"I'm not writing that, or that, or that!" Marinette announced, taking the pen out of where she'd stored it in her hair to cross six ideas off of Alya's blogging idea list.

"Oh come on Marinette, you're a fashion student! You should be able to blog about outfits to wear on specific dates; all you need to do is style 'Marinette' and write about 'her' date's reaction to the outfit. We can take photos for the blog and everything. You can even promote your company. Two birds, one stone!"

"Don't you think that's a little too close to revealing my identity? It would be a clear pointer and a neon flashing sign saying 'Hey guys, I'm Marinette and I'm Ladybug.'"

"Come on, girl. You know how oblivious everyone actually is! We went through collège and lycée without Adrien knowing you liked him, or that Chloé wasn't a natural blonde."

Marinette stopped what she was doing, her eyes staring at Alya as her jaw dropped open. "Chloé's not a natural blonde?"

"Can you remember that day she didn't want to participate in swimming?"

"Yeah?" Marinette said, eagerly moving forward in anticipation of the story.

"Well, it was because she was worried her hair would turn green. I heard her telling Ms. Bustier!" Alya whispered; anyone would have thought she had the combination code for the Crown Jewels the way the wannabe reporter was darting her eyes around the room.

"No," Marinette gasped, mouth agape as she began to consider this as one of the most monumental moments of her life.

Chloé Bourgeois was not naturally blonde!

"I know! So scandalous! Ooo, maybe we could do styling for dates. Do your hair, take you out and see what guys like more?"

Marinette shook her head. This was just getting ridiculous.

"Alya, none of these are working! I can't just write about something I don't know! Why didn't I decide to write about games, or baking, or - or -"

"Chat Noir's favourite puns?" Alya filled in.

"Exactly! I can't write about dating because I'm crap at it! How can I tell people to do something I can't actually do myself? Come and read about Ladybug: the great failure in love. I'm going to go from an arrogant hero to a loveless zero in a matter of weeks." Marinette slumped against the side of the sofa, a hand framing her brows as she took a sudden interest in the floor.

This was not going the way she wanted it to go, she thought she'd turn up here and Alya would have an idea. Then, within 48 hours everyone would love her again, and she would be Paris' number two hero; no issues, no problems, all done and dusted. Instead, it was turning into the idea from hell! She was going to skin that cat alive for planting this seed in her head.

"This is a disaster, a complete disaster."

"Listen, Marinette, we don't need to choose right now. Let's just get some ideas together." Alya moved some things around on the floor, taking a couple of pieces of paper, reading them, then balling them up ready to throw away.

"What was on those?" Marinette asked, Alya's face turning almost the same fiery red as her hair.

"You don't wanna know."

Suddenly the screwed up pieces of paper on the floor had become the most interesting items in the room. Marientte glanced down towards them first, Alya following shortly after. Both eyes raising in a glare of curiosity of the other.

Without warning, Marinette dived forward first, grabbed one of the balled up pieces of paper and opened it up; Alya tried to wrestle it away.

"You're a disgrace!" Marinette squealed, her eyes growing wider and wider with each word she read. Her face morphed into complete shock as she finally reached the bottom of Alya's idea list.

"Oh, don't give me that! We're 19, and I know you read some very risqué novels."

Slamming her hands to her cheeks, Marinette let out a tiny 'meep' noise before screwing the paper back up and aiming for the bin.

"I know you don't want Ladybug to seem like a failure, Marinette, but if you show your troubles, and weaknesses, that's what will make you human to everyone. That's how they'll see you as one of them. Just imagine the girls out there who are not models, or outspoken, or have the ability to talk to their crush...like you. Imagine if they found out the wonderful Ladybug was the same as them, that she didn't always win the guy, or the competition, or, even, make it through a day without walking into a door."

Alya was right; she knew that. Yet still, that didn't help with her self confidence. To her, Ladybug was the perfect part of her (ignoring losing all the Miraculous') and she liked that she was seen that way; it was so different from her daily life. Not only was she going to have to change her mindset, but she was going to have to really embrace her Marinette side—for this at least.

"Look, I'm not saying you need to go and make a fool out of yourself. You've just got to show you have the same problems as the unlucky-in-love do."

The two sat down, a clean piece of paper in front of them and no thoughts in their heads.

"What do girls struggle with when they want to find a boyfriend?" Alya tapped the pen against her bottom lip as Marinette gnawed on the lid of her own.

"Is there anyone else we could speak to about this? I mean you've been with Nino for five years, and I've only had one 'almost' relationship. We don't exactly have the best credentials for this." Marinette stopped her assault on the pen lid and instead tapped the pen against her bottom lip, the plain white paper blinding her with hopelessness.

"We don't need anyone else; we can do this," Alya enthused. "Let's think... if I wanted to find a date, I would..."

They sat in silence again.

"Use Tinder?" Marinette said sheepishly. She'd never used the app herself, stopping after a couple of epic fails with other apps. After one too many close calls, she had become far too wary about the possibility of finding weirdos more than finding love. Plus, with her additional activities, she didn't want a randomer discovering her secret identity.

"That's true; a lot of people do meet their other half via apps these days."

"I'm not okay with that though, I mean, I would prefer to build something the old-fashioned way. Meet them somewhere, get to know them, check they're not Norman Bates, and match interests. Then, if all is well, go on a date."

Alya looked at her with furrowed eyebrows, a considerable pout placed on her lips as she thought about what Marinette had just said. Alya began to tap the pen against her lower lip once more, speeding up as she examined Marinette's face; then suddenly freezing.

"That's it," Alya whispered almost breathlessly, "that's what we're going to do. Old-fashioned romance in a new technological world. There's so many catfishes and other issues with using apps and dating online; so, why don't we put you in a situation where you'll need to go out and about to meet someone? Someone who would fit into your life."

Marinette nodded her head; this could maybe work — if she wasn't constantly running away to fight akumas.

Maybe this could work. She was an okay-looking girl, her body parts were in proportion to each other, and she had a good sense of humour and personality.

The main issue with her dating life was she'd put herself into this position, a position where she believed she couldn't have a relationship—not while being Ladybug, anyway. But she was 19 now, and the thought of hitting her 20s without ever having a real relationship was starting to depress her.

"Let's come up with a plan of, oh I don't know, ten points which you're going to cover; from looking for and finding the right place, up until the first kiss."

"You're being optimistic there, aren't you? Ten points? I'll be lucky to make it through three."

Alya rolled her eyes before continuing. "First, we need to know where you will be looking." She began to rummage around the area, only stopping once her hands were firmly placed on her tablet. Tapping around a couple of times, she pulled up Google. "You're a real woman, with a real schedule; you have high aspirations and expectations, you have a job, commissions, and are a superhero. You need to find someone who fits in with all that. You need to meet someone somewhere it makes sense. Humm..." she considered. "The University café?"

"Alya, I go to fashion school; most of the males I hang around with are not exactly going for my goods." Marinette sighed, taking the tablet from Alya's lap and typing into Google.

"So we're after a male? That's always good clarification."

"When have I ever given any indication I wanted a female?"

"Marinette, you haven't gone on more than a first date since you were 14 and, to be honest, I was kind of hoping your orange juice and coffee dates with Kagami or Zoé were leading to something." Alya reached out and placed a hand over Marinette's. "I just want you to be happy, Marinette."

"That's really sweet; thank you Alya." Marinette smiled, her friend, once again, being the second most supportive person in her life. "But I've actually been trying to set them up together. They'd be a good match, don't you think?"

Alya glared at Marinette quizzically, so quizzically in fact, Marinette thought a crossword puzzle may have formed itself over her face.

"What?" Marinette laughed out the word which was laced with fear; that face from Alya was never a good sign.

"You've managed to set up most of our class; Nino and I, Ivan and Myléne, Marc and Nathaniel, and now you're working on Zoé and Kagami!" she said exasperatedly. "Even Luka travelled over halfway across the world to be with Fei, a duo you set up. I just don't get why you can't sort yourself out."

She didn't know why Alya was asking; it was such a simple answer it was smacking them in the face over and over again like a giant wet fish. Adrien Agreste.

She hadn't seen much of him since they left lycée just over a year ago. Nino still saw him sporadically, but the guy was worn down even more than she was, and that was saying something. It seemed, once again, Gabriel had gotten a tight grip on Adrien's schedule, limiting pretty much everything the guy did, even if modelling wasn't an activity for him anymore. The only upside (in her eyes) was the lack of female company parading around on Adrien's arm. Every movie premiere or gala event Adrien appeared at was always alongside Kagami.

With the absence of him in her life, Marinette had come to terms with the fact that she and him would never happen, and, as much as she'd continue to dream about a life with him, she couldn't just stand around and wait; instead, making do with friendly random texts and even more infrequent phone calls.

"I can set people up because I'm not the mess out on the actual date," Marinette laughed. "Being single is hard." Her whining voice summed up her feelings completely, as her shoulders sagged and her eyes closed.

"Well, you've tried meeting guys at bars, and that always fails epically."

"Pfft, don't remind me."

"You've tried friends," Alya began to count out the checklist on her fingers. "Friends of friends, blind dates, you've dated the straight guy and the bisexual guy on your course, then we've attempted to meet people in coffee shops, clothing stores, craft shops, arcades... anywhere else?"

Marinette flopped backwards onto the floor, both hands slamming on her face and dragging down. "I just don't think this is going to work Alya; I'm a mess. Guys might want Ladybug, but nobody wants Marinette. I never make it more than half an hour into a first date."

"You're forgetting one thing; Ladybug wouldn't exist without Marinette, and it's only because Marinette is so awesome that Ladybug is such an amazing hero. So let's push all the negativity to one side and, for once, be positive. In a couple of weeks, you will have a boyfriend, and he'll treat you like a Princess."

"I hope you're not hinting at Chat Noir there?"

Alya shrugged. "Let's be honest; the guy will read the blog and try to find you. I'd put money on it, and, who knows, Chat Noir's civilian side might be rather charming." Alya winked, twisting and twirling her pen between her fingers; now there's a skill Marinette would like to have. "Wouldn't that just make the blog all the more sweeter?"

"There is no way I would find and date Chat Noir. The only way that could happen is if I spent my time at a local comedy club. He probably moonlights there on the weekends." Marinette attempted to twirl her pen like her friend, sending it sailing over Alya's head and into a photo frame holding a picture of herself, Alya, Nino and, of course, Adrien.

Alya started snickering, Marinette joining in quite quickly afterwards.

"I tell you what," Alya began, "if you think you've found him, his civilian form, that is, you have to go on at least onedate. I really think it's been long enough now, and you two deserve to not only know each other behind the masks but to also spend some time together." She coughed and shrugged her shoulders a little before continuing. "It'll also help the ratings on my blog."

Marinette was quite certain Alya was playing to her main weakness – the inability to say no.

"I'm not using my Kitty for your blog, Alya!" Watching her friend's face fall of course made Marinette reconsider her options. "But maybe if I meet someone who could be him, and he seems okay, then I will go on one date with him. Just one. Deal?" Marinette's nonchalant shrug caused a barrage of giggles to leave Alya's mouth, Marinette knowing Alya was already preparing her maid of honour speech. "I know what you're thinking, and don't!"

"I didn't say a thing!"

"You don't have to; it's written in Times New Roman size 24 on your face."

"That's a long-winded way of saying that."

"Bite me!" Marinette grabbed the cushion and hit her friend on the back of the head.

"Ouch! I'm trying to help you here. Give me a little respect."

Marinette huffed before she picked up her notepad and pen and prepared to write.

"We need to figure out what you want to do. Do you want to join a club? Or get a second...no wait...sixth job? We also need to base it on what kind of guy you're after. If we use Adrien as our template, then maybe we have an idea of your type, and before you start complaining, I know your infatuation with him isn't just because of his 'model good' looks."

The exhale that came from Marinette would have been comical if they didn't have things to do.

"It needs to be something accessible all the time, something that's open most of the day. I never know when I'm going to be free so..."

They both sat there thinking...and thinking...and thinking. What would produce 'Adrien's' and be open 24/7? He was attractive, and the recent development (from what she could tell) was his increase in muscle. She needed to find a place where the men were driven and had ambition, where they liked to work hard.

A sudden dose of inspiration hit Marinette and had her reaching for her phone, almost sending her flat on the floor.

This was it...

This was the plan.

Typing frantically on her phone, her eyes darted left and right as she read over the screen searching for exactly what she wanted, her thumbs moving in a chaotic fashion. Until suddenly, it was there right in front of her. She turned the phone around and showed Alya, the reporter's eyes changing from confusion to enlightened joy.

"That could actually work."

"I need to be able to access the place as often as possible without it seeming weird or out of character, so a 24/7 gym would be perfect. I can go whenever and there's one right by my university campus. It's a win-win situation." Marinette locked her phone before placing it down beside her notepad, taking the pen once more.

"Okay, I like it. It's definitely something we can work with. So, what's the plan? You join the gym and just hit on guys?"

"Alya, let's be honest; I'm more likely to hit a guy than hit on a guy."

Alya burst out laughing before standing and heading towards the kitchen, mug in hand ready to make her second cup of coffee that day. Marinette loved her friend, she truly did, but she couldn't help but wonder how the woman didn't get the runs from drinking so much caffeine. She brushed it off as life as a budding reporter; Marinette brushed it off as the life of a soon to be caffeine addict.

Moving to the kettle, Alya lifted it and headed to the tap, filling the base with water before positioning it back onto the stand and flicking the switch.

"Join some classes. If you do something like boxercise, it won't matter if you hit the guy because that's the whole point. They'll just see it as a girl with some pizazz." Folding her arms over her chest, Alya leaned one hip into the counter as she waited for the kettle to boil.

Marinette laughed. "If that's what you call giving a guy a black eye, then I'm all for it. Can you make me mint tea if you're having a coffee please?"

Her friend nodded, moving around the kitchen to find Marinette's 'Chat Noir' mug. She grabbed it out of the cupboard and let out a little huffed laugh. "To be honest, Marinette, the blog would be so much better if it was just you dating Chat Noir. I'm sure he'd treat you like a Queen."

Marinette rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest in annoyance. "I know he would because he's caring and attentive, but it's not going to happen, Alya. You're making me start to panic that you'll let him know what I'm doing and where I'm going to be."

"Do you really have that little faith in me?" She turned around to the tea caddies and began to put the correct item into the correct mug, making sure the cotton was hanging over Marinette's mug, the string framing her partner's face.

"No, but I know what you're like." Marinette pushed herself off the floor and headed into the kitchen, taking her old mug with her and running it under the faucet before opening the dishwasher and adding it to the previous day's crockery. She stepped towards the oven, taking the hand towel from the metal bar and drying her hands on it.

"I promise, this stays between you and me."

"Pinky promise?" Marinette held up her pinky finger, ready for her friend to lock with. Marinette looked down at her hovering finger, nodding towards it only for Alya to nod back. She repeated the action again—nodding at her pinky.

"Alya? Come on–"

"You don't trust me, do you? Do you seriously think I'd give your identity away that easily? Come on, girl, I've kept your 'special little' secret for years. What makes you think your abysmal dating record is going to make me spill?" Alya poured the water into the mugs before moving to the refrigerator and grabbing the bottle of milk.

She headed back to her coffee and poured in a generous helping, Marinette studying her with pursed lips. Did she trust Alya? Of course, after all, it was over five years ago that she spilled her secret and nothing had ever happened. Not yet anyway.

"Fine," Marinette said, moving forwards and sliding the mug from under Alya's arm, grabbing the tea bag string and bouncing it around a couple of times. Her lips pouted in consideration as to whether to say more on the matter or not.

Her roommate made her way back to their plotting area and sat down, placing the coffee mug on a coaster and looking up towards Marinette, one eyebrow raised in amusement.

"I can hear you thinking over there," Alya laughed, picking up her pen and turning her notebook to a blank page.

With a huffed out sigh of indignation, Marinette removed the tea bag and slammed it into the bin, the lid closing with as much oomph.

Grabbing the mug a little too forcefully, a sloshing noise was followed by a grunt as the hot water flew over the side and onto her hand; Marinette quickly swapped the mug over and sucked the now red raw skin.

"Chou shee," she sucked the side of her finger a little harder trying to calm where the water hit, pulling it from her mouth with a 'pop'. "This is the kind of thing that happens on dates with Marinette. Nobody wants to date this disaster. I'm a walking insurance claim; I can't even pick up a cup."

She continued forward and settled down opposite her friend once more, slowly and securely placing her 'Chat Noir' mug on her 'Chat Noir' coaster. Nope, she didn't want to be with her partner at all, except the idea they could finally meet in civilian form was quite thrilling. She knew he'd read the blog and she knew he would be interested in where she'd decided to look.

"Do you want me to come with you? To the gym?"

Marinette shook her head. "No, I think this is something I need to do alone, but I promise the blog will get full disclosure of the good, the bad–"

"And the Marinette?"

Marinette once again grabbed the nearest cushion (her pride and joy Chat Noir one) and smacked Alya upside the head with it.

"I'm going to put in a claim for domestic violence if this continues." Alya rubbed the back of the head, Marinette realising that Chat's eyes had hit off her friend's head, eyes which were rather large plastic gems.

"Okay," Marinette sighed, hugging the cushion into her chest and leaning forwards, eyes on the paper. "Let's get planning."