On Point

A Shocking Move!

By Rena Rouge

Interesting news has come from Japan tonight, as Kagami Tsurugi (23) has announced a move to none other than the English Royal Ballet. Where everyone thought Gabriel Agreste (50) was putting in many man hours schmoozing Tomoe Tsurugi (49) to have the young legend to partner in his company, it was a shock to everyone as Gabriel's sister-in-law, Amélie Graham de Vanily (45) had scooped up the dancer to dance with her own son, Félix Fathom (22).

Félix has always been number two to his cousin, however, with his new partnership, we might be seeing a new King and Queen of the dancefloor.

*****

"I'm sorry for pulling Rosita from the competition."

Adrien shook his head not wanting her apologies. As disappointing as it was for his lead to not be there to perform, there were bigger things right now, such as why she had lied, and more importantly why she was here. Rosita's mother always looked so well kept, like she had motherhood all under control and flowing effortlessly, however, as Adrien should know, things aren't always as they seemed.

"Forget about all that," Adrien said, placing the bag down and looking at the lady in front of him. She looked so tired, almost similar to the last remembering months of his mother. Was she sick? Or was there more to it than that? "How are you? We've missed you both at the studio."

Her face flamed and Adrien was wondering if he should have started the conversation softer — a little more delicately. But he knew beating around the main problem was useless and sometimes it was better to just rip off the band aid and just get to the root of the problem. From there it could be fixed or mended. The fear on her face showed that maybe this was all a little too much, too soon.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have mentioned anything." He quickly backtracked, holding out his hands in defence, hoping she understood he meant no harm.

"It's okay," she said, bouncing the young baby in her arms. The small infant began to grumble before letting out a wailing noise which Adrien could only compare to a T-Rex searching for prey. "It's okay, baby boy. It's okay." She continued to rock him in her arms, yet the crying increased, growing louder and louder.

She looked defeated and his heart went out to her. He could only imagine what she was going through, the black bags under her eyes indicating clearly exactly how worn down this woman was. He helped her to sit down in the chair beside him, watching as she leaned forward, attempting to hold the baby in one arm as she rummaged around her bag with the other. He watched her struggle for a moment before jumping into action.

"Here," he said, leaning forward and lifting the bag up onto his lap. "What do you need?"

The grateful look she gave him, made his heart clench. It seemed small actions really did go a long way.

"Could you grab me the small black holder?"

He rummaged around a little, moving stuff left and right trying to find the object in question, and finally placed his hands on the bottle warmer...or at least it looked like one.

"This?" Adrien asked, lifting the object from the bag and holding it up in the air.

She nodded. Adrien unzipped it and pulled the warm bottle from the confines of the holder before offering it to the parent beside him.

"Thank you," she said, taking the bottle from him and popping the lid off. She tested the contents' warmth on her wrist before placing the teet in the baby's mouth. The screaming ceased immediately and the youngster took the opportunity to down the milk like a frat boy with a keg.

They sat in silence, side by side, both watching this new form of human life take the milk without respite, Adrien feeling the need to let out a burp for him.

"I didn't want to take Rosita away. She adores the studio, and you and Tikki. It wasn't a choice easily made." She looked up towards her daughter, who was still talking with Santa and her twin brothers. "My husband had lost his job a couple of months ago. No fault on his part, just another victim of COVID. But he didn't take it well."

Adrien felt his back straighten, a defensive wall coming up and preparing to pounce. A sudden need to protect came over him, yet he hadn't heard the story yet. It all could be completely innocent, but he couldn't help but feel the need to blame.

"Did he — has he?" He didn't know how to ask it, the sudden uncomfortable feeling was too much to take. He was on edge. A lion ready to defend his pack. Was this how Plagg felt with him?

She looked at him with wide eyes. "Oh no! No! Certainly not! He's never laid a hand on me, or the children. I promise, Adrien."

He nodded his head in acceptance, however, every ounce of him remained on high alert. If that wasn't the case, then what was?

"He's always had depression, ever since I met him, but he'd worked hard to keep it level and at a point it wasn't interfering with anything."

And didn't Adrien just know about that.

"But," she continued. "He took this hard and then stopped taking his medication and instead started to drink. It began as once in the evening, then at lunch time and the evening, and before I knew it we were plummeting into the red and he's either sleeping off boozed raves, or out drinking. I just... I just..." She broke off, tears streaming down her face as she attempted to hold the bottle still yet express her own grief.

He wished he'd known this before. He could have helped. Actually no, not could have helped, he would have helped.

The baby began to stir in her arms, her sobs shaking him up and down and bringing his restless cries back into motion.

"Can I hold him?" Adrien asked. He had no idea what had possessed him to do that, he'd never held a baby before in his life. But she looked like she needed a moment, and he was there so he should help.

She looked between him and her son, her fear as evident on her face as his probably was. She switched to and from him and the baby again, before tentatively stretching her arms and offering the small child to him. He took the small bundle carefully and settled it into the cradle of his arm.

He was so small. Delicate. Harmless. Yet, this child was in the middle of chaos as his family tried to work out a new path in life. He didn't ask for it, none of them did.

"Let me help," Adrien almost demanded. He turned his attention from the baby to the broken woman next to him.

"No, no! I can't that's not —" Keeping the baby in one arm, Adrien stretched out and placed his hand on hers, grabbing hold of it and showing her strength and support.

"Please! I can help! Let me do something. I can sponsor Rosita. I'll sort out payments with Tikki. It'll be fine."

"Adrien? You don't have to —"

"Yes I do! Let me do this for you, please. You've always supported and trusted me to be her teacher, let me show my gratitude."

The sound of giggles grew louder as the three other children came to see their mother and baby brother.

"Chat Noir!" Rosita shouted, a bounce in her feet with excitement.

"Hi, Rosita, how are you?"

She moved forward and stroked a finger down her baby brother's face. "This is Vince. He's three months old. He screams a lot."

Adrien chuckled, Rosita's mother springing to her feet beside him. "I know this is a lot to ask. But would you mind keeping an eye on the kids so I can go to the restroom please?"

Adrien smiled, understanding the meaning under the simple ask for help. She was accepting his offer and he would make sure he saw it through.

"Sure, take all the time you need."

As Rosita picked up her younger brothers and sat them on a chair to share, she settled on the other side of them, all of them staring at Adrien with smiles on their faces — that was until the screaming started once again.

Looking down, Vince had spat out his bottle and was now turning red in the face as he screamed his little lungs out. What the hell was he meant to do?

"Need a hand?"

His eyes met with those of an angel. A Christmas miracle, and someone who was hopefully going to stop the small child from crying.

Without responding, Marinette bent down and took the baby from Adrien's arms before placing him over her shoulder. The baby let out a rather impressive belch, before stopping crying.

"See," Marinette said, "it was just a little gas."

As much as Adrien would have liked to agree with that, he was quite sure, being cradled in Marinette's arms, he'd feel comfortable and content too.

*****

Marinette had watched curiously as Adrien took the bag from a young woman, before helping her over to a chair and settling down. She went to stand with her father, helping him greet the children and hand out presents, yet one eye always seemed to search out Adrien.

She couldn't help the stir in the pit of her stomach as Adrien conversed with the newcomer, Marinette fighting hard to keep the jealousy down. Did he know her? Had they once dated? Did he have a thing for women with babies?

She internally growled as she considered why she was thinking such things. She'd have to have a word with her mother, she wasn't even thinking like this about Adrien and now she couldn't stop.

But was this actually all new? Yesterday had changed their relationship tremendously, something which had moved through to their routine in rehearsals. They were closer than before and she really did feel like she knew him, really knew him.

"Hi! I've seen you at the studio." A small girl with two dark, brown pigtails, looked at Marinette. Her dark chocolate eyes glistened and danced as she smiled widely.

"And what is your name?"

"I'm Rosita. It's nice to meet you. You always look so pretty, you have the best leotards. I told my Maman I want to be like you one day."

The girl spoke without taking a breath, Marinette's head nodding along with her, as she tried to keep up.

Rosita? She knew that name. Rosita?

She frowned, wasn't Rosita the girl who had broken her arm or something just before the festival. There wasn't much broken at the moment.

"That's really sweet," Marinette smiled. "Which class do you go to?"

"I used to be in the squad, but Maman can't afford it anymore so I've had to stop, just for now though. She said she's working hard to make sure I can go back."

The innocence of how she spoke broke Marinette's heart. To be here meant only one thing... there was a chance she'd never return to the squad. The children usually at these events would be the ones not receiving presents from Santa or having a Christmas dinner and to think this girl was also giving up on her dreams broke Marinette's heart. She looked over to where Adrien was now cradling the baby, her heart warming at the sight of such a small bundle in his muscular arms, but most of all for how confident and comfortable he seemed holding the small child. It almost suited him.

"That's my baby brother," Rosita announced proudly, Marinette smiling at Adrien as he shushed the baby who was proudly drinking from his bottle, the lady next to him standing up and walking away. She looked tearful.

"Come and meet him!" Excitedly, Rosita ran off in the direction of Adrien who was battling with a screaming baby wiggling in his arms. It seemed the milk was finished... or maybe?

"Need a hand?"

Adrien's head shot up to look at her, a pained expression plastered over his face. He nodded. Instant relief as he met her eyes.

Scooping down, Marinette grabbed the baby from his arms and gently placed him on her shoulder, rubbing his back gently and smiling when the sound Homer Simpson would be proud of escaped the tiny bundle's mouth.

"See," she said, "it was just a little gas."

She handed the baby back to Adrien, watching as it gurgled and reached out towards him.

"Thank you," the woman said, making her way back to them and taking her son back from Adrien's arms.

"You're very welcome," Adrien replied with a smile. He stood up tall, standing shoulder to shoulder with her — or at least, almost. Marinette was always taken aback by Adrien's height and prowess. He was tall and strong, and not at all like the other guys at the studio.

"Oh, hi! I'm Rosita's mother. You must be Adrien's girlfriend."

The woman smiled brightly at her and she wasn't sure how to respond – a terrifying thought in itself. Something inside her edged her over towards the 'yes' side, whereas her head focused on the situation and unveiling the truth. As the battle between head and heart advanced to the next stage, Adrien answered the question for her.

"We're just friends," he responded. "She's my dance partner."

"And talking of which," Marinette started, finally remembering how her mouth worked again. "We need to go and get changed for our performance."

Taking him by the hand and waving a quick goodbye to the children, Marinette led Adrien through the crowds, past Santa and to the small room behind the stage. They needed to see what costumes they could pull together and decide what they were going to do — asap.

Easier said than done.

An hour later, Marinette was dressed in an ice blue leotard with a net curtain ripped and tied around her waist. Luckily, she had her sewing kit in her bag and a great ability to adapt and sew effectively with just about anything. Adrien had managed to grab hold of some jogging bottoms from the community hubs lost and found box, and then discarded his shirt remaining in his plain black vest.

"Sorry for pressuring you into this," Adrien said, stretching his shoulders out beside her. The means of a super quick warm up.

"It's fine, honestly! I'm just happy you want to perform. That's a big change from the Adrien Agreste I thought I knew."

He laughed and she was growing incredibly fond of the small creases around his eyes. He was so young and carefree when he laughed and smiled, and she wasn't blind... he was rather attractive too.

"Come on, let's give the kids something to remember."

Adrien began to walk to the stage, Marinette grabbing his arm and stopping him before he could get too far.

"I wanted to ask you what you were talking to Rosita's maman about, I mean, I'm not trying to be nosey, or anything. You know what, you don't need to tell me, it has nothing to do with me –"

Adrien stopped her. He placed his hand gently on her forearm and looked into her eyes. "I told her I would fund Rosita's dancing, sort of like a sponsorship. She's too good to not have the opportunity."

With that, he turned around and walked away, making his way up and onto the stage. She wrapped her arms around herself. Another unexpected response from Adrien Agreste.

She was beginning to see she had him really, really wrong and with every additional minute she was spending with him she was liking him more and more. He really was the sweetest guy. The grumpy, judgemental exterior was just one to block his heart and void real emotions. He kept his distance from people for safety, not because he wanted to but because of the way he'd been used and abused over the years.

She moved, following the direction he went, meeting him on the stage, placing herself into their starting position.

She quickly looked back at him, her heart flipping in her chest and increasing the nerves taking over her ability to stand still. Taking a deep breath she waited for the music to start and began to move, but this time as they moved from one move to the next, nailing each and every choreographed step, she wasn't sure if it was acting anymore. Her body began to blend and conform effortlessly with his, both moving as one in a perfected way.

In the quiet spaces between glances and fleeting touches, an unspoken feeling began to blossom, hidden from the world yet vivid in the hearts that dared to feel its presence. And she was suddenly feeling daring.

She knew there wasn't such a thing as perfect, but sometimes when she was dancing with Adrien, she couldn't help but think they were trying to prove that theory wrong.