Blondes and Bluenettes (Lukadrien and EmiNath) • Miraculous

Chapter 3 | pained looks

"That's enough Adrien"

"But father-"

"This isn't up for debate! You're doing the photoshoot"

Nathalie could hear the two arguing from her room, as she always could. This time it was over a photoshoot project. Adrien had never particularly liked Lila, and yet Gabriel kept making him work with her even after he was asked to cease said activities. Nathalie felt bad, the two had been arguing more and more lately. Almost as if with each akuma attack, Gabriel lost more of his parental skills.

She heard a door slam above her, Adriens room most likely. He was probably not too pleased with the circumstances and being a hormonal teenager was rather angry about it. Poor kid, being a growing teen is hard enough but having a father that doesn't care for you and somewhat recently deceased mother must make things 10x harder.

Following that door slam was another, this time to Gabriels office. She expected a door slam from Adrien, he was still a teen and teens at out when they're angry. But Gabriel was a grown ass adult and slamming doors like a child throwing a tantrum.

How she'd grown to hate him over the years. When she first met him though Emilie she respected him for his work and devotion to his wife. But as time went on he changed, and slowly Nathalie began to loose more and more respect.

She'd sat by and listened long enough, if Gabriel wasn't going to be a parent, she was. She promised Emilie after all. It was a slight struggle to get out of bed, still feeling rather dizzy. But she was able to pull herself up and slip some slippers on to head upstairs to check on the upset child.

Having to lean on the railing for support she eventually made it up, and knocked at Adriens door.

"Adrien, can I come in?" She asked.

She didn't get a response, although she wasn't really expecting one. Kids ignore people when they're angry sometimes. She opened the door only slightly to see if he was ok, finding him with his face stuffed into the pillows clearly upset. She walked in, sitting on the bed beside him.

"Adrien I know everything has been a mess recently, but... you can talk to me you know?" She replied.

"You should be resting" Adrien replied, muffled by the pillow.

"I shouldn't be standing by letting you suffer in silence"

He was silent a moment, before sitting up and giving her a saddened look.

"Is everything ok between you and father?" He asked.

"Huh? Adrien I'm asking if you're ok" she replied.

"But... you seem to be less, I don't know. Close?"

She sighed, was this another thing he was stressing about? She felt bad, he shouldn't be worrying about other peoples lives but clearly being under the same roof made him pick up on these things.

"Look, I'm mad at him for treating you badly. I can't say that out loud. I am an employee after all... but if I seem a bit cold, that's why. I'm just not happy with the way he's been ignoring your feelings and well being. You're still young, I think he forgets that sometimes" Nathalie explained.

Adrien gave her a slightly confused look, like he wasn't expecting her to care about the relationship he had with his father.

"Now, are you ok? Don't ignore me. I know you're upset, you don't have to tell me everything but at least assure me you're ok" she added.

"I'm... I don't know. Everything is a mess and I guess I'm just stressed out..." he admitted.

"Adrien please remember you're still a child, I know your father and the media frame you as a mature adult but you don't have to act like one 24/7. You're young, a teenager. You're allowed to feel upset and act out sometimes, it's only natural at your age"

"I know... sometimes I just forget I can switch off my 'adult' self when I'm not around cameras or father. I was arguing because I don't want to work with Lila, I got worked up that's all"

Nathalie put a hand on his shoulder and rubbed it gently, the way a mother would when reassuring their child.

"That's ok. You're allowed to get worked up sometimes, now I know you don't really like her but... why? If I may ask" she asked.

"She makes me uncomfortable" Adrien replied.

Nathalie raised an eyebrow, she was expecting something like school drama or a friendship fallout as is usual for kids his age.

"How?" She asked.

"She lies a lot, even when it hurts other people she doesn't stop. She almost got my classmate expelled because of a lie once. She's also really... I dunno, intense? Like shes always talking and has to be the centre of attention. Also she... she always tries to touch me and be close to me, it makes me so uncomfortable" Adrien explained.

She had noticed Adrien has seemed annoyed by her before, but then she got sick and bedridden so she wasn't around the photoshoots to see anything else. She had no idea it'd gotten this bad and Adrien was that uncomfortable. And the touching... that was weird. Being a model Adrien did have his fair share of fangirls, but most of them just made lovey dovey posts on social media or asked for an autograph. Not... literally try and touch him. That was very alarming.

"What do you mean touch you?" She asked.

"Like she's always trying to hold my hand and hug me even when I push her away and tell her to stop. She flirts way too much even when I tell her no. She has no idea when to stop, so I don't want to work with her since she'll just use it as an excuse to get closer to me" Adrien replied.

Oh, so she's dangerously close to literally assaulting the boy? That's not scary at all. Nathalie wasn't standing for that, she'd have to try and task to Gabriel. Maybe he'd be more willing to listen to her, which was sad to say since he won't even listen to his own son.

"Hmm... I'll see if I can talk to your father about that. That's highly unprofessional, and just plain creepy" Nathalie said.

"THANK YOU! I knew it was creepy but no one would listen!" Adrien replied.

She sighed, knowing that this would be a messy situation trying to get him out of this project. But as she sighed she couldn't help but get a like choked up on her delicate throat and cough into her shoulder. That only made Adrien worry again.

"Are you sure you're ok?" He asked.

"I'm alright. Like I said I'll be chronically Ill, but it is totally possible to live a normal life with a chronic illness as long as you have the right treatment. I'm just having a little flare up recently that's all" she explained.

Somehow Adrien felt like she was only saying that to calm his nerves, but she was right. It is complicated possible to live a normal life if a chronic condition.

"Ok... just be careful ok? I don't want anyone else to get hurt" he said.

Nathalie couldn't help but smile at him, and pull him in for a hug which he gladly accepted. After two years without his mum, Nathalie had begun to feel like a step mum to him. And now Nathalie was aware of Gabriel's shit parenting she was determined to step in and help Adrien as much as possible.

"You know Adrien, when your mother got sick she asked me if I could help take care of you while she wasn't able too. I promised her that I would, and I intend to keep that promise. I'll always be there to help you. You've grown a lot these past years, your mother would be very very proud of you" she said.

Feeling the boys grip on her tighten and his head rest on her shoulders, she was glad that he was able to trust her.

"Thank you..." he replied.

When the hug broke, Nathalie got up to get back to bed before she fell asleep on the spot from painkiller side effects.

"I'll try and talk to your father for you ok?" She assured.

"Ok, thank you" Adrien replied.

He looked like he wanted to say something else, but held it back. She wasn't going to push him, if he had something to tell her she'd wait until he was ready, but she could tell that something else was on his mind.

"And remember, you can tell me anything ok?" She assured.

"Ok, I'll keep that in mind"