A/N: I apologize for the initial confusion. To answer your questions on his awareness of Marinette's alter ego, he is still unaware. I understand that I had him set up cameras in her home and all, but I'm choosing to treat it as a sort of glamour that comes with owning a miraculous. (Seriously, I cannot be the only person who questioned the fact that they transform and de-transform at the Bourgeois hotel-a place crawling with cameras.)

If any of the security and/or Chloe haven't put two and two together by now, there must be a reason. So I made one up for the sake of the story, this is a fanfiction after all. And to explain how their identities would have been exposed due to akumas (i.e. Lady Wifi, Dark Owl, and others) I like to think that their identities would only be clear to another miraculous holder, or to the akumatized person so long as they remain under the influence of the butterfly. Of course none of this is true for the show, but for my story it will be. When I first started writing this, I honestly never dreamed that anyone would comment on it and much less like it. So from now on, I'll try to make the writing quality better and work on making longer chapters. And just to avoid future confusion, would it be more helpful if I were to provide you with more background information? (I should add that in the story, transforming with someone else in the room will result in said person knowing the identity of the holder, the glamour will not have the same affect.)

Fair warning, the time line might be a little off because if the whole "five months" thing.

Adrien stared at Marinette's backside longingly. Usually, he, Nino, Alya, and Mari would share their lunch break together, talking about nothing and everything. They'd joke around and do everything friends did, and the best part-he knew Alya had picked up on his feelings for the Midnight-haired angel long ago. She'd been helping him spend more time with her best friend ever since the (rather irking) pigeon akuma. However, a few days ago, they'd express the need to sort out a few issues without the two boys, much to his chagrin, and had spent their breaks hunched over their food and whispering. He'd kill to have Alya's position right now (with less of a friendship and more of a romance of course).

Fortunately, he wasn't the only one suffering at the loss of closeness with his other two friends (alright fine, he could do without Alya) as he had caught the male brunette beside him stealing glances at the girls as well. For the sake of their friendship and his own, Adrien hoped he wasn't enamored by his Princess. That would be an inconvenient complication. But nonetheless, he'd find alternative ways to deal with those pesky feelings if they did exist. Only he truly loved the blue-eyed beauty so whatever Nino felt was probably fleeting and fickle. (Ugh, just imagining such a horrible scenario made him want to strangle the boy.)

He sighed. Stop being silly. If Nino did like her, he would have said something to you and it would have been taken care of by now. Stop doubting your friend, he's been one of your greatest tools so far.

When they finished their respective meals, Nino gave him another mixtape to listen to, so that was nice. Sometimes Adrien couldn't help but be a little envious at his best friend's passion for music. A passion like that would have certainly made his piano lessons easier to swallow. Before it was his mother that had made it seem like a worthwhile endeavour, now it was another mindless activity to fill his time with. Time he could be spending with Princess.

As of late, his father had taken to finding newer and more ridiculous ways to fill his free time. Always more, more, and more. It made Adrien wonder if he would ever be able to do what he wanted.

Probably not, he thought bitterly. Hell would freeze over first.

"-and then I jumped into a shark tank. And died." Adrien hummed in response.

"Dude, I have no idea if I should be offended or grateful that you're at least pretending like you're listening." Nino paused, considering the blond's disposition. "You know that if there's anything bothering you… you can tell me. I'd have to be the shittest friend in the universe not to at least let you vent."

"I just got caught up thinking," he apologized, rubbing the back of his neck. Stupid tell.

"Anything in particular?" Nino pushed. He learned a long time ago just how perseptive the dark skinned boy could be. If he didn't feed him something soon, he'd get suspicious. It wasn't the right time to let him know about his intentions towards Princess quite yet. He knew that she and Nino had basically known eachother since diapers, and definitely didn't fall in love with each other like in the animes (thank God), but he still wondered about how his friend would feel knowing the true extent of his feelings for the girl. If Plagg's reaction was anything to go by, he had to be patient and wait until their friendship was strong enough.

"Not really. My father's just being more of an ass than usual."

"So more photoshoots then?"

Adrien snorted. "Yeah. And more of everything else, too." And now I have to use all my free time to check in on my Princess, but you don't need to know that.

"That totally blows," Nino sympathized, shaking his head. "Any idea when you'll be free next?"

He shrugged. "Next Friday afternoon if he hasn't already decided to monopolize that too. I wouldn't put it past him to book me 'till sometime next month."

"Geez, you'd think being a big time businessman would know having his employees work too much is actually bad for business. Especially for a fifteen year old that also happens to be his son." Adrien sent him a quizzical look.

Nino rolled his eyes. "What? If I'm going to be a DJ someday, I need to know my way around the business end of things. Just because I zone out in class most of the time doesn't mean I'm a complete dunce."

Adrien chuckled at that. His friend was certainly smarter than he gave him credit for. Who could blame him? Princess was just much more fun to focus on.

Ring Ring!

"We should go," Nino urged. "Bustier won't like it if we're late."

"Yeah," Adren agreed "let's go."

They walked together up the green stairway. He wished he was with Mari. His arm would be thrown over her shoulders lazily, keeping her close to him, and her arm would be around his waist. He sighed dreamily, turning his head so Nino wouldn't notice. One day. As soon as they walked in, Adrien surveyed the room. He'd made it a habit to observe his classmates in those small moments to get of feel of any possible change there might be. Like say, developing a crush on his Princess. It could happen at any given moment and he had to be prepared to deal with it effectively as to not jeopardize his future relationship. Luckily (quite ironic), there didn't seem to be any unordinary behavior. (But he wished Chole would stop winking and sending him kisses. He worried that it gave Mari the wrong idea).

Sunlight filtered into the classroom through the high windows and bathed the students in a warm golden glow. Many of them slouched in their seats, glaring daggers at the clock in a fruitless attempt to make time go by faster. Their brows were furrowed in frustration. A few only barley bothering to veil their disinterest in the teacher at the front of the room. She was a good teacher sure, but a student in a food coma was an unhappy student. Adrien and Nino slipped into their seats as Madame Bustier began to go over the attendance. As soon as she was done, she asked everyone to take out their respective books and turn to the chapter that had been assigned for homework.

"Can anyone explain the symbolism in the passage read as an assignment? Part of your homework was to jot down some notes." a silence fell over the room in a thick blanket. "Anyone?" Adrien would have answered, always in hopes of polishing his image in Marinette's eyes further, but he was more concerned with the conversation going on between the two girls seated behind him.

"Don't bother denying it, girl-I can see right through you. You've totally got the hots for one of Paris' resident superheros!" Alya whisper-shouted.

Marinette had a crush on a superhero!? He could work with that-if and when it happened to be Chat Noir. If it was ladybug she was crushing on, he'd have to look into ways of removing the competition. It'd have to be the least suspicious way possible. No scrutiny could fall on his alter ego or it would make Princess weary of him. It'd be so much easier if she wasn't so popular. I wonder if Paris is gullible enough to fall for a made up sob story…

"Alya!" Marinette hissed, dragging out the last syllable of her best friend's name. "I don't have a crush, I just admire the work put into protecting the city and its citizens. That's all."

Bullshit.

"Aw, c'mon Mari, you totally have a crush on- " Alya paused for effect. He could basically feel his beloved's ruby red blush from his seat.

Get on with it already!

"-The one and only…"

Yes?

"Is there something you'd like to share with the class ladies? Perhaps an answer to the question?"

Dammit Bustier why'd you have to butt in?

"N-no Madame. It won't happen again," Marinette apologized.

"Oh I know it won't," she said sternly, crossing her arms. "Because you will both have all the time in the world to talk to each other in Monsieur Damocles' office."

Adrien's heart dropped. If he didn't spend a certain amount of time with Marinette, he'd get physical withdrawals. Weekends and breaks were always the worst. He watched as Marinette walked out of the classroom with a frown on her beautiful face, a somewhat irritate Alya hot on her heels.

There's no other way to go about it then, he decided. A certain black cat is going to have to pay a visit to the Princess in her tower. He smiled smugly to himself. He would have to come up with a legitimate excuse for his visit. Hmm…

Whatever time they spent together would have to be enough to draw out some answers. Perhaps he could use his alter ego to woo her. It was clear that he wouldn't be able to get very far as Adrien. He had his father to blame for that, and Chloe too. If he didn't need their resources he would have already dropped them both, though getting away from the former would prove more trouble than it was worth. In all honesty, Adrien had stopped worrying about pleasing Gabriel as soon as he realized his feelings for the half-Chinese girl. Now he only used the facade his father had handed him to charm her into friendship. He couldn't care less about the Agreste image where his father was concerned. He just needed it to be good enough that Marinette wouldn't think twice about being with him.

By now he knew enough about how her parents felt about the whole ordeal. Their differing statuses wouldn't be a problem so long as he made her happy. Which was absolutely perfect because as soon as they were married, he'd make her so happy she'd never need anyone else. (Except maybe their children, but that was neither here nor there.)

I'm going to need a lot of cheese to get Plagg on board. I wonder how much I can get without Natalie getting too nosy.

He skillfully hid his phone under his desk to place an order. His bank activity would have to be carefully orchestrated. He'd need to look into getting a new private account asap. Money hadn't been an issue all his life, it would be laughable if it became one now.

We'll see each other soon, my sweet.

"Are you sure it is a good idea to let the boy continue as he is master?" the purple Kwami asked nervously. Surely his charge would see how unhealthily Adrien was going about on the whole "first love" business.

"That is none of your concern Nooroo," Gabriel said as he examined Adrien's recent bank activity as well as the receipts and bills that dated to about three months ago. He had gone out of his way to buy the best quality in cameras and other interesting trinkets. He had observed his son's fixation since the day Nooroo had pointed it out. The more he looked into it the more similarities he found to a case that had happened nearly a century ago. His wife's side of the family had had some history with questionable sanity.

He realized Adrien's obsession had started out innocently enough, but it was evolving into something far more frightening. Adrien needed help, he knew that, but he'd have to postpone it. If that girl were to make his son jealous enough… yes that would work out wonderfully.

"Besides, he could be the key to finally obtaining the miraculouses. If I am correct, he has yet to get to the point of no return. But once he does, I will give him an offer he cannot refuse." Nooroo felt a chill run through him. His charge might think he knew what he was dealing with, but he could not be further from the truth. There was only so much control he could have over his champions, if he lost it, even that girl wouldn't be safe from the darkness.