On Saturday night, Adrien found himself standing alone in the warmth of the late June evening, outside of Nino's favorite pub. The groom-to-be was running late to his own bachelor party, so the blond was killing time rereading his lady's ridiculous, late-night texts.

A smiled stretched his lips as he recalled just how thrilled Ladybug had been to get the internship she had been sure was way out of her league. Even though she had stubbornly kept her lips sealed on any interesting details regarding said internship, he was truly happy that Ladybug had been offered the opportunity to follow her dreams.

Not that it stopped him from looking for clues to who she was. He had managed to weasel out of her that her internship was for one of Paris's major fashion companies. Not that it narrowed it down much or gave him any clues, Paris was iconic for many big fashion houses and his lady was notoriously tight-lipped. But when she had let it slip that his father had handed her her diploma, he had practically swooned. It could only mean she was graduating from the École Supérieure des Arts et Techniques de la Mode.

The young man found himself wondering what exactly her concentration in her fashion major had been. Was she going to be a part of the design team? Production maybe? With her sassy replies and great comebacks, she would surely be a dream came true for any marketing team in their right mind. He didn't put it beyond his lady to aim for management either.

All he knew was that her first day was on Monday, and he made a mental note to ask her about how it went as soon as he got home. Adrien sighed, trying to stifle his worries about her. He was well aware the fashion world was full of sharks, and he prayed she wouldn't lose her sanity as she clawed her way to the top. She wasn't helpless and was more than able to fend for herself. Still, he dearly wished he could do something for her. He wanted to support her through the challenges that were sure to come her way and protect her from the jealousy and backstabbing of the fashion world. He could, his name held great weight, but Ladybug didn't want to know who he was and wouldn't want his help even if she did. That didn't mean he wouldn't support her as Chat Noir.

"Hey dude, what's with the long face?" Nino's cheerful voice suddenly stirred him out of his grim thoughts.

Shaking his head, Adrien forced himself to focus on his best friend. "Sorry, I'm worried that Ladybug is gonna get eaten alive in her new internship on Monday."

"Not a chance, you're the only one she'd allow to eat her up!" Nino grinned mischievously "...or should I say 'eat her out'?" He waggled his eyebrows and Adrien refused to dignify that with a response, but he couldn't stop a blush from coloring his cheeks. "Hey, I believe you're taking me out for my bachelor party! A few dirty jokes is par for the course."

"But really, just Daltons' for your bachelor party? I have to say I was more than a little surprised. This is really what you want to do on your last night of freedom Nino? I expected an evening a bit more … wild?" Adrien said, shifting the conversation away as they made their way inside the familiar pub, Nino nodding to the bartender as they reached his old favorite spot.

Nino sighed, reaching for the menu even though he could easily recite it by heart. "I'd rather spend time in my favorite pub with my best friend than be anywhere else. Besides, it's a travesty that you never got to try Mama Dalton's Muy Calientes Nachos!"

The blond chuckled as he checked his phone for the fifth time since they sat down, willing himself to put it back in his pocket and put all his attention on the man of the hour. "Alya must be keeping you on a tight leash! You wouldn't even let me get you a stripper!"

Nino huffed. "It's not that at all. I don't get the appeal of watching women undress when I can have the real deal at home—and actually get to touch all I want. Much more than touch… taste and..."

Adrien covered his ears and pretended to cower. "Stop it! You're going taint my pure, innocent soul with your unmarried sins!"

The groom-to-be rolled his eyes just as the waitress stopped by took their orders. Once she left, Adrien smiled warmly at his best friend. "Seriously, though, is Alya being as tame as you are tonight?"

Nino smiled fondly. "Even more, can you believe that? Her bachelorette party is actually a sleepover at Mari's with Juleka and Rose. I think Mylene's supposed to stop by later tonight, Ivan had to work late and she couldn't find a babysitter. Their plan is to stuff themselves ice cream and cookies until they get stomach aches, and treat themselves to mani-pedis while having a Gilmore Girls marathon."

Hearing the news about their high school friends made Adrien uneasy. Moving to Toulouse had saved his relationship with his father, giving them both a chance to step back and grieve his mother's death. It let them redefine their own dynamic as a family, but he had lost contact with everyone he knew from high school as an aftermath, and he wasn't always sure he had made the right choice. Sometimes he wondered if it had really been worth it, but his father respected him now, and had agreed to let him son quit modelling at long last and become one of his trusted business advisors. Surely that had to count for something, right?

"Hey, you alright man?"

"Yeah…" Adrien sighed, snapping out of his thoughts. "It just feels like I have missed out on so much when I was in Toulouse. Don't get me wrong, having some time away from my father was very welcome, but… Seeing all of you settle down kinda makes me realize how much I missed these last few years. Ivan and Mylene are married and with two kids already and a third on the way, Juleka and Rose have been together since God knows when, Marinette is the next genius designer, and you and Alya are tying the knot tomorrow… And the only things I've done are modeling for my father and getting a business management degree, again for my father… I want to do something for me, for Adrien, not for the Agreste brand. I've lost so many friends, I just wish there weren't so many bridges to rebuild, you know?"

His cheeks colored as he realized he was rambling. "Didn't mean to unload everything on you. This is supposed to be your night."

"Don't sweat it, Dude," Nino replied as he took a bite of the flaming nachos that had just arrived. "I'm glad I get to talk to you again; it really feels good to have you back." He took a swig of his beer. "But you know... You should talk to Marinette tomorrow, I think you'll find a sympathetic ear: she's been feeling just as lonely as you are. She been so focused on her studies those past few years and on landing that internship with your old man that her social life has been rendered nonexistent, well apart from Alya and yours truly. Not to mention her love life! There hasn't been anyone… well not since the Nathanael incident."

Adrien growled inwardly. "Please tell me he won't be there tomorrow," he asked, unsure about how neutral he would able to remain if he had to face Nathanael.

Nino sighed. "Well, we couldn't really get away with not inviting him, since we invited the whole high school class… Heck, Alya even invited Chloe so she wouldn't feel left out! But neither he nor Chloe RSVPed, so I hope it means they won't show up. Besides, it's been four years. And Mari says she's moved on, so I think we're in the clear."

Before he could answer that he was more worried about his own reaction should Nathanael even look at Marinette, Adrien felt his phone suddenly buzzing wildly in his pocket. Nino was sitting right in front of him, his phone was nowhere in sight, so that meant it could only be his lady. Nobody else ever texted him. The way his phone kept vibrating non stop made him worry, and he hastily pulled it out to check why she was texting him so compulsively.

[Ladybug]: HELP!

[Ladybug]: OMG you have to get me out of here, I beg you!

[Ladybug]: I'm serious kitty.

[Ladybug]: Find me a way out! Quick!

[Chat Noir]: What is it my lady?

[Ladybug]: has sent you a picture.

Adrien's eyes went wide when he opened the photo, prompting Nino to snatch his phone from his hand, stunning him when he saw the image displayed on the screen. It was a rather disturbing close-up of a very naked butt, framed with a silver sequined thong. A very masculine butt.

[Chat Noir]: Did someone steal a drag queen's clothes or something?

Nino laughed uncomfortably. "Wow. Someone's having a lot more exciting night than we are, huh?"

Adrien nodded, still slightly shocked by the picture. Being a model meant he had seen plenty of skin in his life and was pretty immune to a display like this, but his lady was clearly more than a little uncomfortable with the situation. The following texts only further cemented that idea in his mind.

[Ladybug]: OMG! HE'S RIGHT in my face!

[Ladybug]: PLEASE HELP ME! I CAN'T DO THIS

The blond glanced at Nino who was currently stuffing his face with nachos, giving him a cheese-covered thumbs-up. Of course, Nino wouldn't mind him texting his secret lady friend on his bachelor party. Nino knew how important his texting buddy was to him, not to mention his belief that Ladybug should be more than just a friend. Of course he didn't know just how unhappy said lady friend was at the moment.

[Chat Noir]: Are you okay LB? And how did you end up in this uncomfortable situation princess?

[Ladybug]: No I'm not. And girls' night out kinda spiraled out of control.

[Ladybug]: One of my friends hired a stripper as a surprise.

[Ladybug]: It's gonna be fun, she said.

[Ladybug]: FLASH NEWS: HAVING SOMEONE'S ASS SHOVED INTO YOUR FACE ISN'T FUN!

"Hey Dude, are you going to finish your beer?" Nino asked, a noncommittal sound his only answer.

[Chat Noir]: Find an excuse to leave. Escape to the bathroom. Do you want me to give you a rescue call?

[Ladybug]: I… I think I just need some moral support. Please?

[Ladybug]: I think I'm calming down already.

"Dude?"

Adrien smiled fondly at his screen.

[Chat Noir]: I'm right here, princess, and you know this.

[Chat Noir]: Just look away if the stripper makes you uncomfortable, okay?

[Chat Noir]: Either way I'm here, Bug.

Nino leaned back in his chair, smirking, "Alya and I are moving on the moon next Tuesday, we were hoping you'd help with the packing."

[Ladybug]: Thanks. I need that.

"You know," Nino began as he took a sip of his beer, "this mysterious girl really has a strong grip on you."

The blond frowned. "Why do you say that?"

Nino snorted, beer almost coming out his nose, and he simply pointed to the phone tightly clutched into Adrien's hand.

Adrien blushed so hard his ears turned red. "Well…" He breathed, "She is pretty amazing. I really enjoy talking to her. She's fun, and sassy, and really smart…"

[Chat Noir]: If you knew strippers would give you an anxiety attack, why didn't you tell your friends?

[Ladybug]: I DIDN'T KNOW! I don't usually spend my weekends with strippers, you know!

[Chat Noir]: Oh. That's kinda a hard way of finding out.

"...and currently having a panic attack about male strippers," Adrien finished. "I don't know, Nino, I just can't seem to get her out of my head. She's somewhere out there, and she's upset, and the only thing I can do to comfort her is sending her texts. I… She means a lot to me."

"Is she better now?"

Adrien nodded. "I think so"

Nino smiled, helping himself to some of his friend's nachos since his were long gone. "As long as we're getting things off our chests, I'm kinda nervous about tomorrow. What if everything goes wrong? What if Mari trips and break her neck, or Alya ruins her dress? Oh god, what if Alya changes her mind? What if…"

"Hey, everything's gonna be fine." Adrien cut him off. "Alya won't have second thoughts, Nino, you have been together for six years, for God's sake! And if the maid of honor does trip, your best man will be beside her to catch her. And Marinette can repair the dress in no time if anything happens to it. Just breath man."

Nino sighed deeply. "My brain knows you're right, but even then I can't stop myself from feeling … anxious?"

"Don't worry about it," Adrien insisted. "And by this time tomorrow you'll be on the train to Italy with your lovely wife."

The smile and love struck awe he read in the amber eyes of his best friend made Adrien's heart ache. He wanted that type of love.

[Ladybug]: … I hate you.

[Chat Noir]: Nope, you love me. I'm serious, want me to give you a call? I can pretend to be your grandma in the hospital?

[Ladybug]: Won't work. They all know my nana is in Brazil as we speak.

[Chat Noir]: I… could be your long lost brother, and I need you to pick me up at the airport?

[Ladybug]: I hate you even more now. Ain't talking to you anymore tonight!

[Chat Noir]: But you'll text me if you need me, right?

[Ladybug]: Yes, you know I will, kitty. Still hate you though.

Tomorrow, Nino would be marrying the love of his life.

And Adrien couldn't be happier for them. Neither more jealous of what they had.

[Chat Noir]: Enjoy your night out with your friends my lady. You deserve a night off.

[Chat Noir]: And just tell the stripper he makes you uneasy if he gets too close. He's a human being, you know? Have a good evening xx

[Chat Noir]: Call me if you need me. Anytime.