Chapter 4 - I'm Home!
Chapter Summary
In this small chapter, Alix and Lance come back home after their very long day.
Chapter Notes
Hey everyone, I wanted to write this small chapter before the follow-up normal-size one to explore the aftermath of origins 1-3. Also, a very quick note, (...) are for breaks in thought while =*^*= are for breaks in time/scene changes. Ok, that's it, hope you enjoy :)
Ma lapereau - My little rabbit
When an exhausted Lance reached home, all he wanted to do was fall on his bed and become one with the blankets; luckily, the apartment's heaters helped melt the frigid cold the quiet winds had given him from outside.
"You need to eat something, Lance. Not letting you go to bed hungry."
The little tiger zipped into the kitchen fridge before his owner could stop him.
Oh yeah? Watch me, the tired boy thought as he collapsed on the white sofa, the sweet aroma of cherry soda mixed with the salty tang of potato chips still present from the twins' last visit, good times…
As his eyes began to close, he heard the rhythmic clack of a knife against the cutting board echoing through the otherwise silent apartment. A sharp, metallic sound filled the room, accompanied by the occasional thud of vegetables hitting the countertop and the calming humming of a light tune as Faang moved about the open kitchen.
"Lance," A warm, soothing voice whispered in his ear. "You can't go to bed hungry."
The drowsy teen grunted in response, annoyed that his peaceful slumber had been interrupted. "Let me sleep, Faang…" Lanced mumbled, the soft cushions covering his face muffling him.
He heard a hearty chuckle as a gentle hand started rubbing his back.
Hmm…thanks, buddy.
(...)
Wait a minute.
Springing from his short-lived rest, Lance turned to find a tall elderly woman in a black pantsuit sitting beside him, her loving gaze betraying the dark circles beneath her aged eyes. Though she possessed a youthful spirit, her body, and mind ached from decades of stress. Her smile was soft, and her kind demeanor reflected great patience and warmth, that was sharply contrasted with the slight hunch in her back.
"Grand-Mère!" He blurted out, readjusting his stance.
Thank God she doesn't know a lick of English.
"I told you not to wait for me, mon trésor." She kissed him tenderly on his forehead before looking to her side. "If I knew you liked cooking so much, I could have booked you some classes…"
Uh?
Hauling himself from the sofa, Lance made his way to the kitchen where he was met with a feast fit for royalty.
Sweet potato and carrot soup, bacon and pepper pasta, a massive fruit salad bowl for dessert; it was a full-course meal, all laid out on the kitchen table, waiting to be eaten.
Faang, what the hell have you done?
The two neared closer to the imposing banquet.
"Yeah, I uh… thought, why not try today?" he said, sitting down.
"A very ambitious start!" she joyfully replied, joining him at the table. "I remember making my first boeuf bourguignon for your Grand-père in Collège; he loved that dish, and I wanted to surprise him…" A small smile appeared on her face.
"Was that before…?" He hesitated to finish his words, not wishing to spoil her good mood.
Grand-Mère's expression shifted slightly before returning to her usual persona. "Yes. A few months before the city fell to them..." she responded, aimlessly spinning her spoon in the steaming hot soup.
He could see the sadness pooling in her eyes. It was a reminder of the dark past that had haunted his grandparents for decades. A history of war, loss, and resilience. A burden she was now forced to carry all by herself.
In an attempt to lighten the mood and offer a small distraction, Lance took a sip of the warm soup and felt a sense of comfort spreading through his body. The flavors danced on his tongue, a perfect balance of sweet and savory. Hmm, who woulda guessed kwamis were also master chefs?
He glanced back at his grandmother and noticed her distant gaze as she lost herself in her past thoughts and old memories. She appeared to have retreated into her own little world, detached from the present.
Lance let out a sigh, regretting his question. "Grand-Mère," he said softly, reaching over to take her hand in his. "I'm sorry."
She turned to look at him, her eyes meeting his with a mixture of love and understanding. "For what?"
"For bringing up your past…and Grand-père's" he replied, his voice barely above a whisper, laced with a hint of self-loathing.
She squeezed his hand gently. "It's okay, Lance. It's important to remember the past so that we can learn from it and make a better future. And besides," she added with a light chuckle, "Your maman was just like you growing up. Whenever Grand-Père or I wanted to read her a bedtime story from one of those kids' fairy tale books, she would always ask us for stories from our youth instead. Of course, at the time, we couldn't tell her everything, but…" She laid a hand close to her chest as her lips curled into a gentle smile, a hint of nostalgia dancing in her gaze, "I'll never forget her big amber eyes lighting up when I first told her how we used to listen to our favorite songs on those clunky old record players. We even brought the rusty thing out of the closet for her to listen to…"
He sighed quietly to himself as Grand-Mère's reminiscing put a subtle smile on his face, I wish I could tell her everything. She would know what to do…
Finishing their meal, the old woman saw her grandson on his phone, his face lighting up as more and more messages came pouring in. "Ms. Anarka called me. She said the twins were worried and that you weren't answering their messages."
The incessant notification pings from his childhood friends mercilessly bombarded the device as he struggled to keep up. "I'm replying to them now. I uh… was sleeping when the butterflies showed up, so I didn't see the texts."
Grand-mère raised an eyebrow, intrigued, "Lance Armand already asleep at 5 in the afternoon? What happened today at school?" she inquired in a playful tone.
"Well, for starters, Jules and I are in the same class!" He gleefully announced, briefly stopping typing to look at her.
"Is that all? I heard from a little songbird you made a new friend," she finished with a knowing look.
WHAT!? His tired, taut back shot up straight as a chill ran down his spine. No, there's no way she could know about Faang! Okay, Lance, just…play it cool.
"Yeah… Rose is nice; she helped me in chem class with the formulas and–"
"Not her, sweetie," Grand-Mère replied, visibly amused.
Hold on a minu–"Alix?" He exclaimed with a questioning gaze before relaxing his tense muscles and lowering his voice. "She's my new deskmate; she's really into roller skates and graffiti art, not that she does vandalism or anything! She just likes the look… also her dad works at the Louvre."
"I'm happy you made a new friend, mon cheri. I remember every time I picked you up from Collège, you would wait for me all by yourself. I barely ever saw you play with anyone," She recalled with a tinge of sadness in her speech.
"There just weren't people there like the two of them." He looked at the device; the notification onslaught had finally relented. They must have gone to bed by now. "I guess they're just different from the others… in a good way."
"That's why when Jules told me about you two, I was so surprised!" She caressed his hand. "I'm certain Alix must be truly miraculous for you to befriend her."
"Yeah, Alix is pretty co–" His mind suddenly clicked into place. "Wait, who told you about that, again?"
Before she could answer, a musical ringtone filled the air. Glancing at Lance's phone, Grand-Mère saw that it was the alarm for 11 pm, signaling bedtime. She'd asked him to set it before Lycée started so he wouldn't let himself stay up until 3 am playing the guitar or listening to music, as he and Luka had become famous for during last summer's break.
His grandmother looked at him; Despite her demanding schedule of campaigning, attending press conferences, and fulfilling the seemingly endless demands of her party, she treasured the moments they had together, no matter how fleeting they were.
Rising from the table she brushed Lance's messy bedhead, disheveled from being tangled up in the mess of blankets on the sofa. "I believe it's time for mon petit soldat to retreat to his barracks." Grabbing their dirty plates, she moved to the kitchen sink.
"I'm going roller skating with Alix after school tomorrow so I'll be back home late," Lance announced as he got up and followed her with their empty glasses. "I'm thinking of inviting Jules and Luka to join us…"
"I don't believe that'd be the best idea."
He scrunched up his face in confusion, setting down the cups on the countertop. "What? Why not?"
"Lance, you know I love the two of them like they were my own, but spending time with your new friend is crucial to getting to know them. The last thing you want is to make Alix feel out of place, right?"
"Of course! I…that wasn't what I wanted," He replied, a twinge of shame pricking at his heart for his oversight.
Noticing Lance's regretful tone, Grand-Mère tightly wrapped an arm around his shoulders and kissed the crown of his head. "As long as you remember to remain true to yourself and her, I'm sure you'll make a good new friend."
Lance smiled and hugged his grandmother back. "Thank you."
"You're welcome… now, off to bed with you!" she playfully ordered as she nudged him towards the stairs.
Lance chuckled and complied, bidding her goodnight as he disappeared up the stairs and into his room, with a tiny orange flash following right behind him.
Changing into his pajamas, Lance turned to his bed only to see Faang sleeping on his pillow. The little tiger's chest rose and fell as he lounged on his back, with his legs splayed out and a wide pleased grin plastered on his face. The sight brought a tired, defeated sigh from the exhausted boy.
Delicately, he cupped the kwami in his hands and placed him on a throw pillow on the nearby nightstand, the tiger's coat feeling as soft and smooth as velvet.
For an eon-old being, his fur is really silky… probably has something to do with magic.
As Lance quietly lay in his bed, his eyes gazing vacantly at the ceiling, he mulled over what Faang and Master Fu had told him.
Fu mentioned hunters could handle multiple holders at the same time… Still, I doubt Ladybug and Chat Noir would go down easily…
Or at all.
(…)
Will I even be able to control that much raw power? Faang said it was just a matter of training my body and mind but… the way Fu talked about 'the magnitude of its strength', makes that hard to believe.
He raised the back of his hand above his face, visualizing the gemstone that once adorned it. Turning his head to gaze at the nightstand where the gloves and Faang rested, his mind began to drift, reflecting on the other events that had unfolded throughout the day.
The punk that harassed Jules and that poor girl, the fear on their faces… the fear on his.
Faang chose me, of all people, to be his new holder… If I fail the trial, what kind of person would that make me?
Lance sighed.
A failure.
I can't afford to lose.
Not when Fu and Faang put all their trust in me.
He lowered his hand, accepting the future set before him.
People need a hunter to protect them and put a stop to Hawk Moth. In two months, I'll be facing them off, and when I do, I'll be ready.
"I have to be," he whispered to himself, a spark of determination briefly glinting from his eye.
Eventually, Lance dozed off, comforted by the sound of the kwami's light breaths as he, too, slept peacefully, now curled up on his slumbering master's head.
In his dream, Lance found himself joyfully running across rooftops, feeling the wind in his hair, a fanged smile on his face, and a little tiger in his mind.
I'm late; I'm so freaking late!
Alix raced across the moonlit streets with great haste. The frigid air was biting at her skin as she pushed herself forward with the image of a clock ticking, its hands soon signaling the turning of the hour, consuming her mind.
If he's there already, I'm gonna be so grounded! And it's not like I can just say, 'Sorry, pops, I was busy fighting stone monsters with my friends; you know how it is!'
Passing the shadowy statues guarding the arched gate, she briefly halted her sprinting, frantically untying her skates before dashing upstairs. The echo of her barefoot steps resonated through the silent building.
Alix's heart incessantly pounded as she reached the door, her hand trembling when she went to unlock it, praying that her father wasn't home yet.
Inside, the residence was shrouded in darkness, barring a dim yellow glow coming from the hallway of the bedrooms and the glimmers of light filtering through the windows, faintly illuminating the outlines of empty furniture.
Hmm, guess I forgot to turn off the lights in my room when I left.
Stepping in, Alix waited for a brief moment to steady her breathing before turning and gently sealing the door. A relieved sigh escapes her lips as she collapses onto her knees, the legs that supported her through this strenuous day finally giving way.
Just as she begins to relax, Alix hears footsteps approaching, followed by an alien touch on her weary shoulders, the unexpected contact jolting her senses and leaving her befuddled.
"Why are–"
A voice. That was all her brain allowed her to register before reacting, forcing the girl to whirl around, her tired arm swinging at the tall silhouette behind her. Thrusting her fist into the black abyss, she discerns the textures of soft skin and plastic as her knuckles connect with their target, the impact throwing her off balance and onto the ground.
The figure loudly grunts, shielding its bruised face "Alix, what the hell!" a familiar tone shouts, freezing the girl's nerves.
Oh no, it couldn't be…
Alix quickly gets up and flicks on a nearby light switch, revealing a disgruntled Jalil standing before her. A hand was covering his bright red cheek, and his glasses were nowhere to be found.
"Jalil, it's you!" Alix exclaimed in both relief and embarrassment.
"Of course, it's me!" Jalil kneeled to search for his missing eyewear, squinting and straining his eyes. "Could you help me out? I can't see a damn thing!" he said in a frustrated tone. "I can't believe you hit me like that!"
"Sorry!" Alix joined in the search, eventually finding the glasses under the coffee table with cracked lenses and dented arms.
She cursed under her breath, already preparing to be berated.
"Hey…" she carefully grabbed the pair, wincing in embarrassment as it dangled from her fingers."I…I found them."
"Great, just hand them ov–WHAT!?'' Jalil yanked the glasses from her, his hands shaking in anger when the extent of its damage became apparent.
"I promise to pay for the repairs!" She pleaded, hoping to calm him down, "Just…please don't tell Dad! I have a tournament in two weeks, and I can't get grounded."
Her brother paused for a short moment to consider the offer. Then, he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'm not going to extort money from my own sister…" he relented, tucking the glasses into his pocket. "But you will tell me why you came home so late, right now."
Crap.
At first, Alix considered lying to Jalil. After all, who knows how their father would react if he found out his daughter had nearly been killed fighting villains? But then it hit her: Alya would soon upload the footage online, and even though their dad wasn't exactly tech-savvy, her brother was bound to stumble upon it sooner or later.
"I… was with Alya in the tower," Alix began, her voice anxiously trembling. "We went to help Mylène and record what was going on. Nothing bad happened, thanks to those heroes!" She let out a nervous laugh. "They were the ones who took down Stoneheart, and Ladybug even patched us up before she left!"
Jalil's eyes widened as she finished speaking. "Alix, what were you thinking? " He grabbed her shoulders, his voice rising in pitch. "Do you realize how reckless that was!?"
"No, you don't get it!" Alix shouted in a sudden outburst, shaking her head. The flood of emotions she'd felt earlier at the foot of the tower had taken hold of her once more. "You didn't see what I saw!"
"Alix–"
"She was in danger, Jalil, and no one was there, no one!" she exclaimed defiantly, fighting the tears welling up in her eyes. "Even If it wasn't Mylène, I'd have done the same thing!"
Jalil's grip on her shoulders loosened slightly, yet his expression remained stern. "I understand that you wanted to help, Alix. But you have to realize the danger you put yourself in. You could have been seriously hurt or worse."
"I know, okay! I–I couldn't stand and do nothing; the heroes weren't there to save her yet; I heard her screaming from above and…" Alix trailed off, her words faltering as she struggled to recount the events.
Jalil hugged her tightly, consoling his sister while her body quivered in his embrace.
"Listen, I won't tell Father about this; however, you need to promise me you'll think twice before doing something this stupid again."
Alix gulped down the salty water amassed in her throat and nodded, "I promise, Jalil."
"Good, this family is too small as it is without you risking your life," Jalil commented while he pulled back and stood up, bringing her with him, "Now, go grab something to eat, and then it's straight to bed for you. Dad will be here in 45 minutes and expects you to be asleep by then." He declared before returning to his research in his room.
Alix couldn't help but chuckle through her sorrow at Jalil's attempt to sound strict.
Now in her room, Alix lazily lounged on her bed with her legs crossed, clad in comfy pajama shorts, and snacking on a monstrous sandwich–all while browsing her phone. She scrolled through various roller skating forums, but the nonsensical ramblings of the posts were nearly putting her to sleep.
As she read through the discussions about wheel types, Alix couldn't stop rolling her eyes. Who in their right mind would pick soft wheels for city skating? she thought, scoffing at the idea. Hard wheels are faster and more durable. They're the way to go for any kind of competitive roller skating!
She continued scrolling, searching for a thread for actual 'serious skaters'.
Her eyelids growing heavy, Alix placed her phone on the nightstand and snuggled under the cozy, welcoming covers, completely done with today. The softness and warmth of the bedding provided a soothing balm for her tired body.
(Ding!)
Unfortunately, it seemed today wasn't done with her just yet.
An annoyed muffled groan escaped from deep within the cotton tomb as a hand blindly fumbled and snatched the device, before returning to the lump underneath the covers.
A drowsy Alix opened her phone, its artificial light almost scorching her eyes as she quickly lowered the brightness and noticed a ChatAll ping from–Marinette!?
Marinette: Hey, Alix! Sorry for texting this late, but I really needed to ask you something.?
Alix: Marinette, it's almost midnight! Couldn't this have waited until tomorrow!?
Marinette: I'm sorry?. It's been bugging my mind since Alya told me about you two at the tower.
'Course, Alya told her. Probably bragging about recording a supervillain so up close…
Alix: Alright, you have about 30 seconds to get to the point before I pass out.
Marinette: She only mentioned trapping herself inside a boutique when Stoneheart sent one of his minions after her and that the 'full story' would be posted in her new blog soon.?
A blog, seriously?
Alix: Can't you just wait for her to upload it?
Marinette: Please, Alix, I'm dying to know? ゚ᆬᄎ. I promise to bring a couple of profiteroles to class tomorrow, just for you.?
(…)
Alix: With extra chocolate sauce?
Marinette: Obviously.?
Alix: Ok, spill it. What do you want to know?
Marinette: How did she get out?
Alix: I saved her butt, of course. Lance and I got to the 1st floor, and he distracted the golem while I found her armed with a clothes' hanger inside the boutique.?
Marinette: And then what? ?
Alix: Hawk Moth did his "speech," followed by Stoneheart getting his ass kicked.? Ladybug or Chat brought Mylène and Ivan to the 2nd floor, where we all met up. Once we regrouped, we went home, and as I tried falling asleep, a certain someone messaged me.?
Marinette: Can you remember if it was Ladybug or Chat that carried them?
Alix: Not really, tbh. They moved way too fast to tell.
Marinette: Are you sure?
Why is she so focused on this?
Alix: Chat, I think? Pretty sure I saw something like a tail dangling from their back, but that's it.
The chat quickly grew quiet, with Marinette's status changing to idle.
Ok, now I'm worried.
Before Alix could react to her heightened suspicions, three dots appeared on her screen.
Marinette: Thanks for telling me the story, Alix. And as promised, expect a bag with chocolate-dripping profiteroles on your desk.?
Marinette: On second thought, I'll make a few more for Lance so he doesn't feel left out. Don't forget to share!?
Alix: No promises lol. Just one thing, why do you care who saved Mylène and Ivan?
The half-full moon icon appeared on Marinette's profile picture, indicating her return to inactivity.
There she goes again…
Marinette: I just wanted to know so I could thank them properly, that's all! I'm actually thinking about baking them a thank-you cake.
Oh! You dummy, 'course she cares! It's Marinette we're talking about.
Alix: Of course you do! Sorry for interrogating you, Marie. My brain clocked out like half an hour ago.?
Marinette: No worries! I should be heading to bed as well. See you tomorrow at school!?
Alix: Cya!
Putting her phone down again, Alix rubbed her tired eyes, the inviting warmth of her bed sheets enticing her to seek their comfort once more. Re-wrapping herself, the drained girl filtered the remaining thoughts clouding her mind, and with each slow, deep breath taken, she could feel the weariness melt away.
As the silence of the night enveloped the room, Alix slowly fell into a deep, dreamless slumber, and in the depths of her rest, she heard light, barely audible steps approaching her bedside.
A gentle kiss brushed against her cheek; a soft touch caressed her hair as her father's tender voice whispered in her ear:
"Sleep well, ma lapereau."
With that, a serene smile gracefully etched itself onto her resting face.
