Chapter Text
If anyone could fend off an akuma, then surely, it had to be Felix.
Or so Adrien had thought. Over the years, his cousin had perfected the art of disobedience — until he had no choice but to choke on commands, until he was nothing but a shell of his old self.
Somehow, Shadowmoth had managed to break him once more. Sparkly fog guided Chat Noir from slippery rooftops to muddy alleys; his target took a sharp turn left, shoulder slamming against the filthiest of bins.
Felix never bumped into anything. Then again, there had been a time when Felix never lied to Adrien.
“Rule number one of the villains’ handbook: never assume you know this city better than its protectors.” Cul-de-sacs never disappointed; even pure genius could not outsmart brick walls. “Let me tell you, I don’t like what you did to Ladybug back there. Only I am allowed to make my partner hit her head against a wall.”
The costume made everything easier. Chat Noir only had to deal with the akuma; not with the twin who had fed his friends horrendous lies, nor with the friend who used to fill their sleepless nights with the most marvellous tales.
Felix spun on his heels, revealing a mask of his own.
“Stay back!” Magenta irises pinned them in place, worlds away from the familiar green. “Unless you want to get trapped in your worst nightmare!”
“Oooh, so that’s what the sparkles are for. Gotcha.” Leaning onto their staff, they feigned nonchalance. “Fitting, I must say. You certainly like messing with people's brains.”
“Suggestion is a powerful thing. I could send you to the edge of the world if I wanted to.” Catharsis wielded the warning like a knife, a clap of thunder. “By now, the whole city has been bathed in my illusion fog. You have no idea what object holds my akuma, or where it is. If you try anything, I’ll snap my fingers!”
“Will you?”
The hand hung between them, immobile still.
“What are you waiting for, uh? I’ve been chasing you all afternoon.” Chat’s gloves were cold against their chin. “It’s not like you to hesitate. Just grab my Miraculous and be done with it.”
“I don’t want your Miraculous.”
Surely, he could not think them that stupid.
“I wouldn’t be able to take it anyway. The conditions aren’t right.” Catharsis scoffed. “Believe me, I’ve thought about it.”
“Is that supposed to sound reassuring?”
“Make of that what you will, as long as you help me.”
Suddenly, the feline pupils caught the droplets of sweat: how they pearled down his neck, how they stuck to his hair and skin. Hidden below the hood, shielded by unprecedented powers, their cousin had never looked more defenceless.
How could they have missed it?
“That’s what I’m here for,” Chat Noir tried, cautiously. “I’m a hero.”
The word unsettled Felix even more.
“You’re going to listen to me.” His teeth were bare, his voice trembling. “If you don’t, I will broadcast my story directly into your brain. See how you like that.”
“Sheesh, no need for extreme measures! We can just… talk.”
In truth, they had not talked in a very, very long time. Not in a way that mattered, at least.
Strange-coloured eyes drifted towards the ring.
“You’re safe, I promise.” Staff retracted, hands tucked behind his back, Adrien risked a step forward. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
Something crossed the gap between them: a hint of surprise, almost recognition.
“I hope this isn’t some sort of ridiculous moral code,” Felix probed, uncurling his fingers at last. “Because I need you to cataclysm someone for me.”