A/N: Heyyyyyy :) I always have a lot of ideas for various miraculous stories but not enough time to flush out a full fic, so I decided to start a collection of one-shots! To start us off, a music shuffle fic! It's been literal years since I've shuffled my music and written a one-shot based on it, so here goes nothing!

Taylor Swift- Cornelia Street

After a long day of dealing with the stress of maintaining any sort of life balance as the miraculous guardian, aspiring fashion designer, high schooler and being Ladybug, Marinette strolled down the street next to the Seine.

The overwhelming feelings consumed her this afternoon, the typically sunny sky blocked by impending dark clouds. She had ear buds in, listening to Jagged Stone in an attempt to cheer herself up with the high-energy, fun rock music. Unfortunately, to no avail.

Better yet, in a moment of frustration she had left Tikki at home with the other kwamis to take a moment to be alone. She regretted doing this now, longing to vent to her kwami and get some of her racing thoughts off her chest. She stuffed her hands into her pockets as the wind picked up, sending a chill down her spine.

Will I ever have a normal life again? she thought. She scanned the cobblestones below her feet as she walked, taking steadying breaths to try and relax. Fresh air is supposed to help people calm down, right? Nothing seemed to be improving her mood, no matter how hard she had tried.

When Master Fu had given her the miracle box and essentially knighted her as the new guardian, she hadn't expected the responsibilities to consume so much of her time. The added pressure of not only saving Paris every other day as Ladybug, but also protecting all of the kwamis, had ended up being a lot more than she had initially thought. Then add on helping out at the bakery, completing school work, spending any sliver of time with her friends, trying to find time to design, look at colleges...

It was too much.

The worst part of it all, the one aspect of her life that still gripped tightly onto her ribcage and made her feel like she was suffocating- was Adrien.

She so desperately wanted to cling to him, confess everything to him, find solace in her dream boy. She was constantly fantasizing about their future, about what would happen if she finally just told him how she felt. Having that off of her chest may actually solve some of her anxieties. Maybe she'd be able to talk to him without becoming tongue tied and a flustered mess.

Speak of the devil.

Marinette had run straight into a bus-stop sign, Adrien and his fragrance standing right in front of her. She rubbed her forehead and blinked at the huge poster, an ache in her heart stirring.

I get mystified by how this city screams your name

He was everywhere. She couldn't escape his face, no matter how hard she tried some days. Ignoring her love for him was impossible.

Seeing this poster of him only made her heart pang more. How on earth was she ever going to be honest with him? He made her head spin and made her stomach do somersaults. She got shaky and nervous and turned into a complete bumbling idiot every time she laid eyes on him.

She pouted at the poster of the model, turning to walk down a different road, pulling her ear buds out of her ears. She released a big sigh, pulling the hood up on her jacket as she continued to wander aimlessly. It was beginning to lightly sprinkle rain now.

As the day rolled into the evening, Marinette continued to try and relax. She sat at the park for a while, people-watching. But every time a child fell down and started to cry, or she witnessed a couple in an argument, her anxiety spiked. Those negative emotions could easily turn into an akuma if Hawkmoth was watching.

She left the park and browsed a few stores, ultimately walking with no destination once more.

As if the streetlights pointed in an arrowhead, leading us home

On a new stretch of road, she watched as the streetlights all lit up at once, day turning into night.

Ahead of her was the Agreste mansion.

Marinette felt a tear slip from her eye as she looked at the gated estate. Oh to be able to stroll right in and confess her feelings to Adrien. She'd never be able to work up that courage. She felt something pulling her to press the button on the gate, to beg Gabriel's assistant to let her in just this once.

Instead, she continued walking down the road.

Then a flash of motion caught her attention. A black blur in her peripheral.

She turned her head to see a sneaky cat perched on top of a lamp post, slyly grinning down at her.

"What brings you to this neck of the woods, princess?"

Marinette couldn't help but smile back at him. Though Chat did annoy her as Ladybug almost daily, she couldn't help but almost crave his attention when she was just Marinette. He always knew what to say to make her smile.

"An evening stroll, just trying to clear my head." She crossed her arms, hugging herself due to the chill air.

"Why the long face then?" Chat hopped down from the post, landing with a flourish before her.

Marinette pondered for a moment, debating on how much to tell her partner. It was imperative that she keep her identity a secret, but she was feeling desperate for the ability to confide in a friend. That solace just might help clear her head and rid her of the tightness in her throat.

Chat noticed her long pause and studied her face. Something was wrong with his dear friend.

"Getting it off your chest will make you feel better," he prodded. Marinette let out a deep breath, nodding.

"You're right. Can we go somewhere out of the cold though?" She smiled at him, tucking a stray hair behind her ear.

Chat grinned at her, pulling out his staff and extending it while simultaneously grabbing Marinette's waist, pulling her in to him.

"That, I can do."

He held her tightly as they leapt into the air.

The pair landed on a nearby rooftop. The scene was perhaps a little too romantic for the platonic friends, but it was the best idea Chat could come up with. The landing was decorated with candles, various pillows and blankets, and rose petals were scattered about randomly. Marinette gaped at the sweet area, smirking at her kitty.

"Now how on earth did you set all of this up so quickly?"

Chat blushed, scratching the back of his neck. "Well you see, I set this up for Ladybug a while back and left the supplies here just in case. You never know when she may change her mind and actually let me take her on a date, you know?"

Marinette giggled, sitting down on a blanket and wrapping another around her shoulders.

"That's kind of adorable, Chat."

He cleared his throat, blanching. He took a seat across from her, putting a blanket around his own shoulders.

"It is definitely not adorable or vulnerable and definitely not embarrassing that I wait around for Ladybug to finally confess that she secretly loves me as much as I love her. N-Nope."

Marinette couldn't help but chuckle at this sensitive side of Chat. He was always acting so cocky and flirtatious around Ladybug, this was a rare sighting.

With another clearing of his throat, Chat shook his head and beamed.

"But we aren't here to talk about me, dear Marinette. You're the one with a problem this evening. What's on your mind?"

Marinette tugged the blanket tighter around her shoulders, releasing a sigh that shook her to her core. The weight of her responsibilities and stress had compiled on top of her for a little too long, leaving her extra disorganized. She struggled to piece words together to explain herself to her superhero companion.

Chat looked concerned, placing a hand on Marinette's shoulder. She flinched at first, not expecting the comforting touch. She gave Chat a small smile.

"Well, I uh-" She looked down at her hands, debating. Maybe Chat actually had some good advice.

"There's this boy..."

Chat cut her off there, removing his hand from her shoulder to put both of his on her cheeks, a dreamy look in his eye.

"A boy!"

Marinette blushed. "Yeah..."

"Tell me all about him, princess. I've gotta hear every detail." Chat grinned at her, genuinely intrigued.

"Well, for starters, I don't think he feels the same way about me."

"And why is that?"

Marinette felt defeated verbalizing these thoughts, hanging her head down.

"He only sees me as a really good friend. I'm afraid if I tell him how I truly feel that it could ruin everything between us. I value his friendship too much to jeopardize that."

Chat scratched his head thoughtfully. "Well, you'll never know if you don't try right? You're amazing, Marinette! Any guy would be lucky to have you as their own."

Marinette popped her head up, pink dusting her cheeks. "Do you really think so?"

"Duh! You're incredible!" Marinette smiled at this, then her features turned sad once more.

That's the kind of heartbreak time could never mend

"I'm afraid that even if he told he felt the same way that I would mess everything up." She felt tears threating to pool in her eyes, stinging. "I barely have time right now to even see Alya and my friends, how could I possibly make time to have a boyfriend right now? I love this boy, but if things didn't work out between us... I don't know if I would ever recover."

Chat gasped.

"Marinette! Stop doubting yourself! You're one of the most caring people I've ever met, you wouldn't let that happen."

"Maybe..."

"It's the truth! Who is this guy anyways? Maybe I know him. I think I could give better advice if I actually knew who you were talking about." Chat blinked at her eagerly. In the few meetings he had had with Marinette as Chat, he sensed that she could be more comfortable with him than with him as Adrien. The anonymity he had as Chat Noir offered a sense of comfort, he thought. He wasn't a part of her everyday life which seemed to relieve some of the pressures of every day conversations with people she truly knew. He liked the idea of being a masked friend who stopped by from time to time. Marinette was equally a confidant to him as well, especially when he would drop by her balcony on occasion. She always knew the right things to say, and he only hoped he could do the same for her. She deserved to be happy, and he hated to see something bother her so badly.

Marinette squeezed her eyes shut, hesitating. In all reality, Chat was so different from anyone she knew in her civilian life that it was possible he didn't even know any of her classmates and friends. Being fully honest with him was what she craved, lying to everyone in her life was leaving her feeling drained. Maybe it would be alright to confess to him. He was aching to assist her, and she thought that could be really beneficial.

"His name is Adrien Agreste. The fashion model?"

Chat's jaw dropped to the floor. He blinked. And blinked again. He tried to muster any words, any words at all. But he couldn't seem to form any in his brain, every syllable and sentence had been plucked from his memory in that very moment.

Marinette glanced at him during the silence. She was blushing harder.

"You don't know him?"

Chat coughed loudly, rubbing a hand across his forehead.

"Uh- nope. I actually don't think I-I-I um, do. Is he the one with posters all over the city?"

Marinette sniffled, the relief of saying his name washing over her. She knew it would be best if Chat didn't know who Adrien was, but she was holding out hope that he may be able to help her out in this situation with more information on how to talk to Adrien.

"Yeah. I know I'm not the only girl who thinks this way about him too, so surely there's someone else who has his heart. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything at all to you Chat, I'm sorry..."

Marinette stood, a few tears spilling over. The humiliation she felt in that moment was almost too much to bare. Chat was going to think she was so stupid...

"No! Marinette!"

Chat was then standing next to her, grasping her wrist.

"I, um. I trust you okay?"

She furrowed her brow. What could he possibly mean?

"Claws in."

With a flash of green light, Adrien Agreste stood before her.

And Marinette fainted.