My Crush's Evil Cousin (A Miraculous Ladybug Fanfic)

Deal with an Angel

"Farewell," Gabriel Agreste said, his hands clasped behind his back as he stood at the top of the stairs in the Agreste mansion. "I'm sure we'll see you soon."

"Quite," Felix's mother said, smiling generously, although Felix could see the strain behind that smile, the quiet hatred she harbored for the man begging to be released. Felix squared his shoulders and stared impassively at the painting behind Gabriel, itching to leave already.

"You'll call me, won't you, Felix?" Adrien asked from where he stood next to his father. He stood perfectly still, but his face betrayed how anxious he was.

Felix stared at him for a long moment before saying, "I wouldn't count on it." His voice was flat, and he half turned around to pick up one of their bags.

"Felix!" his mother gasped. "You should be nicer to your cousin." Felix raised his eyes to meet hers, shocked that she was reprimanding him. Although he supposed he shouldn't be surprised. Everyone loved Adrien so much, it was only natural his mother felt the same.

"No, it's okay." Adrien's voice sounded like it was getting closer, and Felix turned to see him opening his arms for an embrace. "I'll miss you, Felix."

Felix's eyes widened, and his brain short circuited as his cousin hugged him tight. He stood still, unsure of what to do with his arms. He knew he shouldn't hug the boy back, in fact, he should push him away, but the warm contact made his eyes water.

I want to stay, a small voice in his head said, but Felix smothered it as fast as he could. He couldn't stay, he couldn't be happy. He didn't deserve it.

Adrien finally stepped back, and Felix adjusted his grip on the bag, walking out the door without so much as another word. His mother followed close behind, and they rode in the family limo to the train station, completely silent. Felix knew his mother was dying to talk to him, but he didn't feel the urge to explain himself, not yet. So instead he stared out the window at the beautiful city of Paris, trying to drink it all in one more time before he would leave and never come back.

They arrived at the train station, and Felix handed off their bags to their servants, who rushed to place them in the train. Just as he planned, they got here shortly before the train departed, almost ensuring they wouldn't run into anyone he knew before they left. Felix didn't think anyone would come after him to try and stop him, but he didn't want to find out.

His mother walked into the train, and Felix hesitated for a moment, staring at the blue skies of Paris. I'll miss this place, he admitted to himself. But it didn't matter, not anymore, if it ever did. Heaving a big sigh, he walked into the shadow of the train station's roof, ready to enter the train and never look back.

Fingers wrapped around his wrist, tugging him back into the light, and he yelped, surprise stopping his heart for a moment. Whipping around, his eyes widened when he saw who had grabbed him.

Marinette stood there, her hand still wrapped around his wrist, her chest heaving, and her cheeks a pretty shade of pink. Her hair was missing from its regular pigtails, and instead it flew free around her head. The sunlight caught the strands, making it seem like she had a halo surrounding her face. She beamed at him, and his heart stopped at how beautiful she was.

They stared at each other for a long moment, and Felix drank in her aura, as pure as the sunshine itself. It had only been a day, but he had already forgotten just how happy her mere presence made him. His arms itched to hold her close and never let go, to kiss her full lips and never need anything else, and his breath turned ragged the more he thought about.

With some effort, he tore his eyes from hers and yanked his wrist from her hand, slamming a heavy wall back around his heart. Taking a deep breath, he molded his face back into his normal impassive mask before looking back at her, crossing his arms over his chest. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice flat.