In case of future reference, and some past references, I thought I'd let you know this story takes place a little over a year after the first season of miraculous ladybug. I kept the class the same, but everyone is either a year older, or they are turning a year older at some point in my story. Currently, they are two months into the school year and Jasper came around a month into the school year, towards the end of September and beginning of October. Currently it is November 1st story time. The thing with his dad happened three years ago, and he *cough*officially*cough* met Neeks 4 months ago. Hoo boy, I've got some editing to do once this is all done (I don't feel like fixing it all until this story is complete. I just know there will be more errors in chapters to come). As to why I haven't mentioned Lila, I have no excuse. I don't think I remembered her existence when starting this and when I remembered I just didn't feel like writing her in. Also, I don't know enough about her currently to write her accurately, so maybe she'll make an appearance after second season comes out (if this runs that long)
After letting Mom go shopping in a few of the stores along the street we had been on, where she bought some dresses and art supplies, I decided to lead mom through the park where Oogie-Boogie had appeared and died a few days prior since it was a great shortcut to the Eiffel Tower. As we were passing by the fountain and carousel, Mom stopped and tugged on my hand. "Oh, wait, Jasper! I see Adrien over there!" She said softly in excitement, starting to pull me over to the area Adrien was currently standing, a photo shoot taking place. He looked pretty awake considering how late I had woken him up last night, and for a minute I felt rather guilty about it.
Neeks nudged me and I looked down, seeing him glare at me from under my scarf, as if telling me not to feel guilty. I needed someone to comfort me, and Neeks must have thought he was the best person to go to.
"Wait, mom, he's working! We can't bother him while he's working!" I scrambled to type on my phone, showing her the message as she pulled me over.
"I know that!" Mom said with a small scoff, a knowing smile on her face, "Goodness, child, you act like I'm about to scream and yell at him like those Fangirls of his!" She scolded playfully, walking over to the bench nearby and sitting down on it gracefully. She patted the spot next to her as she smiled and spoke again, "We'll invite him to lunch with us, and bring him along even if his gorilla of a bodyguard over there doesn't allow it."
"Mom!" I wrote in my notebook as I sat down next to her, hoping my shock got across. She rolled her eyes and laughed softly.
"What? Mr. Bodyguard is welcome if he wants to join! I saw the cutest little café a few blocks away- or we could go to Tom and Sabine's Bakery!" She said innocently as she pulled out her new sketchbook and pencils from one of her art store bag. She handed me another notebook, this one more in the style of a journal to write in. "Here. Write a story while I sketch your little model friend."
She tucked her legs up close to her chest, resting her sketch pad on her legs and beginning to sketch Adrien with a surprising intensity. I sighed and shook my head, a small smile on my face as I turned back to Adrien and started trying to think of a story to write. I tapped the eraser of my pencil against my lips a few times, but soon I was twirling the pencil in my hand and tapping it against the cover of the notebook. I was admittedly staring at Adrien, but it was unseeing, I was focused on something entirely different.
After a few minutes a grin slowly spread across my lips and quickly pencil to paper.
Once upon a time, there was a knight own all throughout the kingdom of Kwamistala as the Dark Knight. Why was he called this, you ask? Well, because he wore light weight, black and dark purple colored armor. He was the handsomest knight in the kingdom, and the most well liked. He was kind to all who came across him, and never raised his sword without reason.
One day, he was assigned by the King of his country to venture into the Forest of Gods and dispose of an impurity there; a vampire who had taken refuge in the forest. Now, normally this would not be that big a deal, because the vampire did not attack humans and had not caused commotion in the villages near the forest, but the Forest of Gods was a sacred place that housed mini gods, and only the highest of knights were allowed into the forest for only a few days, at the most, unless they had been chosen by a mini God in those three days.
The Dark Knight was one of those chosen Knights, a small black cat God named Noir having chosen him only two years before. The Dark Knight was one of the youngest high-ranking Knights ever, the other one being a young girl nicknamed the Miracle Knight with her small ladybug Goddess, Fortune. He knew that this was of a grave offense; a vampire, the spawn of Satan, living in the home and birthplace of gods? It was unheard of, to begin with. So, he took the quest, and he began his journey to the forest, planning to arrive in three days time on horseback.
On the first day, he passed through the town where Miracle Knight was staying, and told the girl about his quest. She and Fortune wished the boy and Noir good luck, which, considering it was from a Goddess representing good luck, was practically a blessing. He soon went on his way, since he had no time to waste, and-
"Oh, he's done! Adrien, sweetheart! Over here!" Mom's voice snapped me out of my writing, and after watching her stand and start waving, stared at my work with a small smile. I felt that was a rather nice start, about half a page in my notebook was filled with the start of the story. I closed the notebook and carefully bound it with the strap it had, smiling and waving at Adrien when I saw him looking over. Adrien said something to his bodyguard and then came rushing over, smiling brightly when he reached us.
"Hello, Mitzy, Jasper. It's nice to see you." He said happily, his grin this time much more natural and less model-like. My mom hugged him, laughing softly.
"You did wonderful out there! Oh, shoot!" My mom moved back quickly, blushing lightly in embarrassment, "Sorry, I probably shouldn't have done that. I always forget not everyone likes physical contact, especially from their friend's parents." She laughed nervously, and Adrien blushed shyly.
"No, it's fine. Thank you for your support, it's really kind of you."
"It's nothing. By the way, sweetie, you don't mind if I sketched you while you were working, do you?"
Adrien blushed even more and shook his head. "No, not at all."
"Oh good!" Mom smiled brightly and clapped her hands lightly together, giggling. "Now then, down to business! Adrien, would you like to join us for lunch? We were thinking either this really nice café down the street, or maybe Tom and Sabine's?"
Adrien's eyes lit up at the sound of Marinette's family's bakery, making me smile. It was cute how much he liked their food, even if it was amazing food. "That would be great! Let me just see if it's okay with Gorilla and Nathalie." He said, pointing towards the limo with the two he mentioned waiting for them.
"Okay. Oh! Tell them they can come and get something with us, if it makes them feel better!" Mom added quickly as Adrien went off to ask the others. He gave a thumbs up to show he heard and Mom turned to me, smiling. "So, I saw you got really into writing after staring at Adrien for a bit." She teased, making me blush. I lightly pushed her and and looked away, not denying or confirming her words. She giggled and ruffled my hair, wrapping me in a one armed hug as we watched Adrien talk to the others.
Mom waved when he gestured to us, and I couldn't help but silently chuckle at how cheerful and almost childish mom was acting today. Adrien's smile fell for a few moments as Nathalie said something, and I frowned, worried they wouldn't let him come with us. More talking happened between the three of them and soon Adrien was smiling again and thanking them profusely before running back over. "They said I can come with you until my lunch break is over!" He said cheerfully, and mom squealed as I smiled.
"Lovely! Alright, so, Tom and Sabine's or the café down the street? Your pick, Adrien, and my treat!"
Adrien smiled sheepishly and he rubbed at the back of his neck, blushing lightly. "Um, if it's not too much trouble... Tom and Sabine's?" He asked a little nervously, and I gave him an encouraging thumbs up as mom smiled patiently and nodded.
"That's perfectly fine, dear. Don't worry!" She took our hands and hoisted our arms up a little, linking her arms through them as I grabbed the bags with my other hand. "Now then, Adrien, dear, I hope you don't mind a bit of walking. We aren't too far away though!" Mom giggled a little, happy and giddy, and it was affecting Adrien and I just as much. Adrien laughed softly, assuring mom that it was fine, and together we went to the bakery that was, almost literally, around the corner.
When we arrived at the bakery I split away from Mom's hold and opened the door for them, the bell jingling as I opened it.
"Oh, hello Adrien, Jasper!" Madame Dupain-Cheng said happily as she handed a customer their order. I waved and closed the door as Adrien gave her a verbal greeting, and my mom went up to Marinette's mother once the customer was done. "Hello, I'm Jasper's mother, Mitzy Wells. You and your husband have amazing food here!"
After the greeting, Mom turned to look at Adrien and me. "Boys, pick out whatever you'd like for lunch, okay? I want to talk with Madame Dupain-Cheng here for a little bit, if that's alright." The last part was directed towards Marinette's mom, who nodded.
"As long as no other customers come in, I have all the time in the world!"
"Perfect! So, anyway, Jaspie here tells me you offered to make some snacks for my exhibition..." I tuned out Mom's conversation and looked over to Adrien, who was looking around at all the different things to try. I smiled and walked over to him, taking my personal notebook out and quickly writing in it.
"So, what do you recommend?"
Adrien read what I wrote and he smiled, blushing a little. "Oh, well, I guess everything. I don't get to come here a lot, but no matter what I get, it tastes amazing. The quiche is really good."
I nodded, smiling as I listened to him. "Hey, whenever you'd like, mom and I can take you here- or we could cook for you. In case you want a home cooked meal sometime."
About a week ago, a few days after the tentacle Akuma incident at school, I had learned that Adrien hadn't had a home cooked meal since his mother disappeared almost three years prior and instead was fed really high class food from a personal chef. As great as that sounded, it just felt empty to me and from the look in Adrien's face he missed home cooked meals, so I decided to tell him he was welcome whenever he liked cue the opportunity arose; and guess what, the opportunity came about two seconds ago.
Adrien's eyes widened slightly and he stared at me in shock, disbelief in his eyes for a moment before he smiled brightly. "Really?"
I nodded, smiling back in return. "Of course." I wrote, glancing at mom before continuing, "Mom already considers you a son."
Adrien read what I wrote and his smile only grew, and soon enough I was being hugged almost gingerly by him. "Thank you, so much."
I patted his back, almost as if to say "Anytime," and he moved away after a moment, smiling sheepishly.
"Sorry, too much?"
"Not at all." I wrote, hugging him gently once more before moving back and starting to write again. "So, shall we get our food and go back to the park?"
"That sounds like a perfect idea."
We chose what we would like and after mom paid for them she shooed us off to continue taking about food plans for her exhibition with Madame Dupain-Cheng. As we walked to a bench in the park to eat, I set the shopping bags down and opened the small bag that the food was in, handing Adrien his food and taking out mine after.
We are in comfortable silence, both enjoying the small treats from the bakery. Mom came over with her own food and sat next to me as she ate, a large smile on her face. I laughed softly and quickly wrote down, "Are you excited for the exhibition, or are you thinking about Madame Gosier?"
Mom blushed when she read what I wrote, making my grin grow even wider as Adrien read it as well and chuckled from Mom's expression. "If I'm reading this right, you like someone, Mitzy?" He asked softly, smiling happily as Mom's blush grew darker.
"I-I, well, yes, but I wasn't thinking about her!" Mom said just a little too quickly. I gave her and "Uh-huh, sure," look and she whined softly, wrapper her arms around my chest and resting her head on mine. "Jasper, don't look at me like that!" She whined, hugging me close.
"Adrien's going to start teasing me, too!"
Adrien laughed at that, smiling brightly. "Don't worry, I won't. It's cute though! I'm glad to see you're happy." Mom only blushed more and got up, laughing and hugging Adrien tightly.
"Thank you so much, sweetie!"
Adrien laughed and I smiled, clapping quietly. Mom moved away when we heard someone call Adrien's name. It was the photographer from before, and Adrien sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I have to go. It was great seeing you, Jasper, and thank you for lunch, Mitzy."
Mom smiled brightly at him as he stood up, nodding slightly. "No problem, sweetie. Stop by whenever you'd like- our doors are always open!" I nodded in agreement, waving goodbye as Adrien turned to run back over to the photographer and his bodyguard.
Mom sighed when he left, biting her lip. "He seemed a little sad to go. How often did you say he worked?"
I flipped through my notebook to the page with that conversation, pointing to the message. "Too much. A few days a week during school, the weekends- he barely gets time to himself with all that and his extracurriculars." And being Chat Noir I added to myself.
Mom frowned, tapping her foot on the ground a few times. "Okay. We need to have him come over to our place often, then. That is no life for a teenage boy!" I nodded in agreement, and Mom stood up, grabbing her bags again. "Alright, we'll leave him to work, let's go wander around and get the tourism out of my system." She handed me some of the bags and after waving goodbye to Adrien, we left the park and headed for the Eiffel Tower. The rest of our day was filled with sightseeing and teasing each other about our crushes- which, yes, I admit I have on Adrien.
When we got home later that night, we ended the day with a movie, and when I finally laid in my bed, petting Neeks gently as he curled up in his pillow, I fell asleep without a single worry in my mind.