Chapter Text
Chapter 1 - The Ride
Adrien
The silent hum of the Bentley limousine roared through the interior of the car as the four sat silently inside. Time slowed down as the drove through the Boulevard Saint-Michel, Nathalie stared down on a computer as she typed at a quickened pace. Next to the assistant is Adrien, the young Frenchman from earlier as he stares at the scene through the Boulevard. Man...surprised father’s having a dinner with me. And with company...heh, must be with business people or something. I glance at young boy across from him with some interest. Strange, kind of weird that this boy decides to join us...then again, he looks exhausted. I stared at the sleeping boy until I realize what I was doing; I feel my cheeks flush like roses as I looked away. Oh who am I kidding. I chastise myself as I continue to gaze upon the sleeping boy.
Green eyes stared at the sleeping figure as he snored gently to the gentle sounds. The boy has a tall, Herculean structure and complemented by his height...almost frightening when you have a first glance. Yet at the same time, his tan skin and seemingly soft cheeks emanate an innocent look on of Jay’s face as it scrunches a bit.
Oh good grief he’s waking up! I internally scream as I try to act natural in front of this boy. Problem is...how can I do that when I’m looking at him?! This boy begins to wake up, eyes slowly open as he lets out a soft yawn. “Ugh...I hate jetlag.” He stares at the window for a small bit before he goes to the small cooler. Grabbing a can of ginger beer, he looks up at me as I continue staring at him. “Uh...you know it’s weird to stare at someone for so long. Makes people feel creeped out.” I try hiding my blush as I laugh nervously. “Yeah well, I guess it’s just new. Usually it’s just me and Nathalie.” The boy chuckles a bit, opening the can of ginger beer. “Well you do something new everyday.” Jay chuckled as he takes a quick drink of the ginger beer. “It’s nice to meet you though, I’m sorry if I look a bit..well, shabby.” Jay chuckles a bit as he grabs something from his backpack, a small blue booklet with a slip of paper on it. “I just got back from California for vacation when I find out that we were relocating to Paris. To be honest, I don’t mind moving because I get to see new places. But at the same time, there’s a part of me that’s questioning my father’s reasons.” He yawns loudly as he pulls hands me the ticket. LAX - DCA and DCA - CDG on both tickets. “Dude...you must be exhausted from that trip. Why were you in LA anyways?”
Jay gives me a look of confusion as he grabs a ukulele from his bag. “I was really there for a friend’s birthday and we went to Universal Studios. Really fun since that Harry Potter opened and I got myself my Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff swag; but while I was there, I got this beauty for myself.” He says, pointing out the ukulele as he places his fingers on the frets of the ukulele. He stops for a moment before strumming a chord, letting out a happily gentle sigh in the process. “Man I love the sounds of the ukulele on a summers day.” He chuckles a bit as he softly plays with his ukulele. “How about you Adrien? Do you happen to play any instruments?”
I chuckle a bit as I look at him with my picturesque smile. “I mean, I have piano lessons. But it’s only if my schedule isn’t booked with fencing, basketball, Chinese, or modeling. That being said, I wouldn’t say that I’m a master, but I could definitely go through a Moonlight Sonata.” He looks at me with wide eyes, gently placing the ukulele inside his bag. “Okay Adrien. First of all, that’s awesome you play the piano; but...with the other activities, do you ever have time for yourself? Like do you ever have time to do the things that you personally like?” He then proceeds to give me this weird look, eyes scrunching a bit as he looks deep into mine with...concern?
“I’m asking because my parents have told me this before. They tell me that I should learn Spanish over French, learn the violin instead of the ukulele and various other things. And to be honest, I would never have any time left to do the things I like. If it wasn’t for that talk I had with my parents, I wouldn’t be where I am. I’m fluent in 6 languages, switched to the ukulele and guitar, joined the swim team in m; and volunteered at a local hospital.”
He gives me these things about his life that make me question my own choices...well, the things Dad tells me to do. Did I really wanted to learn the piano? Hardly, I wanted to play the guitar but dad says rock music is dastardly atrocious. Did I wanted learn Chinese? Well, father said something about being a good language for business and I enjoyed it. “Well I guess you’re right on those...but I’m okay on the long run.” I lied a bit how I enjoy the modeling part. I absolutely hate modeling for Dad’s line.
Jay’s serious look dissipates as he takes another sip from the ginger beer can. “Well...if you say so. I mean, Chinese is hard as hell to learn. It took me three years to learn Japanese and Korean because of those damn symbols. And it took me like less time to learn French and Spanish at the same time.” I let out a chuckle as he grins at me. “So mister fancy guy,” I began sarcastically, “why is a guy like you here coming over to our place to have dinner with my father?” He laughs very loudly as he finishes his ginger beer, small burps coming out from his mouth which made me laugh a bit as he grabs a bottle of water. “It’s actually my mother. Apparently she starts teaching tomorrow at some university at Paris for video game design and gaming psychology. But other then that, it’s just a surprise for both me and my dad. Kinda weird to be honest, he was supposed to meet some officials the French government but they bailed because of some “Akuma” attack in Paris during our flight.” Oh jeez, can’t believe that Akuma delayed his dad’s meeting but...why’s he meeting with some government person? Before I could process everything, I notice the small stream of a motorcade joining with our limousine. The motorcade has a small flag of the United States flying on both sides of the car. “Uh...could I ask why you’re in France by any chance? And did you just say French government person person?”
I’m already getting a little weirded out with this. Our limousine joins in with a motorcade passing by on our way to the house and they have U.S. flags waving in the air. What on earth is this guy? “Kinda weird saying it since we just got off the plane. But take a look at page 9, it’ll have a French visa for a long-term stay for diplomats and ambassadors.” Before I could react to whatever he said, he proceeds to speak once more. “’I, Joshua Bernardino Hunter, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.’; really weird to remember the entire oath but when you’re a senator’s son, it’s just verbatim.” He sighs loudly as he rubs the sleep from his eyes, I can tell he’s still exhausted from the flight. “So small surprise Adrien, you’re going to have dinner with the ambassador to the United States so...no pressure right?”
I look at him with wide eyes, chuckling nervously as I grab a bottle of water from the side. I stop for a bit, lifting the bottle toward my mouth as drink the water. “Yeah,” I chuckle nervously, “no pressure at all.” Well this is gonna be an interesting night. Wish I was on patrol right now, do not wanna deal with a diplomat. My head lifts up as I see Jay stare at me with soft eyes, leaning on the chair as he reaches to his pocket to find a cell phone. “Don’t worry about my dad Adrien. Just because he’s an ambassador doesn’t mean he’ll kill you, he’s not a mobster. He’s just like any other comical father.” I tried to ask him before a knock on the driver’s side. “Sir, we’ve arrived. Monsieur Hunter, welcome to the Agreste Manor.”
Whatever reactions I have at this moment where I could’ve panicked, this was one of them. “Alright! I’m starving man, let’s go!” He gives me this...amazing smile as his hand wraps around my arm, taking me away from the car and to the house. I yelped like a puppy as Jay easily leads me out from the car with his stuff at hand. “Woah, woah Jay! Be careful my dad is VERY strict with visitors!” He releases a bellowing laugh as we storm through the front door. “Oh please Adrien! I’ve dealt with high-security dinners with world leaders and diplomats so this can’t be too bad!” Jay immediately stops at the foyer, his face astonished by the house. Oh boy...