Stuck In A Bakery (With You), Chapter 18
Plagg watched as Adrien entered his guest room, stepped forward quietly, and unceremoniously faceplanted onto his pillow.
"I am going to assume," grinned Plagg, "that your life just got a whoooole lot more interesting."
"I'm in love."
Adrien said it plainly... matter-of-factly... and without any doubt.
"I don't have any idea how to process this yet," Adrien declared. "Were you up there?"
"Actually, no. I was down here taking a nap in your suitcase," said Plagg. "What happened tonight?"
"I asked her the question that we'd talked about. Wondering why even talking about a potential 'us' made her so uncomfortable," explained Adrien. "And I told her that she didn't have to answer it if she didn't want to, and she could stop at any time."
"And?"
"She didn't stop," replied Adrien. "Instead... everything started all at once."
As Adrien related his tale of the evening, from the light conversation to Marinette's confession, from their first cuddle to his goodnight kiss, Plagg listened patiently. Hot damn, she finally TOLD him! he thought, grinning to himself. About freakin' time!
It was towards the end of the conversation that disbelief started setting in for Plagg. "You're kidding me, right? So you're in love... both of you are in love with each other... but you're going to stay hands-off indefinitely?" he marveled.
"Not... so much hands-off, I think. We kind of broke that barrier in a big way last night. Lips-off, more like. Lips-off-lips, to be precise," Adrien clarified. "Flirty but friendly, within limits. Nothing that I'd feel terrible telling Kagami about until I can talk to Kagami in person."
"You've got a new girlfriend... without one of the biggest fringe benefits of having one," Plagg remarked, shaking his head.
"That's just it, though. I don't have a new girlfriend, necessarily... because I kind of have one already, remember?" sighed Adrien. "And I'm not going to just say 'sorry, Kagami, but Marinette's got me now.' Even if I was capable of being cruel like that, Marinette would never let me do it. And she'd be right about that."
"And you can't have two girlfriends at once?" wondered Plagg, seemingly innocently.
"That's... not really how it's supposed to work, is it? It wouldn't be fair to either one of them," Adrien argued, then looked confused. "At least I think so? I'm pretty sure of it. At the very least, that's not for just me to decide! Marinette and Kagami and I all need to talk about it, and that means things are on hold until we can get together... and I don't know how long that'll take."
"So in the meantime... you two are just going to try to out-flirt each other?" Plagg asked. "Like a few minutes ago, where she put on a little nightie for you..."
"It wasn't little. Almost ankle-length, and everything was covered," Adrien protested. "She wouldn't have..."
"A cute nightie that she clearly wanted to fry your brain with. And it worked! So you returned the favor when you tucked her in, and you made her think all about what you might have done," continued Plagg. "And you're each going to dance right up to the boyfriend-girlfriend line again and again, without going over?"
Adrien nodded. He watched Plagg hover before him, obviously up to something, and asked, "...What are you doing now?"
"I'm debating if I should bet you that this game you're playing will only last a few days before you both crack... or if I should make that 'hours,' instead," the Kwami cackled.
The next morning, Tom and Sabine took a quiet moment in the bakery to step aside and compare notes.
"Someone had the breakthrough she was hoping for last night," smiled Tom. "I didn't think that it would take very long."
"Neither did I," Sabine agreed. "Did either of them speak to you about it?"
"No... but it's obvious, isn't it?" replied Tom. "Look at how they've acted all morning."
The pair watched through the kitchen door as Adrien concentrated on assembling a mille-feuille pastry... with Marinette by his side, leaning in close, her arm draped over his shoulders as he worked. A moment later, Adrien playfully flicked a pinch of confectioner's sugar her way, which nearly led to a giggly flung-bits-of-pastry fight until they realized that they had an audience and decided to behave.
"They're so much more at ease with each other now. Emotionally and physically," Tom pointed out. "Less longing, more comfort. Before today, Marinette was crazy about him to the point where she barely wanted to touch him, as if he might disappear if she did. He was much the same way, keeping some small distance. All of a sudden, it's no big deal for either of them; they've been hanging on each other like that for hours now."
"If it will help you sleep better," Sabine smiled, "Marinette is aware that Adrien is still somewhat attached to that other girl. I can guarantee that when they talked last night, if either had made a major move on the other, it wouldn't have been her. And he's so respectful of her that I can't imagine him moving too fast, either... or I would have had a wide-eyed Marinette wanting to talk to me first thing this morning."
"Oh, I don't suspect that. They would've kissed twice and both fainted if they had," laughed Tom, quietly. "We'd have found them both unconscious on the balcony at sunrise."
"So... something's changed. Of that I have no doubt. I wonder just what it was?" wondered Sabine. A sound outside caught her attention, and she peered through the front window. "Uh-oh," she declared.
"Hmmm?" asked Tom, looking out himself... and seeing a familiar sedan at the curb, with a well-dressed woman stepping out of it.
"Tom?" said Sabine. "Go back and keep the kids occupied for a moment. I'm going to have a word with someone... What?" she asked, seeing her husband looking her over.
"No knives, no bread paddles, no rolling pins. Good enough for me," he smiled. "Call for me if you need me, sweetheart. You know I'll have your back. Go and keep their breakthrough from getting broken."
Sabine exited the bakery and stood at the front door with her arms crossed. She was unarmed, as Tom had verified, but clearly was not going to make any removal of Adrien an easy process.
Nathalie saw her approach and backed up two steps, leaning against the sedan. "Stop! Stop, please, Mrs. Cheng," she called out. "Three meters, at least. I have had no symptoms of COVID as of yet, but I have been exposed. It is imperative that we do not come into contact." She added, "Should I exhibit a cough... Adrien can verify that I had been dealing with that long before the current crisis."
"I will remain where I am. As will Adrien, for the moment," Sabine stated, evenly. "With all due respect, Madam, unless you now have a more compelling argument."
"That... is also my intent at present," Nathalie said. "This is not a rescue mission. Stuffing Adrien into a car containing exposed people would be seriously counterproductive."
"So why are you here, then?" sniffed Sabine.
"In part... to render an apology."
Adrien marveled at Marinette's craftiness as she put the finishing touches on the pastries they were working on. She is so talented! he thought, trying not to distract her. At whatever she does. When she's not flustered over being near me... and I'm still wrapping my head around THAT having been a thing!... she's always been so-
Heavy footsteps pulled their attention away from the delicacies before them. Marinette looked up with a pleasant smile, only to recognize tension on her father's face.
"Adrien..." he told them, "you have a visitor. One which, odd as it may sound, I must insist that you greet in person. If you would?"
Adrien and Marinette looked at each other, each making an accurate guess as to whom it had to be there. "I am not leaving without a fight," Adrien declared, worriedly.
"I don't want you to leave... believe me... but... oh... I don't know what to say," gasped Marinette. "But I'm coming with you for now."
"I can't take you to San Marino, if that's what they still have in-"
"I'm not letting go of you, Adrien. Not when you need someone by your side," Marinette insisted, her eyes flashing. "Not when I've finally found the courage to reach out."
The front door to the bakery opened, and Adrien and Marinette saw Nathalie and Sabine engaged in conversation.
"And additional precautions are in place?" asked Nathalie.
"Several," said Sabine. "We are encouraging phone orders, providing contactless pickup when requested, and maintaining our already substantial hygiene and sanitation processes. We were already the cleanest bakery in Paris, and we intend to remain so with or without our young guest present."
"Of that, I have no doubt," allowed Nathalie. "And I see that your young guest has joined us."
As Adrien walked towards them, stopping next to Sabine, Marinette remained by his side, holding his hand. "What do you want now, Nathalie?" he called out, a bit defiantly. "As you can see, they're feeding me, they're housing me, they're not shoving me into the faces of coughing customers."
"They are caring for you, Adrien. Rather admirably. One of them even more than the others," she replied.
Marinette saw Nathalie's eyes go to their clasped hands, but held on regardless, undaunted. She did remain silent, not wanting to overstep.
"You must understand, Mrs. Cheng, that when it comes to Adrien's welfare and handling, we are most insistent that he remains fully protected. As you found out the hard way, my employer can be most emphatic on that point... and I can be equally emphatic when passing on his wishes," Nathalie said. "I unloaded on you with both barrels without verifying facts first... and for that, I apologize to you now."
"It is accepted," allowed Sabine, as Tom put his arm around her small shoulders. "But that, you could have said over the phone."
"Many things are best said in person, wouldn't you agree?" replied Nathalie... reaching behind her and knocking twice on the passenger window.
The group watched as the Gorilla emerged from the driver's seat, walked to the rear door and opened it.
Marinette couldn't help a sudden intake of breath when she recognized who was climbing out of it, and squeezed Adrien's hand a bit tighter.
"I assume that I need no introduction," intoned Gabriel. "Good morning, Mr. Dupain, Mrs. Cheng... Marinette."
"Good morning to you," replied Tom, steadily.
Marinette swallowed hard. She gave Gabriel a small nod of acknowledgment, and apparently something of a look of surprise as well.
"Yes, Mademoiselle, I know your name," Gabriel smiled. "You designed a derby hat for me, did you not? And my son makes sure that your name is spoken frequently around our home."
"Th-thank you, Sir," Marinette gasped.
"Yes, I do speak of her rather often, Father," Adrien began...
"...though I am rarely there to hear it. Adrien, Nathalie brought your parting salvo in your conversation to my attention." Gabriel's voice was steady and seemingly free of emotion. "Do you stand by your words, my son?"
"I do."
There was nervousness in Adrien's voice... but also resolve.
Gabriel stood tall as he spoke, the posture of a man accustomed to being obeyed without hesitation.
"I am a man who bears not one heavy burden, but many," he began. "It is my role to manage a multinational corporation, to set the trends of fashion all over the world for the discerning customer. To control every aspect of this business, to protect it with my every breath, and to deal with an unthinkable array of pressing issues each and every day. I do not sleep often, let alone well. I bear these burdens because I can, and I must."
Adrien stared back silently.
"But another burden that is mine... is that of being a father to a remarkable young man. And being that the young man is both my business's most valuable asset and my beloved son... I am not one to apologize lightly for being fiercely protective of him in all things," Gabriel intoned.
"But when he assesses my conduct and rightfully feels neglected... such as when his father gets caught up in his own worries and his business affairs, and treats his son as an asset first... for that, I must and do apologize. I am sorry for that, Adrien. It was shameful of me."
Marinette gaped at him, not quite believing what she had just heard... then turned to Adrien, who looked nearly as stunned. "I... don't know what to say," he stammered. "Not now."
"We will speak of this further when you return, Son. Be sure of that," said Gabriel. "But for now, while our home remains in quarantine... I will rest far easier knowing that you are in good hands."
He returned to the car promptly, as did the Gorilla. Nathalie offered what appeared to be a small shrug and an awkward facial expression to Adrien... then entered the car herself, which pulled away rapidly.
Silence reigned for a moment.
Marinette and Adrien watched the car turn the corner, still standing hand-in-hand.
"...Not even a hug?" Tom wondered aloud.
"When he thinks he might have been exposed to this virus? No," Adrien told him. "But in normal times... still no."
Marinette stepped in front of him, still clasping his left hand, reaching out to him with her own.
"I'm in charge of those now," she whispered.
