Love by Design - Adrienette

Too Much to Camembert

There was something about Tom and Sabine that made Adrien feel like he could confide in them - secrets he hadn't spilled to anyone, or even fully admitted to himself. "I'm afraid of my dad," he told them rather suddenly. "I used to accept it, thinking that was just the way all parent-child relationships naturally were, but that changed when I started going to public school. Nearly everyone seems to have better family relationships than I do, and yours seems to be the best I've observed. You really love Marinette, it's obvious, and by comparison I feel like my father's tool. Prized tool, but - still a tool. He's willing to blow all sorts of money to maintain my needs, but I doubt if he actually loves me. What did I do to deserve this?"

Tom and Sabine felt their hearts go out to the boy. Keeping family connections strong was a pivotal point in their lives. To think that he didn't have that - in material wealth the Agreste family was rich, but how poor were they really?

"Adrien," Tom told the forlorn boy, "if you promise not to repeat it, I'll tell you a little secret." He waited for a nod before continuing, "I'm afraid of your father too."

Was that supposed to make Adrien feel better? He wasn't alone, and it was confirmation that his fear was rational if it was shared - but it was disturbing to think he needed to beware of his own father. "You? But why?"

"He's been using... rather persuasive tactics to try to get his way. He's in the process of buying this place out from under me right now! I don't know what to do yet, but we'll come up with something."

Adrien felt sick to his stomach. Would his father go so low as to throw a family out on the street to get what he wanted? "So you lose the bakery unless..."

"That's his plan at least, but mine is to fight to the end. Listen, I sympathize with you, but you can't stay here. You'd never be able to get your mind off of it, which I think is exactly what you need to do. Do you think one of your other friends would let you stay while you cool down?"

Adrien stood up. He hadn't been thinking clearly, but now that they'd helped calm him down some, he did know where else he might be able to go. Keeping his head low so as not to be identified, he made his way to Nino's house.

A vaguely familiar woman he had seen a few times before answered the door. "Yes?" (In the case that I might get the personality completely wrong, I would like to note that this is before any cannon family of Nino has been revealed.)

"Hello, Mrs. Lahiffe. Sorry to be coming by at this hour. I'm a friend of Nino's, and I was wondering if I could possibly stay the night here."

"Uh, Adrien isn't it? A sudden request like that is a little inconvenient. Would you mind planning your sleepover for some time in the next couple weeks?"

Nino came to the door behind his mother; he seemed to have heard most of what transpired. "Please, Mom, he's had a big fight with his dad today and needs somewhere to crash. He wouldn't be asking unless he really needed it. Be cool with it, please."

Nino's mother looked worried. "So your father doesn't know where you are?"

Adrien hung his head. "No. I'll go home tomorrow, but I can't face him tonight."

"Is it really that bad?"

"It is, but I can't talk about it."

"All right, I guess it's okay if you really think it will help you get back on top. Nino, take your friend to the guest room."

Nino gave a thumbs up. "Thanks, Mom, that's really cool of you." He lead Adrien down the hall. "Dude, I can't believe your old man thinks he can treat you and Marinette like you're some... He makes me so mad. How have you not been akumatized yet?"

"I don't know the answer to that." Adrien really was no stranger to disappointment; there must be weekly opportunities for Hawkmoth to akumatize him. Was he resistant as long as he wore a miraculous? He sat down on the guest room bed, staring at his feet. "Sorry, Nino, but can I be alone?"

"Sure, dude, but remember - I'm down the hall if you need to talk to someone. Your life is messed up, big time! I hope everything gets better soon." With that, Nino left Adrien.

The blond boy sat for a while, then a while more. It wasn't good for him to dwell on it, but he couldn't help it. He had a couple chapters to read for homework, but he just couldn't collect his thoughts well enough to make an attempt.

Once he'd determined that the boy had sulked long enough, a certain black kwami rolled himself out of hiding.

"You're strange," Plagg informed his human.

"Why do you say that?" Adrien glanced up from his shoes - the ones that had been fascinating him for the past hour.

"Do you know how much I've had to hear you pine about how you and Ladybug are supposed to be together? You went so far as to call her your soulmate! Now you're together and you're unhappy about that!"

"You like your Camembert aged, right?"

"Look who is changing the topic to cheese now."

"I have to. Cheese is all you understand. From my observations, you like to eat a little cheese while it is fresh, but you prefer it once it has aged and the flavor is stronger. Well... maybe I want to let my relationship age."

Adrien now had Plagg's interest. "I'm listening."

'Of course you are.' "The concept of Marinette and me together is still new, so casual dating is plenty for us. Anything more is too much, but as we mature, hopefully our emotions will too. Understand?"

"I think so. You're a good kid, I hope you grow the right kind of mold."

"Uh, thanks?"