#faybon

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.

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.... 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.

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

"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.

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.

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.