Morning light filtered through the curtains in Adrien's bedroom, shining on his eyes and waking him from his sleep. For once it was peaceful, and nothing could be remembered from any dream or nightmare, causing Adrien to question if he even had one to begin with. His skin prickled from low temperature as he noticed the window ajar, the cold breeze filling the room. In his peripheral vision, he became acutely aware of a sleeping figure in his armchair. His eyes snapped over to see Nathalie, her usually clean bun falling apart. She wore a pink blanket over her shivering form and her business shoes were discarded beside the chair. She seemed peaceful, but worry lines covered her forehead and under-eyes. "Plagg..." Adrien stood from his bed, his feet barely keeping him from hitting the floor. "Plagg, where'd you go?" he whispered. He searched his room silently, trying his hardest to let Nathalie rest. She rarely slept unless on holiday, and he was slightly confused on why she would sleep in his room to begin with.
Adrien found his way to his desk, the screen saver of teen Ladybug and Chat Noir flashing across his computer, meaning someone had been on it. Looking around, he found Nathalie's glasses on his desk, but no Plagg. "Plagg... If you're here I could really use a heads up." Adrien turned to the cheese cabinet, on top of which sat photos of his friends. Carefully opening the cabinet door, he found empty Camembert boxes, still no kwami. In a fowl step of frustration, Adrien's bare foot came into contact with his metal trash can, which in turn connected with his wooden desk and resonated throughout the room.
"Sir, I'm alr- Adrien! You're up." Nathalie stood from her seat to resume a professional position. "We were so worried!"
"W-we?" Adrien's voice no doubt seethed disbelief. "Father didn't look like he gave two shits about how I felt last night."
"Adrien, please. You know your father loves you. Even if he doesn't always show it sometimes." Nathalie approached the boy with her arms outstretched, only to have him push them down.
"I'm done with this... I can't keep living with this. I can't keep living under his roof."
"Do you really think that's the best idea?" Her large hands rested at her hips as she watched him collect his thoughts. He'd really grown over the years. She could see the cheerful toddler so clearly, and the happy child. She saw the bouncing adolescent and the rebellious yet fun teen. Before her stood the sad adult who had come to reality at last. The reality of his sorrowful life, his missing mother, and his emotionally absent father.
Adrien grabbed his arm before continuing. "I've lived with him for twenty-six years. I need my own house, or at least an apartment. And a job. A life, away from everything I've ever known. At least then he doesn't have to be disappointed or embarrassed whenever I do something deemed low."
"H-how soon would you move out?" Her voice dripped with sadness and fear, with the tiniest bit of anxiety.
"ASAP. I'd say it's long overdue." The atmosphere in the room was still chilly, but it had seemed to dampen with their conversation. It was as if the room were pleading it's case.
"I... I guess you're not a child anymore, and I never really was your mother, so I technically don't have a say. I... I'm happy for you Adrien." Nathalie's hands grabbed her heels and glasses before turning towards the door.
"And, Nathalie?" he called, her figure resting against the door frame and looking back. "You are my mom." He'd meant it to sound reassuring, but it all came out sad. Even she looked sad, with her sad wispy smile and her closing eyes as she let the door shut behind her.
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Behind My Smile - EDITING SOON
FanfictionAdrien Agreste could usually pretend he was fine. He'd never faltered from his regimen of fake smiles since childhood. At twenty-six years old he was an accomplished model with nearly a million to his name. Some would look at him and swoon: a perfec...
