The mansion was quiet, much to Felix's satisfaction. With no one around he could finally be at peace. He was still feeling agitated from earlier, and the tingling sensation inside of him was upsetting his stomach. He gripped at his stomach and winced as he headed to the kitchen. The mansion was always so meticulously clean despite the fact he rarely witnessed servants roaming around. It was still very much the same as it had been a year earlier. He plunked his luggage down beside the kitchen counter and took out a small glass, filling it with water. Watching the water flow into the sink seemed to calm him. As he brought the glass to his lips a familiar voice was shouting his name, causing him to spit water into the sink.

"Felix! It's been so long!" Adrien said, genuine happiness in his expression as he approached his older brother. Felix furiously wiped his mouth and turned away from Adrien to cough, having not expected them to meet so suddenly.

"Uh, yeah. Hi."

Adrien was barely put off by his brother's apprehensiveness. Felix had always come across as abrasive and although he rarely showed Adrien even the smallest of a smile, Adrien was forever smiling and regarding his brother with kindness. It sickened him.

Felix picked up his luggage from the floor and headed out the door. Adrien slunk down in the background, his smile quickly vanishing. He stared at his brother's back, longing for him to turn back around. Why are you like this? Adrien thought, his shoulders falling. He glanced at the half empty glass his brother had used. Please don't turn your back on me, too.

In the hallway, Felix ran into Nathalie, who almost seemed surprised to see him standing there. Her surprise turned back to her usual expression, causing Felix to cluck his tongue at her. Everyone was pissing him off today. He nodded at her before heading up the staircase.

"Your father might be returning home today." Nathalie replied to his silent hello, perking Felix's attention. He didn't turn back to look at her but remained standing still, intently listening. Adrien fumbled out of the kitchen at Nathalie's words.

"Father's coming home tonight?" he asked excitedly, turning from Nathalie to his brother.

Nathalie remained motionless, ignoring Adrien. "It isn't certain yet, but he would like to see you. Before you head back to New York."

Felix was surprised, but had guessed as much. His stomach rolled. He wasn't prepared to see Gabriel Agreste today. Yet silence overfell him as he realized this likely meant his father wouldn't be home to celebrate Christmas. Again he wondered why he came home. Adrien seemed to almost overflow with happiness as Nathalie stared down Felix's back. He suddenly felt small, as if she were shrinking him with her inhuman gaze.

"Whatever. Then when he comes home, knock on my bedroom door. I'm going to sleep." Felix mumbled, running up the steps.

He slammed his bedroom door behind him, as Adrien followed. Felix leaned his back against the door, scratching at his scalp frantically. He tossed his luggage aside and sighed, staring at his barren room. It was so clean. Adrien waited on the other side of the door, his hand held up in preparation to knock. Yet he couldn't find the courage in him to even speak out, to say his brother's name. His arm fell limply to his side.

Felix's mind whirled. Why am I letting myself become so agitated? He groaned. He wandered aimlessly over to his bed, plopping himself down on the cool, white blanket. It felt new. He crinkled the duvet under his fingers and let himself fall asleep. I'm so tired, so tired. The last thought on his mind was of the blue eyed girl.

"Felix. Felix? FELIX!"

He slowly awoke to Adrien calling his name. "Felix!"

"What?" he muttered. There was a certain element of excitement in Adrien's voice, but that only pissed him off more. And just when I was beginning to relax.

"Father's home!" Adrien exclaimed. Felix shot out of his daze and pushed his blond hair out of his eyes.

Dinner had already been set out. Felix was surprised to see the spread of food before him. Adrien practically skipped to his seat at the table. At the very end sat the stoic Gabriel Agreste, with Nathalie standing at his side. Mr. Agreste propped his chin under his large hands, staring up at Felix. Felix faltered momentarily, avoiding his father's gaze as he took his seat.

"It's been awhile," Mr. Agreste spoke, causing great discomfort in Felix. Adrien appeared unaffected by his father's strict tone. Mr. Agreste's voice turned calm, almost welcoming when he next spoke. "How was America?"

Felix furrowed his brow slightly, unused to his father's kindness. "Good."

"I want to hear all your stories, Felix! Tell me, what's New York like? Is living in a dorm fun?" Adrien raddled on, but his questions were soon ended by Mr. Agreste.

"Adrien, do not interrupt your brother when we are speaking." He commanded, causing Adrien to shrink a little. He sheepishly glanced off to the side, obviously affected by his father's words. Felix sought to end the discomfort of the situation by speaking next.

"It's fine, father. New York is fun. It's, uh, nice." Felix said nervously, eyeing his plate of food. He began to pick at it with his fork, wondering what to say next. He couldn't bring himself to look his father in the eye.

Mr. Agreste softened. "I am just trying to instill good manners in Adrien, Felix." Felix closed his eyes and raised his eyebrows at that remark. Adrien was already fifteen and as far as Felix was concerned was better off than most boys his age. If that boy is disciplined like this any further, he's going to break…

Dinner went by rather silently, with a few questions from Adrien asking Felix how his life was like in New York. Yet all Felix wanted was to not talk about his life. He was glad to get away from school life. Being surrounded 24/7 by other hormonal teenage boys was enough to drive him up the wall. He wasn't much attached to his life there. He had somewhat missed his everyday life in Paris, although he would never admit to that. Living in Paris would mean living in the empty hell that was the Agreste mansion, and Felix wasn't ready to confine his life to there.

But his mind turned back to that girl, Marinette or whatever. He wondered why he couldn't shake his thoughts of her. She was just a regular girl but for some reason she had caught his attention. Ew, gross, he shuddered. Don't let yourself get all gushy over a female. He shook his head yet her face wouldn't go away.

"What's the matter, Felix?" Adrien asked, appearing intent to listen. Felix frowned.

"It's nothing."

After the meal was finished, Mr. Agreste snapped his fingers. Nathalie moved over to Felix's side, passing him a gift wrapped in pale blue paper. Felix gingerly received the gift. He hated the gifts his father gave him. Adrien and his father watched him as he slowly opened the present, dreading what he was about to find. Yet inside, the gift contained a single set of white satin gloves. Felix was confused.

"Uh, gloves?" he asked, lifting them up. White satin gloves. The cuffs of the gloves were brilliantly detailed in black.

"It's a gift—a special gift." Mr. Agreste replied to his son's apprehensiveness. Felix looked from his father back to the gloves. What was he supposed to do with these?

Much later after dinner, Felix sat up in his bedroom examining the gloves. Why would his father want him to possess white satin gloves? At least the black trimming made them slightly fashionable. When he went to try them on he noticed something was blocking his fingers in the left glove. He shook the glove over his bed until a small black ring fell out.

"Huh, what's this?"

Felix's voice trailed off as Adrien knocked on the door, peaking his head in. He shoved the gloves and the black ring behind him, looking up at his brother.

"Uh, Felix," Adrien said, rubbing the back of his head nervously. He held one arm behind his back before approaching his brother, handing him a gold wrapped box. "Happy Birthday."

Felix was surprised. For months he had ignored his brother's attempts to reach out to him, yet still on his birthday Adrien wanted to give him a present. He felt a lump grow in his chest as he took the gift from his brother's hands. Adrien smiled. "I hope you'll like it."

"Thanks."

Guilt riddled him. Yet there was a feeling overwhelming him, as he stared down at the box. It was different than when he received the present from his father. This gift felt warm, as if it had been carefully chosen. It had been so long since he had last received a present like this.

Since their mother had disappeared.

Adrien quietly slipped out of his bedroom as Felix remained dazed, staring absentmindedly down at the present. The younger brother smiled in the shadow of the doorway, feeling as though he had been able to accomplish something major. "Happy Birthday, Felix."

Author's Note: I'm glad some people seem interested in the story so far. :) This is my first fanfic so I hope I can keep it going strong.

Lots of potential angst to come thanks to my (not much) younger sister for telling me to write this.