More Life Swap AU! Same AU setting as Kindness of a Stray. This time taking a peek at the Agreste's adopting Marinette, and a slight peek at Andre adopting Chloe too.
Ariel Agreste sat still and quiet at the table, gazing listlessly out the window, her green eyes settled on a little spot on her shirt. A spot where she would've clipped a certain brooch. A brooch a certain little butterfly god was tied too.
A little butterfly god who would know what to say to help her, to make things better.
Nooroo always knew what to say, how to help calm her down.
He was gentle, logical, and reasonable.
He always saw other possibilities.
Always saw inspiration, was happy to provide guidance.
And she needed his calm, reassuring guidance now.
But it was out of reach, the brooch lost and…
Ariel took a shaky breath, reaching up and wiping her eyes. She gave a start when there was a light nuzzle at her cheek, turning to see Duusu drawing back, peering at Ariel with a slight smile.
Ariel returned it, running her fingers over Duusu's soft head, feeling the crest curve and dip under her touch.
It made her think of Nooroo, his wings flapping excitedly when he was being given attention. She missed him.
"That buffoon called," Gabriel voiced out, slipping into the room.
Ariel felt her lips curl up, amused. She asked, continuing to pet Duusu, "What did Andre have to say?"
Gabriel sat beside her with a sigh, taking his glasses off and cleaning them. "He wanted to brag about his latest plan to be reelected," Gabriel told her.
Ariel was surprised. "You don't usually care to listen to those."
"I don't," Gabriel backed. "But, he had an idea. One I think you should hear." Her husband gave her a rare shy glance. "To appeal to the public, he's going to adopt."
Ariel's eyes widened, her body straightening. "Adopt," she repeated.
Gabriel cleared his throat, tugging at the blue vest he wore. "Because of our…" he trailed, unsure how to bring up their issues. He quickly continued, "Adoption seems like a reasonable solution. Mindful, I do know it's not traditional and not what we originally had in mind but-"
He was cut off when Ariel wrapped her arms around his, leaning over and pressing against his shoulder, nuzzling him. "Let's do it," she told him, resolute. "Let's adopt."
They wanted a child after all.
Ariel wanted a family, to have a family with Gabriel.
If they couldn't have a kid the traditional way, adoption was perfectly fine for her.
But as she nestled and leaned against her husband, she missed Gabriel's wary glance towards Duusu.
The kwami only offered him an encouraging smile, tail spreading slightly with her optimism.
Well, two of them were sure.
Gabriel himself, whose had limited contact with children, was still quite nervous about this.
Still, he intertwined his fingers with Ariel's, determined.
He'll make it work.
He'll do the best he can.
Andre was delighted to learn that the Agrestes were interested in adopting as well, and insisted that they go together when adopting. Paperwork, interviews, and pulled strings found the three wealthy civilians at an orphanage. Being open to any child of any gender and race, and with the mayor present along with two other promising wealthy donors, they were more than welcomed to drift around and see the kids, see who they liked.
"Usually the process will assign a child to you, one that supposedly best matches you," Andre told them. "But I believe it'll be far more appealing for me to choose my child instead."
Gabriel made an unimpressed hum, looking about at the children, grimacing at their curious stares. Of course most were set to the mayor, their eyes filled with desire to be adopted by the mayor.
Gabriel doesn't doubt that as soon as they were given the ok to mingle, kids would be flocking to the mayor, eager to wow him, to be adopted. To be the adopted child of the mayor was such a promising opportunity. Everything a kid could want would be provided.
They may not even get a chance to really meet any kids thanks to Andre.
Before Gabriel could start grumbling about the possibility, Ariel drew his attention away, excitedly tugging at his arm.
He smiled at her giddy excitement, watching her offer every child she saw an eager smile and a warm wave.
She was so delighted, Gabriel doesn't doubt she may wind up dancing, a need to express herself, to move in her delight. A lovely little show for the children, a show Gabriel knows the children will enjoy.
The butterfly's elegant dance, Vanessa's dance, is what drew in Gabriel's gaze in the first place.
The grace.
The beauty.
The gentle sway.
It was captivating and awing.
Back in the day when it was her and Reynard, before Gabriel received his miraculous, it was Vanessa's dance that always drew him, that always inspired him. Inspired him enough that he made a butterfly the symbol of his fashion line.
His muse.
His inspiration.
She was always the source to get him going when things were slow.
And when he joined as Monsieur Paon, he found some of the most delight he has ever had are the times the Peacock and the Butterfly dance.
But those dances can only bring a smile to her face for so long with the loss of Nooroo, and their recent issue with starting their own family.
But this, Gabriel hopes this will help his Arie smile and laugh.
As he predicted, Ariel drifted away from him, eager to mingle and dance with the children, eager to meet them, eager to inspire and reassure and support and Gabriel doesn't doubt that probably by the end of this, Ariel will pretty much hold as many children as she can and plead that they take them all home.
Not that they could.
Both agreed to settle on one child.
Neither had much interactions with children, one child was fine for now. Though Ariel was doing amazingly, as expected. Butterflies were sensitive and gentle, even if she can be fierce when she wanted too, Ariel was a nurturer by nature. Of course kids will adore her.
Though none have yet to approach him.
And of course the mayor was receiving much attention, kids flocking to him, asking questions, bragging about their talents, trying to impress him.
Though it seems the mayor's gaze was lingering to a small blonde girl that was being scolded by a caretaker. A girl that stubbornly had her arms crossed, a watery pout on her lips.
At first glance, Gabriel just knew that little child was a troublemaker.
Not one he was interested in meeting.
Andre Bourgeois was though, and he sidled away to meet and talk with the agitated girl, seemingly grinning at the sharp snarl he received.
Unimpressed, Gabriel turned and wandered away, faintly hearing a tired and frustrated caretaker inform Andre, "Oh Monsieur Bourgeois! That's very kind but Chloe, she's been brought back a good fe-"
Gabriel wandered far away enough to not hear anymore, and the peacock hero wandered to the shadows, observing and looking out.
Duusu peeked out of his vest pocket, urging, "Interact with some kids Gabriel!"
He shot Duusu a slight look.
She gave him an encouraging grin, her pink eyes bright.
He looked about.
Ariel was mingling and many children seemed delighted to have the attention. Andre had waved the caretaker away and was happily talking to the scowling girl that seemed set to resist him.
Both were talking to kids.
Both wound up drawing kids to them.
Gabriel has yet to do so.
It was a logical answer.
If kids won't come to him, he'll have to approach them himself.
Gabriel breathed in, held it, and released with a sigh.
It was going to be fine.
He was not his father.
He will care and provide and be there.
He'll do a far better job than his own father.
He and Ariel will be good parents together.
But first, Duusu was right.
He had to start mingling with children.
All three will have to get along if they were going to be a family.
So Gabriel set off to mingle.
What he encountered was encouraging.
"You look like a stick."
"Why is your face so long?"
"Mister, why does your hair look like a duck's butt?"
Duusu was in a fit of giggles as Gabriel stomped to a more reclusive spot. Gabriel on turn pinched the bridge of his nose frustrated. Quietly he murmured to his kwami, "I'm not too sure if this'll work out."
"It will," Duusu reassured, popping out. "You want a kid?"
"Yes."
"You'll love this kid?"
"Yes Duusu," he huffed.
"Then it'll work out," the peacock kwami bid. "You just need to find the right kid to connect with. Maybe the kid will even choose you."
With how things were going now, Gabriel sort of doubted that.
He scared away a good few of them with a glare that answered all stupid questions.
Sighing, the secret peacock hero looked out, watching Ariel laugh and play with the children, looking like she belonged. He sighed, moving to sit at a table, observing.
He hoped this will work out.
He really wanted to have a kid with her.
Preferably a kid that will get along with both of them.
But so far…
Ariel had no issues.
He glanced towards Andre, watching him slowly draw the scowl out of the blonde's features, though the small blonde was eyeing him warily.
Gabriel turned when there was a shuffle near him, blinking to see a small girl slip in a chair opposite of him. Sky blue eyes flashed towards him, a freckled dark haired girl eyeing him cautiously as she plopped down, paper and pencil clasped in her hand.
Deeming that he was safe, she turned to the page, starting to sketch out. Gabriel perked, curious to see what this little artist was drawing.
A dress.
Crude and rough.
Far, far from impressive for his line of work, expected for someone of her age.
But what drew Gabriel in were the details.
Interesting details and ideas to shape and design on the dress.
A skirt made of… what he suspected to be peacock feathers. They looked like she was trying to draw peacock feathers. Perhaps it was his own vanity that whispered the possibility, Gabriel drew near, intrigued.
The girl paused at his move, looking up and eyeing him warily.
"A peacock dress?" he guessed.
She gave him a shy nod.
He set his fingers on the sheet, pausing. "May I?" he asked.
She eyed him, then nodded, curiosity shining in her eyes.
With given permission, Gabriel brought out a pen and started to sketch out her dress, deaf to her delighted gasp to see a professional draw her dress. Gabriel lectured, "Your drawing will seem more alive if you're able to add dimensions and depth to it. This right here is very flat and unrealistic. A dress needs to shape and curve with a body," on and on Gabriel talked on, completely focused on this piece, not aware of the girl drawing near, paying deep attention to this lesson.
It wasn't till Ariel drew near and noted aloud, "My you two look busy."
They jerked up, the girl looking up at Ariel in wonder.
Gabriel in turn spared a glance down, a little surprised to see that the child had wandered so close. He allowed himself to smile, presenting the picture to Ariel. He told her, "She's a promising designer."
Ariel took the drawing, grinning in amusement as she joined their table. Turning her green eyes to the girl, she teased, "A fan of Monsieur Paon?"
She received a shy nod.
Gabriel unconsciously puffed out his chest, pleased.
Ariel caught onto that and sent him a teasing smile.
She held out her hand, offering, "I'm Ariel Agreste. And this is my husband Gabriel."
"M-Marinette," the girl stuttered, shyly sliding her hand into Ariel's.
Ariel gasped in delight, "Oh what a lovely name!"
Marinette smiled, withdrawing away, a little colorful charm on her wrist chuckling softly. She jumped when Gabriel gently took her hand, looking over the charm she wore. "Did you make this?" he asked.
"Yes!" Marinette confirmed. "I made loads of charms and bracelets! Would you guys like to see? Would you like one?"
Like an excited butterfly, Ariel wiggled in her seat, and eagerly drew near the girl that comfortably sat between the two Agrestes. In Gabriel's vest pocket, Duusu herself gave an excited wiggle, happily pressing against Gabriel, letting him know how pleased she was.
It seems they found their child.
They found their daughter.
By the end of the day, Chloe Bourgeois and Marinette Agreste were adopted.