-3-

Four days passed and Ladybug found herself dreading patrol. Having let slip that she'd been on a date was bound to come back and haunt her. She had absolutely no doubt that Chat Noir would want all the details. When he arrived, he wore a cryptic smile she didn't know how to interpret. But when he bowed, snatching up her hand for his usual kiss-on-the-knuckles greeting Ladybug thought she might get away with her slip.

That was wishful thinking. Chat Noir lasted a whole ten minutes before he brought up the subject. "So, um, bugaboo, you mentioned something about being on a date during the last akuma attack. How'd that go?"

Quirking a masked eyebrow, the heroine crossed her arms and considered him for a moment. She wasn't one to lie, so she gave it to him straight. "It was cut short. He had to leave earlier than expected."

Interest lit Chat Noir's eyes. "Not a good sign. I'd move heaven and earth to ensure I could stay with you if we were on a date."

Ladybug gave him an unimpressed look. "It wasn't his fault. The second date was even shorter."

"Second date," Chat Noir said with a stunned look on his face and hurt in his eyes.

"Yeah," Ladybug sighed, "we were to meet up again but things got, um, complicated." She couldn't exactly say that Adrien had been swamped by fangirls. It was far too much information which was a little too specific.

Feline eyes narrowed. "Complicated, how exactly?"

Ladybug frowned at the underlying note of jealousy in her partner's voice. What did he think had happed? Her cheeks reddened as she realised how he could misinterpret her comment. Unfortunately, her physical reaction seemed to raise the ire in his expression. "Well, he had to rush off before things really started." The moment the words left her lips she wanted to kick herself. That certainly wasn't an improvement on her previous comment.

Chat Noir bristled and his hands curled into fists. "If he didn't treat you right, so help me I'll go to town on him with my staff."

"It wasn't like that, Chat." She said in a bid to calm him down, waving her hands before her in a downward movement to settle him. There was something nice about having her partner ready to come to her defence. Not that she needed it. "You know I could club him with my yoyo if need be."

That brought a smile to his face. "Of course, milady, but I'd still be willing to defend your honour."

Lifting a hand, she tousled his hair much to his chagrin. "Thanks Chat."

His unimpressed look switched to sultry as he leaned towards her. "The whole thing could be resolved if you just dated me instead."

She should have known he'd drop that in somewhere. "No thanks."

Ladybug was unhitching her yoyo from her waist as he continued. "I know some really nice places. Plus, I'd bring you flowers and chocolates and we could share them. Feeding each other until there was none left."

Amusement had Ladybug's mouth lifting in a tentative smile. Chat Noir's voice had taken on the dreamy kind of quality she had when doting on all things Adrien. Yet she needed to bring him back to reality. "I've got another date with him in a few days."

Chat Noir pouted for the rest of patrol.

Three days later and breakfast date number three was about to begin. Third time was the charm, right? Alya had reverted back to their original destination, the first café. Being less popular meant that Adrien would hopefully be safe from another fangirl extravaganza. She also hoped it was unlikely to attract a second akuma attack.

This time she was first to arrive and Adrien was a close second. He sat opposite her and initially she was a little annoyed until his knees brushed hers under the table. The brief contact had her legs tingling. She could only imagine how amazing it would be if they held hands, or better yet, kissed.

Beaming at Adrien with an almost crazed smile, Marinette barely noticed the arrival of Alya and Nino. When Alya tapped her on the shoulder and said hello the dark-haired girl almost jumped out of her seat. Her cheeks burned as Adrien raised a hand to try and stifle his chuckle.

Marinette wanted to sink into her seat and down through the floor. Instead her knees met Adrien's again and she looked up and blushed. To her amazement, the model reached out a hand to take hers. "I'm sorry, Marinette, I shouldn't have laughed."

The ability to form words was vaporised at the touch of his warm skin to hers. Adrien might not have laced their fingers but by golly gosh, Marinette's heart wanted to sing. Tweeting birds and forest wildlife should have appeared like out of some princess cartoon. Maybe even a unicorn. But his hold was fleeting and the whimsical moment passed and her heart slowed.

Alya was wearing a tiny smirk at the whole exchange as Marinette cast her eyes to her friend. From there the four friends chatted and the tension in Marinette's shoulders reduced. Although her mouth became dry when Adrien's knee rested against hers as he turned towards Nino in conversation. To her delight, he didn't move away as he spoke and she was ready to melt into a puddle.

For once everything went well. What surprised Marinette was the speed in which Alya and Nino ate, finishing long before her and Adrien. The model quirked an eyebrow, "Are you guys in a hurry?"

Nino toyed with his headphones, "Kind of."

"We've actually double booked," Alya say with a coy bob of her head.

Marinette wasn't buying it, though Adrien did. "Oh, that's a shame."

Alya waved her hands at the remaining meals. "You two should stay and finish. We'll catch up with you another time."

Adrien gave a positive nod of his head. "Okay, as long as Marinette doesn't have anywhere to be."

"I have nowhere else I need to be." Marinette concurred in an almost monotone repetition as she tried to curb her need to grin fanatically.

"Great. I guess we'll see you two later."

Alya and Nino said their farewells and departed, leaving Marinette twisting the material of her skirt in her hands as she pondered how to breach the subject she wanted to discuss. "So, uh, this is nice… and peaceful."

Adrien's green eyes flicked up from his plate to look at her as he finished his mouthful. "Alya did pick a good place. It's much better than the last café."

His grin made her insides gooey. She giggled nervously then cleared her throat. "Um, yeah, plus I-I like being with you."

The utensils hovered above Adrien's plate in his hands as his expression softened. "I like being with you too."

Good grief, her lungs felt like they were about to explode but she needed to make sure he understood her meaning. "I-I mean t-that I really like you."

Green eyes roved over her face as he studied her with an appreciation that didn't verge on the type of emotions she was hoping for. His smile was sweet. "I think you're a really good friend too, Marinette."

That bubble of hope burst and it took all she had to keep the smile plastered on her face. But maybe he was misinterpreting what she was saying. Balling her hands together, she considered how to reword her meaning when his phone began to ring. With a cursory glance at the screen he answered and the shrill voice on the other end was loud enough for Marinette to hear, "Adrikins!"

With her mood soured and chance gone, Marinette returned to eating her breakfast and tried to ignore the fact that Chloe had managed to ruin her opportunity without even being present. It looked like Alya would need to arrange breakfast date number four.

Marinette really isn't having much luck. No doubt Chat Noir will be grilling Ladybug for information about her date, if only he knew XD