Okay, this chapter is quite bad. The last two weeks had been bad and stressful and whatever and I guess it kind of transferred into my writing. There may be many mistakes but please, enjoy nonetheless :)
Chapter 9: New Team, New Family
Marinette turned in the big bed of Adriens guest room. It was big, cold and empty.
She never had problems to sleep before, so why did she now? It scared her that everything in her body told her it was because something was missing. Someone was missing.
She missed his warmth, she missed his arms around her waist, she missed his breath that tingled her skin, the sighs that escaped his mouth when they slept, she missed his scent, his form, his voice when he mumbled something in his sleep, his light snores, just... him.
It was not physically painful, but something ached in her. This something was the same thing that told her to be near him, to touch him, to look at him. Her soul yearned for him.
Turning again, she growled at her unease. Why did she feel this way? It did not make sense at all!
But then, she had the feeling someone was approaching. She steeled her nerves and got ready for the worst when the door opened a crack.
"Mari? You're awake?"
Relaxing she sighed and sat up. "Adrien? You can't sleep too?"
"No," he admitted and stepped into the room, somehow hesitant. "Do you mind if I sleep here?"
The something in her chest jolted in excitement at this statement and her rational side frowned. But rational side was too tired to complain, so Marinette just smiled and made some space for her partner. "Come here, kitty-cat."
Smiling, Adrien finally stepped in and shuffled under the comforter next to Marinette, embracing her like it was second nature to them.
"My father wanted you to sleep in here, but did not say I had to stay in my room," he smirked and nuzzled his face into the croon of her neck.
"Fishing for loopholes, kitty?" she snickered and yawned, finally breathing in his scent, relishing in his warmth.
"If it works," he smiled and together they finally fell asleep.
:
The next morning was spent in light conversation with Gabriel during a long breakfast until they decided to 'get Marinette home' when they truly just wanted to get to their appointment with the Guardian.
Taking Marinettes hand once again, he lead them out of the mansion, towards the small shop, steering Marinette around lampposts and people.
"What does Alya say?"
Marinette huffed, glancing back to her mobile. "She says she's lonely. With me being always at your side she comes too short. But I bet she's just overly excited for the next Akuma. It has been a few days again and she may be nervous."
"Oh," Adrien mulled over that. Sure, when they got their Miraculous they had to jump into battle, with no plan, no time to get accustomed to the powers and no one who they had to please. This might be a bit of a pressure, not knowing if you were really fit for the job.
"We should get her and Nino finally together, so they wont bother us, they'll bother themselves," she snickered and tipped another quick response into her mobile.
"Yeah," he laughed, "Nino's head over heals for her but is always chickening out in asking her for a date. Says he's scared. Should we play matchmake?"
Looking up from her device, he realized she already thought about a plan. "Yes. I'll text her that we four are going to the theatre this evening, you'll text Nino the same. Only that we won't show up," she grinned.
Adrien laughed and quickly fished for his phone in her purse.
He found those bag-things pretty handy, but couldn't get one himself, because... well, he was a boy. So he just placed his wallet and mobile in Marinettes.
Sending a short text to Nino, he grinned at the display, waiting eagerly for his response. A few seconds later, a 'Sounds good, c u then' popped up and he quickly put it back into Marinettes bag.
"I still want to know who Bee is," she tried again after a few seconds of silence in a sing-sang voice, changing the topic.
Laughing, Adrien shook his head. "First you're so desperately hesitant to know and now, you pester me with that the whole day? Shame on you, Ladybug."
"Oh, come on!" she groaned and put her mobile back into her purse too, "You are the only one of us who knows everyone! It's not fair!"
"You were not compelled to tell me either," he snickered. Sure, Adrien enjoyed teasing her about their new comrade, but he also feared her reaction if she ever found out the truth.
"Adriiiiiikins!" Speaking of the devil.
"Oh, no, please not," he heard Marinette groan, but turned around nonetheless.
There was a blonde girl with a high ponytail, running towards them. He noticed the comb glittering in her hair and smiled proudly. Unfortunately, she seemed to misinterpret his smile and flung herself onto his neck, forcing Marinette to stumble to the side, directly into a waiter, who stumbled and lost the grip on the tray he was holding. Luckily nothing had been on top, so it was only the wood that went to the floor.
"Oh, I'm so-" Marinette began to apologize, but Chloé interrupted her.
"Urgh, can't you do anything like a normal person would? Can't you get through a single day without tripping?" she asked and Marinette flushed red in anger, but decided to ignore her and take care of the waiter.
"Please, Chloé," Adrien forced a smile and pried her arms from his neck and took a step back., "Be nice."
"I am nice," she pouted and fumbled with the strap of her purse. "But she isn't."
"Marinette didn't do anything," he tried to explain, but Chloé shook her head.
"You're dating her, right? You're supposed to be on her side."
"We're not-" he tried again, but she crossed her arms in front of her chest.
"Don't try to tell me you're not dating. She's clinging to your arms all the time, you hold hands whenever I see you and you're always meeting her. So don't tell me you're not even interested? I'm not dumb, Adrien, so tell me one thing," he saw tears glister in her eyes and felt bad for her. She continued in a very low voice, "Did I ever had a chance with you?"
His world came crashing down on him. Chloé did like him? Like in like-like? Like in silly-crush-maybe-love-him-like? She... she was like a sister to him, she always was and still is. He cared deeply for her, otherwise he would not have trusted her with the Miraculous. But he did never ever even considered her as something more.
So there was only one answer to her question.
Without breathing, he lightly shook his head, frowning in a silent apology.
Tears were now visible in her eyes, even if they did not fall, she averted her gaze and took a deep breath. "Okay, I'll see you tomorrow."
She then turned around, but halted after a few steps. "Oh, and Maritrash? Don't try to trip anymore, no one is really believing you your charade." She then strutted away, head held high like the queen she is.
"Oh my," he heard but wasn't really sure weather it was his own voice or Marinettes.
"Don't tell me you didn't know about her crush," Marinette stated and frowned up at him. But he averted her piercing eyes and stared after the blonde mop of hair, vanishing behind a corner.
"I... I didn't know... she... she's like a sister, Marinette," he tried to explain, finally regarding her, searching some comfort in her deep eyes. "I love her, I really do, but... not like this."
Sighing, Marinette rested her head against his chest and put her arms around his neck, like Chloé just did, but different, drawing him into a tight hug. He felt, it was just the thing he needed right now and buried his face into her neck, circling her waist with his unworthy arms.
:
Chloé wanted to cry. She really wanted but could not. Not that she never cried in publicity, she did it often to benefit her own will, but she feared to do it when she was open, raw.
She desperately wanted to go home, taking a long, warm bubble-bath, maybe chat with Pollen a bit, but she just could not go home. She did not want to be alone.
So she just wandered around the streets, listening to her aching heart and tried not to let loose. But then, she arrived at the Champ de Mars, saw couples kissing and the Eiffel tower reminded her of her dream to marry Adrien on top.
That was the point when she finally could not hold it anymore. Heavy drops spilled out of her eyes and she wanted to curl in in some corner and hide. So she stepped to one of the park-benches, sat down and drew her knees up her chest, burrowing her face in the expensive fabric.
The light buzzing at her hip did not help either so she just ignored her small companion.
After some minutes of crying, she shivered because of the cold and felt absolutely miserable.
"Chloé?"
She did not know this voice and did not want to know who had the audacity to address her in this misery. She surely looked absolutely miserable, with smeared make-up and puffy eyes, shivering in the cold October air.
"Get lost," she scoffed and did not even try to look up to the intruder.
She heard him huff. "Fine, but you better get home too, if you don't want to catch a cold."
He then left, she listened to his fading steps, but risked a peek nonetheless and was surprised to find red hair bobbing up and down, the man underneath clutching a sketchbook she knew too well.
:
"I'm sooooore," Marinette complained and slumped onto her chaise.
Today's lesson had been tiresome. They had to do weird acrobatics and now every muscle in her body ached. She had not felt like this in a long time.
Being Ladybug provided her with utter strength and the workout helped a lot during any sporty activity in school.
But being sore? It felt like an eternity since she had felt like this the last time.
"Oh, Marinette, don't worry. You'll be better by tomorrow," her kwami tried to reassure her, nibbling on a cookie and zipping onto her stomach. "I pity Adrien though. He still has work to do."
Humming, Marinette scratched her nose and yawned. "I definitely don't envy him for this."
Adrien had a shoot across the town and he was not allowed to relax on the couch. Poor boy.
Her mind drifted off to him again, his smile, his warmth, his hand in hers. She dreamed some more about her partner in content silence until her phone called her out of her dream.
"Urgh, it better be important," she groaned and fumbled for her purse on the ground, careful to not shake Tikki awake. She finally got it and blinked at the highlighted screen.
"Nino? What...?" But then she recognized the phone and it was not hers. Not at all. "Urgh, that jerk forgot his phone," she murmured and decided to ignore the call. It was Adriens phone anyway.
Sighing, she let it fall back to the floor, deciding that resuming to her nap would be great, but then another phone fell in in the buzzing. What were the chances that Adrien left two phones of his in her purse?
Sighing again, she fumbled again for her purse, only to retrieve her own, seeing Alyas name and face blink on her screen.
"Hey," she greeted the blogger with a yawn.
"Don't 'hey' me," Alya snapped and Marinette was taken aback by the sudden response. But then she remembered their matchmaking-plan and smirked.
"Enjoying your date so far?" she grinned and enjoyed Alyas spluttering on the other end.
"D... Date?! Mari, what are you... don't... erm..." There were a few seconds of silence until Alya huffed, having progressed the information. "You two won't come, right?"
Grinning, Marinette shook her head and laughed. "Nope, call it revenge or repaying a depth, or whatever you want. I know it's no janitors-closet, but at least we're even. Enjoy your date," she snickered and ignored Alyas protests on the other end and ended the call.
Throwing the device back on the floor, she was finally able to relax.
She even managed to nap for a few minutes until the ground shook. She first mistook it for her dreams imagination, but then Tikki squeaked and headbutted her stomach.
"Marinette! Akuma!" she called and zipped off to the side, leaving Marinette some space to collect her sleepy thoughts.
Groaning, she rolled off the chaise and scrambled to her feet. At least they won't have to fight alone today and maybe she could get to bed early after.
"Tikki? Transform me," she mumbled with a bit less vigour than normally and the transformation rushed over her body.
Glad for the spur of extra-energy the suit provided her with, she climbed up her ladder and took in her surroundings when she stood atop her balcony.
And she had to admit, everything was a mess. The street, at least what it formerly was, was crumbled and rocks in all sized and forms had gnashed deep holes in the concrete, the cobblestone was broken and ripped out. Cars were crashed under the weight of rocks and people hid in fright behind them.
This Akuma was obviously stone-themed, maybe a mad geologist?
But suddenly the ground shook again and a bulb formed out of the cobblestone and concrete. Two holes were missing in something that seemed to grow into a face and began to glow purple. The figure rose higher and a body formed itself out of the grey stone. It reminded her of Stoneheart, but this one was looking much more dangerous.
"Shit," she quickly leaped from her balcony, remembering her position when his eyes landed on her.
She dodged many stones he threw at her and finally managed to hide behind a rock, only to be greeted by three civilians. She had to get them out of here.
Suddenly she heard a buzz and a yellow blurr landed beside her. She first flinched, getting into a defensive stance, but then remembered their new team-mates. Queen Bee was the first one to arrive.
But she had no chance to be relieved, because another bulb formed itself in front of them, signalling the approaching Akuma.
"Bee! Get them out of here!" she shouted and gestured towards the frightened civilians. Jumping away, in hope of diverting the Akuma, she latched her yoyo around the growing bulb and pulled.
The second, the Akuma turned back to her, she leaped away, searching for another hideout. She noticed Bee, carrying the civilians out of the area, coming back and repeating the action with another group. Ladybug even noticed that Bee vanished into the shops and (thank god) her parents bakery to get everyone into safety.
After a few minutes of ducking and jumping, Renarde joined them and Ladybug realized with a frown that the Akuma disturbed Alyas date. Noting that Adrien would need some more minutes, she tried to distract the Akuma with Renardes illusions while Queen Be bought the civilians away.
They needed to reform, to think of a plan. But she would wait for that until Chat Noir was here too.
So she just took a rest for a second on top of a gigantic rock and observed the scene. Bee was busy with two children a few metres away and Renarde hid behind another rock, preparing to play a tune on Ladybugs command, creating a horde of ants who were able to crawl into the tiny holes of the Akumas stoney armour.
She was just distracted for only a second, but the Akuma took his chance and hurled another rock at her. The gigantic rock drew closer, the seconds stretched into hours for Ladybug, unable to move.
An enormous tuck took her out of her stupor when someone clad in black leather tackled her from the rock. A turn midair and when Chat Noir crouched on the ground , Ladybug practically sat in his lap, his arms cradling her bridal style.
She instantly felt better, now that her partner was at her side. And when he grinned down at her, proud of his cool entrance, she giggled and placed a kiss on his nose. He needed to be told when he did great. Not to mention he practically saved her life a few seconds ago.
"Urgh, concentration, lovebees, we have work to do!" Bee interrupted them and hurried past them to get to the last group of civilians.
"Okay, your flirting is annoying during a fight," Renarde huffed too and chuckling, both straightened up again and hurried to the rock Renarde hid behind.
"Any coal plans, MyLady?" Chat asked and eyed the Akuma with a grin.
She quickly eyed the three and decided to use her Lucky Charm. What fell down was a simple extension cord. Glancing around, she instantly knew what to do. Even if Chat will have a field day, it should work.
"Okay, Renarde, create as many illusion from the four of us as you can. Distract him, get annoying."
Renarde nodded and jumped away, on a rooftop and started playing her first tunes. "Bee," she addressed the yellow heroine who just joined them after clearing the area, "You get in the crowd, acting like an illusion and make him trip at my signal." Bee nodded and ran into the growing crowd. "Chat, lets do the Luke Skywalker."
Chat grinned, quickly getting what she meant and grabbed one end of the cord. "That's the best plan you ever came up with," he laughed and stepped out of their hiding place.
Together they hid in the growing crowd and Ladybug could only pray that the powers of the Peacock got confused with Renardes illusions.
"Ready?" Chat asked when they crouched closer through the legs of their doppelgängers.
"Wait," she ordered, eyeing the motions of the Akuma. They still needed to know where the butterfly hid in, but they will have to care about that when he was down.
"MyLady?" Chat urged, but the Akuma was still too far away and it was not the right angle...
Catching Renardes gaze, Renarde nodded, and blew in her flute, ordering her illusions around the place. Bee too seemed to be in the right position, not visible in the growing crowd of Ladybugs, Chats, Renardes and Bees. Everyone was in position and she observed the Akuma.
It's giant legs let the ground shake, rubble flew past them with every step closer. The doubles attacked the Akuma, it stumbled backwards.
"Now!" she yelled and both dashed forward, around its legs, crossing in front of him and back, while Bee jumped in the air and landed a big blow to the Akumas chest.
The stone-being stumbled backwards and because his legs were bound together, he fell on his back. It crushed several illusions who dispersed in a puff of orange smoke. Because of this smoke, the Akuma fell into a fit of sneezes and Ladybug noticed one of his stone-teeth being purple.
Did Hawkmoth just possess a tooth?
"Chat! Destroy his tooth! Quick!" she gestured to its mouth and Chat frowned, but followed her order. Quickly he called his Cataclysm and leaped over the Akumas mouth, touching the possessed item in midair.
Ladybug heard Renarde whoop when the black butterfly emerged and grinned when she easily caught and cured the insect.
Tossing the extension cable into the air, her cure repaired everything and she smiled when the street and the nearby buildings, including her parents bakery, got repaired.
"Pound it," she fist-bumped with Chat and, glancing around, she also extended her hand to Bee and Renarde. Squealing, Renarde quickly accepted her offer and Bee too, smiling proudly.
"That was awesome," Chat laughed, but frowned when his ring suddenly beeped. Ladybugs following suit, showing her that she had only two minutes left. They had to hurry off, but Bee and Renarde, still having power left, needed to announce themselves.
"We have to go, but you two are allowed to have some more fun with the press," she giggled and gestured to the many flashing cameras at the new heroes.
What surprised her was the confident smirk that Bee sported at the mention of the press.
Her earrings beeped one more time, signalling her that there was just one minute left. "Gotta go, see you later," she waved and glanced to the victim who got taken care of by several police officers and paramedics, so she hurried up onto the rooftops to get only a few streets away, and detransformed in an alley where she had not to walk too far. Securing Tikki in her purse with her emergency stack of cookies, she made her way back.
When she arrived back on the scene, Bee was still handling the reporters, a confident pose her companion. Renarde had hurried off, most likely to get back to Nino.
Smiling, she searched for her parents who embraced her in a tight hug, having worried over her only child.
:
"Monsieur Agreste, I'm very concerned about you," Nathalie voiced one evening.
"Have you contacted Marinettes parents? He asked instead, ignoring the lingering question on his assistants face.
Sighing, Nathalie nodded. "They wish to speak to you personally about your vacation."
"Thanks, I'll contact them right away. Anything else?" he asked and regarded her with a stern gaze, telling her not to press on his health.
She wouldn't understand.
"No, nothing else," she sighed and he dismissed her with a wave. She nodded once more and left the bureau, the door clicking silently into its frame.
Gabriel leaned back in his high chair, staring out of a nearby window. He really felt exhausted, maybe he would turn in early that day. But first he had to call his future daughters parents. That sounded weird.
Fishing for the telephone on his desk, he tipped in the number, Nathalie had put with a post-it on top of his folders. A small 'Dupain-Cheng' was scribbled on top too and he smiled. He may have to add this number to his contacts.
"Hello? Dupain-Cheng household?"
Surprised he noticed that it was his own sons voice at the receiving end. He thought his son was currently resting in his room. "Adrien?"
Spluttering, Adrien managed to stammer something together, but he did not have the patience to wait for some weird excuse. "Did you sneak out of the house?"
"N... No? I mean yes? No! I didn't sneak out."
"Does anyone know you're not in your room?" he asked, still not sure weather he should be amused or incredible angry.
"I... I'm sure I passed a maid so anyone must know..." he murmured, but quickly regained his posture. "Anyway, why are you calling Marinette?"
"Don't distract, Adrien, we'll talk about that later. Now, I am calling her parents so will you please hand over the phone?" he sported a headache. This boy will be the end of him.
"Err... sure, wait a moment please," he answered and his voice sounded a bit farther away. Gabriel was even able to hear some snickering and he would bet on Marinette being the source of it. Sometimes it hurt how much she resembled his wife.
"Sabine? My father wants to speak to you..." some shuffling on the other end and e was sure, the telephone got passed and another voice, a soft, female voice continued. "Thanks, dear. Hello? Monsieur Agreste? What can I do for you?"
In the background he could still hear his son and Marinette, but he settled on concentrating on Madame Cheng.
"Hello, I'm sure you already heard of a small vacancy I'm planning with my son and Marinette."
"Oh, yes, your assistant was here yesterday, but we were quite busy with the shop at this point. I'm glad you called back."
"Do I have the permission to take Marinette with us?" he asked, getting quickly to the point. The fading background-noises told him that Madame Chang must have moved away.
"Erm... you know, we're not quite happy with her being abroad for so long without us and we're not able to leave the shop." She told him and he felt disappointment rise. "So I'm sorry to tell you that we can't allow her to go."
Cretins.
"I can assure you that she will be perfectly fine with us, I guarantee the highest security-"
But she interrupted him. "I'm sorry, I'm sure she will be fine, more so if she would drive with us. But it is no matter of security, Monsieur Agreste. Please, try to understand that she is our only child and she is only sixteen. No offence, but I'm worried to give her into the hands of a man whose face I only know through magazines and I never even talked to."
He was surprised.
"No offence taken." he answered and was already planning ahead. "I would have the same issues if it would be Adrien in this place." That was true. "But maybe it will ease your mind if we had dinner some time? You, your husband and Marinette are welcome to join us..." A quick glance to his calender, his pen ready. "Next Wednesday evening?"
There was a short pause on the other side, obviously Madame Cheng weighed her options. "Next Wednesday sounds fine."
Smirking he quickly thought about opening hours so they would not be forced to close their shop too early. "Twenty o'clock, I'll let everything prepare. I'm looking forward to the meeting, it's the first official," he could not suppress the snicker.
Highly surprised, he took in Madame Chengs giggle on the other side. "Yeah, we have to embarrass them, it's my only joy these days."
Laughing, he nodded, but was quick in calming down again. There was just one last pressing matter. "Now, will you please give me back my son?"
"Oh, sure. I have to tell you I didn't know he came without your permission. Adrien, dear?"
The other end went silent, but suddenly he heard someone, Marinette, whisper something.
Frowning, he settled on angry. "Father?" His voice was small, he was scared. Good.
"Come home." He then ended the call and leaned back, satisfied. Next time, Adrien would tell him or at least Nathalie that he left. Scribbling a note into his calendar about the dinner, he quickly pressed a button on his intercom too.
"Sir?" Nathalies voice drained out of the device.
"We're expecting guests at Wednesday eight p.m., please prepare everything with the chiefs for dinner."
"Okay, anything else?" he heard her scribble on some paper.
"Yes, please take care that Adrien doesn't leave the house after dinner anymore. He'll arrive soon and tell him I'm highly disappointed."
"Adrien? Isn't he...? Okay, got it. Anything else?"
"No, thanks, Nathalie." He ended the call and leaned back, closing his eyes for a second.
It gets out of hand.
Unfortunately. He can't contain his son from jumping straight out of the window when he finally came home again. Once more, the urge rose to just take the damn ring. But it would not be wise.
Adrien will instantly know who stole it, the mansion, unable to be broken in, a secret safe and a book in Gabriels possession about Miraculous would instantly lead to him. His son was not dumb, he could connect the points. And even if not... He would warn Ladybug and she was smart, was definitely able to. It would ruin every chance to get the earrings.
Have patience.
:
It... hurt. It hurt being apart of him.
Not physically, but something in her very core, her soul hurt. It was bleeding again and she did not know how to stop it other than being near him.
Sighing, Marinette turned once more and glanced to her clock. It read half past three. Groaning, she buried her face into her pillow and yelled for sleep to come.
After Adrien had left, they decided (with much unease) that they would stay apart for the night, because Adrien was obviously under arrest right now, his father having an eye on his whereabouts at least for the night. And Marinette herself was certain that her mother will control she stayed in bed. And she had been right. Her mother came once after she went to bed and she was certain she will come once more after waking up in about half an hour, having to stand up early because of the bakery opening at five.
Sighing, she drifted back to Adrien, it was hard to think of anything else when every fibre of your being screamed for him.
The vibration of her phone startled her out of her pillows.
Glancing to the lit screen, she noticed Adriens caller-ID. Smiling, she pressed the button to answer the call. Who else would call her at 3:30 in the morning? "Adrien? You're supposed to sleep."
"You too, MyLady," she heard him snicker on the other end. "I can't sleep. Don't know how I managed before we started... this."
Sighing, she pressed the button for a call on speaker and leaned back into her pillows, placing her mobile beside her head. "Me neither. It's weird though. I have the feeling..."
"...That it's something more?" She nodded and hummed, despite Adrien being unable to see her. "I have the same feeling."
"That's because you have an extremely strong bond," came Tikkis tired voice from between Marinettes pillows.
"Huh?"
"Bond?" they asked simultaneously.
Tikkis little head poked out of the depth on her bed, rubbing her tired eyes. "It's natural for Miraclous holders to yearn for each other. They are often Soulmates and through the bond, their magic, it intensifies. And it will get stronger the more you bound. Stronger bond, stronger connection, stronger magic."
"But why does it hurt?" Adrien asked the right question.
"Your souls got a glimpse of what it will be like, being joined again and they crave for more. Your bond is your biggest strength, but also your biggest weakness. You're not able to fight it." she yawned and nuzzled Marinettes cheek. "At least try to get some sleep, will you?" With this she buried herself back into her pillows.
Silence followed and Marinette muled over Tikkis words, her being soulmates with Adrien, her kitty? It sounded incredible.
"Soulmates, huh?" he broke through the silence.
"Hm... I thought something like this did not exist..." she murmured and turned her head back to her phone, where Adriens breathing came static out of her speakers.
"It would help if you were here though..." he sighed and Marinette felt tears sting in her eyes. She wanted to get to him more than she ever felt the need to do so. Being apart was the worst.
They talked a bit more and finally, because both were exhausted, they fell asleep. And when Sabine checked on Marinette an hour later, she smiled down at her daughter, ending the call and plugged the mobile in, just in case.
:
"Adrien, please stop fidgeting," his father advised him and Adrien tried once more to sit still.
The last few days had passed in a blurr, He was as well a constant at Marinettes house as she was in his. They did not spent any minute apart. When he was on photoshoots, Marinette stood at the sides, viewing him perform. When Marinette had to work in the bakery, Adrien tried his best to help, but because he was quite... unhelpful, he got banned to a nearby stool in front of the register, handling the cash. When he had any extra curricular activities scheduled, Marinette stood either at the side too, reading a magazine, or was participating. Fencing was suddenly much more fun with her around.
Patrol was split between the four of their team, so they had quite some more time to be around each other.
It was great, because when they finally got home, they would fall asleep in each others arms.
As great as this was, they still had to get Marinettes parents to agree to their trip to Hawaii. If Adrien was barely able to sleep without Marinette with her being only a few streets away, how hard would it be for three weeks on the other end of the world?
But that was exactly the reason why Adrien sat there in Nathalies bureau/ welcoming-area, waiting for the Dupain-Chengs to arrive.
Astounded, Adrien felt her presence even before they were able to ring the bell. He sprang to his feet, rushing to the window where he found Marinette already watching the window. Grinning, he pressed a button on Nathalies intercom and the gate buzzed, letting the Dupain-Chengs inside.
His father beat him to the front door, having already began his walk when Adrien had rushed to the window. Marinette giggled at his behaviour and led her parents up the steps where they exchanged casualties with his father. But he could not care less about his father accompanying them to the dining-room. He just wanted to get a hold of Marinette.
"You seem nervous," she giggled and he took her hand, dragging her to sit down next to him.
Tom and Sabine took the left side of the table, he and Marinette the right, his father occupying the head.
As soon as they sat down, maids rushed in to get them some wine and water.
Marinette already used to it, thanked them as always, but stayed away from the red liquid, not quite sure how her parents will react seeing her drink wine.
Both of them knew how important this evening was, so they shut, listening to their parents comparing several aspects of having an own business. Not that you could compare the small bakery to a worldly renown fashion empire, but it was some shared experience and it was a good start.
After a few minutes, the first dish arrived, some chicken salad with a nice raspberry dressing. They talked some more and Marinette expressed her surprise for seeing Gabriel this formal, she whispered to him during the change of dishes to a light fish-soup. He could also feel that Marinette had a light heart-attack when a maid asked if anything was wrong with her wine, because she had not touched it yet.
It was usual for them to drink at least one glass of whine when Marinette was over for dinner. Gabriels light smile indicated that he knew well what got Marinette freaked out, but he obviously decided not to pry.
The soup went smoothly and during the main course, some fancy meat with vegetables and porridge, Marinette and Gabriel drifted off into fashion like usual. Adrien was left there with Marinettes parents making silent jokes, like rolling his eyes, signalling that he was used to them behaving like best friends.
The chatter and atmosphere got some lighter, after Marinette and Gabriel drifted into their own world of hems and stitches, that Adrien was finally able to talk to Tom and Sabine as well.
"At yeast I have some company now during this fashion-ramble," he joked and Tom had difficulties to not to laugh too loud.
When the maids arrived to bring the dessert, Gabriel returned to his unimportant chatter with the Dupain-Chengs and Adrien could not help but grab for Marinettes hand under the table.
He knew his father knew how to handle strangers and how to make them like you. It was a necessary treat in his business. He always tried to force that in Adrien too and Adrien was not quite able to pinpoint how much it interfered with him... Most likely too much.
Unfortunately, it did not seem to be enough, did not seem to work with Marinettes parents. They were still slightly distant and Adrien once spotted a frown on Sabines face.
Sighing, Adrien finished his sorbet and leaned back, eyeing Marinette. And like she sat there, staring at her mother, who pointedly ignored her, he realized, they just had a battle through eye-contact.
When they accompanied the bakers to the door, Adrien made a try to lighten the mood between at least his Lady and him.
"A purrfect evening for a purrfect supper," he murmured and Marinette giggled, but Tom seemed to have heard too, booming one of his enormous laughs that got vibrated by the marble in the hall.
"Come one kids, you can't supper during a kneaded parents-dough." he said and Adrien snickered, but was cut silent when he heard his fathers murmur.
"It was weird, dough, butter end this quick." All eyes went wide like saucers, Gabriel visibly did not intended to say that out loud.
His stuttered "I- I mean-" and Marinettes astonished "No." got drowned in Toms roaring laughter. All the tension the evening had held got vaporised when his big hands grabbed Gabriels shoulders and the man, visibly pale, got shaken.
"I never guessed you had it in you, Gabriel, but Adrien must have it from somewhere, I guess," he laughed and turned with a big smile to his giggling wife. "I think we take our leave now, Marinette?"
Marinette, quite the same shade of his father just nodded and eyed Adrien, shaken by the current scene. Adrien flicked his gaze between her, his father and a grinning Tom and could not help but grin too.
"I'll see you tomorrow, son, Gabriel, good evening to you two," Tom nodded and ushered his family outside. Adrien followed, snickering at his fathers attempt to righten his suit and tie, and bid them good-bye at the gates.
Still grinning like a maniac, he went back inside, and just saw his fathers back ascending the stairs, most likely to retreat to his dorm. Grinning, Adrien called him a good night and went to his own room to transform and meet Renarde on the Eiffel-tower for a quick patrol and after, he went back to Marinettes to sleep and question her a bit.
"I quote: 'He may have an enormous stick up his ass, but he's a good man'," Marinette laughed with a deep voice, mimicking her father.
Laughing too, Adrien drew his head back, barely managing to stifle his voice. "I think I have to turn my father in now, he was so pale, your father completely broke his composure," he snickered into the pillow he grabbed to help shutting his laughter from the sleeping parents downstairs. "He even called him Gabriel, without asking to!"
It was a big deal after all. And both were happy that her parents might reconsider letting her go.
"I don't get it though, you made a fuss about it when I was allowed to. Why is his name such a big deal?" she asked curiously and his head snapped up.
"No one is allowed to call him 'Gabriel'. My mother and I am the only ones, not even Nathalie or his closest business partners. Getting the allowance means you're part of the family." He buried his face back into the pillow. "And your father just did without asking!" he laughed and it seemed impossible to resist. His stomach ached by now, but he did not care. It was too hilarious.
"I'm family, huh?" Marinette asked and he instantly got calm again. Peeking up from his pillow, he watched her face glow in the moonlight shining from the skylight.
Did she not know that she was more?
First, I disliked the idea of Chloé getting together with Nathanael, but... okay, now I ship them. They're just too cute and … I don't know. I still don't know how far their... relationship will go in this story, but at least a few fluffy scenes they will get.
I had an argument with my sister about how to spell 'doppelgänger' in English XD She said you guys don't know the 'ä' and so it is written with a normal 'a'. I googled it and it said both is possible. What I'm still curious about is the plural... with 's' or without? It looks weird with one, though, I think it's wrong without, so I put one behind. It's always funny how many words from german immigrated into english XD best example: Kindergarten. Ha, I love it.
… I love raspberry dressing too.
