Taken by Control (Mircaualus Soulmate AU)

Changing and Chats Return

The gang had been in classes for a few weeks now. Nino and Alya were loving their classes and making connections with upperclassmen. Adrien and Marinette were already quite well known in their classes so people were eager to work with them and learn from them. 

At first, Marinette had trouble fitting into her classes, because so many of her classmates assume her being Adrien's soulmate was the reason for her success, however, after a few classes people saw that she really was that good, and they were all eager to partner up with her. 

Adrien now found his training as a manipulator harder to contend with now. He was known as the most trusted boy in Pairs. All his classmates wanted to work with him. His gift helped him out here a lot, he knew who wanted to work him for their own gain and who was just really lost and needed help.  But his father's training was always in is head. He needed help. 

So he found him standing at the bakery door without Marinette. He took a deep breath and walked in, Tom was working the till, "Adrien! What a lovely surprise! What brings you here my boy?" 

"I need help Tom." Adrien sighed. 

"With Marinette?" Tom raised his eyebrow.

"No with business. My father spent all my childhood train me to be just like him, cold, hard, and manipulative. I have never wanted to run a business like that. Or have a relationship like that. I want to take steps to change who I've been raised to be. Will you help me, Tom?" Adrien looked up at the man hopefully. 

"Oh, Adrien! I would be happy to do that. I've been waiting for you to ask me for years." Tom smiled. 

"Years?" Adrien was confused. 

"Adrien, do you really think I fell for you and my daughter's story a few months back? Even with the job offer and everything. I knew something didn't line up. And I knew you had something to do with it. I have seen what your father had been trying to do with you. And I knew someday if my daughter had a strong enough influence you'd come knocking on my door." Tom smiled at the young man in front of him. 

"You're not mad?" Adrien was worried. 

"I was at first, I wasn't a fan of someone forcing my daughter to date them, but I knew her gift would not give her much of a choice. But then I saw you started to soften and she started to really love you and I wasn't as mad anymore. So let's make a deal when you come over for those lessons Mari has you doing we will take about business and relationships and how to do it well." Tom stuck out his hand. 

"Sounds like a deal!" Adrien shook Tom's hand. He could do this. 

With Tom's help, Adrien's marks actually got better and he noticed his gift was actually stronger. He could read people better. He found that with a father's loving guidance he was really better. Marinette noticed he was a better person. She honestly loved him more. She felt valued and cared for. If only she could tell him about his father. 

Gabriel, on the other hand, had been watching his son closely, and it was safe to say he wasn't happy. Sure the improved marks were good, but he was going soft. His son was no longer manipulating people. So on one of his son's internship days, he called him into his office. 

"Son, welcome." He gestured to the seat.

"Father." Adrien nodded. 

"I want to talk to you about something I noticed." Adrien gulped. "You're going, soft son. You're helping your girlfriend at the house, you're learning domestic skills, your deals are not nearly as beneficial for us. What are you doing? This isn't who I raised you to be."

Adrien stood up. "Father, I like who I am. I like being a bit more down to earth. I like helping the other business it forms better business connections. I'm strengthing people making them better meaning they want to work with me." he walked to the door.