Miraculous Ladybug, "The Tell-Tale Kiss" ch. 15, rated M

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Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug & Chat Noir
Title: The Tell-Tale Kiss
Chapter Title: Fifteen - King of Swords
Pairing/Characters: Marinette (Ladybug), Adrien (Chat Noir), Tikki, Plagg, Marinette/Adrien, Gabriel, Nathalie
Word Count: 1908
Genre: Humor/Romance
Rating: M
Spoilers: Up to Season 2 (for now)

Notes: This is a new multi-chapter fic though it won't be too long. I've written a few chapters and have the rest outlined. For now, this first chapter is written for my "major" prompt for the Summer Mini Challenge. Characters are aged up about a few years, around 16 years old. Canon divergent from Season 2/3.

Notes for this Chapter: Adrien's father discovers his son's relationship with Marinette, and he confronts Adrien about it.

Other Links: FFnet | AO3

Summary: Adrien has had enough. If Ladybug won't accept him as Chat Noir, well, then maybe she'll say yes to Paris's top male model? When she gives her answer, he doesn't expect what comes next.

Chapter Fifteen: King of Swords

Adrien did not expect to be called into the dining area by his father that morning. Not only was he not looking forward to it, but he was also nervous as hell. He had a feeling he knew what was coming, and he tried to prepare himself mentally for when his father learned about Marinette.

Under the guise of breakfast together, Gabriel had summoned him and as usual, Adrien sat on the farther end of the table while his father sat in the perfect view to glare at him. Nathalie hovered behind him as usual, but a couple of times she had left the room to take business calls in his stead.

Gabriel took a modest bite of his breakfast and lightly tapped his lips with his napkin. “Well, I am waiting, Adrien. You have something important to tell me.”

“Father…?” Adrien asked, playing dumb at first. He wondered how far he could get by acting oblivious to his father’s knowledge, even though he knew his father was not only smart, but he also had excellent spies and sources. 

His father didn’t respond right away, and he took a meticulous bite of his dinner. He let out a quick sigh, and Adrien watched him as his father furrowed his brow. His expression was always intense, but now he looked downright annoyed. He knew that his son was hiding something from him, and by his expression and body language Adrien assumed his father knew exactly what it was.

“Um, I’m sure Nathalie has told you this but I’ve been working on a school project with a really good friend,” Adrien began, and he cut up some of his food, preparing to take a small and slow bite. If his father could draw this out, he’d play his game. 

“Go on,” his father prompted him, his voice sounding neutral as their silverware clanged against their plates, echoing distinctly throughout the large and spartan dining room.

“It seems that my good friend and I have gotten closer, and I really like her and…” Adrien took a deep breath, and he felt as though a spike was stuck in his throat. “She’s my girlfriend now.”

“I see. Now does this girlfriend have a name?” he asked neutrally, but Adrien could sense unease brimming in his voice.

“It’s Marinette Dupain-Chang,” Adrien said, wondering if his father had any idea who she was and if he remembered her winning one of his fashion contests. He’d honestly be surprised if Gabriel did remember Marinette, as he normally didn’t concern himself with any of his friends or people he didn’t really know.

“Ah yes, the baker’s daughter. I remember her,” Gabriel said, still acting unconcerned. 

“She also won your fashion contest, the hat with feathers?”  he said.

“Yes, that one,” Gabriel said snobbily. “At least she has some talent.”

“She’s more than talented,” Adrien said with a smile. He rested his chin on his hand as he thought of her, staring into space as he remembered how wonderful she was, and the skillful way she would kiss him.

For a while his father was silent, and after a beat, Adrien realized Gabriel was staring at him with a worried and displeased look. 

“Adrien,” his father began, “I understand that you’re young, and things like girlfriends and romance are easy to get caught up in. Whatever you feel for this girl may seem… intense, but it will not last. It will not have the longevity of your career or your education.”

“What are you saying? That what I feel doesn’t mean anything because I’m young?” Adrien asked, wrinkling his nose. He knew where this conversation was going, and he would refuse his father if he didn’t accept his relationship with Marinette. He was prepared to fight for it, if and when Gabriel forced his hand.

“I am saying that in the future you will find a lady that is more… on your level, and you will be a well-rounded adult with a high-quality education and talents, and you will see the kind of partner that is right for you.” His father cleared his throat. “You will see that there are more choices… other than the baker’s daughter.”

“That’s a terrible thing to say! And snobbish,” Adrien said, standing up from his seat and clenching his fists. “I won’t ever feel that way at all.”

His father held up his hand, but his jaw tensed and he glowered at Adrien for his outburst. “Sit down, Adrien.”

“You’re not even going to give her a chance?” Adrien said, slowly sitting down in his seat. He gave his father a desperate look. 

“I wonder if I should even waste my time,” his father answered, and he stopped Adrien before he could react. “I’m more concerned that having a girlfriend will jeopardize your brand image. You are a famous model, and you do attract some… aggressive fans. I also don’t want a relationship with a girl to destroy your fans’ ideal image of who you are. Fans are also consumers, Adrien, so don’t forget that.”

Adrien furrowed his brow and glared down at his meal. “I don’t believe this,” he mumbled.

“Adrien, just please think about what I’ve said,” his father said, finishing off his last bite and then nodding to the maid that was standing against the wall, waiting for them to finish their meal. She bustled around the table, taking plates and other dishes, her demeanor unfazed by their personal family issues. “I’m thinking of your safety, as well as your girlfriend’s well-being. I will allow this for now, but if I feel like there are any risks to our family or the Agreste brand, I’m afraid you will have to end it with her.” 

Adrien looked up at him, and though he may have appeared shocked, he expected this attitude from his father. Perhaps, he always had an idea his father would be against this.

“I’ll prove to you that I can maintain a good brand image and still be with Marinette,” he told his dad before he left the dining room.

“I hope for your sake you’re right,” Gabriel said, sending him a cold glance. “And I hope your fans do not terrorize your girlfriend to the point where she hurts you.”

Marinette would never do that, Adrien thought immediately.

Adrien gaped at him, and underneath it all, he was seething about his father’s usual pessimistic outlook on life. If anything it encouraged Adrien to rebel against Gabriel’s assessment, and he was even more determined to show how much he really loved Marinette.

<hr>

Adrien launched himself onto Marinette’s bed with a languid sigh. Somewhere out of sight, Plagg and Tiki were hiding and enjoying some food. The two kwami’s had learned to make themselves scarce when Marinette and Adrien were alone together.

Adrien crawled over to Marinette and rested his head on her lap. She started carding her fingers through his hair, and he delighted in how her touch began to calm him.

“So he’s testing me… us,” Adrien said, meeting her eyes as she looked down at him in her lap. She leaned down and kissed his forehead softly. “He doesn’t think that we’ll last, that we’re just stupid teenagers.”

Marinette giggled. “Well, we are… but we have something that he doesn’t know about; it’s our bond as Ladybug and Chat Noir. We have a deep relationship as Miraculous wielders that he can’t even fathom.”

Adrien frowned, enjoying her touch as she continued to massage his head. “Maybe,” he mumbled. 

They continued to relax until Marinette’s phone chimed with a notification. Adrien’s phone also made a similar chirp, and the two of them grabbed at their phones. Marinette’s face blanched when she looked at the message. It was from Alya.

“Girl, you better be looking at the news. Right. Now!” said her voice message in the chat. 

“Nino says that the news reported that we are dating,” Adrien said, almost confused at first and then realizing the gravity of the situation. “He leaked it to the press.”

They met each other’s shocked stares, and suddenly, their kwamis appeared as well. “This is bad…” Adrien added.

Marinette scrambled to pull up a live feed of the news on her computer. Sure enough, star reporter Nadja Chamack was reporting on the scoop.

“Teen heartthrob and model Adrien Agreste is taken. Sorry, girls, but you’re going to have to dry those tears because designer Gabriel Agreste confirmed today that his son was dating someone from his school, and it seems like things are serious!” 

Pictures of Marinette and Adrien filled the screen, and many of them were old footage about that time she was trying to hide him from his rabid fans (and bodyguard) just so he could see his mother’s movie. Many fans had already assumed she was his girlfriend, and some were not so happy. That didn’t stop them from ramping up the stalking and practically chasing after him the first moment they spotted him.

They both jumped when their phones started blowing up at them, blaring with messages from all their friends and classmates. 

Marinette let out a groan. “Well, then, your father has made his first move. Gabriel Agreste - 1, Team Us - 0.”

Adrien turned and took her into his arms, giving her a reassuring hug. “It’ll be okay. We’ll get through this.”

Marinette smiled at him. “I’m not worried. I mean, we’re superheroes, right? We’ve dealt with worse than your fans.”

“I hope you’re right,” Adrien said, sounding worried.

Nadja’s voice piqued their attention again, and they drew out of the hug. They stared at the screen as they showed live footage of citizens of Paris and their reaction to the news. Girls were on the street crying, and some were forming into packs looking enraged and out for blood.

“We are coming to you live in downtown Paris where news has spread about Adrien Agreste and his new girlfriend,” Nadja said, and she started walking to the angry packs with her microphone. “You, miss, what do you think of this development?”

“I’m so pissed right now I could spit!” screamed a blonde girl with overly tanned skin. Her make-up was running down her face as she rage-cried. “How could you, Adrien! You belong to all of us! Not this… girl!”

Marinette cleared her throat and giggled nervously as she watched the chaos on the news. “Well, that was something…”

Suddenly, a different type of screaming grabbed their attention on the newscast. People were yelling and running away from something in the background. Then, smoke and debris appeared, and the camera picture rattled as the earth began to quake.

“Oh good grief,” Marinette said, narrowing her eyes. She turned to Adrien who just shrugged sheepishly. 

“An akuma… what a surprise,” she said sardonically. 

Adrien laughed with embarrassment.

“Tiki! Spots on!” Marinette yelled, and soon Adrien had followed her lead, calling for Plagg and transforming into Chat Noir. They headed down to the heart of the city, ready to take on just more than Adrien’s rabid fans…

.