Ch25

That night Adrien tossed and turned in his bed as sweat formed on his forehead. Adrien come on! Mom is almost home. He could see her smile and feel her kind gaze on him as the light began to surround her.

"Mom!" He called out to her and ran. "Come back! Mom!" Yet as he ran she only seemed to move farther away with each step he took. "Mom!"

"You're almost there sweetie," his mother said. "Just run faster you're almost there."

Tears fell down his face as the light became brighter. "Mom!"

He sat up in his dark bedroom, his heart racing in his chest. Another nightmare. He cleaned the tears from his face as he adjusted his pillow and sat up on his bed.

Mom I wish I could've given you a proper goodbye. He cleaned his tears with his bedsheet as the memories of those days filled his head.

To be honest he knew was wrong when his father broke down in his office but one day he just came by and said his mother had passed away, his face as cold and expressionless as always. No explanation except that it was due to some illness.

As usual his father expected him to suck it up, Agrestes were supposed to be tough. He didn't even get to see her body as her casket was put into the ground.

"He could've at least let me say goodbye to her," he muttered as he looked up at the dark ceiling.

Your mother was never buried.

His cousin's words replayed in his mind, they've been repeating themselves over and over driving him insane.

"Felix what do you mean," he muttered as he rested on his pillow. His cousin had been oddly reclusive these past few days, something had happened and he wanted to know what.

What could he have found out? His mind raced through various possibilities It must be something big, I could see it in his face he wants to protect me yet hurt me.

There was no denying his feelings towards his cousin. They were always inseparable and growing up they shared many experiences and burdens together.

Just what did you find out that scared you so much? Did he find something out about our family? Or did he find something about father?

He took a deep breath and calmed himself. His father and cousin never had the best relationship but lately he caught his cousin glaring at his father with eyes full of contempt and hatred. I can see it in your eyes, what did my father do for you to dislike him more?

"Everything ok Adrien?"

He looked up and saw Plagg floating by his bedside. "Just another nightmare," he muttered.

"You've been having them more often. Have you thought of talking about them with someone?" Plagg asked.

He sighed. "My father doesn't believe in that sort of thing. Plagg be honest and don't be afraid to hurt my feelings, what do you think of my father?"

Plagg looked at him with his large eyes. "Well I'm no expert on humans or your emotions but I think he can harsh and even cruel."

His kwami's words weren't a surprise, both his classmates and people in the modeling world have described his father in strong words.

"But I can tell he loves you in his own maybe twisted way," Plagg said.

He thought of everything about his father and how he often resented the control he had over him. Then Felix's words replayed in his head. "Y-You don't think he had something to do my mother do you?"

Plagg looked down and shrugged. "I'm not sure honestly."

"There is only one person who has those answers," he muttered as sleep began to come over him again. Felix just what did you find out.

When he awoke in the morning he went about his usual routine. Felix didn't say much, though he was oddly detached from everything.

"We need to talk," he said firmly as he grabbed his cousin's arm.

Felix looked at him, his gaze unreadable but nodded. Once they were in his room he locked the door and turned on the Mp3 player so Nathalie would think he was practicing piano.

"I know you are hiding something about my mother and you think my father has something to do with it," he said as they both sat down on his couch. "Please tell me what it is."

Felix looked to the ground his gaze hard. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you everything."

He frowned. "We're family and I trust you."

His cousin sighed. "Adrien our family isn't normal, believe it or not most people would call both our father's abusive for their actions." Felix's gaze hardened as he looked up at him. "Your father means well but I do not think he has your best intentions at heart."

"Wh-What do you mean?" He asked.

"I don't have all the answers myself," Felix said softly. "But believe me when I tell you that there is a connection between our family, yours in particular and Hawkmoth."

His jaw dropped as he stared at his cousin in disbelief. "H-Hawkmoth? How can there be a connection between us and him?"

His cousin looked up at him, his eyes filled with sorrow and anger. "Adrien people want to use you and manipulate you, as Cat Noir you obtained freedom and happiness." Felix then took out the bee miraculous. "As Hive I experienced the same." Felix paused and turned to face him. "I promise you I'll stand you against anything but believe me when I say your father is a vicious man and if you knew the truth right now you'd experience anguish like never before."

Felix paused and took a deep breath. "If you want to be Paris's hero then for the city's sake I suggest you prepare for what will come." His cousin's gaze hardened. "I won't let this charade around you continue."

"Charade? What are you saying?" He asked. His body shaking, something inside of him was telling him to listen to his cousin's words. Felix would never lie and now he didn't know if he could feel safe in his own home. Hawkmoth has a relationship with my father? It was crazy and sounded crazier yet there a small bit of him that told him to listen and be safe.

Felix shook his head. "It's all an act. What your father and Nathalie really do isn't what you think." Taking a deep breath his cousin looked him in the eyes. "I promise it'll come to an end soon, me and Kagami will do all we can to protect you."

He sighed. "She's involved too."

"She's trustworthy," Felix said. "Her mom on the other hand I have my doubts."

"Fine. Just promise me though that you'll be safe too," He said softly. "You've always been good to me, I don't want to lose you."

Felix gave him a weak smile. "Don't worry I won't die easily. I promise everything will be revealed soon, just prepare yourself mentally for what will happen."

"I will," he said firmly.

The rest of the day he couldn't get his cousin's words out of his head. My family has a connection with Hawkmoth. The mere idea of it made his stomach turn. Oh god.

His heart raced as he rested on a rooftop as Cat Noir. Could I do it though? Fight against my father if he is working with him?

Looking over the ledge he saw crowds of people going about their daily lives. Hawkmoth took a lot of things from this city and hurt many people. He cleaned his watery eyes. "Father I really hope you have nothing to do with this," he said softly.

I am one of Paris' heroes now. If someone is causing trouble I can't stand by just because they are family. His stomach turned at the thought of fighting his father. Could I tell him the truth? He shook his head and laughed. No Cat Noir is my secret and I won't have my freedom taken away.

This city is my home and I'll protect it. He looked over and saw a billboard with his face plastered on it. Even if that means father is involved with Hawkmoth. He thought of the possibility of reasoning with him if they ended up fighting but his father always did what he wanted.

"Cat Noir is everything ok?"

He sat up and saw Ladybug a few feet from him. "Oh just thinking," he said as he cleaned his eyes.

Ladybug raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you're ok?"

He sighed and looked at the Eiffel Tower in the distance. "I'm not sure to be honest. So many personal things that I hoped to keep out of my superhero life are slowly creeping in."

"I see," Ladybug said. She looked down and avoided his gaze. "Well if its any consolation I'm glad to have you as a partner, I always did."

"As did I," he said softly.

"I know we had our differences and I was wrong to keep things from you but I really think you are a good hero," Ladybug said.

He smiled at her. "Thank you Ladybug that means a lot to me. Sorry for pushing your boundaries, when we work together I'll be more mindful of them."

Ladybug nodded. "If you need anything let me know ok?" She met his gaze. "If you need my help let me know and I'll be right there." She shifted her posture. "I know we've had our difficulties. I know I haven't always treated you as well as I should but I just wanted to say you mean everything to me."

He was taken aback by the emotion in her voice. "Ladybug?"

Ladybug sighed. "I'm sorry for everything. I should've been more open with you instead of hiding secrets. You deserved better."

A small smile spread across his face. "Thank you."

Ladybug avoided his gaze. "I don't know anything about your civilian life but I hope you're ok and safe."

"I do too," he said softly. "Frankly I'm reconsidering a lot of things in my life. A person close to me might not be all who I thought they were." He shook his head. "Anyway if you need me or Hive we'll be there for you."

"Of course," he said as he gripped his baton in his hand. Father I really hope whatever connection with Hawkmoth isn't strong. Please don't make me fight you or choose between the city and you.