When the Cat Met the Wolf

22. Of Arguments & Candidates

Adrien stared at Arianne as she played the violin.

They were currently in Adrien's room, just hanging out, because they hadn't been able to do that ever since Thiago got into town, for Arianne spent most of her time with him. Thiago was currently hanging out with Nino, since they had become close, too.

"You never cease to amaze me" admitted Adrien, looking at Arianne with a smile when she finished playing the song. She blushed a little bit, much to her annoyance. She didn't like blushing in front of other people, it made her feel vulnerable.

"Thanks" replied Arianne with a huge smile, sitting next to him on the couch, facing the window "But it's no big deal"

"I really wish you would stop doing that" said Adrien when he heard her words, making her frown confused.

"Do what?"

"Being so modest!" he replied "Don't get me wrong, your selflessness is one of the many qualities I admire about you, but you should accept a compliment when it's given to you"

"I said 'thank you'" she replied jokingly, making Adrien roll his eyes.

"You know that's not what I'm talking about" he said, giving her a quick glance. Her chestnut hair was shining underneath the sunlight pouring down from the window.

That's when he noticed that she wasn't wearing her usual beige beret, instead, her hair was tied up in a lace crown braid , which enhanced her features, especially her amber eyes, which, Adrien had never noticed, had a hint of green.

He wondered why he was only noticing this now, when he had known her for so long.

"Do I have something on my face?" she asked amused upon seeing him staring at her, and he quickly looked away in embarrassment.

"N-no" he stuttered "It's just..." he looked at her once more "You look very nice today"

Arianne felt hot all of a sudden, and she did her best to control her heartbeat. What was it with Adrien and his compliments today?

"T-thanks" she stuttered, just as he did, and both stayed silent for quite some minutes, until she noticed a CD on the table. She frowned as she approached it "Hey, what's this?" she looked at Adrien, with the CD Thiago had sent on Valentine's Day in her hands.

"Oh, a present" replied the boy, approaching her "Someone sent it to me on Valentine's Day"

"You must have received amazing gifts, right?" she questioned, trying to control her jealousy. She knew that Adrien was a model, and that many girls would obviously be in love with him, but she couldn't help but be bothered by it.

Not that something could ever happen between them.

"Just some letters" replied Adrien, who felt the need of justifying himself with Aria for some reason "The only thing that was really great was the song in that CD"

"Can I listen to it?" she asked. It was no her gift after all, so she couldn't just put it on the computer. Maybe Adrien didn't want her to.

But Adrien didn't mind. He had often thought about telling Arianne about her love for Loup d'Argent, but that could lead to the question 'where do you know her from?', and what would he say then? He couldn't just tell Arianne that he was Chat Noir, as much as he wanted to (and he did want to. He didn't like keeping secrets from her).

"Sure!" replied the boy, as Arianne played the CD in the laptop. When the song started to play, she opened her eyes wide in recognition.

"Hey, that's—" she stopped herself.