Disclaimer: I do not own Miraculous Ladybug.

Despair Bear

"Hey Adrien!" Nino called from outside Adrien's bathroom. He was fidgeting with Adrien's foosball table as he waited eternity for the model to get out of the freaking shower.

"YEAH!" Adrien yelled back over the water.

"Why are we going to Chloe's party? She's been a little crazy recently. Don't you think this is like an evil plan of hers or something?" Nino asked.

The water shut off in the bathroom, and Adrien came out with a towel around his waist and a towel around his hair. He was just letting out his hair and drying it slowly as he answered Nino's questions. "We are going to Chloe's party because she is nice…" Nino gave Adrien a look. "However deep down, Chloe can be nice. And maybe she just wants to apologize for earlier. I mean it wasn't very nice of her to call the police just so she wouldn't have to learn from Mr. Dupain, but right now she wants to make things better, maybe." Adrien returned to the bathroom, getting dressed before starting to fashion his hair. Nino watched him absentmindedly as he pondered over his thoughts.

"I guess she is nice," Nino wondered aloud. "She did ask me to be her DJ for the party, meaning she has impeccable taste. I wonder what songs I should play…got any ideas?"

Adrien shrugged. "I just listen to classical or oldies, so I can't really help you out, bro." Adrien poured a little bit of gel into his hand and he started to work it though his hair. "Maybe choose some Jagged Stone and Lillian Coldhands. They are some artists that I remember Chloe liking once upon a time."

Nino played with his baseball cap as he leaned against the wall facing Adrien. "Are you gonna try getting out of dancing with Chloe this time?" Adrien gave him a look through the mirror that said "why? Is that a problem?"

"Yeah, that is a problem, dude. You never even enjoy dancing with her!" Nino protested. "I want you to have fun for once in your life, and that does not mean dancing with Chloe to make her happy. She knows that she made you mad earlier. She's gonna try to push her way back into your lap if you let her."

Adrien rolled his eyes. "She was never in my lap, Nino. She's my friend, no matter how weird it sounds. We grew up together. I can't just throw her to the side…"

"But you also can't let her lead your love life. You are such a good looking guy, and a nice guy at that, that you deserve someone who is equally beautiful and nice….." Nino glanced away from Adrien, allowing for one of his eyebrows to raise and one side of his mouth curl impishly. "….You know….Marinette is nice…..very nice….and I have to say she is quite beautiful."

Adrien turned, surprised, towards Nino. "But I thought you liked her? I can't break the bro code!"

Nino chuckled. "You won't be breaking the bro code. I've got my sights set on a different girl." Nino's cheeks reddened as he thought of his own lady.

Adrien caught on and he smirked. "Alya has been looking nice lately, hasn't she?"

Nino glared. "Alright, alright. Enough teasing. All I want you to do tonight is to have fun, but also, maybe ask Marinette to dance."

Adrien furrowed his brows. "I can't ask Marinette to dance with me!" As Adrien protested he started to daydream about dancing with Marinette. I would pull her close and nuzzle her cheek. I could reveal my identity and she would laugh and kiss me! Adrien's face turned sappy as he fantasized. Nino laughed behind him.

"You have to dance with her. I double dog dare you!"

000

Chloe waved cheerily at Adrien, looking a tad bit uncomfortable in Kim's arms. Adrien waved back and chuckled to himself. It seems that Chloe is having fun, Adrien thought quietly to himself. Around him people were dancing slowly to the song that Nino had just started. Nino seemed to be having the time of his life as he rocked his head to the beat, changing records as he listened. Taking a quick look behind him, Adrien spotted the rest of his friends dancing and looking like they were having fun. Off to the side, however, stood Alya and Marinette. The two were watching the dancing and seemed to be bickering back and forth. Adrien realized that this could be his moment. He could ask Marinette to dance with him right then and there. No. Nopety, nope , nope. I'm way too nervous right now; not gonna happen. What if she says no?

The piece of music that was playing in the background was a slow song that Kim probably picked so he could ask Chloe to dance. It was a sweet gesture. Adrien made a mental note to do this in future with Ladybug. It was a nice song that he had heard before on the radio. The beat of the song reminded him of Ladybug. Everything seemed to remind him of Ladybug these days. Ladybug was a part of practically every aspect of Adrien's life, and now Marinette was too. Adrien's eyes search out Marinette again. Her face was adorably flushed as she angrily whispered to Alya. Adrien concealed a giggle at the sight. Alright, this is your chance, big shot. It's no problem. Just ask her if she wants to dance. Simple as that. If she says no, it's ok. I will go visit the food table and eat all of my feelings. If she says yes….well I guess we'll dance then. Cool…nope not gonna do it.

All of a sudden Adrien was pushed forward by a heavy force, and he quickly turned around to catch the person that had fallen into him as he tried to regain his own balance. Coincidentally (probably Alya's fault), it was Marinette Dupain-Cheng who had fallen into his arms. "Hey Marinette!" Adrien exclaimed, catching Marinette by her wrists and helping her up. Her wrists were warm and tinged with pink. His hand grasped hers as he brought her to a standing position. She looked up at him with wide eyes and he smiled softly. It's now or never. "Do you want to dance, by any chance?" he asked. Marinette's cheeks bloomed red and she quickly turned away, trying to hide it, but Adrien caught her hand. "Come on." He eagerly dragged her onto the floor. She met his eyes and smiled wildly. Adrien's grin widened. I'll take that as a yes.

As Adrien led Marinette onto the floor he grabbed both of her hands in his. He gave Marinette a reassuring smile as he brought one hand to his should. Her cold hands grabbed the loose material of his white shirt and shook a little bit in an effort to stay attached. Adrien grasped her other hand firmly as he let his free hand wrap around the upper part of her waist, pulling her closer. Marinette's eyes kept on getting wider and wider as Adrien attempted to move her around the dance floor. She wouldn't budge. Adrien smirked. "It's okay to move, Marinette. That's why it's called dancing," He joked. Marinette laughed nervously.

"I can't believe this is happening," Marinette muttered under her breath as she let herself be guided around the floor. Adrien chuckled. Neither can I.

Adrien easily took the lead as they gently waltzed around. Marinette easily fell into step once she got out of her head and enjoyed the moment. Adrien found that he couldn't take his eyes off of Marinette. This was the closest he'd been to Marinette, and she smelled delightfully of cookies.

Adrien finally pulled his eyes off of Marinette and he let them roam a little bit. He caught sight of Chloe again, dancing with Kim. They looked somewhat comfortable. It was the first time Adrien had seen Chloe dance with someone other than himself. He didn't mind the dancing, and he didn't mind Chloe, but neither of them ever ended up having too much fun. Kim seemed to be enjoying himself, and if he was not mistaken, Chloe seemed to not loath being that close to Kim. It's something she's working on though, Adrien pondered. Adrien pointed out the sight to Marinette as they turned again. "Look; Chloe's on her best behavior tonight."

Marinette turned her head and watched Kim twirl Chloe. She nodded. "Yeah. I guess she's making up for earlier…" Marinette took a quick glance at Adrien; eyes twinkling. Adrien returned the gaze.

A foreign hand abruptly touched Marinette's hand and moved it against Adrien's neck, making him jump in surprise. He turned his head to watch Alya innocently move Marinette's hands so that the clasped behind Adrien's neck, pushing them slightly closer together. Marinette's pupils grew smaller in shock. Alya then placed Adrien's hands around Marinette's waist while Nino made a subtle bump of his hip against Adrien to push Marinette and Adrien closer together. Adrien's pupils shrank in surprise and his breath caught as he noticed that he could now hear Marinette's heartbeat through their shirts. Now that they were barely a nose's breadth apart, Adrien and Marinette started and pushed away from each other but, Alya only pushed them back before dancing off with Nino. Nino gave Adrien a sly grin. Adrien felt like a walking sunburn as he dared to look back into Marinette's eyes. She was as beat red as he was.

Adrien gulped nervously. He felt his palms start to get clammy, and he resisted the urge to start moving his hands a little on Marinette's waist to maybe get a little less nervous. Marinette was in an even worse case; she was frozen to the ground practically. In Adrien's mind, he considered his options. I could run away and never come back, I could ask Marinette if she wanted a drink….I could kiss Marinette, but the moment doesn't seem right. Plus I think she'd punch me…I guess I can just keep dancing? Adrien nodded his head. Yeah, I'll just keep dancing. Adrien shrugged in an attempt to get Marinette to ease her grip on his neck as he started to slowly move them around the dance floor once again. Marinette's blush seemed to be deepening, and her mind seemed else ware. In a spur of moment decision, Adrien bent his head and buried his head against the nape of Marinette's neck. It was a very small noise, but Adrien could hear Marinette's breathing hitch. He smiled to himself and let his cheek press against hers. In his arms, Adrien felt Marinette loosen up, and she let her head fall against his shoulder. Adrien felt an odd thump against his chest but he dismissed it. It was just the music that was messing with him.

Adrien would have loved to stay in this moment for a while. It was the first peace and quiet he had enjoyed in a long time. He breathed a happy sigh into Marinette's ear making her shiver. Adrien blocked out everything as he took in this one moment. It was only a matter of moments till the silence broke, and Chloe's screeches pulled the two apart.

I can sense an akuma coming, Adrien thought as he watched Chloe's butler being pushed into the kitchens. Adrien noticed that his hand was still attached to Marinette's, and he quickly let go of it to scratch the back of his head. What got into me? Adrien wondered as he made a cheesy excuse to go transform. Are you a dumb ass? Why the hell did you lay your head against her shoulder? I really should have not done that…"Adrien growled at himself. This is not going to happen again. Nope.

Hey Readers! Hope you liked this new chapter. I was very shocked while watching this episode, and I kept on wondering why Adrien wanted to be that close to Marinette. Here is my solution! Hope you guys are enjoying these drabbles. Tomorrow's will be Prime Queen. Please favorite, follow, or comment if you wish. And Happy New Year! Until I write again, TTFN!