CHAPTER 12 – BROTHERS FOREVER

The shadows had lengthened when Félix came to. His nausea and dizziness had passed and he lay on the bed staring at the ceiling, thinking.

Nathalie must have been looking for the ring. It was the only logical explanation. His uncle was no fool and had probably worked out that the most likely culprit for the theft was him. His uncle's keen interest in ensuring that sentimental and valuable items were safely stored in the house now made sense.

"You manipulated me uncle," he said out loud.

Félix's smooth brow furrowed with concentration as he contemplated where he could hide the ring. He couldn't stop his room being searched while he was away at school and it would only be a matter of time before the secret compartment in his bag was found. He wouldn't put it past his uncle to x-ray his belongings.

Keeping it on his person was also not really an option. Adrien would notice the ring when they changed for fencing or swimming and he could not risk keeping it in his bag or pocket – high school lockers were notoriously easy to break into.

The mansion was large with numerous hiding places, but there were security cameras covering most of the house except for the bedrooms and bathrooms. Gabriel was doubtless watching him and the cameras could easily be checked for any suspicious behavior on his part.

He couldn't risk hiding it in a public area, with his luck the ring would be found. He closed his eyes in frustration. Where could he hide it?

-000-

Félix's thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on his door.

"Come in," he called.

The door opened and Adrien popped his head into the room, a concerned look on his face.

"I'm just checking to see how you feel," he said. "May I come in?"

Félix sat up in his bed. "Sure," he said. "Come on in."

Adrien walked up to the bed. "You look much better," he said.

"I feel much better," said Félix, faking a weak smile at his cousin.

Adrien put out his hand on Félix's forehead, checking his temperature. Félix felt the cold metal of Adrien's ring on his forehead. Inside his brain cogs began to spin.

"You don't seem to have a temperature at all," said Adrien, his face breaking into a smile. "What a relief!"

Adrien sat on the edge of the bed, telling him about how concerned the fencing class had been and how they had all sent their best wishes. Félix let the words wash over him without listening. His mind was racing at a thousand miles an hour.

"Say Adrien, that's a pretty cool ring," he said, pointing at the silver ring on Adrien's hand. "Where did you get it?"

A look of panic flashed over Adrien's face. "Ugh … a … friend gave it to me …"

Why was he so panicked about a simple ring? Hmmm. This needed thought.

"Do you mind if I see it?" asked Félix.

"Sure" said Adrien, holding out his hand. His voice sounded anything but sure though.

Félix took Adrien's hand gently, looking at the ring. There was nothing exceptional about it. It was silver in colour, with no jewels. It was almost like a signet ring, except the circular portion where you would normally find a crest was bare. Four prongs held the circular portion in place.

When Félix moved to take the ring off Adrien's finger Adrien closed his fist, snatching his hand away.

"Sorry Adrien, I didn't think you would mind me looking at it properly."

Something was definitely up with the ring.

"N-no worries" Adrien stuttered. "Sorry about that, it's just that it's really special to me. I nearly lost it a while back, so I make sure that I never take it off." His mind flickered back to the day he had taken it off for a photoshoot to model Marinette's designs. When Juleka was akumatised he could not turn into Cat Noir. Luckily Tikki had found him and he had turned into Mister Bug instead, with Ladybug helping out as Lady Noir. It had been a close thing though and he had resolved never to take the ring off again.

"I understand. Especially given what happened to your father's ring."

Adrien nodded. As he did so something clicked in Félix's mind.

"Say Adrien, I've been thinking, and your ring has given me an idea."

Adrien nodded. "Go on."

"I would like to again apologise for my behavior during my last trip. I was absolutely beastly.

During the last few days I've realised just how lucky I am to have you in my life. Despite how I acted, you have taken me in and treated me like a real friend. I've seen how you spoke to your friends in my defense and know that I would not be accepted into your class like I have been if you hadn't done so. You risked your friendships for my sake and I am grateful to you for taking the risk."

Adrien blushed slightly at the praise.

"Your father has treated me like a prince and I know my mother is getting the very best care. It must be costing him a fortune and I know we don't deserve it." Félix was grateful that Adrien was so naïve when it came to social interactions. He and his mother DID deserve the treatment they had received and more. He was sure that his face must give away exactly how he felt, but Adrien seemed incapable of seeing it.

"Anyhow, I was thinking how the Graham de Vanily rings have driven a rift between our families and I thought we could do something to mend that."

Adrien nodded.

"You see Adrien, over the past few days I've realised that you are more to me than a cousin or a friend. You are so much more than that. You are like the brother I never had."

Adrien's heart fluttered. He had no idea that Félix felt that way. He gazed into his earnest green eyes, like gazing into a mirror. He had been so alone for so long. Did Félix really think of him as a brother?

"And so, I thought maybe I could make a copy of your ring. Where our parents' rings have been a symbol of discord and strife in our family, ours could be a symbol of love and unity. The design is simple and I should be able to make a copy with some modelling clay and some silver paint. Please say 'yes'."

Félix looked at his cousin's eyes. A tear formed in the corner of one and ran down his cheek. Suddenly he found himself crushed in Adrien's embrace. Félix hugged him back, the smug look of satisfaction on his face hidden from Adrien.

"Brothers forever" said Adrien, his voice filled with emotion.

"Brothers forever" replied Félix.

"Sucker!" he thought silently to himself.

-000-

Thirty minutes later Félix was alone in his room with the dimensions of Adrien's ring written down, some modelling clay, some silver paint and some tools. Making sure he was alone and the door was locked he took his ring from its hiding place and began building on it using the modelling clay. The clay could easily be broken off once its purpose had been served, but until then Félix could wear the missing Graham de Vanily ring in plain sight without arousing suspicion.

He smiled at his own cleverness as he used the clay to build up a signet portion on the plain ring he had stolen.

And as an added bonus his cousin seemed to trust him once again.

"What a productive day," he thought to himself.