Part 3: Just keep intimidating
"Do you have any idea how lonely Adrien gets, Mr Agreste?" Marinette blurted out.
Gabriel Agreste blinked at the abrupt change of subject. "I'm sorry?"
"You'd better be. He spends most of his time shut up in this house, not allowed to leave except for school and classes. I get that you want to protect him, but all too often you cross the line between keeping him safe and keeping him a prisoner. He hardly ever complains because he's used to it, it's his norm; but that doesn't mean it's right or best for him. People need social interaction, sir. He hates being so isolated; you may not mean to, but you hurt him so much by doing that to him."
"He told you this?"
"He doesn't have to. We can all see it a mile off. Which makes me wonder why you can't." Marinette paused. "No, actually I know why you can't. Because while you keep him physically close, you keep him emotionally distant. You don't give him any quality time, or make him feel like he can approach you. I understand that you're a busy man, but surely you can spare some time to spend with him, instead of always palming him off on your staff. It would make him feel so much better to at least know you're trying. Instead there's this massive wall between you and it's growing bigger every day. And wrapping him in cotton wool isn't the answer. You know what happens to people when they're wrapped in too much cotton wool, Mr Agreste? They suffocate."
There was a long, long silence once she finally stopped talking, wondering if she had completely blown it. Mr Agreste was still staring at her, no recognisable reaction on his face except extreme surprise.
Finally he broke eye contact, removing his glasses and polishing them. "I see you care deeply for my son," he finally said, quite quietly.
"Yes, I do."
"Hmm. Most of his fans desire him because he's handsome and famous." He replaced his glasses and looked back at Marinette. "But not you."
"I'd love him just as much if no-one had heard of him and he had a face like a gorilla's butt."
Mr Agreste's mouth twitched. "So I assume your intentions towards him are of the … more long-term variety."
"The forever kind of long-term," she agreed. "The 'till death do us part' kind of long-term." For a moment she thought something weird flickered in Mr Agreste's eyes at the 'death do us part' bit, but a second later she was sure she had imagined it. "The 'married with three kids and a hamster' kind of long term."
"I see. And what do you imagine Adrien would be doing, other than helping you look after three kids and a hamster?"
"Whatever makes him happy. Whether that's modelling, or his music, or tap dancing in the street." Marinette tried not to giggle as she remembered him actually doing that as Cat Noir. "I'm sure you have your own grand ideas about what Adrien should do with his life, sir, but he's his own person who deserves to make his own decisions. Even if you think they're the wrong ones. Maybe I don't meet your high standards; maybe none of his friends do. But we all love Adrien and want what's best for him."
Silence fell for a long moment as he gazed at her thoughtfully. "Tell me, does Adrien share your very specific vision of your future?"
"Well, I don't know if he wants the same number of kids and a hamster, but I know he wants to spent the future with me. We should probably work out the details after we've been a couple for more than a few hours."
