Adrien had recently come to the conclusion that he was totally and utterly screwed.

The realization hadn't hit him like a train or a truck, but sunk through him like the air slowly leaving a leaky balloon. Until he was sitting at dinner with his friends, silent and twisted in knots. He was both anxious and irritated, swirling his fork around his food and generally ignoring the discussion going on around him.

Ignoring it just as he was being ignored.

Though Marinette's behavior toward him had been initially unexpected and continuously embarrassing, he'd long since come to accept that, well, he enjoyed the attention. Which meant that being suddenly ignored was beginning to grate on him. True, Marinette had said she'd do without pick-up lines for their time at the Ladybug and Chat Noir festival, but, well, he hadn't thought she'd actually meant it.

He'd spent the first hour with his friends on his guard, hoping that, this time, he'd be able to reply with something witty when she'd addressed him, instead of blushing and stumbling all over himself. But, aside from when they'd left Alya's house, she hadn't so much as looked at him, let alone flirted with him.

No, he wasn't entitled to her attention, he knew that, but it was rather deflating in a silly, childish sort of way. To the point where her lack of focus on him was putting his temperament in a foul state the longer the evening stretched on.

And, worst of all? She knew it. There were ways in which she'd turn away just as he was about to catch her eye, or how'd she'd leave him purposefully out of conversations, or how her body language was always turned away from him just as he turned to her. She was ignoring him so purposefully that all it did was draw in his attention more.

But that wasn't even the worst of it. No one could deny that Marinette was cute. Beautiful, even. And in that cat suit, she flew far past sexy. Which meant that, despite a quarter of the crowd sporting skintight suits, she drew attention. Every time a pair of wandering eyes trailed her way, Adrien felt the hair on the back of his neck bristle.

No, he wasn't normally a jealous person. Well... okay, there had been that incident with Copycat, but he likened that to momentary bad judgement. Still, he wasn't secure in his position with Marinette, which meant that every time she spoke nicely to a pair of wandering eyes and, in turn, acted like he wasn't even there, he was driven a bit crazier.

Which was what had gotten him to stage two of his situation—the realization that he did, in fact, like Marinette. He'd always thought she was cute, but been so distracted by Ladybug that he'd never entertained her as a potential romantic prospect. Yet, since she'd started "approaching" him (for lack of a better term), he'd found his thoughts far more preoccupied with her. To the point that Marinette had become a regular topic of discussion between himself and Ladybug.

He should have seen it coming, really.

Still, this put him in a very, very unfortunate situation. Not only did he like Marinette, but he also liked Ladybug. Ladybug, who he'd been pining after for months and who, it would turn out, knew his identity and liked him anyway (or so he assumed. Like Marinette, he couldn't imagine that her actions toward him had any cruel intents). So where did that leave him? The rational part of his brain said "you liked Ladybug first, so just let Marinette down easy." Yet, every time he looked at her, the idea soared right out the window.

It'd been happening a lot the last few days—his heart pounding harder every time Marinette approached him and let loose some ridiculous line. The same feeling he got whenever Ladybug was around.

He was torn, quite honestly, and at a loss for what to do.

"Oh, right, I forgot about Adrien."

The sound of Marinette's voice saying such a thing—even out of context—had Adrien's irritation sparking anew, his focus drawn from his own thoughts to the discussion going on at their table.

"What?" he asked rather darkly, not even trying to hide his disapproval.

"Marinette was saying she felt like a third wheel with Nino and I," Alya explained, not even bothering to hide her smile. Likely, all three of them knew the source of his bad mood just as well as he did. "So I pointed out that you're here too."

Yes. Yes he was.

Pulling a dare from Alya's words, Adrien glared as he looked to Marinette, who was sitting across from him. Yet, despite her own seemingly flippant acknowledgement of his existence, she still refused to look at him. Instead, she stared at what little was left of her food and pretended like he wasn't even there.

Adrien glared harder, his bottom lip pooching forward.

Both Nino and Alya laughed.

"Well, I'm stuffed," Marinette eventually said, expertly avoiding his gaze as she put her attention back on Nino and Alya.

"Meeeeee too," Nino agreed.

Adrien growled. "Nobody wants dessert?"

"Nah, bro, I'm good."

"No complaints here."

"I don't know." Marinette hummed thoughtfully, flipping through the small dessert menu that had been sitting at the center of the table. "I thought the crepes looked kind of good." She tapped her chin coyly, Adrien's frown turning to a scowl.

Continuing to hum, she took far too long looking at the menu, before ultimately sighing and putting it aside.

"Never mind," she said simply and placed her chin in her hand before looking quite distractedly off to the side.

"Are you sure?" Adrien asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

She hummed again.

"I'll go pay, then," he ultimately decided, the waiter having already dropped their bill at the table to be taken care of up at the counter. Careful not to crumple the paper in his fist, he stood and walked away, refusing to look back. Paying took all of no time and, soon, they had gathered their things and were headed back out into the evening air.

They'd been at the festival for some few hours already, but Alya looked no closer to slowing down. Despite his bitter mood, Adrien did have to admit that it was nice seeing so many people out and about, appreciating both himself and Ladybug. Seeing so many people dressed up as Chat was reassuring and eased some of his personal frustrations.

"Oh, Nino, look! Let's do that!" Alya abruptly announced, pointing to a display where those dressed up at heroes could get their pictures taken in some heroic pose. "I'll be Ladybug, obviously, and you'll be the damsel in distress."

Despite his sigh and a shake of his head, Nino agreed, not fighting in the least when Alya dragged him off to get in line.

Which left Adrien, Marinette, and an awkward silence behind.

Despite his bad mood, being alone with Marinette had Adrien flushing, his nerves pricking despite how he willed himself to be calm. It was pathetic, he decided. Completely and utterly ridiculous. How Ladybug would laugh if she could see him then.

No! He couldn't give in! He could conquer this! He was Chat Noir, wasn't he? The least he could do was talk! Besides...

He really wanted Marinette to look at him.

"Did, uh, did you... want to... that?" he asked, gesturing toward the photographic setup.

"No, I'm fine," she said simply, not even twitching in his direction.

Yet, despite this, a bit of Chat Noir finally managed to break through Adrien's nerves. "I won't disagree there."

Unfortunately, he didn't have the composure to totally get behind the comment. As soon as it was past his lips, his grit his teeth and felt the hot wave of deep redness envelop his cheeks. It was much easier to say such things when he was Chat Noir and had the safety of his mask. Without it, he felt all the more exposed.

Beside him, Marinette giggled just a bit and rolled her eyes. "Careful," she warned. "Wouldn't want your other admirer to overhear such things."

"Hah, yeah, that's... true..." Any wit he'd had was gone again.

"Um, excuse me." The voice came from below and behind, both Adrien and Marinette turning to see that a little girl had approached them. She wasn't looking at them, not directly, but there was a wide smile on her face.

"Can we help you?" Marinette asked, leaning down.

The little girl smiled wider. "My name's Adel," she explained. "Do you remember me?"

Finally, Marinette peered his way, but it was only because the two of them were sharing a similar look of confusion.

"Which one of us?" Adrien asked, taking note of the girl's cane.

She was blind.

"Both of you," she replied. "You both saved me. I can tell by your voices." She bounced a bit on her toes. "You're Ladybug and Chat Noir."

Blinking stupidly, panic rushed up through Adrien from his toes to his nose. This was not good. Not good at all. But what did he even say? Marinette was standing right there! Whatever he said, it had to be convincing.

Before he could get his head on about the situation, however, Marinette was taking over.

"While I'm flattered you would say such a thing," she started, crouching down so she was more on the girl's level, "I have to admit that, well, neither of us are superheroes."

Adrien wasn't sure whether to be thankful she was so certain or offended. Still, he agreed nonetheless. "She's right. Ladybug and Chat Noir are way cooler than either of us."

Yet, the little girl kept smiling. "You don't have to lie to me," she whispered. "I won't tell."

For a second, Marinette looked as though she was going to continue objecting. But then she took a defeated breath and changed tactics. "Okay," she murmured back, placing her hands delicately on the little girl's shoulders. "You're right—you caught us. But! Now that you know our secret, you have to keep it to yourself. You can't tell anyone you met Ladybug and Chat Noir, okay? For your own safety."

"I know!" The little girl was bouncing happily again. "I won't say anything."

"Good." Marinette smiled, dotting the girl's nose with her black-gloved finger.

"Adel?!" An older women called nearby, looking worried. So, despite her obvious excitement, the girl turned away and called back, soon reunited with her guardian and leaving Marinette and Adrien to watch from the sidelines.

Glancing down at Marinette out of the corners of his eyes, Adrien furrowed his brows. "You lied to her," he said a second later.

Marinette shrugged. "She seemed so excited, and I'm sure Ladybug and Chat Noir wouldn't mind." Finally—after an entire evening of purposefully avoiding him—she looked up at him with a small smile. "Besides, how do I know you're not Chat Noir?"

Lips parting some, Adrien was sure an objection was at the tip of his tongue. Yet, despite how much he needed to deny her supposition, no words came. Instead, he was caught in the vibrant blue of her eyes, left speechless when her smile widened just enough to seem...

They were interrupted by Alya and Nino a second later, Adrien's thoughts disturbed and unable to be put back on track. Yet, for the rest of the night, he had an odd feeling in the pit of his stomach and a heavy feeling at the back of his head. Like an important name or word that he needed, but just wouldn't come to light.

After the festival, they went back to Marinette's house for a few treats before parting ways. Nino agreed to walk Alya home, since she lived a bit further away, while Adrien decided that he was close enough to his own house that calling his driver was unnecessary.

Waving to Alya and Nino, he was just about to take the short trek home when Marinette called him back.

"Adrien," she said simply, the sound of his name on her lips more than enough to put a stop to any attempts at a departure. "Before you go, I... I wanted to give you something."

He'd turned back, hands in his pockets as he stared curiously at her.

"Don't worry," she assured. "It's not a joke, I promise." She gestured back into the bakery. "I'll be right back, so can you wait here, please?"

"Alright..." he agreed, ignoring the part of him that wanted to be suspicious.

Grinning, Marinette turned and skipped back inside. She wasn't even gone a full minute before she was stepping back out. In her hands she held a box with the Dupain-Cheng logo printed on the top.

"This is for you," she explained, holding it out for him. "Think of it as... an apology."

Carefully, Adrien took the box, only growing more and more curious.

"For everything I've put you through lately," she finished.

"Oh, uh, thanks..." he replied, blushing a bit at how directly she addressed the situation. "But, um, you didn't have to do that. I didn't... I didn't mind, you know, what you were, uh, doing." Did this mean she was done flirting with him? Maybe he should have been relieved, but mostly he was disappointed.

"I know you didn't," she replied. "But I wanted to give this to you anyway." Pulling her hand up, she placed it over the top of the box just as he'd been about to open it. "Wait until you get home to open it, though, okay?" Her tone had turned somewhat timid, her own cheeks pinking. "Please."

"Oh, s-sure."

"Thanks." She smiled again and Adrien thought maybe his heart had stopped beating for a few seconds. "And, um, you really... You really are a nice boy." Moving her hand from the box to his shoulder, she leaned up before he could react and placed her lips lightly upon his cheek.

"Thank you," she whispered.

She pulled back a second later, Adrien too shocked to say or do anything as she waved and retreated quickly back inside. It was only once he'd been standing outside the bakery, gaping for a few seconds too long, that his brain finally jumpstarted back into action.

Once again assaulted by a deep flush that seemed to seep up through every inch of his skin all over his body, Adrien tucked the box under one arm before quickly walking down the sidewalk toward his own house. Reaching up, he gently touched the section of his cheek where she'd kissed him, the outline of her touch seeming to burn the more he thought about it.

He didn't feel relief until he was alone in his bedroom, the setting sun casting long shadows through his windows.

Locking his doors, he then went to his bed and gently set the box down on his comforter. For a moment, he loitered in front of it nervously, uncertain whether he wanted to know what was inside or not.

"It's just a box!" Plagg eventually announced in frustration. "Open it!"

Taking a deep breath, Adrien nodded. It was just a box. A box from Marinette, no less. Whatever was inside, he could deal with it. He fought bad guys on a regular basis. Getting up the courage to open a stupid box should be simple.

Yet, despite his reasoning, his whole body still tickled all over with nerves.

Sitting down on the bed beside the box, he delicately took hold of the top and, with a deep breath, lifted it open.

He wasn't sure what he'd expected to be inside, so he supposed—in retrospect—that anything would have surprised him. Perhaps it seemed silly to be taken aback that the daughter of two bakers would give him a cake, but he was nonetheless.

It was a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. The outside edges were lined with bits of peppermint, while the decorative text and images of ladybugs and cats were done with white frosting.

In the middle—done in an artful font—were the words "Just Desserts."

For a very long, very silent moment, Adrien held his breath and allowed the reality of what he was looking at to wash over him.

"Oh my god," he eventually muttered, reaching up and pinching the bridge of his nose between his fingers. "I'm so oblivious."

"How so?" Plagg asked.

"Isn't it obvious?" he asked, gesturing to the cake. "We've been fooled! Bamboozled! The wool pulled over our eyes!"

Plagg appeared highly offended. "Don't lump me together with you. Do you think this is a cheesecake?" He hovered above the box.

"Of course it makes sense!" Adrien continued. "She is- Marinette is Ladybug! Of course she is!" Standing, he tossed his arms in the air in defeat. "Who else could Ladybug be, after all! I'm such an idiot!"

He didn't have two admirers, he had one. Marinette had showered him in lame pick-up lines while Ladybug had showered him with gifts. Cheesy romance. Dates on the Eiffel Tower. Silly compliments that, as he'd said so many nights before, spoke more of his "love language" than Marinette had ever had any business knowing.

He'd been duped.

Yet, he didn't consider it a bad thing in the least.

Pulling his phone from his pocket, he smiled like a complete fool as he opened a new text window. Only to realize he didn't have Marinette's number.

Texting Alya first, it took him a few minutes and a considerable amount of teasing before she finally gave him the digits he needed. Yet, when it came to typing a message to Marinette, he was at a loss. That, and his nerves had come back to haunt him. So, instead, he sent her an image of grumpy cat looking highly annoyed.

What she sent in response a few seconds later was nothing more than a gif someone had made of Ladybug during an interview, laughing and looking far too pleased with herself.

Adrien curled his nose.

Adrien – You had way too much fun with this.

Marinette – You asked for it.

Adrien – Maybe. But don't you think you went just a little overboard?

Marinette – Puuurhaps. But I wanted to make sure you got an un fuuur gettable experience.

Adrien – I'd say you succeeded. I named the bear, just so you know. Em-Bear-Assment.

Marinette – Typical.

Adrien – And all the roses are dying. I don't know what I should do with them, there's so many. I don't think they'd fit in my trash. But if you wanted to come deflower me, I wouldn't object.

Marinette – Yeah right, pretty boy. In your dreams.

Adrien – Of course. Just like always.

This time, she sent him a gif of Ladybug rolling her eyes. One that was quickly followed by another of Ladybug waving to the camera.

Marinette – Goodnight, Adrien.

Adrien – Wait, where are you going?

Marinette – I'm tired. And my family is leaving early tomorrow to go visit my grandparents. I don't have time for silly alley cats.

Adrien – Noooooooooo...

Marinette – See you Monday, Kitten.

Adrien – But My Lady!

He didn't get another response. Sighing, he flopped back on his bed and allowed a ridiculous smile to spread over his face. An expression that was quickly followed by thrilled embarrassment that had him groaning into his pillow.

He remained on cloud nine for the remainder of the weekend, only growing nervous again once he was headed into school Monday morning. He and Marinette hadn't shared in any more texts since their initial conversation, which left him somewhat unsure how things were going to go. But he was determined to put his cat-foot forward and not fall to pieces the second she looked at him.

Because, holy shit, Marinette was Ladybug and she liked him.

Shaking his head and trying to rid himself of the happy, yet terrified, blush that was continually assaulting his cheeks, he went to the locker room, being sure to keep an eye out for those blue eyes and trademark pigtails.

Honestly, how had he not realized it earlier?

Thankfully, as he was pulling his books out for class, he happened to spot her coming in without her noticing him. Or, if she had, she didn't acknowledge him.

Closing his locker, he straightened, gave himself a silent pep talk, and headed around the end of the lockers to the aisle where Marinette's own resided.

He could see her there, putting her things away. So he mustered all his courage and marched over.

Wanting to give her the same sort of shock she'd been doling out previously, he slammed his hand flat against the locker beside her own.

She jumped, whipping around on him with her arms raised defensively.

"Good morning," he managed to say with a smile, mentally patting himself on the back for not stammering.

"Holy crap, Adrien," she said, placing a heavy hand on her chest. "You scared me."

He smirked. Well, that was one point to the dozens she'd gotten on him as of late. He was also moderately satisfied to notice the slight blush to her own cheeks and the edgy way she focused back on her locker. At least he wasn't alone in his nervousness.

"I have a question for you," he announced a second later, clearing his throat and willing himself to stay calm.

"Okay..." she replied uncertainly, looking up at him only quickly.

"Tell me..." He paused for effect. "Did it hurt?"

Finally, she looked up at him fully, appearing suspiciously curious. "What?"

"Did it hurt?" he repeated.

"Did it hurt...?" she asked. "What are you- Oh..." Unimpressed realization dawned on her, causing her shoulders to drop. "Really? You mean, did it hurt when I fell from heaven?"

"No." He shrugged and crossed his arms over his chest. "I was wondering if it hurt when you crawled out of hell because you're a terrible she-demon!"

She gasped, first offended before becoming outraged. "You jerk!" she said loudly, pointing a fierce finger up at him. Chin raised, Adrien didn't shy away, nor hide the fearless satisfaction that pulled his lips into a smirk.

"Fine," she said after a moment, raising her hands as though she no longer even wanted to touch the situation. "See if I ever get you flowers again." She eyed him knowingly, making sure to keep her voice down so no one else could hear. "See if I ever have anything to do with you and flowers at all. Ever." She turned back toward her locker.

"Now, now, now," Adrien replied. "Let's not get hasty." Moving closer, he put his hands on either side of her locker, an action she didn't seem the least bit impressed by as she turned back around to face him. Instead, she looked up with a quirked brow, as if daring him to go on.

"You see," he said, making sure to drape his voice in an air of scholastic knowing, "lack of attention from you could very well be critical to my health. I recently went to the doctor and do you know what he said?"

"What did he say?" she asked flatly.

"He said that I was in dire need of vitamin u."

She pursed her lips in an attempt to hide her smile, but it didn't do much good.

"I bet he did," she said.

"True story." He leaned a bit closer, so as to be able to whisper. "Would I ever lie to you, Bugaboo?"

"Hmm, I don't know," she said, feigning uncertainty as she walked two of her fingers up the front of his shirt. Her touch sent sparks of heat all through his body, which he couldn't completely hide. The redness that came with it burned across his nose, but he pushed through.

Hold it together, Agreste! Hold it together!

"I mean, you know what they say. Black cats are bad luck." She tapped the tip of his nose. "I think the smart thing to do would be to stay as far away from you as possible."

"Maybe that would be the smart thing," he agreed, the two of them stranding so close that their foreheads nearly touched. "But I promise, I'll be the best kind of bad."

She hummed.

"Okay, seriously? You two need to get a room or something." Alya's voice interrupted their moment, causing them both to look over. "I can feel the sexual tension all the way over here." Dramatically, Alya fanned herself, while Nino laughed beside her.

Around them, what few students were left in the locker room giggled.

Biting his bottom lip, Adrien pushed himself away from the locker, and Marinette, before reaching up and rubbing the back of his neck uncomfortably. Marinette, meanwhile, offered a discomforted giggle and fiddled with one of her pigtails.

When she did eventually look up at him, Adrien couldn't bring himself to look back. The mood had been broken, thus leaving him to do nothing but grow redder with her attention so heavily fixed upon him.

She giggled again, before reaching up and delicately grabbing hold of his shirt. Which basically forced him to look her way. Eyes wide, he didn't object when she gently tugged him downward.

And he definitely didn't object when she pressed her soft, perfect lips against his own.

Closing his eyes, he ignored the "ohhhhhs" echoing around the room, as well as the gasps of surprise. Instead, he put every bit of his focus on Marinette. He memorized the sensation of her kiss and etched it into his memory.

Even as she pulled back a few seconds later, the feeling had his heart pounding so hard he thought it might burst from his chest.

She smiled. "Just as sweet as I imagined," she whispered.

Yet another layer of redness coated his cheeks.

Stepping away, she giggled once again, Adrien taking a considerable amount of comfort in how flustered she still was as well.

A second later, she held out her hand.

Though he had no words for fear of stumbling over them, and he had little feeling because his nerves were so twisted tight, he didn't hesitate a single second in stepping forward and placing his hand in her own.

And it is finished!

Anyways I see all this salt in the fandom now.

Should I write some salt fics? Comment yes or no.