Disclaimer: I do not own Miraculous Ladybug or it's characters.
Chapter 53,
After the dance, when Marinette got home, her parents rushed to hear all about it.
"Oh honey, was it magical?" Tom asked.
"Do you need tissues?" Sabine asked.
"Was it the best night of your life?" Tom asked.
"Do I have to defend your honor?" Sabine asked and Marinette chuckled. It was just like her parents to go off the deep end.
"It was really... nice." Marinette said, taking a moment to pick up a strawberry croissant and taking a bite of the flaky thing.
"Oh my goodness, tell us all about it." Tom squealed happily. Marinette's mother grabbed a napkin, wiped the crumbs off of Marinette's chest and then tucked the napkin in her dress.
"You worked so hard on this, I'd hate for it to get stained." Sabine said and Marinette rolled her eyes at her mother.
"Ok. But I ended up spending the entire evening with... a masked man." Marinette paused for effect and her father gasped.
"Did you figure out who it was?" Tom asked and Marinette smiled.
"Honestly, I had such a good time, I, uh... I think I'd like to keep it a mystery." Marinette said contently and her father clapped enthusiastically.
"Oh, how beautiful. Tell us more dear." Tom said and Marinette took another bite of her croissant.
"Maybe in the morning. Tonight was fun, but now we gotta focus our attention on the fashion show. I'm gonna go over some of the designs and then go to bed." Marinette said. Tom looked like he wanted to complain, but Sabine put a hand on his shoulder to silent him.
"We understand, honey." Sabine said, and she briefly held Marinette's face.
"Good night sweetie. And we'll all talk about the dance over breakfast." Sabine said and Marinette giggled.
"Thanks. Night mom, night dad." Marinette said as she walked up the stairs.
And while this secret Ladybug happily entered her room, Adrien was in his limo finishing up his own tale of love, to Nathalie.
'-but you know what you would have really loved? Alya set us up with this awesome spotlight dance." Adrien said, and Nathalie laughed.
"Man I haven't been under a spotlight in so long. Were you nervous?" Nathalie asked nd Adrien chuckled.
"Marinette was, but I helped her stay calm. The only thing that would have been better is if I didn't have this blocky head on, the whole time." Adrien said, patting the fake head beside him.
"Wait, you never took it off at all? Didn't you get hungry or thirsty?" Nathalie asked.
"Yeah, well... I used a straw." Adrien said and Nathalie chuckled.
"My goodness, Adrien, why didn't you just remove your mask? Surely it would have been much easier that way." Nathalie commented.
"Yeah, it would be hard to eat a chocolate bar through a straw." Armand said. Nathalie and Adrien chuckled at his joke.
"I guess I could have, but... I don't know, we were having such a good time, I didn't really think about it." Adrien said and Nathalie smiled at him.
"I thought that shell-pathway thing was an adorable idea." Nathalie said.
"Do you really want to live on the beach?" Armand asked, and Adrien shrugged.
"I'm not sure. I've kinda been thinking about my future with the future Mrs. Agreste, like getting a gerbil and whatnot... but I guess I haven't really thought about who I will be in the future. Heck, I almost feel like I'm changing everyday. If I don't know who I'll be tomorrow, how can I even imagine the type of person I'll be in ten years." Adrien said, and he looked at Armand. Armand stared at Adrien through his rear-view mirror.
"Well... maybe there's nothing wrong with that." Armand said and Adrien blinked.
"You think?" Adrien said.
"Listen, Adrien. More often then not, people will wake up and realize they are living a life that's different from what they imagined. Or they find themselves in a situation where... things are too good for themselves. And I know that sounds odd, but it does happen on occasion. You'll have a man, say he wants to be an actor. And then you have a woman who wants to be a writer. Which one, in your opinion, will have a more successful career?" Armand asked and Adrien blinked.
"I don't know, there's too many unknown variables." Adrien said.
"Say they are both young, talented, and undiscovered people in their early 30's." Armand said, and Adrien thought for a moment.
"Well, gender doesn't really matter. Actors can be in all sorts of things; movies, commercials, tv shows, not to mention voice acting for various animation or even video games. Most the time writers, or at least people who want to be writers, want to write stories; novels, novellas, epics, children stories. Many of them get turned down no matter how many publishing companies they go to. Not to mention some writers can take ten years on their book... so I guess the actor would be more successful, since they have a higher chance to succeed." Adrien said. Armand chuckled, which Adrien found a little confusing.
"Wow. Now I feel like I have to ask you a whole other question. Adrien, what is the definition of success?" Armand asked.
"Like success for an actor, or a writer?" Adrien asked, unsure which one he needed to define.
"Both. What is a definition of someone being a success?" Armand asked and Adrien hesitated. How is he suppose to answer that without some sort of clarification?
"It's not an easy question is it?" Armand asked and Adrien shrugged.
"There's too many answers." Adrien said and Armand shook his head.
"No. There are too many examples. There's a difference." Armand said gently and Nathalie smiled.
"How about this. That girl Marinette, you know her parents own a bakery. Are they a success?" Nathalie asked and Adrien blinked.
"Yes." He said.
"Why?" Nathalie asked.
"Well... I've never heard of them having any financial problems. They own their business, and they cater events, like the Ladybug and Cat Noir movie." Adrien said, and Nathalie nodded.
"What about Chloe's parents. Her father is the mayor, her mother is a fashion designer. Are they successful?" Nathalie asked.
"Yeah." Adrien said.
"Why? Because they don't have money issues and cater events like the Ladybug and Cat Noir movie?" Nathalie asked.
"Well, no, but they are both very powerful, influential people. Everyone respects what they have to say, even if they don't agree with it." Adrien said, feeling as if he has to defend Chloe's family.
"What about me, Adrien?" Armand asked and now Adrien was surprised.
"I don't own a business. I don't cater events. I'm not powerful. I'm not influential. Most people don't even care what I have to say. Heck, several people haven't even heard me speak, much less know my name. Your father pays me well, but I've had my share of financial problems. Am I a success?" Armand said and Adrien hesitated. Technically, Adrien wasn't even sure if his bodyguard even liked his job, and now he's asking if he's successful at his job?
"You've kept me safe for years. You've saved me from crowds and chased me when necessary... you'r very good at your job." Adrien said.
"I'm also good at gutting fish, cleaning tables, and bowling. But that's not what I asked." Armand said, and Adrien looked away.
"Well, I think you are." Adrien muttered and Nathalie smiled.
"Me too." She agreed and Armand chuckled at them.
"Thank you. I think I'm pretty successful too. Sure I may not have my name in lights, but my apartment has plenty of food in the fridge and a bed that keeps me warm in the winter. I may not get everything that I want, but..." Armand paused to look at Nathalie.
"I got everything I need." He said with a smile and Nathalie blushed. Adrien's eyes widened at the, Was Nathalie in a secret relationship with his body guard? Armand parked the limo and turned to look at Adrien properly.
"Being successful has many names and looks like a million things. But it wouldn't mean much if I just told you how success is suppose to be... that kinda negates the whole message behind it. But why don't you think about it, and tell me what you think success means in a few days, ok?" Armand said and Adrien smiled.
"Sure." He said and Nathalie looked at her watch.
"My, how did it get so late? We better rush you off to bed quietly, so we don't wake your father." Nathalie said, opening the door for Adrien. As the boy stepped out of the car, she gave Armand a departing kiss.
"Thanks for the ride." Nathalie said and Armand smiled.
"Any time." He said and she got out of the car too. The pair walked up to the building and Nathalie unlocked the door. They only took a few steps inside when a light from the study turned on.
"Not even going to say goodnight?" Gabriel said, and he walked over to them. Adrien's heart sank, worries about what type of punishment he would receive. But he felt a hand on his shoulder, and Nathalie took a step towards his father.
"How kind of you to stay up, Mr. Agreste. As you can see, I have perfectly escorted young Adrien to and from the school, unharmed." Nathalie said. Gabriel's lip twitched and he glared at Nathalie. Adrien was worried for her. He's never seen his father stare at her like that; with so much hate.
"Adrien, go to be, I have a few words to exchange with... Miss. Sancoeur." Gabriel said. Adrien wanted to argue, and say that Nathalie didn't do anything wrong, but then Nathalie squeezed his shoulder. His gaze met her reassuring smile, and he reluctantly turned and went up to his room.
"You want a chance to redeem yourself?" Gabriel asked and Nathalie took a deep breath.
"For what?" She asked and Gabriel's hands curled into fists.
"You know I never would have allowed Adrien to go to that dance." Gabriel said.
"Well you never let Adruen do anything! He's not allowed to go to dances, he's not allowed to go to the movie, he's not allowed to get ice cream with his friends. What is he allowed to do Gabriel, huh?" Nathalie asked.
"He's allowed to work, and go to school, and live here for starters." Gabriel said and Nathalie glared at him.
"Oh, don't pull that crap on me. You know very well that I practically forced you to let him attend school. And now you use school as a way to control your own kid." Nathalie said.
"That is not true." Gabriel said.
"Are you sure? Because last I checked you force Adrien to do a hundred things you want him to do, just so he has a chance to do normal teenager things- like have friends. Nathalie said.
"Miss Sancoeur, you're being completely-"
"Irrational? I don't think so. If anything, you've been living with this lie for so long, that you even started believing it was true." Nathalie said.
"Regardless of how I raise my son, you had no right to steal him without informing me where you had gone. I should call the police." Gabriel said and Nathalie shook her head at him.
"I took Adrien to the school for a dance, it's not like I kidnapped him." Nathalie said.
"Adrien is my son, not yours." Gabriel said.
"Oh, and that somehow makes up for the fact that you don't even like him!" Nathalie said.
"What are you talking about? I love my son." Gabriel said.
"Really? Well that's shocking. Because I know he tried to ask you for a few minutes of your time, and you said you'd have time in a few weeks. I know you couldn't bring yourself to even acknowledge the fact that Adrien had a good idea for the contest. Oh, and I know you didn't spend a single second of quality time with your son on his birthday. Hell, I don't even think that you even wished him a happy birthday." Nathalie said.
"My decisions are non of your business!" Gabriel said.
"Decisions to completely shut Adrien out of your life!" Nathalie shouted.
"That is not true!" Gabriel shouted.
"My God, Armand Loves Adrien More Then You-"
"ENOUGH!" Gabriel yelled and Nathalie glared at him. For a moment, they just stood there, in rage-filled silence. Then Gabriel ran a hand through his hair, and straightened his suit.
"You know, Miss Sancoeur. I think I've been rather forgiving these past few days. The yelling, the hitting, the back talk... I shrugged it off because of how long we've known each other. You're loyal and good at your job." Gabriel paused to adjust his glasses.
"But now you're going out of your way to defy me. What's worse is that you're dragging Adrien into your rebellion. I don't need Adrien being around such a destructive personality. You're fired, Miss Sancoeur." Gabriel said. Nathalie wasn't surprised at this. She expected she might be fired before Adrien went to the dance. However, she did raise an eyebrow at Gabriel; asking him if he is confident in his latest decision.
"Ok." She said nonchalantly, and she walked over to the kitchen table, to pack her things away. Gabriel blinked at how quickly Miss Sancoeur accepted this news. He expected her to beg not to fire her, or even get mad, but she didn't. She grabbed her bag and walked over to the door.
"Oh, I should probably say one thing before I go." Nathalie said and she looked at Gabriel.
"If you think, for one second, that I'm not gonna help the children with the fashion show, you're sorely mistaken." Nathalie stated.
"But you can't-"
"People volunteer to help others all the time." Nathalie said with a smile, and she opened the door.
"Goodbye, Mr. Agreste." Nathalie said and she left. Gabriel stared at the door. After everything Nathalie's been doing, he thought that he'd feel relived when he finally fired her. However, he just had this uneasy feeling like he made a horrible mistake.
"Goodbye... Nathalie..." He whispered sadly.
