It was a mixture of pride and curiosity that drove Adrien to Fugue Meadow that late summer afternoon, and he tried not to look too out of place amidst the mingling crowd of older couples. Sure, Phoebe was milling around looking just as awkward as he was, but "awkward" seemed to be Phoebe's constant state of being, so her disorientation didn't help ease his embarrassment. He sidestepped Perry as politely as he could, sensing a sermon coming on, and made his way down the slope to the river. Thankfully, Chase was lounging on the shore, looking as though he was trying very hard to be ignored and not approached.

Adrien approached.

"Hey, Chase!" he said, forcing some small amount of cheer to be imbued in his voice. "Fancy seeing you here."

A small smile flitted across Chase's face as he turned his head, which was not a reaction Adrien had expected. "Hey. Didn't think you'd be interested in seeing the fireflies."

"Can I sit?" A tiny nod from Chase, and Adrien sat. "Yeah, well…truth be told, I wasn't, but now it's a matter of pride. I asked Luna if she wanted to go with me, but she said she never comes to this festival. That's weird because Candace and Shelly do, but maybe that's why…? I don't know."

"She probably didn't want to go on a date with you, Adrien," Chase rolled his eyes. "Sorry to break it to you."

Adrien groaned and flopped back on the sand, instantly regretting his decision as particles worked their way under his clothes. "I'd tell you to shut up, only it's probably true. I'm a nice guy, right? Why wouldn't she want to go on a date with me?"

"Because nice guys are usually ugly?"

"Now that was harsh, and completely untrue. I see you're here by yourself, and you're the biggest asshole I know. Did Maya say no to your supposed good looks of douchebaggery?"

The other man made an inhuman noise of disgust in the back of his throat. "I…just…ugh. No. No, I turned Maya down, and I have no idea why you think I would have asked her. That's more of an insult than all your uncreative swearing."

"Yeah? Then why are you here?"

Chase smirked. "Because I knew Luna'd turn you down and that you'd be here moping alone. What type of friend would I be if I didn't show up in your time of need?"

"I totally am not mop—"

They were shushed by several surrounding people. Several surrounding people who all had lanterns. Whoops. Seemed like the festival had started.

Adrien felt kind of lame putting down his lantern next to Chase's at first, but his joke about their date together died in his throat when he saw the serious expression on the redhead's face. It occurred to Adrien the Ever Slow that maybe Chase had shown up to honor his own ancestors, or someone dear to him who had died.

But bros did not question their bros, and Chase was undoubtedly his bro. He deserved some privacy; not some deep conversation about feelings.

So instead, once the festival ended, Chase invited Adrien over and cut him a slice of shortcake, which, while embarrassing enough that they agreed to never share what they had eaten for their midnight snack with anyone, was not as embarrassing as prying about each other's past, and Adrien considered it a night well spent. He left the meadow feeling reinvigorated about his chances with the sassiest seamstress he knew, a recipe for blueberry pie newly tucked into his rucksack.