A Game of ... Bug and Chat?

Chapter 2 - An Embarrassing Situation

Adrien landed near a convenience store that he spotted open, and ducked into a nearby dark alley to detransform. He quickly massaged his sore bum, before letting the transformation drop. The amount of times he had missed the target with the whip and had fallen right on his derrière... he wondered how Ladybug could do it so skillfully. When he had tried using her yoyo as Mr Bug, he remembered that it was even harder to maneuver than this whip. His respect for his partner grew exponentially, as his bum felt even more sore than before, under his touch. He made a promise to himself to do some more exercise with the whip before heading home, as he didn't know when the next akuma attack was going to be, and didn't want to embarrass himself by landing on his bum in front of the akuma - or worse, in front of Ladybug. That he wouldn't have been able to take. His pride would have been too hurt.

"Barkk, cool off!" he whispered. The silence of the night was so deafening that he feared somebody would hear his detransformation words, had he used his normal tone of voice.

"I'm even hungrier now," said Barkk with a pout.

Adrien sighed. "I'm sorry. I tried to be transformed the least I could, but I needed to get here. That's a store that sells food and is open 24/7. They will surely have something for you to eat."

Barkk gave him a good, long look. "Sorry to ask, but..." She was still staring, so Adrien's gaze moved to his clothes and body and he felt his face getting very warm. He cursed in his head as the kwami continued tentatively, "I know I've been in the miracle box for nearly 180 years, but... is it normal for humans to go around wearing Ladybug shaped shoes and Ladybug spotted trousers, nowadays?"

Even more blood rushed to his face, as he noticed the mentioned Ladybug shaped slippers he was wearing. He didn't even remember putting them on. He must have done it without thinking. "No, it's not... those are my pyjamas and home slippers," he whispered, moving his hand to the nape of his neck and giving Barkk a sheepish smile. Then he paled considerably, his eyes growing wide. "Bugger! I forgot my wallet!"

"So let me understand." Barkk folded her paws on her chest and frowned. "You're telling me that not only you're indecent and can't come out of this alley, but you also have no means to buy my food?"

Adrien's sheepish smile widened, his hand firmly stuck massaging the nape of his neck. "Sorry..." he muttered.

"For the sake of the Mighty Creator!" Barkk facepalmed. "What did Master Fu even see in you?"

Adrien pouted. That comment hurt him in so many ways. He was going to retort something when his heart froze, because a tall brunette that had just come out of the convenience store suddenly collided into him, having walked absent-mindedly into the alley where he was hiding. His bum felt even more sore (having fallen again on it), and so did his forehead, where the girl had banged into him. "Ouch," he muttered.

"I'm so sorry!" said the girl without even looking at him. "I wasn't paying attention and didn't see you here... HOLY MOTHER OF GOD!" she suddenly screamed when she saw his face. "You must be joking, right? I can't have just stumped across THE Adrien Agreste on my way out of the convenience store!"

Just. His. Luck. Had to be one of his fans? How unlucky can you get in one night?

"Uh... no... what are you talking about...?" He was thinking fast, trying to get out of this embarrassing situation. It was already bad enough that someone was seeing him wearing his pyjamas and slippers (and with his bed hair...), without counting the fact that he was out of the mansion at three o'clock in the morning... he couldn't afford this girl taking a picture of him and putting it online.... "I'm not Adrien Agreste... everybody always thinks I'm him. I'm just a lookalike..."