Emotional Support [Complete]

S2 E13: Choosing Marinette

"Why can't I come with you?"

Adrien clung to Marinette's arm as she'd just disallowed him from joining her and Gabriel to work on her gown for the Snow Ball.

"Because, mon chéri," Marinette tapped his nose, "I want it to be a surprise. You can see the dress tonight."

"But--"

Nathalie placed a hand on his back. "I'll stay with you for a while."

Adrien smiled. "Okay."

"Yes, okay." Marinette cuffed his face and pressed a kiss to his head. "Great. Thank you. See you later."

Marinette and Gabriel entered his office. It was beautiful. Sketches all over the walls and gorgeous dresses on the mannequins alongside the wall opposite from her.

"Oh, those are amazing!" Marinette fangirled as if she had suddenly remembered that Gabriel was her idol and she was standing in a room with him and all his works. "You're so talented!" She clicked open her purse. "Tikki, look at this!"

The red kwami hesitantly peeked out of the purse, looking around cautiously as she was not used to being in plain sight of anyone but Marinette. Then, her eyes settled on the shimmering dresses of Gabriel's winter collection and ripped up through the air, almost as amazed as her chosen.

"Wow, Gabriel!" Tikki complimented. "These gowns are remarkable!" Tikki landed on the shoulder of a mannequin clad in a blue gown encrusted with shimmering butterflies. "And very shinny!"

"Thank you." Gabriel laughed at their excitement. "That one is my Blue Flurry, but I secretly call it the Blue Fury."

"Why, fury?" Tikki asked. "It seems like a dress of innocence... despite the deep cut."

"You see those intricate designs on the skirt?" Gabriel began. "Those weren't in the original sketch. I kept changing my mind, stitching and restitching until it was a disaster. What your seeing is my dress' scars meant to look like they were intended. It was a very infuriating dress to work with."

Marinette giggled. "Well, it turned out gorgeous!"

Gabriel smiled before clearing his throat. "You know, Marinette, you could just where the Blue Flurry, or any of these dresses instead of designing something new."

Marinette thought the dresses on the mannequins were lovely and she'd be overjoyed to wear any one of them. However, she had a feeling Gabriel really wanted to design a dress together as an excuse to spend time with her.

Marinette shook her head. "No, Gabe, I want to design with you. I was looking forward to it."

Gabriel smiled, rubbing her head. "Then, of course we will." He turned to an enormous closet in which many more dresses of all types spun in circulation. "Here it is."

After pressing a red button, the machine stopped spinning, and Gabriel grabbed a rather bland looking dress from the circular rack. It was a nice pink color, but it was a generic heart-top gown with no unique patterns or qualities. It didn't look like a Gabriel Brand at all.