A flying, ginger blur attacked Marinette with a hug.

"We are officially starting our sleepover! How much sugar do you have? Ahhh, I'm so excited!" it exclaimed, gently righting Marinette where she was starting to fall backwards.

Alya was buzzing with excitement. Quite literally vibrating, probably because she'd had a coffee on her way over, or she'd already started eating some of the stuff that she'd brought for the midnight feast. Marinette was excited too, but wary, because Alya hadn't gotten a chance to properly ask her about what she was doing on a date with Chat Noir yet, and she was sure to interrogate Marinette today.

"Ok, so, inventory of sugar, we have: pan au chocolates and cinnamon swirls from Maman and Papa; a couple of bags of Haribo; and a bar of chocolate. What did you bring?"

"Not much. My phone, charger, and a bunch of dragibus sweets."

"Are you ready?"

"I'm ready!"

Alya began fiddling with her phone and speakers, repeatedly smacking them when the Bluetooth refused to connect.

"It won't play my Ladynoir playlist!" Alya huffed, pouting pointedly at the speaker.

Marinette resisted the urge to just take over and put on her own music. The Ladynoir playlist was actually fun to dance to, so long as she could forget the reason all of the songs were on the playlist. Ladynoir... was not her favourite thing, for obvious reasons. With a final smack of her phone, Alya managed to get the playlist up and running. The Last of The Real Ones by Fall Out Boy spilled out of the speakers. Alya turned to Marinette expectantly and gestured to the floor, where they sat down together.

"Now. What the hell was that, Mari? Chat Noir? Out for coffee? With you? And you didn't tell me?"

"Umm, well, see."

All the preparation Marinette had done with Tikki and Chat fled her brain in the face of Alya's expectant journalist face.

"It's complicated?"

"Fine. Do you want to play truth or dare?"

Taken aback by the abrupt change in subject, and surprised that Alya had dropped the Chat Noir thing just like that, Marinette hesitated for a second, before readily agreeing. After all, anything that took Alya further away from the Chat subject was a good idea, although Marinette knew better than to suspect that Alya had dropped it completely.

"So Mari, Truth or Dare," Alya asked, eyebrows waggling.

"Uh, Truth?" Marinette had taken dares before and they'd never ended well. Dares such as 'write a luuurve poem for Adrien', or 'ring Adrien and confess your love' didn't end with anything other than stolen phones and extreme awkwardness.

"Why was Chat Noir out if it wasn't an akuma attack?" Ahh. That made sense. Marinette was almost surpised she hadn't seen this coming.

"I – we're – um – so, it's like this. Err, well he came over for coffee?" Marinette replied, well aware that all her stuttering and blushing was intriguing Alya. But that was good. She and Chat wanted everyone to know about this, right?

"Hmmm, okay."

"Truth or dare, Alya?"

"Dare," Alya responded defiantly, "do your worst." Well, if Alya was going to interrogate her through truth or dare, Marinette might as well make it uncomfortable for her.

"Call Adrien, and without context, just sing him a Disney song. Your choice of song, but you can't say anything else. When you're done, hang up."

Alya grinned, it would be embarrassing, but hearing Adrien splutter as she sang Do You Wanna Build a Snowman would be so worth it. She picked up her phone and typed in his contact. He picked up.

She gave him her most heartfelt rendition, complete with different voices for Anna and Elsa. Marinette just smiled. Once she'd hung up, Alya just turned to her friend and smirked.

"Is that the worst you've got?"

"No. I thought you might want an easy dare to start you off."

"Ooooh, you'll pay for that. Truth or dare?"

"Truth…" Marinette sighed.

"Was it a date? The thing with Chat Noir?"

"Yes," Marinette huffed. She kept reminding herself that this was the plan, but…

"Um, hello, what? Didn't you think you should tell me? And last I heard you were still hung up on Adrien. I'm going to need a bit more detail than a simple yes."

"Truth or dare, Alya?"

"So it's like that then? Truth. I don't keep secrets. Unlike someone."

"Will you tell anyone what I'm about to tell you? Because if the answer's yes, then I don't want to play." Marinette wanted to tell Alya about it all. She wanted someone to giggle about Chat to and she wanted to tell her best friend everything that was going on with her.

"Oh, honey, no. I won't tell anyone. I swear on our friendship. You know that journalism doesn't apply to you."

"Ok. Then maybe I'll tell you about my date."

"Truth or dare?"

"Truth."

"How long have you been dating for?"

"Just a month. In secret, because it was all so new and we knew whatever we did would be public, so…"

"Makes sense."

"Truth or dare?"

"Truth."

"Why haven't you told your parents that you're dating Nino yet?"

You have met my parents, right? My dad would loose the panthers on him. No way is he ready for the kind of shovel talk Nora would give him, either. Truth or dare?"

"Truth."

"Do you know Chat Noir's civilian identity?"

"No. Truth or dare?"

"Truth."

"Doesn't Nino mind that you're keeping him a secret?"

"You know him, he doesn't mind. He's chill. Truth or dare?"

"Truth."

"How did you meet Chat Noir?"

"Coffee-shop. God he's a dork. When he realised it was a coffee shop romance, I can't even.." It was close enough to the truth, Marinette felt. "Truth or dare?"

"Truth."

"Have you and Nino kissed yet?"

"Mmhmm, he's such a good kisser and he…"

"I didn't want the details, Alyaa."

"So, have you and Chat kissed yet?"

"Erm, no."

"Why'd you like him? How'd it happen? Elaborate Marinette."

"Weren't we meant to be playing truth or dare? This is a bit one-sided."

"Your questions are terrible anyway, Marinette and I want to know. You can't put this off forever. So I repeat the question: Why'd you like him? With detail this time."

"Ok, it's just that he's super sweet and funny and…"

"Can you smell that?" Alya interrupted, making exaggerated sniffing noises, "because this smells strangely of absolute crap." Alya was serious now. Lying in truth or dare was a punishable offence by the Friendship Law #32. Marinette didn't always have much of a choice, because of the ladybug thing, but she avoided doing it when she could.

"Alya…look…that's a serious accusation…" Marinette tried.

She was simply met with an unimpressed stare.

"I…ok…maybe I don't want to talk about it? Can you blame me? He's a superhero, Alya, and you've dedicated half your life to unmasking him and tracking every single move he and ladybug make."

"What did I tell you? Journalism doesn't apply. You're my friend Marinette. I thought you knew this already. It feels like that isn't the only thing."

"You're accusing me of lying."

"We've already established that you lied once. Is it a stretch to assume you're still lying?"

Marinette wanted to tell Alya everything. She didn't want to lie to Alya, and she'd be such a useful ally in the fake-dating ruse, and she could be trusted, right? But, on the other hand, Alya was a journalist and she and Chat had agreed not to tell anyone. Oh, it was all so difficult.

"I'm waiting, Marinette." Alya had her arms crossed and was glaring now. How had their sleepover come to this? Scrap that, Marinette knew how it had come to this – she'd lied. She hated lying. When had she become such a hypocrite?

Oh well. It was going to happen eventually.

And Marinette broke.

"Look, ok. You can't tell anyone what I'm about to tell you. Not Nino, not anyone, you understand?"

"Yes."

"So, maybe Chat Noir and I aren't actually dating."

"What?" Alya shrieked, at a decibel loud enough to tear eardrums apart.

"Umm, so it's like this…"

"I'm waiting."

"So he drops by my balcony one night and he's lonely and I'm lonely and he's just been stood up by ladybug and I guess I felt sorry for him. We were talking about the failures that are our love lives and I remembered your advice. Long story short, he agreed with you. Loved your advice in fact. He thought that making Ladybug and my oblivious child jealous by fake-dating was the perfect way to solve all our problems."

"You sound bitter."

"Well, it isn't really going to solve anything is it?"

"Then why'd you do it?"

"He looked so lonely, and I thought it was worth a try, you know?"

"You fell for the kitten eyes, didn't you Mari." Alya said, her expression softer now.

"Yes, I fell for the kitten eyes."

"So do you still like Adrien then?"

"Yes, of course!"

"Then how come you fell for the kitten eyes?"

"Alyaaa! It's not like that!" Marinette protested. If anything, she'd agreed to fake date Chat so she could stop his advances, not encourage them.

"So what is it like then?"

"This feels like an interrogation."

"As an interrogator, I can tell when someone's avoiding the question. Someone like you."

"We're friends, that's all."

"Oh. Is Chat just a good friend?" Alya asked, smug as a cat with the cream.

"Don't you dare turn that back on me. It isn't like that!" Marinette half-yelled, poking her finger into Alya's chest.

"I wonder who you sound like? I mean, this sounds so familiar…"

Marinette pouted. This was betrayal in its purest form.

"So do you like him?"

"As a friend, yeah. Don't make it something it's not, Alya. Please. You know that makes me awkward."

"Fine. Fine."

…

"I can't belive you're fake-dating Chat Noir!" Alya giggled.

"Me neither!" Marinette giggled back, "He was so clueless as well, he hasn't even watched a fake-dating rom-com."

"No way. You're kidding."

"Nope." Marinette smiled. It was nice to be sarcastic with her best friend. Maybe judging people wasn't the best activity to enjoy in your free time, but no one's perfect. Marinette knew that.

"Ok. Rom-com now. Sugar and more gossip later. Are we ready for the most awesome feast of all time?"

"Hell yeah!"

Line Break

"Do you think it's actually possible to bounce off the walls?" mused Marinette.

"No, but we should totally try."

"Eh. I bet I'd be better at parkour than you."

"No way."

"Dare you to do a flip using the railing of my bunk bed."

"You're on."

Alya's flip went perfectly, much to Marinette's disappointment. She scowled, then giggled. She maybe shouldn't have had half a bag of dragibus. And some pastries. And stayed up till midnight.

"You know what," whispered Alya conspiratorially, "we should play truth or dare with the boys."

"ooOOooh. Yeah, that sounds awesome." Marinette felt it was important to note that her inhibitions were always lowered during a sugar rush.

"Beep, beep. Calling that oblivious child and heart heart bae. Heart heart bae has picked up."

"Wassup my dudes?" Nino whispered over the phone.

Marinette just cackled in anticipation in the background while Alya brought Nino up to speed. She wasn't surprised that Nino had picked up – while Alya got a full nine hours sleep every night – and when, she could, so did Marinette – Nino and Adrien often stayed up till 4 am playing video games, or just being insomniacs, depending on the day.

"That oblivious child has answered the phone."

"Hello! What are we doing? How are you two up? I thought you slept at night?" inquired Adrien.

"We," Alya gestured wildly, despite the fact that no one but Marinette could see her, "are playing truth or dare."

"Oh that sounds great! I've never played before." Adrien said, unaware of what a sad, sad existence he led.

"Who's going first?" asked Nino, who did not lead a sad existence, and was thus acquainted with how to play truth or dare.

"You are!" cackled Marinette from beside Alya.

"Yeah! Truth or dare, Nino?" Alya questioned.

"I'm not a scaredy-cat. I pick dare."

"I take offence at the suggestions that cats are cowards!" Adrien challenged.

"Nah man, it's just a saying."

Meanwhile, Marinette and Alya had put their microphone on mute and were deciding on a suitable dare for Nino.

"We have decided on your dare, Nino."

"You will be stuffing your face with marshmallows and singing the alphabet."

"No, the Michael Jackson song ABC," added Adrien.

"I like how you think, sunshine child," Alya crowed approvingly.

"You get a kick out of my embarrassment, do you? Dude, I thought you were better than this," Nino complained. After a minute of rustling round he began to speak again, "Ok, so I got the marshmallows and now I just have to pop one in and sing ABC. Simple."

It was not simple. Chubby bunny was difficult enough without having to sing. Although, it wasn't like Nino was singing well…

Once he had completed the song, to a standing ovation, he spat the marshmallow out with disgust.

"I'll never be able to eat a marshmallow again. That was disgusting. Truth or dare, Adrien?" he announced, eager to have his revenge.

"Truth."

"Ooooh, is sunshine child too scared to pick dare?"

"Alyaaa," Adrien whined, unable to resist the challenge, but knowing that if he was caught doing something stupid or disruptive, his father would not be happy. "Fine, dare it is."

"You have to prank call the person in your phone most likely to fall for it hook, line, and sinker. And if you get caught – well you have to try again."

"Right."

"Calling Chlo-bee" announced Adrien's tablet.

"Make sure to turn off caller-ID," reminded Alya.

"Chlo-bee has picked up"

Adrien adopted an atrocious British accent, despite having a flawless one from his private English lessons, and began rambling.

"Mme. Bourgeois, we would like to question you on events concerning the treasonous crimes we believe one of your classmates to have committed. Do you know anything about Rose Lavillant's dress choices? As the fashion police, we are investigating her on suspicion of a very serious crime."

"Well of course, Monsieur Policeman. I would be happy to help," Chloe said triumphantly. "I've been waiting for this moment to come. Rose wears several shades of pink at once and it's scarring. There are other colours, you know. I would also like to point out that none of my classmates except Adrikins and Sabrina ever wear anything yellow. How awful is that?"

"Yes, indeed, we shall have to investigate further Mme. Bourgeois. Thank you very much for your very helpful insight. We will get back to you shortly." Adrien hung up.

"Just you wait, I bet she mentions it in class on Monday," giggled Marinette.

"You don't think she'll mention it to Rose, do you?"

"The fashion police don't exist – the internet can prove that. No one will believe her if she does. Don't worry Adrien. As it is, I can't believe she believed it, and when you had such a terrible accent!" added Alya.

"Duude, your accent, no. It gave me shivers down my spine."

"You don't even know what a proper British accent sounds like, Nino. You can't talk," said Marinette.

"And you do?" asked Adrien.

"Well…"

"Truth or dare, Marinette?"

"Adrieeeen."

"Truth or dare?"

"Noooo."

"I'm waiting."

"Dare," groaned Marinette, not willing to risk having to answer a question from Adrien truthfully.

"I would like to see your best rendition of a British accent please, Mari," teased Adrien.

"It's gonna be better than yours, Monsieur Fashion-Police," Marinette shot back. Then she switched accent – "For I was raised properly and am thus unable to speak as atrociously as you. In fact, I believe your accent to be the worst I've ever heard."

Adrien was actually vaguely impressed. While it wasn't exactly accurate, it was definitely much more British than how Marinette normally sounded. It was surprising though, because she'd responded to his dare, well, unusually. There wasn't any stuttering or nonsensical sentences, but instead a challenge and a laugh that made him wonder. He was seeing a different side of Marinette tonight, from the cackling to the competitive streak he'd never quite noticed before. It reminded him of how she'd acted with Chat, at ease with the banter flowing through the air. What was it that made her so different normally?

Nino wolf-whistled.

"Niice Marinette. Your turn to pick someone."

"Adrien…"

"Wait, that's not fair!" Adrien protested, "Alya hasn't gone yet!"

"Oh well. I get to pick who I want to pick and I choose you."

"I still think that this isn't fair…"

No one listened to Adrien and their game continued well into the early hours of the morning, when Alya eventually fell asleep.

A/N:

I have a headcannon that Marinette literally cannot control herself when she has had too much sugar, which is why she may have acted a little bit out of character this chapter.