As the Gorilla stopped the car two blocks from the Louvre, pulling over in front of a narrow alley between two tall apartment buildings, Felix nodded curtly to the larger man and stepped out, glancing in either direction before holding out a hand to his companion to help her out. "Thanks," Felix told the Gorilla. "We'll give you a call and let you know when and where to pick us up." With an acknowledging grunt, the Gorilla nodded back to him and sped away the moment the car door was shut. Even before the car had turned two blocks down, Felix had already pulled his companion into the alleyway, ducking into the shadow. A steady stream of people trailed up and down the street, cars passing at a steady clip so close to lunchtime. Carefully scanning the alleyway as well as the rooftops overlooking their alley, Felix led the way between the two buildings until they reached the end, pausing at the end of the alley before stepping out onto the next street. Beside him, Felix could feel the anxiety pouring off of his companion in waves as her eyes constantly drifted back to the other street. "You know, you could have picked somewhere else for our trip," he pointed out quietly, squeezing her hand.

Bri's grip on his hand and arm tightened, and she pressed herself flush against his side, holding onto him as an anchor. Nevertheless, she shook her head jerkily. "No – this–this is good. I–I think it's time, you know? Time to bury the hatchet." She frowned, sighing heavily. "I've been holding this against him for so long… but now I think he's actually trying to change – he's going the right way. Right?"

Felix nodded, slipping his hand out of hers and wrapping his arm around her shoulders, holding her to his chest and hugging her tightly. "You're really brave for doing this," he murmured, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "You know Adrien and Tante Emilie haven't seen Uncle Gabriel more than once since his arrest."

She nodded, tensing against him and resting her head against his chest. Her breathing shuddered in and out. "Maybe… but I know I wouldn't have come here today if you hadn't agreed to come with me. Even after talking to him last week."

Felix chuckled wryly. "Of course," he assured her, running his hand up and down her back. "I'm with you. No matter what."

Bri pressed a kiss to his lips and smiled wanly. "Thanks, Pup."

"Now, should we find our ride?" Felix glanced over her shoulder, quickly scanning the street beyond, taking in the handful of pedestrians, as well as the couple vehicles parked on their side of the road. One in particular caught his attention by the trail of smoke coming out of its exhaust pipe. He furrowed his brows, examining the sedan more closely, though the tinted windows made it impossible to see anyone inside. Frowning, Felix eyed the car warily. "Think that's our ride?" he muttered into Bri's hair.

Turning around and following where he was looking, she pursed her lips and hummed, shrugging one shoulder. "I don't see anyone else it could be…"

"All the same…" Felix glanced down at his pocket meaningfully, meeting Barkk's gaze. The Kwami nodded firmly, phasing around behind him under his shirt before dropped down into the ground. Felix watched for a long minute, his eyes moving quickly up and down the street and up to the rooftops, until he felt paws on his shin to indicate Barkk's return. Finally, the Kwami rose up to return to his pocket and have him an encouraging nod.

"There's one man in the car," Barkk reported. "He looks like the 'agent' that your father described."

Bri raised an eyebrow at Felix. "We'd better try it, right?"

Nodding, Felix let out a breath and stepped up to knock on the car window, his grip tightening protectively on Bri's shoulder. Even before he could knock, the back door cracked open. With a nervous glance up and down the street, Felix opened the door and held it for Bri to climb in before he joined her. A man with dark brown hair and a dark suit, his eyes hidden by a pair of sunglasses, sat in the driver's seat. "You people really go all in on the security, don't you?" Felix observed, arching an eyebrow.

The man remained rigidly still, watching them in the mirror, his mouth set in a thin line.

With a sigh, Bri said, "It's a nice day for a walk."

"It could rain later," the man responded before nodding. He furrowed his brows, eyeing Felix warily. "Who is this?"

Bri shifted, her hand tensing in Felix's. "My boyfriend. Either he comes, too, or I don't."

The man's nostrils flared. "Fine. I take it you were not followed?"

Felix shook his head. "Absolutely not. We were watching the whole time, and we didn't see anyone."

"Good." The man quickly pulled out into a break in the traffic and drove a few blocks before turning. His head cocked slightly to focus on Bri. "Normally we would not allow such a visit, but your parents insisted. And in light of recent events…"

Beside Felix, Bri shifted uncomfortably, looking away. "Yeah…"

Felix squeezed her hand comfortingly, not taking his eyes off the driver. "So you're going to take us to this safehouse?"

"And then back. And then we're never going to meet again – at least not until the Lynchpin has been dealt with for good."

Felix schooled his features and rubbed Bri's back consolingly as the barrier between the front and back seats rose. "Very well." Sitting back in the seat, he glanced toward the windows, though the tinting of the glass made it impossible to see outside. Barkk popped her head out of Felix's pocket and gestured toward the door. Felix nodded his assent, and the Kwami flew over to it, phasing into the door far enough that only her tail remained visible. Felix sighed, even as the car made at least its sixth turn since they had gotten in, and turned his attention back to Bri. Her shoulders felt tense under his hand. Letting out a breath, he gently but firmly shifted her to sit sideways in her seat.

"What are you doing?"

"Helping you." Rubbing her shoulder blades in slow circles, Felix moved his hands up toward her neck, eliciting a soft moan from her. "You're not doing this alone," he promised her. "We're doing this together."

A couple minutes later, Bri leaned back into him and sighed. "Thanks, Pup."

It was thirty minutes before the car pulled to a stop, after taking so many turns that Felix had completely lost his sense of direction. The engine shut off, and Barkk dove back into Felix's pocked moments before the door opened to reveal a rundown section of Paris that Felix had never seen before. Glancing up at the cityscape, he searched in vain for the Eiffel Tower.

The man scoffed. "We can't have anyone knowing where the Becquerels are living," he told them, raising an eyebrow at Felix knowingly.

Bri nodded. "Let's just do this."

The man led them inside the apartment building and up three flights of stairs before stopping at a nondescript door. He knocked twice in quick succession, and the door opened to reveal the vaguely-familiar face of the Engineer. "You have an hour," the man told him, stepping back.

Without even acknowledging him, The Engineer threw his arms around Bri, pulling her into an embrace which she immediately returned. "Bridgette! I–I can hardly believe my eyes! Oh, it is so good to see you! Come in, come in! Your mother was worried sick!" Glancing over Bri's shoulder, he locked his eyes on Felix. "And you must be the boyfriend."

He nodded, holding out a hand. "Felix."

"Felix? I am glad to finally meet you," he told him, taking the hand. "You look… different than the last time we met. Antoine Becquerel. I am afraid that my daughter has hardly told me anything about you."

Felix raised an eyebrow in amusement. "I can't imagine why…"

Antoine hummed wryly. "Yes, well…" He let out a breath. "Please, come in. Even though we've met a few times before now, I'm glad to have this opportunity to really sit down together. I look forward to getting to know my daughter's… partner."

Felix met his gaze without flinching. "And I look forward to getting to know the man who inspired her so much."

Antoine grinned brightly, shutting the door. "Well, if Cocteau is only giving us an hour, I suppose we need to make the most of it!"

A slight woman whose facial features reminded Felix strikingly of Bri rushed toward them from the small living room area, barreling into Bri and throwing her arms around her in a bone-crushing hug. "Bri! I can't believe it! I was so worried! I'm so glad to see you're in one piece!" she sobbed, as Bri hugged her tightly. "I–I thought I might never see you again!"

Bri sniffled, blinking tears out of her eyes, and hugged her back. "Mama… I'm sorry for not calling – so much has happened in the last year."

"Well, you'll have to tell me all about it," her mother replied firmly. She cocked her head, finally looking past Bri to see Felix. "And this is the boyfriend your father mention?"

Bri nodded. "This is Felix. We met back in autumn, but we didn't start dating until spring. My flatmate and I have been staying with him and his mother."

Her mother hummed. "You'll have to tell me all about them."

"Hopefully, I'll be able to introduce you to Felix's mother someday!" Bri responded, as they made their way away from the entryway and toward the living room.

Antoine smiled fondly, watching Bri and her mother for a long moment, before he turned back to examine Felix carefully. "So tell me a little about yourself."

Felix shrugged. "I suppose you know at least some," he pointed out, raising an eyebrow. Antione nodded in amusement. "Other than that…" He sighed. "Well, I'm going to be starting at Oxford in autumn, studying business. For the summer, I'm working for my cousin's fashion house – I'll be there during the year also, but only parttime."

Antoine hummed, studying Felix's face carefully. "And your relationship with my daughter?"

"I don't know how much of that is your business," Felix answered, staring back without blinking. Antoine's eyes narrowed. Felix sighed heavily. "I love her. You asked me to protect her, but you needn't have worried: I will absolutely keep her safe, no matter what. No one will ever hurt Bri as long as I'm with her. We support each other – you said it yourself. We're partners."

Antoine nodded slowly. "And that partnership extends to… everything?"

"Pretty much."

Antoine frowned, his mouth working back and forth. Finally, he placed a hand on Felix's shoulder and looked him dead in the eye. "I am going to hold you to that promise to keep my Bridgette safe," he told him. "This could get a lot worse before it gets better. Since the Lynchpin slipped out of the net, we have no idea where he could have gone. And as long as he's at large…"

Felix nodded. "Believe me, the Heroes of Paris are fully aware of what the Lynchpin is capable of. And they will not stop until his power is broken."

"I know." Antoine sighed. "But until that time… He's already tried to hurt Bridgette once – twice. Will you…?"

"She can protect herself," Felix pointed out.

"I have no doubt of that," Antoine agreed. "But all the same…"

Felix glanced over into the living room, where Bri sat on the couch, speaking animatedly with her mother. His mouth set in a thin line. "I promise you, Antoine: if anyone wants to hurt Bri, they will have to do it over my dead body."

Antoine hummed. "Let us hope that it never comes to that."