Chapter 11)

"Where?" asked Marinette.

"May I invite you somewhere for lunch?" answered Adrien by his own question.

"My parents expect me for lunch. But maybe I CAN invite YOU, if you're not scared by Weredad. What do you think, Adrien?"

"Works for me!"

They observed Lila, who was passing Chloé.

"So you decided to be my enemy," whispered Lila into Chloé's ear during that. "You'll regret it!"

Chloé was not Marinette, to stay calm or to move back. By left hand she grabbed Lila's jacket and by right hand she slapped her face strongly enough, to make Lila sit on her arse. People used underestimate Chloé, but she was training some gymnastics and she helped as superheroine Queen Bee, so she was in fact much stronger, than people though…

"Look foxie, don't dare to threaten me another time. Ask anybody, I have no mercy with utterly ridiculous idiots like you."

Chloé gave Lila another hit by opened palm to forehead, so liary girl ended lying on floor. Chloé finally 'gently' stepped on her chest, placing her foot just between Lila's 'woman's attributes' forcing her to stay downstairs.

"Lay down!"

Incoming Miss Bustier observed scene.

"It is extremely inappropriate Chloé," said teacher. "She…"

"She got exactly, what doctor prescribed her," said Chloé without hesitation. "Miss Bustier, she's simply pain in ass and there's no excuse to tolerate her lies and threats."

"Pardon me, Chloé, she threatened you?!"

"Miss Bustier, it's just mine and her problem to solve. And I'm perfectly capable to solve it without any innocent being harmed. Right now I do pedagogy in Makarenko style."

Miss Bustier starred on Chloé, like if she observed her first time…

When Chloé observed on the other hand Adrien hand in hand with Marinette, she frowned and pointed on black-haired girl:

"You wined just only first round. We'll see, who's to win the whole match!"

"I guess, let's better move away," commented Adrien, whispering into Marinette's ear.

"True."

XXXXXXX

Hawkmoth smiled with satisfaction.

"Did she succeed?" asked surprised Nathalie.

"Off course not. But she was never expected to succeed. But either Adrien as Chat Noir will now deal with Luka the musician. Or if I'm wrong, he had good chance to ask for that true Chat Noir. Now I need use an akuma to watch over Marinette. Before Luka appears on scene, hopefully Adrien could succeed manipulate her to refuse him."

Nobody but Hawkmoth knew, there was nest with akuma colony in school attic at Collège Françoise Dupont, at least Hawkmoth thought so that time…

XXXXXXX

"Marinette, will you have time on Sunday?" asked Adrien on way to her family's bakery.

"I guess so, why?"

"I'll have a photoshoot and I'd be glad to have you there. By the way, will you agree to be my plus one, once we'll go together to Halloween party next Saturday?"

"Adrien?" Marinette was uncertain, whether to enjoy going hand in hand with him and his offers, or whether she should better demand on some answers.

She was almost able to feel observing glances from people on street…

"Yes, Marinette?"

"Why me, why now?"

"I worry, I don't get you."

"I mean, why did you decide offer me, something almost like a date right now?"

"Would you wish to consider it as date? Great! I hope, you'll enjoy time together, as I like it a lot." Adrien gave her his usual kind-hearted smile, which made Marinette almost got angry.

She punched his right shoulder by her fist, what caused Adrien laugh a bit. His smile was even wider.

"Is something wrong?"

"Arrrghh…" Increased level of adrenaline caused Marinette she lost her usual inability to speak with Adrien. "I can't understand, why did you chose me and why did you offer dating me just right now?!"

"Aha, this thing… I believe, you heard my father, when he told you not to underestimate yourself. I noticed, you're really marvelous, always caring and kindhearted. Plus, did I mention, you look really beautiful?"

Marinette, hearing that, stumbled. Adrien did not let her fall down, he quickly looped his right arm around her hips and tightened her to his own body.

Marinette frowned a bit and observed him for a while. She did not expect so fast reaction…

"Are you OK?" asked Adrien with his permanent smile. "If you need my assistance, maybe we should be together as often, as possible."

He forced her walk with his arm around her hips and she was unsure, what to think about that. Once she nodded, Adrien laughed, loosen clinch in his arm, and let her return to walking hand in hand with him.

"OK, interesting idea," smiled Marinette. "I mean being together. I could accept your explanation, why me," she made herself to calm down. "But why now, why not just year or two ago?"

"It would sound stupid," Adrien frowned a bit.

"Yea?"

"Errrmm…" he was embarrassed. "Max in fact has a point."

"Like, you are in love with Ladybug? Really?"

"Yep," nodded Adrien. "From moment she saved my life I've been dreaming about asking her for a date. I know, it sounds pretty stupid and childish."

Marinette gave him sour half-smile.

"Am I replacement for Ladybug of kind?"

"You're NO replacement! NO WAY! I just needed a bit more time to recognize the true you. And my father was surprisingly helpful one single time. So I decided to kill two birds with one stone. I mean find, whether you'd agree to date with me and also to show my father, I can arrange necessary issues."

"Sounds almost too good to be true…"

"Do you need a dark underhand tone in that? OK, I have one."

"WHAT?!"

"Yesterday during evening I had a very special visitor."

"Oh, really? Whom?"

"Ladybug," Adrien smirked. "She somehow found, I try to find out, who Hawkmoth is. Honestly say, I have no idea how could she get know. And I acted ridiculously. I tried to kiss her. She is really quick and I had no chance in fact. Well, I hope, it's not that bad, but truth is, I will always love her. Without let's name it errrrm… …'benefits'."

Marinette laughed.

"Should I be jealous on superheroine?"

"Depends on you," Adrien made exaggeratedly guilty face. "But now I really wish to find out now, whether we two could be together."

"OK, MAYBE I could give you another chance," Marinette smirked back. "But… Didn't you just forget somebody else?"

"Pardon me, whom?"

"Kagami and Chloé."

"I told you," Adrien let fall his smile. "I know Chloé from my little childhood. I know, she's really, really not perfect, but I do NOT want to down her. You know her mother, she's just coldhearted harpy. Maybe I'm sentimental, but I'll support Chloé, well, only reasonably. No dating. Not at all! Even Ladybug found something good in her. She allowed her to use Bee Miraculous. And Kagami, yep, I made a mistake with her. Just once. She's friend, maybe she wants to be even more, I'm not sure. As she's better… well… honestly, much better fencer, than I'm. I need to train with her to improve in fencing."

"You did not ask me about Luka," said Marinette. "Why?"

"Maybe I worry a bit of answer," explained Adrien. "I simply want to look into future and set mistakes from past somehow right. What happened cannot be undone. Would YOU prefer to be rather with Luka, than with me?"

Marinette noticed how Adrien sneaked out from trap she prepared for him.

"So you are not mad at me, that I agreed to meet him for a coffee?"

"I'm mad at myself, that I didn't ask you out sooner and that I did that stupid mistake with Kagami. So I only pray you not to choose Luka over me."

Marinette observed him in silence for a while.

"There's another problem," frowned Adrien. "Possible really big one…"

"And it is?"

"My father is possible well-founded suspect to be Hawkmoth. I don't know what to do, if it's really truth. I don't want to be known as son of lunatic terrorist. I asked Ladybug for a favor. If he really IS Hawkmoth, to manage things without authorities involved. I'd prefer in future do indoor work without heavy lifting* and being that way infamous would be destructive for my plans with university."

(*orig. Terry Pratchett)

"So you'd prefer rather lynching your father or what?" Marinette looked in consternation.

"As last possibility, if somebody dies in future, well, maybe. Right now, just the group of superheroes could do some kind of punishment."

Marinette made sad smile.

"And Gabriel Agreste was so long my favorite fashion designer. Why do you think, that he could be Hawkmoth?"

"He fits the profile, well, not alone in Paris. But today, when Shéhérazade appeared in classroom, her spell did not work on me. She said, Hawkmoth has another job for me. But what kind of job could crazy villain have for me?"

"Maybe you should model his new akuma outfits," snorted Marinette, what made Adrien burst in laugh.

XXXXXXX

They had no idea of being observed. Hawkmoth used akuma eyes. Marinette looked to be satisfied being with his son. Maybe they can make a deal without necessity to blackmail her…

Luka Couffain came to Marinette's class. He hoped he could invite her for lunch, just to observe, she left school hand in hand with Adrien. Luka shadowed them long enough to see blond model boy keeping HIS girl around her hips. A minute or so later rich blond boy burst in laugh. Luka's hate and jealousy were almost palpable. Hawkmoth felt it thanks to akuma. He could use black butterfly right now and turn Luka into monstrous villain, but there was no covered place for his son to hide before transformation. Before Hawkmoth found evidence, his son is Chat Noir he did his best to reveal Chat Noir's identity to publicity, but right now, secret will be more helpful for his aims, same with Ladybug.

"Plans go better, than I expected," laughed Hawkmoth. Nathalie nodded in agreement.

Master Fu observed teenage couple from position near to main entrance.

"Good job, Master," said Wayzz.

"Yea Wayzz," smirked Fu. "Chat Noir is clever enough to sustain everything. Now it's in their hands…"

XXXXXXX

In Tom & Sabine Boulangerie Patisserie Adrien admired, he was invited almost like already member of family.

"Mama, is problem, that I invited Adrien for lunch?"

"Not at all, Mari," smiled Tom.

"Do you like China, Adrien?" asked Sabine.

"I LOVE China!" answered boy. "Much better, than rabbit food our chef usually makes."

'The meat of five spices' or how it should be translated was with rice noodles and was really tasty.

Adrien made a deep bow and commented in Mandarin Chinese:

"You are really beyond excellent cook!"

Sabine smiled, but rebuked him to speak in French, so others could also understand…

When they finished with food and Adrien with Marinette helped by washing dishes, Adrien decided, they had to run back to school.

"That was amazing," said Adrien during their run.

"May I as you something personnel?" asked Marinette.

"Try it," nodded Adrien. "But excuse me, if I decide not to answer."

"OK. Did you ever try to date with modelling girls?"

"No, most of them have no brain."

"You mean no bra?"

Adrien was surprised. Marinette just made a pun.

"That's also true," smiled. "They usually do not need that."

"WHAT?"

"Well," Adrien made evil grin on his face. "Once there is nothing to be covered, why to cover that NOTHING."

Marinette tripped up and again only thanks to Adrien's quick reaction she did not fall.

"That was a really dirty joke, Mr. Agreste!" she said with overacting indignant grimace.

"But it's true. My father said, it's because big part of fashion designers are not into girls. So they prefer girl models with boyish body form."

"WHAT?"

"Well," Adrien frowned. "Beauty business is in fact dirty one, if you can look under its surface. I could say, I'm protected by my father's famous name. Plus, my father needed me to learn some kung-fu for self-defense. Once you'll be in this milieu, better stay as closed to me as possible. If I declare you as my girlfriend, most of bastards would not mess with you wrong way."

Marinette stared on him for a moment in disbelief.

"Losing illusions?" nodded Adrien. "Better this way, without really painful experience."

"I never thought…"

"Well, even the most beautiful rose has its roots fertilized with shits."

XXXXXXX

In the entrance hall of school they met Principal Damocles together with Miss Bustier talking with Lila Rossi and middle-aged woman, who was most probably her mother.

"So here we have Adrien Agreste, you may ask him yourself," said Miss Bustier.

"What's wrong?" asked Adrien.

"My daughter told me, you are her boyfriend," Mrs. Rossi was ashamed, seeing boy had in hand with another girl.

"The only moment, I was somehow closed with her, was, when she broke into my house, being akumatized as Volpina," said Adrien firmly. "Thankfully I succeeded to escape, so she used illusion of me to trick Ladybug."

"WHAT?" Mrs. Rossi looked like after cold shower. "I mean, how would you prove that?"

"Well, once Ladybug will have an press conference, you may ask her," said Adrien with stern grimace on face. "If you ask my point of view, Lila should be examined by skilled psychiatrist to determine proper diagnosis and treatment."

Adrien decided to ignore seething grimaces of both Rossis and added:

"If you could excuse us, we have another lecture in less, than five minutes, so we must hurry. I wish you to have a good day."

Principal Damocles waved his hand to show Adrien to leave the place.

They were out of hearing, when Marinette forced Adrien to stop. He looked into her eyes with untold question.

"You didn't tell them about Lila's kiss that make you sleep!" said Marinette. "Why?"

"And how do you know about that?" asked Adrien. "I didn't say about that anybody."

"Well, Ladybug told me…" Marinette was evidently unsure.

"Ach so…" smiled Adrien. "We should discuss these things better later, without necessity to hurry somewhere."

XXXXXXX

Nino turned to Alya:

"Am I hallucinating or are there coming Marinette together with Adrien like couple?"

"As I see the same, from morning something happened for sure."

Mrs. Mendeleiev entered classroom right after that:

"On your seats! Now!"

As Nino had his things on Marinette's place, Adrien whispered into her ear a bit equivocal:

"Seems we have chemistry together!"

Mrs. Mendeleiev raised her left eyebrow, seeing on him:

"Mr. Agreste, once you placed yourself so conveniently with Miss Dupain-Cheng, maybe you could help her with understanding schoolwork, so her grade could improve a little bit at least."

Adrien silently nodded.

"Fine, so who of you does know, which of Uranium isotopes is usable for controlled nuclear chain reaction?"

Sabrina, Adrien, and Max raised their hands.

"Miss Raincomprix!"

"Uranium-235. For Nuclear power plant grade 2 up 4 % is sufficient, for nuclear weapon 95 % is required."

"Thanks. What other isotopes are usable? Mr. Agreste?"

"Uranium-238, if using it as source to produce Plutonium-239 or less often 238."

"OK. So today about Transuranium elements, starting with Neptunium…"

After afternoon lectures Marinette said to Adrien:

"Excuse me, I go to broke one man's heart."

"You mean Luka?"

"Yep. Do you trust me?"

"Sure. Do you want me somewhere near?"

"Better no."

With that Marinette left place. Adrien stood for a moment, thinking about right place to transform, when Chloé moved to him:

"Adrikins, why did you chose her over me?"

"Maybe because she's not only beautiful girl, but also kindhearted person."

"But Adrikins!"

"Chloé please," Adrien frowned. "I will always support you, as we are friends as long as I remember, but I am not going to date with you. For sure not."

"If you change your mind, I'll give you last chance to come to your senses. I'll have no dance partner for Halloween party next Saturday. I know, Gabriel Brand wrote her as staff member, so I guess, she works for your father now, but she can stay on being his employee."

"Chloé, please, not that way."

With these words he left blond girl and found, Marinette succeeded to disappear from his range of vision. Help came from probably most unexpected side…

XXXXXXX

"One day soon I'll akumatize Chloé again," growled Hawkmoth.

"What's wrong?" asked Nathalie.

"She made Adrien to delay, so Marinette is nowhere to see," explained Hawkmoth.

"You have one akuma shadowing her, am I right?" said his assistant. "Now you observe him by another. Use third one as indicator, which way he should follow her."

"Remind me to increase your salary Nathalie!"

Hawkmoth made some gesticulation with his fingers…

XXXXXXX

Adrien observed well-known dark butterfly some three meters from him, slowly flying to hidden niche on his school wall.

-WHAT THE HECK!?- though Adrien in total disbelief.

But he followed moth to that place.

"Am I the only, who consider it strange?" asked Plagg, when butterfly escaped.

"Seems to me, my father is not only Hawkmoth, he possibly also knows, I'm Chat Noir, or at least he suspects me."

"It probably also means, he sent another akuma to attack Luka the blue-haired-excuse for musician," snorted small creature of destruction.

"And Marinette promised to refuse him…"

"What will make him susceptible. Sure."

"OK. Plagg, claws out!"

As Chat Noir he jumped higher up on the wall, out of sight of usual Parisians. Akuma appeared few meters from him, like if it waited for him…

After few minutes of chasing they ended close to a sidewalk café, where Chat Noir observed Marinette in argument with Luka…

XXXXXXX

"No Luka," said Marinette. "I already have dance partner for Halloween Party. So no, I'll not go there with you."

Marinette passed banknote to waitress. It was not enough for both coffee, so waitress easily understood, girl wishes to pay for her coffee herself…

Luka opened his wallet and in same moment well-known dark butterfly flied into, visibly for everybody around.

"Hello, I am Hawkmoth!" almost purred strange voice in his head. "Now, what will we do together?"

TO BE CONTINUED…