Ch5
Felix sat on a chair as his cousin rested on the bed looking up at the ceiling. I still can't believe he was a superhero. A part him thought he was lying but Adrien wasn't a liar. Besides something was wrong with his cousin and well at this point he was willing to believe anything.
Though figures he would fall for another superhero. He wanted to laugh, of course his cousin would be that soft. A part of him was tempted to rub the salt in the wound, let him know that he was a fool for trusting a stranger. Instead he felt sorry for his cousin, deep down he knew Adrien was a good person sadly his parents kept him in a gilded cage. Now as a result he latches on to anyone who gives him the slightest bit of affection. That's just sad. He wasn't going to let anyone just walk over him though, after all they are family.
"Anyway I really just wanted to help people," Adrien sighed as he rested on his bed. "I enjoyed doing but I was tired of being pushed to the side and treated like someone disposable. I wasn't even trusted by my own kwami let alone by Ladybug."
He could detect the despair in his cousin's voice from a while away. His cousin's words came out like an avalanche of information like a bursting dam full of secrets. As promised he had said nothing to his mother, this was a secret just between the two of them. In a way it was as if they were kids again, when it was both of them against the world.
"Well from what I heard Paris loved Cat Noir too," he said calmly. "If I may be frank your problem is that you loved too much."
"What do you mean?" Adrien asked.
"Too much love can be damaging," he said meeting his cousin's gaze. "You will end up either smothering them or they will take advantage of your kindness."
Adrien avoided his gaze, "But I loved her. I really did." His voice was soft but held bake a lot of emotions.
"It's alright to love someone but never allow them to use you," he said firmly. "You have to look out for yourself and your own interests. Your father always kept you locked up and as a result you latched onto the first person who gave you affection without even knowing who she really is."
His cousin avoided his gaze, "I know but I thought I could trust her."
"Well she didn't want to trust you," he said firmly causing his cousin to flinch. "You're still young, I recommend you move on from Ladybug. It may be hard but it will be for your own good. You hardly knew this girl except for an idealized version in your head. You have to get over this emotional dependence on her, give her space, and take care of yourself."
"I'll try," Adrien said softly. His cousin let out a sigh and looked up at the ceiling, "I really did enjoy my time as Cat Noir though, I really did. I know I quit but I'm surprised I was replaced so easily."
If you had a calmer temperament you would've still had your miraculous with you. To be honest this entire thing about kwamis and miraculous was intriguing. Such power, you should've kept it with you. The memories of their childhood came to his mind, Adrien would do anything for him and he would do the same. I won't let anyone take your happiness. He wasn't going to let anyone rob Adrien of his happiness, no he would make sure his cousin was happy one way or another.
"Well if you ever want to be Cat Noir again I'll do whatever it takes to help you get your miraculous back," he said
"Really?" Adrien asked incredulously.
He nodded, "Of course. We are family we should look out for each other. Besides this whole thing with kwamis is intriguing if you want we can study it together."
Adrien gave him a small smile, "Thanks. I'm still thinking if I even want to go to Paris though, I mean there were good things like going to a normal school but right now I can only think about Ladybug."
He sighed and got up, "Well if you want to go then fine but personally I say you should stay here for a bit. Clear your mind and think it through."
"Thanks," Adrien muttered.
He stopped at the doorway. "Adrien you're a good person please remember that but you have to let go of this dependence you have on her, trust me it will do you no good."
Adrien looked to the ground and nodded. "I'll do my best."
Poor guy, he honestly got his heart stomped on. That fool he was too trusting. Unlike him, Adrien was a good person yet he knew thanks to his upbringing he was very naive on how the world works.
He entered the living room and found his mother drinking some wine and reading a newspaper. "How is Adrien dear?" She asked looking up from her newspaper.
"Oh he is alright," he said. "He just had some issues with people over there."
His mother sighed, "I get that. Adrien is a gentle soul, it is easy for people to take advantage of that. The fact that his father and to an extent his mother sheltered him didn't do him any favors."
"That's true," he said sitting across from her. Easily manipulated thanks to his father putting him in a gilded cage his entire life to the point that he now latches on to anyone who gives him any affection. All in the name of keeping him under his control. The image of his uncle made his blood boil, he knew Adrien was to nice to say what really happened behind those doors.
"Felix dear I want you to do something for me," his mother said setting down her wine glass and newspaper.
"What is it?" he asked.
His mother looked him in the eyes, "Keep an eye out for him ok? There may be a lot of people who want to take advantage of him, especially in this depression."
"Fine I will," he said folding his arms. "It's sad but people in Paris were definitely taking advantage of them and now the result is that he got hurt."
His mother nodded; taking a sip of wine she smiled at him. "Don't worry he'll recover from it. He is a part of our family, make sure he is safe."
"I will mom," he said as he got up. I'll make sure he is safe from anyone and everyone. A fiery determination was lit inside of him, Paris would pay for manipulating him.
"Remember this is also a chance to get him from the influence of his father," his mother said softly. "It wasn't his fault he missed your father's funeral."
He clenched his fist and headed off to his room. His nostrils flared at the memory of that day, I could've used some support that day. He wasn't there to give it and now we are giving it to him. The irony wasn't lost on him but he didn't fully blame his cousin. He knew Adrien would've gone if he wanted to but still he could've made a better effort to go. It was a lonely day, I wish he were there.
Shaking his head he entered his room and sat down at his desk. Rubbing his face he looked up at some of the family pictures on his desk. Some of them were of him and his parents and others were of him and Adrien when they were younger.
We were close, even if age had made us distant. He sighed as he ran his hands through his hair. Mom's right we are family, I should go and help him even if he can't or won't do it himself.
Searching through his computer he looked up the news in Paris. The tabloids over there were speculating on what happened to Cat Noir along with his cousin's disappearance. "Sooner or later he will have to do something," he muttered as he scrolled through the screen.
Many articles were already speculating about what happened to Adrien and his sudden disappearance from modeling. If he wants his modeling job to continue he has to do something. Sooner or later people will start asking more questions.
He sighed as he looked out the window. You really did become a superhero. A part of him was jealous about that, with the power of a miraculous he could do many things. Getting it back won't be easy but with careful planning, I can do it. Adrien was one of the most important people in his life, he would do anything to make sure he was happy.
"Maybe he needs some fresh air," he turned off his computer and quickly changed into something more comfortable for basketball.
Going to his cousin's room he knocked and opened the door. "Adrien come on lets play basketball."
His cousin looked at him in surprise. "Really? Now?"
"You to get more come on," he said clapping his fingers.
Adrien sighed, "Fine just a moment."
He gave Adrien some privacy and quickly arranged for a ride to the local gymnasium where he played basketball and exercised. Adrien came out of his room dressed in some gym clothes his eyes were still red and had bags underneath them.
"Alright lets go," Adrien said with a small smile.
He nodded and led his cousin to the car outside. "You've been cooped up inside all day, you really do need some exercise."
"I know thanks," Adrien said as he looked out the window of the car. "I really need time to clear my head right now."
"You'll get through this," he said folding his arms. "Just try to work through this depression."
Adrien didn't say anything, his cousin only nodded as they arrived at the gym. As soon as they arrived and got their things ready they both went to the basketball court and grabbed a ball.
"Come on lets do this," he said throwing the ball at his cousin.
Adrien barely caught the ball but nodded and dribbled it for a few seconds before throwing it into the hoop. "Your throw was weak," he said catching the ball put more force into it.
He threw the ball and it went through the hoop at a perfect angle. "You try it."
Adrien nodded. Picking up the basketball his cousin through it, it nearly missed but it went through the net. "I did it."
"Good lets keep doing this for now," he said as he dribbled the ball before throwing it into the hoop.
The two continued to play basketball together, and after a few minutes, they were both engrossed in their activity. For once in a long time his cousin seemed happy, his green eyes seemed as bright as they had before.
The two continued to play basketball before doing some other activities. They went for a jog around the indoor track and even lifted some weights before his cousin decided he was too tired to continue.
"Thanks Felix I feel a bit better," Adrien said once they were in the car. "Tired but better."
"Exercise will help lift your spirits," he said as the car drove through the streets of London.
Adrien nodded and avoided his gaze. "Hey Felix I just wanted to say thank you for helping me through this. I'm also sorry I didn't go to your father's funeral, I would've gone but my dad wouldn't let me."
His posture stiffened but looking at his cousin he saw sincerity in his eyes. "No problem," he muttered. A part of him wanted to ask if he really would've gone while another felt content by his cousin's apology. Calm down he lost his mother too.
Marinette sat in her room scrolling through the Ladyblog, "I can't believe they still are saying these things," he said as she saw countless messages discussing Cat Noir.
Many of them were speculating that Cat Noir retired for some personal reason while some of the more outlandish theories were that Cat Noir was always a girl and hid his identity with the miraculous.
However, the other rumors weren't as kind. "Ladybug always treated Cat Noir poorly," she read clenching the computer's mouse tightly. "She always acted better than him and treated him like a second class hero. I bet he complained and she forced him into retirement."
She shook her head tears beginning to form in her eyes. "How can they say these things?" Indignation boiled up inside of her, she was the hero of Paris not some vigilante.
"Marinette don't listen to people from the internet," Tikki said calmly.
She cleaned her face with a tissue. "I know but still Paris always had my back how could they say these things?"
At first she thought that after the Heroes Day fiasco was over people would trust her again. However, she was proven wrong by the fact that both online and in real life people had not accepted Alya as the new Cat Noir.
If only he would come back. Shaking her head she went over to her favorite fashion website to see if there were any updates on the Adrien Agreste brand. Sadly there was nothing new, no new updates or anything else.
"Tikki I don't know if can live without him," she said softly. "I really did love him but now he is gone and I don't even know where he is."
Her kwami avoided her gaze, "I know its hard but just be patient. Who knows maybe he will come back in the future?"
She nodded, "Not even Chloe has heard from him. He hasn't responded to any of our messages either." Picking up her phone she looked at the various messages they were all unread and ignored and that hurt her more than Cat Noir leaving her life.
Taking a deep breath she decided to send him one more message. Adrien wherever you are I hope you are safe. It was a short and simple message but she hoped he would receive it.
"Hawkmoth will do anything to exploit a weakness," she said resting in her chair. "As much as I like Adrien I cannot lose my composure, Hawkmoth will strike again and I must be ready."
Her heart ached for Adrien, she wanted him back but a part of her knew that must move on less Paris succumb to Hawkmoth.
"He'll be back and we can get together another time," she said as she picked up a photo of Adrien on her desk and kissed it imagining it was the real person. She could imagine it in her head, him standing there like a knight in shining armor. Please Adrien come back to me.