Chapter Three

With Ladybug's fingers settled in the crook of his elbow, Chat Noir walked side by side into the ballroom at Le Grand Paris. The mayor had gone all out to make the place look splendid and Chat had to subdue the sneer which threatened to spread across his face. His father had thrown some money at the event as well as supplying some of the outfits for the upper crust. Even Chloe would be wearing a Gabriel original gown.

Now there was someone he wanted to avoid while he was Adrien, at least if she was currently single. He hadn't spent much time with his childhood friend for some years. She'd had her nose out of joint when he'd started dating Kagami. The two had never gotten along.

Chloe herself was something of a serial dater. Never settling on someone for too long, or perhaps they couldn't take her demanding attitude. Having grown up with her, Adrien had a lot higher tolerance of her bratty behaviour. Still, he hoped that she was currently seeing someone, he didn't want to have to put up with her clingy attempts at flirting. Not when his intentions centred around getting Ladybug into his bed.

The thought had him glancing sideways at his partner. She was almost a full head shorter than him, not that he minded. Ladybug had always been petite. It was one of her traits which made her so attractive to him. Some base instinct liked that he was bigger than her, and able to shield her body from harm with his own. Although he'd much prefer to cover her in more intimate ways.

Inwardly slapping his wayward libido, Chat Noir returned his attention to the situation at hand. They were in a public place and he did not want to be sporting a boner when he was supposed to be circulating amongst the upper echelons of society. It was poor form, one simply did not mingle when obviously aroused.

Their first order of business was to be greeted by the mayor. Chat Noir was somewhat relieved when he took in the familiar tall figure with receding hairline. Yet a muscle in his jaw tightened when he eyed Chloe, her chin lifted haughtily. That icy blue gaze was piercing as she took in the two superheroes, although her behaviour was not unexpected.

Chloe had been most displeased when it became apparent that she would not be retaining the bee miraculous. It was a sore point between the three of them, one which Chat Noir hoped would remain buried for the time being. Thankfully the snobby blonde tossed her head away from them to bestow a dazzling smile to the dark-haired man who approached and draped an arm around her waist. It seemed her flavour of the month was at hand. Hopefully that meant 'Adrien' would get a reprieve later in the evening when he arrived.

Once pleasantries were exchanged the duo made their way inside where the other guests awaited. Chat Noir had made it clear from the get go that he would only be present for half an hour. This meant that they were cornered by Nadja Chamack almost immediately. She was followed by a number of other people wanting their moment to rub elbows with the pair of superheroes.

Thirty minutes practically flew by and Chat Noir said his goodbyes as he eased his way through the crowd. As he departed he made sure to give Ladybug a final wave and a cheeky wink. It was time Adrien Agreste made his appearance.

There was a major downside to being a local celebrity, Adrien had no real way of sneaking into the charity ball without being acknowledged. Fortunately, he wasn't the only person arriving fashionably late to the party. But what made him truly smile was the fact that he wasn't the only young attractive blonde man entering the ballroom. Up and coming singer Fabian Alenko was a few people ahead of him.

Knowing where Ladybug was located in the ballroom, Adrien watched with interest as Fabian was announced and stepped into the room. A smirk pulled at the model's lips as he saw Ladybug's eyes narrow as she scrutinised the singer. She probably assumed that he was a likely candidate for being Chat Noir. Adrien hoped the man approached her, no doubt she'd shut him down before he even managed to utter even a word of flattery.

Soon enough it was Adrien's turn. He shook hands with Andre and gave Chloe a brief hug in greeting before stepping into the room to be announced. He wore a warm lopsided smile as he gave a nod of acknowledgement to those around him, purposefully avoiding Ladybug's gaze. If there was one thing he'd learned in his personal life, it was girls came to him when he paid them little attention. It was bizarre but true.

The old adage of 'treat them mean to keep them keen' was all too accurate. Not that Adrien went out of his way to be cruel but somehow his lack of interest only spurred more adoration from his fans. As if the fact that he was perceived as unobtainable made him all the more alluring. It was a tactic Ladybug wouldn't expect. As Chat Noir he'd practically thrown himself at her and it never worked. It was time to try something different.

With steady patience Adrien mingled from group to group, slowly edging closer to his lady while paying her little direct attention. Once their eyes had met across the room and Adrien gave her a wave. The heroine had waved in return, though her smile seemed almost forced and her eyes somewhat livid. He didn't understand what that meant. Had he offended her as Adrien and forgotten about it?

Ladybug couldn't believe it. Adrien Agreste was here. Why? Why? Why? Worst of all he was single again and her dormant infatuation with him reared its ugly head, as if sensing a final opportunity to pounce. She'd been crushed when she discovered things were becoming serious between Adrien and Kagami. It had been one the reasons she'd caved and given Luka a chance.

Something had died inside her when she'd seen Adrien kiss Kagami as if she meant the world to him. She'd wanted him to look at her that way, to hold her that way, to love her that way. But nothing she ever did as Marinette ever turned his head. It was like she didn't exist as a girl to him. Or at least a girl to be desired.

She hated the way her heart skittered at the sight of him. That Adrien had someone grown even more attractive. How was it possible? How could a man be so delectably handsome to the point it was almost painful to look at him and know you could never have him?

What made it worse was the way his very presence eclipsed the idea of Chat Noir being out there unmasked while seeking to seduce her. The thrill thrumming through her veins had steadied to a dull throb. Every fibre of her being wanted Adrien's attention to be riveted to her. She was such a masochist, longing for that which was impossible.

Those dazzling green eyes had unlocked from her own gaze some time ago. Adrien was busy laughing and chatting with those around him. Why couldn't she move passed this attraction? Especially given how little she'd interacted with him since they'd finished school together. Marinette had tried to distance herself from Adrien, she had been sick of her own deluded hopes of being with him. And of course, her friendship with Kagami had pretty much disintegrated as well.

Ladybug rarely interacted with Adrien but when she did there always seemed to be a need to touch him. Be it carrying him away from danger or grabbing his hand and leading him to safety. Usually the akuma was some obsessed fan who didn't get what they wanted from him. Sadly, Ladybug understood them all too well.

The sudden need to escape had Ladybug shuffling on the spot. Those around her didn't seem to notice her change in mood as they continued to chatter. She found herself nodding with a polite small smile on her lips as she edged her way out of the throng. Once outside of the circle of bodies, she turned only to run smack bang into someone tall. With a very firm chest. And shaggy blonde hair.

Slowly Ladybug lifted her head and met the green eyes of the man she'd run into. It was the singer, Fabian Alenko. Ladybug swallowed hard. Was this Chat Noir without his mask? His arrival was conveniently after her partner's departure.

"Sorry," she uttered while placing a hand on his chest to create some distance between them.

Fabian's own hand was laid quickly over hers, keeping it planted on his defined pectoral. "Apology accepted, Ladybug. I've been hoping we might run into each other. Although I didn't think it would be literal."

Not completely corny but definitely within the parameters of Chat Noir's usual repertoire. She decided to throw one back at him. "At least you weren't carrying a wine glass, it would have been catastrophic had you dropped it."

The singer beamed at her. "Absolutely. Perhaps fate was on my side for once."

Good lord, he had to be Chat Noir. Although she couldn't think of a time when they'd crossed paths. However, she had saved a lot of people over the years. Chat Noir had stated they'd interacted but for how long? And when?

But as she stared at Fabien some of Chat Noir's other comments fell into place. Like the fact that he was inundated with women wanting to be with him. Fabian certainly fit that criteria. But what about a recent breakup? She wasn't someone who followed celebrity news, well with the exception of Adrien through most of her teenage years.

"Are you single?" Slipped out of her mouth before she could think better of it.

Fabian's grip on her hand tightened as his smile widened. "I am."

Ladybug's pulse leapt. This had to be Chat Noir and she was tired of chasing after Adrien Agreste. Perhaps it was time she gave in to her partner and finally let him have what he wanted.

A deep frown had settled on Adrien's face. Fabian was busy talking to Ladybug and she wasn't fobbing him off. A waitress stepped in front of his view offering d'oeuvres. The model wondered if he could lob one of the snacks at Fabian's face from this distance but decided it wasn't worth the wrath of his father at causing such a scene.

This was not going how he'd envisioned it. Ladybug was supposed to blow this guy off, not draw him in. The model raked a hand through his styled locks and moved into action. He wasn't being a passive bystander anymore. There was no catwalk strut to be had, just the predatorial loping of his alter ego as he ate up the space between them.

Nothing was going to stand in the way of his chance to finally win over his lady. Cutting through the crowd, Adrien stopped behind Fabian and slapped him on the shoulder. "There you are."

The singer turned with a perplexed look on his face. "Adrien?"

"Yeah, long time no see." The model held out his hand in greeting.

Fabian automatically reached for it and shook. "Uh, yeah. Not since Tokyo, right? That was a wicked night."

"Wasn't it just. How many women ended up in your room again? Was it three or four? The memory is a little blurry. Too many drinks."

"Um…" Fabian looked nervously to Ladybug and back at Adrien. "Two."

"Wild times. But then I've always been a one-woman man."

The singer tugged at his collar. "Yeah."

"You remember Lila, right?" Adrien said as he turned to look over his shoulder. "She's over there somewhere looking for you. Said she wanted a repeat of last Friday, whatever that means."

Fabian visibly paled. "Shit. Um, I just remembered I need to be somewhere."

"Oh, okay." Adrien turned to watch the singer scurry away with the frantic movements of a hunted man. The model allowed himself a smug grin before wiping it away and turning to Ladybug. "I guess Lila's reputation proceeds her."

His partner seemed to deflate, exhaling a "Yeah. I didn't realise he was an actual player."

There was something very defeated in her words and Adrien sensed there was more to it than he was perceiving. "Are you okay?"

Ladybug sniffed and rubbed her knuckle under her nose. "Just a little stunned. It kind of sucks when initial impressions are proved right when you thought you were wrong."

Again, Adrien got the feeling he was missing something important. Those vivacious blue eyes were dimming and welling up with tears. "Hey, you want to go somewhere less crowded?"

Flicking a glance up at him, Ladybug nodded and accepted his outstretch hand. "Yes please."

Hmm, things are not going the way Adrien had thought but could there be a chance to swing them in his favour? Find out soon ;)

Now then, someone asked how often I update. I try to update weekly on at least one of my stories but it really depends on whether or not I'm happy to publish the next chapter and how creative my brain currently is. For instance, I fully intended on publishing the next chapter of 'Things that Bump in the Night' but I'm not happy with it yet, hence the delay. So it's probably easiest for you either follow my stories or me as an author and then you'll see when/what I've updated XD

Thanks for reading :)