When the Phoenix Falls (Adrien Agreste)

Chapter 19: Animan

Colette couldn't help a smile spreading over her face as she watched the two boys chatting on the other side of the courtyard. She was perched awkwardly on the stairs, waiting for Vohon to finish eating a small bag of sunflower seeds so she could go join her sister and Alya - who were laughing as they sat at the bottom of the steps.

She wasn't really sure what Adrien and Nino were doing, but they'd been going back and forth for a few minutes now, and Nino's head was in his hands as he stared at the other boy. She had a strong suspicion it may have something to do with Nino's recently-apparent crush on her sister - which she was pretty sure Marinette hadn't yet noticed - based on the way Nino kept glancing over at them.

"Are you done yet?" Colette tried to look casual as she spoke out of the corner of her mouth, not really wanting to make it look as though she was talking to herself. "We really need to get going."

"One minute," Vohon grumbled, pouting as he chewed overly-slowly on another seed. "Honestly, you humans."

"Well, some of us don't have an infinity to waste eating sunflower seeds," Colette reminded him, deciding she would just begin walking down the stairs. "I need to chat to Adrien about our homework."

"Ooh, Adrien!" Vohon's voice became comically more high-pitched as he muttered dramatically. "I loved your most recent photoshoot, you looked sooooo handsome."

Colette blushed as she glared at Vohon. "I do not sound like that. And you know we're only friends."

Vohon snorted and muttered something Colette didn't catch. She didn't dare ask him to repeat it as she reached her sister and Alya.

"Hey guys," she said, but her greeting went practically unnoticed as Alya continued listing off adjectives. "What on Earth are you talking...oh."

Colette let out a hum of realisation as she spotted Adrien in Marinette's magazine. Well, that at least answered her question.

"All of the above," Marinette whispered dreamily in response to Alya, her eyes so focussed on the magazine that she didn't even spot the boys standing right in front of her. Colette didn't react quickly enough to stop her sister walking straight into Nino, dropping her magazine to the ground in surprise.

Colette quickly stooped to pick up the fallen magazine, folding it over before Adrien could notice what it was. Taking Marinette's hand, she forced it to grasp the magazine, sighing as it slipped from her grasp once more.

As Colette crouched to pick it up again, her head collided with Adrien's and she winced.

"Sorry," she mumbled at the same time as him, offering an apologetic smile as she picked up the magazine. She pretended she didn't notice Adrien's blush as she tucked it into her own backpack. She suspected he may have seen the photos after all.

"Sorry about that," Adrien repeated, rubbing his forehead as he straightened up. "How could we make it up to you? Any ideas Nino?"

His tone immediately told Colette that she was about to find out exactly what it was that they had been planning. She had to admit that she was incredibly curious.

Nino looked like a fish out of water at the question, and it only took Adrien a moment to realise that he was going to have to do the talking.

"How about we check out the zoo today," he suggested with a grin, nudging Nino. "Word is they've got a new..."

He glanced at Nino, but the boy didn't look likely to respond anytime soon so Colette filled in.

"...toucan."

"Oh, well," Adrien looked flustered. "I really meant the panther, but yeah a toucan'll do."

"Great," Colette bounced slightly on the spot. "I've been waiting to see it all week."