It's totally a date

Adrien gave her a skeptical look before she hurriedly rushed them to the out of the bowling ally and to the park. This whole endeavor has been confusing for both of them, and Mari could only handle being in a stuffy bowling ally for so long. It was only until they got to the park did she realize she was holding his hand the entire time. Adrien did notice from the moment she grabbed it to drag him out of the bowling ally, but had no desire to point it out because he kinda enjoyed the feeling of her soft hand in his. Although when she did notice she instantly pulled it away, turning beat red and apologizing profusely.

"It's okay, don't worry about it," he smiled.

"O-okay. I wont do it again," she promised. He chuckled.

"Don't promise me that. I kinda got used to it." Did he really just say that? Marinette blinked at him in surprise and felt herself start to internally freak out. What the fuck?

"O-oh, um…" before she could finish whatever she was saying a yellow cardigan caught her eye. None other than Chloé was approaching them with a smug grin on her face.

"Oh, Adrikins!" She shouted and practically threw herself on him. Adrien caught her and a look of disgust flickered across his face before he gently pulled her off.

"Uh, hey Chloé," he greeted politely despite how irritated he was with another distraction from his not date with Marinette.

"What are you doing here with her? We're you so bored she was your last option? You could've called me, y'know? I'm soo much more fun," she rattled on and clung on to him. Marinette rolled her eyes and shook her head. Adrien noticed and couldn't help but feel the same.

"Er sure Chloé, but I made plans with her a while ago," he replied. Mari looked up at him. Yeah, he made plans with her…and Nino and Alya. Had he already forgotten this was originally a four person plan.

"That's funny, Adrien," she patronized and pinched his nose. He frowned as she turned to Marinette.

"So how did you trick him in to 'hanging out' with you? Or do you think it's a date?" She inquired rudely. Adrien glared at her.

"I-I didn't-"

"Chloé, stop letting your jealousy make you so rude. I can go on a date if I want to," Adrien said. Marinette blinked over at him with wide eyes as Chloé glared at him over her shoulder.

"Seriously? You have so many better options," she scoffed.

"Marinette isn't an option. She's a person," he replied and stepped closer to wrap an arm around Mari's waist. She had to stop herself from squeaking when he pulled her closer and she was suddenly in contact with Adrien. His hand rested so close to her hip, and she felt like she was going insane. He was saying they were on a date…and that he wanted it to be a date?

"Ugh. This is stupid. I'm leaving now, so have fun on your little 'date'," she quipped curling her fingers as air quotes. The pair watched her as she left and they both gave a sigh of relief once she was out of sight.

"What a pain. It irritates me how awful she is to everyone, and then puts me up on a pedestal," he said glaring at the direction Chloé marched off to.

"Honestly, it's really annoying. Just because she's the mayors daughter and has all the money she could ever want doesn't mean she has to be a brat," she agreed and then sighed.

"That's what I like about you. You're humble and kind…and everything she's not," she mumbled just loud enough for him to hear. He smirked down at her, but she was still glaring at the same direction he was looking at.

"Yeah?" He spoke. His soft tone tugged her back to the present and she realized how close they were. Somehow her own arm had curled around his waist and her other hand was resting on his chest. His thumb rubbed against her blazer and she looked up at him.

"What else do you like about me?" He asked. His voice sounded innocent, but his eyes told another story. She blushed.

"Um…I-I like how you treat people with kindness and respect," she stuttered vaguely. He laughed.

"C'mon, that can't be it. What else?" He nudged.

"Uh I-I like how patient you are. Like earlier when you were teaching me how to bowl…and I messed up like five times in a row," she told him. His smile turned in to a grin.

"It was my pleasure. What else?" He pressed on both in the conversation and her waist. She squeaked.

"U-uh-hm, w-why don't you tell me some things y-you like about me," she stuttered. He blinked down at her. There was suddenly millions of things he liked about her that he could say. It was impossible to narrow it down.

"I like the way you laugh. I think it's cute," he blurted. Fuck. That was probably not the best to open with. She turned red.

"M-My laugh?"

"Yeah. I think it's adorable, but I hated it when Kim made you laugh. It didn't feel the same," he admitted. Damn, why did he feel like being so honest with her. It felt like his tongue had not filter. She turned a shade deeper. Hate was a really strong word.

"K-Kim? Why Kim?" She asked. He shrugged.

"I dunno. All I know was that I just hated knowing he made you laugh."

"Do you have something against Kim?" She questioned.

"Not really. That's why I found it so odd," he told her. Marinette had gotten a little more comfortable with being so close together and looked around for a bench. She moved out of his grasp and grabbed his hand to lead him to a shady spot and sat down with him.

"Kim can irritate anyone, so I wouldn't be surprised if your annoyance was short lived. It's almost like a superpower the way he can tick off anyone," she said and giggled at her own sort of joke. He smiled at the sound, his hand still wrapped around hers.

"With that kinda bad luck, he might be Chat Noir," he added, knowing very well that he wasn't. Marinette laughed hard at that idea. Kim? Her trusted partner? No way. Her reaction made his smile grow and his thumb rub affectionately against the back of her hand.

"No way. Thats ridiculous. I've met Chat Noir and he's no where near as arrogant as Kim," she told him.

"Yeah? You met him another time?"

"Uh, yeah it was just like last week or something when that giant robot from mega strike attacked us. He saved me from being level up points," she replied.

"What did you think that time? Was he super cool and heroic?" He questioned.

"Oh, um…" she honestly thought Chat Noir was a dork and that everything he did was a little flashy. She was grateful for him saving her and assuring her Adrien was safe, but she wasn't impressed with all his flips and shit.

"H-he was okay. He did his job," she settled on. Adrien's smiled flatted. Was she not impressed with all those barrel rolls he did? He did so many to impress her.

"Well I'm glad he saved you. When we split up I was worried about you," he told her. She blushed.

"Y-you were?" She stuttered. She suddenly became very aware of her hand in his. He nodded.

"Of course. I care about you," he spoke softly. She blushed deeper, but kept her eyes on his.

"Just kiss her already," Plagg hissed in his ear from behind his collar. Adrien turn bright red at his Kwami's suggestion and went to scratch the back of his head only to flick Plagg in response.

"H-How about we go check up on Alya now? She must be dying for some company," he suggested.

"Oh, I dunno. She's still insisting that we don't come," she replied.

"Why don't you try calling her?"

"That's a good idea." She pulled out her phone and quickly called her best friend. They waited for her to pick up, and when she did Marinette had to walk off because of course the conversation drifted in to an argument of spending time with Adrien. Once she was out of ear shot he turned away from her and glared at Plagg.

"What the hell was that?" He hissed back through clenched teeth.

"It definitely wasn't a kiss. Honestly, when are you gonna stop beating around the bush?" Plagg replied sounding rather bored.

"What bush? I'm not beating around any bush."

"Ugh, your mind is so filled with Ladybug that you can't even see that you like Marinette," he groaned. Adrien turned red again.

"W-what? Are you insane? I-I don't like Mari-"

"Listen kid, you've been flirting with her all day and super jealous of even a couple of gay guys talking to her. You even said it was a date just now when Chloé was here. You like her!" Plagg snapped.

"Hey, I didn't know they were gay, and I had to get Chloé off her back. Besides, I'm a naturally flirty person. I don't try to do it it just happens Plagg rolled his green little eyes.

"Whatever. Be in denial all you want but for the love of god just kiss her already," he grumbled. Adrien stuck his tongue out at his Kwami before pushing him back in his shirt. He turned around just as Marinette approached the bench they occupied and smiled.

"So? Are we going?" He asked.

"Uh…we're not gonna visit Alya today."