Hero
"I will be right back." Marinette said to Nino and Adrien, "My future awaits!" And then she walked to meet Gabriel Agreste.
She was so excited! She had talked to famous designers all night, they had asked to talk to her.
Her! Marinette Dupain-Cheng! And she did! She had talked to them and she hadn't made a fool of herself! No deep blushing, no major clumsiness and more importantly, no stammering! She internally chuckled. She was happy to admit she felt a tiny bit proud of herself! And to think she had been so scared to come to this party in the first place! She was rocking it!
But this conversation was to be different. Gabriel Agreste was her ultimate idol! Her hero! She had lived her whole life dreaming about working with him. Being like him! That was what she was aiming for.
Not as in character matters... She knew that Adrien had a lot of problems with his dad due to the man's personality. But as a fashion designer, he was everything she could ever aspire to be. And now, he wanted to talk to her! About fashion!
Oh my god! What if he wants to hire me? She thought.
Calm down Marinette, you're putting the carriage before the horse!
She had her studies to finish. Two more years...
But what if he does want me to work for him?
She abruptly stopped in her way to meet Monsieur Agreste. She checked the pockets in her dress - that were only noticeable when she placed her hands inside them - and let out a sigh of relief. From her left pocket, - in the right pocket, was Tikki - she took out the business cards to make sure she had at least one of her own. She had given her business card to the famous designers she had talked and danced with previously. She even had received some of those designers personal business cards in return! How wicked was that!?
Relieved that she still had three of her own business cards to spare, she breathed deeply. If Monsieur Agreste wanted to make her some kind of deal, she would be professional: hear if he had a concrete proposition and before accepting anything she would trade business cards with him. This way they could meet after the ball and talk properly.
She nodded, happy with her resolve and shoved the business card back into her pocket with renewed confidence. She had everything she needed. She could do it!
Marinette kept walking until she arrived at her destination.
She was noticed first by Nicolas Ghesquière, who was talking to Monsieur Agreste and to Madame Dumond.
"Here is the woman of the hour!" He said, interrupting the conversation that was going on at the moment, spreading his arms in a welcoming gesture. Both Monsieur Agreste and Madame Dumond looked at her. Marinette was rewarded by Madame Dumond's wide smile. Gabriel Agreste looked as stoic as ever, though she seemed to notice the shade of a grin, rising on the corner of his mouth. "Everyone is talking about you, little miss!" Ghesquière pretended to whisper.
"Indeed, they are!" Said Madame Dumond, "You are putting on quite a show, Marinette! When we thought we've seen it all, you rise up to shine and surprise everyone once again!" She placed an arm around Marinette's shoulders and squeezed slightly, a demonstration of affection in front of her fellow designers. It might have been small, but it meant the world to Marinette. It meant that her first mentor was proud or her.
"What do you mean, I keep surprising you?" Marinette asked shyly and the three designers looked at her as if she had grown three more heads. "I mean, I know my presentation was a bit dramatic and unexpected." She managed to reformulate, "But what else was surprising?"
Nicolas Ghesquière looked at Gabriel Agreste with a mischievous smile, "For instance," He said looking back at Marinette, "We were just now discussing how you seem to have the Agreste family in the palm of your hands!" He said with a suggestive wink. Madame Dumond giggled, but Marinette frowned, not really following what he wanted to say. He sighed dramatically and explained, "You have Gabriel here, in your hand, because of your talent, obviously." Marinette blushed and raised her eyebrows looking at Monsieur Agreste as if she wanted him to confirm what she had just heard. The man smiled coldly. She really couldn't tell if that was supposed to mean something, but she was still stunned by Nicolas' statement. "On the other hand, you have poor Adrien, who is so madly in love with you that tomorrow I bet you will both be featured on the cover of every magazine. Dancing."
Marinette blushed like she had never blushed before. She was positively the color of her dress. She had her eyes open so wide that it looked like they were going to pop out of her head.
What. The. Hell- How could Nicolas know?
She knew that Chloe had told her that Adrien might be in love with her. But was it so obvious that everyone could tell? Even someone they'd never met before?
She looked at Gabriel. He was looking back at her, with a determined expression on his face. As if he was trying to find something.
Not able to read Gabriel properly, Marinette turned her gaze back to Nicolas and Madame Dumond, "How can you be so sure of that?" It came out as a whisper, a hopeful one.
Gabriel Agreste smiled, victorious. It didn't reach his eyes. But Marinette didn't notice. She was digesting some important matters.
If Adrien was in love with her - Really in love - would that change anything?
She had wanted to get back with him right after Chloe told her that he loved her, but only if he wanted to date her for real. That had been the conclusion she had reached a few days ago. But she was scared... She wasn't really sure that his feelings were the same as hers. She knew she couldn't keep the line, between friendship and love, straight anymore. She felt like she couldn't go back to being just friends with him. But she was also very frightened of his answer. What if he wanted nothing more than her friendship and some occasional 'rebound'?
But if she knew...
If Adrien was in love with her - Really in love - She would be sure of what to do and she would do it fearlessly.
What about Chat Noir?-
"My dear, it is clear to me that you are the only one in this ballroom that hasn't noticed the boy's feelings for you." Said Madame Dumond with a gentle smile, "And at least eighty percent of the people here only watched you dance." She giggled.
Marinette looked back at the place she last saw Adrien.
He was looking back at her with so much intensity that it shocked her. Her stomach was stuffed with evil akumas, filling her with nervousness and making her heart race. She didn't quite understand his expression, though. She had never seen it before. He was looking at her differently, that was for sure. A thrill ran through her. Was that a loving gaze?
Madame Dumond and Nicolas Ghesquière laughed softly.
"Enough of this gossiping," Said Gabriel Agreste, coldly.
"Ah- Right! I forgot you wanted a chance to meet Miss Dupain-Cheng yourself!" Said Nicolas, chuckling.
"Oh, we have met." Said Gabriel, glaring down the other designer. Madame Dumond was suddenly quiet. "As I recall, you created the winning feathered hat in my hat competition, when you were fifteen?" He asked Marinette. She smiled and nodded, glad that he remembered. "Poor Adrien had to wear it on set! He couldn't stop sneezing!" He let out a single laugh. Marinette joined him. The other two just looked stunned, not sure of what was happening and how this girl had made Gabriel Agreste laugh after a two-minute-long conversation.
"Why couldn't he stop sneezing?" Asked Madame Dumond, extremely amazed, making an effort not to be left out.
"The hat was made with feathers!" Said Marinette, laughing at the memory. "I felt so bad back then! I didn't know he was allergic to feathers!"
"We did not know that either." Said Gabriel, amused, "We found out that day!"
Marinette laughed. She didn't know that. She always thought that Adrien had been aware of his allergies his whole life.
She remembered the pictures of him coming out next month and they looked so good... She was very impressed by how professional he'd been. Adrien was really good at modeling. You couldn't tell at all that he had been sneezing the whole time. He hadn't looked less than perfect.
Marinette had that picture of him. She had stored it with love. It had been the first real proof that she could do it. If Gabriel Agreste had selected her piece, she was on the right path... She could achieve her dream.
And...
Because back then she had fallen under Adrien's spell. As she was falling now.
"On to more important business," Cut in Gabriel Agreste, "I believe you are here because my son has told you that I wish to have a word with you?" Marinette nodded.
"Ah, now, now, Agreste!" Said Nicolas Ghesquière, trying to be included in the conversation too, "Don't keep the girl's talent only to yourself!" He warned. "I came first!" Then he looked at Marinette, "I expect you to hear my offer after he makes his! Don't accept his offer before coming to hear mine!"
"Ghesquière, let's leave them to talk. You don't want people to think you are desperate." Said Madame Dumond, pushing him away from Marinette and Gabriel. They left without another word.
Gabriel Agreste halted her with his cold smile. She smiled back, unsure of what to say, suddenly feeling very self-aware.
This was it.
"He did sound very desperate, did he not!?" Asked Monsieur Agreste, smirking. Marinette managed to giggle.
"Just a bit." She said, "Though I confess I can't understand why."
"Because he knows he wants you," Gabriel's mirthless smile spread; he looked a bit cruel now, "He also knows that he doesn't stand a chance of getting what he wants if I want it too."
Marinette's eyes widened.
"That is right, Miss Dupain-Cheng." He breathed out, "Every single one of the fashion legends in this room is very impressed with you. 'Prodigy' has been whispered to describe you since the beginning of the party. They all want to work with you." He paused for effect. Marinette wasn't sure of what to say. "But you probably already know that, don't you? Your gown pockets must be filled with business cards by now." She placed her hand over her left pocket. Gabriel chuckled humorlessly. "I have a proposition for you, Miss Dupain-Cheng." Marinette looked at him expectantly. "But I need more than your talent to give you the chance to work with me. I need this to be a win-win contract. You can't only receive. You have to give too. Do you understand, Miss Dupain-Cheng?"
She slowly nodded.
"But I don't think I have anything to give you." She said with her throat aching. Gabriel chuckled, delighted.
"Let me be the judge of that."
"Umm- Okay..." Said Marinette, not understanding where this was going. She honestly didn't know what else she had to give him except for her 'talent'. She was certain that it wasn't money that he wanted. And even if it was, she was also certain that he knew she had none.
"Come, Miss Dupain-Cheng." He asked. "Let us talk in some place more private." He steered her toward the gardens. She looked at Adrien once again and she received an encouraging smile followed by a single nod. Marinette felt warm. Without thinking, her hand flew to her neckline.
"I see that Adrien gave you Emilie's necklace," Gabriel pointed with a sudden tremor in his voice. It was the first time she had seen him showing any kind of emotion. Marinette felt a shiver.
"It's borrowed. I am giving it back to him tomorrow!" Said Marinette quickly. Gabriel made a gesture with his hand as if he was telling her that it was fine by him.
They stepped outside. The night was colder and darker than it had been when Marinette and Adrien had escaped there, a while ago.
Ladybug's dress was shining, strong. Marinette was spreading light.
Gabriel moved beyond the balcony to the core of the garden. They walked for a while until they were alone. The gardens were way more quiet than the ballroom. They could still hear the sounds of the party coming from inside and some occasional cricket noises. Apart from that, the silence was overwhelming.
"I will be straightforward with you, Miss Dupain-Cheng." Said Gabriel Agreste. The red light coming from her dress was reflecting on his face and making him look scary-er. She wished they were still inside, in the cosy warmth where her dress didn't make her hero look like a villain from a horror movie. "I believe you have something that I want." said Gabriel, making Marinette raise her eyebrows. "But I am not certain of it, not yet." Marinette was trying to suppress the surprise she felt hearing his words and the sudden suspicion that something was wrong.
"Okay," She managed to say, "I don't know what is it that you think I have that you could want, but I'm all ears. What is it that you want?" Her words grew colder. She started to feel more awake and aware of everything. As Ladybug, she always felt this kind of clarity when facing danger.
Gabriel Agreste shook his head, "It doesn't work like that." He smirked at her, "Why would I tell you what I want? You would have leverage over me." He chuckled and shook his head again as if the thought of being upfront with her was the silliest thing he had ever heard.
He has the advantage over me. Marinette realized. He had something that she wanted. She could always get it from another designer, but it wouldn't be the same and he knew that.
"I will be asking you some questions." Said Gabriel, interrupting her thoughts. "If you answer or not, it's up to you. Just remember that I can see through lies and that no answer is also an answer."
Marinette gulped. She didn't like where this was going.
"First question:" He started, "Why make a collection about Ladybug?" He knew that the collection was about the miraculouses, but if he started asking such specific questions, the girl might understand where the conversation was leading right away.
Gabriel sat on a garden wooden bench and gestured for her to sit too.
Marinette took some time before she answered. She didn't know why the first question was about this. Maybe he wanted to know her creative process?
"I'm very interested in the subject." She said finally sitting down next to him. It was true, but not the whole truth, obviously. Plus, she didn't want her idol to think she was nothing more than a fan-girl. "And it's not only about Ladybug." She added.
Gabriel Agreste raised his eyebrows slightly.
"I know it is not only about Ladybug. But she is the main star, isn't she? Like you."
Marinette didn't want to answer. She wasn't the main star. Not today, nor as Ladybug. She was part of a team. She had always had help.
But she didn't want to dismiss her idol-and-possible-future-mentor's thoughts so quickly. He might decide that she didn't want to listen, or even worse, learn.
Feeling very cold, she pressed her hands against her uncovered arms and rubbed them, trying to find warmth through friction. She didn't want to acknowledge it, but she was also feeling slightly scared.
Gabriel, deciding she wasn't going to respond, sighed and said, "I'm very interested in the subject too, you know." Marinette looked at him, surprised. "I, myself, have gathered some information," He continued, "For the sake of fashion, obviously." He paused. Marinette thought she should feel relieved, but she wasn't. Her heartbeat was growing faster. "Of course, you got there first." He smiled and looked at her, narrowing his eyes. The red glowing in the dark light mixed with Gabriel's calculated smiled was giving her goosebumps. She wanted to run away from there. "And I am glad you did! What a fine collection you created! I wonder if you did some kind of research before you started... Or if you have an expert insider covering the matter for you..." It wasn't a question. "For example," Marinette held her breath. She really didn't like where the conversation was going. Insider? Was he implying that she knew who Ladybug was? Or maybe that she was Ladybug? "How did you know that there were more miraculous?" Before she had time to answer, he added, "How did you know that there is a Bee and a Turtle miraculous?"
Marinette wished this was a nightmare. She just wanted to wake up.
The evening was going so well! Why!? Why did something or someone always have to ruin perfect things?
She didn't want to wonder why her hero was asking such questions. She didn't want to imagine what she could find if she found out why either. He looked interested in the matter. More than interested, actually. He was looking at her as if he was demanding an answer. But the Ladybug in her was awakened and demanding answers too.
He had stated that there were a Bee and a Turtle miraculous as if he knew that they existed.
Maybe she misunderstood?
But then, how did he knew about the word miraculous at all? It wasn't a word that many people knew. In fact, only a few were familiar with the term. Alya, Chat Noir, Master Fuu and herself. Though she did use that term talking to Nino and Chloe while explaining her collection. But they wouldn't talk to anyone about it, let alone to Gabriel Agreste.
No one else knew that word... Not that she knew of.
Wait.
There was someone else.
She scanned Gabriel Agreste.
Her stomach shrank in pain and shock, when she found it.
It was pinned to Gabriel's necktie:
The missing Moth's brooch.
Poor Marinette... Everything was going so well... Hawkmoth had to ruin it, didn't he?
How will Mari react to this? I will let you know next Chapter! (ΦωΦ) ฅ
AuriMoon*
