Emotional Support [Complete]

S1 E28: Family Bonding

Adrien frowned as they approached the bakery. "Oh, Mari! I don't have a gift for your mom!"

Marinette patted his head before using her key for the front door. "Don't worry, Adrien. I think she'll think your sunshiny self is more than enough."

Adrien blushed slightly and nodded. "If you say so."

Marinette led them upstairs and to her apartment. She opened the door. "Look who I brought home with me!"

Upon hearing their daughter's voice, Sabine and Tom brought themselves to meet her and their guests at the door.

Sabine smiled brightly, holding her arms out. "Adrien! Thank you for coming!"

Adrien ran into her arms. "Thank you for inviting me! Happy birthday, Sabine!"

"Thank you, honey." Sabine patted his head as he pulled away. She looked up to the elder Agreste. "Hello to you too, Mr. Agreste."

"Yes, hello."

Gabriel's eyes constantly shifted to examine the unknown area. It was terribly small and  cramped for his liking, but he tried to remember he was here for Marinette. Then, he finally focused on the Chinese woman before him. 

"You may call me Gabriel. Your daughter does, and it seems my son is very familiar with you as well."

"Gabriel it is," Sabine said cheerfully. "Welcome to our humble home."

"Yes," Gabriel said curtly. "It's very... cozy."

Marinette face palmed herself and Adrien's cheeks reddened on behalf of his father's rudeness. Sabine blinked at the comment, but chose not to take it to heart, thinking he probably had not meant it the way he'd said it.

While they were speaking, Marinette quickly slipped the dress from Gabriel, who was holding it behind his back, and quickly sneaked it upstairs to be given to her mother at a later time. She returned before her parents could notice she was gone.

"Dinner is ready, everyone," Tom announced. "Please, sit at the table."

Adrien rushed to the table and pulled out a seat for Marinette. The pigtailed girl thanked him with a pat on the head, before pulling out the seat beside her where Adrien sat. She noticed Gabriel shift awkwardly as he felt out of place and didn't know where to sit.

"Hey, Gabriel," Marinette whispered to him, patting the stool on the other side of her. "Come sit here."

Gabriel nodded and sat at the end of the table as directed by Marinette. Tom brought plates of food to the table. Sabine's favorite dishes were laid in a spread; sweet and sour pork, chow mien, dumplings, and spring rolls were just a few of the home cooked Chinese recipes Tom and Sabine had spent hours working to make.

"Wow!" Adrien exclaimed. "Looks so good!"

Everyone began eating except Adrien as he fumbled with chopsticks. He eventually got frustrated and began stabbing the food with the stick in order to put it in his mouth. Gabriel watched his son, shocked and appalled by his behavior.

"Adrien, what on Earth are you doing?"

Adrien's cheeks became bright red as everyone's attention fell on him, and he placed his chopstick beside the plate, looking down to his lap. "S-Sorry..."

"Gabriel, please. It's not his fault if he doesn't know how to use them!" Marinette huffed, making the man silent, before turning to Adrien, rubbing the boy's arm to gain his attention. "Want me to teach you, chéri?"

Adrien nodded, picking up the chopsticks and giving his hand to Marinette. The freckled girl repositioned his hand for him. "Okay, so, you put the first chopstick between your index finger and thumb and rest it on your ring finger. The second goes between your index and thumb too, but rest this one on your middle finger like this. Now, you don't want to hold it too tightly, because then you won't be able to move it. Loosen your grip." --Adrien did so-- "Good. Now, you use your index and middle to move them."