Hello all, me again, hopefully back with another reasonably spaced update! I just want to apologize ahead of time. I had no right making Lucy so ridiculously hot.

OoOoOoOoO

The book pages Fu had copied from the old spell book were spread around Marinette's room in an abundantly disorganized fashion. She had been trying to find time since she had become guardian to go over and hopefully decipher the text only to find herself at endless dead ends. Through context clues in the imagery in the pages, she discovered that there might be a spell that could help stop ShadowMoth from being able to akumatize people. The problem was the ingredients were all in code. Much like Fu had when he was trying to figure out the correct spell to let her and Chat Noir upgrade their Kwamis, Marinette found her only way to go about figuring out the code was through trial and error. Some of the ingredients seemed relatively obvious, while others...less so. That was why she currently stood in her Ladybug form looking somewhat insane with her safety goggles, bathrobe and a towel wrapped around her head. Alya stood watching her friend mix and sprinkle with her arms crossed and a small look of concern on her features. It was clear this was what Marinette had been spending almost all her free time doing.

"Sure, it's amazing being Ladybug," Marinette explained. "I've got these powers, kwamis, but can you imagine I could've prevented ShadowMoth from creating villains in the first place? Ha! He'd be ruined! Have you noticed that ShadowMoth seems to reakumatize people much more often these days?" She asks, pointing out the numerous pictures of civilians on her corkboard, all of them having a certain number of star stickers on a sticky note next to their photo indicating the number of times they had been akumatized. "Do you know why? Because he gets to know them and figures out how to manipulate them better!"

Alya tapped her chin in thought. "You're right. I was akumatized four times as LadyWifi because I was obsessed with you! I knew you were hiding something from me and it drove me crazy."

"I had to keep it a secret," Ladybug says, continuing to mix her potion.

"I know girl. But now that I know the truth, I've got your back!" Alya's eyes skim the board stopping on Xavier Ramier. "What? Mr. Pigeon has already been akumatized 71 times?!"

Ladybug sighs. "He's just a harmless guy trying to take care of his pigeons. It's so not fair! I'd promised him I'd find a way to keep him safe from ShadowMoth, but I just can't figure it out." She groans in frustration as she skims another page. "I don't understand a thing in this spellbook!"

"Master Fu didn't understand much in it either," Wayzz spoke, floating over to Marinette. "but he was able to do it with proper time and rest!"

"Oh! Hold that thought Wayzz," Ladybug says, grabbing some pepper. "I think this is it!" She sprinkles some pepper into the pot only for it to result in a small, somewhat harmless explosion. She shakes her head, getting up from the floor after being knocked down by the blast. "Ugh, I was sure that "spicy little rock" would be pepper." She says, immediately going back to work.

Trixx floats over to Alya mildly distressed. "Alya, help us reason with her, please!"

"Marinette, how long have you been working on this?"

"I dunno, six-seven days, maybe ten." She mumbles casually. "Now that we're on spring break, I finally have time to put my whole heart into it!"

Alya takes a peek around the room, noticing her real sewing Machine and fabrics sitting stored away in the corner of the room. "When was the last time you worked on one of your own designs?"

"I do loads of designing! Look!" She insists, pointing to the contraption at her door. "I designed a security system so that nobody can enter my room when I'm not in it. And if I put on this hat," She places a large sombrero-sized hat with headphones running through to two antennas at the top of her head. "I hear everything that's going on in here, even when I'm out of the room."

Alya cringes at the hat. "I'm gonna have to break it to you because I'm the only one who can. THIS IS TOTALLY INSANE!" She shouts at Ladybug, causing her to stumble back from the sound ringing in her ears. "Girl, trust your BFF. When I'm researching something obsessively and I can't think of anything else, that's when my mind can get really blocked. Do you know what you need most right now? A break!"

"No way! No breaks until I find out how to keep ShadowMoth from reakumatizing people!" She then opens a jar and pours contents into the pot causing another explosion.

From the floor, Alya lifts the towel that droops over her friend's face. "I get that you wanna see the end of ShadowMoth but you know what my grandmother always says? "Life is not waiting for the storm to pass, it's learning to dance in the rain."

"Dance? But Alya, how can I dance when I know ShadowMoth's going after the people I love?!"

Trixx shoots Alya another look of concern and Alya's eyes skim the floor, spotting a fallen picture of Adrien. Marinette needed a distraction from all this, and if the mention of Adrien couldn't do it, she didn't know what would.

"I bet you had no idea Adrien and Kagami aren't seeing each other anymore."

"Ugh, I totally forgot about that!" Ladybug grumbled.

"You already knew?" Alya questioned.

"Yeah! Lucy told me when we made up. I've been so caught up in this I forgot all about it! Kagami must be heartbroken, I really should go talk to her! Poor thing must be devastated."

"Hang on," Alya spoke, holding up her hands. " don't you mean you have to go and console Adrien?"

"Why would I console Adrien?"

"The house-and-three-kids-and-a-hamster-named-whatever and all that. Does that ring a bell?"

Ladybug sighed. "There's no way we could be together anyway, I can't even talk to him! And besides... I have... no more feelings for Adrien... I don't love him anymore, there! And to top it off I might have...let it slip to Lucy...that Adrien is in love with her..." She confessed scrunching her face together nervously at Alya's wide-eyed gaze.

"I'm sorry you what? This is a joke, right? Or maybe all those days locked in your room, breathing magical fumes must have gone to your brain?"

"Alya, it just slipped out. And to be honest, I'm glad it did. I have to keep so many secrets all the time. It actually felt really good to be able to let this one out."

"We'll...what did Lucy say when you told her?" Alaya asked.

"She was pretty shocked really. Almost didn't seem to believe me. Pointed out that Adrien never said anything to her and instead started dating Kagami."

"I mean, she has a point," Alya said with a slight shrug. "Maybe he decided to get over her."

Ladybug shook her head. "You don't get it, Alya. You don't see the way he looks at her, talks to her, talks about her. He told me she feels like home to him. You don't just get over something like that."

"What about you?" Alya questioned, her brows knitted together. "Are you over him?"

"No," She answered honestly. "Not completely. But I want to be. And I have bigger problems than my nonexistent romantic future with Adrien Agreste. Lucy makes Adrien happy. They make each other happy. I refuse to be the reason they aren't."

"If you're sure..." Alya murmured with her own uncertainty. It was hard for her to wrap her head around Marinette letting go of the boy she had been obsessed with for what felt like forever, in what seemed like overnight.

"I am, but with that being said I am Kagami's friend too. One of the few she has in Paris, and I know that breakups are no fun. She must be hurting right now, and she needs me."

Alya held up her hands in defeat. She wasn't going to question Marinette any further. The important thing was she was taking a break from her fortress of solitude to get some sunlight. If she wanted to do that consoling Kagami, then so be it.

"Fine! Go console Kagami if you want to. As long as you're outside, getting some fresh air and thinking about something else it's all good. Meanwhile, I'm gonna go through all these notes and see if I can make any sense out of them."

"Huh! You would do that?"

"You're not alone anymore, Marinette," Alya said, placing her hands on Marinette's shoulders. "I've got your back, remember?"
Ladybug hugs Alya before attempting to head out of her room. "Thanks, Alya."

"Forgetting something?"

"Oops, spots off." Marinette says, catching Tikki as she detransforms, placing her in her purse and trying to leave again.

"Aren't you still forgetting something?"

"Why? No. Oh, of course! My pool bag!"She says grabbing her pool bag and slipping it over her shoulders.

"Uh, Marinette..." Alaya says once more, gesturing to Marinette's outfit.

"Oh! My pajamas!"

OoOoOoOOoOoOoO

Kagami stops her staff practice when her phone rings. Noticing the caller as Marinette, she picks it up.

"Hello?"

"Kagami! Where are you?" Marinette's voice rings through the phone.

"In the Tuileries Garden."

"Perfect! Don't move. I'm on my way!"

"Actually now is not a good time to-" But Marinette interrupts.

"I'll always be there for you Kagami." Kagami puts her phone in her pocket, figuring she would simply go back to practicing but as it turns out Marinette was much closer than she had anticipated. Marinette jumped on her from behind, much to her surprise.

Kagami!" Marinette shouts in excitement. She gets off the very confused Kagami and set a basket full of baked goods on her mother's lap. "Ooh! Would you like a brioche, Mrs. Tsurugi?"

"Mother, you remember Marinette?"

"Yes, I distinctly remember your very... unique friend."

"I'll bring your daughter back in an hour." Marinette declares, quickly walking off with Kagami. "Oh! Try those brioches stuffed with fresh fruit. It's one of my dad's new recipes! They're delish!"

OoOOoOo

"Marinette, where are you taking me?" Kagami asked, crossing her arms and planting her feet firmly on the ground as they reached the canal.

"Just for a little stroll!" Marinette said innocently. "I heard about your breakup with Adrien and I thought you could use a friend! I know how hard breakups can be and what kind of person would I be if I let you deal with that heartbreak alone!?"

"I'm not heartbroken, I'm disappointed," Kagami explained, only to be given a dismissive wave from Marinette.

"Of course! You're a strong independent woman Kagami, but even so, being broken up with sucks, it's okay. I'm here for you! You're going to pine after her for a while, wondering where it all went wrong but you don't need him to validate you Kagami! Trust me, it's a learning process I know all about!"

"I have no interest in getting back together with Adrien, nor do I feel the need to pine after him. I broke up with him, and I know exactly what went wrong. He let me down."

Marinette stared at Kagami blankly for a good twenty-five seconds before speaking again.

"You're over him?"

"Yes."

"You're sure?"

"Completely."

"Like...110%?"

"200%" Marinette squints at her.

"You don't want to get back together with him even a little?"

"Marinette, there is not the tiniest microscopic fiber in my body that ever wants to be romantically involved with Adrien Agreste ever again," Kagami confirmed, earning another stare from Marinette.

"Really?"

"Marinette!"

"I'm sorry!" She apologized with a dramatic shrug. "I'm just surprised, he's pretty amazing!"

Kagami narrowed her eyes at Marinette in mild annoyance, making the pigtailed girl give a nervous laugh.

"That's great! Wonderful! Convenient even! because I'll be honest with you Kagami, it was;t gonna work out. He's in love with someone else. I won't say who, but-"

"Lucy."

"But...you already know..."Marinette says slowly. "How did you know!?

"I'm pretty sure I have known longer than you."

"Then why the heck did you date him!?" Kagami closed her eyes, letting out a deep breath from her nose.

"Because I'm an idiot."

"What!? No!" Marinette denied. "You're not an idiot, you're wonderful. You're pretty, your smart, it just wasn't meant to be," She then added with a light shrug. "But no worries, it's in the past, it's done, it's like it never happened, completely unimportant! What is important is that you and I both know that the real person who holds Adrien's heart is Lucy, and since we are both totally not in love with Adrien, how cool would it be if we could get them together? She mused like it was the greatest idea she had ever come up with while gently shaking Kagami by the shoulders.

"I can't even begin to express how badly I don't want to do that," Kagami responds bluntly, but Marinette only smiled.

"But you will! Because doing things you hate for the people you care about is what friendship is all about!"

"That doesn't seem healthy." Kagami countered.

"Never said it was, Anyway! Adrien is at the pool, getting ready to shoot his next big ad campaign! It's the perfect place to casually place Lucy. They will see each other, both wet and conveniently half naked, tension will rise between them, Adrien will take her in his arms and-"

"Marinette, are you alright?" Kagami suddenly asks. "You seem significantly more crazy than normal."

"I've been better, thanks for asking," Marinette answered casually as she tapped away on her phone. "But this right here is the perfect distraction for me right now! There, I told Lucy to meet up at the pool, let's get a move on!" Before Kagami could even try to protest, Marinette was dragging her down the street towards the community pool.

OoOOOoOOoOOoOoOoO

Lucy rounded the street corner casually bopping to the music playing in her headphones when she spotted Marinette and Kagami hunkered down behind a car across the street from the pool. She watched them curiously when her eyes drifted over to see Adrien's bodyguard at the community pool entranceway. Making her way over to the other girls, Marinette jumped slightly at her sudden appearance, not noticing her approach while she was making a quick Instagram picture of Adrien's bodyguard at the pool, knowing that once fans knew about Adrien's location they would prove a good enough distraction for them to slip by.

"Marinette?" Lucy asked sweetly. "What is going on?"

Marinette smiled. "A window of opportunity is what's going on!"

"I want it noted that I wanted no part of this," Kagami added

"Marinette..." Lucy said with a warning tone, but Marinette ignored her, taking both girls' hands and racing across the street and into the pool house while the bodyguard blocked the crowd of fans that showed up.

"Marinette! What is going on?!" Lucy questioned, pulling her hand away from her once inside.

"Kagami and I are setting you up with Adrien is what is going on! Keep up, Lucy!"

Lucy's head shot over to Kagami. "How in the world did you get roped into this?"

"She is very strong," Kagami answered, not really looking at Lucy. The blonde frowned slightly. The two hadn't spoken much since Kagami and Adrien's breakup. Adrien had been the one to tell her about it, and when she had asked what happened, Adrien simply told her things weren't working out. Lucy had tried to call Kagami to get her side of the story but was given an equally vague response of He wasn't who I thought he was. Now Kagami was here, somehow forced into helping Marinette with some plan to set her and Adrien up. Lucy internally groaned.

"Marinette, I know your heart is in the right place but this isn't a good idea. Forget the fact how awkward you are bound to make this interaction, but also Adrien is working right now. Don't you think he is going to find it odd that we somehow managed to slip into a closed-off building?"

Marinette waved Lucy off dismissively. "I will not make it awkward. In fact, that's the whole point of having Kagami here! She's totally over him! Having her be here is to prove how not awkward it actually is! She knew about Adrien liking you before I even did!"

Lucy snapped her head in Kagami's direction with a look of surprise.

"Really? The why go out with him?" Lucy asked. There was no judgment in her tone so much as genuine confusion. Kagami didn't strike her as the type to settle for a guy whose feelings went out toward another.

"Because I'm an idiot," Kagami answered, same as she had when Marinette had asked who nudged Kagami's arm.

"Hey! We talked about this! You're not an idiot." Marinette scolded. Kagami's annoyance surfaced as she swatted Marinette away from her with narrowing her eyes.

"Yes, I am actually." She corrected. "I let my feelings cloud my judgment. I let my loneliness take control and allowed myself feelings for a boy who admitted he already felt for another. Adrien and I share so many fundamental characteristics that I convinced myself that fate had put our paths together for a reason. I let myself see what I wanted to see and for that reason, I am an idiot." She said sternly, making the other two girls frown.

Kagami's eyes shifted from Marinette to Lucy as she crossed her arms. "Adrien Agreste is a flake. He convinced himself that pursuing a relationship with me was something he wanted but he was wrong. The truth is Adrien has no idea what he wants, so instead, he falls into the expectation of whoever is around at the time. I deserve so much more than that, and personally, I think you do too."

Lucy stared at Kagami, unsure of what to say in response to Kagami's little confession. A part of Lucy felt bad for her friend. But she knew Kagami well enough to know she wouldn't care for her pity. Marinette laughed somewhat nervously as if she was afraid Kagami's words would convince Lucy not to take a chance with the boy of topic. She placed her hands on Kagami's shoulders and gave them a gentle rub.

"Now, now, now. This is Adrien we are talking about! He's great! Maybe you don't think so right now because things didn't work out the way you hoped they would, but we can't dwell on the past! Adrien wants Lucy, he just doesn't know she wants him back! Now come on girls! No time to lose!" Marinette crouched down and sorted through her bag that seemed to carry and disarray of different items such as a fishing rod, a tennis racket, and an umbrella.

"Do you always carry these things with you?" Kagami asked flatly.

"Of course! I have to be rea- I mean Lucy has to be ready for any opportunity whenever she runs into Adrien. Everything is retractable and folds up neatly. Even this fancy ball gown." She says, pulling out a folded-up costume dress. She smiles at Lucy. "You'll be needing it when you get together with Adrien." Kagami and Lucy look at one another and shake their heads, their minds echoing the same thought. This girl is off her rocker. "Here are the swimsuits! Lucy, you of course have your own.

Lucy nods, unzipping her hoodie slightly to expose the red surfer top under it.

"Great! Hurry Kagami!" Marinette drags Kagami to a changing area and within a few moments, the two girls reappear in swimwear. Marinette's was a pale pink one-piece suit, the chest having a wave of ruffles. Kagami's was a two-piece, the top black, its cut similar to that of a sports bra with dark orange bikini bottoms. Seeing the pair ready, Lucy lifted her dress over her head, rolling it up over her arm. When she looked back at her two friends, she found the staring at her intently.

"What?" She asked looking down at herself.

"How does it feel?" Kagami asked as Lucy raised a brow. "Being God's favorite?" To that Lucy rolled her eyes.

"Shut up."

"No...no, I would also like to know the answer to that question," Marinette added.

"Guys, I'm flattered, really, because 98% of the time I hate myself but-"

"Hate yourself? Are you joking right now?" Marinette gasped. "Do you know what I would give to look like that?"

"I used to get referred to as he, in my fencing class back in Japan." Kagami spoke matter of factly.

"Screw you both." Lucy cursed, crossing her arms. "Your both gorgeous. And screw anyone who has ever told either of you differently. You're both lean, you look strong. I struggle to breathe climbing up a flight of stairs, you guys look like you could do that one-handed handstand with perfect balance."

Lucy's words were accurate across both girls. Kagami, from years of fencing along with the numerous other sports she had been forced to excel in over the years. Marinette, though Lucy didn't know it, was a superhero. And although most of her strength and agility did come from her miraculous, her body had in fact started to adapt to the rather constant physical work she put herself through while fighting Akumas.

"I'm convinced red is simply your color." Marinette thought complimented. Lucy's swimsuit consisted of a red surfer-style crop top with sleeves that came down to just above her elbow with matching high hip-cut bikini bottoms. Like anyone Lucy carried insecurities. Her most prominent being the many scars she carried mostly on her upper back. It was why she favored surfer-style swimsuit tops to more traditional ones. In comparison to the other two girls in front of her, she definitely fell on the thicker side. Not for any real reason other than her legs and hips being the primary area she stored most of her weight. Her mother carried a similar figure, so she supposed she had no one but genetics to blame for that. She also just happened to carry a good size more in her chest in comparison to Marinette and Kagami as well. Another aspect that really had nothing to do with anything other than genetics.

Lucy could pinpoint a handful of things that, if she could, she might try and change about herself. Regardless of the compliments, she tended to receive on her outside appearance it had taken her many years to be comfortable enough to be seen in swimwear in a public setting. It was also one of the reasons she was so hesitant on letting others take her photo. She did her best and accepted the compliments she received, but more often than not she would always find something she didn't like about the image someone else had captured of her. Still, she would let them keep it, and even sometimes try and keep a copy for herself.

Lucy's therapist had told her that many people struggle with their body image and that although it was a good step in the right direction, she shouldn't feel pressured to allow others to photograph her if she didn't want them to. But to Lucy, it was easier to let photos be taken rather than have to explain why she would rather not. Women are conditioned to waste hours, days, weeks, and months (although truth be told, it's most likely years) doubting, undermining, and ultimately hating parts, if not all, of themselves based solely on "problems" with their bodies that can be solved by buying products from an industry that invented these problems in the first place. How fucking convenient. And when all is said and done, what is the prize for this self-torture? Fitting neatly within society's destructive narrative about the female body. She hoped that over time, she would get over the petty issues she harbored over her body. After all, this body had carried her through a hard life. It looked exactly the way it was supposed to.

"Are we gonna move one with whatever ridiculous course of action Marinette has thought up or are we gonna just stand here a gawk at one another?" Lucy finally spoke with a hand on her hip.

"Gawk." Said Kagami while "The plan!" Marinette exclaimed in unison.

Marinette took ahold of Lucy and Kagami's wrists and proceeded to drag them up a flight of steps to the next level where they would all have a side-angle view of Adrien as he got ready to dive off the diving board for whatever project he had been roped into by his father.

"I bet you're already realizing how in love you are!" Marinette giggled as they all peeked from behind the wall.

"Uh, I wouldn't really say that," Lucy spoke to Marinette who took her head and forced it forward to watch Adrien who got ready to dive.

"That's because you haven't seen him in action yet, just wait!"

Adrien then took a dive off the board and a swarm of pigeons surrounded him, one carrying a rose in its mouth. Adrien, being allergic to the bird sneezed, frightening it as well as the others. Bob Roth, the crooked producer that tried to rip off Kitty Selection seemed to be the one in charge of the project. Why Gabriel Agreste would choose to work with a man who was caught on live TV lying was beyond them. It was clear nothing had changed about the man as he proceeded to give the pigeon tamer a hard time.

"Did you see how handsome he is? Did you feel your heart beat faster? Did you get the shivers? Tingles in your fingers?" Marinette asked, clasping her hands together at Lucy expectantly.

Lucy sighed. "You know what, your right. It was so clear. I'm feeling the love, can we please go now?" She asked, hitching her thumb behind her. Marinette rolled her eyes and groaned.

"Lucy! You need to take this seriously! You're happily ever after depends on it! It's probably because you haven't looked into each other's eyes yet! Oh! I've got an idea!" Marinette then with inhuman strength lifted Lucy by the waist and ran down the hallway until they were directly in front of Adrien's line of sight.

"Marinette! What the hell?! Kagami wasn't kidding. Why are you so strong?!"

From the diving board, Adrien prepared to dive again, this time with nose plugs to help with his allergies. He leaped off the board, closing his eyes only for a moment until he heard commotion ahead of him. What he then saw was Marinette hoisting a resistant Lucy up while Kagami stood behind them looking annoyed.

"What are you doing?! Put me down right now!" Lucy fought.

"I'm having your eyes meet. There, he's looking at you. Look at him! Look at him!"

While Lucy struggled to get free of Marinette's death grip, her head did in fact tilt upward, and for only a moment, her and Adrien's eyes met. His filled with confusion, and her's with embarrassment. In his surprised state, Adrien missed the rose the pigeon was trying to give to him, belly flopping in the water instead.

Marinette closed her hands together and smiled, eagerly anticipating for Lucy to come forward with some revelation of love as they hid behind the wall.

"Marinette, I know your trying here, but the only thing I am feeling right now is awkward. For me, for Adrien, and for this ridiculously embarrassing situation. It is time to go."

"This is a waste of time for everyone, let it go." Kagami urged, following after Lucy, but Marinette wasn't done trying yet

"But, it's because you were too far apart. When you're close together, then you really feel it. Oh, I got an idea!"

"Marinette no!" Lucy fought as once again she found herself being dragged around by her unreasonably strong friend. "Kagami a little help!?"

Kagami rolled her eyes and tried to take hold of Marinette's arm, preventing her from moving any closer to her target destination: the diving board where Adrien would be. Marinette didn't understand why Lucy was giving her such a hard time about this. All she had to do was get next to him, they would see one another and the sparks would fly! She knew with everything in her that Adrien would be happy to see her, he always was! It would be different from any other time they were together because this time Lucy knew how he felt, all she had to do was give any kind of sign she felt the same way! They could be so happy! Why couldn't she see it?

"Marinette you are acting extra crazy right now!" Lucy argued. "Let me go!"

"Love is crazy!" Marinette shot back. "Stop thinking so much and dive right in!"

With a small loss of footing and a slip of the hand on Kagami's part, Lucy and Marinette hurtled into Adrien who spotted them behind him with no time to react. A second later Lucy, Adrien, and Marinette were off the board and falling into the pool. Adrien was the first to emerge, climbing the wall to sit on the pool's edge followed by Marinette and then Lucy who contemplated simply letting herself drown. She swam over as Marinette lifted herself out of the pool while being questioned by Adrien.

"Marinette? What in the world are you and Lucy doing here?"

Us? Well um- we just came here to do a few laps and wind you up- I mean, unwind... How about you?"

"Well, we're in rehearsal for a commercial. The pool is supposed to be closed." Adrien informed, his eyes shifting to Lucy who still remained in the pool and then back to Marinette who pretends to be shocked.

Closed? Oh well, that's why there was no one at the front desk!" Marinette lies, now looking over the blonde boy who now sat half naked and wet only a foot away. "Oh boy, I wouldn't want to kiss you- I mean, keep you, keep you from your job. So I'll be on my way." She then spoke getting up and quickly walking away only to trip into a stack of crates, causing bunch of balls to end up in the pool.

"Yeah, okay, I'll catch up!" Lucy shouts at the departing girl in annoyance before lifting herself out of the pool.

It was Adrien's turn to gawk, his eyes widening a little. He hadn't really had a second to take in Lucy's appearance before she came crashing into him on the higher platform. He watched as a bead of water rolled down from her bottom lip to her chin, down her neck, until it disappeared down the valley of her chest. His eyes continued downward, taking in the way her bottoms gripped her hips snuggly, to her thighs that widened as they sat on the flat surface of the poolside.

Lucy went to apologize for interrupting his shindig when she found him looking over her figure so intently. At first, it made her self-conscious as she was once again reminded of how exposed she was to him in comparison to normal. However, after a moment of observing him observing her, it became clear that the boy beside her was not at all disappointed with what he saw. In fact, he looked...kind of dazed. Lucy's self-conscious feeling quickly dispersed and was replaced with a sudden rush of confidence.

She too, liked what she saw, if she was being honest. Adrien was a model for a reason after all. His wet hair was somewhat shaggy in his face which Lucy couldn't help but find cute. The boy could use a haircut. It was now though that she truly could see the definition in his muscles. Adrien wasn't what she would call ripped. But his narrow frame was highlighted by the physical work he did from fencing as well as his other sport-related activities. Unknown to her, much like Marinette, Adrien's body too had adapted to the physical endurance it was put through while fighting Akumas. He was toned in such a way that had she not known otherwise, she might assume he was a professional swimmer.

Fortunately for Lucy, Adrien was too preoccupied admiring her, that he had not noticed her admiring him. Thinking it was probably time to get out of the way of this whole production, Lucy stood, Adrien followed, still seemingly stuck on autopilot. Smirking Lucy placed a hand on her hip.

"See something ya like princess?" She asked though Adrien's dazed look didn't falter.

"You look like a sexy lifeguard." He then spoke, causing Lucy's brows to raise in surprise at his forward comment.

"What?" She laughed. This time Adrien blinked, snapping out of his trance.

"What?"

"Did you just say I look like a sexy lifeguard?"

Adrien stared at her a moment, the wheels in his head turning. "In my defense." He then spoke. "That comment was meant to stay in my head, not come out verbally. I apologize."

"You should be apologizing. I'm super offended. I was going for ugly lifeguard so..."

"Well, I'm afraid I would have to apologize more because you failed..

"Damn, I'm CPR certified and everything. What a bummer."

"Are you really?" Adrien asked with a slight laugh.

"I am actually. I did it for a babysitting job a while back. They had a pool so they wanted someone who was. Figured it was a good thing to be certified in any way. You never know." Lucy answered with a smile and a light shrug. "Anywho, I'll get out of your hair, Marinette is probably waiting for me. At least I assume she is."

"Marinette? Oh right, yeah she is here too isn't she?" Adrien said as Lucy went to walk away. "Wait!" He called after her. "Maybe you should stay...I mean, Marinette seemed to be eager to get out of here, chances are she went home assuming you would do that same." He explained casually.

From above, Marinette and Kagami stood listening. Kagami let out a small snort at Adrien's words while Marinette couldn't help but pursed her lips in slight annoyance at Adrien's words.

Lucy let out a small laugh. "Don't you have work to do?" She asked, pointing to the two men in the background. Adrien glanced back before offering her an awkward smile.

"Right, of course! But uh, what if I need you?!" He then explained. "After all, we are at a pool and I don't know about you but I don't see any lifeguards around. Something could happen, what if I need CPR like that pigeon back there? He said hitching his thumb toward Mr. Ramier who was currently saving his bird. "I might need mouth to mouth and who else is gonna give it to me? Bob?"

"Maybe? What? Is the stash not doing it for you?"

"Fifty-year-old man with a drinking problem is what's not doing it for me." Adrien corrected. "You must understand why I might prefer-"

"A sexy lifeguard?"

"You." The pair answered together. Lucy raised another brow and Adrien froze, internally scolding himself for not being more mindful of his word choice.

"Careful there, pretty boy," Lucy smirked. "Keep it up and I might begin to suspect you have a bit of a crush on me."

Heat rushed to Adrien's face and Lucy had to force herself not to giggle. Had he always been like this? Had she really not noticed? Before Adrien could give any kind of response, Bob Roth suddenly appeared beside him with a crooked grin.

"Well, what do we have here? What's your name gorgeous?"

Lucy's smile fell slightly at the older man's attention. "Uh..Lucy."

"Lucy. I like it." Bob commented. "Tell me, Lucy, you 18 by any chance because if so, boy do I have a job offer for you."

Adrien tensed beside Bob as Lucy's eye twitched in annoyance. "No." She answered to which Bob tilted his head a frowned a little in disappointment.

" Hm, well, when that changes," He spoke, pulling out a card and holding it out to her between his index and middle finger. "give me a call. I could open some doors for you, and who knows, maybe you could open some for me as well?"

Lucy hesitantly took the card, feeling the man wasn't going to leave until she did. She offered a forced smile as she held the car between her thumb and index finger like she was holding a smelly old sock. Bob sent her one final wink before making his way back over to Mr. Ramier, shouting at him for his screw-up.

Lucy flicked the card away from her while looking at Adrien with a clear look of disgust.

"I feel gross now."

"What? The stash not doing it for you?" Adrien quipped back, making Lucy laugh.

"Touché."

"Next time, just take my word for it when I say I'd have you kiss me than someone else." Adrien contested, crossing his arms. Lucy tilted her head and step toward Adrien with curious eyes, narrowing the space between them.

"You know CPR isn't kissing right, Adrien?" Lucy asked, her voice like velvet. "And if that's how you go about kissing a girl well, I hate to be the one to tell you this but you're doing it wrong."

Adrien swallowed hard and did his best to offer what looked like another nervous smile. He looked almost anxious like he was waiting for er to show him how it was done. Lucy couldn't help herself. He was making it too easy. "Besides," she then added. "Mouth to mouth isn't part of CPR anymore. Too much cross-contamination. I don't know where your mouth has been. All it is now is chest compressions." She ran her hand down the center of his chest, and Adrien felt like he might burst into flames at any moment.

"You fell that bone right there, that's your sternum. Your heart is protected by it. The important thing with CPR these days is to make sure your applying enough pressure to get to the heart. Those compressions are enough to circulate oxygen for a little while. At least until help arrives."

"The more you know..." Adrien managed to mutter. Lucy smiled.

"Yup. So don't worry Adrien. If you do end up drowning, Bob Roth, nor I, nor anyone else, will be putting their mouth on you."

"Right..." He swallowed again.

"You know what I'm going to tell the mayor to ban those flying rats and tamers like you now and forever! GET OUT!" Bob Roth shouted, distracting the teens. Mr. Ramier packed up his suitcase sadly, making his way towards the exit with his birds in tow. Lucy frowned, narrowing her eyes at the producer.

"You should really try and have a conversation with your dad about future projects coming from that man." She spoke to Adrien. "Not only is he a fraud and a pervert, but he's also just a plain old jackass. Your father can do better."

"Yeah, he could." Adrien agreed, glaring over his shoulder at Bob.

"Alright, I'm really gonna go now," Lucy said, making Adrien turn back toward her. "Try not to drown, I'll see you-" Her sentence was cut short as a puff of smoke surrounded her and Adrien was face to face with a black pigeon.

"Lucy?! What the...?" A swarm of black pigeons flew after Adrien as he raced away, trying to get to Plagg.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

When Lucy woke up she was laying on the pool room floor. She blinked several times before sitting up, looking around the room in confusion. It was then she saw a swarm of magical ladybugs transforming birds back into people and she realized Mr. Ramier had been akumatized again. She sighed and laid back on the ground, simply deciding to take a moment when Adrien appeared above her.

"Lucy are you alright?"

"Was I a bird?" She asked curiously.

"Yeah. I was too."

Lucy hummed. "Do you want to hear a joke?" She then asked, earning a small look of surprise from Adrien.

"Uh, sure?"

"Why don't pigeons need soundproofing to stop echoes?"

"Why?"

"Because they like a-coo-sticks." Adrien blinked before a smile crept onto his face and a chuckle rumbled from his chest. He reached his hand out for Lucy to take, helping her up from the ground. The pair smiled at one another when Lucy noticed Ladybug and Rena Rouge talking next to Mr. Ramier.

"Did Ladybug's outfit just change?" She asks, and Adrien turns his head to see Ladybug did indeed have changes in her suit. She then handed Mr. Ramier a magical charm, stating that she believed it would help prevent him from having to be reakumatized again.

"An anti-Akuma charm? Cool. You think she'd hook me up with one of those?"

"Probably," Adrien said with a shrug. He didn't see why not. After all, TimeBreaker was a villain neither of them liked facing. Lucy looked around briefly and hummed again.

"Odd. I don't see Chat Noir anywhere."

"Uh, maybe he had to go already, or ended up getting turned into a bird before he could help," Adrien suggested with uncertainty.

"Yeah, I suppose. It's a bummer thought. I think he would have really appreciated my bird joke."

"I think he would have loved your bird joke." Adrien agreed with a smile.

As Lucy walked away, Bob Roth made his way over to Adrien and slapped him on the back.

"Well done kid. I give you props."

"Huh?" Adrien asked, confused.

"You're hittin' that right?"

"Dude seriously?!" Adrien exclaimed in annoyance. Bobs smile fell.

"I'll take that as a no. What a waste." With that, the producer walked away, leaving Adrien standing there about to pop a blood vessel.

OoOooOoOoo

After changing, Lucy met Kagami and Marinette outside, finding that it was pouring rain. Lucy pouted before joining the girls under Marinette's umbrella.

"I guess your little bag of random items came in handy after all." She stated, taking hold of Marinette's arm.

"You know," Kagami spoke as her ride pulled up in front of the pool house. "I really didn't want to be here for this initially. But I'm glad I was." She said, the other two girls looking over at her. "It was far more amusing to watch than I thought it would be. Adrien and I would have never worked out in the long term for a lot of reasons, but the biggest one would have always boiled down to his feelings for you Lucy, even if he tried to convince me otherwise. Watching you two together from afar, that boy is putty in your hands. I never stood any real chance."

Lucy opened her mouth to speak but Kagami held up a hand o stop her. "And I'm okay with that." She decreed. "I still think Adrien needs to grow up and figure out what he wants in most aspects of his life, but Marinette was right, if there is one thing that does want with absolute certainty, it's you. A blind person could see that. Just be careful," She added, getting into her car. "Self-doubt can be rather destructive in any relationship. I would hate for it to be the downfall of yours." The door shut and Kagami drove off, leaving Marinette and Lucy standing under an umbrella together in since as they both took in their friend's words.

Marinette was the first to break the silence. "Wierd day huh?"

"I think we've had weirder," Lucy replied gently.

"So...I think it is safe to say Adrien is definitely still into you."

"Yeah, I guess."

"How do you feel about that?"

"How do you?" Lucy countered, and Marinette let out a deep sigh.

"Unsurprised. Happy...but also jealous. A part of me is rooting for you both but another part really wants to punch you in the boob."

"I appreciate the honesty," Lucy replied with a small smile, but it only lasted a moment. "Marinette...maybe this isn't such a good idea. I know your trying to be supportive and that means a lot but if it's too much too soon I understand and I-"

"No." Marinette cut her off. "No, it's...it's not. The aggravation, the jealousy, I guess a part of it has to do with Adrien but a large part of it has nothing to do with him at all. I want what you have, not Adrien but what you and Adrien have together. I want to love and be loved at the same magnitude that I see when you and Adrien are together. It radiates off you both and you're not even dating."

"But you do..." Lucy told her. "You have Luka."

"I had Luka. I broke up with him remember?"

"Yes, because of the personal reasons you didn't want to get into but let me ask you this: when you broke things off with Luka, how did he react? What did he say?"

Marinette looked down her grip on the umbrella tightening. "He said when I was ready he would be there."

"You see? You didn't lose Luka, Marinette. He's right where you left him. And when you're ready, he'll be waiting. If that's not love, I don't know what is."

"Wow, you've had it all this time?" Adrien's voice rings out from behind them, gesturing the umbrella in Marinette's hand.

"What?" Lucy asked confused.

The umbrella," Adrien clarified. "Back around the beginning of our friendship, I let Marinette have my umbrella. It was raining and my ride was there anyway, figured she needed it more than I did. I never thought to ask for it back, and I'm not really sure what I expected her to do with it, I guess I'm just surprised you still Have it Marinette."

"Oh yeah, it's just sorry- I mean sorry you're right this is your embrace- I mean umbrella you let me keep, keep I can finally...give it back." Marinette holds out the umbrella for Adrien to take but he firmly rejects it.

"You're gonna need it to get through all this." He said, referring to the downpour of rain.

"That's true..." Adrien's bodyguard pulls up and rolls down his window, signaling him to come along.

"Or maybe we could drop you off both off?" Marinette smiles and looks to Lucy nods in agreement, they step forward, both taking opposite sides of Adrien.

"We've got an umbrella, why don't we use it?" Marinette then suggests. "We could walk home, what do you say?"

Adrien contemplates the idea and wouldn't mind the idea but sees his bodyguard looking at him and the car door opens making it clear it wasn't really an option. "I have Chinese class. You know how demanding my father is. But see you tomorrow at school. Unless either of you would still like that ride?"

Marinette glances at Lucy who doesn't make any indication that she plans to move from under the umbrella and Marinette already knew why. Lucy was trying to be considerate of her feelings. But as Marinette's gaze shifted from Lucy to Adrien, she could see the almost hopeful look in his eyes as he eyed the blonde girl, clearly wanting to spend more time with her.

"You know, I'm okay, but Lucy, you're in flip-flops. Getting home in this is going to get difficult fast. Let Adrien take you home." I'll see you tomorrow, Adrien." Marinette waited, watching Lucy look at her slightly uncertain before Adrien smiled and held out his hand.

"Ready to make a run for it?" He asked. Lucy smiled lightly, shifting her eyes away from Marinette to Adrien and nodding.

"As I'll ever be." With that, the two ran toward Adrien's car. Leaving Marinette to watch them with a small smile before they drove away. As she headed down the sidewalk, Tikki peeked from Marinette's bag.

"Everything okay, Marinette?" The kwami asked.

"Everything's great, Tikki," Marinette assured. "Apparently life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, but learning to dance in the rain! So that is exactly what I am going to do."

And so she did.

OoOOoOoOoOo

This chapter was pure is pretty short in comparison to others but not too bad. It's also in my opinion one of the most amusing chapters I have written and I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you're reading this from Quotev you'll at least be able to see the photo of Lucy, if you're on Wattpad, enjoy the photos of Lucy, Kagami, and Lucy, as well as Marinette, \ because the swimsuits in that show for those girls are just awful lol. There is even one of Adrien. If you're on Fanfiction, I as always suggest trying to find this story on the other sites or looking me up on deviant art with the user name ashdash0192. In fact I encourage all to check out deviant as I just uploaded a whole bunch of art for this fic on there. Some you'll be familiar with but most is either for future chapters or chapters where the art didn't make it. Anyway! remember to leave a comment and tell me what you think! Chow for now! And as always I will see you in the next chapter!