#atompp

[celestiall0tus]

Tales of Bloody Bug and Chat Noir - Chapter 16 - Respects

Beginning || Previous || Next

            Alix knocked on the door to Wang Fu’s room. She waited a moment before she entered to find him with a client.

            “I’m sorry, is this a bad time?” Alix asked.

            “No. We were just finishing. Uh, see you next week.”

            The client protested, but Wang Fu shoved him out of the room.

            “What brings you here? Is there an Akuma?”

            Alix shook her head as she held out the tiger miraculous.

            “What’s this? What happened? Why are you returning this already?”

            “Because the girl I entrusted it to betrayed me.”

            “Oh dear. What happened?”

            “It’s long and stupid, but the short of it is that I was helping a friend. I took a picture with him and his cousin and shared it with the girls. Well, turns out that girl got really jealous and manipulated her friends into siding with her and not see reason.”

            Wang Fu grimaced. “That’s not good. I see the reason for the decision.”

            “Was it the wrong one? Having taken a moment to just see the situation, I do recognize she was fooled by Felix, the friend’s cousin, but that doesn’t justify her reaction, right?”

            “That can be a difficult one. Even knowing the circumstances, the ends don’t justify the means. She may have been tricked by a person, but her actions are ultimately her own. I think that alone speaks volumes, don’t you?”

            “Well, yeah! But I… I hoped better, I guess. She was the first of them to welcome me into their group. She’s the one that took a chance on me, but then she does this. It just… it felt like she didn’t really care, nor did she know�� me. All she saw was her jealousy and obsession. I just… I couldn’t.”

            “It’s ok, Alix. These things tend to happen. I’m just glad you stopped it and got Roarr back before it got too out of hand.”

            “Right. Well, here’s Roarr back. And… you and Chat Noir can choose my pick for the team.”

            “Alix?”

            “I’m sorry. I just… I don’t want to take that risk right now. I don’t want to be disappointed like this anytime soon.”

            Wang Fu stoked his beard in thought. He glanced at the gramophone and smiled. He pulled up a low table, took the miracle box out, and placed it down.

            “I have an idea. The first step of trust is offering it to others. We’ll start with this exercise. You’ve proven yourself a hero and able friend to your partner. You’ve made the hard decisions that not everyone could. You’ve made yourself into a leader by taking charge and doing what is right, but also necessary. Seeing you for who you are, I’m offering my trust in you.”

            “How?”

            “You’ve taken the miracle elixir and have been attuned to the kwamis, making unification possible. I think it only fair to allow you a second miraculous to unify with in future battles. And when you are ready, you may pass it along to someone else you offer your trust in, just as I am with you. Trust me and Tikki. We’ll help you down whatever roads lie ahead.”

            Tikki squeaked as she emerged from under Alix’s cap. “This is exciting. Can we take any others, Master?”

            “You may but pick one that will help Alix. Remember the goal.”

            Tikki nodded and looked over the miraculous. Alix looked at them and considered.

            “Wang Fu, I… I have a request. If you’ll indulge it,” Alix said.

            “I’m listening.”

            “May I… may I take just a kwami. Not a miraculous, but a kwami.”

            “That is highly dangerous. For what reason?”

            “See, I… Tikki was seen by a classmate. That boy I brought here. I lied and told him it was a prototype companion to help me or whatever. Point is, he was enamored by Tikki, and I saw a spark of light in his eyes. He asked if I could make one for him. I didn’t answer because Reflekta showed up, but could I get a kwami for him?”

            Wang Fu considered. “Very well, but I ask you hold onto the miraculous then. Will do you that?”

            “Yes.”

            “Alright. Tikki, make your pick for Alix, then, Alix, make your pick for the boy.”

            Alix and Tikki nodded. Tikki looked through each of the miraculous before she took out a nose ring.

            “Ah, wise choice. That belongs to the kwami of determination. Alone, it’ll grant your invulnerability to other miraculous powers. With Tikki, it grants the ability to arm you and your companions in immunity armor,” Wang Fu explained.

            “Woah. That’s really handy actually,” Alix admitted.

            Tikki beamed and bowed.

            “Now, Alix, your turn.”

            Alix looked down at the selection. There were a healthy variety of options, but her eyes caught on the pocket watch. She could hide that easily enough with her family heirloom. She reached out and took it as Wang Fu tensed up.

            “Is everything ok with this one?” Alix asked.

            “It’s fine but be very careful. All these miraculous are dangerous in the wrong hands, but that one in particular is. It could unravel time itself.”

            Alix’s eyes widened as she nodded. “Understood. I’ll keep it with me at all times.”

            “Thank you. I rest easy knowing I can trust you with it.”

            Alix smiled. She slipped the watch into her pocket and clipped the nose ring in. Orbs shot out and circled her before they morphed into an ox kwami and a rabbit kwami.

            “Hey yo, I’m Stompp, kwami of determination.”

            “And I’m Fluff, kwami of evolution.”

            “Hey, you two. Name’s Alix.”

            “Oh, Alix, are we to be your kwamis? Stompp and I?” Fluff asked.

            “Not quite. Stompp will be with me and Tikki. Fluff, you’ll be with… an acquaintance of mine, but I’ll be holding onto your miraculous.”

            “Oh. So, does this mean you’ll be unifying with me too?”

            Alix looked at Wang Fu.

            “She may. With Tikki and Fluff, you’ll gain the power to create objects and inventions throughout time, but more so borrowing them from another time,” Wang Fu explained.

            “And if I were to use all three together?” Alix asked.

            Wang Fu hesitated. “With all three you gain the power to create a space that protects those within while you either fast forward, rewind, or pause time outside of it.”

            Alix’s eyes widened. “I… I see what you meant by time unraveling if Fluff is used.”

            “Oh, it’s not that bad. It’s not like when entire timelines are snuffed out by-,” Fluff started.

            Wang Fu, Stompp, and Tikki hushed Fluff.

            “By what?” Alix asked.

            “A very powerful and dangerous kwami that is the result of Tikki and Plagg unifying. It is something you must prevent at all costs.”

            “What if Chat Noir or I unified them?”

            A long silence. “If you do, be very, very, very careful. Fluff may be able to distort time, but nothing is compared to Tikki and Plagg when unified. With them, a wish is granted, but everything is usually rewritten to obtain that wish.”

            “Or erased from existence to create something new,” Tikki whispered with a forlorn look.

            “Tikki?” Alix asked.

            “Oh, it’s nothing. Just… remembering all that has been lost. Such is the burden Plagg and I shoulder. Though it doesn’t bother him as much as me. It never will.”

            “Do you want to talk about it?” Alix asked.

            “Maybe another day. For now, it’s something I don’t want you to worry about. Ok?”

            Alix nodded. “Anything else for now?”

            “I think that’s all, yes? Considering the day.

            “Right. I’ll see you later then. I’m going to meet back up with my family.”

~~

            Adrien and Felix returned to the Agreste mansion and were escorted to Adrien’s room. They had been scolded by Gabriel before Amelie interrupted to scold Gabriel. The pair of parents were escorted away by Nathalie while Gorilla escorted the boys back to Adrien’s room. They waited a few minutes before Adrien spoke.

            “Felix, why did you do that? Why did you send a mean message to my friends?”

            “What does it matter anymore? It’s done and over with. Just move on.”

            “Felix, seriously. They are my friends, and I don’t want them to think I’m just some jerk. I’m genuinely trying to make connections for the first time in my life.”

            “And what about me? We’re supposed to be thick as thieves, closer than with any random nobody on the streets. We’re family, but also more than that. So much more.”

            “I don’t know what more you’re talking about, but we are family, and nothing will change that. I’ll always be here for you, just like you’ll always be there for me, right?”

            “Even with that Alix girl and Bloody Bug?”

            Adrien hesitated. “I mean, Alix is just a girl I know that doesn’t like to follow the rules. As for Bloody Bug, she’s one of the heroes, not my friend. I’m not sure why you’d-.”

            “Adrien, I know you’re Chat Noir.”

            “What? How?”

            “A lot of things. The first was this gut feeling. Like there was this feeling in the very pits of my being that told me you were Chat Noir. There was also how you spoke, moved, everything was, well, you.”

            “Oh. I see. Well, yes, I am Chat Noir. You’re not going to tell anyone, are you?”

            “No. At least, I do have something to ask of you. Something very important.”

            “Yeah, absolutely. Just name it and I’ll see it done, so long as it’s within my capabilities.”

            Felix took a deep breath as he looked at his ring. “I’m looking for something that Father once had in his possession. I heard him muttering about it from time to time about a magical peacock brooch. I didn’t put much stock into it at first, but the more I heard his muttering, the more I became interested. I may be on a wild goose chase, but I just know it’s important.”

            Adrien considered. He looked around his room before he checked his garbage can to find Plagg eating cheese in there. “Plagg, do you know anything about a peacock brooch?”

            Plagg blinked, consumed the cheese, then flew up. “Ah, well, you see here, the butterfly and peacock miraculous are both missing. I’m sure that’s what Felix is talking about, but we don’t know where they are. Even if we did, he’d have to go through the Guardian to get the peacock anyway.”

            “Not unless we get to it first. Any idea where we can start looking?” Adrien asked.

            “Nope. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

            Adrien watched Plagg disappear up to the second level of his room. Adrien sighed and shrugged.

            “Would you really help me find this?”

            “Of course! You’ll surely need help and I know a pair of paw-some heroes that’ll surely help you.”

            Felix deadpanned. “If you make another cat pun, I will punch you.”

            Adrien chuckled nervously. “Right, sorry. Anyway, yeah, we’ll help you. Maybe if we do, you can use it and we can be superheroes together. Wouldn’t that be awesome?”

            Felix forced a smile. “Yeah. It sure would, but we need to find it first.”

            “Oh, right. I’ll be sure to mention it to Bloody Bug next time I see her. Oh! And tonight, we’ll be meeting back up with Alix.”

            Felix perked up. “We will? Where are we going this time?”

            “You’ll see. I’d hate to ruin the surprise, but we’ll be meeting her around seven.”

            Felix smiled, then looked away. “Hey, Adrien, about those messages your friends sent you, they were all best wishes for today and… and them saying they understand your pain and want you to be happy.”

            “Oh. I see. And what did you say to them exactly?”

            “I told them that ‘Father’ was right about going to school and meeting people was a waste of time. I may have added they couldn’t possibly begin to understand my pain and they were all fools.”

            Adrien sighed. “That… that may have been pushing it a bit far.”

            “Are you mad at me?”

            Adrien considered. “No. I feel like maybe I should be, but I’m not. I’m more so sad that they think so little of me that they’d immediately jump to thinking I’d say those things in the first place. Granted I’ve only known them a couple of months. Unlike with Alix. They’ve known her longer. Maybe not friends, but they knew of her.”

            “Alix feels different.”

            “That’s because she’s like us.”

            Felix’s eyes widened. “She is? How?”

            “Well, she lost her mother too. Someone she loved very much. Just like us, she knows what it’s like to have lost someone like our parents.”

            “How long ago?”

            “I’m not sure. Alix never gave a direct answer. More so she doesn’t really remember. Like that perception of her time has been warped. Y’know?”

            Felix hummed and looked away.

            “Felix? Everything ok?”

            “Yeah. There’s just one thing I almost forgot. There was a pig-tailed girl that said that she loved you and would always be there for you. Is she your girlfriend?”

            Adrien grimaced. “I wouldn’t call her that. She’s more… obsessed with me, but not me, y’know?”

            “You mean the model you?”

            “I think so. I knew about her crush on me for a while now, but just didn’t address it. Well, not directly. I had encouraged her to try to confess to me for whatever reason, but I guess she never did until then. Anyway, it was her that had manipulated the girls into thinking Alix made me make that mean message and wanted to keep me all to herself. It just seems… I dunno. Wrong, maybe?”

            “What are you going to do about it?”

            “I don’t even know. What can I do? Should I just tell her I’m not interested? And if I do, will she just think I’m being manipulated by you or Alix? Would she be turned into a monster again because of it? Or should I just ignore her and her possible advances and just hope she gets the message? What do I do?”

            “Good question. I’m not sure though. However, good luck all the same.”

            “Would you like her?”

            Felix laughed, then deadpanned. “No. Keep that crazy far away from me.”

            “So long as you don’t send anymore messages like that to my friends, and I won’t have to sick my crazy fans onto you.”

            Felix shuddered at the thought. “I won’t. You have my word.”

            “Well, let’s see you put those words to action. Actions speak louder than words.”

            “Bloody Bug tell you that?”

            “Yeah. She’s told me a lot of things that’s helped a little. There’s a lot of things that are still a slight mystery to me, but I still appreciate them. She really is my best friend.”

            “Do you think you’d be ok sharing her.”

            “What? Of course. Just don’t try to steal her away.”

            “And if I do?”

            Adrien frowned and glared at Felix. Felix smiled smugly, then laughed.

            “I won’t, Adrien. I just wanted to see you angry. It’s a refreshing change to all the smiles you’re forced to wear.”

            Adrien blinked, then laughed. “Yeah, I suppose it is. Thank you, Felix.”

            “What for?”

            Adrien hugged Felix. “Everything.”

            Felix gasped, then returned the hug. “Always, Adrien. It’s what family if for, yeah?”

            “Yeah. C’mon, let’s play some chess. You owe me a match.”

            “Bring it on, but be warned, I won’t go easy on you.”

            “Challenge accepted. Let’s go.”

~~

            The sun had long set on the horizon and gave way to nightfall. Alix stood in the graveyard surrounded by countless other families honoring their dearly departed. She kept her bundle together as Alim and Jalil made their offerings and prayers to her mother.

            “Hey, Alix!” Adrien called.

            Alix turned as Adrien and Felix joined her. “You guys made it. Snuck out the way I showed ya?”

            “Er… something like that. How’re you doing since earlier?” Adrien asked.

            “I’m still hurt. I knew Alya didn’t like me much and would turn on me, I just didn’t expect Marinette to. She was the one that first accepted me into their group, and she was the one to betray me first. I mean, who’s next? Ivan? Nathaniel? Juleka? Rose?”

            “Would it make you feel better knowing it’s more or less my fault for instigating it?” Felix asked.

            “No. You may have sent that message, but everything else after that was her decision, her own actions. I mean, you didn’t tell her to manipulate and lie to her friends to get them to side with her, did you?” Alix asked.

            “No.”

            “Then you have no reason to apologize. Anyway, that’s not important right now. Who are you two here to honor?”

            “Oh, actually, we thought we could honor our parents with you. Father won’t be mourning her, and I want to, so I brought a photo of her to place at your mom’s grave, if that’s ok,” Adrien said.

            “And Mom is busy arguing with his dad over everything, so I brought a photo of my father to-,” Felix added.

            “To burn. We’re burning that asshole’s photo,” Alix interrupted.

            “But-!”

            “Alright, Alix, your turn, just as you asked,” Alim said.

            Alix nodded. She approached the grave with Adrien and Felix. She placed her offerings around the tombstone while Adrien put a framed photo of his mother against the stone. Felix took out his photo and Alix snatched it away. They exchanged nasty glares before Alix sighed and looked up.

            “Everything has been changing. I thought this year would be like every other, but in a few short months, everything has changed. Mom, I hope you can see me. I’ve changed so much, and I wonder every day what you’d think of it. What you’d think of me. I hope you are still proud of everything I’ve done and what I’ll do in the future. After all, there’s no turning back to what I’ve become. Not until my heart and breath are stolen from my chest.”

            Adrien bowed his head. “Mom, everything changed when you left Father and I. The warm home you made fell into disrepair and isolating loneliness. But I’m not alone anymore. I have Felix again in my life. I have friends, like Alix here. Father hasn’t let go yet, but that’s ok. Even if he never lets you go, I’ll continue on in your memory. Like he said, you’ll never be gone so long as you’re in our hearts, and I’ll carry you in my heart every day until we meet again in the afterlife.”

            Felix huffed and looked away. “You two will make me sick.”

            “Got nothing to say?” Alix asked.

            Felix tsked but remained silent.

            Alix snorted and grabbed Emilie’s picture. “Good. Mom, I don’t really know if you’re here, but I’m starting to believe you are. Not that I’ll admit to Jalil’s ideas with him around but do me a solid in whatever afterlife there is. If you find this woman, please, keep her company so she’s not alone. And if you see this man, kick him in his ghost balls and send him to the void.”

            Alix placed Emilie’s picture down and burned Felix’s father’s picture. They watched the photo shrivel up in the tiny blaze. An eerie wind blew around them that made the candles flicker. Alix smiled and stood.

            “Thank you both for joining us. It… means a lot.”

            “Of course. And thank you for letting us join. It felt good doing this,” Adrien said.

            Felix nodded.

            “I’ll see you guys later, right?”

            “You know you’ll see me later. And Felix will keep in touch, right?”

            “That would be ideal,” Felix muttered.

            “I would hope. Now, hand over your phone, bitch boy.”

            Felix grumbled but handed over his phone. Adrien watched Alix put her number in Felix’s phone when he noticed a black, studded nose piercing she didn’t have before.

            “Hey, Alix, I didn’t know you had your nose pierced,” Adrien remarked.

            “Huh? Oh, yeah. Had it done over the summer but can’t usually find too many piercings that I like. This one is a blessing to have.”

            Adrien hummed and nodded while he took out his phone. He messaged Alix and asked if it was a miraculous jewel. Alix pulled out her phone when it buzzed. She snorted and responded that it was, and she’d explain later when Felix was gone.

            “Are you ready to go, Alix?” Jalil whined.

            “You can wait a minute, Jalil!”

            “I’m cold! Can you please hurry it up?”

            Alix groaned. “Fine. Alright, I’ll see you later, Adrien. Felix, keep in touch.”

            Adrien and Felix waved Alix off before they headed back to the Agreste mansion.

Patreon || Discord || DeviantArt || Ao3