I Do Not Own Avatar or Miraculous.

Six. The Conspirer.

Adrien stared at the man in the doorway in shock. If Plagg and Mingal had been so sure his appearance had not left the neighborhood, how did this man know he was there? Had someone slipped? How many people knew he was there?

Adrien didn't feel so safe in the inn anymore.

"May I come in?" Long Feng asked. Jayin glanced over at him. He bit his lip and made sure Plagg had hidden himself before nodding timidly. The innkeeper opened the doorway a little wider and let the man in. He stood in front of Adrien and studied him with interest, taking every detail of the young miraculous welder into account. His blonde hair, his posture, and the false mask of confidence on his face, his clothes, and the injuries he had, and finally, Long Feng's eyes settled on Adrien's ring.

Long Feng took Adrien's hand and stared at it.

"What an interesting piece of jewelry, young man. I've never seen anything like it, and I'm unfamiliar with this particular metal."

"Please, sir. It is a family heirloom and all I have left of my old life. It holds sentimental value, and I prefer you left it be." Adrien replied quickly as his training under Gabriel in diplomacy kicked in. He was care not to raise his voice and kept his tone even, calm, and unreadable. His expression slackened to match his tone. He squared his shoulders and straightened his posture, already recognizing this man to be a person of great power.

"You were a wealthy man once." Long Feng noticed, "I see it in your posture and manner of speech. This ring of yours only proves it."

"Yes, but I never found any luck in money. Only pain."

"Might I ask your name and your story? A young man like you must certainly have quite a tale to tell."

"I'm Chaton and there's not much to tell. My village was attacked and destroyed. Any wealth I had was lost then. I came to Ba Sing Se after."

"Ah, so you are a refugee."

"Yes, I am." Adrien narrowed his eyes. Refugee of what? Was a village getting destroyed really that common in that world? If so, why? Something was very off here.

"Did you injure yourself in the travels here?"

"Uh, no. I was attacked in the city. Mingal, Kantai, and Jayin found me and have been helping me recover."

"But surely a man like you has seen battle before, or at least, you've sought out a teacher in martial arts. Most wealthy men these days practice fighting. Didn't you? You have calluses on your hands like you've held a sword or something similar before.

"Uh, yes. I did. My father insisted I learn to use a sword, but when I was attacked, my partner was armed, and I wasn't. He was better at using a sword than I was anyways. I stood no chance." Long Feng leaned back, unimpressed by Adrien's answer. Adrien knew this man was suspicious. The man probably picked up that Adrien though being partially honest, was lying about some pieces of his story and was withholding information in other parts. Clearly this man was very good at reading body language and profiling a person. He had figured out many things about Adrien in a good few minutes. It somewhat scared him that the man was so observant. Most people would have bought Adrien's story and moved on with their lives. Something told him it wouldn't be so simple in this case.

"What about your hair? Where'd that come from?"

"I.. I inherited it from my mom. Its just genetics. Got her eyes too. It's really rare. We call it blonde. I know most people aren't used to seeing it around here, but in my town, a lot of people actually had this color hair. I never realized there was anything strange about it until I got here. Sorry, I really have no other explanation." Long Feng rubbed his chin.

"I see. So your mother was… ah… blonde?"

"Yes."

"Where is she?"

"Gone."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to intrude."

"It's fine. You didn't know. She never told me why her hair was blonde. So, like I said. I can't give you a straight answer as to where got it."

"That's fine. I was just curious. If you don't know, then there's no reason for me to push the matter further. Tell me, have you been getting plenty of rest?"

"Yes. I have."

"Perhaps you would do better in the upper ring. A man like you has a lot of potential for doing well. You seem like a fairly intelligent and observant individual."

"Then you probably can guess I don't find you all that trustworthy right now." Adrien pointed out. Long Feng nodded with a light chuckle.

"I know, I do sometimes put off or intimidate people. I'm a wealthy man and very good friends with the king. I assure you, though; I am not a bad man. Just a tad strict and demanding."

"So was my father. Strict and demanding." Adrien replied, gritting his teeth at the memories of his confinement in the Agreste mansion, "But never once could I call a man like my father understanding. People don't like a man who doesn't find value in sympathy. They may respect them, but they do not like them. I never got along with my father. Not in a way that a father and son should. I respected him, but we were distant and had trouble agreeing on certain matters. I don't really feel like making a deal with a man who reminds me too much of how my father acted. Too much conflict." Long Feng raised his eyebrow at Adrien's intelligent response.

"Is your father deceased too?"

"I'm not sure, but he might as well have been. Like I said, we were distant." He glared at Long Feng pointedly, "And I have only found bad luck in money. So bribery won't sway me. I am perfectly content with becoming a law abiding and hard working citizen of Ba Sing Se. I don't need much more. I've always envied people who lived a simple life more than a man who lived a successful life. There's something to earning something yourself and making your own destiny that has always appealed to me. Accepting your offer to go to the upper ring would be your doing, not my own. I did nothing to earn that. If I'm going to be remembered for something great, I want it to be because I actually did something great, not because someone else made me that way." Adrien thought about his Cat Noir persona. Despite the fact that Master Fu had given it to him, he had actually gotten the Miraculous, according to Plagg, because he did something selfless. Cat Noir became an outlet. A person who he became. Not because his father forced him or Master Fu wanted him, but because he chose to. Though all of Paris knew him as Ladybug's partner, he was more than aware that she needed him too. They'd both came to rely on each other. Two complete strangers who fought side by side because they each made a personal choice to help people and make the world a little bit better. He was Cat Noir of Paris, the flirty, jokative, carefree, selfless hero of Paris. That was something he had made. It was something he worked to become better at. Adrien Agreste, however, was just a part of another man's brand. Everything as Adrien was rehearsed and already planned out for him. He was just Gabriel Agreste's son. A prize to be won. A mask he was forced to wear. There was no way Adrien was going to agree to fall into that lifestyle again while he was here and free of his father's influence.

"I admire that you want to make a name for yourself, but just because you accept help from others doesn't mean you didn't make that name." Long Feng argued.

"I know. I am accepting help from the good people here while I am hurt, am I not? I don't have a personal grudge against people helping me. I just have a problem with people using me for their own personal gain, then lying to me and saying I was getting something out of it. If you want to use me, at least be straight forwards about it. I'll still say no, but I won't hold it against you. And I do help people who need me. I actually love to help people. It is just helping you, a man I hardly know, do who knows what, when I already have trouble trusting your word, is beyond unsettling."

"If you want to know what I'd have you do in the upper ring, you could just ask. I need a person experienced in diplomacy to serve as the king's spokesman. Lately the city has gotten restless, and it is not safe for the king. People want to know that things will be okay. They want assurance that their king is for them."

"And what if things aren't okay? I don't know much about this city, but if there is a problem, people like to be informed about it. I get some things can't be said, but lying and saying everything is fine when it really isn't is not only dishonest, it is hurtful to the people you lie to. Again. I don't know much about this city, so I can't say whether you are lying or whether you keep secrets for good reason. All the same, I rather not put myself in a position where I could end up doing that. I don't want to be a spokesman for someone else or a public figure that isn't really me. I've dealt with that enough." Adrien argued.

"You'll regret this decision, Chaton." Long Feng warned. Adrien studied Long Feng.

"No. I do not think I will. Goodbye, Long Feng. Thank you for visiting." Long Feng huffed and stood. He started to leave before glancing back at Adrien and muttering lowly.

"You have just made an enemy, young man. A powerful one… oh, and if you ever find yourself in the upper ring, look for me. I'd love to treat you to a relaxing trip to Lake Laogai."

"I'll keep that in mind." Long Feng nodded before leaving.