That Photograph
Her sleep wasn't a very peaceful one. Of course - what did she expect after such harsh days and nights and desperate attempts of reasoning? She had been going between hell and paradise in a matter of mere minutes on this particular weekend and it was nerve-wracking!
Especially during night she found her poor mind circling about the events, that felt like dreams and nightmares combined - sometimes wondering if she was already sleeping, or awake at all!…
She would remember the few hours they have spent with Emma fondly - that lovely time with Alya and Nino as well. But then there were those memories of Circe, who would catch up with her. Of her panic attack. Of those bullies, who have attacked her poor boyfriend.
…and there were Plagg's words, that would cling to her soul in a painful way.
But… no - she barely slept and not even Adrien's wonderful presence would help her in any way to embrace sleep as she wanted and needed it. She would be waking up every few hours again - sweating, heart bounding painfully in her chest and shaking, only to snuggle closer and closer to the blond man beside her each time - almost laying halfway on top of him, the last time she would wake - half an hour before the alarm on her phone would go off.
Dozing off one more time, before it did - with her arms wrapped tightly around him and her face buried in the crook of his neck.
"Marinette?", eventually came that alluring whisper, somewhere in the blackness that was her dreamless slumber. Followed by a buzzing sound and a too well known melody. "My Queen… Our alarms are going crazy… Let me just shut them off for a moment… then we can cuddle once more!"
Almost mindlessly and endlessly tired she groaned, then moved, rolling away from the warm body, that was her boyfriend to reach over the nightstand on her side of the bed - blindly finding the screen on her phone and made it go quite yet again, when she pushed that small button.
Adrien's followed the silence shortly after.
Quietness - she loved it. Her brain hurting, thoughts running miles per hour. Eyes as well - which she tried to hold open, as they would need to adjust to the sunlight from outside. But it was so very uncomfortable, stinging badly with its brightness and so she shut them right away.
Once again she was hoping to find a few minutes of valuable sleep.
For now, she tried not to move, stayed on her side of his bed, arm hanging limply over the edge of the mattress.
There was a soft chuckle in the distance and she felt her source of warmth and comfort coming closer once more. Hugging her tightly from behind. Kissing her hair, hand brushing across her waist and towards her stomach, as his body curved into the way hers did in a very perfect way.
"You are still tired?"
A low hum escaped her and one lazy hand reached for his on her stomach to lace their fingers together.
"…too sad it's already Monday…" He was far more awake by now and so very cheerful about it. For, of course - he had slept for quite a long time and hadn't been away at midnight for about an hour. He wasn't engaged in very frustrating and revealing conversations, that made her heart ache once more in a very painful way. "I wish, that we could stay like that all day. But we have to work and I am pretty sure, that you-"
Another tune tore through the early quietness. It wasn't an alarm - so much her tired mind could tell. And it wasn't her phone, either…
She heard Adrien groan behind her in annoyance, but he chose to ignore it as well. Coming closer, kissing the nape of her neck carefully to not brush his own, still damaged nose against her, before he nuzzled his cheek against hers.
"A call before six in the morning? Not doing that!", he complained and strictly waited, until it was over. Exhaling in relief, when his phone fell to silence, again. "Not letting anybody disturb those few minutes we still have together…"
"…what if it was important…", she yet tiredly croaked, eyes still tightly closed.
"Then they will call back…", another kiss, this time to her temple followed, his hand stroking tiny circles across her stomach. For a moment - until it stopped and he raised his head up to examine her in confusion. "Didn't you went topless to bed? When… did you put a shirt on?"
Her eyes immediately flew open when she heard these words - realizing, that she made one big mistake. True - she had put on the shirt, before she had gone out to meet with Chat Noir - but she hadn't taken it off, when she returned.
Her frazzled mind hurriedly searched for an explanation - words, that could explain that severe mistake, that-
Thankfully his phone rang yet again.
"Urgh! Seriously!", Adrien mumbled, sighing in defeat and kissed her cheek at last, before she felt the warmth of his body slip away once more, the mattress shifting as he rolled over and over towards the far edge of his side. Exhaling in sheer annoyance, cursing, when he read the name on the display, before he lifted the phone to his ear, taking the call.
"Lila…", he groaned with a harsh tone in his voice. Upon hearing the other woman's name Marinette immediately turned around as well, eyes now wide, as she watched her boyfriend beside her. "…seriously! Do you know what time it is? Some people might still be asleep!"
Marinette couldn't make at the words, that the other woman spoke rapidly. But they sounded harsh. Demanding. Hitting the man hard and with incredible impact.
Adrien paled. His eyes darting over to his girlfriend, then across the room and towards the window, as he tried to process the information, that the mother of his daughter was giving her. Sitting up abruptly in the end.
"What photo?"
Marinette's own heart sped up - the tiredness forgotten for now, worry too easily rising within her chest, for every word spoken reeked of a huge incoming problem and its impact would hit Adrien hard and would surely change his life.
She crawled towards Adrien, as she sensed, that he needed her closeness and comfort as an anchor, as every spoken word tried to push him from the edge and into the dark abyss below. She sat beside him, hand lingering on his back to support and comfort him, while he immediately reached out to hold her other. Staring at her with big, fearful eyes, as the other woman on the phone continued to speak.
"Lila - I did not intend for that to- Well of course we know, that you are her mother! Nothing is going to change that! And… Seriously, you are ridiculous!"
He was getting louder. More frustrated, his grip on her hand tighter.
"Fine…", he eventually sighed, letting briefly of Marinette's hand go in an attempt to pinch the bridge of his nose - halting mid-movement and instead brushed his hand through his hair, before he laced his fingers with hers once more. "I will talk with my lawyer. Expect the correction to be out by the end of the day! Bye!"
He hung up, before Lila could have said one more word. Throwing his phone to the foot of his bed in frustration, before he flopped down on the mattress. Covering his face, letting out one long, irritated groan.
"Fuuuuck!"
"Adrien?", she whispered, entirely puzzled and worried at the same time. "What…What did Lila want from you?"
He lowered his hands from his eyes, gazing up to his girlfriend. Frowning, deep furrows on his forehead and between his eyebrows. Raising one arm for her, as a small gesture to come closer and to his side.
She did, knowing, that he needed any comfort he could get - but she still felt, how incredibly tensed up he was. Even her touch wasn't helping him in any way this time.
"…somebody took a photo…", he mumbled, as he stared up towards the ceiling. "Of me. Of you. And Emma. Wrongfully assuming, that the three of us are a family - that you are her mother. Not that I minded, if this was the case… But Lila is pretty pissed… And I am extremely frustrated, that all of Paris does know about my daughter now!"
"What photo? When?", she asked in utter shock, raising herself up once more, to look at him properly. Shock and surprise immediately rushed through her entire being - making her forget about her fatigue and everything else for the moment. "And why would they assume that? That I am her mother?"
"Haven't seen it yet…", he murmured and shrugged. "But Lila said something about 'giving Emma wrong ideas' and that you 'shouldn't keep your hopes so high for interfering in our happy family-life'! Seriously - that woman has lost her touch with reality, if she ever believed, that I would try to persuade a relationship with her!"
There was so much information for her to process - every word was so important. Every word was scary in its own right.
"Where did she find said photo?"
"Lila said it's all over the internet. The morning news as well and even the newspaper…"
Marinette scrambled towards her side of the bed once more. Grabbing her phone, for she needed to see it herself.
To fully understand, what that whole fuzz was about…
Before she could have opened the internet on her phone she immediately saw a bunch of messages and their pop-ups on her phone. Even a few missed calls and she rolled her eyes at the realization, that Tikki must have muted the device some time ago to guarantee her Chosen's sleep - especially after all those nights, where she had barely found any sleep at all.
Perhaps, if they had heard the constant buzzing, they would have known about the disaster a little earlier - for their friends were already very aware of said photograph and were very ready to share their thoughts in that group chat they had for many years. She read through it in rapid speed to find answers:
The girls were asking about its authenticity. Alex stating something about it being faked - Max ensuring that there was no way somebody has changed the image in any way and Mylene asked if that girl was actually related to Adrien, for she looked so much like him. Rose pledging, that there surely was a simple explanation to it all. Nathaniel wondering about five times, if Adrien and Marinette were finally dating, whereas Juleka stated, that they were surely dating all the time. Ivan stating his thoughts with emojis, Kim demanded answers.
Both Nino and Alya haven't made one message until now. Luka pointed out to just ask them, instead.
She closed that chat - saw those from her two best friends. Their missed calls - presumably to warn them.
Finally found a link, that Nino has sent her.
There they were: Adrien, Marinette and Emma. A photo taken in the very crowded metro on Saturday afternoon - the girl sitting on a seat, clutching her platypus plushy tightly and gazed up to the young couple with a cheerful smile. Adrien had a hand on her lower back, the young woman had her eyes blissfully closed in that very moment. All three of them very unaware, that somebody had taken this picture - and made it public.
Marinette couldn't even read the article, that came with it, as she felt her hands shaking - wordlessly handed her phone towards her boyfriend, instead.
"Shit…", he mumbled and shook his head in disbelief. "They have our faces. We are on full display…And… they even found out about your name! Listen: 'Former model finally found to openly date his former classmate Marinette Dupain-Cheng - both in company of their daughter…' Blah blah '-making her the heir of the Agreste fortune and name…' "
Marinette knew, that those were bad news! She didn't even mind, that Paris - perhaps even all of France - was very aware of her name. Their relationship.
But now they knew about Emma. Knew of her existence, of her connection to Adrien.
…and with that of her connection to Gabriel as well…
This was bad!
And it didn't even surprise her, that Lila was so mad about it - for this article falsely made everybody assume, that Marinette was the mother of her child - the one the other woman so dearly tried to protect. But now the world knew of her and falsely believed, that in Emma's veins didn't run Rossi-blood, but that of a Dupain-Cheng.
Shit… She should have been more careful, should have watched her surroundings and somehow should have made sure, that this photo shouldn't have been taken in the first place!
Adrien cursed once more, as he had re-read the article, handing her back her phone. Both watching each other most carefully - both opening their lips to speak, but neither of them found any words at the moment. Staying silent for a few minutes, that felt like hours with all these crazy thoughts running through their brains in incredible speed.
But eventually it was Adrien, who raised his voice first - knowing too well, what the young woman wanted to say and stopped her before she could have done it:
"Don't. Dare. To apologize! I know, what is going on in that very wonderful complicated mind of yours! I know, that you believe, that this is all your fault. It is not!", he raised his left hand, most carefully laying it underneath her chin to raise her head up, to let their gazes meet. "Though… I dearly wish, that those words were the truth - that you were Emma's biological mother and-"
"Lila would scratch my eyes out, if she would ever hear you say that…" She smiled melancholicaly, but felt warm inside at the thought, that he wouldn't mind that kind of connection between them. Yet in the end she merely shrugged in defeat. "And sadly that is one wish I can not fulfill for you…"
"Maybe not that wish, but who knows what the future holds for us~"
He leaned forward and tilted his head to the side. To place a little kiss on her lips - one full of promises and hopes. It easily made her heart soar in the best way imaginable.
"And now you want to contact your lawyer?", she eventually murmured as they parted, leaning their foreheads against each other. "To correct that wrong assumption about Emma and me?"
"Yeah… Lila wants me to do it…"
"I mean… it's her right to demand something like that. She is Emma's mother…"
"We wouldn't be in this fucking mess, if she-" Marinette laid one finger on his lips to silence him, before every uttered word could make him more and more upset - knowing too well, that it wouldn't help him in any way, if he talked about that night once more. Also… he would regret these words as well- not because of his connection with Lila. But because of Emma- for he loved her dearly and would never exchange her for anything else in his life.
He stared at her with wide eyes and in confusion, before he reached for her hand to softly pulled it away from his face once more.
"Hush… don't say it, Babe…"
"…Marinette…how can you remain so calm? Now that Paris knows about us, reporters will start to swarm you…"
"I knew, what I got myself into, Adrien. I am just…I am just worried about Emma…"
"Me, too… I mean - apparently the news are already referring to her as the heir of Gabriel's money and… and his name! Do they really believe, that I would want that for her? In fact - that is the only thing I am glad about regarding her connection between her mother and me - that Emma is a Rossi and no Agreste!"
Of course - it will make it harder for reporters and paparazzi to trace her down… at least for a little while.
Her plan returned into her mind - the one she had hatched before.
Knowing, that she needed to fight Lady Titalee. Unmask her and give her to the police - for her reveal and the trial that would follow, would outshine all the news that were yet to come about Adrien, Emma and her. Perhaps Paris would forget about them completely…
And then they could have a happy ending - one that they all deserved.
Yeah… Perhaps that could work…
They soon started to get out of bed - both very well knowing, that their routines and schedules would catch up with them soon enough - and those would be just another part of that incredible mess, that they have maneuvered themselves into.
So was the harsh reality around them - their work would keep them separated for far too long - a sweet promise lingering in the air to repeat it all over, again during the weekend was easily spoken.
"…I don't mind, if you would stay over at my place, again~", echoed Adrien's voice after some time across the corridor, as he left the bathroom to get back towards the bedroom, where she still was getting dressed - halfway done by now, standing there in a skirt and a bra in front of the mirror. "I really loved this weekend. It was perfect!"
Marinette smiled warmly at his words - though her expression soon turned to a frown, as her eyes fell on the still very noticeable bruise underneath his eye and across his nose. Then she glanced at his left hand - the burn marks slowly started to fate, but they still were there. The scratches on his back she left there as well…
"You look still quite battered after these few days we spend together…", she gently said, still clinging to the shirt in her hand, not moving to get covered any time soon - thankfully the shyness, that kept her from exposing her body towards her boyfriend was almost gone by now - his searing gazes across her skin giving her exciting heat, instead of shameful coldness. "I hope, that's not going to become a habit!"
"Everything will be healed by the end of the week!", he said lightly, coming closer - one hand brushing across her waist to pull her against him, the other reaching for her cheek. " My hand feels okay. I can cover up the bruises on my face, once those won't hurt anymore because of mere touch. And… for the scars - you are very welcomed to place new ones across my skin, whenever and wherever you like!"
She gasped at his scandalous suggestion.
"Won't happen, if I will be on top, again!", came if from her jokingly as an answer.
He chuckled and dug his head to softly kiss her. Not too passionate for now. Not too deep - there was barely time for them to give in to their desire of the moment - their minds plagued for now by anything, that was yet to come, anyway.
"Can I have the next weekend with you as well? Friday evening until Monday morning?", he asked once more sweetly, his wish clearer now, as his eyes deeply bore into her soul. "If you still want me by the end of the week, of course!"
"Why wouldn't I want you?"
"Because of this whole stupid paparazzi-shit we will encounter during this week, my Queen. I know what I am talking about - they won't leave you alone, once they found you. They will ask horrible questions - very private stuff! They will try to dig deep! Heck - they probably want to know about our sex life as well!" He sighed. "And I know, that this is not your favorite topic to talk about…"
"They won't be able to get an answer out of me!"
"I don't mind if-"
"They won't drive me away from you, Adrien! I told you before - I know what I have gotten myself into and I will and want to stay by your side through it all…", she reached up with her hand, one finger most carefully brushing over the skin underneath his black eye. "…I will be a part of all the good times and hold your hand through the especially shitty ones…okay?"
"Okay…", he meekly answered, getting a hold on her hand to bring it to his lips, kissing her knuckles most gently - a small gesture, that made her smile once more brilliantly.
"And we will spend our weekends together. Friday night until Monday morning…", she added and it made him grin brightly as well - knowing, that she would cheer him up with the sudden topic change as well. "Calls and messages throughout the week?"
She wanted that relationship with Adrien so dearly and badly. Wanted to make it work with all that free time she still was able to squeeze out of her tight schedule.
For he was very worth it…
…he was the happy-end she had yearned for so many years…
She knew, that it wouldn't be easy. He probably knew it as well - was just too kind to let her know and was probably glad for every minute they could somehow spend together - calls during their breaks, messages throughout their days, a video call before they went to bed. Every little interaction would bring Friday a little closer, again.
Of course - he didn't know, that she would seek the night to patrol. Wait for Lady Titalee to make a move, to bring chaos over the city in form of an Akuma. She would need to stay quiet about it - but every time she would transform, she would do it for him. For them and for their future…
Every time she would call for Tikki - every time she would talk, or glance at Chat Noir - she would only do it to bring the villainess down. To give the news a new scapegoat. To end it all. To give Adrien the happiness and peacefulness in life he was looking for.
"I would love that!", he happily breathed, kissing her once more and she knew, that his words couldn't be any truer.
The young couple eventually separated, even though the need to make the embrace last a little longer was almost unbearable. But they still wanted to eat breakfast together. Talk a little more about nonsensical things. Watch the news, to witness the impact, that the photograph had on the people around them as well. Reading the comments on social media and answered those questions from their friends. For now, they tried them down. Adrien telling them the truth - at least details he was willing to share about that shared night with Lila.
Thankfully they understood. Thankfully it didn't change the way, they saw the young man - though they all hoped, that things would work out for him like he wanted.
Marinette was amazed by their sweet responses - was happy, that their friends collectively would hold their backs. Certainly- time has proven, why she had wanted them as her friends after all these years since their school days and this very moment was proving it once more to her.
It gave both of them hope for all the things, that were yet to come…
Especially once both realized, that the impact of the news around their relationship and Adrien's fatherhood was an impeccable one:
For they were greeted by reporters, indeed. A few, that stood outside his apartment. Asking questions, making if hard to navigate past them. Cameras flashing. It was annoying, but both kept stoically quiet about it - they made it towards the next metro station soon enough.
That's where they sadly parted. Kissing each other goodbye, before they went their respective ways.
But it was so incredibly hard to part in the first place- yearning already too soon for warmth and closeness, that only the other could give them.
While also fearing to meet those pesky paparazzi all alone and on their own. For sure Adrien would be greeted with cameras once he reached the bakery - he would send her a small message about it, just before she had reached her workplace.
And - of course - they were waiting for her at the boutique as well - she was barely able to squeeze past them on her way inside. They asked her annoying, pesky and scandalous questions. Taking photos of her left and right, while she clutched at the strap of her purse moat tightly and made it inside. She wasn't saying a word towards them and kept her eyes down to the ground - for wrong move would fuel their greed for exclusive material even more. Just a wrong syllable spoken could give them the power to harm Adrien even more. And she wouldn't let that happen!
Eventually she was able to shut the door behind her, again - it wasn't time yet for costumers to come by and the last preparations were yet to be done.
But who would say, that it would stop the reporters altogether to enter the boutique eventually, once they figured, that photographs made through the windows wouldn't be enough to feed the gossip hungry masses and once they opened the boutique officially?
Urgh… didn't they have better things to do - perhaps far more important news to find, instead of informing all of Paris about her very boring work-life?
The young woman rolled her eyes at them - ignored the irritated glances and whispers of her co-workers and walked towards the very back of the store and towards her staff room. For she was pretty sure, that she needed to brush her dishelved hair once more, talk for a comforting minute to Tikki and felt the need to send Adrien one more message - dearly hoping, that his stay at the bakery had not started to become as turbulent as hers.
"Mademoiselle Dupain-Cheng?", came yet the honeyed voice of her boss, even before she could have reached the locker to store her stuff inside - making the young woman sigh in sheer annoyance.
For she knew, that nothing good would come out of the conversation, that would immediately follow.
Yet she turned around with a big smile on her lips, facing the tall woman in front of her, greeting her back just as sweetly.
"Is there anything you need, Madame?", she eventually asked and folded her hands in a comforting manner in front of her. To keep them from shaking, as her heart started to beat madly in her chest. "I just wanted to get started, just let me-"
"What is up with the reporters outside my store? You seemed to be of big interest to them…", the woman in front of Marinette cocked her head, examined her from heat to toe thoroughly and narrowed her eyes. "I am worried, that they will keep valuable costumers away…"
"Oh! Don't worry - they will leave soon enough!" Somehow she didn't like that tone in her bosses voice. Didn't like her stiff shoulders, her raised nose. And she didn't like her pursed lips, her fixed eyes on her face, either. "If you want, then I can work in the very back today! You know - cleaning out the storage room, sorting-"
"And do you believe yourself, that it could keep these vultures away and outside? I mean - they will harm this boutique's good reputation enough, when they write about the fact, that the girlfriend of Adrien Agreste works here. The mother of his child - the grandchild of Hawk Moth herself!"
Marinette huffed, her shoulders slumped, and she shook her head in disbelief.
"I am not the mother of-" She bit her tongue, before she could have said Emma's name. "And the relationship towards Adrien will not change the way I work here - I will still give a hundred percent!"
"But that won't help my boutique either… You see - this is a high prestigious place. Many rich come here to shop in peace and quietness. But with the reporters outside-"
"It will not change, Madame!"
The older woman shrugged, crossing her arms in front of her chest and looked down at the petite woman with a snarl.
"That's what you think… But I walk on this Earth a little longer than you do. I know, how things work. And I know, that they won't stop, until they get the perfect picture of you. You know, how hard it is to build a reputation. I don't want mine to fate away, because one of my employees is in a relationship with… Agreste's son…"
"That is no crime!", Marinette mumbled bitterly. "And Adrien is not the monster everybody wants to see in him!"
"But his father was… Listen - I usually don't care about the things my employees do and like behind closed doors. I am not interested in the people they date, marry and with whom they have children with. This on the other hand… is another story!" She raised her hand up, before Marinette could have said a word. "It's not about your boo per se. I don't care, that you involved with the heir of the Agreste fortune. He is quite handsome and apparently he still owns good money - I understand, that he is like some delicious eye candy to you, perhaps you are even after his name and his money to persuade your own little goals - everybody would do somethinglike that in your situation. You shouldn't be ashamed about it. I am certainly not the one to judge that. I am also not one of those, who believe in his fault - regarding his father's misdeeds and that of Lady Titalee. But I do care about my good reputation… And that will surely fate, when you keep on working here!"
Marinette listened to her words most carefully. Swallowing hard, as her throat tightened and eventually spoke her mind:
"So, what do you want to do? Fire me?"
There was silence an d it tried to disarm her in an ugly way.
Then her boss started to turn around, slowly, before she answered with a sharp nod.
"Come to my office, we shall speak about the compensation…"
A shaking, shocked breath escaped between her lips - but only a moment later her shock turned into fury and anger - and she exploded on the spot.
"Screw it! I don't want that!"
And with that she threw the key to this rodden place to the floor, before she clutched her purse back to her chest and stormed outside.
A/N: A smaller chapter, but still so very relevant. You can tell, that things slowly start to fall apart - we all need a little more conflicts in this story, right?
...right?
Next chapter: How to stay positive...