Chapter Five

Alya couldn't help but notice the hesitant way Lila approached their table, the Italian shooting several glances at her, as if trying to get some reassurance. She smiled at her, waving for her to join them at their table. Lila beamed, before finally coming to sit down next to her. She smiled as she sat, showing no sign that her wrist was hurting her– was she hiding her arthritis pain again?

"Hello everyone," Lila said as she sat down. "You don't mind if I sit at your table today, right? I usually sit with Rose and Juleka at lunch, but I don't want to impose on them all the time and–"

"Of course, dude!" Nino said, grinning. "You're always free to sit with us."

"Don't even need to ask," Alya agreed, turning her focus to Adrien. Her eyes narrowed as she saw his reaction to Lila, a slight scowl forming on his face. His green eyes locked right onto Lila's, and not breaking eye contact he very deliberately put his arm around Marinette, pulling her close.

Lila glanced at Alya after this, shifting uncomfortably, before looking down at her tray of food. "I hope everything's been going well for you guys."

There was no denying there was something going on between the two of them, the way they were looking at each other was more than enough proof. Alya put a hand on Lila's shoulder to try to boost her mood, while trying to keep herself from jumping to conclusions– but as a journalist sometimes it was too hard to resist. She could already see the story forming in her mind, filling in the blanks between what she already knew.

What if Adrien was trying to make Lila jealous, regret that she hadn't returned his feelings? The way he had been holding Marinette had clearly been intended for Lila to see, as if trying to mock her in some way. Perhaps his feelings for Lila had been real, but he had turned to Marinette to save face. Mari's crush had always been obvious, and maybe Adrien wasn't as oblivious as she had thought.

No. Half of that didn't even involve facts. She knew that Adrien had confessed to Lila, but that didn't confirm his feelings for Mari weren't real. It wasn't impossible to have more than one crush, but what was important was that you were loyal when you did get with someone. But if he did have feelings for two people then that meant that Marinette had been his second choice...

Adrien. She had to remind herself. Sunshine child. Cinnamon roll. Wouldn't hurt a fly.

That glare he had given Lila though didn't seem so innocent, however. Alya frowned, but decided to watch their interactions a bit more closely from here on out, to gather what clues she could. Lila seemed to know just as little as her, but was just worried at the possibility that Marinette's feelings could be being played with. Chances are they were just overreacting, but both were just looking out for a friend, Marinette deserves the best after all, and she wasn't going to let anyone hurt her.

Alya made sure to laugh as Nino cracked a joke, not wanting to just look like she was sitting here frowning. It didn't take long for the slight tension from before to vanish, all five of them carrying on a conversation before long. Adrien and Marinette seemed to keep to themselves for the most part, but with a new couple what was there to expect? They wanted to be with each other and no one else... at least Alya hoped that was the case.

"Hey Nino, what do you say we take our ladies out this weekend?" Adrien asked with a smile. "A double date with our girlfriends?"

"Sounds awesome to me, you dudettes free this weekend?"

Alya couldn't help but notice that this topic change just happened to exclude Lila, and was discussing Adrien's lovelife. She shifted uncertainly, hoping that Lila wouldn't feel too much like a fifth wheel. "That sounds like fun, I'm sure I'll be free."

"I have to help out with the bakery in the mornings, but after that I can," Marinette replied.

"Awesome!" Nino cheered. "Finally get to go on a double date with my best friend!"

"I thought you were taking me out," Alya said with a slight smirk.

"You know what I meant, babe!"

"Are you going to tell me why we're stalking our friends' date?" Nino asked as they trailed down the streets, Alya trying to keep a certain girl in her sights before she could slip away into the crowd. "We literally went on a double date with them yesterday."

"Marinette said that she was hanging out with Adrien tonight, and I want to see this first date– first one without us there," Alya replied– since when was Mari so fast? Sure there were plenty of people out and about, but it wasn't as if the streets were overly crowded. Yet still it felt nearly impossible to keep track of her, and of course they couldn't get too close without being noticed.

"This is ridiculous Alya, Mari didn't stalk us on our first date."

"Our first date was being locked in a black leopard's cage while an akuma ran around," Alya replied, pausing at a street corner. "Okay, which way did she go?"

"Maybe she isn't going on a date?" Nino suggested.

"She said she was going to be with Adrien."

"That doesn't have to mean date..." Nino said, looking at her with a pointed look. She frowned at him for a moment– before spotting a glimpse of Marinette disappearing around another street corner. She grabbed Nino by the wrist, taking off running before she could get too far ahead.

"Why do you keep doing that?" She shouted over her shoulder. "You know something that I don't?"

"Yep!" Nino called back, stumbling to try to keep up. "I thought you would have figured it out by now!"

She pressed her lips together, but decided not to comment. It was probably something small and unimportant, a tiny detail she had just overlooked. Of course he was gloating that he had caught something she missed, but she decided she wasn't going to give her boyfriend the satisfaction of begging him for whatever it was, so she didn't say anything. No details escaped her completely, after all, and she'd figure it out eventually.

"We lost her again!" Alya cried in frustration. "Did Adrien say anything about hanging with Mari? Where they were meeting– something?"

Nino grinned. "I have an idea of what they could be doing. No idea of where they could be though."

"Care to enlighten me?"

His grin widened. "I think if I told you that you'd be mad at me for spoiling it."

She rolled her eyes, so it was going to be that way, huh? "Never mind, just help me find her, okay?"

She pressed forward, eyes carefully scanning the crowds and streets for any sign of her friend. She eventually let go of Nino's hand, the two of them making their way forward as they searched for her. She glanced at restaurant windows to see if she could spot them being seated at a table, but still nothing.

Alya was getting a bit frustrated at this point, though Marinette was known for her skills at slipping away. Here she was just hoping to spot how they interacted together outside of school, and get some more answers for what could possibly be going on. Her notebook was full of notes, but had next to nothing on answers.

She sat on a park bench, letting out a small annoyed huff. Nino sat next to her, placing his cap on her head so it covered her eyes. She pushed it up, looking at him as he gave her a playful grin. She couldn't help but give a small smile, putting his cap back on his head, but backwards.

"There, now you look like a punk," She said with a smirk as he readjusted his hat.

"Just need a pair of sunglasses to complete the look then, huh?"

She opened her mouth to reply– when a flicker of red caught her attention. Instantly her eyes lit up at the sight of her idol, and she leapt to her feet. She didn't even need to think, hand instinctively reaching into her pocket and pulling out her phone. She sprinted across the park, pulling up her camera, finger hovering over the record button so she could press play the moment she needed to record. She could hear Nino calling after her, but she wasn't stopping, it was hard enough to keep up with super heroes as it was.

"Operation Adrienette will have to wait– Ladybug's heading east– come on Nino!"

"Wait for me!" He called after her, but she was already out of the park and back into the streets.

Unlike tailing Marinette she had experience with pursuing Ladybug, she knew about how much ground the hero could cover with her yoyo, and which buildings she was likely to swing to that could support her the best. She also knew several of their meetup spots, though they tended to switch to new ones after a few ambush interviews. There was also some she personally avoided putting on her blog, either by request of Ladybug and Chat as they were good meet up points, or it was a good place for her to transform and detransform as Rena when she was given her Miraculous to use.

She admired Paris' heroes, but she respected them too. When they asked her to keep something off of the blog, she would. They had trusted her with a Miraculous, even though she was a dedicated fan, and she didn't want to lose that trust. She kept the secrets they asked her to, and in return they didn't seem to mind her sometimes aggressive pursuit for an interview.

Her favorite interview with a hero had to be an interview with herself though– Rena Rouge– via illusions. It actually hadn't been her idea, interviewing herself on her blog seemed cheap, but rather it was Ladybug's idea to cement the idea that she couldn't be Rena to her fans. If she just happened to miss every fight that Rena was involved in people might start asking questions, so best to throw them off their trail.

"Ladybug!" Alya cried as soon as her hero was in shouting distance– at least shouting distance that didn't seem like a cry for help. "Ladybug– wait!"

Ladybug swung up onto a fire escape, pausing as she watched her number one fan race towards her. A small smile flickered up onto the hero's face, giving a friendly wave. Alya recognized this building as a meet up spot they had used before, and considering that it was late afternoon she suspected that Chat Noir was on the roof waiting to meet up for a patrol.

"Alya– wait– for– me–!" Nino was panting as he at last caught up to her, hands on his knees as he paused to catch his breath. He wasn't in quite as good shape as her when it came to hero chasing.

"Well, if it isn't my favorite reporter," Ladybug said, sitting on the fire escape railing. Alya couldn't help but beam that the fact she was the 'favorite', people often said she was, but this was the first time she heard it from the hero herself. Was it because she kept secrets? Or because they seemed to be near the same age? "What brings you out here? There's not an akuma, is there?"

"No, I was just wondering– if you're not busy– if I could get a quick interview?" Alya asked, holding up her phone hopefully.

"Is that why we ran all the way over here?" Nino asked, while Ladybug frowned slightly, glancing over her shoulder.

As if on cue a baton landed on the escape behind her, Chat Noir vaulting down from the roof next to Ladybug. He shrunk down his staff, leaning against the railing as he peered down at them. "Hello ladies, did I miss anything?"

"Just an interview request," Ladybug replied, leaning up against Chat– which Alya instantly noticed. "I'm afraid we'll have to decline this time though, we're supposed to be patrolling right now and I'm late as it is."

Alya resisted the urge to just hit record anyways, and get a shot of them swinging away on their patrol, but she knew better. This was a meeting point that had been kept on the quieter side and she wasn't going to expose it. Besides, her blog was no longer a young one that would post any possible image or recording of the heroes, she wanted to keep her posts on the more professional side now days. She nodded in understanding, and went to put her phone away.

"Wait a second Ladyblogger," Chat Noir said, causing her to pause. He had a grin on his face, one that seemed very familiar at this point, causing both her and Ladybug to give him a suspicious look. "We don't have time for an interview, but I think we do have something for you to put on your blog."

"Right now, Chat?" Ladybug asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Would you want another source to find out first?" Chat asked, raising an eyebrow. "Who better than our own Ladyblogger?"

Alya was instantly on alert– a scoop that hadn't gotten out yet? One that they wanted her to have first? Immediately her phone was out once more, aimed up at the super heroes as she started to record. Ladybug was watching Chat for a moment, expression warm, then she looked down at Alya waiting for whatever they had to say.

Ladybug gave the camera a grin, swinging off the railing so she was standing next to her partner. "Hello Paris, me and Kitty here just had a little something we wanted to announce before we started patrol tonight."

Then she grabbed Chat Noir by the bell, pulling him in for a kiss right on the lips.

Alya's eyes bulged, a small excited squeal escaping her. This wasn't the first kiss she had witnessed between them– but this was the first kiss without an akuma involved. Chat Noir leaned into the kiss, both gloved hands on His Lady's face as they embraced, looking as if he were in heaven. Ladybug and Chat Noir were kissing! On the lips! The heroes of Paris were kissing! Stubborn Ladybug had initiated the kiss! They had wanted her blog to be the first one to see it!

They were both blushing as they pulled back, but looked so happy. Ladybug took on a slightly more professional stance, smiling at the camera. "We've been keeping quiet about this for the last few months, but we thought it was time for Paris to know. Bug out!"

Then with that she threw her yoyo, zipping away, leaving a slightly confused Chat behind. "Y-yeah, hardest secret to keep these last few months," He said, and Alya giggled, Chat must have been dying that whole time. He gave a salute. "I'll see you around, I have a lovely Lady to catch up with."

Then with that he vaulted away, hurrying after Ladybug and leaving them alone. Alya carefully stopped the video, swaying slightly in place, a stunned look on her face. Nino put a hand on her shoulder, and she turned towards him, the biggest grin spreading over her face as she did.

"Nino..." She said softly, the realization coming over her. "Ladybug and Chat..."

"Yeah?" He said.

"They just... they kissed..." She let out a whoop. "Nino– Ladynoir is finally canon!"

Nino let out a long sigh– but Alya's hype was just beginning. Another one of her ships was finally sailing, and she wasn't about to calm down anytime soon.

Even though she had posted the video as soon as she had gotten home she still was shoving her phone in her classmates' face the next day at school before class began. There wasn't anyone that hadn't known about the kiss, all of her class followed the Ladyblog, and plus the video had exploded in views overnight. The shippers in the comments were rejoicing, the conspirators seemed convinced this was somehow a ploy for the heroes to take down Hawk Moth, and her rival blogs were fuming at the exclusive footage. She was also keeping an eye on the blogs and other news sites– because no one was going to use her video without crediting her.

"Ladynoir is canon, Ladynoir is canon!" Alya practically sang, the whole class gathered around as she proudly showed them the footage. "They said they wanted my blog to be the first to know! Ladybug called me her favorite reporter!"

"That's so awesome, Alya," Marinette said, smiling as she watched the kiss.

"Yeah, must have been such a hard secret to keep," Adrien said, arms on Mari's shoulders as he peered over her head, causing Marinette to roll her eyes.

"They're heroes," She replied. "They need to keep things professional, and clearly decided to wait for more than one day to go blurting out they were together."

Adrien flushed at the jab, but just replied by giving her a kiss to the top of her head. "Sorry, Princess, I guess the heroes are more responsible than any of us will ever be."

"I don't think responsible and Chat Noir go together," Nino said, watching Adrien closely. He scowled slightly for a moment, before instantly relaxing and chuckling.

"You can say that again," Marinette replied.

"They're just so cute together!" Rose said, squealing as she latched onto Juleka's arm. "Aren't they just adorable? I hope they get to go on romantic dates and watch the stars together!"

"It's awesome," Juleka replied softly.

Lila appeared next to Alya, watching the video expressionlessly. Alya turned it so she could watch it better, watching Lila's expression, which was strangely neutral. After it was over though she was smiling, cooing over it almost just like Rose had.

"I'm so glad they finally made their relationship public," Lila said excitedly. "Ladybug's been telling me nonstop how happy she was to finally be with Chat Noir, she couldn't really talk about it with anyone else you see, it was so hard to keep it a secret," She turned towards Alya, grinning. "I'm glad to see she took my suggestion with going through your blog to make the announcement!"

"That was you? Thank you girl!" Alya said, throwing her arms around Lila.

She waved a hand. "Like I've told you a hundred times, I wanted to make sure your blog can reach your full potential," She sat on the desk. "It's just so nice to be able to talk about them being together freely now, though. Like a few weeks ago when Marinette was saying we shouldn't ship them because they weren't a couple? I just had to hold my tongue even though I wanted to defend their relationship."

It was true Marinette had gotten quite heated on some Ladynoir art not that long ago, saying that it was inappropriate to ship actual people that weren't in a relationship. It had seemed like a tad bit overreacting, but she did have valid points on the fact that these were real people they were attempting to pair up like they were characters from a story.

Marinette gave Lila a wry smile. "Well, now that we know that they are we aren't forcing people into a romantic spotlight by shipping them. If you're really so close to Ladybug I'm sure it would have bothered you when people shipped them before they were really together."

"Ladybug's had a crush on Chat for ages, she's just been too shy to confess it," Lila explained. "What I found a bit rude was that you were assuming things about them, that can be a bit hurtful, you know."

A few murmurs flew through their classmates, well aware that Lila was probably referring to her relationship with Marinette. After all Marinette had jumped to conclusions and as a result had a rough friendship with Lila today.

Alya was going to say something to break up the tension, but out of the corner of her eyes she saw Adrien's glare. He was staring straight at Lila, nothing short of a look of anger on his face as he glowered at her. Lila noticed this too, offering him a smile, which he responded to by wrapping his arms around Marinette, in almost a possessive manner. Lila's expression fell, and she flashed a glare at him before looking away.

"Lila, can we talk?" Adrien asked. "Alone."

Lila blinked. "Of course we– of c-course we can."

Her voice had started off strong, when suddenly a small stutter appeared in her speech, like someone had hit a switch. She stood up, shooting a hesitant glance around the classroom, before making her way to the door. Adrien did the same, briskly walking past her and into the hallway without even glancing at Lila. She however stopped in the doorway, looking back before she followed after him. Green eyes locked straight onto Alya, as if silently trying to convey a message.

There was a look of fear in Lila's eyes, as if she didn't want to be alone with Adrien.

Then she was gone, the two of them heading down the hall to talk. Marinette looked worried, and some of the class was sharing confused glances. Adrien and Lila did photoshoots together after all, and were clearly confused about the sudden cold behavior. Alya on the other hand felt a wave of chills running through her, knowing that their friendship wasn't as smooth as it seemed to be. Lila had confided in her with what had happened– and had looked at her so desperately just now.

"I need to go to the bathroom!" Alya blurted out, standing straight up. She closed her phone out from her blog and video, heading towards the door. "If Miss Bustier starts class before I get back tell her I'm going to be late!"

Then with her phone in hand she hurried out of the classroom, bolting in the direction Adrien and Lila had gone. She just hoped that not taking Lila's worries more seriously wouldn't be a mistake.