Marinette's POV

The closer we get to the front entrance, the tenser Adrien gets. I press a kiss to his hand I still have hold of and feel him relax slightly, but I know he's still uncomfortable.

As we approach, I can start to pick out different voices from the crowd.

"Lila, are you sure you saw Marinette do that?" Alix asks.

Cue the fake crying. "Are yo-you saying I would lie about something like that?"

Cue the rush to comfort and apologize from Kim. "Of course not! I'm sure that's what you think you saw, but maybe it wasn't what it looked like? Alya tried talking to Adrien and—"

"D-Do you thi-ink he can really be ho-honest? The pr-press would have a field day if they found out!"

"Lila, Adrien told Alya not to talk to him again," Alix quietly responds.

"H-he-he's probably be-being threatened!" Adrien lets out a low growl and squeezes me tightly to his side. I'm not sure if it's for his comfort or mine.

"I thought I told Alya to pass on a message, Lila." Adrien's voice is low and threatening. This is the most pissed off I have ever seen him, and I don't know whether to be frightened or turned on.

"A-Adrien! " Lila doesn't have to fake her shock. I see the flash of fear in her eyes before she masks it.

"Do I need to repeat myself?" He isn't shouting, but he doesn't have to. The whole courtyard is holding their breath to hear what comes next.

"I-I haven't talked to Alya today…"

"Then let me make it clear to not only you, but everyone here. Marinette has never touched me against my will. Not that it's anyone's business anyways, but if she had, I would go to someone who actually has power. Not you, Lila. In fact, I would prefer to never speak to you again. If you were concerned, you should have spoken to me prior to running your mouth and slandering my girlfriend. Anyone who continues to spread these rumors or further involve themselves where they are not wanted will be meeting with my lawyers in a defamation, harassment, and slander trial. And if you ever, even slightly, believed this absolute bullshit," he pauses for effect as he gazes into the eyes of our frightened peers, "delete both my and Marinette's contacts and do not speak to me again. You're no friend of mine." He stares into Lila's eyes for the last sentence, and I watch her turn several shades paler.

Adrien pulls me out of the building before anyone has a chance to collect their jaws off the floor, including me.

"Close your mouth. You'll catch flies." It's meant to be a joke, but he's tense and still speed walking me away from the building. His eyes are filled with panic, and I know I need to get him out of here.

I unwrap his arm from around me, get a firm grip on his hand, and start running, knowing I need to get him out of public view before he breaks down. Lady Luck is on my side, as the traffic light makes sure we can cross to the bakery without slowing. I quickly pull him inside and upstairs, closing the door quietly to avoid drawing any attention. Once we are in my room, I throw my stuff to the side (Sorry, Tikki) and grab his face as he starts to gasp for air. His hands naturally rest on my hips, but his grip is tight with anxiety.

"Adrien, I need you to breathe for me. I need you to focus on me." His eyes are frantically searching the room for some unseen danger. "No, look at me." His eyes snap to mine. "That's it. It's just you…and me. Nothing else matters. Just us. I want you to try to breathe with me. Can you do that for me?" He hesitantly nods his head, and we start to match breaths. His grip slowly loosens.

When his breathing is under control, the panic still lingers in his tear-filled eyes.

"I want you to tell me three things you see and what they make you think of."

"Uh…" He closes his eyes to gather his thoughts before he peers around. "The desk."

"What about the desk?" I'm patient and soothing in my tone.

His response is mumbled.

"What?"

"Want to bend you over it." I blush and he laughs a little.

"Maybe later. What's next?"

"Chaise. Where you gave me my first handjob."

"Jesus, you're determined to rile me up, aren't you?" I mutter, but from the slight smirk that briefly touches his lips, I know he heard. "Alright, thing three. Hit me."

"You."

"What about me?" I search his eyes, trying to get a read on him and determine if I need to keep going with the exercise after this. He seems mostly himself, though.

"Love you." He pecks my lips. "So much. God, you're everything to me, Marinette." He presses his lips to mine passionately, but it isn't rushed. It's slow and sweet and filled with love.

When we finally part, I whisper, "How you feeling?" My arms move to wrap around his neck.

"Tired." He takes a deep breath before continuing. "Happy I put Lila in her place… Ecstatic that everyone knows you're my girlfriend now… worried that I might have pushed Lila to act before I have everything together for the lawsuit… but mostly just… tired."

"You know what the real problem's going to be?"

"What?" He's filled with dread, but my response makes him laugh.

"If anyone catches us with the other side of the square."

"I'm sure I'll be very understanding if my girlfriend cheats on me with a superhero." He rolls his eyes with a smile.

"Oh, then I guess I'll just have to offer the same courtesy to my boyfriend." I smirk before continuing, "Especially if he's cheating with one wrapped in leather."

He immediately pulls away from me and turns bright red, as I start laughing, but I can't tell if he's angry or embarrassed. "I thought I told you that isn't happening."

"Do you find him unattractive?"

"Well…no, but—"

"And do you enjoy the thought of me with him?"

"Of course, but Mari—"

"Then I don't see the problem with a threesome." I shrug as I walk over to the chaise and plop down. He grasps the bridge of his nose as he looks down, shaking his head.

"Lord, grant me patience." He mutters before looking at me. "Marinette, we can't—actually…" He looks devious, and I'm suddenly wondering what's going through his brain. "I'll make you a deal."

"I'm listening."

"We can threesome with Cat Noir."

"Really?!" I perk up.

"IF we have one with Ladybug first."

"Of cour—wait what?" I stare at him in shock.

"That's the deal. You want a threesome with Cat Noir? Get me one with Ladybug first."

"But we can't—"

"Problem?"

"Adrien—"

"Do you find her unattractive?"

"Of course not, but—"

"And do you enjoy the thought of me with her?" This smug little shit.

"Duh, but Adrien—"

"Then what's the problem?" He smirks, leaning over me.

"Fuck you." I look away as he straightens before plopping on the floor, leaning back on his hands and stretching out his legs facing me.

"When and where, babe?"

I throw a pillow at him, and he cackles loudly, collapsing backwards. When he finally calms down, he sits up and plays with the pillow.

"In all seriousness, though, thank you, Mari."

"For what?"

"I couldn't have gotten through today without you."

I get up from the chaise and walk over to him, straddling his lap, throwing the pillow to the side, and grabbing his face in my hands.

"You'll never have to." The kiss he presses to my lips is full of fire as his hands grab my ass and yank my lower half against his.

I start to grind on him when he detaches his lips from mine, trailing kisses across my jaw and down my throat. I moan in pleasure, hands gripping his shoulders tightly and head thrown back. Unfortunately, this is when our phones go off. I lean over to my bag to grab my phone without leaving his lap.

"Fuuuuck." I groan, dropping my head on his shoulder. "Why does Hawkmoth insist on cockblocking me?!"

Yep, you guessed it. Akuma alert.

"I've gotta get home. You know how they are…" He looks away awkwardly, but I don't have time to analyze his caginess.

"Okay…" I climb off his lap and help him up. "See you tomorrow?"

"Maybe sooner." He winks, presses a quick kiss to my lips, and leaves.

I take a deep breath, steel myself, and get filled with fire.

"Time to fuck this bitch up. Tikki, spots on!"