Four times Plagg groomed Adrien, and one time Adrien cared for Plagg.

"Plagg, come tell me what you think of this!" Adrien called. The little black kwami zipped over. Adrien popped the collar of his black jacket. "Yes or no?"

"No." Plagg downed another piece of cheese. "You look too fancy as it is. Go put on some sweatpants."

Adrien rolled his eyes, unrolling his collar again. He unbuttoned the cuffs, too, while he was at it. "I'm not wearing sweatpants to a first date."

A first date. Adrien felt excitement pool in his chest, and he gave a little hop, giving his reflection finger-guns. Goof. He thought. He really was a dork. Also, he was a model! He really should've gone on a date before seventeen, but… here they were.

And with Marinette, of all people! If he told himself two years ago that he'd be going on a date with someone as fun and awesome as Marinette Dupain-Cheng, his younger self would have laughed him out of existence. But here they were, and he couldn't be happier.

"Is this even a date, technically?" He asked, pulling on the panda socks Marinette had bought him. A little rebellion that he wore to almost every photoshoot. His lucky socks. The extra boost of confidence he needed.

And, of course, the matching jewelry set they each had. He didn't make the mistake of taking Plagg's ring off this time, though. He was never risking that again if he could help it.

Plagg ruffled Adrien's hair, disrupting the way he'd so meticulously combed it back. "Let's see. A cute girl you definitely have a crush on— no, shut up, it's true and you know it— asked you to go walk around the lake with her and get smoothies."

"And go to the bookstore."

"Exactly. How is that not romantic?"

Plagg was practically making a nest out of Adrien's hair at this point, and the boy ruffled Plagg away. "I don't know!" He protested. "I think she meant as friends? How do you tell?!"

Plagg sighed. It was way overexaggerated, if you asked Adrien. "This is why I stick to cheese."

"Oh, come on, Plagg." Adrien spun, eyeing himself critically in the mirror. If he was going to break code, he had to do it well. That way he could manage the lashback from his father. "Help me out here! I'm nervous!"

Adrien paused. That wasn't just annoyance in Plagg's gaze. There was something else, too, something he'd always known Plagg possessed but hadn't ever seen.

After all, a cat couldn't go more than five thousand years without developing some parental instincts towards its kittens, right?

…even if that cat was technically a primordial god?

Adrien let the most shit-eating grin ever spread over his face. "Aww, Plagg!" He cried, so dramatic he sounded more like Marc than himself, spreading his arms out for a hug. "You do care!"

The cat kwami drew back, hissing, then rolled his eyes. "Shut up, you. You look nasty."

"You love me." Adrien assured him, spinning as Plagg deftly avoided his attempts to pat the little kwami on the head. Plagg ducked into his hair again, and Adrien felt something rasp across his scalp. "Aww, are you grooming me?!" He asked in delight. I'm getting attention!

Plagg groaned. "Just shut up and let me make you at least somewhat presentable…" He trailed off, mumbling something about impertinent model children as he cleaned Adrien's hair and face.

"There." Plagg muttered, floating back to examine his work. "Now you look… decent."

"I think that's the biggest compliment I've ever gotten from you." Adrien scrunched his nose, wry tone cutting the air. Then his expression dropped, and the nerves broke through. "Do you think I can do this? I've still got so much to learn, what if—"

"You'll be fine, kid. Go have fun." Plagg gave him a light smack across the cheek and zipped into the inside pocket of his jacket, his warmth a comforting, familiar presence against Adrien's chest.

"I got this." Adrien heaved a breath, giving himself one more once-over in the mirror.

And then he was off, and the bounce in his step was unmistakable.

A/N: There's the first one! They're all coming out today, as a little treat for all of you being so patient while I work through my writer's block. There's one more goofy one and two sad ones, so I'll post them in a pattern.

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