Adrien tightened his grip on his fencing sword as he lunged for the imaginary target, he kept his stance strong. He poked the air more, imagining Hawkmoth there as his opponent. He sighed and took off his mask when he grew tired of stabbing the innocent air.

"This is ridiculous. I should be at practice right now, with actual people." Adrien said. He threw his mask on the floor in frustration.

"Your father might finally be trying to lock you up for good." Plagg said. The little kwami flew in the discarded mask, making it float in the air. Till growing bored and resorted to going through the books on the shelves instead.

Adrien let out another annoyed sigh, thinking his kwami might be right. Adrien's father had forbidden him to go to his fencing practice that afternoon, saying that they had much more important plans. But Adrien was kept in their personal home library while his father was nowhere to be seen.

Adrien looked outside the tall window next to a dark wooden bookcase. He looked down at the other citizens in Paris who were enjoying the warm weather. Adrien couldn't help but feel jealous of all of them. They had the freedom to feel the warm air against their faces while Adrien was kept in this cold mansion alone. Adrien kept looking outside and soon spotted someone who made his chest tighten. Down there with the other people was Marinette. She sped away on her pink and black bike, with a brown bag in the small basket that had the Dupain-Cheng Bakery logo. Marinette waved to her friends that she passed as she hurried to deliver the baked goods ordered by a customer.

Adrien sighed as he watched her figure fade away to a different street. His mind wandered to the night before.

Chat Noir looked at Marinette who hummed happily as she doodled a design at her desk. She had a goofy smile on her face and hearts in her eyes. Chat smiled; he couldn't help but admire her when she looked so happy.

Before he could stop himself he asked, "Has anyone told you how adorable you are?"

Marinette stopped doodling, her thoughts stopped after hearing this. "Didn't I tell you your flirting won't work?" Marinette looked at Chat, pointing her pencil at him. "I don't fall for men in tight leather suits."

Chat laughed and got up from the chair near the desk. "Isn't that every girls fantasy though? A bad boy in leather?"

Marinette shook her face with an amused smile. "Not at all. I like my guys gentlemen like and polite."

"You have a type?"

Marinette let out a small gasp in embarrassment. "W-what? No!...Well kind of." Marinette twirled a strand of hair between her fingers. "The boy I told you about at school is exactly like that."

Chat felt his smile fade away. He looked over at her drawings, trying to hide his disappointment. Why would he be disappointed? He made it very clear to Plagg and his friends that Marinette was nothing more than a friend. But He had a hard time shaking off these strange feelings he felt after their dance. Chat didn't know why he felt sad when the song ended or that they couldn't finish their kiss. Or why he even leaned in for a kiss. It was all so confusing. But he knew that he had to see Marinette right away that night.

"Chat?"

"Yes?"

"How...how do I know when a boy likes me back?" Marinette looked down embarrassed.

Chat Noir felt his cheeks warm up. Why would she ask that? Was she aware that Chat Noir was acting strange that evening?

"Well usually guys will put themselves out there." Chat said. He looked at Marinette, moving closer to her. "And they might pay a little more attention to you when you two are with friends."

He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Why do you ask?"

"I don't know if they boy I have feelings for would feel the same way."

"Of course he will." Chat tilted Marinette's chin to have her look at him. She was sitting on the desk chair, looking at him with doubt in her eyes.

"But I'm just plain old Marinette."

"No, you're beautiful, talented, and..and" Chat Noir could feel the dark shade of pink fill up his face, feeling embarrassed from practically pouring his heart out to his friend. "And absolutely purrfect m'lady." Chat laughed nervously, hoping to brush this off as a friendly compliment.

Marinette scrunched her nose up in fake disgust, "Oh Chat, you and your puns." But she laughed afterward. As much as Marinette acted annoyed, she secretly enjoyed Chat Noir's cheesy puns. She got up and picked up her drawings on her desk to neatly put them in her pink folder full of other drawings.

Chat looked at her, her pigtails were becoming loose from the long day. Chat took this time to secretly observe her, observe the little things that he's never noticed, like the way her eyes shined a deep blue that was absolutely mesmerizing, or the way her hair framed her face nicely especially the few times he got to see her hair down.

"Chat what are you looking at?" Marinette asked and it burst Chat Noir out of his private thoughts.

"Uh, I was just wondering if there were any left over pastries downstairs." Chat lied, suddenly embarrassed for being caught staring.

Marinette rolled her eyes, "This is what happens when I start feeding stray cats. I'll go check."

"Why are you just standing there?"

"Ah!" Adrien jumped up and turned around to see Kagami standing there.

Kagami smiled in response to Adrien's startled look. "I apologize, I didn't know how easily frightened you were."

"Huh,oh hey." Adrien waved, not sure how long she had been there or how long he had dazed out about Marinette. "I don't mean to be rude, but what are you doing here?" Adrien asked.

"Our parents are having another meeting in your father's study." Kagami shrugged, "So they told me to go find you until they finished." Kagami walked around the room they were in, taking a look around the Agreste decorated library. She obviously loosened up from their last meeting.

"I hope I didn't disturb your practice." Kagami said.

"Huh?" Adrien looked down at the fencing sword in his hand. "Oh no not at all."

"Are you as good as your father said?"

"Well, I don't want to brag but I'm one of the best on the team." Adrien twirled around the sword, taking in the pride he felt about his fencing.

"Really? Show me." Kagami said, she looked at another sword pointing out of Adrien's fencing bag. She grabbed it and positioned herself in a fighting stance.

Adrien looked reluctant, "I don't know, I don't want to hurt you."

"I can take care of myself, give me your best."

Adrien still wasn't sure, but found it hard to turn down a fencing challenge. He held up his sword and took the same position Kagami was in. He lunged for her, but nearly tripped over his own feet when she swiftly dodged him. Kagami took her turn to try to jab him, but was also surprised when Adrien managed to dodge it. After this the two were in their own world. Completely unaware of the damage they might cause around the delicate decorations around the room.

Adrien had never experienced such a challenging and bold opponent. He had to think one step ahead of her to dodge every jab coming to him. He had to admit he was very impressed with how well Kagami was doing. Usually his opponents were either fans that didn't want to hurt him or they were eager to push Adrien off his pedestal, but were just too clumsy to do it.

Adrien was having a hard time thinking of new ways to outsmart Kagami and before he knew it, he was on the ground with Kagami pointing her sword at his chest. He was out of breath, sweaty, and felt his heart racing. That was the most fun he had that day.

"Wow." Was the only thing he could let out as he looked up and Kagami, the light of the room shined on her blue and black hair, a flicker of victory in her eyes as she looked down on him.

"Adrien. Kagami." Nathalie broke the two teenagers apart from their fencing challenge. "Your parents would like to see you two now."

Adrien scrambled to his feet. He looked at Kagami who now showed how out of breath she was too. Nathalie turned away and walked away, expecting the two to follow.

"Uh, you were really good. I didn't know you fenced also." Adrien rubbed the back of his neck.

"I'm good at many things Adrien." Kagami said and with a wink she followed Nathalie.

Adrien felt his face go red as he watched Kagami walk away, then followed as well.

Adrien looked up at a modest and colorful boat house in front of him. He looked back down at the directions Nino sent him. "Yeah, this has to be it." He said to Plagg.

Adrien's father must have been in a good mood that morning, because he allowed Adrien to see his friends while they had their first band practice. The band consisted of Rose, Juleka, Irvin, and Juleka's older brother. They decided to name it Kitty Section, probably Rose's idea. Adrien walked up to the door and was about to knock when it swung open, there stood Rose.

"Adrien! Oh I'm so happy you could come. Everyone is here, come on!" Rose grabbed Adrien's arm before he could say anything and hurried him over to the edge of the boat where everyone was.

Adrien looked around to see Alya and Nino talking to Juleka about the band's music genre, Rose and Irvin showing Mylene their first song they wrote, and Marinette who was too preoccupied with a tall boy with blue hair and a guitar to even notice Adrien.

Adrien pulled Nino over and leaned in to whisper in his ear, "Who is Marinette talking to?"

"Oh dude you haven't met Juleka's brother yet have you? Come on, you'll like him."

They walked over to the two bluenettes who were still deep in their conversation. Marinette giggled at something funny the boy said and Adrien felt a bit of jealousy because of that.

"Luka this is Adrien." Nino put a hand on his best friend's shoulder.

"Hey man, how's it going?" Luka held out a hand for Adrien, who took it for a handshake.

Adrien looked at Luka, he was the typical looking guitar guy, colorful hair, black nail polish, and a band shirt. Adrien bit his tongue to stop the odd jealousy he felt and gave Luka a smile. "Hey it's nice to meet you."

Before Adrien could say hi to Marinette, Rose called everyone's attention to the center of the floor where the instruments were set up. While the bandmates got ready to perform for their friends, Adrien found a spot on the floor next to Marinette. He looked over at her and smiled. Marinette smiled back but turned away quickly, blushing. The band sounded great and Adrien had to admit that Luka was a great at the guitar.

The first song ended and everyone clapped. "Thanks everyone." Rose said cheerfully. "We wanted to play this one other song too, but it would sound much better if we had someone who played piano."

"Adrien can play piano!" Marinette raised Adrien's hand up excitedly.

"Marinette what are you doing?" Adrien asked nervously. Now all their friends were looking at them.

"Adrien you're really great on the piano." Marinette said. "I-I just thought that um..."

"She's right, you rock on the piano man." Nino said. "Go play with them."

Adrien looked over to the band who looked hopeful at him, finally he noticed the keyboard next to Luka. He looked over at Marinette, remembering how she must have been impressed by Luka up there playing with everyone.

"Okay," Adrien stood up, "I'll try to keep up with all of you."

Adrien took off his white button up shirt and laid it next to Marinette. It was an extra sunny day and Adrien was starting to feel a bead of sweat run down his forehead. He walked up to the keyboard with only his usual black shirt on. Once he looked over the keyboard and became acquainted with every key and button on it the band began their second song.

Marinette looked in awe at Adrien, seeing him do something that he enjoyed and is very passionate about was a treat for her. She kept her eyes on him dreamingly. This didn't go unnoticed by Adrien who had been sneaking looks to Marinette every few seconds during the song. He looked up at her one more time, only this time she was whispering about something to Alya and the two girls laughed.

Soon the song was over and everyone cheered. Adrien had so much fun that he played a few more songs with the band. Though his fun had to come to an end sometime, Nathalie called an hour later to tell him it was time to come home. He said goodbye to his friends and Luka. Luka even invited Adrien to play with them again next week.

Adrien laid on his bed, tired out from his afternoon. Plagg flew up from his shirt pocket to go look for his cheese stash. Once he found it the little kwami devoured almost every cheese in the hiding spot.

"I take it you had fun?" Plagg asked.

"Yeah, that was awesome. I didn't know I could enjoy playing something other than classical." Adrien sat up from his bed to talk to his kwami.

"Your girlfriend looked like she was enjoying it too." Plagg said before taking one last bite of his cheese. He was finally satisfied and flew to find a good spot to nap.

"Plagg, not this again. Marinette is just a really good friend." Adrien said, though he had been thinking that maybe that wasn't true lately.

"Oh? So you wouldn't want to hear what she really thinks of Luka." Plagg teased his human.

"...how would you know?" Adrien asked. He didn't want Plagg to know that he really did want to know.

"I was still in your jacket pocket when you left it next to Marinette and Alya. I heard everything they were saying, especially what Marinette said about you." Plagg found a cozy spot in the laundry basket with the soft clothes. He burrowed in the clothes till he felt comfortable enough to lay down.

…...

…...

…...

"Plagg I want to know!"

...

"Plagg?" Adrien looked over to his kwami to find him sleeping already.

"Ugh!"

This chapter was going to have one more scene with Hawkmoth but there was something else I wanted to try writing also. So I'll have to save that for next chapter. But so far I'm enjoying writing about Adrien's crush growing more and more with each visit.