Adrien had been dreading that afternoon. He'd been to many dull events, but this one took the cake. Chloe seemed completely oblivious to the fact that Adrien had no wish to attend this dance with her, which made the fitting ten times worse.

It might have been slightly better if Chloe wasn't such a horrible customer. She'd tried on half the dresses Gabriel's had to offer and had somehow managed to find fault with all of them. Adrien had selected his suit a whole hour ago, while Chloe was still fussing over too-large bows and not enough sparkle. It was almost enough to drive a person crazy and Adrien felt extremely sorry for the shop assistants.

He was sitting on one of the expensive velvet ottomans that were sprinkled around the store, waiting for Chloe to emerge from the change rooms. In his pocket, Plagg was nibbling on some cheese. The kwami had been silent ever since yesterday when Ladybug had collapsed. Adrien hadn't thought too much of it, though. He was mostly worried about his lady.

The changing room door swung open, and Chloe pranced out. Adrien sighed. If that was her idea of a walk, then she would never be a model.

The blonde strutted around, heels clicking on the marble floor, admiring herself in the many mirrors around the store. She stopped in front of Adrien. "Well, Adrikins?"

It exactly the same thing she had said to him each time she'd tried on a new dress. Clearly, Chloe wasn't one for originality.

He squinted at the gown. It was black, with silver embellishments around the hem, which brushed the floor. The neckline was a v-neck that almost went down to Chloe's midriff. Adrien knew that his father designed for many famous celebrities, and that this dress would be perfectly acceptable on a red carpet on a grown woman. However, since Chloe was barely sixteen and would be wearing the dress to a high school dance, Adrien doubted that it was a good choice.

"Uhhhhh.." He tried to think of a way of saying it gently. "I don't think it's quite right."

Chloe pouted. "But it compliments your suit so perfectly. I know you didn't want to wear matching outfits, but surely this doesn't count."

"That's not why, Chloe. It's just a little….extra for a high school dance."

The blonde frowned. "How? I think it's quite plain."

Adrien sighed. "The neckline?" he tried.

Chloe glanced down. "Oh, I suppose. You really are hard to please, Adrikins," she laughed.

The model gritted his teeth into a false smile until Chloe swished back into the changerooms. Then his expression dropped. He really didn't want to go to the dance with Chloe. He wanted to ask Ladybug as Chat Noir, so they could go together. But his father was adamant, and Chloe would explode if Adrien ditched her.

So Adrien would mysteriously disappear at the dance, once Chloe was sidetracked by criticizing the other girls' dresses and partners. He'd meet up with LB, and they'd go together. Everyone would be too distracted by the presence of two superheroes to notice that Adrien had disappeared. Besides, he could always slip off to the bathrooms as Chat and momentarily step in as Adrien, just to stop anyone from getting suspicious. That way, no one would get hurt. Everything would be just fine.

The changing room door swung open again, and Adrien braced himself for Chloe's next outfit.

MLBMLBMLB

Tikki was resting, and Marinette was freaking out.

It was one of the hardest things in the world to force yourself not to be sad when being sad was all you wanted to do. Adrien's rejection had cut her to the bone and was stinging her like crazy, but Marinette couldn't think about it. She'd tried meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, and even going to sleep, but nothing worked. It was like an out-of-reach itch, one that she couldn't quite scratch, and it was driving her crazy. Marinette needed to scream, cry, vent, but she couldn't.

No negative emotions. No negative emotions. No negative emotions.\

She repeated the words like a mantra, but it only made it worse. She needed to get out, let it out, do something….

"Marinette?" Sabine's head bobbed up from the trapdoor. "How was sch- Dear, are you all right?"

Marinette glanced in the mirror. Her reflection stared back, flushed and messy-haired; almost deranged. She could understand her mother's concern.

"I'm fine, Mama. Just fine."

"Are you sure?" Sabine still looked worried. "Do you need to talk?"

Marinette shook her head, smiling at her mother. "No, it's fine. I was just going to go for a walk. Clear my head."

"Oh, of course. Have fun, and be safe. Your father will be busy until late, but you and I can cook dinner together if you want."

"Sounds great, Mama." Marinette followed her mother down the stairs and bent to kiss her cheek. "Bye!"

"Bye, sweetie."

Marinette could only hope that there would be no negative emotions in Paris today, as she'd left Tikki in her room.

MLBMLBMLB

After two hours of trying on gowns, Chloe had somehow still not managed to find something to her liking. Or rather, something that was appropriate for a school dance. Adrien didn't really think thigh-high splits were the style to go with. However, he was getting tired of this game, and was trying not to be so picky. Chloe was not making it easy.

Her latest ensemble had featured one of the sparkliest, pinkest dresses Adrien had ever seen. It was quite nice, really, except for the extraordinary amount of cut-outs on the bodice. Even if Gabriel had designed the dress, Adrien doubted his father would approve.

So Adrien had left his velvet ottoman and approached one of the store assistants who knew him well.

"Excuse me, Miss Estelle?"

She turned and smiled at him. "Ah, it's the golden boy! How are you coping with our lovely customer?" She nodded towards the changing rooms and winked at Adrien.

Adrien grinned back. "I'm getting a little tired of it, to be honest," he confided, lowering his voice. "Do you think you could arrange for some more appropriate dresses?"

Estelle nodded. "Of course, honey. Something like this?" She held up a gown from the latest collection that was much more to Adrien's taste.

"That's fantastic, Estelle. Thank you."

She ruffled his hair affectionately. "It's no trouble, Adrien. You're a good boy for doing this." She turned away to tidy a shelf.

Adrien knew what she meant. Although she was just a shop assistant, she was quite well-known to Gabriel, who worked closely with the store manager, who was Estelle's aunt. Therefore, Estelle was something of a representative for store employees when necessary. Estelle had often slipped Adrien sweets when he was younger and still did now. She was like an older, distant cousin to Adrien.

Chloe sashayed out again, and Adrien looked up to inspect the dress. He was pleasantly surprised. Yes, it was a little over the top, but Adrien figured that he would be here all night before they found the perfect match. Chloe twirled on the spot, narrowly avoiding a trip.

"Well, Adrikins?"

Adrien smiled at her. "It looks great, Chlo," he said warmly.

She looked surprised, then quickly rearranged her features into a superior smirk. "Well, of course it does! It's on me!" She threw back her head and laughed loudly.

Adrien stood up, shooting Estelle a grateful look. She smiled at him knowingly, and as they passed to leave, slipped a chocolate into Adrien's palm.

MLBMLBMLB

The air was crisp on Marinette's face, and the wind tugged at her knitted cap, threatening to snatch it as clouds swirled overhead. The cold temperature had ushered most Parisians inside, and therefore there were very few people out and about. Marinette walked briskly through the city, scents whipping around her. Fresh coffee and bread, flowers and wool floated out of the warm, bright shops. Marinette wished Alya was with her. They would be laughing and chatting, sitting in one of the cozy little cafes, sipping coffee and nibbling pastries.

But Alya had been complaining loudly about her homework, and how it was getting impossible to balance schoolwork and the Ladyblog, especially with the tests coming up. Marinette thought it was best not to distract or burden the girl. Alya had enough on her plate as it was without Marinette adding to it.

Marinette turned down a familiar laneway, passing more shopfronts until she reached her destination. Warmth flowed around her as the bluenette stepped inside the shop and was enveloped in the scents of fabric and wood.

"Miss Marinette! It has been too long, mon cherie!"

Marinette was crushed in the embrace of her old friend. "It's only been a week, Madame Jocelyn," she laughed, hugging the old woman back.

Madame Jocelyn stepped back. "A week lasts forever without your cheery face, mon petit," she said kindly. "However, you do not seem so bright today. What is the trouble?"

"Nothing, really. I suppose I just need cheering up," said Marinette.

Madame Jocelyn clapped her hands. "Well, then, you came to the right place, no? Come, have a seat!" She led Marinette over to the overstuffed armchairs. "How is your ball gown going, my dear?" she asked.

"Pretty good, thanks," replied Marinette. "It'll probably need a few all-nighters...or perhaps not."

"This dress is for Valentine's Dance, yes?"

"Yeah," sighed Marinette.

"And you asked the model to go with you, and he said no?"

Marinette gaped. "How did you-"

Madame Jocelyn chuckled. "I am not quite as young as I appear, and I have known you for more years than I remember. Which also means that I know you came here for a drink, a hug, and some peace. Which is why I have your basket right here." The woman dragged over a woven basket full of fashion magazines and patterns over to Marinette. "And your drink is on its way. Happy reading, dear."

MLBMLBMLB

As far as kwamis went, Plagg was pretty predictable. When Adrien finally escaped into the privacy of his room, he was expecting the creature to shoot out of his pocket, demand cheese, and complain.

So he was more than a little surprised when Plagg shot out of his pocket and began biting and scratching every inch of bare skin: face, arms, and hands.

"Ow! Plagg!" Adrien swatted at the kwami, who simply dodged his flailing hands and continued to attack. "Get off! OW!"

Plagg's teeth and claws may have been small, but they could still cause considerable damage. Adrien would compare it to having a bunch of needles scratching and poking him.

"PLAGG, GET OFF!" roared Adrien, smacking his kwami with a pillow, and sending him spiraling away. The model glanced down at himself, and his anger grew when he saw the blood on his clothes and arms. Shielding himself with his pillow, Adrien glared up at the kwami. "What is your problem?" he demanded furiously, rubbing his arms. "Seriously?"

Plagg hovered above him, scowling. "It's your own fault."

"What?"

"I said it's your own fault!" yelled Plagg, and dived at him again.

This time, Adrien was prepared. He wrapped his bleeding hand securely around the angry kwami, pinning his arms to his sides. "Not so fast, you little feral. What's going on?"

Plagg tried to bite him. "Stupid- Ladybug- idiot!" he spluttered.

Adrien shook him gently. "I command you to answer me!"

A black spark popped into the air, and a stream of words gushed out of Plagg's tiny mouth. "You have no idea what you're doing. Your stupid plan is never gonna work. You hurt Ladybug so much. I'm taking you to Fu."

"What? What do you mean, I hurt Ladybug? I thought I was cheering her up! I thought she was getting better."

"Well, she might have gotten better, if your dumb self hadn't stepped in and screwed it all up," spat Plagg.

"How?" Adrien tilted his head in confusion. "What did I do? And why does it matter so much?"

Plagg looked ready to kill. "MIRACULOUS HOLDERS CAN STILL BE AKUMATIZED, YOU IDIOT!" he screamed, wriggling free of Adrien grasp and clawing at his face.

Adrien yelped. "Plagg, stop! I order you to stop!"

Another spark popped, and suddenly Plagg was hovering meters away from his chosen, a surly look on his little face. "Idiot," he muttered.

"Explain to me, right now." Adrien crossed his arms and stared at his kwami.

Plagg sighed and cursed. "I can't."

"Oh, yes you can, and you're gonna-" began Adrien furiously, but Plagg cut him off.

"I really can't Adrien! There are rules, and normally I don't give a damn about rules, but these are important ones. I'd be in heaps of trouble if I broke them."

"Surely there's a loophole, Plagg."

The little cat shrugged. "Probably. But if you want to find that loophole, you and your sweetheart are going to have to pay a visit to Master Fu."

"The one I took Ladybug to?"

"Yep."

"So why can't you, Mr. Rules-Have-No-Purpose, tell me anything?"

"Because it's a matter of your identities. When it comes to them, I'm never going to break the rules."

Hi! Another chapter, done and dusted! I'm trying to get the plot to pick up again because I want to get this project finished so I can start on another one. You guys are absolutely fantastic, and the other day when I opened my laptop, I saw that this story has gotten three thousand reads! I couldn't have asked for better readers, thank you all so much!