Counting Ripples

So what I need you to do is this. Send me an ask.

Character (or pairing), a short blurb ("Adrien confronts Nathalie about the lies his father told him" sort of thing and send it to me!

Characters- adrien and felix

Blurb- adrien getting his first lessons in make up and telling felix about it. All felix takes away is 'how to cover up blemishes' (hide your bruises)

(I WILL DO YOU ONE BETTER. Félix teaching Adrien to use makeup.)

Adrien makes it silly - Adrien always makes it silly. But Félix loves him so he doesn't mind. Plus. Laughing in the attic room as he gently applies concealer to his cousin's face is so much better than helping his mom.

The bruise is also from something fun, the makeup sponge stolen from Auntie's room while the adults drank downstairs.

Adrien makes faces at himself in the mirror. "You're really good at this. When I'm a model, will you be my makeup artist?"

"Do you want me to?" He dabs the bruise on Adrien's cheek gently, blending it in.

"Yeah! Then even if I was stuck on set we could see each other." Adrien furrows his brow and puckers his lips, and then makes another, equally silly face. "You're going to have to practice."

"I help mum with her makeup. She says I have steady hands." Félix reveals softly, gently. "I love helping her brush out her hair." Because she only let's him when father is gone, a time they spend together alone.

"You can brush mine!" Adrien says brightly.

"Glutton." Félix teases. "I told you not to slide."

"And I told you it was worth it." Adrien pokes his tounge out in the mirror and Félix dabs a bit of concealer to it.

"Ew. Tastes bad."

"Mum says they used to have poison in them. So you're lucky." He teases, expertly covering the bruise. He has a lot of practice with bruises. "There. Don't rub your face or get wet."

Adrien pokes his tounge out again. Clearly not learning. "I don't even think they'll be mad."

Adrien trusts his parents. Félix doesn't even trust himself. How can he? When the hands that pinch and tear and ruin are sometimes his own?

"It's better that they don't know anyway." He packs up the stolen makeup. "I can put this back in Auntie's room?"

Adrien nods, his eyes serious and concerned. "Félix?"

"Yes?"

"I really do want you with me." Adrien says, after a pause. "Really really."

Thanks for doing these, very fun reading!

(You get the continuation of the temp character death. Also tw: Adrien's mental health, discussion of self harm and suicidal ideation.)

They've eaten, played video games and now a silly movie is on in the background.

Nino had started out with Adrien's head against his side, body lax and quiet, so he can feel him breathing. But Adrien has steadily crept more into his bubble, first his head on his lap, then arms around his waist. And then a cheek pressed against his chest while Adrien practically sprawls on top of him.

Also, he purrs, his entire body rumbles with the noise of it.

It's soothing, really. Nino has never owned a cat. But he thinks this might be like owning a cat.

For his part, Nino has discovered that Adrien adores hair pets, especially if he scratches his scalp. He likes being held, especially if Nino can overcome his fear of hurting him and gently crush Adrien in his arms. He's pretty open to any touch, and the purrs get deeper when he's being touched.

"What's it like?" He asks softly, running his fingers through Adrien's hair.

"What? Being Chat Noir?" Adrien lifts his head slightly, slow blinking at him.

Nino wonders if that is a cat thing. "Dying, I guess. I mean, I have a lot of questions about Chat Noir too. But dude, you have died so many times."

Adrien snorts, and he can feel the tension, a tightening of his body. "You've died before. Or gotten hit by an Akuma."

"Not like that." Nino says, softly. And tries not to let how shattered it left him show.

"It's usually quick. I don't even feel it." Adrien says. "Just click, gone. And then the cure hits and Ladybug yells at me for being reckless and I tell her I won't do it aga8n - but we both know I will do it again."

"I'm on her side." Nino puts in. "You need to stop. Taking blows is my whole job."

Adrien shrugs, suddenly facinated with a poster on his wall.

Which. Shit. His dad just died. Has he been so tangled in everything going on with his parents that he let this slip by?. "Do you....want to die?" He asks, carefully, trying to remember school PSAs.

"What? No!" Now he's blinking fast again, and - Nino intercepts the hand going to wipe tears away, and gently does the job himself.

Which seems to make the crying worse. Even as Adrien bites his lips and won't look at him.

"I'm still your best friend, no matter what." Nino says. "Even if you're Chat Noir. Even if you scare me by getting hutt for other people. Even if you want to hurt yourself."

"I- Nino." His name is broken in half by a sob, and Adrien burrows his face in his chest, hands clutching his shirt as he shudders.

He's trying to keep the cries quiet, Nino deduces- and he resolves himself to spit on Gabriel Agreste's memorial the next time he has a chance.

"It's ok, dude. I'm here." He wraps his arms around Adrien, and squeezes him as tight as he can.

Neither Kwami shows so much as a whisker. Which is unfair. But he loves Adrien.

"It's my fault." Adrien chokes out. Broken. "I got hit by the Akuma. And he died."

Oh. He's not the only person who associates Adrien's grief with Gabriel. "He *was* the Akuma, and we both know he was a total ass. No amount of sane washing because you don't speak ill of the dead makes him better. He made you miserable and he seemed to enioy it."

"He-" Adrien looks guilty. "He- I."

"Best thing he ever did for you is die, best thing you can ever do for yourself is let him rot and live your best life on your own. Cats will eat their owners right?"

Adrien's eyes go wide. And then he snorts before he starts laughing. He's still crying. But he's also laughing in that rare full-bodied way that shakes the bed. "You are like. His number one hate club."

"I dunno, I thought about asking your aunt if she wanted to join." He grins, pleased that he has distracted him from the guilt spiral.

"Small club." Adrien headbutts his shoulder. Gently. Like he needs reassurance.

"We make up for it in depth of feeling." Nino says, lifting his hand to start petting his hair. "Do you want to hurt yourself?"

"No. Nothing like...I just. Sometimes existing is so hard." Adrien says softly. "I feel like....Sometimes I am just waiting for the world to open up and swallow me whole. Like I was meant to die and...just didn't."

Nino doesn't interrupt, and it may be the second hardest thing he has ever done. Next to sitting by his best friend's body waiting. "I'm glad you didn't die." He says softly, with feeling. "I'm glad you are here, even if it is hard, even if it feels wrong. And if the world swallows you. I'll dig until I find you."

Adrien's answering smile is small, but it feels genuine. "Thanks."

"And now you can talk to me about being Chat Noir, and you won't be alone." He wants to be enough for Adrien.

Adrien and Nino, a cuddly talk after Nino found out Adrien is Chat Noir in the most horrifying way possible, please....

Nino does not wait for the post Akuma debrief - he can't. He'd spent the last hour crouched next to Adrien's body in the rubble, watching his best friend's blood go cold and sticky. Of course now, he's fine. He's standing next to Ladybug, laughing with a stupid look on his face. Oh he's going to-to. He doesn't know. "Chat Noir!" He grabs him by the arm, tugging. Ladybug gives him a look, all narrowed eyes and possessive. "Carapace?" "I just need to talk to him." Nino needs to listen to him breathe, and maybe smack him upside the head, and then sob, because - because he can still feel his blood on his hands, drying, flaking.

"It's alright, Ladybug." Chat Noir says, Adrien's voice from behind the mask clear. "Let me get Carapace home."

Nino chokes on bile, and lets Chat lead them away.

"It's ok. Look. All better." Chat gives him a peace sign, nudging him towards his bed. "Just- Sleep, you'll feel better in the morning."

"Don't do that." Nino reaches for his hand, and Adrien - flinches, but doesn't fight him, not even as he slips it off his finger like it's something dangerous. "Wayzz, Shell off." He whispers, as Adrien's transformation drops too.

Adrien wrinkles his nose. "It always feels sticky when you take the Miraculous off." He says, thoughtful, glancing at his Kwami as Nino tries not to hyperventilate.

His Best Friend has a Kwami. His Best Friend is a Superhero. His best friend is Chat Noir. Nobody knows. His best friend is Chat Noir and he died today, and dozens of times before. "Dude." He manages, and throws his arms around Adrien's neck and shoulders as the sob bubbles up in him.

"Nino." Adrien's voice is soft, and his arms are tentative as they encircle him, but they hold him fast. "Does Marinette know? No - no, she wouldn't, would she? Dude. DId your dad?" "Nobody knows." Adrien tells him gently. "Well, you know, now, and Luka." "You died." Nino blubbers. There's no other word for it. He's snotty and teary and clinging. He doesn't know how he's going to let go of him long enough to do anything else. "And Hawkmoth lost." Adrien takes his hand gently, and Nino sniffles a bit at the thought of him holding his hand for a minute - but Adrien just gently takes his Miraculous back. "Ladybug is the important one." "No, dude, no. You- you're." He grips his wrist, feeling like his entire self has been remade out of hello. "Don't say that. Please don't say that. You're the best. You're amazing - you're you-." "This can't change anything." Adrien tells him gently. "It can't. Nino, nobody can know."

He hates secrets, but he hates the thought of Adrien smiling at him while he died, his last thought for everyone else more. "I won't tell." He whispers. Adrien's eyes study him, heavy and quiet and warm. So serious. Too serious. "One condition." He manages, with a watery laugh. He doesn't know what to make of the look on Adrien's face- the slowly questioning eyebrow reminds him of the secretary a bit. He tries to smile, gripping Adrien's wrist. "If you die - you have to stay the night at my place." So he can count the breaths, so he can feel the reassuring thrum of Adrien's heartbeat. Adrien's lips quirk. "Steep. I pick the movie, though?"

Nino and Adrien

Nino finds out Adrien is Chat Noir, bonus points if the situation is dire and there is injury/pain involved. Nino's protective instincts go nuts.

There is no reason Chat Noir should have taken that hit - taking blows from the Akuma was Carapace's entire job.

But he did, and Nino didn't know why, just knew that Minaturex was already busy evaluating civilians and Chat wasn't getting up.

He jumps down quickly. Heart racing, just as the Akuma turns her laser eyes on them again.

He bubbles shelter around them, dropping to a knee next to him. "Char Noir! Chat Noir! Get up!"

There's a faint groan, but the prone figure isn't moving.

Red stains the blonde strands, trailing along the cup of his ear before dropping to the pavement in a growing pool.

Oh no. "Chat - Chat. Please wake up."

Nothing, he shifts back further, pressing his fingers to his throat, where the suit becomes skin. He's still warm, and relief surges through him at the faint flutter of his pulse.

Fuck. Ok. He's alive. Is unconscious worse? He doesn't know.

"Nino?" Chat breathes, eyes fluttering opened. They don't focus, and one pupil is larger than the others.

Nino is not prepared for the way he shifts, or the sudden flicker of his transformation the damage to the holder seeps into the magic. "You have got to hold on, man." He tells him softly.

"Hurts." His brow furrows, and his words release a trickle of blood from his mouth.

Nino doesn't know what that means exactly, but it isn't good.

"S'marinette ok?" Chat says, voice wet.

"She's not even here." What a silly thing to worry about. "She's with Adrien, they're safe. You're bleeding." From more than one place, shit shit shit.

"Heh." Chat Noir whispers. "She's with me. Safe. Good one." He coughs, and Nino doesn't want to think about those words.

He doesn't want to. But his eyes can't help but trace his face around the mask his heart doing an uncomfortable thump in his chest.

"Don't do this to me." He whispers.

But Adrien is already gone, his last breath easing out of his body.

Luka has his songbook on his head and Adrien sprawled across his lap, fingers tangled in his shirt and pressing against his hip.

Adrien has a tendency of burrowing into his partners like they're the only thing keeping him from falling apart the moment he falls asleep - it's the only time he's unguarded.

Wanton, sure. He's a greedy little thing as seen by Luka's undone trousers and mussed look.

But unguarded? Never. Except when he’s too exhausted to stay awake.

Luka lowers the book, cheeks flushing like they haven't been lovers and roommates for almost three years. "You're the only one here without a Miraculous." He complains in a soft voice.

"I know every door and floorboard." He jokes softly, lowering his bag. "When did he get home?"

"Six. He was almost manic, made too much oatmeal. Then he put too much sugar in it and I thought he would crawl out of his own skin. Plagg was almost gray with exhaustion."

Often. Too often. He hates Gabriel Agreste with a fire that rarely cools, but he keeps it carefully banked inside him. The man's sins are many, and his judgements will come.

Jalil lifts his legs carefully, and Adrien half stirs, mumbles something, and turns his face into Luka's stomach. "Do you think we could get him to bed?"

"You could." Luka says wistfully, voice full of doubt.

"He's asleep on you." But Jalil slides his arms carefully under Adrien's body, lifting him carefully to his arms.

At twenty-three, Adrien is lanky. But despite the hard edges of muscle under his skin, he is too thin and too light.

Luka gets up and closes the book, tucking it under his arm and lifting Plagg and Sass into a gentle one handed grip.

Jalil is an outsider, a hostage rather than a prisoner. But what he has to share he gives them.

As much as their masters will allow. Adrien and Luka are both held on leashes, one of spirit and one of heart.

These days, he wonders if Adrien is as much a tether for Luka as his sister is.

He wonders if he is becoming another wall of their cage as well.

Long bodied or not, Adrien's eyes flutter open and his lips curl into a catlike grin, arms lifting to wrap around his neck. "You're back."

"I am back." Jalil agrees. "And I have thought of nothing more fondly than sleeping in my own bed for six weeks, my moonlight, will you indulge us?"

It is easier for Adrien to yield to his own comfort of he thinks he is providing for someone else.

Adrien's sleepy smile warms, and he nestles against his shoulder. "Of course."

Luka stops in the kitchen, and the bathroom, while Jalil focuses on stripping himself and Adrien and getting to the bed.

Adrien is asleep by the time Luka returns, bottles of water under his arm and a tray of snacks - mostly for the Kwami if they wake up.

"I could go to my room, if you want time alone with him?" Luka days quietly, arranging things on the side table.

"I said we." Jalil murmers, setting his glasses on the bedside table and crossing the room to him. "We are in this together, starlight." He tucks a fading strand of hair behind his ear, leans to kiss him.

Luka is quiet under his touch, reserved, but presses his hands to his chest. "I just don't want to intrude."

"This is your home. You aren't a consolation prize." He presses a kiss to his forehead, and gently eases him out of his clothes. "Or an intruder. We both want you here."

Curse Jagged Stone. For making Luka feel like a guest in his own life, curse Gabriel Agreste for making Adrien feel like a puppet in a play.

And curse him, he supposed, for loving them both. But he refuses to stop.

In this stupid situation, of the choices available to him he will choose this every time.

Luka's hands slide down his waist, and Jalil smiles as he returns to kissing him properly, again and again.