True Love Kiss

15 - Animan

Warning! This is the last part with Season 1 spoilers. This time quite a lot quotation, because this time not words but background (or interpretation) is changed. Again, I omitted most of the episode details that aren't important for this story, so that I could focus only on the scenes that are crucial for "True Love Kiss" :-)

***

"It can't be like that anymore, dude!" Nino patted Adrien on the back on Friday afternoon. "You're totally exhausted."

"I'm fine..." Adrien sighed apathetically.

This wasn't true. He felt torn. Whenever he saw Marinette at school – and he saw her practically all the time – all his heart was bursting to her. And at the same time, he knew that he wasn't allowed to say anything. He couldn't tell her that he was Cat Noir. And he couldn't say that he guessed she was Ladybug. But the worst part was that he couldn't hug her, kiss her, hold her hand – just be with her. It was a torture – have her at his fingertips and couldn't even touch her.

"Sure..." Nino didn't buy it. "I'm not blind. You're not yourself from Valentine's Day. First, some euphoria, and now you look like hell."

"You won't understand. I don't get it myself."

"You need entertainment!"

If this could help for my problems... Adrien thought ironically.

"We're going to the zoo today. With Alya and Marinette. And you're going with us." Nino said, and it was neither a question nor a suggestion.

"Does this trip to the zoo have any hidden purpose?" Adrien asked with a sly grin.

Nino blushed.

"I see that even a prospect of going out has improved your mood." he commented. "And there is no hidden purpose. I wanted... I wanted to invite Alya somewhere, but... it was safer to organise a group journey... Because you know..."

"Actually, I don't. But I'd be glad to know." Adrien smiled. "You said something about the Valentine's Day, but it would be nice if you tell me something more."

"Eh..." Nino sighed. "I'll tell you about the Valentine's Day, but only on the condition that you go to the zoo with us."

"Okay. Deal." Adrien agreed. Anyway... Going out with Marinette was a very looked-for perspective for him. For many reasons. And each of them was also strongly connected with the Valentine's Day.

***

"Hey!" they greeted each other when they met at the spot.

And there was embarrassing silence. Adrien gave his friends a quick glance. Nino had informed him that he had planned a joint going out to spend some time with Alya. But they forgot to discuss how to divide the group into pairs that the friendly trip to the zoo would turn into a date. For Nino and Alya, of course. Although Adrien wouldn't mind if he could spend some time with Marinette in private as well.

Before anyone spoke, their classmates, Kim and Max, joined their group.

"Hey there! You came to see the new panther?" Kim asked.

"Kind of..." Nino murmured in reply.

"I was wondering if it's faster than me." Kim boasted.

"Panthers can run at speed in excess of 60 miles per hour." Max informed everyone.

"60 miles per hour? That's all? I bet I could beat it in a race!" Kim laughed.

"I'm not so sure..." Marinette whispered.