Hi everyone
Sorry this chapter came out so late I just been really busy and have procrastination problems….
Anyways I hope you enjoy and hopefully the next one will be here soon.
They had five miraculous in their hands, only one with a wielder and no idea how to use the rest to help them in this crazy enterprise. They needed a plan but Adrien nor Felix had ever been great on that. Usually that was Gabriel's zone of expertise…. Gabriel! He knew Alice better than anyone else and always found a way to get what he wanted, granted his methods were often extreme but it was still better than nothing. Adrien knew he should be going to Ladybug for advice but he didn't want to show up being completely clueless as in what to do, not because it was embarrassing but because he was the one who kind of knew the extent of the problem. He had to come up with a least a base.
"Okay, step one we hide the bee, fox and butterfly miraculous with the peacock miraculous. You said it yourself no one's been able to find it. It should buy us some time. Then we'll go talk to dad, see what he has to say about this. And then I'll come up with something." He announced emanating a sense of confidence he didn't feel. His brother and Plagg nodded, silently accepting his lead.
"Wait a second! You know where dad hid the miraculous?" asked Felix, something close to admiration shining in his eyes. A smug smile found its way to the youngest lips. He had stumble over it by accident but it was fun to tease the oldest making him think otherwise.
"I do, but you won't. I'm not sure I can trust you yet. You did work with them for years and thus you're only a source of information. Nothing else." Stated the teen with ice in his voice. It didn't matter what everyone thought he could be just like his father if he wished to. The young adult just nodded and let Chat Noir's alter ego walk away with his kwami. He deserved every word and inch of distrustfulness. About five minutes later Adrien came back and told them what the plan for sneaking out was. You didn't have to be a genius to know Barbie would never let them go after last time's incident. Felix just had to distract her long enough for his brother to use the back door and leave through a small whole in the fence they used as kids to go out and play in the streets when secluded at home. It was simple but failproof.
The oldest headed down to the living room in which the caretaker usually stayed just checking her Facebook all day long. Yeah, she rocked at her job.
"Hey Barbie!" he greeted. His mind threatened to go blank but he forced his creativity to take over instead. "I was just wondering, you're always taking care of me and Adrien, don't you miss your family?"
"Not really. You need me more so I rather be here." She answered drily still scrolling down her Facebook.
"How are your children?" he tried again.
"Good." By this point Felix just wanted to leave her alone. She was so engrossed on her phone she probably wouldn't notice but he wasn't going to risk it.
"What are they like?" pried the blond, finally she left her phone on her side. Victory!
"Okay, listen Felix, I know you don't care. You have barely spoken to me since I came here. What is it you really want?" Or maybe defeat.
Plan B. He wished he had one. Or at least something better then what he was about to say.
"Here goes nothing, Adrien told me he wanted to go see my father tomorrow because it's his birthday. I was just wondering if that was possible, considering what happened last time." When had he become such a shitty liar? The caretaker sighed and looked at him as thought he had gone mad.
"After last time incident? Don't think so!" the voice with which she answered so condescending the young adult just wanted to punch her for it.
"Oh! come on! You do realize how fragile he still is, don't you? Not seeing his father on his birthday could bring us back to the state he was in the hospital. This whole situation is too traumatic foe him to take it all in at the same time. Ha has to get used to it bit by bit. Taking all away at the same time is just too much. For anyone. Put yourself in his shoes." Okay, the lie was coming together. It was still horrible, thought.
"Look, I know this can be hard for him but it's all for the best. I've always been against the idea of him keeping in touch with his father. It's not healthy. Last time's incident finally made everyone come their senses. I won't take him and the prison won't allow it. The answer is no." Felix was about to put his training to use. Who was she to decide what was better for his little brother? To say she wanted him far away from his own father? Making a mistake didn't mean you had to destroy someone's life. He wished he had known that sooner. Pain could've been spared.
"It's healthy if that makes him stronger, readier for the world. Aren't you forgetting that at the trial Adrien himself said my dad didn't do anything to harm him? We didn't believe him then, we should try to do just that this time around." Really, they should start trusting him. all of them. Gabriel had done well, he had been the first, but now Felix was decided to not stay behind.
"Look your just a kid, you can't make the right decisions." His blood boiled. Age wasn't the matter, it was all about understanding. "Adrien is even younger. That makes him unable to see farther away than his own pain or love for the abusive asshole he's defending. Gabriel is in prison because he made a mistake. A fatal one. Let him pay!" Barbie had always looked sweet around Adrien but now Felix could see how much of a hypocrite she was. This had never been about Adrien, it was about her hatred for Gabriel. But, why? He racked his brain to avail. He would just have to ask. Woman loved to talk about their problems.
"What did he ever do to you? If we can forgive him that should be enough." His tone became slightly comforting but still angry. He had to sell what he was saying.
"That is not of your business." Her answer was so dry Felix new he had hit a soft spot. Good.
"Look, if you want me to convince Adrien this is a bad idea you'll have to tell me. He won't listen to you. We both know so. If you want him convince you first have to make me buy the idea." Wow, lying was getting easier every second, even with such a terrible start.
"Fine but you'll make sure to get that idea out of your brother's head. You father abandoned me. We had been together for five years, we were engaged. But then, little Alice came around. She got in the middle of what was already mine. And your dad fell right for it. I don't think he is a bad person, I just think he is too volatile. Being in prison must've worsened it. By now he surely turned into even more of a monster." She explained. Every time she had to mention his mother venom dripped off her voice. He couldn't blame her.
"Were you from Languelle*?" now the blond was genuinely curious he had always thought he knew everyone in the village and the name of those who had lived there in the decade before. Not that he ever heard of a woman called Barbara.
"What? Where is even that place?" the negation confused Felix. His father hadn't lived in the little village all his life as he had told them? Why lie?
"Then, where did you meet him?"
"Here in Paris of course. His family and mine were close friends ever since I was a child. The only way to pay his family's debt was to marry in my family. So, he wooed me and I fell for him like an idiot. Then your stupid mother came and convinced him to leave his parents to fend by themselves even with all the problems they were going through." She explained bitterly. Felix couldn't care less about her feelings right now. A family debt? His grandparents? Weren't they dead?
"What kind of debt they had?" he asked, a little scared she would close up and he would lose all source of information. The answer came as a snort. Apparently, he was sounding really dumb. Not that it was surprising. "He never talked about it…" the thought was out of his mouth before he could stop it.
"Of course, he didn't. He must've thought that you were safer this way. Poor idiot." Something scary was shining in her eyes. Felix's mind immediately started to come up with all kind of theories for it. Had she become Adrien's caretaker to harm them? Was she just waiting for the right moment to try and kill him? He had to do something! "Not that it matters. We wouldn't take it out on his kids. We already did so with his parents after all. So, don't worry kid, I mean you and your brother no harm."
His grandparents had payed the debt? What has she done to them? What did his father let happen? Why?
With croaked voice he muttered "What happened to them?". Laughter ensued.
"That doesn't matter. Everything is better now, don't you think? Gabriel's imprisoned, his parents gone and his sons under my control. It's the end of the Agreste legacy. Now if you'll excuse me I have better things to do."
"We aren't under your control." He couldn't change his ancestor's faith but he would definitely change this generation's destiny. She turned around in slow motion. What a drama queen.
"You think you aren't? Anything Adrien wants to do has to have my approval and you wouldn't do anything without him. If I control one of you I control you both. And that is something I already do. Accept it, you've been toyed with. If you try to resist everything will be worse. It's better if you behave. And if you think the knowledge you have will help you, you are wrong. This is a game of power in which two kids will never have a chance."
Felix wanted to contradict her so badly but he restrained himself. It was better for her to think they were defenseless. He would make sure she would learn the truth. They were no ordinary kids. As much as he hated to say it, they were Agreste.
Adrien got to the prison running as fast as he could. He had to figure out something to do! Problem was he wasn't sure that talking to Father was the best option. It wasn't a lack of trust, more like a precaution. His father had lost his head when Alice disappeared, what would he do if he knew she wanted to kill them…
Why couldn't they just be a normal family?
Maybe someone else had an idea… No. This was a family problem and they would deal with it on their own. It took some coaxing, but he managed to go inside without a responsible guardian. After a few tense moments of waiting Gabriel came into the room escorted by two buffy officers. Seriously? He was accused of child abuse not murder!
"Father I need to talk to you!" exclaimed the young model as soon as he saw his dad. This seemed to stir interest in both the man and the policemen. It only took one look to make sure the latest went away, thought. Yet they didn't go to far. He'd have to be quiet.
"Adrien is everything okay?"
"Hum… Yes. It's just… remember what you told me about butterflies? Well it turns out mom had that same passion for peacocks. Problem is they took the symbol of her interest away and now she hates everyone who loves an animal that way." Explained the kid. He knew he sounded suspicious and probably didn't make much sense but is father was smart and he had hope it would still work.
"She's alive?" asked the man tearing up. Adrien suddenly felt horrible to be the one breaking down the bad news.
"She is. She's been in contact with Felix all this time. She's been training him to become a lupav, but he's come around and now he sees his mistake. Please don't hate him Father."
"She… They… You… How long have you known?" the man stuttered but his eyes were sparkling in a dangerous way. Maybe this hadn't been such a great idea.
"I found out just now… I thought you should know that." He back paddled. It was better not to ask for advice.
"I see…" there it was the stern almost lifeless figure ha had gotten used to. Why did he still believe in change? "Is there anything else?"
He knows. He knows. Oh god.
"No" answered the green-eyed boy as he stood up and walked away.
Fuck pride!
He needed help.
He needed Ladybug.