There was the clicking sound of the lock of the door, closely followed by Alya bursting through looking frazzled.

'Nino?' She called, 'I know we said "no journalism at home" but research hardly counts, and-' her eyes fell to the couch, where both Nino and Adrien were flopped over the couch, looking like guilty toddlers who had eaten the entire cookie jar.

'What are you two doing?'

'We ate the whole thing,' Nino managed, and Adrien groaned in agreement.

Alya unslung her shoulderbag and dropped it behind the door. Her eyes surveyed the seeminly innocent scene, but noted the suspiciously empty plate on the table behind them. 'What did you two eat, exactly?'

'I made bread yesterday,' Adrien had to pause to take a breath, 'and I brought most of it over.'

'No way, really? Did you get a photo?' Alya smiled. 'That's awesome! Where's my slice?'

'See, babe,' Nino lifted his head slightly and raised a halting finger, 'that's the thing.'

'Wait, you ate a whole loaf of bread between the two of you?' Alya raised her eyebrows. 'How big was the loaf?'

'"Most", of a loaf,' Nino corrected, but Adrien demonstrated the larger size with his hands.

'That's huge! Did Marinette show you how?'

Adrien nodded.

'And you two didn't even save me a slice of Adrien's first bread!' Alya admonished.

'...Sorry, babe,' Nino hung his head.

'Have to admit,' Adrien shook his head, 'the jam and cheese and stuff didn't help either,'

'It wouldn't!' Alya moved over to the table and cleared away the empty plate and bread knife. 'It's like you two are in high school again. Remember that time we had a slumber party at Marinette's and ate all of the leftover pastries in one go?'

'Don't remind me, I might puke,' Nino grimanced.

'But it was heaven,' Adrien's eyes shone. 'I'd never eaten that much amazing food in one sitting before.'

'It didn't help that Marinette's parents had blatantly overstocked in preparation,' Alya shook her head with a grin. 'They really must have pulled out all the stocks.'

'It was so rare to be able to kidnap you for an evening then.' Nino rolled slightly from being sprawled on the couch to look at Adrien, who was leaning against the arm of it. 'Let me give you some advice,'

'Oh this'll be good, considering what you two just did,' Alya laughed.

'You this kind of gorging every day.' Nino ignored her. 'I tried it when I first moved out, it doesn't work.'

'I think I'd die if I tried to do this every day,' Adrien managed. 'Just thinking about doing this again tomorrow makes me queasy.'

Nino nodded. 'Exactly. Also don't try to live off of instant noodles.'

'Hey! He's gotta try the noodle life if he wants to get the "living out of home" experience!' Alya pointed out, pulling over a dining chair and sitting comfortably.

'Babe, you tried it for like, a year because you didn't take the time to cook properly.'

'There were important stories to cover!' Alya shrugged.

'It was only when I moved in that you tried a vegetable again. I think you'd forgotten what they tasted like.' Nino teased.

'It's all about that life.' Alya dismissed. 'Everyone has to try it.'

'Marinette didn't,' Adrien suddenly pointed out. 'She has real food.'

Alya leaned forward in her chair with a gleam in her eye. 'Yeah, but do you know how many pastries she ate in her first few months of living out from her parents because she coudn't find the time? Who do you think dragged her food shopping once a week?'

Nino looked back at her evenly. 'Yes, you were pushing Marinette to look after herself, whilst coming home to instant noodles and coffee every day.'

Alya laughed. 'Damn, you got me there. I guess we all need looking after sometimes.'

'I didn't, I knew how to cook completely before I moved out.' Nino grinned.

'You knew how to cook, yes.' Alya grinned back. 'But you couldn't clean a bathroom worth a damn. Working in your parent's restaurant taught you well, my young Padawan, but with everything else you were only a mere mortal like the rest of us.'

'Don't say such terrible things in front of Adrien!' Nino leant forward to press his hands against Adrien's ears. 'He's too young and innocent, he still thinks I'm perfection amongst men!'

'Nino, you may be a god, but you're not perfect,' Adrien grinned, but Nino threw himself away, and pressed his forearm against his forehead in mock horror.

'I can't believe it! He's been corrupted already!' Nino wept. 'Who could have done this to you?'

Alya leant over and flicked Nino's nose. 'There's only one person allowed to tear you down when your head gets too big,' she winked.

He grinned back. 'Our relationship is a two way street that way.'

Adrien looked between them as they grinned at each other for a moment, a warm feeling in his chest.

'So you're staying at Marinette's,' Alya changed topics. 'How's that pull-out couch treating you?'

'I swear it's the softest thing I've ever slept on.' Adrien returned. 'I'm making the most of it.'

'It would be, Marinette's parents spent some good money on it.' Alya smiled. 'Plus now you've got access to all the bread you could eat,' she glanced between them, 'for better or worse.'

Adrien and Nino smiled sheepishly.

'I'm sure I'll be okay,' Adrien managed, a hint of regret in his voice.

'But, honestly?' Alya started. 'You could do with a bit of extra weight, you've had that slightly hungry look about you lately.'

'It was for summer, coming up, and all the shoots I'd've been doing.' Adrien shrugged. 'It's fine, I'm used to it.'

Alya reached over and flicked him, harder than she had done Nino.

'Don't you ever say that again.' She said firmly. 'Not ever.'

'What, "shoots"?'

Alya put on a voice. '"It's fine, I'm used to it." Better yet, let's nix "It's for the best" and "It's easier this way" from your vocabulary as well while we're at it.'

Nino nodded strongly, and Adrien looked between them. 'Why's that?'

'Because now that you're moved out, you gotta look after yourself. You're important, you know that right?'

'Of course I know that,' Adrien shrugged. 'I'm plastered on every bilboard from here to Japan. I thought you knew,' he teased, but backed down at her expression.

'Not "Model Adrien Agreste".' She shot back. 'Not "The Face of Gabriel Adrien Agreste", and certainly not "Plastered on Every Billboard Celebrity Adrien Agreste". That guy's a tool and we both know it.'

'That's a bit-'

Alya leaned forward to meet his gaze. 'I'm talking about "My Friend Adrien". "Idiot Who Ate A Whole Loaf Plus Toppings Adrien". "Fool Who Keeps Challenging Marinette To MechaStrike Adrien".'

'Don't forget "Stayed Up All Night Trying To Think Of The Perfect Thing To Get Marinette For Her Birthday Adrien" and "One Time Drank So Much Coffee He Challenged Kim To A Race And Nearly Fazed Through Time And Space Adrien",' Nino pointed out.

Alya looked at him. 'Did you film the race?'

'Of course I did. His caffeine buzz died about ten steps into it and I think he nearly went into cardiac arrest.'

Adrien was flushed red. 'You said you wouldn't tell!'

'Dude, you're lucky I didn't put it up on YouTube.'

'Ninoooo,' Adrien whined.

Alya waved it away, however. 'See? That's the Adrien that we care about. That's the Adrien who needs to care about himself. Not about his image, or his brand. Just you.' She poked him gently on the shoulder.

'But all that stuff you said is dumb.' Adrien shrugged. 'I'm supposed to-'

'You're not supposed to do anything.' Alya poked him again. 'You're supposed to look after yourself and do what makes the real you feel happy.'

'Those two statements contradict themselves,' Adrien pointed out half-heartedly.

'Shut up, you know what I mean.'

'Also don't forget taking over Marinette's bakery as a blushing groom,' Nino pointed out. 'Your bread was off the charts.'

'Not that I would know,' Alya said pointedly, but Nino shrugged.

'You'll be getting plenty more where that came from, if I have any say in it,' Nino said. 'Legit best bread ever.'

'You say that about every loaf you come across that's had Marinette's influence,' Alya pointed out. She glanced back at Adrien, but paused. 'You okay, sunshine?'

Adrien hastily scrubbed at his face. 'Yep, all good. Don't mind me.'

'You sure?' Nino asked, looking concerned. 'We didn't mean to tease you,'

'It's fine. You two are just the best.' Adrien managed, as Nino passed him a tissue box.