"Hey, dude, I'm going to the park this afternoon since it's pretty nice out today. Wanna come with?" Nino asked Adrien over the phone.

Adrien had been playing piano for Plagg as the Kwami sat on the piano lid and ate cheese. Adrien was still furious at his father for punishing him with isolation. There wasn't much to do outside besides looking at the rose garden with his mother's statue on a bench. Adrien had more to do inside, but it was the same old boring stuff. He'd give it all away to spend time with his friends.

"Sorry, Nino, but my father grounded me from seeing friends for the whole Summer," Adrien replied to his friend, rolling his eyes hard.

"Are you for real?!?!" Nino exclaimed, making Adrien wince, pull away, and put him on speakerphone.

"Yep. Unfortunately." Adrien stood up from the black, cushioned piano bench.

"That's—that's just messed up!"

Adrien shrugged. "I'm used to it."

"How often does he do this shit to you?" Nino asked.

"Any time I stand up for myself," Adrien answered.

"Wow. You need to move out asap. I'm looking for a cheap apartment if you want a roommate."

Adrien smiled. Nino wasn't the most organized, but he'd rather live anywhere than this godforsaken mansion. "Thanks, Nino, but I don't think my father will let me."

"You're an ADULT, man!" Nino argued. "An A.D.U.L.T.! Your old man legally can't hold you hostage!"

"He spent all my money that he promised to give me!" Adrien growled, balling his fists.

Nino gasped. "Dude...DUDE. You earned that money from all the modeling he made you do!! Isn't that illegal?!"

"I don't know," Adrien sighed and slumped his shoulders. "All I know is my father will find a way to get away with it."

"Adrien, man, please come," Nino begged. "Make up some lie. Alya and Marinette will also be there."

Adrien's eyes widened. Marinette. His heart pounded at the very mention of her. "...Alright," he gave in. "I'll try. I'll let you know if it worked. If I can't come, don't feel bad for me, and enjoy the day!"

"I'll try, my dude. But I don't wanna be a third wheel because that happens every time Alya and Mari are together. I think they gossip about me because they're always giggling."

"Like I said," Adrien laughed. "I'll try my best."

"You better! I'll see you SOON," Nino told him in a playfully threatening way. "Got it?"

Adrien rolled his eyes. "Got it."

"Oh, sure, listen to your friend who's only eighteen years old and not a thousand-year-old being!" Plagg ranted as Adrien got his bag ready. "Just so you know, I told you to lie to your father way before Nino did!"

"I need to wear something fashionable but also casual enough to wear at the park," Adrien stated, ignoring Plagg.

Plagg shook his head in frustration. "What do you even mean, Adrien?"

Adrien smiled. "I'll just tell Gorilla to tell my father that Vincent and I are meeting for a last-minute summer photoshoot at the park. He knows I have Vincent's number."

"Ooh, sneaky. I really am rubbing off on you," Plagg smirked.

Gabriel agreed to let Adrien do his photoshoot. On the limo ride to the park, Gorilla informed Adrien that his father wanted to see proof with pictures and that Gabriel wanted him there for two hours tops. Adrien had to pray that the camera quality on his phone was good enough.

"Thanks, Gorilla," Adrien said with a grateful smile as he exited the car. I'll see you in two hours." Gorilla gave him a curt nod before driving off.

"There's my man!" Nino exclaimed. "Adridude, what's up?!"

Adrien gave a halfhearted smile. "I'm good now that I'm here with you guys."

Alya and Marinette, dressed in matching blue tank tops, walked up behind Nino. "Your dad said yes for once?" Alya asked, quirking an eyebrow.

"—Not exactly, hehe," Adrien replied.

Alya smirked. "Ooh, you snuck out of the house? What a badass."

"Actually," Adrien sighed, "my father grounded me for the entire Summer. I'm not supposed to be with any of you right now." He hung his head.

Marinette and Alya gasped in unison.

"I know, right?" Nino told the girls. "It's so fucked up! The dude can't have any fun! You know what, Adrien? I'm gonna talk to your old man and tell him off!"

"No, no. It's alright, Nino," Adrien said with a sad smile. "You don't have to stick up for me. It'll only make things worse."

Marinette frowned. "How long will you be able to stay before your father finds out?"

"I told him I had an idea for a summer photo shoot," Adrien said, giving her a soft smile. His lips tingled as he remembered their kiss last night. He couldn't believe Marinette still had feelings for Chat Noir after all this time. Was she really that big of a fan of him?

A fan.

Adrien felt a tinge of guilt. But before his thoughts could go any further, Nino spoke. "That's a pretty good lie. Glad you took my advice."

Adrien stifled a laugh as he heard a tiny grumble in his shirt. Oh, Plagg—he could never let someone else take credit for something he thought of, even though lying to a parent was completely unoriginal.

Looking down at his phone, Adrien had an idea. "Did you, uh, happen to bring your camera, Alya?" He asked sheepishly.

"I bring my camera everywhere," Alya said. "You're one lucky son of a bitch, Agreste." She took out her black mirrorless camera. Ever since Alya got it on her seventeenth birthday over a year ago, she couldn't put it down. "Where do you want to take the fake pictures?"

"I was thinking over by the water fountain," Adrien answered. Those pictures usually turn out the best."

Alya glanced at Marinette from the corner of her eye. "Hmm, let's get a second opinion. Marinette, do you think Adrien would look good in front of that beautiful water fountain under those lush green trees?" She wiggled her brows.

Marinette's eyes went wide. She couldn't believe Alya was still doing this, even after she made it clear that she was ok with her and Adrien staying friends. "Yeah, sure, it'll be perfect!" She bit her tongue so she could focus on the pain instead of Adrien. Marinette wanted to train herself to stop blushing around him because, at this point, it was an instinct. She was done feeling weak around him—so done with it.

While Alya took pictures of Adrien from different angles, Marinette sat on a bench in the shade. The humidity was killing her, even though she had pulled her hair into a high ponytail.

Marinette looked at the bright blue sky. There were no clouds whatsoever, and she could see pigeons flying and landing on the sidewalk, scavenging for crumbs. She laughed at the thought of Mr. Pigeon-turned-Monsieur Rat.

Bunnix had told Ladybug and Chat Noir about him long ago, and Marinette remembered that Chat couldn't stop talking about how ridiculous the name was for a few weeks. She enjoyed hearing him rant. It made her giggle. He made her laugh in general.

Marinette's mind went to the kiss, and she absentmindedly touched her lips. The moment hadn't lasted long enough. Her skin and bones ached. She wanted Chat's arms around her again.

Marinette wondered what Chat would think about her outfit. A tank top and shorts weren't much, but he did tell her she could make that yellow dress more revealing if she wanted...

Maybe Marinette would take Chat Noir up on that, and he'd be the first to see her in that dress.

God, she didn't want to need him this much.

What am I doing? Marinette blinked herself out of a daze. Jesus, these thoughts were killing her. And she didn't want to have another disappointing dream.

—Embarrassing! What she meant was embarrassing. In fact, Marinette was relieved it was only a dream. If they were really that intimate, then the world would probably end! No matter how intense her feelings, she'd never act so foolish in real life. Marinette was more than capable of controlling herself. She was Ladybug, after all, and Ladybug could control herself—for the most part, barring LadyNoire.

Marinette wasn't fourteen anymore. Any trace of unhinged was long gone. She could handle a conundrum like this. No relationships, no problems.

Alya took the last two shots of Adrien posing next to the water fountain. "I think these are greater than great. Check them out!" She showed Adrien.

"Yes," Adrien nodded excitedly. "Those will definitely be convincing enough. It looks almost identical to Vincent's photos."

"Am I the best, or am I the best?" Alya smirked.

"You're the best, babe," Nino cut in, giving her a dramatic kiss.

"I didn't ask you. I know you know that I'm an excellent photographer." Alya pecked his cheek.

Adrien rolled his eyes with a short chuckle. "Yes, it looks great. Maybe we can arrange something for the Summer."

"You'd have to pay me for that," Alya said.

"Deal," he shrugged.

"Wait, really?"

"Yeah. Whatever gets me out of my father's house," said Adrien.

"Awesome," Alya smirked. "Hear that, Marinette? Adrien's going to pay me to fake his photoshoots the whole Summer."

"Oh, um...what?" Marinette gave a bashful smile. "Sorry, I wasn't listening..."

Alya jerked her head back. "Whoa, are you ok, girl? Your face is redder than a cherry."

Marinette swallowed. "W-well, it's really hot outside."

"She's totally in Adrien dreamland again," Alya whispered to Nino. "And the girl says she's ok with just being his friend. I can't make this stuff up." She facepalmed.

"I don't have the energy to keep up anymore," Nino snickered. "And look at my dude Adrien. He's whipped." Nino motioned his head to the blonde. Adrien was ogling Marinette from a distance.

Alya laughed, looking from Adrien to Marinette, who was—

Not staring at Adrien.

What?

"Nino," she elbowed him lightly. "Mari's not even looking at Adrien!" Alya whisper-yelled. "This is strange!"

"Maybe because he's looking directly at her?" Nino guessed.

Alya shook her head. "No. I know what Marinette looks like when she's looking back and forth at Adrien, and this isn't it. She's in another dreamland.

"...Ahh, ok," nodded Nino. "You're right. This is weird."

"Let's test it." Alya walked towards Adrien, Nino following suit.

"Adrien!" Alya chimed. "I have an idea for the rest of the photoshoots."

"Oh, l-like what?" Adrien replied, flustered. He reluctantly tore his gaze away from Marinette.

"Hm," Alya tapped her chin and raised her voice. "How about you and Marinette do some bathing suit poses next time? We could stop by the public pool. And Marinette, you could wear your pink polka-dot bikini!"

While Adrien's face turned bright red, Marinette continued looking elsewhere with a dreamy yet worried demeanor.

Both Alya and Nino's jaws dropped. This was Marinette's cue to make a high-pitched squeaking sound or stiffen up and somehow fall off the bench.

"Alya... I don't think she's comfortable with that," Adrien scratched his neck. He hoped Marinette wasn't comfortable with it because God knows what would happen if he saw her in a swimsuit—especially a bikini. Things would be really uncomfortable, then. Damn hormones.

"Of course she is!" Alya smiled widely. "You're comfortable taking swimsuit pictures with Adrien, right?!"

Marinette finally looked at her friends. "...Why are you guys staring at me?"

Alya and Nino shared a concerned look. "Give me a minute, babe," she told Nino before walking over to Marinette and sitting on the bench with her. "Are you ok, girl?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Marinette sat upright.

"Because you're—did you even listen to what I just said about you and Adrien? There's no wind, so I know you could hear me."

Marinette frowned. "I heard you, but I don't know what you said." What the hell is wrong with me today? Marinette thought. Why is my attention span, like, five seconds?! "What did you say about me and Adrien?" She crossed her arms.

"I said you two could do a swimsuit photoshoot next time!" Alya beamed. "And you could wear that sexy bikini."

Although her cheeks were a bit pink, Marinette's eyebrows scrunched into a frown. "Alya, stop," she replied firmly. "We've already talked about this a million times. Leave me alone about it." Marinette was close to going more than ten minutes without blushing around Adrien. Why did Alya have to say that?

"...Ok. I'll stop. I was just a little concerned about you, that's all." Alya lowered her head and stood up.

Concerned, really? Why couldn't Marinette just be Marinette? What was so wrong about being more interested in other things than Adrien? She huffed as she watched her friends talk and laugh.

Adrien glanced at Marinette several times, wondering when she'd get up and join them. Was she upset about what happened last night? Did she think he was some kind of player because he had rejected her last time? Ugh, how Adrien wished he could read her mind right now.

Marinette felt defeated. Okay, maybe she couldn't control herself—her thoughts, at least. She could always regulate her actions. Actions were louder than thoughts and words, after all.

//**\\

"My father actually bought it, Plagg," Adrien sighed with relief, falling backward onto his bed. "I could really do this for a few months!" For once, he was relieved that Gabriel did nothing more than give him a cold nod and dismiss him. No skepticism about the photos, no lecture, no nothing.

Plagg grinned. "I'm so glad, Adrien. "I didn't want you to be alone all Summer."

Adrien smiled warmly. "Well, I wouldn't be entirely alone," he looked at his Kwami.

"Awww, but you should spend time with your human friends who don't rob you broke for cheese."

"Thanks, Plagg," Adrien laughed. He got on his phone and scrolled through his Instagram. A smile tugged at his lips when he saw Marinette's profile icon—a picture of her and Alya at the park.

Marinette's smile brightened his days, afternoons, evenings, nights, and mornings. If Adrien could see her beautiful face every day—and not just on a screen—he would be the happiest man alive.

His mind wandered to earlier. "Hey, Plagg?" Adrien asked.

"Mmm?" A muffled noise came from the Kwami's mouth as he shoved cheese down his throat.

"Did Marinette seem weird to you at the park?"

"Adrien," Plagg flew above his bed. "You know I ignore humans when I'm tired and eating cheese in your duffel bag. I was taking a nap most of the time."

With a head shake, Adrien continued, "Maybe she regrets kissing Chat Noir last night...I really messed up." He shut off his phone and set it facedown on his nightstand. "All I did was take advantage of her again. But it really wasn't my intention when I landed on her balcony in the first place." Adrien buried his head in the white cotton pillow.

"Yep," Plagg sighed in annoyance. "You shouldn't have done that."

A deep frown formed on Adrien's face, and he turned over. "Remember what happened last time? I don't wanna put her through that again."

"But she understood since she was almost akumatized," Plagg shrugged. "So maybe this time she'll be more chill about it. And hey, she might even agree. Wasn't it just an experiment?" He jeered.

"You're right," replied Adrien. "It could've meant nothing to her this time. Maybe that spark is gone, even if it's still in me..." his chest ached.

Plagg looked at his holder flatly. "Enough with the teenage angst. Just go back to her balcony tomorrow and make things right. I'm sure everything will be fine." Plagg believed that Tikki would put some logic in Marinette's head and remind her why Marinette and Chat Noir could never work.

Adrien nodded. "I'll visit tomorrow evening after my cello and Arabic lessons and apologize." He dragged his hand down his face, groaning. I'm such an idiot. Marinette deserves so much better than me, he lamented to himself.

Chat Noir couldn't let his feelings get in the way of his responsibilities. He wasn't allowed to pursue love—much less with a non-superhero civilian. If one thing went wrong, the consequences could be catastrophic.