Yes it has been a while since this was update, however, the more annoying part of it is that I wrote this lut a while ago and for some reason, didn't upload it... *face palms*
I hope you enjoy the next chapter!
"Ahem."
Nathalie stood peering over the slumbering teens, hiding her amusement well. Arms crossed with her typical stoic expression in place, the assistant could not show how happy seeing Adrien so content made her feel.
She had to keep up the pretence.
How else would she be able to keep tabs on Gabriel's interference in his son's life?
Gazing over the couple she thought to herself, 'at least this one's got spunk, she'll be good for Adrien, show him how to stand up for himself.' Nathalie stifled a snort, 'heck, she's even already pushed the boundaries by turning down the lights.'
"Adrien."
She tried again, this time emphasising her impatience with the tapping of her foot.
Out of the two, Marinette was the first to rise. Her blue eyes fluttering open from where her head lay on the blonde's chest. Her cheeks turned crimson.
'How cute,' Nathalie stated internally. Happy that the girl was actually shy about being found in such a position. 'Not like that awful Lila.'
"Good evening Miss Dupain-Cheng," Nathalie addressed her coolly, "the car is waiting for you outside."
It took the teenager a while to register what was going on. "Ah," she sat bolt upright and glanced back at Adrien's slumbering form. "Can I leave him a note at least?"
Nathalie's eyebrows raised slightly, "I was going to wake him to escort you home."
"No," Marinette spoke softly while gently unlatching her hand from his, "let him sleep," she looked up at Nathalie, "I'll see him in school tomorrow."
'Very thoughtful too.'
"Ok," Nathalie agreed, "I'll give you a minute to write a note to him," the assistant turned to walk out of the room, "please be ready in three minutes."
Marinette eased the blanket over Adrien's sleeping form and grabbed a pillow from his bed to support his neck. He looked so peaceful and Marinette was glad he was asleep, she was certain he was her Chaton, and hoped with every part of her being. If he was not, she would be crushed.
A thought which conflicted her greatly.
Grabbing a pen and a piece of paper from his desk, Marinette had an idea and the secret heroine began to write. She could have just text him, but this felt more personal than a message on a screen, and it was something that could be kept as a momento, if her hunch was right. If she was wrong however, Adrien was someone she knew she could trust, so did not see the harm in dropping too many hints.
Adrien awoke in a daze. The girl in his arms had disappeared, and he was filled with disappointment that he had not been able to say goodbye to her. Finding that he now had a pillow, and the comforter pulled up around him however, caused a small smile to rest on his lips, and he instantly thought of the budding designer and the way she cared for others.
He rolled to lie on his side facing the table, immediately hearing the note crinkle, which Marinette had left him under his pillow. Fishing it out, he rubbed his eyes as he focused on the words before him.
My Knight,
Thank you for the purrfect afternoon, everything was spot on and I think it's all going to work out for the best. We make an excellent team, don't you think?
I'll see you at school tomorrow, although if I'm lucky I might see you on video Chat later. I may even swing by this weekend if you're not busy, we still need to keep up our dual identities of boyfriend and girlfriend.
Drop me a bell later!
Your Lady
It took several attempts for Adrien to properly wrap his head around all the hidden references that would apply to him and Ladybug.
His heart skipped a beat.
He had to look at it from the perspective that she was not his lady, but the fact that she had even used that phrasing when signing the note screamed that his suspicions had been correct.
His breath caught in his chest.
Whipping round, the blonde scanned his room for his little black Kwami. Sure enough, he saw Plagg chomping down on a piece of goat's cheese with a look of indifference on his tiny face. Adrien's eyes narrowed mischievously at his Kwami, before approaching him with the full intention of quizzing the God of Destruction.
"Well, what did you find out?"
Gabriel sat with his finger tips pressed against each other when Nathalie entered the room. His grey eyes never left the screen to look at her: he was brooding over his son's less than suitable choice in a girlfriend.
Nathalie repressed an irritated sigh at her boss's abrupt nature, his determination to prove that Marinette was only using his son frustrated her. As she walked further into the office she thought to her self bitterly: 'If you spent some time with him you could see for yourself.' "I saw nothing to confirm anything that Lila has ever said about her," Nathalie told him evenly, "she did not want me to wake him, she blushed at being found sleeping next to him and she even tucked the blanket around him before we left." Nathalie carried on in her monotone robotic fashion, hoping that Gabriel would take note of her words. If she showed any emotion, the expert assistant knew he would stop listening so she needed to stay stoic in everything she did.
"She was pleasant but short during the car ride home, I believe it had something to do with the exchange me and Adrien had earlier, but I cannot confirm that. Miss Dupain-Cheng seems to be protective of him and holds him very highly." Nathalie could not help the small knowing brow rising on her face, "but you should know that from the exchange earlier," she finished dryly.
Gabriel held his chin thoughtfully between his thumb and forefinger. Closing his eyes with a small assessing hum, he finally looked directly at Nathalie. "Do you think this could be used to our advantage?"
Nathalie's lips pursed in annoyance, "if you want to Akumatise your son's new girlfriend, maybe you should ask him, his opinion on the matter. Surely he could give you a better indication of how well that would work out for you."
Gabriel gaped, completely taken by surprise by Nathalie's obscene suggestion.
"You have already put them in danger once today sir," she added curtly, "do you not think they could do with the rest. They were right in the middle of that Akuma attack, and it took Ladybug and Chat Noir long enough to reach the area, that I was surprised you did not recall the attack." Nathalie struggled to hide her annoyance, "just from the exchanges I have seen in the past I can see how much she means to Adrien. I would tread carefully sir, as it would appear that those feelings have only grown. If he was ever to find out-"
"That is enough Nathalie." Gabriel dismissed her, his eyes boring challengingly into hers and she knew she had been too emotive for any of it to sink in.
Nathalie neglected to bid him farewell as she left the mansion that night, the concerned assistant did however check in on Adrien, to find him tucked up in bed. The usually stoic woman felt a sad smile crack her face before closing the door and walking out of the mansion. She knew her decision would have possibly detrimental side effects on Adrien at first, but if she did not do this now, then she feared Gabriel would only ever see his son in magazine pictures.
Leaving them as a family would work. There would be no one able to fulfill her role to Gabriel's high standards, and there would be no way he could trust anyone enough to tell them his duel identity. Therefore, how would he be able to carry on as Hawkmoth and continue to ignore his child?
This decision hurt most definitely, and she would return to speak with Adrien at least, his father however, would be a different story altogether. Hopefully now, Gabriel would be forced into having some more involvement in his son's life, and hopefully, learn to appreciate what he had as opposed to what was no longer there.
Marinette arrived home after an uncomfortable journey sitting next to Nathalie. It had been a far cry from being in the back seat with Adrien. The icy assistant failed to make any sort of conversation with the budding designer, and Marinette was still reeling from the way she had addressed him earlier. The secret hero was worried she may have said something out of line if they had managed more than a handful of words.
When Tom and Sabine greeted Marinette back at the bakery, they were all smiles and joyfully embraced their daughter. Another reason for her to hope that Adrien was her Kitty, the thought that he might not be, filled her with dread. They were ecstatic at the news that their daughter had finally won the heart of the blonde, and they were very vocal about how they wanted to have him round for dinner at his earliest convenience. Telling her that Alya was waiting upstairs for her, piqued Marinette's interests, and she went looking for the girl.
The surprise which her parents failed to mention was the tearful state Alya was in up in her room, but the way they told her she was waiting, would suggest they had not known. Upon reaching the trapdoor, she heard the muffled sobs before seeing the reporter. The vulnerability in Alya's face was something Marinette had never seen before, and she did not hesitate to wrap her up in a big comforting hug.
"I-I tr-tried to t-text you." Alya managed through sobs. Marinette simply held her best friend, stroking her hair, not wanting to interrupt her. "I-I'm so-so sorry."
Marinette grabbed a tissue from her desk, and passed it to Alya. 'I wonder if Nino knows about this?' Continuing to stroke her upset friend's head in a comforting manner, the budding reporter sat up straight and Marinette found two watery, bloodshot eyes looking at her with guilt.
Alya calmed somewhat and it appeared she had composed herself enough to have a coherent conversation. "I should never have doubted you," her watery voice came out croaky and quiet, in barely a whisper she continued: "you were right about her."
Marinette's eyes widened and Alya pushed her phone so it bumped Marinette's elbow, the screen showing several notifications from people in their class. The newest one caught Marinette's eye, and she felt a lump of anger appear in her throat as she opened it up.
Alix: Don't say you didn't do it! How else would she have a bruise? Not only did you threaten her but you pushed her into the lockers! You should be ashamed Alya! I thought you were her friend!
Looking back through the messages, Marinette could see that Alix was being the most aggressive towards Alya, but even Kim had decided to wade into the conflict.
Kim: Not cool Alya! Lila's been really upset about this. She couldn't bring herself to tell us in school but it's all come out now.
"Alya?" Marinette's eyes drifted up to see Alya dabbing under her eyes with a sniff, "does Nino know?"
Alya sniffed, "no, I couldn't get hold of him-"
"Purrincess~!"
Alya was cut off by Marinette's roof door opening and a very excited Chat jumping down to the lower level. Immediately stopping when he realised that Alya was there.
The secret hero's eyes widened before she jolted back into gear. Not giving Alya much of a chance to register what had just happened, Marinette made her way to Chat, pointedly looking at him. "I'm glad you're here Chat," she glanced back to Alya, "my friend has had some trouble and we can't get hold of her boyfriend Nino." The bluenette looked back at her suited boyfriend, "can you go and find him please?"
Chat's gaze roamed from a clearly upset Alya to a meaningful looking Marinette, "of course, wh-where does he live?"
Marinette deadpanned and Chat discreetly shrugged with a 'just playing along' eye roll before jumping up quickly and heading out of the trapdoor. The bluenette watched her boyfriend go, and hoped to Tikki that Alya was not in the right frame of mind to put two and two together.
"Mari?"
'Crap.'
There was a questioning tone to Alya's voice as she turned to look at her friend. Her forehead was furrowed and eyes hazel eyed blinked more than usual as she focused her gaze on a sheepish looking Marinette.
"Did Chat Noir just call you princess?"
So Nathalie has gone and Alya has been targeted by Lila! How messed up can it be?
And they know! it only took them a day at being together in such close contact, without other people interfering, for them to realise! Please let me know what you think, and I am sorry for not updating this sooner...
Thank you for the reviews, follows and faves =^.^=
Lady Rhi X