Adrien

Mr Unknown (10:03am): Are you for sale? Because I want to check you out.

Mr Unknown (10:03am): I'd actually prefer that life to give me lemons so that I can make a pretty lady like you some lemonade on a hot Summer's day.

Mr Unknown (10:04am): Did you ever notice that supermarket music is actually ideal for slow dancing with strangers?

Miss Dial (10:04am): I'm not a stranger and I thought you were just going to get some bread, not send me a pick up line after every aisle you pass.

Mr Unknown (10:05am): How about a little roll in the Bakery Department?

Miss Dial (10:06am): No! I would like you to get the bread and hurry back, we're going to be late.

Mr Unknown (10:07am): Sticky buns?

Miss Dial (10:08am): Ain't nothing sticky about your buns, Kitty – they're nice and smooth.

Mr Unknown (10:09am): Ooooo she's playing. Game on! Do you prefer organic or local? Because I'm both.

Miss Dial (10:09am): I'm just down the spice aisle but think I'll bypass the chilli today, you make me hot enough! 🥵

Mr Unknown (10:10am): That was a good one! We're so mint to be.

Miss Dial (10:15am): If you're lucky, I'll even show you my rack .

Mr Unknown (10:15am): All in thyme , M'Lady, all in good thyme .

Miss Dial (10:16am): You know... I've been pepper-ing for this moment my whole life.

Mr Unknown (10:17am): I clove you so much!

Miss Dial (10:17am): Oh, boy! After that one I'm in need of a va- Cajun .

Adrien laughed to himself. They'd come a long way in the past few months, each and every moment highlighting that giving it one more chance was the correct decision. He adored her and their relationship. So much so, he'd packed up his life in London and moved back to Paris — Daisy included. When the cockerel came to be collected the day after the storm, Marinette was reluctant to let him sell it. Instead, his Lady concluded that it'll be nice for their kids to have fresh eggs from the garden.

(He was almost certain she was lying, knowing full well the cockerel can't lay eggs.)

He couldn't believe she was already looking that far into their future, but he'd be lying if he said he didn't see it going the long run too. They just fit ! Years of working together in supersuit and the sexual tension out of was a dynamite romance, one that was thrilling and comfortable, and, dare he say, perfect.

As he considered his next pun, he crashed into someone's cart, almost toppling over and ending head first inside it.

"Ooooph!" he announced, wrapping an arm around his waist as he straightened only to catch sight of his father on the other side of the cart. Maybe it wasn't his lack of attention which had caused the collision. Maybe it was Gabriel Agreste aiming directly for him.

In another query, why the hell was his father in the supermarket?

"Adrien." His name came from his father's mouth more like a business associate than his only son. Absolutely no love lost.

Adrien looked his father up and down, the backdrop of the supermarket, plus the dodgy boy band soundtrack, almost made him want to laugh.

"Oh, how the mighty have fallen." Adrien smirked, crossing his arms and almost crushed the bread. He raised an eyebrow challengingly at his father. He wasn't taking crap from Gabriel Agreste anymore and he was almost certain this meeting wasn't coincidental.

"Nathalie said it would be good for me to do something more normal for a change."

Studying his father, Adrien saw him finally for what he actually was. A manipulator and a coward. He looked pale, only increased by how frail he seemed. He was nothing. Pathetic. His fathers shoulders hunched over himself and Adrien didn't feel the slightest bit of remorse for his father. He'd never seen Gabriel as anything less than perfect but right at this moment the guy looked nothing more than a badly ageing man.

A chime sounded between them, Adrien ignoring his father to look at the message before quickly sending a reply. A smile must have crept onto his face, as the steely glare from his father only ever came from Adrien's happiness.

"Who's that?"

Adrien shrugged. "Just someone."

"Aren't you going to inform me who this woman is? The correct safety checks need to be put into place —"

Holding up a hand, Adrien shook his head. "You just don't get it, do you? That day you gave me that ultimatum: I chose to live my life, my way. Whether you like it or not, I chose a life without you in it. Now if you'd excuse me, I'm going to be late."

Steadily moving forward, Adrien headed in the way of the spice aisle ready to find and meet with Marinette. They had to plenish their new apartment with food before heading out to meet the others on the Liberty. Everyone had rallied together not only to support Adrien and Marinette's new relationship, but also Adrien's move back to Paris and the opening of 'MA'; and even though everyone thought marriage was on the horizon due to the acronym of the companies name, much to others disappointment it was due to the companies joint venture.

Not that the idea of proposing had evaded him. Having Marinette, his Ladybug, as his wife would be incredible — a dream come true.

A hand reached out to grab his arm, holding him in place as he looked down at the long boney fingers of his father; his nose flaring.

"Listen boy," Gabriel hissed in Adrien's ear. "I made you, I can break you."

Tugging his arm from his father's grasp, Adrien glared the tall man down. He regretted deeply all the years he'd spent idolising his father, doing as asked and getting manipulated purely for his father's vision. He was done now though. Gabriel had no hold on him anymore.

"I'd like to see you try, Gabriel ."

"I know all your secrets, Adrien. I could tear you and your little girlfriend apart, I could get you back under my thumb any second I wanted." Gabriel hissed.

Unable to control himself, Adrien laughed. Then he laughed harder. Suddenly unable to control himself, Adrien wrapped one arm around his waist and bent over clutching his stomach.

"My... secrets?" He struggled to get out. " Mine!" Adrien repeated again, attempting to stand himself up straight. He staggered forward, once again coming eye to eye with his father.

" If we're talking about secrets, how about yours? If anyone should be watching their back it should be you, father . I'm quite sure being uncovered as a hero is worth a lot more than being the villain."

With satisfaction, he watched his fathers face drop. Finally, getting one up on the man who'd tried time and time again to dominate his life was a breath of fresh air.

"We're in the end game now father, I hope you're ready."

"Adrien?" The voice he heard in his dreams floated towards him, his eyes softening as he saw the sheer ray of hopefulness heading to him, basket in hands.

"Hey Lovebug." Looping an arm around her waist, Adrien turned his head to press a kiss to her temple.

Both turned to face Gabriel without now an ounce of fear on their faces. Together they were undefeatable. Together they stood strong.

"Good afternoon, M. Agreste," Marinette greeted pleasantly. Adrien marvelling at the confidence of the woman standing beside him. She knew she was safe because she was with him and that was, by far, the greatest feeling in the world — the constant support of someone having your back.

"Thank you for attempting to have my designs taken out of Paris Fashion Week. Luckily, I have the new mayor of Paris wrapped around my little finger. President Bustier is a rather large fan of... oh, dear my brains lapsed. Who was it sweetheart?"

"Ladybug, darling. She's a big fan of Ladybug and what the hero says... goes. Don't they have an act of support towards each other?"

"Oh yes, that's right. Ladybug has diplomatic immunity, she's a free agent to act on accord." Adrien smirked knowing full well his father, aka Monarch, was attempting to piece this all together. More importantly, what it meant for him.

"Let's just hope Monarch doesn't do anything to piss her off right, Kitty." Marinette stretched on her toes and pressed her lips to Adrien's chin. The blond smiled in response.

"Quite the woman, isn't she? Now, if you'll excuse us father, we have places to be," Adrien said.

"Actually, before we go I hear the sky's going to be clear most of the day; however, I'm sure there'll be some clouds you can gaze at while you're waiting around to spy on us again. We're heading to the 'Liberty' for a picnic, if that's any help in locating us?"

"We'll be there for 2pm," Adrien continued.

"And who knows, you might see some birds and bees flying overhead?"

"See you, Gabriel." Adrien saluted before leading Marinette away.

"Bye, little butterfly." She finger waved in response.

Without even glancing back at Gabriel, the two heroes headed towards the check out, a spring in their step and a smile in their heart. As they paid for their groceries, they chatted about their latest encounter and what was to come. After almost 10 years they were reaching their endgame and, after their meeting today, they would finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

If this encounter had left Gabriel with little to no words, then he would be well and truly silenced with what was about to hit him.

The end