"You can't be serious! We're not doing that!" Plagg stood opposite Tikki as the producers filled them in on what would be the new arrangement if Lila was to leave the competition that evening.

"It's what Gabriel wants," Nooroo commented.

"I don't give a badger's bottom what Gabriel Agreste wants, Adrien will not be partnered with Lila." Plagg crossed his arms and levelled out his shoulders to gain more presence in the room. He had been part of the show for twelve years, there was no way he would bow down to a fashion designer with a dictator complex.

The judges were currently in a briefing from the production team in between the main show and results show and it seemed as though Gabriel Agreste had gone haywire with his threats. If they wanted him to continue sponsoring the show they needed to split Adrien and Marinette, apparently Lila was more suited for his stuck up and snobbish designer brand.

"He's powerful, Plagg, we can't just ignore his wants." Dusuu responded.

"Powerful? Please! The guy designs outfits which, as we can tell from tonight's show, some of our contestants can too. If Gabriel refuses to make Marinette's I'm sure we can find someone else who's willing to." Plagg slammed his hands on the table in front of him as he stood up. His anger was close to boiling point.

"Has anyone thought about Marinette? The girl has worked so hard for her first year on the show. Her creativity would be missed along with her attitude. The other contestants and professionals love her, and not only that but herself and Adrien are amazing together, they're the main story. They're who are getting us the viewers." Tikki pulled up her Twitter feed and went to the top tags in the UK, there at number one was #adrienette.

"Of course they have thought about her" Nooroo exploded, "but it's not that simple."

"Not that simple? I'm sorry but you're wrong there. I don't know what trap or blackmail Gabriel Agreste has on you but I won't be following his orders. I'm not here for that, he has nothing on me." Plagg sat back in his seat and looked towards Tikki, who nodded curtly back.

"I'm with Plagg," she said.

Nooroo and Dusuu looked between their two friends. They had only a short period of time to discuss this before having to head back into the studio and vote for the couple staying.

Tikki and Plagg were strongly against Gabriel having any influence in the show. As far as they were concerned they were there to do a job, they were there to keep politics out of the game. Adrien and Marinette were proving themselves strong as a team and they did not deserve to be pulled apart just so some middle aged man could get his own way.

"Tikki, Plagg, please just think about it! This could affect not only our careers but the kids too."

"Guilting us won't work, Dusuu," Tikki replied, "the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. I'm sorry Dus, but I'm doing something. I will not let Lila Rossi and Gabriel Agreste have their own way."

"Then so be it! But whatever you choose to do, you live with the consequences." Nooroo walked to the door, face blank of any emotion. "I'll see you out there."

"Dusuu, just think about it realistically. Think about Adrien and Marinette." Dusuu nodded and began to make her way out the room leaving Tikki and Plagg to manifest with what had just happened.

"We can't let it happen, Sugarcube," Plagg stood and made his way over to Tikki, wrapping her in his arms.

"Poor Adrien. Dead mother, distant controlling father, no say in his future. The kid is finally having some fun, I'm not going to let old sour puss ruin that for him." Tikki placed her head against Plagg's shoulder and wrapped her arms around his waist.

One thing about good partnerships was the eternal bond between both parties, and Tikki and Plagg were both sure Adrien and Marinette were made for each other, they just needed to make sure they realised before it was too late.

•••••

Adrien's head was buzzing. They'd come top again, and managed to score three tens, it was unbelievable. When he was first approached to do this show he'd agreed solely on the purpose that his father wanted him to do it. Nothing else. He didn't expect to find that he really enjoyed it, and that he looked forward to each week.

He began to search for Marinette. He wanted to know if she fancied going out to celebrate again. Since last Saturday, their partnership had strengthened and after everything he'd heard about her over the past week he couldn't help that his heart skipped a beat every time she touched him, or pulled him a little closer into her. He thought about the different holds in their dance and how every time they performed a closed one she just fit so perfectly to him. Almost like she was made to be there.

Pulling out his phone he noticed an array for congratulation messages as usual. Chloe demanding that Marinette make her a dress, Kagami commenting on how she never knew he had it in him and Gorilla with his usual thumbs up emoji icon. He couldn't wait for the girls to come over and see him in the upcoming weeks (as long as they stayed in that was), they were two of his other best friends and he really wanted them to meet Marinette. Kagami had already expressed fondness after hearing briefly about her on his calls.

Finally Adrien found his destination. Twitter. Straight away he noticed the number of notifications - three hundred and sixty two to be exact - and also how #adrienette was trending in the top five. Clicking on the link he began to scroll through the words of encouragement, enjoyment and jealousy.

@adrienagresteno1fan
It's not fair she looks so beautiful AND gets to dance with him in that way! #jealous #adrienette

@d4nc3r4l1f3
That is how you do it! How can they be so perfect! #adrienette #smd #jealous #whycantitbeme

@stickysock
Adrien and Marinette best of the night! Fight me for it! #adrienette

@miraculouswayzz
[Picture]
Nobody can tell me this is only a performance! This is real love! Look at them! #adrienette

Adrien laughed to himself and clicked on the picture to enlarge it before saving it to his camera roll. It was him and Marinette mid routine, his hand stroking her face and the looks in each other's eyes of pure passion and lust. They were good!

He reached Marinette's dressing room and stopped. The sound of the voice coming from behind the door was somewhat unfamiliar. Adrien moved back slightly and, even though he knew it was rude, listened in on the conversation behind the door. Marinette was about to go and perform with Luka so he wasn't sure why someone else was there.

"So when am I taking you on that date?"

A shot of recognition ran through him as he knew exactly who was inside the dressing room with Marinette. He couldn't help the stirring in his stomach as he listened to the presenter approach his partner.

"Date?"

She sounded shocked, and he couldn't understand why. Hadn't she already agreed to this after their performance interview.

"Yes, I asked you earlier and you said sure." The male voice appeared again.

"I thought you meant as friends, I didn't realise you meant it as a 'date' date." Adrien could hear Marinette was fretting.

"Oh, I get it ... you're one of those."

"Excuse me?"

"Keep playing hard to get if that's what you want, but I won't be waiting around for you forever."

Adrien moved away from the door, hiding around the corner as the presenter came out of the dressing room, only to be followed less than a minute later by Marinette. She was dressed in a black net bralette covered in blue Swarovski crystals and a matching pair of high waisted pants. Her legs were bare as were her feet. He guessed this was the matching outfit to Luka's.

"Hey," she said, walking up to him and placing a kiss on his cheek. "Want to go celebrate again tonight?"

He smiled at the beautiful girl in front of him. How could he deny that?

"Sure, as long as we make it through."

"I have no doubts," she said, "you were amazing."

"As were you."

The two stood staring at each other like a couple of idiots. Neither speaking, just grinning and rocking backwards and forwards on the balls of their feet.

"Marinette, come on. It's time."

Luka appeared and grabbed onto Marinette's arm, pulling her towards the studio. Her eyes remained locked on Adrien's and he couldn't help thinking what the hell had just happened?

•••••

Of course, Adrien and Marinette were safe again, however it seemed Lila's plan for self sabotage had worked and she'd found herself in the bottom two.

Each couple had to perform again before facing off the judges to see if they would be saved. Adrien stood holding his breath. If Lila went out then Marinette would be replaced. He looked at the girl standing next to him and already hated the thought of not spending time with her.

They were backstage with the other contestants and professionals as they watched the dance off performances on a television screen in the green room. Famous boy band member Todd Harper was first to perform with Chinese champion Fei. Their performance was clean and simple and to be honest was worthy of staying in, especially when compared to what followed.

Lila messed up big time. Sorry ... Patrick messed up big time, because the way Lila orchestrated the trips and mistimings you would swear he was the one that had done it wrong. As they stood waiting for the judges' votes, Lila started to cry and Adrien couldn't help thinking whether this was genuine sorrow or whether she was just a good actress. From their altercation earlier that day he tended to believe it was the second.

Plagg was first to announce who was staying and Adrien held his breath. Lila didn't deserve to stay, but his experience and Marinette's dreams shouldn't be smashed by her selfish desire and his fathers control.

"Both of you messed up so unfortunately it's kind of picking from a bad bunch, however, Patrick and Lila have been more consistent. So I vote for Patrick and Lila to stay."

The audience clapped and boo'd as they moved onto Tikki.

"This was neither of your best weeks, so I expect harder work to be put in for next week's show, making up for what was performed this evening. I vote for Patrick and Lila."

The audience repeated the same reaction as the camera turned to Nooroo next.

"Patrick, you made some huge errors tonight and even though Todd struggled with his frame at least he was hitting the right counts. I vote for Todd and Fei."

The green room cheered for the first time since the dance off began. Only Dusuu left to go and then they'd be free to leave. The camera led to Dusuu and one thing everyone could notice, and that was how worried they looked.

"This is a hard choice. My head is telling me one thing and my heart is telling me another." Dusuu looked down the line at their fellow judges before closing their eyes and making their vote. "I vote for Patrick and Lila."

Lila stood stock still as Patrick wrapped himself around her, the green room groaning with the final result. The television was turned off as the outro played and Adrien was left staring at the reflection on the screen, as behind him stood a very annoyed Gabriel Agreste.

•••••

Time to vote
Gabriel has something on Nooroo, is it:
❤️ Personal
🖤 Business