He missed her eyes already. Marinette had nice eyes. They were a pretty color, but the best part was that they were really expressive.

As someone who had missed out on a lot of social interaction with people his age, Adrien depended on facial cues to let him know that he was acting "normal." Not being able to see her eyes, as much as he wanted her to be comfortable, really made things difficult for him.

Especially now when her previous words could be taken to mean… something other than the general like that friends had between them.

"I… like you too, Marinette. You're a good friend."

Marinette snorted. Legitimately snorted. He had no idea how to react. Had he messed up?

"Thanks, Adrien. But I mean, I like like you. Like, romantically. The way a girl likes a boy and puts his photos on her wall kind of feeling."

He felt his face start to heat up. He had seen the photos… had even suspected that maybe she'd had a crush on him at one point, but had believed her explanation of being a fashion fan.

His stomach clenched at the idea that she would be mad or sad and ask him to leave when he was honest with her.

Would he be losing a friend today?

After all, he couldn't reciprocate… But just as he opened his mouth to say so, she held up her hand.

"Don't worry about letting me down easy. I know there's a girl you're already in love with. I know you don't feel the same way. I mean sure, it hurts a bit, but I know the heart wants what it wants. And you know what else my heart wants?"

She fought back a smile. He looked like a deer caught in the headlights. Poor sunshine was afraid.

It was too much fun to have the upper hand in their conversation for once, though. She could just see his cat ears drooping against his head, and fought the urge to ruffle his hair reassuringly.

"I know you said I'm a good friend, but I want us to be good friends. I stammer and trip all over myself and have a hard time looking you in the eye because I like you so much, but friends don't act like that around each other. Friends make each other feel comfortable. Again, it's not your fault, but because I've let this go on too long, I feel like I've been in the way of us getting close. And I do, want to be close to you, I mean… as a friend."

His face was a few shades redder, and he still hadn't said anything.

She cleared her throat and pushed forward.

"I'm really not asking you for anything, other than I really hope this doesn't make you feel awkward around me. I mean, I understand if it does, and if we can't stay friends after this I'm willing to accept that too. Or if you maybe need space? That would also make sense."

He still hadn't moved. She had been babbling, but took a breath and reminded herself that this was for the best.

"The point of all this is that I needed to tell you how I felt if I was ever going to get over you. But I also want to say that I really care about you, Adrien, as a person. You're kind and thoughtful and hard-working and I value our friendship so much. So, if you don't mind me keeping these sunglasses on whenever you're around until I get over these pesky romantic feelings, I would really really like us to be good friends. The kind of friends where we can laugh and joke and have real conversations with each other."

She couldn't possibly think of anything else to say. Maybe she didn't need to. The ball was in his court.

Finally, he spoke.

"I-I would really like to be your good friend Marinette." He smiled so softly that she felt her face getting warmer. She looked away.

"Don't smile at me like that!"

"Sorry." The smile disappeared and he looked away.

She couldn't help the laugh that escaped her. He was just too adorable.

"I'm kidding. I mean, I'm not kidding. You already know you're handsome, but your smile is sometimes too much for a girl to handle. Please don't stop though, it's one of my favorite things about you."

He reddened again. Wow, who knew being honest was so much fun?

"If it's all the same to you, I'd like to keep the sunglasses on whenever you're around. You know, just until the butterflies in my stomach decide to take a hike and the romantic feelings finally leave me alone when you're around. They seem to help a little."

"Whatever makes you feel comfortable! Um, can I, I mean, is there anything I can do? You know, to make things… I don't know… easier?" He looked so embarrassed, it was satisfying and adorable and it felt so good to not be tripping over her tongue while she was talking to him.

"Thanks, but you just keep being yourself and don't abandon me even if I do wear sunglasses indoors." She grinned at him, and he finally, finally, grinned back.

"I don't know, it might ruin my reputation if I hang around someone who insists on keeping their 'air of mystery' in the classroom." He was joking with her! This was exactly what she hoped would happen.

Instead of stammering or squeaking, she picked up her controller and smirked.

"I had no idea that your reputation was so fragile. I may seem weird to the masses, but remember I'm still the Mecha Strike Champion and you should be grateful that I even associate with you!"

"We'll see about that." He grinned, picked up his own controller, and they played video games the rest of the afternoon.

They laughed so hard their sides hurt. It didn't matter that Marinette didn't take her sunglasses off even once. She could finally talk to him.

She was one step closer to freedom.

"Earth to Adrien… Are you there? I could really use another piece of camembert."

Adrien, laid out on his massive bed, hadn't moved or spoken for the last fifteen minutes as he stared at his ceiling like it held the answers to all of life's problems.

"Adrien. Wasn't your piano practice supposed to start ten minutes ago?"

Still no response.

Plagg had one more idea as he flew over to the window.

"Look! Here comes baker girl with what looks like a box of croissants!"

Adrien shot straight up, tripping over his own feet on his way to the window, where, naturally, Marinette was nowhere to be seen.

"Not funny Plagg." He pouted, opting to sit at his piano where he could at least act like he was going to practice.

"Come on kid, you ok? It seemed like you and baker girl had a great play date together. She said she's in love with you. I don't see any problem." Adrien's color rose noticeably.

"It wasn't a date! I mean, I don't feel that way about her, and up until today I didn't really know she... had those feelings for me."

"You're telling me you never noticed she couldn't speak two words to you?"

"I'm saying I wasn't sure of what she felt and besides, I'm in love with Ladybug!"

"There, there. No need to get so defensive. I know you've pledged your heart and soul to Lady Luck and all, I'm just saying, it seems like you're thinking an awful lot about Marinette."

"I'm just… shocked. And happy." A slow smile spread across Adrien's face.

"She wants us to be good friends. She said we can talk and joke and have real conversations with each other!"

"Jeez, what, were you taking notes?" Plagg couldn't help the smile on his own face, though, just seeing Adrien happy.

"We're gonna be great friends."

"You sure about that? It's kind of hard to be friends with romantic feelings in the mix." Plagg was nothing if not the devil's advocate.

"We can make it work. She'll get over Adrien Agreste once she sees the real me."

"You're gonna let her see the real you?"

"Sure! I mean, she was so honest with me today. How can I not?"

"There's still a part of you that you can't share with her, though." Plagg chuckled internally at the irony of it all.

"It's gonna be fine. I'm gonna make it work. Marinette deserves a good friend."

"Ok kid, whatever you say. Just try not to fall in love with her while you're busy being her very good friend."

Adrien rolled his eyes at the comment and dismissed the way he felt his cheeks warm up.

"Come on, we're gonna be late for patrol. Plagg, Claws Out!"

"Good evening… Milady."

Ladybug heard the hesitation in his voice, and when she turned around she noticed that although his smile was genuine, his ears were just a little droopy.

She gave him her brightest smile.

"Hey Chaton." His ears perked up a bit.

"How are you this evening my dear?" That line sounded suspiciously like a movie she had watched far too many times… For the sake of her heart she chose to ignore his possible attempt at flirting.

"I'm okay. I was just thinking about how quiet Hawkmoth has been lately. We haven't seen an akuma in over a week."

"Maybe he flew south for the winter?" He said with a grin.

"Maybe he's leading us into a false sense of security?" She said almost bitingly, turning away because she got flustered when she remembered that this was Adrien freaking Agreste that she was talking to.

The boy she loved who she had just earlier that day confessed to.

Despite the bite in her tone, he placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Maybe, but we can't stress over something that hasn't happened. This has been a nice break, let's enjoy it while it lasts."

She sighed.

"I hate it when you make sense."

"Oh you love it." He said and when she turned around, he was smirking.

He recognized that look in her eyes.

"Kitty-" she started to say, but he didn't let her finish.

"We'll finish faster if we split up. I'll meet you back here in a bit!" He said with false cheer before vaulting away into the night.

Ladybug let out a big sigh.

Nice going.

As she yoyo-ed her way through the streets of Paris, she kept trying to think about what would make things better.

Should she ignore it all and carry on as if nothing happened? The flirting would either continue or stop altogether if he closed himself off…

She couldn't lead him on though. She loved him desperately, but if they had been friends this long and there had been no interest on his side, there wasn't ever going to be.

Should she reveal that she was Ladybug?

The best thing would be to wait until he got over Ladybug. If she revealed who she was now, he would just fool himself into thinking he was in love with Marinette by default.

She didn't want that. She wanted someone who loved her for her.

She knew he probably wouldn't give up unless he knew there was no chance with Ladybug though…

Ugh, this is all such a big mess. If this is going to work though, I have to be as honest as I was with Adrien.

Before she knew it, she had reached their meeting point.

"Fancy meeting you here Bugaboo." His tone, once again, sounded almost normal, but his ears drooped and he hadn't even turned to look at her.

"I could say the same to you Kitty-Cat. Mind if we have a chat, Noir?" That pulled a small smile out of him as he gestured gallantly at the empty space beside him.

"It would be my pleasure." She giggled and sat down, their arms not quite touching.

For a few minutes they sat in silence, looking at the moon and the twinkling lights of the city. Enjoying each other's presence.

I guess it's time for honesty…

"Chaton, there's no one else I'd rather have as my partner. Not in the whole world." He looked at her, wonder and warmth in his eyes.

He held her gaze for a few moments, formulating his reply.

"I feel the same way." She felt her body warm and her breath catch, hating that she had to cause them both pain.

"Thanks, kitty. But as your friend, I need you to know that we can't be partners in any other sense of the word." His gaze didn't waver, but the slight shift in his eyebrows made her know that he understood, and that it hurt.

Trust me, mon amour, this hurts me more than it hurts you.

"Is it because of that boy you like?" It wasn't an accusation.

She didn't trust herself to answer that question.

"This is about my heart." She said truthfully.

He reached up and tucked a piece of stray hair behind her ear. She selfishly allowed it.

"I understand." He said quietly.

If only you really could understand.

"You have such a deep capacity to love, Chaton, I refuse to lead you on and hold you back from finding someone you can share your days and nights with."

As desperately as I want to be that someone, it can't be me. It isn't me.

She felt her eyes misting, and he looked away.

Don't go.

She reached out and cupped his face with her hand.

"I know it's selfish of me, but I don't want to lose you kitty. You're my closest friend." She could hear the pain in her own voice.

He reached up, and took her hand from his face.

Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry.

He raised the back of her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles.

"You'll always have me, LB. I'm not going anywhere."

She smiled at him, her eyes watery.

What did I do to deserve you?

They both turned to look at the city again.

"You're stuck with your dashing hero. If anyone else tried to be Cat Noir it would be cat-astrophic." He's punning!

"What I'm stuck with is an alley cat whose puns leave me positively cat-atonic." He grinned and she felt so much joy in making him happy.

"M'Ladybug, you wound me." He said, paw dramatically draped over his face.

They stayed there, talking and laughing and joking with one another, and although she noticed he didn't call her Milady or Bugaboo, he seemed like he was back to his usual self.

They both felt the weight of their sadness, but they were comforted with the reassurance that their bond was stronger than anything.

In Adrien's mind, Ladybug was letting him know that although she couldn't do without him, her heart just didn't sing for him the way his did for her, and if it didn't sing when he was just Cat Noir, and if it didn't sing when she knew he was Adrien, then it probably never would.

For Marinette, she was grateful that their friendship meant so much to him, but it still hurt that she couldn't have what was just within reach…