Ch27

Just what is going on. Cat Noir dodged Hive's attack. His cousin insisted on a sparring match and this time he wasn't playing around.

"Focus!" Hive snapped as he came at him with his fists. "You can't go soft on an enemy even if it's family."

He blocked the attacks and tried to counter but Hive knew his moves and grabbed his arm before throwing him a few feet away.

As cats do, he laned on his feet. As Felix usually did he came at him not even giving him a chance to gather his wits.

He blocked his fists and tried to land a hit on his cousin but Felix was quick and blocked the attack. You want me to focus? Fine. His reflexes kicked in as he blocked his cousins' attacks. Their fists collided with each other's bodies as they fought each other with all of their strenght.

Their attacks met, his leg met Hive's stomach while his cousin's fist hit his chest. He was knocked a few feet back, his heart racing as he regained his breath.

"Just tell me what the hell is going on," he said as looked at his cousin. "I can handle it, trust me."

Hive stood up his gaze hard. "You'll know soon. Trust me it is something you have to see to believe."

"See to believe," he muttered. "Just what is the connection between my mother and Hawkmoth?"

The cold wind passed through the area, Hive's eyes betrayed no emotion as they stared into his soul like a man holding a life or death secret.

"Let me put it like this you know how your father is protective of you? How he keeps you like a caged bird in the name of your safety?" Hive stepped forward his gaze hard. "You know what he'll do in the name of protecting his family?"

He avoided his cousin's gaze and looked down. "I-I know." His father did a lot of things that most people wouldn't consider kind.

"He loves you and your mother in his own twisted way," Hive said softly his voice having no trace of bravado. "Do you think its normal how he treats you? Prohibits you from having friends, keeping you under lock and key, and under his control? Are those normal things to you?"

He flinched, his gaze focused on the ground. "H-He loves me though." Yet the words rang hollow in his heart. He shivered as he remembered how he treated Nino poorly for wanting to give him a birthday party, how he constantly monitored his schedule and controlled his own life.

Hive placed a hand on his shoulder, he looked up at his cousin his gaze calm. "I know that he loves you," Hive said softly. "But it is a twisted love. You have a right to pilot your own life and he shouldn't be cruel to you."

He avoided Hive's gaze. "It's just the way it is," he said softly. Felix and his aunt were always warm and kind to him unfortunately his uncle was probably worse than his own father.

Hive leaned in closer to his ear. "He wouldn't even let you see your own mother when she passed, what kind of person does that?"

His body shivered as the memories from that day came into his head. If he was expecting sympathy from his father he was wrong, he was expected to man up and be strong.

"Lets imagine for a moment what would happen if you went out with your friends and something happened to you," Hive said softly. "What would your father honestly do to them if he could?"

He swallowed as he tried to find the words. His mind was fighting the urge to say the truth that his father would probably go after them and make sure they regretted ever meeting him.

"Now take those thoughts and imagine what he would do for your mother if she were in trouble," Hive said softly. "He would do anything for her I imagine?"

"B-But he wouldn't work with Hawkmoth," he said softly unable to form a response. What would his father do for his mother? He knew he loved her more than anything and would probably do something drastic, but would he really work with Hawkmoth?"

Hive's gaze hardened. "Just think about it, I'm sure you can make the connections when you see them. Trust me it will be easier than if I just told you." His cousin turned around and looked at the city around them. "Trust me, as soon as we take out Su Han you'll learn the truth, but until then I suggest you prepare."

He frowned. "And how are we going to do that?"

A grin spread across his cousin's face. "Don't worry I've dealt with powerful opponents before, with you and Kagami we are capable of defeating him."

Meeting his cousin's gaze he nodded. "I think he really is intent on taking our miraculouses."

Hive folded his arms. "He'll have to pry them from our dead bodies. Ladybug herself no longer has a problem with us, she said it herself he is kind of crazy."

He chuckled. "Yeah he is." Still the idea of fighting that monk toe to toe made his stomach turn. "J-Just promise me neither you nor Kagami will get hurt."

His cousin smiled at him with his usual mischievous grin. "Don't worry I have more lives than a cat."

They both laughed and for a moment the stress of everything seemed to go away. If only we could be this free all the time. Unfortunately, they had their own civilian lives and as a result had to step back into their gilded cages.

"We deserve happiness," Hive said softly. "I won't let anyone take away your happiness. Seeing you as Cat Noir is like seeing you without your father's cold influence on you."

He scratched his head. "Th-Thanks. But my father is still a part of me."

"True but just the good parts," Hive said. "You have your mother's heart."

He looked down as a pang of sorrow hit his heart. "Thanks."

"Come on Kagami is waiting for us," Hive said.

What is going with those two? His cousin and Kagami were always tense around him and asking him weird things like what he thought of his father's treatment of him and while they were interesting conversation topics he could tell they prodding at him for some reason.

As soon as he got and transformed back into his civilian persona Plagg greeted him. "What's going on with your cousin?"

He frowned. "I wish I knew." His heart raced at all the things Felix had told him, deep down there was small doubt. A doubt that he didn't want to admit about his father. If it's my father I hope it's wrong. If he's right. He paused as he grabbed a towel. Please don't make me choose.

After a quick shower he met his cousin downstairs. "You ready?"

Felix nodded. "Come on."

As they passed by his father's office a bit of dread swelled up inside of him. Father whatever is going I hope you aren't doing anything with Hawkmoth.

Paris was their home, it was where their friends and family lived. I'll defend this city against all those who harm it. He looked at the ring on his finger as they entered his limo. Ever since he became Cat Noir he had learned a lot and grew tremendously as a person.

He looked up at Felix who frowned at the mansion as they drove off. "Hey what do you know about my dad that I don't?"

Felix turned to him his hard gaze betrayed unease. "Don't worry soon you'll know the truth and won't live in a lie anymore. But you have to decide for yourself who you want to be and who you want to protect."

He stared at his cousin contemplating his words as they drove off to the gala. It was hosted by a few of his father's associates and inside there were a bunch of people dressed nicely. "Glad to see you both."

They turned around and he stared in shock at Kagami. She wore a fancy outfit and looked as if she just had her makeup done. "Um hey glad to be here," he said as he suddenly found it difficult to form words. He had known Kagami his entire life yet looking at her now it was as if she were a different person.

Felix cleared his throat. "I'll leave you two be."

He was about to say something but Felix had already walked off and Kagami extended her hand. "Shall we dance."

His heart raced in his chest as they held hands and made their way to the main floor where many people were dancing. His body worked on auto pilot as they did their best to dance, the thing was he wasn't much of a dancer.

"Sorry," he said as he awkwardly stepped on her dress.

"Don't worry," Kagami said. "There are more important things we have to do."

"Like what?" he asked.

Kagami met his gaze. "Your happiness."

He stared at her in shock. "What?"

"You deserve to free and happy," Kagami said firmly. "Same with me and Felix." They danced around the ballroom as people stared at them with awe.

"What is going on with you two?" He asked.

Kagami leaned in closer, her gaze fiery. "You'll soon know for yourself the truth of your family. But you have to be careful," she whispered into his ears. "Nothing is as it seems, but know that me and Felix have your back."

He stared at her wanting to ask a million questions but couldn't find it inside of him. "What's going on?"

She gave him a weak smile. "You'll find out for yourself soon enough. just be strong and be prepared for the shock of your life."