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Beau and the Beetle	By : Cat_Eyes Category: +M through R > Miraculous LadyBug Views: 3721 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Miraculous Ladybug. Miraculous Ladybug is the intellectual property of Thomas Astruc and released by Zag studios. No profit was made writing this story.

Chapter List
- 1-Prologue: Alya
- 2-Adrien
- 3-Felix
- 4-Bridgette
- 5-Adrien
- 6-Sabine
- 7-Bridgette
- 8-Alya
- 9-Adrien
- 10-Felix
- 11-Sabine
- 12-Bridgette
- 13-Alya
- 14-Felix
- 15-Adrien
- 16-Alya
- 17-Felix
- 18-Bridgette
- 19-Adrien
- 20-Sabine
- 21-Felix
- 22-Alya
- 23-Bridgette
- 24-Adrien
- 25-Sabine
- 26-Adrien
- 27-Felix
- 28-Alya
- 29-Bridgette
- 30-Adrien
- 31-Sabine
- 32-Bridgette
- 33-Felix
- 34-Alya
- 35-Adrien
- 36-Felix
- 37-Sabine
- 38-Bridgette
- 39-Adrien
- 40-Felix
- 41-Adrien
- 42-Felix
- 43-Adrien
- 44-Adrien
- 45-Adrien
- 46-Epilogue
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Agitated and anxious, Felix paced his room. He’d just come back from the hospital with Gabriel after seeing Adrien, and he didn’t know how he was supposed to feel. Felix had been so sure of himself, so adamant he’d made the right decision, but after seeing Adrien in that hospital bed, withered by starvation and dehydration, he was no longer so certain.
Memories of Emilie’s last few months bubbled to the surface, when she’d looked so sickly and pale as she lay abed, pretending she was only a “little off.” She’d lost weight, and heavy shadows had hung below her eyes. Adrien looked much the same.
Felix ran a hand through his hair. He had everything he wanted, primarily, his role as Gabriel’s successor. His place had been assured, and Gabriel was not a fickle man.
However, something still twisted Felix’s guts into knots, a heaviness sat on his chest which reminded him of his mother.
Guilt, his mind whispered. You did that to him. You put your own brother in the hospital.
Felix shook his head adamantly. ‘No, I’m stronger than that. I don’t feel things. I’m cold, like stone.’
Lies, his innermost thoughts hissed. You just want people to think that so you never make meaningful connections.
‘That’s just stupid,’ he snarled, aloud.
You don’t want to be hurt again, like when Mother died.
He clamped his hands on either side of his head, and gritted his teeth in an attempt to stop the insufferable voice.
You can’t deny the truth.
He shrieked in frustration, willing the voice into silence. He was positive he’d done what he had to, to ensure his future. Felix didn’t want his years of hard work to amount to nothing, thwarted by his inadequate sibling.
He had been so confident, at first.
In the days following Adrien’s disappearance, Felix’s conviction had dwindled as he watched Gabriel drift about, caught in his own memories. His father’s appetite had dropped, leaving his eyes sunken and hollow. It was all too reminiscent of the days preceding Emilie’s passing.
Felix had to constantly talk himself up, assure himself it was all for the best, that it was what he had to do.
But his personal pep talks only lasted for so long. His conviction dropped a little more each day, with each sighting of Gabriel’s haunted features, and his own callous visage reflected in the mirror.
Then, Adrien had been found, staggering out of a Metro tunnel filthy and bedraggled, but alive by the station hands. They had taken him to the hospital, fearing he was a runaway abuse victim.
Once the confusion was cleared up, Gabriel had been called. He ran from his office, barking orders to get the car ready, and to fetch Felix immediately. Nathalie almost ran into him on the stairs, her normally impassive face lit with emotion. She’d hustled Felix into the car with a barely coherent explanation.
The immediate easing in his chest was ruthlessly quashed when Felix felt his position could be threatened. He held on to that resentment all the way to Adrien’s bedside. But, upon seeing his brother for the first time, all feelings suddenly fled. Before him lay a shadow of his brother, a thin, pale facsimile who had no right to call himself an Agreste. Yet, when he smiled, a familiar light returned to his eyes.
‘Hey, Felix. How’re you doing?’ he’d asked, his lips tilting in a weak smile.
It was in that moment when Felix realised that Adrien hadn’t figured him out. Adrien simply continued to smile, blissfully ignorant, as Gabriel held his hand and tried not to cry.
Felix felt his chest tighten uncomfortably, gave them a curt nod, and left to wait just beyond the door. He told himself, and anyone who asked, that he was only giving his father and brother a moment together. He ignored the burning in his gut.
Now, Adrien was scheduled to come home to finish recuperating there. His condition was deemed non-critical, and was realised soon after he’d had some food, water, and rest.
Felix continued to pace. Once Adrien regained full use of his faculties, he was sure to realise who had abandoned him in the old mines.
You deserve punishment, his thoughts told him. You should be afraid.
‘I'm not afraid,’ he snarled.
Lies.
There was a knock on his door.
‘Felix, Adrien would like to see you,’ Nathalie announced through the wood.
Felix marched to the bathroom to fix his appearance in the mirror. ‘I’m not afraid, and I don’t feel guilty,’ he told his reflection.
Nodding once in satisfaction, he spun on his heel and left the room. Nathalie was nowhere in sight when he emerged, so Felix trekked to Adrien’s room alone. He hesitated at the door, then forced himself to knock.
‘Come in,’ Adrien called, his voice reedy.
Adrien’s bedroom was just as juvenile, and as filled with mindless entertainments, as Felix remembered. Trophies and banners decorated the empty spaces between amusements, testament to his many interests and accomplishments. Felix feigned idle interest while he delayed looking directly at Adrien. His brother waited patiently, simply watching Felix’s progress.
Finally, Felix reached his bedside. Adrien still looked thin and tired, but some colour had returned to his cheeks.
‘How are you feeling?’ Felix asked, blandly.
Adrien shrugged. ‘Better. It was nice to be able to shower in my own bathroom again.’
Felix almost smiled. ‘I imagine. You haven’t missed a bath since you were eight.’
Adrien gave a rueful laugh. ‘When you realise that bad smell is coming from you, it makes an impact. But how about you, are you ok?’
Nodding, Felix cleared his throat. ‘As well as can be expected.’
‘Father told me you were announced as his successor.’
Felix nearly choked on his saliva. He didn’t think Adrien would want to discuss business again so soon after coming home. But since he was, it was possible he had realised who had dumped him in the mines.
‘Yes, he did,’ Felix replied, reminding himself to not jump to conclusions or react in such a way that would reveal his part in Adrien’s disappearance.
But Adrien merely nodded. ‘Good. That’s all you’ve been working toward these last few years. I’m glad your hard work has paid off.’
Felix was equal parts confused and relieved. He was glad Adrien hadn’t seemed to have figured him out, but the question was why. He had all the pieces, he just needed to put the puzzle together.
‘I should let you rest,’ Felix said, before Adrien could say any more. ‘I believe you’ll be returning to school soon.’
Adrien grinned. ‘Yeah, you’re right. I can’t wait to see everyone again.’
Felix paused at the corner by the foot of Adrien’s bed, one hand gripping the wall. ‘Welcome home, Little Brother.’
With that, he slipped from the room before Adrien could reply. He berated himself for being sentimental, then rationalised it by thinking that showing relief at Adrien’s safe return would remove him from the suspect list.
He retreated to the library, where he pulled out a particularly large volume, and placed it on the desk. He opened the creaking cover, but couldn’t focus on the words. His shoulders were tense, and his belly squirmed. He was anxious about what Adrien might say to Gabriel, and how that would affect his place in the company. If he were lucky, Adrien really didn’t suspect him, and wilfully denied all the evidence pointing toward him.
However, while Adrien might be willing to let this slide, Gabriel never would. Now that Adrien was home, there was nothing to stop their father from delving into the investigation and ruining the culprit’s life.
Felix gulped, wondering if he’d not only dug his own grave, but Gorilla’s as well. Gorilla had been against the plan from the outset, but he still had to follow orders. He felt no loyalty toward Felix, and would reveal him as the mastermind easily, if it meant securing some leniency for himself.
Drawing in a deep breath, Felix attempted to calm his spiralling thoughts. Detectives had been around since the beginning, and no one had realised it was him yet. He was panicking for nothing, but just to be sure, he would dispose of Adrien’s belongings still hidden in the secret compartment behind his shelves.
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Beau and the Beetle