Sorry for the long wait!

I had a bit of trouble with this chapter but it ended up better than I expected...

Leave a review and Akuma ideas!

Marinette was in trouble.

It was a regular weekday, her parents were busy attending to the day to day needs of the bakery and she had allowed herself to sleep in after her talk with Chat. Emotionally drained from speaking with both Felix and Chat Noir, two of the most important men in her life.

Marinette was confused.

Felix had been with her from the beginning, a strong, silent (albeit grumpy) presence in her life. Always there to support her no matter what. He had a way words with how little he spoke them, perhaps it was the fact that the distance between them had shortened, but Felix had been so much more open since returning back to France. It was like rediscovering her best friend all over again.

Adrien taught her that people were not all as they seem. That a first impression wasn't what defines a person. He made the butterflies in her tummy a thundering storm. He had such a sad smile. Marinette knew the loss of his mother must have affected Adrien just as badly as it had affected Felix. She knew how distant and controlling the Agreste patriarch was. Yet Adrien had a certain kindness from the very bottom from his heart that he shared with his few friends.

Chat Noir showed her what a partnership of absolute trust was all about. She would never deny that she trusted Chat Noir with her very life. She hardly knew anything about her partner but he was the one person that she would trust with her life. The one person who she knew would have her back no matter what. He of all people understood their duty as heroes and protectors of their city. He was the one she would go to if she ever needed a quiet night away.

Out of the three men, Marinette could feel her face heating up at the image of the three of them standing in front of her, each of them reaching a hand out to her. Felix's regal air, Adrien's genuine kindness, and Chat's cheery demeanor. Merde. She liked all three of them. How was she supposed to choose?

"What do I do Tikki?" Marinette whined, lying spread eagle on her bed. It was in the middle of the morning, almost noon. Felix would come over soon to join her for lunch as he always did now that it was summer.

"Well Marinette, there's really nothing wrong with having feelings for a few people at once," Tikki said slowly, watching as Marinette groaned and flipped to lie on her stomach.

"That's it Tikki. I have a type. I definitely have a thing for tall blonde men with nice smiles and pretty eyes." Marinette moaned out, her voice muffled by the fact that her mouth was covered by her pillow. Tikki could see that the tip of Marinette's ears was bright red.

"Mon Dieu, what will I do? I can't like three different boys, Tikki" Marinette pushed herself up, supporting herself on her elbows while tucking her pillow under her chin. Tikki floated towards Marinette and tried to give a sympathetic smile. Marinette was not the first of her chosen to have boy troubles and she certainly wouldn't be the last. Tikki knew when Marinette got into one of her moods it would be difficult to snap her out of it and it would be easier to just let Marinette rant it all out.

"Well, at least only Chat Noir has confessed to you!" Tikki tried to lift up her chosen's spirit. Only to wish it had kept those words to itself when it had the chance because now Marinette was blushing red and trying to suffocate herself with her pillow.

"WHY DID I TELL HIM TO FIND ME." Her muffled yelling making Tikki cringe. "Better yet, WHY DID I SAY LADYBUG WOULD LOVE HIS CIVILIAN FORM REGARDLESS." Marinette let out a muffled shriek as she recounted her words from last night.

She couldn't help it. Chat had looked so sad. So devastated. How could her partner possibly believe that she wouldn't like whoever was under his mask? She knew without a doubt that Chat Noir was a kind, selfless, pun-loving dork in his civilian life as well. She knew she would accept whoever it was under the mask into her life like how she had accepted Chat Noir as her partner.

Their partnership and teamwork were based on years of trial and error until they were the dynamic duo that they were today. The situations and challenges that the two of them had been through had strengthened their bond. Both as superheroes and as friends. Marinette had always wanted to reveal her identity to Chat Noir but she knew that she couldn't do it.

If Papillon had ever captured either of them, it would be safer for them if they didn't know each other's identity. Papillon would have no way of getting the information. Keeping Chat Noir, her family and her friends safe had always been Marinette's number one concern when she had taken the mantle of Ladybug.

But imagine how much easier things would be if they did know each other's identity.

Marinette groaned once again. It wasn't the first time that she had weighed the pros and cons of sharing her identity with her partner. And every time she thought about it the more tempting it was.

"I really don't think I should be keeping my identity from him, Tikki," Marinette whispered. Tikki landed and sat next to Marinette's head. "The two of you have been Ladybug and Chat Noir for two years now Marinette, I trust your decisions in battle and I will trust your decision to share this side of the mask with him too." Tikki patted Marinette with a tiny paw.

Deciding that she couldn't mope around forever, Marinette got up and went through the motions to get ready for her day. Today Felix would be joining her and her friends for lunch at a nearby bistro. Marinette and her friends had already planned several activities throughout summer. The thought of meeting up with her friends managed to cheer her up a little, the dark-haired girl smiling to herself as she brushed her teeth.

Until she realized Adrien would be there.

She spit out her toothpaste and slammed the bathroom door open, running up the stairs to her room.

She had absolutely nothing to wear.

Throwing her closet doors open Marinette started taking apart the clothes she already had at her disposal and frowned. None of them were actually suitable for a day out in Paris.

Several minutes passed as Marinette scrutinized her wardrobe options when a knocking was heard from the trapdoor to her room. Alya's head popped up with a smile and Marinette could see Felix hovering behind her, his impatience showing clearly on his face.

Marinette smiled, Felix had come a long way from being stoic and expressionless to allowing his emotions to display themselves so freely on his face. Marinette gave herself a mental pat on the back at the progress she had made with her best friend.

"I can't find anything nice to wear!" Marinette whined, clutching a sunflower yellow dress to herself as she turned puppy dog eyes to Alya. Alya only laughed at her best friend's antics. Such a typical Marinette thing to worry about.

"Girl, after how Adrien reacted when he saw how wrapped you are with Felix over here, I'm pretty sure he's starting to realize he has a few feelings for you too." Alya teased, making her way to Marinette's wardrobe. Felix rolled his eyes and made his way to the chaise, already used to Marinette and Alya talking about boys in his presence.

"Alya! No way!" Marinette gasped, dropping the dress haphazardly on the floor.

"Yes, way! You didn't see him! He was glaring daggers at brother dearest over there." Alya smirked, picking up the dress as Marinette blushed a charming shade of pink. Marinette really was adorable.

Alya took one look at the wardrobe and pulled out a pink and white checkered blouse and a pair of light blue jeans. "Here, wear these, they make your legs look good." Alya gave Marinette a once over, studying her friend's figure. "Actually girl, you look pretty fit. Have you been working out without telling me?"

"W-working out? N-no way Alya. It's probably from all the heavy lifting I do for the bakery." Marinette laughed nervously as she snatched the clothes from Alya's hands and went to change. Both girls stared expectantly at Felix and the boy rolled his eyes as he turned to face the other way.

Marinette began to undress, pulling her sleep shirt over her head and yelped in shock when Alya poked her in the sensitive side of her stomach. "Are those ABS?" Alya gasped placing her palm on Marinette's abdomen. "Oh my god, you're RIPPED" Alya continued, feeling up Marinette's body with both hands as the smaller girl tried to escape her best friend's wandering hands.

"Felix look at this! Marinette could probably even lift you up!" Marinette squeaked and tried to cover her torso with her arms as Felix turned to observe the two girls.

Felix frowned to himself, he wasn't that light was he? His appetite had greatly improved since his return to France. He noticed himself filling out more instead of the sallow almost skeletal look he had been sporting while studying abroad.

"Marinette, you should be proud of your body. You are very beautiful." Felix smiled gently at his best friend, trying desperately to force the blush attempting to appear on his cheeks.

"Mon Dieu Felix, TURN AROUND" Marinette yelled, her blush spreading from her face to her chest. Felix abruptly turned when he realized he was staring at Marinette's chest. This time the blush really did appear on his cheeks.

Marinette hurriedly got dressed, mortified beyond belief at Alya's actions, aforementioned friend was laughing at Marinette's misery. Running up the ladder to her loft bed, she scooped Tikki into her purse before pushing both her friends down the hatch, claiming that they were going to be late if they didn't leave right now. Alya cackling all the way at how Felix couldn't really hide the attraction he felt towards Marinette and how Marinette was completely blind to the other boy's affections.

When the trio met Adrien and Nino at the entrance of the metro, Marinette was still pink and Felix was looking anywhere but her. Alya standing in between the two with a wide, cheeky grin. Adrien gave a questioning look towards Marinette who only turned redder and squeaked something about a wardrobe malfunction. Making Alya laugh and Felix to look away in an attempt to hide the blush on his cheeks.

Resolving to get the full story from Alya later, Adrien took the chance of a distracted Marinette to make his way to her and placing himself on Marinette's side. Alya having gone to greet Nino with a kiss on a cheek, leaving the space she had occupied empty. The group of 5 then made their way to the metro, waiting for the train and eagerly discussing the bistro.

The group pushed two tables together, Marinette sat together on one side, their backs facing the store windows. Nino and Adrien sat across the girls while Felix shared a table with Adrien and Marinette, sitting in between the two. Alya gave Nino knowing looks while texting her boyfriend, telling him exactly what happened earlier in Marinette's room.

Marinette sat flustered between both her best friends while her crush sat opposite her, why did Adrien have to look so dashing today. Why did both Agreste boys have such pretty faces that she couldn't stop thinking about? Occasionally while the group was eating, she and Felix would bump elbows and both of them would retreat abruptly.

Adrien watched the two of his important people interacting and that familiar pain in his chest appeared once again. He gave his brother a look to which his brother determinedly ignored, staring at his pasta as if it had somehow managed to personally offend him.

Alya tried her best to engage the group in conversation but it was difficult with little miss Marinette 'I got ripped lifting flour' Dupain 'in the ass' Cheng blushing to the roots of her hair every time Felix even breathed in her direction. She rolled her eyes when Adrien gave her a questioning look and a subtle nod towards the two. Taking out her phone, she sent a quick text to boy wonder.

Alya C

We found out that Marinette is ripped af.

Adrien A

Wait what… is that it? Is that why they're acting funky?

Alya C

First, even I didn't know Marinette had abs. Second, nobody says funky any more sunshine.

Adrien A

But I thought Marinette was really fit, haven't you seen her lift those sacks of flour lying around in the bakery?

Nino gave a questioning look to his girlfriend, tapping his phone with one finger. Alya rolled her eyes, you did that a lot when you're friends with clueless idiots. Adrien watched as Marinette nearly fell off her chair when Felix's arm brushed against hers when he reached out for the salt, wincing at the sight.

Alya C added Nino L to the conversation

Alya C

Please tell your bestie how brother dearest found out about Mari's abs of steel.

Nino L

Dude….

Adrien A

What?

Alya C

/facepalms

Nino L

Dude, you can't see someone's abs unless their shirt was off.

My Bro… you gotta get a clue.

"You saw her without her shirt on? Frère how could you!" Adrien exclaimed giving his brother his best version of an "I'm disappointed in you and I expected better" look their father had perfected over the years.

Marinette squealed in horror, face paling. Bright blue eyes locking with Adrien's own green ones and then she got up and ran off, leaving the group dumbfounded.

Alya glared at boy wonder with the promise of pain he could never imagine before running after her best friend with a frantic cry of "Mari wait!"

"My dude… you messed up big time." Nino gave his best friend a look. Adrien should have known better than to say something so embarrassing in front of Marinette. She had only mellowed out a year after their friendship started. Adrien groaned and slammed his head on to the table. It felt like every time he made a little bit of progress towards a proper friendship with Marinette, he had to put his foot in his mouth and then, goodbye progress.

"Adrien, really... Why did you have to bring it up in front of her." Felix sighed, glancing worriedly at the direction Marinette had run off to. Presumably towards the restrooms. "Frère, please. I'm mortified enough already. Don't rub it in." Adrien groaned, face still planted on the table. The younger blonde suddenly shot up and glared at his elder brother.

"Why were you looking at her without a shirt anyway?" Felix rolled his eyes at his brother. It was obvious Adrien was jealous and grouchy now that Felix had seen Marinette without a shirt on and Adrien had never seen more than the skin of her arms.

It was cute that Marinette dressed more conservatively compared to the rest of Paris at times. Marinette had her own charm.

"She was changing her clothes when Alya started to well… Feel her up, to say the least. Marinette is very fit and Alya prompted me to admire Marinette's physique. That was all." Adrien gave let out a harrumph and crossed his arms.

"Alya did mention that you could do your laundry on Mari's abs." Nino mused. Adrien gasped at his best friend. The image of Marinette with rock-solid abs peeking from a translucent white shirt appeared in his mind and Adrien did his best impression of a tomato right there and then. He glanced at his brother to see the same shade of red dusting his cheeks.

"I think we should refrain from continuing this conversation before Mari catches us and runs... Again. I doubt Alya would appreciate having to capture our wayward friend." Felix coughed into his fist. The boys grimaced at the image of a furious Alya and settled in their seats. Adrien sighed and rested his chin on his palm while he drummed the fingers of his free hand on to the table.

It was an agonizing few minutes before Alya was pulling a red-faced Marinette back towards their table. The group tried their best to pretend that the earlier outburst didn't happen. No one willing to risk Alya's wrath as she placed a protective palm on her best friend's arm.

After lunch, the group made their way to the arcade, the domain of Nino and Marinette who had spent long hours in their childhood years establishing their dominance in the leaderboards.

"M Lahiffe are you ready to get your butt kicked?" Marinette eyed him, giving him a sweet smile. Nino grinned and gave her his own competitive smirk. "Bring it on Mlle DC, I'm going to beat your tiny butt and finally get that 1st place on Pac-man." The two friends raced into the arcade leaving the others behind.

Felix glanced between the two pairs of teenagers and hurried after Marinette. (Not like he was running after her or anything. He simply, speed walked… Very quickly. Because Marinette was tiny and had already managed to escape his field of vision twice in the past 30 seconds) Alya and Adrien followed behind excited to play.

The loud noise, flashing lights and general craziness that comes with any arcade overwhelmed his senses. It was the first time he had ever entered such an establishment. Even when he was in boarding school and had the weekends off, he would spend his time studying diligently to maintain his position in the school. Felix was not exaggerating when he claimed that Marinette was his only friend.

After almost 2 hours wasted with Marinette claiming complete dominance over every video game and in the arcade, Nino a close second. Nobody could beat Adrien in Dance Dance Revolution, especially not when he took up the entire machine, fluidly stomping his way across the 8 pads with an unnatural almost feline grace.

Alya surprisingly dominated the leaderboards at all the shooter games, leaving Nino to moan about how only the girls he was close to were good at video games. Felix with his inability to get used to large groups proved that he was the best at 'Whack a Mole' and surprisingly gave Adrien a run for his money on the Dance machine game, despite never having step foot in an arcade before today.

The group collected their tickets and gathered excitedly around the prize counter. Managing to get bags of candy to share between the five of them. In the end, the group walked out feeling accomplished despite their meager winnings. Marinette was being piggybacked by Felix. She had bested him in a one on one air hockey match and her prize was to be carried all the way to the metro. Doing a victory shimmy got Felix to snap at her. Threatening to drop her if she wiggled against his back and no he wouldn't be responsible if Marinette cracked her skull on the sidewalk from the fall.

It appeared that initial awkwardness had disappeared once both of them got in the zone of friendly competition. Suddenly winning was everything and all awkward thoughts of Marinette's abs were forgotten by the group of friends. The train ride back got Marinette dozing off, seated between the Agreste brothers while Alya and Nino sat on the opposite side of the train, facing their friends.

Alya didn't even try to hide her attempts at taking multiple good photos of the three of them. Felix was scrolling through his phone, his arm linked with Marinette while Adrien had a slight blush dusting his cheeks. Marinette had leaned on him and was using his shoulder as a pillow. It would have been adorable if her mouth hadn't been wide open and drool was starting to leak from the corner of her lips.

Adrien could feel her soft breathing ghosting his neck and tried his best to not remember the times over the past two years when Marinette had rested against him in a similar fashion. But he had been Chat Noir at the time and the armor on his suit prevented him from feeling Marinette's soft snores against his skin. Marinette had her free hand on her lap and Adrien tried his best to hold back from snatching it into his.

He wanted this to last forever. Marinette had really opened up to him in the past year, a far cry from the stuttering mess she had been when they were 14. He enjoyed today. He enjoyed all the times he spent with her. Her dazzling smile and bright eyes. She laughed at his jokes and gave him that pretty blush whenever he sent her a particularly charming smile.

It hurt that she was more comfortable to show her sassy, snarky and witty side to Chat Noir and not to Adrien, considering she had known both boys for about the same amount of time. Adrien sighed, letting his and Marinette's thighs touch.

Any attention she spared him, Adrien lapped at it like a dying man. He wanted all her attention. It was stupid considering just yesterday he had been proclaiming his love for his Lady to the very girl next to him. It seemed that Adrien had a type. Strong confident women, who stood up for justice with dark hair, bright blue eyes and soft smiles.

It was almost like Marinette and his Lady was the same person.

Of course they weren't, Adrien scoffed at the thought. Marinette actually cared about Chat Noir, asking him how his day had gone. Feeding him, listening to him. She had been the strong emotional pillar of support that Adrien had associated with as what siblings should be.

Ladybug… she gave him the freedom to fly wherever his heart wanted.

Marinette kept him grounded. She was the home that he would return to because he knew that she would always be there for him.

Maybe he was feeling the pains in his chest because Marinette had accepted Felix so easily, no uneasy stuttering or awkward eye contact. It was amazing how his little Princess had been able to bring his elder brother out of his shell.

Adrien felt like he was talking to a whole new person. The boy he would visit during summer holidays and the boy who would go toe to toe with Marinette at air hockey seemed like two entirely different people.

School Felix was withdrawn and quiet, never speaking his mind. Always calculative and always wary of others. Never allowing anybody except for mother and Adrien to touch him. This Felix, the Felix who had been under the tender loving care of Marinette, he had blossomed into the quick witted, independent young man that Adrien knew he had always had the potential to me.

Marinette just brought out the best in everybody.

Felix laced his fingers with Marinette's, not minding the warmth. It was comfortable. He had his best friend back in his life and it was a blessing that he thanked God for every day. Every single day in the dreary, plain and lonely dorm room, he had given all his thanks to all his lucky stars for allowing Marinette to enter his life.

A whirlwind of emotions and comfort. She was everything that he was missing while he was away. She brought colour with her designs and projects into the dreary plain cream walls of his dorm room. Her chatter filled up the uncomfortable and suffocating silence. He was always alone. He didn't have any friends.

Perhaps Marinette could not understand the theories and studies that he pursued but she tried her best to ask questions. Questions that Felix would never have thought about and allowed him to look at his work in a new perspective.

Marinette entered his world with a shy smile and a quiet greeting. But she had taken over it like a storm of cherry blossoms. Beautiful, delicate and incredibly moving. Bringing colour and life into his dreary days of constant studying and overwhelming pressure to excel.

But it was clear that Marinette had strong feelings for Adrien. It was also plainly obvious that Adrien held affections for Marinette. Felix could feel his heart constrict. Would Marinette prefer to spend her time with his brother instead?

It hurt.

The very idea that Marinette would one day leave him for somebody who was better suited for her made his heart clench painfully. He turned to observe his sleeping friend. Marinette really was beautiful. She was growing into her features, she had been all soft curves and chubby cheeks at the age of 12. Now her facial features were more defined. He could count every individual eyelash, the curve of her button nose. The steady rise and fall of her chest as she snoozed.

He felt his cheeks burn at the memory of Marinette in only her bra and sleep pants invaded his mind. She had been blushing a delightful shade of red that had spread all the way to her chest. Her attempts at hiding her body from him had pressed her chest closer and created a delicious image of a modest cleavage.

Felix looked away abruptly. Covering his face with his free hand and faked a cough. He shouldn't be thinking such thoughts of his best friend. She would drop kick him into next Thursday if she ever found out.

Felix sighed. He loved Marinette more than anything and he did not want to ruin the two of them shared. It was clear that Marinette thought of him as nothing more than a friend. A brother figure at most. She would laugh with him, share her woes with him and shed tears on his behalf. But he would never hold her heart.

Felix sighed. Eyes wandering back to their intertwined fingers.

He would treasure all the moments he had with her.

Hope you enjoyed the story! Leave me puns and akuma ideas!