Sorry. I didn't do this yesterday like I should have, and while I knew mostly what I wanted to happen in it, I had a hard time figuring out how exactly I should make that happen.

And I got distracted doing other things that were actually important. Or, at least I think it is. (Guess who made a llama bandanna to add to their collection?)

Ladrien

Adrien thought it was better when he only knew that Marinette had a crush on him. Now that he was aware of his crush on her…

Somehow it was worse.

He knew if she tried talking to him, they'd both be stuttering messes.

So he avoided her the best he could.

Or so he resolved, before even getting to school.

Then Adrien saw what was on his desk.

He recognized it as an American soda called Crush.

I hear that this shares a name with the English term for someone you are infatuated with. I certainly have a 'crush' on you.

It was only embellished with hearts, leaving no name. There was no need for one, more than Marinette knew.

Adrien sighed, stashing it in his bag before anyone else noticed.

If only his figurative crush was as easy to deal with.

Ladybug couldn't help herself.

She stopped on the wall next to Adrien's room. There was no one else to keep her in check, no schedule for her to keep. Besides, it wasn't like anything had happened because of it yesterday- good, bad, or otherwise.

She stared into the empty room. He would probably be back from his fencing practice soon, but she wondered if he would show up.

Yesterday… ugh. That had made her going crazy today. Even with what she gave to Adrien, she couldn't help but think of something Chat probably would have loved more than the boy she intended it for.

She'd always liked Chat to some degree… but in the past couple of days, she had just seen it so much more.

And Adrien had been more awkward around her today- even more than yesterday. What had even happened? When did she start to be able to not freak out as much about him, and he started to act the way she used to?

Chat was seriously somehow messing her head on Ladybug's end of things.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice when Adrien did, indeed, come back from fencing, until he started tapping on the window, gaining her attention.

Ladybug looked up, only a little flushed. "Hey, Adrien. Sorry, I was just standing here while thinking. I probably need to keep patrolling the city anyhow-"

"It's fine, Ladybug," he quickly interjected. "If you're not too pressed for time, I was wondering if you'd like to come in for a while, I guess."

She hesitated. "Um…"

"I'm sure that it's warmer in here than out there," Adrien continued.

That was all the convincing she needed. The suit provided more warmth than actual spandex would, but still, it was February. "Okay, okay, I'll come in."

As soon as she was in, he shut the window, and Ladybug couldn't help but sigh in relief. She hadn't realized just how cold she had gotten sitting out there.

Adrien smiled at her reaction. "Didn't realize how cold it was, did you?"

"No, I didn't. Thanks for letting me in to warm up. My kwami takes care of most of the exposure to the elements, but it's not good for her."

He shrugged. "No problem."

"No problem?" Ladybug exclaimed. "You don't have much time or privacy to yourself, and invite a superheroine in during one of the times that you do, and call it no problem? You, Adrien Agreste, are too kind and caring."

"It's not too terrible," Adrien retorted. "You save Paris all the time. I'm sure everyone's lost count of all the akumas you've helped defeat. Doing something to help you in return is the least I can do."

She bristled. "But you already do help me out all the time!"

He halted. "…I do?"

Oh, right… she couldn't mention how helpful and kind and nice he was to Marinette. She was Ladybug right now. What were all the akumas that he had helped her with again? "Let me count the times. Simon Says, the Collector, Gorizilla, Style Queen, Desperada-"

"Okay, I get your point," he interjected. "Still, I would never pass up a chance to help you, Ladybug."

Was it always this hot in here? Ladybug's cheeks had always been that shade of pink, right? Suddenly going out into the cold air to finish patrol didn't sound too bad. "Thanks, Adrien. For everything. But I really do need to go finish up my patrol."

Adrien nodded. "I understand. Just glad I was able to help you at all."

As she swung out and went on her patrol, Ladybug had a huge smile on her face.

How could she love Chat Noir, when there was still Adrien?

The whole part about the cold was written in the car this morning, before it had warmed up at all. Curse you cold front, I very much don't like winter!

As I was finishing up this, my sister was playing Disney music, and "I won't say that I'm in Love," came on, and I feel that accurately more-or-less describes their feelings at this point in the fic.