Chapter One

Alya's cheek was on the verge of going numb, her knuckles were propping up her head as she tried not to sigh. Once again, she was a spectator of her best friend's rambling antics as she tried unsuccessfully to communicate with her crush. And as usual Adrien was oblivious to the effect he had on Marinette. Since he was a model with an adoring fan base, you'd think the guy would have a clue about what a flustered girl looked like. Apparently not.

Marinette's arms were moving in an almost comic fluttering as she tried to put together a sentence that wasn't butchered. His blonde eyebrows were drawn tight as he did his best to interpret her meaning. Perhaps Adrien's skill with languages gave him an advantage as he seemed better at piecing together Marinette's meaning than most. But then he'd have to be since he was the only person she had trouble speaking to.

This was becoming painful and Alya couldn't take it anymore. Sidling up to her best friend, she laid a supportive hand upon Marinette's shoulder and acted as her translator. "What Marinette is trying to say, is that she was wondering if you'd like to go to her house for some gaming?"

Green eyes blinked as he took in the request and a smile spread across his face. "I'd love to." Yet again, Alya could see that the boy had no idea Marinette was actually attempting to get him alone for reasons stretching beyond platonic bonding.

Despite this, Marinette looked like she was about to melt into a happy puddle of goo. Just like Adrien, she missed the true intent of the other's motive. Adrien was lonely and relished company, while Marinette adored him and longed for his attention. Alya was beginning to think that she needed to whack Adrien with a dose of the obvious. Marinette was completely smitten with him and would make an awesome girlfriend. Plus, they'd be able to officially go double dating, instead of the faux play on words to get them paired up on date-like outings.

Even Nino had been working on Adrien in attempt to open his eyes. But there was one roadblock Marinette didn't know about. Adrien was a huge fan of Ladybug and harboured an equally huge crush on her. Alya had witnessed the way Adrien's green eyes glazed over in a lovelorn haze whenever he spoke of the heroine. It was almost an identical reflection of Marinette's response when daydreaming about Adrien.

Alya was tempted to smack her own forehead. If only Ladybug and Chat Noir were a couple. Then Adrien would be disillusioned about his crush and might finally give Marinette a shot. Hazel eyes widened. Being the owner of the Ladyblog meant she had ample opportunities to converse with Ladybug and Chat Noir. Normally the pair were together but sometimes she caught them individually. Perhaps if she got Chat Noir alone she could help him woo the heroine. Anyone with eyes knew that the cat themed hero was head over heels for his partner. She had firsthand experience from being Rena Rouge. Yet the scarlet clad heroine continued to rebuff Chat Noir's advances.

With the wisps of a plan coming together, Alya unlocked her phone and began typing a blog post. A wide grin spread across her face at her ingenuity. Chat Noir was something of a glory hound. If she played to his need for affirmation, she was certain she could set up a meeting in the guise of an interview.

At that moment Nino draped an arm around her shoulders. "What are you doing, babe?"

"Putting together a request to interview Chat Noir," she uttered as she proofed her post before publishing.

Marinette's voice chimed in with none of her stuttering. "Just Chat Noir? Don't you want to speak to him with Ladybug?"

Alya shook her head. "Not this time. I'd like to write a piece purely from his perspective. Usually he's with Ladybug and it's common knowledge that he does everything in his power to please her." Glancing up she noticed that Adrien's cheeks were tinted a heavy pink. Apparently, her comment struck a chord with him.

The model cleared his throat. "Um, what did you want to discuss with Chat?"

"As I was saying, his view on being a superhero. Along with an honest representation of his thoughts on being Ladybug's partner. Of how they work so seamlessly together, as if they were soulmates." Again, Alya watched Adrien for a response. To her surprise he actually looked pleased at her description.

It was Marinette that made a choking noise as if the idea were ludicrous. "Soulmates is a bit of a stretch. Sure, they're partners but to suggest they're more is a bit presumptuous."

Adrien's frame straightened as he went on the defensive. "Why is it presumptuous? Chat Noir protects and backs her up without question. Have you ever considered why?"

This time it was Marinette's cheeks that burned and Alya wondered why. Perhaps it was because she was so adamant in her opposite stance to her crush. "I-I… look it's part of his job. It's how they work together. She puts herself out there for him too you know."

The model crossed his arms as he faced Marinette directly. "I never said that she didn't."

Alya cut in. "Chat Noir is so protective of Ladybug because he's in love with her. It's painfully obvious and I want to give the poor guy a hug for his trouble. He has to be obscenely frustrated that the one person he wants to notice him is more interested in doing her job. I think almost everyone in Paris wants to see Ladybug and Chat Noir become an actual couple."

Marinette continued to splutter. "They're superheroes doing their job. Why does romance have to come into it?"

Blonde eyebrows sank to shadow green eyes. "Who says that heroism and romance have to be mutually exclusive?"

This time Marinette spoke with conviction and didn't waver under her crush's stare. "Ladybug already cares for Chat Noir as a friend, and I'm sure she finds it troubling enough when his life is placed in jeopardy. How much worse would it be if she loved him the way he wants her too? There's the potential for her to hesitate when she needs a clear head. Besides, who's to say that she's not in love with someone else."

Adrien appeared to deflate at her words and he was slower to respond this time. "But he loves her and it doesn't interfere with his ability to support and fight alongside her."

Alya latched onto Marinette's final words. "You think Ladybug is in love with someone else?"

Wariness shone in those wide blue eyes. "I don't know for sure, but it would be a reasonable assumption since she's not interested in her partner that way."

The budding reporter felt a touch of disappointment at that theory. Was it possible, could Ladybug have a boyfriend outside the mask? Perhaps the interview with Chat Noir would clear things up in that regard. Hazel eyes wandered over her friends and she was startled to see that Adrien was staring at his shoes, his shoulders sagging as he chewed his bottom lip. The boy looked utterly defeated. Wow, he seemed devastated at the idea of Ladybug having a boyfriend and she was beginning to regret her decision to shatter his dream.

Nino spoke up. "This is pure speculation. No one knows what goes on between those two except them. Given how busy they are, I seriously doubt that Ladybug or Chat Noir have time for a significant other."

"I can always ask at the interview," Alya said with a cheeky grin.

Her boyfriend shook his head with a weary smirk. "You're relentless, you know that?"

"A good reporter is nothing if not determined. Let's just hope Chat Noir responds to my request."

I know, I know. I should be finishing 'A Piece of My Heart' but this idea came to me and I couldn't help running with it. Don't fear, I will finish my other story. But I liked this concept far too much to leave it alone.

Let me know what you think in the box below. Chapter two is already drafted out so you won't have to wait too long for the next instalment. Thanks for reading and I hope you follow and/or favourite :)