Félix always watched too closely.

Too quietly.

You noticed it at first during a family event—his eyes lingering a little longer when you laughed at Adrien’s jokes, when your hand brushed Adrien’s under the table, when Adrien smiled at you like the world narrowed to just one person.

He didn’t say anything then.

But the silence didn’t last.

The next time he found you alone—just you, grabbing coffee outside the studio—he sat beside you without asking.

—"You know," he said, folding his hands, "Adrien's always been good at pretending."

You blinked.

—"What?"

—"Charming. Polite. Affectionate. It's what he was raised to be. And he's excellent at it."

He sipped his drink slowly, then added with a thin smile:

—"But don't confuse performance with sincerity. You're just another… comforting distraction."

The words landed like ice.

You stared at him.

Félix leaned in slightly, voice lower.

—“He won’t say it. He’s too nice. But eventually, he’ll outgrow this. You’ll see.”

You didn’t answer. Not then. Not when your throat closed, not when your chest burned.

Adrien noticed something was off the second he saw you again.

Your smile was delayed. Your laugh dimmed. And when he reached for your hand, it took you a second too long to meet it.

He didn’t push.

But when he ran into Félix later that night—cornered him in the hallway of their hotel, away from the cameras, the press, the masks—he didn’t waste time.

—“What did you say to them?” Adrien asked.

Félix turned slowly, eyes cold.

—“Oh, so you noticed.”

—“Don’t play dumb.”

Félix tilted his head.

—“I simply told the truth. Someone should.”

Adrien stepped forward, jaw tight.

—“You told them they didn’t matter. That they were just a phase.”

—“Aren’t they?” Félix said, voice calm. “You change masks more often than you change clothes, cousin. You don't know what you want. You never have.”

Adrien’s hands clenched.

—“I’m not like you, Félix.”

Félix’s gaze sharpened.

—“No. You’re worse. Because you still believe someone like you can be truly loved.”

Adrien’s voice didn’t shake when he answered.

—“And I am. Because not everyone is like you.”

Félix blinked.

Adrien stared him down.

—“I don’t need to manipulate people to keep them close. I don’t need to poison what I can’t have.”

Then he turned and walked away.

Back to you.

Back to the person he chose.