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"Wellll, A Fake Relationship Is Better Than None, Right?"

Summary:

(note: Tamaki and Haruhi do make an appearance, but it's fine to read even if you haven't watched OHSHC)

Gabriel Agreste was impressed. That's why he decided on setting up an arranged marriage between his son and his prodigal apprentice. So, over the years, he formulates and acts out a plan with his partners-in-law-and-crime, the Dupain-Cheng parents, to slowly draw Marinette and Adrien together, so it wouldn't be too much of a problem.

When he tells Adrien that he was engaged to Marinette, and when Tom and Sabine inform Marinette, the two still refuse to notice that they had actual feelings for each other. They decide to announce to their friends that they were dating that whole time(they weren't but oh well details schm-etails) and are now engaged, and they delve into the world of a fake-engagement and a fake-marriage with not-so-fake feelings (featuring: a very fucking angry Alya, a very winky-face-ish Nino, and awkward adults).

Gabriel, Tom, and Sabine were expecting the plan to go smoothly and perfectly without too much shit. Well, they were wrong.

Notes:

(See the end of the work for notes.)

Chapter 1: gabriel agreste the 'professional' matchmaker

Chapter Text

Gabriel Agreste was impressed. That did not happen very often, especially not in response to an amateur/quite young fashion designer, though it seemed the girl, Marinette, certainly knew her craft. He remembered her from years ago, when she won a design contest held in his son's schools. She was talented, and clever, as she made sure her work was still indistinguishable from the copycat's (aka Chloe Bourgeois). He looked into her files and got Adrien to tell him more about the girl, who was class president, and very kind to everyone, and even had at least a little bit of patience with the brat, Chloe.

It was then that Monsieur Agreste decided to rethink setting up his son, Adrien, with the Mayor's daughter Chloe, and instead, behind Adrien's back, decided to contact the Dupain-Chengs, Marinette's parents. He told them, if she kept the good work up, he would personally recommend her to Paris's best design school and recruit her as an intern in a few years' time, if they were willing to help him subtly push Marinette towards his son, Adrien. He needed the business to stay in the family, and since Adrien clearly didn't want to be a model or fashion designer forever, Marinette was the perfect candidate.

Adrien was extremely surprised to notice that his father was slowly detaching their connection with the mayor and his daughter. Gabriel Agreste had better, stronger, political connections with politicians of higher status than the mayor of Paris, so it wasn't too much of a loss. Adrien was even more surprised to find the Dupain-Chengs catering to all of his father's occasional galas from then on, each time with Marinette in tow.

Over time, as Gabriel closely observed them, the two certainly got closer (especially after a certain odd event that Gabriel didn't know what it was, but their interactions changed). Marinette stopped being a stuttering mess and always held casual, friendly, and even playful conversations. At some point, she gained confidence to wear her designs to every event she was invited to. Adrien was to report to his father nearly everything he learned about Marinette. Of course, he knew his friend wanted to be a fashion designer, and she would be very happy to find out that world-famous designer, Gabriel Agreste, was so impressed by her skills, so Adrien did his best to help, even if he wasn't able to rant to his father about how Marinette was hi-the amazing Ladybug.

***********

Adrien had quit his modeling career a while ago, and his father took it surprisingly well, even when Adrien told him he wanted to major in physics and not fashion. He even got his son into one of the best universities in France for aspiring scientists. His father just kept surprising him more and more, and to be honest, Adrien was expecting that his father had some ulterior motive, and it turns out there was.

When his father invited him over for tea one weekend, he was surprised, even though their relationship had begun to stitch itself back together over the years, it was still surprising to be invited over for no apparent reason.

Adrien sat a little stiffly, wondering what his father would say, and if it was really anything good.

"Ah, Adrien, you're here. I've been meaning to talk to you about something."

Good afternoon to you too, Dad. Instead of saying anything, Adrien just nodded.

"Do you remember me telling you about finding a new successor to the company, since you would rather be a scientist?" He drawled the word scientist, though he was secretly happy Adrien decided to not be in the business, as he has neither the drive, interest, nor the ability to handle any sort of business.

Adrien nodded again, wondering where this conversation was going.

"I have found someone worthy of being the successor. I've already been considering them for years, and keeping them under close watch recently.."

As long as it's not Chloe. "..it's Mademoiselle Dupain-Cheng-" Adrien wasn't too surprised (she really was amazing and it did fit), but he smiled wide in happiness for Marinette. "-who will soon be Madame Cheng-Agreste."

WHAT. "E-excuse me?" Adrien sputtered. What, is my father marrying Marinette or-

"I've spoken to her parents, and they've helped me arrange for you and Marinette to be married. I wanted the business to stay in the family, and this is the only other way. And do not act like this is a bad match, as I have seen lots of interaction between you and Marinette, you clearly have feelings for her."

Well, she is Ladybug, and while, yeah, I do have a crush on her, I don't want to force marriage on her, and she clearly has no interest in me, and I mean we're just friends, y'know? At least it's my best friend and not someone like Chloe or something..

His father continued sipping his tea while they both sat in silence, Adrien picking at a fancy scone, suddenly having lost his appetite. "If you aren't going to say anything, you may very well leave. I just have to say that your cousin Tamaki and his fiancee, Haruhi, will be coming over for the engagement party and wedding. Felix may be attending, but he is in England right now for his law degree."

Gabriel encouraged Adrien to keep in touch with the son of his late wife's sister, seeing a bit of Elisabeth and Anne-Sophia in the older boy. He didn't care as much for Felix though, the son of Gabriel's half-brother, Elias, who, even though he handled the law firm that did every case for the Agreste fashion empire, never really kept in contact with the family.

You informed Tamaki before you even informed me? The one getting married?! Adrien nodded to his father solemnly before exiting with as stoic of a face as he could manage, though Gabriel could see that he was failing.

Okay hopefully, Marinette already knows so I don't have to tell her.