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Adrien’s heart thumps nervously as he waits inside his father’s office. He had been instructed to do so until the man’s arrival, which will seemingly be quite untimely.
Whatever could his father want to speak about?
The last photoshoot he had worked went well, with no mistakes that he could tell. His university teachers had spoken highly of him to his father, saying that he is doing well and getting satisfactory marks. Robert, his bodyguard, also told his father of how politely he regarded the press. They had been pests, hungering for the truth of the latest rumor, that of which jumps on the chance to ruin his sterling reputation.
He cannot think of anything reprimand-worthy that requires his presence in his father’s office. And he can't help but assume that he is here to be reprimanded on something; that is what normally happens in these meetings.
Fortunately, he does not have to worry about these thoughts for much longer because his father walks through the door.
Standing with poise and showing no emotion, he clears his throat.
“Take a seat, Adrien.”
Without needing to be told twice, Adrien takes a seat. He places his hands under his thighs, a futile attempt to keep them from fidgeting. His father does not appreciate any display of weakness.
“I have called you here today because the time has come for you to get married.”
He hopes that his eyes do not look as though they are bulging out of his head, for his father’s sake; the nobleman had been preparing for this moment for years. Adrien knows that he should not be shocked, yet his façade is crumbling to pieces because he is .
This was not meant to happen for another two years. Why right now?
His father pays no mind to his panicked expression, however, and continues.
“You will marry a woman of my choosing. I have already chosen her, in fact. She is of high prestige in the modeling industry, very beautiful and kind, and will do well to your reputation. You are due to marry her in the next month. Preparations will begin tomorrow.”
Adrien’s head feels as though it is spinning. So much information in such little time.
“I will not court her?”
“No. It is just a simple marriage, Adrien. I fail to see what you do not understand about this arrangement.”
His father purses his lips in frustration, and Adrien bites his lip. It’s all he can do to stop himself from trembling under his father’s gaze.
“My apologies. I understand, father.”
“Very well then. Her name is Lila Rossi. Dress well for your meeting tomorrow morning.”
“Father, I—“
“You are dismissed.”
When Adrien returns to his own room, a sigh escapes his lips.
If only he was already courting a respectable young lady, one that his father would approve of. Maybe then, he would not turn out to be a disappointment.
He didn’t expect to see anyone new at the party.
To be quite frank, he had rarely seen a new face at one of these events in years. All of the same people normally attend, yet he is still expected to regard them all as if he is just meeting them for the first time.
This time, however, a new guest is expected to arrive soon. It is a recently emerged super-heroine, one who wears red and black, and keeps her hair in pigtails. She is meant to attend this affair tonight to speak of her new strategies going forward.
Adrien had heard of her name, her status, and the work she does for Paris, but he had been too busy fulfilling his own tasks to concern himself with her. Apparently, she fights off the Akuma regularly, and is an advocate against all types of crime.
From what he has heard, she is a very respectable young woman.
“Ah, Ladybug. What a pleasure to have you here with us tonight,” he hears one of the guests say.
Adrien turns and finds what, or rather who, he anticipates.
A young woman about his age stands before him, shaking hands with another lady whom he has conversed with plenty of times. Her smile is blinding, teeth white and straight. Her hair is decorated in her signature pigtails, and her suit is red with black spots as always. She giggles at something the lady says, and he would be lying if he denied the slight upward curve of his lips. He cannot bring himself to care.
She is absolutely alluring. From her appearance to the small slice of personality he has seen, Ladybug is a wonder, and someone he would very much like to get to know.
He didn’t expect to meet anyone new at the party.
Thank the gods that there is a beautiful woman he can introduce himself to. Despite the anxiety making itself present in his chest, he is excited as he approaches the lady.
“Ladybug, how art thou?” he greets, bowing his head in respect.
“Greetings. I am doing well. Your name is Adrien Agreste, correct?”
“You are right, m’lady. I do not see the need to use an alias,” he dares, cheekily.
Her blue eyes twinkle in amusement, and her smile widens.
“What an introduction, M. Agreste. I presume your father to be the reason you are attending tonight?”
Ah, yes. His father.
Gabriel Agreste is a renowned fashion designer, one who has scaled to the top of the fashion industry in his ten years of hard work. He is a household name, and by extension, Adrien is as well. Gabriel had decided at Adrien’s young age that he would follow in his father’s footsteps, but as a model rather than a designer. (His reasons for this are purely selfish, Adrien is sure, because he does not want anyone to out-succeed him in any manner).
With a sarcastic smile, he replies.
“Of course. He has me present at all events, to keep up the brand’s appearance. Nothing I do is of my own free will, unfortunately.”
Why, he is being very tongue-in-cheek with this woman, and he isn’t as worried about this choice as he really should be. Any mistake he makes reflects poorly on his father and the Agreste name. He should really be more careful with his words and the intonation of his voice.
Although, he simply cannot bring himself to care. Ladybug doesn’t seem to care one bit as she laughs, hiding her open mouth behind her hand.
She shouldn’t cover up that gorgeous smile.
Before the rest of his confidence runs thin, he offers his arm to her.
“Let us explore the gardens. It’s getting quite stuffy in here.”
“You don’t say,” she says, placing her hands onto his arm.
From there, he guides her outside and into the sun. They walk the gardens until dusk, talking about everything and nothing all the same.
He is in love with her, through and through.
His father’s disdain worries Ladybug, more than it has any other woman.
There is no way that he will marry another, she decides.
She asks for her maid’s help in arranging their marriage, the next day, just to ensure that Gabriel doesn’t make any additional attempts to weigh Adrien down, living a life he doesn’t want with a woman he doesn’t love.
He hopes it works.
Adrien does not see Ladybug for another two days, until an Akuma attacks his mansion.
His usual response to an attack occurring so close to him is to cower in fear, and hide away until the danger is gone. But he loves the super-heroine standing before him, ready to fight for him, so he can’t really just stand back and be useless.
“Adrien, you should not be interfering!” Ladybug yells through gritted teeth from across the large room.
He is currently standing en garde with his mother’s old fencing sword held above his head, ready to strike.
“I will do as I please.”
“You will hurt yourself.”
“To protect you, I will do anything.”
“It is my job to protect you, Adrien Agreste. Now stand back and let me defeat this Akuma on my own terms!”
He does not, in fact, stand back.
“You have played me for a fool, Adrien. Instead of following my commands, you decided to be incompetent and frolic with a commoner.”
“She is a super-heroine, father—“
“I do not care if she is a servant to the prince or a princess herself! Getting involved in such a fight was irrational and negligent, especially if it was meant to impress her. Dangers like that are what cost us, Adrien. And over a woman?” Gabriel shakes his head, a scowl evident on his face. “You are a disgrace to the Agreste name, and I do not wish to see you here any longer.”
An arrow through the heart.
His mouth is dry as he stares at his father incredulously.
“But father, I was trying to help her save Paris —“
“Inform Ladybug that she is forbidden to be seen with you, or I will have her banished.”
“I… What?” He whispers.
He lacks words to describe the pain in his chest, or the way his eyes well up with tears he knows that he is not allowed to produce (show no weakness, or else no one will respect you and you will end up all alone), or the thought of having to tell the woman he loves that his father punishes him in too harsh of a way, where his very freedom is threatened. She will not take well to that, he knows. Ladybug is determined in ways he wishes he were, and sometimes it can be too much for him to understand; she will grab him by the arms and take him to god knows where, as long as he’s safe.
She wants him to be safe, he knows. He wants her to be safe, as well.
Neither of them are safe here.
Ladybug appears on his balcony that night.
At the sight of tear streaks on his cheeks, it takes her no time to bring him into her arms and offer words of comfort.
He tells her about his father’s reprimand, and she forms a plan so quickly it makes his head spin.
That night, two forbidden lovers write letters to their families, explaining their decision. They pack their belongings and wait until midnight.
“Monsieur Agreste, your son is nowhere to be found. But I did happen to stumble upon this letter in his room.”
Gabriel’s eyebrows are taut as he reads the words on the page, written in his son’s signature (quite sloppy, he notes). Every word he reads only upsurges his worry.
“Dear Father,
I have only been a disappointment to you, and cannot see this changing at any point in the near future. However, at the slight chance that my mind changes, I apologize for my incompetence.
You no longer have to worry. Ladybug is not a threat, not anymore. She has taken her own life, father, and it has cut me deeply. I ask that you give me time to grieve before resuming my arranged marriage, if I am still alive and well— and I very well might not be.
Please know that I have been considering my role in this household, and in this family. I have been since Mother died. I have not been happy, and I am unsure of whether I will be able to continue living this life.
If I am not here by the time you receive this letter, presume my suicide.
Despite everything you have put me through, I love you very much. I hope that you begin to see life in a different light.
I am deeply sorry that it had to end this way.
Goodbye,
Adrien.”
He hopes that no one hears his cry of defeat.
Adrien and Ladybug set off into the night, hearts beating wildly in their chests.
This was the most rebellious thing they have ever done, and neither regrets it one bit.
They get to be with one another, and get away from noble responsibilities and strict parental guidelines.
Distantly, Adrien wonders how his father took his letter. He wonders if his “death” will be a turning point in Gabriel’s life; maybe he will understand the damage done, and change his ways. Or maybe he will not.
Ladybug loves to remind Adrien that he is bigger than the way his father treated him. She reminds him that he is more than enough, despite what Gabriel believes.
He is more than grateful for her love, her encouragement, and her support.
Running hand in hand with the woman of his dreams, he's overcome with an immense feeling of hope.
As he navigates through the forest, he looks at the setting sun, its light peeking between the trees. In them, he can see the beginning of a new life.
Never before has he felt so free.