#faybon

[temporalbystander]

Okay, reading some fanfiction has gotten me teary and in the mood to write. So, after the cut, see what I think a conversation between Tom Dupain and Faybon would sound like in regards to Marinette. Guess the inspiration. Hint, I reblogged it earlier.

Tom always considered himself a kind man. Sure he could be as stubborn as his father was and he got emotional whenever his daughter was involved, normally to disastrous results, but he always thought of himself as kind. So it was understandable that he felt like he had to do something regarding the current situation, he just didn't have a clue what it should be.

The day had started off the same as any other with the sole difference being how sick Marinette was. Her friends had all come over after school to cheer her up of course, it made Tom's heart swell to see how many people cared about his little girl, and eventually the large group had split in two. The girls were all in Marinette's bedroom while the boys were playing games in the flat. That is with one noticeable exception. Tom glanced to his side at the boy who was helping him clean as his thoughts drifted back to when they were first introduced.

Tom had been so excited to have one of Paris' superheroes over, especially one who his daughter was in love with, that he had forgotten that Marinette had invited someone else over that day. The large man frowned as he thought about it again. He was sure he would have remembered being told of Marinette having a boy over yet the idea that she would invite him after knowing Chat Noir was coming? Well that didn't make sense to the baker. Still, Faybon had mostly kept to himself during the meal and had seen fit to go after Marinette when she ran to her room crying. There were brief flashes of memory from when he had become WereDad as well, seeing the normal boy standing next to Chat, his jacket torn from the thorns the Akuma had summoned. It showed a loyalty unlike most. But it showed something else too.

"Mr. Dupain?" Tom was brought from his thoughts as the boy spoke up. "May I ask you something?" The teen was hesitant as he began to talk, his hand going to tug at a cord he wore around his neck. There was laughter from the other room that put a smile on both their faces, before it faded from Faybon. Clearly he was worried about something.

"Of course dear boy." Tom responded with all the cheer he could muster. Against superheros and villains the boy was full of courage. Yet the moment it came to talking to an adult? It seemed to fade. Marinette had filled her father in after that day though and, while part of him couldn't quite grasp some of what she said, one part stood out clearly. Faybon was an orphan who had spent the majority of his life overlooked only really coming out of his shell that year. "What's on your mind?"

The teen's hands stopped their movement as he seemed to think of what to say. It wasn't like Tom needed the help but, when the boys and girls seemed to split off without a thought earlier, Faybon had been left standing there, unsure of what to do. So he had promptly been enlisted in clean up duty. Tom couldn't bear to think that the boy could just head home with nobody really taking notice so had wanted to at least make him feel needed for a bit longer.

"Have you ever thought about what life would be like once Monarch is defeated for good?" Tom had been expecting a question regarding Marinette, personally he thought the boy would be a good match for his girl. Patient and caring but able to be firm when needed. Not to mention brave and protective. Yet from the way his daughter spoke about the boy that didn't seem likely.

"I can't really say I have." The man answered the question as he put the last tray away, ready for business tomorrow, before wiping his hands on his apron. "I do believe it will happen." He added at the confused look the teen gave him. "But after having Ladybug and Chat Noir showing up whenever there's trouble? I can't think of Paris without them."

"Me neither."

"What brought this on?" Tom asked when it seemed like Faybon wasn't going to continue.

"it's just..." The boy trailed off as more noises of excitement came from the flat above. His look seemed almost sadder than it did a moment ago but it was gone so quickly that Tom wasn't even sure it was there. "So much has changed this past year that I can't help but wonder what will happen next." Faybon stopped tugging on the cord and instead began to fiddle with the charm bracelet on his wrist. "Not only with the super heroes but in everyday life as well. I mean." He paused before looking back up towards the flat. "Did you ever think that so many people, from so many different walks of life would be under your roof? All for Marinette?"

"I always knew my daughter was special if that's what your asking but I guess that might be my bias as a father." It didn't occur to Tom until after he spoke that it might have been a little insensitive to say something like that but Faybon's chuckles quickly eased whatever worries the baker may have had. "But I will admit, a lot has happened in so short a time that it is kind of hard to keep track of it all. However, I know my little girl can handle it."

"Of course she can. She's our everyday ladybug after all." Faybon chuckled as he said that, it must have been some sort of in joke the kids had. "Without her I probably wouldn't even be here now." There it was again. That look Tom thought he remembered from his time as WereDad. What should have been an innocent statement about opening up became something far more somber.

-------

.

..

...

.... Well I completely and utterly fucked that up! What was supposed to be a nice deep and meaningful conversation completely shifted out of focus. I couldn't even think of an appropriate ending to the stupid thing!

Before anyone tries to cheer me up let me say this. I've been trying my hand at writing for 15 years. So when I say that this is the worst piece of shit I have ever written I say that knowing I wrote a damn crossover for Harry Potter and the chipmunks cartoon when I was 12 that was meant to be a musical. That made sense, that had emotion and pacing. This? This sucked.

So since I can't accurately describe what Tom was supposed to have figured out by the end of that conversation I'll just tell you. Faybon is an extra in a movie, there to make Paris look alive but generally blurry and out screenshot whenever the good stuff is happening. Thanks to Marinette he got pulled into the spotlight. Faybon has read the script, he knows he's not meant to be in it as much as he is but, until the director cuts him out, he's improvising the best he can.

[temporalbystander]

A few more days had passed since Faybon spoke with Tamotsu and he was still just as confused as ever about what the rough and tough guy had been trying to tell him. and, of course, Tamotsu hadn't been willing to elaborate no matter how many times he'd been asked to.

Further thoughts were interrupted by the rustling of a coat and a voice as gentle as the sea breeze. "So, Tammy tells me you're almost about ready to leave us?"

Faybon didn't bother turning around, out of the three people he lived here with, Felix still was the most confusing to him, and not just because of how hard it was to reconcile that two wildly different people shared a name.

Speaking of names though. "So are you ever going to tell me your real name?" Faybon asked calmly.

Felix paused before settling into place next to Faybon on the balcony, looking out into the night sky. "Ah, I guess the others filled you in on the whole Nobody thing huh?" He asked with a gentle chuckle. "I mean, I've had the name Felix for a long time now but..." the rustling of fabric indicated a shrug. "Tell you what, you tell me what your decision is and I'll tell you my actual name."

Faybon huffed. "But I haven't come to a decision."

"Our resident ninja seems to think you have." The tone was gentle, prompting, trying to guide without being contradictory.

Faybon rolled his eyes. "All I got from my conversation with him is a chance to vent." He said, waving his hand dismissively. Felix didn't say anything, just waited. After a moment, and another sigh, Felix continued. "I'm not a protector, I'm not a guardian, I'm not a hero in my world in any of the timelines I saw." He slumped into the balcony, eyes downcast instead of focusing on the stars above. "Bunnyx brought me here to avoid me being erased, now though I'm starting to think she just wanted me out of the way, she always was stubborn."

"And why would you think that?" Felix asked gently after it became clear Faybon wasn't going to continue. "Surely her not wanting you to be erased is a sign she cares, right?" It wasn't a rebuttal just another gentle question.

Another sigh. "That's it though, I've been erased countless times. Bunnyx has had to reset things to an earlier point so often now that, even if I don't remember any if my previous decisions or impacts, I'm very familiar with her randomly appearing and telling me what not to do."

"I see. And you believe this time is different because?"

Faybon rolled his eyes. "Well for starters, how could she possibly have known this place existed? None of you had any idea what a Miraculous was before I arrived and Caleb is the only one familiar with Paris."

Felix's lips twitched upwards ever so slightly and there was a slight sparkle in his eyes before he returned to the gentle look Faybon was familiar with, and unsettled by. "True, a time traveler like her should have no knowledge of this place as it exists outside her world. But, regardless, that's still not a reason for why you think she wanted you out of the way."

Faybon turned, resting his back against the railing of the balcony in a way that felt both familiar and strange at the same time. He took a moment, looking over the inside of this building he'd been living in, perfectly normal aside from the purpose of it's existence. "For her to want me to escape erasure, she must have given up on trying to keep me in line. Or, if she does actually care, then it must mean that something was about to happen that would undo her efforts. She plucked me from the future and set me in the past so I could meet my mother. However that interferes with her own timeline, I'm a paradox." I shrug. "Of course I don't know if anything that could reset a whole... universe..." His eyes widened as his voice trailed off, realisation settling over his face. Spinning around he slammed his hands on the railing, the ringing of metal sounding loudly in the still night. "That LYING BITCH!" He called out angrily. "She TOLD me that Hawkmoth failed. she SWORE that, once present her got the miraculous, I wouldn't have to worry." Hands tightening around the railing he shook it as best he could. "She made me PROMISE that I wouldn't forget the version of her that never met me, because after the Alix I know gets Fluff that'd be the only Bunnyx needed!"

"But?" Felix prompted.

"But the entire GODDAMNED TIME she KNEW that a wish would undo it! She KNEW they'd all forget me the moment the universe reset!" His breathing grew harsher as he felt the blood pounding in his ears. "This whole past year I've been doing as she said, grateful I got to meet and hang out with the heroes, that I got to have them as my friends, all for it to mean NOTHING because the bad guy wins?"

there was a moment of silence, broken only by Faybons panting, before the rustle of fabric drew his attention back to Felix. "C'est la vie. Sometimes the bad guys win."

"Oh don't give me that!" Faybon shot back angrily. "You don't get to use a french expression to... to..." His voice trailed off again. "You know french?" He said, folding his arms, eyebrows furled. "How do you know French?"

Felix grinned. "I mean, I'd say it's a common enough expression even among those who speak English."

"Well yeah but you must've known how..." Before Faybon could finish Felix cut him off.

"Anyway, now that you realise that, what's your decision?"

Faybon frowned but the words came easily. "She lied to me. She brought me here so I wouldn't realise what's about to happen. I don't know WHY she picked me instead of the version that would be erased by the wish, my timeline would need resetting before then anyway with what I was doing before being brought here." He shrugged and shook his head before continuing. "But either way, if I could? I'd fight. Regardless of it being just a year spent with them, regardless of the fact that I owe my life in that time period to her? it is still MY life. And I'll be damned if I'll let it vanish because that bastard Hawkmoth gets his wish."

There was silence, the weight of his resolve hanging in the air before it was broken. "See, Tammy was right. You did make a decision." Felix continued before Faybon could say anything. "My name is l'fei."

Faybon paused and turned to look at the adult next to him as everything clicked into place. "You're kidding... so that whole conversation when I arrived about languages?"

"Complete lie on my part." They answered with a smile. "Caleb and Tamotsu may be technically older but their maturity is still lacking don't you think?"

Faybon laughed. "And of course, you travel between worlds all the time."

"Is a bit confusing hearing the others refer to their worlds as singular while my home is just one amongst many." Their smile was bright, eyes glittering with mirth.

Faybon shook his head. "Oh I know someone who would love you." He said before pausing. "Wait, so then why are you...?" He hesitated, gesturing at the other man's cloaked form.

They shrugged. "When a Nobody is born there are quite a few things that can influence it's appearance." Was the calm start of the explanation. "All depending on whether the original body is fully consumed by darkness and any close connections with other hearts that may influence it further." Faybon watched as the smile faded. " Technically speaking my story didn't end in the way Caleb and Tamotsu got their ending. Mine ended as Felix, so he's how I stay."

"Oh..." Faybon didn't know how to respond to that so he just sat silent for a moment. "So I guess this is..."

"Oh it doesn't matter. You spend a few decades under a name and you get used to responding to it." L'fei/Felix responded. "I'm just a Nobody after all." They added with a joking smile.

"Actually... not what I was gonna say." At Faybon's hesitation then 'Nobody' turned to look at him fully, only to see Faybon staring at his arm as it began to fade. "I was gonna say 'guess this is goodbye' since..." Faybon waved his arm and it phased through the balcony railing.

"See, I told you you'd made a decision." Felix/l'fei said gently, reaching out to wrap an arm around the young teen. "Now you get to continue your story."

Faybon leaned into the warm embrace, the black coat no longer feeling like leather but instead a soft silk dress. Faybon smiled, transported back to when he clung to Miss Netta as a child. It was the first time he felt the comfort of a mother figure and it's what would lead to the choices he'd make in his life, long before he ever learned the truth about their actual relationship thanks to Bunnyx and her time travelling. That thought made him pause and pull away.

"Wait..." He started slowly. "My timeline was about to be reset. Even if I made the decision to fight, going back now wouldn't change anything. What could I actually do?"

The other chuckled, a soft and melodic sound before they gently ran their fingers through his hair. "Trust me Faybon, I may not be a time traveller but that doesn't mean I'm not aware of how complex it can be." An even gentler smile followed as they crouched down to place a kiss on his forehead. "Your timeline may be gone, but your heart will remember. Keep your determination burning bright and I promise you, though the world you know may fade? That strength will carry on, giving the new you the push he needs."

Faybon smiled, wiped a tear from his eye before embracing them in a hug. "Thanks L'fei." He muttered softly. "I'm glad there's at least one adult here to help everyone who comes after." Stepping back Faybon's entire body had become see through. "I've made my choice... I'll continue my story and this time, I'll make sure it's mine." He smiled before frowning. "But I think you should consider leaving too, at least for a moment."

"Oh?" L'Fei answered curiously, folding her arms and tilting her head as her raven coloured locks fell from her hood and passed her shoulders. "Why's that?"

Faybon smiled sadly. "Because from what little I know of your story? I can only imagine the pain Kairi feels once Xion and Namine spoke to her." As the last of him faded his words lingered in the air. "A child never stops needing their mother."

Standing alone on the balcony now L'fei gave a soft smile. "Sweet kid." She muttered. "Not at all like the rest of the protectors we've gotten." Straightening up she could feel her body shift, hair receding and muscles firming as she became Felix once more. "Maybe I should pay them a visit." Came the much more masculine muttering. "But not until both of us can go." With that they walked back inside.

Faybon Tules will return in....

Doomsday

An Actual Reset

(Final note for those curious. L'Fei does identify as female but, due to shenanigans I won't explain here, her Nobody looked like her husband instead. As she was already found and named Felix, and all she remembered was being a parent to Kairi? She assumed she was the father and spent the next decade believing that. Since she was so certain about the wrong things her memories of her real name, her husband's name and what happened the night she died never returned. Think Cloud from FF7)

[temporalbystander]

Once again Faybon was on his own. And once again he was bored out of his mind. Caleb had conjured a ball for him to bounce against the wall to stop him going too crazy when he needed to get away from the others.

"Alright lazy bones." Came the slightly odd sounding voice of the ninja Tamotsu. "Caleb said you were having issues. What're you crying about now?"

Faybon just sighed. "You're not really a people person are you?"

"I've been training to kill since I was a child." the Japanese (?) teen said blandly. "Ive got a higher body count then there are people in your hometown."

"So then why do you care?"

"Because," Tamotsu started as he sat down next to him with a heavy thud. "As sad and pathetic as I find Caleb's emotional way of handling people, he was right about one thing. The three of us stayed to help."

Faybon couldn't help but roll his eyes. "you really don't give off the whole helper vibe, you know that right?"

Tamotsu just waved his hand. "Some people need some sense shaken into them, the others can be sensitive and supportive all they like. I do the tough live approach."

"Uhuh." The doubt was clear in every part of Faybon's demeanor. "Out of curiosity, how many of the people who came through here were actually helped by your tough love stance?"

The other teen folded his arms. "Are you going to share what's got you down or not?" He asks instead, clearly annoyed at how long this was taking.

Rolling his eyes, and seeing no harm in actually venting, Faybon spoke up. "I don't know why I'm here." He quickly hurried on when Tamotsu scoffed. "I know why Bunnyx brought me here but that's exactly the problem. She did this so I wouldn't be erased, so I could talk to people who might understand me but... then what? I'm not a protector, the most I did to help the main cast," he did air quotes around the words that he'd heard the others use countless times to try and explain things, "was covering for them when their lies were too stupid and keeping their secrets that I shouldn't know." With one harsh throw the ball ricocheted and flew off out of reach. "If I did somehow overcome my block, as Caleb puts it, and somehow return Is just end up in a timeline to be erased. But if I stayed? what could I even offer? I'm the youngest here by far and in my world the whole magic adventure thing only really started up last year. I'm the least experienced, least knowledgeable and therefore the least helpful to teach someone else about why, specifically they ended up here."

Tamotsu raised an eyebrow. "What would you prefer to have happened to you then."

Faybon groaned. "I've thought about this time and time again. I've seen multiple timelines where I helped but screwed up future events or interfered and made everything worse." He sighed. "Honestly? as much as love the family I made thanks to Bunnyx, and how grateful I am for the brief moments of friendship..." he let out a deep weary sigh. "I wish she hadn't gotten involved. I wish I could have lived my own life and faced the consequences of my actions rather than having to stick a set script for an entire year."

"Even if it means you being erased?"

Faybon just chuckled mirthlessly. "better to have died living my own life then survive by someone else's schedule."

With a smirk Tamotsu stood up, patted the younger teen on the shoulder and turned to leave. "Good talk."

The bitterness was replaced by confusion. "Wait, that's it, no more tough love? What was this conversation even for?" He asked, quickly scrambling to his feet. "I explained you to tell me to toughen up, something at least."

"Nah, we're good here." He didn't even look back and just walked off down the hall.

Confused as all hell Faybon sat back down, just in time to avoid the ball that had been tossed much harder than necessary back at him from where Tamotsu had gone. Left on his own Faybon slumped on his back, tossing the ball into the air and catching it.

[temporalbystander]

I'm insane. I've gone mad. I hate myself.

I've also just realised the best way to fix my problems with Faybon. So, before you all read the latest story under the cut, let me explain what I'm retconning. He's still from the future and the ladybugs don't wipe his memory like they do with others but they DO actually heal him. Second retcon is the whole invisibility/easily forgettable thing. He's just quiet. He won't be erased from memories if he stops interacting with people but he is quiet enough where he can startle people if they aren't paying attention. With that said? Onto the story.

One Chance.

“One chance. One moment. Change something.” That's all the instructions he'd been given to fix things. One moment out of all the ones that had led to this point, all the potential differences branching into their own timelines. As if his headache wasn't big enough even the timelines Bunnyx had erased were now up for grabs. What the hell had he gotten himself into?

Stepping back with a groan Faybon's eyes swept over all the other windows in the burrow, all leading to their own points in time. Bunnyx hadn't explained a thing, she'd just dragged him into the burrow, as she did, handed him a version of Fluff and then vanished. Taking a brief look down at his outfit he shook his head and got back on track. “One moment.” He muttered to himself again. That's all Fluff knew. He was being given the chance to change one singular moment. To what end? He wasn't sure. He just needed to stop something.

“Son of a-!” Faybon bit back a curse as a tremor shook the burrow again, a couple of the windows closing without him touching them. “This is NOT how the Burrow is meant to work Alix!” He shouted as he turned his attention back to the windows in front of him. The burrow was meant to be outside of time, sure the people in it could be affected, he'd seen what happened to Future Bunnyx while she was dealing with Chat Blanc, but to affect it this badly? None of the catastrophes he'd seen while skimming the timelines had come close to this level.

More tremors. More closing windows. Once again Faybon turned back the viewpoint on his life searching for something he could change, something that would make a difference. “Do I stop Felix from handing over the Miraculous?” He questioned before shaking his head. “No, that's what gives young Alix the chance to become Bunnyx.” He grumbled again. “Do I step in after the break up with Luka?” Another scene showed in the window in front of him and he growled. “No, Bunnyx already stopped me from doing that once.”

He was starting to panic now, fast forwarding and rewinding, looking at all the big moments that he'd wanted to fix but never been allowed to. “New York? No, that was probably the most proactive I've been.” He muttered. “Shanghai? No, I wasn't even involved in that.” It had to be focused on him otherwise Bunnyx could have done it on her own. So then what?

The next tremor tossed Faybon to the ground, he had to use the umbrella to hold him steady as he got back up as he frantically swiped at the window, eyes barely tracking what time he'd landed on before moving to another. “Talli and Felix? No, too recent.” He grumbled. “Something with Master Fu? No, too early, too many variables.” Faybon's breathing started to get shorter as his heart rate increased.

There's got to be something he was missing. Some big moment he hadn't realised the importance of the time. “Adrien's scarf? No. Guilt trip? No. Maybe Lila or Chloe? No… Maybe one of my Akumas then? No. No. No!” Each idea, his voice rose a little more in pitch. With each negative it seemed like the shaking worsened, Faybon could see the other timelines vanishing in his peripheral vision now. Either he was blacking out from hyperventilating or the burrow itself was starting to crack open.

Mind spiraling he just lifted his arms and slammed them against either side of the window. “If it wouldn't cause another paradox I'd stop myself from meeting Marinette in the first place!” He cried out, voice breaking as tears pricked at the corner of his eyes. “I finally get the opportunity to fix something.” Another slam. “To make a difference without it being rewritten.” His hands were starting to ache now. “And I can't…” choking into a sob cut off the rest of his rant. “What am I meant to fix…” He muttered, tears flowing down his cheeks as the burrow practically collapsed in on itself behind him.

“Come on bro spill. If you had to change one thing about yourself, what would it be?” Nino's voice sounded from the window in front of him.

“His surname to Dupain Cheng,” was that his voice as well? As laughter erupted he managed to look up, even as everything vanished around him. To his surprise Faybon saw a scene he had no memory of, one that clearly took place in the future if the drinks being handed out by Luka were anything to go by… a future he'd never get to see.

The umbrella clattered to the ground, or well it would have had there been any ground left, and Faybon clung to the window as his footing gave out. At least he could smile watching Adrein blush at all the teasing over changing his name… “Change,” Faybon muttered, his eyes widening as he scrambled to find some place to stand, “Not fix. Change!” He was an idiot. Always so determined to make things better he may have just screwed up the one chance he had. As the last of the floor disappeared Faybon desperately rewound the window, his hand shooting through it just as he fell. He felt his hand hit something, shoving it forward, heard the screams and the screeching of tires skidding before the window closed and he vanished into the void that had once been the burrow.

Feeling himself fade as time overwrote itself. All he could do was pray he'd found the right date, that he hadn't wasted the final chance he'd been given.

—---

Hitting the pavement, hand seriously grazed, all the young boy could do was stare at the traffic passing in front of him, heart pounding more than he thought possie. It took him a moment before he realised that his other hand was still raised and that his wrist was starting to hurt slightly. Looking up the young boy found himself staring at a girl around his age, dressed in pink, with a face as pale as his most likely was. “Faybon! Faybon are you okay!” He heard a woman's voice call out to him before suddenly he found himself picked up and being looked over. “Mon dieu when you stumbled forward I thought…” her voice broke, unable to continue the thought.

“I'm okay Miss Netta, really.” He answered, trying to calm both her and himself. “She saved me.” Faybon wasn't sure what had hit him and nearly sent him face first into moving cars, but had it not been for her? He wouldn't be able to wonder about it.

“Thank you so much…” a thought Miss Netta seemingly shared as she turned her full attention to the girl who, so caught up in everything, had yet to let go of his hand.

It was only when the girl realised she was being spoken to that she seemed to wake up. “No it's fine… really.” She said shaking her head, little pigtails flipping in the breeze.

“Still. Thanks.” It was his turn to thank her now. “I'm Faybon by the way.” He said, offering his hand to her. “And you are?”

The girl looked up at him and smiled before taking his hand and shaking it. “Marinette. I'm Marinette. Its nice to meet you.”

[temporalbystander]

Oh wow. I actually wrote something. It's a short little nonsense fluff piece but hey, I'll take it. It was originally meant to be something that took place a little later in my "lies of..." Series but all I had to do was cut a single line and it works perfectly as a stand alone story. Also cut a line at the end but that ones not important. Not too long but it doesn't need to be. Enjoy. Story below the cut as always.

An Open Door Policy

Once again Faybon was lying on his rooftop waiting for his companion to finish phrasing what he wanted to ask. He had known when he had first made this offer that it might be uncomfortable. After all, he had essentially offered to become the therapist for two superheroes, yeah that wasn't going to be easy. Still, he had made his choice and he wouldn't change it. Even if he did wish his visitors would figure out what they were going to say before they arrived here. Still, he wouldn't complain, they'd eventually say what they needed to.

“Do you think it's possible to love more than one person at the same time?” That was, however, not something he ever expected Chat Noir to ask. Even knowing the issues he was going through it seemed strangely open for the leather feline hero.

It was a moment of vulnerability Faybon had never expected from his friend, someone who had gone from one form of isolation to another and had barely any time to be himself. For him to be this open meant it had to be something that he had put a lot of thought into. So, for that alone, he had to be honest. “Well, first of all, Chaton, I'm not sure I'm the best person to ask.” Faybon started off slowly as he tried to give a worthy answer. “Any attraction I may have had with anyone has been minimal at best, never reciprocal, and has fizzled like a match in a rainstorm before I had the chance to ever fully analyse it.” This was the type of thing he couldn't really talk to Ladybug about, or anyone really, he'd get reassurances that the way he felt was completely normal and all that. He knew that, he wasn't bemoaning a loss, just stating a fact. Reciting his past as it were.

“That sounds simple. Wish I knew what simple was like.” With Chat though, he knew when to let things rest, regardless of how annoying he could be with his jokes. “Still, what's your opinion, as the all knowing Faybon?” Speaking of jokes.

“Well I may have no idea regarding romantic love.” He said after a while, still staring up at the stars as the cold night wind brushed his hair over his face, requiring a pause to scratch his suddenly itchy nose, before deciding to continue his thought. “But I've spent my entire life here in this orphanage, watching children be accepted into families even as others are taken from those who mistreat them.” It took Faybon a moment to continue after that, there were many sad memories he was trying not to recall right now. “Each and every one I've known, I have loved like the rest.” The big brother said, even as he continued to ponder the question.

“Do you think it's the same with romantic love too?” Chat Noir prompted when it seemed like Faybon wasn't going to continue anytime soon.

“From what I've seen in Paris, among my classmates, and even with the interactions between you and Ladybug,” Faybon started his answer slowly, “I would be inclined to say yes.” If that sentence gave Chat any relief he didn't show it, just waiting for the other one to continue. “From what Ive seen, love isn't about giving your heart to someone and telling them it's theirs, it's giving them the key to come and go as they please. To let them take whatever they need and, what's more, to run out the door after them to give them everything else.”

“That's a very sweet thought Faybon. Never took you for the romantic type.”

Faybon just rolled his eyes as he shifted on the cold tiled roof, suddenly envying the suit that protected his visitor from uncomfortable movements like that, before replying. “Yeah well, just because mine seems to be welded shut doesn't mean I can't tell it's a door.” He muttered grumpily before continuing. “Some may see you handing the key out to others and think that makes it less special, that inviting everyone in makes the place crowded.”

“Really like the metaphor huh?” Chat interrupted again, finally causing Faybon to look over and spot that wide grin and playful spark on the green eyes behind the mask.

“If it's too complex for you to follow I can go inside and get a block puzzle, maybe that would be more your speed?” He shot back without a hint of hesitation.

“Meowch. You wound me.” The feline drama king exclaimed while placing a clawed hand to his chest. “How will I ever recover?”

“You've got nine lives, though if that's all it takes you may need 90.” That got a chuckle and, with a wave of his hand, he prompted Faybon to continue. “Anyway, as long as each person can have their own moment in the room?” He shot the hero a glare at the chuckle before rephrasing it. “As long as each person gets their own time with you, for you to show them that they are your number one priority in that moment alone? And that they are as open with you in return? I think it would be no different than if it was just you and them.” Faybon shrugged before sitting up, the tension in his muscles starting to get to him. “So yes Chat, I do believe it's possible to love more than one person, what you do with that love is entirely up to you.”

“Thanks Faybon.” The leather suited cat said, jumping to his feet in one smooth motion, the bell at his neck jingling lightly, before stretching up, tail swinging lazily behind him. “I needed to hear that.”

Joining him in standing, in a much less refined manner, Faybon just shrugged. “It's what I'm here for, it's why I made the offer after all.”

If Faybon had thought that would be it, then he was quite surprised when Chat stepped forward to hug him. Faybon was a hugger, this was known amongst his friends, but it was normally him initiating the contact. This? Was quite new. It was also different to the regular hugs he'd shared with either of the heroes, this was more personal, something he'd feel with the children or maybe Miss Netta. It was a hug that contained gratitude, relief, and an all around need for that to continue. When Faybon finally returned it, he made sure all his feelings of acceptance, support, and care shone through as clearly as he could.

Another minute passed before Chat Noir stepped back, looking a little sheepish at what he had done, before the bright goofy grin was back on his face. “Well I best get going before anyone thinks something of our late night rendezvous.” He said, jumping to the edge of the roof without a sound, even as Faybon rolled his eyes again. “Oh and, for what it's worth?” Faybon tilted his head in curiousity as Chat turned back to look at him. “I think you're more of an open door policy.” The cat said with that playful Cheshire grin. “You just need to remember to turn the light on more often.”

With that the feline wielder of destruction bounded away across the rooftops, leaving the other teen to carefully make his way back inside without waking anyone. What Chat said playing on his mind even as he drifted off. “An open door policy on my heart, huh?” He thought as he slowly closed his eyes. “The cat's right. That is a ridiculous metaphor.” Still, he fell asleep with a smile happy that he'd been able to make a difference to one of his closest friends.

[temporalbystander]

Silly little idea that just popped into my head going through all the incorrect Miraculous quotes that may or may not end up in the alternate world story I'm doing. I've always enjoyed the thought of "what if someone could tell Adrien and Felix apart?" As always story under the cut.

Once again Faybon was bemoaning the lack of invisibility he enjoyed when being a paradox. He was also bemoaning the fact that, while he wasn't friends with the two who had cornered him in this world, Alya and Nino were more than willing to tell them just how big of an idiot he was being.

"Listen dude. It's cool that you're trying to reach out to him and all, but he is just not worth it." To his credit, Nino did look upset about that fact. Alya had no such restrictions.

"The guys a jerk to levels even Chloe has trouble attaining." Faybon's eyes widened at that. With the extents this Chloe had gone? That was definitely saying something. "We would see him in the middle of a photoshoot giving that little stilted smile and we would walk over to say hello, you know to be polite," why that sounded like she was waiting for a response he had no idea, she didn't leave him room to give one, "and we would talk for a bit and he'd seem interested. Then, when we'd invite him to something he would just raise an eyebrow and ask why on earth we ever thought he'd be interested in hanging around such commoners."

Alya had practically worked herself back into a rage, Faybon would be on the lookout for purple butterflies if he wasn't so confused about what he was hearing. Alya wasn't one to lie, maybe slightly exaggerate from time to time but the way Nino was nodding along told him that wasn't the case. That really didn't sound like Adrien, neither the one he knew before or the one he was getting to go now.

"If the prim and proper put down wasn't bad enough," Nino jumped in as he took his hat off to twist it slightly, "the way he'd look the next day, like a kicked puppy, as if it were our fault? It was just insulting." The class DJ shook his head but what he had said triggered a memory in Faybon, thankfully without the blinding pain this time.

"Wait back up." The confused teen said as he raised his hands. "You said Adrien sounded all prim and proper right? Like, say, a stereotypical rich guy from a soap opera?" The couple looked at each other confused but nodded anyway. "Did he sound a bit airy as well? Like he was holding his breath slightly?" Another nod. The next question was easier. "What about his eyes? How'd they look?"

"This wasn't some type of look alike. We could tell it was Adrien." He didn't listen to the scoff.

"Just answer the question Alya." He said folding his arms." Did they seem different when you saw him the next day? Like from clear glass to a foggy window."

Though Alya still thought he was being ridiculous, Nino looked curious. "Actually yeah? Why? Does that mean something."

Oh it meant something alright. But there was something he needed to make sure of. "Have you noticed this difference any other times? Recently maybe?"

The journalist just rolled her eyes but at least deigned to answer him this time. "Not that we talk to him anymore? But yes. We have seen him sometimes with that same fake smile. Normally after an Akuma or if he's been out of class sick." She huffed at him now. "What's the big deal?"

Honestly? Had Faybon not been dealing with constant migraines and sleep deprivation (mainly because of said migraines) he never would have said what he did. At least not as rudely... Or as loud. "What the FUCK is Felix doing in Paris?" That drew the gaze of everyone around them but he didn't care, he had bigger worries on his mind. Oh this raised so many issues. So many problems he would have to work around.

One of the biggest came from the question asked in unison. "Who's Felix?"

[circlewolfdiaries]

not made by us, found here [x]