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Redemption	By : Cat_Eyes Category: +M through R > Miraculous LadyBug Views: 2815 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Miraculous Ladybug. Miraculous Ladybug is the intellectual property of Thomas Astruc and released by Zag studios. No profit was made writing this story.

Chapter List
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Marinette drew in a deep breath as Adrien bounded into the courtyard on Monday morning. Alya stood behind her, both hands on Marinette's shoulders, rubbing encouragingly, as Marinette braced herself.
'You can do it,' Alya muttered in her ear.
'I can do it,' Marinette repeated, her hands curling into determined fists at her sides.
Adrien bounced to a stop before them. 'Good morning, girls,' he beamed at them.
Alya's grip on Marinette's shoulders relaxed. 'You're in a good mood,' she observed.
'I am,' he agreed. 'Look, see,' he held out his leg and tugged up the hem of his jeans. 'The monitor was removed,' he cheered.
'I can see that. Congratulations. Marinette, is there anything you'd like to say?'
She mustered up a smile. 'Congratulations. It must be a relief to finally have it off.' She winced as Alya's fingers dug into her flesh, but maintained her smile.
'Thanks, it really is. That thing chafed like crazy,' Adrien replied, grinning down at his ankle. He lowered his foot, and looked around. 'Ah, there's Nino. I'm going to go tell him the good news.'
Adrien bounded away, calling to Nino as he waved manically.
Marinette's forced smile turned into a grimace, Alya's hold on her reaching levels of discomfort she hadn't experienced in a long while.
'What the heck was that?' Alya hissed in her ear.
Marinette's answering chuckle sounded more like a whimper. 'You saw how happy he was. I didn't want to spoil it for him.'
Alya spun her around to frown down at her. 'Girl,' she began.
Marinette stared back with a pitiful expression. 'I'll tell him, all of it, I promise. Just, I can't do that to him today.'
Alya sighed, easing her grip as her eyes closed. She pushed her glasses up to rub the bridge of her nose, and said, 'this is the beginning of a slippery slope. The longer you put it off, the harder it's going to be.'
Marinette held up her hands in a pleading gesture. 'I know, and I promise I'll tell him soon. I just need it to be the right time.'
Alya's hands dropped to her sides. 'You know full well that the "right time" will never come. You need to take whatever opportunity you can, and just tell him. Rip that band-aid off, Girl.'
Marinette groaned as she allowed her head to fall backward, her expression one of abject misery.
After they were let out for lunch, Alya hooked Nino around the elbow, and dragged him away, declaring they were going on a long-overdue date. Alix and Kim whistled and catcalled as they left, making Alya's and Nino's cheeks turn ruddy.
Adrien turned in his seat to look up at Marinette. 'I guess it's just you and me today,' he said with a smile.
Marinette's gut clenched. 'Yay,' she replied, with a feeble wave.
She and Adrien ran the gauntlet of the bakery during the lunch rush, waving to Tom and Sabine as they ducked out the rear door.
Marinette breathed a sigh of relief when she closed the apartment door behind them. She heated up some leftovers, and handed Adrien a bottle of soda, while he amused himself with admiring his unburdened ankle, unbothered by the lack of conversation. Marinette then set their plates down to begin the meal.
She had just finished cleaning up when she turned around to speak, but at that moment, Tom and Sabine barged into the room.
'Phew, that was a mad rush,' Tom exclaimed, wiping his brow with his apron.
Sabine drew up a chair to sit next to Adrien. 'Hello, my Darling. How are you today?'
Adrien beamed at her. 'I'm fantastic. Look at this,' he told her, yanking up his hem once more, and wriggling his foot.
Marinette walked away to collapse, face down, on the couch.

Alya regarded her with crossed arms and a disapproving frown, when they met the following morning. 'Well?'
Marinette's head fell forward as she let out a pathetic whine.
Resigned, Alya sighed, 'what happened this time?'
Marinette raised her head and gripped Alya's sleeve. 'I was going to tell him while we studied, but Papa kept interrupting us, asking if we'd like to try his latest creation. It was like he was doing it on purpose,' she grumbled.
Alya rubbed her forehead. 'Ok, you need to make a time when you can visit him. If you keep going back to your place, you'll never get a chance.'
Marinette stepped back, with a thoughtful expression on her face.
Alya recognised her line of thinking immediately. 'Oh, no you don't, M. You're not using your parents as an excuse to not tell him.'
Marinette gasped. 'How did you, I mean, that's not what I was thinking at all.' She crossed her arms, and turned away with an affronted pout.
Alya hummed, sceptically. 'No later than this weekend, you hear me?'
Marinette choked on air. 'Wait, what? Why this weekend?'
Alya leaned forward with her hands on her hips. 'If you have a deadline, you're more likely to actually do it. It's motivational.'
Marinette sagged with another pitiful whimper.
At lunch time, Alya dragged Nino away on another forced date. He was bemused by her persistence, but didn't seem to have any objections. He just waved as Alya hauled him away, used to her behaviour.
Marinette and Adrien returned to her place for lunch, joined once again by Tom and Sabine after the rush was finished.
Tom challenged Adrien to a round of Mecha Strike, and was in the process of being thoroughly trounced, when Adrien's phone rang. Tom paused the game while Adrien answered the call, then, they all watched as Adrien slipped out of the room to conduct his conversation in the hallway.
He came back after a few minutes with a puzzled look on his face.
'What is it, Honey?' Sabine asked, with mild concern.
Adrien looked up to give her a distracted smile. 'I'm not sure. That was the police, asking where I am, and saying they needed to speak with me. Is it ok if they come here? They said it's urgent.'
'That's fine, Son,' Tom assured him. 'I take it they're already on their way?'
Adrien's smile turned apologetic, as he rubbed the back of his head. 'Sorry for the intrusion; I just thought it would be better to speak to them here, than at school.'
'It's fine, Dear,' Sabine assured him. 'I'll get some tea ready.'
Tom and Adrien resumed their game, while Marinette hovered around the kitchen with Sabine.
Before long, there was a knock on the door. Tom let in a police officer, and a man in plain clothes with a briefcase, offering them a seat on the couch. Adrien stood at the far end, watching the men closely, but his expression was carefully blank.
Sabine bustled over, carrying a tea service. She poured the men a cup each, then moved to stand beside Tom, a polite distance away.
The policeman stood up. 'Actually, Madame and Monsieur Dupain-Cheng, I'd like you to participate in this conversation. You too, Mademoiselle,' he added, nodding politely to Marinette.
They all gathered on the couch, Marinette and Sabine sitting on either side of Adrien, while Tom perched next to the man in plain clothes.
The policeman cleared his throat. 'I am officer Antoine Beaufort. I've been put in charge of Adrien's case at the station. This is Monsieur Cicero Descoteaux, Adrien's case worker.'
There were polite murmurs of greetings and more introductions, as Tom and Sabine insisted they be called by their first names.
Antoine coughed into his hand. 'Over the last few weeks, Adrien has proven he is trustworthy. Therefore, the authorities have decided that he can be moved out of his current residence to live on his own. However, he is still a minor, and cannot purchase or rent his own property without someone to vouch for him. As he has no legal guardian, we were wondering, Madame and Monsieur, if you would be willing to sign off on a property contract on his behalf.'
Sabine put a hand to her chest, scandalised. 'You can't possibly expect a boy his age to live on his own.'
Cicero held up a finger. 'That's exactly what he's been doing for the last few months.'
'Yes, and it's appalling that was allowed to happen,' Sabine huffed.
'Do you have an alternative, Madame Cheng?' Antoine asked.
'Yes. He can stay here with us,' she replied.
Cicero looked around the tiny living space, his eyebrows disappearing into his hairline. 'I don't think that's possible. Clearly, there isn't enough room.'
Tom looked down his nose at the man. 'Monsieur, I own this entire building. I'm sure we can find room for him here.'
Cicero subsided, sipping his tea to avoid having to answer.
Antoine regarded Tom and Sabine closely. 'Are you sure? Public opinion of Adrien has cooled, but if word got out you were housing him, your business may suffer. Not to mention the opinions of your friends and families.'
'We'll handle any problems just fine,' Tom assured him. 'I'd feel better knowing Adrien is here, safe with us, than let him continue living alone and wondering if he's eating properly.'
'I've always eaten properly,' Adrien muttered into his chest, as he blushed profusely.
Cicero nodded. 'You seem certain. In that case, there's some paperwork you need to sign off on.' He reached down to pull his briefcase into his lap. He then extracted a sheaf of paper, and handed it to Tom.
Tom took the papers to the kitchen counter, closely followed by the other adults. Sabine read the forms over his shoulder, then accepted a pen from Cicero to sign where necessary.
Adrien chewed his lip, and bounced his leg, as he stared intently at their backs.
Marinette sucked her lip while she held Adrien's hand. She wasn't surprised to note that his palm was as sweaty as hers.
Finally, the adults stood back.
'Congratulations, it's a boy,' Antoine joked as he shook Tom's hand.
'We are blessed, indeed,' Tom replied with a chuckle.
Antoine and Cicero turned to Adrien, who let go of Marinette's hand to stand up as the older men approached him.
'I'm sure I don't need to explain just how much these good people are sticking their necks out for you,' Cicero said. 'They're responsible for you now, so anything you do will reflect on them, understand?'
Adrien nodded. 'Yes, Sir.'
Cicero offered a hand. Adrien gave a slight smile as he shook it. 'Thank you for all your help, Sir.'
Nodding, Cicero said, 'it was nice working with you, Adrien. I will be checking up on you every so often, to make sure your reintegration is going smoothly. Other than that, and your weekly visits to the doctor, you're a free citizen now. Remember, stay in school, do as Madame and Monsieur Dupain-Cheng say, and stay out of trouble. Goodbye for now, Adrien.'
Antoine gave a decisive nod. 'You can start to move your things at your earliest convenience. When you've finished, you can return the keys to the station. Good luck, Son.'
Adrien nodded again. 'Goodbye, and thank you.'
Antoine and Cicero departed, waving briefly over their shoulders as they closed the door behind themselves.
There was a moment of silence, as each of them allowed what had just happened to sink in.
Finally, Sabine clapped her hands with a delighted squeal. She raced over to Adrien, and wrapped him in a tight embrace. 'Welcome to the family.'
Tom joined their hug with a sniffle. 'I've always wanted a son.'
Marinette snapped pictures with her phone, before she, too, joined the hug. They politely ignored the tears streaming down Adrien's face.
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