Is it Too Late? (FINISHED)

Forced Relations

Adrien woke up, although he didn't exactly sleep much, thinking about if things were going to go back somewhat normal with Marientte after they talked. He really hoped that things will be ok. And someone absent from his mind was Ladybug, instead his head was filled with thoughts of another blue eyed girl.

When he was woken up by Natalie, unlike usual, she told him to go into his fathers office before eating breakfast.

"You wanted to see me father?" Adrien asked, a bit nervous for the fact that it was rare that Gabriel saw him in the morning.

"I have been talking with the Tsurgami family, and we've both decided that it is for our greatest interests that you and Miss Tsurgami were to be an item. Natalie has already leaked to the press of this, and remember, this is for the good of the company".

Adrien couldn't believe what he was hearing, he'd have to date someone he truly only thought of as a friend. But the only thing that came out of his mouth was, "Yes father" as he held his head low while going to breakfast.

While he was eating it really hit him that Marinette was going to see in the news that he was dating Kagami, the day after he broke her heart. He knew that he had to clear up his situation, but how would he do that, by going against his fathers wishes? He didn't know but what he did know is that he started to get really anxious about the school day ahead of him.

Back at Marinettes, she had finished eating breakfast when her phone dinged. When it did she couldn't believe her eyes. The new headline of the news was "Adrien Agreste is officially taken, by none other than Kaga..." and that was all she needed to read to for once feel mad at Adrien. How could he do that?

How could anyone, especially Adrien get a girlfriend after rejecting someone, especially a close friend? She knew for sure she wasn't talking to him, not for a while.

Adrien had ended up being late to school due to the new news he'd received, when he walked in he couldn't help but notice everyone looked at him besides the one person he wanted to talk to. He was hoping to wave hi to Marinette, but when he walked in she didn't glance up from her paper, she didn't even flinch.

When Adrien sat in his seat, he faced himself towards Alya and Marinette, but neither of them were saying hi, then he turned back to Nino, but all he did was say, "Not cool dude".

Adrien wanted to explain, but Miss bustier said, "Adrien, Nino, is there something more important than my class?"

They both said, "no ma'am".

Adrien then slid Nino a note. When he opened it, it said, "It's not what it looks like, I'll explain later, just trust me". Nino then just put the note in his pocket and gave Adrien a single kurt nod.

When lunch rolled around, Adrien followed Alya and Marinette walking down the steps presumily to go to Marientte's bakery. However Alya knew of a certain surprise waiting for Marinette, leading her to it, or should I say him. "Luka! What are you doing here?" Marientte said, running over to him giving him a big hug.

Adrien couldn't help but get extremely annoyed with the situation in front of him. He saw her hug him, and his chest tightened, and this feeling kept getting worse and worse the more he saw them together.

"I wanted to surprise you so we could go out to lunch," Luka said. In the morning he saw the news headline. As if he didn't have enough reasons to hate Adrien. The dude rejected his so-called friend, then got a girlfriend all under the span of 24 hours.

Marientte then hopped on the back of Lukas moped, and as she strapped her helmet in, Luka looked back to the top steps of the school. He saw Adrien with a surprised yet hurt look on his face while looking back at him and Marinette. This really set Luka off, of course Agreste was going to try and play the victim when Marinette didn't fall back into his arms after everything happened. Luka then gave Adrien a dirty look, hoping he'd learn to back off.

Adrien watched as Luka gave him a dirty look, he'd never seen Luka look at anyone that way. Then when he turned his head away Marinette had gotten her helmet on, as she wrapped her arms, tight, around Luka's waist.

Adrien's mind was spinning. Marinette hangs out with Luka a lot? How did that happen? Does he like her? Of course he does, who wouldn't. Does she like him at all? And plus he wasn't even able to talk to her about the Kagami situation, even though he wouldn't know what to say in the first place.

Panicking, Adrien grabbed Nino over to the side where no one would listen, "You have to listen to me. My dad is making me date Kagami as a publicity stunt"

Nino was shocked. He knew Gabrial was bad, but not so bad as to make his child date someone he doesn't even want to date. "Waid, seriously Dude? That's beyond messed up"

"I know, and talk about bad timing. What do I do? I need to talk to Marinette!".

"Why don't you just tell her the truth"

"I'm not even supposed to be telling you, my dad would kill me if he found out I told anyone!"

Nino didn't know what else to say, he felt bad for his friend, but had no idea how to help him, it was going to be a tricky situation, especially with Marinette being caught in the middle.

...

When Adrien saw Marinette walking into class from lunch, she was noticeably happier. He wished he was the one to make her feel better, but he didn't know how to get around the issue of his father.

Although it made him happy when during class he heard Alya behind him say, "Whoa, I love that drawing of Chat, that's really cool". Adrien's heart felt warm when he thought of Marinette doodling him in her notebook. Maybe that'd be a way to talk to her. If he wasn't able to talk to her in his civilian form, then superhero it is. Although that doesn't mean he won't try to make things right as Adrien.

After school as Marinette was leaving, Adrien lightly grabbed her wrist saying, "Wait, I need to talk to you".

Marinette took a deep breath before looking behind her. "Look Adrien, I'll talk with you when I'm ready, but you have to understand, I really liked you, and the day after you rejected me you started dating someone new..." Adrien's heart once again split in two seeing Marinette on the brink of tears, "... so for now, please, just leave me be".

Adrien just stood there as she walked away. He didn't know what to do, how to react, what to say. She was right, and he knew that, but she needed to understand that him dating Kagami is a publicity stunt.

When he went outside he hoped to see Marinette, but all he saw was Luka hugging a crying Marinette as he gave Adrien a look that could kill.

For once in his life, he had a problem that he had no idea whatsoever how to fix. If he told Marinette that dating Kagami was a publicity stunt, then how would that really change things. He'd have to keep dating kagami, plus he doesn't even know for sure if he likes Marinette like that, besides, he loves ladybug, right?

...

Luka wanted to pick Marinette up after school to cheer her up about the whole Adrien situation, but of course she was crying when he went to pick her up. He held her, making her feel better, but of course Agreste had the audacity to show his face coming out of the school. Luka was furious, if it wasn't for Marinette, he would give Adrien a piece of his mind. For now all he could do was keep her away from him at all costs, so he took her to the liberty to finally give her guitar lessons.

Adrien wanted to run after Marinette, but Kagami showed up at school, taking his hand. "Are you ready for fencing practice" she said. He wished she would talk about things other than school, or fencing, or more serious topics. "I guess" he said, not really in the mood. Of course Kagami was a nice girl, but she didn't have the fiery spirit, or kindness that mari- ladybug has.

That has been happening a lot to Adrien. Suddenly all his thoughts seem to center around Marinette. He hadn't seen Ladybug in a while too. And if absence is supposed to make the heart grow fonder, why does he not really miss ladybug as much, and why does not having Marinette in his life hurt way more than anything?