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1. Chloé Bourgeois
Chloé Bourgeois did not care for her classmates. She didn't care for their habits, she didn't care for what they like or dislike, and most of all, she did not care for what they thought about her. She did, however, care when it came to involve her Adrikins.
"What do you want, Baker girl?" She hisses out, slamming the locker door beside the noirette. The other didn't even flinch from the sound, only looking up into her eyes and smiling. "I saw your eyes trailing my Adrikins! Don't think you're so sneaky." Dupain-Cheng doesn't respond to her threat, merely turning to her and sending her yet another smile that crawled up her spine.
"What do you mean, Chloé? My eyes are always following Adrien," she said.
"Don't get smart with me." The blonde snapped. "What the hell do you want with Adrikins." She lifted a finger and stabbed Dupain-Cheng in the chest. Dupain-Cheng paused for a moment, seemingly looking as if she was deep in thought. Chloé glowered. "Spit it out-"
"I want to date Adrien."
'Oooohs' crossed through the air of the locker room and it's only then she realizes that none of the girls had actually left. She lets out a huff. Don't they know not to interrupt an important conversation?!
"Old news, Baker girl. And guess what, you'll never be able to date my Adrikins."
"Hey, you don't know that for sure, Chloé!" Dupain-Cheng's friend − ugh, the stupid ladyblogger − intervened. "My girl is amazing! Sunshine just needs to open his eyes and see her." Chloé scoffed, rolling her eyes as she stared at her nails. She needs to get a manicure. Perhaps she'll ask Adrikins to come with her.
"So let me court him, Chloé."
"Excuse moi?!"
Dupain-Cheng, the fucking nerve of this girl, simply just smiled. The girls weren't even trying to listen from a distance. They sat in the front row of the benches, staring at the duo in front of them. Césaire loudly whooping in encouragement, Haprèle and Lavillant cooing as they clasped hands with the other, and Couffaine and Kubdel smiling with pride. Even Sabrina was sitting with them!
Chloé barks out a laugh. "Hah-! You? Court him?" She sneered. "You can barely speak a word with him!"
"Then I'll change," Dupain-Cheng said cheerily. "I'll speak with him without stuttering! I know how to do that now."
She grits her teeth. Seriously, what the fuck is the deal with Dupain-Cheng today?! She huffed once more, crossing her arms and promptly turned her nose up. "What makes you think I would ever let some lowlife like you court someone like Adrikins?"
"Because you care." She said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "You care for him, and you'll do whatever to make him happy because he's your childhood best friend."
She... wasn't wrong.
"What makes you think you can make him happy, huh?"
"Uh, because I love him and I would never hurt him intentionally?" Dupain-Cheng tilted her head. "Obviously, I'm not going to force him to love me. I've stopped putting him on a pedestal days ago, so I'm going to court him as his friend-who-intends-to-be-his-girlfriend." She vaguely hears Césaire ask 'girl?! when did that happen?! and why have you never told me about this!'.
Chloé was slightly bemused. So the ladyblogger wasn't told anything?
Chloé stared her up and down, a last, feeble attempt to gauge Dupain-Cheng's true intentions. She blows out a breath, flipping her hair and pushing past the noirette. "Come on, Sabrina! We're going!" She doesn't take in pleasure the way the ginger jumped and hastily grabbed her things.
"C-Coming Chloé!"
She walked to the door with no disturbance until Dupain-Cheng opened her stupid, little mouth again.
"So? What's your answer, Chloé?" When she turned, the noirette wasn't smiling. A nervous, but firm expression met her. Chloé scanned her face before turning her back to Dupain-Cheng and opened the door. She paused in her step, and for once in her life, thought of her final sentence.
"Break his heart and I'll break you, Dupain-Cheng."
Chloé Bourgeois doesn't stay long enough to care about the havoc in the locker room.
2. Nathalie Sancouer
Nathalie Sancouer was not getting paid enough to deal with more kids than her boss's wife's son.
She reads the email one more time, pushing her glasses up her nose every few seconds. Before long, she took it off and pinched the bridge of her nose, letting out a deep sigh. Adrien has made some rather interesting, for the lack of better words, friends ever since he entered public school.
So how exactly is she going to deal with this girl who wants a meeting with her boss about courting said boss's son?
On one hand, Mademoiselle Dupain-Cheng was an incredibly talented girl with an even more talented spread of designs in her portfolio. She was a familiar face and Gabriel actually liked her presence quite a bit. At least, it was better than that bespectacled boy's presence.
But on the other hand, this is Gabriel Agreste she wanted to schedule a meeting with. Said meeting was about courting said man's son.
Nathalie pursed her lips.
Had it been her, she would have allowed the two to meet. However, again because she has to emphasize this, this was Gabriel Agreste, who also shadowed as Hawkmoth in his free time and notoriously known for being overprotective over his son.
The answer was obvious.
Nathalie felt sorry, but she did what she had to do and typed up a quick and formal apology to the young lady.
That wouldn't be the last email she'll see from her though.
In the course of 2 weeks, Nathalie wondered how exactly she started to converse with Mademoiselle Dupain-Cheng with their respective crushes on the Agrestes(technically an Graham de Vanily, but she did marry into the Agreste family).
The email came quickly after her refusal, asking for any time that Monsieur Agreste was free to talk.
It was short and formal, but written in a way that even Nathalie could sense the slight discontentment.
She really couldn't help herself by writing a follow-up email, asking for the young girl's time instead of her actively seeking out Monsieur Agreste. It was a decision that was seemingly preposterous for someone as uptight as her.
Still Nathalie found herself smiling as she could practically feel the gratitude of Mademoiselle Dupain-Cheng shining through her email.
It was surprising just how quickly she felt her guards lowering as she continued to email the young lady. It was to the point where even Monsieur Agreste had to intervene and wonder what was up with her and her phone. (She was acting as Mayura while he was Hawkmoth too! How could a single girl capture all her attention? And so much that Nathalie had began to wonder if Emilie would have wanted this?)
Of course, she cleverly diverted the attention away and changed the topic immediately.
But by then, Nathalie already knew what the right choice was.
To Mademoiselle Dupain-Cheng,
I believe Monsieur Agreste will be available at 3 P.M. next Saturday and Adrien Agreste will be attending a photoshoot session at this time. Would you like to set an appointment at this time with him?
Nathalie Sancouer
With a single click, Nathalie watched contently as the email sent, leaning back into her soft chair. I'll have to tell the chefs to prepare some snacks for Marinette. The smile never left her face for the rest of the day.
Nathalie may not be getting paid enough to deal with any of her boss's wife's son's friends, but for one Marinette Dupain-Cheng, she makes an exception.
3. Placide I.T. | Gorilla
Though he was usually in the background, he still noticed the changes between his young master and kind girl with pigtails.
Placide, though most called him Gorilla for the sake of simplicity, waited in the car for Adrien to come out of school. He never expected the quiet little girl that knocked on his car window. It took a moment, deciding through the pros and cons before he rolled down the window with a small grunt. He raised an eyebrow.
The young lady sheepishly smiled. "Hi!" She gave a small wave, and an even more awkward smile. Gorilla nodded his head once. "I'm Marinette Dupain-Cheng, um- a friend of Adrien! I just wanted to give this to you." She raised a small brown paper bag with a familiar bakery logo in the front. "He looked really tired in class today and I knew he had a photoshoot after school so I asked my Maman to get me a coffee and some pastries." She raised a hand to her mouth like she was about to say a secret. "There's also a croissant for you but it's just plain because I didn't know what you liked."
Gorilla paused for a moment before grunting appreciatively and accepting the bag. He peered down into the bag before looking up at her.
The noirette beamed. "No problem-"
"Bye Nino! I've got to go now. Gorilla's waiting for me!" It was rather amusing to see the way her cheeks flared up with red, her freckles becoming more and more prominent.
"E-Eep!" She squeaked out. She shot a quick and apologetic look towards him. "You'rewelcomeI'mgoingnowbye! Have a nice day!"
It was a miracle she was able to dart away before Adrien slipped in.
"Good afternoon, Gorilla," he said as he buckled himself in. Adrien looked up from his lap and his eyes widened and sparkled at the same time. "Are those pastries from Marinette's parents' bakery?" He questioned. Gorilla noted the way he could barely contain himself.
He grunted once, plucking his croissant from the bag before offering the rest to his young master.
His heart warmed when the boy replied with his naturally bright smile. A smile bright enough to erase all the tiredness and fatigue Gorilla had seen in the blond's body.
"Thanks, Gorilla! Did Marinette bring this to you or did you buy this?"
Gorilla gave a noncommittal grunt before starting the car and driving to their destination. This little exchange between him and Mademoiselle Dupain-Cheng will fortunately just stay between the two of them.
It doesn't really happen on a daily basis, only on days when Adrien was going to be the most busy. While he didn't quite understand just how her predictions could be so accurate, he was never one to turn away the warm cup of coffee, the variety of pastries, and the singular plain croissant in the bag.
Adrien questioned it once - why he stuck to eating a plain croissant when his favorite had actually been sweet cinnamon rolls that the bakery had to offer - and Gorilla found himself smiling. Adrien pestered him a little longer, clearly intrigued by the response and even more curious about the answer.
He doesn't answer. Adrien still stares at him through the corner of his green eyes whenever he bites into the croissant.
He doesn't answer Adrien's question, but he'd answered some of his own.
The next time Marinette comes along to bring the snacks, Gorilla has a note ready for her.
"What's this?" She asks, exchanging the paper bag with his note. She read it once, scanning through the words. A small gasp escaped her mouth. "A-Are you sure?"
Gorilla has never been more sure of anything, so he nods.
And slightly panics when he finds tears swelling up in the noirette's eyes.
"Thank- I- thank you." It's a bit of an overreaction if you'd asked him, but he doesn't doubt the sincerity in her voice. "I'll make sure to let him know just how truly loved he is. Thank you for giving me this chance!"
It's too formal. Too unlike Marinette.
So he grunts out, "If it's you, I don't need to worry."
Marinette's eyes widened at the sound of his voice. Gorilla only stares back at her with a small smile adorning his usually-stoic face. Finally, finally, she relaxes her shoulders, flashing him a small, but grateful smile.
They bid farewell when Adrien walks up to the car, seemingly just parting from his DJ friend.
Once more, Gorilla doesn't answer Adrien's question on why he was in such a good mood today. Instead, he hums, turns around, and eyed him up and down, before nodding and letting out an appreciative sound. The blond raises an eyebrow at the uncharacteristic actions, but simply moves on to his food.
Adrien Agreste is a good fit for Marinette Dupain-Cheng.
4. Gabriel Agreste
"What makes you think you're a good fit for my son?"
Garbriel has always been a cold man. From his resting frown, his glaring gaze, his strict posture, to his harsh demeanor; he had always had the poise of an untouchable man.
Yet there was a girl in front of him that did not cower: Marinette Dupain-Cheng.
It was rather impressive to see the amount of influence the young girl had over his workers. Placide had, apparently, offered to drive her over and opened every single door for the young girl. Even more surprisingly, Nathalie had also greeted her at the front door, offering snacks before the meeting.
But the young girl was rather outstanding herself.
She stood face-to-face(well, technically face-to-chest if you take in account their height difference) with him, staring up with a placid smile yet a completely blank face. Fearless was the word he'd use to describe the short girl in front of him.
Gabriel flickered his eyes across her appearance. She was dressed up nicely, not so formal yet not so casual either. He couldn't see the name of the brand of clothes she was wearing however. It would be nice for her to introduce him to the designer if possible. His eyes flickered over to the clock. Right on the dot... Alright, one hour go.
He clasped his hands together, lowering a stare upon the young lady as he took his seat. "So, why did you set up an appointment with me, Adrien's friend?"
He watched as she took a deep breath before matching his stare with a gaze just as determined. "I would like to ask you for permission," she said, "to date your son."
If this was like any of the animes Adrien watched in his free time, Gabriel was sure his glasses would have broken and he would have turned into a pale white statue. "Pardon me." His eyes narrowed in. He could practically feel himself getting annoyed at the topic of this conversation. "I believe you've misspoke."
Usually, people would change their mind at this point, change the discussion topic into something else. Not Marinette Dupain-Cheng though.
She smiled like she anticipated this. "I know you're protective of your son, Monsieur Agreste, which is why I'd like for your permission to date him."
"Why did you assume that I would ever accept this proposal?"
She shook her head. "I know not to make any more assumptions, Monsieur, but I would just like to tell you that, despite how different we are, I know I love Adrien and I care for him, just like you. I want to do anything in my power to make him happy."
Can you bring his mother back? was what Gabriel almost said, but he paused. Will he be happy after knowing all that I've done to Paris, just to give him his mother back? Gabriel knew his son, despite what anyone thinks, he knew him.
His son, while he had been depressed from the mentions of his missing mother, was healing his inner child with the presence of his friends. Gabriel knew Adrien was healing, and knew that he, himself, was the only one left in the past.
Gabriel shook his head. No. Stop thinking about that. He would be happier with Émilie by his side. He thought, so he tried to sway her once more.
"If I remember correctly... you were a designer, are you not?" He smirks to himself when she stiffens and nods while staring at him with a suspicious look in her eyes. "How can you prove that you are not just using Adrien to elevate-" Gabriel barely notices the incredulous(and offended?) expression on Nathalie's face.
"Sire-" A loud, loud, slam interrupted both Nathalie and Gabriel.
"The fact that you would even suggest that is an insult to my pride!" Mademoiselle Dupain-Cheng - no - Marinette growls. She had been seated before but now she was on her feet, an enraged expression on her face. "The fact that you think I would ever take advantage of Adrien like that sickens me!" Gabriel's eyes widened when he saw that her fists were clenched and pushing into the desk. "Furthermore, it is offensive of you to think I can't make my own connections, make my work famous, and be successful without hanging on to him like some kind of roach!" He is also sure that the previous sentence was directed towards a certain someone. "I'll tell you that I am perfectly capable of surviving in the harsh world that is designing! I love Adrien for him, not the fame that follows him around!"
The silence is loud after her outburst. Her pants fill the room. Both Nathalie and he were stunned by the rant.
It was simply a spectacular explosion of emotions, and for his son nonetheless.
Mademoiselle Marinette heaves and huffs, before she turned extremely red. "A-ah! M-Monsieur Agreste- I- I didn't-" She stopped herself there. She took a deep breath and said, "I meant what I said, Monsieur Agreste, but I don't mean to offend you." The nervousness that wracked the girl's body a few moments earlier was gone again, replaced with the fearless lady. It was only then he realized the name that marked the back of her collar of the very shirt he had mentally praised.
Gabriel felt himself holding back a smile.
Alright then, he concede.
His eyes dropped back down to his paper, just after glancing at the clock. Plenty of time left.
"Two conditions," he said, watching from the corner of his eyes as the young girl's ears and eyes perked up. "One, I expect that you court him properly. No coercing him into dating you." He tries not to wince at her affronted expression. "And two, I expect you to come over at least once every two weeks." He looked up. "No matter if you win his heart or not, you will still need more experience to even stand a foot in the industry. How would you like to learn from me?"
There was a sharp intake of breath. She bit down on her bottom lip. "I won't take advantage of Adrien like that-"
"-because you are not," he interrupted before she went onto another rant. "I'm asking this because I recognize your skill. I believe that you would do wonderfully with more practice. And what better practice than hands-on?"
She hesitated before sighing. "Alright. I accept your two conditions."
"Wonderful." Gabriel stood as he stuck out his hand. She stretched out her hand and shook. "I believe we are done here?" He inquired as he dropped his hand.
The young lady pondered for a moment. "Actually, Monsieur Agreste? May I ask you for something?"
Gabriel raised his eyebrow, beckoning the other to speak. Her request was ridiculous, and her intentions for it even more so. Yet how could he turn the shy girl down, especially when this was the most anyone had ever done for his son?
He hides his smile when Nathalie brings a completely new copy to her and when Gorilla offers to drive her home. It was time he began to actually think about the future instead of reminiscing about the past.
("It's about time I've found something else to replace my time as Hawk Moth, isn't it?" Gabriel says as he watches Gorilla open the door for Mademoiselle Marinette. Nathalie only nods.
He ponders for a moment before glaring at his secretary. "You've known about this weeks ahead of time!" Which roughly translated to 'you've seen the potential of this girl and never told me about her'.
Nathalie merely smirks at him. "Why Monsieur Agreste," she said, using a title she rarely calls him, "I've thought you've realized." Which just so happens to roughly translate into 'it's not my fault you don't pay enough attention to Adrien's private life'.
He was already falling behind in getting the good graces of the young lady but he won't stay in last place for long. Gabriel scoffs. They had no idea who they were going up against.)
5. Émilie Agreste
"Do you think this is dumb, Tikki?" Marinette asks suddenly. The red Kwami looked up from her cookie and stared at her chosen. "I mean, I could just ask him out right now and do all this along the way. But instead, I'm doing this," she gestures to the DvD player and the disc in her hand. She had asked where she could buy a copy of "Solitude" but she'd never expected to be given a completely fresh copy from the Agreste library. "I know I've planned this but... it just seems dumb when you really think about it."
Tikki flew up into the air before darting down towards Marinette. Stubby little arms hugged her cheeks.
"It's strange, and maybe a little dumb." Tikki said as Marinette blushed. The latter opened her mouth to speak but Tikki shushed her quietly. "It's a weird way to court someone, I have never seen anyone do this." She was a little worried that her chosen was going to explode from embarrassment but she continued onward. "But I think it's very sweet that you would do this for him."
Marinette's blue eyes softened as she returned her gaze back to the DvD in her hands. "I just think it wasn't fair to him." When Tikki lets out a noise of confusion, Marinette explains, "he'd always confess his feelings to me, whether it's through words or actions... and I guess, I just want to repay him for all that he's ever done to me?" She said, like she wasn't too sure herself. "I wanted to do something for him."
"And you are, Marinette!" Tikki swooped in for another hug. "He may never find out, but this is a very sweet gesture!"
Marinette smiled. "You think?" Tikki nodded fervently. She giggled. "If you say so."
A deep breath later, she inputted the DvD into the player and waited for the movie to load.
When she saw a familiar blonde woman, Marinette smiled softly.
"Hi, Madame Agreste. My name is Marinette Dupain-Cheng, and I would like to date your son."
Extra: Plagg
Plagg was interrupted mid-yawn as Adrien called on his power. He mildly whined and cried out, before complete darkness befell upon him.
The little black Kwami grumbled mentally as he let himself drift.
And then his mindlessness was interrupted when he was called out of the ring.
"What the heck was that?" Plagg glowered as he came face-to-face with Adrien. "You called me on and then called me off!"
Once again, Adrien shrugged. "M'lady wanted to switch miraculouses during patrol to try and get used to each other. Who am I to refuse her?" Plagg grumbled lightly as he received the black ring. "See you later, Plagg." Adrien waved him goodbye.
Plagg flew upwards and over the wall that he knew had Pigtails on the other side.
"What's up, Sugarcube- what's with your face?" Plagg was momentarily startled by the smug look on red Kwami. He felt shivers running down his body as she spoke in a sugary sweet tone.
"Oh, it's nothing, Stinky sock." Tikki giggled as she flew above Adrien. "I just won our bet, that's all!" Then she disappeared down.
It didn't hit him until Pigtails had already slipped on the ring.
"Wait- you know?!" He pointed at the noirette with an incredulous expression. When Pigtails nods, he groans out, "Damnit! Sugarcube won!"
"What? What did Tikki win?" Pigtails asked, her head tilting to the side. Plagg grumbled.
"Nothing. Nothing you kids need to worry about." He could tell that she doesn't believe him with her scrutinizing eyes. "Now what do you really want? Cause I know for a fact this entire switcheroo is a ploy."
Pigtails chuckled. "You really do like to get straight to the point." When Plagg crosses his tiny arms, she laughed again. "Alright, alright, let me ask you properly." He tilted his head. "Hey Plagg, do you think you'll give me permission to date Chat Noir, and Adrien?"
Plagg grunted once more. "I don't see why not. The kid's already mooning all over you right now, I'd bet he'll be even more ecstatic knowing who you are under the mask and knowing that you love him back." When Pigtails smiles awkwardly, he groans, "No!"
"Sorry, Plagg, Master's orders."
"No! Nuh-uh, no way! You can't do this to me! I can't keep watching you guys pine after one another like dumb ducks-"
"Plagg, claws out!" He didn't finish his sentence when he got sucked right back into the ring.
The black Kwami pointedly ignored everything as he twirled around in the darkness.
When patrol was over, Pigtails gave him a sheepish smile and promised to make it up to him. Plagg had grumbled, but he reluctantly agreed to it in the end. His kitten deserved the best after all.
Adrien beamed up at Plagg as he returned with the ring. "Welcome back, Plagg! How was patrol with M'lady?" Plagg looked at him, squinting at the blond through his eyes. "Uh, Plagg?"
Plagg grumbled as he held his head in his hand. "Goddamn oblivious blind dense blond boys!" He screamed out.
Adrien only pouted at him, retorting with a small ' hey!'.
The Extra, Extra: Nino Lahiffe
Nino was just doing what he usually does, you know? Strolling down the streets of Paris as he ran an errand for his parents and listening to his own mix-tape through his headphones.
It was a normal and nice day.
Until it wasn't.
He did not let out a girly scream when he felt a hand grab him through the air and drag him into a dark alleyway. He did not, okay?!
"-my god, stop screaming-" a familiar voice said as they plucked off his headphones.
"I'll have you know that I am broke, and my friend is the rich one but I won't tell you where he is because I don't know where he is- Mari?!" Nino rambled before he squinted through his eyes. "Dudette!" He raised his hands, beaming at his childhood friend. Then he frowned. "What the hell, dudette! You scared the crap outta me! I thought I was getting mugged!"
Marinette looked at him with a deadpan expression on her face. "Honestly, it's your fault for blasting your music so loud, you can't hear your surroundings." She raised an eyebrow at the booming music that resonated out of the headphones.
He flustered. "W-Whatever man! What'd you want with me?" Nino asked instead.
Marinette seem to straighten at that. "Oh yeah! What do you think about me trying to court Adrien?"
"I think you might die of embarrassment before that." Nino retorted without much thinking. "Ow!" He winces when Marinette slaps his arm. "Christs, what are you lifting in the bakery?"
"Nevermind that! Do you think you'll let me date your best friend, Nino?"
Nino stared into Marinette's honest eyes before letting out a sigh as a smile graced his face. "Dudette, dudette, dudette," he trailed off. "Of course you can, Mari." Marinette grins at him.
"Thanks, okay, bye!" She said, smiling as she dashed off.
"Yeah, yeah, you're welcome!" Nino shouted after her. He put on his headphones.
Honestly, they should get together already.