Yes, I should be updating Lila's Ass… and I have a few more chapters currently almost ready BUT… a comment on Reddit had me inspired to write this little one-shot!

I really hope you enjoy it, and I'm gonna see if I can find the comment again to give credit where it's due for the prompt. This has been written in a matter if hours so please excuse any typos (but please let me know if you spot them so I can correct them).

Credit to Dancingfireflame on Reddit

Spoilers ahead for season 4.

"You know girl," Alya started with that knowing tone that Marinette had become accustomed to, "I still think that you and Chat Noir are meant to be together."

Marinette was required to suppress an annoyed grunt as she failed to stop her eyes from rolling. Ever since Alya had been made privy to her little secret, the brunette had been pushing her to accept that she had feelings for her black clad partner.

Very strong~ feelings…

They had practically spent most of the weekend cooped up in Marinette's bedroom scouring the book for information, but the heroine's caring parents had insisted that they take a break from their studies and sent them out for some fresh air. The park was full of people, and there was no one paying any obvious attention to them: as a particular blonde was having a photo shoot on the other side by the fountain. The teens were sat by the statue inspired by her red and black alter ego and her partner while absentmindedly watching the people pass them by while talking quietly. Marinette could see Alya's eyes flickering over to Adrien, and she pursed her lips while debating the best way to stop her confidant in her tracks before the occasional heroine could continue.

"You know that I love him in my own little way Als," Marinette started as her friend raised a skeptical brow as to where Marinette was taking this. "But he's my partner, my friend, and we work well together. But-"

Marinette cut herself off as her eyes travelled over to Adrien, who was looking too good to be real, and she let out a dreamy sigh. Alya rolled her orbs, also glancing over to the model who had obviously grown a little over the summer. She tilted her head while noticing just how much her fellow teen had filled out, and her brows furrowed as she thought about another blonde and the way he had changed over the summer.

"I know you love Adrien," Alya commented before muttering under her breath, "everyone bar him seems to know that… but you and Chat Noir are two halves of the same coin, there can be no creation without destruction, your Miraculous' are equals… don't tell me none of that isn't a major indication as to who you're destined to be with."

Marinette tensed but chose to stay silent, Alya was playing a game and using the information that had been shared with her to argue her point: Marinette was not going to give her more ammunition. The teen obviously knew that there was a strong connection between her and Chat Noir. He had been a constant support in her role as Ladybug, and there was no way Marinette would ever dream of continuing on without him by her side: but Adrien had held her heart longer.

Alya shifted slightly while tapping on her phone and the ravenette wondered which piece of evidence was going to be put to her today. With her friend having the entire content of the Ladyblog at her fingertips, Alya was always prepared with some form of text or image that supported her multiple points. Marinette thought she had seen it all, but Alya kept surprising her with more and more examples.

One that seemed to be a personal favourite of the blogger was a picture she had snapped herself: the kiss after her and Nino had been combined into Oblivio.

It did strike Marinette as strange that her and Chat Noir would have become close enough to share such an intimate gesture in the short time since losing their memories, but she would never admit that. Upon seeing a screen thrusted into her face though, there was an image of a kiss but it was not that kiss shared between them.

"Are you sure this was the only way to break the spell that Kim inflicted upon Chat?" The knowing lilt to Alya's teasing tone was back, and Marinette groaned.

Slapping a hand over her face did nothing for her own argument against Alya, and Marinette took one last look at the screen before glaring at her friend. "Y'know, you and Mrs Chamack seem to forget that I was in a sticky situation with not a lot of time-"

Alya grinned broadly, Marinette's defensive nature on the matter was a strong hint at the current state of denial she was determined to stay in.

"-what else would you have had me do?" The secret heroine finished with a hint of exasperation at her friend's insistent behaviour.

That was the opening Alya needed:

"Well," Alya smirked and Marinette's stomach knotted: she had walked right into Alya's trap. Covering her face with her hands was Marinette's only option as the blogger began her main part of today's debate.

"As it was an akuma brought on by a love confession's rejection, it would make sense that the power of said akuma is to install hate into its victims."

'Oh gawd…'

"And what is more powerful than true love's kiss?"

Marinette waited a beat before connecting her eyes intently with those of Alya's. "Is that it?"

"Exhibit B:"

'Kill me now!'

Alya swiped to the all too recognisable picture taken after the defeat of Oblivio and Marinette groaned.

"If you two are not, in fact, made for each other, then why were you so willing to kiss him before your memories were reinstated?"

Alya smirked at Marinette's consistent need to refute what the brunette found positively undeniable. "I think that if Adrien was not on the scene that you would have fallen for our wonderful blonde hero by now, and you are simply just putting off the inevitable."

"Hey guys!"

Both teens whipped their heads around to see Adrien approaching. Marinette almost growled silently as he came closer. "Not a word Alya."

"Try and stop me-Adrien!" Alya smiled a little too widely for it to be a natural expression. "How's it going Sunshine?"

"It's going good. I uh,"Adrien's confused green eyes glanced between his classmates before he rubbed at his neck. Alya seemed to be aloofly smug while Marinette was evidently tense, but the way Alya stared at him expectantly, waiting for him to finish what he was saying, spurred him to do so. "I noticed you guys over here and thought I'd come and say hi while I'm on break."

While Marinette sat there practically turning into a tomato from the after effects of her conversation with Alya, the blogger simply smiled up at him. "That's cool, we're just taking a break from homework. Why don't you help us with a problem we can't solve?

"Sure," he smiled, although the way Marinette's blue orbs widened in panic before she abruptly turned to glare and pout at Alya gave him the impression she really did not want his input. "What are you guys stuck on?"

"It's not so much what we're stuck on per se," Alya smirked while her best friend stifled a groan into her hands. "It's more that we can't agree on something."

Adrien felt intrigued at what the issue could be, but the way Marinette seemed so reluctant to talk about it with him made the blonde question whether or not he should just leave them to it. Unfortunately, his curiosity got the better of him, and the teen heartthrob found himself gesturing with interest for Alya to explain. "Go on."

Alya cleared her throat triumphantly while Marinette grimaced and looked away from Adrien in an attempt to hide her reddening face.

"My girl, over here, thinks that Ladybug doesn't have feelings for our wonderful Chat Noir-"

"I never said that!" Marinette shot at Alya with a little too much passion, "I just said that she loves him, but not in the way you were implying."

Alya raised both eyebrows which immediately caused Marinette to turn away from her. "Uh huh, right~ anyway, I think that they are destined to be together, given the evidence that is clear for us all to see." She turned her phone to show Adrien the first kiss from when Chat Noir was under the influence of Kim's akumatised form, and then swiped to show him the kiss from Oblivio.

The tinge on the blonde's cheeks was conveniently muted by his make-up, but Adrien was fully aware that it was there. After seeing the the pictures he glanced at Alya, and then to Marinette; his raven haired classmate was also blushing, and Adrien gathered it was because he, as Chat, had turned her down in favour of his red and black spotted partner: she must have still been a little embarrassed. It would not have made sense to encourage her feelings with him being one of Paris' heroes though, even if he had reciprocated them at the time, but he was sure the dust had settled since then. Adrien even thought at one point his skittish classmate may have had a little crush on him, but the pictures in her room had been solely because she was a fan. The way he had teased her a little afterwards had been interesting to say the least, even Plagg had questioned if he had desired a different answer from his friend… Adrien could not give a definitive answer either, and that had confused him immensely. No matter what was going on in his civilian life though, Adrien could not help but hope that Ladybug would finally fall for his alter ego, and he was completely going to side with Alya on this one.

"I have to admit, I think Alya has a point."

Marinette glared up at him and Adrien instantly regretted his decision.

"Just hear me out, okay?" Holding his hands up in a placating manner, the blonde hoped Marinette would at least listen to his points before attempting to shoot them down.

With pursed lips, Marinette resigned herself to hear him out. She could not exactly argue that Ladybug could not be destined to be with Chat Noir because she, Marinette, was destined to be with Adrien… or so she liked to think…

Obviously it would be after she finally got over the stupid crush she had on him and was able to actually form proper sentences around him on a regular basis… and be able to ride an elevator with him… the thought of how adamant she was to not get in, to the point of wedging her feet against the sides of the opening last time, still seemed to haunt her dreams.

There was only the little issue of Hawkmoth and the detrimental affect he seemed to have on her dating abilities… yet another obstacle preventing her from finally asking Adrien out on a date.

Begrudgingly, the ravenette nodded for Adrien to explain and relaxed while she prepared to hear his reasonings.

Adrien smiled fondly down at her, noting the small rouge tint on her cheeks and proceeded to explain. "They're partners right, so they were chosen to work together as a team. She often says how unstoppable they are and obviously trusts him with her life-" 'I hope,' "-and who else knows what strain she's going through?"

The females shifted uncomfortably and glanced to each other, but Adrien missed that little act as he gazed up at the statue of his partner's face.

"They're two sides of the same coin, without destruction there would be no creation, and she says that she couldn't do it without him…" the dreamy sigh that Adrien unconsciously let out had Marinette and Alya exchanging confused looks before zeroing on his softly smiling features.

"She's his lady, and I honestly don't see why she can't she that they are made for each other…" Suddenly remembering himself after finally registering Plagg's multiple thwacks on his chest from his inside pocket, Adrien cleared his throat: he had not meant to say all that! "I-I mean, the way she was able to break the curse on Chat Noir instantly with a kiss that was powerful enough to dispel the evil influence… I'm not sure if any other akuma victims have ever been put back to normal before she released her lucky charm… and when they lost their memories, just look."

He hoped that by bringing their attention to the evidence Alya had supplied would possibly cause them to forget about him talking in such a personal way about how he felt on the manner. With his hand outstretched he nodded his head towards Alya's phone for Marinette to examine the kiss after Oblivio. "They lost their memories, and actually kissed, not just a quick peck either, otherwise Alya wouldn't have chance to capture it."

Adrien felt like he was pleading for Marinette to see his point, he wanted his lady to hear this information so desperately, but respected her boundaries to have eventually dropped it. Marinette had been entrusted with all the Miraculous' though, and if she was trusted that highly, there was a chance Ladybug might have even paid her balcony a visit on a few occasions. If Marinette could be persuaded, maybe she would talk to Ladybug about the matter too.

'A blonde can dream…'

With Adrien gazing intently at his dark haired classmate, neither of them had noticed Alya squinting thoughtfully at him before turning her attention back to her phone. The aspiring blogger and supportive friend could feel herself on the verge of a breakthrough but, for some reason, could not push past a blockade in her subconscious that prevented her from finding out what her conclusion was. The sensation was strange in itself, but Alya knew that she would not give up: her determination to find the truth would not allow it.

Seeing her friend actually listen to what Adrien was saying, Alya thought that it would be a good idea to make a suggestion.

"Why don't you two go and get ice cream when Adrien's finished with his shoot?" Green and blue shot to Alya and she felt rather smug for a reason she could not quite pin point. Alya elaborated at seeing their equal confusion, with a side of panic also displayed on Marinette's features. "I'm merely suggesting it because Adrien seems to be getting the point across a lot better than me M. And you never know, one of us could end up being proven right by the time you've finished your first cone."

Alya's subtle wink went unnoticed by the blonde who immediately accepted the suggestion. "I think I can be of some assistance Alya, what do you say Marinette? Want to get ice cream and you can give me your side of the debate?"

Before answering, Marinette's brow furrowed and she chewed on her lip. She felt confident with her reasonings, but here was the guy she had tried to forget, trying to persuade her to give her partner a chance. Something was niggling in the back of her mind before she hesitantly agreed. "I don't… see why not?"

"Awesome," Adrien smiled brightly, and Marinette blushed at his obvious enthusiasm. They never had many opportunities to spend time together just them two, and he obviously was excited with the idea of hanging out with her. "I'll check with Nathalie but I don't think it will be a problem," he winked, "I'm sure my Marinette lucky charm will give me the luck I need for her to say yes."

Marinette's mouth dropped open as he stuffed his hand in his pocket to bring out the gift she gave him. Alya, helpfully, pushed her chin up to close her mouth and Marinette shook herself out of her momentary stupor. "You-you still gav it? Have it?"

"Of course!" Adrien beamed at her before marvelling at the trinket in his hand. Alya face palmed but neither of them paid her much attention. "I'll always carry it with me."

When Adrien's retreating form was far enough away, Alya slapped her hand encouragingly on Marinette's back. "Well girl, I think Adrien is just as invested in Ladybug and Chat Noir getting together as I am…" the blogger trailed off, seeing Marinette's thoughtful brow creased while she continued to watch Adrien. "What is it?"

"A-Alya," Marinette let out a shaky breath and finally turned to look at her best friend. "That day, when you became Oblivio with Nino…"

"Yeah?"

"I m-made three phone calls which I don't remember."

"Okay… what does that matter?" Alya scrunched her face with confusion at Marinette's cryptic way of talking.

"Well…" Marinette gulped, visibly shaking and Alya was beginning to worry. "I called Maman, and I called the Guardian…" Marinette turned her face slowly to gaze back at Adrien as her her lips curled at the corners. "I now have an idea why I made the third call."

Thank you for reading!

I hope you enjoyed this little one-shot, and I would love to see what you think about it!

Take it easy =^.^=
Lady Rhi X