Chapter 46: Felix(Gabriel's POV)
Gabriel stares at the door, waiting for his guest to arrive at any moment. Lila still hasn't made good on her promise yet, though she promises that tomorrow her plan will come true. And that Keith will finally be out of Adrien's life for good.
He smiles, Adrien will soon understand, that everything is for his good. That the only thing that matters is their family and it being together. A perfect family, never broken up because of life misfortunes.
Natalie opens the door, she looks a little paler, with using the Peacock Miraculous and he realizes he vowed not to use it. But it's been a year already since his beloved died and he's getting desperate. And now he's lost Adrien as well. Getting the Miraculous super important.
But seeing Emile's twin sister, Amelie breaks him out of his thoughts. And he sees Felix, her son who looks exactly like Adrien, except his hair is slicked down, and he wears a suit, something Adrien has never worn unless it's for photoshoots and formal events.
"Gabriel, I heard the terrible news. Losing custody of Adrien, why I wonder why the media hasn't been pounding outside your house to know the juicy details. But no matter, I came to make sure you are alright. Losing your wife and now your son must be horrible."
"Yes it is," he says through clenched teeth. If he hadn't paid off the media, news about it would have spread like wildfire, killing his reputation and tarnishing his fashion company.
Luckily only a few know and his lie about why Lila was his new muse is perfect. Adrien was just feeling too stressed and wanted a break. Perfect cover, for now. The truth will come to light eventually, and he needs to ensure Chat Noirs and the rest of the Miraculous are his so when Ladybug returns he can overpower her and make his wish.
"Well I thought you might want to let loose your frustration by talking about it with me, while Felix entertains himself….." She trails off, looking for permission.
In his mind, no I don't want to talk about it, especially not to you, but instead, straining, "Sure."
"Really? You've always been such a grouch, honestly I have no idea what my twin saw in you. But since you're okay with it…. Felix sweetie, me and your uncle will be….."
"I know mom."
Amelie kisses his forehead, "Thank you for understanding."
Gabriel nearly gags at the gesture, but manages to hide it.
Felix's POV
Felix narrows his eyes at his uncle, he notices the disgust in his eyes at his mom's affectionate gesture. And he had noticed the slight fury and disgust of wanting to talk about Adrien. Which made Felix wonder, how did Uncle lose custody over his cousin? And his mother brought up an interesting point on why the media weren't all over the news.
Plenty of reporters have jumped at opportunities where celebrities have been their worse selves, making quite good money from it. But this time, it was swept under the rug completely.
He had only known of it because his mother had somehow found out on their way to try and get the family rings back.
This was his opportunity to snoop around and see if he could find them.
They do hold his and Adrien's amok's in them. And the thought of Gabriel controlling either one of them made him shudder. Though Adrien had managed to escape, for now, through some miracle.
Walking down the halls, it felt colder without Aunt Emile, and his cousin by his side. Their warm affectionate smiles seemed to brighten the dreary manor. Now it felt like a cold empty husk. No longer a home. For anyone.
His first thought is that the rings would be in Gabriel's room, or at least Emile's. As he had noticed that Gabriel had his ring on him. Felix sighed he knew it wouldn't be easy to get the rings. But dammit. He can't stand the thought of him and Adrien being ordered to do things they simply don't want to.
He was lucky his family, while rich, wasn't involved in so many rich people's things and that he could be a free person as long as he behaved and acted politely.
"And just what are you doing Felix?"
Felix snapped his head around and jumped at the voice. Realizing it was just Natalie, he breathed a sigh of relief.
"I was just looking for Adrien's room. To see if I could entertain myself while my mother and Uncle talked."
"Right." Natalie says, unconvinced.
"Look, I doubt your mother came here to give condolences to Gabriel and just have you hang around the mansion with nothing to do."
"But….."
"Given what Gabriel did, I'm sure of it. If your mother heard it means she found out when Social Services was considering her to take Adrien and Keith in. I was surprised when she was giving condolences instead of ratting him out for the bastard he is."
"Then why stay?" Felix asks, curiosity gripping him.
"Because I vowed to help him with something a long time ago and I let my… affection for him cloud my judgement of the man he really is. And if I try to help him then maybe this insanity can end." Clears throat, "But no matter. I can't have you roaming the halls unsupervised…."
Curses. He needs those rings, to free himself and Adrien, but with Natalie in the way, well. It will be a lot more difficult. Perhaps he should shake Gabriel's hand and use sleight of hand to take the ring he has and try to get the other one at another date.
Later:
"Goodbye Uncle, it was a pleasure."
Felix extends his hand for a handshake, and he sees Uncle hesitate. He waits with bated breath, and releases it when Gabriel extends his own hand. Using sleight of hand he takes the ring and smiles inwardly when Gabriel quickly withdraws his hand, not noticing his ring is missing and putting it behind his back. One step closer. To his and Adrien's freedom.
Just need to find the other ring.
"As was for me. Enjoy your trip back to England."
Felix smiles and slips the ring in his pants pocket and exits with his mother. His uncle none the wiser.
Gabriel's POV
Staring at Emile's coffin, he brushes the glass.
"Soon, soon my dear, our family will be together again. Lila has just informed me that her plan has been set in motion. That delinquent will soon be out of our life."
He brushes the glass again, but then one notices something. His ring, the one Emile gave him on their wedding day. It's gone. But how? Felix, he growls. So he knows. Well soon it won't matter anyway. With Keith's destruction impending tomorrow victory will never be closer.
And then his wish will be one step closer to being made. And Adrien, Emile, we will be a perfect family again, no matter what the cost, as he slips the ring that was on Emile's wedding finger to his.
Felix's POV
He stares at the ring. A smile donning his lips. Uncle will never be able to control us again. Never have power over us. But then there's the matter of the other ring. But with Adrien being out of Gabriel's custody it doesn't matter as much when he gets it, as long as he gets it.
"Felix, you got it? One of the twin Graham de Vanily rings?"
"Yes mother,"
"Keep it mon cheri. You deserve to be in control of your own fate. Just like any other child."
He hugs his mom sideways, due to the train seats. "Thanks, mom."
"You're welcome mon cheri."
Author's Note: This chapter was to purely introduce Felix and his motivations and intentions. And yes I am keeping with Adrien is a sentimonster along with Felix as that is what the show has been going for and I'm pretty sure it was revealed in a new season five episode that it is true and that Kagami is one of them. Also to reinforce Gabriel as how I see him as, a man wanting to have a perfect family no matter the cost because he feels he is entitled to it. That he deserves it. It's why he doesn't seem to care for Adrien but does at the same time. And that he believes all the pain is worth it cause eventually their family will be together again and his road to get there will be forgotten anyway(but spoiler he is defeated before that even happens making all that pain worthless because he doesn't get what he wants in the end).