Chapter Text
Minotaurox had been intending to go home. Sneak into his bedroom window and crash in bed. He hadn’t been a Hero long, but three in the morning Akumas were exhausting. And now he could see the faint beginnings of dawn peeking through the skyline.
Going to bed had been the plan. Until he got to his street and heard yelling. He approached carefully on the rooftops. Resisting the urge to run in as he recognized one of the voices, though still grabbing his hammer.
He could see two people on the sidewalk in front of the building. One was his grandmother. And despite the fact that Eva was a tiny old lady, she was not at all fearful of the very large man in front of her.
Instinct told Minotaurox to step in. But something had him waiting. Observing.
“I just want to see him,” the man said.
“You have no right!” Eva shouted back at him. “You gave up that right years ago! How they let you go I have no idea but how dare you show up here again!?”
“A boy needs his father!” the man insisted.
“That ‘boy’ is nearly a man!” she snapped back. “A better man than El Toro will ever be!”
The man flinched at the title, and Minotaurox’s hands tightened around his hammer.
“Better late than never?” the man offered once he found his voice.
“Not when it comes to you,” Eva spat. “Ivan is the only good thing to come from you. Vasilisa was a good kid before she met you and I won’t let your corruption taint him as well!”
“She made her own choices,” he said. “Stubborn as she was, she-”
“Don’t you justify what you did!” she shouted, getting somehow louder. “I won’t lose him like I lost her!”
The man didn’t have an argument for that. The declaration taking the wind out of his sails. Though he muttered that he would return, he left. As soon as he turned at the end of the street, Eva went inside.
As soon as the door closed, Minotaurox took off in the opposite direction. The entire interaction playing in his head.
He had remembered the man now. Ages ago that it seemed like something else. He’d always been living with his grandmother most days. “Mama and Papa are working” was the explanation. Still, on their days off. He could remember his mom singing him to sleep. His dad trying to teach him boxing despite having such clumsy coordination at that age.
Minotaurox knew where he was going, but didn’t bother thinking about it. Letting muscle memory take over and pick which way to go. Only snapping back to reality when a loose roof tile shook his step, but hurriedly getting back up to pace.
He dropped onto the fire escape. Down the steps until he got to the window he was looking for. Tapping on the glass.
Mylene jumped and nearly screamed, not expecting anyone outside her bedroom window. She was quick to unlock it once she realized who was outside. Dropping the transformation, Ivan shimmied his way through the window.
“You could come through the door,” Mylene said, though paused a moment after. “Are you okay?”
“I don’t know,” Ivan answered. “I think…. I think I just met my dad.”
“I didn’t know you had a dad,” she replied. “I mean of course you do. Everyone does. But I mean-”
“I get it,” he assured, taking her hand. “I just… I need to think about some things and I didn’t want to be home for it.”
“I’m sure,” she said. “Do you want anything to eat? I was just going to go get breakfast and I’m sure you haven’t had anything. Plus I should warn my parents you’re here instead of them walking in and assuming you sneaked in. Which, technically, you did.”
“Yeah,” he nodded. “Don’t want to scare them. Again.”
He automatically leaned down, right as Mylene went on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. He squeezed her hand for a moment before letting go. And she slipped out the door.
Ivan dropped onto the floor by her bed. Though his mind was still reeling, he knew he needed information. And his grandmother…. She had never been very willing to tell him much about his parents. Sure she shared stories of when his mother was little, but she didn’t say much regarding the why or how she had died. And the only thing she’d say about his father was that ‘he was gone and good riddance for that!’.
He doubted he’d get any more out of her now. But that conversation did give him more than he’d had before.
Pulling out his phone, he typed ‘El Toro’ into the search engine. Frowning when he got the more predictable results such as bulls, Mexican restaurants, and a roller coaster. He modified the search, adding ‘Bruel’ to the search. And boy did that get different results.
El Toro. Raul Bruel. A supervillain. Not major. Explains why Ivan had never heard the name. But formidable nonetheless.
That….. he wasn’t sure what to make of that. His hand came up to his face, thumb playing with the Ox Miraculous. The child of a Villain, becoming a Hero. He wondered what that meant. If it was the Universe letting him balance out the sins, or if it were just coincidence.
As he scrolled through articles, he found another name repeating. “Rusalka”. An accomplice? He clicked on one of the articles and for a moment everything stopped.
There was a photo. El Toro and Rusalka, taunting the police after a heist. A stolen jewel around Rusalka’s neck, and El Toro’s arms around her waist. A devilish grin and dark hair a waterfall over her shoulders.
A face he saw every day. The photo his grandmother kept in the kitchen.
He clicked through a few more articles. Tales of exploits and the heists and the failure of the police or Heroes to catch them.
Until an article dated a decade ago.
A heist gone wrong in London.
El Toro, finally in custody.
Rusalka, killed in action.
Speculation of a team up with another Villain being behind the event.
Ivan tried not to grip his phone so hard lest it break. He had answers. But answers begat more questions, which made him all the more interested in satisfying the curiosity. Though he feared that, even if confronted with more pointed questions, his grandmother wouldn’t tell him anything.
Raul would though, wouldn’t he? In that case it was just a question of finding him.
L’Enchantment Royale.
Ivan stared at the shop. It didn’t seem particularly mystical or anything. Yet he was told it was the right place.
He’d met Ariel only the once before. At the Karaoke livestream. The rest of the Team had explained that she knows about all Magic going on in the city. Including them and their nonsense. Which wasn’t at all terrifying to think about no sir.
But if anyone knew how to locate a former Supervillain….
He opened the door. Finding a mostly unassuming shop. Except for the fact that it was certainly bigger on the inside than it appeared to be. He could see crystals and gems, both raw stone and in jewelry. Books. Herbs and other such things that he could only describe as ‘potion ingredients’. The only ordinary thing in the shop seemed to be the register counter.
At first, the shop seemed empty. As he walked in further, he could feel a presence. Movement above his head. Looking up he saw a… creature. In the rafters.
It was the size of a large dog. Pink scales and wings. Golden horns and claws. Red…. Hair? Fur? Either way a lot of it on its head and down its spine and to the tuft of a tail that hung down. Sharp teeth and bright green eyes staring down at him.
It was then that Ivan remembered the title they had used for Ariel. “The Dragon Witch of Paris”.
“Good morning,” Ariel said.”I would tell you that the quartzes are on a discount today, but I have a feeling you’re not just browsing.”
It was weird to hear a person’s voice coming out of a Dragon’s mouth. He wasn’t sure how the more animal-like snout was able to make the right shapes for words.
Still. Despite nerves, he clenched his fists and kept his determination high.
“I’m looking for someone,” Ivan explained. “El Toro. Raul Bruel. If anyone can tell me where he is…”
“Ah,” Ariel said. “I was waiting for that to play out. Though I wonder… did your friend know when she gave you that Power?”
Marinette? He couldn’t imagine she had known. Ivan himself hadn’t known. And yet…. He had to wonder. Why did he get the Ox? Could it have something to do with El Toro? No there was no way. Right?
Despite not answering, Ariel gave a smirk. A flick of her tail, and magic shifted. Bringing a file into existence. She opened it up and skimmed through.
“Raul Bruel,” Ariel read off. “Convicted for multiple heists using Magic-enhanced strength. Given a lighter sentence in exchange for information on a fellow Villain named Sphinx. Add on good behavior and signing up for the new rehabilitation program, was allowed out in just a decade with monitored-”
“Rehabilitation program?” Ivan asked.
“It’s a new program,” she explained. “Helping keep former villains from returning to crime. Get them out of dangerous situations, set them up with a therapist, help them find new jobs that pay enough to make a living. So on and so forth. We do keep an eye on them of course given…. Everything.”
Huh. Sounds helpful. He hadn’t really thought about that before. It was probably more complicated than she was making it sound though. Like you can’t just have a former villain say they’re cool now and hire them as the Louvre’s security guards or any-
“Boo!”
Ivan jumped away, dropping into a fighting stance. Reaching for a weapon that wasn’t there. It was not an Akuma standing behind him, but a man. At least it looked like a man, but given the Dragon hanging out in the rafters, he wasn’t trusting that.
The man was tall, Asian, and looked like he just rolled out of the thrift store dumpster. Long silver hair and matching color scruff on his face, but he didn’t look old. His eyes did, peeking out from behind round sunglasses. Red and intense, even with the mirth of his scare still in them.
Ivan had seen him before. Hanging with Ariel at Karaoke night. But he didn’t remember anything else.
“What are you doing here?” Ariel sighed.
“I sensed daddy issues and drama,” the man shrugged. “Where else do you expect me to be?”
Ariel sighed once more, giving the man a withering look before turning her attention back to Ivan.
“That’s Guy,” Ariel explained. “Ignore him.”
“Hey I come here bearing advice!” Guy protested.
“What advice?” Ivan wondered, curiosity getting the better of him.
“That sometimes parents fucking suck,” he said. “Sometimes they’re awful people, and kicking them out of your life is the best thing to do. Don’t feel guilty about it.”
“Not everyone’s parents are like yours,” Ariel said.
“Hm, true,” he said, leaning against the shop’s counter. “Doesn’t mean I’m wrong. Don’t let people’s ideas of ‘blood over everything’ and ‘but they’re your parents!’ or some longing for parental affection convince you that you have to give them a chance regardless of what they did.”
“But they could also be good,” she said, turning her attention back to Ivan. “For better or worse, people are capable of change. While we can offer advice, it is up to you what you want to do about it. You can give your father a chance, or walk away.”
“Do I have to decide now?” Ivan asked.
“No,” she answered. “You can wait a while, or you can change your mind if you think you were wrong. Your only limit is time itself. The choice will not wait forever.”
“Of course if it goes badly, you have options,” Guy offered, a spark of flame in his hands.
Ivan hesitated. What was it he wanted from this? Was he chasing an idea of something that wasn’t real? The fantasy of a father versus the reality of a villain?
No. He wanted answers. Information. He’d make a decision based on that.
Ivan was once again staring up at a shop. Checking the address again. He wasn’t sure what to find here. It said it was some kind of repair shop?
Inside was more of a front office or a waiting room. Through an open doorway he could see something that looked like a workshop. Tools and parts on tables and sounds of metal on metal. But here was just a woman and a desk.
“Good morning,” the woman greeted. “Picking up or dropping off?”
“Neither,” Ivan answered. “I’m… uh. I’m looking for Raul?”
The woman tilted her head for a moment. Giving him a look over. Then she turned back to look through the workshop door.
“Hey, Raul, got one for ya!” she shouted.
“I swear if it’s another goddamn clock, I’m gonna clock someone!” a man’s voice shouted back.
As the man walked through the door, Ivan was hit with recognition immediately. Fuzzy memories surfaced, and he tried to reconcile both then and now. He remembered Raul being bigger, but Ivan had been so small back then. Now he was just a touch shorter. Dark hair had flecks of gray. A few more scars than he could recall.
He could see Raul recognize him too. The annoyance of customer service being replaced with something soft. He stepped closer, a hand momentarily reaching up. As if to try and ruffled Ivan’s hair. But he hesitated. Pulling back.
Raul looked over at the girl at the counter. Reaching over to grab a pen and paper.
“I’m going on lunch,” Raul said.
“You just got here,” the woman said.
“Maurice will understand,” he said, finishing whatever he was scribbling. “Let’s go, mijo.”
Ivan found himself herded out the door. Not far, there was a cafe just two shops down. Ordering was a blur. He wasn’t that hungry, honestly, but he would at least buy a drink. Raul looked proud when he attempted to pay, but shut it down and paid for both orders.
Soon enough they were sat at a table outside. Ivan often felt too large at these sorts of places, but having Raul really made it feel like they were sitting at a child’s tea party.
Speaking of, the man hadn’t yet figured out how to begin the conversation. To be fair, Ivan also wasn’t sure.
“Suppose you heard that shouting match this morning,” Raul said.
“Babushka can get pretty loud,” Ivan shrugged.
“When Eva has an opinion on something, she sure makes it known,” he chuckled for a moment, before his expression dropped. “I don’t…. I don’t know how much she’s told you about-”
“Not much,” he said. “Just that you were gone and that was a good thing. Everything else came from an internet search this morning.”
“She’s probably right,” he said.
He said it with such melancholy. A sigh and gazing down into his coffee cup. Not really looking at it, but past it.
Ivan felt bad for phrasing it that way, but it was the truth. Still, he felt the need to avoid the situation.
“Why a repair shop?” Ivan asked.
“Needed something to do,” Raul answered. “Raw strength might be my specialty, but I’m good with my hands.”
“And the clocks?” he wondered.
“Oh, dios mío,” he groaned, running a hand over his face. “Something seems to have broken every clock in the city. Fine enough for simple clocks or digital computers. But antiques seem to take finesse! We are backed up with repair orders.”
Ivan tried to look like he knew nothing about a Time Anomaly that had caused that. Nope no sir no Magic here.
“Are you….” Raul trailed off for a moment. “Are you sixteen or seventeen now? I remember your birthday is November 12, but the years got fuzzy for me.”
“Sixteen,” Ivan answered.
“Still in school?” he asked. “Doubt Eva would let you quit. Good grades then?”
“Mostly,” he said. “Language is better than math, that sort of thing. I’m not failing though.”
“There’s that, at least,” he said. “Hope you have a friend or two in there.”
“Yeah there’s a big group of us,” he said. “Some of us are in a band together.”
“Bet you’re a drummer or bassist,” he said. “Can’t be a guitarists. Guitarists are all prettyboys.”
Ivan snorted with laughter. The man had hit the nail on the head with that one. Wonder what he’d think when he found out the band’s lead singer liked to sing rock songs about unicorns.
“What about a girlfriend?” Raul asked, an almost mischievous grin accompanying it. “Or a boyfriend, if you’re into-”
“Just girls,” Ivan said, somewhat relieved at the affirmation. “One girl, I mean. And she’s- she’s great. We’ve been dating a year and she’s one of the sweetest people I know and-”
Ivan paused and blushed. He loved Mylene of course. But gushing about her to a man who was, essentially, a stranger to him? That felt too embarrassing.
“Ha, I remember those days,” Raul said. “It feels like it’ll last forever.”
He got that melancholy look again. And while Ivan hesitated, not wanting to poke the bull, he had to know.
“What happened?” Ivan asked. “With- with my mom, I mean. I can guess some stuff, especially with the news articles but….”
Raul sighed again. Taking a long swig of his drink to buy time to think.
“I’m not sure if I can explain the whole thing,” Raul said. “Don’t think many people plan to go into crime and supervillainy. Somehow things just spiral. Probably would’ve spiraled worse without Vasilisa. She might’ve loved the thrill, but she kept to her morals.”
Ivan wasn’t sure what to think of that. The version of his mother in his head was, likely, a bit too innocent compared to the real thing. His grandmother hadn’t wanted him to know, after all.
Not that he didn’t know anything at all. Eva had shared a few stories. How Vasilisa had loved to sing, and would have adored Ivan’s band. The first time she attempted to bake, and turned the kitchen into a disaster zone for thinking ‘surely the blender doesn’t need a lid!’.
“Before I say anything else, I need to say-” Raul trailed off that sentence, looking over Ivan’s shoulder. “Ah, fucking hell.”
Ivan followed his gaze and… yeah. Appropriate reaction for a furious and fast-approaching Eva.
“You!” Eva shouted, unafraid of getting right up in Raul’s face. “I told you to stay away!”
“He came and found me!” Raul defended. “Of course he’d want to learn for himself instead of listening to you tell him not to!”
“And do you even care how he’ll feel when he realizes you’re just using him?” she demanded.
“I’m not using him you daft old bat I-”
Before he could offer a counter-argument, Eva pulled something out of her purse. A necklace? It was familiar. A large orange stone set into intricate gold. Where did he see that before?
In a photo. Looking up El Toro and Rusalka. The necklace they stole and taunted the police with.
“Where did you even find that?” Raul asked.
“Who knows how much you hid in my home,” Eva said. “You want it? Fine! But don’t come around here pretending that you suddenly want to be a decent person!”
“That’s not why I’m here!” he insisted. “And would you put that thing down before you break it?!”
Ivan wanted to believe him. Everything Raul had said so far had seemed genuine. But at the same time, there wasn’t much conversation. You can’t know a man’s true intentions by just a short interaction.
The idea itself hurt. And Ivan hadn’t even realized how much hope he had put into this. He’d told himself it was just about getting information but… the idea of having a father back in his life did pull at him, didn’t it?
He wanted Raul to say something. To look at him and reassure him that he was here because he cared. Not just to recover some stash of hidden treasures.
The man’s eyes never left the necklace. Watching it sway in Eva’s hands as she continued to yell at him.
This entire thought train derailed and exploded as a familiar purple mask appeared over both of their faces. Ah, fucking hell.
The one good thing about Paris was that the civilians had learned very quickly how to get the hell out of dodge. The cafe patrons had been on edge watching the fight, but were now sprinting through the door or leaping over the fence of the outdoor seating area. The staff didn’t even care about potential dine and dashing as they were running out with them.
Ivan was torn between trying to run or trying to help. His indecision screwed him over as Raul’s form dissipated into purple smoke, and he found an Akuma in his place.
As large as Raul had been, the Akuma was larger still. All black rock in a way that sickeningly reminded Ivan of Stoneheart. Gold accents and bull-like features such as horns added to his head.
When Ivan had met Raul face to face the man had seemed intimidating but non-threatening. Not someone he could imagine as a villain.
The Akuma he saw now was not Raul, but El Toro. And the Villain’s gaze had landed on him. He took a step back.
“Don’t run from your father, mijo,” El Toro said, a terrifying grin despite the stone of his face. “You’ve been on your own for so long, little calf. But your rough and tough dad is here now. I’ll make you into a real toro, a strong and invincible bull!”
Ivan’s thought process on that was interrupted as Eva went up in smoke too. Even El Toro was shocked as the fog billowed bigger and bigger. Eventually revealing a wooden house propped up on an equally-sized pair of bird legs.
“EL TORO!!!” Baba Yaga screeched.
“Ah, fucking hell,” both father and son sighed.
Ivan decided to run for it. Picking a random direction and sprinting off. He could hear heavy footsteps chasing after him. Both the quick pace of El Toro, and the booming steps of Baba Yaga.
He kept running. Even when the sound increased to a thunderous noise that threatened to trip him. He dared to glance back, finding a whole crowd chasing him. No, not a crowd. A herd.
For a moment he tried to keep his eyes ahead. Curiosity got the better of him and he looked over his shoulder. El Toro had a whip. And he’d flick it at unsuspecting bystanders trying to scramble out of the way, turning them into a stone bull. The newest bull joining the stampede.
As Ivan felt his feet leave the ground, he cursed himself for not paying attention and tripping over something as he ran. Then he cursed himself for being so focused on El Toro, he forgot about Baba Yaga up above.
It wasn’t until he felt the familiar drop, *thwip!* sound, and upswing that he realized what had really happened.
They were a few more swings away, far enough that the stampede and swearing in Spanish and Russian had faded, when they landed on a rooftop.
“Are you okay?” Ladybug asked.
“Yeah, I think so,” Ivan replied.
“Okay,” she nodded. “Do you know what we’re dealing with? I saw the bulls and the house… Is it a Sentimonster? Or two Akumas?”
“Two and….” he shook his head. “Did you know?”
“Know what?” she asked.
“El Toro,” he said. “The Villain. My father.”
“You have a father?” she asked.
As is Ladybug, she immediately made the most cringed expression of ‘oh fuck!’ and attempting to apologize. Ivan sighed. Somewhat relieved she didn’t know. It was just coincidence. Though he’d assumed, it was good to have confirmation. Just once of those weird things that happened.
“Stompp, Stampede!”
That got her to skip the apologies and go right to strategizing. Minotaurox looked out on the city. He could see Baba Yaga’s hut peeking out from behind the rooftops. But where was-
Oh. A few blocks down, he saw a handful of Heroes. They were too far away for him to make out which ones, but they were focused on an area. Likely luring the bulls around until they could think of something to do.
“Lucky Charm!”
He watched as Ladybug caught a cowboy hat. She flipped it in her hands a few times, before putting it on her head. A wicked grin on her face that made Minotaurox almost worried she’d jump into something’s mouth. Thankfully neither Akuma had a big enough mouth.
Another glance at the city, and he could see the group with the bulls coming their way. Minotaurox jumped down to the road. Staring down El Toro and his stampeding herd. Bracing himself and waiting until the last second-
“Bullrush!”
His hands caught the horns. He could feel the bull’s force slam into him, but he pushed back. An immovable wall as he glared up at El Toro. The rest of the herd too distracted by colorful Heroes to care.
“An ox, how cute,” El Toro chuckled. “But let me show you what a real bull can do!”
He lifted his arm, preparing to bring the whip down. Stopped by a flash of pink, a jump rope caught his arm and entangled the weapon. Minotaurox grinned, hearing another familiar *thwip!* and feeling a yoyo wrap around his ankle.
Minotaurox focused his energy on holding the bull, but let Ladybug tug him. The action flipped the bull, launching El Torro off and ripping the whip out of his hand as he was sent crashing into a nearby car.
Both parties were quick to recover, the Akuma looking ready to charge and Minotaurox bracing himself to do the same thing again. If not for a blur of yellow.
“Venom!”
With a tag from Honeybee, El Toro was as still as the stone he appeared to be. Ladybug began searching for the Akumatized Item. Minotaurox breathed a sigh of relief, relaxing slightly, letting Petite Souris sprint up to him.
“Are you okay?” Petite Souris asked.
“Yeah,” Minotaurox assured. “Family reunion didn’t go as well as I’d have liked.”
“Huh,” Honeybee said. “And I thought my mommy issues led to chaotic Akumas.”
“Not the time, Bee!” Ladybug said, shoving the girl in the direction of other chaos. “We need to deal with the other half because the item’s with her!”
Minotaurox wasn’t hesitating to follow. Sprinting through the streets was one thing, but while the girls could use their weapons to grapple to the rooftops again, he had other options.
Getting closer he could feel Baba Yaga’s footsteps as the Akuma thrashed about. Bucking off any Hero who tried to hold on. Teens in colorful costumes being yeeted through the skies.
Minotaurox kept running, but pulled out his hammer. He hefted it above his head and jumped. Using his running momentum and the downswing to fling himself in the air. Just barely calculated enough to grab the porch Baba Yaga’s hut. Pulling himself over the railing. Though the Akuma thrashed about, Bullrush allowed him to easily hang on.
The trouble was now to find the Akumatized Item. He’d gotten a decent look as he’d approached, but couldn’t see anything obvious. And it would be tedious to rip up the floorboards, even with a giant hammer.
Although.
He eyed the door to the Witch’s hut. It couldn’t be that simple, could it? He grabbed the doorknob, just in time for another jerked movement to force him to pull the whole thing off its hinges. Oops.
Minotaurox discarded the door and grabbed the frame, pulling himself inside before another thrash would send him careening to the ground. He had almost been expecting the inside of the hut to be more, well. The inside of a beast. More organs, or at least architecture to resemble organs.
He instead found an actual building. Or at least a room. Specifically a kitchen. Incredibly Witchy with a simmering cauldron and everything. Oh and also a Witch.
They’d been mistaken in thinking the Akuma was the house itself. Baba Yaga stood at the cauldron. A feathered harpy, talons and all. Currently glaring at him. Though, fortunately, he spotted the orange gemstone around her neck. Peeking out from the feathers.
“Get out!” Baba Yaga screeched.
She attempted to tackle him, to push him back out the door, but he didn’t budge. Talons came next, but it was easy to block with one arm and reach forward with the other. Grabbing the necklace and pulling until it snapped.
The house began to shake. Different than it had before. Crumbling to pieces. Minotaurox attempted to run, but he felt the floor give out beneath him. So he just pulled Baba Yaga close to protect her from debris and did his best to slide down rather than fall.
Despite the feathers in his face and the scratch of talons, he didn’t let go until the dust had settled. Until he heard Ladybug’s yoyo go *thwip!* once more.
“Bye bye, little Butterfly!”
“Miraculous Ladybug!”
He wasn’t sure he’d ever get used to the wave of Magic fixing everything. From clearing the shambles of the hut to fixing the cracks in the street, to returning Baba Yaga back to Eva.
“Are you okay?” Minotaurox asked.
“Yes, I… what…” Eva shook her head, before her eyes locked on something. “YOU!”
Oh great. She’d spotted Raul. Here we go again. Eva scrambled upward, full of fury. Meanwhile Raul was still recovering.
“What was- I didn’t mean- how-” Raul was trying to find a question to ask.
“Don’t worry,” Minotaurox stepped in between them. “You were told about Paris’ Akuma situation, right? That was out of your hands and can’t be held against you.”
Raul shook his head, actually looking at him. A curious expression. And for a moment, Minotaurox felt scared. As if he’d been recognized.
The man didn’t say anything. Instead he picked something up off the ground, the necklace from earlier, and tossed it in Ladybug’s direction. She fumbled the catch, juggling it in midair for a moment before getting a solid grip on it.
“That needs returned to the Louvre,” Raul said. “I’m sure there’s more things I forgot about hidden in Eva’s house. She’ll show you around.”
“You’re… giving up?” Eva asked.
“I told you,” he said. “I’m here for Ivan. Not treasure.”
Eva pouted. Regarding him with suspicion. Still trying to guess the game he’s playing. And maybe it was a game. But…
Minotaurox put a hand on Eva’s shoulder. She jumped, as if she had forgotten that there were others around.
“You’re worried about your grandson, I get it,” Minotaurox said. “But you’re going to have to trust him to make his own decisions. Even bad ones.”
She sighed, but at least stopped glaring at Raul. It was… progress of a sort. Now hopefully one of the other Heroes could keep them from fighting again long enough for him to detransform and return as ‘Ivan’.
He looked over to the other Heroes to ask, only to see Bunnyx inspecting the necklace and Ladybug having a panic attack on the ground.
“It’s worth HOW MUCH?! And I almost dropped it??? With no Miraculous Cure to fix it?!?!”
Oh boy.