Felix tapped his foot impatiently. It had been two weeks since he started tutoring Bridgette and things were going….well. At least, her grades seemed to be improving. And he was growing accustomed to her habits and dramatics. He wasn't cringing when he entered the same room as her.

He checked the clock. Bridgette was officially late. They had a literature test today and he had told her to meet at the library before school. No exceptions. Yet, here he was, in an empty library, alone. He resisted the urge to growl.

His annoyance grew when he saw Marinette approach the school, without her cousin. He stuffed the his books and notes in his bag. If she cared so little for her education, then he wasn't sure why he should bother. The younger Cheng cousin spotted him and called out, but he ignored her. He had nothing against Marinette, she seemed to have a better head on her shoulders than Bridgette, but her vivacious and warm attitude repelled him.

"Felix, wait up!" she quickly caught up with him and he gave her a disinterested look. It at least made her pause, "Bri isn't able to make it today. Its…"

"Clearly. You needn't make excuses for her." He didn't wait for an answer, didn't look for a reason to stay. Felix turned and went into his class, preparing his desk for the lesson.

Students filled in, slowly and slumbering. Felix reviewed his notes, making mental checklists and exercises to keep his mind sharp. He was quickly ready. He glanced at his watch. Ten minutes left. Eyes flitted to an unoccupied seat. Was she going to skip the entire day? That would be unusual. Was she sick?

Momentary concern and guilt pricked at him, but he waved it aside. Bridgette had his number. If something was wrong, she would have contacted him. Seconds dragged by, his mind wandered. How different her and her cousin seemed. Adrien gushed about Marinette's selflessness and leadership qualities, things she shared with her older cousin, but Marinette was an open book. She did very little to hide her feelings. It was only Adrien's cluelessness that hid her crush.

But Bridgette….she was an enigma. She openly confessed to him, openly declared what she wanted to do to him and while the sincerity was there, Bridgette Cheng kept things very close to her chest. He imagined it was her upbringing, her proud nature, her desire to keep status quo. She made no comment about the gift she gave on the anniversary of his mother's passing. Said very little about his tutoring to others. Then there was her smile, so bright and yet, a darkness to it.

He checked his watch again. 8 minutes. Did time always go so slowly?

Bridgette's friends walked in, seeming to have a somber talk. Felix pointedly ignored them. The engagement and conversations of his peers was unwelcome.

He found himself tracing imaginary pads on his hands, stopping suddenly on the second route. A pick up from his duties as Chat Noir. That was dangerous. He needed to quell this anxiousness inside him.

Standing, Felix walked out the door, ignoring the concerned looks and whispers. He built a routine at school and he was breaking it. Status quo could be continued tomorrow.

Thankfully, Marinette had not entered her classroom. She hung briefly outside, speaking with Adrien and the other boy. The one with the crass colloquialisms that Adrien was so fond of. He tapped her shoulder, ignoring his brother's grin, "Is she ill?"

It took a moment for the young girl to process. She blinked once. Twice. Adrien's grin grew, "No. It's…." she glanced at the boys behind her, who took the hint and shuffled into the classroom, "Her parents passed away, two years today. She doesn't talk about it. Most people don't actually know why she's living with me. I think she makes up a different story every time."

He nodded, processing the new information. He vaguely remembered her entrance at this school. It was loud and boisterous. Something about an exchange program? Or learning French to go to university here? She was fierce and it was only a few weeks before she claimed her undying love to him, without rhyme or reason.

Realizing Marinette was still staring at him, he cleared his throat, "Good day."

He walked back to the classroom, mind churning. This was impulsive and foolish of him. His father certainly wouldn't approve. Packing his bags swiftly, he didn't pause despite his misgivings. Louder chattering, some gasps followed him out. He didn't care.

A quick stop by his literature teacher's office with a note of explanation and Felix Agreste walked out of school, skipping it for the first time.

Bri curled up tighter under her blanket. She heard the whispers of Mari and Tikki as she got ready for school, ignored the calls to get up and questions of concern. She listened as Tom and Sabine worked downstairs, occasionally lifting the trap door to slide in food or tea. It all went untouched.

The day hit her like a brick. Sure, she was expecting it in some sense, but she had been doing so good! Baby cousin helped. Mari was such a kind soul and Tom and Sabine were so loving. But it didn't stop her from feeling like she was run over, chewed up and spit out.

She only had one bad day like this since arriving in France, and the Dupain-Chengs kindly never spoke of it. It was soon after she arrived, boundaries still being learned, the newness still fresh. It was on the weekend, she idly remembered. But that was all she remembered. She took in a sharp breath, trying to will the numbness to return, slowly building the walls that had protected her for so long.

Hesitant footsteps on the stairs and the door opened again. Bridgette didn't move. It swung open too far and clattered, followed by a soft curse. Male, she noticed idly, but not Tom's voice. She waited for the door to close again, for retreating steps. Instead, they came closer.

Felix looked around the room, spotting the bundle that was Bridgette. He shuffled awkwardly, unsure of the next course of action. He placed the flowers on the desk and cleared his throat.

Bridgette lifted her head, peering out of her cocoon, shocked to see Felix Agreste in her room…with flowers. She stared at him, unable to do more than that. He waved to a chair, "May I?"

She nodded slowly. Did he expect her to speak? Did he come for tutoring lessons? Did Mari tell him why she didn't go? Questions swirled slowly, sparking some interest, but she curled up again. The distraction, even coming from Felix Agreste, wasn't enough.

Her eyes continued to watch him though, storing away for future analyzing. He smoothed his shirt, looking around the room, eyes settling on the window. "A year before mother died, she got sick, really sick. But Agrestes are not allowed anything but success, so Adrien and I didn't worry, we were not given the full scope of her illness, only that she tired easily. We never questioned it."

Bridgette scooted closer, drawn by his smooth voice and rare emotion and vulnerability he was showing.

"Life continued until she could no longer get out of bed. It seems naive, but that was Adrien and I's first indication that this was something serious and by that time…she was already slipping away," he paused, staring at his hands for a moment before continuing, "Adrien is a lot like her, full of life and hope. He doesn't understand that's why father can't be around him for more than a minute, why he's always asking him to control his emotions, forcing him to be like me."

She sat up, moving to sit beside him. He made no indication that he noticed her.

"I took Adrien to counseling, which meant I had to go with him, but father refused. We have been able to recover, it's still hard, but we manage. The therapist, annoying little prick, helped Adrien quickly. Adrien has always been able to bounce back from whatever life throws at him. I…I was more challenging. For the first time in my life, I allowed myself to be angry with father. I yelled. I demanded. I questioned. And released every snide comment I restrained. Surprisingly, it helped. A cathartic release as the doctor would say. "

There was a pause. Felix finally met her gaze, a question in those soft gray eyes. Bridgette knew what he was asking. Had she allowed herself to let it out. To rage and scream and cry. He was also giving her an opportunity. To do it without fear. To take it out on him, an uninterested party, rather than family. She took a shuddering breath.

"My parents always wanted a son. Someone to take their name and legacy and carry it forward," Bridgette started, her voice quivering slightly, but growing stronger as she talked, "When they had me, there was disappointment, but my father made a decision. I would carry the legacy. It would be hard, but he firmly believed I could. I learned the business, a jewelry store in the city, I learned tricks of the trade, I haggled and fought and stubbornly refused to let anyone treat me differently because I was a girl."

Felix watched her, making no pretense of staring out the window or being preoccupied with other things. Her voice was soft and uncertain as she trudged ahead.

"I was Mari's age when police showed up at my door. My parents were working late and were planning on going to dinner after. Some…some punk smashed through the door and….he wanted money or jewelry. He was on drugs. He had a gun. The business that I had been groomed to take over… had to sell it. I fought tooth and nail for it. If I had been their son, I would have been granted the right to take it over, despite my age, but I'm not. Then after a year of legal battles and liquidating, I came here."

She stopped, her breathing labored and catching on unshed tears. Felix adjusted his stance so he was prepared as she suddenly let go and started sobbing into his shirt. Reluctantly, he held her. He was used to this, at least he should be. He spent many nights in Adrien's room holding him as he cried. It never seemed to cease being awkward though.

Felix gazed around the room again, noting the uneaten food and now cold tea. The room was clearly the younger cousin's, it suited her personality, but Bridgette had her own corner that had a few traditional Chinese decorations and was not suffocatingly pink. The smell of warm bread wafted up from downstairs. He didn't move until the tears slowed and she pulled away, sniffing.

"You haven't eaten." A statement, not a question, with a hint of a command. He pulled the tray of food closer.

"I'm not very hungry."

"Well I am. And I make it a point never be the only one eating. So unless you'd rather I leave…"

She scowled, picking at the food provided, "…thank you Felix. Who knew you cared so much."

"I'll deny any sort of allegations should you decide to gloat." he said, sipping at the cold tea, hiding his smirk.

"Don't worry, grumpy cat, your secret is safe with me."

No one would have guessed what Marinette walked into later that day. Felix Agreste, heir to the Agreste Fashion sitting a bit closer than necessary to Bridgette Cheng, who when she left this morning was practically catatonic. She stepped closer, listening as they conversed easily in Chinese, pouring over homework. She glanced at her parents who smiled and shrugged, then back at the pair. Bridgette had finally won over Felix.