*Backstory For The Fic*
THIS STORY DOES HAVE A HAPPY ENDING!
Ladybug and Cat Noir have already defeated Hawk Moth. They did reveal their identities. However, things didn't end in peace. Marinette passed on the miracle box and lost her memories so sh...
Marinette stared at the pencil she tapped against her desk. Waiting wasn't amusing.
She was waiting for Adam to bring Adrien Agreste in, and to be honest, she was nervous to meet him.
Despite the decision she made, she was still curious on what he was like?
She hoped she made the right choice. Her instincts believed it but she wanted to see it herself.
"May I come in?" The unfamiliar voice of a man came from the door. She accidentally flicked her pencil to the other side of the room. How embarrassing...
"Come in." She said rising from her seat.
A man with blonde hair and green eyes entered the room. He was rather good-looking...but that was beside the point...he seemed familiar.
He picked up the pencil she threw and approached her desk.
"So, this is yours?" He looked at her. It was a kind gaze. But also...something else...
"Yes." She responded taking the pencil from his hands. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
She couldn't put her finger at what. Something about him felt...strange. It wasn't a bad strange, but it seemed to be a good strange.
"Please sit down, Mr. Agreste." She smiled as he took his seat. "I've heard that you'd like to apply as a model here..."
"Yes. I do but..."
Marinette shushed him.
"No buts. I shall allow it."
"Really?" He did have the charm. "Is there a process? Do I have to send a portfolio or collage or something like that?"
"Usually, there is...however, I have different plans for you."
"What do you mean?"
"I understand that your reputation in the past has been quite tarnished and little people trust you because of what you're father did. But I'm willing to give you a second chance." She told. "I've also seen some of your old photos for Gabriel and I know that you have experience. Therefore, I didn't ask for a portfolio. And we could use someone with your kind of talent here."
Adrien nodded and she looked at him intrigued. What she said felt incomplete and dry...made her sound unsure...there was more she needed to say...
"As you can see, I don't really manage new recruits. I'm not really sure what to say to you. That's more of Adam's expertise." Why was she telling him this?
"Why did you decide to talk to me then?"
"Uh..." This should be easy. She shouldn't be nervous. She was probably making a fool of herself right now. "I piqued interest in your matter when Adam turned you away. I didn't exactly agree with him..."
"Why not?" His eyes widened. No surprise there. He must be used to rejection. Especially after what went down in his past. She felt bad.
"Because...I didn't exactly feel it was right because of what happened in your past. Your past doesn't define you." Wait...that wasn't entirely true. "I mean, it does. But it doesn't. It wasn't even your past. It kinda was. But what I'm saying that it was your father's actions...I can't held you accountable for them. It feels wrong. It's unfair that people should judge and turn you away because of things that weren't even you're fault! It's not fair!"
Marinette steadied her breath. She didn't realize that she had been rambling.
"I'm so sorr-are you crying?"
Marinette looked at Adrien, he had his hands cup on his eyes and he was silently sobbing.
"Are you okay? What's wrong?" She knelt on the ground in front of him. She didn't say too much, right? Also, she was stuck. She'd never seen a man crying before. "I'm sorry if I-"
"No...it's not you." Adrien said wiping his tears. "I'm just slightly overwhelmed...with a lot...right now..."
"I understand." She gazed at the floor. "You're going through a lot."
"Yeah."
An awkward silence lingered between them. He had stopped crying and both of them were kind of looking away from each other now.
"I'm sorry." He finally said. "I came here for a job and now, I'm a complete mess."
He let out a dry chuckle whilst she shook her head.
"We're all complete messes." She replied. "We just need to know...how to piece ourselves together."
"Yeah...that makes sense." He said.
"Never give up." They both say in sync.
Marinette looked at him and smiled. There was still something familiar about him. More than she thought it was...
"Well." She rose up stepping back to her desk. "You're officially in. Remember, to come in at 8 am next morning where a lady named Cynthia will show you around."
"Thank you..." He smiled. "For everything."
"It was the least that I could do." Marinette responded as he got up to leave.
"Adrien." She called before he left. "Thanks for giving my red pendant back."
She showed him the pendant on her neck as he looked at her in shock.
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"Uh...you're welcome." He replied with a grin before leaving.
That boy...there was still something familiar about him.
Marinette sighed and opened the drawer of her desk. She still needed to finish her outfits for the summer line.
Before she could get her sketchbook, something caught her eye...
That definitely wasn't hers.
Marinette Dupain-Cheng grabbed the tiny black box in her hands.
