Archive of Our Own

  Félix loved sunsets.

  Sunsets were like a calming blanket that wrapped around him, whenever he took the time to gaze at the oranges and pinks as they mixed together to eventually darken and form the night. And that was what he found himself doing now; watching the sun set slowly behind the endless buildings of Paris as he allowed the struggles of that day to fade away, the small aches in his bones momentarily forgotten as he was lost in the painted sky.

  He’d taken it a little far today; he’d broken into his uncle’s house, then his secret underground lair, if that was what he was going to call it. He’d discovered many things he’d wished to unsee, such as coming across his long-dead aunty, Émilie Agreste. He should have stopped there, he’d told himself, but his curiosity drew him further and he had soon come across the hideout of Monarch, which he found to be his uncle, Gabriel Agreste. The man himself at the time was nowhere to be found, so he’d decided to investigate the place, and he’d instantly regretted it. It had been heavily guarded, with various guns and defence systems. He’d been lucky to get out at all, escaping with a few bruises and getting out unseen. He was sure Gabriel would find out about his visit, but if he had a problem with him, he’d have to come and find him himself.

  He leaned back on the rooftop he currently sat upon, stretching and letting out a long yawn. He should go home, where his mother was probably worried sick about him. As usual. He loved his mother, he couldn’t deny that. She was one of the few people on this earth that he truly cared for, and one of the people who truly cared about him. And he wouldn’t trade it for the world. He just wished sometimes she wasn't so… worried . Which was nearly all the time. He stood, cracking his neck and rolling his shoulders. He hoped he’d get a decent rest tonight; he needed to think of how to make a move against his uncle, more preferably soon.

  He made it back to his home in quick timing, climbing down the roof and slipping quietly through the window. He would avoid alerting his mother if he could. He landed quietly on the floor, careful to not slam the window and closing it silently. He let out a long breath, allowing his tense and sore muscles to relax. He turned, and nearly jumped ten feet.

  “Félix!” His mother was staring at him, eyes wide and worried. “I thought we discussed no more vigilante work for a while?”

  Félix put a hand on his chest, calming his racing heart. “A little warning, thanks, mother.” He straightened, letting out a long breath. “And I wasn’t gone long. Just a little thing to take care of.”

  Amelie Fathom’s gaze narrowed in concern. “You’re hurt.” She stepped forward, making a move to help him. “Go sit down.”

  “I’m fine,” Félix snapped, but there was no heat behind his words. But he allowed his mother to lead him over to his bed, sitting down heavily upon it. “Duusu, fold my feathers.” His suit vanished at the words, the kwami coming out to flop down beside him on the bed.

  “Ooooh,” Duusu groaned, rubbing her head with her tiny hand. “That was a long one.”

  Amelie began to prod at Félix for injuries, albeit gently. He flinched away from her, wincing as she prodded at a sensitive spot on his ribs. He’d gotten a little unlucky when one of the big guns had set off an explosive in the lair, sending him flying into the wall and damaging some of his ribs. “I’ll get you some ice for that,” Amelie said, stepping away and disappearing without another word, before reappearing a moment later with said ice pack. Félix took it gratefully, lifting his shirt to apply it to his bruised ribs. He could hear the gasp from his mother as she took in the purple and blue bruises littered all over his side. “Félix…” She sighed.

  “It’s not as bad as it looks,” he tried, offering what little reassurance he could to his concerned mother. 

  She sat down on the bed beside him, pulling up the back of his shirt to investigate further for any more bruises. “What did you get into this time?”

  “Nothing unlike I haven’t done before,” he said, wincing as she poked at a newly forming bruise on his back. “Just got unlucky.”

  “I hope you weren’t looking into your uncle’s business again.”

  “Of course not.” The lie came easy, quick to his lips. “He holds no importance in my life, why should I bother a man who means so little to me?”

  “As you shouldn’t. I am glad to hear.” She rubbed her hand on his back, and he felt an unexpected sharp jab of pain, and he stiffened and straightened his back in the sudden pain, letting out a hiss. “Sorry, sorry, Félix.” She dropped his shirt, shifting on the bed to be seated beside him once again. A moment of silence passed between the too, until she spoke again, her voice soft. “I hope you know you can tell me anything, Felix. I will always love you.” She leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead. He stiffened on instinct, but didn’t move as she stood, offering him a soft smile full of the love of a mother as she walked to the door. “I’ll bring you both some food. You need the energy.” Then she was gone, closing the door behind her with a soft click.

  Félix sighed long and loud, flopping back down on the bed. “I might have messed up this time, Duusu.”

  “But you found what you wanted, right master?” Duusu asked, her voice tiny from where it was laying down beside him. “You found Monarch, didn’t you?”

  He did. But…he found he didn’t know what to do with the information. He wanted to strike out against his evil uncle, get his revenge for his cousin and all the people that he had harmed over the years, but he felt held back. After what he’d undergone today, he didn’t have the burning need to go and face Monarch. Instead, he simply felt exhausted and depleted from all determination, wanting to just fall asleep and forget about everything that happened today. So that’s what he did, closing his eyes and letting sleep come to him, his last conscious awareness of hearing Amelie enter his room, her soft voice fond.

  “Oh, Félix.”

  The next morning he felt much better to his surprise, his ribs still aching but his energy having slightly returned to his relief. He’d instantly had a brief breakfast thanks to his mother, and had quickly left after making sure Duusu was well fed. Amelie had been against it, but he’d insisted on leaving, having decided the best possible action to take next. After being forced to take a couple meds for the pain, he slipped on an oversized but comfortable black hoodie with black jeans, wanting to stay undercover and avoid unnecessary attention due to his similar appearance as his cousin, and rushed out of the house.

  The plan seemed simple; find Adrien, tell him about his father’s devious works, and he’d work on from there. His cousin had never had the brightest of minds, but if the two of them put their heads together, he might be able to help him discuss his next move. Adrien of all people deserved to know the truth about his father, no matter how hard it would hit him. He was a villain, for goodness sake. He deserved to know.

  His thoughts were broken as he heard a small clatter, and he looked down to see an old man had dropped his umbrella. He had knelt down, reaching for it weakly. Félix hesitated, almost annoyed at himself for even considering helping the old man, but he found himself kneeling down anyway and picking up the umbrella, handing it to the stranger with a strained smile. 

  The old man looked up, his old eyes wrinkling as he smiled. “Why, thank you young man.” He then froze, studying him further, confusion and surprise flitting across his gaze. “Why, you two do look familiar.” The words were whispered, but Fèlix heard every word. The old man walked on with another smile of gratitude, waving at him before he disappeared down the street. Félix watched him go, before shaking his head and tugging his hood down further, continuing his walk down the street. The old man must have assumed he was Adrien Agreste, the famous model known to all of Paris, shining light of the city. He let out a huff and and pushed the interaction out of his mind, focusing on the task at hand.

  Before he knew it, he was at the gates of the Agreste Mansion. He fell into his usual rhythm of stealth, walking past the gates and sticking close to the walls. There were security cameras everywhere, so it was difficult to find a place to transform for a bit, until he finally came to a safe spot. He pulled Duusu out of his pocket, watching as the kwami stretched its tiny limbs.

  “Alright, master! What’s the mission?”

  “I thought I told you to stop calling me master,” Félix reminded him, almost fondly. He pushed the feeling away, crushing it as it threatened to rise within him. You cannot be getting fond of a kwami.

  “Sorry, mas– I mean, sorry, Félix,” Duusu corrected herself, her eyes wide and eager.

  “We’re going to break into my cousin’s house,” Félix told her, quietening his thoughts as he prepared to transform.

  “Is that a good idea?” Duusu now seemed uncertain, almost surprised at Félix’s bluntness.

  “Yep. Duusu, spread my feathers!” Duusu’s further concerns were drowned out as she disappeared, bringing forth her magic to create the suit as it settled on Félix, the hood flipping over comfortably. He looked up at where he could see his cousin’s window, taking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly. You can do this. He deserves to know. Without further thought, he leapt up onto the wall, landing neatly atop it, then crouched low to survey the area. All the cameras seemed a while away, to his relief, and he prepared himself to jump. He could easily make it, if he pushed with enough power to reach his window. Luckily, it was open, so he could easily make the jump inside. He listened closely, waiting for any signs of other company in the room other than Adrien. When he found none, he checked the cameras one last time, finding none, and leapt up to the window.

  The moment his feet left the wall he knew he’d messed up. A spike of pain shot through his side, and it altered his planned jump. He instinctively went to clutch his side, which caused him to bend over mid-air, and he felt himself hit the side of the window roughly, sending another spike of pain through his ribs as he hit the carpeted ground hard. His side felt like it was on fire, and he instinctively curled in on himself, groaning. It didn’t feel this bad before… He opened his eyes against his will, not realising that he’d closed them. When he forced them open, he was met with the utterly shocked gaze of Adrien Agreste.

  “Felix!” His cousin was over at his side in an instant, helping him to sit up. Felix pushed him away, hissing as Adrien touched his sensitive ribs.

  “I’m fine,” he hissed, shoving Adrien away. He stood, wobbling a little as he gained his footing. His side screamed in protest, but he pushed it aside, favouring his left side as he took in a deep breath of air, then letting it out slowly to control himself.

  His cousin was staring at him like he’d just jumped off a building for no apparent reason at all, which he probably had the right to if Felix was being honest with himself. “Felix, what are you doing here? And what happened?”

  “Keep it down,” Felix snapped, walking over to his couch. Each step was an effort, but he tried to make it look normal as he sat down on the comfortable couch, hoping it didn’t look like he’d practically collapsed on it. I probably should have brought that ice pack.

  “Do you need something? Water? An ice pack?” His cousin seemed to read his thoughts, but he still shook his head in stubbornness.

  “I’m fine,” he insisted.

  “Absolutely not,” Adrien argued, crossing his arms. “You just flew in the window, completely missed the landing and now you’re hurt.”

  “Wasn’t the landing,” Felix muttered, his pride refusing Adrien to believe that a fall that bad could harm him.

  Adrien sighed, turning away and walking to somewhere in his room. “Well, whatever it is, you’d better start explaining.” He returned a moment later with an ice pack and a glass of water in his hands, sitting down beside him on the couch. He offered it wordlessly, his gaze demanding and stubborn. At first Felix refused it, but his ribs were telling him otherwise, and he knew his cousin would nag at him until he took at least one of them. So he reluctantly took the cup of water, beginning to sip at it slowly before downing the drink almost instantly once he realised how thirsty he really was. Adrien took the cup from him once he was finished, settling it on the small table in front of them, still holding the ice pack out to him expectantly. “This one too,” he pushed, his gaze determined.

  Felix let out a long breath and took the ice pack from his cousin, the coolness an instant relief to him, even on his hand. He pressed it to his side, letting out a small groan as the pain started to numb slowly, even through the suit. He rested his head back against the couch, closing his eyes and enjoying the coolness of the ice, aware of Adrien’s confused and curious eyes on him the whole time.

  “You want to tell me what happened?”

  “No.” Felix frowned. “Just the half of it.”

  “With the way you’re looking, you’ll be telling me all of it.”

  Felix held back a groan and forced his eyes open, sitting up straighter. His side was slowly going numb, and he felt some of his strength returning to him. “I have some… news , cousin.”

  “What news?” Adrien asked curiously.

  “I found…” He paused, wincing as he felt Adrien start to prod at him. “What –  Adrien, what are you doing?”

  “Checking for other injuries,” he responded casually. “Does this hurt?” He prodded hard behind his back, and Felix jerked away from him, hissing.

  “You – of course it bloody hurts!” Felix snapped, slapping Adrien’s hand away. “Keep your hands to yourself. I’m trying to help you, so just shut up and listen, and keep your hands to yourself!”

  “Fine!” Adrien threw his hands up, eyes wide. “Sorry. Continue.”

  Felix sighed, deciding to stand with the ice pack still pressed to his side. “I found Monarch.”

  Adrien’s eyes widened in shock, and he stood abruptly. “What?! You found Monarch? You know where his lair is? You – oh, Felix.” He’d clearly put two and two together, glancing at where Felix still held the ice pack to his side. His eyes widened even further, if that was possible. “You fought Monarch?”

  “No. I fought his defenses,” Felix corrected. “Turned out they packed quite a punch; I admit, I wasn’t prepared for it. But that’s not it, Adrien!” He turned to him, determination firing back up inside him. “I know who he is! I’ve discovered his identity!”

  “You know the identity of Monarch?” Adrien gasped, hand coming to his mouth.

  “Yes, cousin! Now we can finally…we can…” He trailed off, staring off into the gaze of his cousin. His eyes were wide with excitement and shock. It only hit him then that, if he were to share this information, it would absolutely wreck Adrien. His cousin was very closely connected to his father and, despite everything that he’d done to him, he still loved his father very much. Felix suspected this was mainly because Gabriel tended to control his mind because his cousin was a sentimonster, so Adrien was automatically likely to love his father and do whatever he’d tell him to. It burnt a fire in his chest, and he wanted nothing more than to utterly destroy his uncle, but he knew it would completely crush his cousin. And that…that was something he was not ready to do.

  Adrien was still staring at him, eyes wide. “Felix? What…you alright?”

  Felix could do nothing but give Adrien a helpless look, something that he would rarely spare for his cousin. It was gone in almost an instant, turning his head away from him. “I…I can’t tell you.”

  “Can’t tell me what?” Adrien asked, taking a step toward him.

  Felix automatically took a step away from his cousin, guilt settling deep in his chest. “I can’t tell you who Monarch is. It…It would…”

  “But we’ve been – the whole city – has been wondering who he is for so long!” Adrien argued, his gaze filled with confusion.

  “And the whole city doesn’t need to know,” Felix murmured. “I…I need to find Ladybug and Chat Noir.”

  Adrien went silent, and Felix risked a glance at his cousin. He’d gone oddly still, an unreadable emotion flashing across his eyes before it was gone in an instant. “Felix, why can’t you tell me? I’m your cousin . Sure, we’ve had our differences, but come on! You know I’ve got your back. Until you do something completely stupid.”

  “Adrien, I…” Felix felt helpless. He’d come here in hopes of sharing his greatest accomplishment to his cousin, to help rid him of his controlling father, but all he’d done was dig a hole too big for him to dig out of. He’d instead delivered disappointment and pointless hope. “I can’t tell you, but I can fix this! All of it! I can find Ladybug and Chat Noir, then we can take down Monarch once and for all and all of this can be over. All the nervous nights, never knowing if there was going to be an akuma attack, never to be looked upon again! We shall have peace, cousin!”

  “You’re hiding something.” Adrien’s voice wasn’t disappointed, but it was edged with anger. “I want peace as much as the next person, Felix, but what could be so terrible as to knowing the identity of Monarch?”

  Felix looked away helplessly, desperately searching for an answer, for anything that would satisfy Adrien instead of the real truth. “It’s dangerous, Adrien…if he finds out I told you, he might come after you.”

  “You know I’ve had my fair share of akuma’s, Felix. I can handle myself. And he doesn’t even know it was you! You said you fought his defenses, he didn’t see you. I’m safe! So why can’t you tell me?”

   Because it would tear you apart. At least you have a father, Adrien. I don’t want to take that from you, but I might have to. That was what he wanted to say, but he knew the words would make no sense to his confused cousin. Instead, he reluctantly pulled the ice pack from his side, tossing it to Adrien. “Thanks for the ‘pack.” He turned and began to walk back to the window, relieved to find his side hurt significantly less.

  “You’re not answering me!” Adrien yelled. He was mad now, mad at his cousin for hiding secrets that could tear his whole life apart. “Stop avoiding the question!”

  Felix stopped at the window, heaving himself up onto the sill. He turned his head to look at where Adrien was standing still near the couch, his hands balled into fists and his green eyes flashing with anger. “Adrien…I promise you, this will all be over within a day or two. We’ll have peace.” He faced back towards the window.

  “Don’t you dare! Don’t you dare!” Adrien’s demanding yells were lost to Felix’s ears as he leapt off the window sill, landing on the wall and sliding down to land on the footpath. He didn’t look back as he ran down the path, away from the mansion, away from Adrien, away from the villain that was absolutely tearing him apart.

  Felix stood atop a roof, leaning against the side of a chimney and watching as the sun slowly set. The comforting colours did little to calm his racing mind, and he fidgeted with his sleeves as he crossed his arms. He found it hard to believe that it could all end tonight, if he, Ladybug and Chat Noir were quick and skillful with the mission. He hated asking for help, but he knew he couldn’t face Hawkmoth alone, so he had little choice but to seek the two out for aid in his mission.

  Thoughts of Adrien still plagued his mind; how would his cousin react once he found out that his father was behind bars or, even worse, dead? He’d simply been delaying the inevitable, sparing himself from an accusing and heartbroken cousin. He’d received the accusing side of him, but he didn’t think he’d be able to handle the heartbroken side of him. No matter how much he liked to tell himself otherwise, he loved his cousin. He cared deeply for him, no matter how they were at constant differences. He wanted what was best for him and, if he could spare him of the agony to come for just a little longer, he would.

  He was brought out of his thoughts as saw a couple figures interrupt the sunset view, leaping across the rooftops with accurate speed and precision. Felix heaved himself off the wall, feeling heavy in his chest. His body felt fine; his ribs were still a little sore, as well as his back, but the pain meds were finally starting to kick in, and the ice pack had done its job well, numbing it to an extent. Mentally, he couldn’t bring himself to be fully for the mission, knowing well that it might be the end of his relationship with his cousin and that then his cousin would only have Natalie to care for him. But still, he stepped forward, then again, and again, until he was at a run, leaping off the side of the building to land in a roll on another roof. He saw the two vigilantes ahead of him, still oblivious to his presence as they stopped at a nearby roof. Felix leapt over to another roof, running to make the final leap to land on the roof with the two heroes. They jumped in surprise at his sudden appearance, both swinging around and drawing their weapons. He straightened, raising his hands.

  “I’m not here to fight,” he started, taking small steps towards them. “I have some news to share that you will want to hear.”

  Ladybug looked suspicious, yoyo at her fingertips, ready for any unexpected movement from him. However, to Felix’s surprise, Chat Noir didn’t seem surprised at his arrival, or suspicious for that matter, he looked… scared? Nervous? He couldn’t tell.

  “Make it quick,” Ladybug said cautiously, not relenting in her stance. Chat mirrored her, except with his staff.

  Felix took in a deep breath, lowering his hands. “I have discovered the location of Monarch, and his identity.”

  Ladybug’s eyes widened in shock, and she faltered in her stance, straightening a little. Chat looked like he was experiencing a nightmare coming true. Ladybug frowned slightly, still suspicious. “How would you know of this?”

  “I have my ways.” Felix took another step closer, feeling more confident now that they’d listen. 

  Ladybug stayed in her position, gripping her yoyo tighter. “If you’re so smart then, tell us.”

  “I haven’t come to hand over this information for you to do as you will,” Felix snapped, his patience waning. “I have come to ask for your help, in the hopes that you’d aid me in attacking him.”

  “And what makes you think we’ll help you?” Ladybug asked stiffly, but she abandoned her fighting stance and stood tall, yoyo hanging limply from her hand. Chat joined her, leaning on his staff to present confidence.

  “Because without me, you’ll never know who or where he is, and you’ll still be searching for countless hours and days while the city slowly crumbles around you.” Felix watched as Ladybug contemplated his words; he could nearly see the gears turning in her head.

  “We should believe him,” Chat murmured, his voice low. Though the words hadn’t been meant for him, he’d heard it clearly. He frowned, glancing at the vigilante. What made him believe him so easily? If he remembered correctly, Chat was one of the many kwami holders that hated him the most, so why would he be so willing to trust him?

  But Ladybug seemed to be considering him as well, appearing to listen to Chat Noir. “Why would you want to fight against Monarch? You fought with him, if I remember correctly.”

  “I didn’t fight with him, I bargained with him,” Felix corrected. “And trust me, I didn’t want your help. But I can’t fight him alone. I need to be there, to fight him. He’s made it personal.”

  Chat Noir’s eyes narrowed, and he retracted his staff, placing it on his belt. “Then tell us, and we’ll help.”

  “Chat,” Ladybug hissed, shooting him a quick glance.

  “What?” Chat snapped. “He might just have the answer to our problems. Is that so hard to believe?”

  Ladybug’s gaze flitted with an unreadable emotion, but she seemed to come to a conclusion, nodding to herself. She looked up at Felix, her gaze hard. “Tell us, then. But if a word of yours is a lie, you will not walk away unharmed this time.”

  “Of course, Ladybug.” Felix forced a smile, but his eyes said otherwise. “I wouldn’t dare.”

  “Tell us, then,” Chat prompted. His gaze was unreadable, but Felix could tell he was tense. “Who is Monarch? Who is the man who has ruined everything we’ve ever loved for so long?”

  Felix hesitated, coming to the realisation he could just be giving away information for free, and that they’d go and fight him by themselves in their own time. He couldn’t do this without them, and he hated it. But he had to tell them. They deserved to know, they’d been fighting him for so long. They deserved it.

  “Gabriel Agreste.”

  The silence was deafening, broken by a small gasp from Ladybug, who looked completely shocked, her eyes wide and her mouth hanging open slightly. But Chat…

  He looked devastated.

  His face was contorted with horror and shock, and he looked utterly broken. His green eyes were wide with unbelieving horror, and his mouth hung open in shock, but his eyes, his green  eyes…

   Oh, no…

  No no no…

  It was Adrien.

  Adrien was Chat Noir.

  His first instinct was to take back all that had been said, say that it was all a lie, a big joke part of a bigger meaning. But the truth had been said, and, as he stared into the broken gaze of his cousin, the one and only Chat Noir, he knew he saw no lie in his eyes. He subconsciously took a step forward, reaching out a hand. “Chat –”

  “You’re lying,” Chat hissed, his gaze going dark and his feet shifting into a defensive stance. “You’re lying! Gabriel Agreste would never fall to such evil! He –”

  “Chat!” Ladybug interrupted him, placing a firm hand on his shoulder, her eyes dark with concern, still reeling from the shock of the reveal. “Calm down. I know it’s shocking, but now we know who he is! And it all makes so much sense…”

  Chat whirled around to face Ladybug, his eyes flashing dangerously but filled with a desperateness that only Félix recognised. “It doesn’t make any sense at all! Gabriel Agreste is a fashion designer and nothing more! His work inspires other people to…to…” He trailed off, leaning heavily on his staff before walking over to the ledge of the rooftop and plopping down heavily on it. He put his head in his hands, muffled sounds coming from him. Ladybug looked concerned, turning to go after him, but Félix stopped her.

  “I’ll go. I know what’s bothering him.”

  Ladybug glared suspiciously at him. “And how would you know what’s wrong with him? I’m his partner, I know him better than you ever will.”

  Félix glared back. “Because I know who he is.”

  Ladybug’s eyes widened, her confident demeanor vanishing for a brief moment. She looked over to where Chat was still sitting, her gaze torn. Then she turned back to Félix, her face serious. “Fine. But if you hurt him, you won’t ever be seeing either of us ever again, let alone Paris.”

  Félix did not satisfy her with an answer, simply pushing past her to walk over to Chat. He sat beside the black clad vigilante, his gaze wondering to his face where his hands covered it. He could see tears streaming down his cheeks from where he tried to hide it, and Félix felt a twinge in his heart. He reached forward hesitantly, then drew his hand back almost as quickly. This wasn't his territory. He didn’t know how to comfort; nobody had ever comforted him, except his mother, but that was different. The love of a mother and the love of a former villainous cousin was completely different. Still, he found himself reaching out again, slower this time. He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, his own trembling as it reached over and settled on Chat’s thigh.

  “Adrien?”

  Chat stiffened, freezing in place. He slowly drew his hands away from his face, his bright green eyes landing on Félix’s own. They were wide with shock, and uncertainty. 

  “F-Félix?” he whispered. “How’d y-you…you c-can’t know my –”

   I’ll regret this later. Without a second thought Félix leaned forward, embracing his cousin in a tight embrace, cutting him off. Chat instantly melted into him, sobbing into his shoulder. Félix felt tears welling up in his own eyes, but he pushed them away, focusing on the broken vigilante in his arms. You can’t be weak now. He needs you. He simply stayed there in that same position, holding Chat, and allowing him to let out all he needed. He knew Ladybug was watching them from a distance; he could almost feel her shocked and suspicious gaze on him. She could judge all she wanted, he didn’t particularly care. His cousin needed him, and that was the only thing on his mind right now.

  Chat shifted beneath him, his sobbing subsiding. He slowly pulled away from Félix’s grasp, his tear-stained eyes locking onto his, filled with sadness and shock. “Félix, w-why…why did it have t-to be –”

  “I know,” Félix interrupted softly. As much as he hated his uncle, Gabriel Agreste meant the world to his cousin, no matter how controlling and manipulative he was. Such are the side effects of being a sentimonster. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I just…I didn’t want you to hurt. Not like this.”

  Chat sniffed, wiping at his face. “Not your fault,” he whispered, looking away. He stared off into the distance, clearly calming himself down. “I just…dammit, Félix, I didn’t want it to be him! Why did it have to be my father?!”

  “I know,” Félix murmured once more. “I know it hurts, Adrien, but… he’s destroying this city. We need to act now to bring him down. Catch him by surprise.”

  “I don’t want to fight him.” The words came out in a sob, and Chat wiped at his nose, sniffing. “Not my father. I can’t.”

  “You don’t have to.” Félix reached out a hesitant hand and placed it gingerly on his shoulder. “We… we can fight this battle without you. We’ll find a way, if that’s what you want.” It’ll be near to impossible, but we can try. For you.

  Chat seemed to read his thoughts, for he turned his gaze back onto him, his eyes refocusing. “No you can’t. You need the Chat Miraculous. He’s more dangerous than what you can handle.”

  “You don’t have to do this, Adrien,” Félix tried, squeezing his shoulder lightly.

  Chat’s gaze was filled with determination. “No. I do.” He stood, Félix’s hand falling from his shoulder as he wiped at his eyes. “It’s time to finally do something about this. So much hatred and violence has plagued this city long enough. I have to do this. For the people.”

  “For the people,” Félix agreed, a genuine gentle smile making its way onto his face. For you.

  The two made their way back over to where Ladybug was waiting impatiently. Her eyes lit up with concern as they landed on Chat, and she instantly stepped forward and pulled Chat into an embrace. He wrapped his arms around her, clearly absorbing the comfort while he had it. Félix watched on, deciding to stand a while away. He was nowhere near as close to Adrien as he and Ladybug was, so he gave them some private space.

   Is this a good idea?

  He didn’t know why he was second-guessing his own actions. He never did. He was always confident of himself, his decided choices, and refused to look back at them, refused to acknowledge regret. Except this…this was huge. This was taking down Monarch, the villain who had been plaguing Paris for months. He couldn’t mess this up. He’d never…he’d never had this gut feeling before, this intense feeling telling him to reconsider his actions, to go over every single action before the fight that was soon to come. Get your head on straight, you idiot.

  Chat and Ladybug had pulled apart now, the two turning to where Félix stood watching them. “We will go with you to fight Monarch,” Ladybug informed him, her gaze sliding into a glare. “But I swear to you, if you are lying, and this is all a trap that you and Monarch have schemed up, I will end both of you and not even Chat here will be able to stop me. Is that clear?”

  “Clear as ice,” Félix yawned, rolling his eyes. “You don’t have to worry, Ladybug. I want to end him just as much as you. So, no matter what happens, we will be doing this together.”

   “Why should we wait?” Chat spoke up. Félix and Ladybug turned to him, equally surprised. Chat continued, sniffing. “Why can’t we go and finish it now? I don’t want to wait anymore. Fa–Monarch, he’s done so many terrible things, I can’t wait another day to end all of this.”

  “He could have his last battle planned for tomorrow and we wouldn’t even know it,” Félix agreed thoughtfully.

  “But are you sure you’re ready for this Chat?” Ladybug asked, her eyes soft.

  Chat nodded, his face determined. “I’m ready for this to end.”

  Ladybug was silent for a long moment, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, then letting it out slowly. Her blue eyes opened, a freshly new determined light shining in them as they turned to Félix. “Show us the way.”

  Félix gave a single nod, then turned and leaped off the side of the building. He heard the others following close behind, and he allowed himself to enjoy the cold evening breeze brushing against his face. He wanted to empty his mind before this battle, but it was filled with countless questions and unanswered what-ifs. He hadn’t expected to go and fight Monarch this very night, but it seemed logical to do so now that he thought about it. Chat was right; what if he was planning his big strike tomorrow? What if it was tonight? No one would know, because a fashion designer is the last person they expected to be a villain. This was the time to strike. And he had to get his head in the game now or never, because the Agreste Mansion was approaching rapidly.

  They landed nimbly on one of the walls surrounding the mansion, surveying the massive house before them.

  “How do we get in unseen?” Ladybug whispered. “There’s so many cameras.”

  Chat was about to open his mouth, but Félix quickly intervened. “In the window, in the model’s window.”

  Ladybug’s eyes lit up, and she nodded. “Of course!” She swung up and away towards the window, leaving Félix to give Chat a long look.

  “You sure you're up for this, cousin?” he asked quietly, his voice still in the cold night air.

  Instead of answering right away, Chat hesitated, staring up after where Ladybug had disappeared. “I don’t know,” he said at last. He glanced at Félix. “I feel deep down that I am, but there’s a part of me that’s so…scared.”

  “You have every right to be,” Félix murmured. “What he did to you, all those years, controlling you…nobody deserves that. But we’re here to put an end to that fear. And I ask you again: are you up for this?”

  Chat’s eyes flashed with determination, his muscles tensing. “Yes. Yes I am.”

  “Then let’s go say hi to your dad.” Félix leaped up after Ladybug, Chat following at his heels. They quietly stepped inside the room, Ladybug having opened the window already and surveying the room. She turned as they landed silently on the floor in a crouch, straightening as they gazed around the room.

  “Where to now?”

  “He has an underground basement, you could say.” Félix walked over to the door that led downstairs. “Two of them, actually.”

  “Wouldn’t he be…sleeping?” Ladybug asked hesitantly.

  Chat looked alarmed at the thought, and even though Félix would love nothing more than to strangle his uncle to death in his own bed, he thought better of it. “I was thinking you’d want to see where he keeps his Miraculous' first.”

  Ladybug’s eyes lit up at the mention of the Miraculous’, and she hurriedly followed Félix out of the room. They descended the stairs carefully and silently, and he led them to his uncle’s private work room that even Adrien had rarely entered. He walked over to the large painting of his aunty displayed on the wall, not hesitating to press the pressure points on the painting to reveal the hidden passageway. He immediately began to descend, and he watched with mild amusement as Chat and Ladybug rushed over to his descending form with equal looks of shock. As soon as he reached the bottom of the lift, he stepped out, allowing the two superheroes to drop down with him. He stepped aside, allowing them a full view of the massive basement around them.

  “What the hell…” 

  Ladybug’s eyes were wide as the moon, Chat mirroring her as his jaw was slack with amazement. 

  “This was under the mansion this whole time…” Chat trailed off, taking in his surroundings looking utterly overwhelmed. “How did I never notice…” The last part was whispered, only for Félix, and he bowed his head in acknowledgement.

  “After all our efforts to find Monarch, I never would have looked here,” Ladybug breathed. “Ugh, I feel so stupid…”

  “Enough of this what-ifs.” Félix pushed past them and walked over to another section of the basement, a darker area where the ground turned to stone instead of steel. He spied the familiar light of the gathered Miraculous in their small prisons, and allowed Ladybug to run past him as she caught sight of them, letting out an unbelieving breath.

  “No way…You’re all here! All of you!” She looked at all of them, eyes wide with relief and amazement, but also, regret. “I’m so sorry guys, I failed you, I should have been more careful, I shouldn’t have–”

  “Don’t fret, Ladybug!” Kaalki assured her, face reassuring. “You did everything you could, and we are all grateful for that.”

  “We couldn’t ask for more!” Stompp agreed.

  Her face melted with happiness, and Félix took this as his cue to explore somewhere else. His gaze landed on Chat, however, and his heart dropped as he saw him staring at something in the lair.

  “Chat? You ok?”

  “You didn’t tell me my mother was here.”

  Félix froze, then slowly made his way over next to his cousin. He followed his gaze to where it rested upon the transparent casket of Émilie Agreste, her features emotionless yet peaceful in her eternal slumber. “I didn’t know how to tell you.”

  “He’s been…” Chat’s breath caught in his throat. “He’s been keeping her down here all these years…in hopes of bringing her back?” He finally turned to Félix, his face distraught. “That’s why he wants our Miraculous?”

  Félix nodded, looking away. “It would appear so, cousin. Your father was always a troubled man, especially since your mother died. His family should have known this would drive him to madness.”

  Chat closed the distance between him and the casket, peering down inside it. “Why couldn’t he just…” He slammed his fist angrily down on the glass, but not a mark was left. “Why couldn’t he just let her rest in peace?!”

  Félix hesitated, walking over to him and placing an uncertain hand on his shoulder. “Adrien…there’s nothing we can do. He is set on bringing her back, and if we are to get in between him and that…we are as good as dead. Do you still want to do this?”

  “To let my mother finally have the peace she deserves?” Chat wiped at his face where tears had begun to fall. “Yes. I would do anything for her.”

  Félix turned Chat to face him, fighting down the fondness swirling in his stomach. “You’re a good person, Adrien. Don’t let anger consume you…like it did me. Don’t let it guide your actions.”

  “How touching.”

  Félix whirled around, Chat mirroring him, and his heart dropped at the sight before him. Gabriel Agreste stood before them, his expression cold and full of disdain. Chat stiffened beside him, hissing as he took a step back.

  “Uncle,” Félix replied coolly.

  “It appears you may have gotten a little lost on your tour around my house,” Gabriel growled, his tone hostile. “Allow me to show you out.”

  “We are here to finish this here and now, Monarch!” Gabriel spared Ladybug a glance at her words as she approached from behind, yo-yo in hand and eyes narrowed. “You would do well to surrender.”

  “You misunderstand the situation.” Gabriel raised his hands before him, revealing his rings of the Miraculous displayed. “You see, I hold the power here.”

  “You’re going back to the mad hole you crawled out of!” Chat hissed, falling into a fighting stance.

  “And what are you to do against me, Adrien?” Gabriel’s face practically wrote checkmate.

  Chat’s eyes widened in shock and horror, his stance faltering for a brief moment. “H-How…”

  “I have been down here since the moment the three of you entered, you fools. Félix here was kind enough to share your identity without his permission.”

  “You monster,” Félix growled, drawing his fan.

  “Now now, Félix, you and I both know who the real monster is here,” Gabriel smirked.

  “I am no monster!” Félix leaped forward, slashing his fan at Gabriel, but ended up landing in a graceful crouch as he easily sidestepped the attack. He barely had time to dodge his attack, having abruptly transformed into several Miraculous’. He backflipped away from his uncle, landing on his feet skidding across the floor. Ladybug had now engaged in the battle also, delivering harsh blows that were easily deflected by the villain. Chat had joined as well, charging at him with his staff, offering several well-aimed kicks and punches that were also easily blocked. Félix regathered his footing and charged back into the fight, aiming for a high blow, but at the last minute going for a low sliding kick, in intention of knocking Monarch’s feet out from under him. It succeeded for a brief moment, and Monarch stumbled, but instantly regained his balance and brought down a punch of super-strength right down on him. He quickly rolled out of the way just in time as the punch connected with the stone floor, cracks erupting deep within it. He sprung to his feet, surveying the fight with dismay.

   We’re going nowhere with this fight!

  Ladybug was sent flying away into a wall, and she fell to the ground, breathing hard, before forcing herself to her feet once more. Chat was left to wrestle Monarch alone, muscles clearly straining with each blow delivered. Félix rushed forward once more, each step deliberate and precise. He stumbled slightly, however, when he felt the ground shake beneath him, a great rumble echoing through the massive lair. He looked on in shock as Monarch raised several stones from the floor, ceiling and walls and levitated them before him, his gaze cold, a chilly smile playing on his lips. He stretched out his arm towards Félix, sending the large stones barrelling towards him. Heart in his mouth, he ducked the first few, narrowly dodging a few of the others, before one of the last ones slammed roughly into his shoulder, knocking him aside and throwing him harshly onto the floor. His shoulder throbbed, and he had no doubt it was either dislocated or broken somewhere. He stumbled to his feet, blinking away the pain as he forced himself back into the fight.

  Ladybug had rejoined now, sending blow after blow at Monarch, only lucky to land a few. He seemed completely unbothered by each of the Miraculous holders, however; it was as if this was a game to him. The villain summoned threw Chat away, sending him crashing into a wall before he fell, landing nimbly on all fours in a cat-like crouch. Félix locked eyes with him, then rushed over to his side.

  “All of our attacks are useless against him!” he hissed. “It’s like this is a game to him.”

  “What can we do against him?” Chat breathed heavily. “He has nearly all the Miraculous; we’re almost powerless here!” His gaze flickered to where Félix’s arm hung limply by his side, eyes widening. “Félix, your arm!”

  “It’s fine.” Félix shrugged it off, but instantly regretted the movement, as it jostled his injured arm. He hissed, gripping it. “However I wouldn’t mind you setting it back in place…”

  “I’ve never done that before…” Chat’s eyes were wide of uncertainty.

  “Nevermind,” Félix dismissed, turning to where Ladybug was fighting for dear life against the Paris villain. “I’ll make do. Maybe your Cataclysm could do some good?”

  Chat looked hesitant, shifting in his crouch. “I don’t know if I could do that…he’s still my father…”

  Fed up, Félix grabbed Chat’s shoulders, forcing him to straighten and face him. “Listen, Adrien, we’re all going to die here if you don’t get yourself together. One of us is going to die here tonight, and I will do everything in my power to let that not be us.”

  Chat nodded frantically, gaze filled with fear. “I can…I can do it. I’ll do it.”

  “This is no game, Adrien.” Félix released his shoulders, taking a step back. “This is the real fight.”

  Chat nodded, taking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly. With a loud yowl, he leaped forward towards Monarch, muscles tensed for a striking blow. Arm raised high, he screeched, “Cataclysm!” The arm fell down upon Monarch, landing perfectly on his chest that Ladybug had left neatly unguarded. Monarch stumbled back several steps, falling back as he clutched his chest in pain.

  “You…m-monster!” Monarch growled, panting heavily. “You’d lay hands on your own father?”

  Félix drew closer and saw, with frustration, that the blow had barely left a mark; his armour had a small black smudge on it, but nothing too serious. Ladybug had also approached, but was now frozen at the discovery, her eyes wide with shock at the words of Monarch. It only occurred to him then that the heroine hadn’t known who Chat Noir’s secret identity was. He hoped she could spare her emotional reactions till after the bloody fight.

  “You’ll do well to respect your father!” Monarch lashed out a hand towards Chat, and Chat froze, his body trembling all over. He fell to his knees, gasping, his hands reaching up to clasp around his neck. As Félix stared in horror, he noticed that his uncle’s ring was gleaming, and realised with utter disgust and shock that he was controlling Adrien, forcing him to choke himself.

  “Adrien!” Ladybug cried, springing forward towards Monarch. Monarch easily threw her away, and Félix took this moment as an opportunity to attack from his other side, charging forward and landing a hard blow to his chest. The previously cataclysmed area must have reacted, for he cried out in pain, lashing out strongly and gripping his gloved hands around Félix’s throat before he could dart away. His airway closed abruptly and he gasped for air, writhing in his uncle’s iron-like grasp. He kicked to no avail at his chest, at anywhere, but it was useless, and black spots were beginning to dance across his vision as his brain became muffled, going into a state of panic.

   You can’t die here, you weakling, fight dammit…

  Air abruptly flooded through him as the hands around his throat vanished, leaving him to drop to his knees, gasping and heaving for breath. He heard over the ringing in his ears a furious scream from Monarch, followed by a loud crash. He felt someone beside him, helping him to his feet.

  “You ok Peacock?” He looked up into the eyes of Ladybug, and was surprised to see concern and relief in the blue of them. He was glad to notice she looked more in control now; less shocked from the discovery of Chat Noir’s identity. He coughed, rubbing his sore throat.

  “I’m fine,” he managed hoarsely. “He…” He stumbled slightly, a bout of dizziness surging through him. He felt a strong hand steady him, and he instinctively pushed them aside. “His chest…that’s his weak spot. Go for the chest.”

  Ladybug gave a single nod, then left him, leaping back into the fight with Chat Noir. He coughed once more, before going to join them.

  Now having a more clearer goal in mind, the two heroes delivered more precise blows, and it was clear Monarch was weakening visibly. His attacks were slower, less calculated, and his frustration grew on his face. He growled as Chat landed a particularly good blow on his chest, and he swung an arm out, activating one of his Miraculous’ and sending him tumbling away from him, but he easily catched himself with his staff. Ladybug was on him instantly, beating down on him and landing kick after kick, punch after punch to his weakening chest. The frustration grew, as well as the panic, before the villain clearly had enough.

   “Enough!”

  The three of them were sent flying away from him, tumbling to the floor several metres away from him. Félix hissed at it jostled his arm again, but forced the pain away, forcing himself into a sitting position. As his vision cleared from the small explosion, and the dust settled, his gaze settled on Monarch holding Chat Noir by his throat, a great stone sword in hand. His eyes flew wide, and he forced his weak legs to cooperate, forcing himself onto his feet.

  Monarch’s gaze swept over him and Ladybug, filled with malice. “This ends here.” He raised the sword, the tip gleaming in the faint light from the ceiling.

  Félix reacted on instinct. The weariness in his limbs vanished, the pain in his shoulder and throat disappearing all in the moment of a split second. He found himself lunging forward, his feet carrying him swiftly towards Monarch, pushing off the stone ground to slam directly into the side of the villain. The two tumbled onto the cold stone floor, Monarch’s grip on Chat going slack, allowing the hero to slip loose. Félix landed in a heap beside Monarch, landing directly onto his bad shoulder. Agony shot through it, and he couldn’t bite back a yelp, his face contorting in pain as he rolled onto his back. A shadow loomed over him, and he forced his vision to clear behind the tears threatening to well up. His heart dropped in his stomach, and for the first time that night, he truly felt afraid.

  Monarch stood over him, breathing heavily with his sword gripped tightly in his hand. His eyes blazed with fury. “You will no longer foil my plans, Félix Fathom. Take your last breath.” He raised the sword and, before Félix could make a move, brang it down swiftly upon his chest.

  Félix gasped, the air leaving him altogether as the sword plunged inside him, erupting an intense pain that set off every one of his nerves. The absence of air left him reeling, unable to draw in breath when there was none. He felt blood climb up his throat, bubbling at his lips and leaking down the corners of his mouth as it filled his mouth.

  Monarch’s gaze twisted evilly, right before he twisted the sword in his chest, and Félix couldn’t hold back the scream that tore itself from his blood-filled mouth. The pain was everywhere, consuming him, drowning out everything else around him. The cold stone sword was drawn out from his chest, leaving it feeling empty as blood poured from the open wound. He gasped for air that wouldn’t come, his chest heaving with the effort. The pain forced his chest to recoil, leaving him gasping small breaths as it refused to rise. He could swear he could hear voices calling his name, but everything seemed so far away, and his vision was darkening, black spots dancing across it. He could have sworn he saw a massive bright light, but time seemed to blur together as consciousness faded away, everything becoming more and more distant in an ocean of pain.

   I’m sorry, Adrien…I’m sorry I couldn’t…end…all this…

   “Félix!”

  “Félix, are you there?”

  “Wake up, Félix.”

  “You’re safe now.”

  The soft rustling of grass tickled his face, the ground beneath him soft and cushiony to his aching muscles. His eyes felt heavy behind their lids, but he forced past the discomfort, reluctantly opening them as a warm breeze wafted over him gently. Instead of being met with the dark gray stone he last remembered, he was met with the clear blue of the sky, and the sun streaming down onto him, warming him to his bones. He let out a small groan as his sore muscles screamed in protest as he attempted to move, hoisting himself half-up, resting back on his elbows.

  He gasped abruptly, hand flying up to his chest as he sat up, his breath coming in ragged breaths. He was sure he’d had a sword cut clean into him right through his chest, but he felt nothing as he desperately felt with his right hand. He felt a distant ache there, but nothing more; the wound had vanished.

  He finally tore his eyes from his chest and looked around at his surroundings. There were trees everywhere, and he was laying in a large clearing, with many flowers flowing gently in the breeze. He heard the distant sound of a running lake, and the calming whistle of a bird and its family somewhere in the trees. It was otherwise completely empty of any life form, Félix noted as he forced himself to his feet. His legs nearly gave out beneath him, his muscles reluctant after the intense fight. His strength was slowly returning to him, and with it, his memories of the earlier events.

  He didn’t know what had happened after he’d been stabbed by Monarch; he remembered a blinding white flash, someone calling his name, then…nothing. Nothing except his thoughts, screaming at him that he had failed, that he hadn’t succeeded in destroying Monarch, hadn’t succeeded in ending all the endless lies and deceit from his uncle. He failed, and now they must all be dead, lying to rot in the villain's lair as he set out to take over Paris now that there was no one to stop him.

  Dead. Maybe that’s what had happened to him. Maybe he was dead, and this place was the afterlife. It didn’t look so bad; he still however had no memory of a place looking even remotely like this.

  “Félix?”

  Félix jerked in surprise at the voice, spinning around to locate it. His eyes landed on a beautiful tall woman, her blonde hair swirling in the gentle breeze and her green eyes staring softly down at him.

   Émilie Agreste.

  “Aunt Émilie?” Félix breathed. He took a hesitant step forward, careful to not over-exhaust his healing muscles.

  “Hello, Félix.” Her smile was wide and so genuine, it warmed Félix to his heart. “How are you feeling darling?”

  He felt shy all of a sudden, like a young, innocent child without a place in the world except his mother’s pride. “I…I’m fine,” he managed, his voice carrying easily in the gentle breeze. He looked around once more, confusion settling in. “But…where am I? What is this place?”

  Émilie slowly walked over to him, her tone soft. “A permanent home for most, but a temporary home for few.” She stopped before him, her green eyes intense but so full of love. “You shouldn’t be here, Félix.”

  “Why…” He trailed off, his gaze falling to the trees around him. The air held a sense of peace, of tranquility; it was almost magical. “Am I…dead?”

  “Not yet, dear boy,” Émile reassured him, resting a gentle hand on his shoulder. He stiffened ever so slightly beneath the touch, not used to such caring methods from human interactions. “And I shall like to keep it that way.”

  “Then why am I here?” Félix looked up at her, suddenly feeling small. “What about Adrien? And Marinette? They need me back there, they could be dead already…are they alright?”

  “They are fine.” Émile guided him over to a log that appeared to have fallen for quite a time ago, positioned in the centre of the clearing. He sat beside her, listening intently. “You would be glad to know that they have successfully defeated Monarch, and are left with hardly any wounds.”

  The news brought a tide of relief to Félix, and he slumped in his aunt's hand. He looked down at his hands, still somewhat confused. “Then…I must be dead? Why am I here?”

  “Your friends are worried, Félix,” Émilie murmured, beginning to gently stroke his back soothingly. “You…got seriously injured in the fight with your uncle. A terrible wound to the chest, it would seem. Your cousin and his girlfriend are currently fighting to save your life.”

  Félix went abruptly still, his heart dropping in his stomach, cold seeping into his bones. Adrien – and Marinette – were trying to save him? He remembered running full-strength into Monarch, sending the two of them tumbling to the floor, freeing his cousin from ending himself. Then the sword…surely that should have killed him? The wound had been pretty severe, he knew, though he hardly remembered any of the events after being ruthlessly stabbed. If he was being this much of a hassle for his cousin, he should just cut the damn life-line. Adrien was going through enough with his father dying, and his girlfriend finding out his secret identity. He shouldn’t be this much of an importance to him. Damn, his cousin had hated him for a long period of their lives.

  “You shouldn’t think of yourself like that.”

  Félix looked up at Émilie in question, eyes narrowed. He hadn’t spoken a word, had he? “I didn’t say anything.”

  “I know you, Félix,” Émilie murmured. “And your expression says it all.” Félix was about to argue before she continued, softer this time, “You deserve love, you know.”

  Félix looked away, shrugging her arm away and balling his hands into fists on his legs. “I don’t need to deserve love, Aunt Émilie. Love is irrelevant when it comes to matters of saving the world. I’ve done too many things in my life, too many errors, too many faults to even consider of being loved by anyone. Some people are simply born unneeding of love.”

  “I somewhat doubt that.”

  Félix stood angrily, glaring at her. “Yeah? What would you know? You’ve lived in a happy little family all your life, always being loved and cared for. What would you know about the life I’ve lived? Father hated me, mother was too blind to do anything about my upbringing, and you were too busy living your perfect little life with Gabriel bloody Agreste.”

  “You wish I had intervened.”

  Félix became silent, looking away. He didn’t know how he felt; he felt angry, frustrated; hurt? He wasn’t sure. All he knew was that he just wanted it all to go away. All the sleepless nights, feeling the constant torment of his father playing with the ring that created him, all the endless fights after he’d died having to take care of his mother by himself, with no help from the Agrestes’, even after Émilie had passed. He wished it all hadn’t happened, he wished his father hadn’t created him, he wished she had intervened. “Yes. Yes I do.”

  It was said defeatedly; exhausted. He slumped back down beside her, burying his face in his hands. “I just…I felt so alone, all those years. I didn’t have anyone to pull me away from the torment my father forced upon me, and I had no one to help me bring my mother back from her grief from my father’s passing. I j-just… I don’t know…” His voice cracked at the end, and he felt his hands become wet as tears leaked from his eyes. He felt Émilie’s hand begin to rub soothing motions on his back again, and he leant into it this time.

  “I’m sorry I couldn’t help you back then, my dear Félix,” she murmured, drawing him into a gentle embrace. He melted in her grasp, unable to hold back the sobs that wracked his body. “I know what you went through was hard. And it wasn’t fair, and you deserved better. But think of the man you’ve become today, Félix. You are strong, courageous, and you think fast on your feet. You have become caring, loving, and you even have a girlfriend who loves you very much now. Because of each of the events that have happened in your life, they have carved out the man you are today. Strong. Resilient. But most of all…” She kissed the top of his softly. “Everything your enemies are not.”

  Félix stayed in her grasp for a long while, and she was willing to hold him for as long as he wanted as he calmed down. He’d never felt at such peace before in his life, as if everything was right where it needed to be, as if everything was going to be alright.

  A sudden sharp pain in his chest prompted a whine from him, and he stiffened, bringing a hand up to his chest to gently massage it.

  “They’re trying to save you,” Émilie whispered in his ear, continuing to rub his back.

  Another sharp pain shot through him, and he bent over, groaning slightly. “It hurts.”

  “It’ll all be over soon, don’t you worry,” Émilie assured him.

  The snapping of a twig caused Émilie to stiffen around him, and he looked up, following her gaze across the clearing. Shock coursed through him as his tear-stained eyes finally focused on the newcomer, and his muscles locked up.

  “Félix.”

   Gabriel Agreste.

  He leapt to his feet, hands balled into fists as he charged across the clearing towards his uncle, a cry of anger on his lips. Gabriel wasn’t moving, his face unreadable as Félix rapidly approached him, his booted feet barely touching the soft ground at his speed. However, only a few steps away from his uncle, he felt an intense pain shoot through his chest, as if something was carving it inside out with each step. He let out a cry of pain, faltering in his steps, and tumbled to the ground roughly, tumbling in the gentle grass as the pain intensified with each breath. He came to a halt before his uncle, taking in deep, gasping breaths. He curled into himself, and, to his own horror, let out small whimpers of pain.

  Through his hazed vision he saw Gabriel standing over him, looking down at him with an unreadable expression, those same eyes haunting him to this day. Even in death, he could not escape the man. He wanted to run, wanted to escape, but could do nothing as Gabriel slowly knelt down beside him, and he tensed, waiting for the beating he was sure to come. The pain was constant in his chest, however, the beating did not come. Instead, he felt gentle hands maneuver him onto his back, and he winced with each movement, letting out a cry as the man accidentally bumped his chest slightly. He was shocked when he heard the man whisper a soft apology, careful hands beginning to rub his arm soothingly. He moaned, instinctively leaning into the touch despite better judgment.

  “You shouldn’t be here, Gabriel,” Félix heard Émilie murmur, who had now joined by his side. “I thought we talked about this.”

  “I needed to come,” Gabriel replied, his voice low yet…oddly gentle.

  “Now look at what you’ve done.” Émilie’s tone held worry, but also fondness. 

  “He’ll be fine, it should lessen a little,” Gabriel reassured her, his rubbing slowing.

  Félix did feel his chest pain slowly ebbing off a little, and he found he was able to breathe a little easier. The first thing he did was slap Gabriel’s hand away, though the movement was weak.

  “How the hell did you…” Félix trailed off, coughing, then continued less strongly, “You don’t d-deserve to b-be here.”

  “No. No I don’t,” Gabriel agreed, standing and taking a step away from Félix to allow him some space. Émilie helped him to sit up slowly, and he allowed the assistance, struggling to find the strength to do so alone.

  “Then why the hell are you here?” Félix snapped, though the words came out breathless, and not at all near as threatening as he intended them to be.

  “By the power of the Miraculous,” Gabriel said simply.

  Félix looked up at him, eyes narrowed by confusion, curiosity eating at him. “Cut to it, uncle,” he hissed.

  “Your friends did not quite… ‘win’ the fight against me,” Gabriel admitted. “I got a hold of both their Miraculous’, and I used my wish. I wished to heal Nathalie; and the price, my life. So I am here with my love now, for all eternity.”

  Shock coursed through Félix, and he slowly got to his feet, standing before his uncle with a furious scowl on his face. “You…you terrorised Paris for so many months, just to kill yourself? To be with your wife?”

  “I do not deserve your forgiveness, nor do I ask for it,” Gabriel said, his voice almost tired, exhausted. “I only wish for you to understand.”

  “You hurt the people of Paris for months, uncle! You put Adrien through hell! You controlled people, lied to them, twisted everything to go your way just so you could have your happy ending and everyone else just ceased to exist. Forgive you? I could never forgive you. You should be asking for Adrien’s forgiveness, but you could never deserve it.”

  “I know, Félix,” Gabriel murmured. “I…there is nothing I could say to make this hole between us heal. But just know – and I know it means nothing to you – just know that I’m sorry, I’m sorry for not helping your family when you most needed it. I’m sorry for what I did to Paris. My eyes have been opened in my final moment, and I…I realise now that I was blinded by pure love. I was selfish.”

  “Easy for you to say now that you’ve got your way,” Félix hissed, crossing his arms and looking away.

  Gabriel let out a long, defeated sigh. “Just…take care of Adrien, alright? Please.”

  “Who knows if I’ll even see him again?” Félix spat, turning to him again angrily. “You fucking stabbed me! If my cousin’s wise enough, he’ll dispose of my life support.”

  Émilie rested a hand on his shoulder, firmly but gently. “Félix, we talked about this…”

  He shrugged her off. “The only way I’m getting out of this hell-hole is by pure spite to be as far away from you as possible.” He took a step closer to Gabriel, lowering his voice in cold anger. “If even in death you can contact the living, you would do well to leave Adrien the hell alone.”

  Gabriel lowered his head, giving a small nod as acknowledgement. Félix felt exhausted once more after his outburst, and he stumbled back, leaning heavily on Émilie as she supported him.

  “Félix, are you alright?” she asked worriedly, helping him to sit down.

  He felt dizzy, his head spinning and black spots beginning to dance over his hazy vision. The chest pain was returning more intensely, and with it his aching muscles and the pain of his previously dislocated arm. He was barely aware of Émilie helping to lay him down on the soft ground, as it was all of a sudden a tough struggle to breathe.

  “He’s going back,” Émilie whispered, her voice just reaching Félix’s ears. He could barely hear her words, as it sounded as if a great ocean was roaring inside his head, drowning out everyone and everything else around him.

  His chest felt like it was on fire, his muscles also as they screamed in protest. He could have sworn he heard voices calling his name, but not of the two Agreste’s above him, no, someplace else, someplace far away…

  “It’s ok, Félix. You can go back now. I’ll always be watching over you. Be at peace.”

  So Félix let go, allowing the roaring of the ocean in his ears to drown out all of his other senses, welcoming the black tide that swept in to sweep him away into oblivion.

  “He’s breathing!”

  “Oh thank goodness!”

  “Thought we’d lost him there.”

  “Félix! Félix, can you hear me?”

   Voices. So many voices. Why wouldn’t they just. Shut. The. Fuck. Up.

  He groaned, becoming aware of a harsh light shining down on him beneath his lidded eyes, and a soft mattress beneath him. He coughed, his throat dry as he let out another groan, but it sent a sharp jolt of unexpected pain through his chest. He jerked, and his muscles screamed in protest, his shoulder also from the small movement. He sagged back into the comforting warmness of the mattress, exhaustion filling him. He felt a headache beginning to form, and the added voices just added to it.

  “Is he really awake?”

  “I think so…”

  “Everyone back away! Give him some space.”

   That voice…Nathalie? He felt her warm and gentle hands feeling his forehead, and he leant into the touch, moaning. The hand withdrew, and he whined slightly, seeking the warmth of the hand. He felt cold to the bone, as if all the heat that had been surging through his veins had just abruptly left him, leaving him empty and freezing.

  He felt something touch his lips gently, and he absently recognised it as a spoon.

  “Hey, Félix.” Nathalie’s voice was soft, and ever so gentle. Almost more so than Émelie’s. “If you can hear me, I need you to eat this, ok? You don’t need to do much, just open your mouth and swallow for me honey.”

  Félix’s facial muscles felt reluctant, as did the rest of his body, but he still forced his mouth open the slightest, and heard the smallest of sighs of relief. He felt her slowly put the spoon in his mouth, and he slowly closed his mouth, her withdrawing the spoon. Whatever she had fed him, it tasted awful. It had a sharp taste, and it must have shown on his face because Nathalie was gently coaxing for him to swallow it now. He tried, but his throat burned, and he was grateful for when Nathalie began to gently massage his throat to help it down. He managed to swallow it, gagging slightly at the taste and the pain the small action provoked.

  “Will he be ok?” a small voice murmured, and he vaguely recognised it as Adrien.

   He’s safe!  

  “Yes, he will be just fine, Adrien,” Nathalie assured him, and a group of relieved sighs sounded in the room.

  Félix forced his eyes open, determined to not fall back into the comforting tide of blackness. His vision was blurred slightly, but soon focused to see he was in Adrien’s room, with a couple monitors set up beside him. He saw a long tube coming from one of the monitors, and was briefly aware of the feeling of it in his arm, pumping whatever medication into his system. His vision cleared some more, and he soon saw four pairs of eyes staring down at him. His eyes flickered from Nathalie by his side, to Kagami standing beside Marinette, then finally settling on Adrien. As soon as his cousin locked eyes with him, he practically melted, rushing over to his side and embracing him.

  “Dammit Félix, don’t ever do that again,” he demanded into his shirt, his voice muffled.

  Félix stiffened beneath his touch, surprised at the affection from his cousin. Also, his chest fucking hurt, and he was lying on it. “A-Adrien…”

  “Oh, right, sorry.” Adrien hurried off him, standing by his side, his eyes no less brighter. However they were tinged with worry. “Does it hurt bad?”

  Félix wanted to reassure his cousin that he was fine, but his chest hurt like hell, and his shoulder ached from where it had been set back in while he’d apparently been unconscious. His headache was a steady throbbing presence now, aching in the back of his consciousness. “My chest,” he managed hoarsely.

  “That’s expected,” Kagami said, coming to stand by his bedside. She looked down at him, her eyes stern yet full of relief. “If you ever pull a move like that again, whether I am there or in another state or damn country, I will make sure that the next blow won’t end you, just so I can end you myself.”

  Despite his condition, Félix found a smile tugging at the corners of his lips, and he weakly grabbed her hand from where it was hanging limply beside her near his own. “And you would.”

  “Don’t you forget it.” Kagami rolled her eyes, but they were fond also. His eyes flickered to where Marinette stood at the foot of the bed, off awkwardly to the side. Her eyes held uncertainty, but also, like everyone else, a heavy relief. She locked gazes with him, and she hesitantly stepped forward.

  “Thank you, Félix,” she murmured. “Without you, this…this whole mission against Monarch wouldn’t have been possible. You really proved yourself out there on the battlefield, and I…I shouldn’t have doubted you.”

  Félix studied her for a long moment, then nodded, instantly regretting the small action as it sent a wave of pain through his skull. He winced, but forced his gaze to return to Marinette’s. “No need for your gratitude. I…” He took in a long breath, then let it out slowly. “I haven’t b-been the greatest Miraculous h-holder recently. Y-your doubt is understandable.”

  Marinette didn’t look convinced, but she gave a nod of acknowledgement nonetheless. Nathalie stepped forward, studying the monitors for a few moments.

  “It would appear you’re on the road to a good, but long, recovery, Félix,” she informed him, gently adjusting the tube in his arm. “Being unconscious for a week did its work, but it’s still going to take a while for you to recover fully. You’re lucky you even survived such a blow.”

  “A week?” Félix exclaimed, then burst into a coughing fit. He recovered almost instantly, staring up at Nathalie incredulously. “I’ve been unconscious for a week?”

  “Yeah cous,” Adrien confirmed. “We were so worried. You were out of it.”

  “No shit,” Félix muttered.

  Marinette moved forward, catching his eye once more. “Félix, you may…or not, that’s fine too, but…you may want to know what happened in the rest of the fight.”

  “I already know,” Félix told her bluntly.

  Adrien’s eyes widened in surprise, his voice edged with confusion. “But how?”

  “I…had a little run in with someone in the afterlife,” Félix admitted. “But it’s not important.”

  “If you say so,” Adrien sighed. “The important thing is, that we’re all together, mostly unharmed, and alive.”

  Félix looked up at his cousin. “How are you holding up?”

  Adrien’s eyes held sorrow, but determination. “I have no choice but to move forward now. I finally have control over my own life now, so I’m free. And Marinette knows my identity now, and she told me hers, so I guess it’s a fresh start.”

  “Mm. Fresh start.” Félix rested his head back against the pillow, thoughtful. “I could do with a fresh start.”

  “You have all of us,” Adrien said confidently. “We can all start over.”

  “Monarch left scars, but with friends, they can heal,” Kagami agreed.

  “I’m always here if you need anything, for all of you,” Marinette chimed in.

  “Then I guess we better start this fresh start off by allowing Félix to get a bit of rest, shall we?” Nathalie said, a small smile on her lips. “He’s had a big day, or week, one could say, and you could all do with some much needed rest.”

  Marinette and Kagami reluctantly left, wishing their goodbyes, and Nathalie left Adrien alone with Félix, most likely to deal with Gabriel's mess.

  Félix was dragged out of his thoughts as he saw Adrien beginning to climb into bed beside him, tugging the sheets up to his chin. He moved to carefully hug Félix, careful to avoid touching his chest.

  “Hey – what are you–”

  “Come on, Félix, just this once.”

  “...Fine.”