Alya glanced Marinette up and down, frowning as she approached Adrien's front door. Not only was she lost in her own world again, she hadn't changed from what she wore at school, other than now she had a flour handprint on her shoulder from where her father had pulled her forward to kiss her cheek. Marinette only snapped back into the real word when she walked into Alya.

"You keep your head in the clouds and you'll see Ladybug before I will!" She smiled.

Marinette forced a smile. "Wouldn't that be amazing?"

Alya wrinkled her nose at Marinette's outfit. "That's what you're wearing?"

Marinette would have pointed out that Alya had only put on a new shirt, which was very similar to her usual shirt, but she didn't notice. Her mind was elsewhere.

"I didn't have time to change I was... busy." Usually she'd tell Alya immediately if something happened with a boy, but not now. Now Marinette wanted to put it from her mind and focus on her friends. For a moment she thought Alya would pry, but then she shrugged.

"Mmm. Oh well, you look great no matter what you wear."

Marinette smiled. "I take after you."

Alya chuckled affectionately and threw an arm around her shoulders to walk her inside the house, where the boys were waiting. Nino was leaning across the table, adjusting Adrien's green bow tie, so focused that his tongue curled out of the corner of his mouth. Marinette was distracted by the almost overwhelming smell of cheese emanating from the corner of the room. This huge room was flawlessly cleaned until it glistened. The walls were white and so high you had to crane your neck to see the ceiling. Each had giant windows, separated by black and white stripes. Matching tiles stretched across the floor, before transforming into wooden floorboards under the long table. The sleek black and white room felt modern and fresh. Cheesy smells didn't match that.

Alya tilted her head at the boys. "What are you doing?"

Adrien gasped and pushed Nino back. He jumped backwards and threw his arms behind his back like he hadn't been doing anything.

"Hi! How are you? Long time no see!" He forced a cheesy grin.

Alya raised an eyebrow at Nino, but turned it to Adrien. "You make me feel under dressed. I can't image what you do to Mari."

Marinette snapped back into the room. "What?"

"Adrien's outfit. What'd you think?" Alya asked.

Adrien caught his breath as she finally looked at him. Shame and guilt rushed to make his cheeks red again. He had put on a deep green shirt, his cleanest jeans, and a black waistcoat. It was an outfit he had to wear on a shoot recently. Even then the green and black bowtie had caused no end of hassle.

"I'd appreciate your thoughts," he muttered.

Marinette flushed pink. She was standing in Gabriel Agreste's mansion, and he wanted her thoughts on his outfit. But then again, he was her friend, she had an opinion closer to his own, maybe she was reading too much into it. Alya pushed her forward with a grin. Marinette stumbled, and fell into him. He caught her on reflex. He'd done it a million times before, but this was the first time it felt special. Like he was the only one who could keep her upright. She straightened up, and he let his hand linger on her arm as she dusted herself down. Some of the flour fell off too.

"Are you ok?" He asked, anxiously.

"I'm a walking disaster zone, but nothings new there," she sighed.

Her fringe fell over her eyes, so she pushed it aside in annoyance, and looked him up and down. She wrinkled her nose and put a hand on her chin thoughtfully. He had seen his father examine outfits, and his face scarcely changed. Marinette, however, was planning what to do in her head, and her passion slipped out in her reactions. Adrien smiled softly. She was adorable.

Suddenly she gasped. "Got it!"

Marinette beamed and leapt forward. Her fingers expertly untied the bowtie Nino had put all his hard work into, and threw it aside. Her head was so close to his chin he had to lift his head anxiously to avoid hitting her with it. Her cold fingers brushed against his neck, leaving goosebumps behind. She didn't stop when the bowtie was gone either. She fluffed up his collar to make it look messy. Marinette raised her hands to his perfectly neat hair, and hesitated. She pulled back slowly, her own hair falling across her eyes again.

"May I?" She asked.

Adrien gulped, and nodded, nervously. Carefully, Marinette leaned up onto her tip toes, which caused her to brush repeatedly against his chest. Her fingers ran through his hair, brushing gently against his scalp. He bit his lip hard to fight the urge to purr. Her gaze was fixed on his hair, but his was entirely on her. The focus in her eyes made them shine, and made her tongue peep out of the corner of her mouth. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly, and her hair fell over her eyes. She huffed to puff it out of her face. He felt his stomach drop. Very few people had seen this view of her before. It was something he was enthralled by.
All too soon she took a step back. Marinette reached for his hand, and just as their fingers brushed, an electric shock passed between them. He gasped, and yelped.

"You ok?" Alya asked.

"Electric shock," Marinette said. She smirked up at Adrien. "I guess sparks really are flying between us."

His ears went pink and he laughed a little too hard. "Y-yeah, lucky us."

He winced at his own words. It was so difficult to keep his head clear enough to remember how to talk around her now. However, she chuckled gently, and reached for his hand again. There was no shock this time. His soft hand was lifted into her tougher, well worked hands. Knitting, stitching and baking will do that to you. Gently, she rolled up his sleeves, so they sat above his elbows. Then she took a step back to admire her work.
His hair was messy, as was his collar, his sleeves were pushed up, and his waistcoat was neat but ruffed. He looked like he'd been busy working, doing something rouge and tough, and come in now and ruffled his hair. His flushed cheeks made the look more realistic. It made him unbelievably handsome.

"How do I look?" He asked.

"Handsome as always," she smiled. Suddenly she blushed again, "like all models are handsome."

Her hair fell over her face so she groaned in frustration and yanked out her ponytails. She shook her hair free and it fell like a curtain across her face. His jaw dropped slightly. He'd never imagined her with her hair down before, but she looked so good his heart missed a beat. She groaned again as she ran her hand through her hair and messed it up. His insides melted.

"My hair is super messy, I don't suppose you have a hair brush?" She asked.

"S-s-sure I have, many models have hair. I mean models have to have many brushes to have your perfect hair. Not yours, yours isn't perfect, I mean that you're not perfect - not that you're not - I mean-" Adrien blushed deeper.

"JUST GET A BRUSH!" Plagg hissed.

"I'll go find a brush," Adrien declared immediately.

Tikki peeped out of Marinette's bag and glanced around the room. It was difficult to spot a little black cat in a black and white room like this, but she was stubborn. She wouldn't stop until- there he is! Carefully, she slipped out of Marinette's bag, and under the table so they wouldn't see her as she darted off towards Plagg. He was hiding in the plant pot of a tall and skinny tree in the corner of the room, well hidden in the darkness. Tikki climbed in beside him, and beamed.

"Buggy?!" He gasped.

"Hello kitty," she smiled.

She threw herself at him, caught him off guard, and accidentally tackled him to the ground. Now both of them were laying in the soil of the plant pot together, giggling.
Marinette wandered back over to the mirror hanging on the wall in the hallway, leaving Nino and Alya to stare at each other. Nino was shocked, Alya looked concerned.

"What was that?" Nino asked, urgently.

"That is something I am conflicted about," Alya sighed.

"How so?" Nino asked.

"I have a plan that I thought of when Adrien and Marinette weren't close, to get them together. Tonight is the perfect opportunity to put it into action," Alya explained, reluctantly.

It sounded like she felt odd. Like she was going to have to do something that she didn't actually want to, or wasn't sure about.

"I thought she didn't love him anymore," Nino said.

"I don't know. I don't think she does. It's hard to tell with her sometimes," Alya shrugged.

Nino glanced at the doorway Adrien had dashed through to go and find a brush. "He clearly loves her now."

"Yeah he told me."

"He told you?!"

"He asked for my help because this would make him happy."

"He didn't tell me anything!" Nino huffed

"I want him to be happy, but he hurt her," she sighed again, "I don't want to put her through that again."

Nino glanced at Marinette through the open door on the other side of the room. She was fiddling with her hair, like she was trying to form a bun without a doughnut. Then a stray strand fell into her eyes and she deflated. Her hair fell to cloak her face again.

"What if he will make her happy?" Nino asked softly.

Alya glanced at Marinette over her shoulder," I think she likes someone else."

Plagg leaned against Tikki, "Does she?"

Tikki leaned over and whispered back, "Chat Noir."

Plagg snorted. "So no then."

Tikki raised a hand to her lips. "Shh!"

Adrien hesitated as he re-entered the room holding the brush to his chest like it was precious, and glanced around for Marinette. Nino and Alya pointed, wordlessly. He smiled and hurried off to find her. She beamed when she saw his reflection wander in. He smiled back, his ears turning pink.

"Can I help?" He asked.

"Is there any chance you've got a doughnut thingy for hair buns anywhere?" She asked, hopefully.

"I don't think, maybe. There's bits and pieces from models and hairdressers and make up girls all over the place," he said.

"Don't worry about it, I'll make it simple instead," she said.

Alya and Nino watched Adrien staring at Marinette as she brushed her hair out, and tied it up into a ponytail hanging over her left shoulder. She turned to him, and raised her hand like she wanted his opinion. He gave it. She smiled. Watching like Nino or Alya were them you'd be mistaken

"We have to find a way to find out, and then a way to get the two of them to talk it through without one leaving the room," Alya decided.

"How can I help?" Nino asked.

"Wait until after dinner. Food comes first," Alya declared.

Adrien had set up the table so he sat at one end, Nino sat opposite him way at the opposite end of the room, and the girls were halfway between them on opposite sides of the table.

"Um, Adrien? Can we move these?" Marinette asked.

Adrien frowned. "Move them? But this is how me and my family used to eat all the time."

"Oh. Well. wouldn't it be nicer if we were all up at one end? If Alya sits here, and Nino here, and you sit there, and I sit here?"

Marinette and Alya moved the plates to they were sat next to each other and opposite each other, like a properly sized family table.

"That way we're all together," Nino said.

"Close enough to talk without yelling," Alya smirked.

"Oh! Yeah, that sounds great!" Adrien grinned.

They gathered at the end and the chef brought out each of their meals under a silver dish. It felt slightly extravagant, but unbelievably thrilling to lift the dish. Nino felt like a magician. It was simple but oh so gratifying. As thrilling as that was, the dinner was better. Mouth-wateringly glorious. Nino inhaled it with gratitude for every bite, and Marinette was thinking again. Alya kept glancing at Marinette, hoping she would talk to her, but she didn't. It came back to Alya and Adrien to talk. The two of them chatted between themselves, trying to get the others to join in, but they really didn't. Marinette had a lot on her mind and Nino, well Nino had a lot on his plate.
Specifically Marinette's food.

He reached out to tap her plate with his fork to get her attention, "hey, you gonna eat that."

Marinette looked down at the slow roasted honey glazed parsnips on her plate, that she was pushing around her plate with her fork.

"Nah, you can have it, I'm not hungry."

Nino giggled greedily, and pulled her plate over onto his. Adrien tilted his head at her, concerned.

"Are you alright Mari?" He asked, nervously.

She looked up at him in surprise. Marinette didn't want to talk about it, and Adrien really hoped he couldn't have to hear her tell him what he'd done wrong. She shook her head and her hair bounced, forcing a smile.

"I'm just not hungry."

Alya threw a pointed look at Nino, but he was too busy stuffing his face to notice. Alya rolled her eyes. Boys were useless sometimes. Dramatically she pushed her plate back and stood up, so all eyes were on her. "Let's play truth or dare!"

Tikki gasped but Plagg and Marinette snorted. Plagg beamed at Tikki when Marinette snorted at the same time as him. Tikki rolled her eyes bit chuckled to herself.

"Because that went so well last time!" Marinette said, sarcastically.

"Oh truth or dare was fine, it was pillow fighting that left your leg like that," Alya argued.

"Truth or dare?" Adrien asked, confused.

He had never played before, and wasn't entirely sure what they were expecting from him. Alya smiled reassuringly at him.

"It does what it says on the tin."

Adrien frowned. "It sounds dangerous."

Alya's eyes gleamed. "It is!"

"Fun though!" Nino wiped his mouth on the napkin and stood up, "I'm in!"

Alya grinned at him, and glared at Marinette. "Mari?"

Marinette scowled grumpily. She didn't much feel like being honest at the moment. Especially not after last time. Adrien glanced over at her. Honesty could destroy whatever blissful relationship the pair of them could keep through her ignorance. Tikki's antenna hung down by her chin, and she tapped her mouth nervously.

"This won't end well," she said.

"He said Nathanael was insignificant, it can't get much worse than it already is!" Plagg snorted.

Alya ran forward and grabbed Marinette's arm. She tugged her playfully, pulling her from her seat.

"Come on, let's play!" She grinned

Marinette groaned as Alya gathered up Nino and Adrien and dragged them into the family room so they could sit in a circle on the rug in front of the fireplace. Alya knelt down and examined the fire.

"Does this thing work?" She asked, curiously.

"It's electric," Adrien explained.

He picked up a remote control that was sitting on mantlepiece, and pointed it at the fire. As Alya took a step back the logs burst into bright orange licks of flame. Nino made an impressed noise and Adrien laughed. Alya grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the carpet. Adrien cried out in pain. Alya leapt back in surprise and Marinette raised an eyebrow. His voice was like her kitty's, and his hair like this was similar, and now his hand was hurt too? It could all be a coincidence but still. Marinette glanced around for Tikki. At first, she couldn't see her, and very nearly panicked, but then there she was. Wriggling through the shut door because she couldn't get it open. Marinette's panic eased.

Until, that is, Alya said, "truth or dare Marinette?"

Marinette looked up. "What?"

"truth or dare?" Alya repeated.

Marinette wrinkled her nose. "I don't wanna-"

"Truth. Or. Dare."

Marinette groaned. There was no use in arguing with her, and she did not want to tell the truth, so she only had one option really. "Dare."

"I dare you to lift Adrien," Nino declared.

Marinette scoffed, "that's too easy!"

"Easy?!" Adrien repeated.

"Yeah, you're a lightweight and I'm strong!" Marinette shrugged.

Alya gave an evil smirk. "Prove it."

Marinette gave her a stubborn look and stood up. She turned her head to give the same stubborn glare to Adrien.

"Get up!" She said.

He blinked in surprise. She repeated herself firmly. He stood up obediently, and reeled back in alarm when her hand landed on his waist.

"What?" She asked.

He blushed, "Mind my hand, it's sore."

"I'll be careful," she promised.

Adrien moved hesitantly as she eased herself closer to him. It was different without their masks on. Hell, Ladybug would throw Chat Noir like a javelin without a second thought, but Marinette and Adrien? It was slower and more intimate than it needed to be.
Her hand went against his waist, and the side of his chest. His hands went in the air and his cheeks turned pink.

"W-w-what do you want me to do?" He stammered.

"Just put your hands-" she moved her hands to his wrists to move his hands around her shoulders. "Here."

Nino's phone flew into his hand, just a millisecond behind Alya. They both had excellent position to film them. She raised her head to meet his gaze and check he was ok. His eyes shone with fear.

"Hey, do you trust me?" She asked, gently.

Adrien gulped. Of course he did. But she didn't trust him right now, and that made him feel uneasy. No, she didn't know who he was, but if she did, she'd just drop him. But he did trust her, so he nodded.

"Alright. Ready?" She asked, gently. He nodded again. "Ok. Go."

Adrien jumped and Marinette scooped him up. He landed with his legs wrapped around her middle, so he was practically sitting on her waist, and his arms around her shoulders still. Her arms were linked around his waist and trailed down to brush against his rear. He blushed deeper for a moment. She looked up at him, and beamed with delight. Her face was inches away from his now. It took him a moment to adjust to this new height but when he did, he grinned back. The pride in her face as she held him up like he weighed nothing, made his heart beat harder. She was so damn cute he didn't think he could love her more until he did. Alya and Nino were cheering on the side lines from behind their phones.

"Told you," Marinette smirked at Alya, "easy!"

"Alright. Nino, you're next," Alya declared.

Marinette helped Adrien back down, and they were standing so close that she could practically feel his breath on her head. As he climbed down he messed up her hair again. She huffed, and it flapped.

"I like your hair messy," he muttered.

She turned pink again and muttered, "I like yours messy."

Tikki grabbed Plagg's arm, leaning forward eagerly. Plagg was staring, desperately willing one of them to realise what was going on between them. But then there was Alya. You can never really plan for Alya.

"Oi, Romeo and Juliet, Nino picked truth, what do we wanna ask?" Alya called.

Being called Romeo and Juliet made them jump back away from one another sheepishly. Plagg yelped like he had been hurt and Tikki groaned. Plagg glanced down at the grip on his arm he was suddenly aware of.

"Um, teak?"

Tikki glanced over. She followed his gaze, blushed, and let go. She muttered apologetically. Plagg's ears flattened outwards sheepishly and he dipped his head as he said he didn't mind.
They moved through the first round with everyone else picking truth, apart from Alya, who had to go outside and ask the first person she saw where the nearest petrol station was, because her spaceship had broken down.

"Truth," Marinette said firmly.

There wasn't even a pause before Alya asked, "Do you have a crush on Chat Noir?"

Tikki gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. Plagg leaned forward, practically on the edge of his seat, and held his breath. Adrien's eyes widened, and his stomach twisted.

"No fair, you already know the answer to that!" Marinette whined.

"I don't!" Adrien squeaked.

"I don't either," Nino insisted.

"You don't wanna know," Marinette huffed.

"I do!" Adrien insisted.

He did. Desperately. Sort of. He wanted her to love him, and he was Chat Noir, but she was clearly angry with him. If she loved Chat, then Adrien couldn't make it up to her. It was a rock and a hard place, and he had put himself there.

"You picked truth, you have to answer," Alya said, firmly.

"Fine! Fine..." Marinette sighed and bowed her head.

Tikki bit her hand nervously. Plagg wasn't breathing at all now and he was slightly light headed. Adrien's stomach twisted like it was a damp towel someone was ringing out. Marinette doubled in on herself, and stared at the ground, self-consciously.

"It's complicated... Really complicated. There are things we need to talk about, and I'm mad at him right now so we have you deal with that... but ultimately yes. Yes, I think I do."

Nino and Alya shared a look. Adrien looked like a deer in headlights. Shocked and mildly terrified. That was understandable. Even if she was arguing with him, you couldn't outshine Chat Noir. Marinette seemed shaken up too, so they moved on swiftly.

"Truth or dare Adrien?" Nino asked.

Having witnessed Nino blush deeper than anyone ever thought he could, and being asked about Chloe last time, Adrien wasn't sure what to pick. If he picked truth they would ask him about Marinette, but if he picked dare, they might make him kiss her and that would be unbearable. If telling her he loved her was bad, kissing her would be lethal. Especially after this new revelation. If he had lost her love as Adrien, and she didn't even like chat noir at the moment, he couldn't see how this was going to be fixed.

"Truth or dare?" Nino repeated.

"Dare," Adrien muttered.

"I dare you- wait it has to be in the next room, come on!" Alya pushed herself to her feet, and pulled Nino up beside her.

Reluctantly Marinette and Adrien stood up too. Alya opened the door to the next room and Adrien wandered in. Alya yanked Nino to the side before he could go in too.

"Go around to the other door and lock it," she said, quietly.

"Why?"

"Trust me."

Nino blinked, but agreed. Marinette was on the other side of the room, collecting up Tikki. For a moment she thought she saw someone else there with her. Another kwami. Plagg. But she blinked and the shape she had seen had vanished, so she shook her head and put it down to Chat Noir being on her mind.

"come on Mari, you don't wanna miss this," Alya called.

Marinette tucked Tikki into her pocket, and wandered over to Alya. Alya ushered her into the room after Adrien. Alya slammed the door shut behind them. Adrien and Marinette blinked. She jiggled the handle.

"Alya? Alya come on that's not funny!" She complained.

"There's another door over here," Adrien said.

They turned around to look at the other door, just in time to see Nino slam it shut.

"Guys this isn't fun!" Marinette whined.

"I dare you two to talk everything out!" Alya called.

"This isn't how this is meant to go!" Adrien complained.

He was terrified now. And then, they did the worst thing they could possibly do. CLICK! Each door was bolted shut. Marinette and Adrien stared at each other.

They were locked in.