb slammed the answer button with unnecessary force. “HAPPY BIRTHDAY, YOU NUGGET!!” There was a startled pause on the other end before Adrien's sleepy laughter filled the line. "Wow, you remembered?"
"Of course I did," she said, grinning widely. "I put it on my calendar and in my head, even if I have a smooth brain. Double storage, Agreste."
"Thanks," he said. "I… just wanted to call. See what you were up to." Avelyn squinted at her screen. "Adrien, why are you up at 5 a.m.?" she would ask with suspicion. "Did someone finally replace your pillows with marble slabs or something? Or did Mister Agrouche wake you up just for the sake of it?"
He laughed uneasily. "Nah, nothing like that. Just thought I'd get ready early... thought I'd go to school ahead of time today."
"...On your birthday?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. Adrien hummed something vague in reply.
"I swear, you're so weird, dude. Who wakes up early on their own birthday to come to school?" Avelyn complained as she reclined with a moan. There was a moment of silence, and then she added in a softer tone, "But you know I've moved now, so I'm not going to be late". There was an uncomfortable level of lowering in her tone. "Unfortunately."
"Yeah," Adrien agreed, voice full of amusement. "But now you've got to commute at sunrise every day." She rolled her eyes. "It's like the universe is training me to be a rooster." He laughed out loud at that. "Well, it would be nice… I mean, like.. to go or..I-I mean meeting at school… together." After blinking for some seconds, Avelyn stared at her ceiling. "Yeah... what time again are you getting there?"
"Probably around seven-fifteen," he said. "I told Nathalie I'd be ready early." She nodded. "Okay, cool… Guess we'll suffer the morning fog together then."
"Looking forward to it," Adrien said, voice soft and genuine. Avelyn scoffed and then flopped sideways on her beanbag. "Whatever, birthday boy."
"See you then, Emberhead."
The girl’s heart was damn near about to jump out of her ribcage, but she remembered that Adrien didn’t know who she was. She groaned, “Don’t make me regret being nice!” she yelled playfully before he laughed at her, then ended the call. Avelyn tossed her phone aside, exhaled noisily, and Flamme opened one eye. "He really woke you up just to talk at 5 a.m.?"
"Not really," Avelyn grinned. "I was already awake. But still… Who in the world calls someone on their birthday just to ask what they're doing?" Flamme yawned. "A sweet boy. And you like it."
"Shut up." The little kwami drifted toward Avelyn's hair, chuckling. "You said 'Happy birthday, you nugget'...so romantic." She began to mock the girl as she giggled.
"FLAMME—!"
Adrien's POV- 5:09 a.m.
The call ended with a soft click, leaving a fuzzy warmth in his chest. Adrien stared a second longer at the screen; her contact photo still shining faintly, a blurry picture she once took of a firecracker and insisted "looked like him when he smiles too much." he didn't even argue with her.
Then the glow faded, leaving him back in the dim blue-gray quiet lighting of his giant room. His smile gradually faded away. The boy exhaled and let the phone fall beside him on the nightstand. For now, he just lay there, his golden hair now tousled from all the tossing and turning, staring up at the ceiling.
It never worked. No matter how soft the mattress was, no matter how luxurious the sheets were, he always felt an odd kind of cold every birthday morning. It had always been like that. He sighed to himself as he ran his fingers through his golden locks.
Another year…
He’s turned another year older. Another year with people congratulating a version of him that lived only on magazine covers, a version they really didn’t know but enjoyed. And another year… of not having the one person who treated him like he mattered most in the world here with him… today and in this very moment. His mother, Emilie Agreste.
And now, once again, vibrating on the nightstand, his phone was undisturbed. Adrien had again reached out instinctively and tapped the screen. A flood of notifications poured in.
— “Happy birthday, Prince Adrien! I hope your dad gives you a golden pony this year lol.”
— "The most beautiful boy in Paris! 😍 Hope your day is as perfect as your face!"
— "HBD Adrien! This is a fan edit I made of your runway moments."
— "C'mon @adrienagreste notice me.. it's your bdayyyy 🥺🫶 #SunshineBoy #AgresteBirthday"
Some hashtags were already trending with this name. Edited videos. Confetti gifs. People lip-syncing on the internet while dressed "like Adrien."
He blinked, set his phone face down on the bed, and then sighed. Not that he wasn't grateful. It just felt… so empty.
All this love, all this noise, and none of them knew what his favorite video game was, none of them had seen him cry on a rooftop, none of them knew that he couldn't stand duck à l'orange, they probably think he would like it because of his status, or that he slept with socks on in winter. Which is normal, but they were long and colourful socks.
There was Adrien Agreste, a model. Not Adrien Agreste, a person. Only a handful of people saw that part of him now. His friends. His kwami. And... lately, Avelyn.
He smiled softly, as though just thinking of how she said "HAPPY BIRTHDAY YOU NUGGET!" without a hint of hesitation, as if it were an everyday occurrence to call him something as ridiculous as that at five in the morning.
And then… plop. A soft, small mass thudded onto his head. "Plagg," he murmured. The kwami sighed and settled into a comfortable nest on Adrien's unruly bed hair. "Too early for humans, or birthday wishes. Go back to sleep." With a sigh, he nearly knocked the kwami off him as he was sitting up. "Can't. I said I was going to make it early."
Plagg hovered lazily in the air, squinting at him like a floating raisin with wings. “You could’ve not said that. You could’ve stayed in bed like a normal teen. Or used your birthday as an excuse.” Adrien trudged toward the bathroom. “I don’t want to be home when Father comes back.”
Plagg floated closer. “…He’s out of town again?” Adrien nodded, turning on the faucet and letting the water rush into the marble sink. Not bothering with the mirror, he splashed cold water on his face. The water was colder than usual. Or perhaps it only felt like it due to the hollowness behind his eyes.
He dried himself, muttering softly. "I just didn't want to wake up completely alone today." He didn't say much more. Didn't really need to. Plagg got it.
Adrien grabbed his towel and some clothes to change into, passing the mirror one last time. He hesitated for just a moment, maybe looking at himself, his blonde hair all crazy, eyes slightly swollen from not sleeping properly, and that same practiced smile beginning to creep in as if someone else was in the house.
Except no one was. Not even a father—or a cake. Just him and himself. "Let's just get this day over with," he mumbled, advancing for the bathroom door. He thus closed the door behind him. Plagg slouched on the sink and sighed, "Happy birthday, kiddo, even though you prefer not to recognize it at all."
Early Morning, Françoise Dupoint…
The morning mist still lingered in the schoolyard, and the sky had just begun to brush against shades of light lavender and pale gold as the first group of early-arriving students trickled in. Avelyn adjusted the strap of her plush orange cat bag and sighed heartily, her breath curling in the chill of the Parisian morning.
Flamme peeked from her sleeve, but they remained silent. For once, the little fireball seemed jolly enough to stay quiet and warm.
Her legs walked on autopilot as always, into the school gates, the reminiscent squeak of her sneakers, and a muted sound from outside of someone sweeping leaves nearby. Rubbing her eyes to awaken, she forced herself into a mood better than the one she woke up with.
"Morning, Avelyn!" shouted a voice at the other end.
Avelyn blinked and looked up to see Aurore Beauréal, dressed as always in a pale lavender or lilac top, waving at her in the vicinity of the main doors, standing beside one of her friends, Mireille Caquet, giggling over something on Mireille's phone.
Avelyn gave a small wave back, walking up the steps with a half-smile. "Hey, Aurore. Mireille. You two are always here before the sun or something?" Mireille smirked. "Aurore keeps on insisting that we have to beat the doom bells and the gloomy classmates. Her words, not mine."
"Really, I just like watching the city wake up," Aurore shrugged with a bit of smugness. "It's peaceful... and I don't really like having to rush around." Avelyn nodded knowingly. "Can't blame you for that. I'm also waking up with the birds now. That's not by choice, but apparently my internal clock finds it funny."
Aurore snorted. "Girl, same. But hey, you look good though, and love the bag." Avelyn glanced down at her round cat shaped accessory that made her grin more widely. "Thanks. It's my emotional support feline." They both chuckled at that, and for a brief moment, the coldness of the morning didn't seem so heavy.
She sighed, stepped in, and took her new usual seat by the window, dropping her bag unceremoniously and stretching her arms before her. Over the days spent in school, she opted to sit somewhere else instead of cramping Alya and Marinette. ‘Another day... But at least she was no longer alone in it,’ she thought.
She took a glance at her phone and smiled a little. Adrien had read her last message, but there was no reply to it yet. But that’s okay since he'd arrive soon.
A few minutes later, the boy had finally arrived, slipping into the ill-tempered classroom with his back perfectly straight, and a second layer of exhaustion washed away by a thin veil of politeness on his beautiful face.
Two steps into the classroom, and the students there were greeting him with ‘Happy Birthdays’, the boy gave them genuine smiles as he thanked them for the wishes and gifts. He was about to sit down in his seat when he felt her look on him.
Avelyn was lounging at her desk near the back, one eyebrow raised as if she had waited the whole morning just to roast him.
She sat a few seats away from Alix, Kim, and Max, who were engaging in their usual talk about some race, a game, or a science experiment, in a low tone audible in the background. A few days back, Miss Bustier, with her ever-considerate attitude about the students, had gotten everybody to shift seats, saying that “this is just to give everybody a nice fresh view,” with a bright smile.
By now, most of the class had already returned to their favorite spots. Marinette and Alya were sitting in the second row beside the hallway windows again. Marinette gave Avelyn an apologetic look, but the girl shook her head with a smile. Chloé, to her loud irritation, had been moved to the left front row next to Adrien, to the right side of the class. Avelyn hadn’t argued when her new seat was given in the back. She seemed more relieved than ever.
She said that she didn’t want to “crowd” Alya and Marinette, especially since their classes and lunchtime were already spent together. But to tell the truth? She enjoyed the quietness. The space. The distance. And also, she could pretend to be an anime protagonist as she listens to one of her favourite genres, nighcore.
The fact that she could stretch her legs and throw shade without it getting back to Miss Bustier was the best thing that had ever happened to her.
"I bet you're feeling like you've already lived five Mondays today," Avelyn threw over her head, smirking, not bothering to lift her head from her hand.
Adrien turned to her with an exasperated sigh. "I have actually, and it's not even eight o’clock yet." He made his way to the back, paying no heed to the whispers and silent glances of his fellow students, who were silently commenting on his birthday as they passed. Another ping came from his phone. Another brief video of some influencer he didn't even follow, wishing him a "HBD 💛💫 stay golden bb!" Adrien locked the screen and gave it a slight glare.
Avelyn shot him a glance as he slumped into the seat next to her, dropping his bag with an audible thud. "Let me guess... Nathalie?"
“Not her, but the fans. Also, she canceled everything for today, but it still feels like I am doing everything wrong somehow."
"You poor, tragic, tortured soul," said Avelyn in a deadpan tone while giving him an imaginary pat on the shoulder. "Really, no one suffers the way you do."
Adrien chuckled softly. "Yeah, yeah. Make fun of me all you want, just don't have anyone else sing that birthday song. I heard it already in six different languages this morning."
"I’m not making fun of you~ but I will sing it in Mandarin for you if you want. And… I’ll do it off-key to add some flavor."
"...Please don't."
"You can't stop me."
They laughed as they teased and poked each other, with glimmers of something true appearing in Adrien's eyes once again. Avelyn started singing ‘Happy Birthday’ off-key in her second language while Adrien tried to cover her mouth in flustered embarrassment as the few students looked at their direction.
Alya was perched not too far, watching the drama unfold from the side of the front row seat. She glanced sideways at Marinette, and the tension in the other girl's face spoke volumes. Her frowny gaze was fixed on the two at the back.
"They're getting along pretty well nowadays, aren’t they?" Marinette said softly.
“You say that about them every time, Marinette…” Alya sighs as she directs all her attention to Marinette. "Yes, they are. But you know Vel. She really bonds with everybody when she wants to."
"I know. It's just… does it have to be him? It’s kind of strange to see them laugh like that…together. I didn't expect them to bond this quickly."
"She probably needed a distraction," Alya said softly, placing a hand on her best friend's arm. "You know how stressed she's been with her dad and the whole moving thing again. It’s Adrien's birthday, maybe she just wanted to… I don’t know… put a little smile on his face?"
Marinette compressed her lips and felt stupid. "You're still her best friend, Mari" Alya reminded her with an amused grin, "Don't go pulling a Chloé on us now." That won her a scoff laugh, "I won't! I swear! I'm just… trying to figure out where my place is in his life."
“His life? Or her?” They turned to look at Avelyn, who, at that instant, leaned in and whispered something that made Adrien emit an unguarded laugh so hearty, he had to place a fist over his mouth as he nudged Avelyn with the other. Alya rolled her eyes, sighing, “Maybe starting up a conversation would be very nice.”
"She's always had that effect on people," Marinette whispered as she paid her no mind. Alya deadpanned, then snorted. She gave Marinette a curved smile as she leaned against the wall, repeating the same thing before but differently, “You know… You can have that effect on Adrien too… if you were to just… I don’t know~ Talk to him?~” Marientte looked at her, embarrassed and nervous.
The two, unaware of their surroundings, hadn’t seen that Avelyn had been watching from the corner of her eyes. Between her and the Post-it notes, her pen floated just above her notebook, hardly moving. There was a tight feeling in her chest that she was trying to swat off like a fly. It was stupid… really stupid—Marinette was her best friend, so it’s okay to have another best friend to talk to, right?
She knew it. Alya’s great, and she’s her bestie too, right? And yet to see the two of them leaning in, whispering, smiling a little more with each other...It twisted her stomach. She used to do that with her just a year ago, too.
A glance away and at her notebook as her fingers tapped restlessly against the paper. ‘Maybe I could invite them to go out with me for something… like at the museum for a history assignment? Or the arcade?’ Her phone vibrated lightly on her lap, but she chose to ignore it and tilt her head just a little.
She felt movement beside her, and she almost forgot that Adrien was sitting there. That is when she looked up at him. The boy had just come back from a small, laughing high session, after having cracked up at something that Max whispered from the other side. The sound had surprised everyone because it was loud, unfiltered, and real.
Not only that…It was beautiful. Avelyn had heard the boy’s laugh before, but boy was it music to her ears. But now he was quieter. Slumped in his seat slightly, eyes glassy from all the fatigue behind his practiced smile. He looked to Avelyn as if to say something, but stopped short; she was already watching him.
A small, sweet smile curled Avelyn's lips as she turned to him properly. Hardly above a whisper, her voice made itself known. "I love seeing you happy. You should smile more, you know?" Adrien blinked. His breath had caught for a brief instant but not enough to give himself away to anyone. A sudden warmth had spread in his chest. He didn’t speak, he just stared at her with semi wide eyes.
Then her fingers reached out almost imperceptibly under his eyes, slowly caressing the skin gently. He shivered at the gentle touch. "You have little dark rings under your eyes," she said softly, her thumb gliding across that fragile skin. She gave him a concerned smile. "You need better sleep, birthday boy." He felt as though he could start melting into her palm right then and there. He breathed through his nose. ‘She’s right…’
Before he could return any comment, there was a loud groan from the front. "HELLOOOO?? Earth to flirty weirdos in the back? Some of us are trying to exist in peace before class starts!"
And there was Alix, half-turned in her seat while raising an eyebrow at them. Kim burst into laughter while Max looked utterly bewildered and a little worried.
Avelyn blinked, then burst out laughing very loudly. Her and Kim’s laughter matched each other and echoed throughout the classroom as they threw their heads back.
"Wǒ duìbùqǐ! (I’m sorry!)" She said with a grin, still giggling as she turned her body to face the trio in front of her. Alix gave her a fake glare. "I swear, if you guys start acting like one of those cheesy school dramas, I'm gonna walk out of this class and leave." Adrien gives her a flustered laugh, saying, “It wasn’t anything like that.”
A few minutes later, Miss Bustier came into the classroom. "Alright everyone, time to get back to your seats. I hope you all did your homework for the week.” Everyone groaned, returning to their seats. Adrien waved at the four friends and went towards his seat in the front.
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It was currently 11:37 a.m. Crispy with the warmth of early spring sunlight, the courtyard seemed to cast thin shadows through the trees inside. The school decided to end a bit early today for some reason, leaving all the students either happy or surprised. Avelyn stepped forward with her shoes crunching lightly on the concrete path next to Max, Kim, and Alix.
She had laughed more in the past five minutes with them than she had all week. Kim's terrible impersonations, Max's complicated plans on what they could do, and Alix subtly calling them both idiots. It felt so...easy. Fun. ‘Finally! I get to go home and and leave early? Now all we have to do is make this thing and kidnap the birthday boy for a while.’ So when he called her name over her shoulder, her feet gave way before her shoulders ever did. (embarrassing~)
"Avelyn!" His voice was bright but slightly hesitant. She turned around to find him jogging toward them, hands stuffed in his pockets, blond hair tousled by the wind. The smile was faint, almost warm; the kind he wore when he wasn't quite sure what to say yet.
"Hey," she said, watching him slow to a stop just a few feet in front of her. "Are you busy right now?" he asked, glancing briefly at her friends behind her.
"Yeah–well..not really? Something wrong?" she asked, turning her head in the group's direction. Adrien started fidgeting with his shirt; his words lingered in the air, warm but hopeful. “...so I was wondering if.. maybe we could spend some time with Alya, Marinette, and Nino? You know, before I leave?"
Avelyn's hands gripped the strap of her orange cat bag tightly. She smiled at him softly, but not quite able to conceal her hesitation. “Sorry, birthday boy,” she said gently, tilting her head toward the trio waiting for her near the courtyard gate. “I promised Kim, Max, and Alix I’d help them with something after school. Gamer group business n’ all that.”
His lips curved downward a bit. "Sounds… fun." His tone was polite— a little too polite.
The girl nodded once, without allowing her own mask to slip. "It will be…" What she didn't mention was that "business" also included sneaking over to Kim's house to bake him a surprise birthday cake. Already, she could picture Kim attempting to crack eggs like a pro and spilling shells into the batter, Max measuring in exact quantities like they were working on a science project, and Alix requiring neon-colored frosting because "boring cakes are a crime."
Having Adrien share it with her would spoil the whole thing. She knows the boy is not too keen on surprises, but she can’t spoil this gift for him. "See you…… later?" she whispered as she slowly backed away to join the others.
Adrien furrowed his brows, and his gaze darted in her direction for a half-second before he said, "Yeah… Later." The tight-mouthed smile crept onto his face again—the smile she'd once seen, the smile that says he's okay but he's not OK. The boy slowly and hesitantly left her to join the others.
She almost called after him… Almost. Rather, she took a step back, and the distance between them widened.
He stood there while she drifted back into step with Kim, Max, and Alix, her shoulders falling into their easy rhythm of jokes and conversation, and his warmth in the chest faded, leaving him with a familiar ache. Birthdays meant nothing to him: just an excuse to tolerate all these people who wanted him to be nice for them, but part of him had been wishing, in recent times, that she'd remain behind.
‘Why am I acting like it’s the end of the world? It’s fine,’ he told himself. ‘She has her own friends too, and Marinette’s her best friend so it’s totally fine… cool… And it’s not like you’re alone…yea.. You have Nino, Marinette, and Alya to hang out with while you wait…’
Still, his feet felt heavier than they should as he turned toward the entrance and went inside to meet the others at the far end of the courtyard. The three sat there at a bench with Alya laughing at what Nino had said and Marinette’s head deep into her sketch book. Plagg floated just high enough to peek out of the boy’s satchel, eyes half-lidded.
“Relax kid, what's one day without one friend? You have plenty of em’ right over there. "
Adrien remained quiet. He just put his hands in his pockets and smiled before Marinette, Alya, and Nino could observe anything else. His smile was wide and smooth as he greeted them. Nino began a half-angry complaint about the birthday plans that had been postponed due to his father's restrictions, but Adrien dismissed it almost quickly, switching subjects like he always did when things threatened to get too real.
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As Avelyn stepped into Kim's gated driveway, she knew she wasn't merely stepping into any home.
The magnificent, tall lacquered wooden door quietly opened, revealing a sprawling modern house that seemed to have been taken straight from a lifestyle magazine. Curved eaves with dark, polished tiles seemed to be a little nod to the more traditional Vietnamese architecture, while clean white walls and floor-to-ceiling glass panels reflected warm Parisian sunlight that streamed through those lights.
A winding stone path cut through a lush courtyard of potted orchids, dwarf lemon trees, and tall bamboo stalks that whispered tenderly to one another. This space was the perfect fusion of cultures. The scents identifiable in the air were faint with lemongrass and butter, as though some dinner and dessert were being cooked simultaneously.
Smooth marble floors patterned with delicate engravings in lotus patterns led them into a broad living area that seamlessly married sleek French furniture with carved-wood panels from Vietnam with sumptuous silk cushions.
Above, the light coming was pouring down through a skylight, bathing everything in a warm afternoon light.
"Kim… this place is...wow," Avelyn murmured as she tilted her head up to view the extremely high ceiling with its dark exposed beams.
Kim grinned with pride at that, threw his bag on a low velvet couch, and said to Avelyn, “Thanks. My dads just remodeled the house. They went crazy over Pinterest boards and designs.”
Max was already scrolling through his phone, the glasses flashing under the light. “Aside from Pinterest, we have a mission. This cake must be up to perfection—not just edible but perfect.” He looked towards Kim as the boy was eating dried banana chips.
Alix slipped off her sneakers and lined them up beside the door with a smirk, “Perfect for Adrien, or perfect for you to brag about later?”
“Both,” was Max's reply, with his head down and not even sparing her a glance as he searched for the ingredients.
The kitchen was a drawing itself, with modern French appliances set against pale wood cabinetry, a polished black granite island, and a cook's backsplash of jade tiles that shimmered faintly in the light. A bamboo steamer was perched on the counter beside a line of copper pans, while a ceramic rooster from the far corner watched over the room like a silent gaurd.
Avelyn looked at the interior and sighed, wishing her father could be as creative as this.
Kim flung the pantry door wide open, and the voice echoed slightly within that big empty space. "So guys... I was thinking about coconut cake."
Avelyn's brow shot up, already liking the sound of that. "Coconut?"
"Yeah," said Kim, plucking out shredded coconut and a bag of flour. "My papa usually makes this for the Lunar New Year sometimes. But instead of some plain cream filling, we'll go with mango jam. Something sweet and tropical but not too heavy. You know?"
Max finally looked up from his phone, nodding. "Mango goes excellently with coconut. We'll just adjust the sweetness using a little lime zest in the frosting." Avelyn jumps in excitement, “Ohh! That sounds so good. I can’t wait to clean the bowl!”
Kim scrunched his face and turned to her, denying, “Nuh uh, the one who gets to clean the bowl would be me!”
Max rolled his eyes playfully as he fixed his glasses, “No one's going to clean anything, I’m not going to waste batter for your enjoyment.” The two friends frowned at that.
“Awww, no fair.”
“You’re no fun.”
Alix rolled up her sleeves. "Okay, fancy chefs and taste testers. Let's get on with it before Adrien turns forty and Avelyn’s dad stalks Kim’s house."
The four kids easily fell into rhythm. Kim measured out the flour and sugar while Avelyn separated eggs, her hands moving with careful precision. Max hovered over the recipe like a drill sergeant, making sure each ingredient was measured perfectly before it went into the mixing bowl. Alix handled the coconut milk, pouring it into the batter with exaggerated grace as if on a cooking show.
Coconut milk and sugar wafted into the kitchen, warm, sweet, and mingling with the tangy zest of freshly grated lime peel. The batter was smooth and pale, with tiny specks of coconut shining. When they finally poured it into the pans, Avelyn couldn't help but smile as the faint shimmer of the batter caught the light glinting off the surface of the kitchen counter.
Kim whooshed the cake pans into the oven and eased back against the counter with a contented sigh. "And now we wait."
Waiting, however, didn’t equate to lazing around. While the cake baked, they were busy making their thick, golden-orange mango jam filling fragrant with ripe mango fruit. The moment Avelyn stirred it, the fragrance hit her as bright and sunny, reminding her of beaches and warm afternoons far away from Paris.
"This smells... like happiness, one taste wouldn’t hurt anyone~" she murmured, dipping a finger into it for a taste.
Max immediately slapped her wrist with the spatula, and the girl hissed and looked at him with a glare. "Ow!~" "That's for the cake!" She stuck her tongue at him.
The timer chimed, and the kitchen became a cloud of warm, sweet aroma. The cakes came out golden and lightweight, with the tops just starting to crack from the heat. As they cooled, the group crowded around to watch Alix slice each layer carefully, the steam curling up from the fresh sponge. Kim came up to the side of her and frowned, "Who made her the boss again?" The other two shrugged as they just let her do the rest. "I don't know, I just let her do whatever since I can't cut cake layers for shit." Avelyn said as she motioned towards the beautifully cut layers. Max snorted at that as he said, "Same."
They spread generous amounts of mango jam between layers and let it ooze slightly at the edges before smoothing the lime-kissed cream frosting over the entire cake. Avelyn sprinkled toasted coconut flakes over the top while Kim carefully pressed thin slices of fresh mango into a floral pattern. Avelyn saw some white chocolates and decided… why not, if he doesn’t eat it, she’ll just have to eat the rest for him. She then spread the pieces of chocolate on the cake.
Alix stepped back, arms crossed, as she admired their amazing work. "It's perfect." Avelyn gazed at it. "It's even better than perfect. It's… amazeballs." Alix then laughed in confusion.
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After Avelyn and the crew finished the cake decorations, it was time for the others to head on home for the afternoon. Mr. Chao met Avelyn at a nearby pastry shop and greeted her with a sweet, polite smile.
“Ready for your big day today, Miss Avelyn?”
“What big day? Was there something I missed that father will ‘scold‘ me for later?”
“No… but it is something you should prepare for…Your father wants to meet with you in his training room, once we get back home…”
“Oh..okay…” As the car drove by buildings, Avelyn was confused and partly scared that she might’ve missed or done something wrong. It doesn’t seem like it would be bothering Mr. Chao that much anyway, so…
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How big is the training hall in the mansion of Cadieux? I guess if it were a school gymnasium, you could throw it inside twice and still have space left to spare. The extravagantly polished wood floor seems to go on infinitely, as if inlaid with gold patterns that shine and swirl toward the center, creating an ornate, almost battle-scarred appearance.
Walls were sky-high, crowned with towering windows draped in deep crimson silk with their folds pooling dramatically on the floor as a few blew with the open window breeze. Faint incense mingled in the air and brush stung with the sharper scent of oiled wood, the ghost of steel being weapons displayed along one wall—spears, swords, and staves, all gleaming like museum pieces.
In the middle of the hall stood Guiren. Barebacked, with his skin taking in the warm modern chandelier light, his defined muscles flexing subtly at each shift of his weight. He had white cloth tightly wound on his forearms and wrists, worn but in an orderly manner, as if even the word "battle" had a certain standard.
His expression was unreadable—eyes sharp, posture as still and deliberate as though a statue carved from discipline. And it shouldn’t have bothered Avelyn at all, she’s so accustomed to his expressions, but somehow…this one does not feel right.
And Avelyn stepped inside with the soft thunk of her sneakers, which was swallowed by sheer space. She had on her fitted blue-and-red sports shirt and shorts, her twin buns secured but messy, wisps of hair stuck to her forehead from the day. She takes a look around the imposing vastness of the room, repressing the urge to whistle at its sheer size.
Avelyn couldn’t understand for the entirety of her life, WHY her father would build such a STUPIDLY WIDE ROOM THAT HAS NOTHING BUT THINGS AND WEAPONS THAT HER FATHER CAN’T OR DOESN’T USE. She can feel a headache coming on already. A man who has so much money, a billionaire, has spent his money on such an enormous room. Guiren's gaze rolled over her in one cool, efficient sweep before he asked, "How was your day?"
‘Shit, why did that scare her?’ She wasn’t expecting him to talk out of the blue like that but kept her voice even. "Fine… Did some work with friends. Nothing too big."
He nodded slowly, like he was storing this answer for future reference. "So, do you remember what we talked about?"
She blinked, picking through her memories before it finally hit her. Oh… Her first sparring session. With her emotionally repressed father. The session she'd promised to turn up for…apparently not just for today, but regularly, daily, for the rest of her small, boring life? Let’s hope not. She shifted her weight. "Uh-huh…Totally."
The faintest crease formed between his brows, as if he knew she was lying. "…"
Avelyn changed her stance; knees bent, fists loose but ready to strike. The shirt clung just a little after the warm-up stretches earlier, and her hair frizzed up slightly from all the pacing she had done while waiting for her dad to say anything.
Finally, Guiren raised…two fingers. She blinked. ‘Uh…okay? What’s this, the peace sign? Since when does he—’
A dome surrounded them. And not just any dome, this thing glimmered like blown glass watered by the ocean and kissed by the moonlight. Dark blue, silver, and faint glimmers of green rippled across its surface, throwing out shifting shadows over the room. Avelyn's breath caught as she looked with wide eyes. "Okay… what in the actual—" Flamme popped her head out of the girl's clothes, “Avelyn, this doesn’t feel right, maybe we should go back to your—”
"Shì shí hòu tán tán zhèng jīng shì er le (It’s time we had a serious talk,)" Guiren quietly answered, stepping slowly forward.
Then her father's form began to change right before her very eyes. First, his skin. A shine rippled across it, like molten silver poured just beneath the surface, solidifying into overlapping layers of blue and silver scales. Each glimmer of scales cleverly caught light, just dimming the rays to an awe of anxiety upon staring. Steel-blue eyes turned darker, deeper, as if someone condensed storm clouds into pure, weaponized intimidation. Avelyn was now totally terrified by what was happening to her father.
His hair grew longer and flowed silkily past his shoulders where glacial blue streaks hung swaying in an invisible current. The fingers? definitely claws now, were tipped in dark metallic indigo blue that looked way too sharp to be legal. Suppose some poor random passerby had walked in right now. In that case, they'd probably shriek, turn with their non-existent tail between their legs, or throw themselves dramatically on the floor, clutching their pearls and monologuing about how he's the most beautiful wuxia-looking man alive.
Avelyn felt uneasy, who would’ve thought thaat her own father would get akumatized. "…Lǎobà? Nǐ–nǐ yǒudiǎnr bǎ wǒ xià huài le (… Old man? You–you’re kinda freaking me out.)"
“Hǎo. (Good.)”