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I’m so late. I hope I haven’t missed his match. Oh, come on, Marinette thought frantically as she raced across the street to the school where Adrien’s fencing tournament is taking place. She had to fight her clumsiness in her haste to keep from face-planting on the pavement more times than she cared to count, but she wouldn’t let her friend down. She couldn’t let him down.
She raced into the courtyard and found the bleachers set up for guests to watch the matches. She grinned in triumph as she noticed Adrien hadn’t gone yet. She’d made it in time to watch him.
She moved towards the bleachers after sending him a small wave when he’d noticed her coming in. She wanted to find a decent seat, so she could record his match for him. She’d almost made it when the presence of a familiar person caused her to freeze. She’d never thought she’d see the day he’d come to Adrien’s matches. He’d managed to miss each one so far, but she didn’t have it in her to feel much anger as the man looked clearly uncomfortable with so many people surrounding him.
She approached him as quietly as she could, sitting close enough they could speak but not enough to invade the man’s personal space.
“Good afternoon, Mon. Agreste. It’s nice to see you.”
“Ah, Mlle. Dupain-Cheng, it’s nice to see you, too.” He sent her a small smile, which looked more like a grimace as the man next to him jostled him a bit.
“I’m sure Adrien’s happy you’re here.” She didn’t know what else to say, but she almost pitied the man for his discomfort. She appreciated his effort though, especially when she hadn’t thought she’d persuaded him to join her at the tournament. “I’m glad you could make it.”
“I am, too.” The older Agreste went silent as Adrien’s name was announced alongside his opponent. His eyes shone with a quiet pride that surprised Marinette as she’d been led to believe he thought Adrien a disappointment, but she felt she saw more at that moment than Gabriel ever wanted others to see.
Marinette allowed him to watch in peace as she inched forward to record the match as she’d promised. She knew she wasn’t Alya, who could find the best angles possible for catching the best action, but she felt she could at least get some decent angles for Adrien to watch later. Who knows? Maybe she could convince the older Agreste to take a copy of her video for his own viewings.
She watched Adrien through her phone’s camera as he wielded his fencing sword with an ease that brought up a vision of another blond in her life, but she quickly shooed the thought away so she could remain focused. She smiled as she saw the opening Adrien also saw and took with an ease that only years of practice could bring.
All too soon, the match was over, and Adrien claimed his victory.
While he took his seat among his teammates, Marinette returned to the bleachers and Mon. Agreste to show him the match up close. She sat with Adrien’s father in relative silence until the tournament ended a few hours later.
Before she could slip away to Adrien’s side, Mon. Agreste stopped her and spoke words she’d never thought to hear from him.
“I’m glad my son has you in his life, Mlle. Dupain-Cheng. You’ve been a positive influence on him despite any feelings I’ve had in the past about you. You actually remind me a little of his mother. She was also a kind soul who seemed too good for this world. I hope my son realizes what a treasure you are.”
His posture spoke of his discomfort, but the soft smile he sent her had her smiling in return.
“Thank you, Mon. Agreste. I’m lucky to have a friend like Adrien. You’ve raised one of the kindest guys I’ve ever met. You should be proud of him and all he’s done so far.”
Gabriel nodded, then excused himself as he slipped through the crowd.
The way he disappeared, Marinette almost wondered if she’d seen him in the first place.
Her quiet musings are soon interrupted when a pair of arms come around her and swing her in a circle.
“Did you see that, Mari? I can’t believe I won.”
She giggled as he swung her around once more, begging him to put her down.
“I never doubted you for a second, Adrien. I have it on video if you want proof.”
“You’re too good to me.”
She doubted that, but she wouldn’t refuse a compliment from her favorite person aside from Alya.
“Come on. Maman promised you some sweets if you won. I’d say you earned them.”
They started walking away from the school toward the bakery in companionable silence. They had almost made it the bakery door when Adrien stopped her.
“Hey, Mari, tell me if I’m crazy, but did I see you talking to my father?”
“Yeah, he came to watch your match.”
“How did that happen? I asked him weeks ago, but he’d said he was too busy like always.”
She didn’t miss the note of sadness and resentment when he spoke, causing her hand to reach out for his. She hated when he doubted his worth where his father was concerned, but she couldn’t solve the problems the Agreste men had without them giving some ground themselves.
“Maybe,” she said, sending him a wink, “you didn’t give him the right incentive.”
He gaped at her. It took him several seconds to come up with something in response to her teasing remark. When he did, he had her giggling, shaking her head as she walked into the warm and homey bakery.
“Teach me your ways, sensei.”
“In due time, young grasshopper.”
He pulled her into a tight hug, his face nestling into the hollow between her shoulder and her neck. He kept his face hidden as his emotions threatened to overwhelm him.
“Adrien?”
After a moment to ensure his voice wouldn’t betray him, he whispered, “Thank you, Mari. Thank you for getting my father to come to my match. It means everything to me.”
“I know,” she whispered back, holding him until he felt in control again. When he pulled away, she smiled up at him and said, “Now, let’s grab some snacks and queue up the video I shot today. I think you’ll find my recording skills are quite impressive.”
With that, they spent the rest of the afternoon together, enjoying their time together as friends until the time for Adrien to leave came.
Before he left, he turned to Marinette and declared, “You’re my best friend, Mari. Just don’t tell Nino.”
“You’re mine, too, Adrien.”