Marinette fell face first onto her bed. "Oh god Tikki…" She groaned, "This cannot be happening."

"Everything will work out eventually." Tikki soothed Marinette.

"We nearly kissed." Marinette's voice was muffled due to her stuffing her face into the pillow. "I said that I couldn't do it. What the fuck was I thinking."

Tikki giggled, "Why don't you just give him a chance?" She flew onto Marinette's back.

"I can't!" she said, "I told him I wouldn't!"

"Are you saying that because you're scared?"

Marinette hesitated, "Yes." She said in a small voice. "Also because what I saw was true!" Marinette defended, "Everything could go wrong! The system…"

"I'm sure that if you both care enough about Paris, you'll be able to build up your relationship again if anything went wrong."

"I love Paris!" Marinette said, "And I care for Chat." Marinette carefully picked her words, "And I'm terrified."

"Oh Marinette…" Tikki hugged Marinette's arm.

"I don't want to be selfish." She murmured, "I can't be selfish. The fate of Paris rests on us defending them." Marinette screamed into her pillow with frustration, "Fuck. Me."

Marinette was incredibly proud of her hidden crush for Chat Noir. She was also aware that it was terrible of even having another crush because she felt like she was cheating on Adrien.

Marinette clung onto Adrien's sweet personality, which was so undeniably different from Chat Noir's. She'd convince herself that Chat's flirtatious remarks were getting to her, and that her feelings were just some kind of effect from her exposure from Chat.

Whilst she grew up, even though she knew that the only way Adrien had ever seen her as was as a friend, she desperately held onto fantasies she'd create in her head in attempt to convince herself that Adrien was still the person she fell 'in love' with when she was thirteen. But shit, she was sixteen now.

Marinette would brush off Chat Noir's compliments, his reckless attempts to 'be the gentleman' and take the hit for her. She'd discard every possible idea she'd have of Chat. believing that he was 'one of those boys', the type of guy who would hit on a girl and then bring her to bed. But she knew it was so wrong.

Chat was brave, courageous, kind, and caring.

She had promised herself, right at the beginning, that she'd never get together with Chat Noir. She'd laugh when Alya suggested that Ladybug and Chat Noir had hidden their 'secret romantic feelings'. She was so sure that she wouldn't let it happen that she'd proposed a damn bet with Alya. Fifteen euros!

And then everything she had built up against Chat had crumbled down. Once their kiss had started, she knew from the beginning that she was completely, and utterly, dead.

"Plagg!" Glee rang through the air as Adrien punched the air. "We had a moment!"

"Yeah." Plagg replied with boredom dripping through his voice. "Well done."

"Don't try to suck the joy out of me Plagg."

Adrien had to pinch himself to see if he was dreaming.

'I wasn't dreaming. It's real.'

He was flabbergasted, "You. Made Ladybug nervous." He muttered, "Ladybug never gets nervous. But you did it."

"Talking to yourself is a sign of insanity you know." Plagg casually said.

"Oh my god!" Adrien cried, hands clamping over his mouth; realization quickly leaking into Adrien's mind, "I almost kissed Ladybug! I almost kissed Ladybug!"

"And she almost kissed you."

Adrien felt like he was on cloud nine, his veins were coursing with happiness, and it rushed through him, filling him to the brim. "She almost kissed me." He whispered, "Oh my god, Plagg! She almost kissed me!"

'What a nerd.' Plagg thought, "Yes." He drawled, "It's not like you to be so happy."

"Ladybug makes me happy Plagg." Adrien stated, twirling to fall onto his bed with content. "Ladybug."

Maybe he'd finally have a chance with Ladybug. He didn't know or care how things would work, but maybe he'd have a chance. And just the thought of the possibility of dating Ladybug made Adrien glow.

"You do realize that Ladybug might not want a relationship."

Adrien couldn't breathe.

"But perhaps she would be willing to try." Plagg finished.

"You're full of shit Plagg." He said with a slight tremor in his voice.

"Thanks."

Adrien walked into the classroom, his arm immediately came up to wave at Nino.

"What's up?" Adrien greeted, sliding into his chair.

"Awesome. Amazing." Nino sighed, "The date with Alya was yesterday, and it, was, sweet!" He exclaimed excitedly.

"Nice!" Adrien said, raising his hand for a high-five.

"Yeah, a lot of making out." Nino winked as they high fived.

"Wow, you both move fast." Adrien said, "I'm assuming you had a good time?"

"Fuck yes I had a good time." Nino replied, "So what's with you?"

"Nothing much." Adrien said, his mind automatically thought back to last night.

"Don't play with my bro, I know you too well."

Adrien awkwardly laughed, "I'm fine!" He said.

"Dude, I'm worried about you, you've been really down for the past week." Nino said.

Adrien rubbed the back of his neck, "I've got, erm, girl problems."

"Girl problems?" Nino asked, "What? Are you on your period?"

Adrien's mouth twitched to a smile and he elbowed Nino, "You know what I mean."

"I do, I'm sorry Bro, couldn't resist." Nino chuckled, "So you've got problems with a girl?"

"Yeah…" Adrien trailed. He didn't want to give away too much information.

"She doesn't like you back." Nino stated. "I personally don't know why." He continued, "I would totally bang you."

Adrien laughed, "Don't tell Alya that."

"Alya is enough for me." Nino said. "Tell me about this girl."

Adrien sighed, "She's amazing, and I've known her for a while, and things are happening but she says that she doesn't want to ruin our friendship."

"Ah, the classic friendzone." Nino patted Adrien on the back, "If anyone can get out of that hell hole, it would be you."

Adrien grumbled, "Women are so confusing."

He felt Nino perk up next to him, "Alya's here." Nino whispered as he frantically hit Adrien on the arm.

Adrien glanced up and watched as Alya and Marinette walked into the classroom, taking their seats. "Just be cool." Adrien told Nino.

"Right, yeah, be cool." Nino rolled his shoulders, "It's alright, I'm cool. I'm cool."

They could hear as Alya and Marinette took their seats, talking in hushed voices.

"When do you think I should turn round?" Nino murmured, his leg bouncing with anticipation.

"Not now. Be cool." Adrien said.

"I've got to, I can't help myself."

Nino turned quickly turned around and swung his arm casually over his seat. Adrien groaned as he smacked himself in the face. It would have been more casual if Nino hadn't spoken so quickly.

"What's up Alya?"

"I've been fantastic." Alya replied. She looked delighted to get that type of reaction out of Nino.

Adrien glanced over to Marinette. Her hands were over her mouth, attempting to stop the giggles from erupting from her mouth.

Nino gulped, "That's great! Adrien, how are you?"

Adrien shot Nino a look, 'Seriously man?'

"I'm doing great." He said.

"How was your weekend Nino?" Alya winked.

"It was great!" Nino said hurriedly, "I had a great time with you."

A squeak of laughter came from Marinette. Adrien looked from Marinette to Alya, realization flooded his face. Adrien grinned, "Hey, so you never finished talking about how it went." He said, joining in.

"What went?" Nino said, his eyes were focused on Alya who was busy staring quite intently at him.

"Your date Nino." Adrien patiently. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Nino visibly gulping, a light pink colouring his cheeks; Alya waggled her eyebrows suggestively.

Marinette had succumbed in another fit of giggles, her eyes watering as she tried to contain her laughter. She watched as her best friend successfully made Nino's jaw drop to the floor as Alya suggestively leaned over her table, cleavage out, to whisper into his ear.

She definitely didn't want to know what Alya was whispering about.

They walked out of school as another week flew by quickly.

Marinette had forgotten about what had happened on the rooftop after the next couple days, and the only reminder of that night was the burn on her side that was healing rapidly.

She had stuck to a strict routine, making sure that she'd keep her mind of Chat Noir. She didn't want to tunnel back into a state of worry.

"Are you guys free Saturday?" Alya asked already excited that the weekend was drawing near.

"I'm always free for you." Nino smiled, his arm coming around to rest on Alya's curvy waist.

The two pairs had seemed to join together, the unity of Alya and Nino had made their two friends and them become a group.

"Babe…" Alya looked at Nino adoringly, "Usually I don't like romantic shit but you're so cute."

Adrien took his phone out of his pocket, flicking through his calendar, "Nope, I've got nothing."

The prospect of hanging out with Adrien made Marinette's blood rush, "I-I don't think I've got, uh, plans." Marinette said, Alya grinned at Marinette with understanding.

"Great!" Alya said delightfully, "Do you guys want to go to the movies?"

"Sure." Adrien chirped, "Text me the details, I've got to go!" He raised his hand as a goodbye, running to his car quickly.

The trio watched as the sleek black car quickly drove away, taking Adrien with them.

"Well, that's my cue." Nino said, kissing Alya on the cheek, "Bye guys!" He yelled, rushing towards the group of students that watched as the school bus parked alongside the pavement.

"He's cute." Alya sighed watching her new beau actively talk to their classmates.

Marinette grabbed hold of Alya's arm. She had been freaking out once Adrien had confirmed that his actual body would be hanging out with her, outside of school.

"Oh my god." Marinette silently screamed. "I'm going to the movies with Adrien Agreste!"

"Yeah you are!" Alya cheered.

"I'm going to the movies! With Adrien Agreste!"

Alya beamed as she watched her friend jump excitedly in the air, whooping. "Don't you think you're going to get ready by yourself though." Alya said.

"You're the greatest friend I could have ever wished for." Marinette said with a smile still plastered on her face.

"I know."

Marinette anxiously paced her room. She had patrol with Chat Noir in less than an hour and she didn't know what to do.

'You like him!' Her mind screamed, furious that she wasn't co-operating.

'No you don't!'

She didn't know what she'd say. She didn't know what she'd do. She numbingly sat down onto her chair.

Marinette thought back to the event, and winced as she remembered her departure, stammering, blushing…

'You only did that to Adrien…'

She let out a groan of frustration, banging her head on the table. She looked at her desktop background, a collage of Adrien she had made when she was thirteen.

"Why can't anything be easy?" She moaned her hand coming up to poke one of the Adriens on her computer.

Marinette pondered wildly as her thoughts travelled down the very dangerous road of "What if we did have something going on?"

She imagined sneaking off late at night, meeting up with Chat Noir and he would lean over and kiss her, and kiss her. She imagined climbing up the Eiffel Tower late at night and she'd push him against a pillar and take his lips into hers. She imagined Chat purring, whispering sinful things into her ear as he'd teasingly trail a clawed finger down her stomach and-

Marinette pushed herself from her desk frantically, "No, no, no…" She cried, getting up again and returned into the routine of walking back and forth. "Bad thoughts Marinette. Very. Bad. Thoughts."

Tikki flew into Marinette's room with icing splattered around her cheeks. She watched as Marinette kept pacing, muttering, fidgeting anxiously. "Marinette, I'm sure everything will go okay." She said, understanding the situation she was in.

"It's going to be so awkward! It's hardly ever awkward."

"Well, I think it's good to experience some kind of awkwardness." Tikki said.

Marinette raised an eyebrow, "How is it ever good to be placed in an awkward position?"

Tikki fluttered to Marinette hugging her cheek, "I know things seem bad with Chat, but it'll be okay."

"Yeah, well, better get this over with." Marinette sighed, flicking a strand of hair out of her eye. "Take me to hell Tikki, transform me!"

Ladybug soared into the night, swinging to and fro from building to building. As she swung closer to their meeting point, she could see Chat Noir's sly eyes gleaming from the shadows.

He leaned against the chimney and hungrily watched as Ladybug gracefully landed on the building. Her eyes darted downwards nervously, her arms coming up to cradle her chest.

"My lady." Adrien drawled. He didn't forget the last time they met, and he definitely wasn't going to pretend that it didn't happen.

"Patrol then?" She quietly asked, her foot traced the roof floor. 'What are you doing?!' Her mind screamed, 'You're Ladybug! Act like it for fucks sake.'

She breathed, and bravely looked up at Chat Noir who watched her closely with a mischievous glint in his eye.

"Of course my lady." Adrien said, "Unless you want to do something else before?" He purred, his eyes darting down from Ladybug's eyes to her pink lips.

"Patrol then?" Ladybug asked in a tone higher than her normal voice.

Adrien walked out of the darkness and stopped when he reached Ladybug. "Ladies first?" He asked, bowing down. He teasingly looked up from his position and watched as Ladybug visibly gathered herself together before soaring through the night.

He grinned, if he had a tiny, small, minuscule chance with Ladybug, he was going to fight for it. He pounced, onto the next roof, to the next quickly meeting up with Ladybug who jumped onto a shed roof and cleanly sliding down it before setting off again.

Adrien quickened the pace, overtaking Ladybug as he took a large leap, stretching his body out before rolling onto the ground.

Marinette couldn't help but to glance at Chat Noir every couple seconds. Honestly, it wasn't the first time she'd let Chat in front of her so she could admire… everything. And by everything she meant that ass because wearing a skin-tight uniform really doesn't hide much.

'God, just stop. Stop.' She told herself, 'Don't you dare look up… don't you DARE.' She kept her eyes firmly forward, 'Don't! Oh god here we go again.' She cursed herself as her eyes darted left to sneak a quick glance at Chat Noir. She couldn't help but to admire his beautiful jawline and amazing cheekbones. She tore her gaze unwillingly, her eyes widening as she hastily swerved to avoid a chimney.

"Distracted, my lady?" Chat teased.

Marinette hid a blush, thankful for the dark sky, "No." She said stiffly, taking large strides so she came before Chat.

Adrien grinned at Ladybug's reaction. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Ladybug furiously glaring forward. He grinned even wider when they passed a streetlight; the glow of her reddening cheeks bringing him satisfaction.

Marinette angrily scolded herself as the embarrassment of getting caught staring at Chat Noir no less, had sunk in.

The duo leaped past hundreds of buildings as they circled around Paris. They stopped twice to stop burglaries and attempted rape. Chat Noir pushed off the burly man off an intoxicated, petite woman and dragged him towards the closest police whilst Ladybug quickly called a cab for the lady. She helped other people get into cabs, gently reminding them, "Get home safely." and "Hey! Don't drive!"

When Chat Noir arrived back to at scene, they began to run across Paris again.

Sweat stuck Marinette's hair to her forehead as she jumped across yet another wall, panting heavily. Chat Noir huffed as they leaped onto another roof.

Chat Noir's leather suit gleamed in the night, and Marinette couldn't help but to stare at Chat's gorgeous tanned muscles as they flexed with every step they took. She gawked as Chat cartwheeled over a row of short chimneys, his arm muscles looked like they were staining against his suit. 'Was that really necessary?' Marinette thought, her jaw unintentionally dropping.

They jumped across another roof and if Marinette hadn't been so busy staring at Chat Noir's fantastic legs she wouldn't have stumbled. And who could blame her? The boy had fantastic thighs.

Adrien frowned as Ladybug staggered, he reached out and grabbed her shoulder, "Wait." He insisted, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Ladybug croaked, her eyes firmly fixed onto his shoulder.

"You're not." Adrien said, gently clasping his hand around her elbow, guiding her towards a wall she could lean on. "Is it your burn?" He asked, "Has it finished healing yet?"

"Wha- oh yes, my burn." Ladybug stuttered, "No it's still kind of red."

"We could take a break." He suggested, they had been running around for nearly two hours, as it was a Friday night.

"No! I'm fine!" Ladybug said, "as long as I stop fucking staring." She muttered quietly.

It was this type of situation Adrien wanted to thank being Chat Noir. His heightened hearing clearly caught Ladybug's quiet remark.

"Staring at what?" Adrien purred, taking a couple steps closer to Ladybug watching as she realized she was backed up against the wall.

"I was staring at nothing." Ladybug hastily said.

Adrien leaning over Ladybug, his tall frame trapping her as his hands came up to rest beside her head. "Are you sure about that?" Adrien hid a shiver as he watched Ladybug chewing her lip before releasing it.

"No." Marinette felt like kicking herself. 'You've faced millions of Akumas and you can't even talk properly to boys?"

"No?" Chat Noir breathed, his hand coming over to her face, sweeping her fringe out of her eye. Marinette cowered nervously. Her eyes bravely came up to meet his, before she was captured, enchanted under his gaze. "Are you sure?" Chat asked, bringing his body closer to Ladybug's. Adrien came close enough to count the freckles scattered across Ladybug's cheeks.

His finger softly drew around the freckles, connecting them together. Adrien didn't miss the gulp that Ladybug took as he teased her cheek with his claw. Adrien looked into Ladybug's eyes lustfully, noticing the dilation of her pupil.

"You weren't staring at me?" Adrien whispered, leaning closer into Ladybug

"Maybe."

"Well, maybe is good enough for me." He muttered into her ear, before brushing his mouth against her jaw, and then her cheek, lightly making his way to her lips.

Marinette melted against Chat's touch, her eyes fluttering close as his hand came up to cup her cheek. His thumb rubbed the bottom of her lip and he placed a feather light kiss at the corner of her mouth. Marinette sighed, waiting for Chat to bring it further. 'Kiss me!'

She frowned when he removed his hand from her cheek, Marinette opened one eye and saw the gleeful face of Chat Noir.

"Well it's getting late." Chat said, as if nothing had happened between them. "I must be going."

He gave Marinette a seductive smile with hooded eyes, as if promising that there will be more coming. "Good night, my lady."

And then he turned jumping down from the roof and disappearing into the night.

She was left feeling confused, her mind still buzzed, unable to think properly. Marinette brought her hand to touch her lips.

"What?"