4- Hideout

Marinette's POV

One Week Later

Adrien wouldn't be an Agreste if he didn't have a photoshoot every single weekend. His father is making him do another one for a new partnership with Chloe's mother, Audrey. A photoshoot I was not invited to this time.

"There's been some rumors going around about Adrien," Alya says from the chaise, scrolling through an article on her phone. I stop working on my dress and glance over as she waves her phone. "That he's got a secret girlfriend."

My eyes widen. Oh no. Did someone see us? "W-What? Are you serious? Are they saying who?"

"Nah, it's just rumors." Alya taps something on her phone. "The tabloids make up something new about Adrien every week. I wouldn't be surprised if they started saying he and Ladybug were an 'item'."

"HAHAHAHA!" I scream, awkward now, and turn back to my dress. "Yeah, 'cause that would be... absolutely ridiculous."

She nods. "Exactly. Besides, it's obvious she's got a thing for Cat Noir."

"She does not," I shoot back, than realizing, and laugh it off. "I-I mean, it doesn't seem that way. You know, when I see pictures of them together."

"Trust me, she does." Alya goes back to scrolling on her phone. "This article doesn't even have any sources. What kind of reporter doesn't have sources? We're just supposed to believe Adrien has a secret relationship because some big time magazine blog said so?"

"That's right! We should respect Adrien and ignore everything the press has to say about him."

She raises an eyebrow at me, smirking. "Do you want me to use my detective skills to find out?"

"NO!" I shout, and realize I must look crazy, and sigh. "It's okay. Don't worry about it. I'm sure if Adrien had a girlfriend, and that's a big if, he would tell me. I mean, us. Us! He would tell everyone."

Alya shrugs. "I don't know, Mari. That boy's life is kind of private."

"Ain't that the truth," I mumble to myself, frowning. I sew some new pink thread to the ripped fabric. "And... done! My dress is brand new again."

"Girl, I still can't believe you were in an actual photoshoot with Adrien!" She stands and walks over to my desk, gesturing to the new photos hanging on my wall, four in total. "And I'm surprised Mr. Agreste let you keep some shots."

"I know!" I squeal, excited. "I had them blown up into posters so I can see them better from my loft. Adrien had to beg his father just to let me have them. These are my favorites."

The first picture is Adrien and I standing apart, holding hands as we smile at the camera.

The next is us with our foreheads accidentally bumping. Talk about embarrassing. I could smell his hair; that's how close we were.

The third is just us laughing and goofing around. Mr. Agreste didn't like that one at all.

Lastly, my all-time favorite, which will be on every magazine cover, every billboard, and every ad in Paris for the next month is Adrien and I kissing. Kissing! It's my greatest possession. Besides my miraculous, of course.

Alya elbows my side and grins. "So... is Adrien a good kisser?"

My cheeks redden. "Alya! I don't kiss and tell." I look away, playing with my hair, and whisper, "But yes."

She chuckles. "You are so lucky you weren't in school that day of the field trip. When we found out you were with Adrien, Chloe had a fit! She made the bus driver turn around and drive all the way to the photoshoot set, but when we got there, you were already finished, thankfully." She pauses with a side smile. "Is it okay if we talk about that day? I know it's hard with what happened with that guy—"

I stand and grab her hands. "Yes! It's fine. I... I'm dealing, like a normal person should, but as long as that man's locked up, I'll be okay."

Alya hugs me. "That's the spirit, girl." Her phone beeps and she checks it. "Shoot! I totally forgot. I was supposed to meet Nino at the movies. I'm going to be late!"

"It's okay. Go have fun."

"Are you sure, Marinette?"

I nod. "Yes! You made plans with him first. I'll be fine. Besides, now I have free time to work on my new sketches."

She rolls her eyes. "All you ever do is work, girl. Take a break sometimes, okay?" She hugs me again before leaving. "See you later!"

"Bye," I whisper, waving as the trap door closes behind her.

Tikki appears from her hiding spot. "That dress looks even more beautiful than before, Marinette."

"Thanks, Tikki." I grab the extra fabric and walk over to put it away. "Ugh, I miss Adrien."

"Why don't you go and see him?" Tikki asks, flying over to grab my purse. She brings it over. "I'm sure his photoshoot will be done soon."

I take my bag and sigh. "But I don't have any reason to see Adrien, Tikki. Ladybug does. He wouldn't be surprised to see her." My eyes widen as the wheels in my mind turn and an idea pops in. "Ah! I'll surprise him! I'll bring Adrien some treats from the bakery and surprise him. Oh, he'll love it."

My kwami frowns. "That's not what I meant, Marinette. You've only gone to Adrien's photoshoots as your civilian self. How would you explain to everyone in Paris why Ladybug is visiting Adrien Agreste? Besides, didn't Alya say there were rumors going around about Adrien's 'secret' girlfriend? If someone spots you two together, they'll connect the dots!"

I wave her worry away. "Don't worry. No one will see me, Tikki. Spots on!" The room flashes red and I'm covered head-to-toe in my red and black polka-dotted suit.

I grab the snacks Alya and I didn't finish and dump them in a to-go box. I hold them against my side as I climb to the balcony and jump off, swinging across the city to Adrien's photoshoot. I drop down in an alley near by and peek out. There's a lot more security now, probably from what happened last time. It's good they're taking precaution, but that only makes sneaking in his trailer a lot harder. I tie my yo-yo to a tree and shoot myself across the street, sneaking by and dodging the guards, and carefully climb in through one of the windows. This is going to be embarrassing if I climb into the wrong one.

"Ladybug?!" Adrien shouts as he rushes over to help me down. "What are you doing here? Wasn't this something we talked about not doing?"

"I couldn't help it," I admit with a bashful smile. "I missed you."

He laughs. "We saw each other last night."

"I know, but I hate only seeing you at night." I hand him the box of goodies. "Hopefully these treats will make up for it?"

"Oh, you go to that bakery, too?" He asks with cheerful eyes. I glance down at my parents' logo. "My best friend Marinette lives there with her parents and they own it. I love their pastries."

"Yes..." I whisper, setting the box on a table. "I wanted to surprise you."

"Well, you did." Adrien opens the box and grabs two cookies and a croissant. He takes a bite and sighs. "Oh, that's so good. This is the first thing I've eaten all day."

"What?" My smile falls. "But it's almost two-thirty. You didn't have lunch or breakfast?"

He shakes his head. "No. My father doesn't allow me to eat in the mornings of my photoshoots. He doesn't want me to bloat. Something about the pictures looking bad." He takes another bite. "Thank you, Lovebug."

"I'm so sorry, Adrien." I step forward and hug him. "This isn't right at all. Your father shouldn't make you starve yourself for a perfect picture."

"I'm used to it, unfortunately." Adrien's arms tighten around me and he hides his face in my neck. "I can't wait to get out of here."

"What time does your shoot end? Did you wanna rewatch that anime?"

Adrien pulls back. "No, I mean I can't wait to get out of my father's house. Out of his control. I hate living there." He looks down at me. "You are the only thing I look forward to every single day."

"Adrien..."

He steps forward and grabs my face, kissing me, and I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling myself closer. This kiss seems different. I can almost taste the sad bitterness his father's left in his heart.

"Woah! Adrien Agreste and Ladybug are kissing!"

We jump back from each other and look to see two fans standing at the opened trailer door, phones aimed at us.

Oh no. This is not good.

Adrien steps in front of me, angry, and pushes me behind him. "What are you doing? This is a private room! You can't just barge in here and take pictures of us!"

The fans laugh and take off running. "Wait 'til we show everyone these pictures of Ladybug and Adrien Agreste kissing! We'll be famous!"

"NO!" I chase them and Adrien follows. We get across the set before Mr. Agreste steps in our way and we stop dead in our tracks.

Oh no. This isn't good, either.

"What is going on here?" Mr. Agreste shouts, looking between the two of us. "Ladybug, why are you here? I don't remember inviting you!"

"Father—" Adrien starts, but is cut off.

"Not another word, Adrien! Go back to your trailer, now!" He looks at me. "I suggest you leave now, Ladybug. Superhero or not, this is my photoshoot."

All at once, everyone's phones start going off, ringing and beeping with new texts. This is what I didn't want to happen. Mr. Agreste reaches into his pocket for his phone. His eyes widen. "What is the meaning of this?!" He turns his phone towards us. It's the picture those fans took of us Adrien and me kissing in the trailer. "Why are you kissing her, Adrien? Are you two in a secret relationship?"

Adrien laughs with a nervous smile. "I guess you could say... that cat's out of the bag? Meow?"

I facepalm and curse myself for my mistake.

"There he is! There's Adrien!" A crowd of more crazy fans appear on set and start running towards us.

I grab Adrien's arm and start pushing him. "I'll hold them off, Adrien. Go and hide at the spot. I'll come get you."

"Thanks, Ladybug." Adrien runs.

"Adrien! Adrien, get back here!" Mr. Agreste shouts at his noncompliant son. He turns around and storms off. "Get the car, Natalie!"

I throw my yo-yo around the trees, creating an octagon, and I trap the fans in a circle. "What is wrong with you guys? Adrien Agreste is a person just like everyone else in Paris! He deserves privacy and his boundaries respected! He has feelings."

"Ladybug! Over here, Ladybug!" A fan scoots their way over through the crowd and waves their phone in my face. "What's it like dating the Adrien Agreste? Is he a good kisser?"

My cheeks blend with my mask and I look away. "That's... none of your business!" I loosen the yo-yo and step back. "If you really cared about Adrien or me, you'd stop with this obsessive madness!"

"Someone spotted Adrien near the hotel!" A fan shouts, holding their phone in the air. "Let's go!" They all take off running before I can stop them.

"Yeah, that was my fault," I mumble to myself, throwing my yo-yo to a nearby building. I'm about to leave when a bunch of reporters run over. "Where did you guys come from?!"

"Ladybug, can we get an interview?"

These people are fast, and like vultures.

I shake my head. "Sorry, I'm not taking questions right now!" I pull on the string and throw myself across the city. The reporters start chasing me in their van, one of them leaning out the window with a camera. "What is wrong with you?" I run faster until they're out of sight and jump on the roof of the mayor's hotel. I slide and duck under a table and transform back. "Spots off." I hand Tikki a macaroon and notice the boxes next to me, filled with costumes and props. "You were right, Tikki. I made a huge mistake."

She takes a bite. "We always learn from our mistakes, Marinette, but I don't think it's safe to be Ladybug right now. Those reporters will keep following you and they might discover your secret identity!"

"Adrien needs my help, Tikki," I whisper, peeking out to see if the coast is clear. I climb out from under the table and crawl to the elevator, standing as the doors open and I sneak in."I'd be better help as Ladybug, not Marinette."

"That's not true at all! Marinette is just as helpful and important as Ladybug."

I hug my kwami and smile. "I'm glad you think so, Tikki." As I cross through the lobby, I see my face on TV and stop to watch.

"Don't be bemused, it's just the news!" Nadia Chamack starts from her usual newsroom. Doesn't anyone have respect for anyone? "We have new news, Paris, and it's exciting! A secret romance has been brought to light!" A picture of Ladybug and Adrien appear on the screen. "On the set of Paris' own famous fashion designer Gabriel Agreste's latest photoshoot, super heroine Ladybug and Adrien Agreste, son of the fashion designer, were caught kissing in one of the trailers!" The picture being spread around pops up. "Is this the start of something new or the end of this secret relationship? More information coming later."

"Ugh, Tikki, now everyone knows."

"Ridiculous! Utterly ridiculous!" Chloe shouts and I turn and watch her throw her shoes at the TV screen. "I can't believe Adrikins would be dating that stupid, red beetle when he could be with me!"

I roll my eyes and quietly leave before Chloe spots me. I don't need a heated argument with her right now, especially since I have to find and save Adrien. I take off running out of the hotel and towards the school. There are fans and reporters scattered all over Paris looking for Adrien. They won't find him because only I know where he is. I just have to get everyone away from the school. "Hey!" I shout, waving my arms around until they're all looking at me. "I heard Adrien's at the pool now! You better hurry before he leaves!"

They storm down the street as I race up the steps of the school and into the courtyard. I duck under the staircase and knock three times, pause, and then twice on the metal panel. Adrien pushes the panel open and crawls out. It amazes me how he can fit in that small space. "They're gone, for now."

"Marinette?" He questions as he smooths the panel back into place. "I'm so glad to see you, but how did you know I was here?"

"I ran into Ladybug and she told me where to find you. She's still leading those crazy people away from you." I peek out from under the stairs at the front doors. No crowds yet.

Adrien smiles. "Thanks, Mari. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Come on. We can hide at my place for now." I reach into my purse and hand him a purple jester's hat I found under the table at the hotel. "Here. Wear this. It's not much, but it'll hide your usually noticeable blonde hair."

He takes it, laughing, and tugs it on. "Thanks. How do I look?"

"Like we won't get caught." I point to his chest. "Take off your jacket, too. It makes you stand out." Adrien slips it off and hands it to me. I put it on and force back a smile. Totally not an excuse to wear his jacket again. Nope. Not at all. I grab his hand and lead him out of the school. "So, you and Ladybug, huh?" I ask with a cheeky grin. "That must be exciting."

"I guess it's not a secret anymore," Adrien admits, scratching the back of his neck. "Truth is, Ladybug and I have been secretly dating for months."

"What?!" I gasp, playing along as I keep watch for those crazy fans and reporters. "Wow. That's... crazy."

Adrien sighs. "We wanted to keep it a secret so something like this—" He gestures around the school. "—wouldn't happen, but there's only so much you can do when someone sneaks in and takes pictures of you." He goes quiet for a moment. "Sorry, Marinette. I should've been more sensitive."

"I'm doing a lot better now, Adrien." Which is a lie, but, I don't want to make him feel bad. I have nightmares about that day every single night. We reach the sidewalk. "Okay. No one around. I think we're good—"

"There he is!"

How did they recognize him? Without even thinking, I grab Adrien's hand and drag him behind me. He starts to pick up the pace and we hide in the alley behind my bakery. We drop down just as the fans and reporters run by. I crawl over to the back door, gesturing for Adrien to follow, and we sneak into my bakery.

Dad's in the kitchen scooping cookie dough on a pan. He turns to open the oven. "AHH!" He kicks a bag of flour and Adrien and I stand there, covered head-to-toe. Dad squints and sighs when he realizes it's just us. "Oh, Marinette, it's you! And Adrien? Next time say something! Are you trying to give your old man a heart attack?"

Adrien steps forward in my defense. "Sorry, Mr. Dupain. Marinette was helping me from crazy fans and reporters." He looks over at me and laughs. "You have something in your hair."

"Haha," I joke, dusting the floor off. "No one will recognize you now." I stare at Adrien and the longer I look makes me realize there's something familiar at him. The way the flour makes his hair and clothes white. Why does this remind me of something?

Mom walks in and gasps. "Tom! What did I say about making flour bombs with Marinette? Only use expired flour! We just got this shipment yesterday." She finally notices Adrien. "And you don't flour bomb any of our daughter's friends!"

"It's okay, Mom. I accidentally scared Dad and it was an instinct." I bend down and kiss her on the cheek.

"You and your dad make flour bombs?" Adrien asks with a wide grin. "That sounds like fun. How do you make them?" He sneezes and flour flies off him.

Mom, Dad, and I start laughing. "I'll teach you later, Adrien. Come on, we should go clean up."

"Don't get flour on the carpet!" Mom shouts as we head upstairs. "I just vacuumed!"

I lead Adrien up to our house and we stand in the kitchen, using wet rags to clean up. "I'm sorry about the mess. My dad gets spooked easily."

"It's okay. I don't mind. Better than being chased around the city." Adrien woods behind his ear. "Thanks, Marinette. You came just in time."

"Not the first time I had to rescue you, remember?" I remind him. "When we snuck in to the movies." When everyone thought I was Adrien's girlfriend!

Now I am. Sort of.

"Today seemed crazier, if possible." He shakes his head then asks, "Hey, what happened, anyway?"

"What do you mean?"

He faces me. "After my bodyguard was akumatized and grabbed me, where did you go? I didn't see you the rest of the day."

I was saving your life. "Oh! Uh, it's been so long I don't even remember. Probably just hiding in the bathroom or something." I add a fake laugh.

"As long as you were safe." Adrien leans forward and squints at me. "You missed a spot, on your neck." He reaches over and wipes it for me. "There. All gone."

My breath catches in my throat as Adrien steps closer. It takes everything in me not to grab his cute face and kiss him. No, control yourself, Marinette. I turn around and grab some juice and snacks from the fridge. "We'll probably be stuck here for a while, so we could hang in my room and watch a movie."

"Sounds fun." Adrien takes the drinks and snacks from my arms and heads up to my room. I follow and close the trap door behind us. We sit in my chairs across from my computer and search for a movie to watch.

I catch a glance of Adrien's jacket sleeve and my eyes widen when I realize I'm still wearing it. "Oh! Here's your jacket." I shake it off and hand it back to him. "All the flour's off, but I'd probably still wash it."

"Thanks, Mari." He takes the jacket and sets it in his lap. His phone keeps buzzing. "It's my father. He won't stop calling me. I wouldn't be surprised if he tracked my phone and sent an army to get me."

"Why don't you just let him know you're safe?" I ask as I bite into a brownie. "So he doesn't worry."

Adrien snorts. "My father doesn't want me safe. He wants me home, under his control." He takes the battery out of his phone and sets it on the desk. "I'm sorry for always dragging you into my messes, Mari."

"Don't be. I don't mind." By the look on his face, something's stuck on his mind. Maybe I can small talk it out of him. "So... I bet everyone's going to be talking about you and Ladybug."

"I wish they wouldn't. It's none of their business." He rolls his eyes. "Alya's going to have a field day with this."

"Yeah, she probably will. Some people should just let things go." I stare at him. "You really care about Ladybug, don't you?"

"Of course I do! That's why I'm scared she's mad at me." Adrien's shoulders slouch as he leans forward with a frown. "I didn't mean for anyone to catch us. I wasn't expecting anyone in my trailer. The people I work with always knock, always! Maybe if I had locked the door—"

"Adrien, don't." I grab his hand and he looks up at me. "Don't ever apologize when someone invades your privacy and doesn't respect your boundaries. It is not your fault. It is never your fault. Ladybug isn't mad at you. She's probably just... worried and scared about how things are going to change."

"You're right. You're always right, Marinette." He takes in a deep breathe. "I just hope she's not done with me. I understand if she'd want to, but I'd like a proper goodbye if she's going to disappear out of my life."

"Ladybug's not like that at all." I clear my throat and ride my attention back to the computer. "In the mood for anything specific?"

"Honestly, I don't think I can focus on a movie right now." He leans back into the chair and eats another cookie.

My heart sink. "Oh. Okay, I get it. We can do it another time if you wanna go—"

Adrien sits up fast. "No, no! I don't wanna leave. It's just, my mind's racing at a hundred miles an hour and watching a movie isn't going to help."

"Then what will?"

"Talking to you. It's helping now."

I smile.

Adrien always knows the right thing to say.