A Winter's Tale

Chapter 7- Advice

Adrien gulped as the giant man stared at him, arms crossed. The blonde mentally cursed himself. How did he allow himself to forget that Marinette's parents were also in the kitchen?

'Stupid,' he thought. 'You are stupid. He is going to kill you.' Adrien shook his head. He could already hear Kim and all his guy friends at school making fun of him for attempting to make a move on Marinette in front of her parents. How dumb was he? 'Apparently a lot,' he thought again.

But give him a break. It wasn't that he wasn't trying to control himself, he really was, but his emotions seemed to grow in the past hour. It was becoming really hard for him not to express himself. Especially as it was the first time that Marinette was by his side without the interruption or constant teasing of others.

Adrien sighed. He was sure he would be shipped off to China with his cold father first thing in the morning or even worse. Mr. Dupain Cheng would likely murder and bake him into a pile of Agreste cookies.

Would Marinette miss him? 

"Is there something you want to tell me, son?" Tom spoke gently. "Do you have feelings for m daughter?"

'Wait, son? Is he not mad at me?' Adrien thought. 'Of course, he is stupid! You made a move on his daughter in front of him. AGAIN!'

"I-I," the model hesitated.

Adrien looked around the room in search of Marinette. The last thing he wanted was to be overheard by the bluenette. Yet, at the same time, the blonde boy didn't know what to say. Did he like the designer? Absolutely! Without a doubt! Yes! Adrien couldn't deny that any longer. But did he have a right to like her? Probably not.

Tom lifted his left eyebrow, signaling he was still waiting for an answer.

Adrien gulped again. "I- No- Yes- I don't know, it's complicated," Adrien stammered nervously.

Tom hummed questionably at the blonde's response. "No, yes, you don't know, it's complicated," tom repeated almost in a question. "Well, it can't be all, can it?" Tom asked, leading Adrien outside the kitchen and towards a diner table. He had a feeling Adrien was just nervous. Maybe he could respond if Marinette wasn't around.

"Look, son, I am not angry at you. In fact, if I am being honest, you are one of the few young men I would be okay with dating my daughter, as long as I am made aware, of course," Tom stated, giving Adrien an encouraging smile.

"So, as I am being honest with you, I would like you to be honest with me."

Adrien nodded understandingly. He could be honest. Mr. Dupain Cheng was not asking for much. Any man would be worried about his daughter. 

"I like you, Adrien. I know you are a brilliant and respectful young man, but as you are probably well aware, I am a very protective father," Tom continued, his voice going from playful to serious. "I want was best for my daughter, and I do not allow anything less. Therefore, I will ask again, do you have feelings for my daughter?"

Adrien gulped nervously but soon found himself sitting up straight. For some reason, Tom's words made him feel like he needed to act like a real man. He was not a boy anymore, he was a young man. Adrien wanted to prove he was a man and one worthy of his daughter.

"I do," he responded with a nod. "Verry much, sir."

Tom nodded. "For how long?"

"A while," Adrien responded almost in a whisper.

"Then why now?"

"It's complicated," Adrien responded truthfully.

Tom lifted a brow, "how so?"