There is an OC in this chapter who is mentioned in one of my other chapter books.

Bonus points to those who spot him.

The Maître d' walked them towards their table situated on the edge of the restaurant as requested. He couldn't risk this getting out and his father seeing. One plus of going to such a high end restaurant, he'd be the least famous there. Hell, Chat Noir was about to turn up in thirty minutes and throw a huge spanner in the works. No one would be interested in Adrien Agreste and his date.

As the Maître d' went to pull Marinette's chair out, Adrien knocked him out of the way to do it himself. He was a gentleman in every sense of the word. He wanted to be the one to pull her chair out, he wanted to be the one to wait on her hand and foot, it was his self proclaimed occupation. Unfortunately, he moved too fast and with too much prowess. His shoulder bumped into the Maître d' causing the restaurant worker to stumble into the next table, and for Adrien to fall flat on his butt on the floor. Marinette's wide eyes startled him into action, as he bounced up and reached for her chair.

"There you go, madam." The words rolled off his tongue with practised ease, amazing considering less than ten seconds ago he was sprawled out on the floor. He'd spent hours this afternoon repeating it, afterall he didn't want to freak her out and slip out a M'Lady, or a Bugaboo. Not yet anyway.

"Why thank you, kind sir." Her words made his heart flutter with a thousand soft wings. If this continued Shadow Moth would have a whole new butterfly farm to use courtesy of Chat Noir's stomach.

Adrien moved to his own chair, this time letting the staff do their job and settling into his seat. How was he going to manage eating with such a beauty in front of him? He had visions of himself as the Beast from 'Beauty and the Beast', throwing soup everywhere with his spoon. He couldn't show himself up and he definitely didn't want to do anything to embarrass Marinette. He may never have this chance again if he did.

"Do you recommend anything here?" Marinette asked quietly, "it all seems so complex and expensive. I don't know what to choose."

Adrien had never been here before so he'd spent the whole day on TripAdvisor looking at menu recommendations. Apparently it is ranked number two thousand four hundred and forty seven out of over fifteen thousand restaurants. He wasn't sure if this would work out the way he wanted it too, but it did have a four point zero average and nine hundred and fifty nine votes.

"I hear the grilled calamari is a decent starter, and then the veal, ending with the stuffed puffs for dessert." Adrien looked over the menu pleased he'd looked into the dishes beforehand. Some of them were a little more extreme than he'd usually go for and he didn't want to end up with either of them having an upset stomach.

"Three courses," Marinette squeaked, "that's way too much, Adrien."

"It's a set price menu, Marinette. You pay the amount and get the three dishes." She nodded and then turned back to her menu.

He gulped and prayed he hadn't pushed too far for this first date. Perhaps she would have been happier with a Hard Rock Cafe meal, or even a McDonalds? No he couldn't think that! His lady deserved more than a Big Mac meal.

"I'll go with that then, I trust you and you'll taste good - I mean that sounds good." She placed the menu down and gave him a smile.

Oh how he wished he could bottle up the emotions he was feeling at the moment. He'd be able to sell it for a fortune. Pure happiness in a jar.

"I'll have the same. Is there any particular drink you'd like?"

"Just water would be great," he nodded at her response and looked around to catch someone's eye.

As he lifted his arm, he caught the first glimpse of his watch since he'd sat down.

Seven twenty two. He needed to get out of here and transform.

Looking around for a second time he noticed Alya at the doorway gazing in. Did she know they were on a date? Would she spot them? It was obvious Marinette would have told her, after all isn't that what girls did?

Without too much thought Adrien shot up out of his seat not realising the table cloth was captured between his thighs, and his thighs firmly squeezed together. The tug sent the cutlery rattling, and the wine glasses to topple onto the table with a clatter. He gulped as he looked down, hoping it hadn't smashed. Unfortunately he's ill timed movement had knocked the candle over in the centre of the table. Moving forward he reached for the candle at the same time as Marinette did, their heads colliding in the rather harsh sounding thump, before she moved back with a hiss.

"I am so sorry, Marinette." He reached forwards towards her, stretching out in apology only to have his nose insulted with the smell of burning cotton. A small noise came from his jacket pocket.

"Tee!" The gruff little voice said.

Adrien sniffed again and looked down. A small stream of smoke had started to rise from the edge of his shirt where it was hanging over the candle. He let out a small shriek and moved backwards, once again being crowded by the waiter patting him down on the stomach. Cringing Adrien looked up towards Marinette and noticed her hands over her mouth and eyes wide.

"I'm just going to go to the bathroom, do you mind ordering for us, Marinette. I'll try not to be too long."

"No worries," Marinette said, removing her hands and giving him a slight smile which definitely looked like one of obligation, not one of someone who was happy to be on a date with him. He moved his way around the table, walking over to her, and placing a kiss on her cheek.

"I'm really glad you agreed to this."

"So am I."

Oh how he wished he believed her. He slung his jacket over his shoulders, covering the patch of tee now shiny thanks to the candle flame. His father was going to murder him! He stalked his way over to the bathroom and released Plagg from the confined space of his jacket.

"I don't know how you're going to do this tonight, kid, I just hope it doesn't come back to bite you in the butt."

"You and me both," Adrien replied to his kwami. He knew Plagg was right. He really was asking for trouble.

Once his ears, bell and tail had settled into position he made his way out the window and to the back service entrance. The plan was he'd enter through the kitchen and persuade the staff to call the maître d' and have himself and Alya seated from there.

Knocking on the door, he was relieved when it opened in less than a minute.

"Sacré bleu, it's Chat Noir," a male attendant opened the door and Chat swore he was face to face with the oldest working man in France. If not from his general aesthetics, Adrien could have reached this conclusion from the guy's language, plus his hunchback and limp. His name tag read 'Rick'.

"Good evening, Sir," he made an over dramatic bow to the said attendant, "I have a reservation booked for this evening with Mademoiselle Césaire of the Ladyblog."

"Right this way, M. Noir." Adrien saluted as he made his way through the kitchen and out into the dining hall.

Passing a waiter currently walking with menus in his hand, he grabbed one and placed it over his face. Marinette was just to the right and hopefully wouldn't spot him ... that was as long as no one else made a fuss.

"Oh my, is that -"

Flustered by the sudden eyes on him Adrien said the first thing he could think of.

"Tom Holland? Yes I am, but please keep it down, I'm incognito." Inwardly he gave himself a scalding. Why did he choose the one actor he knew Marinette was into?

His eyes darted to where he'd left his date. She was on her phone. She wasn't looking at him. Crisis averted.

Adrien continued to follow the way to his table, weaving through a sea of eyes staring at him. He'd never shh'd people so much in his life. Finally, his eyes landed on Alya already seated at a table, and he exhaled loudly.

I made it!

Alya was looking down at her phone as Adrien slid himself onto the seat. He knew, without a doubt, she would be texting Marinette.

"Hey Foxy Lady," Adrien wanted to get this over and done with. He had a beauty waiting for him, and he didn't want the girl of his dreams having to hang around ... or think he had a stomach problem.

"Chat, hi," Alya placed her phone down and gave him a smile. "This is a rather swish place."

"If you're uncomfortable we can leave this for now and meet another day?"

Alya looked at him as though he'd just grown an extra head.

"You're kidding right? When am I ever going to be able to afford eating here again? It's not like my boyfriend is loaded."

Adrien let out a laugh which couldn't have sounded more fake if he'd tried. It was a mix between a hyena and a cockerel. Also with the amount Nino had hung onto from the roses, plus the bro code, they definitely could afford at least one date here.

"So? What was this interview about?" Adrien asked, picking up a menu to peruse the drinks.

"You're kidding right? It was your idea."

Adrien opened his mouth to speak only to close it again. It had been his idea? He never had good ideas so what had he wanted to talk about?

"Yeah, yeah of course. So, um- , what are your thoughts on the situation? If you let me know then we can see if we're on the same page." He looked at Alya, deadly serious with his fingers laced together and placed on top of the table.

Alya stared back into his eyes. He had to be kidding right.

"Look Chat Noir, if you don't want to talk about it I'll go. I missed a date night with my boyfriend for this, it was Star Wars marathon night too," she was grouchy, and Adrien couldn't stop the feeling of guilt consuming him.

"Ok, ok, so about young children following our example," Adrien's voice trailed off as he looked at Alya for any indication he was along the right lines. Unfortunately, he was not.

Alya stood and pushed away from the table.

"I'm out of here."

He had two seconds to make a decision before Ladybug found out and he had his butt kicked.

"I was just joking! Can't you take a joke? Damn." Adrien let out a nervous giggle and hoped she couldn't see the sheen of sweat taking over his face.

"Fine," Alya sat back down and pulled out her notebook and a pen. "Ok then Chat Noir, tell me, why do you think the mayor should cancel Heroes day?"

Adrien sighed. So that was what this was about. He remembered the conversation he'd had with Ladybug about why Heroes day shouldn't happen and it seems she agreed and wanted to go public with it, hence Alya and the Ladyblog.

"It's quite simple really, it's become more about those with super powers than our everyday heroes. Why should we get a day when we're just doing our jobs? The police, firefighters, and paramedics don't get a day all about them so why should we? They are the ones really putting their lives on the line" Alya nodded as she began to take notes. Perhaps this wouldn't go as badly as he thought.