A Game of ... Bug and Chat?

(Mis)fortune Reading

"Cool off," whispered Adrien as he ducked into a side alley. His transformation fell and immediately, Barkk flew in front of his nose and looked at him pointedly.

"Where's my food?" she inquired. Adrien sighed. She sounded just like Plagg. He put the Dog Miraculous back into his school bag and picked a stinky beef stick from the inside pocket of his shirt. He presented it to Barkk, who squealed in delight and picked it up, devouring it with a speed that could only be beaten by Plagg eating his cheese. "That's better!" She smiled and rubbed her belly.

"Time to go, Barkk. The Akuma alert has been recalled, so if we don't hurry, I'll end up being late for school." He opened his school bag and Barkk flew into it. Then, he fixed his bag on his shoulders and made to get out of the alley. But he barely managed to do so and start running towards his school when he heard a voice calling him from behind his back.

"Sunshine!" He didn't need to turn around to know that it was Alya. He slowed down and she reached him, stopping to pant heavily, her hands resting on her thighs. "There's no rush. Nino told me that the gate is still open to allow in students who may have been delayed by the attack." She breathed heavily as she spoke.

Adrien sighed in relief and they both started walking again towards the school. "That's good news. My sedan was blocked in traffic and my bodyguard didn't want to open the door before the fight had finished."

"Must be your lucky day," retorted Alya with a mischievous grin.

Adrien frowned. "I wouldn't say so... today's been probably the unluckiest day I have had in years. And it's not even 10 o'clock," he said looking at the time on his phone.

"Oh yes, I've been told all about it!" Alya smirked and messed with her phone as she walked up the steps to get to their school's gate. She suddenly beamed and turned her phone around, showing him a picture he already knew too well. "Nice pyjamas, by the way. And the slippers... you need to tell me where you got them!"

Adrien faked surprise, as he felt blood rushing to his face. Janine had been quick in sending the picture to Alya. "Uh... how did you get that picture?"

"A journalist never discloses her sources," Alya said with a cunning snigger.

Adrien pouted. "Come on, Alya... please don't post that picture on the Ladyblog. Nathalie wasn't impressed about it this morning."

"Oh believe me, I know she wasn't impressed... The girl who was akumatised gave it to me. I happened to get... caught in the middle of the fight," Alya admitted.

Adrien wanted to inquire a bit more, but the words died in his mouth when he heard someone say from his left, "What picture are we talking about? Can I see?" He turned just in time to see a smiling Marinette go past him and grab Alya's phone, look at it and snigger.

Marinette sniggering? That was new. He watched as Marinette looked at the picture intently, moving her fingers on it in a gesture that surely meant that she was blowing it up. Her eyebrows furrowed into a frown, her tongue stuck slightly out of her mouth in concentration. Suddenly, her expression cleared up and she glanced at him, a small smile curling her lips.

"Good morning, Adrien," she said softly and gave the phone back to Alya. What? No stuttering? What was going on that morning? "Those are nice pyjamas!" she finished.

"And the slippers? Don't tell me you didn't notice the slippers?" Alya continued. Alya would be the end of him, honest.

"You must be a great fan of Ladybug." Marinette moved a finger down his chest and locked her gaze into his. Wha..? Was he having a dream or something? Had aliens abducted Marinette? His friend had never behaved like that with him!