HEADS UP.

So, with this turning more into Adrien is flawed fic, renamed it to A Romantic's Sting. Also, for personal reasons, moving onto Archive of Our Own. I will finish the fics I have up here, but everything new will be on Ao3.

How did it come to this? This whole mess Pollen was dropped in.

Pollen truly wondered. Looking over the two, Adrien set on the couch, Plagg eating away at his cheese, the two set so far apart from each other. She wondered if that was part of it, Plagg's lack of guidance and involvement. Was it because his laziness was at a spike? Pollen glanced to Adrien, humming to herself, or was it the boy's lack of listening that discouraged the kwami?

Unable to get through to Plagg about this, Pollen darted to Adrien's side, hovering over the couch, watching him play a video game on the screen, his tongue sticking out. Pollen watched him, looking at the boy she was given to, considering him.

If she was going to turn things around, Adrien was going to need discipline. He was going to need direction, going to need someone involved. If Plagg wasn't going to do so then Pollen shall. And hopefully, she can get them both back in shape before she was given to another.

"Oh! Pollen!"

She blinked, seeing Adrien beaming when he spotted her. He held up a controller, asking, "You want to play with me?"

Smiling slightly, pointing out, "I might be too small for that."

Adrien blinked then pursed his lips. "Yeah… you would be." With a sigh, he turned back to the screen, resuming his play. Pollen floated down, resting on his knee, watching him go and considering her words. Adrien glanced at her, aware of her stare. With a smile, he asked, "You want to watch me play?"

"I want to talk to you about this," Pollen said instead, looking to the bee comb set in his hair. "This whole situation."

"Isn't it great?" Adrien asked, turning back to his game, a big smile on his lips. "Ladybug and I are going to start dating, I just know it."

"Yes, that is what I wanted to talk about." Pollen floated up, floating in front of the screen, blocking his view and setting her paws on his hips. Adrien paused the game, blinking at the little bee, frowning slightly.

"Adrien," Pollen started, "you need to get your priorities straight. And think about this."

Adrien stared at her, brow raised. "Think about what?"

"This," Pollen waved to him, "isn't going to work out. You are lying to Ladybug—"

"She isn't interested in Chat Noir though," Adrien huffed, setting his controller down. "Her being interested in me is a breakthrough! And it's only a little lie that'll last for a little longer. Soon we'll date and you'll be with someone else."

"Oh yes," Pollen sassed, "I'm being such a silly bee for not liking this dishonest approach." She jerked her hip out, setting her paws on them and giving the boy a firm look. "This is ignoring my purpose. Why I was released. I'm here because Ladybug needs help—"

"And she'll get it soon," Adrien said. "But we don't really need it—"

"You don't think so because you aren't Ladybug." Pollen breathed in and released. "Ladybug's mission is to get the butterfly miraculous back, as well as keep Paris safe and in order. Dating you isn't apart of that mission, and you as her partner should be helping her in any way you can." Adrien moved to speak and Pollen quickly said, "I will admit, one of the reasons she chose you was because she has a crush on you and did want to get closer with you, but it was also because you were kind and hardworking. She thought you would be perfect to join her and Chat Noir, that you would be a big help. Do you think this is helping, Adrien?"

He was quiet for a moment, lips pursed as he stared down at the controller in his hand. With a soft sigh, he murmured, "It would be just for a little while longer, until the first akuma—"

"It should be sooner," Pollen said. "You are deceiving her and taking advantage of this—"

"We'll both be happy though," he argued quietly.

"Right now, you are caring more about your happiness than hers. You're putting your interest above your objective and being very inconsiderate."

"I'm always considerate—"

"Oh, I don't know," Plagg voiced, drifting over and laying over the back of the couch. "You didn't really consider Marinette's feelings when you tricked her to go on a date with Nino."

Adrien turned to Plagg, looking betrayed. "That was, I was helping—"

"And Theo, you weren't considerate there."

"Plagg!"

"Adrien."

He turned to Pollen, seeing her gazing down at him coolly. "It's time to start thinking about these things, to really consider all of this. There are better ways."

Miffed with the two, Adrien turned off the tv, got up and walked away, grumbling, "You two don't need to gang up on me."

"Adrien Agreste, do not walk away from me," Pollen called out, zipping after him, set to get through to him. Plagg stared after them, instead of pursuing, he stretched from where he lounged on the back of the couch, well aware that if there was a point Adrien didn't care for, he would brush it off or ignore it. Plagg turned away, lounging out on the couch, deeming he's done enough to try and involve himself.

Adrien stared at his computer, feeling frustrated and tired, and unsure. He scrolled through the Ladyblog, looking at pictures of him and Ladybug, picturing them dating, replaced with pictures of Ladybug and Adrien. It was a nice scene in his mind, both of them happy and close and everything was perfect in the world.

But… he thought about Pollen's words, looking back to the agitated bee kwami, zipping around, huffing and pouting, agitated with him brushing her off.

Just the thought had him agitated again, defensive. He had a right to pursue his love. He had a right to happiness and be with who he wanted to be. She unknowingly gave him a chance to get closer to her, as himself, as Adrien. If Chat Noir didn't cut, then yes, he was eager to try and get further as Adrien, as Stinger Bee.

And this wasn't going to last. Just a little while longer, there would be another bee and he would be dating Ladybug. It's what he wanted and soon Ladybug would get what she wanted and it would all work out. Everyone would be happy. He's got this.

Doesn't he?

Adrien sighed, unsure of what was going on. He wanted to be happy, to be sure of this, but as he stared at the picture of them, he couldn't muster up a happy feeling. A feeling that's been spoiled by his kwamis. He skidded away from his computer, slouching back in his seat, lips pursed. He looked over to Pollen, still going off, an agitated blur. When she turned to him, Adrien felt a spike of stubborn childishness and turned away. He was set to just pout in his chair when there was a soft knock on his glass.

Adrien turned, sucking in a sharp breath to see a sheepish Ladybug hanging before his window, giving him a small wave.

Ladybug was here.

Ladybug was here.

Adrien jumped out of his seat, almost tripping over himself in his rush and hurried to the window, pulling it open as he stared up at. He greeted softly, "Hi."

"Hey," she returned, glancing at his room. "May I?"

"Yes! Yes! Come in, come in." He drew away, watching Ladybug slip in, seeing her in his room, giddy. "Is there something that I can help you with?"

"No, just dropping by, seeing how you're doing," she said, turning to him, her smile bashful, sweet, and adorable.

"Oh, we're doing just fine," Pollen voiced, drawing near with a tight smile, eyeing Adrien. "It's good to see you again Ladybug, I hope me being out is a big relief."

"Oh, it is," Ladybug said, offering her hand to Pollen, smiling at the kwami. "Nice to see that you're settling in just fine." To Adrien, she said with a grin, "I hope she didn't startle you too much."

"Oh no," Adrien waved off, "she was a… nice surprise."

"Hey, did you know there was a patrol tonight?" Ladybug asked.

"I did," Adrien reassured, "just had homework to do."

Pollen gave a loud hum.

Ladybug gave a start, looking alarmed. "Were you able to get it done? Am I interrupting? Oh no, I am, I am so sorry I'll go—"

"No! No, it's ok. I got it done," Adrien quickly reassured, setting a hand on her shoulder, beaming. "You came at a good time." Her soft smile made his heart skip beats, it made him excited, feel like he flying. Eagerly, he pulled her along to the couch, offering her a controller. "You want to play a game with me?"

"I can play for a game," she agreed, accepting it and settling on the couch, beaming as she turned to the screen.

Resisting the urge to wiggle in excitement, Adrien sat next to her, eager to play with his crush. Pulling up SMU, the two delved into it, Adrien having a start at how easily Ladybug was beating him. Frantic, Adrien delved into button mashing, set to try and get in the same league as her.

Ladybug though just leaned back, playing at her leisure, her fingers gliding over the controls. She voiced, eyes set to the screen, "You know, I am glad you accepted the bee miraculous."

Adrien spared her a fast glance then quickly turned back to the screen. "Oh?"

"You're going to be a great addition to the team," she said. "And, I'm glad getting Pollen didn't overwhelm you like the ladybug did me."

Adrien paused and his robot went down, the ladybug based bot growing in size. He glanced at her, brow raised. "The ladybug miraculous overwhelmed you?"

"Tikki said I was the chosen one, that it was up to me to save Paris and keep it safe and see that akumas are cleansed and everything restored and, well, you remember how that first time went." Ladybug glanced at him then quickly looked away, eyes set on the screen, watching her bot pose and flex. "I was ashamed and overwhelmed enough that I gave up the earrings, I was going to give them away."

He stared at her, surprised. "But you're here," he noted.

"I am," she confirmed. "I saw how dangerous this was, why I was needed, why Ladybug was needed. I saw a dear friend got hurt and…" Ladybug breathed in, setting the controller in her lap. "It made me realize how important this was, it was why I put the earrings back on, why I continued as Ladybug. Chat Noir and I are the only ones that are standing between Paris and Hawk Moth." She smiled, turning her soft gaze to him. "And now there's you too, you're going to help us keep Paris safe and I… thank you, Adrien, for taking this on."

Adrien stared at her, those giddy feelings he had earlier dwindling away.

At his stare, Ladybug went red. "An-anyway! Sorry, um, sh-shall we continue?"

"Yeah…"

They slipped into the next fight, Ladybug winning almost immediately as Adrien's mind wandered, lingering on her words, about what she said.

Behind them, Pollen floated, paws clasped together. She drifted back, coming to settle next to Plagg. The two sat, hidden from sight, watching the two quiet heroes.