A/N: A few weeks ago I put out a poll on Tumblr asking if people if they wanted a Hardcore Romance story or a Hardcore Action story. Romance got 45 notes so here it is! This is part 1 of 2. Part 2 will be out next week. Standard warnings apply. Probably horribly AU and OOC. I could probably start a list now of all the things that are now AU and floating outside of canon. Oh well!

"I don't know if I can do this guys." Marinette said as she looked at the pair of tickets in her hand dubiously. Already her hands were shaking and her palms were sweating. Yeah because Adrien would be totally taken by a girl with nasty sweaty hands.

"Marinette, mon chère, I love you dearly but you have got to get past this and ask Adrien out." Alya told her as she crossed her arms over her chest.

Tikki nodded in agreement as she floated next to Alya's head. "You don't have any problem talking to Chat Noir. Just act like you're talking to Chat Noir when you talk to Adrien." Tikki put in helpfully.

It was amazing just how unhelpful Tikki and Alya's advice could be sometimes. "I don't want to smack Adrien upside the head seventy percent of the time." she muttered under her breath.

"Marinette," sighed Alya with an eyeroll. "You've been starry eyed over Adrien ever since he started school here this year. This masquerade ball that the museum is putting on will be the perfect time to get to know him better!"

"You can do this Marinette!" Tikki cheered as she threw her hands into the air.

"Marinette! Marinette!" Alya chanted. Tikki joined in a beat later.

"Why did I ever introduce you two?" Marinette asked as she shook her head. The pair of them kept chanting as she looked over her shoulder. From their spot in a secluded area of the school courtyard, Marinette could see Adrien with his small group of friends on the other side. He looked like he was in the process of getting ready to leave. Adrien and Nino had their backpacks on and were half turned towards the school building. Marinette looked down once more at the pair of tickets in her hands. If she was going to ask Adrien out, now was the time to do it. "I'm gonna do it." she whispered under her breath.

"Yay!" cried Alya and Tikki together as they did a tag team 'happy' dance. Marinette ignored them and started to make her way towards Adrien.

Adrien and Nino had left the group and were on the stairs by the school's doors by the time Marinette caught up with them. Just a few more feet and she could call out Adrien's name without looking super obvious. Just a little bit more before she could ask him to this masquerade ball. Just another couple little steps...

"Adrikins!" Chloe's bright voice rang out. Marinette's heart stopped. Her eyes dropped to the pair of tickets in her hand. Chloe was bound to notice the tickets and it probably wouldn't take her long to figure out what they were for. Especially since she had her finger on the pulse of everything happening in Paris because her dad was the freaking mayor! Chloe hadn't seen her yet but if and when she did...well, Marinette didn't want to deal with the embarrassment. She darted behind a tree to get out of sight.

"Ah, Chloe." Adrien answered as he turned to face her. There was a little wince on his face. He probably didn't care for the nickname. Adrien wiped the look off his face quickly though. "What's up?"

"You know how the museum is putting on a masquerade ball at the end of the week?" Chloe asked as she practically skipped up the stairs to join him.

Adrien and Nino shared a look with one another. "Yeah," he nodded, "Nino and I were just talking about it. Why?"

"Well I was wondering if you wanted to go with me. I'm sure between the two of us we could convince your father to let you go." Chloe asked. Marinette was far enough away from them but she was still close enough to see the beaming smile on Chloe's face.

"Um about that..." Adrien laughed nervously as he rubbed the back of his neck. He looked at Nino again for support most likely but Nino only shrugged. Adrien turned back to look at Chloe with a sheepish look on his face. "I, uh, sort of already asked somebody to go with me and she said yes."

The smile disappeared off of Chloe's face and turn downright sour. Nino gaped at Adrien in surprise for a moment before a broad grin stretched across his face. Adrien caught sight of it and turned bright red before smacking Nino on the shoulder. Marinette felt her heart sink. Adrien had already asked someone to go to the masquerade. She was too late and all she wanted to do was evaporate into thin air.

"You already asked someone?" repeated Chloe.

Adrien nodded. "Sorry Chloe."

"No, no it's okay." Chloe sighed as she waved it off like it was no big deal. Marinette got the feeling that it bothered Chloe more than she let on though. "Maybe we can do something weekend after next then?"

"Sure! If we can somehow convince my dad to let me out of that magazine shoot."

"Leave it to me. I'll work a little magic." Chloe gave a little wink before checking her watch and saying, "Shoot! I got to go check in with my science lab partner. I'll catch you later Adrien."

Chloe headed back down the stairs, giving a little wave as she walked away. Marinette pressed herself closer to the tree as Chloe passed by and prayed that Chloe didn't notice her. Chloe went by without seeing her. Marinette was grateful for that. She gave a sigh of relief as she collapsed against the tree. Then she looked up and saw Adrien and Nino disappearing into the building. Marinette squeezed her eyes shut as disappointment sunk in. Silently she made her way back to Alya and Tikki.

"How did it…" Tikki started to ask as Marinette slid back into her seat at the table. She stopped abruptly when she saw the look on Marinette's face. "Oh no."

"Oh chère." Alya murmured as she came around to sit on Marinette's other side. She wrapped her arms around Marinette's shoulder and hugged her. "I'm so sorry."

"It's alright." Marinette said as she tried to smile. It came off a little weak. She twisted the tickets to the masquerade in her hands and forced a brighter smile on to her face. "Adrien I guess already asked someone else to go with him. Maybe next time."

"That's the spirit." Tikki told her as nuzzled into Marinette's cheeks.

X X X

"Dude, up top! You didn't tell me Ladybug said yes!" Nino said. His excitement was just barely contained as he held up his hand for a high five. Adrien found himself looking around nervously to make sure no one was listening in on their conversation. "This is, like, a huge step in your relationship with her! Why didn't say anything sooner?"

"Because he's lying through his teeth!" sang Plagg from inside his shirt. Adrien was too slow to keep him from zipping up and out.

"Plagg! Get back here? Someone could see you!" he hissed as he made a mad grab for Plagg. Adrien missed, lost his balance, and fell forwards. As he hit the ground with a hard 'oof,' he was acutely aware of Nino staring at him. Adrien gave a defeated, disgruntled groan and buried his forehead on the floor.

"Give me a break Adrien. There's no one but us around." Plagg pointed out nonchalantly.

"Uh Adrien... are you gonna get up off the ground bro?" Nino asked.

"No," mumbled Adrien. He heard Plagg snicker. Adrien rolled his eyes at that and even though he'd said he wasn't going to, he hauled himself to his feet. He brushed himself off while giving Plagg an dark look. Plagg was lucky that Adrien actually liked him. Otherwise he would've kept Plagg locked in a box somewhere. It might have made his horrible luck a little better actually.

"So you haven't actually asked Ladybug to the masquerade?" Nino clarified. He had his eyebrow raised skeptically.

"Nope!" Plagg was practically crowing as he bobbed in the air like he was physically trying to keep himself from laughing.

"I have every intention to!" Adrien shot defensively as he crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm going to do it tonight when the two of us are on patrol. I've got it all planned out."

"What if she says no?" Nino said.

Adrien made a face. He didn't want to think about Ladybug saying no which, if he were honest with himself, was a huge possibility. "Then I won't go. Simple as that." he answered at length.

"So why lie to the girl? Why not just tell her that you're not interested in going." Plagg questioned. Nino nodded his agreement and looked at him expectantly.

"Listen, guys, Chloe will spread it around the school that I'm already going to the museum's masquerade with someone. I won't have to hurt anyone else's feelings by telling them no now. And if I'd told Chloe that I didn't want to go to the masquerade, she'd have just asked to do something else. Back to square one. Tu comprends?"

"Sure, I guess I catch your drift." Nino finally nodded.

"Eh, I suppose so." shrugged Plagg.

"So what's your plan with Ladybug?" Nino asked, changing the topic. "I thought she didn't like you in the 'dating' sort of way. Isn't a masquerade kinda a date?"

"Not if I specifically tell her it's not a date." Adrien smiled. Nino just blinked in disbelief.

"Uh… buddy," he started.

"Don't." Plagg gave a huff, "I've already tried to explain it to him and he doesn't listen."

"Adrien, man, just because you tell Ladybug it isn't a date doesn't mean that she won't feel like it is… or worry that you'll feel like that's what it is."

"I won't force or pester her into doing anything she doesn't want to do. If she says no, that will be it then. I won't ask her again." Adrien explained. Again, he found himself desperately hoping that Ladybug didn't say no. So much so that it made him sick to his stomach. He bit back the feeling and exhaled deeply. Nino and Plagg were still shaking their heads at him, sharing their agreement that Adrien was probably nuts. "Listen, Ladybug and I are friends at the very least right?"

"I suppose…" Nino nodded warily.

"You could call it that." Plagg said.

"Friends do things with one another. They hang out with each other. That's what this masquerade will be. A chance to just, y'know, hang out. We can work out the specific details later."

"I wish you luck Adrien." Nino said.

"Because you're going to need it quite frankly." Plagg told him.

Adrien shot him a harsh glare. "Thanks so much you two. You're a real vote of confidence."

There was a sound from down the hall. Adrien's eyes went wide. Whoever it was making said sounds was heading their way. "Plagg!" he hissed under his breath.

"Got you covered dude!" Nino told him brightly as he whipped his hat off his head and scooped Plagg out of the air into it. Plagg gave an irritated yelp but he was safe from sight. Thank goodness for that because a pair of teachers came around the corner the very next minute. Plagg had a knack for cutting things too close.

X X X

Ladybug turned her face into the cool night air. It was a quiet, lonely night. That was fine by her. She was still battling her massive amounts of disappointment from earlier that day. The silence felt comfortable after all the talking she'd heard that afternoon at school. Chloe had made it known in under half an hour that Adrien was already going to the museum's masquerade with someone else and every time someone repeated it, she felt like someone was twisting her stomach inside out. At least no one else besides Tikki and Alya knew she'd planned on asking Adrien. That and no one had witnessed her get rejected. Then people would've talked about that. Little miracles and lots of good luck Ladybug guessed.

"Heya Ladybug!" Chat Noir said brightly as he dropped down on to the roof beside her in a half crouch.

"Hey Chat." Ladybug smiled slightly at him. She gave him a wave and moved over a little so that he could join her on the narrow ledge she was standing on.

"Quiet night. Think we're lucky enough to have had Hawkmoth give up on trying to get our miracle stones?" he asked conversationally.

Ladybug snorted, "Yeah right. Not even I'm that lucky."

"Eh… Didn't think so either. One can dream though right?"

"That's a pretty out there dream Chat." she pointed out. Chat Noir settled into silence as he looked out over Paris with her.

"Sooo, uh, I wanted to ask you something." Chat Noir started nervously. Ladybug looked at him. He was fiddling with his belt tail, picking at its end with his claws. Ladybug had enough practice under her belt to keep from grimacing outwardly. Here they went again. "I was wondering if maybe, by any chance that is, you wanted to… uh, go to the museum's big masquerade ball at the end of the week?"

Yep! There it was. Chat Noir's less than subtle crush on her, rearing its head. "Chat, I'm sorry but…" she began once more with the spiel about how she liked him well enough just not in the romantic sort of way.

Chat Noir cut her off midsentence though. "Not like on a date or anything. Totally not a date. But like as friends. Like two dudes, or a guy and a gal I mean, hanging out and having a good time. No pressure, you know the same thing that happens when you and a group of friends just get together to chill only it would just be you and I." he tried to explain. It would've sounded better though had he not just blurted everything all out at once in a rapid flash flood of words. He grimaced as the realization hit him too. "Sorry. That sounded so much better in my head when I rehearsed it earlier."

"I'm sure it did," Ladybug told him as she bit her lip to keep from laughing at him.

"It would absolutely, one hundred percent be not a date." he repeated as he gestured emphatically with his hands to get the point across. "We could arrive separately, leave separately, buy our own tickets, we don't even have to dance together at all if you didn't want to. All I'm saying is it would be nice to hang out with you outside of this whole 'saving Paris from evil.' If you wanted to that is…"

This time Ladybug wasn't able to keep herself from laughing. Not at Chat Noir of course but at the thought of her and whoever Chat Noir's civilian identity was hanging around the punch bowl chatting about everyday shenanigans. Ladybug had often wondered who Chat Noir was under his mask, probably the class clown she was sure, but they had an agreement. "And what about our secret identities you silly cat? We decided that you wouldn't know who I was and I wouldn't know who you were. Remember?"

Instead of looking upset that she'd laughed at him, Chat Noir gave a smirk. "No need to compromise secret identities my Lady. It's a masquerade ball. As in costumes and masks."

He waved to his own suit and tapped his own mask in demonstration. Ladybug resisted the urge to beat the heel of her palm into her forehead. "You've got to be kidding me," she mumbled under her breath, "You want to show up in public as Ladybug and Chat Noir at a masquerade ball? Do you realize how many people are going to freak out. Contrary to how you feel Chat, I don't want to spend my night posing for cameras." she told him before giving him a tweak on the nose.

"I don't like doing it all the time." Chat Noir pouted and rubbed his nose. He shook off his irritation and continued. "I'm not saying that we transform and go as the Ladybug and Chat Noir but maybe just a Ladybug and Chat Noir."

"Not to ring our own bell but we're kinda the most popular costume in Paris at the moment. Every girl wants to dress up as Ladybug and every boy wants to strut around as Chat Noir. Half the costumes at that masquerade are going to be variations of us. How would we recognize each other in a sea of that many costumes?"

Chat Noir opened his mouth and raised his finger into the air as though he had a really quick solution to the problem he'd proposed. However, he quickly dropped it and scrunched his face up in obvious perplexion. Ladybug sighed in exasperation and shook her head. Her partner was ridiculous sometimes. "I got it!" he yelled so loud that it nearly scared Ladybug off the side of the roof, not to mention all the pigeons roosting in the eaves. "I'll go as you and you can come as me!"

Ladybug shot him a skeptical look. "This had better not be your excuse to throw on a red and black spotted leotard."

"Ha ha ha." he said as he rolled his eyes, "Very funny Ladybug. Believe me when I say this but I have infinitely more style than that."

"Ya sure about that Mr. Leather and belt for tail?"

"You are so cruel sometimes. You know that?"

"And yet here you stand…"

Chat Noir snickered to himself and shrugged. Ladybug ignored him and went back to overlooking Paris. "So, um, what do you think?" Chat Noir said as the nervousness crept back into his voice.

"About what?"

"About the masquerade ball. You never said one way or another if you wanted to go and even after all that talking… Well, I just didn't want to assume."

Ladybug ducked her head to hide the little smile that flickered across her face. No reason to give Chat Noir any more reason to be flustered. She really did like him as a friend. They worked well as partners and some nights the only thing she looked forward to was hanging out with him. However, going to any sort of dance was bound to exacerbate his less than platonic feelings for her and that didn't seem very fair to him. He worked hard to keep his crush under wraps to make sure she didn't feel uncomfortable and she reciprocated by doing her best not to send mixed signals.

Then again, Chat Noir seemed to be working just as hard to convey to her that he only wanted to go as friends. Two pals hanging out, which friends did. On top of that Ladybug did have two tickets to the masquerade that she hadn't been planning on using after Adrien had told Chloe that he already had a date with someone. Why not use them with Chat Noir? "It could be fun." Tikki's normally dormant voice rippled through her head with a distinct note of wistfulness in it.

"Just as friends right?" she said for clarification.

Chat Noir nodded so enthusiastically that she was afraid his head was going to pop off his neck. "Just friends, I promise!" he told her.

"Alright, we can go together but… uh, don't buy a ticket. I've got an extra one that you can use."

"Wait! Really!" Chat Noir froze in shock. Poor guy probably hadn't honestly expected her to say yes. Or that she already had tickets. Ladybug just hoped that he didn't ask why she had two tickets already. She didn't want to have a conversation about Adrien tonight with Chat Noir. Thankfully, he didn't comment. "Magnifique! It will be fun, I promise."

"I'm sure it will be Chat." Ladybug laughed as Chat Noir practically bounced from his excitement. "I'll meet you at eight that night, in front of the museum. We can go in together then."

"Sounds like a plan my Lady!"