The Meet Cute [An Adrienette Story]

Saturday 22nd December [Marinette]

Ladybug swung down and landed next to her partner. In true Marinette style she was late.

"Where have you been?" Chat looked at her, eyebrows almost touching his hairline. She had to laugh at how ridiculous the positions were that his face could sometimes morph into.

"Sorry! Clara called and needed a last-minute alteration to the dress I've designed for her to wear at the Gala, then she started to ask me questions about Adrien."

"What?" Chat's face was a picture. Shock, embarrassment and curiosity.

"Well now he's at a suitable age and still smoking hot she was interested. There are only five years between them you know, and to be fair she is quite a cat-ch."

"B-b-but ... W-W-what ... I-I'm ..." ladybug continued talking throwing her yo-yo up and down.

"I told her that I don't believe Adrien has a date and he was a good dancer so she should go for it. She's going to approach him later today I believe."

Chat just stood there his jaw pretty much hitting the floor. What was going on? He'd never been so confused in his life, and that's saying something for Mr 'Oblivious' Agreste. She'd told him yesterday she'd figured out his identity but now she was selling him out to a pop star. Did she want to be his date? Wasn't that the idea?

"But I heard he already had a date." Chat mentioned staring over her face for any sign of reaction.

"He hasn't mentioned anything about that to me. I know it can't be going with Kagami though because she's there with her new partner, who by the way I am very excited to meet. Chloe's going with Felix, so he wouldn't be taking his usual stand in lady ... nope! I can't think of anyone except," Ladybug gasped dramatically placing her hands on either cheek. "Lila. Of course!"

"What!" Chat Noir screeched in a high pitched voice. She couldn't help but turn away and look as though she was surveying the crowd, when truly she needed to let out a smile and compose herself, he was getting seriously flustered. Payback can be sweet.

"He must have asked Lila. Gosh, I haven't seen her in years. I wonder how she is? Although I did expect him to have better taste than that. She was such a liar in lycée."

Chat's face continued to morph into different expressions and Ladybug couldn't help but continue to tease. His mouth was opening and closing like a fish. She'd truly stumped the worlds greatest talker.

"Hasn't he-," Chats voice had gone deep. His throat sounded constricted, he let out a cough before continuing. "Hasn't he asked you, you know considering you work together now?"

Ladybug placed a finger to her chin.

"Nope. He never asked me. To be honest, he hasn't even implied we go together, then again I only found out I was going as me yesterday so he wouldn't know. Although," she looked at Chat with a hurt expression, "he does have a plus one invite and I wasn't considered. I'm saving his business and he doesn't even think about inviting me to the biggest Christmas fashion event. I'm actually quite upset by that."

"He might have thought you were going anyway? That could be why he hasn't asked directly."

"It could be," she responded, "but he never asked so I'm not sure he knows either way."

"Ladybug? Chat Noir? Happy Holidays, how are you both?" Nadja Chamack stood at the side amongst all the reporters. They tended to start in the cattle den before moving out into the reporters box a couple of miles down the parade route.

"We're very good thank you, and Happy Holidays to yourself too. We're both very happy to be here today."

Nadja pointed over towards Chat who had a hand on his head and was mumbling to himself.