The Love Swap

Chapter 4 - Marinette caught the Love Bug

Adrien watched as Marinette hurriedly excused herself to the bathroom, knowing she had to go transform. 

"She doesn't know that because she left, I now can transform too," he said as Plagg wizzed out of his shirt. "I wonder why talking about Chat Noir made her so red though," he continued. Plagg shook head side to side before replying.

"It's because Marientte is in love with Chat Noir, remember?" Plagg reminded the boy. "Her dad got akumatized when you turned her down!" Adrien gasped as he remembered, and shivered as he recalled Tom's anger. He did not want to invoke that same wrath as Adrien.

"Oh of course!" He practically shouted. Plagg glared at Adrien and shushed him. 

"Right, we need to stay focused. Let's go help Ladybug," Plagg said. Adrian nodded. 

"Plagg, Claws Out!"

***

Ladybug and Chat Noir had no problem dealing with the villain of the day, in fact they took care of the whole mess in less than half an hour! Record timing for the duo. Adrien could feel himself sweating from all the running they had to do. But somehow Ladybug looked even more exhausted than he felt. What was up with that?

"M'lady, are you okay? It looks like I finally took your breath away!" He sang in a teasing tone, causing her to turn into a tomato. As if she wasn't already red. Y'know... her signature color.

"I, uh..." she took a deep breath and regained some of her composure before continuing. "I just don't want you to, uh, ...sleep on all this!" She gestured to herself and attempted a wink. Chat wasn't sure if he should check her temperature first or sign her up for classes on how to flirt properly. 

Seriously, is she sick or something? Was she flirting with him?

"Ladybug? What are you talking about?" He asked, completely snapping out of his flirty self, turning into a concerned kitty. She sighed and stomped her foot in frustration. 

"I'm sorry Chat!" She exclaimed, facepalming. "It's just that, I- I've... been working up the courage all day to ask you on a date." She looked up at him sheepishly. His jaw dropped. What was she doing?

Ladybug wants to go on a date with me? He had just spent some time with Marinette earlier and it didn't seem like she was frustrated or embarrassed about this before! It was his turn to be speechless.

"M'lady? You... what?!" Was all he managed to get out. She grit her teeth together.

"It's just that, well, you're always flirting with me, I thought you might want to have dinner..." She trailed off. 

Was Marinette, wait, Ladybug really interested in him? Or was this her figuring out that he knew her secret? He honestly didn't know what to say. He didn't think he'd ever get this far.

"Of course I'd want to have dinner with you!" He cocked his head to the side. Her blush wasn't going anywhere. She might actually be in love with me... he thought.

"Great!" Ladybug pulled Chat Noir into an unexpected hug. Her arms wrapped around him was the most comfortable thing he had ever experienced... He could feel his face getting a little warm from that. "I guess I'll catch you later? Like eight?" She asked. He nodded. 

"I wouldn't miss it for the world." He breathed. She pulled away from the hug and brought his hand up to her mouth. She gave the most tender kiss he had ever felt. Not that I've been kissed by many girls, he thought. I didn't know Mari-, no, Ladybug could be so soft and sweet.

Ladybug smiled before flinging her yoyo away and taking off. He gave her a few moments before following, knowing they would meet back in Marinette's room, hopefully to pick up where they left off. He smiled to himself as he extended his baton. 

***

Chat Noir saw Marinette walking into the Dupain bakery from the street, so he made a quick landing on her balcony and detransformed. Plagg circled around Adrien's head immediately, demanding his cheese. He laughed and gladly handed over the small slice of cheese he had allowed Plagg for the day. It was hard to keep a kwami grounded when Plagg was just so... loud about it.

Once Adrien heard movement in Marinette's room, he climbed down from the balcony to find Marinette, seemingly completely recovered from her confession earlier. He suddenly was overcome with a strong emotion while looking at her... but it was hard to pinpoint what.

Adrien felt himself pulling Marinette into a hug. It was just as tender as the one he and Ladybug had shared moments earlier. I could get used to this. Marinette is a really good hugger. It was clear to him that Marinette was extremely surprised by his actions though, so he backed off after a moment.

"Sorry," he apologized, "I was just worried about you during the akuma attack." She visibly relaxed and looked up at him with her big beautiful eyes...

"I was just surprised that's all!" She smirked at him. He looked away quickly but smiled. "Now, where were we?" She asked.

"We were in the middle of me show you who's boss at this game!" He teased. She rolled her eyes and they both shared a long laugh as they sat down. The room was comfortable, and Adrien didn't feel any tension from either of them. It was perfect. 

Completely perfect.

The two played the day away, regularly interrupted by Tom and his many sweets which they both enjoyed fully. Adrien felt completely comfortable around Marinette, and he loved it.

Except for the fact that she keeps making me blush, he thought to himself. But I don't really know what that's about. 

Around 7:30 something changed in Marinette's behavior. She became fidgety and couldn't stop looking at the time. Adrien cast a glance her way before inquiring about what was going on.

"Oh, uh... I told Alya that I was going to meet her for dinner tonight at 8,"she clearly lied to him. "And I have to start getting ready for that now." A look of confusion crossed his face until he remembered that he was supposed to have dinner with her! He jumped out of his seat and gave her a smile.

"I'll get out your hair then, he said one hand on head and the other on her shoulder. He was immediately distracted by his own thoughts though. Her skin is so soft... I feel better whenever I'm touching her... he thought. 

She thanked him for coming over and he hugged all the members of the Dupain-Cheng family on his way out, before walking past the doors, into the street. 

And that's when he realized.

He forgot to home after his "Chinese lesson."

Oh no...