#margos

*******

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.

~~~~~~~

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

~~~~~~~

“What….is….happening?” Marinette’s bewildered whisper was nearly drowned out by the lively guitar music, her forehead creased in confusion and curiosity. Wayzz and Tikki floated over her left shoulder, the turtle kwami sporting the same mildly fascinated look an animal documentarist might have watching a rare species while the red bug kwami looked unimpressed and bored. All three pairs of eyes focused on the flashy display of blues, purples, and greens before them; augmented by the occasional trilling of a flute.

Wayzz cleared his throat and adopted a more serious expression before speaking softly. “Observe, the male of the species. It is said to be legend in some cultures that the flamboyant display is a divine sign of incoming monsoon.” He paused and all three tilted their heads as the tapping of feet increased, then reduced yet again.

Tikki snorted, “I wish a monsoon would come end this. Where’s Plagg when you need him?”

The turtle continued as if she had not spoken. “Their call is often described as haunting…” – another flute trill – “…if loud. Only the male has the beautiful plumage to display, which they can do for only short amounts of time—”

“Not short enough.” The bug snarked over Wayzz’s calm voice.

“Tikki!” came Marinette’s affronted whisper.

“…Their feathers are considered to ward off bad energies or provide luck and protection in certain cultures.”

All three blinked as the display before them expanded and grew to be more colorful.

“Good grief…” Tikki sighed in exasperation, bringing her small nub of a paw up to rub at her face.

“In the spring the male’s tail will come in fully, which they will fan it open and shake them, in an effort to attract a mate—”

“A WHAT?!” Marinette whisper screeched, her eyes bulging as her face reddened. She peeled her gaze from the deadpan kwami and back towards the man in front of her. Viewing the strange performance that he was exhibiting in a new light, she rested her chin behind interwoven fingers while deep in thought.

“The peacock wishes to charm and be selected as a mate, Grand Guardian,” Wayzz stated simply.

“Hmph, certainly new. When was the last time we had a male peafowl holder?” Tikki mused to her fellow kwami while her chosen deliberated silently.

“Oh goodness, not for a couple millennia. He was a Buddhist monk, if I recall correctly…took a vow of celibacy…” the turtle hummed softly, his eyes following the ostentatious movements.

The bug kwami patted the young woman’s cheek, gaining her attention. “It could be worse, Marinette. Remember when Chat Noir left dead mice on your balcony?”

The bluenette cringed, “Ugh, no, I had hoped to forget that phase forever.”

Tikki giggled, “Plagg wasn’t much better. When he decided to court me in the 13th century, he brought a large slice of Pont l’Eveque into the miracle box.” Marinette looked horrified. “Took it at least a century to air that out. The miraculous temple was very displeased.” Both kwami shuddered at the memory.

With a loud bang, all three jumped and returned their attention back to the dancing young man before them. “Pyrotechnics?! Okay, that’s it!” Marinette got up and stormed over to the boombox, cutting the music and leaving a breathless Argos stumbling to a stop.

“Wha…”

“I like you too. Pick me up for dinner at 20:00, nothing too fancy,” the bluenette called out over her shoulder as she walked away.

“Wait! You didn’t let me finish!” The blond protested tiredly, panting from the exertion.

The young woman paused with one foot hooked on the fire escape ladder, looking at him fondly. “It was a lovely dance, Felix.  I especially liked when you shook your—ahem, 20:00. Don’t be late.” With that, she disappeared over the side of the roof and back towards her open apartment window.

“BUT I TOOK FLAMENCO LESSONS FOR EIGHT WEEKS FOR THIS!”

~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~

And I’d give up forever to touch you

'Cause I know that you feel me somehow

You’re the closest to heaven that I’ll ever be

And I don’t want to go home right now

Argos watched as the ravenette walked home from the fabric store after 9:00pm, he kept to the shadows. He smiled; it seemed like she could sense him as she kept glancing over her shoulder. Ever since the Diamond Dance, he had been watching her – at first because he was curious about the baker girl that spent far too much time with his cousin. Perhaps she was simply using Adrien? Felix knew he would need to keep a close eye on her, remaining transformed so he could stealthily move across rooftops. He only left her vicinity during akuma attacks so that he could hunt down Ladybug during the battle. As time wore on, she seemed to let her affections for the other blond go and her attempts of friendship appeared genuine. With time he witnessed the young designer’s unyielding kindness to others, even those that did not deserve it – those that betrayed or bullied her. Marinette even fed that mangy Chat Noir on occasion! She was the living embodiment of ‘killing with kindness’ and he was so enraptured that he couldn’t look away. She was a literal pearl before the swine; an angel among the unwashed masses...

The peacock holder was drawn from his thoughts when he heard Marinette’s steps falter before an alleyway. Emerging from the darkness stood two men sporting toothy grins that seemed dangerously predatory. The young designer took a step back, her eyes darting around looking for an exit strategy.

“Hey there sweet thing, how about we have some fun?” The taller one asked, both advancing on her.

“No, I don’t think so. I’ll be on my way,” Marinette replied sternly, hugging her bag to her chest, and turning toward the street in an effort to run away.

However, the shorter one rushed in and grabbed her elbow before she could run. The girl attempted to break free or scream but a knife appeared at her throat. “Now now, let’s not make a fuss, hmm?” They began to drag her towards the alleyway while they chuckled.

Argos’ blood began to boil, clenching his teeth so hard he thought he heard them crack. He was no hero but like hell would he let someone hurt his—his—his…civilian. He stepped from the shadows and cautiously looked down into the alleyway to assess the situation but, watching one of the men slap Marinette so hard that she stumbled back against a wall, caused his blood to suddenly become ice.

All I can taste is this moment

And all I can breathe is your life

And sooner or later, it’s over

I just don’t want to miss you tonight

Within moments, Argos landed in front of the ravenette and brandished his fan with a cold glare at the two men. The taller one had begun to unfasten his belt and pants while the smaller one stood between them and the exit. ‘Likely to prevent her escape and keep an eye out for any passersby who might interrupt,’ the villain-turned-protector thought with disgust.

He heard her gasp behind him, the quiet ‘Argos…?’ in a breathy whisper alerted him that she was still conscious. Good.

“Eh, who the hell are you?!"

“No one of consequence,” he replied smoothly, making sure that his calculating magenta eyes were shadowed in his hood. If he was lucky, these two buffoons wouldn’t have a clue about him wielding a miraculous. Perhaps they’d assume he was just some random costumed prick that imagined themselves a hero.

And I don’t want the world to see me

‘Cause I don’t think that they’d understand

When everything’s made to be broken

I just want you to know who I am

The shorter man lunged with the knife and Argos blocked it with his fan, trapping the blade between the metal ribs and ripping it from the attacker’s hand before kicking him squarely in the groin. The attacker dropped like a stone and Argos wasted no time executing a spinning back kick – landing it squarely across the man’s skull, knocking him out cold and causing his body to splay out across the cement. Argos turned to face the taller man, who was charging towards him and swinging a larger blade recklessly. All the purple hooded teen could do was dodge the furious swipes, waiting for an opening.

The second attacker seemed to trip on something in the darkness and the peacock holder took this moment to slam a roundhouse kick into the man’s side, causing him to crash into a trashcan, appearing to knock himself out. Argos looked over his shoulder, magenta irises met the shocked bluebells he had come to admire from afar. Marinette’s typical pigtails were disheveled – one had obviously been pulled by one of the men – and her form was still huddled against the wall where she had landed. Her cheek was swollen and red, he knew the girl would likely be sporting a bruise or black eye by morning. Her left jacket sleeve was ripped at the shoulder seam from when they grabbed her. He could see tear tracks on her cheeks outlined by her running mascara – tears that had been born from unadulterated fear. Argos’ stomach churned at the idea of someone else having their hands on her, he hated that his ang—civilian had been hurt.

He stepped closer, his hand outstretched to help her to her feet. “Can you walk? We need to get you out of here.”

Fear flashed in her eyes and she yelled, “Look out!”

And you can’t fight the tears that ain’t coming

Or the moment of truth in your lies

When everything feels like the movies

Yeah, you bleed just to know you’re alive

He had managed to half turn back to his attacker only to feel the knife plunge into his side, he grunted as pain shot through his entire body. Argos could see the edges of his vision darken and he stumbled back a couple steps, his free hand cupping the wound as it began to seep blood until the purples of his suit turned maroon around the hilt. Adrenaline and endorphins kicked in, bringing with it a buzzing to his muscles and mind that screamed fight. He looked up at the grinning attacker with a smirk.

“Wrong move,” Argos sneered. He yanked the knife from his side with a painful gasp, taking a second to re-orientate himself as his vision swam. Then he pulled and imbued a feather with power, fusing it into the knife. It transformed into a giant, blood-red minotaur that billowed smoke from its nostrils; the horns, two gleaming knives upon its head. His attacker and his reawakened friend’s faltering steps took them back towards the alley’s entrance. “Minotorn, escort our friends here to their doom.” Screaming, the two attackers took off and the sentimonster snorted before giving chase, leaving the two teens alone once again.

And I don’t want the world to see me

‘Cause I don’t think that they’d understand

When everything’s made to be broken

I just want you to know who I am

With the immediate danger passed, his vision began to blur and the world began to spin. ‘Blood loss…,’ the vague thought drifted through his rapidly clouding consciousness. Argos staggered towards the one thing he could still clearly see: Marinette. Her brow was lowered in a way that made her nose crinkle – ‘cute’ his hazy mind supplied – but at least she was back on her feet. Although, he could tell by the way she favored her left foot that she must have injured the other ankle in the struggle earlier.

“Are you alright?” He asked quietly, finding that talking was becoming far more difficult.

“I’ll be fine, just a twisted ankle! But are you okay? You were stabbed!”

Argos chuckled painfully, leaning against the wall beside her as he pressed a gloved hand to his gaping wound. “Not my finest performance. I admit, I’ve felt better…” Feeling too weak to stand, he slid down the wall until he was half crouched on the ground.

Marinette pulled off her jacket and kneeled beside him with a wince. She began ripping the material into strips before bundling it into a makeshift compress that she then placed firmly against the laceration. Argos hissed with pain but allowed her to care for his wound with no further protest. He never expected to ever be on the receiving end of her kindness… As Argos, he was a villain. As Felix he was too broken, too arrogant, too numb to deserve it. As his miraculous began to beep, he focused in on studying Marinette up close. Beautiful blue eyes were framed by long black lashes, which fluttered down against her delicate pale cheek bones as she focused on her task. Between the smears of mascara and eyeliner he could make out a few tiny freckles that seemed to dance as she scrunched her face with worry. Her hair, which almost glowed blue in the sun, now appeared inky black in the darkened alley.

She turned those eyes back towards his face, barely able to see his eyes beneath his hood. “Why did you come to help me, Argos?” He stared at her for a moment, trying to formulate the right words but failing. He let his eyes drop to the ground without answering.

I just want you to know who I am…

As the last warning beep rang out, she reached up to cup his cheek and turned his face to meet her eyes. Her skin was soft and warm despite the chill in the air, the sensation made something in his chest tumble about like a preening bird in front of its desired mate. His transformation fell away and, with it, so did Felix’s emotional walls. His eyes laid himself bare before her, exposing himself as a broken mess that had fallen head over heels for the clumsy girl that had once crushed on his cousin. A girl he had mocked, tricked, and then made to disappear under his Red Moon…

“…I’m s-sorry, Angel…,” he finally managed to choke out, his voice betraying the increasingly weakened state he was in. The adrenaline had fully worn off and, without the protection of his miraculous suit, the pain he was in tripled. Felix struggled to keep his eyes open, not wanting to leave Marinette here alone. At least his sentibeing could protect her until Ladybug purifies it…

‘Marinette would be a beautiful peahen…,’ he thought blearily, the color of her eyes flashing through his mind. ‘…she’s already blue.’

“You…what did you call me? Felix? Hey, stay with me! Felix!” He could hear the panic rising in her voice but could no longer respond, his eyes closing as he succumbed to the blackness that seemed to be calling his name. Unable to sustain his balance any longer, his body fell forward and landed in her arms. He vaguely registered her warmth and scent before the numbness began to overtake his senses. With the last vestiges of his consciousness, he heard Marinette mumble something and then the familiar zip of a yo-yo.