The day went long. There was a collection to be put together for Fashion Week and Marinette was one of its lead designers. It was hard work but it was worth the words of praise from Gabriel Agreste. Each step only brings her higher up the fashion ladder.

She held her head up, beaming with pride until she reached the door. She stared at the wooden surface, too scared to step outside in case he's there.

With a deep breath, she pushed through the doors...

And sure enough, he was right across from her. He was saddling his motorcycle, a lopsided grin on his face.

"I was wondering when you were gonna come out." He said almost teasingly.

She frowned.

"Come on, Mari. I don't bite." He flashed a wider grin to display his perfect pearly teeth. "I can give you a ride home."

She immediately stepped back. The very idea of riding a motorcycle with him, the wind rushing against her as she hugged him from behind, her cheek to his back, her hands on his chest, feeling his heartbeat under her touch, it was too much!

"N-"

The road shook, cutting her off. A powerful roar and screams were heard from nearby. Marinette ducked back into the building while Adrien drove off, both completely forgetting about each other.

"Tikki, spots on!"

She transformed in a red-pink flash going up her body. Her red polka-dotted suit had more black on her sides, hips and thighs, and on her hands and arms, making it look like she was wearing long gloves. Her extra earrings were gone and and her hair pulled free from her bun, made into a ponytail with one red ribbon tied around it.

She jumped from roof to roof, swung from tall heights, running on foot a few time to get to scene of the screams.

She leapt into the air, did two impressive somersaults and landed perfectly on the road right in front of the Arc de Triomphe. A small crowd of onlookers applauded her stunt before running away screaming.

The huge Akuma charged at Ladybug, but she jumped out of the way. The heroine practically danced around it, avoiding hits and attacks.

If only dealing with Adrien was this easy. If only he knew the girl he let down was the girl he loved as well. Adrien would probably run right in the middle of the attack just to get her atten-

"Ladybug!"

She never saw the attack coming.

But the attack didn't hit her. Something else did, tackling her out of the attack's way. They rolled and tumbled until finally stopping, the bigger body shielding the other on top.

Ladybug gazed up at her saviour. A fond smile formed across her face.

"Chat Noir."

Her kitty.

Well, not much of a kitty anymore. He was a full grown tomcat. Towering tall, muscles packed snugged in his tight leather suit, which now had a silver zip V-neck sliding down, opening deep halfway of his golden chest, and ended with his golden bell. Silver studs embedded around his thick waist. His blond hair was cut very short and combed back behind his cat ears, giving Ladybug a full view of his masked chiselled face.

He was so handsome. And smoking hot!

He took her hand and pulled her up as he rose.

"You ok, Ladybug?" He asked, his voice deep and husky.

She couldn't resist to sigh her answer. "Yeah..."

"Ladybug! Chat Noir!"

Four figures jumped from the top of the Arc de Triomphe. Once in the light, they were presented in animal themed skin-tight costumes, just like the famous duo.

Their co-heroes. The newest addition in the last 4 years. The duo became a team.

The Quantic Team.

Rena Rouge explained the Akuma. "Poor guy, a project he worked so hard on got ruined the day its due. All those weeks of late nights gone to waste."

Rena Rouge was an vixen. Wild, feral, a free spirit. Full, tousled brown hair heavily streaked in white, brushing her chin. Two orange fox ears with white insides and black tips stuck up and on her head. An orange/white mask across her mischievously smiling face, with a black dot above each of her gold eyes. She wore an orange bodysuit with a white underbelly and a black swan-necked collar that also covered her shoulders and arms and hands. The white on her chest was heart-shaped. A long orange fox tail-like coattail around her waist, ending in a sharp white tip at behind, and slinky black legs reaching up to her thighs. She also wore the Fox Miraculous around her neck on a necklace. In her hand, she held a long flute.

"Now he's destroying Paris instead." Pavo applied.

Pavo was a handsome bird and he knew it. Confident, suave, proud. Another Chat. Bright red hair swept back, like feathers on a birds head. Gorgeous, glowing turquoise eyes behind a royal-blue mask with a pink peacock feather on each corner like an eyelash. His royal-blue bodysuit looked like a cross between a smart tuxedo suit and an elegant dress. A tux's collar and sleeves, a slit up the side of the ankle-falling skirt, where the bottom resembled a train of peacock tail feathers, a pink spot on each feather. Indigo tights and gloves clung to his skin underneath, high-heeled boots on his feet. The Peacock Miraculous on the centre of his collarbone. He fanned himself with a blue hand fan of feathers.

"He should've take up boxing or yoga." Queen Bee advised.

Queen Bee was a perky thing and sweet as honey. Like Ladybug, she was a bug themed heroine. Honey-blonde hair arranged mostly in back, like Belle, some in a neat bun and more trailing over her shoulders, a black ribbon intertwined. The Bee Miraculous comb was placed in the upper right side of her head, next to the bun. Her mask, highlighting her sky-blue eyes, was half yellow half black. Her bodysuit was yellow at the top and black at the bottom. The neck was black with a thin yellow stripe. There was yellow fuzz on her chest and shoulders like a crop top, along with two V stripes separating the fuzz, over the elbow black gloves, and three black stripes across her torso. The black ran from the waist down, with two yellow stripes on her upper thighs. Her black-legged feet had yellow soles and pumps on the heels, akin to fashionable kitten heels. A small round yellow purse around her hips on a thin black rope and in her hand, beheld a trompo with a pull string.

"Let's worry about calming him down first." Carapace suggested in a serious tone. He looked to Ladybug. "LB."

If Ladybug was the brains and leader, then Carapace was the wisdom and mentor. Wise, mature and cool. Short brown hair spiking from the front underneath his hood, attached to his dark-green bodysuit, embracing his thick, muscular physique. Bright light green nipped at his fingers and coloured in the hexagons on his chest, along with the pads on his shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees. On his thick legs, dark-green boots with a dent between his big toe and little toes like a turtle's foot. Black goggles with yellow lenses on his firm face. The Turtle Miraculous bracelet was on his right wrist. He wielded a shield designed after a shell on his back.

Ladybug nodded before giving the command. "Queen Bee, Pavo, block his attacks at the sides." The couple smiled to each other, their expressions falling goofy. "Rena, Carapace, flag him at front." That couple shared glares, obvious dislike in their eyes. "Chat, you're with me. We'll hit him from above with your Cataclysm and I'll use my Lucky Charm and purify the Akuma. Go!"

She grabbed his hand and they leapt into action together, as did Pavo and Queen Bee.

But Rena Rouge stayed, her lips playing a grin.

"She so likes him." She stated.

"Shh!" Carapace hissed.

She stuck her tongue at him in cheeky response.

The couples went to work.

Blocking the Akuma's attacks, Queen Bee threw her trompo and Pavo flapped his fan. At one point, Queen Bee flew back by an attack but to her joy, Pavo caught her. Rena Rouge made illusions of herself and her teammates to confuse the Akuma into stomping on then again and again to his frustration. Carapace blocked his attacks with his shield and threw it like a frisbee.

Ladybug and Chat Noir observed from far on top of the famous Arc. Their eyes searched for the right moment to strike...

"Now!"

"Cataclysm!"

Chat Noir dropped from above, his right hand glowing deadly black. He pounded his hand right on the Akuma's back, causing the monster to roar.

"Lucky Charm!"

Pink and red dots swirled in the air and an red black-polka-dotted object fell directly into Ladybug's awaiting hands. She held it up quizzedly.

"A bar of strawberry soap?"

Rena Rouge appeared beside her and saw the so called 'lucky' charm.

"Oh good, wash his dirty hands!" She cracked.

At the same time, Ladybug and Carapace groaned and rolled their eyes. However, Ladybug looked to the Akuma, Chat Noir riding his back, and back to the soap. A quick plan formulated in her mind.

With the Akuma disoriented from Chat's attack, Ladybug threw the soap, where it landed directly under the Akuma's foot. The Akuma, as planned, stepped on it, and slipped. Chat Noir jumped off in time to avoid the sliding back and crashing into a building, becoming even more disoriented.

Pavo came over to the huge, laying figure and plucked the possessed object, the ruined work folder.

"Sweet dreams, Monsieur." He bid suavely.

Queen Bee sauntered his way. She leaned up against him, reaching high for the folder in his hand. Curves met muscles. A seductive smirk shared. Then she managed to pluck the folder from him and handed it over to Ladybug.

The red heroine grabbed the black butterfly before it took off.

"Miraculous Ladybug!"

She tossed her yo-yo up into the air. A swarm of red ladybug flew out and around in a twirl. In a white flash, every piece of damage, anything that was destroyed was fixed, good as new, like it was barely touched. The Akumatized object turned into a flawless folder and the Akuma himself returned to his normal self, if not more refreshed. The cursed butterfly, once blackish purple and now a dazzling white, fluttered away.

"Pound it!" All six bumped fists.

"Aw, shit! I have to go! Bye!" Rena Rouge exclaimed and she leapt away.

"Come back here! We have patrol!" Carapace gave chase after her, muttering angrily under his hushed breath. "Why am I the one who's stuck with the crazy partner?"

Queen Bee and Pavo shared a longing look into each other's eyes before reluctantly flying off, figuratively and seperately.

Left alone, Ladybug turned to Chat Noir, who faced the other way, lost in his own world.

"Ladybug?"

She didn't realise she was in her own world until his husky voice snapped her out of it and found him looking at her with tender concern.

"You seem a little off today."

"Just having a rough few days, that's all. What about you? You haven't made a single pun today."

"I'm having a ruff few dazes as well. A le pew purrsonal issues, nothing I cat handle."

He said them now, making puns so bad she had to laugh. He stopped the flirting though. Over the years together, Ladybug became more fond of Chat Noir as he got more serious and wiser in his role and grew muscular and handsome...

"I have personal problems too. Feels as if I'm constantly hunted by a bloodhound."

Chat shuddered, disgusted at the dog mention, making her giggle. Then their Miraculous beeped and blinkered, alerting the couple of the countdown.

"I'll see you later." Ladybug bid with a smile and then used her yo-yo to swing off.

Chat simply saluted after her before running off.

After detransforming behind a building, Marinette took her place slowly while she daydreamed of Chat Noir. The vision of him offering his hand to her, offering her warmth and comfort from the harshness of her problems, it brought her into a good mood. He did.

A roar of an engine snapped her out of her bliss. Her happy smile dropped as a motorcycle appeared beside her.

Oh no. Not him!

"Hey, wait!"

He parked and jumped off his moped, snatching up her left hand in his grasp. He just has to take the hand of her scarred arm. The pain spiked through her again, bringing her into another world of hurt. She wretched her hand out of his grip and tried to run.

"Marinette, we need to talk about this."

He got in her way rather quickly, blocking her way to Lucky Red, her home and sanctuary. He was making her go on the verge of crying.

"What do you want?"

"You."

He made it sound so simple. But it was much more complicated.

"Well, no you can't. Goodbye."

She tried to walk around him but he stepped aside to stop her.

"Please. Just one date to start off."

"No."

"I'm sorry for what happened."

"I don't want to go out with you just because you feel guilty."

"I feel more than that for you! I care about you, more than I should."

"Take a hint, Adrien!" She spat out, venom dripping at her teeth. "I've wasted so much time on you, so why the Hell should I even waste more?"

Hurt flashed across his face. "Is it really impossible to give me a chance?"

"You never gave me a chance."

"I'll give you one. Right now."

She gripped her arm where her scar kept hurting her by the second of his pleading. She winced so hard, her voice became a weak whimper. The tears came back in a flood.

"Why are you so persistent? You made your real choice. I overheard you saying you love Ladybug. Of all people, you picked her. You could have any girl you want. Why her? Why are you so devoted to her? You never spend any time with her whereas I actually talked to you at school. How could you say you love her?"

Adrien, for once, could not speak. He couldn't tell her he's Chat Noir, who fought alongside Ladybug, made many conversations with her, knew her on a level no one else did. He personally knew the fearless, intelligent, red hot heroine. That was why he loved her.

He remembered the day his love for her halted. The very same day he rejected Marinette.

There was an Akuma, a vicious one. Ladybug was distracted by something. She ignored his puns, his words of concern, and even his warnings.

Then she was hit in the arm. He leapt to her side but she only pushed him away, throwing him the fiercest glare she ever had on her lovely face. His heart broke when she yelled harshly at him.

"You stupid alleycat! Focus on the Akuma, will you? You never take anything seriously! Paris will fall because of you! I just got rejected by my crush, the last thing I need is you slacking off and throwing yourself over every short skirt you see instead of doing your job!"

She never took his feelings into account. Even though she got better and treated him more nicely, it was too late. His heart now yearned for Marinette.

He reached out for Marinette, taking her tear stained face in his hands, his thumbs gently wiped her tears away. Her eyes grew twice in size whilst she gazed at him. He couldn't resist to smile.

"Well...I realised what a foolish mistake it was. I turned down an amazing girl for a stupid fantasy."

But Marinette shook her head out of his hold. "I gave up on you. So let it go."

"No! Please, Marinette! I'll do anything." He reached out for her again, more desperately.

She avoided his hands. "Why is it that when I moved on, you decide now you want me?"

"I just want you back. I always did."

"When was I ever yours? I know you weren't mine."

"I could be yours and you could be mine."

He keeps begging, pleading to her, slowly draining her will to resist.

"I...can't."

"There hasn't been a day that I haven't regret losing you."

"...Why?"

"I didn't realise what I had until it was gone. You were always there for me. Please. I just want the happy Marinette I used to know."

If only he wore a black leather suit and had bed hair.

Her lips quivered and her hands clawed her forearms.

Ultimately she broke down.

"Alright! I'll go out with you."

Happiness dawn on Adrien. He did ridiculous poses of victory from what he saw on Anime.

"When Bridgette does." She quickly added.

He stopped dancing.

"Bridgette?"

"Yes."

"Your cousin?"

"Yes."

"The cafe owner?"

"Yes."

"Does she even date?"

"No."

"Then how am I supposed to have you if she doesn't date at all?"

"You can't have me. Besides, I wouldn't be comfortable if my cousin doesn't set an example first."

Seeing his still form and stunned expression, she took the chance and ran.

"Well, bye!"

"But Marinette!"

He gave chase, intending of barging into her home after her. But Bridgette stopped him at the doorway.

She heard everything.

"Umm...bonjour, Madame?"

She glared so heatedly at him, she almost reminded him of Ladybug.

"Listen here, you little bastard. You can't force Marinette into dating you, not after what you done to her." She hissed, poking his chest. He dwarved under her. "Get lost or I'll contact the papers and tell them that Gabriel Agreste's son is sexually harassing one of his interns. See how your father reacts to that scandal. Now...Go AWAY!"

She slammed the door.

In his face.

"Ow!"

Adrien groaned and moaned as he rubbed his perfect face. After getting hissed at and slammed at, he went back to his apartment where currently he was sitting on his couch, accompanied by his two closest friends.

"Seriously, man. You're gonna need plastic surgery if you keep chasing after Marinette." Nino remarked.

Unlike his friends, Nino didn't go to college to pursue his dream of becoming a DJ. Instead, he went freelance, made CDs, play in clubs and parties, and turned out pretty successful at 20 years old. He was still close with Adrien and still dating Alya.

He was older as he was taller, standing a little above Adrien, much to his pride. His face lost the turtle shape for something more angular, with a little bit of facial hair nipping at his chin. His physique grew strong and slender together. The cap gone to let his dark hair grew short and slightly spikey at the tips. He wore a black t-shirt, a big blue bomber jacket with thick white sleeves, old blue jeans, greenish-grey sneakers, a black bracelet with a silver oval pendant on his right wrist, three bracelets in red, yellow and blue on his left, red rimmed glasses, and black and orange headphones around his neck.

He was so handsome, he could model with Adrien and win all the hearts of girls if he wasn't dedicated to his music and girlfriend.

"You can sue her if your nose broke beyond repair." Chloe suggested.

Adrien shot his head up, bringing his red nose to display. "I can't do that! Marinette will hate me and her cousin will hate me even more!"

"Like she doesn't hate you enough already." Nino muttered.

With excellent hearing, the model turned to him. "What does that supposed to mean?"

"Haven't you realise that the day after you rejected Mari, she switched places with Chloe, took lunch outside of school, and pretty much avoided you? How could she thought of that when she was in total heartbreak? She didn't. Her cuz did. She's the reason why Marinette gave you the cold shoulder in school. The shroom of France!"

"It's shrew, not shroom." Chloe corrected.

"It's a pun, Chloe. Anyway, Bridgette Cheng is super overprotective of Marinette. She's fiery, headstrong, a force to reckon with! She can be worse than Chloe,"

"Hey!"

"...and even Alya is no match for her. She almost broke Alya and Marinette apart! Besides she's busy running her cafe. Half of Paris has already visited it."

"But she is pretty?" Adrien asked meekly.

"Yeah, pretty scary! The woman is like a tiger! She's like that bitter shoe-wielding skeleton mama from that Mexican Disney movie!"

Adrien rolled his eyes. "It's Pixar."

"Whatever, dude. Even Chloe scared of her!"

The young woman crossed her arms in defence. "I'm not scared of her, I respect her. I love her treats."

"And she scared you out of bullying Marinette."

"Where was she all this time?" Adrien asked before Chloe could snap back.

"In China, studying culinary. Did a bunch of jobs as well. The woman is nonstop."

Chloe sprung Adrien around to face her, looking him in the eye. "If you really want Marinette, you need someone to go out with Bridgette first so Marinette will have to keep her promise to you. Someone who can handle her." Her finger lightly tapped her face while she thought about it. "Someone who can match her in wit, temper and skill."

Nino thought as well. "Someone just as stubborn as her."

"Someone smart and tough enough."

"Someone who relates to her."

"Someone who can make a connection with her."

"Someone who she won't kill with her chopping knife, make a soufflé of their flesh, chopsticks of their bones and wine of their blood."

"Someone...lucky!" Nino threw his arms in the air.

Adrien wondered. "Where are we gonna find a guy like that?"

Just at that moment, the door opened and a man entered. He had set down his leather bag when he glanced to the three people.

"Adrien, what did I tell you about having friends over?"

"I pay for half of the rent, Felix." Adrien retorted.

The man took off his heavy coat and unfurled his scarf. No doubt about it, he was extremely handsome. Light blond hair neatly tucked in a low ponytail and sharp eyes the shape of a hawk and the mysterious mix of grey, green and blue. Either an older, intimidating version of Adrien or a younger version of his father, Gabriel Agreste.

"I pay more." He countered coolly.

"We were just leaving." Nino stood up and went. "See ya, man."

"Bye, Adrien." Chloe bid and then frowned coldly on her way out. "Felix."

Once the two were gone, Plagg popped out of his hiding place, baring a cheeky grin.

"Hiya, Feely!"

"Hello, Plagg." Felix replied in a bored tone while he slipped off his gloves, without giving the kwami a single glance. "So baby brother, what's this about a girl? I heard your little discussion from the hall."

Adrien sighed before explaining his dilemma. "A few years ago, a friend of mine confessed to me and I rejected her for Ladybug, you know, because I was in love with her. And you know I got over her, and now I ran into Marinette, the friend, who became this wonderful woman! She's always amazing, but now she's ... But Marinette will only go out with me when her cousin does, which is impossible. Bridgette probably won't date at all just to spite me."

Felix froze. His head slowly rose from his leather gloves. "Bridgette? What's her last name?"

"Cheng."

"Blue hair, blue eyes, Chinese, petite?"

"Yeah. How did you know?"

His stoic expression changed, softening to a façade of inspiration, as well as delight. Plagg knew what he was thinking.

Adrien did not. "What should I do? I like her too much now, I want to make it up to her..."

"Do nothing."

Adrien looked up and stared at Felix, confused. "What?"

"Trust me. Do nothing."

Felix made his way over, put his hand on Adrien's shoulder, bent down a little and leant in close.

"Adrien, take my advice. Don't fall for the dream."

Big brother and little brother touched foreheads, sharing a genuine smile.

"Let me handle 'the shroom'. Just worry about your face. Father won't be happy if you get a broken nose before Fashion Week."

Then Felix, with a slight smirk, lightly tapped the red sore nose.

"Ow! Felix!"

A chuckle came out of him. "Now tell me where I can find Miss Cheng?"