Ok! I'm so friggin excited about what you guys have to say about this chapter, that we're gonna get straight into reviews and on to the story!
REVIEWS!
Avenger2003: Yeah, I know. Usually the more aware the readers are of his feelings are and the less aware Marinette is tends to mean my readers get annoyed with me but they can't stop reading the story. Believe me it happens to everyone while reading fanfiction.
Mayuralover: Ahh yes, I have many plans in store for these two, but actually telling you whether or not he waits would be spoilers and nobody likes a spoiler.
Johnshawn965: To be entirely honest with you being friendzoned hurts like a b*tch every time…
LadyoftheBirds: MWUAHAHAHAH (You know you love me) Can I just point out for a moment that this chapter is 8 pages long in my regular format in google docs and just the actual story without the intro is 1,736 words!? I finally broke the short chapter curse!
Ladybuginette: 3 times? Now that's called dedication! I certainly do think this story will be better than the first. Not only do I have more experience as a writer, I've actually sat down and rewrote the plot and planned everything out where as with the first story I was just flying by the seat of my pants.
(2)johnshawn965: As far as your second review goes, there will be no miraculous, the nick name Ladybug was given to Mari because she was her parent's lucky charm after they had 3 miscarriages before having Marinette… This is kinda one of those thing that I'd like to write into the story but I'm not sure where… Also for your second question, Plagg will be introduced fairly soon and we'll get to see him interacting with Mari and Adrien fairly often but Tikki won't be added in until way later on, like so late in the story it's practically the epilogue.
GUESTS
Wise girl: I love your enthusiasm! Yeah, I crushed his dreams… Yes, elaboration! definitely! Several people told me while I was writing out the plot for the rewrite that they wished they had more clarification on their back story. As far as the plot goes, the whole they promise, mari leaves, mari comes back, FLUFF! Still happens, but a lot of the later on plot points will either be kept and revised, completely rewritten, or just referenced in some obscure way. As far as the Aftermath Airport scene, I loved that one too, it will definitely be there and I plan on adding way more feels! There will be a lot of fluff but there will also be a lot of dramatic/hurt/comfort type scenes to give the story substance. Honestly I love it when my readers ramble on in the reviews and I love rambling back. Don't cut your reviews short if there's something you want to say.
Without further ado! I bring to you! The third chapter in my story, Promises: Favor.
(Favor) something done or granted out of goodwill, rather than from justice or for remuneration; a kind act.
Adrien's POV
A lot of things have changed in the past 7 years.
Marinette and I graduated top of our class in Lycee, my father finally decided to start being a part of my life, Marinette and I got jobs, we started renting an apartment together, and also started attending the same University.
My life was great.
Ok fine, Maybe I shoved a lot of my hopes for us aside for the past seven years. Maybe I have to hide my reactions to her strictly platonic affections. Maybe things weren't perfect but her happiness matters more to me than anything else in the world.
I'm sitting on the couch in the living room getting some work done for my professor when she walks through the front door in tears.
"I can't do this anymore…" She sobs.
Worry settles deep in my gut as I make my way over to her.
If it's at all possible, over the past two years Marinette has gotten visibly thinner. Her clothes seem to hang off her bony shoulders and hips. Dark circles had taken up permanent residence under her eyes.
I wrap her up tightly in my arms and sway side to side.
It kills me to see her like this.
"I don't ever get a break… I work constantly day after day as a design assistant that never has time to design anything on top of maintaining perfect grades, all for what? No one is ever going to notice me Adrien… All I ever do is mend, adjust, and repair clothes for runway models. I'm a nobody…" She cries into my shirt.
"You're not a nobody, Mari. Not to me, not to your parents, and not to our friends." I remind her. "You wanna know what I think you should do?" I ask.
"What?"
"Mari, I think you should quit your job." I admit.
She moves away and glares at me. "That not funny Adrien."
"Why not? I already make enough money as it is at the Children's Center downtown to support both of us and soon enough I'll have my teaching degree and I can become a full time teacher and I'll get paid even more."
Marinette stares at me wearily.
"At the very least you should quit and give yourself a break for a while before looking for a better job. You and I both know you haven't been eating or sleeping enough. You might be our Lucky Ladybug, but you can't survive off luck alone…" I hold open my arms and Marinette sighs and steps right into my hug. "I love you and I can't stand seeing you like this, princess."
"I know, I know," she mumbles into my shirt.
Do you really know?
"Why don't you go lay down and I'll make you some of Maman's special tea and get you something to eat. We can talk about this once you're well fed and rested ok?" Marinette yawns while nodding and stumbles off to her room down the hall.
The next day Marinette and I both take a sick day (Marinette's first sick day). For the majority of the day we just hang out for the first time in a long time. It's really nice to see her smile and enjoy herself for once.
Buy the time dinner rolls around I make my over to Fu's restaurant and bring home some Authentic Chinese.
When I get home Marinette is snuggled up on the couch, sipping tea.
I take a seat next to her.
"Thanks for the food, Adrien." She leans closer and presses a kiss to my cheek. My heart rate spikes and I fight to keep from blushing.
"Anything for you Princess." I remind her with a smile. "Fu came to greet me personally again and he asked how you were doing but seemed quite worried about you."
"What did you tell him?"
"Just that things have been hard but we'll get through this together like we always do." I open up the boxes of takeout as Marinette rests her head on my shoulder.
"I don't know what I'd do without you…" She mumbles. "You're always there to watch over me and take care of me…"
"I-I don't mind.. Isn't that what, you know, friends are for?" I ask while mentally scolding myself for stuttering.
Marinette hums for a moment before speaking. "I think you're right about me needing to take a break and get a new job… I think I'll call my boss, Amber Crombe, tomorrow and let her know I'll be quitting."
I wrap my arm around her and give her a gentle squeeze. "That's great!"
After we finish our dinner we each grab a fortune cookie.
When I open mine I'm quite confused.
"If you love someone, let them go, for if they return, they were always yours, if they don't they never were." I mumble.
Marinette opens hers and responds. "happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light… So I just have to think outside the box then?"
"Sounds like it." I admit distractedly.
"You know, Fu's fortunes never lie. So who's the lucky girl?" she asks.
I drop the fortune as if I had been burned by the paper. "I-It's nothing Mari, I already know she doesn't feel the same way."
"Well, she's missing out then. Any girl would be lucky to have you."
Even you?
I shove the thought aside. "I'm gonna head to bed, k?"
Marinette nods and I press a kiss to her forehead before making my way down the hall to my room.
Over the next few weeks Marinette sketches up a storm. She focuses on building her portfolio while I hatch my plan.
After I moved out 2 years ago my father gradually began treating me with more kindness and respect until I can safely say that for the first time since mom passed away I actually had a relationship with my father.
Over the years I became very familiar with my father's design style and the things he did and didn't like. When I flipped through Marinette's portfolio pieces I knew he'd love them. They were unlike any other series of designs I've ever seen, and I have seen a lot. I called up Alya and my plan was set in place. Marinette would be away for the next week on a girls trip, which gave me just enough time to make sure my father had seen her work and get them back home like they never left in the first place.
I would attend dinner with my father as usual for our twice monthly father son 'meeting' as he called it, present her portfolio, explain her situation, and leave my father to think before coming back in a few days, and bring her portfolio back home.
Gabriel Agreste's POV
After Adrien and I finish our dinner and a small casual conversation he speaks up.
"Father?"
"What is it, Adrien?" I ask.
"I have something really important I'd like to talk to you about." He admits
I give him my full attention, something I'm still not quite used to doing just yet. "And what would that be?"
"Before I say anything I'd like you to see something."
He picks up a black portfolio case from where it sat on a chair next to his.
He stands and places the case in front of me and I cautiously open it.
I stay silent as I carefully examine each design for a few minutes each. Every design is surprisingly well drawn and thought out with an acute attention to detail and even small close ups of seams and stitches. Each and every piece is interesting and unique from the rest, showing the broad skill set of the designer.
When I finish I speak up. "This work is very high quality, would you care to explain whos designs these are and why you showed me them?"
"Father, these designs belong to Marinette Dupain-Cheng, she is currently studying art and fashion design at the same university I attend and had recently been in a dead end runway assistant job. As you can see she is very skilled and I am aware that you are in need of a another skilled design assistant. I would like to ask that you consider her for the position. That is all." He explains.
Ahh, I remember Marinette. She was Adrien's first friend in school. She reminded my very much of my Emilie. After Adrien had become close to this girl, I'll admit I didn't think she was a very good influence on my son, at least not until a few days before my son's graduation. I hadn't been planning on attending. There was so much work to be done as far as finishing off the summer clothing line and preparation for next fall's designs. However Mlle. Dupain-Cheng scheduled a meeting with me in private and Natalie seemed quite adamant on making sure I attend.
However when the meeting started the first thing she said to me was; "You're hurting him. You might not see it but I do."
When I tried to ignorantly deny it and tell her that Adrien has everything he needs right here, she simply asked me, "Then why does he come to me when you break his heart and deny him even tiny amounts of affection? Why does he look to me for the support he should have gotten from his father? Why are his things packed away in preparation to move in with me instead of staying with you?"
She opened my eyes to exactly how horrible of a father I had been since Emilie had passed away. She reminded me of my vow to Emilie to love and care for our son.
"This is the same Marinette that you were so fond of as a child, yes?" I ask.
"Yes father."
"And she is important to you?"
"She is very important to me."
I hum in thought. Lord knows I have a lot of favors to make up for while I was absent in my son's life for so long...
"Very well, I will see what I can do. I only ask that you send me her resume. Good night Adrien." I tell him in a sincere voice.
"Thank you. Good night father." Adrien genuinely smiles before he takes his things and heads home.