SORRY FOR THE LONG WAIT.
This fic is just coming slow... At least I have basic plot points and random points in their lives that I want to cover. Going to aim to have this fic wrapped up in 30-40 chapters. And it will probably be mostly a fluff fic hence forth; I got enough angst going on in other fics XD And it's a bit hard coming up with angst in Ruffled, aside from Adrien's grandfather, who won't be a present character over all.
Since I have been asked about this, and chances are there may be others wondering, I'd like to let you guys know that in Ruffled, and for all my fics, I'm not going to write any mature content, not interested too, so rating won't be changing at all in the future chapters.
Onto year 3!
Basic for sure goals for year 3: Marinette develops a crush, falls in love, Adrien gets a rival, and Adrien meets another Veela.
"Ok Jacques," Marinette started, gazing down at the pigeon. Jacques tilted his head about, peering back.
She held up the letter, waving it, making sure the pigeon's gaze was locked on it. "You take this to Adrien Agreste," she told the familiar.
"Coo!"
"Adrien Agreste," she repeated. "He lives like... the outskirts of Paris."
"Coo."
She rolled up the letter, drew near and opened the container attached to the pigeon. The letter shrunk to better fit inside. "Get this to Adrien, but not too close because he's allergic to feathers.
Jacques seemed to grumble something back.
Marinette set her hands on her hips and gave the pigeon a look.
Jacques blinked at her innocently.
"Go," she ordered.
Jacques flew off and Marinette peered after him fretfully.
She hoped Adrien could help her with this.
Because her Maman had to go for a moment and Papa wanted to join her and now she was stuck with so much heavy awkwardness this thirteen year old does not want it nope she didn't.
But, what can she do?
Hopefully, Adrien would have something that he could spare, that she could make use of, or maybe he knew some terms? Cause Marinette certainly didn't know what she was doing!
Thankfully Tikki had this covered, for now, and there was hope because messenger pigeons in the wizarding world flew super fast, not only to get the message in time, but not to be bothered by predators; but Marinette couldn't hide up here on her balcony forever...
"The lady is in need of service?"
Marinette jumped, whipping around to see Adrien grinning down at her, hovering above on his broom. She could tell by that smile he thought he totally looked cool right now, only to be ruined when Jacques flew by, making sneeze.
"Adrien?!" she whispered screamed, quickly giving Jacques a rewarding croissant to peck at, "Get down! What if someone sees you!"
"I have a glamour on," he eased, hopping down onto the balcony, setting his black broom down. He turned, brow raised, looking up at her and asking, "So you wanted to see me for something?"
She gave him an unimpressed look. "You didn't read the letter?"
"I skimmed it. And was close enough that I could just visit! I'm surprised we never thought about that yet too, because technically we're not that far away from each other-"
"You speak Chinese, right?" Marinette asked, sparing a fretful glance down at her bedroom.
"Relatively," Adrien confirmed, leaning over to peek at the trapdoor. "You have someone that speaks Chinese down there?"
"My great uncle," she confirmed, "he's here visiting my Maman but there's this last minute thing going on that she wanted to take care of real quick and Papa wanted to join her and they had this brilliant idea of leaving their daughter, who only knows like, one word in Chinese, to keep him company." She started to pace about on her balcony, fretful, digging her fingers into her hair, her bun bouncing with the move.
She stopped when Adrien set a hand on her shoulder, offering her a confident smile and reassuring, "Don't you worry, I got this."
She eyed him, brow raised. "You do?"
Adrien nodded, slipping in. "It'll be fine Nette!"
Well, she hoped so. With a nervous gulp, she grabbed his broom and took downstairs with her, following Adrien down into her house, hoping it really will go well.
In the business world, Chinese was the biggest used language in it, with English being a solid second. It was so even in the wizarding world. For this reason, his father was inclined to have Adrien know Chinese since it was likely he'll take over Gabriel's business, Gabriel successful enough as a designer to be relatively famous world wide.
It was only natural that Adrien learn as well, a solid precaution for a future heir.
And the more languages he knew, the better prepared he'd be for the future.
So this, this was a solid practice and chance for Adrien to practice what he learned.
So far, personally, Adrien thought it was going well.
Wang Cheng was a stiff, poised man. But patient and kind with the young wizard that took the chance to practice his Chinese with the older wizard.
Beside them though, Marinette sat with stiff awkwardness, words she didn't know filling the air. She could only spare wary glances between the two as they talked, Adrien she thinks is covering what Beauxbatons is like. She thinks...
It hard to be sure when she loosely knows one word. That was for sure. She had a few maybes down in Chinese, but...
Marinette sighed softly, petting Tikki as the calico hopped up into her arms, nuzzling Marinette reassuringly.
Marinette honestly hoped her Maman returned soon.
It was really frustrating not knowing what was being said, to be the only one left out of a conversation, a listening to a language she didn't know. She jumped when she was jabbed at the side, looking over to see Adrien give her a cheeky grin.
She narrowed her eyes at him, then spared a glance to her great uncle.
The wizard was currently ignoring them, sipping his tea.
"He said he's wishful to see Beauxbatons," Adrien offered, "and I confirmed how beautiful it is." With a nudge, Adrien added, "Also offered that we could give him a tour sometime."
"You mean you give him a tour," Marinette corrected.
"I bet when he visits again, you'll know a bit of Chinese and could mostly hold a conversation with him."
"Mostly," she repeated dryly.
"Mostly is better than not at all."
He squawked when she poked his side, earning a giggle.
He gave her a pout, one that struggled to stay, tempted to smile at her laugh.
Both gave a start when there was a murmur across from them, words Marinette didn't understand. Adrien though understood.
A deep blush crossed his face while her great uncle offered him a small, amused smile.
Marinette glanced at him, curious. "What?" she asked.
"Nothing," he stammered, looking away.
Her great uncle chuckled, across from them, taking a sip of his tea, not offering anything as Marinette looked between the two.
What did he say?
When Sabine and Tom returned, Tom was the first to be on Adrien.
He came at the young wizard with a warm bellowing voice, a welcoming hug. The secret half Veela's eyes were wide as he received the hug, pulled into what he could only call a wave of warmth.
It was the first time that someone he didn't know was pulling him into a hug.
It was amazing.
Adrien approved.
"Papa!" Marinette cried, alarmed. "Don't scare him!"
Tom only laughed, setting Adrien down and ruffled up his blond hair. "Sorry son, always so excited to meet one of Marinette's friends! Adrien right?"
He gazed up at the large man in wonder. "You know who I am."
Tom released a bellowing laugh. "Of all her friends, Marinette has talked about you mos-"
"PAPA!"
Tom gave her a sheepish.
Adrien though looked very delighted and blown away.
Marinette talked about him! At home!
This was good.
Adrien was pleased.
He turned and gave a smug smile to Marinette.
She blushed and huffed at him, then declaring, "Ok that's it, we're heading up!"
Sabine quickly turned to them as Marinette started to push Adrien upstairs. "Would you two like some cookies?"
"Yes please!" Adrien called out, grunting when Marinette gave him a hard push. Chuckling, Sabine turned and greeted her uncle, the two easily delving into a warm conversation with each other.
Tom in turn prepared the cookies, humming a chirpy tune.
From the tone he could catch, the boy did very well.
Tom was hopeful to see more of him.
"Oh shut up," Marinette huffed as she sat in her pink rolling chair, curving it about, sending Adrien a look.
"I didn't say anything," he returned, that smug smile still on his lips as he leaned back in his seat.
"You don't need too," Marinette grumbled, cheeks a little pink. "But you need to stop."
Adrien couldn't though. He was too caught up preening. She talked about him. She talked about him. He was in her thoughts and she wanted to voice them to her parents.
Adrien was so happy he felt like he could sing.
"Don't know if I can, M'Lady, you certainly know how flatter this young wizard. And I am indeed very flattered."
She threw a pillow at him, making him laugh as he caught it.
Giving him a pout, she slid up to her computer, considering this. Technically, to her knowledge, this was the first time Adrien was in a muggle's home. And it seemed he had no interest in going back home anytime soon.
She was up to entertain him, show him some stuff that she enjoyed of the muggle world.
"So what's with the box?" Adrien asked, eagerly sliding up, looking at it curiously.
"Computer," Marinette explained. "It's sort of an immobile book that can do a lot, from looking up information, to watching tv, to playing music, to games."
Adrien perked at the last. "Games?"
She gave him a coy smile, making him perk, attention locked on that grin and the glint in her eyes. "You up to play Ultimate Mecha Strike?"
"Um, what is that?"
She pulled it up, offering, "One of the most fun games in the world."
It was time to show her friend a whole new world that he didn't even know existed.
Including everything she loved.
She was going to take advantage of this day.
Gabriel was rather alarmed when he heard... what he could only describe to be noise blast out through the manor.
He became even more concerned when he heard it blasting from Adrien's room.
What sort of monstrosity was this?
Gabriel hurried to Adrien's room, slamming the door open, was greeted to his son flying around his room, his wings and claws out, pupils huge with delight. His claws was a small, ivory square with some image of a wild, purple haired man. That was where the noise was coming from, that was making Adrien so wild and jittery.
"A-Adrien?" Gabriel called, making his son pause.
"Father!" Adrien returned, silencing the device with his claws, his hair a mess from his wild dance. "What brings you here?"
"What, what was that?" Gabriel demanded, grey blue eyes locked on the thing in Adrien's claws.
"Jagged Stone's music!" Adrien explained.
Gabriel raised a brow.
"Jagged Stone?" he repeated. "Is he some sort of wizard?" Gabriel has certainly never heard of him, and even now, isn't to impressed to hear his name. Jagged Stone? What sort of name was that?
"An American muggle musician," Adrien explained, "Marinette introduced him to me! She loves his music, and he does have some really fun beats and style to it and..."
Gabriel blinked as Adrien rambled on, starting the device back up, the music coming back though much softer in volume this time, more bearable on the ears. Marinette was the one to introduce his son to this? Gabriel wasn't sure if he liked his son listening to this...
He straightened and cleared his throat, starting, "Adrien. I'm not too sure-"
Suddenly the device went quiet.
Both Agrestes froze, eyes locked on the device.
Adrien frantically tapped it, his expression shifting into alarm.
Gabriel started to ask, "What is—"
Adrien beat him with an alarmed declaration.
"I KILLED MARINETTE'S IPOD!"
Before Gabriel could breath a word, with frantic beats of his wings, Adrien flew across the room, grabbed his broom and tore off to who knows where.
Though Gabriel suspected to Marinette, wherever she lived.
He squinted, frowning.
He turned when he heard an amused sneeze.
There was Plagg, with his laughing green eyes locked on the wizard.
He narrowed his eyes at the cat, asking the familiar, "What did she get my son into?"
All he got was a swish of Plagg's tail, the cat offering no other answer.
How encouraging.
I miss Plagg. He was gone for a good few chapters.