Bound by Honour | MLB AU ✍︎︎

~2~

The noirette across the table from Adrien was livid. She looked as if she'd burst any second. Why, Adrien wasn't sure. He had found out that the real estate meeting was in fact, not a real estate meeting. Marinette and whom Adrien assumed was her grandfather, were just fighting about marriage, (something Adrien probably shouldn't've listened too) and now Marinette was giving him a death stare. Adrien started to sweat under her intense look. He never liked to be on this end of it. By now she would've killed him if others were not present.

As Adrien uncomfortably shifted in his chair his mother spoke.

"I'm sure that you know what's going on now Marinette, so I'm going to tell Adrien too. Adrien," she looked over in what appeared to be a guilty stare, or was it apologetic? "Me and Quon have been discussing a merger, but in order to guarantee that our company will succeed, we have arranged something. A union, if you will. We, uh..." Emilie trailed off.

Quon picked up the sentence. "You will be marrying Marinette."

"What the hell?!" He yelled rising from his seat. "No, absolutely not. I've done so many things for you mother but this is one I will not do." He glowered as he walked out of the office and slammed the door.

"Marin-" Quon started. But by then she had left.

——————————————————————-

Marinette was strolling the streets of Paris in silence. Ignoring the incessant buzzing of her phone.

She had been to Paris many times. She was born there after all. She knew all her favourite spots, and she was going to one of them now.

Marinette made her way to the elevator and clicked the button for the top floor. She had always loved the Eiffel Tower. It gave her so much inspiration every time she went there.

Marinette was over whelmed. What would she tell him? She can't break his heart. Perhaps it was a mistake to hide her relationship from yeh yeh.

The noirette sighed as she looked out at the city.

——————————————————————

Adrien was done. Mentally he was drained. Physically he was exhausted. Yet he found himself heading out rather than home.

Adrien never had much time to visit landmarks in Paris. Unless he was doing a photo shoot at one, he had almost never visited.

The perfect place to get some air is at the top of the world. Or whatever is closest to it in his city.

As Adrien trekked to the elevator, he couldn't help but think of what it would be like to marry Marinette. He had always wanted to marry someone he loved, and preferably didn't hate his guts. Would she run out on their wedding day? Does she want kids? Would she even talk to him? Would she ever calm her hate into a simple dislike?

The questions racking Adrien's brain hurt. When he had first met Marinette things had been different, Marinette was sweet and kind, shy but talented. But then he went an ruined everything.

Of course he still felt bad, he had made her look like an utter fool and himself like a jackass. And then when he had went to make a proper apology and beg for forgiveness, he had botched that as well. Adrien felt horrible.

But if Marinette was going to hold a grudge and not let something from four years ago go, then he wasn't going to try and apologize again. She could live angry, and he could live without her forgiveness.

If Marinette was going to be nasty he would annoy the hell out of her.

—————————————————————

"What the hell are you doing here?" Adrien glowered.

"Screw off. I'm not in the mood to deal with toddlers." The noirette replied, unmoved.

"Wow, I was under the impression that you loved me~" Adrien teased, "you were the one that asked for this, no?"

Marinette whipped around, "It's clear to me that you still haven't got the brain power to comprehend my words. Get the hell away from me. We aren't getting married. We aren't engaged. Because that would be cheating, and I don't cheat." She loured.

"Ah, so Milady has a boyfriend huh? Guess you better break it off before he finds out about your amazing new fiancé~" he taunted as he moved his arm around her shoulders.

"First, get the hell off me." She shoved, "Second, I think not. I'm going back to Shanghai whether you guys like it or not. There's no way in hell I'm marrying someone I don't love."

"So you're in love with him?"

"Who?"

"Your boyfriend, you guys are gonna elope to get out of this wedding?"

"Well I... we're not, we aren't like that yet! Stop prodding in my personal life!" The girl huffed.

"Oh... so you don't love him. Ah, I see, you wouldn't marry any of us. Do I have to fight with another man for your affection bugaboo?" He smirked.

"Whoops, I think he already won." She smirked as she walked away.

"Goodbye box dye blond!~ Tell yeh yeh I'm leaving!"

And with that she left a steaming Adrien and headed to the airport.

——————————————-______

"Hello, could I please buy the first ticket to Shanghai? I'm in a bit of a rush." She tapped her fingers on the smooth counter of the desk.

"I'm sorry Mademoiselle, but the next flight out won't be until tomorrow afternoon." The clerk spoke apologetically.

"I figured that. Book me on the next flight." Marinette opened her wallet.

"Marinette!"

A stern voice called out to her. One she had only heard a handful of times. One that disciplined her when she skipped school that one day in grade 11 to go somewhere with her friends. One that reprimanded her when she was disrespectful towards an elder when she was 12. One that usually held a loving tone, one that now was full of disappointment.

"Marinette I will not let you bring dishonour on our name. The Cheng's are noble, kind people. When we give our word on something it means something. I have promised Emilie Agreste your hand in marriage to her son. I will not break my word."

Quon stood with disappointment in his eyes and tone.

"Yeh yeh," The noirette sighed, "I'm dating someone else. I should've told you, but I didn't want to make a big deal out of it. And I don't want to break up with him. He's really special."

"Do you love him?"

"I don't know yet yeh yeh..." her face flushed, both from frustration and the embarrassment and sadness flooding her system.

"Good. Break it off. The more you see this boy the more your heart gets involved. You are engaged to Adrien now. I am sure you will love him in time."

"Yeh yeh-" a tear slipped down her porcelain cheeks.

"No buts about this Marinette. I am doing this for your own good. And if you go back to Shanghai, that's fine. But you bet your ass you'll be booking another ticket for Adrien." Quon spoke with an almost daring look.

His face softened. "I'm sorry Marinette. I truly am. But this is for the future of our family. I will remain in Paris for a few weeks to finish the merger with Emilie. I will see you in 3 weeks. Goodbye."

As Marinette watched her grandfather walk away, she couldn't help but let her remaining tears fall.

She walked back to the desk.

"Could you please make that two tickets?" She whispered.

"Of course Mademoiselle."

After sorting out the details Marinette sat down on the nearest chair and sobbed.

She sobbed about everything.

Until she heard her phone buzz.

She read the name,

"Luka"