--------

Genderbend: Michelle, Ariel, Tonya, Loyde, Kage (Marinette, Adrian, Tom Dupan, Lila, Kagami)
———

Michelle is up at 5 in the morning baking bread. His friend and pseudo-adopted daughter, Ariel, has a fencing match today and he wanted to make her a snack.

He fills some of the croissants with chocolate and some with raspberry cream.

"Son, you're up early? Are those croissants?", his mother perks up from where she was at the door.

She tries to take one but he snatched the tray away. He waves his finger at her in a light hearted manner.

"Mama, no! This is for your granddaughter. She has a match today.", he chastised.

"Awe.. I want to make her something too. Mind if I help?", his mama said.

"You're help is a blessing in the kitchen mama.", he said.

They spend the next hour making a entire meal and then some for their most precious member of the family.

"Be honest, if she was my sister she'd be your favorite. I mean, she'd be my favorite too if she was.", joked Michelle.

"Oh sweet tart, I could never take her a way from you. She's your kid, you claimed her.", said his mama.

"Nina would argue that she saw her first.", said Michelle.

"Then we'd have a duel on our hands.", his mama lifts up a controller.

"That reminds me, tell papa that I need to borrow the motor bike tomorrow. I have a few commissions that live on the other side of the city.", he said.

"Sure thing, my sweet tart.", his mama said.

————

Michelle arrives to school on time as usual. He walks up stairs, but halfway up he bumps into the guy that's getting on his nerves more than Cecile ever did, Loyde.

"Hey careful!", said Michelle.

"Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't see there, you just look so natural in the background; but I'm not saying you look plain or anything! Really!", said Loyde.

Michelle huffed and gave a half glare. Loyde sneers at him. Michelle walks a way with Loyde still sneering he may have also looked at his butt. Loyde may have height, but he doesn't look terrifying when he's angry or hot.

Michelle looks for his daughter and finds her talking to Nina. Ariel notices him then and quickly ends her conversation.

The seating arrangements changed some time ago. Ariel now sits in the middle with Rain. Michelle sits across from them and next to Julien.

(Nino - Nina, Chloe - Cecile, Rose - Rain, Juleka- Julien)

"Michy! Is that for me? Are you coming to my match?", asked Ariel as she jumps in excitement.

"Yes to everything.", said Michelle.

—————

Later that day, Ariel and Michelle are in the school courtyard. Michelle sits on a bench as he watches Ariel practices her forms.

He joined by Kage, a new friend and a member of the fencing team. Kage has confessed to both Michelle and Ariel and has been rejected by both at the same time.

Kage holds Michelle's hand without a word. Michelle glances at their hands for a moment. Kage has a light blush.

"Are you ready?", asked Michelle.

"Yes, I will win... May I have a good luck kiss?", asked Kage.

"No, but you can have a pat on the shoulder.", said Michelle.

Kage casually accepts and goes to correct Ariel's form. Michelle still has a subtle, warm tingle on his hand. He resists the urge to touch his hand.

Kage and Ariel pretend they don't see him smile into his other hand. Ariel goes through the motions with Kage. Michelle is no longer paying attention.

"I'm saying it now, the answers no.", muttered Ariel.

"You don't know that.", Kage changes her stance.

"You know he's afraid.", said Ariel.

"I will conquer that fear.", said Kage.

"Just like you'll conquer him?", accuses Ariel.

"Ari, please don't misunderstand. He is not an object to me. It's not a game for me to win, you know I take everything seriously.", said Kage.

"Chances are, you'll be my brother.", said Ariel.

"If it is so, I will accept, but as it is now... I have an odd. The odds are not big, but it is there.", said Kage.

"We will see then.", said Ariel.

They finish their warm ups and the matches begin. They sit next to Michelle when it's not their turn.

—————

Kage and Ariel comment and take notes as Michelle listens in between them. Then it's Kage's turn, Michelle and Ariel giggle and point out things they've noticed. They share snacks.

———

Ariel's turn comes and Kage takes his place next to Michelle. Ariel puts all her focus on her opponent.

Kage entwines his pinkie with Michelle's. Then they exchange glances. Michelle turns a light red.

In the silence, Michelle leaned his head closer to Kage's shoulder. Kage makes a quiet swallow.

"Ariel's gotten much better.", whispered Michelle.

"She trained diligently, it was no surprise.", said Kage.

Michelle hummed as he caressed Kage's hand with his thumb, their pinkies still locked.

"Kage...", Michelle trailed off.

Kage braces himself, no hint of nervousness only acceptance.

"No flirting, courtship is saved for after all matches are over!", interrupted a teacher.

Michelle's lips begin to form a smug smile as he moves closer to Kage. His hand slipping to touch Kage's cheek.

"Oh, like this?", chirps Michelle mischievously.

A nearby student takes a dry spit in an attempt to stop them from bursting into a laugh. Another student did laugh and collapsed to the ground.

Ariel finished her match unaware of what led to her dad openly cuddling Kage, but the chaos it caused bring her joy.

"Well, now that we're done- I won by the way- let's get ice cream and pizza!", exclaimed Ariel.

"But I made you lunch.....", said Michelle.

"I never said I wasn't going to eat it with the ice cream and pizza.", reassured Ariel.

"Fine, but only if you can eat it all.", said Michelle.

———
She could not eat it all. Kage and Michelle had to eat what she couldn't.

———
End