Secrets Worth Keeping (Miraculous Ladybug Identity Reveal Story)

Mr.Agreste

          Adrien gently brushed the soft dust off his mother's picture frame. He had no idea how it got dusty, as he picked it up every day to stare at it, but he supposed that sitting on his bedside table all the time may have helped in the process. Sighing, he stared into the eyes of his mother. She seemed to look back at him with her gentle army-green eyes, as if saying, 'I'm still here, Adrien. I love you.'  At least, that's what Adrien liked to think. He sat the picture back down with care, then proceeded to walk to the bathroom. He took a short shower, then he started putting on some clothes. Not much longer after he had pulled up his pants, Nathalie knocked on his door.

          "Adrien, your father would like to speak with you in his office," she informed him from the other side of the door.

          "Tell him I'll be right there!" he quickly responded, grabbing his comb.

          He heard the clanking of Nathalie's heels as she walked down the hall, towards his father's office, he figured. He combed his hair into it's normal style as he started to blow-dry it. Once he finished, he slipped on his shoes and jogged down the hall, slowing down as he neared the door of his office. He knocked on the door, which was already ajar.

          "Come in," he heard from the other side.

          Adrien opened the door fully. He stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. He looked not at his father, but at the beautiful painting of his mother that hung above his head. His gaze slowly traveled down the painting, where he saw his father's stern eyes staring at him. Gabriel looked at a chair in front of his desk, then back at Adrien. Adrien sat down quickly, not wanting to get on his father's bad side.

          "Adrien," his father started, "I have noticed you have been absent from class a lot lately. May I remind you of our agreement? I allowed you to go to school, yet it seems as if you don't want to stay there."

          "Father--"

          "If you can't stop being late or absent from class, I'm going to have to bring you back home for your studies. I can't let you dishonor the Agreste name like this."

          "Father, I have good reason for being late and absent. And it's not like anyone notices, they just think I was at another modeling shoot!"

          "But that's the thing, Adrien, you weren't. I can't have you lie to me and your teachers. At the very least, I'm going to have to ground you. No more spending time with your friends after school, understand?"

          "F-for how long, father?" Adrien stuttered, his fingers tapping his knee.

          "For however long I want. It could be a month, or it could be until you die for all I care. These friends of yours are obviously a bad influence."

          "No they're not father! My friends are amazing! I just want to have a little fun with them . . . I promise I won't be late anymore, father! I swear it!"

          "Adrien, you're almost 16. You've had your fun. It's time to start acting like an adult."

          "But father, I--"

          "But nothing. You are too much like your mother. You are going to behave, and you are going to be grateful that I'm still letting you attend a public school."

          Adrien was on the brink of tears. But he wouldn't cry; not yet at least. Not in front of his father. He wouldn't give him the satisfaction. "Father . . . please . . . please let me see my friends! My behavior will improve!" he plead.