"Is there something bothering you?" Ladybug asked, turning to him with an innocently quirked brow.

"Oh, uh, no," Chat stammered, clearing his throat afterward. "I'm fine." A lie. He wasn't fine at all. He'd received a love letter from Ladybug, or so the signature had implied. But it left him nervous and uncertain, albeit pleased. Did she know Adrien was Chat Noir? Had she written the letter for both of them, or were her intentions for Adrien only? There'd been no hint in the note that she was interested in Chat. And, if she was, why would she approach him through Adrien instead?

She was watching him thoughtfully, head cocking a bit, which left Chat feeling somewhat hot beneath her gaze.

"Is that girl at your school still bothering you?"

"Huh?!"

"That girl," Ladybug repeated. "Marinette, right? Is that why you're upset?"

"Who said I was upset?"

"Chat." Ladybug raised a skeptical brow. "We've been patrolling the last two hours and you've barely said a word. And you've been kind of acting funny ever since you mentioned her."

"Have not..."

Ladybug sighed. "If what she's doing is bothering you, then maybe you should ask her to stop."

"I'm not bothered by it," he claimed stubbornly. "Why would I be bothered by a few pick-up lines?"

Ladybug frowned. But it was the honest concern in her gaze that ultimately defeated him.

"Look, it doesn't bother me," he said quietly. "I mean, sometimes she... catches me off guard," all the time, but he wasn't ready to admit that, "but it's flattering. Even if she doesn't mean it."

Ladybug's lips quirked. "Enjoying the attention?"

"Maybe." He grinned. "Though I wouldn't mind a bit more attention from you."

She rolled her eyes. "Why are you so convinced she doesn't mean it? I mean, I get what you said before, but maybe she gets nervous talking to you because..."

"Why would Marinette be nervous around me?"

"Because she likes you," Ladybug repeated, sounding almost as though he were an idiot (she'd been telling him the same thing for days, after all).

"No..."

"Chat!" she exclaimed, slamming her arms over her chest. "Honestly, what would she get out of flirting with you if she didn't like you? You said this girl could date practically anyone, right? So why waste her time jerking you around if she didn't mean it."

"I never said she was jerking me around," he said quickly, surprised at Ladybug's ferocity.

"Well, what other option is there? This girl is practically admitting to you how she feels and you think she's playing a game?"

"Marinette wouldn't do that..."

"So? Which is it?"

"Which what?"

"Which is more reasonable? That she's playing a game or that she genuinely likes you?"

Chat curled his nose, unsure how to respond. Of course he would never do Marinette the disservice of thinking she was playing some cruel joke or using him as an experiment. Certainly he thought she and Alya were up to something, but nothing cruel. Yet, for the life of him, he couldn't figure out what that could possibly be. Unless she really did... like him.

"You're hopeless," Ladybug said, slumping as bit as she did.

Chat scowled. "Why are we always talking about this anyway?" he asked. "What about you, huh? What about your love life?"

"Hmmm," Ladybug glanced his way, smiling a bit as she did. "I've got my eye on someone."

Chat gulped. "Y-Yeah? Who?"

"I doubt you know him," she replied easily.

"Try me."

Ladybug scoffed. "Now, now, Kitty, don't be jealous." Swiftly standing, she reached down and gently flicked one of his ears. "He's worthy of my attention, I promise. Besides, I'm taking your advice."

"My advice?" he asked as she turned and started to saunter off.

"I've adopted a more... direct approach."

Grinning over her shoulder at him, she shrugged innocently before grabbing her yoyo off her hip and taking off. Which left Chat in worse distress than Marinette had managed to inflict all week.

He fidgeted on the ledge where he sat, claws tapping on his thighs as he stared at the empty space where she'd been standing only moments before. As it was, he was going to assume she didn't know Adrien Agreste was also her partner. There'd been no hint of such knowledge and she was still trying to get him together with Marinette (another topic he was trying not to think about).

He wasn't sure what he should do. He was flattered and excited that she was interested in Adrien, and supposed it was to his own credit that she'd been convinced to actually pursue him, but a sort of nervous thumping in his gut was telling him "be honest, be honest!" It didn't seem right, after all, that he keep the truth from her.

But she didn't want to know his identity. Besides, what if...

What if she stopped liking Adrien once she found out he was Chat Noir? She'd never shown any interest in Chat. Sure, they were the same person, but he could admit he acted far more reserved as a civilian than as Chat. He had an image and a name to uphold. Plus... it was easier to be Chat Noir. Chat had superpowers and an awesome costume. It was less daunting to talk to people and fight his... shyness.

When had she started liking Adrien in the first place? He wanted to think that maybe they knew each other in their civilian lives, but that was almost too good to be true. He was a model—a celebrity. So was Ladybug.

Was that why she was interested in him?

The thought made him nauseous.

Unzipping his pocket, he pulled out the letter he'd received earlier that day, reading it over. Part of him wondered if it wasn't from her—anyone could forge her signature. Personally, he found it hard to imagine that, of everyone in Paris, Ladybug would single out Adrien. But then he remembered how famous he was and it made more sense.

Did she really prefer Adrien to Chat Noir?

It wasn't as though one version of himself was more real than another—he was both Adrien and Chat—but he liked being Chat more. Adrien was... awkward... and unsure. He didn't relate well to others, didn't make friends easily. Granted, Chat didn't either—he was able to keep distance because of his mask—but Chat was funnier, more charming.

Maybe Chat only had one real friend, just like Adrien, but at least Chat had an excuse. It was unacceptable to befriend anyone but Ladybug.

Adrien couldn't make the same claim...

Was she only interested in him because of his reputation?

He didn't want to think about it anymore. Folding the letter back up, he bounded home. His night was filled with fitful bouts of sleep interrupted by long periods of time that he spent staring up at his ceiling.

He was tired the following day, obviously, and so not nearly as alert as he usually was. Which gave Marinette the perfect opportunity to slide in and shock him awake.

He was headed up the front stairs—where Nino was waiting—when she brushed by him.

"You must be one great thief," she whispered, Adrien jumping in surprise. "Because you stole my heart from across the schoolyard." She continued by without any shame, Adrien faltering as he stared after her.

No! Pull it together Agreste! Don't let her get away with it!

"Well, you...!" He shouted, pointing a finger up after her. She paused, turning to him with questioning brows. "You're...!" But nothing was coming to him—his mind was completely blank—which left him a blushing, stumbling mess as he made the mistake of trying to step up, only to trip on his own toe and tumble forward.

He flailed, eyes wide, but it was little use. This was going to hurt.

"Well, look at that," she murmured, catching his shoulders before he could hit the ground. "Looks like you're falling for menow."

It was Marinette—of course it was Marinette. It couldn't have been Nino, or simply anyone else. It had to be her who came to his rescue.

She gently pushed him back into standing, holding his shoulders long enough for him to catch his balance. Her touch sent shockwaves through him, goosebumps forming on his arms as he only got hotter and hotter the longer she held him.

It was only a few seconds, but it was a potent few seconds.

"I wasn't- I'm not-" He'd used to stammer as a child, when he was talking to strangers or other models, or anybody, really. His father had hated it (probably because a good chunk of the stammering had happened in his presence). He'd spent a long, long time correcting the fault. But now it was back full force, despite how he tried to swallow against it. "I-I-I-"

"Deep breaths, Adrien," Marinette said softly, her hands having slipped from his person. "It's okay."

"I'm not f-falling- You're not- It's not-" This was a disaster. "Wh- Why are you- Why are you doing this?" The last bit came out as a pathetic whisper, which only made him all the more embarrassed.

"'Doing this?'" she repeated. "Why am I- W-Well, because..." She bit the inside of her cheek, light pink splashing over her own face. Before she slammed her fists rebelliously to her hips. "Why do you think?"

Finally, Adrien gathered the gumption to look straight at her, though doing so only made his heart patter faster. He didn't manage to find any words. Instead, he gripped nervously at his bag—a habit he'd adopted since he'd begun toting Plagg around. Though, generally, his grip wasn't nearly so severe. Or obvious.

Marinette frowned after a few seconds, almost as though she were offended. "Why do you think a girl would... would f-flirt with you?" she continued, the words somewhat harsh despite how she fidgeted in place.

"I don't- I don't know," he whispered, unaware that he was slowly dragging his bag up, as if to use it like a shield against her words.

Marinette huffed, her lips shifting tightly back and forth as she glared at him. Her face was getting redder, albeit it was nothing compared to his.

"Because she likes you, you- you oblivious ca- BOY!" She practically shouted the last word, causing Adrien to flinch back, his bag held just under his chin. She growled a second later, her hands dropping down as she balled them into fists. Quite a few other students—Alya and Nino included—were watching the exchange. Some gaped in confusion, others looked on in shock.

"Y-y-y-you like-"

"Yes!" she yelled, her eyes scrunching closed. "I do! And- And nothing you say is going to change my mind!" Her blue eyes popped open again, looking even more furious than before. "So you better just accept it!"

Huffing yet again, she glowered at him for a few seconds longer before whipping almost violently around. Adrien watched her stomp up the stairs, blinking stupidly the whole time. And when she reached the top and spun back to him, he held his bag up to cover his nose and mouth defensively.

She took a deep breath, as if gathering her composure, before pointing down at him in a rather accusing fashion. "If you were text on a page," she said, tone calm, if not strictly controlled, "you'd be fine print."

Twisting on her heel, she marched into the school without another word.

Adrien slowly sank down into a helpless crouch, staring over the top of his bag at the empty air where she'd previously been standing. Around him, other students giggled, which only made him all the more embarrassed. His skin felt like it was going to melt right off his face, sweat beading along the top edge of his forehead.

It wasn't until Nino came down and put a hand on his shoulder that he finally snapped out of his trance.

"Well, that was... something," he muttered, Adrien barely daring to look up at him. "Not exactly how I expected her to do it."

"You knew?!" Adrien hissed.

"Everybody knows," Nino said flatly. "Subtlety isn't exactly her strong suit. Especially lately."

"Why didn't you tell me?!"

Nino's flat, unimpressed expression was enough to send Adrien's eyes rolling, though it was a defensive gesture spurred by shame. Bending out of his crouch, he didn't bother taking in any more of Nino's look, instead stomping his way past the gawking students and into the school.

He kept his focus only high enough not to run into anyone, thankful when he finally reached his locker. Though it wasn't much, it was still a slight distraction.

Putting in his combination, he just barely cracked the door open-

Before slamming it harshly closed again.

Turning quickly, he leaned stiffly up against the locker, breathing hard and hoping no one else had noticed. Fluttering softly to his feet were but three escaped rose petals, the only evidence of what was transpiring "within."

But he had to get in—his book for lit was in his locker. Granted, he was ahead on the reading, and so had left it at school, but he still needed it for class.

"Dude, you look like you've seen a ghost," Nino said, having finally caught up to him. "Marinette pass you by or something."

"No, it's worse!" Adrien muttered, all the color having drained from his face.

"I don't quite know how things could get worse than-"

"It's not Mar-Mari-Marinette," he managed to fumble out. "It's the other one."

Ladybug. It had to be her.

"Other- Oh!" Nino's eyes widened. "Is there another letter?"

"It's worse!" Adrien explained weakly. "My whole locker!"

"Your locker?"

"My locker is full of rose petals!"

Nino gaped. "No shit?!" His lips were quickly overcome by a smile, then laughter.

"Nino!"

Nothing could quell his friend's laughter, leaving Adrien to helplessly slump back against his locker. The heat was rapidly returning to his face—his new norm, apparently—which didn't aid him in figuring out what to do. His heart was thumping so fast and hard he could feel it in his chest. The rose petals combined with Marinette had him barely staying on the edge, the urge to go home sick becoming more and more appealing.

Yet, at the base of his stomach, something fluttered. For all the mortification he seemed to be enduring on a daily basis, he was... excited. But also terrified.

Marinette liked him. Ladybug like him. Two girls in a matter of only a week. He didn't know what to do with such information or how to react. How to even feel. Other than a shameful sort of pleasure at the attention.

Marinette didn't hate him, she liked him. Ladybug had been right. Ladybug, who was taking the advice he'd given her in attempts to, what, woo him?

Oh god, Ladybug was wooing him.

Marinette was flirting with him.

And he had no idea what to do!

"Nino!" he hissed desperately.

"Dude, you're gonna have to open it eventually," Nino reasoned, finally gaining control of himself. "Might as well get it over with." Which wasn't the solution Adrien wanted to hear, even though he knew it was the only one available.

Groaning, he let his bangs fall in front of his eyes as he slowly, with excited dread, turned back to his locker.

Like ripping of a band-aid.

"Stupid Ladybug," he mouthed to himself, frowning. "But you're not stupid, Ididn'tmeanit," he continued hastily a second later. "I'msorry,MyLady, Iloveyou."

Cringing, eyes closed, he blindly opened the locker. And could feel the petals showering down against him within moments.

Beside him, Nino snorted.

"Whoever this chick is, she sure's pulling out all the stops. She's givin' Marinette a run for her money."

"There's no money to run," Adrien replied stiffly, refusing to look down at the mess at his feet, even as raucous laughter and furious whispers started up around him. Taking a steadying breath, he brushed petals from his book as he removed it, before calmly shutting his locker.

He told himself to stay calm. Stay calm. Be confident. Two girls liked him—he was in demand, just as he'd told Ladybug.

Yet, no amount mental rationale eased him. His cheeks still flared up to his ears, so tight they ached, and he still nearly tripped into the classroom.

A classroom that was filled with laughter as soon as he entered.

Initially, he thought it was because of what Marinette had said. Word travelled fast, after all. And maybe some of it was. But there was also a giant, heart-shaped candy box—trimmed in white lace with a giant bow on top—sitting on his table. So that probably had something to do with it too.

Supposing there really was no hiding his flushed disposition, Adrien hesitated for only a moment before pushing his chin up—holding his head high—and marching across the room.

Marinette was already there. He did not look at her.

Instead, he took only a short glance at the candy box before stepping up toward his seat. Or trying to, anyway. He stumbled on the stairs, caught himself on his table, and hefted himself back into balance. Sliding into his seat, he pretended not to notice when the rest of the class giggled.

Kim made it very difficult to keep up the façade, however.

"Looks like you've got an admirer there, Adriena," he teased. "She gonna buy you flowers next? Or maybe some jewelry? Maybe a ring?"

Adrien had been about to whip around on his classmate, but someone beat him to the punch.

"Shut up, Kim!" Marinette spat, Adrien snapping his attention to her instead. "At least girls like him!"

Kim scowled. "You better watch out. Someone's lookin' to steal your crush right out from under you! Not that you're much competition!"

Marinette gaped. The class "ohhhhhhed."

"Are you mad, Kim?" she sneered. "Are you the one sending him gifts?"

"Yeah right!"

"You seem awfully defensive," Alya added.

"Tch, whatever." Defeated, Kim turned away.

Adrien had been looking between them the whole time, and was now focused on how Marinette stuck out her tongue at her previous foe. Shortly after, she turned back toward the front. Her gaze went to him before deftly darting to the candy box. She frowned, then flicked her eyes once more his way.

She glared.

Sinking down, Adrien slowly turned away until he was facing forward, the candy box tempting him. But Marinette was right behind him, so he dared not open it. He didn't want to hurt her feelings.

Pulling it off the table, he put it on the bench between himself and Nino just in time for Ms. Bustier to walk in.

Yet, despite the horror that were now his school days, he found himself softly smiling.

He toyed with the lace on the box nearly the whole class period, and felt his heart skip every time Marinette spoke.

Hawkmoth or Mayura?

I AM SO UGGGHHH LIKE HOW BEHIND AM I? I JUST SAW HEART HUNTER BATTLE OF THE MIRACULOUS PART 1

DO NOT READ AHEAD IF YOU DON'T WANT SPOILERS

Hawk moth found the guardian I can't believe it and there was adrigami and lukanette. Marinette chose Adrigami over herself. Hawk moth you pesky guy why did you do that. Saw master fu transform love it. This isn't grammatically correct but I don't care. Chloe got akumatized again... UGGGGHHHHH