Dance with Me, Chaton

Crushes

Unsurprisingly, Plagg was all too happy to hear Adrien wanted to continue. The blond could practically see that glutton basking in his glory on his throne, sipping on champagne and stuffing himself with his stinky Camembert, undoubtedly thinking of better ways to torture Adrien for having the guts to quit. He didn't care, though. Marinette wanted him to get to the end, so he would, no matter what Plagg would throw his way. Marinette swore Plagg was a good guy, and no matter how hard it was for Adrien to believe, he'd do so. For her. Because she loved him. Because he loved her.

"So." Marinette grinned as they settled into the car. "To explain why I know Plagg well enough to swear he's a really good man, I think I should tell you how I got in Kwami Kave first."

Adrien turned the car on. "I'd love to hear that. I've heard, though, people don't get in just because they want to. Wasn't there something about going through rough times to qualify?"

Marinette nodded, as Adrien drove off. "Yes. I don't know how he does it, but Master Fu can somehow sense people who need help. I think it's a part of his ancient, Eastern education, but honestly, no one knows for sure. We only figured that he reacts to either a disaster in progress or a potential for that."

"Like people with issues?"

She hummed. "Yeah, or those who are in situations that might be too much for them to handle."

"How does he know, though?"

Marinette shrugged. "Don't ask me. I have no idea. But, once Master Fu locates such a person, after that, it's all pretty standard: he approaches them, usually with a simple test to, I guess, check if the person still has kindness in them. If they pass, he invites them to the club by giving them a piece of jewellery and assigns them a dance instructor for one-on-one training before they can join the club. Trainers help invitees to work on their issues, teach them coping mechanisms, help them get through rough times, whatever the individual person needs."

"Something like a therapy?"

"In a way. But much more fun because there is dancing involved, not to mention many friends at the Kwami Kave who understand things you're going through."

Adrien stopped at the red light. His eyes focused on the road, palms sweaty as he clutched the wheel, he said quietly. "Then I don't get why Master Fu approached me. My life isn't that bad. I'm neither in trouble nor do I think I have issues. I mean, I have a little tense relationship with my father, but it isn't so bad. Lots of people don't see eye to eye with their parents."

Marinette fell quiet. "I don't know you well enough to answer that."

"And assign me to Plagg?" Adrien mumbled. "He's no therapist. He's a tyrant causing the issues, not solving them."

"I... Well, all I know is that Plagg deals with more complex issues than others, and because of that, he's the only one of two trainers allowed to choose their own students. So, I doubt Master Fu assigned you to him. He might have proposed your candidature to him, but most likely, it was Plagg who chose you."

"Great," Adrien grumbled. "I wonder what did I do to catch his attention?"

Marinette looked at the side window. "My best guess would be: he came from a similar background."

Adrien raised an eyebrow in a surprise. "What do you mean?"

"Wealthy, very influential family. That's all I know. He doesn't speak much of his background."

Adrien fell quiet. Plagg didn't look like he'd been born into a wealthy, influential anything. His shabby look. That arrogant attitude! Obsession with reeking cheese. No manners or sense of decency. No way! But then... he did nail how Adrien felt about his father the first time they'd met. He somehow knew, knew everything without ever seeing Adrien before. How? Did Plagg understand Adrien better than he'd realized so far? Adrien shrugged the idea away. Impossible! Because if he did, why was he putting Adrien through hell, undoubtedly, for laughs?