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Chat Noir released his transformation in an alley, a street down from Le Grand Paris.
"Keep it calm, casual." Adrien narrowed his eyes at his kwami.
"You're the last person I would like to get advice from. I can keep up the rouse. Can you?" Plagg tutted.
"Of course I can." He huffed, crossing his arms. Adrien smirked.
"How much camembert do you want to bet that you're going to lose it first?" Plagg's ears twitched and his tail swished mischievously.
"Oh, so you want to play kid? Two wheels." Adrien rose an eyebrow.
"Mini?" Plagg smirked.
"Whole." Adrien chuckled.
"You're really betting on this, aren't you?"
"Do we have a deal?"
"Deal." Plagg zipped into Adrien's shirt and Adrien began to walk to Le Grand Paris.
Adrien was greeted warmly by the front desk receptionist, she mentioned that his party was waiting for him upstairs. Adrien nodded and started to head towards the elevator, when a voice caught his attention.
"Adrien?" Marinette was coming down the staircase.
"Marinette." Adrien changed his course and they met at the bottom of the staircase. She was quick to wrap her arms around Adrien and sighed in relief.
"I'm so glad you're okay. I was worried sick." Adrien gave a soft smile, holding her close.
"Sorry." He ran his fingers through her hair. "I guess I've been overstressed." She hummed softly, pulling away. She looked him over, and if Adrien hadn't been told that he was in some crazy, alternate universe, he would have thought she was checking him out.
"You need a break. Maybe I can convince Papa to give us a day off." It made Adrien shiver on how she addressed his – their? – father. Did they have a close relationship? How was Adrien's relationship with his father in this world?
"That would be nice." He murmured. She examined his face before smiling softly.
"Let's go. Everyone's waiting. She linked her arm around his and she motioned to the stairs.
Le Grand Paris had its Bourgeois grandeur that never changed. As Marinette and Adrien entered the dining room, a blond and a brunette rose from their chairs.
"Adrikins!"
"Mari!" The two waved them over before they started bickering childishly. The two of them joined the round table they were sitting at, large enough for the five of them. Alya sat between Chloé and Nino, Marinette took the seat besides Chloé, leaving Adrien to sit between Marinette and Nino.
"We hope you're feeling better." Chloé spoke up while Alya tsked.
"What about 'don't talk about it' did you not understand?" Alya asked. Chloé huffed while Marinette sighed.
"Oh whatever, you can't deny you weren't all as worried as I was." Chloé eyed Nino.
"Well, she's not wrong." Nino admitted.
"Ha!" Chloé smiled smugly and Alya pouted with a huff.
"Hey, you're supposed to be on my side." Alya whined, mock punching her girlfriend.
"I'm sorry I worried you all. I promise, I'm okay." Adrien smiled.
"Don't you flash that model smile at us." Chloé shot from across the table.
"You guys, leave him alone, would ya?" Marinette huffed and Adrien chuckled, guilty.
"You caught me." Adrien rose his hands in defeat.
"It's not like we're your closest friends, or anything." Chloé mumbled sarcastically.
"It's nothing, really." Chloé gave a nonbelieving hum before lunch was brought.
Everyone ate, socializing between themselves. It seemed like Alya and Marinette are friends with Chloé, although Alya just seems to tolerate her. Chloé didn't seem to be a pain this time around. Where was Sabrina?
Lunch went on and over, Chloé giving all of them a ride back to the school. He was welcomed back with open arms and several questions.
"I assume you will not be having more sudden, middle of the school day photo shoots, correct?" Professor Bustier questioned, her arms crossed in front of her chest.
"No, no ma'am." He bowed his head in apology.
A normal school day. It was... All so normal. Yet it wasn't?
Chloé didn't make any snide remarks at Marinette. Occasionally she would at Alya, but it was only in a joking manner. Alya seemed to tolerate Chloé more, often retorting her comments, sharing laughs. Nino seemed to be a part of that as well, but he appeared to keep to himself and out of Chloé's way.
So this is what an alternate universe is like, huh?
"Marinette, Adrikins, will we be able to hang out today?" Chloé asked as they all packed their things as the final bell rang.
"Unfortunately, we can't. Papa scheduled us for a shoot and we both have to be there." Marinette slipped her back on; it wasn't the usual pink it had been.
"Bummer." Alya sighed.
"Being an Agreste is never easy." Chloé added. Adrien chuckled.
"You're not wrong." He put his own back over his shoulder, Marinette hooking herself to his arm. "Maybe we can get together another day?" They nodded.
"If not, I can always convince Papa to give us a day off." Marinette spoke up.
"Those exist?" Adrien asked, mostly in a serious manner, but in a joking tone.
"Well no, but I can probably convince him to let us off for an afternoon."
"I thought so." They laughed.
"See you tomorrow!" The group said their goodbyes as they split for their separate destinations. Adrien slid in after Marinette, Marinette leaning on his shoulder while they rode.
"Tired?" Adrien asked, only loud enough so she could hear. She glanced up at him, sighing softly.
"Yeah, I guess? Maybe it was the early morning, but I felt really sore. Body aches, especially one of my arms." She rubbed at her right arm – the same arm Chat Noir had previously injured. Post-world change pain?
Adrien wrapped his arm around her, rubbing her arm gently. "Are you feeling better?" She nods.
"Yes, after breakfast, the pain settled down. That and I forgot about it once Papa had me showing the designs." She laid her head on his chest.
"And how did that go?"
"Very well, actually. Papa said he was proud and that the other designers wanted in. I heard that they want to schedule us for something in the upcoming month." Adrien hummed and they remained in a comfortable silence until they arrived at location of the shoot, La Seine.
Leaving their bags in the car, the two are taken to the tents down by the riverside by Nathalie, until the two were whisked away to their respective tents.
Adrien was pushed into a tent full of clothes, towards a snug, makeshift dressing room made up of three curtains and handed a pair of clothing to change into.
While he changed, Plagg took the opportunity to slip out and lay on the little stool that took half of the space of the small changing room.
"How much longer are you going to pretend?" Plagg cried. Adrien removed his tee, followed by his shirt.
"What are you talking about?" He asked.
"Chloé! Isn't it strange? She's so... friendly." He shivered as Adrien slipped on a white button up, before putting on a blue knit sweater.
"I have no other choice. I don't know what you're expecting me to do." He fixed the collar, working on folding the sleeves to his elbows.
"Freak out so I can have two wheels of camembert." Adrien looked up at his smug kwami.
"And cause a scene? Better luck next time." He removed his pants and replaced them with some darker blue jeans. "Nice try though." Plagg muttered as Adrien slipped his shoes on and stepped out of the dressing room.
Being patted down and powdered with makeup, Marinette came in, doing some final touches on Adrien's collar.
"So, what do you think?" She asked, motioning to the sweater.
"I like it, it's just a little too hot to be wearing it in this heat." Marinette giggled.
"If you cooperate, the faster you will be able to get out of those clothes." She fixed his hair slightly and smiled.
"Are you implying that I won't cooperate?" Adrien mocked offense.
"Not at all, dearest brother." Adrien hummed at the address and she moved aside, allowing him to leave the tent.
Adrien was like a puppet to the cameraman's words and suggestions, picking up his poses and using the famous smile he's always given them. After several poses and praises, Adrien was sent back to the tent. He went back to his dressing room, a new set of clothes waiting for him.
It continued like this for several pairs of clothes and Adrien was beginning to feel irritated due to the layers and the afternoon sun.
"They'd make a cute couple, don't you think?" Adrien stopped just before entering the tent.
"They're siblings, that's gross."
"Yeah, but you know, she's adopted. There's no Agreste with a hair color like hers."
"Still, they were raised together. They would probably never see each other that way."
"Have you hear about her adoption though? I've heard that the only reason she was adopted in the first place was because she wanted to be a fashion designer."
"No way."
"I'm sure if she didn't, she'd still be at that orphanage. I could have been an Agreste-" Adrien slipped his hand into the tent, opening the door wildly and walking to his changing room with his head high.
"They're whispering." Plagg laid curled on top of Adrien's folded clothing. Adrien grunted annoyingly.
"People who don't know things shouldn't gossip." He spoke, loud enough so his tent companions could hear. The hushed whispers stopped. Adrien didn't know the details of how Marinette came to be an Agreste, but he wouldn't tolerate anyone speaking like that about her.
Once Adrien got dressed, he left, not bothering to bid goodbye to his assistants as he walked out. They followed with bowed heads as Adrien met with Nathalie.
"Everything all right, Adrien?" Nathalie asked, eyeing the assistants trailing behind him.
"For the next shoot, I would like to request new assistants." Adrien spoke up, continuing to walk past Nathalie and over to Marinette, who was coming from the other tent. Nathalie nodded.
"Understood." She tapped into her tablet, the two assistants looking at each other guiltily. As she finished tapping, the assistants looked at Nathalie. "As soon as the two of you are done, you are dismissed." They hung their heads and Nathalie turned, heading towards the car.
As Nathalie met the two, Marinette was trying to console a huffy Adrien. Nathalie noticed this, clearing her throat and Adrien straightened.
"At the next shoot, you will have new assistants." Adrien nodded.
"Thank you Nathalie." Marinette glanced up at Adrien before they got inside the car, heading home.
Dinner was much more differently than breakfast and dinner ever was in the Agreste household. With Marinette, things have brightened. She spoke of times she shared with Alya, times spent with Chloé, her constant struggle to wake up despite the thousands of alarms she has.
"Some things never change, do they?" Adrien smiled. Marinette was a little bit confused, but she smiled nonetheless.
"Adrien, once you finish dinner, your father would like to see you." Nathalie stood by the end of the table, bringing Adrien and Marinette's laughter down.
"Yes Nathalie." Adrien stood, Marinette catching his wrist as he passed by.
"I'll see you upstairs?" She asked, her expression unreadable. Adrien nodded, heading off to his father's study.
Adrien stood outside the double doors, hesitant to go in. Marinette has made his father seem like quite the loving one. Was he still the same, or was he suddenly some kind, devoted father?
"You ready?" Plagg asked from his pocket. Adrien patted him gently.
"Not at all." Adrien took a deep breath and knocked on the door. He opened the door slightly, peeking his head in. "Father? You called?" Gabriel Agreste was sitting at his desk, surrounded by papers, as usual.
"Adrien, yes, come in." He didn't look up from his papers as Adrien stepped inside. He closed the door behind him and stood in front of his desk. "Nathalie informed me that you had two of your assistants dismissed. Would you mind explaining why?" He remained working on his laptop.
"They were speaking ill-manneredly about Marinette." Gabriel looked up and Adrien stiffened. "I will not tolerate anyone who disrespects my sister.
"Or the Agreste name." Gabriel nodded. "You did the right thing. I'm proud. You will have two new assistants at your next shoot. That is all." Adrien's heart fluttered.
"Good night father."
"Good night Adrien. Tell Marinette I said good night as well." Gabriel turned his attention back to his laptop, dismissing Adrien. Adrien nodded, leaving the room silently.
"He's... proud." Plagg zipped out of Adrien's pocket, staring at the boy in disbelief. He was about to tell the boy to snap out of it but he stopped himself.
A genuine smile. A smile that Plagg hadn't seen all day, a smile that wasn't forced, caused by Nino, Alya or Marinette. It was a genuine smile caused by his father.
"I've lost the bet." Plagg muttered. "Well, don't keep Marinette waiting." He zipped back into Adrien's pocket, making Adrien nod and head upstairs.
"Well, what did Papa want?" She scrambled up from sitting on the top stair.
"It was about the two assistants I had Nathalie fire." Marinette sighed in relief.
"Thank lord. I was afraid that it was going to be about this morning." She lowered her voice as they walked down the hall and stood in front of their bedroom doors.
"About that, Marinette." He took her hands, stopping closer to her door, which was right across from his. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare or worry you. I just... Had a bad dream, I guess, and it caused some identity crisis." Marinette passed her thumb gently over the back of his hand.
"I have those too sometimes. It's weird, sometimes I dream that I'm a baker's daughter. And other times I see spots everywhere." She shrugs nonchalantly, looking down at their hands.
"Really?" Plagg was stirring in Adrien's pocket.
"Yeah, I just never mentioned this to you before because I didn't think you'd be able to relate or you'd find it weird." She chuckled and he smiled.
"You, weird? That's why I –" Like you. "That's why you're my favorite sister." She laughed.
"Adrien, I'm your only sister."
"Coincidence?"
"I think not." They both laughed.
"Father was busy so he wasn't able to come say good night, but he left a message." Marinette put her finger to his nose.
"Boop, play message."
"'Good night, Marinette'. End message." She giggled, reaching up to press her lips against his cheek.
"Good night Papa." Adrien hummed.
"I think it would be weird for me to kiss him." She laughed again.
"Good night silly."
"Good night Mari." He kissed her cheek right back. She smiled and let go of their hands. He stepped back and she turned in for the night. As her door closed, Adrien turned to go into his.
"You kissed her, you lost."
"That's a lie, I clearly heard you give up outside my father's study." Plagg gave a tsk. "You can have one piece, but that's it. We're going out tonight. Adrien pulled out a wedge of cheese from a camembert stash he had.
"Where are we going?" Plagg asked before he inhaled the cheese.
"Across the hall. Plagg, transform me."
"What are you going to do?" Plagg asked once Chat's vision settled.
"Find out the terms of adoption and how my girlfriend became my sister." Plagg chuckled.
"Good luck."
"You lost anyways so it won't matter if I lose my cool anymore. Chat smirked as he heard Plagg groan.
"Two wheels. Two."
"Don't hate the player, hate the game." Chat went to his window and slid the wide glass open. He hopped up and almost closed it all the way, flipping himself onto the top of the mansion. He padded silently across his roof, extending his baton down into his backyard garden and sliding down to the bedroom window.
The room where Marinette seems to have claimed as her own had always been the guest room. There was always one window, despite being locked, always opened with a small jiggle. With his claws, he picked at the lock until it opened, sliding inside.
And met face to face with a freshly showered Marinette. She was frozen, her hands on the towel on her hair, her eyes blown wide as Chat watched her chest rise to scream.
"Don't!" He quickly muffled her scream as she tried to claw at his hand. She put up a fight, beginning to kick. She successfully landed a kick to one of his shins, making him let go.
Marinette darted for the door in a panic, calling out for his alter ego. Chat was quick to hope over the couch and grabbed her by the waist, leading her away from the door. She shrieked, running to the other side of the couch.
"W-What do you want from me!" She asked. "You're a criminal!" Chat stood along the other side of the couch, mimicking her swaying in case she tried to run.
"I'm here to talk." Chat replied coolly.
"I don't talk to criminals! Papa said that I should never associate myself with you." Her eyes flashed to his ring. "You stole that ring and Papillon needs it back." Chat snorted.
"This ring was always mine. He just wants it for himself for evil." Marinette glared at him.
"Papillon isn't evil." She spat.
"And I'm no criminal, princess." Chat growled. Marinette tried to make another run for it, bolting to the door. Chat grabbed an item that was sitting on the couch and chased after her, this time, hoisting her over his shoulder.
"L-Let me go, you dumb cat!" Chat gave a tsk as she hit her fists against his back.
"Now, now, that's no way to speak to a big, bad criminal like me." He dropped her on the bed with a squeal and she tried to edge away. "You want to make it through the rest of the night, you have to be compliant." He grabbed her ankles and tugged her to him. He climbed over her, pining her legs down with his, holding her wrists over her head.
"W-Wait!" Chat ignored her and held her wrists with one hand, as he tugged at the bell at his collar with the other. Marinette watched as the criminal unzipped his bodysuit, fear building up in her.
"N-No, wait, w-what are you doing?" She pleaded. His eyes gleamed darkly as he brought his claw up between his teen and tugged, his fingers coming out of the glove. "D-Don't do this. I-I'll scream! My bother will come in here a-and he-" His eyes met hers and she silenced.
"You're not going to scream. You butter not scream." He growled.
"Kid..." He tugged his arm out of the rest of his suit, before bringing the item he grabbed off the couch to his lips.
"A-A pen?" She stammered as he uncapped it with his teeth." He shushed her harshly and she flinched, bringing the pen to Marinette's forearm, making a makeshift signature in pink ink.
And lo and behold, the writing appeared on his arm as well.
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