Retake Our Home

Chapter 3

Seeing as his Father gave him the rest of the day off Adrien had decided to hang out with a friend. Kim was a tall guy with brown hair spiked up, and was also the son of German immigrants who was also home schooled. Together they went to the Dupain-Cheng Bakery.

It was a small family bakery that made some of the best baked goods in the city. Adrien enjoyed coming here and talking with the family of the shop. He sometimes hung out with the Baker's Daughter Marinette. She was an attractive girl with short black hair pulled into pigtails and blue eyes that were warm and welcoming unlike Adrien's Father's.

"Good afternoon boys." Tom, the Baker smiled. "What can I get you today?"

Tom was a large man with hazel brown hair and mustache. He was always jolly, but Adrien never wanted to see what his big hands could do to a man who made him angry. Anyone dumb enough to fight him unarmed would be a dead man.

"Just some Croissants Monsieur Dupain." Adrien replied.

"Sure thing." Tom nodded. "Sabine! Tell Marinette her friends are here!"

Sabine Cheng, was the Baker's wife. Extremely small compared to her husband who tower over her. She had short black hair and was of Chinese descent.

"Marinette!" Sabine yelled in the back. "Adrien and Kim are here!"

"Adrien!?" Marinette screamed.

There was a loud crash in the back room. Adrien just thought it was Marinette being clumsy and dropped something. Only Kim knew Marinette only acted weird and was prone to accidents when Adrien was around. Yet Adrien never noticed the girls obvious crush on him.

"Hi Adrien." Marinette said rushing out to meet the boys.

"Hey Marinette." Adrien waved with a small smile.

"I'm here too, ya know." Kim added.

"Sorry Kim," Marinette laughed nervously. "It's nice to see you as well."

Marinette's Father gave Adrien a bag of Croissants  and Adrien paid the big man. He then passed out the goods to his friends and they walked together out of the bakery.

"So," Kim said munching on his food. "I've got something important to tell you guys."

"What?" Marinette asked.

Kim shifted uncomfortable and didn't look at his friends. Both Adrien and Marinette exchanged puzzled looks.

"I'm joining the German Military." Kim quietly said.

"Your what?" Marinette hissed.

"I was born n Germany before my parents moved to France." Kim said with a sigh. "My Father thinks it's a honor  to have me fight for the glory of Hitler."

"But..." Marinette began looking around for prying ears. "Haven't you heard about the Soldier's taking Jews and other groups of people all over. They claim their all criminals but I don't think so."

"It doesn't matter what anyone thinks." Kim said. "Hitler is in control  and I need to secure my place in his new Europe."

"Even if it means losing your humanity?" Marinette asked.

Kim said nothing for a minute and just stared at the sky. Adrien couldn't understand what he was thinking, but he knows how he's feeling. To do what's right and to do what's best are two different things. And the struggle between them could pull you apart.

"I should get going." Kim said turning away. "See ya guys later."

"Kim!" Marinette yelled as the tall boy vanished behind a corner. "Can you believe him?"

"Yes," Adrien replied shocking Marinette. "It's smart to follow Kim's example. Any man who wants a sound life in Paris after the war will want to be on the Nazis good side."

"Your not planning to join them too, are you?" Marinette asked with fear clear in her eyes.

"I'll do what ever it takes to protect my future family." Adrien said. "Even if it means bowing to Hitler. There isn't much else to do seeing as Germany had practically won the war."

"What if they knocked down my door and arrested my family?" Marinette asked on the verge of tears. "Would you forget about me?"

Now that the question was out in the open Marinette regretted it. What if Adrien, her love, didn't care what happened to her?

"I would fight every German in Paris for you." Adrien said dashing all of Marinette's fears and made her heart skip a beat. "Your one of the few friends I have and I will always protect you."

Adrien thought about what he had just said out loud and looked around. Lunch was over so most people who would be walking the streets are back to work and any schools were still in class. No one was around to hear their conversation.

"We shouldn't talk so openly about this." Adrien said still looking for unwanted ears. "Or we could get into deep trouble"

"Right." Marinette nodded, her face still red from Adrien's previous statement.

Suddenly a car pulled up in front of the teens. Adrien noticed the Gorilla driving and sighed. So much for the day off.

"I better get going." Adrien said waving good-bye. "Tell your parents thanks for the food."

Marinette mumbled farewell and watched her crush leave. Adrien took a seat in the back of the car next to his Father's assistant Nathalie. She always wore a serious face behind her glasses. Her raven black hair was pulled into a bun causing her to look more professional.

"Your classes have all been canceled." She said looking at a clipboard. "But you Father was told you were getting rusty in your Fencing so your time off is being used for you to improve."

"Not surprising." Adrien said rolling his eyes. "I was wondering  when Father was going to pull on my leash."

Nathalie let her cold face falter and looked at the Gorilla in the mirror. He shrugged and went back to driving. They may work for Gabriel, but they practically raised Adrien. In the end they really did care about the boy.

"Your Father will loosen up." Nathalie said not really believing her own words. "He's just stressed with all that's going on."

"He has always been like this." Adrien sighed looking out the window. "Even before the war, before Mom's death. Nothing will ever change."

Adrien watched as Marinette became a small dot in the distance. What he would give to be normal like her. To spend hours with his friends like she could. But so long as he Father controlled him Adrien would never get that chance.