"So she had gotten the wrong end of the stick, and taken my keeping an eye on her, for wanting a relationship." Adrien summed up as they reached the Bridge of the Archbishopric.

"Ah, so I should be aware of that then," Marinette replied with a sweetly teasing smile, fluttering her eyelashes as she met his gaze.

"N-no-I-I didn't mean-" he stuttered in panic, hoping she hadn't assumed he was only keeping an eye on her.

"Agreste it's ok if you're just keeping an eye on me," she smiled understandably, as he resisted the urge to palm his face.

"DC I'm not keeping an eye on you," looking her in the eye. "I want to spend time with you..." putting his hands on the tops of her arms, he gave them a little squeeze. "I wish I could have known you in school, and would very much like to show you that I am not the nob head you thought I was." His eyes were pleading, and his smile was soft, Marinette wondered her gaze over his face and dropped down to his tie.

The distance had shortened between the two of them dramatically, her breath caught in her throat. Nibbling the bottom of her lip.

Rolling her eyes playfully, she rested her elbow on the railing, his hands dropped from her shoulders, allowing her to turn and look out to the Seine. "I'm sorry, I know you're not a nob or dick or anything like that," her voice remorseful, matching her eyes as she leaned fully on the railing. "I should never have assumed you were like Chloè," letting out a huge sigh, Marinette was disappointed with her past actions.

Dropping her head, looking at her wavy reflection in the water. Marinette was suddenly aware Adrien had moved to behind her, making room for tourists taking in the sights. His presence was not unwelcome, as he put a hand either side of her, as if he was shielding her from people passing by.

"It's ok," he sighed teasingly. "I'm sure I can forgive you." Marinette could hear the smile in his voice. Her head tilted to the side, Adrien automatically put his chin on her shoulder, as he had done so many times before when dressed as his alter ego. As if they had both forgotten for a moment, Marinette let the familiar notion stand without recognition that it was Adrien and not Chat. Out of habit and familiarity, Adrien reached his arms around her waist and gave her a squeeze before standing up straight and letting go.

"I would love to stay and chat-"

Realising his gesture followed by his words caused Marinette to tense as she quickly turned to him.

This is surreal!

"-here." He gestured to their surroundings, "but it's getting a little busy and-"

"Mari!"

The pair both craned their necks in the direction the voice came from. On the bustling bridge path. A redheaded Alya could be seen marching towards them, dragging a less enthusiastic Nino in her wake.

"Alya! Nino!" Marinette greeted her friends as they pulled up through the crowd around them. Marinette's mind wondered to how her sleuth of a best friend would interpret her being here. With Adrien. Wearing a Chat Noir hat.

Ground, swallow me now...please?!

Marinette's smile was somewhat strained in anticipation, as she surveyed a smug looking Alya.

Shit.

"Out and about with Chat are we?" She pointed to a suddenly flustered Adrien, whom she winked at adding, "don't worry Agreste I won't blow your disguise." She pointed playfully at his hat, which luckily gave him an excuse to look uncomfortable.

"Y-yeah thanks," he thought quickly, "I didn't want to be recognised." His smile was nervous, as his hand found its way to his nape with a small forced chuckle. "How are you guys?"

Marinette leaned back on the railing as Adrien, Alya and Nino spoke. Observing with a thoughtful gaze, her lips pursed as she studied him from this angle, noting the blonde locks which protruded out from underneath the hat. His jawline, his sun kissed skin and his mannerisms. She could see he was standing straighter, shoulders pulled back appropriately, back to his more professional self.

"-Do you want to go then?" Alya's voice brought her out of her observation.

"Where?"

"Back to Nino's," Alya had a glimmer of mischief in her eye, as Marinette glanced between her, Nino and Adrien. Trying to read them, Nino had a 'fuck sake Alya, leave them be' look on his face, while Alya was demandingly smirking at a 'caught in headlights' Marinette. Adrien had a pleading smile as he tilted his head in Alya's direction while looking back at her. A boyish enthusiasm lingered in his demeanour, as if he was asking her for permission to go.

"I can't be late though," Marinette accepted reluctantly. "I-I've got work tomorrow."

And what if Chat comes round?

"Girl! We've all got work tomorrow!" Alya cackled, "what do you think were gonna get up to?" Her eyebrows wiggled at Marinette, as a blush dusted Marinette's cheeks.

I wish I had a way of contacting Chat...

"DC, I can walk you home if you prefer," Adrien noted the uncertainty still present in her features.

Just as Marinette went to reply, Nino interrupted.

"DC? As in the heroes?" Looking confused, Nino surveyed Marinette up and down.

Alya, Marinette and Adrien chuckled.

"No, as in Dupain-Chang," Marinette explained as Adrien gazed fondly between the friends.

"I was going to say Marinette!" Nino exclaimed, "I don't think I could EVER imagine you running around in spandex!"

A snort came from Alya as she shared a knowing look at Marinette, who was trying to hide the impulse to laugh loud and hard at his observation.

Oh the irony!

"No Nino, that's something I'll leave to the professionals." She winked playfully and raised an eyebrow to the group with a smirk. "I'm sure Ladybug and Chaton have got it covered."

With that said, Alya linked Marinette's arm and sauntered past Adrien, leaving Nino and Adrien to walk, admittedly rather awkwardly, behind them. In silence. It sucked.

As the foursome made their way off the bridge towards Nino's house, Adrien had a nagging feeling in the back of his mind. Had he heard her correctly, what did she call his other self?

Did she say Chat Noir? Or did she say Chaton?

As far as he was aware, there was only one person who had called him that, that person had not been Marinette. Adrien could not be certain he had heard correctly, and the silence was becoming obvious, so he turned his thoughts to Nino.

How do I break the ice-got it!

Adrien smirked to himself as he recalled the conversation he and Marinette had in her kitchen.

"Soooo...Nino," he began, "did you think I was a nob head in school too?" A smile played on his lips as he felt Nino tense suddenly at the question, before Nino could stumble out a reply, Adrien continued. "It's ok man, I know I didn't come across that well in school-" he gestured to Marinette in front of him, "-I've been informed."

"Dude it's not like we didn't try y'know," Nino replied sheepishly. "Chloé was a force to be reckoned with!"

"She still is," Adrien chuckled. "She was just worried about losing me as her friend."

"Understood," Nino nodded, as he put out his hand to Adrien, who shook it gladly. "We've grown up now though dude, it's always nice to have another man around," Nino gestured to the ladies taking the lead. "You and Mari seemed pretty cosy," shooting Adrien a knowing look, he elbowed him playfully as Adrien blushed.

"Yeah, she's a great person!"

"Dude you're smiling like a love sick school boy!" Nino hushed to him, wide eyed and broadly grinning.

"Shit, sorry..." Adrien composed himself. "I like her, a lot."

"Sorry to break it to you dude, but...I don't think she's interested in having a relationship..." Nino grimaced at Adrien, who was taking this news surprisingly well. "From what I've seen-" Nino hesitated, looking to the ladies who were happily chatting as they were nearing their destination. "-Y'know, I don't actually know! She's not shown much of an interest in dating." Nino looked at Adrien with questioning eyes. "I don't know why I'm inclined to tell you any of this to be honest Adrien." He looked back to Marinette and dropped his pace, Adrien followed suit.

"You don't have to tell me anything you don't think she wouldn't want me to know Nino."

"It's fine, I don't think she'd mind, she's pretty open an' all." Nino shrugged, "She's been so set on getting where she wants to be, she's never really had a relationship."

"Really?" Adrien pondered Nino's words.

"Yeah, there was this one guy she was close to but, she didn't feel enough for him to follow him around while he toured."

"Why would she need to do that?"

"He's a musician, he's pretty good too. He toured with Jagged Stone a couple years back." Nino gestured to a Marinette again, "she was his 'one that got away'." Doing air quotes as he spoke, Adrien raised his eyebrows at Nino. "Yeah, he was gone for a while, and he was crushed when she didn't go, whenever he's-"

"Nino, where are your keys?" Alya interrupted Nino and Adrien's chat, as she searched her bag. "I can't-find-mine," on the verge of tipping her bag out onto the front step, Nino hurried to open the door. They shared an affectionate smile as she looked up to him, "my knight with shining keys!"

"Blurgh," Marinette grimaced playfully at the couple. "Get a room!" She exclaimed as he hoisted her up and propelled her through the doorway.

"We've got one! You're just joining us in it!" Alya shrieked with laughter, as Marinette and Adrien followed them through slightly reluctantly after their sudden outburst of affection. "Lose the hat Chat!" Alya called with amusement, as the door shut behind them.