It has been three weeks since Marinette agreed to Chat's little rendezvous, and she must admit that she has looked forward to each one every single time, even if they do basic things like discussing their life-or as much as he is willing to disclose, and sometimes watch movies.
She attempted to get her Kitty to play video games, but he confessed to rarely playing them. Although, he did let it slip that he has a younger sibling who is a gamer. When her Kitty did play, they were either party games with his sibling or JRPGs. Recently, he brought up the topic of Persona 5: Royal and how he has been enjoying going through it while the other watches. Super cute and sweet.
She thoroughly enjoyed the time they spent, but she desperately wan-no, she craved so much more from it all. But, she needs to fight those urges that fill her up whenever she sees her partner.
Or the very faint crush that still lingers for Félix. Her feelings bewilder her so much…
She shakes her head, wrapping her arms around herself and squeezing her eyes shut. She can't complete her assignments right now with her mind so scattered. She pushed off of the desk, rolling to her sewing area. Hopefully, designing will calm her restless mind tonight.
Knock, Knock, Knock.
Constant, rapid knocking from her balcony echoed loudly in her room. It was getting louder and more frantic by the second, playing its desperate song. Only her Kitty can get up there, but it's the middle of the week and not late enough for her parents to be asleep. Her eyes widen. Something must be amiss for him to visit even when there is a high probability of us getting caught.
She rushed to the hatch, opening it to see a heartbreaking sight. Her Kitty. Her poor, poor Kitty. He is clearly distraught: eyes dilating, breathing shallow, and claws scratching at his suit, almost like he is picking at it to get to his skin. Then she caught sight of his neck, bleeding from deep scratch marks accompanied by darker spots on the side of his neck.
Her breath hitches in her throat as panic starts to set in. Right, I am Ladybug! I need to stay calm and collected. He needs her!
Gently, she holds Chat's hands to keep them occupied with anything other than scratching himself. He let out a guttural growl that shook her to her core. "It's ok, Kitty," her voice wavered, "I'm not going to hurt you. Promise." She raised her hand. His eyes snap to her hand as he recoils, covering his neck protectively. There is sheer terror swimming in his eyes. What could you have gone through?
She inched her hand closer to him. His eyes locked on it, never letting it leave his sights, as though he was studying, calculating every situation and means of handling it. Her hand hovered over the apex of his head, observing her Kitty before she inched any closer. Chat's face twisted into a prominent scowl with wide eyes, narrowed pupils, and his ears standing straight up. He let out a hiss that wrinkled his nose and bared his fangs, the cat miraculous showing itself more than usual.
It devastated her to see him in this state. Keeping a watchful eye, she lowered her hand. His constant growls vibrated within his chest as he leered. With her palm, she patted him delicately, gauging his reaction before continuing further. His expression softened with the rumble of purrs overpowering his growl. She ponders for a split second before petting him like she always did, which rewarded her with louder purrs. He leaned into her hand, rubbing against it eagerly as content washed over his features.
However, she noticed the rapid rise and fall of his chest, he still didn't fully have his wits. "You need to breathe Kitty. Take deep breaths on my mark, ok?" She spoke to him in a soothing voice, trying her absolute best to keep her nervousness from seeping into her tone.
She halted her petting, promptly causing the cat to whip his head to stare at her, expecting fear. Instead, she saw that mixed with disappointment on his face.
"Ready?"
He didn't respond, just stared at her with a quivering lip. Concern begins to overtake her even more.
"Breath in."
She heard an intake of breath, flooding her with such relief. "Breath out."
They repeated the exercise until Chat was able to regain some composure. Then she pulls him into her embrace, holding him and caressing his hair as she murmurs sweet nothings into his ears.
They stayed like this, both content with this situation. The shaking lessened more and more on the black-clad hero as time went by, breathing to a normal rhythm. Regardless, he never dared to move, listening to her strong heart, taking notice of how she held him: sturdy yet gentle enough that if he needed space, he could leave with no issues. It is a reminder that she is with him, but not imprisoned. Allowing him the freedom to move if needed. Marinette-always thoughtful and keenly aware of personal boundaries for others, usually before her own.
He is glad he took a chance by going to her house without warning, knowing full well he wouldn't be able to handle this by himself this time. He is forever grateful; however, taking advantage of her nurturing nature is tearing his disjointed mind even more.
But he shouldn't continue this any longer. He should be able to keep his wits about him and Adrien will be home soon if it goes awry. He sat up, unaware of the girl's disappointment as he did so. He spoke in an airy voice, "I am in your debt, my dear Princess." He smiled as he took her hand, giving it a peck. She opened her mouth to speak, cheeks a shade of red, but her words fumbled into an incoherent sentence.
Chat's tail flicked, "Cat got your tongue, hm?" He joked with a shit-eating grin. Marinette crossed her arms, presenting him with the angriest expression she could muster at that moment. It was all for naught as Chat snickered. "Aren't you being the cutest little thing," he cooed, "And you look so red. Feeling a bit flustered, Princess?"
Marinette glared at Chat. "I am perfectly fine, Kitty!" she spoke through gritted teeth. She is getting irritated by his antics, but she is grateful that he is acting like his normal self, "I'm glad you are better, Kitty." She bit her lower lip, contemplating whether to push her luck. He might still be fragile despite putting on a confident face. And she would never want to be the reason he has those episodes.
Chat's face is devoid of all emotion, and his lips curl down into a frown, "You want to know, don't you?" Marinette's eyes went wide and he could tell her body was tensing up.
Chat sighed, "I'm not pissed if that is what you are assuming." He zipped up his suit all the way to his neck, covering up his injuries, then straightened his posture. "To get to the nitty-gritty of the situation, something occurred that caused me to panic. My brother wasn't home to console me from doing certain…" his mouth formed a thin line as silence engulfed the two.
Marinette sat there, waiting patiently with her sight never leaving her Kitty. She could tell he was debating with himself, dread swirling within his soul. It brought her joy in a sick, twisted way…She loved that he permitted her to witness him in such a vulnerable state. A person who could feign gaiety, only to be swallowed by a prison of his own making, with no one none the wiser. A powerful strength, able to remain hidden but a great weakness to the mind.
"You can trust me, Kitty," she assured him. This caught his attention as he studied her intensely, eyes wandering across her face repeatedly. Worry clouded his features while he did so.
"I won't think anything different of you," she promised.
He sneered, "Don't say anything you won't be able to uphold, Princess."
Anger welled up inside her. She hated whenever people doubted her word, especially when it was coming from not only her partner, her crush. She snapped at him, "And you shouldn't pass judgment when there is no basis for it!"
Chat winced, "I-"
"When have I ever gone back on my word?" she hissed.
"Fair point…" Chat murmured, scratching his cheek in embarrassment.
Marinette snatched his hand away from his face, "Stop that."
Chat's face twisted into horror as he touched his neck with the other hand, "You-"
"Yes," she confirmed, cutting him off.
His face turned white, still holding his neck as he bore into her. "I-" he choked out, mustering up the will to continue, "I will not disclose that. I will tell you what I was going to say earlier…I came over to try and stop me from." His ears droop, body slouching as he hesitates to speak. He squeezes his eyes shut. "I'm sorry, Princess," he muttered, curling into himself.
She pulled him into a hug, playing with his hair, "No rush. Tell me whenever you are ready." He returned the favor, squeezing her tight and continuously thanking her. She giggled as he tickled her ear whenever he breathed and nuzzled her neck. Chat looked at her from the corner of his eye, mischief flickering in them while he continued, earning laughter from the bluenette.
"Someone is ticklish," he teased.
"Am not!"
He blew air into her air causing her to squeal. He gave a cheeky grin, "Uh-huh, not ticklish, you say?"
She pouts and squeezes his cheeks together, then moves her fingers around. "You have been a bad Kitty."
Chat blankly stared as he deadpanned, "Meow."
She snorted, letting go of his cheeks. When she did, he rose to his feet, bowing to her, "I should be heading off. Again, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your kindness is a wonderful gift, Princess."
"Y-you are welcome," she simpered, her face dusted in a vivid red.
He did a two-finger salute. When he was about to jump off, Marinette called to him. He turned his head with a hum.
"Um, please do not hesitate to call me for help if that happens or well-anything for that matter!" she affirmed, her face colored red but full of determination.
He smirked, "Of course, Princess. I shall keep that in the back of my mind if ever I need it again."
"You better!"
He chuckled, jumping off her balcony to head home as the bluenette watched him until she couldn't see his figure anymore.
Félix opened the window to his bedroom, scanning his bedroom before going inside. He took several deep breaths and went straight to the bathroom to take a shower. He transformed back, taking in his appearance through the mirror: eyes were bloodshot, his hair a total wreck. He lowered the collar of his shirt, revealing that his neck was littered with scratches and bruising. His finger brushed against one of the bruises, causing him to curse under his breath.
He let out a groan and went to take his shower, hissing as the hot water hit his flesh. Then he tilted his head to wet his hair, watching the droplets hit the floor in a hypnotic state. He closed his eyes, hoping-praying even- for the pitter-patter of the water to lull his overworking senses. He can't keep doing this forever. Eventually, it will catch up with him.
A series of knocks ring in his ear, followed by a soft click of the door closing, which he assumes is his bedroom door. He could have sworn he locked his bedroom unless…Shit, he must have forgotten when he had his episode. Lovely, just lovely.
Voices could be heard talking, and Félix can pick up on most of it, although his hearing doesn't compare to his alter egos by a long shot. It was a male and female, possibly Father and Nathalie? The knob to the bathroom twisted, the person cracking open the door. Christ. He must have been out of it to forget to lock even the bathroom door. Still, it can't be father or Nathalie doing this since they really aren't galled; Adrien on the other hand…
Right on cue, a blond head peeked from the open door, his face mirthful, "Fé! I'm back!"
"Adrien, you were taught better manners than this!" a feminine voice that sounded like Nathalie scolded.
Adrien completely disregards the comment, continuing to speak to Félix, "Are you able to help me with some homework after your shower?"
"If I say yes, will you get out and let me finish my shower in peace?"
The impish brother grinned, receding into the room and shutting the door. Félix sighs, rubbing his temples, to say he was exhausted would be an understatement. He struggles to keep his eyes open even with the hot water on his face, his body screaming at him to just go ahead and sleep it off.
Whatever… He quickly finishes and steps out to dry off, reaching for the clean clothes-wait a second. He never grabbed any fresh clothes at all. His lips twitch down, hand absentmindedly wandering to his neck, shifting to face the door.
Adrien is most likely in his room and once he catches a glimpse of this, the questions will start spewing out. God, he just wants to rest.
Let's get this over with. "Adri!" Félix shouts, "I forgot to get a change of clothes. Can you leave while I get decent?"
Félix can hear something being fiddled with, "Hey, what are you doing?"
"I can pass you some pajamas," Adrien offered.
"You do-"
The door opened, making Félix take cover behind the door. A hand pokes through, holding the most mismatched outfit that his brother could possibly conjure.
He grimaced, "Could you at least try and match it?"
"Fé," Adrien groans irritably, "Take it or walk out here and choose it yourself."
Félix yanked it from his hands, putting on both the pants and shirt. He will switch shirts at the very least; however, he needs to ensure he is covered to not draw attention to anything.
He flung it open, face furrowed as he briskly walked past Adrien to his dresser, thankful that his long hair hides his neck for the most part.
Adrien cocked his head while sitting in the chair adjacent to Félix, spinning it to ease his nerves. Nathalie informed him that Félix and Father argued again. The young blond didn't know when or how to bring it up without causing a ruckus, but that may happen regardless of how he words it. He was never great at discussing sensitive topics. Struggled to describe what he wanted to say without fumbling his words or mixing up his sentences. Better now or never to mention it. "So," he drawled, poking at the seams of his shirt, "Nathalie informed me there was an altercation while I was gone."
He took note of how Félix tensed up, his knuckles turning white from how tight his grip was on the drawer. Adrien frowned, "You want to talk about it since I am here now?"
Félix let out a breath he was holding, "No," he clicked his tongue and changed shirts, "Maybe tomorrow but I was able to calm down from it."
This was interesting…Adrien perked up, brows lifted as a curious glint flashed in his eyes, "Did you or?"
"With the assistance of another. If we could discuss this tomorrow, I am honestly hanging on by a thread and desire to rest…I can try to aid in your homework as well when we talk."
Adrien's mouth fell open a bit, "Oh," he mumbled, "I don't need help with that. I just wanted an opening to talk to you with no one around."
Félix snorted, "I figured that is why you asked in front of her. Next time could you not barge in while I am showering?"
The other's lips quirked up, "No promises, especially when it gives such a rich reaction to Nathalie or Father."
"You are a little devil sometimes, you know that?"
Adrien simply shrugs, spinning around the chair before hopping off of it. "I'm going to let you try and sleep for once," he grinned, "Sleep well Fé and get ready for the entourage to come tomorrow!"
Félix opens his arms, "Yea, yea." Adrien pounced into his arms, hugging him tightly. His attention went to Félix's neck, his stomach twisting into knots from looking at it. Damn…
Adrien let go, forcing a smile, "Have a good night, Fé! Sweet dreams." He rushed to the door, quietly leaving. On the other side, a devious smile he was trying to hold finally slipped. Tonight is going to be very interesting.
Over an hour has passed since Félix went to bed. Adrien is standing outside his brother's door, his ear pressed against the wood. He doesn't hear much of anything, so he will assume, well hope if he was being honest, that Félix is sound asleep. He reached for the knob, halting right before he touched the cold metal.
Doubts are clawing in his mind, making his stomach form knots about sneaking into his brother's room to take the ring. This is a thought that never crossed his mind until now, deducing this as the only way to give gratitude to Marinette without revealing Félix's identity. Assuming it is Marinette who succored his brother, although he is fairly certain it was her. His brother doesn't trust anyone else. Adrien quietly turned the knob, peering through the crack to reassure himself that his older brother was out.
The soft echoes of Félix snoring and the T.V. fills the room as Adrien tip-toes his way in. Thankfully, Félix passed out with the television on this time because the light is helping him navigate the room without bumping into everything.
He stood above the sleeping lad, fixated on the miraculous that dawned on his left middle finger. Félix never took off the ring for anything, a great habit majority of the time. But it makes Adrien's situation trickier, he has to remove it to go on his little exertion without stirring the sleeping lion. At least he doesn't have to concern himself with Plagg, Félix puts him in the miraculous in case Nathalie enters his room before he wakes.
Still doesn't make it easier. He gulped, kneeling to be more level and attempting to remove the ring in the most excruciatingly slow process ever.
When he was almost finished, Félix's hand twitched, causing Adrien's breath to hitch in his throat and panic to course through him. He dropped to the ground and hid under the bed, staying motionless for several minutes until the coast was clear. A false alarm, but rather be safe than sorry…
In a final pull, the ring was now in his possession, a triumphant grin stretching along his face as he rushed out of the room as silently as he could. In his room, he wore the ring on his right hand, as a dark swirl spun around him before forming into Plagg.
The god narrowed his eyes, "Does Kid know you have it?" Straight, to the point.
Adrien shook his head, "Nope."
Plagg blinked, "Then why did you steal the miraculous?"
Adrien grasps his heart, feigning hurt in his expression, "Oh, you wound me so! You know I would never steal!" With a flippant grin, he shook his finger in front of the god, "Only borrow."
The deity scoffed, "Yeah, sure. Last time I checked Kitten, borrow means the other knows you have it, which I doubt he knows. So what is your reason for taking it?"
"To pay someone a visit is all, mainly to thank them."
"Who."
"Someone."
"Kitten," Plagg warned with ears pierced back.
Adrien crossed his arms, pouting with a ghost of a smile curling his lips, "Fine, I'll tell you who."
Plagg hums, "Yes?"
"Plagg claws out." The kwami gets absorbed into the ring, and all the while the black cat is yelling Adrien's name.
Transforming in a flash of green, Adrien blinks, staring at his leather-clad hands with long black nails. Then god, the noises, smell, everything honestly. His eyes are darting around frantically, trying to hone in on anything to occupy his attention to help dull his mind. It feels like he can hear colors or some shit. It is horrifically suffocating how heightened his senses are in this form. Reminder, apologize for all the times he yelled in Félix's ears whenever he was being saved, then ask how damaged his hearing is.
The junior hero stood there, regaining his presence of mind from sensory overload, toying with the cuff of his suit. Adrien patted his face, "C'mon, calm down. You can do it." Suddenly the mirror caught his attention, gawking at the outfit he sported. It is strikingly similar to Félix's with some minor differences: ears and tail won't budge no matter how much he tries-much to his disappointment, combat-looking boots, and his suit is zipped up to his neck.
He rings the silver bell on his collar, the otherwise soft sound piercing his eardrum and making him wince. "Why, why, why are you so loud?" he whimpered. Right, he is getting sidetracked. He fiddled with the staff until he accidentally pressed the button, extending it to smack him in the jaw. A groan filled the room, "Stupid thing…Why didn't you come with a manual?"
He grumbled as he extended the staff to reach his window, jumping out of it once he opened it. For a moment, he marveled at the lights of Paris in the night, a spectacle that is hard to beat. His eyes shimmered in delight, a broad smile stretching across his face. This is so cool! Ok, ok, let's get back to the task at hand Adrien, to Marinette's house.
