There were many times Marinette considered something a bad idea.

Exhibit A: Trying to bake a soufflé while distracted by TikTok dance challenges. The result? A collapsed soufflé and a kitchen covered in flour—but at least she nailed the dance!

Exhibit B: Taking Alix's advice and attempting to dye her hair at home. Let's just say the colour turned out nothing like the box promised, leading to an impromptu visit to the hair salon.

Exhibit C: Agreeing to participate in a community theatre production, as a favour to Marc, despite having stage fright. Her rendition of the lead role involved some creative improvisation and a few forgotten lines.

And standing in Chloé Bourgeois' room, dressed in very tight tennis clothing, Marinette was quite certain she had her next story to share during quiz night. Hello, Exhibit D.

She hadn't realised she needed for such attire until Félix casually suggested they hit the courts, and like any good cousin, Adrien had enthusiastically jumped on board. Now, she faced the sudden need for sporty clothing she hadn't planned for.

After all, who thinks about tennis clothes when packing for your platonic plus one's Grammy's countryside mansion?

Ever the problem solver, Adrien suggested borrowing from Chloé. Marinette agreed without fully grasping the implications—until she found herself surrounded by Chloé's meticulously organised closet, her eyes scanning for something suitable amidst the sea of luxury.

As she reluctantly slipped into her old foes snug tennis ensemble, she couldn't help but marvel at the absurdity of the situation. Here she was, trading her quirky, mismatched outfits for haute couture sportswear, all in the name of friendship and fitting in.

Adjusting the visor that screamed 'rich aunt on vacation' more than 'tennis pro', Marinette chuckled to herself. She may have 'the look', but once her feet were on the court, she was quite sure she was going to look more Grace Kelly than Serena Williams.

Marinette tugged at the borrowed tennis outfit, feeling self-conscious. "Chloé, um, I think this skirt might be a tad too short for me."

Chloé, always brimming with confidence, arched an eyebrow and examined Marinette critically. "Short? Nonsense! It's meant to accentuate your figure," she declared, her tone dripping with unwavering certainty.

Marinette glanced down at the barely-there white skirt and couldn't help but feel a bit exposed. "I'm just not used to wearing something this...revealing," she admitted, her cheeks colouring slightly.

Chloé chuckled, a smirk playing on her lips. "Darling, you've got nothing to worry about. Embrace the boldness! Besides, if you want to catch Adrien's eye on the court, you need to exude confidence," she advised, her words laced with mischief.

"I, um, Adrien and I are just friends," Marinette stammered, mentally begging for the ground to swallow her up.

"Please," Chloé quipped. "The way you two look at each other, it's like you want to cover each other in chocolate and have a licking contest."

Marinette's face turned a deep shade of red. "It's really not like that," she managed, wondering if a quick dive into the pool might cool her down.

"Sure, sure, Dupain-Cheng," Chloé said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

Marinette's heart sank as Chloé continued with a smirk. "I, um, I didn't think you recognised me," Marinette admitted, her voice wavering.

"I didn't at first. I've got to say, this new look is definitely an improvement. But after the premiere, I went home and looked you up. I have to take care of my Adri-kins," Chloé explained, her expression a mix of amusement and superiority.

Marinette resisted the urge to facepalm. Of course Chloé would do her research. She mentally kicked herself for underestimating her old rival's cunning.

Chloé leaned back against her vanity, eyeing Marinette. "It's fine, really. You've grown up a lot since college," she remarked.

Marinette blinked, slightly taken aback by the unexpected compliment from her long time adversary. "Oh, um, thank you," she replied, unsure how to respond to Chloé's surprising change in demeanour.

Chloé waved a dismissive hand. "Well, you know how it is. We all have to mature eventually." She paused, her expression softening just a fraction. "Besides, I can appreciate a good makeover. Clearly, you've been taking notes."

Marinette couldn't help but feel a mix of relief and suspicion. Was Chloé being genuine, or was this just another one of her mind games? She decided to tread cautiously, not wanting to fall into any traps. "Um, yeah, I guess so," she replied cautiously, forcing a small smile.

Chloé smirked as if she could read Marinette's thoughts. "Don't worry, Marinette. I'm not going to do anything... For now," she added with a mischievous glint in her eye.

"So, how have you been? I hear you're with Sabrina?" Marinette inquired cautiously.

Chloé raised an eyebrow. "Is that because Adrien told you, or have you been doing your research too?"

She felt a twinge of discomfort at Chloé's pointed question. "Oh, um, a bit of both, I suppose," she admitted, her voice trailing off in uncertainty.

Chloé chuckled lightly, her expression surprisingly nonchalant. "Well, I suppose it's no secret. Sabrina and I are quite the item now," she replied, a hint of satisfaction in her tone.

"That's...great to hear," Marinette replied diplomatically.

Sighing inwardly, she felt like she was trapped in a never-ending loop of clichés. Dealing with Chloé was always a challenge, but today seemed particularly fraught with unexpected twists.

"So, Dupain-Cheng," Chloé began, her tone laced with an air of intrigue, "what's the deal with this 'MDC' thing?"

And there was another...

Marinette's heart skipped a beat. MDC was her secret persona, known only to a few trusted friends. She panicked, imagining the worst—that Chloé might be about to spill her secret to Mary, her boss. But then, to her surprise, Chloé's expression shifted, her disdain evident.

"I despise Mary, by the way," Chloé remarked, her voice lowering. "But not as much as I detest Lillie."

Marinette blinked in surprise. Shared enemies often made for unexpected alliances. Before she could fully process this, Chloé's tone lightened, as if she was changing the subject entirely.

"By the way," her old nemesis continued, her gaze now focused on Marinette with a calculating gleam, "how busy are you these days? I need a new dress for the wedding, and I want it to be extraordinary."

Caught off guard by the abrupt shift, Marinette hesitated. "I - I can make it work," she replied cautiously, her mind still reeling from the mention of MDC and Chloé's strange detour.

Chloé's smirk hinted at deeper motives. "Good. Now, about my sources...," she began, her gaze lingering on Marinette.

"Sources?" Marinette echoed, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Adrien mentioned you," Chloé said casually, as if discussing the weather. "Said something about an engagement ring design."

Marinette's thoughts raced. She didn't know exactly what had gone on with Chelsea, but engaged! Had he proposed? Had she said no? What was the story there?

Chloé sauntered over to a nearby mirror, her gaze fixed on her reflection in the skimpy yellow summer dress she wore. She adjusted her hair, a smirk playing on her lips as she observed herself critically. Then, turning back to Marinette with an air of nonchalance, she resumed their conversation.

"You know, Marinette, everyone hated Chelsea," Chloé remarked casually. "She's so fake, always trying too hard to impress. And that attitude of hers? Insufferable."

Marinette listened even though she knew Chloé's sentiments were often rooted in petty rivalries.

She continued, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "And speaking of Adrien and his newfound 'designer admiration'..." She paused, letting her words hang in the air for effect. "It seems he's fallen for the design of that engagement ring more than he realises."

Marinette's heart skipped a beat. Adrien's affection for the ring's design—did it mean he was captivated by the designer behind it? Her mind raced with questions and uncertainties.

Chloé's cryptic statement left Marinette grappling with the implications. Could Adrien be romantically interested in someone else, perhaps even the mysterious designer of the ring? The mere thought stirred a mix of emotions in her—curiosity, apprehension, and a lingering sense of longing.

As Chloé's gaze lingered on Marinette, the weight of unspoken truths hung between them. Marinette knew she had to tread carefully, especially with Chloé's penchant for drama and manipulation but this encounter was turning out to be more complex than she had anticipated.

"Well then, off you go to join the others for tennis. And hey, if you play badly, at least you'll look fabulous doing it," Chloé quipped with a smirk.

Marinette chuckled nervously, wondering if Chloé's compliments were about as genuine as a knock-off designer handbag. "Uh, thanks for your help, I guess," she replied, trying to match Chloé's casual tone.

As she headed out to the tennis court, Marinette couldn't help but roll her eyes inwardly. Leave it to Chloé to turn a friendly game of tennis into a runway show. But hey, if looking good was all it took to win, she was ready to serve up some fierce looks along with her serves. Who knew? Maybe she'd ace the game and her outfit at the same time.

*****

Marinette had never been sporty, but this was reaching new levels of ridiculousness. Even her statement tennis dress wasn't helping her out.

"40-love. Just let us know if you want to swap teams," Félix chimed in, smoothly moving over to Kagami's side and planting a kiss on his fiancée's cheek.

Marinette had given it her best shot, but the others were playing like Wimbledon pros compared to her. Her only real experience with a tennis racket involved a few mandatory gym classes back in collège and dodging Akumas.

She gave Adrien a weak smile, trying to mask her embarrassment as she adjusted her skirt for what felt like the hundredth time that match.

"We'll make our come back," he said, so sure she wanted to cry for him. "We just need to move around more. Get in the zone."

"Easy for you to say," she replied with a half-hearted chuckle. "I think my skirt is having more fun than I am out here."

Adrien chuckled sympathetically, glancing over at her with a playful twinkle in his eyes. "Well, you know what they say—when life gives you wardrobe malfunctions, make it a fashion statement!"

Marinette couldn't help but laugh at his attempt to lighten the mood. "I'll keep that in mind for my next design project: 'The Ever-Rising Skirt'."

Adrien grinned. "Brilliant! You could start a whole new trend. Just make sure it comes with built-in leggings or something."

Marinette nodded, appreciating his humour. "Noted. Leggings will definitely be included in version 2.0."

As they continued to play, she felt a renewed sense of determination to enjoy herself, even if her skirt seemed hellbent on upstaging her on the court. The banter with Adrien was like a breath of fresh air, turning what could have been a frustrating situation into a light hearted moment shared between friends.

However, the umpire was having completely different ideas.

After not seeing her partner for most of the day, it seemed Chat Noir had made sure to be there to witness the embarrassment of this tennis match. It was as if he knew when she was at her most vulnerable and found his way back to her.

"That was barely in, you cheats!" he shouted down towards Félix and Kagami.

Firstly, it was 'in' by miles and secondly, they had zero reason to cheat. Marinette was losing this for herself and Adrien quite spectacularly.

The final point of the tennis set unfolded with Félix and Kagami showcasing their prowess on the court, while Adrien and Marinette struggled to keep up. Félix served a powerful ace that Adrien barely managed to return. Kagami swiftly followed up with a precise cross-court shot that left Marinette scrambling to reach the ball.

She lunged with determination, her racket barely making contact as she managed a weak lob over the net. Félix anticipated the shot and effortlessly smashed it back with precision. Adrien dashed towards the ball but missed by inches, watching helplessly as it sailed past him.

The ball hit the court with a decisive thud, marking the end of the set. Félix and Kagami exchanged a triumphant glance, while Adrien and Marinette exchanged exhausted smiles. Despite her valiant efforts, Marinette knew she was outmatched on the court.

"Great game, everyone!" Adrien called out, trying to keep the atmosphere light despite their loss. It was now one set to Félix and Kagami, there loss spectacular at a six games to one.

Marinette nodded, her cheeks flushed with exertion and a hint of disappointment.

"Have you two been training? You're unstoppable out there." Adrien walked to the chair, taking a towel and wiping it over his face.

Félix grinned graciously. "Thanks. We're just a great team."

Adrien chuckled. "Definitely!" He turned to look at Marinette, throwing out a 'don't worry about it' as she pulled her skirt down once again.

"You okay?" he mouthed, and she nodded enthusiastically, masking the sheer humiliation she felt.

"I'm just going to run to the bathroom. Do you need anything while I'm in the house?"

He scanned the area before shaking his head. "I'm all good."

Feeling like a total klutz, she gave him a double thumbs up and hurried up the staircase toward the house, thankfully only tripping on the top step, which was hidden by a bush.

Making her way through the poolside doors, she headed straight for the bathroom opposite the room she was sharing with Adrien before slamming the door shut and leaning on the sink.

She looked up into the mirror. Her face was red and sweaty as hell, her hair resembling more of a well-played-with Barbie doll than Kagami's perfectly formed bob.

"What the hell am I doing?" Marinette muttered to herself, staring at her dishevelled reflection in the bathroom mirror. Before she could contemplate further, she heard a faint whisper behind her.

"You okay there, Marinette?"

Marinette jumped, spinning around to find her ghostly partner near the door, a mischievous grin on his face.

"You scared me!" she exclaimed, placing a hand over her racing heart.

"Sorry about that. It's not every day you see someone talking to themselves in a bathroom."

Marinette rolled her eyes, trying to mask her embarrassment. "Well, what can I say? It's my special talent."

Her companion moved closer. "Speaking of talents, I think you've mastered the 'pulled through a hedge backwards' look."

Marinette sighed dramatically. "Thank you for the compliment. I was going for a casual 'just surviving a tennis match' vibe."

They both shared a laugh, the tension dissipating in the air.

"So, what's the plan now?" Chat Noir asked, hovering with curiosity in the bathroom.

Marinette shrugged, a smile tugging at her lips. "Maybe I'll try fixing my hair, then head back out to finish getting my butt served on a platter. I feel so bad for Adrien."

Chat Noir floated closer, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Ah, but M'Lady, getting your butt served on a platter can be quite the delicacy in some circles."

She couldn't help but laugh. "I'll take your word for it, Kitty. Maybe I'll start a new trend: the defeated tennis chic."

He grinned. "Or how about we turn this into a superhero mission? You're the ace player, and I'm your trusty sidekick cheering you on from the sidelines!"

She played along, adopting a determined pose. "You're right! With Chat Noir in my corner, nothing can stop us—except maybe a well-aimed tennis ball."

"True, but we'll dodge those like we dodge akuma attacks!"

Marinette nodded with mock seriousness. "Alright, Kitty. Time to bring out the secret weapon: the power of terrible puns!"

He gasped dramatically. "M'Lady, you're a genius! They won't know what hit them."

She turned back to the mirror and began fixing her hair. Chat Noir floated closer, his green eyes full of encouragement. "Remember, it's not about winning every point. It's about having fun and giving it your best shot. And if all else fails, we'll blame it on the ghost interference!"

She grinned, feeling bolstered by her partner's unwavering support. What would she do without him? "Thanks, Chaton. I needed that reminder. Now, let's show them what teamwork really looks like!"

With renewed confidence and a touch of superhero flair, they left the bathroom side-by-side, ready to face the rest of the match together.

As they walked toward the court, Marinette couldn't help but imagine Adrien as Chat Noir by her side, making them unstoppable against the world. They were a dynamic duo, ready to conquer the tennis match.

Half an hour later, Marinette was pumped. Imagining Adrien as Chat Noir had worked wonders for her confidence and skills. She felt like she was channelling her inner Sharapova—well, maybe she wasn't doing quite that well, but she and Adrien had managed to pull it back to one set all, with the score at five games to Félix and Kagami's four. They were on the verge of turning the game around, and Marinette could practically taste victory.

As they switched sides for the next game, Adrien gave Marinette an encouraging smile. "You're doing amazing out there, Sweet Thang! Keep it up! We've got this."

She grinned back, feeling the adrenaline coursing through her veins. "Thanks, Ch—Adrien! Let's finish strong, and show them what we're made of."

With renewed determination, she prepared to return the ball, her focus unwavering. The game intensified, each point bringing them closer to the win. Adrien cheered her on after every shot, his support fuelling Marinette's resolve.

"Great shot, Marinette! Keep them guessing!" Adrien called out as she struck a volley straight down the centre line, her confidence soaring.

With each rally, she felt more in sync with Adrien, their teamwork shining through. They fought hard, chasing down every ball and strategizing like a well-oiled machine. Marinette's shots became more precise, her movements more fluid.

"Advantage us!" Adrien called over the net.

Félix looked like he'd just swallowed a wasp. "Advantage you? More like advantage us after you mess up these next serves," he shot back, eyeing Adrien with a smirk.

Adrien chuckled. "You wish! But good luck returning this one." He bounced the tennis ball on his racket, gearing up for a powerhouse serve.

Félix narrowed his eyes in a way that made Marinette wonder if they were suddenly in the finals at the French Open. "Bring it on, cousin. Let's see what you've got!"

Adrien served the ball with determination, hoping to secure the final point of the match. The ball sailed over the net, and the rally began as Félix returned the shot skilfully. Adrien, focused and agile, moved to intercept the ball, aiming for a strategic placement.

As the ball bounced back and forth between the players, the tension mounted with each exchange. Marinette anticipated Kagami's next move, positioning herself to deliver a decisive shot. With a swift swing of her racket, she struck the ball with precision.

Félix closed in near the net, anticipating a volley. Adrien's shot, filled with determination, sailed across the court—unfortunately, straight towards Félix.

The ball struck Félix squarely in the eye with a resounding thwack. Time seemed to freeze as everyone on the court gasped in shock. Marinette's heart skipped a beat, unsure whether to laugh or wince at the unexpected turn of events.

Félix staggered back, clutching his eye in pain. "Ouch! My eye!"

Adrien rushed over, his expression a mix of concern and apology. "Oh no, I'm so sorry, Félix! Are you okay?"

Kagami hurried to Félix's side, inspecting the injury with a worried frown. "Let me see."

Marinette winced sympathetically, feeling a surge of guilt despite knowing it was an accidental shot.

"I'm really sorry, Félix. Are you alright?"

Félix slowly straightened up, still blinking in discomfort. "I'll survive, I think. Just a bit unexpected, that's all."

Adrien offered an apologetic smile. "I didn't mean for that to happen, really. Let's get some ice."

Kagami nodded, guiding Félix towards the side lines for some first aid. Marinette exchanged a look with Adrien, and it was clear that they both felt a mix of relief and concern over the unfortunate outcome of their winning shot.

"Well," Marinette said with a half-smile, trying to lighten the mood, "I guess that's one way to finish a match—literally hitting the target."

Adrien chuckled softly. "Leave it to us to add some drama to the game, huh? At least we won, even if it was a bit unconventional."

She nodded, feeling a rush of mixed emotions. Despite the unexpected ending, she was grateful for the victory and the camaraderie they shared with their opponents.

She glanced to the side line at Chat Noir, who had watched the match with a supportive and encouraging expression. In that moment, she realised how much she relied on him—as someone special who brought lightness and positivity to every situation.

A smile crept across her face as she caught his eye. He returned her smile with a playful wink, understanding the unspoken gratitude between them.

Her gaze shifted between Chat Noir on the side line and Adrien across the court, each glance stirring up a whirlwind of emotions within her.

Chat Noir's reassuring presence brought comfort and camaraderie, reminding her of their shared adventures and the easy banter they exchanged.

On the other hand, Adrien's eyes held a different kind of allure—a blend of admiration and something deeper that she couldn't quite decipher. His smile warmed her heart but also left her feeling unsettled, unsure of where their friendship stood.

Caught between these contrasting emotions, she felt a wave of confusion wash over her. She knew that when Chat Noir returned to his body, she would have to face the reality of her feelings and make a choice. But right now, she couldn't decide.

She stood frozen, torn between two worlds. Each glance exchanged with Chat Noir and Adrien felt like a crossroads, leaving her with more questions than answers.

At that moment, she realised that she needed time to sort through her emotions and find clarity. The prospect of making a choice weighed heavily on her heart, but she knew that eventually, she would have to confront her feelings and take the next step, whatever that may be.