#argonette

~~~~~~~

Like anyone would be

I am flattered by your fascination with me

Like any hot-blooded woman

I have simply wanted an object to crave

But you, you're not allowed

You're uninvited

An unfortunate slight

Oh, Marinette knew she was being followed – she knew exactly who it was as well. Ever since the Diamond Dance and his oddly protective behavior towards her, Felix – as Argos – became the petite bluenette’s shadow. At first, she was disturbed and concerned he had discovered her heroic identity but, as days grew into weeks and weeks turned into months, it became obvious that he had no idea. Especially when he would attack her during akuma attacks and then stand sentry – his glowing magenta eyes standing out against the shadows – only a few rooftops away from her balcony. She could sense his curiosity was changing – at first suspicious and now something distinctly different. Whatever it was, Tikki agreed that his attentions did not seem threatening. Marinette only hoped he would find something else – someone else – fascinating soon as she had no time to spare. Her duties as Ladybug and the miraculous guardian were too important to have distractions…

Must be strangely exciting

To watch the stoic squirm

Must be somewhat heartening

To watch shepherd meet shepherd

But you, you're not allowed

You're uninvited

An unfortunate slight

Afterall, Felix had been the one to impersonate Adrien, the sole cause that akumatized her three friends, attempted to sexually assault her, betrayed her to Hawkmoth, only to take on the role of villain… The young designer could not readily forgive and forget. While Marinette remained the same person she had been, she had learned her lesson when Lila isolated her. She was thankful as it stripped away her naivety; she was now far more cautious with her heart, her time, her energy.

That’s why she decided to give up on loving Adrien. So many attempted kisses, missed opportunities, and failed confessions… It was as if the universe was giving her a message that she finally understood. He would always remain someone special to her but the disaster that was her love life was a distraction toward her miraculous mission: defeat Monarch and retrieve the jewels. The secret heroine focused on building their friendship instead. She knew Argos witnessed it all – it made her uncomfortable knowing he was likely laughing at her fickle feelings. How could he understand what laid in her heart?! What struggles she dealt with while she struggled to keep her head held high? To keep herself from drowning beneath her increasingly difficult responsibilities and obligations?

Perhaps he would leave her alone now.

Like any uncharted territory

I must seem greatly intriguing

You speak of my love like

You have experienced love like mine before

But this is not allowed

You're uninvited

An unfortunate slight

But even after watching her move beyond her crush, Argos remained her steadfast companion of a sort – never appearing directly to Marinette. He was simply there. Just on the edge of her sight but always silent, always out of reach, but always watching…

That’s why, when she was attacked late at night, she was shocked to see Argos intervene. Just having him present hampered her immensely! It risked her identity getting back to Monarch so she was unable to transform nor react as she normally would for fear for raising suspicions. Grabbed, roughed up, and mentally rattled, she was unsure what she was seeing was real. This purple and blue colored villain had finally shed the comfort of his shadows and appointed himself her champion. He stood in a defensive position in front of her, fan at ready and in a fighting stance. ‘Why?’ her mind questioned on repeat as she watched him fight, eyes blurry from being slapped. When he turned and offered his hand, she hesitated as she stared into his magenta eyes to seek the answers she most desired. ‘Why? Why now?’

That’s when she saw the flash of a knife behind him, glinting in the moonlight, as the taller man lunged. Her entire consciousness flooded with blinding fear and she screamed, “Look out!”

Argos turned but it was too late, the knife plunged into his side and Marinette felt her stomach suddenly drop. She choked on her breath, feeling the dread wring her vocal chords as she saw the blood seep into the material of his miraculous suit. ‘So much blood…’ Her panicked heartbeat roared in her ears as she stared wide-eyed, unable to hear anything else. Then he smirked, wrenching the knife from his body and transformed it into a minotaur sentimonster that chased her attackers off. The secret heroine should have been more concerned about the potential senti-threat but…

Her heart stopped and the silence deafened her as Argos focused his pain filled gaze upon her again. Marinette wasn’t sure what she said as her mind raced, her own eyes drawn to the seemingly never-ending blood that leaked from the large laceration in his side. When he collapsed beside her, his breathing becoming more ragged as his timer wound down, her Ladybug senses kicked into overdrive – assessing his injuries and attempting to staunch the bleed. That’s when his transformation fell away and bluebells met hazel green… she finally saw the broken and hurt boy, the fear and love that lay beneath his cold exterior.

“…I’m s-sorry, Angel…,” Felix’s fading voice seemed like it had been dragged through wet gravel and it set off alarms in her head. She did everything she could but, as he collapsed into her arms, everything screamed at her to save him!

“Tikki, spots on!” Marinette tucked the peacock miraculous into her yo-yo to keep it safe, hoisted Felix’s limp body into her arms, and zipped away towards the nearest hospital. Adrenaline swept away the pain that arose with each breath, each movement, as her body protested against using injured limbs. She didn’t care, couldn’t even think about that now. Her mind’s sole focus was on the blond teen in her arms and her new mission. He was—he was always there… He just couldn’t die!

The landing in the alley nearest the emergency room nearly knocked the wind from her lungs as the sprained ankle lanced pain up her leg and spine. She detransformed and gasped; stumbling as a wave of excruciating sensations caused tears to spring to her eyes within seconds. ‘I don’t have time to hurt,’ she scolded herself mentally. Pushing down the panic and anguish with gritted teeth, her eyes two burning coals of determination, she summoned her residual Ladybug strength to carry him in through the entry on unsteady feet.

After the flurry of doctors, half-truths, police reports, and bandages, she was finally deemed non-critical and was discharged. Marinette sat vigil outside the door to surgery, ice pack gingerly held over one eye as her mind recalling every minute in meticulous detail to keep the doom spiral from forming in her mind. The blood, the knife, the faces of the men… After a few hours, doctors wheeled him out and into a room for recovery. Although he would still take a while to recuperate, she was convinced that Tikki had loaned him a little luck as the knife had miraculously missed anything vital. ‘He’s alive, he’s alive, he’s alive,’ she thought on repeat.

“Marinette, you should pin Duusu’s broach to his chest, it should help him recover faster,” Tikki’s soft whisper broke her from her mental chanting. “We can always retrieve it before he is discharged if he cannot be trusted.”

“Good idea, Tikki. Thank you,” she hobbled into the attached bathroom to transform and retrieve the brooch. She re-entered the room as herself only a moment later, pinning and watching the peacock shaped pin transform into a less recognizable piece of jewelry upon his hospital gown. Duusu appeared with a flash and his gaze met Marinette’s.

“Guardian, I did not think you would return me to my holder,” the bird kwami bowed gratefully. “He’s not truly a villain, simply misunderstood and carries deep emotional wounds. Felix has desired to protect you. I don’t think he fully understands why. He will be so confused but happy when he realizes you are Ladybug!”

“Let’s keep my identity – as Ladybug and the guardian – a secret for the time being, shall we?” She pressed a finger to her lips and winked, Duusu giggled softly in response before settling in the crook of Felix’s neck with a coo.

An odd silence descended upon the room – filled with beeping, whirring, and distant chatter. Marinette’s eyes were drawn to Felix’s pale countenance. “He looks so fragile,” she murmured to herself. Minding the wires and tubes attached to him, the girl brushed the hair back from his face. Dark circles resided under his shut eyes, evidence of his late nights and long days. The bluenette settled into the chair at his bedside with a sigh, her eye blackened and shirt now dried with his blood. She glanced up at the clock on the wall, one in the morning.

I don't think you unworthy

I need a moment to deliberate

*******

It had been about an hour since the akuma attack was resolved and Felix had confessed. He had not expected a reply nor a change in their dynamic to come from this…it just felt like the right time to finally tell her. It felt good to clearly state his feelings. Marinette, in her typical fashion, had stuttered and made excuses before hurriedly leaving. He had wanted to walk her home – since school was canceled for the rest of the day – but he held back the offer. Having known her for a while, he knew and could sense that her reaction was not borne from a dislike of him but rather of her own anxieties. If the emotions he sensed while she blushed and babbled were any indication, he dared hope that his feelings might actually have a chance to be returned… She just needed time to process, he would gladly give it to her. However, he still felt a need to check on her to be sure that she was safe. Today had been a traumatic experience after all, and he would be damned if Gabriel would take advantage of her lingering emotional state to akumatize her!

“Are we going to go check on your hen, Felix?” The peacock kwami giggled, flying about in a figure eight with excitement.

“We shall, just to be sure she’s alright. Duusu, spread my feathers!”

With a flash of blue, he stood transformed before his bedroom mirror. An unusual wave of nervousness came over him as he regarded his reflection. She had seen him dressed like this before, but he now felt worried what she would think of his miraculous suit. ‘She’s a designer…’ he thought to himself as he tugged at his hood and gloves as if trying to make himself more presentable. He felt like a bird attempting to preen their feathers in a way to attract a mate. He definitely blamed Duusu for this. He felt ridiculous. Taking one last look in the mirror as he attempted to smooth down the front, he steeled himself. ‘I’m just going to check on her. This isn’t a social call.’

He exited his bedroom window and ran along the rooftops. He paused when he came to the road in which she had been knocked over. Remembering the powerful desire to protect as her emotions went haywire – panic, fear, and concern – for him. It rolled off her like gentle waves in a low tide lagoon, gently plucking every heartstring in his chest. And the emotions of her new ‘admirer’ – unadulterated lust – had driven away his usual restraint against gross physical harm. The relief and amazement he felt from her after had been reward enough. But then he had had to carry her…his palms on her bare skin…he had felt his own emotions as high as hers in that moment!

Argos dragged a gloved hand down his reddened face at the memory before taking off again. Trying to clear his mind, he worked through the rest of the morning. After being shook free from the emotional overload in the classroom by her cry of pain, he immediately ran interference to delay the other idiots attempting to grab Marinette again. It was not much but Felix was sure it gave the two girls enough time to find a suitable place to hide. Then he sensed it… The terrifying fear and panic as she had huddled under that desk – so palpable that he could identify it even from down the hallway, like a thick miasma that threatened to choke him. Felix had known immediately who it was from. Marinette’s emotions, regardless of what she felt, were always tinged with a sweet aura all their own; almost like a pheromone that could only be felt rather than experienced by the traditional five senses. A sweetness that had drawn him in since that night at the Diamond Dance and led to his flimsy excuses to be included in their class, regardless of the danger he was putting himself in. Being exposed to it every day, his own affections had naturally grown for the girl…

However, in that moment, all he had wanted was to comfort her. He had lied about seeing Césaire leave the classroom, knowing the thought of Monarch being able to sense her emotions would have put her into a more destructive spiral. When Marinette had explained about the akuma and how she thought his own reaction was caused by it, his heart had thudded painfully in his chest. He had mentally cursed Gabriel; knowing his feelings were genuine but she would never believe his sincerity while this akuma was in play. At least he had an excuse to treat her as he truly wanted. Illogical as it was, this akuma attacking his crush suddenly felt personal and it left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Perhaps it was time to trade sides? Could he even be a hero? Ladybug seemed the understanding sort, but he had betrayed her before…would she trust him enough to let him work beside her again?

He would have to find a way, for Marinette.

“No wonder Duusu laughs at me… She’s not even mine and I’m already henpecked,” Argos mused quietly.

He landed on top of the scaffolding that wrapped around the scorched roof of Norte Dame and gazed down Rue Gotlib toward the bakery she called home. His heart flipped in his chest as he realized he could make out the barest hint of the fairy lights she had strung up on her balcony. He took a steadying breath, reminding himself that he was only there to pass by without being seen and prepared to leap to the next rooftop. Just then, a flash of familiar red appeared in his peripherals. He turned toward the north, seeing the hazy shape of Ladybug swinging in his direction.

Argos paused and decided this was likely the best time to make contact, to make his new objectives known to the hero – no akumas and without her timer running down. Perhaps without that mangey cat that always ruffled his feathers! Even when he held the Dog miraculous briefly, something about Chat Noir just did not sit right with Felix. Perhaps it was the blond hair? Was a side effect of the black cat miraculous the human equivalent of dander? He shook his head free of such thoughts. The purple suited villain shifted and leaped, taking a route further away from his original goal. Argos knew when he was spotted – the red figure stopped and took up a defensive stance – and slowed his approach to seem less threatening. He needed this to go well.

However, as he landed at the opposite end of the large rooftop, Argos paused and narrowed his eyes. This was not Ladybug!

“Who the hell are you? Where is Ladybug?” He pulled out his fan, holding it like a weapon at rest to not agitate the person in front of him but allowing him the easy access to fight should he need it. The red-spotted stand-in’s eyes flashed and narrowed – he wished the miraculous cloaking allowed him to clearly read her emotions. Instead, he could only glean what he could from her body language and the muted, muddled sensations that danced just out of reach.

“The name’s Scarabella. Let’s just say that the Lady was preoccupied,” she replied coolly.

“So it was your incompetence I should blame for all the time it took to defeat the akuma today,” he scoffed. Marinette had to suffer for hours while this… this…knock-off hero took the reins? What had Ladybug been thinking?!

Scarabella’s spine straightened with a snap, he didn’t need to see her eyes to know that the hazy emotion he was sensing was scorching anger. “Excuse me? This coming from a villain that betrayed us and all of Paris – scratch that, betrayed the world – and for what? So you could dress up like some reject popinjay to dance around on rooftops and make people disappear?”

Argos winced; this was not how he wanted this to go. He sighed and tucked his fan into his hood. “Look, when I saw someone else wearing the mantle…I reacted wrong. I assume you have some way to contact her? Or her kwami could? I need to speak with her.”

Suspicious eyes narrowed upon him, “What is the message?”

“I won’t say, I have no idea who you are or how close to all this you are. Just let her know that I mean no harm. She can even bring that damn cat, if she so pleases.” Argos’ lips pulled back into a snarl, not disguising his distaste for the other half of the Parisian hero team. “I just need to speak with her on a miraculous matter.”

Scarabella regarded him with narrowed eyes for a silent moment before her body shifted into a more relaxed posture, her arms crossing her chest as she leaned back on her heels. “Fine. I’ll let LB know. I can’t promise that she’ll meet you. She’s been far more cautious since your...incident.”

“Understood, I expected nothing less.” He placed a foot on the edge of the roof, turning his body back from whence he came while keeping his eyes on the temporary bug. A wicked grin split his face. “Oh, and don’t bother following me unless you want to chase after one of my creations tonight.”

He heard a scandalized noise as he launched himself from the roof. He had a fair maiden to check on.

~~~

It didn’t take Argos long to make it back to Rue Gotlib and settle in on a rooftop adjacent to the bakery, hiding himself in the long shadows cast by the dying light. Being especially cautious, he pulled his hood forward to hide his magenta eyes as he gazed into her bedroom window hoping for a glimpse of the young designer. She wandered into his field of view, he felt his heart dance around in his chest – Marinette’s hair was down, her face washed clean of the little makeup she normally wore, and she took up lounging on her chaise as she sketched in her pajamas. She was stunning! He reached out with his senses and immediately met her emotions – the sweet aura wrapping around his consciousness like a blanket and the peacock holder involuntarily smiled. “I’m really a goner, aren’t I, Duusu?” He whispered to himself, knowing the kwami would find this hilarious later.

He watched as she flexed her toes, bobbing her head to a tune he couldn’t hear from his vantage point, her lips mouthing words he wished he could hear. Argos probed a bit further with his powers to gauge her emotional state: peace, joy, calm, with a hint of nervousness. His smile turned fond. ‘That’s my girl, never letting a thing weigh her down for long…’

Argos heard the familiar sound of a yo-yo and he pressed himself further into his shadow as he looked around for the source. Suddenly Scarabella appeared flipping over the back of the roof and landed onto Marinette’s balcony. He felt the bluenette’s curiosity followed by her happiness as she bounced up and shut her curtains. He narrowed his eyes, watching the spotted stand-in duck through a trapdoor and into the confines of Marinette’s bedroom, then observed a pink flash filter through the opaque material of the curtains.

‘Do Scarabella and Marinette know each other?’ he wondered, filtering through the emotions flowing from the building for any threat. He watched with confusion as the side door of the bakery apartment opened silently and Césaire exited, looking both ways before running down a neighboring alleyway. ‘Was she…Scarabella? What does Marinette have to do with this?’ A sinking sensation formed in his stomach.

He ran down a few rooftops before crossing the street and circling back to the balcony from behind, keeping himself hidden. Argos listened and watched as the bluenette came up to the balcony to watch the waning sunset turn to dusk, murmuring quietly to herself or perhaps on the phone? The blond felt as if there was a riddle here that he needed an answer to… Bracing himself, he leaped one last time and landed on the balcony behind Marinette – who jumped and spun around to face him. “Argos?!” He felt a wave of worry and nervousness overcome the girl; her body shook from the sheer force of the panic that was rising.

Mentally cursing himself for ruining the calm she had finally achieved and unsure of how to proceed, he made a flamboyant bow. “Evening, Marinette! I thought I heard a bug buzzing about and found you instead… mind if I rest my feathers upon your lovely roost?”

Confusion.

Worry.

Nervousness.

Paranoia.

…and, beneath all that, a hint of something warmer.

Argos straightened with a smile he hoped was disarming – Adrien was always much better at putting people at ease than Felix – and observed her. ‘No phone. Then who was she talking to?’ His magenta eyes flickered over the rooftop with interest, pretending to assess the decorations in the space while he looked for any pets or god-like beings…he found none. “Beautiful space you have here. Very cozy.” Keeping his posture relaxed, he stepped closer to the bluenette by the balcony rail.

“Oh, heh, thank you. I like to come up here to design and relax, you know?” He watched as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, exposing her earlobes. Earlobes that sported familiar dark colored earrings.

His mind flashed back to this morning with a more discerning eye. He remembered pulling the silky threads of her hair back into a braid, exposing the nape of her neck and ears…. which were conspicuously free of earrings, and he froze for a moment as his eyes widened slightly. Puzzle pieces started to click into place in his mind. ‘No…it couldn’t be…’

Clearing his throat, he smiled and motioned towards her ears. “Pretty earrings, are they a family heirloom?” A fresh spike of panic lanced into him so quickly that he physically winced. That was confirmation enough. His heart sank as he recalled what he had done to the heroine…who he now knew was his beloved. He, Felix Fathom, was the cause of her grief and suffering. He had betrayed the one person he treasured most. ‘Duusu, what have I done?’ The guilt, which rose like bile in his throat, solidified his decision.

“Ye-yes, how’d you know?” Marinette’s voice was jittery and nervous. He’d play along for now as he processed this information.

“Just a guess. You never take them off.” He replied, leaving the except for earlier today to himself. Argos felt her panic ebb with a thin thread of relief. “Honestly, I came here to check on you after the akuma today…” he spoke softly as he looked towards the horizon. Curiosity. Relief. The hint of warmth was back too.

“O-oh… Fel—ah, Argos, you didn’t need to do that. I appreciate your concern though…” He didn’t need to read her emotions to know that she was embarrassed and blushing. His cheeks felt a bit warm too.

“As you know, you mean a lot to me.” Argos turned towards her again, their eyes meeting silently. His voice dropped to a whisper and he reached up to cup her cheek, basking in the warmth of her skin through the magical material. “I wanted – no, needed – to talk to you. After what happened today, I realized I could no longer stand on the sidelines… My priorities and goals have changed. I can no longer play the villain while those I care the most about are caught in the crossfire...”

“What…what are you saying?” Surprise, shock, and hope edged out the lingering nervousness.

Argos’ magenta eyes glowed as he smirked, “I’m saying that I’m on your side, my Lady.”

Marinette’s eyes grew wide, her conflicting emotions ran the gambit so quickly that he struggled to pick up even one in the tidal wave of input as it crashed over him. However, what he did pick up gave him hope: relief and, trailing behind the wave, a hint of pure joy. From the edges of his vision a little red kwami peeked out of a nearby flower planter, impossibly big eyes filled with hope. Felix dropped his transformation and leaned in close, never letting his eyes leave her bluebells as the smirk grew into a teasing smile.