Summary: "Would you rather hear that I had the thrilling experience of being crushed under a semi-sentient bulldozer? Are you attempting to include how death feels in my education?" Felix let the silence sit for a few moments. Honestly, what did his father expect? It wasn't as if he could control what akumas did.
AN: Essentially, this AU is just having the characters of Bridgette and Felix instead of Marinette and Adrien. Every other aspect is (almost) the same from the show, with some exceptions with how I think the world would interact differently with these two instead. There is no curse, and I feel like there is some darkness behind Bridgette's constant smile, so I'm switching it up a little. More details to come, and feel free to ask for clarification, or just wait as I develop it. Enjoy!
For the hundredth time today alone, Felix scowled. Felix was always scowling.
He had no idea what he had expected from school when, in a spout of rebellion and want of change, he managed to convince his father to let him go just over a year ago. How was he supposed to know that he would become Chat Noir, which gave him more than enough change and adventure? In fact, he had been somewhat hoping the man would have stuck to tutors for his following years as he had originally planned, however it seemed his father had a change of heart. Felix was unfortunately far too prideful to admit that perhaps his judgement was flawed, and he didn't want to go to school anymore.
After all, school meant people, and Felix hates people.
People are annoying, they always want to waste time by talking about subjects that have literally no relevance to anything of import, if they see even him as a conversation partner at all. Most people want an autograph and a face, and Felix is tired of it. Or maybe they have managed to have a semblance of thought, which somehow always manages to clash with someone else's, and thus begins the drama. Felix wants no part.
But there is one girl who is more aggravating than everyone else.
Bridgette Dupain-Cheng. The perfect girl, even more so than Felix. He was second in the school in terms of grades, she was first. How she managed to beat him, he could only imagine, as her personality did not seem the kind to have such dedication. People congregate to her presence like moths to a flame, and her bursting smile could be seen everywhere she goes. She was friends with everyone, everyone was friends with her.
And yet, like people are with him, they are so incredibly blind. They talk to her about inconsequential topics, and she responds in kind, despite clearly possessing the intelligence to have conversations of worth. When these 'friends' of hers offer to spend time outside the classroom, she never seems to have the time. Felix knows those who don't have a schedule well enough to know that, if she wanted to spend more time with them, she certainly could. She clearly didn't want to.
So why did she subject herself to such idle chatter? Why plaster that smile on her face? Felix knew how to fake a smile, and this girl did as well, it was obvious to him as the sky was blue. But people are idiots. The unease Felix had learned to see in her showed him that she wasn't merely basking in their attention. It looked to him as though she would rather that they leave her alone, although perhaps she had never made the connection herself.
She aggravated him. Felix could never quite pinpoint exactly what it was that bothered him so. But he was certain of one thing, her fake smiles and laughs grated him.
So why was even taking the time to deign to think of her? Because her facade had fallen, and her 'friends' had left her. All thanks to a presence even more obnoxious than Dupain-Cheng, a poser by the name of Lila Rossi.
From the day Lila entered the school, Felix already knew the sort she was. With her acid dripping grins and hateful looks towards Dupain-Cheng, it was clear that her smirks and lies were forged exactly such that she could bask in attention. And given the sickly-sweet smiles she sent his way, Felix shuddered to think of what she saw in him. He gave the liar a wide berth, interacting neither with her nor her victim, Dupain-Cheng.
It took some time for Lila to turn the school against Bridgette, only having completed the job mere weeks after the second school year had begun. However, it seemed her fangs were limited to the students and their opinions, as she left Bridgette's integrity as number one student alone. In fact, that almost seemed to help her case, as Lila so kindly pointed out what Felix already knew; if Bridgette wanted to spend time with them, she would have, instead she spends all day every day studying.
So that brings Felix to the present of the new school year, watching students file in annoyance. Watching Bridgette Dupain-Cheng enter the classroom, her face devoid of the friendly yet fake smile he had become so used to seeing. Watching Lila Rossi enter the classroom with the poison of her smile carefully concealed.
Why was it, now that Bridgette's obnoxious smile was finally gone, that he was even more annoyed? Surely, he should be happier to know that the mask had finally fallen. Though as he watched her shuffle to her seat, he knew that she still was not whoever she was behind her mask.
With yet another scowl, Felix decided to push it to the back of his mind. He had other things to deal with, such as homework, classes, thoughts that had to do with anything else, and the like. As his attention returned to the classroom, he scowled even deeper, for a new project was being assigned. A partner project. Joy.
"Go ahead and pick your partner," the teacher smiled. "Don't make me regret it, however," she cautioned.
Felix wanted to slam his head on the desk, undignified as that may be. "Perhaps I could work alone?" he asked.
Lila instantly jumped from her seat. "I'll work with you, Felix!" her eyes were wide and sympathetic, as if he said that out of loneliness. As if. Felix choked on bile, gritting his teeth.
"I'm certain you have an entire posse who would be honored to partner with you," he replied coldly. "I am not one of them. You would do well not to ask me again." The teacher frowned as Lila gasped. Fortunately, Felix's reputation as an ass preceded him, and the class was not all that bothered by his behavior. Not that he would have cared if they were.
"Felix, part of the project is working with someone else," the teacher made a cautious smile, which he recognized as a grimace. "I'm afraid you have to have a partner. There will be one group of three."
Raising his eyes to the heavens, Felix suppressed the need to groan. There was not a single person in this classroom who he wished to work with. The silence lasted for a few moments, before students began pairing off.
"Ohhhh Felikiiiiiiiins~" A voice that sounded like nails on a chalkboard sounded. "Surely, you would partner with your best friend, Chloe?" she batted her eyelashes as Felix scoffed. Lila still was unpartnered, watching the exchange with hungry eyes.
Felix would rather partner with Chloe than Lila because he already knew Chloe would do none of the work, meaning he would be alone after all. He almost accepted, that is, until Sabrina piped up, "We can be a group of three!"
Okay no, not a chance. He was not working with Chloe's servant. How she could stand such revolting yes-man behavior was beyond Felix. He glanced over the room, everyone had now paired, with the exception of Lila, himself, and Bridgette. Of course.
Felix groaned, knowing what he would have to do. Without saying a single word in response to the blonde, he turned his heel and approached Bridgette, who was quietly observing the classroom from her seat. "Will you be my partner? You seem to be the only one with a grain of intelligence in this room," he quipped, justifying his choice.
Her eyes widened, but a small smile formed on her face. "Sure."
Lila's eyes rounded into scornful saucers, loathing reignited in her eyes towards Dupain-Cheng. Chloe's seething almost matched her hatred, almost.
Felix suddenly realized that his poor choices had landed him in the center of Lila's drama. Maybe he should not have avoided Chloe in the manner that he did, as working with her for a single project would be preferable to whatever slow game Rossi liked to play. Damn it.
Lila quickly grouped with Juleka and Rose, her grimace replaced by her trademark sickly-sweet smile. "You're so kind Felix, grouping with the one girl who didn't have anyone. I'm sorry Bridgette, I didn't realize-"
"I partnered with her because her grades are a league higher than anyone in this classroom save myself," Felix cut her off. "Do not compare me to your false sympathies."
Fortunately, that was the final period, and as class let out, Felix checked his schedule for the coming week. He had a few time slots, but knowing his and Bridgette's work pace, he knew only one session together would suffice for the project's completion. As such, he told her, "I am afraid this project was timed poorly, I have quite a few shoots, studies, and other things that tend to my attention. My availability is limited, and although it can be altered, that would not be preferable. I can meet Thursday, three days from now, beginning at 3:30pm, until 5pm, when I have piano practice. Do you have any conflicts with this timing? I do believe we can finish it then." No need to drag this out.
She blinked at him. "I- I don't think so. Something could pop up, but it should be fine."
Felix raised an eyebrow, "If something 'pops up,' cancel it."
Bridgette opened her mouth in what looked like a retort, but she quickly snapped it shut and looked away. A pang of annoyance hit him, she clearly had a retort prepared, and he would have liked to hear it. It was natural of her to quench it, Felix is an intimidating figure after all, but it was annoying all the same.
That was when an explosion sounded, and both jerked their heads towards the sound. "Akuma," Felix muttered. He supposed the conversation was complete already, so he would have no problems getting away. Though if it wasn't, he likely would have simply left mid conversation without an explanation. What right did anyone have to know where he went to?
"I- I uh, I'm gonna go home! See you Thursday- wait no, I'll see you in school tomorrow? So, uh, see you tomorrow!" Bridgette exclaimed in a rush, sprinting towards the bakery.
Felix shook his head with a sigh and began to look for an alley himself. Bridgette had a habit of making herself scarce when akumas appeared, which was quite convenient. Whenever she did end up getting caught midway in a battle, he knew it wasn't her fault, she wasn't trying to get in the way. Unlike the obnoxious Ladyblogger, and the almost villainous Rossi.
"I haven't even had any cheese today," Plagg grumbled.
"You had 7 slices this morning alone, and don't think I didn't notice you taking another two throughout the day," Felix responded. "I believe I have earned the right to transform? Now, Plagg, Claws Out!"
"Chat Noir, right on time," Ladybug greeted him, already on the scene. A Sentimonster tore apart the streets, as an enormous, hard hatted akuma of sorts roared.
"I would never jilt you, Milady," Felix kissed her hand with a bow.
She scrunched up her face in confusion. "Why do you use such weird language? I've never heard that word in my life."
Felix merely smirked. "A gentleman never tells. Though I would advise you to expand your vocabulary upon our miraculous victory."
Ladybug rolled her eyes. "I'm being lectured, by a cat boy in leather. What has my life come to?" She shook her head with a chuckle, and when she looked up, her face was clear. She watched the battlefield before them with a scrutinizing eye, and Felix took the hint to do the same.
Felix was not the one to come up with plans, the complexity of those that Ladybug managed to come up with never failed to baffle him. He could, however, glean out information on their foes and relay details back to her. He was always skillful enough to distract foes long enough for her to find the perfect solution.
He respected her confidence and her skill, knowing without the shadow of a doubt that there was no better person for the job. He would be lying if he did not have something of a crush on her, but for the most part he knew his flirts and jokes were just that- flirts and jokes. Ladybug knew it too; bantering with her was all the more entertaining because of it.
Felix frowned in concentration as he took in the battlefield, as of yet devoid of superheroes. The Sentimonster seemed to be an enormous construction vehicle of sorts, although 'construction' really didn't fit the destructive nature of it. It bulldozed everything in its path, acting without purpose.
The akuma itself, oddly enough, seemed no more sentient. The hard hatted being was simply destroying buildings, with its never-ending scream. He couldn't see any tricks in either arsenal, but at the same time, the raw power they held was on a different level than what he and Ladybug were used to.
Felix glanced over to Ladybug, whose hand was still on her chin. "I'm not seeing any tricks in their design, Milady, looks to me as though these two are all about brute force."
She sighed. "Looks like it. Guess we jump in, and make it up as we go, as per the norm," she grumbled.
Felix smirked. "Ah, my favorite."
The battle was a lengthy one, lasting almost two hours. It was hard to get through to the akuma, and Chat Noir couldn't afford to simply take hits with the raw strength they were up against. It was scary how powerful the two were, without any tricks. Was Hawkmoth testing something?
Eventually, though the heroes had to rest halfway through the fight, they came up on top. It was exhausting, and Felix was more than happy to simply flop into his bodyguard's waiting car upon completion. As much as he loved fighting alongside Ladybug, he much preferred battles where the brain was more potent than brawn. It was odd to think of himself as the brawn of the team, Felix was never a strong individual, but the miraculous magic did him wonders.
"Felix. Where were you this afternoon?" Gabriel stood on the landing of the stairs before his and his son's portrait.
Felix merely lifted an eyebrow, unthreatened by his father's voice. "Why, hiding from the akuma such that I was not flattened."
"You would have been safe, here in the mansion," Gabriel's icy voice echoed in the empty halls.
Felix rolled his eyes. "Oh, I'm certain the mindless akumas who were, may I remind you, bulldozing the streets, would ignore a single limousine, allowing it alone to go home. Would you rather hear that I had the thrilling experience of being crushed under a semi-sentient bulldozer? Are you attempting to include how death feels in my education?" Felix let the silence sit for a few moments. Honestly, what did his father expect? It wasn't as if he could control what akumas did.
Gabriel simply bit his lip, looking as though he wished to say something more, but thought better of it. Unlike with Bridgette, Felix felt a rush of pride to see that he had made his point unquestioned. Felix indulged himself in a tiny, smug smile. "I didn't think so." And with that, Felix strode behind him, closing the door of his room carefully behind him.
AN: Don't worry, this fic is labelled romance for a reason…. In this AU, the love square is evened out a little, with each side having minor crushes on the others, some realizing it some not. As Bridgette's crush on Felix was never a big deal, Lila never hated her the same way she hated Marinette, but as she knew the truth of Lila's lies, she was still a target. That's why she never got expelled. This chapter is somewhat just laying the groundwork, but there are exciting things to come! This one will be something of a longer story, so expect lots more! I'm excited for it, and I hope you are too! As always, thanks for reading~