Hi everyone!
Disclaimer: I don't own miraculous Ladybug
Felix had left two weeks ago and his brother already missed him terribly. The house felt so empty… Father was rarely home and when he did it was as though he was elsewhere: he looked at nothing and didn't respond when you talked to him. The trauma was too intense: in only a month his wife had disappeared and his older kid had abandoned him. It was too much for anyone. So, he focused on work to avoid it. Problem was the times were even harder for Adrien. He needed someone. Being strong had already failed.
The young model was outside his father's office, trying to gather the courage to knock. In only a couple of weeks an abysm had grown between him and his already distant father. Nothing could mend that. Yet he had to try, he needed comfort. He needed what little family he had left. He needed to feel someone wasn't going to live.
The door opened. Green ayes met grey. "Hi dad… I … hum…. "talking was proving to be a challenge. All his childhood he had managed to break the ice that surrounded his family life. Why was this any different? Was it because he had barely talked in a month? Was it the horrible sadness overwhelming him? Was it the strong smell of alcohol coming from the adult? Well, whatever it was it couldn't be good. "Don't mumble!" If Adrien was scared before now he was paralyzed. Dad never used that tone, not even when he fought with mom; it was menacing, terrifying. The voice of a monster. Suddenly the idea of seeking comfort in him seemed ridiculous. The ten-year-old felt so cold and alone he only wanted to run. And he did. One feet after the other down the staircases and into the streets. Behind him cars wheels shrieked and furious drivers shouted. Didn't matter. They would not help him now.
He was yanked of the ground by two strong hands. He just let them. It was a police man, stopping him not only because a child should not be running down the streets of Paris on his own, but mostly because of the havoc he was living behind. Cars had crashed and hit people. Maybe the kid wasn't okay but he couldn't let him keep running. "Hey kid, what is happening?" no response. "Kid?" some shacking. The boy just burst into tears. Had he really done something so bad? Maybe he was hurting him. Problem was he couldn't just let him go either. The chaos at his trails proved it.
"Adrien! Oh my god, thank goodness you are okay. What possessed you to run like that? You could've gotten hurt!" Gabriel Agreste was coming towards them with a concerned look. He just didn't understand: the kid came to his office looking for him, wasn't capable of uttering a coherent sound and when he talked to him he took off running. "Thank you, officer for stopping him. I am truly sorry, he just lost his mother and is really affected. I'll take him home now."
The ride home was silent. The worry started to wear out, replaced by anger. Didn't he understand he didn't have time for his little games? He had work to do. This nonsense had gone far enough. If the kid wouldn't take a hint, he would have to learn the hard way. It was for his own good. Once they were home the child made a run for his room but he stopped him. He wouldn't get off the hook that easily. The baby dear eyes wouldn't change his mind this time. How did he dare do this? He was no to be disturbed! He had to understand there were boundaries.
Smack. The slap made the young model fall to the ground. His cheek burned. Had dad just done that? This had to be nightmare. Could you feel so much pain in a dream? Pam. The swift kick knocked the air out of his lungs. The rest of the evening was a mixture of punches, kicks and slaps. Once it was over he was left to tend his wounds alone. Next morning, he and Felix would video chat. He couldn't let Fe see what was happening. He would want to come back and the man he used to call dad would do the same to him. That couldn't happen. So, he put some makeup on.
Modeling was painful. Last night's beating had been worse than usual, but what could he expect after spending all evening with Nino, knowing his father didn't approve of him. The habit of calling him Father had appeared a couple of years ago. The relationship was more business than family and he refused to call him "sir" so "Father" seemed like a good middle point. Of course, he had covered everything with makeup but nothing could fix the bruised ribs. Plagg had told him to fight back again but he just didn't understand: if he helped Father get it all out he might go back to being dad. It was worth a shot. Plus, he was used to it and resigned by the time his kwami had come around. Doing something seemed so distant, like it wasn't even an option.
The worse part was smiling. He could always manage the poses but more often than not he did so through gritted teeth. Forcing his lips to even twitch up almost made him lose control over the pained moans that tried to escape his lips. Yet modeling was nothing compared to patrol. During an akuma attack the adrenaline bust helped him, but at night, when it was only Ladybug and him, there was nothing to make him forget the pain. Every jump, every time he took impulse, every time he moved faster than intended his body screamed in agony. Of course, he hid it. He was good at that. No one had found out in over a year at school. Only Chloe suspected him: she had seen him putting on the makeup over his bruised cheek. She hadn't mentioned thought. It was different kind of friendship, but not less valuable.
He had not expected to get caught. His son had always been so careful hiding the wounds. Plus, he was sure he hadn't hit him recently. He hadn't felt that frustrated in over a month. He knew those scars weren't his fault. Something else had hurt Adrien. And he could do nothing about it while in custody. But he would get out eventually, and when he did there would be hell to pay. No one hurt his family. Sure, it might sound hypocritical considering the way he abused of Adrien but it was still true. Only he could hurt his little kid, and he did so only because he couldn't stop. He reminded him too much of his mother and the sight was unbearable.
The only good thing about this mess was that Adrien had defended him. After all, he still loved him. He didn't deserve such a son. Felix was another matter all-together: he had left and always took his mother side, going to extremes to prove his points but he was good to have around as remainder that he was doing the right thing; if he got his family back together he would go back to what he used to be and all would be great again. He just needed to find Alice. His time in prison had been good for one thing only: to fantasize about his family. About how everything would be perfect once again. That if he got out. He as waiting for the jury, praying they would buy his son's lies.
"It's time for the sentence." Okay, this was it. His entire life would be defined in the next sentence. "The suspect is here by declared guilty as charged, and is sentenced to fifty years of prison with permission of conditional freedom."
Shit.