Adrien took a deep breath as he stepped into his father's office.

" Father, there's something I'd like to talk to you...about. Can I have a few minutes of your time?" He asked hesitantly.

Gabriel didn't tear his eyes from the screen. "Yes, of course."

Adrien's eyes lit up. " Really?"

" I'll tell Nathalie to let you know as soon as I'm available," Gabriel said

Adrien hopes were immediately diminished, "It'll be too late then." He murmured under his breath, rubbing his ring.

"Shouldn't you be practicing your piano?"

His father's voice snapped him out of his thought as he nodded. "Yes." Adrien said meekly, walking back to his room and locking it behind him.

"So we're staying inside today right?" Plagg asked as he opened his cheese cabinet.

"Heck no." Adrien responded opening his window. "We're getting to the movies, one way or another."

"But your father-" Plagg tried to argue.

"Isn't gonna find out." Adrien insisted jumping up to the window, then to the ground. "I'll be there and back in no time, he's not gonna even notice I'm gone."

Tikki hovered over her master as he was sleeping soundly, curled up under 3 blankets and half a dozen pillows. It was extremely cozy, perhaps too cozy, as he slept through his alarm. Tikki pokes his face a few times as she glanced at the clock, started to get worried.

Adrien walked casually through the streets keeping his head low as he didn't want to attract any attention.

"This would be much easier if you just decided to transform." Plagg remarked congratulations poking his head out of Adrien's shirt.

"I can't risk it Plagg,I'm not carrying any cheese for you right now." He said as he had forgotten to pocket some before his left. "We need to be ready if the city needs-"

"Adrien?! The Adrien Agreste?! This is awesome!" Someone, probably a fan shouted out.

Adrien laughed nervously as he took a step back, noticing people start to look in their direction, "Okay, bye. (tries to walk away, but Wayhem starts following him)

"The first time I saw you in that ad, I told myself, "Wayhem, I got to meet this guy. He's so cool!". What if I was, like, your biggest fan?" Wayhem said excitedly as he walked next to him. "Hey you mind if I snap a photo of the two of us for a keepsake?

"Yeah...sure." Adrien mumbles as his anxiety started to grow with more people glancing in their direction but then he stopped for a moment. "Wait what did you say-"

"Say "cheese"!" Way hen said. "Me-and-Adrien. This-is-the-best-day-of-my-life!" Wayhem said out loud uploading the photo.

"No! Don't post it up on…" Adrien immediately asked but then heard a ping."...the Internet." Adrien slapped hot forehead as everyone around them noticed him now. It probably didn't help that he was standing right next his own ad.

"Hold up! Could you autograph my cologne bottle of Adrien? And my life-size cutout?"

Adrien stared at him for a moment looking at the cardboard standee. "They only gave those to stores for promotional material, how did you get your hands on one?" He said but there wasn't time to unpack the implications. "Some other time, I've gotta get going!"

"Crap!" Marin said as he scrambled to pack his swim bag, then ran out of the house as Tikki followed.

"Marin, haven't you forgotten something?!" She called out, as Marin stopped for a moment.

"Oh! I forgot your comics and snacks, I'm sorry sugar cube." He said after looking through the bag. But his Kwami shook her head, pointing to him.

Marin looked down and froze as he realized he was still in his pajamas and slippers. " This is fine, all I have to do is walk back in, and-" he reasoned as Tikki suddenly hid, moments before someone crashed into him as they were turning the corner.

Marin opened his eyes and immediately his heart started to race as he realized who has crashed into him. "Adrien?" He questioned, as his best friend hovered close to his face for a few moments, his face slightly pink as he then lifted himself up, pulling Marin to his feet.

"You live near here right? Can I hide out at your place?" Adrien asked desperately, clapping his hands together.

Marin tried to process what he just said, "Hide out? What's going on-" he was about to ask as someone then called out.

"Adrien!" Someone called out as Adrien suddenly graded Marin's hand.

"Too late." he said as Marin read the room. He took Adrien's wrist in hand, dragging him into the empty park fountain as a horde of people ran past.

As soon as the coast was clear Adrien sighed in relief. "Thank you for saving me. People are going crazy over this ad." Adrien said gratefully.

Marin couldn't hold back his laughter. " Is that what this is about? That ad is hilarious." He said as Adrien stared him in confusion before a smile broke out on his face.

"I wouldn't talk about things being hilarious when you're dressed like that." He snipped as he noticed what Marin was wearing. His friend's face slightly reddened as he pulled his hood over his head. "Are those kitty ears?" He asked as he noticed Marin's hoodie was cat-themed even having a tail attached as well as a small bell on the zipper.

"Heh, we'll it's all good now! I'd better get going-" he was saying as Adrien pulled him back down. The two of them noticing Adrien's bodyguard driving past looking around. "Isn't that your bodyguard?"

Adrien nodded sheepishly, "I, uh, may have snuck out without permission. I'm supposed to be home right now and—" he said as someone took a photo behind them.

"Adrien and his girlfriend in the fountain!"

" Girlfriend?!" Marin question as Adrien dragged him off.

Adrien took a deep breath as they ran into the subway, "I'm so sorry I got you in this crazy mess, Marin. Plus, now everyone thinks you're my girlfriend!" He joked.

"Makes sense, I mean why would you be with a dude who is wearing a large hoodie and pink pajamas," Marin said slightly annoyed, but then saw the bright side. "At least no ones gonna know you're with me."

"Is that so bad?" Adrien questioned. "We're friends after all, and it's not like you have a phone that can be traced."

"No, I didn't that, being with you is, bad-" Marin said nervously as he stumbled over his words. "It's just..." He faltered for a moment as Adrien noticed Marin averting his gaze. "It doesn't matter. Anyway, do you think it's gonna be okay between you and your father, after going through so much trouble?"

Adrien smiled, taking something out of his back pocket. "How can anything bad happen...with my Marin lucky charm?" He asked as Marin blushed shyly, trying to hide his face under his hood as someone called out from across the platform.

" It's Adrien from the ad! There he is!"

The nest thing Marin knew, Adrien had grabbed his hand, running towards the exit, but they were blocked from both sides by a mob and by the horde of fans. All of a sudden, Adrien pushed him through the train doors just as they were about to close.

"Well that was eventful," Marin remarked as he and Adrien sat down.

"Sorry for putting you through this." Adrien apologized. "You can get off at the next stop."

"I can't leave you alone to be swarmed by fans." Marin shuddered at the thought of being surrounded by a large group of people. "But once we get off, we have to find a way to make sure you're not recognized," Marin said looking through his bag. He didn't have any spare clothes, just a towel, his wallet, and a pair of goggles, just... "Oh." He said as he removed his bag, then took off his hoodie, handing it to him. "Here."

"Huh?" Adrien questioned.

"If you wear it, then you can at least cover your face."

"What about you?" Adrien asked accepting the jacket, noticing Marin was just wearing a black tank top, especially since it was chilly in the subway.

"I'm fine." He said, but even so, he hugged his arms as the AC was always on blast within the subway.

"Then at least borrow my shirt." Adrien said without thinking, taking off his white shit." But, I doubt it's gonna...oh it fits." He said as Marin tried it on, taking notice of Marin's small frame for the first time. For someone who appeared as meek and timid most of the time, he was surprisingly toned, rather than just skinny like he previously assumed.

They chatted casually until their stop came. Adrien then grasped Marin's head as he guided towards a movie theatre near the edge of the city.

"Where did you get this cat hoodie anyway?" Adrien asked curiously as Marin's face ran red with embarrassment. They sat down together within the theater sharing a tub of popcorn between them.

"Promise you won't laugh?"

"Never." Adrien promised as Marin lifted his head, smiling through his embarrassment.

"I'm actually a huge fan of Chat Noir, so I kinda made a jacket based on this costume." He admitted with a scarlet red face.

Adrien was shaken to his core, trembling as he covered his own face turning red from pure happiness.

"Hey- you promised you wouldn't laugh!" Marin remarked as his ears turned red, thinking that his friend was holding back his laughter.

"It's not that." Adrien insisted. "You just said that you weren't really into superheroes."

"I'm not, I'm just grateful because he saved me a few times...besides, Chat Noir's pretty cool don't you think?" Marin asked sheepishly as a smile was plastered on Adrien's face.

"Yeah, I think he's very cool. But not as cool as Ladybug." He said, smiling knowingly.

"Ladybug's alright." Marin shrugged.

"Alright?! He's probably way cooler than Chat Noir!" Adrien retorted as the two were then shushed by the other people in the movie theater. "Actually," Adrien recalled, as his voice lowered to a whisper. "this is where I was heading when those crazed fans suddenly showed up. Thanks to you, my father won't find out."

" Wait. You aren't allowed to go to the movies?" Marin asked popping a kernel in his mouth.

"Oh, I can, with my bodyguard or Nathalie, of course. But I'm not sure my father would've allowed me to see this particular movie."

Marin suddenly froze in place, shrinking into his seat, "Oh no! Please don't tell me it's a horror movie! I hate horror movies."

Adrien chuckled, "No, no. Don't worry. It's a very rare movie that I've never been able to see. It's not on the Internet and my father's hidden the only DVD somewhere at home. See, my mother played the leading role."

Marin's eyes widened, "Wait you mean..." He murmured, his expression softening sadly. "Solitude right?" He asked as Adrien nodded.

"You know it?" He asked as Marin nodded. "It's only being shown once. Today, in this theater. I couldn't talk to my father about it, so I decided to sneak out, unnoticed."

Marin's expression softened as Adrien turned his face away to avoid being seen. " I don't think the "unnoticed" bit went too well, actually." He joked as Adrien laughed.

"Oh well." Adrien shrugged his shoulders. "At least I'll get to see it. Not to mention this is the first time I've ever come to the movies with a friend." He turned to the screen as his commercial started to play.

"Radiant. Carefree. Dreamy. Adrien... the fragrance."

Adrien overheard Marin trying to silence his giggled as he turned towards him curiously. "What?" He questioned as Marin shook his head, not wanting to be insensitive. "C'mon." Adrien prodded, jabbing his side with his elbow.

"It's just, you smell nothing like that perfume." He commented as Adrien looked at him in surprise.

"What?" He questioned.

"Yeah, you used to smell like camembert all the time before you covered it up," Marin remarked as Adrien looked away in embarrassment. "Oh but-" Marin then backtracked, "I don't mind, I actually like the smell." He said as Adrien looked at him disbelief.

"No way, Camembert is like, the stinkiest cheese. No one can stand it, not even me."

Marin thought for a moment, "It's like...you know how people think seafood is smelly? I was raised around it, so it smells nice and refreshing to me. It's like that with most cheese as well, my dad was an apprentice cheesemonger for a little while before he and my mom settled with the bakery."

Adrien sat back, relaxed for the first time in a long while, perhaps it was Marin himself. Always helping people improve their moods just by being himself. He was certainly a friend that he cherished strongly.

The theatre then darkened as the movie began. All of a sudden he was overcome with anxious energy as he saw a familiar silhouette was walking in the rain with an umbrella against a monotone film reel. He gripped the armrests tightly until he felt Marin's hand lay over his. His friend was smiling supportively at him as Adrien returned the gesture. Holding his hand as the woman in the movie was about to turn around.

Suddenly, something crashed through the ceiling as a new akumatized villain revealed himself.

"What is-" Marin questioned for a moment as Adrien pushed him out of the way just as he was grabbed by the giant monster. Marin stared for a moment then noticing the theatre was now empty as the people had run away. He opened his bag as Tikki flew out.

"Ready?" He asked as his Kwami nodded. "Tikki, spots on!"

Ladybug made his way towards the Montparnasse Tower as the...Gorizilla, of sorts, had Adrien in his grasp. The hero narrowed his eyes overlooking the situation and becoming slightly disheartened as he realized the odds were against him without Chat Noir. He took out his yo-yo dialing his partner but receiving no answer. "Chat Noir, where are you? I really need your help, fast! I'm at Montparnasse Tower!" He said as Ladybug scanned over the villain, not seeing any potential items that were possessed by and Akuma. He took a deep breath, focusing his mind, trying to hone his focus to maybe locate the item. But all he could tell was that the item was definitely on Gorizilla somewhere.

He took out the yo-yo having no time to waste as Adrien's life was probably at stake. "Lucky Charm!" He yelled out, as a toy helicopter landed in his hands. he took it out, holding the remote as he heard something.

"Watch out!" Adrien called out as Ladybug was grabbed by Gorizilla tightly with no hope of escape.

He struggled for a moment as he felt the remote still in his hand.

"I'm so sorry, Ladybug." Adrien apologized. "This is all my fault."

"Don't worry." Ladybug called back, trying to reassure his friend as he maneuvered the toy helicopter to attack Gorizilla, able to get himself released as the helicopter hit Gorizilla's eye. He dropped them both of them as he winced in pain holding his face as he began to thrash around angrily.

" Adrien!" Ladybug called out, "Head for the exit, I'll handle him!" He ordered as Ladybug took out his yo-yo. However, he didn't account for the weight of the beast as he shook the building. The ground under then started to shake as Adrien lost his footing. Time seemed to slow down as Ladybug watched as his friend fell to the ground below.

He didn't waste a second as he forgot all about Gorizilla, picking up the helicopter as he jumped off the building. He used the side of the building to give him more force as he closed the distance between them grabbAdirne's hand as he hugged him tightly. He was too far to anchor his yo-yo at the top of the building, so instead, he aimed for a street lamp, running along the side of the building, as he swung to the other side of the street, skidding against the sidewalk at great force until his back crashed against a wall. For a moment he thought that maybe was on to something when he pointed out that he nor Chat Noir wore helmets, but only for a moment as gravity weighed down on him. He fell onto his knees as Adrien knelt near his side.

"Are you okay?!" He asked in concern, but Ladybug nodded, forcing himself to stand as he rested against the wall, eyes still locked on Gorizilla.

"Adrien?!" Someone suddenly yelled out as they then hugged Adrien. "You're safe!" He said as Adrien looked stunned for a moment.

"Friend yours?" Ladybug asked as the boy turned towards him.

"Oh, I'm Wayhem, Adrien's biggest fan." He introduced as Ladybug's earrings started to beep. "Your earrings are flashing. Is there a problem?"

Ladybug narrowed his eyes, " It means that Chat Noir needs to show up if I have any chance in taking that villain out.

"You can leave, Ladybug! I'll keep him at bay!" Wayhem said protectively but Ladybug shook his head.

" No. I want you to find a safe place to hide, alright?"

Wayhen looked a little disheartened but nodded, "Oh, okay." He said just as Gorizilla jumped down, sending shockwaves through the ground.

"Go!" Ladybug snapped at Wayhem ran in a different direction as Ladybug picked up Adrien, placing distance between them and Gorizilla. But LAdybug turned around for a moment, seeing that Wayhem has grabbed onto the leg of the monster.

"Oh no." Ladybug said, placing Adrien on the ground to jump back for him, but was surprised as Wayhem managed to dull Gorizilla senses, disabling his senses for a while. Ladybug hummed for a moment thoughtfully. "Not bad." He remarked, impressed as he transported Adrien to safety.

Ladybug landed on the roof of a building, looking around for a moment as Gorizilla was nowhere in sighed.

"I think you lost him," Adrien said as he was placed on the ground.

"For now," Ladybug said looking around for something as time started to run out.

"You're about to transform back. So you should just leave me here, and I'll stay hidden while I wait for Chat Noir to turn up." He said removing his hood but Ladybug stared at him.

"You want me to leave you on a roof?" He asked.

But Adrien went with it. "Yeah, don't worry, I'll be fine." He insisted but Ladybug wrapped his arm around his waist carrying him to the ground using his yo-yo as they both landed before the subway.

Ladybug then switched his yo-yo to its phone mode. "Chat Noir, I'm going to be waiting under station C, try to use your cataclysm to trap Gorizilla so I can search his pockets, hurry up." Ladybug informed."

"What if Chat Noir doesn't turn up?" Adrien asked.

"He will." Ladybug reassured but in the back of his mind knew that if his partner didn't show up they'd be goners, as he didn't have any cookies on him. "Chat Noir always has my full trust." He thought for a moment Adrien blushed, but it must have been the heat. He then overheard something in the distance as Ladybug rested his hand on his shoulder. Don't worry, just hide and leave this to us." Ladybug said as he then ran down into the subway.

"Yeah, you're right. I'm sure he'll be here." Adrien remarked as he ran to stop a bike.

Ladybug sat on a bench within the subway, crossing his legs as he focused on his breathing. His Miraculous was one of creation, but it was also one that was in tune with the rest of the Miraculous. As his powers grew stronger so did his ability to sense, even though it was limiting due to time constraints. He could sense the Akuma's negativity approaching but lost the connection as his yo-yo rang.

"This is Chat Noir Express Deliveries. Did you order a giant beast, m'lady?" Chat Noir asked just moments before Gorizilla fell through the ground, surprising him as a smile broke out on his face.

"Thanks kitty cat. Is Adrien safe?" Ladybug asked as he searched through Gorizilla's pockets.

"Yup." Chat Noir said, "He's A-okay." He said as Ladybug found the item. His eyes widened as he recognized his former lucky charm, ripping it as the Akuma flew out. "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. Miraculous Ladybug!" Ladybug called out, throwing up the lucky charm as everything turned back to normal.

Chat Noir smiled as he saw Ladybug walking out of the subway the two bumped fists as Ladybug then noticed Adrien standing near the road. As he was about to walk towards him Chat Noir placed a hand on his shoulder. "If I were you, I wouldn't hang around for too long. Unless you don't mind revealing your secret identity to all of us." He said playfully as then Ladybug placed a familiar charm in Chat Noir's hand, surprising him as he didn't even realize that he had lost it.

"It's his." Ladybug informed as he then waved to the two of them before quickly escaping.

Chat Noir gripped it in his hand as he turned to his doppelganger. "Thanks for your help, "Adrien"." He said as he quickly traveled back to where Adrien was last seen.

"I'm sorry I had to ask you to stand in for me earlier," Adrien said as he put on the jacket that he had borrowed as Wayhem stood before him. "You must think I'm not very brave.

" You kidding?! Wayhem asked, " I got to be in Adrien's shoes for a few minutes!" But then his excitement died down. "I'm really sorry I posted that photo on the Internet. You must be mad at me." He apologized as Adrien took what was left of the cardboard standee, scribbling down something as he handed it back. "Is that your email?"

"Yeah. If you can manage to stop running after me screaming, I'm sure we can be good friends!" Adrien said happily.

Wayhem hugged the signed head happily, "I promise, Adrien!" he said gratefully as then he had to go.

Adrien realized that he had one more friend to track down as he gripped the fabric of the hoodie. He felt bad as he left Marin back there at the movie theatre, but was stopped as his bodyguard grabbed him. He had a stern expression as Adrien chuckled lightly.

He was sent straight home, still wearing the hoodie as he walked back into his room. When he spotted his father, he flinched for a moment, then took a deep breath as he gripped the lucky charm that was gifted to him.

"Sit down, Adrien." His father said as Adrien complied, but he lifted his head in surprise as the movie, "Solitute" was playing right before his eyes. "All you had to do was ask me." His father explained.

Adrien turned towards him. "I'm sorry, Father. I tried to talk to you, but you were so busy. In fact, I always feel like you don't want to talk at all, so—" He was trying to explain but then was interrupted.

"You should've trusted me, son. It's important for you and I to be able to trust each other. If you were to begin hiding the truth from me, then I'd naturally start imagining all kinds of things." Gabriel said honestly as he placed his hand over his son's.

Adrien couldn't help but smile slightly, nodding as the two turned towards the movie just as his mother turned towards them.

Later on that day, Adrien overheard the doorbell ring. He immediately ran from his room towards the front door as Natalie was on the com.

"Please state your business." She said as Adrien saw his friend on the other side.

"It's Marin can I please talk to him for a few minutes?" He asked as Natalie looked down at him for a moment.

"You have 2 minutes before your next class starts, be quick." She warned as she opened the gate as Adrien ran out the front door followed closely by his bodyguard.

Adrien smiled as he saw Marin waving shyly, now wearing his regular clothes and holding a paper bag from his parent's bakery.

"Hey-" Marin was about to say until Adrien immediately hugged him effectively stunning him for a few seconds as he pulled back.

"Sorry, I was just worried about you," Adrien said as Marin averted his gaze.

"That's my line, he said, then handed the bag over. "Here's your shirt back, I didn't have time to wash it." He said nervously. Taking a white box out of the bag before handing it back.

"It's okay, I don't mind." He said handing back Marin's hoodie. "Your jacket was really comfortable." He complimented as Marin blushed slightly. His friend tied it around his shoulder and side, then turned towards his bodyguard holding out the white box.

"I'm sorry for any trouble I may have put you through, please don't be mad at Adrien." He apologized as the bodyguard accepted the gift, recognizing the logo on the top. He opened it, and smiled for a moment before returning to his stone face expression.

Adrien was curious about this reaction. "Would you excuse us for a second please?" He requested politely as his bodyguard stepped away. "What was that about?" He asked.

"Oh, he's a regular at our shop, comes every morning, he always orders the-"

"Not that," Adrien said, though it was interesting to learn. "Where's my box of treats?" He pouted crossing his arms as Marin chuckled.

"I do still owe you an actual birthday present..." Marin teased for a moment as they both turned to Natalie standing outside, looking towards Adrien who sighed.

"I gotta go. See you at school tomorrow?" He asked as Marin simply nodded.

The two waved at each other, walking in different directions, but for a moment, they both turned back for a moment as he saw Marin did as well, seeing a rare smile as Marin made eye contact for a moment before turning and running away. Leaving Adrien to stand there for a moment, his heart racing but believing it to be because he was happy to spend time with his close friend, gently touching the bracelet on his wrist.

-Wayhem is hilarious and you cannot change my mind.

- I apologize, I can't write fluff that well.