"Is this an early midlife crisis?" Félix slowly made his way around Adrien's new car, examining it with an amused expression on his face.

Adrien rolled his eyes before heading to where Kagami was standing at her Range Rover and handing him another box. "I have money. What's wrong with treating myself to luxury once in a while?"

"By buying a villain's car?"

Adrien gazed at his Aston Martin Vanquish with a level of affection he'd never felt toward anything else in his life. He wouldn't exactly label himself a 'car guy,' but having idolised James Bond throughout his childhood, owning this car fulfilled a dream he'd harboured for years.

"Geez, Fé, you know nothing! A Jaguar is a villain's car; this one is all hero." Adrien placed the box in the trunk before tenderly caressing his car's roof.

"If you believe so, 007!" Kagami brought the last box over and placed it beside the others, a smile on her face and a warmth in her eyes that he only ever saw when she was looking at Félix. As cool and composed as they both could be, there was an undeniable chemistry between them when they were together. It was like witnessing a controlled explosion—volatile yet perfectly balanced, just like them.

When Adrien realised he'd be driving back to Paris with the remaining items from his apartment, he'd decided to do it in style. While Félix and Kagami opted for stability and safety with their own car, Adrien went for style and performance, choosing a rather snazzy sports car instead. He was young, free, and single, so why not? Besides, the gunmetal grey reminded him of his baton—something he never thought he would miss.

Félix and Kagami lived outside of London, in a small commuter town called Harpenden. It was cute and quaint, the perfect place to start a family and still have easy access to the City. At least, that's what his Aunt Amélie kept saying.

Kagami looped an arm around Félix's waist, and he responded by pressing a kiss into her hair. Adrien couldn't help but roll his eyes. They were so disgustingly sweet it made him queasy.

"He's doing it to impress a girl, honey. You know that!" Félix chided.

Adrien shot a playful glare at his cousin, but Félix's laughter was infectious.

Kagami then playfully thumped Félix's chest before turning her attention to Adrien, stepping closer and placing a comforting hand on his arm. "I'm looking forward to meeting her, Adrien. It sounds like you've chosen a lot better this time."

As condescending as that probably would have sounded coming from anyone else, Adrien couldn't deny the warmth that blossomed in his chest from what he recognized as 'Kagami Praise'. It was rare and hard-earned, which made it all the more rewarding when he received it. "We're just plus ones. You know that."

Félix snorted. "So are me and Kagami!"

"It's not like that," Adrien groaned. "She doesn't want that, and I've just split from Chelsea. At the moment, we're enjoying time together by keeping each other company at boring events. That's all!"

"So, that's why you've purchased a car worth over a quarter of a million pounds? You've barely got the boxes in the trunk. It's not exactly family friendly."

"It is fast, though," Kagami said with a shrug.

Adrien dropped her a wink in thanks. "And I'm not thinking about starting a family anytime soon, so it's fine."

Félix looked at Kagami like she was a traitor, obviously wanting the digs at Adrien to be a joint venture between the two of them.

"Unbelievable," he muttered, turning and walking back into the house.

Closing the trunk, Adrien pulled his keys from his pocket, pressing the button to lock the doors before turning to Kagami.

"Go on, then! Ask," Adrien said, crossing his arms and leaning his side against the car...before quickly moving away again and checking for any scuff marks.

Kagami sighed, lifting her hand to her head and rubbing. Her engagement ring almost blinded him as it reflected the late afternoon sunshine. "Who is she, Adrien? You break up with Chelsea and suddenly you're being seen almost daily with someone else? You know I'm not exactly the biggest fan of Chelsea, but this just seems out of character for you."

Adrien couldn't help but sigh, looking down at his trainers and kicking a rock out in front of him. "I met Marinette in a hotel bar... Actually, scratch that. I first met her when she came to the Gabriel office."

"So, she works in fashion? Aren't you at least a little suspicious as to why she's allowed a stranger to take her out on dates?"

"She's not like that, Kagami. I swear. Just please save judgement until you've met her this weekend. I promise you'll understand why I spend so much time with her. She really is the most amazing girl." Adrien felt like he was almost pleading in Marinette's defence, something he hadn't expected to do, but she deserved it. Marinette had been incredibly kind and helpful since he'd moved back, and he genuinely enjoyed spending time with her. Every time he thought about the upcoming weekend, tiny bubbles of excitement danced in his stomach.

"Yet, you are only platonic plus ones?" She raised an eyebrow at him, obviously not believing a word he was saying.

"Just, please, meet her before you judge. She's...I can't explain her. She's just sweet, fun and cutely clumsy..."

"And you have a crush!" Kagami suddenly stated. "That's never good, Adrien. You become obsessive."

Adrien shrugged. Maybe he did, but he'd had crushes in the past and managed to get over them. He hadn't been obsessed with anyone since his relationship with Ladybug – someone who he was thinking about less and less by the day. "It wouldn't be a bad thing if I did. She's adorable."

"Oh, please," Félix snorted, walking back out to Adrien, his arms full of food and drink. "Adorable? What is she, six?"

"Don't be so crude," Kagami said, taking the bags from Félix's arms and loading them into the passenger side of Adrien's car. "I still can't believe you're going to eat these things in here. You'll regret it, you know."

"You're being a little dramatic," Adrien remarked, eyeing the assortment of treats Kagami had just placed in the car. He couldn't help but feel impressed that Félix hadn't pilfered anything from his stash. His bags were filled with sweets and chocolates—a treasure trove fit for a five-year-old set loose in a store with a five-pound note.

"You'll be the one being dramatic when you end up with biscuit crumbs all over your ridiculously expensive foot mats. I don't think Marinette would want to date a pig."

"I'm not dating, Marinette. We're just friends."

"Are you going to tell Gammy that, or am I?" Félix smirked at Adrien, watching as he walked around to the driver's side.

"That's a cheap shot, Félix! Cheap!"

Gammy was Adrien's favourite family member, and he suspected he held a special place in her heart too, even if she wouldn't outright admit it. All she wanted was for her two grandsons to settle down, marry, and start families of their own, filling in the gap left by Adrien's late mother.

"She believes Marinette's your new girlfriend. Are you going to upset her and her dream of marrying you off?"

"I'll see you both this weekend," Adrien said, ignoring Félix and climbing into the driving seat.

He started up the engine, closing his eyes as the loud purr of the V8 engine began to fill the air. Now that was a sound. He couldn't help but grin to himself. The powerful rumble resonated deep within him, a thrilling reminder of freedom and adventure. As he sat behind the wheel, anticipation tingled in his veins. This road trip wasn't just about moving boxes—it was a chance to break free, to feel alive, and maybe even discover something new along the way.

Giving them one last wave through the window, Adrien put the car in drive and started his journey towards the Le Shuttle in Folkestone.

Inside the car, Plagg phased through the bag and settled himself on the seat, eagerly searching for one of the cheesy snacks Adrien had bought. He dived into the carrier bag, his tail swishing with excitement as he rummaged around for a tasty treat.

"I think I agree with them," Plagg said, removing a pack of cheese crackers and towering them on one of his fins. "There is no way what you feel for Pigtails is just a crush."

If it wasn't for the fact he was driving, Adrien would have rolled his eyes at Plagg's statement. "You know what it is, Plagg. Even if I do like Marinette, I'm not in a place for another relationship. My life is an uncertain mess at the moment, and no woman deserves to be dragged into it."

"Maybe...or maybe she's exactly what you need."

Adrien quickly glanced at his friend as they pulled up at the red light. "Sorry to disappoint you, Plagg, but for now, this is all it is. I don't want, or need, anything else."

As the green light signalled for him to go, Adrien faintly heard Plagg muttering to himself. He wished the little kwami's grumbling was louder so he could catch what he was saying.

*****

Adrien had been driving for almost six hours, not to mention the time spent waiting in his car on the Le Shuttle, and he was growing tired and restless. Boredom was starting to creep in—he was so incredibly bored. The initial thrill of cruising in his shiny new car was wearing off, replaced now by the monotony of endless road and tunnel.

He usually loved to drive, having obtained his licence as soon as he'd settled at Cambridge University. He'd cherished his VW Golf until he'd moved to London. Living in the heart of one of the world's busiest cities made owning a car impractical; a parking spot would have tripled the cost of his and Félix's first apartment.

But now he was moving back to Paris, and he'd used the excuse of moving his belongings as a reason to buy his dream car. Paris was just as hectic as London, but fortunately, his apartment building had an underground car park. Plus, if he intended to return and live in the Agreste Manor, he would have convenient parking there as well.

Pulling off the autoroute at the services, Adrien dragged himself out of the car for a much-needed walk and a quick drink. It was four in the afternoon, and if his navigation system was correct, he should be in Paris within the next two hours. Opting for a plain, boring black coffee, he made his way back to the car and placed it securely in the cup holder.

Starting the engine, he checked the navigation system and merged back onto the route home. Home. Finally feeling like he belonged again, his brief two days back in London felt awkward and alien. Grinning to himself, he grabbed the coffee cup and took a quick sip, keeping his eyes on the autoroute and the upcoming exit.

As he pulled off the autoroute and navigated the streets into Paris, he reached for his drink again, determined to take a quick swig as the traffic lights turned red—only to have the car next to him suddenly cut in front. The careless driver flashed an apologetic light, but Adrien was too focused on the hot drink now seeping into his white tee, turning it into a makeshift Rorschach test.

The brown smudge on Adrien's chest began to spread like a rogue watercolour painting, and the heat intensified with each passing moment. Feeling the burn, he skillfully removed his arms from the sleeves of his tee while still keeping his seatbelt securely fastened—a newfound talent, indeed.

"Shit!" Adrien exclaimed, cranking up the air conditioning in a desperate attempt to soothe the fiery sensation on his stomach.

"Yikes, that looks sore!" Plagg suddenly woke up from his nap on the passenger seat, his eyes fixated on Adrien's now red, shirtless torso.

Adrien glanced down, processing the unintended transformation of his white tee into a modern art piece. "Well, at least I didn't spill my coffee," he muttered, trying to salvage some humour from the situation.

Taking his foot off the brake, Adrien allowed the car to inch forward with the crowd.

"What are you going to do?" Plagg piped up.

Adrien couldn't believe his kwami would ask such a ridiculous question. This was Plagg, Mr. Smart Arse! What did he expect Adrien to say—peel off that part of his body and list it on eBay? Or maybe sue Starbucks for serving his hot drink too hot?

"I know what you're thinking," Plagg said, "and there's no need to be so sarcastic!"

"Sarcastic? Me? Never!" Adrien teased, reaching forward to switch on the radio, deciding that tuning into music was the best way to ignore the intense burning sensation in his stomach.

The windows in his car were slightly tinted, meaning he could see out just fine, but anyone looking in would have an obstructed view of his torso, keeping some of his modesty under wraps.

Pulling up once again, he shifted the car into park and turned up the radio a notch, the traffic alert voice abruptly giving way to the opening bars of a familiar song.

His fingers started tapping on the steering wheel, his head bobbing along with the infectious beat.

"You're insecure, don't know what for, you're turning heads when you walk through the door..." Adrien quietly sang along as the vocals blasted from his speakers. He knew this song well, and though he wouldn't broadcast it to the world, he was definitely a fan. "Don't need makeup to cover up, being the way that you are is enough..."

His hands didn't miss a beat as they continued to tap the wheel, his thumbs adding to the rhythm.

"Everyone else in the room can see it - everyone else but you!" Suddenly, Plagg's rather melodic singing voice joined in, delivering the bridge in a style that would make Harry Styles jealous.

Adrien shot a quick glance at his duet buddy, then joined in with perfect harmony, crooning about the girl who didn't realise her own beauty.

But singing wasn't enough. Adrien interrupted the instrumental before the next verse by turning to Plagg and initiating their well-rehearsed dance routine—head-bobbing side to side with a tiny shoulder shimmy, creating an impromptu performance in the middle of traffic.

"So c-come on, you got it wrong, to prove I'm right, I put it in a song. I don't know why you're being shy, and turn away when I look into your eyes!"

"Everyone else in the room can see it - everyone else but you!" Plagg was getting into this as much as he was, flying loops around the car, twisting in the air with enthusiasm.

Cruising forward a little more, Adrien cranked up the volume on the stereo, feeling the music deep in his bones as he belted out the song even louder. Sometimes, it just felt good to let loose and feel free—until Plagg let out a belch that could have been heard across town.

Adrien glanced at Plagg with mock horror. "Seriously, Plagg? Right in the middle of our performance?"

Plagg shrugged unapologetically. "Sorry, not sorry. Got carried away with the music!"

Adrien chuckled, shaking his head. "Well, at least it was on-key. Let's stick to dancing for now, okay?" He resumed his enthusiastic head-bobbing and shoulder shimmy worthy of their impromptu car concert.

They reached a red light, and Adrien seized the opportunity to wind his window down, letting in some fresh air and allowing Plagg's lingering stench to escape into the world. Peering out the window, he realised they'd stopped next to a small park right by his favourite boulangerie. If he didn't have things to do, he was quite certain he'd be making a quick pit stop for a bite to eat.

As the slow section of the song wafted through the speakers, Adrien dramatically gazed out over the park, singing along with a flourish, one hand theatrically placed over his heart as it left the steering wheel.

Plagg, peering out from his cosy spot on the dashboard, rolled his eyes. "You know, you could have been a singer in another life."

Adrien grinned. "And you could have been a gourmet chef. Yet here we are—driving and belching."

Plagg chuckled. "Touché, my friend. But for now, let's stick to our day jobs."

Shaking his head from side to side as he resumed his drumming on the steering wheel, Adrien belted out the chorus with his almost pitch-perfect vocals—until the call of his name turned his complexion from perfectly tanned to British post box red.

Outside the window, on the street in front of the boulangerie, stood Marinette—arms full of boxes and giving him a tiny, awkward finger wave.

So much for maintaining his cool-guy persona; she was probably wondering how she could gracefully exit their pre-arranged plans.

He had two options here: own it, or attempt to make a swift getaway—though that was impossible with his automatic transmission. He sighed inwardly, resigned to owning up to the embarrassing situation.

Navigating his right-hand drive car onto the sidewalk, Adrien flicked on the hazards and extended a bare arm out of the window, looking straight at Marinette—bare chest and all.

Her eyes widened in surprise, a mix of amusement and disbelief playing on her features. He could practically hear her internal monologue: What on earth is going on here?

With a sheepish smile, Adrien mentally prepared himself for the impending conversation. This was certainly not how he had envisioned their reunion, but hey, at least it was memorable.

He noticed how her cheeks had pinked, a delicate blush that only accentuated her sparkling eyes.

"Hey there," he greeted, attempting a smile that didn't betray the inner embarrassment he was feeling.

"Hey yourself," Marinette responded, gracefully moving forward while expertly balancing her boxes. "One Direction?" She tilted her head and raised an eyebrow, a smug smile creeping over her lips.

Adrien chuckled, his cheeks now matching her rosy hue. "Caught red-handed. Can't resist a good sing-along, especially in traffic."

Marinette grinned, her eyes dancing with mischief. "I must say, I've never seen anyone serenade a boulangerie quite like that before."

Adrien shrugged, trying to regain some of his cool points. "What can I say? I'm down with the kids."

"I don't even think 'the kids' are listening to that song anymore; it's about 15 years old," Marinette teased.

"It's a classic," Adrien insisted, only for Marinette to shake her head with a smile.

"Honestly? I took you more for being a Bieber fan."

While she wasn't entirely wrong (he had been known to belt out a rather epic 'cooking dinner' routine to "Beauty and the Beat"), Adrien was actually more into Ed Sheeran and Lewis Capaldi, not to mention Michael Bublé! Now there was an icon to look up to. Adrien could only dream of looking as sharp in a suit as Bublé did.

She raised an eyebrow, her teasing tone softening. "Michael Bublé, huh?"

He reached up to rub the back of his neck. Suddenly realising how that probably looked and pulled his arm back down. "Did I say that out loud?"

She nodded. "So you're a romantic at heart?"

He grinned. "I've been known to appreciate a good love song or two."

Marinette laughed, her eyes sparkling. "Well, maybe one day you'll have your own Bublé moment."

Adrien's heart skipped a beat at the playful suggestion. "One can only hope."

He chuckled as he glanced at Marinette, who was still balancing an impressive stack of boxes in her arms. "Are you sure you should be carrying all of those? Let me guess, you're training for a boulangerie box-lifting competition?"

She rolled her eyes playfully. "Very funny. I can handle it, thank you very much."

Adrien raised an eyebrow. "You know, I'm pretty sure there's a limit to how many boxes one person can carry without turning into a real-life Jenga tower."

Marinette smirked, adjusting her hold on the boxes. "I'll have you know I'm a master at this. So, did you spill your coffee or join an impromptu shirtless parade?"

He grinned, a touch of self-deprecation in his tone. "Coffee mishap, unfortunately. Not quite the fashion statement I was going for today."

"Well, it's certainly a bold choice."

Adrien glanced down at himself, then back at Marinette with a playful glint in his eye. "Hey, at least I can say I'm making the most of this sunny day, right?"

Marinette nodded, her smile widening. "Absolutely. You're definitely embracing the 'casual chic' look."

Adrien winked. "Glad you approve."

"And the car? Are you hoping to be cast as the next James Bond?"

Why did everyone think he had some kind of hidden agenda? It was only a car, for crying out loud. "Nope, just a little treat. I've been working hard recently."

"Have you, now?" she jested. "I haven't seen you in the office for days."

His stomach flipped at the quirky smile appearing on her face, his own becoming just as vibrant. "How dare you question my work ethic!"

Marinette started to laugh, which only caused him to smile more.

"It's been quiet without you," she said. "I feel like I'm growing used to having you breathing down my neck."

Before he could answer, she began to swat one of her hands to the side, precariously balancing the boxes in one hand. He felt himself moving before anything happened, throwing open the door to his car and swiftly edging forward. The boxes in her arms began to teeter over to one side. Destination: the ground.

His reflexes were quick, though, a prolonged effect of his Miraculous (he believed), catching the boxes and stopping them from hitting the ground.

"Jenga!" he mused, helping her balance the boxes back in her arms.

"I told you not to carry s0 much!" Tom said, coming to a stop just in front of them.

"It's fine, Papa, I've got it."

"Papa?" Adrien asked, almost forgetting he was still half-naked.

He shifted uncomfortably as Tom approached. He wrapped his arms over his chest, inadvertently drawing attention to his toned arms and pecs, which seemed to stand out more in this awkward stance. If Tom and Sabine were fine with him before, this encounter was most likely to change that perception.

"Adrien, my boy! I see you've met my daughter, Marinette," Tom exclaimed, his initial joy fading as he openly assessed his appearance.

Adrien tensed further, his biceps twitching involuntarily. He felt like a complete idiot, standing there half-shirtless and under scrutiny.

"Hi, Mr. Dupain," he greeted, trying to sound composed despite his discomfort.

Tom's gaze lingered a moment longer before he turned back to his daughter with a raised eyebrow. "Well, Marinette, it seems you've caught Adrien at an interesting moment."

Marinette stifled a laugh, her cheeks tinged with amusement. "Yes, Papa, it's been eventful."

Adrien couldn't help but grin sheepishly, feeling a mixture of embarrassment and amusement at the unexpected turn of events.

"Why are you naked?" her father asked, helping Marinette reposition what was in her arms.

She was looking past him, her eyebrows frowning and some sort of weird look in her eyes. If he wasn't so terrified of her father taking the opportunity to attack, he would have looked behind him to see what she was staring at.

"So you're their daughter." Adrien's cheeks were about to go nuclear if he didn't change the conversation soon.

"This is my maman and papa's place. Do you fancy coming in for a snack, or drink? ...Or a shirt?"

Adrien opened his mouth to say yes - it was his favourite bakery, after all - but then he realised he was still topless, standing on a street corner with a car full of boxes...plus he'd been driving for almost eight hours. Reality was, he just wanted to shower and crash out.

"I'll take a rain check, if that's okay? It's not that I wouldn't like to come in. Seriously, I would love to. It's just that I've been driving all day and I have things in my car to get back to my apartment."

"No worries at all, son. The door's always open for you. I'm sure Marinette wouldn't mind. But we do have a dress code." Tom guffawed, his big shoulders shaking and making him look as though he should be on a can of Green Giant sweetcorn.

Adrien looked at the girl in question - the girl who was looking back at him with the smirk still on her face.

"Would you mind, Marinette?" he asked.

"Definitely not," she confirmed.

Her father said his goodbyes before turning, walking away, heading back into the bakery.

"So, I better get going," Marinette said, hoisting her bag up onto her shoulder and repositioning the food boxes in her arms. "Late night at the studio. Mary will be expecting me back soon."

"Don't work too hard."

"I won't. Oh, and Adrien...you might want to check out your trousers." Letting out another laugh, Marinette turned and walked away.

Adrien watched as she disappeared around the corner and out of sight.

A hoot came from behind him, the noise of his small kwami chuckling bringing his attention back to the car.

Plagg pointed towards his trousers, Adrien turning his attention down and onto the huge brown chocolate stain on his light blue jeans.

Great!