Author's Note: Contains possible spoilers for "Weredad," an episode of S3 that has not aired in the US yet. I haven't seen it, so I'm just going off the spoilers I have heard, which may or may not be accurate.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir and I make no profit from this story. No copyright infringement is intended I'm just enjoying some time with a few of my favorite television characters. The story is mine, except where directly quoting or referencing episodes.
The only reason her legs were still supporting her was Adrien's hand at the small of her back, infusing warmth and life and the certainty she was not alone. She had always thought the house was impressive, but it came across as sterile and a little cold. She much preferred the home she grew up in.
"Father, Nathalie, you remember Marinette?"
"Of course. Miss Dupain-Cheng. Adrien mentioned your friendship has recently grown into something more. I find you accepta—" Nathalie's elbow moved almost imperceptibly into his side. "—ahem, exceptional." And he smiled. Smiled? Adrien could count on one hand the number of times he'd seen a similar expression on Gabriel Agreste's face.
Adrien carefully hid his amusement at this development. Change was a remarkable thing. First, that Nathalie had that kind of power over his father, second, that he had apparently given it to her; no one could make his father do anything. My, my. What other changes had he missed since moving out a few years ago, no longer seeing the day-to-day here at the mansion? Dinner was going to be more interesting than he had thought.
The following week was decidedly more relaxed. For Marinette, anyway.
"Hello Adrien, come in, come in." Tom stepped back from the door, then closed it behind him.
"Good evening, sir."
"Sir? Adrien, you've known us long enough that I don't think we need that level of formality, do we? You've been calling me Tom for a while now, how about we just stick with that?"
He released the breath he hadn't known he was holding. "I'd like that, Tom." It felt weird, calling Marinette's dad that, even though he'd done it in the past. But things were different now. He wasn't here as Marinette's friend. He was here to pick her up, as her date, for the first time.
The silence stretched between them until Adrien noticed a somewhat sheepish look come over Tom's face. "Adrien, I—I'm not sure how to go about this. I did it once, very wrongly, and it did not turn out well."
How well Adrien remembered—or should he say Chat Noir remembered? Tom had not been pleased that the superhero was uninterested in dating his daughter, who had just professed her love. He'd become an akuma victim then, and locked Marinette in a tower created to protect her from heartbreak. Maybe he should have started calling her Milady back then—it would have been appropriate.
Before the thought could appear as a grin on his face, Adrien schooled his features and waited to hear what else Tom would say.
"I know you have been friends for years, Adrien. But I also know Marinette has cared far beyond friendship for many of those years, without a return. That's not your fault," he hastened to add, "but it is true. She's so happy right now, but please, don't hurt my girl. She deserves to be happy. That's what her mom and I want for her."
Adrien looked Tom directly in the eye. "Sir—Tom—I thought long and hard about my feelings for Marinette before deciding to change our relationship. I weighed the risks, the challenges, the benefits. I have come to care for Marinette deeply—I love her. I think I may have for a long time before I admitted it to myself. I give you my word, I won't ever hurt her intentionally."
Tom grinned. "In that case—I believe Marinette might almost be ready." He slung his arm around Adrien's shoulders as they headed for the stairs. "And, if you wouldn't mind, could we keep this conversation between the two of us?"
"Papa! You didn't!" Marinette groaned as her hands covered her face, too late to keep the red from springing into her cheeks.
"Well, sweetheart—" he looked to his wife, hoping some support would ease the tension in the room. A scowl was his reward.
Adrien stepped forward. For the life of him, he couldn't figure out why, after swearing him to secrecy downstairs, Tom Dupain would enter the room announcing Adrien's arrival and that he had been "properly vetted" before being allowed upstairs.
"No, it's okay. Really. After a joke Marinette and I shared before, about us becoming a 'normal' couple, I figured she'd put you up to it." He winked in Marinette's direction, hoping her parents missed it.
He knew better, of course. Marinette certainly wasn't ready to bring her parents in on the teasing they shared when they were alone, laced with dual-identity jokes only they would understand. One day, perhaps, but not today.
After some visiting with her parents, they headed for the car and a dinner reservation he had made the week before. He opened her door and made sure she was settled, then walked around to the driver's side.
"Adrien? I'm really sorry about that," Marinette said as he closed the door.
He sent her that flirtatious grin, then leaned towards her seat and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. "No worries, Milady. I did ask for it, if you recall."
She smiled. "Perhaps, but still—asking and receiving are two different things, aren't they?"
"You're worth every minute of every interrogation I may face."
She sighed and let her eyes slide shut in contentment. This felt good. Right. Past insecurities laid to rest, a bright future ahead with, would she have ever believed it, Adrien at her side.
"I love you, Kitty."