Wrapping up the talk between our favorite girls! Leave a review to motivate me to write the upcoming chapter hehehehe

It was supposed to be a great weekend. Her parents and baby sisters won't be in town. Marinette was sleeping over the entire time. They were gonna binge watch bad movies and eat lasagna that her mom had prepared before she left.

Then Marinette had that twinkle in her eye, and suddenly Ladybug was in her room in all her red and black glory. Granted Ladybug had walked in while Alya was in the middle of changing out of her pajamas and the way Ladybug's eyes had widen had been engraved into her memory and would later be told as a story to her kids and her kid's kids.

The interview went amazing. Alya felt like she was floating on a cloud. Marinette had been missing the entire time but that was fine, her best friend was probably giving them the space she thought they needed to conduct a successful interview.

Then Ladybug released her transformation and Marinette sat on Alya's bed. Two seconds ago it had been Ladybug in that exact spot. Marinette sat in the same pajamas she had been wearing when she had left the room.

Alya could tell that her jaw had dropped and she was struggling to come up with words. Words to force out of her slack jaw. If only her tongue would stop being numb then she could finally have something to say.

Marinette fidgeted as Alya continued to stare without saying anything. Tikki had hidden behind Marinette's back almost immediately after releasing the transformation.

"Are you mad?" Marinette dropped her hands and started to twiddle her thumbs. This was a stupid idea, of course, Alya would be mad. They had been best friends for two whole years and Marinette had never said anything about her alter ego. Alya would probably kill her and then Chat Noir would kill Alya for revenge. Nino would find out about Adrien being Chat Noir and report him to the police.

Adrien Agreste would be arrested for murder and never get to accomplish his degree in physics. Felix would be heartbroken with her dead and Adrien in jail and he'll steal the Black Cat Miraculous and be the newest villain. It would be all her fault.

"Please don't kill me?" Marinette pleaded.

"Kill you? Kill you!" Alya exclaimed with wide eyes and flushed cheeks. Marinette cringed at the sudden shout and broke eye contact. Marinette raised her hands above her face in hopes of blocking any attacks Alya would unleash, squeezing her eyes shut instinctively.

Only to feel Alya grab her hands and pull her into a hug. Marinette blinked wide blue eyes open and craned her neck to look Alya in the eye. The redhead gave a sad smile as she looked down at her best friend.

"I'm upset Marinette, but I would never kill you." Alya whispered into dark hair. To think that every time Alya had chased after the spotted hero she had actually been chasing after her best friend.

"I couldn't tell you earlier Alya." Marinette clutched small hands around the arms that held her. Eyes brimming with unshed tears. "I wanted to tell you, there were a million different times when I wanted to tell you. But I couldn't"

"I know, mon cher. I know" Alya replied, holding tightly to her best friend. So small and fragile. But her friend was also Ladybug. Ladybug! Alya couldn't really wrap the idea around in her head.

Everytime Ladybug got hurt during an Akuma fight suddenly flashed across her mind and suddenly it wasn't fearless heroine Ladybug in those memories. It was beautiful, tiny Marinette. Marinette getting thrown against the museum wall during the fight with the Pharoah. It was Marinette that Alya had attacked as Lady Wifi.

It was Marinette who had defeated Stone Heart all those years ago. It was Marinette who had gone toe to toe with Animan. Precious Marinette who would never hurt a fly that had thrown Chat Noir halfway across Paris.

Of course, it had been Marinette. Who else in Paris could have been as brave, courageous and all around wonderful? A sudden surge of pride welled up in her chest.

"I can't believe I'm best friends with a superhero!" was the only indicator Marinette needed to know that Alya wouldn't kill her. Marinette relaxed in Alya's hold.

"Oh my god. I'm best friends with Ladybug!" Alya exclaimed louder. She pushed Marinette away from her body and watched as her friend's face contorted into a frown.

"Adrien has a crush on Ladybug!" Marinette sputtered and she could feel the flush spread across her cheeks. "W-wait what?"

"Everybody and their grandmother know that Adrien has a crush on Ladybug!" Alya released her best friend to stand up and make her way to her laptop. "Well, everybody and their grandmother, not including you apparently." Alya rolled her eyes.

"I didn't want to tell you in case you didn't know." -because I didn't want to hurt you, was unsaid but Marinette understood. "And in case you did know, I didn't think it was cool to bring it up you know?" Alya looked up to glance at her best friend before returning her attention back to the laptop.

Clicking on the bookmark for her blog she opened the comment section of one of her recent posts. The one for the battle with Le Livreur.

"Look at this comment." Alya turned her laptop towards her friend and pointed out a particular comment.

No1LadyFanAA

Another day another citizen saved. Bless you, Ladybug!

ChatNoirIsBae

Let's not forget about her dashing sidekick! Have all of my blessings Chat Noir!

No1LadyFanAA

Right, of course. Thank you Chat Noir!

Of course, it doesn't compare to Ladybug's brilliant work.

ChatNoirIsBae

Ladybug may be great but she would be nothing without Chat!

No1LadyFanAA

Ladybug is the most courageous and kindest hero Paris has ever seen. She is the embodiment of beauty with her dark hair and sapphire eyes. Her spirit shines brighter than any star in the night sky and her will unmovable as any great mountain.

"Are you sure that's Adrien?" Marinette squinted at the screen in front of her, her face turning a shade darker as she read the words on the screen. Alya only hummed and took out her phone.

Alya C

Do you check out my blog?

Adrien A

I doubt there's a single soul in Paris that has not read the Ladyblog.

Alya C

True that. So do you comment in the forums?

Adrien A

Of course, I comment on your blog Alya. Occasionally.

Alya C

Really? What's your username?

Adrien A

I don't think I should share it.

Alya C

Aww, why not? Is the model boy afraid daddy will punish you for being on websites that aren't good for you? :3c

Adrien A

Of course not.

Alya C

Yeah right.

Adrien A

Why do you want to find out anyways

Alya C

I have my reasons.

Adrien A

I don't want it getting out that I'm on the site Alya.

Alya C

How 'bout if I make a guess.

Adrien A

You're welcome to try…

Alya C

Is it No1LadyFanAA

Adrien A

NO

Adrien A

OF COURSE NOT

Adrien A

How could that possibly be me hahaha

Alya C

…

Alya C

IT IS YOU

Adrien A

Please don't tell anybody Alya!

Alya C

Boi… You shouldn't be worried about that. HEHE

Adrien A

What do you mean?

Adrien A

Alya?

Adrien A

Alya?

Marinette's bright red face turned up to look at Alya in the eyes. "He has a crush on me?" Alya smirked at her best friend and shrugged a shoulder. "I wouldn't lie about this to you Mari." Alya urged, thinking that Marinette was doubting her words.

"I-I know you wouldn't Alya." Marinette sighed. Her heart pounding. Of course, Adrien had a crush on Ladybug. He was Chat Noir after all. Chat Noir had been professing his love since the very start of their partnership.

Marinette pulled her legs towards her chest and rested her head on her knees. Letting a loud sigh escaped her lips as she burrowed her face into her knees. "Mari? What's wrong? I thought you'd like having sunshine boy wrapped around your finger."

"That's just it. Adrien likes Ladybug." Marinette mumbled softly that Alya had to strain herself to catch her best friend's words. "I'm not Ladybug. I know its just me in a mask. But that just means that Adrien only likes the parts of me that are amplified by Ladybug's presence." Marinette sighed.

"I know Ladybug is the personification of good luck and creation. It just sucks that Adrien only likes that part of me and not the me that's behind the mask." Marinette lifted her head to look desolately out the window.

"Of course he'd like that part of you, cuz it's the part that you show him! If you show pretty boy more of you that's behind the mask, I'd bet my entire blog that he would love all of you, Mari." Alya shifted so that she sat closer to her best friend.

"You really think so?" Marinette looked at her best friend with wide blue eyes. Alya merely grinned. "I know so girl. Don't doubt your best friend."

"What if I told you that there was someone who already knows both sides of the mask and still likes me?" Alya reeled back in shock. "What if I told you that I might like him back?" Alya slammed both palms onto a pillow and leaned closer into Marinette's personal space.

"Are you kidding me? I'm not the very first person you revealed yourself to?" Hazel eyes bright as she stared into Marinette's own blue ones.

"It was an accident I swear! I leaped into an alley near the library where I left Felix and when I turned around he was alr-" Marinette held up her hands in surrender. "FELIX? As in Felix Stick in the Ass Agreste?!" Alya exclaimed even louder. If the redhead leaned any closer she was going to topple into Marinette.

"IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!" Marinette's flush darkened in embarrassment. "Can you believe my first slip up in two years would be to someone who's only been in Paris for a couple of weeks?" Marinette groaned.

"Ok, I can kinda see it. You swing into an alley, de-transform and suddenly the poster child for introverts catches you" Alya leaned back into a more comfortable sitting position.

"Yeah, he chewed me out real good and we got into a bit of a fight. He was concerned that it would have been too dangerous or whatever." Marinette huffed. "I mean, I understand his concerns. If the roles were reversed," Marinette took a deep shuddering breath to regain her composure. "I would have been insanely worried." And the roles had been reversed, the memory of being hit by the detonation of one of Bomb Voyage's bombs echoed painfully in her head.

"I get it, it's like he didn't trust you to do your job. Yeah?" Alya placed a hand on Marinette's arm. Marinette looked straight into Alya's eyes. "I mean it Alya, I'm always worried that something's gonna happen to you. Just because you're trying to catch the latest scoop." Hard sapphires met with warm oak.

"I-I'm sorry." Alya breathed out, hand firmly grabbing Marinette's arm.

"I love you so much Alya, you're like a sister to me. But if you're on the scene, you could be in grave danger. You have been in grave danger!" Marinette bit out.

"Or you could be a distraction." Marinette continued solemnly. Alya took in her own shuddering breath. There had been many a time where Ladybug got hurt trying to take a hit that was meant for Alya when the reporter had been careless and had gotten within Akuma range.

"I get it, I'll try to stick to the perimeter next time." Alya sighed.

"Thank you, that's all I ask." Marinette allowed her lips to pull into a small smile.

"So if you were in your own coma from Bomb Voyage, who de-evilized the Akuma?" Alya turned questioning eyes to her best friend.

"You know I cannot reveal any identities Alya, it's not just for their sake. It's for yours too." Marinette giggled.

"Damn it and here I thought I would get an exclusive scoop." Alya mocked sighed making Marinette giggle louder. "You already got your scoop!"

It was another hour of the girls laughing and giggling over the absurdity that was Marinette. The walking contradiction. When Alya suddenly took a pause and whipped her head towards her best friend. Red curls flying at a speed that Marinette wonders if Alya had ever suffered from whiplash.

"You said you might like him back!" Alya accused.

"I said what?" Marinette turned confused eyes to her best friend.

"Earlier! You said that you might like him back!" Alya pointed an accusing finger. "Do you have a crush on Agreste the elder?" Alya questioned with narrow eyes.

"I-I-I well… I might?" Marinette shifted uncomfortably and looked away from her best friend as if it would stop the redhead from further questioning. There was no such luck of course.

"Since when?" Alya continued, eagerly awaiting an answer.

"I-I'm not s-s-sure." Marinette stuttered, her body shifting as her nerves grew.

"It couldn't have been something so recent. So probably between him coming back from England and hmm…" tapping a finger against her chin, Alya observed her best friend. "Maybe a couple of days before Bomb Voyage?"

Marinette's already flushed face reddened further. "I-I'm not sure when r-r-really. B-but probably s-somewhere in that t-time frame." Marinette mumbled and twiddled her thumbs.

"The day has come fellow readers that Marinette Dupain-Cheng has finally realized that a boy has feelings for her without me having to spell it out to her!" Alya declared loudly into a pretend microphone she had gripped in one hand.

Marinette's face turned a shade of red that had before now had been specially reserved for any mentions of Adrien Agreste and Alya cackled in amusement.

Maybe Marinette really did have a thing for tall blonde men.

"What makes you think that you like him?" Alya questioned, flopping to her side and looked up to her best friend. Head resting on a bent elbow and red hair spilling behind her on her yellow sheets. Marinette thought that Alya was the very embodiment of the sun at that moment.

"I-I keep thinking about him a-and I look forward to it when he comes for lunch every day. It's nice knowing that when I wake up, I only have to wait a couple of hours before I see him again." Marinette stared into the distance as if picturing Felix walking into her home right there and then.

"I like how he listens to me. Even if he doesn't understand. He'll try to help me, no matter the cost. You know he stayed up with me to help bake those cookies for the class party?" Marinette continued with a gentle smile on her lips.

"Yeah, those cookies were good. I didn't take him for a baker though." Alya scoffed. "You're right. He's not, he stayed up to keep me company. Which is so incredibly sweet." Marinette sighed.

"He really doesn't know anything about interacting with other people, thanks to M Agreste." Marinette frowned slightly at the thought of how M Agreste had hurt both his sons over the years with his unique parenting skills. "But he's willing to try. He would try because he's willing to improve himself, which I think is really important you know? Life can't remain stagnant forever. Change must occur for the advancement of time."

"Okay, okay I get it. You're definitely smitten." Alya laughed. "But is what you feel for Felix the same thing you feel for Adrien?"

"I-I can't really understand my feelings." Marinette's shoulders dropped, eyebrows furrowing. "My crush on Adrien was bad, I know that. It was borderline stalking and if you asked anybody about keeping a schedule of a boy in your room, they'd call you creepy." Marinette sighed. "It was obsessive and it wasn't healthy. Pouring all my attention on that one boy." Marinette fell backward and stared up at Alya's ceiling with an arm behind her head.

"But time has passed since those days and I told Nino-" Alya turned so that she was propped on one elbow while laying on her side, "Nino? What about him?" Marinette rolled her eyes - not that Alya could see it properly. "I told Nino that I was idolizing Adrien so much that I didn't realize that all he needed right now are his friends."

"And that's way more important than wanting to kiss him. Adrien is lonely and controlled by his father at every turn. What he needs right now isn't the pressure of a relationship, but the safe place to escape." Marinette sighed.

"And to be really honest, I had that boy's schedule memorized by heart and I knew everything I could have known about him. But I didn't really know him. I didn't know what he's thinking, I didn't know what he wants to be when he grows up. I don't even know anything about him that I didn't find out from a magazine clipping." Marinette closed her eyes in an attempt to calm her swirling emotions.

"I love him so much Alya, but do I really?" Alya reached out to awkwardly pat Marinette's stomach - the only part of her best friend that she could comfortably reach. "And now that I know that Adrien likes Ladybug, isn't it the exact same thing? Having crushes on your idol but not really knowing who they are behind their masks."

"Adrien doesn't wear a mask-" Alya started. "He does." Marinette cut in firmly. "The Adrien we see in school, the one who jokes with us and hangs out with us in arcades, that's the closest we're going to get to know the real Adrien. When he's modeling he's the Agreste scion and he's expected to carry himself in a certain way."

"What do you mean by the closest to the real Adrien?" Alya questioned softly.

"He always has to act a certain way. There's always so much pressure on his shoulders. He has to look good at all time, he keeps his posture ramrod straight when he sits in case there's paparazzi trying to take a sneak shot. He can't look bad in any photos ever. Or his dad will just ground him and restrict the poor boy even more than he already has."

"The real Adrien, that's an Adrien we don't get to see unless the world doesn't know it's him. The real Adrien wears a mask to hide from the whole world." Marinette's voice full of sorrow. "I don't know the real Adrien at all Alya. How can I say that I love him?" Marinette turned sad blue eyes to her best friend.

"I think just by how much this is eating at you, I can say that you really do love him." Alya said with kind eyes. "It's really obvious that you care for the two of them. Maybe you don't really know what's going to happen between the three of you in the future." Alya shrugged with her one shoulder. "But you're never going to know if you don't make a move. As you said, change must occur for the advancement of time. The way I see it girl, if you don't give it a shot, you're just going to be stuck in this limbo thinking of the what ifs."

Picking up Marinette's discarded phone, Alya handed it over to the girl with a gentle smile. The two unanswered messages that Marinette had burned into her memories were waiting.

"You're right." Marinette smiled at her best friend and took her phone from her best friend. "Yeah, nothing is going to change if I continue to sit here and mope."

"It doesn't matter if you don't really know him, Mari. The fact is that you care. And I'm guessing that's more than he's ever gotten in a long time. Either of them." Alya tried to reassure her friend.

"Thank you, Alya." Marinette grinned, her confidence boosted. Unlocking her phone Marinette stared at the two names on her screen. "Hey Alya, would it be funny if they both went on a date with me?" Marinette questioned innocently, phone held tight in her hands as a mischievous smile graced her lips.

"Isn't a date with both of them what we're aiming for?" Alya raised a questioning eyebrow. Marinette had the look that Alya could now recognize as Ladybug's expression when she had come up with an insane plan to change the tide of battle.

"What if I went on a date with the two of them, at the same time." Alya blinked before the deviousness of the plan bloomed in her head. "You little witch. You want them to fight over you?" Alya grinned impishly.

"What can I say? I'm only human after all." Marinette giggled and started to compose the text.

Adrien: Want to go for a movie tomorrow, Mari? We can have supper together afterwards ;3

Marinette: Hey Adrien! We could but Felix asked me out for a movie too. Do you want to join us instead?

x

Chat Chanceux: I have two tickets for the movies tomorrow night. Would you like to accompany me? We could have dinner before. My treat of course.

Marinette: I would love to! But Adrien asked me to join him for a movie too, do you think the three of us could go together?

x

Marinette proudly held the phone out for Alya to read. "You little snake. You're going to have both of them wrapped around your pinky." the redhead chuckled in amusement.

Marinette's phone buzzed twice with the response of both boys. Marinette quickly flipped the phone and read the messages, her face turning a bright red. "They both said yes…" She whispered.

Marinette may have sounded a little bit distraught but Alya couldn't help but notice the twitching that threatened to stretch into a delighted smile. "Girl, we gotta plan what you're going to wear." Alya placed a hand on Marinette's shoulder seriously.

Marinette grinned in agreement.

Marinette left Alya's house in the afternoon, just after lunch. The redhead had waved her best friend off with a wink and mischievous grin. Marinette waved back with a matching grin on her own lips.

The goal of the day was to tease both boys. Perhaps the brothers wouldn't rise up to Marinette's planned teasing and the three of them would hang out like the friends that they were. Marinette felt her nerves start to haze up her mind and took a deep breath to calm herself.

Perhaps both boys had a thing for her. Perhaps she had a thing for both of them, even if she didn't quite understand her emotions for either blond. If she couldn't tease the both of them into outdoing each other within the first hour, she would give up and the three of them would have a relatively quiet evening.

Clenching a fist in determination, Marinette quickly made her way back home, cutting through the park and tried to push down the squeamish feeling that rose from her gut. The battle with Bomb Voyage was over, she had been de-evilized and Marinette no longer had anything to worry about.

The battle with Bomb Voyage was over, she had been de-evilized and Marinette no longer had anything to worry about.

Her spine tingles as if she could almost feel the Akuma's pressure in the air.

The battle with Bomb Voyage was over, she had been de-evilized and Marinette no longer had anything to worry about.

Marinette quickly scanned her surroundings, making sure no akumatized villain was in her vicinity. Taking a moment to gaze at her old Collège fondly. Sure enough there were no Akuma's present and no negativity clinging to the air. Checking that Tikki was ok, receiving a thumbs up - paws up since Tikki had no fingers, Marinette quickened her pace towards her home.

The battle with Bomb Voyage was over, she had been de-evilized and Marinette no longer had anything to worry about.

Her breath quickened and Marinette had broken into a light jog. Frantically pushing the door of the bakery open, Marinette let out a sigh of relief when she was greeted by her mother.

"Welcome home ma fille... Are you alright?" Sabine asked with concern as she took in her daughter who had sweat on her brow and eyes wide. She waited in silence as her daughter heaved a sigh of relief, watched as her daughter glanced outside as if waiting for an enemy to pounce at her at any moment.

Sabine had done a lot of watching when it came to her daughter.

"I'm back, Maman." Marinette gave her mother a shaky smile and tried to regain her cool. She was home now. She was safe. She reached over the counter to give her mother a kiss on the cheek.

There was nothing to worry about.

Marinette had already called ahead to inform her mother of her not date with the Agreste brothers. Her mother had only chuckled and offered to inform her husband on her daughter's behalf.

Tom looked up from his cleaning to see his daughter with flushed cheeks and wide eyes. He frowned for a moment, wanting to say something but thought the better of it. "Look at what the dog dragged in, it's ma fille. How was your sleepover cupcake?" Tom spread large arms wide to invite his only child into a hug.

Marinette melted in her father's embrace. She was home. She was safe. There was nothing to worry about. "I'm home, papa." Marinette mumbled, clinging on to her father as her panic finally settled.

"Let me look at you, you've grown so much!" Tom joked as he gave his daughter a once-over, checking her for any injuries. Marinette only giggled, already used to her father and his antics. "Papa it has only been two nights!"

Two nights too many, Tom thought to himself.

"What's this I hear of you going on a date?" Tome raised an eyebrow. Catching the teasing tone in his voice, Marinette raised her own brow in challenge. "Papa. do you not believe that your daughter cannot hold her own against two boys?"

"Of course not fille chérie. I expect them to be on their best behavior. My daughter deserves nothing but the best." Tom puffed his chest out proudly. Marinette giggled once again. "That's why I'm going out with both of them. Only the best!"

Marinette laughed as she made her way towards the staircase that would lead to her room. "Marinette, wait!" Tom called out, making the dark-haired girl turn just as she climbed the first step.

"I baked these for Tikki, I'm sure she's missed the quality sweets." Tom winked. Hearing a tinkle of laughter from his daughter's purse the man turned away and listened as his daughter yelled out 'Merci Papa, you're the best!"

Yes, he was. No stupid boys would beat him. Tom looked towards the clock with determination. He had just enough time to finish cleaning the kitchen and change out of his clothes to intimidate the boys. Tom chuckled good-naturedly.

I know I keep saying that Felix and Adrien are gonna have their little cat fight, but I mean this time! Leave a review!