Chapter 6

"We need a game plan," announced Alya the next day at lunch.

Marinette and Adrien sleepily looked in her direction. Having spent the night battling twin akumas, the two were dead on their feet. Ironic really, because the villains' power was turning people into zombies. Unfortunately for the superhero pair, their night of the living dead had just carried into the morning of the living dead.

"Plan. Yes. Good." moaned Marinette, with her head laying on the table cushioned by her arm. Adrien smirked and poked one of her pigtails playfully, only to get swatted at by the half-asleep teenage girl. He smiled wider, puzzled but liking the sudden dynamic change between them, even though he didn't know what had caused it.

"Attention," Alya clapped in Marinette's direction, startling her out of her snooze. "What do we know so far?"

Marinette sat up and, in her best old-timey detective voice, stated. "Adela Agreste. Age: 39. Wife of Gabriel Agreste, international fashion designer and multi-million dollar business owner. Mother of Adrien Agreste, age 15, fashion model and student. Missing 14 months and 29 days. No leads." She finished softly, and threw a sympathetic smile in Adrien's direction. He put on a brave face, but was obviously still affected by the disappearance.

Alya looked at Adrien.

"That's all I know," he stated. "Oh, and this." He pulled the photo he'd taken from his father from his bag.

"What's this?" asked Alya, with Nino looking at the picture over her shoulder.

"I found it in my dad's safe two weeks ago."

"It's dated 3 weeks ago." Alya stated in astonishment,

"Yeah, it's-" he began but stopped. It's what? He still had no idea why his father had that or what his father knew. His house had been icy to say the least, and he'd been patrolling the city like a hawk every night just to escape the blizzard inside the Agreste mansion.

"I don't know," he finished finally.

Alya paused, considering. "Here's what we're going to do. Nino and I are going to take this and find out as much as we can. Where it was taken, when, even who took it if possible. You two," she pointed to Adrien and the much more awake now Marinette, "are going to find out what you can from Mr. Agreste."

"But Alya-" Adrien started.

"Nope! Do it!" she cut him off, and with a flourish got up and hastened out the door, towing Nino behind her and winking at Marinette as she went.

"What-" he began looking over to see a blushing Marinette. "You okay?"

"Yup!" she squeaked. "Um, I guess we'll have a group project to do this afternoon."

"What? No we don't."

She looked at him pointedly. "Yes Adrien, we do. Your house at 5?" she asked

"Oh," he sighed, resigned to the fact that he'll actually have to talk to his father, but surprising himself to find that he was anxiously excited to spend an afternoon with Marinette. "5 is perfect."

Buzzing around the room Plagg looked on in amusement as his blonde charge rearranged the pillows on his bed for the hundredth time in nervousness. There had been hundreds of Chat Noirs, but teenagers never failed to amuse him. And disgust him. But mostly amuse him.

Taking a break from his usual chorus of "Give me cheese" and "Feed me", he hovered lower to pull on a piece of Adrien's hair.

"Calm down," he said bluntly. "I don't think she'll care if the green pillow is next to or in front of the orange pillow."

"She's a designer." Adrien replied, as if this explanation made sense.

"Of pillows?"

"No, of clothes."

"Calm down," Plagg repeated, in what he thought showed a saintly amount of patience. "You need to focus on something else."

"Yes," Adrien agreed eagerly, looking at the cat-like floating god.

"Good, go get me camembert." He could only resist for so long, and the opportunity was right there after all.

"Plagg-"

They were interrupted by a bell that signaled someone at the gate. Adrien swallowed, his mouth suddenly very dry, and wondered for the millionth time why he was so nervous. This was Marinette. His friend Marinette. And they had a mission, anyway. It wasn't like this was a date or anything.

Plagg zipped into his jacket pocket and Adrien tripped out of his room, speeding down the stairs a little too fast. Coming to an abrupt halt behind Natalie. His father's assistant was opening the door and spared a quick smirk over her shoulder at the boy as he tried to compose himself before she ushered the young lady into the lobby.

"Hey," clearing his throat, Adrien said again, "Hey, Marinette."

"Hey!" she quipped back, seemingly completely calm and not at all a mess like he felt. "It's very nice to officially meet you ma'am." She said politely to Natalie, who smiled and returned the sentiment.

Then, as if it suddenly caught her eye, Marinette ambled over to the corner, where some pictures of his father and his designs were displayed, as well as a few vintage pieces.

"Is that an original Coco Chanel sketch?!" she screeched. "Oh my goodness, and a Vionnet! Adrien," she turned, smacking his arm. "You never told me you had these!"

"It never came up?" he replied lamely, but smiling and enjoying her enjoyment as she chattered on about various collection by each designer, and their influences in her own designs. Her enthusiasm seemed to light up the entire foyer, bringing the sunshine into a home that had been in eternal winter for the last year. He didn't even notice that Natalie had left them alone and someone else had entered; he was so caught up in the Summertime of Marinette.

Gabriel, hearing the girlish squeals from outside of his office, made his way to the foyer of the house. Silently, he entered from the opposite corner and stopped dead in his tracks. Completely ignoring the exuberant brunette gushing over his fashion history collection, he looked at his son's face and was speechless. He hadn't see him smile like that in over a year, and didn't think he'd ever seen his face light up quite so bright before. Adrien was glowing.

He then turned his eyes to the girl his son was staring at with such a look, and couldn't help but smile. She was effervescent. Still in her awkward teenage years, she bore an innocent joy and beauty that reminded him instantly of his Adela when they'd met, not much older than these two were right now. He felt a sharp pain in his chest, but welcomed the memories nonetheless.

Adrien heard his intake of breath, and turned his head to see his father, with the most peculiar expression on his face. It looked bittersweet, but his father actually looked somewhat happy for the first time in a long time. Perplexed as to the dynamics of their current relationship, and saddened by the cold indifference that had suffused the house for over a year, Adrien smiled at his father regardless.

"Father," he said formally, as Marinette spun around to face Mr. Agreste. "Let me introduce Marinette Dupain-Cheng, a friend from school."

Mr. Agreste smiled what appeared to be an actually genuine smile in Marinette's direction. Adrien was slightly shocked, because the two had met before and Gabriel had not had this reaction to Marinette. Also, his father tended to have a general lack of fondness for Adrien's school friends, at least if his reception of Nino was anything to go off of. Confusing as it was, Adrien was still grateful for his father's sudden hospitality.

"Marinette, it's a pleasure to meet a fellow fashion lover." Gabriel said warmly, taking her hand in his for a moment.

Marinette blushed at officially meeting the famous Gabriel Agreste, and a version of him so different from his public persona or from what Adrien had told her.

"Marinette's a designer," Adrien announced proudly.

"Oh, right! I remember that fine hat you made," Gabriel intoned lightly.

"Amateaur, really." she admitted quickly.

"For now," Adrien replied, looking at her fondly.

"I'd be happy to look at you designs sometime, my dear." Gabriel continued.

"Really?" Marinette squeaked. "That would be-that'd be amazing, sir."

"Why don't you two come into my office? You can see some of the new designs for next season."

"Oh my gosh, yes! I mean, if that's okay Adrien," she amended, knowing how strained the current relationship between father and son was and not wanting to push Adrien too far.

"Of course," Adrien said, unable to say no to her excitement. Besides,he thought, this seems as good a time as any to try and squeeze some information out of Father.

He looked at Marinette and she nodded, having a similar thought, but also feeling unbelievably lucky that she could glimpse the new Agreste designs while still spending time and helping her crush/partner.

"Great!" she smiled, grabbed Adrien's hand and followed Gabriel practically bouncing, much to the amusement of Mr. Agreste.