A/N: Good afternoon, readers. I changed my summary a bit, but that's because let's face it, most of us Miraculous fans come to fanfic for the romantic fics of Adrien and Marinette, and I wanted to advertise that there will be romance in the story. Enjoy the chapter!
After school, Gabriel waited inside the limo for Marinette and Adrien. He saw the two walking together with two other friends, that one he made the Lady Wifi, and the other who was the Bubbler. They slowly approached the limo, but Gabriel was noticing something strange about Marinette's interactions with Adrien. Marinette was stuttering, and she clearly had blush on her face.
"Isn't that a coincidence," the designer said aloud to himself softly. "Or not."
Gorilla opened the door for the two of them, Marinette entering first.
"Oh, Mr. Agreste, good afternoon!" she greeted cheerfully.
"Good afternoon, Ms. Dupain-Cheng," he greeted back.
"Hello, father," Adrien smiled as he saw his father.
"Hello, Adrien," the man greeted.
"Where's Nathalie?" Adrien asked.
"She's attending to duties back at the mansion," the fashion emperor explained.
The car started moving.
"May ask where we are going?" Marinette asked.
"Yes, we are going to my office building," Gabriel answered. "It is where my designers create all of the pieces you see in the magazines."
Marinette smiled eagerly.
A few minutes later, they reached the building. Marinette looked up at it in awe. As Gorilla opened the doors, Gabriel got out first so he could lead the two teens, and then Adrien offered Marinette to go out next.
The adult led them through the door with a black butterfly design, and over to the elevator. He after describing the first floor, he concluded with saying there wasn't anything significant about the first floor other than it being for tourists. He then described the second floor, and showed the girl the most important parts before doing that with every floor. Finally, Gabriel brought them to the top floor where his office was. He led the two in, and let them take a seat.
"So, this is my office where I design and run this company. We just past your office which is right next to mine. You have a sewing machine, mannequins, and anything you need to do the projects I ask of you."
"What kind of projects will you be giving me?" the hero in disguise asked curiously.
"Well for example with the first project I'm going to give, I want you to create a set of semi-formal attire inspired by our local heroes and villains including Ladybug, Cat Noir, Hawkmoth, and an akumatized villain of your choosing. I'm not going to give you a strict deadline for your project, since the amount of schoolwork you receive may vary or increase," the villain in disguise explained, handing his intern a paper with rough references of Ladybug, Cat Noir, and Hawkmoth.
Marinette didn't know what to feel about this project, since there could be dangers involving her identity, but she was probably the best person in Paris to be given that project.
Gabriel then dismissed her back to her office, and so as she exited his office she turned left, and there was a purple colored room with a desk and a chair in one corner, another desk with a sewing machine on it in the opposite corner, and few file cabinets lining the walls with some mannequins. She grinned her widest grin as she jogged over to her empty desk where she set her school stuff down. After getting over her excitement, she proceeded to pull out her sketchbook and begin with making a short Ladybug dress.
After Marinette left the room, Gabriel began talking with his son.
"So, son. We are back into doing your normal schedule with all of your activities and photoshoots. Are you fine with that?" the father asked.
"Yes, dad," the boy nodded.
"Did you find anyone who may fit being Ladybug's secret identity?"
"I'm not entirely sure. I don't just want to assume and be wrong," he explained.
"Well I'm sure with time, she'll get become more obvious," the man encouraged.
"I guess…" Adrien sighed doubtfully.
After a few minutes of sketching Ladybug, Marinette then went on to Cat Noir, but her hand froze.
"Marinette," Tikki said.
"What, Tikki?" the student questioned.
"You know, maybe you should take a break, and go and apologize to Adrien after letting him fall," Tikki suggested.
"But," Marinette began, her eyes instantly began watering.
"But what Marinette?" the kwami asked.
"But I'm at work, and he's with his dad and… What if he doesn't forgive me?" she asked, sniffling.
Tikki smiled sympathetically at Marinette, and confidently replied, "I don't think that will happen."
The girl looked at her kwami doubtfully.
"If you ask me, I think he idolizes you as Ladybug, Marinette, and if he did have any doubts after the fall, you visiting him would clear them away."
Marinette sniffled one more time before getting up. "Okay, Tikki. Spots on!"
She walked over to her door, peeked out, seeing no one in sight to question why Ladybug was exiting Marinette's windowless office, and walked out. She feebly approached Mr. Agreste's door, and knocked. She waited, and Adrien opened it, shocked to see her.
"Ah, Ladybug, come in, I guess," he said, opening the door more.
"Hello, Ladybug," Gabriel Agreste greeted, slightly surprised. "I wasn't notified that you were coming. What brings you here?"
"I came through a window," she answered first. "I'm here to apologize to Adrien, and I guess you too for letting him nearly die." Her breathe was clearly unsteady, which Gabriel noted.
"Come, sit down, Ladybug," her boss stated with concern.
She sat down, and let out a deep breathe. "I'm so sorry for how careless I was," she apologized, tears welling in her eyes. "I shouldn't have gotten distracted by that illusion of Cat. I just, don't know if you could ever forgive me, Adrien, for putting your life on the line, and Mr. Agreste, for putting your only son's life in danger."
She was clearly crying at that point, so Adrien walked over to her, pulled her out of the chair, and hugged her. The hero froze. Adrien was actually hugging her!
"Ladybug, I forgive you. You were dealing with the sadness of losing Cat Noir. I'm fine now, and I'm glad Hawkmoth came to my rescue," he smiled at her, pulling back to look at her as she blushed. He took the opportunity to sneak a kiss on the cheek. And he saw her blush get even redder.
She was completely frozen, but was unfrozen by Gabriel saying, "Ladybug, now that that is settled, I forgive for putting my son in danger. He's had a thing for you for quite a while."
Marinette looked at Adrien, and the boy blushed intensely, looking away from his idol.
"Well...I've thing had… I mean, thing I've… I mean, I've had a thing for him for a while too," she stuttered, finally getting her act together at the end.
Gabriel smiled, devising a small plan. "Ladybug, if you'd like, you may meet with Adrien during his free time, since it seems you two share common feelings for each other," he grinned.
"What?" Adrien gasped, extremely surprised.
"Well, if it's too much..." Ladybug began to Adrien.
"No. Ladybug, I've cared about you for so long, and I'd really like to get to know you, if you'd let me," the model tried to convince.
The heroine was stuck. If she got too close to someone with her mask, they may figure out her identity, and if they know her identity, Hawkmoth may threaten them in order to find her.
"I just can't. If anyone figures out my identity, then Hawkmoth…"
"Hawkmoth what? Do you think he'd hurt Adrien? He clearly stated that he doesn't want to hurt anyone to get your Miraculous," the designer rebutted.
Ladybug sighed, and she gave up. "Sure, I'll 'meet' Adrien when he's free."
Adrien cheered, "Yes!" He then continued, "So, Ladybug, would you like to be my girlfriend?"
She shyly nodded, and Adrien hugged her, nearly squeezing her to death.
After the model released her, the young designer said, "I should be off now. I have schoolwork to do." She walked out of the room closed the door, and dashed into her office before they could follow her.
A/N: I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I'm nearly done with chapter 13 of my fic, so if you really want me to post soon, tell me, and I'd be glad. I have a lot in store for the cute couple coming up.