Chapter Text
Being called into his father’s office was not how Adrien wanted to start his day. But he guessed it must be worth something, given his father hadn’t talked with him in almost three months since he’d started his little rebellion act. It wasn’t that much of a difference compared to his normal behavior towards Adrien. Which honestly, was kind of sad, but he’d gotten used to it by now.
He didn’t even have to knock on the door. Nathalie opened it and invited him in, before excusing herself and closing the door behind her. Great, he thought in annoyance. Alone with the devil himself.
His father hadn’t even bothered to turn around, too busy staring at the huge painting of his mother. Adrien waited, patiently, but after a couple of minutes of silence, his patience ran short. If his father called him here only to make him wait then he might as well come back later when he felt like talking.
“I might have used the wrong approach where your raising past your mother’s disappearance was concerned.”
Adrien looked flabbergasted at his father. Was he… was he admitting he was wrong? No way. This must be some sort of elaborate daydream. Yeah, it certainly made more sense for him to be asleep than for his father to admit he had been wrong about something.
His father turned around, only to raise an eyebrow at the sight of his son pinching himself. “Adrien, what are you trying to do?”
“Wake up from this dream?” Adrien shrugged, trying to pinch himself again.
“Stop this foolishness, you aren’t dreaming.” Gabriel said in a stern tone.
“Oh?” Adrien tilted his head curiously. “Are you telling me you’re admitting you have been a control freak with emotionally abusive tendencies for real? The apocalypse is coming.”
“Mind your language, son.”
Adrien snorted. “I didn’t realize the truth is considered bad language now.”
Gabriel was giving him one of those disapproving looks, but Adrien held his ground. Frankly, his father wasn’t intimidating him as much as he did in the past.
“You know, for someone who seems to want to apologize for being a shitty father, you are really doing a bad job.” Adrien stated bluntly.
Gabriel sighed. “I am aware. Emotions have never been my strong point. And I came to the realization that I could have handled our relationship better during your formative years.”
“You know, you can’t really say sorry without using the word.” Adrien noted.
Gabriel kept his posture as stiff as ever. “My apologies, son.” His voice was almost emotionless, but Gabriel Agreste had never been an emotive person to begin with, not even back in the good days. Yet there was something in his eyes, close enough to regret to make Adrien realise he was sincere.
“I accept your apology. But I won’t forgive you right this instant.”
In fact, Adrien doubted he could forgive his father too soon. He hadn’t realised how truly isolated he had been until he started hanging out with Nino and Marinette. And by default everyone in their circles. A golden cage was still a cage. And he wasn’t even going to start on all the emotional troubles that he had. Because apparently going into an almost depressive state when you do something less than perfect wasn’t normal. Not that he truly realised that until recently.
“Your tutors have informed me your grades are still as good as ever.” Gabriel remarked, while putting his hands behind his back.
Adrien raised an eyebrow. “Piercing my ears and actually having a social life doesn't mean I intend to drop out of school, you know?”
Gabriel huffed. “Frankly, it concerned me. I assume you already applied to a university.”
“I did.” Adrien confirmed.
“And I assume it isn’t related to fashion in any way, not even on the business side, right.”
“That’s correct. I went for literature at Sorbonne.”
Gabriel nodded, almost thoughtfully. “Not what I would have wanted for you, but Sorbonne is by far the most prestigious university in the country. It shall do. I suppose I shouldn’t worry about your grades when it comes to the baccalauréat.”
“No, no need for that. I am confident I will get good ones.”
Gabriel nodded. “Is there anything else?”
“ I would like to move out when I start university.” Adrien stated. It had crossed his mind for a while now. It could be quite helpful to maybe be away from the mansion for a while, not only to distance himself from the suffocating atmosphere, but also to learn how to function as a proper independent adult. Doing his own grocery shopping and stuff.
“I… guess I should have expected that.” Gabriel nodded. “It can be done. Do you wish to have Nathalie take care of it?”
“I will speak with her myself about the details for this.”
There were a few moments of silence. Not quite tense, but there was something… an air of change between them.
“Is that all?” Adrien asked, not sure where this conversation should go anymore.
Gabriel nodded. “For now, I would say so. You can leave.”
Adrien turned to the door, but before he could exit, he felt his father’s presence looming behind him. Turning halfway around, he noticed his father reaching for him. He seemed hesitant in his movements, before he squeezed his shoulder. It wasn’t much, but it was more than he had done in years.
Adrien managed a small smile. It seemed they were making small steps for a change for better.
--------------------------
The Jardin du Luxembourg was beautiful in spring, especially in May with all flowers in full bloom. Adrien liked it more than he would like to admit. Sure, it wasn’t the best place to be alone, but he didn’t want to be alone. he was tired of that. And Marinette agreed to meet him there, so he assumed it wasn’t a bad rendezvous spot.
It seemed that their little dating charade had come to an end. Adrien would miss it. Not the lie itself, but the time he was spending with Marinette. The sleepovers, the cuddles, the blanket forts. The dates, Marinette taking him to explore little corners of Paris that he wasn’t aware of before. The movie nights that included over the top sing-alongs to musicals.
(Marinette said that no matter how beautifully he plays the piano, his singing sounds like a dying cat.)
And the food… Dieu the food. While everything in Tom and Sabine’s Boulangerie Patisserie was delicious, the macarons felt especially sweet when Marinette made them especially for him. Will she keep doing that? Will he still be invited over as often as he is now? Maybe when he moves out he could invite her over for sleepovers and…
“Adrien!”
He looked up to see Marinette rushing towards him while dodging the people in the crowd with a level of expertise that screamed Parisian being almost late to catch the metro from Châtelet.
“Good news!” he said cheerily, while hugging her as a hello. “I spoke with father and everything is fine. Well, not between us, but it is a start.”
Marinette smiled. “I am happy to hear that. And about the other day, when I run off, I am sorry.”
“Hey, hey, no need to be sorry. Actually uh. “ Adrien rubbed the back of his neck. “ I wanted to talk with you. About well, us. Given my rebelling is over, we don’t need to keep up the fake dating.”
“Oh.” Marinette nodded and Adrien could have sworn she looked almost disappointed. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. No more fake dating.”
“Yeah, no more silly Instagram pictures.”
“No more couple’s baking.”
“No more dates.”
They kept staring at each other, almost unsure what to do. It should have been easy, right? Just say it and be done with it. But there was something… stiff in the air between them. Something was amiss.
Almost instinctually, Adrien closed the space between them, reaching for Marinette, but she had been quicker. She grabbed his collar and pulled him into a kiss. They hadn’t really kissed since the Catacombs party. The most they had done was a peck on the lips for the sake of appearances. But this right now? This was intense. There was passion in there, but not the hungry type that they had back in the catacombs. This time it was more intense, more for the sake of proving they had been lying to themselves the whole time. Marinette still tasted as sweet as ever. As they slowly ran out of breath they slowed down, going from intense passion to slow, patient adoration. And when they finally pulled apart, they glanced at each other before bursting out laughing.
“We have been fools, haven’t we?” Adrien could only nod at her words. He knew, for a while now that he was in love with her. A part of him knew, at least. How stupid he had been for not admitting it earlier.
“So,” he smiled at her. “Would you like being my not fake girlfriend?”
Marinette gave him a peck on the lips.
“I would love to, minou.”
Adrien was buzzing with excitement. So in a stupid impulse, he grabbed her around the waist and spun her around. Marinette squealed in surprise before busting out laughing. She wrapped her hands around his neck and tilted her head, going for another kiss. Adrien reciprocated whole heartedly.
Seems like fate had funny little ways of putting everything in place.
