The ride had been uncomfortable at best for Marinette. Felix, unlike Adrien, was more than happy to display his status, choosing to get around in a Rolls-Royce.

Breakfast however was a much more relaxed affair, the cafe was a secluded one set back from the Main Street, and very strictly by reservation only. Adrien filled in the majority of the silence with his chatter, occasionally encouraging Felix or Marinette to join in.

His personality now, was much more Chat Noiresq than she had ever realised. If that was due to simply coming out of his shell more since school, or it was only obvious to Mari now because she knew, was unclear.

The subjects of discussion remained on safe topics; the next fashion show, what movies were currently in the theatre and how life had been since school. Once breakfast was finished and the three of them were sitting around enjoying the day Adrien perked up. "So Mari, are you dating anyone at the moment?"

Marinette inhaled sharply, causing her to choke on the sparkling water she was sipping on. Trying her best not to die, and maintain some of her pride. The flustered woman managed not to spit water over either of the men, or dribble too much down the front of her.

On the other side of the table Felix snorted indignantly while shooting Adrien a dangerous glare. Clearly aware of what his cousin was up to.

"Ahh, no I'm not. Not since Luka and I broke up."

Adrien leaned forward at the answer, suddenly intrigued. "Luka?"

Still struggling Mari covered her face as she coughed some more. "Yeah, ah you hung out with him a few times in high school. Luka Couffaine he-" Marinette was cut off mid sentence.

"Luka Couffaine, as in Jagged Stones son? Luka Couffaine?" The blonde model continued to scrutinise Mari intently, eager for her reply.

The mention of Luka being the son of Jagger Stone had her flinching, it had been a difficult time for the two of them. Ultimately leading to the breakdown of their relationship. "Yeah that Luka, why's that?"

As if realising that he seemed too interested in the answer Adrien went back to reclining in his chair. "Oh I just remember him from school, I didn't know you guys kept in touch. I'm a massive fan of Jagged too, that's all."

The dark haired woman didn't mention that she already knew about Adrien's love for Jaggeds music. That was a path she did not want to go down.

"Oh, well yeah Luka and I kept in touch. I mean, we still keep in touch. We were really good friends all through high school. Ayla, Nino and I are all still really good friends too." Marinette didn't mention the fact that Adrien and Nino used to be close too, or how much Nino missed him. It didn't feel like the right time.

Apparently done with the small talk, Felix stood up from the table, passing Marinette a business card as he did so. "Sorry to leave, but I have another appointment I need to be getting to. Marinette here's my number please give me a call as soon as you can regarding your new position and payment for today. Sorry we didn't get to discuss it sooner."

He then turned to Adrien, giving him a curt nod "I'll see you at home." Felix used the same formal tone with his cousin that he had at the shoot, and all throughout the day.

Adrien must have noticed the worried look Mari wore as she watched Felix walk away. "It's alright, he's not always like that. You've just got to get to know him, then he will mellow out a bit. He was just raised very… proper, I guess you could say."

Still watching the young man leave Mari replied distractedly. "I hope so, still I think I may be in over my head as it is."

"Oh really? Why's that?" The model lent forward resting his chin in his hand lazily.

The young woman froze, having forgotten who she was talking to. She grimaced, before turning to face Adrien, who was looking a little worse for wear. The way the light hit his face made it possible to see tell tale bags under his eyes.

She wondered what he had gotten up to as Chat Noir after he took off on her the night before. She couldn't help herself, her curiosity was too great. "Big night out?"

The blonde raised his arms over head and stretched in a dramatic and very cat-like way, yawning as he did so. "Mmm sorta I guess, I was out a little too late having a nip or two with a new friend."

Even though she has asked the answer still stung, who was the new friend he was talking about? As much as she told herself she wasn't interested in Chat Noir, -or Adrien, the first question that jumped to mind was if it was another woman. It was a painful thing to consider, especially since Chat Noirs feelings for Ladybug were no secret.

She tried to keep her response airy and light, "a good night then?" She failed miserably, thankfully Adrien was too tired to notice either way.

"Mm all things considered not really, but it was nice to hang out with someone that just gets me the way he does. It was refreshing!" For a moment the model in him was gone as he crossed his arms on the table, his head rested on top of them.

"Truth be told, it was nice to hang out with anyone who isn't obliged to spend time with me. But they choose to anyway, just because they enjoy my company."

Ouch, if Marinette thought she hurt before, it was nothing compared to that blow. She didn't want her partner to think she didn't enjoy his company as a friend… she was just adjusting was all. Trying to get her head around the new dynamic and figuring out how to move forward with their changed relationship.

Sometimes it was hard for her to see past how the secret identities affected more than just herself. "Why don't you hang out with Nino anymore? I understand if it's none of my business, but I know he misses you." Her voice was small and meek, as if she had reverted back to her younger high school self. Not the confident kick ass woman/ superheroine she told herself she was now.

From the other side of the table Adrien sighed, running a hand through his hair, which up till then had been perfectly styled. "It's not that I don't want to, I just-I feel like I don't fit in with him now. Like the more I had to model the further away we drifted. It just got hard and I felt like he almost resented me near the end."

He looked up, locking those bright green eyes onto Marinettes. "I wasn't exactly a joy to be around during finals, I was a mess. Trying to balance everything and still get the grades that farther expected me too. Then there was that thing with Kagami and-I just felt it was better for everyone if I gave them some distance."

Marinette remembered though of course, it had hurt her to see Adrien in such a state. More so than it had hurt to see him dating one of her close friends. Despite herself Mari reached across the table, placing a hand over the top of Adrien's.

"Why don't you reach out to him, he's a lot more understanding than you might think and I know he misses you. We all do." Marinette reached into her bag to retrieve one of the several pens she kept inside then scribbled Ninos number down on one of the unused serviettes.

She stood from her place at the table, pushing the serviette towards Adrien. "I'm sure I'll see you around soon, since I'm working for your cousin now."

Feeling better about her situation the fashion student gave him a smile and a quick wave before departing the coffee shop and heading towards the metro. She had a lot to talk to Ayla about.

Adrien had planned on spending a little longer moping in his own misery, the topic Marinette had brought up wasn't a pleasant one for the young man. Sitting there feeling sorry for himself he toyed with the serviette his old friend had given him.

Something clawed at the edge of his tired thoughts. He felt as though he was missing something, like there was something important he was supposed to do. His tired mind just couldn't quite pinpoint what. He had done the shoot, that was finally over so at least Felix would get off his back about it.

That wasn't it though, there had been something he was excited about, that he was looking forward to. Finally it clicked, Adrien stood up from the table abruptly, almost knocking over his chair. He pocketed Ninos number and rushed out of the cafe with a quick wave to the waiter who had been about to approach his table.

He had forgotten all about the bit of paper Luka had given him, he hadn't even opened it when he got home. Thinking about the blue haired man did strange things to his chest, it tightened in excitement and anticipation at the thought of seeing him again. Almost the same way it did when he thought of Ladybug, he hadn't expected that.

Adrien brushed the thought aside, it had been that long since he had made a new friend he had obviously forgotten what it felt like. Surely it was just how everyone felt -wasn't it?

Felix had driven them to the cafe and Adrien wasn't in a particularly patient mood. Which meant that the idea of catching the metro wasn't overly enticing. All he wanted to do was read the note Luka had given him and get some much needed sleep.

His decision was an easy one, he strolled down the street looking for a quiet alleyway or hidden alcove to duck into. Unfortunately during the middle of the day there were few options to choose from.

After about ten minutes of strolling around rather pointlessly Adrien was getting frustrated and willing to lower his expectations for what he deemed a suitable place to transform.

On the corner of the street up ahead there was a busy little cafe, with people coming and going in all directions. Adrien stopped when he spotted a waiter walking out with a large garbage bag, he watched as the man disappeared around the corner for a moment and come back empty handed.

He smirked to himself, "that will do" he made his way towards where the waiter had disposed of the rubbish.

An unimpressed, little voice came from inside his hoodie. "I hope you're not doing what I think you're doing. That's disgusting and I'll have no part in it."

"You'll be fine Plagg you won't even notice, just stay in my jumper." Adrien gently pushed on the top of the little Kwami's head with his index finger, urging him to go back into hiding.

"Speak for yourself and your pathetic human nose! Last time you tried something like that we both stunk like trash for a week. Even after my hours of preening."

The young man scoffed at the dramatics of his companion. "Good, it will be a nice change from your usual camembert stink, I was getting sick of that."

The little black Kwami continued to complain and groan until Adrien called upon his transformation and his whining was cut short. The blonde might have listened to his Kwami, if it weren't for the fact that he complained all the time, about practically anything that wasn't napping or camembert.

Getting home was short work as Chat Noir, vaulting from rooftop to rooftop. It only took several minutes compared to the half an hour it would have taken on the metro. As always the house was empty when he got home, which meant he didn't have to worry about being spotted as he swung in through his open upstairs window.

"Plagg, claws in" a green flash enveloped the room leaving Adrien standing in Chat Noir's place. As soon as he was free Plagg started on his tirade.

"Disgusting, absolutely disgusting. I can't believe you made me do that. To think you were chosen to be the holder for the power of destruction, unbelievable!"

The blonde chuckled as he headed for the bathroom, "stop your complaining, I didn't even get inside the dumpster this time." While that was true it still warranted a shower. Lurking around dirty alleyways wasn't Adrien's preferred pass time but it got the job done.

Once in the bathroom the young man stripped out of his clothes, carelessly tossing them to the ground. With no regard for the fact that they were the first pieces of a new line, that had been tailored to perfection just for him.

It was nothing new for Adrien, he wore designer clothes everyday of his life. Hell, even his underwear was designer.

Wasting little time in the shower the model washed quickly before stepping out. Wearing nothing but a towel tied around his waist he began combing his room for the folded bit of paper Luka had given him the night before.

In his sleep deprived, and slightly intoxicated state he couldn't remember where he had placed it. He cursed under his breath as he fumbled around the room. The noise he was making apparently disrupted the Kwami from whatever it was he had been doing.

"Are you quite right there making all that racket? How am I supposed to enjoy my lunch when you're making so much noise?"

Adrien stood to face Plagg, giving him a frustrated glare. "I'm looking for the bit of paper Luka gave me last night, I can't find it anywhere."

"Geez, fine form kid. Did you try checking your staff compartment?" The Kwami rolled his eyes, ever the dramatic type.

The practically naked model face palmed himself, of course. That was the most obvious place, he seriously did need some sleep. "Plagg-"

"Are you serious?" The Kwami squeaked, interrupting Adrien as he called him to transform for the second time that day.

Chat Noir reached for the baton that rested on his lower back, twirling it effortlessly as he did so. With a clawed finger he pressed the middle toe of the glowing green paw print that decorated the silver staff, revealing the compartment. The only thing inside was the note from Luka.

Chat grabbed it quickly, holstering the baton back where it belonged and dropped his transformation, all it a matter of seconds.

"Thanks Plagg, you're the best." Adrien called out after the Kawmi who flittered off, mumbling something inchoate under his breath.

Note in hand he wandered over to his bed, letting himself fall backwards into its softness. His chest was humming and his body tingled with excitement at what the note might contain. He honestly couldn't believe he had forgotten about it.

Careful not to rip it, the blonde unfolded the crisp white paper to see black ink scrawled across the page.

Didnt know which would be safest for you to use while keeping your identity secret, so I just wrote them all down :)

Snapchat - Lukablue26

Insta - luka_couff

Phone - 041177258276

Adrien smiled to himself, he couldn't believe how thoughtful Luka was when it came to keeping his secret.

Excited, the hero considered his options, an instagram account was a little too public. He didn't currently have a burner phone to use to text on and he didn't have a Snapchat account since well, he had no one to send snaps to anyway.

That made his decision relatively easy, he reached across to his nightstand and grabbed his phone. It didn't take long for the app to download, Adrien paused when it prompted him for a username. He didn't plan to use it to snap anyone other than Luka, so he didn't want to make it obvious.

After thinking for a moment he grinned and typed in his new name whiskers_in_blackleather.