Unease in the Air
It was Felix.
Marinette froze, her confusion instantly overtaking any other emotion. “F-Felix?” she stammered, blinking up at him. “What are you doing here?”
Felix raised an eyebrow. He leaned casually against the doorframe, his piercing eyes scanning her with a faint smirk. “Good afternoon to you too, Marinette. Is it really so shocking to see me here? Adrien is my cousin, after all.”
Marinette frowned, her mind racing. Felix wasn’t exactly known for casual visits, especially not ones that involved opening the door for guests. Something about him being here felt...off. “Is Adrien home?” she asked cautiously.
Felix’s smirk grew slightly, a flicker of amusement in his gaze. “He is. Upstairs, in his room. I’ll show you in.”
Marinette hesitated but nodded, stepping inside as Felix closed the door behind her. The air in the mansion felt heavier than usual, like something unseen lingered in the shadows. She followed Felix through the familiar hallways.
“You seem… nervous,” Felix said over his shoulder, his tone light but with a hint of mockery. “Surely you’ve been here before?”
Marinette clenched her fists, forcing herself to stay calm. “I’m just surprised to see you, that’s all,” she said firmly. “You’re not exactly around often.”
Felix chuckled softly, his voice carrying an edge that made her stomach twist. “Fair point.”
They reached Adrien’s door, and Felix stepped aside with an exaggerated flourish. “Here we are. Don’t let me keep you.”
Marinette gave him a careful glance before knocking lightly on Adrien’s door. A familiar, cheerful voice called out, “Come in!”
She opened the door to see Adrien sitting at his desk, a warm smile lighting up his face. The sight instantly melted away some of her tension. “Hey, Marinette! Thanks for coming.”
“No problem,” she said, stepping inside. She couldn’t help but glance back to see if Felix was still there, but the hallway was empty. The unease lingered, but Adrien’s presence helped her push it to the back of her mind.
She sat down next to him, determined to focus on the task at hand. Whatever Felix was up to… she’d worry about it later.
Adrien excused himself to the bathroom, leaving Marinette alone in his spacious, perfectly organized room. She fidgeted with the edge of her notebook, glancing around at the pristine space. The room felt too quiet.
A soft click startled her as the door creaked open. She turned, expecting Adrien to return, but froze when she saw Felix standing in the doorway.
“Oh,” she said, trying to mask her surprise. “It’s you.”
Felix stepped inside, his expression unreadable, the door clicking shut behind him. He didn’t say anything at first, his sharp green eyes scanning the room before landing on her.
“Expecting someone else?” he finally said, his voice smooth and calculated.
“Well, yeah,” Marinette replied, leaning back in her seat. “Adrien said he’d be right back. What are you doing here?”
Felix leaned casually against the door after closing it, his sharp green eyes studying Marinette with an intensity that made her uneasy.
Felix smirked, stepping further into the room, his hands tucked into the pockets of his tailored jacket. “Staying with my dear cousin, of course. But the real question is, what are you doing here?”
“I’m helping Adrien with his homework,” Marinette said quickly, straightening her posture. “Not that it’s any of your business.”
Felix raised an eyebrow, his smirk deepening. “Of course. Ever the helpful friend, aren’t you? You seem... different today though. Distracted.”
Marinette stiffened, her fingers tightening around the hem of her skirt. “I’m fine. Just tired.”
He nodded, but there was a knowing glint in his eye that unsettled her. Felix had always been sharp. He seemed to see through people.
“Funny,” he said, circling the room slowly, his gaze landing on various objects with disinterest. “I heard there was a bit of commotion at your school recently. A student went missing, didn’t they?”
Marinette’s heart skipped a beat, but she kept her expression neutral. “Yeah… Lila. But what does that have to do with me?”
Felix stopped, leaning slightly toward her. “Oh, probably nothing. I just find it interesting how some people have a knack for being at the center of chaos. Don’t you?”
Marinette’s jaw clenched. “If you’re trying to say something, just say it, Felix.”
He chuckled, straightening up. “Relax, Marinette. I’m just making conversation.”
Before she could respond, the door opened again, and Adrien walked back in, his cheerful demeanor immediately breaking the tension in the room.
“Oh, Felix,” Adrien said, oblivious to the strange atmosphere. “Everything okay here?”
“Just saying hello,” Felix replied innocently, his smirk replaced by a polite smile. “Marinette and I were having a chat, just getting to know each other a little better, right, Marinette?”
Marinette ignored his question.
Adrien looked at Marinette, who gave him a quick, tight-lipped smile. “Right,” Adrien said, clearly sensing the awkwardness. “Well, Felix, we’ve got homework to finish.”
“Of course,” Felix said, stepping back toward the door. “Don’t let me interrupt.”
As he left, Marinette exhaled quietly, her shoulders relaxing. Adrien sat down beside her, giving her a concerned look.
“Is everything okay?” he asked gently.
Marinette hesitated, glancing at the door where Felix had just exited. “Yeah,” she said eventually. “Everything’s fine.”