Intro
There are very few people who know that the Guardians protect the miraculous. They keep the ancient relics in utter secrecy and, when the time comes, pass them on to heroes of legend.
But among these chosen individuals, fewer still know of the existence of another miraculous. A miraculous guarded, cared for and passed on from hero to hero-or, rather, thief to thief.
This miraculous is not like the others, for his chosen are not picked by the guardians, but destiny herself.
So listen closely, for I am about to tell you the story of Moosu, kwami of the moose, and a young boy, named Felix.
Chapter 1: Break-in
"Lila, are you sure about this?" Felix fiddled with his dark cap, hugging the shadows as he followed the girl's thin frame toward a house with a single bright window overhead.
"Don't you want to eat tonight?" she sneered.
He did. They hadn't had anything substantial since the morning before, and his pounding head and growling stomach wouldn't let him forget that.
"You always worry too much." Lila came to a stop, scanning for passers-by or nosy neighbors. "I've been casing this place for days, it's a simple job." She barely paid his nervousness any mind, deft hands reaching for the latch on the darkened first-floor window. To Felix's surprise, it was open.
"But he's home." Felix bit out, eyes fixed on the obvious light above them as Lila slid silently through the small opening. Her eyes, gleaming green in the moonlight, held all of her usual mischief as she looked back at him.
"That's why we'll be extra careful." She winked.
Her confidence left no room for questions. Not like he had ever been able to tell her 'no' before. He, less gracefully, followed her inside and was immediately confused as to why she would pick this house. It was cluttered, cramped, full of little knick-knacks and framed photos. But none of it seemed particularly valuable. Felix went straight for the fridge, sparsely stocked with leftovers and cups of applesauce. If he had to guess, this seemed-and smelled-like the home of a retiree.
Trying to put aside his guilt, he threw everything packaged into his backpack.
"Peruse the kitchen if you like, but the good stuff will be upstairs." Lila jerked her chin toward the stairway, and Felix's stomach turned. "You coming, or are you too afraid?"
Felix's eyebrow twitched, the corners of his mouth tugging into a deep frown. She always knew how to goad him. He went after her, the blaring sound of a TV and heavy snoring getting louder with each step. As he set his foot on a squeaky step, the snoring stopped.
Felix froze, heart hammering, waiting to be caught red-handed.
But seconds later, it started up again. Felix sighed in relief as he quickly caught up to his companion.
"What exactly are we looking for?" Felix whispered in her ear.
"Valuable jewelry," Lila muttered. "I'll check the rooms down the hall. I need you to check those, since you're so good with locks," she gestured to two huge wooden chests by the rear wall, both sealed with heavy padlocks.
Felix was more than a little annoyed that Lila got the job with the most physical distance from the homeowner, but her plan did make sense. He gave her a curt nod and she pecked his cheek, disappearing within the next heartbeat.
Before starting on the locks, Felix couldn't help but peek at the old man on the couch, whose limbs were splayed out at odd angles, mouth wide open, dead to the world. There was a crocheted blanket laying on a heap next to the couch, presumably tossed off in a fitful sleep, and Felix had the brief impulse to throw it back over him before realizing how preposterous that was.
He let out a short huff and resolved to do what he did best-removing obstacles from his and Lila's path. He turned to head toward the chests when a metallic gleam on the side-table caught his eye. At first, the item seemed like an ordinary necklace. Plain, even. But upon closer inspection, the charm looked rather unique, its warm browns contrasting with the cold silver chain. For some reason, Felix felt compelled to hold it.
The necklace resembled a deer… if he wasn't mistaken.
"LIke it, do you?"
Felix nearly jumped out of his skin at the man's voice behind him. Adrenaline surged through his veins, and his breathing grew shallow. Run. Runrunrun. RUN!
"Hold it." A hand with an iron grip clamped down on his shoulder, and Felix was abruptly turned to face its owner.
The old man didn't look sleepy. He looked wide awake, ready to throw Felix from his second-story balcony. Every nerve in Felix's body told him to get away, but the man's eyes fixed him to the spot. They were dark as the midnight sky, offering no hint as to what he was thinking. They took in his black clothes, his backpack, his malnourished build. Then they fell on the chain dangling from the boy's clenched hand. Felix's blood froze in his veins.
There was a moment of tense silence. Suddenly, the old man stepped away, turning his back. "Get out."
Felix blinked in utter shock. "Wh-What?"
"I won't repeat myself." The man said, his tone cold.
With those sharp words spoken, the spell was broken. His ability to move restored, Felix didn't waste any time as he tore down the steps, chain still in-hand, gracelessly shoving himself through the open window and landing hard on the snow covered alley below.
Lila. Where was Lila?
She must have heard the voices, the commotion. Somehow, he knew she would get away. More concerning was the strange necklace, the old man with an aura much too intimidating for his appearance. Why had he let Felix go like that? Out of kindness? Pity? What was this rush of new emotions washing over his jaded self?
It was all a frustrating mystery.
A/N: Merry Christmas everyone.
I would like to give a huge, special thanks to my co-writer Usachan. It is an honor to work with you.
I hope you guys enjoy this chapter of 'salvation of our jaded hearts', it won't be the last.
Here is a link to the miraculous ladybug fanfiction discord, where I met usachan.
/Cbvkx2
And here is a link to usachan's ao3 account, you might want to check it out.
/users/UsaChan1997/works
Have a very, merry Christmas
-cedalodon