Andre's ice-cream (Miraculous Ladybug)

Part 6

(A/N I was hoping I could update earlier, but life got in the way. I'm not setting a schedule because I don't like being creatively pressured and you never know when creative ideas strike! ;) onto the story)

Marinette's POV

"Umm... what did you say Nino?" I managed to choke out, shifting nervously.

He barely paused before continuing, "Well, what I mean is that Ivan said that your sweetheart is either Adrien or Chat Noir. But with that new scoop, there is no way it could be Adrien, so it has to be Chat Noir." Alya, the loyal friend she was, stared daggers at her boyfriend, because he practically told Adrien that I like him.

WHY WOULD YOU BETRAY ME LIKE THIS NINO? I THOUGHT WE WERE FRIENDS!

By now, I'm an even brighter red than I ever have been before. A red that could rival Tikki when she is blushing. 

He said that. That my sweetheart could be Adrien. Right in front of both him and me. Nino is so dead if  I ever get him alone.

I looked up, embarrassed, to find Adrien a bright red as well, pretending he was eating his ice cream even though he clearly wasn't.

Ivan decided to speak up at that moment, "Yeah, besides, Adrien's looks more like Ladybug or Kagami or somebody like that."

It was the first time I really looked at his ice cream. It had a dark blue scoop on the bottom, a light blue scoop in the middle, and a small red scoop with small chocolate chunks mixed in. 

Ladybug. Ivan's words rang through my ear as Adrien reluctantly looked up, scared of being called out on.

"I-I guess. . ." Adrien put a hand behind his head uncomfortably.

HE GOT ME! Although my alter ego, but I was still in there!

Though I was still extremely embarrassed, my mood lightened a little at this thought.

"NO WAY!" Alya cut in through my thoughts, slamming her hands down on the table, "You got LADYBUG as your sweetheart!" she shot me a sad and guilty look as she pulled out her phone, "I simply HAVE to put this on the Ladyblog!"

Adrien immediately jumps back in his seat, skidding back a few feet, "Nope, not happening Alya."

"Oh come on, you know you want to be on it," Alya smirked, holding her phone up threateningly.

Adrien stands up, ice cream in hand, "Nope, nope, nope."

We all watched, entertained by Adrien and Alya's little quarrel. At some point, Nino had pulled out is phone and actually recording the whole thing.

Adrien took his ice cream and held it over the trash can, and looked at Alya, "What did you say you were going to do?"

Alya gasped, "You wouldn't dare, Agreste," the hand holding up her phone wavered a little bit.

"I would," Adrien said simply and dropped the ice cream into the trash can, much to Alya's dismay, right when she had pressed record.

"No!" Alya cried in defeat, and sat back down next to Nino. But on the wrong side.

I looked at her, alarmed. All she did was give me a wink. That sneaky Alya! Not that I minded, but this would be awkward since Nino. . . he is so dead.

Adrien didn't really seem to notice Alya's switch and sat down next to me as if it was nothing. And it probably wasn't anything special to him. That last thought made me so sad in an instant that Adrien seemed to have noticed.

"Hey, you alright?" he asked me sweetly, as the rest of the group split off into their own conversations.

"Yeah, I guess so."

Adrien didn't seem to believe that, but he let it slide.

"Sorry you had to throw away your ice cream because of Alya. I know how persistent she can be at times," I chuckled, "Would you like my ice cream? I was done with it anyway, Nino kinda spoiled it for me."

He looked a little shocked at my offer as I slid it closer to him, "Really?" Adrien questioned, searching my eyes for any sign of resistance.

"Really."

"Thanks, Pur- I mean- Mari," Adrien stuttered, becoming a little red.

I didn't notice his first slip up, only the new nickname, "Mari?"

"Uh, yeah. Is. . .is that okay?"

I smiled excitedly, "Totally." He ended the conversation and turned to Nino to ask a question, digging into the half melted ice cream. 

He had a nickname for me! This is totally the next step for him to like me!

Soon, it was time for all of us to go home, as sunset was about to approach. 

"Bye guys!" I called out, and started skipping off towards home, on cloud nine. I made sure to give Nino a cold, hard look before I left, making sure he knew he was in trouble. I really should let this go, I'm not one to hold grudges. But then I smirked to myself, that's why it's so fun then.

When I got home, I kissed Maman and Papa goodnight and went up to my balcony to watch the sunset with Tikki. I had snatched a few cookies from the bakery, so she was happily munching on those while I looked over the Paris lights.

"He got me, Tikki, as Ladybug." I whispered, awed by the possibility of it. It could be Kagami though, but what was the light blue then?

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't realize that Tikki had disappeared down my hatch.

"Were you waiting for me Princ- AH!" I was so startled I hit Chat Noir with a nearby flower pot. He hit the floor of my balcony in a groaning ball of black leather while I was left speechless, hiding my face in my hands with embarrassment. My heart was racing while I processed what just happened. 

I hit Chat Noir. With a flower pot. He was bleeding. BLEEDING?!

"Oh. . . OHH NOOO. I'M SO SO SORRY CHAT! I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WAS THINKING!" I went towards him carefully, unsure of what to do.

Before I could touch him though, he slowly pulled himself up to look at me. "Well," he started, pain soaking into his voice, "At least I know my purrincess can protect herself from alley cats."

I had the urge to smack him, but since he was hurt, I only sighed, "You silly Tom cat."

"Tom cat huh?" he blinked up at me, acting innocent when he really wasn't."

"Quiet, you. Come inside so I can fix you up," I said, helping him stand up.

"Yes ma'am," he said smiling, knowing better than to argue than with his stubborn princess.