Chapter Twenty-Nine

Guilt had been Adrien's constant companion since he'd run from his partner. But now he was consumed with a different purpose. He wanted to look his best for Marinette. Well at least when he finally made it to Nino's party. Afterward, he fully intended to get her alone to reveal the truth. In the meantime, he tossed yet another shirt to the growing mountain on his bed and reached for the next. "This one doesn't seem right either," he moaned as he held the shirt up before his chest in the mirror.

Plagg rolled his eyes. "Kid, it doesn't matter what you wear. You're seeing Chloe first, I'd suggest you don't dress up."

"But Marinette is going to be at Nino's party. I want to look nice."

"Might I remind you, that from her point of view, you're the guy who rejected her out of the suit. Little does she know that you're also the guy who ran away while in the suit. Therefore, she's not going to care how you dress."

The blonde shot an unimpressed glare at his kwami. "I get that, Plagg. Believe me, I do. But I still want to make a good impression."

Plagg let out a grunt. "You can't go wrong with black."

It was like a lightbulb went off in Adrien's brain. "Of course, why didn't I think of that?"

"You were too busy panicking, again." The cat kwami muttered to himself.

Within two minutes Adrien found a black button up shirt, a dark green pair of jeans and black blazer. After returning the mountain of clothes to his wardrobe he picked up a pair of black lace up boots to finish the look. Perusing his image in the mirror he gave an approving nod to his choices. "That works."


Half an hour later and Adrien was standing at Chloe's door. The impulse to loosen his collar had come upon him as he raised his hand to knock. Dread brushed his innards with featherlight tendrils and he couldn't help glancing at his bodyguard who lingered only to drop him off. Swallowing the lump in his throat, Adrien rapped his knuckles on the door.

Within seconds it flew open. "Adrikins!" Chloe cooed and a chill went down his spine. Her hand snagged his wrist and she pulled him inside. "Come in." He shot a desperate look at his bodyguard who glanced back in sympathy just before the door slammed shut.

Calculating blue eyes skimmed over his body. "You look amazing."

Was it his imagination or did she let out a quiet snigger at the end of that comment? "Um, thanks."

"Let's go to the balcony, it's really lovely outside. Really refreshing." Her hand snaked around his elbow and he obediently followed her lead, feeling perplexed. Chloe dropped her hold when they reached the balustrade and Adrien felt forlorn five minutes later as he watched his family car drive away. When he glanced at Chloe he noticed that she too was tracking the movement of the car.

"So, what's the plan?" he asked, trying to mask the edginess in his voice.

"I thought we could chat for a bit, share some snacks, then watch a movie. Oh, how rude of me I haven't got your drink yet." She fluffed her ponytail and strutted inside. "Wait here, I'll be right back.

Adrien remained where she'd left him, eyeing the street below and hoping that time would fly. He'd rather be at Nino's sooner than later. The sound of shoes clinking on concrete had him turning to see Chloe heading back with two very full glasses of orange juice. "Do you need some help?" he called.

Just as Adrien stepped towards her, Chloe somehow managed to trip on her own feet. Orange juice shot from the glassed and splattered with a wet slap all over his chest and legs. "I'm so sorry!" She gasped, now steady on her feet as she held the empty glasses at her sides.

"It's okay, it was an accident." He pried his phone from inside his jacket pocket, making sure it remained dry, and prepared to ring home. "I can get my bodyguard to bring me some fresh clothes."

Chloe snatched the phone from him. "Don't be ridiculous. We have full laundry facilities here. Come inside and strip off those wet clothes. You can wear a robe while your clothes get cleaned. It'll be done before you know it."

That niggling feeling ate more forcefully at Adrien. Chloe seemed to relish the word 'strip' just a little too much for his liking. "Where's the robe?" he asked with caution.

"Right here," she said as she hooked the white robe loop with one finger and angled it towards him.

"That was conveniently close," he muttered under his breath.

At least she left him alone to remove his wet clothes. Sitting on the closed lid of the toilet, Adrien pried off his shoes and socks which remained relatively unscathed, then ditched all but his underwear. No way in hell was he going out there in only a robe. He blushed as he looked at himself in the mirror, he was kind of regretting that he was wearing his Ladybug boxers. Some inner sense of self-preservation had him putting his socks and shoes back on. Lastly, he threw on the robe and Plagg tucked himself into one of the side pockets.

Piling up his soiled clothes, Adrien almost jumped out of his skin when he found Chloe resting an elbow on the doorframe with a lecherous look on her face. "Um, where should I put these?" he asked, taking a step back.

"Oh Jean-Claude, or whatever his name is, is at the door. Just give them to him." Adrien warily headed to the main door and passed his clothes to the man waiting. "Please be quick," he whispered and received a commiserative nod in return.

Chloe slammed the door closed with an outstretched hand and gave the model a predatory smile. "Now how about we watch that move while we wait?"

"Okay," Adrien said warily as he made his way to the lounge. Before he sat he made sure the tie on his robe was thoroughly knotted, then he held the sides together as he lowered himself down. Chloe sat at a reasonable distance and he let out the breath he was holding.

Nothing of consequence happened for the first hour of the movie and Adrien began to relax. Slouching back into the cushions, he wasn't immediately aware of the robe parting to expose his left knee. Nor did he notice the distance between Chloe and himself growing smaller. It was only when he reached for a handful of popcorn that he felt the brush of fingernails on his bare leg.

Jumping away from the unwanted touch, the model glared at his companion. "Chloe, what are you doing?"

"Just getting a little closer."

Adrien swallowed. "I don't think that's appropriate given my current state of undress."

The brat fluttered her eyelashes at him. "Oh, come on Adrien, we're not kids anymore. And you're a very handsome young man."

Shuffling as far along the lounge as possible, Adrien finally noticed that the tie on his robe was no longer knotted. One end of the belt was held between Chloe's fingers while the other was barely attached to the beltloops in his robe. Snatching it out of her hands, he roughly tied it back in place. "I already told you, I'm not interested."

Chloe pouted and turned her attention back to the TV. "I thought you'd say that. Pity."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

The pampered blonde side-eyed him and smirked. "Don't you worry, Adrien. You'll find out soon enough."

"Enough of this," he snapped as he stood. "I want my clothes back and I'm going home."

"Fine," Chloe said with nonchalant shrug. "But we'll have to go to the laundry ourselves if you're in such a hurry."

That should have been a clue right there that something was wrong. Chloe never lifted a finger when she had someone else to do her dirty work, but Adrien was riled up. His normally sharp brain didn't pick up on the subtle oddity. Plagg, however did. The kwami sensed trouble and began prodding Adrien's thigh in attempt to get his attention. Unfortunately, this just pissed off his holder, who slammed his hand in his pocket and held the kwami still.

Adrien walked side by side with Chloe, his free hand held his robe shut as they made their way into the elevator. The pampered blonde pressed a floor button, unaware that the model was easing his hold on his kwami.

"You're angry," Chloe remarked.

"Yes, I am."

She glanced at her cuticles and picked at some non-existent blemish. "I'm sorry."

The model cocked his head. "What brought this on?"

Chloe stepped closer and laid her hands on the soft lapels of his robe. "I wanted you, Adrien. I've wanted you for a long time. But you don't want me. I realise that now." She chewed her lip and looked away briefly. "Unfortunately, you humiliated me in front of the whole class when you told me as much. And now I'm sorry."

Adrien looked at her in confusion as the doors pinged to open. Suddenly Chloe wrenched the robe open, spun him around and ripped it off his body. "I'm sorry I didn't do this sooner!" She snarled as she shoved him forward into the crowded lobby of the hotel.

There was only a second for Adrien to process why the lobby was so crowded. The throng of people held posters and merchandise. Horror consumed the model as he realised he was being tossed to his adoring fans in next to nothing, like a piece of meat to starving tigers. Multiple pairs of fanatical eyes took in the sight of him and the screaming began only moments before phones were flashing as they photographed him.

Adrien immediately turned and scrabbled at the closing elevator doors. But they were almost shut, only a slither showed him the evilly smug look on Chloe's face as he was robbed of his only exit.

Hands were suddenly on his back, his arms and someone pinched him on his butt. Leaping at the contact, Adrien whirled around and plastered his spine against the cool metal of the elevator doors. "Security!" he shouted desperately. Rising to his toes, he eyed the main counter and tried to attract the attention of the concierge.

Fingers trailed over his skin and someone had the audacity to cup him in a place that was strictly off limits. Dropping his hands, Adrien laid his right hand over his privates and his left hand over it to protect his miraculous. All the while they were chanting his name like he was some kind of deity.

There was no way forward, so Adrien edged himself along the wall. Puckered lips angled at him as he travelled and he winced whenever any made contact with his skin. Somehow, he managed to find a door and he thanked the angels above that it was open. Dashing inside, he didn't bother slamming it closed, there was no way he could counter the press of bodies in their desperation to get close to him.

Luck was actually on his side, he'd opened the door to the stairwell and he raced upward. All he had to do was get far enough ahead to lose them and then he could transform. Five flights up and he slammed into a hallway. "Plagg," Adrien called as he looked down at himself. Only underwear and socks. Plagg had been in his pocket, in the robe, that Chloe now had. "No, no, no!"


Adrien's up the creek without a paddle now, what will he do? Will Marinette come to his rescue or will he be overrun by his fans?

Stay tuned for the next chapter and find out... thanks for reading - I look forward to your reviews on this one! ;)