Marinette's nervousness increased when she saw her partner leap to the edge of their usual meeting spot. Chat Noir plopped himself beside Ladybug and sighed. "Patrol done!" he exclaimed. "But, man, I'm exhausted."

"Yeah?" Marinette asked, studying him closer than usual. It was the first patrol they had shared since Marinette discovered his identity by mistake. "Is your new job making you that tired?"

Chat Noir let out a sigh, but smiled. "Yeah, I still love my job, though. I'm doing all early mornings right now, so if I don't get a nap before patrol, it leaves me exhausted."

"Did you get one tonight?" Marinette asked.

He yawned, but gave a nod. "A short one after dinner. My roommate wanted to play video games, but I was too tired."

"I don't mind if you want to head home rather than stay and talk," Marinette stated.

He looked over at his partner and flashed her a smile. "You don't mind?"

"Not at all. I assume nothing unusual happened. So head back home," Marinette encouraged.

"Thanks LB," Chat Noir stated, climbing to his feet. He turned to stare at his partner one last time and offered her his fist when he leaned towards her.

She chuckled. "We didn't beat an Akuma, though."

He shrugged, still extending his arm to her. "Hawkmoth seems to be on vacation. So, good job with patrol."

She couldn't argue with him, and she offered him her own fist, and the two bumped their fists. "Good job," they said in unison.

"Night!"

With a leap, Marinette watched as her partner left for home. She watched him move across the city until he disappeared into the darkness of the night. It was then that she climbed to her own feet, and turned toward her own home, and headed in that direction.

8 8 8

The next morning Adrien was tired, but continued to work in the kitchen, assisting Antonio with anything he needed help with. First, he helped with some of the baked goods, and then he helped restock the front before they opened up shop. He received some of the delivered goods, and put them away, and now that the cafe was open and busy with the morning rush, he was helping clean the dishes that came into the kitchen.

Patrol was easy enough, but he remained exhausted. He'd be going to bed early tonight. A good thing it was Ladybug's turn for a solo patrol because he needed to get a good long nap in. Still, it was nice to have an early shift and still be able to enjoy part of his day. Though he'd have to contact Marinette about her project. Her deadline was coming up, and they'd have to do that photoshoot soon if she was going to make that deadline. He hadn't asked how the suit was coming. Perhaps he should offer her some help that afternoon.

He frowned, because he should get his rest that day. And if he travelled over to Marinette's that night, he would probably stay late. Still, he wanted to be of some help to her, especially with all the help she'd been towards him.

"Hey Adrien, I got some more cups for you," Chenille stated, bringing Adrien a bin of dishes, and placed them beside where he was standing next to the industrial washer. He gave her an appreciative smile.

"Thanks Chenille," Adrien replied. "You're up early? You have class today, don't you?"

"Yeah, I do. I am just helping with the rush before I head out. A short three-hour shift. The school is a few blocks away," she replied.

"Oh yeah, that fine arts school," Adrien replied. "A friend goes there."

"Really?" she asked. "Well, no surprise, you have ties to the fashion industry."

"I did, but I don't know them from my work as a model," Adrien replied. "She's a classmate of mine from high school. She's very talented."

Chenille seemed surprised, but equally excited. "That's so cool! I thought you were homeschooled."

"I was," Adrien explained. "But when I was in grade nine, my father allowed me to go to public school, and I graduated from there."

Adrien didn't like to mention his father, but he was fond of the memories of going to school with peers. He had done some dishes Chenille had brought into the kitchen, but she had reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone, and brought up a photo. "I'm designing a gown that is inspired by the stained glass of Notre Dame. I just need to add the sleeves."

Adrien peered over. The gown was lovely, and a lot of work and care had gone into its design. That wasn't his focus, however, and his eyes widened. "Marinette Dupain-Cheng!"

"W-what?" Chenille stumbled.

"My friend. She's designing an outfit for another local landmark. You must know her? Is she in your class?" Adrien cried.

Chenille's entire body stiffened and her eyes remained wide. "Y-yeah, I do."

"Small world!" Adrien stated. "Have you seen her design?"

Chenille looked embarrassed, but shook her head. "We're pretty busy in the workshop, and I have had no chance to notice my other classmates' work."

"But your design looks fantastic, too," Adrien explained. He had gotten excited and realized that he had forgotten to actually compliment her work. "The stained glass effect looks lovely. What did you use to make them?"

Chenille lit up. "Fabric paint and markers. I made some stamps and carefully drew on the details. I wanted to emboss the details on or embroider details on, but unfortunately, I didn't have enough time for that. That would've taken weeks to do!"

"My father would get a team to do that on their own as well. I've seen him also use embroidery machines, but I guess those are pretty expensive," Adrien stated. "I'm still learning the average value of a Euro."

Chenille gave him a genuine smile. "I'm glad you're learning, though. I am sorry about what happened to you the other day, though. That cannot be easy."

Adrien sighed and nodded. "I should've realized it was going to happen, eventually. But I have some incredible friends who've been helping. You and the other staff here have been wonderful, too. And I appreciate it."

"Well, if you need anything, let me know," Chenille grinned. "Happy to help."

Adrien flashed her his best model smile. "Thank you."

By the time Adrien got on break, he had a text already from Marinette already asking him if he could stop by tonight for a quick fitting. She offered dinner and promised he'd be home right after dinner. He told her he'd be there and relieved he'd still be able to get home and rest nice and early. When he was done with his shift, he headed towards the bakery, and found Marinette working the front with her mother.

Sabine noticed him first, "Adrien! Good afternoon."

"You as well," he returned the kindness.

He drew his attention to Marinette, who moved from the counter to the door near the stairs to their apartment above. "Dinner is in the oven, so we can do the fitting really quick, eat and you can go home. You gotta be exhausted."

He agreed. His body ached from exhaustion, but he knew he wanted to get this done. He was looking forward to seeing how this turned out. Marinette led the way and entered her room. There was a sewing mannequin with the suit. It was unbuttoned, however, which Adrien realized was because this was her own dress form, and wasn't made for a man's shape.

Still, the design looked incredible. He approached it and looked it over. His eyes moved to Marinette, shifting from the side nervously. "Relax, I love everything you design."

She shook her head. "You haven't really modeled my clothing before."

"I did the bowler hat," Adrien cut in.

She scrunched up her face. "Yeah, but you were allergic to it. And this is the entire suit. With a mask and top hat. A little more pressure."

He smiled, and touched the material, and ran his finger tips over the painted sections of the suit. "I'm glad you think my opinion matters so much, but I was a model. My opinion really didn't matter. I just shut up and wore whatever I was told to wear."

He noticed the heartbreak in Marinette's eyes, and he regretted speaking up in such a way, but she approached, and to his surprise, Marinette brought him into a hug around his torso. "Your opinion matters to me. You matter."

His entire body stiffened and his eyes widened. "M-Marinette."

She looked up from the embrace and slowly stepped back. "Your father may not care what you think of the designs, but anyone who models my clothing, I want to hear from them and how it makes them feel."

His heart raced in his chest, but he could find his own words. "Well, I love it. Can I really try on such a beautiful piece of art?"

She gave the smallest of nods. "It was made for you. Only you were meant to wear it."

Neither's eyes could meet the other, but Adrien could see how sincere she was, but she was shy and even though he was embarrassed by her bold statement, he was still flattered. "Then, I'd love to try it on now."

She motioned for him to try it on, and she moved to the trap door that led from her bedroom. "Call my name when you're ready."

She disappeared through the trap door, and Adrien turned to the mannequin, and then carefully undressed. Plagg got free from his sweater and looked the suit over. "So flashy."

"It's a high fashion piece. It's made for flashy events," Adrien responded. "Marinette usually designs everyday stuff, or stuff that is for big events but can be worn multiple times. So I don't mind."

Adrien carefully dressed, carefully checking himself in the nearby standing mirror as he did to make sure everything was straightened. He found it strange to put on the mask, but found it comforting. And he topped it off with the tall hat. He motioned for Plagg to hide inside the sweater pocket again and then he called out.

"Okay, I'm wearing it Mari," he called.

He heard silence for a second, and then Marinette pushed open the door and stepped back inside. Her eyes watched his form and studied him. He worried she might judge how he looked, but when she approached, she picked up his arm and lifted it up, and studied the seams and movement. She twisted him and looked the attire over, which made him realize she was judging, just not him. But instead the outfit and how it hung on his form.

"Hmmmm," she hummed as she finished tracing her eyes over it. "How does it feel? Too tight anywhere, too loose in others?"

Adrien turned his torso from side to side and lifted his arms up, carefully taking notice of how everything felt. "Nah, it fits perfectly."

He noted a little smile from Marinette that beamed with pride. Marinette looked the prettiest when she had confidence, like when she designed. It brought a smile to his own lips. "It looks better than I thought it would," Marinette admitted.

She motioned for him to turn and look in her standing mirror, and he did. She pointed out the little details of the painting, and the different sections and scenery. Marinette glowed when she spoke about it, but Adrien could only focus on her joyous expressions.

"I'm so glad I don't need to do adjustments!" she finished. "Now I just need to take the photos."

"When is it due again?" Adrien asked.

"On Monday," Marinette stated.

It was Friday now, so she had two days. He worked Sunday, but he had tomorrow off. "So, Saturday? For the shoot?"

"Huh? Oh! Y-yeah, if that works for you," Marinette stated. "You won't be too tired from work?"

He shook his head. "No. It will be the highlight of my day."

"It will be busy, but honestly, I don't mind if there are people in the photos," Marinette stated. "I mean…tourists might act a little weird around us, but the locals won't notice. Especially if they don't realize it's you."

She reached up, and took off the top hat, and playfully moved her hands through his considerably shorter locks. Marinette giggled before she pulled her hand away from his head. "I have seen no posts about you at the cafe since the other day before your haircut. And with the hat and mask combo, we have the perfect disguise."

Adrien flashed her his professional model smile. "Guess I'll have to change up this famous smile, too."

He noted how Marinette stared at him for a second before she coughed nervously. "M-maybe try another kind of smile. I want the photos to look attractive, and a smile would help sell the pictures."

"Any suggestions?" Adrien asked.

She froze and then looked away and paced around her room. And for a few moments, he felt terrible and wondered if he was putting a lot of extra stress on her. But then she snapped back around. "Okay, wild idea!"

He was intrigued. "Yeah?"

"Cocky!"

He tilted his head in confusion, but she explained. "Adrien Agreste is known for his genuinely sweet boy next door smile. I want you to smile like a cocky boy."

"Andddd...how does a cocky boy smile?"

Marinette seemed to freeze again, and she rubbed her hands nervously. "C-Chat Noir…"

He was surprised. Not offended. Just surprised. Marinette looked embarrassed and shifted nervously from side to side. "Can I ask why you think he has a cocky smile?"

"Just forget I said anything," Marinette stated, putting her hands in front of her and shaking her hands furiously. She tried to walk by him to put the top hat back on the mannequin, but he reached for her and gently took her by the arm.

"Mari," he breathed. "I'm not offended. Just curious. So I can practice."

She couldn't look him in the eyes, but she nodded and spoke up. "Chat Noir has saved me a few times over the years. I got the impression that he was putting on a persona. Somebody else he wanted to be. Playful, flirty, and a little egotistical, but I feel like that is him masking his feelings and emotions. Like he's hiding from who he is every day. When I see him fighting, he looks like he's having fun and he gets a little ahead of himself. Rushing in, and sometimes he acts before he thinks. It all feels…I guess cocky isn't really the right word now that I am saying this out loud. Chat Noir has a very confident looking smile, but sometimes, I see a pain behind it. But even in the worst situation, he still smiles. I guess I was asking you if you could smile like that. I guess my idea if that this gallery once had a purpose and it's lost its direction but still finds a way to help…and oh God this sounds dumb. I don't know, just maybe my hope is it will give me courage. I am nervous about what my teacher will think after all and-"

Adrien had heard enough, and he used his free hand to press his fingers to her lips to silence her. Her eyes widened, but Adrien couldn't help but smile. So genuinely. It was like he was really being seen for the first time, even if Marinette didn't realize that she was describing him. And it moved him.

Her eyes were staring into his own, with the most bewildered look on her face. He drew his fingers away from her lips and moved the digits of his fingers down her arm before he dropped both hands back to his sides.

"That's the smile," she breathed. "I g-guess you got it on the first try."

"My father used to make me practice smiling in the mirror," Adrien stated. "And acting lessons. I think I can manage one little smile."

Partly a lie, but he needed his excuses. She nodded and looked away again. "So, yeah…um, do you want to meet there? Or do you want to meet somewhere nearby?"

"Let me come pick you up," Adrien stated. "You gotta lug the outfit, camera gear, and I assume you're gonna end up putting makeup on me, too. Let me help you carry it there and back."

Marinette smiled. "Thank you, Adrien."

His heart skipped a beat. It was that perfectly happy Marinette smile he'd seen offered to so many of their classmates while in school, but he'd never gotten to witness for himself just yet. She glowed, and it took his breath away for a few moments.

"So here. Say, ten o'clock?" Adrien asked.

"That's perfect," she replied.

8 8 8

Marinette was equally excited about the shoot, as she was dreading it. She'd made an ass of herself in front of Adrien, and couldn't believe that she'd asked him to smile like Chat Noir. Marinette had practically almost blown the fact she knew his secret identity. And she wasn't ready. She needed a little more time.

Still, he'd proven he understood the assignment. Even with his mask on, that smile she'd known so well over the years gave her chills, and she had nearly reached for his face and pulled the mask free, ready to see the face behind the mask with that smile. Sometimes told her in her heart of hearts that was Adrien's genuine smile. But she stopped herself because she didn't know if she'd become overwhelmed by the sight of his true face.

"Adrien's here," she heard Sabine call from the living room below.

Marinette stiffened and stood, grabbing her bags and looked to Tikki who watched on. With a motion on her head, Tikki moved into Marinette's little purse and now Marinette left her bedroom and walked down the stairs, her eyes meeting Adrien's form as he talked to Sabine. Her mother was asking him about how he was doing, and with that famous smile, Adrien told her he was doing great and loved living with Nino.

Half way down the stairs though, Adrien's gaze shifted and stopped on her form. "Morning, Mari."

"Not too tired?" she asked.

He shook his head. She hoped he'd rested. It was her turn for solo patrol last night, and she wondered if he'd taken that time to actually rest up. "I had an extremely crappy cup of coffee before coming over."

"We're known for our coffee. How can you have a bad cup of coffee in Paris, of all places?" Sabine cut in, giggling a little as she spoke.

Adrien looked proud. "Because I was the barista, and I got no name brand, and I made it using only a coffee filter in a mug. No fancy machines to help me out."

Both Sabine and Marinette broke out into fits of laughter. Adrien couldn't help but smile too and laughed at his own joke. After their laughter quieted down, Sabine walked into the kitchen and opened a bottom cupboard and pulled out a small coffee machine and placed it on the counter. "We don't use it anymore. When you two are done, take it home. Make yourself better coffee. Life is too short for awful coffee to start your day."

"Mrs Cheng, do you really mean it?" Adrien asked, his eyes full of excitement.

"Of course," Sabine cheered. "We use the one in the bakery, so this one is just collecting dust."

Marinette offered Adrien the lighter of the bags when Adrien finished thanking her mother, and they headed out, catching the bus to the Musée d'Orsay. And like with the flea market, Marinette talked to a friend who worked at the museum and Adrien used an office to change into the suit. Some of the staff gushed at Marinette's design, and they took a few photos with their consent before they headed outside to take their photos.

Marinette wanted some photos taken on the Passerelle Leopold-Sedar-Sengho, which was the bridge Marinette had featured on the painting for the suit. They had the Musée d'Orsay behind them, but you also the Eiffel tower in the far distance. While the tower was supposed to not be the focus of the project, Marinette knew it was impossible to tell the story of the location without the tower being a minor character.

Once a train station, tasked with bringing passengers into the city near the world's fair. The tower is a draw to the tourists visiting. And now it was a popular tourist spot in its own right. The largest collection of impressionism, including many of Van Gogh's most famous works.

Naturally there were some stares, but Marinette paid them no mind, and gave Adrien directions and position suggestions as she focused her cellphone on a tripod she borrowed from Alya. The angles had to be just right and align with the painting.

Luckily for Marinette, she had a recently retired professional helping her. Adrien required little direction, however, because he just naturally posed perfectly. But to her glee, he smiled exactly how she'd hoped. It reminded her exactly of her partner and her heart fluttered, happy to be seeing him work again. Though it would be for the last time. And she'd hold that honor as the designer. A fun little secret only she, Alya and Nino, would hold.

She swelled with pride, and after half an hour trying different things, Marinette stood triumph with a smile. "I think I got everything I need!"

"Yeah!?" Adrien asked. "Can I see?"

"Let's get you changed again, and on the ride home you can look them over with me," Marinette stated. Adrien agreed, and after a quick change, Marinette and Adrien hurried to catch the bus to her home.

Both sat side by side, Adrien holding her phone, swiping through the photos, talking about each one. What ones worked, which ones didn't. Touch ups, edits and anything else to go towards her project. Adrien talked with her in great detail of what did and didn't work, and even though he confessed in the past that he hated modeling, he seemed far more excited about these photos than he had with any billboard he'd had with the Agreste brand. He looked so happy.

This was finally confirmed when he gave her phone back, and he thanked her. "This was honestly a really fun experience, Mari. Thank you."

She gripped the phone in both hands, and tried to hide back her heated face, but she still grinned. "I had a lot of fun, too. I'm so happy you wanted to do this with me. And it will be the last. No matter how much you plead and beg, I refuse to ever have you model for me again."

To others, it may have come across as something vulgar to say, but between the two of them, it was the greatest form of respect. Marinette refused to let herself use his experience for her future career. And he was given a send off of his own choice. A mutually respected non-working friendship.

"I'll hold you to it," Adrien stated.

"And you shall never ever wear one of my designs, ever again!" Marinette added. "Not unless it's a gift or you buy it from my future boutique."

He offered her his hand to shake on it, and the two shook hands rather dramatically before they broke into fits of laughter.