v i i i

"So, remind me again why we're doing this?" Chloé asked, standing aside the two Agrestes, who were handing out hand-made fliers.

"There was an akuma last night and Chat Noir said we had to help." Alya said, standing on the other side of the Agrestes with her own fliers. "Also, why did you say 'we'? You're not helping." Chloé rolled her eyes, sighing.

"By the way, how you find out about the akuma?" Adrien asked, glancing over at Alya.

"The twins were making a big fuss about it, actually. They kept mentioning 'snow', but it's about to be summer." Alya handed out a flyer, advertising the toy drive.

"It's still weird though. If you look at the original flyer," Nino pulled up a picture on his phone. "The artwork looks strikingly familiar to Marinette's, doesn't it?" Alya sighed.

"Maybe if the photograph wasn't so blurry—"

"Not everyone is an expert photographer like you babe—"

"And if Chloé hadn't spilled her vanilla cappuccino all over the original—"

"Hey, Adrien made me drop my coffee."

"I said I was sorry."

"We would be able to compare and contrast." Alya finished, before turning to Marinette. "Because if it was created by the same person, that means is having a late-night visitor." She sang.

"Oh, you wish." Marinette scoffed. "You think the guard dogs would let him in?"

"We have guard dogs?" Adrien asked and Marinette shushed him.

"That's beside the point," she turned back to Alya. "I would rather be caught dead than to be seen with that cat."

"Ouch, he's a cool guy." Nino commented.

"Yeah, don't diss the guy, he's trying to get rid of the akuma." Alya added.

"And for god's sake Marinette, weren't the one who made these fliers?" Adrien finished her off and she pouted.

"Come on guys, what the hell! You're supposed to be on my side, not his!"

"Isn't he supposed to be a criminal though?" Chloé asked. They all remained silent. "Why isn't Papillon doing anything about this?"

"He only alerted all of Paris." Marinette scoffed.

"Still, he could do something, I don't know. Why is Chat Noir getting rid of his akuma? Aren't the akuma supposed to stop him?" She questioned.

"Have you noticed how the akuma are doing more damage to the city that the dude himself?" Nino asked. Chloé scoffed.

"He's a criminal. He from Papillon." Adrien was silent the whole time, growing uncomfortable in the situation and being in the middle of everything. What does he say? What does he do? Was he a supporter of Papillon? Were his friends supporters too?

"How do you know that Chat Noir stole from Papillon?" Marinette asked, breaking Adrien's train of thought. "When have we once seen Papillon do something good?"

"We really only have seen him once." Nino replied thoughtfully.

"Plus, Chat Noir helped with that little genie akuma from yesterday. No criminal does that," Alya motioned to the fliers. "Or organizes a toy drive either."

"I honestly believe that the boy is misunderstood." Marinette stated. Chloé remained silent, before going inside and muttering how ridiculous it all was under her breath.

"I think class is about to start soon. We should head inside." Adrien spoke up. The other nodded and headed inside. As they went to the locker room, they spread out a couple of the remaining fliers, before Adrien said he needed to use the restroom.

Once he was sure that the restroom was empty, he looked in to his bag for Plagg.

"Do you think I can send a message to her?" Plagg smirked slightly.

"Are you falling head over heels for Marinette Agreste?" He sang. Adrien rolled his eyes while Plagg snickered. "She's really got Tikki's strong will."

"That's what I like about her." Adrien sighed, almost dreamily, as he pulled out a pen. "So, can you?" Plagg nodded.

"Make it short." Adrien nodded and uncapped his pen, pressing it to his skin gently.

Marinette was with Chloé in the restroom, watching her fix her makeup, when she felt something on her arm. Just outside the sleeve of her cardigan, green writing appeared. Marinette quickly pulled her sleeve over the writing and tucked her arms to her chest. She pretended to shiver and mumble about needing to go the restroom.

She rushed into one of the stalls, locking the door behind her. She pulled up her sleeve, looking down at the neat, green handwriting. Has Chat's handwriting always been so neat? The small 'thank you' made her smile. A part of her wanted to reply to him, but rules said that she wasn't allowed...

Either way, she decided to reach into her purse and pull out a pen. "Will I be seeing you at lunch today?" Chat Noir told Charpentier that the toy drive would be during lunch time. Marinette was lucky that Alya caught onto the idea and agreed with it, or she would be under a lot of suspicion.

"I won't be able to attend, just keep an eye on Charpnetier and don't let him see you. Once the akuma is gone, you can approach him.

"Okay, I will." Her message remained on her arm for a moment, as she thought. "Will I be seeing you tonight then?" She chewed on the end of her pen. This was the first time she was willingly inviting him over. Well... technically second, but the first one didn't count.

"If my princess so desires it, I will be there." Marinette could only image those words coming out of his mouth and she blushed.

"Marinette! Class is going to start soon!" Chloé called from the other side of the door.

"Alright, I'm coming!" Marinette called back and flushed the toilet, to give the impression that she was doing her business and not inviting Paris' most wanted to her bedroom tonight.

Class flew by and it was lunch time now. The group met in the locker room, making plans for lunch and the toy drive.

"So, what are we eating for lunch today?" Chloé asked, still looking very reluctant on the idea of helping.

"I think I'm going to that bakery we went to, the one that's down the street?" Adrien hoisted his bag over his shoulder.

"Oh, you mean the Dupain-Cheng's? Dude, get me some chocolate bread!" Nino called.

"I'll take some macaroons."

"Is there quiche?" Everyone looked over at Marinette. Adrien still remembered the last time they went to the bakery, she was so hesitant on tasting everything and this time, she was ordering straight off the menu.

"I'm pretty sure there is." Alya spoke up.

"Even if there isn't, I'm sure Madame Cheng wouldn't mind making some." Adrien headed towards the door. "Chlo, do you want me to get you anything?" He looked to the blonde who was sitting cross legged on one of the benches with a sigh.

"No thanks. I think I'm going to eat with my daddy today." She stood and walked out, flipping her ponytail as she exited. Adrien blinked, looking at the others, clueless.