A/N: Episode 8 of season 2…

*deep breath*

AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!

I don't know Spanish, but my brother does. So I kind of forced him to translate the whole episode for me. It was one of the best moments I've had this year.

Without further ado, please enjoy and leave your reviews!

(P.S: I am posting this so late in the night, sorry for mistakes!)

Marinette's room was fascinating in its unique way of attracting a pair of curious green eyes, which belonged to none other than her all time crush. Adrien looked around for the fourth time in a row and after each glance he found himself discovering new things. The sewing machine in the corner, the stylish and pink interior of her room, which immediately gave off a gentle vibe were one thing. He saw the stack of fashion designer books, journals as well as some sketches on the table. The boy also noticed a big pile of journals and magazines (he could have sworn they all had his name on their spine) though his eyes couldn't see that far, since the said journals were piled on top of each other in the very corner of the room. Marinette had a mannequin with an unfinished hat resting on its head, not to mention various artsy tools and paints all over the place. The thought the little yellow sticky notes she had on her computer screen were cute, reminding him of the fact that the brunette needed to leave herself small reminders of the upcoming events or TV broadcasts and homework.

The teenagers were sitting on the floor. It was for not a particular reason, they just randomly did, without giving it much thought. Marinette hadn't even shifted once after their friend left them to each other's company, sitting straight and stiff as ever.

His classmate noticed how he had been inspecting her room with a very hard thinking expression, which she interpreted as almost judging one even. They haven't said a word after Alya left them.

"Sorry, if my room is not tidy enough," she blurted out, making Adrien slightly jump. He must be in shock, seeing how messy her room is! Marinette felt embarrassed, at the same time thanking herself and Alya for hiding the leftover pictures of Adrien Agreste. What if he stumbled upon them by accident and thought of her as a creepy lonely stalker?

"Not at all!" Agreste defended, looking at Marinette. "I like it. It reflects on the kind of person you are." He warmly said. It only showed how talented, responsible and dedicated to her dream of becoming a world-wide known fashion designer. But why was she making that face.

His friend, however, got everything wrong.

"So he thinks I am messy, clumsy and all over the place?" Marinette frowned, stifling a sigh.

Adrien noticed the slight shift in the mood, so he once again gazed into her clear blue eyes that were immediately clouded by a disappointed look.

"I meant…" the blond hesitated. "You are very talented, organized and dedicated. That's what I meant by saying that." The bemused expression on her face and then a very shy smile that followed afterwards made his heart rate quicken. Ah, he knew he shouldn't have eaten that many coffee-flavored croissants!

"You really think so..?" She breathed out, feeling giggly. She still couldn't believe that she, Marinette Dupain-Cheng, was hanging out one on one with the famous Adrien Agreste. She wished time would stop, not even dreaming of him thinking about the same thing.

"I know so." He whispered, turning his head away from Marinette as soon as he felt her eyes focused on him, as the brunette stared at him.

She was told nobody is perfect. Then what was Adrien? The way his golden hair caught the setting sun's last rays, his clear green eyes stealing a few secretive looks from her, his slender, soft and gentle features that Marinette had always seen on the covers of various magazines and at school were never so close to her, the way he whispered words of genuine praise and these smiles he gave her. It made her feel lightheaded, thinking about how close Adrien was sitting at her, as she could almost feel his warm breath.

If things were to continue the way they were now, Dupain-Cheng didn't know if she would be able to restrain and hold back any longer. She gulped nervously each time she accidently found her eyes focused on his hands or chest. Any minute now she wanted to pull him closer to her. Blushing ferociously, she cleared her throat.

"So-

"So-

The teenagers immediately shushed themselves, as soon as they heard one another beginning to talk. The atmosphere grew awkward. Just when Adrien was sure the awkwardness faded away, he was stuck on the same place again. He saw how tensed up she was, ready to burst into gibberish any time he asked a question. So Agreste wanted to check if that was true:

"Marinette?"

"Y-yes, Adrien?" She stuttered as usual, fidgeting her fingers.

He got the confirmation. So he was right. But why? Why was she acting this way again? It felt as if she was constantly holding herself back or something. They've spend some time together, yet she won't budge. Where did all her confidence disappear to? He hoped he'd see her this way once again.

He stopped. No, it is good she acts they way she usually does. If the timid Marinette would let her confident side show, Adrien won't know what to do and…how to feel.

"I hope you aren't scared of me?" He led out a nervous laugh.

"W-what makes you think that?" Marinette looked utterly confused as she cocked an eyebrow at him. How could he read into her actions so badly?

"Feels like you are always so stiff around me and you can't look me in the eye." He confessed, feeling his heart increasing its pace ever so slightly as he waited for her answer.

"I am not scared," she shook her head sideways. "I am just a little nervous in front of you." Marinette breathed out, taking all of her might to look him in the eyes that widened in surprise.

Nervous? Who was he out of all people to be nervous in front of? Marinette acted brave in front of Chat Noir, Jagged Stone and many famous people, so it wasn't because he was famous.

He scooted closer to her, slightly too close for her own comfort.

"Why?" Adrien dared to ask, gulping involuntarily, feeling the urge to backtrack any second.

Marinette's blush intensified, as she felt the warmth coming from the boy next to her. She wouldn't be able to confess nor hold back at the same time.

"Because…I feel…I would love-

Love?

"I would love to request a hug from you!" Marinette couldn't believe she had just said that. A hug is not such a big deal, right? It is fine for a friend to ask for a hug, right? Although, the girl had to admit she'd never seen Adrien openly hug anyone before. She didn't count the time they were dancing, since what else could he have possibly done?

Adrien blinked dumbfounded. The way she was acting so nervous was because of a hug? Marinette got so worked up because of a simple request for hug?

He liked getting/giving out hugs, as long as they weren't from Chloe Bourgeois, who he was certain wanted to squish the poor boy's soul out, as if he is a tube of toothpaste.

But Marinette Dupain-Cheng was, of course, different. They shared a hug and a dance at the president's daughter party that one and only time, not counting the various times he hugged her as Chat Noir to protect her from akumatized villain and get her to safety.

"You want a hug?" Adrien tried his best to hide a childish grin from forming and to refrain himself from teasing the bluebell-eyed one.

She just nodded shyly, letting her spirits down.

"I understand if you won't want to-

"Come here." He almost ordered. Dupain-Cheng looked up at him in anticipation, as she saw her crush opening his arms widely with a charming smile present on his face.

She didn't need to be told twice. With a small squeal Marinette gently wrapped her arms around the model's neck, pulling closer to him. Adrien led out a small breath of surprise at her eagerness. And a mischievous idea made its way to his brain.

Agreste pulled the girl closer, resting his head on hers, her quick breathing tickling his neck.

"I am so happy right now." Marinette sighed dreamily without realizing it. Adrien though didn't reply to not ruin the moment.

Although he silently agreed in his head. He also felt slightly happier inside, without any explanation. Hugs are generally nice, he concluded.

They broke apart soon after, avoiding the awkwardness of the hug that might have been too long for just friends.

Adrien kept his smile, as he looked at Marinette, who seemed to calm down her excitement. What was his plan again?

The brunette stayed still, taking in the look on his face with each passing second.

"I am-

"Shhh." Marinette shushed. She needed to remember the slight blush on his cheeks before that intimate atmosphere faded away. Little did she know, she was too focused on the boy in front of her, as she ignored his attempts to speak to her.

Adrien was puzzled. If she kept staring at him with her dazed smile such as this, he might feel the need to get to the comfort of his own house. Her eyes were twinkling and lips formed a smile of adoration.

The wielder of ladybug miraculous decided to test a theory of hers. She recalled the memory of her bellowed blushed boy, who she pinned to a wall, hours ago back at school. She couldn't pass up the opportunity of having Adrien for herself once in her life. So the girl started to build up a plan in the back of her mind, to test if her confidence was the missing link in their interactions. Now that she got her hug, Marinette was sure she had a small time of immunity to how charming her friend was.

"Marinette-

Agreste was shushed this time by Marinette's small finger on his lips, as she moved forward with her eyes half closed. A gesture changed the leader of the situation, and Adrien felt helpless for some odd reason. Tables turned and ADrien didn't see it coming.

Still keeping her finger on his mouth, she proceeded to whisper in his ear:

"I think I've found your weakness, Adrien." She heard him gulp loudly, as the boy tensed up.

A victorious grin was once again present, as Marinette pulled herself away instantly, further away from the boy to take in the results of her game. And, boy was she happy with the outcome. She even wondered, whether she took things too far, remembering the warning Alya gave her beforehand.

The dumbfounded and lost look on the blond's face as well as the sudden reddening of his cheeks secured his defeat to her hidden charms. He made a failed attempt to hide his blush by covering half of his face with his hand. " stopped working."

Adrien felt his heart drumming in his chest like the drums he heard on Jagged Stone's concert. He wanted to see her confident side, didn't he? Maybe because it reminded him of how bold Ladybug was? Somehow it felt more embarrassing, since he wasn't Chat Noir and Marinette isn't Ladybug. Thank goodness he was sitting down, or else he'd fallen on the floor by the time now.

He didn't know how to explain his sudden changes or maybe he hadn't tried to search for the answer hard enough. They Marinette's eyelids were half closed and her whisper sending shivers to his spine made him feel dizzy and hot…Well, hotter.

The sudden laughter brought him back to reality.

"I am so sorry!" Marinette laughed, the pink blush not leaving her face. "I didn't mean to come off so pushy and startle you." The adorable laughter grew louder, as Dupain-Cheng was slowly burying herself in her head. She also didn't know what has gotten into her so suddenly. Test a theory? The act she put up would embarrass anyone, not only Adrien. Uh-oh, Marinette, your Ladybug is showing! Settle down a little bit.

That's right, Ladybug! She wondered why was sure her boldness would work. She had seen Adrien getting flustered by Ladybug's confidence. Marinette was slightly jealous of herself at that one, since her crime-fighting alter-ego could get these sweet reactions out of her crush. Would Marinette be able to pull of something like this again? Heavens no!

Returning to his own self, Agreste joined his good friend in laughing. It was absurd, right? All the puzzle pieces gathered together and made a link.

He deducted it was all just a big prank. Alya and her best friend pulled on him. It could explain Alya's words:

"Don't take it too far, girl."

It was all an act, a simple play to simply bond with each other. It would also be so much like Marinette to do such a thing, he thought. She had fun hanging out with him and pranked him right? Haha, clever!

They were sharing a good laugh. They bonded, they really did! Now Adrien didn't need to worry about their friendship at all!

Although Adrien didn't know, if he was just being delusional on his behalf. Why would Marinette prank him for, again? What happened was the hug extra? Was it an excuse to embarrass him and get the revenge? Get the revenge for what? His head was pulsing with headache and a brain storm.

Poor Plagg was murmuring all the swear words he wanted to so kindly share with Adrien about his stupidity. And there wasn't even a tiny slice of Camambert. Unbelievable!

Adrien's phone suddenly rang. It was Gorilla, informing him that he waited for the boy outside. They teenagers hadn't noticed how quickly the evening came.

"I'll see you out." Marinette smiled, not looking him in the eye. Adrien nodded and followed her silently.

The Dupain-Cheng gave him a bag of fresh delicious sweets and macaroons, before Adrien exited the bakery.

"See you tomorrow, Marinette!" Agreste forced himself to smile, despite how heave his head felt.

"Bye! I see you are in a going form big crush, I mean, in a big rush! Bye Adrien!" The brunette laughed nervously, scratching the back of her neck as she had a foolish grin plastered all over her face. She stumbled on her words and messed up so badly, almost calling him her crush in his face!

The model sat in his car and sighed heavily. His eyes darted open as he gasped loudly, processing his classmate's words. He ignored the confused expression Gorilla shot at him. It all made sense now. He was indeed in a big rush, escaping from

A big crush.