Everyone was gathered in the Chemistry lab observing Marin's father mixing chocolate, while Marin stood next to him doing the prep work on the cookie batter, wearing a light pastel pink apron.

"I'll let you in on a little secret. I always add cream to the chocolate to make the ganache extra velvety. Then I let infuse for one minute." Tom said

"I love it when your dad comes to class and gives us pastry lessons," Alya said as she held her phone camera towards the ingredients that Marin was mixing. He looked up at her with an amused smile.

"So does he." He chuckled.

"It's all done with a flick of the wrist. But you mustn't go too fast or you might splash yourself!" Tom laughed as he glanced at his son, who rolled his eyes with a smile. He then noticed Chloe snapping at Rose before she then walked to the window, pulling out her phone in disinterest.

"Look at this lovely emulsion," Tom said as everyone looked at the chocolate in awe, the aroma spreading through the room.

"It's beautiful!" Rose said captivated by its shine.

"Now we need to chill it for half an hour. Marin? Could you put this in the school cafeteria fridge for me, please? In the meantime, I'm going to show your friends how to pipe the perfect sized cookie." He asked handing Marin the bowl.

"Sure," Marin said as Alya held the door for him.

As soon as the door closed behind him, Tikki peaked out of his apron pocket.

"Mmm, can I get a taste?" She asked widening her big blue eyes.

"Not yet, sugar cube. Control that sweet tooth of yours." Marin chuckled as he walked down the stairs, suddenly he was surprised at loud alarms going off. He accidentally tripped over his feet due to the shock, falling face-first into the chocolate.

Tikki laughed for a few moments until she had to disappear as everyone walked out of their classrooms. Marin lifted his head, sighing heavily as he now had a face full of chocolate.

Adrien was assembled among his peers as Principal Damocles had an angry expression on his face.

"So, some smart-aleck prankster decided it would be funny to call the fire department? Well, how's this for a joke, no one leaves until someone apologizes for wasting the fire captain's valuable time!"

" Mr. Damocles, sir?" Adrien noticed Chloé standing before him raising her hand.

"Yes, Miss Bourgeois?"

"I saw a student leaving the classroom right before the alarm went off. It must have been him."

"Really?" Mr. Damocles asked, "Who was it?"

Chloé smiled slyly. "Let's see if he'll come clean. What do you say, Marinus Dupain-Cheng?!" Chloé accused as everyone started murmuring among themselves.

"Marin, do you have something to tell the firefighter captain?" called out, but received no response. "Uh, where is he?

"See, I bet he called the fire department just to ditch class like he usually does." She laughed as Adrien frowned.

"Urgh, wait. Excuse me, sir!" He called out as a few eyes were on him. " It couldn't possibly be Marin. why would she disrupt her own father's cooking class?"

"Plus Marin doesn't even have a phone." Alya pointed out.

"Oh yeah, well where is he?" Chloé accused.

"In the bathroom cleaning off his face after he tripped in chocolate." Alya remarked, "Nino's with him right now."

"Well Mr. Damocles, I must be heading out." The Fire chief said trying to leave.

"Just one more second. We're very close to discovering the truth." Mr. Damocles said as the chief sighed heavily.

"Oh well, we all know it can't be me!" Chloé said with a smile, not noticing all the glares geared on her.

" I really have to leave now. Just call me if you find out who the prankster is-" The fireman tried to leave again but was stopped as Mr. Damocles spoke up once more.

" Fine. Since no one is owning up, the whole school will be punished." He said firmly as everyone started to complain and groan.

"What?! I'm not so sure my father will react kindly to me being punished without any proof! " Chloé threatened as she pulled out her phone.

Mr. Damocles suddenly grew panicked. "Oh, no! Please, don't disrupt the busy mayor." He then cleared his throat. "The whole school is punished except for Miss Bourgeois!" He announced as the unrest among the student body grew.

Chloé smiled, placing her phone away, "Now that's more like it."

"Now you know how we deal with anyone who misuses the fire department's time."

"Okay, great! Bye!" The fireman said as he finally was allowed to leave.

"It was totally her," Alya remarked as she and Adrien glanced at Chloe talking on her phone while they were cleaning windows. Everyone else around her was shooting her death glares.

"Now hang on, we don't know for sure it was her." Adrien defended.

"I know I know don't assume." Alya said, "But it was totally her."

"Yeah, probably," Adrien admitted under his breath.

"Hey." Nino greeted as he was rubbing a rag on his hands next to Marin who still had trace evidence of chocolate on his face still. "What's going on?"

"Long story short, we have to clean up the school while daddy's girl over there gets off scot-free," Alya remarked crossing her arms. "What's up with you two? What took so long?"

"Chocolate ganache is really hard to wash out with school soap." Marin sighed as he still had a lot of chocolate in his hair.

"Can't you see I'm trying to relax here? Go sweep somewhere else, Cinderella." Chloe snapped, as Rose whimpered away tears welling up in her eyes. Adrien frowned at that, walking up to his childhood friend.

"Adrikins!" Chloé greeted as she hugged him immediately.

"Chloé...were you the one who called the firemen?" Adrien asked, really hoping that she would at least deny it.

"Of course it was me who called the fire department. So what?" She said almost proudly.

Adrien slapped his forehead, "And it doesn't bother you that everyone's being punished because of you?"

"No. Why would it? They all seem to enjoy getting dirty making cookies. How's it any different than getting dirty, cleaning floors? They should be thanking me if anything."

Adrien sighed heavily, "Chloé. How long have you and I been friends?"

Chloé smiled up at him. "Since we were adorable little tots, Adrikins." She tried to grab his arm, but he stepped back out of her reach.

"Well, I'm sorry Chloé, but I can't be friends with someone who treats other people like this. You've gotta be nice to people."

"N-nice?" Chloé remarked as the concept was foreign to her.

"Yes, nice," Adrien remarked as he caught Marin consoling Rose nearby, somehow getting their classmate to laugh as her tears dried up. " It's not that hard."

Marin walked back up to his room, drying his newly cleaned hair with a towel as he sat down at his desk. Tikki was watching anime on his computer when he heard a notification.

"One sec sugar cube." He requested as she paused her video. She hovered near his head as he saw Alya was trying to call him. He clicked on her icon as Tikki hid behind the monitor.

"What up?" Marin asked.

"Did you get one of these too?" Alya asked as she held up her cell phone with an invitation.

"Uh, no?" Marin responded. "What is it?"

"Chloé's inviting me to a party, and apparently the entire school as well.

"Oh, that's so nice of her." He said simply as Alya stared at him.

"Chloé and nice in the same sentence? You don't think that's suspicious at all?" Alya asked. "Actually wait, hang on." She said as a few moments later Nino popped into the group chat.

"Hi!" He said.

"Cookie, you get one of these too?" Alya asked holding up her phone again.

"Yeah." He said, showing off his invitation as well. "Apparently everyone's getting one."

"I haven't gotten anything," Marin said as he looked through his email.

"Because hardly anyone uses email any more cutie pie," Nino remarked. "Hang on." He said as then Adrien joined the call.

"What's going on?" He asked curiously as all of his friends were in one place.

"Hey Adrikins, is Chloé planning some kind of elaborate prank?" Alya asked.

"I dunno, honest. Maybe she's just being nice?" He suggested as everyone else looked at him in disbelief. "But maybe Chloé just needs a chance? She can be cool sometimes."

"To you maybe." Nino said, "But everyone else probably is the equivalent of roaches."

"That's a little harsh," Adrien remarked.

"No...that sounds about right," Marin confirmed as he sighed.

"Okay, so she can be difficult. But I think if we go then you'll be able to see her better side?" Adrien suggested, but even he looked like he was trying to convince himself.

"Alright, I'll go if Adrirkin's is going," Nino said as Adrien smiled at him. "Alya?"

She groaned, "Fine. Marin?"

Her best friend shrugged his shoulders. "I don't have an invitation, so I guess I can't go. Oh well…" But he didn't sound disappointed.

"Oop, Chloé just texted me to bring you. Sorry cutie, looks like you're coming along as well." Alya smirked in amusement, as Marin laughed. But it sounded hollow.

Adrien greeted his friends as all four of them walked into the hotel where Chloé lived. Marin held Alya's hand as he was turned off by the massive crowd.

"I'm here can we go home and get in our pajamas and watch movies or something?" Marin suggested as Alya clasped his hand tighter.

"Afterwards cutie, promise," Alya reassured as they both saw Chloé tackle Adrien with a hug, kissing his cheeks in greeting. Then grimacing as she did the same with their classmates.

Then, she walked up to Marin, growling as she grabbed his collar, pulling him down as she kissed his cheeks as well. Gagging as she proceeded to do the same thing with Alya and Nino.

"I did not care for that." Alya spat as she rubbed the Chloé off of her cheeks.

Marin smiled supportively as he took her hand, guiding her into the party as they followed Adrien and Nino into the larger crowd.

Adrien took notice of Chloé trying to be a good hostess, looking utterly miserable, but he appreciated her trying to become better. He then noticed Kim requesting a slow song as he asked Chloé to dance. He looked around to everyone pairing up as he then looked around, spotting Alya resting on Marin's shoulder near the elevators.

"Hey, either of you wanna dance?" He asked as Alya immediately snapped to attention.

"Remind me, Adrien you have formal dance experience right?" She asked as Marin looked fearful of what was to come."

"Yeah, of course."

She clapped her hands together. "Then maybe you could help Marin out." She said pushing him forward. "No one's ever asked this poor cutie to dance in his life."

"For good reason." Marin reminded, turning his head away shyly, lacing his fingers together.

"It's easy." Adrien reassured, grasping his friend's hand as he guided him to the dance floor. He placed one of Marin's hands on his shoulder as he placed his hand on the lower dip of Marin's back. Noticing his friend's eyes were glued directly to the ground. "It's okay, I'm leading." He said, "All you have to do is keep your head up and try to mirror my movements."

"How am I supposed to do that?" Marin asked growing more anxious.

"By trusting me." Adrien said, "I'll help guide you, and don't worry about stepping on my feet. I've stepped on a few myself." He smiled as Marin's shoulder's seemed to relax, chuckling.

They took a few steps together, Adrien tried to keep Marin's attention, but his friend seemed too nervous by the crowd of people. That was, until Alua popped up, adjusting their hand positions so that Marin had both of his around Adrien's waist while his were around the taller boy's neck. Both of them looked towards their friends in surprise as Nino was dancing with Alya. But eventually broke into laughter.

"Sorry, would you mind if I rested my head?" Marin asked as his face grew red, their dancing slowing down along with the music.

"No problem," Adrien said as Marin placed his head on his shoulder like he usually did with Nino or Alya. This was probably a friend thing. "Chloé seems to be doing well." He suddenly said, not certain why he brought up Marin's bully, but this was the route he was taking...apparently.

Marin hummed for a moment. "Maybe you were right. She's probably trying." He said as Adrien couldn't help but feel a semblance of relief. He mirrored Marin, closing his eyes as the two leaned on each other, slowly dancing along with the music.

That was, until Chloé suddenly snapped. Everyone looked in her direction as her butler was holding a bear, playing a character.

"Oh, please Chloé, dear. You've been such a good little girl. Mr. Cuddly is so very proud-" He butler said as she immediately tried to hide him.

"Is that your teddy bear, Chloé?" Kim asked, laughing as everyone else followed. Chloé then growled as she grabbed her butler, dragging him to the kitchens as Marin and Adrien exchanged a glance.

"Should we go after her?" Marin asked with a concerned expression.

"How can you do that?" Adrien suddenly asked as Marin looked at him in surprise.

"Do what?"

"Still be nice to her after everything she's done to you." Adrien clarified as Marin looked away sheepishly.

"I mean…I'm not a fan of her, but if someone's upset, their feelings shouldn't be ignored." Marin reasoned. "It even people like Chloé need someone to lean on now and again." Marin chuckled as a smile broke out on Adrien's face.

"Yeah, you're right." Adrien agreed. "But this doesn't get you out of your dance lesson." He said as the two broke out of their dance. Seemingly, someone boo'ed that in the back of the crowd, but it wasn't important right now. "Come on, I think she went-" Adrien was about to say but then Chloé ran in between them followed by Sabrina holding a hairbrush.

Immediately, Marin assessed the situation as he saw a little black teddy bear hugging Sabrina's leg. Quickly, he slipped away, running towards the staircase as he then closed the door behind him.

"Tikki." He called out as his Kwami flew out of his jacket.

"You looked like you were on Cloud Nine." Tikki giggled as Marin blushed. But he then shook his head, regaining his focus.

"No time for reminiscing. Tikki, spots on!"

Ladybug used his yo-yo to try and grab the bear attached to Kim's leg but instead grabbed the boy, sending him flying as he then had to catch him.

"Sorry." Ladybug apologized as Kim looked at him in confusion, placing him back down as he lost sight of the bear.

People began running away in panic as chairs began flying.

"Max!" Kim called out in worry as his best friend was being possessed by the bear now.

"How about a game of musical chairs?!" The bear asked through Max as Ladybug had to knock away a few flying chairs to stop them from hitting people.

"Watch out!" Chat Noir called as he appeared, using his staff to knock away one that was just about to hit Ladybug. He then used his staff to try and hit the bear, but it was too fast. Max then fell over as Kim ran towards his friend.

Ladybug narrowed his eyes, looking around as he felt someone's presence behind him. Side-stepping as he pinned Alya to the ground. "Huh? Ladybug... What happened?" She asked in confusion as Ladybug took out his yo-yo once more.

Chat Noir narrowly evaded a coffee table being tossed at him, pointing his staff at Ivan who then looked around in confusion. "Huh, Cat Noir?" He questioned as Chat Noir grew frustrated.

"UGH! This guy is really getting on my nerves." He commented as he felt someone grab his shoulder. He turned in shock as he narrowly evaded a punch.

"My lady?!" He asked as he saw his partner's blue eyes were now turned green. "Hey, snap out of it!" Chat noir pleased as he noticed the bear was hugging his partner's back.

Ladybug glanced at him with a blank expression, swiftly attacking him a few more times as Chat Noir, eyed the elevator. He jumped towards it, quickly using his staff to press the up button as his partner attacked him once more. Chat Noir evaded, jumping in the elevator as he winked playfully.

He saw Ladybug glare at him as he then entered the elevator with him,

" I've always wanted to be closer to you my lady," Chat Noir remarked as they dueled within the elevator. As soon as it dinged. Chat Noir tried to dive out as Ladybug was blocking the entrance, but was caught, feeling his arm twisted behind him.

"This is the end, Chat Noir." His possessed partner said with a grin as Chat Noir could feel his ring being removed.

"It is, for you!" Chat Noir retorted as he easily escaped being pinned. Quickly hugging his partner and in turn, the small bear as he smiles cheekily. " Real shame you never realized how weak Ladybug is compared to me." He meant physically but really hoped that Ladybug wouldn't remember this as he pulled his partner into the pool.

Ladybug coughed as he slowly opened his eyes, feeling a headache come on as he suddenly coughed out some water as he sat up.

"Ugh, what happened?" He asked in confusion, as he was now wet and Chat Noir was sitting next to him, having a conflicted look on his face.

"Well, you were possessed, I saved you, I found out you couldn't swim, and now the bear is at the bottom of the pool." Chat Noir explained as he rubbed the back of his head nervously. There was a brief silence between the two as Chat Noir then hugged his partner tightly for a moment.

Ladybug wasn't entirely sure how to respond, simply allowing to happen as he tried to recollect his thoughts.

"You're sure you don't have a girlfriend?" Chat Noir suddenly asked as he was still hugging him.

" No?" Ladybug responded as Chat Noir pulled back with a reddened face.

"Good, because you kinda almost drowned, and I kinda didn't what that to happen…"

"Don't worry about it." Ladybug remarked simply as he suddenly sneezed. He stood up, helping Chat Noir to his feet. "It was a good plan. Besides, I'd do it for you."

"...Right." Chat Noir remarked, handing his head for a moment.

"Why don't we wrap this up." Ladybug remarked as he took out his yo-yo.

"Yeah." Chat Noir agreed holding up his hand. " Cataclysm!" He called out before jumping into the pool.

As soon as his partner disappeared under the surface, Ladybug's face ran crimson red. He didn't want to think about it, it wasn't a real kiss, it was just something Chat Noir had to do to save him. It didn't mean anything!

Ladybug immediately slapped his cheeks a few times as he saw an Akuma flying out of the pool. "No more mischief from you little Akuma. Time to purify!" Ladybug said as he swung his yo-yo towards the possessed Akuma, capturing it in one motion. Then opening it once more, watching the newly purified Akuma fly away. "Bye-bye, little butterfly."

Ladybug then helped out Chloé's butler out of the pool as the hero then sneezed once more.

"If I may ask, what was I doing in the pool?" He asked curiously as Ladybug helped out Chat Noir as well, who handed him the wet teddy bear.

Just as they were about to answer Chloé stepped in with a frown on her face.

"Mademoiselle," Jean said in surprise, holding the bear in his hand.

She crossed her arms, turning her back towards him. " It appears…I was a little hasty, in my decisions." She admitted. "I think that thing of yours about being nice might actually make some sense. I've decided to keep you on, after all!." She said walking back downstairs as her butler couldn't help but chuckle. "Don't let the guests go away, Jean-Baptiste. They mustn't miss what's coming up next!"

"Of course, Mademoiselle is so kind," Jean said, nodding his thanks to both heroes who looked at each other in confusion before they turned away with blushing faces.

"Uh." Chat Noir coughed dryly. " Sorry again."

"It's fine, I kind of did the same to you..."Ladybug admitted as Chat Noir fully turned towards him.

"WHAT?! WHEN?!" His shocked tone mad Ladybug blush furiously, but even so he turned back to his partner.

"On Valentines Day..." He said shrugging his shoulders as Chat Noir then rested his head and hand on his staff as his ring beeped, calmly asking.

"Was it romantic?"

That triggered something that made him hide away his face. "Good-bye Chat Noir." He said, sneezing before he jumped off the building.

Marin sneezed a few times as Jean handed him a cup of hot tea.

"Thank you." He said sipping it.

Alya sat next to him as they both watched his father doing another cooking demonstration. Apparently Chloé had called his father for a redo and he happily accepted, despite almost having a heart attack after he found out his son caught a cold.

I guess I didn't dry my hair properly. He said with a laugh, just before everyone started scolding him. It was better than the alternative. Hey, I'm Ladybug and my partner threw me into a pool that I almost drowned in because I was possessed by a bear.

Yup, he could live with this.

Now he was with his best friend, sitting on a sofa now drowsy because of the tea, watching enviously as everyone else was baking, while he was stuck with a cold. But even so, he noticed Alya eyeing the crowd. She was good at hiding her feelings, but never with him.

"Cupcake, I'm feeling sluggish, I think imma take a nap." He said, his voice now hoarse.

She nodded, "Okay, you can sle-"

"Actually, I wanna be alone. Why don't you bake cookies with everyone else?"

She glanced at him in concern. "No way, I can't leave you here-"

"Right across the room? With Jean?" He asked with a smile as he gestured to the butler who nodded his head. "Okay, overprotective much." He scoffed as Alya smiled, quickly pecking his cheek as she walked toward the baking station. He sighed heavily, eyes getting heavier as his head became hazy.

"Hey, thought I'd keep you company," Adrien said, sitting down next to Marin as he saw Alya standing next to Nino, both of them were laughing over something as they kept putting icing on each other's faces.

Marin nodded in appreciation, placing down his mug so he wouldn't drop it.

"You know your dad keeps bragging about how your cookies are the best in all of Paris?" Adrien remarked trying to start a conversation. "I'm a little envious how he gets to have him anytime he wants."

Marin chuckled, gripping the blanket tighter as his skin turned paler than it already was, probably due to the fever setting in. "Yeah, baking is one of the skills I'm confident in, I'd say I'm even better than my dad's." He murmured.

"I'd like to see you live up to your word," Adrien remarked with a competitive tone.

"You're on, what's your favorite fruit?" Marin chuckled.

"Passion Fruit. But it's a little difficult to be baked into a desert besides-" Adrien said but then felt a weight on his shoulder as Marin had passed out. He was probably pushing himself to talk. He couldn't help but sigh in exasperation at his friend but softened as he saw how soundly he was sleeping. The day was already filled with highs and lows, Adrien crossed his arms, resting his head on Marin's as slumbered off.

Notes:

:P

They're just friends y'all. Calm down.

- but yeah, Marin will sink like a stone if he goes into water due to his body type. Also he never got around to learning how to swim in general, He'll get sick in cold, so that all that probably didn't help.