Chapter Twelve

He dreamed of a face behind glass, a face he loved. First, his mother…then it rippled and it was…his father's face.

His father's voice swam around him. "I did this for you. For our family…"

Anguish, confusion, horror swam through him.

He jerked awake, panting, and fell from the couch to the floor even as he oriented himself. "Plagg?" he called wildly, and the kwami drifted in front of him, his paws crossed. He wasn't smirking though.

Relief rushed through Adrien at seeing his kwami safe. He sat up from the floor, looking around. "Marinette?"

"She's gone," Plagg told him.

"I can't bear these dreams," Adrien whispered. He had been having these dreams ever since Nightormentor's attack. They had changed when he found out about Marinette…when he'd found out about his father. There was only one place where he hadn't had the nightmare…

He went and showered, got into fresh clothes and went downstairs. Felix was just coming in the front door. "Mom's got lunch ready," Felix told him. Adrien nodded, following him into the kitchen. That night when he'd confided to Aunt Amelie, he'd barely paid any attention but today with the afternoon sun gleaming over the counters, he saw the little things his aunt must have added…she'd put some Eiffel-Tower-shaped salt and pepper cellars by the stovetop, hung a decorative kitchen towel over the oven door bar. Just those little things added something warm to the kitchen.

"Adrien, help yourself" Aunt Amelie beamed at him, setting out pots from the fridge…yogurts, chopped fruit, a tray of cheese and rolls of turkey, and from the breadbox a loaf of bread. "Has Marinette gone home?"

"Thanks, Aunt," he poured himself a glass of milk. "Yes…Marinette needed to work on a project."

"Any plans for the rest of the day?" Felix asked, stabbing a piece of grapefruit, sliding it across his plate as though preoccupied.

Adrien shrugged. He had ideas…but not plans.

"Don't forget your videocall with Nathalie later," Aunt Amelie reminded him.

He smiled…his life was a far cry from the tightly scheduled blur of days, thanks to Nathalie. She had promised that this next year would give him time to be with his friends. "I won't forget," he promised. He grabbed himself a rolled piece of turkey and bit into it, then got up. "I'm going to get going."

"Can I come?" Felix asked, pushing aside his plate as he started to get up.

Adrien seriously considered saying no…if Felix came with him, he'd hardly have a chance to talk to Plagg. He'd have no freedom to change to Cat Noir… but he swallowed a sigh. "Sure. But aren't you hanging out with Kagami today?"

Felix shook his head, a little gleam in his eyes. "I promised not to usurp her time today. Her mother wanted time with her." He smirked. "And I did bring her back one minute after curfew the other day, so that's the price of getting back into her mother's good graces."

"Have fun, boys," Aunt Amelie called after them as they rinsed their plates and left the kitchen. "Stay safe."

"Of course, Mom," Felix promised her. Adrien opened the front door and they slipped out.

"So, what's your plan?"

Adrien took a deep breath. "I'm considering something…" he bit his lip then nodded determinedly. "Come with me. I'll show you. We'll need to take the subway one stop. Concorde."

Felix looked intrigued all the journey down the subway steps. It wasn't a long wait for the train, and he even looked to be enjoying himself as the train wound its way down the rails. Adrien daydreamed, a tangled mix of memories and thoughts. When he looked towards the window into the next carriage, he saw like a vision, Marinette's face, shyly raising to his, glancing quickly away. Saw her best friend Alya…a vision of the past, the day the Puppeteer had first appeared, turning Alya into Lady Wifi, intent on getting Marinette's dolls…he stifled a laugh at the memory of that strange day…but the memory of Marinette's face, knowing now that she'd had such a crush on him…he smiled at that.

They got off the train and Felix followed him up the steps. Adrien looked towards the cinema, where he and Marinette had stowed away to watch his mother's role in the movie…he now had his father's copy of the DVD stowed safely away on his shelves. But that day, sitting in the darkness with Marinette, was precious. He crossed the street, his eyes flicking over the rows of shops and houses…

There. The house he had slipped into to transform, while Wayem distracted Gorizilla. It was some way up…he looked back over his shoulder, imagining the distance to the Agreste Mansion, and to Marinette's home. It wasn't bad…

He approached the front door.

"Um, Cousin…" Felix's eyes were narrowed.

Adrien took a deep breath and turned to face his cousin. "I've decided to take on a new project. Since…now I'm no longer modeling, I want to do something different. Something meaningful to me."

Felix's eyes flicked to the house. With a note of incredulity, he asked. "Adrien Agreste wants to fix up a house?"

Adrien nodded slowly. His green eyes were intent.

"Do you even know anything about repairing houses?" Felix demanded.

"No…but I want to learn."

Felix was silent for a moment, thinking. "Fine," he said finally, abruptly. "You're crazy…I mean, you're fifteen, you've finally got the freedom to date your girl…I'd imagine far better ways to spend your time. But…you want to fix up a decrepit house—" he held up his hand so Adrien wouldn't interrupt. "Just…don't turn it modern. It'll drive Kagami's mother nuts. She hates old buildings."

Adrien nodded with a wry smile, then turned back to the building, searching for signs of which realtor might be listing the building. The windows were empty. Felix was already taking out his phone, searching. "Vingt Paris," he said, raising his head. Then he held his phone out. The phone symbol was green on the screen, and it was already ringing.

For a moment Adrien felt like a deer in the headlights. But Felix was watching him expectantly, so he took the phone from him as someone answered. "Vingt Paris…prime property…"

He cleared his throat. "Hi…I'd like to talk to someone about a house that's in your listings." He gave the address.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then finally asked, "How old are you?"

"Fifteen," he answered honestly.

A silence.

Finally, "I'm sorry…I don't have anyone available today, to send out to—"

Felix took the phone from him. "Hello," he said smoothly. "My name is Felix Graham de Vanily. You were just speaking to my cousin, Adrien Agreste…yes, the Adrien Agreste. We are standing in front of the house my cousin just described. He is interested in buying it. I don't see a horde of people trying to buy it, but I do see that it is currently an eyesore. We are willing to stop by your office so you can see that we are genuine. But please do not talk down to my cousin just because he's fifteen. Now. Let's talk about the house…"

Adrien watched his cousin in some astonishment.

Moments later, he ended the phone call and regarded his cousin smugly. "They're sending someone out." He stepped forward, laying his palm against the door. His expression changed to thoughtful. "Are you thinking of fixing this place up for you…or for you and a certain Marinette?"

"Maybe…" Adrien muttered warily.

Felix sighed. "What if…she doesn't turn out to be as faithful and perfect a person as you always hold her up to be, Adrien? What do you do then?"

Adrien raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"Lovesick people don't just go out and buy houses, thinking of their girlfriends. That's when you're getting serious." Felix regarded him. "She's fifteen years old, Adrien—"

"And so am I, so it's perfect—"

"But what if she falls for someone else?" Felix pressed. "I mean…Ladybug fell for Cat Noir, right?" he jerked a thumb up at the billboard towering over the roofs some way down. Adrien bit his tongue on some irritated words…he was starting to understand Marinette's frustration…

"And a few months ago, everyone was convinced I was dating your girlfriend," Adrien snapped. Then he recoiled. "Cousin, I'm sorry…"

Felix sighed. "No. I had that coming." He rotated his shoulder, stretching it. "I just…I don't want you to be hurt if Marinette isn't as great a person as you think she is. Or if you and she fall out of love…"

He knows. Adrien felt it. He knows Marinette's Ladybug. And Ladybug's in love with Cat Noir…but not that I'm Cat Noir. He felt bone weary for a moment. He was glad for the little car pulling up beside them to park, with the Vingt Paris Estate Agency decal on the side. A slender young woman stopped the car, regarding them through the window, then turned the key in the ignition, freeing it, and stepped out, a small bag on her arm. "Adrien Agreste," she said slowly. "They weren't kidding."

"Yes," Adrien said, fighting not to roll his eyes. He forced a smile and extended his hand. "A pleasure. Thanks for coming."

She smiled brightly at him. She was probably about five years older than him. That smile faded as she approached the house, taking a ring of keys from her bag. She flicked through the keys, reading their labels, and selected one, fitting it to the door lock. It slid in with a rusty sound and she turned it hard. The door's tumblers clunked, and the door swung open.

In the harsh light of day, the house looked even more miserable.

"Hmm," the realtor murmured, stepping in, turning her head. "Best to leave the front door open," she called back to Felix and Adrien as they stepped in behind her.

"Wow, this looks like a dump," Felix murmured.

"This was once a lovely little family home," the realtor's voice was falsely cheery. "It's well situated for a young family that enjoys trips to the cinema, there are plenty of parks around, plenty of shops…"

"I know the neighborhood," Adrien assured her. He walked down the hallway, brow furrowing as he studied the walls. He ran a finger down it, feeling the tinge of damp. "What…happened to the family that used to live here?"

"They left Paris…they were getting unsettled by the akuma attacks," the realtor explained. "Honestly, a lot of families left Paris for that reason."

A pang of sympathy went through Adrien at that. He went into the little family room and saw his box of cushions and candles against the wall. He went across to it and pushed it against the wall.

"Probably just a squatter," the realtor said, though she looked a bit puzzled. "We'll add on locks to make sure they can't get back in."

"Not necessary," Adrien said. "I wish to buy the house." There was a determined light in his eyes.

The realtor regarded him doubtfully.

Felix looked amused. "Let's see the rest of the house."

The stairs creaked under their steps. In the dim light, Adrien saw the faint patterns left on the old wallpaper. He thought of Marinette's house, with stylish wallpapers but most of all, the warmth of the family home…that was what he wanted here. Warmth. The feel of a family home. He wanted to come in the door and find Marinette curled up on a couch, waking up to look at him…or coming home, going upstairs, calling, "I'm home!" and hearing her call from a room as she worked at her sewing machine…going up to her, asking her about her day, her smile greeting him…

"The house is listed for 1,420,000 euros," the realtor said.

Felix whistled, raising an eyebrow at Adrien.

"It's in a prime location," added the realtor.

"And so it doesn't matter that it needs a lot of fixing up," Felix said dryly.

"I'll sort it out," Adrien said quietly, giving his cousin a stern look. "Do you prefer it paid in full or a deposit?"

"For your age…" the realtor hesitated. "You will have to pay it in full."

"Fine." He walked along the hallway, opening the first door. It scraped across the floor, swollen with damp. He surveyed the room's sorry state. A little doubt rose in him. He swallowed it down, and fixed the room with a determined look.

Felix said nothing but his look said it all. Cousin, you should find a different hobby.

When they finished the tour and stepped back outside the house, after the realtor locked it back up, they shook hands. "Thank you for your time," Adrien said. "I'll sort out a check and bring it to your office."

"Any time," the realtor said, looking like she would believe it only when she saw the check. She gave him a bland smile, got in her car and drove away.

"You are insane," Felix said dryly.

Adrien looked down the street at the cinema. "Feel like checking out a movie?" he asked.

"Not really."

"Well, I just need to use the restroom. Okay? Feel free to grab yourself a drink." Adrien set off without letting his cousin protest. He needed to transform to Cat Noir, so that he could send a message on his phone to another hero.

Moments later, he de-transformed, slipping Plagg a bit of camembert, done. He'd sent the message to Rena Rouge. Time to fix his mistakes…hopefully.