When I turned seven, it wasn't uncommon to see Adrien, Luka, and I to be hanging out. Every now and then, I would get annoyed with the butting of heads, and I would snap at them.  But usually, I was able to play peacemaker and they would get along to an extent.

Luka had the unfortunate pleasure of meeting Gabriel Agreste during one of his sleepovers at my house, but Emilie had invited us over for dinner and she was more than welcoming to have Luka over well.

"I don't like him," I whispered to him, making sure my parents couldn't hear me, "Adrien's father."

"Why?" he whispered back, and I pull a face.

"He's controlling, he expects too much from his son, it's not okay," I answered, shaking my head, "and he's ready to cut me out of Adrien's life at any given moment. I think the only thing stopping him is my relationship with Adrien and Mrs. Agreste adoring me."

"He doesn't sound very nice, then," he mumbles.

I pursed my lips, "It's not that he's not nice," I reasoned, but sighed. "He's an overprotective father, who also happens to not like me."

Luka turned his head towards me, so I returned his gaze, though I grew confused as to why he had yet to say anything, "Luka?"

"I..." he started, "I can't imagine anyone not liking you."

My eyes widen a bit, tripping over a small rock, but catching myself. Feeling the heat in my cheeks, I look away from him. 

Get it together! I'm a grown woman getting flustered over a subtly compliment from a nine year old. 

To try to hide my embarrassment, I scoffed, "You haven't met Chloe."

"Well she doesn't sound nice."

I threw him a look, "You don't even know her."

"She doesn't like you, which means she's not a nice person."

My jaw dropped slightly.

This kid...

"What is with you..." I grumble, looking away from this...this smooth talker. "Ah, we're almost there."

-

"And who is this?" Mr. Agreste questioned, leaning forward slightly to inspect Luka.

"This is my friend, Luka," I introduced, "he's already met Adrien, they're acquaintances."

He raised an eyebrow at me, "Not...friends?" I snorted. 

"They act more like rivals. For what, I have no idea."

Before Gabriel could press, Adrien comes running around the corner with an excited screech of "MARINETTE!" He skidded to a stop in front of me and Luka, his brow furrowing, pointing a finger at the other boy next to me. "What are you doing here?!" 

"Adrien, that is no way to treat a guest!" Mrs. Agreste chastised, making him shrink back. "Luka was spending the night at Marinette's when we invited them, so it's only natural that he comes with as well."

Adrien's mouth dropped, and threw a nasty glare at Luka, before looking at me with betrayal, "You're having a sleep over and you didn't invite me?" 

Oh, you have got to be kidding me.

I narrowed my eyes, "I did ask." I look at Gabriel Agreste, who avoided looking at either his wife or son. Mrs. Agreste seemed to catch on and turned to her husband with a frown.

"Is there something you need to tell me, Gabriel."

The man then threw me a glare- what is with me getting all these negative looks, I didn't do anything- before turning to his wife.

"Marinette called earlier, asking if Adrien could spend the night, I said no."

She crossed her arms and I had to hold myself back from laughing at the man, Mrs. Agreste was amazing, and always smiling. She was just a ball of sunshine through and through, a gentle and loving mother.

But Gabriel just seems to bring out this side of her.

"And why can't he?" she asked him, waiting for a pretty good excuse.

"Emilie," he hissed, "he is my son-"

"Did you carry him inside of you for nine months?" she shot back, and Mr. Agreste reeled back with wide eyes. 

"Well, no-"

"Did you have to suffer breathing and looking like a cow?"

"N-"

"Did you give birth to him?"

"No."

"You may have helped bring him to this world, but I did all the work," she sassed, "he's my son as much as he is yours, if not more. I get to have a say in whether or not our son can spend time with the only friends he has, don't you think, honey?"

I had to hide my face in Luka's shoulder, my shoulders shaking as I held in my laughs.

"Nette, come on, let's go play in my room!" he glanced at Luka, "I guess you can come, too."

I looped my arms around both of their arms, walking in the middle as we made our way to Adrien's room.

"Emilie-"

"Don't Emilie me, mister. I am not happy with you right now."

"Emil- where are you going- honey!"

I snickered, "I love watching him suffer."

"Huh?"

"Nothing, Adrien. Nothing."

Luka simply shook his head, but I noticed the small smile on his lips, and that was all I needed to know that he enjoyed it as well.