There exist two beings, cousins in fact but twins in every physical aspect yet exact opposites in terms of personality: one could bring a chill down your spine with his icy glare while the other could warm your heart with a cheerful stare. Maybe they were twins in a way, they weren't constructed by any normal means. They weren't human at all but sentibeings created from parental love and desperation of wanting a child. A child that neither their mothers, twins themselves, could bear naturally so they resorted to other means, to this twisted way. From a stolen artifact, the peacock miraculous, they fashioned a child for one another, like constructing a new doll for them to keep and enjoy for years to come. The children's souls trapped into a pair of family heirloom rings: the Graham de Vanily twin rings. Once done, they each had "birthed" their own child, each carried their child's ring to keep them safe: not to control, but to keep them alive. They weren't exactly humans but beings of their mothers' love.
Unfortunately, stealing and using it for this intent seemed more like a curse than a blessing, it was a sin to the gods. Throughout the years, everything was fine, normal, and their families were close-knit: one would say perfect in fact. The cousins were joined at the hip whenever they were together. Until one year, Adrien's mother vanished without a trace, whose disappearance shook not only the child's core but the father's own state of being. The father became cold, distant and manipulative, making the child suffer isolation and emotional abuse, and began using the child's ring to bend him to his will: making him his vision of a perfect son, his tool for his own warped plan.
Another year goes by, Félix's father passed with no explanation, causing yet another blow to the cracking structure called a family. The cousins drifted further apart after this when Adrien didn't come to the funeral: breaking not only Félix's trust but his heart. Then Gabriel stole the twin rings: both Félix and Adrien's soul hung in his hands, he could do whatever he pleased with them if he so wished it. Their platform was barely holding together, one major hit could cause it to collapse on itself any moment, on a family barely hanging on.
That may come sooner rather than later. Here stands the two beings, cousins, twins perhaps, boring into each other: one on the verge of tears an expression contorting into pure disarray while the other showed a glimpse of sympathy on his eyes. Félix finally broke down from guilt, he told his cousin everything, about what they are, about his father and the vile plans the man had. He was the one that is about to destroy what little foundation this family even had and honestly, it will be worth it instead of continuing this façade. Félix played with his ring, a habit he developed out of nervousness, it oddly gave him a weird sense of calmness that couldn't be described by normal means. It was his own soul. He knew he was in control of his decisions, a freedom which people had but he and his cousin have to hope for the good graces of their parents. He didn't have to depend on that now. He stole it back from his uncle and gave it to his mom as a gift which, in return, gave it to him. She wanted him to have that power and he was forever grateful for her love and support. For Adrien, however, his father wore his soul on his finger proudly and used it with great force whenever necessary. He felt such pity for Adrien when before it was just jealousy of his situation, a situation carefully crafted by Gabriel. Now, he can safely say, he got the better deal at the end of the day: a loving, supporting parent, the power of his own will and destiny.
Félix took a heavy breath, approaching Adrien slowly with sheer determination. Adrien gawked at his cousin through tear-glazed eyes, intently watching him take off his ring and placing it in his hand. His vision drifted to the ring in his trembling hand, this was his cousin's life, he had the power to do what he pleases with in from this action and that made his skin crawl. How could anyone want to control another hu-...That's right, they aren't humans, they are sentibeings. They have souls, They have emotions. They are linked together by the rings of their mothers. They do live normal lives, dwelling on a fine line of humanity. Were they even consider real…are they worth being here…? Is Félix giving him the trust to his own life? Is this a test or a way to show that he trust him even after everything that transpired? Adrien could feel the lump in his throat and tears trickling down his face. He was so overwhelmed, his mind scrambling for a coherent thought in the chaos. The person he has been fighting all this time was his father, a father gone mad with bringing his mother back. A father who abandon him, a son he decided to make mind you, and control him to get to his own goals to make his perfect world for himself and his broken family. A sick and corrupted form of a parent's love. Was this a curse of their parents' sin? Was their mistakes going to affect those who were not willing participates along with them? He and Félix didn't ask to be conjured up like this so why do they have to face the wrath of the gods for what their parents did so long ago?
Adrien's gut twisted into knots as his eyes flickered back to his cousin, roaming his features for any form of answer to why he willingly gave him this. His face remained neutral with pursed lips, his blue-gray eyes never deviating from his own. With a gulp, he shoved the ring back into Félix's hand, immediately wiping that hand on his jeans. It made him feel so repulsive to have something so personal, fragile even in his hand.
Félix hummed, putting the ring back on his finger, giving Adrien a serious look, "I want to assist you. I want to get your ring from him."
His breath hitched in his throat, eyes wide from Félix's statement. "W-why? You ended up giving him nearly everything! You are the reason we lost!" Adrien screamed, a snarl overtaking his features as his eyes sting from the tears that still flowed.
"I want you to have the ability to make your own choices without being a puppet on a string. You deserve it. You deserve to have that freedom like everyone else," Félix affirmed with a steely glint in his eyes.
Adrien tried to argue but he choked on his words, nothing came out and he honestly didn't have the energy for it. He just shut his mouth, making a pouty moue and gave Félix a pitiful glare.
Félix gave a weak chuckle, "Or…" Félix moved his tie to the side to show the peacock miraculous, "...we can end our existence. I have that power. Personally, I choose to continue on for my mother as well as watching your father writhe in agony as he loses. Although, if you desire it, I can grant you a swift end even if I do not desire that outcome…" He mumbled the last sentence quietly, looking down on the floor with a solemn expression.
Adrien's breath became shallow, his line of sight never leaving the miraculous his cousin wore. He really could snuff him without a second thought. That must be why he handed him his ring earlier, almost like a putting them on equal grounds before he made his claim. Sensing his distress, Félix took off the brooch and set it between the two of them, backing up with his hands in the air, once again leveling the playing field. He is giving him a choice, Félix wants him to fully know that he has an option in everything happening and there is nothing that is going to force him-to control him. A corner of his lips curled up at this, Félix had trust in him and despite all the deplorable things he did, Adrien trusted him just as much. He made his decision, he will fight, he will beat his father, Shadowmoth, and have full power over his destiny, just like Félix has now.
With stride, Adrien picked up the brooch and headed to Félix, his eyes glimmering with resolve as he handed back the miraculous. The other smirked while putting the brooch back under his tie, both of them staring at each other.
Félix held out his hand and with a silent agreement, they shook hands. They were bound together by their predicament, the rings and branded by the sins of another. They will pull through this, together.
