Ch21

Adrien as Cat Noir patrolled the city with his cousin Hive. Looking at his cousin he swore he saw a small grin on his face his body less tense as they raced across the Parisian sky. It had been a busy day with school, fencing, and hanging out with Kagami but now he could relax while being Cat Noir.

He seems to be enjoying himself; less rigid and more calm. I haven't seen him this relaxed in ages. A part of him was glad to know that Felix was slowly opening up to the world and learning to be less cynical. The two of them eventually decided to take a break from patrol and rest on the side of a building. "You seem to enjoy being Hive."

His cousin slowly nodded. "I do." Hive's gaze turned downward. "This feeling of freedom; I've never been this free before." Hive looked down at the city. "So much power and so much potential.

"I get that," he said. "Being Cat Noir is the best thing that has happened to me." Looking down at the city he thought of his own family and all the challenges he has faced. "Out of curiosity do you want to stay here still? I'm aren't you worried that your mom will miss you?"

Hive sighed. "I may visit her but are you ok? I mean things going well for you now but can you manage things on your own?"

He detected something in his cousin's words, almost as if he were hiding something and debating to tell him. You seem troubled, what is going on in that head of yours?

"I know I can," he said with a cocky smile. "I mean I'm glad all you do for me but I don't want your life to stop just because of me."

Hive looked at him with his calm gaze. "I don't mind helping you, we are family. We've always stuck together in the past and I'll make sure no one harms you now." His cousin paused, his posture turning rigid. "Tell me do you miss her?"

A pang hit his heart knowing who he was referring to. He slowly nodded. "I do," he said softly. "I wish I knew what happened." A shiver went down his spine as he swallowed a bunch of emotions he had been bottling up. "It all happened so fast. I still can't believe it happened."

He winced as he remembered his mother. Her kind smile and soft encouraging words. "I wish I could've seen her body, father insisted it on being a close casket funeral."

Closing his eyes he fought back the tears. The memories of his mother flooded his head. Since then father became even more reclusive and more distant. I know it hurts him too but I wish he could've let me see her body.

He felt a hand on his shoulder. Looking up he saw his cousin look at him with a firm gaze. "Don't worry I know it wasn't easy but we don't have to grieve alone," Hive said softly. "We have each other, Kagami too."

He smiled at his cousin. "Thanks. I'm grateful for all of your help." Looking up at the sky he remembered all the times he would go on evening walks with his mother. "We sure did cause our parents a lot of trouble growing up huh?"

Hive smirked at him. "Oh yeah we did. Remember the time we switched places and it took a few days to find out?"

They both laughed as he remembered that his father was the only one not amused but everyone else thought it was a good joke.

"I wonder what your mom would think if she knew you were a superhero," Hive said.

He shrugged. "She would be worried and surprised at first but I'm sure she would be proud of me. How would your mom take it if she found out?"

"Probably the same," Hive said with a coy smile.

Suddenly a loud bang reverberated throughout the area. He quickly got up and saw a familiar akuma flying through the air. "Come on lets go."

Ladybug frowned as she watched Hive and Cat Noir take down Mr. Pigeon. She had to admit they both worked well in coordination with each other though that did sting her heart a bit.

"My lady the akuma is out!" Cat Noir yelled.

She shook her head and quickly swung her yoyo to catch it. "Miraculous Ladybug!" With that Mr. Pigeon was transformed back into his civilian persona and the damage he caused was restored to normal.

"Pound it!"

Cat Noir held out his fist and she smiled as they fist bumped together, then Cat Noir bumped fists with Hive. "We did good," Cat Noir said. "Thank you Ladybug."

Looking into his eyes she could see the familiar friendliness in them. It was as if the gulf between them had never happened.

"Sure no problem." She shifted and looked at both of the heroes in front of her. "Um I'm glad I could work with both of you."

Hive nodded his gaze calm yet calculating. "Likewise."

It was so striking how similar Cat Noir and Hive looked yet they were vastly different. Hive had a coldness to him that made her uneasy. A ruthlessness that she knew would make him a horrible enemy if she had to face him.

"You wield the bee miraculous well."

"I've been practicing," Hive said.

Their gazes met, Hive seemed to be analyzing her as if expecting some argument. Calm down if Cat Noir trusts him then I'll do my best to trust him. Frankly with everything going on with Su Han she didn't mind an ally. Besides Hive was strong, very strong she shuddered at the idea of him wielding a stronger miraculous.

Cat Noir grinned. "Yeah Hive here is really smart. Me and him practice a lot."

"Good to know." Her miraculous began to beep. "See you guys around."

Well I guess having extra help wouldn't hurt. Truthfully she didn't fully trust Hive, deep down she could tell he was only an ally because Cat Noir was an ally. He would make a fearsome enemy. A shiver went down her spine just thinking about Hive's cold stare.

As soon as she landed in her room the transformation ended. "Tikki what do you think of Hive?" she sat down in her chair and pulled up the Ladyblog. Images of Hive were now as common as Ladybug and Cat Noir though not as frequent.

Tikki frowned. "He seems to be a cunning man. He is quite close to Cat Noir, they must have known each other at one point." Her kwami paused and looked at a picture of Hive and Cat Noir on the Ladyblog. "To be honest, it wouldn't surprise me if they know each other personally."

She did a double take. "But that's against the rules right?"

"Well you shouldn't give out your identity carelessly," Tikki said firmly. "But whoever it is I can tell Cat Noir trusts him. If he's willing to help us then so be it. We should try to build a bridge between us and them."

"I know," she muttered as she scrolled through some images. A pang hit her heart, deep down she did care for Cat Noir and it hurt that he wasn't as open with her. It's my fault. Sorrow began to build up inside of her as she looked at an image of Cat Noir, his grin was nice and carefree just it used to be.

"Maybe I should've been more open with him," she muttered.

Tikki rested on her hand. "We all have faults Marinette and we all make mistakes. I know you both can move on from this."

She slowly nodded. "I do." Deep down she cared deeply for Cat Noir, and despite the differences, she knew she couldn't afford to be petty.

Taking a deep breath she got up and stared at the Ladyblog with determination. I'm the guardian and a Paris. I should make things right.

Felix carefully walked into his uncle's study with his special monocle. Just what are you hiding in here? The monocle allowed him to see heat signatures and with it he could see where his Uncle and Nathalie had been in the room. He could see the remnants of their foots steps and fingerprints all over the room but one place caught his attention.

Looking at the large painting in the image of his aunt he saw the remnants of various fingerprints and on the ground a hollowed area that looked like some sort of tunnel.

He frowned as he hit the buttons. The floor beneath him beeped as it opened and the metal floor moved down. He nearly yelped, his heart racing in his chest as he looked around the metal elevator. I knew it. Just what are you hiding down here?

His heart raced in his chest as the hairs on his neck stood up as he advanced forward. Fear wasn't something that came to him easily but this time he was afraid of what he would find.

The metallic sound of the elevator rang in his ears as he tensed up. Whatever it is I know it isn't anything good I can feel it inside.

When the elevator stopped the door opened revealing a large laboratory. What is this place? Adrien never mentioned a basement, his body tensed up as he exited and looked around, in the distance he could see a green area with a bunch of butterflies. The scent of plants wafered in his nose as he looked around what looked like a lab room. The lights lit up as he took a step, his heart racing in his chest as he walked forward and down the path.

His eyes narrowed in on the large capsule in the middle of the ground. Swallowing the lump in his throat his heart raced as he slowly approached the capsule, his eyes widening as he saw a familiar person inside it.

As he stood in front of it he covered his mouth, his eyes wide as saucers as he saw his aunt sleeping inside of it. No! His legs shook as anger, shock, and every kind of emotion filled inside of him as he stumbled back. No. No. For once he didn't have answer to explain what was happening and neither did he care to make an excuse up.

Auntie. A tear fell down his face. No. Taking a step back he looked around the laboratory and saw the various butterflies, on the wall was the symbol of a butterfly.

Realization hit him as he took a step back, confusion and sorrow turned into anger as he made the realization. You bastard. Tears fell down his face as he looked back at his unconscious aunt, Adrien loved her with everything how could you do this? His mind spun as he turned around and bolted back to the elevator.

Adrien. I am so sorry.