Chapter 7: That Escalated Quickly

Trigger warning: domestic abuse is talked about here. There is also a scene showing a character's scar.

A week later, Marinette and Alya had gone shopping - it was Saturday afternoon, Mike and Martine were with Nino, and there were new clothes being sold for a discount.

The ladies hadn't gone with the intention of buying anything, but in the end, they left the store with a few dresses, hoping to save them for a rainy day.

"When d'you think we'll get to wear these?" said Alya, as she and Marinette walked outside.

"It's Nino's birthday next month, isn't it?" said Marinette, and Alya nodded. "Well, we can all have a party and get together then."

"Sounds like a plan," said Alya. "D'you reckon we should invite our old friends from school?"

"Chloe? I suppose, she'll want to see her Adrikins again," thought Marinette aloud, remembering Chloe Bourgeois, the Mayor's snooty daughter who had a heart of gold beneath the surface. "And Rose and Juleka, it's been a while since we've caught up with them - and maybe Ivan, Mylene and Alix? Here you go," she added, slipping some change to a homeless man on the pavement.

"Thank you, Ma'am," said the man gratefully. Just then, the silence was broken by a familiar voice.

"Marinette! Alya!"

It was Capucine - and she was with Adrien and Emma. They all looked happy, although the smiles seemed forced.

"Capucine!" said Alya, "how's it going? I see you've made up with Adrien."

"Oh, yes!" said Capucine happily, "we're a couple again!"

"That's great!" said Marinette. "But... you'll have to go back to New York, won't you?"

"Yeah," said Capucine sadly. "I just want the best for my family."

She seemed like she genuinely meant it.

"Tell you what?" said Alya. "Why don't we organise a goodbye party?"

"That would be great," said Capucine, "thank you!"

She walked off to the car; the other two waited.

"I'm glad you're all together again," said Marinette, "but we will miss you."

"I know," said Adrien, "but it'll be good for all of us. Besides, it's Capucine's idea."

"Yeah," said Alya, "we'll give all of you a good send-off. Anyway, we'd best be off now, sonwe'll see you soon."

Alya and Marinette bid Adrien and Emma goodbye, then walked off homeward.

Marinette had Thursdays off, so she'd spend her time sewing, cleaning, shopping or visiting her parents.

She'd stopped off at her parents' bakery, offered them some help, and on the way back, she'd had a drink at the coffee shop.

She was now at home, nose buried in a book, when voices rang in outside her door.

"But Mum, I can look after myself!" said one voice, a child's. "I don't need a babysitter, I'm not a baby!"

"Mike," said the mother's voice, "I'm sorry but there's nothing else I can do. Martine's not well and I have to take her to the doctor's. In the meantime, don't give Aunt Marinette too much trouble."

Marinette opened the door.

"I'm so, so sorry Marinette," said Alya, "Martine became sick at nursery and I have to take her to the doctor's now. I'll pay you when I get back."

"Nonsense," said Marinette, "I'm glad I can help. You get on your way, I'll keep an eye on Mike."

"Thanks a million, girl," said Alya. "See you in a few hours, Mike," she said and rushed off. Marinette turned to Mike.

"Well now," she said, "I expect you'd be hungry. Would you like some sandwiches?"

Mike nodded grumpily. Marinette whipped some sandwiches together, and she sat down with Mike on the couch as they ate.

"Is something the matter?" she asked. She did know that Mike valued his independence and didn't like the idea of being looked after. Of course something was the matter. What Mike told her, however, she didn't quite expect.

"It's Emma," he said. "Today, some guys in my class were making fun of her."

"Whatever for?"

"Our year has been doing a project on family holidays," explained Mike, "and Emma told us that she didn't get to go on holiday very often - and later, she told me that it was only when Uncle Adrien and Aunt Capucine were at home that she got to spend time with them. They were very busy all the time, and generally they were too tired to have fun with her when they were home."

"Uncle Adrien and Aunt Capucine are very busy people," said Marinette. Indeed, both of them had confided in her that they never could make enough time for Emma, no matter how much they tried. "What happened next?"

"The guys from my class told her that her parents didn't love her, and that they had better things to do," said Mike sadly. "And they kept on telling her that over and over again."

"And?"

"Emma got mad," said Mike, "and she hit one guy, Sylvain."

"She hit him?" said Marinette, surprised. Then again, Emma must have put up with them for a while, before she finally cracked.

"Yeah," he said. "She didn't hit him that hard - she just slapped him in the face like they do in the movies - but she got detention. And nothing happened to Sylvain!"

"That's not right," said Marinette. "Emma did do something wrong - violence shouldn't be the answer - but it was Sylvain who started it. They should have at least told him off."

"I know," said Mike, "it's not fair. I saw Emma in detention after that. It looked like she was crying."

Marinette nodded in thought.

"I see. The thing is, Mike, Emma's moving back to New York with her mum and dad," explained Marinette, "and because it's only been a few months since she's been back here, she must be finding it hard to cope. So let's try to be nice to her, okay? You're a good friend, being concerned about Emma."

Mike nodded.

"Now," said Marinette, "if you've got any homework, let's see if we can get through it. And after that, let's find something to watch."

Mike nodded again, and got up to get his books.

A week later was the day of the going-away party. It was at Adrien's flat, and quite a few people were there: Marinette and her own parents, the Lahiffes, Chloe Bourgeois and her husband, British pop-star Billy Gaines, Marinette and Adrien's friends Rose and Juleka Lavillant-Couffaine, Juleka's brother Luka, Ivan and Mylene Bruel, Max Kante, Le Chien Kim, and a few of Emma's friends from school.

The children were playing Twister, the adults were talking, and after dinner, Capucine rang a bell on the table.

"Everyone," she said, "I have a few words to say."

Everyone, kids and adults alike, listened.

"I just wanted to say... the past few months have been turbulent for all of us. As a wife, as a mother, I get stressed out due to the rubbish that life throws at us sometimes. And it causes us to say and do things we regret."

That much is true, thought Marinette, you've said that millions of times.

"But no matter what, we all love our families, and our children," continued Capucine, "and it is our collective decisions that bring us together at last. And this decision has been taken into account by me, by my wonderful husband, and my wonderful daughter. And it's brought us together, for we're now stronger than we were eight months ago. So," she raised a glass, "to family!"

"To family," chorused everyone.

Marinette's initial thoughts about Capucine died down. Those were sincerely delivered words, meaning and eloquent. Ultimately, hopefully New York would be best for Emma, for Capucine, for Adrien.

The party ended a few minutes later. After exchanging their final goodbyes, everyone went home.

Marinette sat in the back of her cab, thinking about the Agrestes and wishing them every ounce of happiness.

Welp, t'was not to be.

"Alya, what do you want?" moaned Marinette at 2.30 in the morning. "It's half-past-two!"

"I'm so sorry Marinette," said Alya, but I have some worrying news. Adrien's been arrested!"

"WHAT?!" cried Marinette, jumping out of bed. "For what?"

"I don't know," said Alya. "He called us just as he was being taken away."

"Are you going to the station to clear his name?"

"I can't, I'll be leaving the kids behind," said Alya. "Nino will be going, though."

"Can you ask him to pick me up?" said Marinette. "I have to be there, too."

"Consider it done," said Alya.

Marinette was dressed by the time Nino met her. She jumped into his Toyota Avensis and they drove to the police station at top speed.

Upon arrival, they were sent to the interrogation room; the Agrestes were there. Adrien was being questioned, Capucine looked very distraught, and Emma was looking as though she was in the middle of nowhere.

"Mr Agreste, your wife says that you hit her, is that right?" said a police officer.

"No," said Adrien. "I did not. We argued, but I didn't lay a finger on her."

"I'm sure he didn't," added Nino stoutly.

"He's lying, officer," said Capucine. "He struck me, and cut me with a glass bottle earlier."

And she pulled up the sleeve of her blouse. There was a long cut along her arm.

Oh no...

"I see," said the officer. "Mr Agreste, we'll have to keep you in here for the time being, until we find a court date."

"Officer," said Adrien. "I'm innocent."

"It's not safe for your wife to be with you," said the officer.

"Officer, you have hardly heard Adrien's side of the story," said Nino angrily.

"You can't arrest Adrien just like that," added Marinette.

"We've seen what we need to see," said the officer, as Adrien was taken away. "And Mrs Agreste? There's a shelter for battered women and children that can help you after this. We'll refer you there."

"Thank you, officer," said Capucine, "but I think we should go home now."

She took Emma by the hand and led her away. There were tears in the girl's eyes, a desperate look.

"Officer!" said Marinette. "You need to listen to Adrien's side of the story as well. Please?"

"Ma'am, I told you: I have seen what I needed to see," said the officer. "Mr Agreste is a dangerous man, and he'll be taken care of by us. Now I suggest you go home, you're wasting police time."

Reluctantly, Marinette turned to go.

"I mean, it's not that I think Capucine would have done anything wrong, but Adrien attacking her like that?" raged Marinette, sitting in the passenger seat of Nino's car. "What is wrong with that man?"

"I don't know," said Nino, as he drove along. "I wish he listened to Adrien. We're his friends - we know he wouldn't do anything like that, unless it was out of self-defence."

"You don't think Capucine has been hurting Adrien, do you?" said Marinette.

"Isn't the man normally the abuser?" said Nino. Marinette's blood boiled, but she kept her cool.

"Nino, I'm not blaming you," she said, "but it's perfectly possible for women to abuse their husbands. I mean, speaking as a woman myself... it's just a bloody shame that men are often suspected of abuse, and women are automatically the victims. It's detrimental to both men and women!"

"You don't think Capucine has been abusing Adrien, do you?" quizzed Nino.

"I doubt it. Capucine might have a short temper at times, but she wouldn't hurt Adrien like that," said Marinette."Point is, men are often seen as abusers when, who knows, they're not."

"Well, both sides are innocent until proven guilty," said Nino.

"I suppose," said Marinette, as they reached her house. "Thanks for the lift, Nino. Tell Alya and the kids I said hello."

"I will," said Nino. "Take care, Marinette."
And off he drove.

Marinette got ready for work later that day, but her mind was buzzing with questions.

There was something very wrong with the Agreste family. But what was it?

We know what is. But Marinette won't find out until Chapter 8. Am I doing a good job of talking about domestic abuse? Let me know in the reviews.