"Ladybug, if you're out there listening...would you like to be my date to the concert?"

In Marinette's defense, she was not expecting to be asked on a date by a stranger-who-wasn't-completely-a-stranger that she may or may not have some confusing feelings for.

That's what she told herself to rationalize the screaming.

After around second five of the very long scream, she realized there was a choice to be made. She could either call in and meet this man in person and perhaps develop a friendship, or she could not call in, never meet this person, and regret it for the rest of her life.

Yeah, she was calling in. Just as soon as she could get her phone out of her pocket. Her hands were shaking and fumbling around as she called the number, and she prayed she didn't hit a wrong number.

The dial tone rang and she heard the phones connect. Breathe. You're fine. It's just Chat Noir. You've handled him before. Breathe.

"Caller, you're on the air."

"Hey there, Nino. This bug couldn't miss a chance to call in. Of course I'm ecstatic about Jagged Stone- you know he's my favorite. And the favorite of anyone who's got any sense." Marinette shook her head, realizing how much like Queen Bee she sounded. "But, I also know that you don't care about that right now. Neither does your no-good girlfriend, who is probably going to be really pissed at me if I don't answer that catcall. So...Chat Noir. I accept."

She didn't wait to see if Nino or Alya responded. She hung up the phone, turned her kitchen radio off, and went to bed.
_

"Hey, Nino. Normally I don't like meddling with affairs of the heart-"

"Ha! That's a lie. Why do I have a bad feeling about what's coming out of your mouth next?"

"Well...I was just thinking...maybe we could start making bets? I bet a dollar that Ladybug and Chat Noir will get together by the end of this year. What do you think?"

"Nah, they'll be together by the end of the concert. The cat's completely crazy about your bug. And he's charming. He'll make it happen that day."

"You're putting a lot of stock in the fact that whoever he is, he's pretty, aren't you?"

"I'm just saying it's true and it will help. If my heart and stomach did not already belong to you and your superb mac and cheese that did not come from a box, he would be a second choice on face alone. But he's a good person."

"You know Mari, though. She can't say a sentence to any guy she finds remotely attractive. After what happened a couple years ago, I'm surprised she accepted the date invitation so quickly. Get this, though- the other day, she was talking to some guy she saw at work, and she messed up saying hi to him. Only my girl," Alya said, shaking her head fondly as she recounted the conversation.

Her phone chimed with a text, from none other than Marinette.

I'm pretty sure I'm hallucinating because I distinctly remember agreeing to a date with a guy I don't know tell me I didn't

I can't do that, because you did lol want me to get his # from N? Then you can talk or whatever

No!

Actually yes if you can that would be cool

On it!

"Give me his number. Give it to me right now so I can give it to Marinette."

"No, I promised I wouldn't give his number out to random girls!"

"She's not random, she's the love of his life. That's what he keeps telling you, anyway."

"Dude's so sickeningly sweet, I think he's already made a Spotify playlist for her."

"All the more reason. Give. Me. The. Number."

"Give me hers and I'll give it to him, okay? That way I don't break my promise and you still get what you want."

"...fine."
_

Hey, how are you? This feels weird

I'm sorry, who are you and how did you get this number?

Your favorite black cat. Nino gave me your number, hope you don't mind.

No, it's fine. What's weird about it?

Not to get too personal but I don't really text often. I don't have a lot of close friends.

Me neither. Maybe this will be good for us.

So...you agreed to go with me to the concert. I didn't think about it at the time, but how are we gonna recognize each other?

Well...I guess maybe we wear something specific? That's how that works in movies, don't see why it wouldn't work here. We've got a couple weeks to get it figured out
_

This might sound weird but can I text you pictures and stuff during the day? I know we don't know each other but sometimes I see stuff or listen to music that I want to share with you

Yeah! I would love that. And if I see anything I want to share, I'll do the same

Purrfect, I love surprise messages

The cat puns are killing me. Did I mention I'm allergic

To cats? Oh the shame!

No, to your bad cat puns

You wound me, my Lady(bug)

Every time you call me that, I picture you tipping a fedora

Who's to say I'm not?

I really really hope not, and that hope is going to have to see me through
_

Hey LB, I made a playlist for you on Spotify. Listen to it and try not to fall in love with me

I'll try my best, Kitty
_

"Nino, it's been like a week and this is more serious than my last four relationships combined." Adrien sighed and ran a hand through his hair, throwing himself down on the couch.

He laughed at Adrien's dramatics. "I would say that's because you're a hopeless romantic. What do you even talk about?"

Adrien glanced around his apartment. What did they talk about? Any and everything...as long as it wasn't too revealing. He had reasons for not letting important information slip. Reasons like wanting whoever this girl is to like him for his personality, not for his face or family name. The amount of relationships Adrien had that did not fall into any of those categories is zero.

"We talk about random stuff. The weather, how our days are going-"

Nino interrupted with, "and you've probably told her you love her like thirty times."

"No!" he yelled out, a bit too loud. "But...I did share the playlist with her."

Nino groaned. "Dude. You're too pure of heart. You don't even know this girl. She could crush your heart and you'd let her."

Adrien smiled at his friend. "Well, good thing you do know her. And I trust your judgement. You've only been wrong about five things ever in the course of our friendship."

"Hey! You know for a fact that they were all accidents. Or...most were. That one time with the underwear? That was on purpose, and it was hilarious."

The two smiled at the memory. Friendship with Nino had been the best choice Adrien had ever made. But calling into the radio show and irritating Ladybug on a nightly basis might be the second.

Adrien's phone starting ringing and he didn't bother to check the caller ID before answering, "Hello, Father."

A short pause sounded before a female voice that was definitely not his father replied, "I don't think I remember having a son. And you can't call me dad, either."

Adrien fell off the couch. Nino laughed.

"Ladybug? Why did you- what- why did you call me?" he said, clambering his way back onto the sofa.

"I've had a really long, bad week, and all of my other friends weren't picking up their phones. I wanted to talk to someone on my walk to my car. It makes me feel safer," she explained. "Sorry to call so late."

"It's like...eight. It's not that late. And you can call anytime you need. Did you want to talk about your week, or…?"

She hesitated. "Well...actually, I wanted to tell you thank you. For the playlist you made? I've been listening to it while I do some hands-on work nobody else wants to do, and I really enjoyed it."

Adrien's cheeks pinked. It was unlike his Lady to say something complimentary towards him. Nino began pointing to his cheeks and silently mocking Adrien's red face, whispering things like, "Oh Ladybug, I love you! Marry me!" and doing that very middle-school thing of turning his torso around and pretending to make out with himself, running his hands up and down his side. Adrien starting kicking out a leg to shove him off the couch, while responding, "Oh- yeah. No- problem."

"Um, are you alright?" came the hesitant reply. "Did I call at a bad time? Oh my gosh I called at a bad time and you should probably just hang up on me and-"

"No, it's no problem. I'm kicking Nino off my couch for being a jerk. Literally kicking, with legs and everything. Oh, look, he's on the floor now. My work here is done." He was met with laughter on the other end.

"Thanks, Chaton. That's actually the funniest thing I've heard all day."

He grinned toothily and took a mock bow, even though she couldn't see it. "That's what I'm here for."

He heard the sound of a door opening on the other end of the line, and his bug started to talk, saying that she was at her car and she was going to hang up. He wondered what kind of car she drove. Something small, perhaps. Maybe gray? No, white.

In his dazed out state, he replied to her and was met with silence before she said, "Uh...okay. Yeahseeyoulaterbye!"

Nino was howling with laughter on the carpet, still rubbing his side where he had been knocked to the floor. "What?" Adrien's eyes narrowed as he stared at his friend. "What's so funny?"

"Dude," Nino choked out, rubbing tears out of his eyes and trying to suppress his giggles, "instead of saying bye like a normal person, you just told her you love her!"

Adrien froze, green eyes going wide. Well...shit.