Alya blinked a few times in surprise at Adrien, before her smile grew wide,"Whaaat?"
Adrien and her were standing at the fountain in the park. He was about to start the photoshoot, and his photographer was just getting things ready. Alya just so happened to have been passing by, towards the bakery.
Alya stood in front of Adrien, looking about ready to burst with excitement. "You have a crush on Marinette?!"
Adrien blushed madly, as he looked down in embarrassment. When he ave a light nod, Alya squealed in delight.
"YES! I totally ship it! Adrienette- that's what we'll call you both!"
Adrien chuckled,"Right, sure, but can you help me? Nino's a great wingman and all, but he said that you were better at the whole, well… fast, approach."
Alya snorted,"What, getting impatient there, Agreste?"
Adrien groaned in embarrassment,"Completely. Please tell me you'll help?"
Alya thought for a moment, before she took out her phone with a knowing smile. Adrien watched confusedly as she started to call someone. Alya smiled to him.
"You bet. In fact- I'll start right away! Marinette's babysitting right now, so I was headed over anyways." she snickered,"Oh, this will be good. Don't worry, pretty boy. Aunty Alya's got it all under control."
Marinette opened the door, and smiled happily,"Alya, you came!"
Alya nodded, and took out her phone,"You bet girl, and you are about to love me to no end! Guess who is currently doing a photoshoot, right now, in the park?!"
Marinette grabbed Manon, who ran past her screaming. "Umm, Adrien maybe? He's the only one we both know that would probably be doing a photoshoot. Why?"
Alya smiled knowingly,"Well, you want to be a designer, no? This is a good chance for you to watch this side of fashion, in action."
Marinette thought about it for a moment. She was curious about the whole modeling side of fashion. It would be a great chance to view it. But alas, there was one small problem…
"Marinette!"
She looked down to said problem, who was pointing at Alya,"Who is she?"
Alya smirked at the opening. This was where she would fully convince Marinette. She knelt down to Manon,"I'm a mythical unicorn from the world of Rispa, disguised as a totally fabulous human girl. I grant magical wishes, but only to little monkeys who behave!"
Marinette just giggled as Alya started to trick the small child into wanting to go to the park.
She supposed it was fine in the end. Manon would be happy with going out to play, and Marinette would be happy with getting her information.
Adrien freaked when Alya sent him the text that they were coming. Did his hair look okay? Were his clothes good- wait. What was he thinking? He's a model at a photoshoot. He couldn't look any better.
When the girls arrived, the photographer was just about ready to shoot. Adrien's smile widened as he played the plan out in his head.
He would do his model job, and take such amazing poses, that Marinette would be completely infatuated with him. She was a designer, so she would no doubt be completely absorbed in him. But, that was also a problem. If he messed up, then she would lose even more interest in him from the little she already did. He didn't want that. He couldn't accept that.
Alya tapped him on the shoulder, and he jumped back with a yelp. The blogger girl snickered,"I can so much as smell those negative thinking from the benches. Stop it. It stinks."
He chuckled lightly,"Just trying to prepare myself for whatever may happen. This could either go really well, or rather terrible."
Alya smiled encouragingly,"Don't worry, everything will be fine, don't worry." She pointed towards the man handing out the Mirielle balloons. "Marinette's just taking Manon over to get a balloon, so I decided to ask you now. What exactly is your end goal here?"
Adrien smiled knowingly,"Ah-ha. Well, after I make Marinette completely infatuated with me-" His eyes shone like stars, and he started to rant off,"I'll invite her out to the movies. Then, we'll get married, live happily ever after in a big house, having 2- no, 3 kids! Named Emma, Hugo, and Louis. And a Cat! Maybe a dog- nah, forget the dog. A Hamster! She loves Hamsters!"
Adrien sighed dreamily as he looked off with a far off look, not noticing Alya's bewildered stare.
Alya cleared her throat and smiled nervously,"Erm, right… Little confused on how much time is in between these future plans, but it's fine."
"He-heh…"
The photographer groaned at how Adrien wasn't smiling. "Non-no! There's a too much spaghetti. We need passion- romance! We need a- a girl!"
Adrien and Alya's eyes widened and the grins spread faster than wildfire. They both were about to suggest their common person in mind, before the Photographer pointed to Alya.
"You! You will pose with Mr. Agreste, non?!"
Both teens froze, and Adrien gave Alya a begging look, before Alya looked down, and pointed to her apple.
"Sorry, but I can't! You see, I think I'm having, an… allergic reaction! To this… Apple! But don't worry, I know just the girl- be right back!"
She rushed off towards Marinette, who currently was hoisting Manon up onto the unicorn on the carousel.
"They need an extra to pose with Adrien!"
Marinette looked both surprised and confused,"Um, okay. But, can't you do it?"
Alya froze, as she thought hard for a good excuse, before she pulled marinette away from the Carousel, and jumped up to replace her,"Yeah, I could, but as far as the photographer knows, I just had an allergic reaction to an apple, so I'm out. I may have already volunteered you also, so don't ask questions, and shoo."
Marinette blinked in surprise, before shrugging, and heading towards the shoot.
When Adrien saw her headed that way, his smile grew wider than ever. He was going to do his photoshoot, and Marinette would be posing with him! This was the best day ever!
And just like that, it was all ruined. A scream pierced out, and Adrien watched in horror as a large beam shot down, and formed a blizzard around the Carousel, before it made an ice dome surrounding it. Adrien groaned in annoyance, as he ran off to go find Plagg, and transform.
Marinette pounded on the ice,"Alya! Manon?!"
"Marinette!" cried Manon.
"What happened?"
Marinette nearly jumped at the deep male voice. She turned around, and gasped lightly at the sight of Chat Noir infront of her. What she didn't know, was that as calm and composed he seemed to be, he was mentally chiding himself to not stutter, and to not make a fool of himself. She looked to him in deep worry.
"Chat Noir! My friend, and the child I was watching over, got trapped inside the Carousel by an Akuma, who created some sort of Ice Dome!"
Chat looked to the dome, and knocked onto it with his staff, before shaking his head. "It's solid, and firm as heck. My baton won't break through." He looked down to the worried bluenette, before offering a reassuring smile,"Don't worry. Ladybug will show up soon, and together, we'll defeat the akuma, and rescue your friends.
He took her hand, and held it close, looking her deep into the eyes,"you have my word."
At that moment, Marinette felt as though her world stopped spinning. As she looked deep into the heroines eyes, she swore she felt her heart both stop, and speed up at the same time.
"CHAT NOIR?!" They both jumped and looked to the dome incredulously, as Alya's voice rang through,"Marinette! Record everything! My blog depends upon it!"
Chat shook his head and sighed,"Please don't. I ask that you stay put." He looked to her with a slightly pleading smile,"I don't want to risk you being in any danger, little lady."
Marinette blushed deeply, as Chat Noir than took the hand he still held, and raised it up, planting a small kiss upon it's back."Until next time, Miss Marinette~"
Marinette remained frozen in place as she watched Chat Noir jump off to fight alongside Ladybug. The second he was out of sight, she sagged down to her knees, and held her freshly kissed hand close to her chest, wondering what it was that he had just done to her heart.
Manon rushed into Marinette's arms,"Marinette!"
Marinette smiled happily,"You're both alright!"
Alya chuckled,"It's gonna take more then a little ice to take this blogger out. Now then, I believe there was a photoshoot that you were tricked into doing, hmm?"
Marinette laughed lightly, before setting Manon down, and walking over to the shoot.
Adrien sat on the side of the fountain, looking bored beyond belief. When suddenly, his Photographer started to chant out.
"Magnifico! You have arrived, our Belle Petite!"
Adrien looked up, and turned as red as a tomato at the sight of Marinette. Belle Petite was correct. In fact, it was probably an understatement. The photographer pulled the 2 teens together, smiling happily,"Magnifico! Perfacto! You look adorable together!"
For the next half hour or so, Marinette posed cheerfully beside Adrien, as he still wore a light blush the entire time, along with the best smile the photographer had ever received from the young blonde.
Later that afternoon, Gabriel Agreste was busy trying to find out what made this photoshoot more successful than ever. His son had most obviously been more joyful and cooperative then before.
That's when his eyes landed upon Marinette.
He had found slight interest in her before, especially when she had stood up to Chloe at the design competition, proving that the derby was her own creation. His son had obviously proved to have special interest in her, and she certainly seemed to improve his sons enjoyment in his responsibilities.
Perhaps he should keep an eye on Miss Dupain Cheng. She might prove to be a useful asset to Agreste Fashion, especially for someone her age. She may also be a valuable asset in the future, for a certain wielder of the Butterfly Miraculous...
