29. Resolve and Light

"What's that mommy?" Dakota asked, only seeing your backside and missing the horrified look on your face as you quickly folded up the letter you had recently opened.

"Just some silly stuff." You forced a smile as you ruffled his bright blonde hair. "You ready to go to Auntie Mari's?" You asked, motioning down to his Moana socks.

"Sorry!" He giggled as he ran into his room to grab his shoes.

You walked into the kitchen and opened the drawer that had quickly filled to the brim with junk. You lifted a couple cords and bills and shoved the terrifying letter under the mass before slamming it shut again.

Resisting the tempting urge to open it again, Dakota came running back into the living room with his car shoes on opposite feet.

"Oh boy."

**

He was, perfect.

"Y/n?" You faintly heard your sister's voice.

Your eyes scanned him entirely. He was incredibly tall and looked to be about two years older than you and your sister. His hair was shaggy and the perfect shade of chocolate brown. His eyes met yours and you could tell instantly that they were the most gorgeous baby blue. He began to grow flustered by your intense staring—which spread a tint of pink across his features.

"Y/n!" Marinette snapped.

"Auntie M why are you yelling?" Dakota whined as he covered his ears.

"What?" Your head snapped as your son's voice broke you out of your trance.

It was already a really weird name.

"You're being strange." She hissed, her voice a whisper.

"Oh it's okay—really!" Anthony laughed bashfully as he cupped his left hand behind his neck, and waved his right back and forth in front of him.

"Sorry-" you blurted. "I'm being rude. It's nice to meet you—I'm Y/n." You turned to look at your blonde little boy. "Dakota, will you tell Mr. Anthony hello?"

"Just Ant is alright." He smiled shyly.

"Hi." Dakota murmured as he shoved his face against your leg, grabbing up for your hand.

You laughed softly. "You're being more shy than normal buddy."

"I don't like him." He muttered and Marinette gasped.

Your brows furrowed. "Dakota that's not nice—you need to apologize-"

"But I don't, you told me not to lie."

Your mouth was agape as you struggled for the right words to say.

"Dakota—Jesse is upstairs. Why don't you go play with him?" Marinette offered and his head shot up excitedly.

"Okay!" He ran off after the stairs and Marinette followed to make sure he knew where he was going.

You shook your head, that girl was always babysitting for Alya and Nino.

"I'm sorry about that." You turned and you were again met with Anthony's perfect face.

"Don't worry about it." He chuckled. The small laughter extended and you adverted your eyes and realized he was looking you over. You stiffened, even though you had done the same to him early, it still felt incredibly wrong. He appeared to be a perfect carving—but you were so utterly normal.

Your hair had grown blander as the dye began to fade. Yes you were fit, but you began gaining lost weight back now that you weren't performing. You always were a sucker for a sweet roll at your parent's bakery. Now that you didn't have producers shoving their needs down your neck, you were shifting back into your own again.

You felt so dull standing next to him, but the creepy look spreading across his face subtly made you wonder if he thought differently.

You opened your mouth to speak when Marinette came jogging back down the stairs. "He's all good." She beamed with her thumb jabbed up.

"You're such a great aunt." You quickly looked over to the man who's demeanor completely flipped.

Mr. Perfect wasn't so great after all.

**

"You we're out late."

The man rolled his eyes as he entered the dark room. "Quit playing around with my miraculous and hand it over."

She scoffed. "Nooroo, dark wings fall."

Nooroo sadly flew out of the miraculous. He had been dreading this moment that he would be released into the world again.

"This plan is getting more and more risky don't you think?" She asked and the man just kept walking.

"I don't see anything wrong with it, everyone is enjoying themselves so far." He hummed.

"Have you made any progress?"

He shrugged. "Not as much as I would like. I have to go again, you got my message?"

"Yes."

"Good. Then we will speak again in five hours."

**

"Y/n, breathe."

Your eyes met his and you resisted the urge to punch him in the face. "I am fucking breathing Luka! I'm just stressed."

You stood in front of the courthouse with Luka and Marinette.

"You need to get it together. You won't be any help to him if you go in there like this." Marinette sighed.

"How could I even help anyways? They're just going to think I'm biased."

"You can help since Adrien was with you during half of the time they are claiming he was helping his father." Luka placed a hand on top of your head and rubbed it reassuringly.

"What if they find some loophole? What if they mention the time we weren't together because of my tour?" You gasped.

"Then you bring up how Adrien was planning to come meet you and Dakota in Italy before he decided to turn himself in to protect you and your son." Marinette was so determined it made your heart race.

"I still don't understand that." Luka grumbled.

"Because! If he ran while they were looking for him he either would have endangered the two of them, or he wouldn't have been able to see them ever again." Marinette snapped.

"I guess that makes sense."

"It would've also made him seem more guilty." You added. "And it could have possibly put me in the same situation he is in."

We were ushered into the court soon after I calmed my nerves. They were starting with Adrien's trial, and moving down the list of who they believed had the strongest offense.

You noticed immediately how stiff Adrien was sitting next to his lawyer. Your eyes widened when you saw Gabriel sitting in the middle row with two officers by his sides, and chains cuffing his arms.

You gulped as you were seated as close to Adrien as they would allow it.

The judge began addressing the jury. "Today we are here to discuss the potential involvement of the members in the Agreste household to the terroristic crimes of Gabriel Agreste."

Your eyes fell to him and you struggled to contain the rage that built up at his lack of a reaction.

You heard a low 'psst' sound as the judge continued addressing the jury. You turned your head and your eyes immediately met with Felix's bright hues that were identical to his cousins.

You felt your heart sink—you didn't even hear him enter.

You whipped your head back around and nudged your sister's leg, mouthing 'Felix' when she looked up at you. Her entire body stiffened, this meant nothing good for Adrien.

The prosecution stood. "While it was an unfortunate claim made against the Agreste family—it is incredibly hard to believe that Adrien Agreste had no knowledge or involvement with his father's criminal tendencies." You stiffened.

He passed the evidence he had against him to the jurors. "In that envelope contains the layout of the agreste mansion. Not only is it built with the strength of a military fortress—but it has a secret room where where the police along with Paris's superheroes found Agreste's mother contained."

The image was displayed for the entire audience to see—it was frightening.

"Agrestewas also not enrolled in high school until his tenth grade year. Often students who were home schooled enter public high schools during their first year—but he did not. He was also known to only leave the house for events put on by his father."

The prosecutor keep going. Everything he listed could be spun both ways.

The most detrimental evidence against him was his fingerprints along that damn shelf behind the portrait of his mother.

"What do you think pretty little Y/n?" Felix's voice drew out ever so slightly by your ear. "That's some pretty tricky evidence they got against him—if you two don't decide to reveal his identity soon, your love might be in trouble." His snicker sent a shiver down your spin. "Don't worry though love, I'll be there to hold you when the nights get rough. Will Dakota even be able to tell the difference between his dear old dad and his uncle?"

You whipped around with your brows furrowed and you let out a low growl. "Shut your damn mouth."

He smirked. "You won't be saying that for long."