I'm so sorry this is late! I recently picked up a new job, and my college is about to start, so I haven't had much time, plus I managed to misplace my sketchbook which has Marinette's dress designs in them (I'm designing them myself for fun). I'm hoping to put up another chapter very soon as a thank you for all the reviews and love I'm getting from everyone.

In other news, I went to Rose City Comic Con last week, and got so much ML stuff! I swear I died and went to heaven. The artist of the ML comic books was actually there and he signed my copies of Vol 1, 2, and the free comic book day preview! He even put little pictures of Tikki and Marinette on them. Like I said, I DIED!

Disclaimer: I own none of the Miraculous Ladybug Universe

"Dude, what's going on with you?" Nino asked as they gathered their stuff from their lockers at the end of the day.

"What do you mean?"

"Don't give me that. You've been acting off since that little incident in class earlier."

"No I haven't." Adrien grimaced at how weak the lie sounded, even to his own ears.

"Sure. The perfectly studious Adrien Agreste always zones out during Physics and instead spends the class fidgeting and frowning." Nino rolled his eyes. "Seriously bro, if you're going to pretend nothing's up, the least you can do is hide your anxiousness. I may not have superpowers, but even I can tell when something's bringing my bud down."

Adrien sighed. "You're right Nino, I'm not feeling like myself."

"How about telling me something I don't know dude." Nino placed his arm around Adrien's shoulders while they walked to the entrance. "Like, hm, I don't know, why?"

"Come on Nino," Adrien said, rolling his eyes, "you know I'd never hesitate in telling you anything. The problem is that I can't tell you something I don't know myself."

"Alright, alright." Nino raise his hands in surrender. "How about I help you figure it out then?"

"Thanks Nino. You're-"

"The best DJ in all of Paris? The greatest friend you could have? The next destined Miraculous wielder?"

"The biggest goofball I've ever met." Adrien found himself laughing heartily for the first time since the Physics lesson.

"There's the Adrien I know!"

Adrien rolled his eyes and the two fist bumped. A black limo caught the blonde's eye and he waved goodbye, with a promised, "call you later"' before sliding in.

The ever silent driver, Adrien befittingly dubbed Gorilla, gave a nod to acknowledge his presence, and pulled away from the curb. As they made their way to the Luxembourg Garden for a photo shoot, Adrien saw Marinette and Alya out the window. From their expressions, he could easily tell that the latter was teasing the former about something. A soft smile graced his features as he watched Marinette's flustered reactions.

"Ick!" Plagg's voice cut through the silence and brought Adrien's focus to the black kwami. He had slipped out of Adrien's pocket and was now lounging beside the buttons that controlled the car's locks and windows. A quick glance revealed that the God had used them to raise the divider, effectively cutting them off from the Gorilla.

"What's the problem now Plagg?" Adrien asked.

"You're kidding me, right kid? How long are you planning to look like some kind of lovesick puppy."

"What are you going on about? You aren't making any sense."

"Sure kid. Whatever you say, " Plagg scoffed as he grabbed some cheese from Adrien's bag. "Just know that when you finally stop being so oblivious, you're gonna be getting a big ol' 'I told you so'".

They arrived at the Mansion before Adrien could question him further, and Plagg flew back to Adrien's pocket.

Chat jumped across the rooftops to the welcoming Bakery. The sent a fresh bread and pastries wafted towards him as he landed on a building across from the bakery. When Adrien had voiced his confusion for the upteenth time that evening, Plagg ended up making an off-handed comment about confronting the root of the problem.

"I've never able to have a full conversation with her as Adrien, but she surprisingly confident was Chat." He's smirked when he saw Marinette sitting on her balcony with her sketchbook in her hands. He couldn't stop his chuckle as he examined her concentrating expression. She looked adorable with her eyebrows knit and tongue poking out of her mouth. He watched with amusement as her hand glided along the page, regularly alternating between drawing and erasing. He slowly made his way to the building, landing on the roof behind her; her posture altered slightly.

"Good evening Chat." He could hear her smile as she spoke, causing him to laugh heartily.

"You're quite purr-ceptive Princess. I must a-paw-d you."

He pounced, landing beside Marinette. Looking over her shoulder he saw the beginnings of a dress design. The pile of crumpled pages beside her depicted how much she was struggling with this particular design. Is this fur that upcoming dance of yours?"

Marinette groaned while tearing out another page. "It is. I only have three left to design, but no matter how many times I try to create mine I hit a stone wall. I keep pushing it off, but since I've almost finished the others I might have to start sewing them without completing mine."

"Could I see some of your completed ones?" Chat's tail flicked with curiosity.

"I don't see why not."

The second she turned the page, Chat was struck with aww. The sheath dress had a portrait neckline and long sleeves that protected the wearer's modesty, along with the long skirt length. Upon closer inspection he realized it actually wasn't a skirt at all; the design was of a pantgown. The base was black and layers of sheer lime green tulle billowed down from a natural waistline and around the legs, amplifying the illusions of a skirt that reached the floor. Two lime green snakes wrapped around the wrist-length slaves, their scales outlined with neon green. One of the snakes crawled around the shoulder to land at the collar while the other circled the waist. The outfit was paired with a scaled gold necklace and belt, and a Medusa inspired mask was sketched in the corner.

Between the dress' tomboy style and snake theme, it was obvious the design was for Alix.

"I know it isn't very traditional, but the friend I'm making it for isn't really the girly type," Marinette nervously spoke up. "The pants will give her more mobility and confidence than a skirt would, and it's long enough to conceal the high tops I know she'll insist on wearing. Plus, she really likes snakes, so I thought 'why not go the Medusa route?' Maybe I should alert it though. I mean, I want to make sure she's both comfortable and looks great. She might take offense to being compared to a mystical being who turns people into stone." She fidgeted with her hands as she rambled.

"It's beautiful Marinette." Chat placed his gloved hand over hers, stilling their movement. "I'm certain she'll love it just as much as I do."

The look of appreciation and joy that took over her features shot a wave of emotion through him, as emotion he was all too familiar with. "I'm never going to hear the end of this from Plagg."

Our little cinnamon roll is finally figuring out his feelings!

If any of you are interested in seeing my sketch of Alix's dress, just let me know. I'll insert links to where they can be found in the next chapter. I can also include links to the other designs when they come up later on.

See y'all next chapter,

~Sana