Runaway 🌑 (A Miraculous Ladybug Fanfiction)

Chapter 3 | Impressionist Paintings of Heaven

Adrien stepped inside his empty home. Not physically, at least. No, there was always someone here, be it his father, Nathalie, the kitchen staff, or anyone who dared to work for Gabriel Agreste.

After Adrien's mother died, his home became emotionally empty.

The model knocked three times on his father's door. "Father, may I speak with you?"

There was a quiet pause, then, "Come in, Adrien." As the door opened and his son stepped through, Gabriel looked over and said, "You should be in bed. What do you want to talk about this late?"

Adrien closed the door, his hand gripped tight around the handle. "I'm confused about something, Father, and I'd like you to clear it up for me."

"And what is that, son?"

The blonde let go of the handle and turned towards his father. "Why are you..." He didn't know how to correctly phrase the question. "Why are you being nice?"

"Excuse me?" Gabriel asked, confused.

"To Marinette, I mean," He corrected.

"She was my guest tonight. Did you expect me to treat her coldly, son? ""

"You've always had a different opinion about Marinette," Adrien reminded his father. "Yes, you agree she's talented, but when I wanted to invite her over plenty of times before, you always told me no. That she was just 'another parasite trying to take advantage of my status and wealth'."

Gabriel's shoulders stiffened. He raised his hand up to rub his forehead and sighed. "I admit... I had a different mindset with Miss Dupain-Cheng before, but... but seeing you both tonight at dinner, the way you look at her, the way your eyes light up when she's brought up... like right now... you remind me of myself when I first started falling in love with your mother."

His mouth fell open and he looked away from his father, ashamed. "Oh! I—"

"I know I haven't always been supportive, son, and a tad distant, but I plan on changing that." He stepped away from his computer and across the room towards his son, resting a gentle hand on his shoulder. "You're growing up so fast, Adrien, almost an adult. Next year you start your last year of high school, and a year after that you'll be doing something completely different with your life. I realize our relationship has been rocky—solely on my part, of course—and I want... need... to fix that. Do you think that's something that could be possible?"

The model stared up at his father as a hopeful smile grew across his face. He couldn't belie it. His father was trying to change! He took responsibility for being distant and acknowledging his mistakes.

His father wants to do better.

This was all Adrien ever wanted.

"Of course! Of course, Father!" Adrien cheered, nodding fast. He stepped forward and hugged his father, smiling into his chest. "I'd love nothing more than that."

Gabriel wrapped his arms around his son and squeezed him tight. For a second, Adrien remembered what a parent's life should feel like.

"You don't know how happy this makes me, Father."

His father smiled and took a step back. He looked down and said, "I do have to finish some paperwork for Miss Dupain-Cheng's contract now, son. How about tomorrow morning we go visit your aunt and cousin in London for breakfast?"