((So, over the summer, there was a period where I just couldn't think of anything to write on my SU-Z fic, but where I had these crazy ideas for a MLB fic. This is the result of that. It's not too in depth, as it is mostly to explore reactions and not to replicate the actual episodes.))

The day started normal. Same old quiet home, same old normal class, same old akuma attack. And it was easy, he didn't even have to use his cataclysm, and since the attack happened as school let out, he found himself with some free time. And so, that is how Adrien Agreste, otherwise known as Chat Noir, found himself perched on the building across from the home and bakery of the Dupain-Cheng family…

…watching Ladybug transform back into the girl who sat behind him in class.

"Plagg, what am I going to do?" Adrien asked his kwami, clearly distressed.

"I just don't see the problem. You wanted to know who Ladybug was, right? Now where's my camembert?" Adrien sighed at the unhelpful spirit before throwing the black sprite some cheese.

"Yes, I wanted to know, but I wanted her to tell me. I didn't want to find it out secretly or accidentally." He sighed and flopped onto his large bed. "But…at least I know who it is now. I'm thankful it isn't someone like Chloe. Extra thankful it's someone like Marinette. When I think about them, now I realize how similar they are." He frowned and sat up. "Not to mention the hair… How did I never notice before?"

"Magic," Plagg answered, having finished his cheese. "Aside from the costumes, there's a charm that blurs the edges a little, making it difficult to rationalize the connection until there's a large enough jolt, like watching the other transform." Adrien blinked, staring at Plagg in surprise. "What?"

"Nothing, just. You aren't normally…helpful? And that explanation was pretty good."

The kwami shrugged. "What, I'm not a total idiot."

Adrien shook his head, turning back to the problem at hand. "So, now what do I do? Maybe I should tell Ladybug what happened, you know, after patrol."

"What if you waited for patrol, got somewhere isolated, then boom! Detransform. While she's surprised, explain." Adrien glared quietly, and Plagg shrugged. "What? It's an idea."

"Yeah, a bad one. I mean…I don't even know how Marinette feels about me. Or how I feel about her. I mean, she's my friend, but…"

"Then keep it a secret and seduce her as yourself, waiting for the big dramatic moment to reveal yourself."

"Plagg that's…actually not terrible. I was worried that Ladybug wouldn't like who I was under the mask. Meaning, if I can get Marinette to like me, then it's more likely the big reveal will go well."

"See, told you I wasn't an idiot." Adrien chuckled and tossed his kwami another bite of cheese before getting to the planning.

The next day in school, Adrien started on his plan…or he had planned on it. He'd planned on spending lunch with her, but an akuma attack just as he was leaving the building put that plan on hold. It was another easy battle, giving Adrien time to really see who his partner is. Now that he knew, it literally looked like Marinette wearing a Ladybug costume. In the aftermath, watching her swing off somewhere, Adrien sighed. Lunch was over, back to class.

It was there, though, a whole new opportunity presented itself.

The teacher passed out their last physics examination, and while looking over his own flawless score, he heard a groan behind him. Turning around, he saw Marinette staring at her paper in despair. "Marinette? What's wrong?"

Nino and Alya turned to watch the interaction, considering the novelty of Adrien starting the conversation for once. Marinette looked up and flushed, hiding behind her paper. "W-well, I didn't do so gr-great on that last test."

"Well, I didn't have any troubles. Maybe I can tutor you?" This is perfect. Like when we were in the gaming competition together, I can get close with some one-on-one time.

"W-w-what?" Marinette squeaked, and Adrien thought there was something exceptionally cute about that. "You don't have to do that, I'll be okay." Despite this, his first glance at her paper told him that, flirtation aside, he really should help her.

"I insist. What are friends for?" She tried to deny his offer again, but Alya piped in saying that Marinette would love it. "Alright then. How about your place? My place isn't very…hospitable." Marinette, officially resigned to it, nodded slowly and allowed herself a soft smile. Adrien's heart soared at that smile, and he realized, perhaps for the first real time, that this is his bugaboo, the one he loves.

They set it up for the next day, since Adrien needed to ask his father about it. But he had a plan. It was Friday night, there were no photoshoots planned, his father was joining him for dinner. It was quiet, tense, but Adrien was determined, and so, after ten minutes of nothing, he spoke.

"Father, I wanted to ask something." Gabriel Agreste paused from his meal and looked up, eyebrow raised. It wasn't like his son to ask him for anything at the dinner table like this. Adrien took the silence as an invitation. "A friend of mine from school is having some difficulties with a subject, and I offered to tutor her when I have time. As nothing was planned for tomorrow, I was wondering if I might have leave to do so."

More silence met him, and when Gabriel finally spoke it was with a note of confusion. "Tutoring? … Well, I suppose it will look good for the press. … This wouldn't happen to be that Cheng girl, would it?" Only years of seeing that stare stopped Adrien from flinching, not questioning how he knew. "I see. Well, you have my permission to tutor this friend of yours once a week, and only on days when there are no photoshoots and you have no tutoring of your own, understood?"

"Yes, father. Thank you." He nodded and returned to his food, surprised it had gone so well.

((So... Thoughts? More? Less? Delete my account?))