Adrien was done. He didn't want to do it anymore. He was legally free of his father, so why should he continue anyways?

"Dad, I don't WANT to model anymore- I want to go do things I've always wanted to do! I want to go into physics- it's not like I hate modeling for you- but you act like it's the only option I have open to me!" Adrien snapped in frustration, watching the cold eyes of his father narrow. "I've graduated. I want to start making choices for myself now."

There was a silence that followed until his father turned briskly on his heels, walking away and saying,

"I'll lighten your load of photo shoots, but you better show me how you're using your time before I let you go chasing some silly dream."

Adrien pursed his lips, wanting very badly to punch the wall as his fingers curled into a fist. He wanted to get out of this house. He wanted to leave.

But he had no idea what he'd do when he'd left.

Nino had left for an internship in Germany, and even though that wasn't far, it was enough distance that Adrien didn't know who to turn to anymore. Plagg would listen, but couldn't go out to the park with him to laugh and help him relax. He'd been desperate enough to ask Chloe on a date, just so he'd have a valid excuse to go do something.

He'd soon discovered that was a bad idea however, after she'd spent the whole dinner throwing herself at him with her batting eyelashes and twisted words of admiration.

The only time Adrien could breath was when he had an Akuma to fight with Ladybug, and that wasn't exactly a vacation from worry when you were trying to dodge weapons and dancing with death every day. Luckily, after all these years of fighting alongside her, they'd reached the point where they would meet up later after the battles, taking walks over rooftops just to talk about things,

He needed that badly. But it still wasn't enough.

He'd poured his heart out as much as he could to his Lady, who had only grown more breathtaking over the years. They'd both changed. But for him, she'd only become more important, his crush turning into an obsession that was over taking him to the point where he barely tried to get her attention anymore through flirting, because that strategy had never seemed to work. He only worshipped the time they spent together, that was all. He was drowning in his personal life and those moments were his breath of fresh air so he wouldn't be sucked underneath completely.

But he couldn't just meet up with Ladybug for lunch. He had to wait for some citizen to have a melt down so a monster would start causing havoc.

And besides, his heart was always sore after spending time with her. She still avoided his advances, even though he'd pulled back a lot. He supposed he should move on, but every time he saw her again his heart beat faster and he couldn't imagine him leaving his feelings behind. They'd both grown up. And she'd only become kinder, stronger, and even more beautiful.

So if he couldn't rely on Ladybug to be a friend for him whenever he needed one, he needed to find another.

"Plagg come on, I need to clear my head." Adrien said with a shaking voice as he closed his bedroom door behind him. No one was going to bug him for the rest of the night, and even if they did try to come into his room and he wasn't there, he didn't care at this point.

He just needed to get out.

Soon Chat Noir was slipping out of his window and running across rooftops.

He visited the park to see the fountains and watch the little birds beg for food, the bridges over the seine where he secretly glanced at the lovers kissing who seemed to have everything put together, Notre Dame where he studied the faces of gargoyles for the fiftieth time and imagined that he looked like one of them to the passerbys below him, and finally the Eiffel Tower where he laid on the iron bars and remembered the kiss on his cheek that Ladybug had given him there once.

He turned onto his stomach, smelling the old iron beneath his nose and giving a deep sigh. This would be better with her.

Adrien sat up and looked across Paris, wondering where he should explore next. Over the years he had grown accustomed to a special route, where the rooftops were fun to jump over, but now he wanted a new path to explore. His eyes locked onto an area he was not as common on his feet with and he soon found himself enjoying the thrill of misstepping and correcting himself over the new maze of buildings. He took a breather in front of the Dupain-Cheng bakery, looking up at the dark room that used to be Marinette's, feeling a little sad. He didn't know where Marinette had gone off to, but ever since they'd graduated he'd seen her less around town. She must have moved out…

Adrien pouted, pressing his face against his knees.

She'd become less nervous around him over the years, and he'd gone over to play video games with her a lot, but they'd never been very close. But he was so desperate for attention from a friend he was more than willing to find her at the moment. He finally stood up and jumped down to the street below, transforming as soon as he knew he was alone, and then walking right into the bakery.

"Hello… oh!" the Chinese woman said when she looked up and saw him. "Adrien! I haven't seen you in awhile!" He nodded with a smile. He was glad her mom remembered him, he liked their family a lot. They seemed to like him as well.

"Yeah! I uh…. I was wondering if Marinette was here or… where she is now… I'm trying to get in touch with my old friends." he said, realizing this was kind of a strange thing to ask. If she really had been his friend then he should have known where she'd disappeared to.

"Oh! Marinette moved out just a few months ago, but she comes over a lot. She's interning with your father's company I believe…" Marinette's mother said with a smile, and Adrien blushed, feeling a little embarrassed. He should have known stuff like that. That was important.

"Really?! That's amazing, I'm sure she's doing well. I only model for my dad, so I don't know much about what's going on with the company." he said with a shrug.

'You know, you should visit her, she doesn't live too far from here!" Mrs. Cheng said with a smile, moving behind the counter and filling a small bag with pastries. She handed it to him then, after scribbling an address down on a note.

"How about you go take these over to her for me. Her friend Alya's been traveling, so I'm sure she's a little lonely too." she said with a smile, handing him the bag.

That's right. Alya was going with Nino… dang it they're probably eloping or something cool like that while I get to deal with dad drama.

Adrien took the bag in his hands, looking down at the address with a smile.

"Okay, I'll go take them to her! Thanks Mrs. Cheng!"

"Thank you! You can eat some of those too by the way, just don't eat them all!" the woman laughed lightly, and Adrien grinned with a nod of his head.

Freaking finally…..

(#FeedAdrienAgreste2K16)

After one last goodbye he left the bakery, mumbling Marinette's address to himself as he ate a few cookies and croissants. The sun was about to disappear now, painting everything in fiery warm colors as he walked down the streets, his feet finding their place on the uneven cobblestone of the road that looked golden in the light.

It was a few minutes of walking before he reached the apartment building, smiling at the fabrics shop before him. Marinette must live in the apartment above it.

There was a little balcony above the shop, and he could see window boxes full of bright flowers. How sweet.

Adrien walked inside the shop, holding the little bag of pastries, and saw a middle aged woman putting away bolts of shimmery fabrics. He cleared his throat and she turned, her eyes widening when she saw him.

"Why- Adrien Agreste! What brings you here?!" the woman said with wide eyes, and he was once again reminded that his face was plastered all around Paris, and on the magazines of the fabric shop surrounding him.

"I'm trying to find Marinette Dupain-Cheng… she's my friend." he said, showing that his intentions were strictly non business related.

"Oh… Well yes, she lives here. Go up the stairs through that door, I believe she is home right now." the woman nodded, pointing behind him. He thanked her and then went through the door, walking up the old stairs till he reached the landing with another small door, a little plaque with Marinette's name written on it, some sweet flower stickers added onto it for decoration. There was another door down the hallway, that had another plaque on it, and he knew it had to be the shop keeper's apartment.
Adrien raised his fist, praying that the encounter would go smoothly and not as awkward as they usually did, and knocked on the door.

"Coming!" her voice rang inside the apartment and he heard socks on wood, running to open the door. He put on a smile and the door opened wide, revealing a messy haired Marinette, a pencil and sketchbook held to her chest. She nearly dropped them as her blue eyes widened at the sight of him and he quickly said brightly,

"Hey Marinette!"

"A- A- A-" she cleared her throat and then continued, "Adrien! Uh- I…"

"I came to see how you were doing… I heard you're working as an intern for my dad, that's so cool, congratulations!" Adrien explained, She gaped at him for a second, but then laughed in an almost panicked way and looked down at her toes with red cheeks.

"Th- Thanks Adrien, that means a lot! Would you… uh… like to come in- ah… oh my apartment is a mess…" she let him walk inside her small apartment, running to collect the fabric, scissors, pins and drawings lying scattered around as Adrien looked around her new home. It had brand new light pink polkadotted wallpaper, and that made him smile. It was so cute. Marinette was cute. Marinette was adorable.

He studied the layout from what he could see and decided it looked like a two person apartment, judging by all the doors.

"This is a cool apartment Marinette! You don't have a roommate?"

"N-No! It can fit two, there's an extra bedroom, but the shop owner downstairs said I should use it as a sewing room, which is what I'm doing!"

"That's smart, I bet you need lots of room." he said, watching her carry an armload of sewing things to her little table and set them on top. She laughed in a way that told him it was more than true, and she walked back over to him, smiling shyly.

"I brought you cookies from your mom by the way. She's the one that told me where you lived." he then said, pulling out the bag from behind her back and making her gasp a little.

"Thank you!" she cried, taking the bag and opening it to look inside. She grinned and took out two Macaroons, setting one in his palm. "It's weird not being around my parents all the time… It's kind of fun but… I miss them." Marinette said softly, her eyes thoughtful as she took a bite of her macaroon, and Adrien did as well.

"Yeah… that's great that you guys love each other so much…. also these are really good…" he nibbled the cookie, and she smiled at him while biting her lip, making a face that was so cute he wanted to just squish her cheeks- like- seriously- Marinette stop it- you're adorable.

"Well what are your plans for graduated life Adrien?' she asked, digging through the bag to look at the different kinds of cookies inside. He sighed, remembering the argument he'd had with his father not too long ago.

"I'm trying to figure stuff out right now… My dad wants me to keep modeling, but I've been looking into physics… I really like it. But yeah… it's kind of confusing." then he looked back up to see her blue eyes and he said with a smile,

"Nino left the country you know- I mean- of course you do, Alya went with him- but… yeah I miss him… So I decided I should stop being such a hermit and come see my other friend." She turned even redder and he smiled. "I guess I've just been kind of lonely lately." he said, with a shrug.

"Oh…" she said quietly, looking a little sad and thoughtful. "Oh- you mean- I'm your friend- and- i like- okay- frie- yeah." she then stuttered, looking back up at him in almost a panic. He smiled, uneasily. He was making her nervous. Great.

"Well… I won't bug you anymore…" he said kindly with a smile, backing away from the girl towards her door again.

"O-Okay! Thank you for coming! You can come visit any time you like!" she said, as least that's what he understood through all her stammering. Were they back to square one from when they'd first met? She'd started to actually talk to him during their last year of school….

Adrien swallowed, nodding with a smile as his heart sunk a little lower, grabbing the door behind him.

"Bye Marinette. I'm glad everything is going well for you." he said, and she murmured a thank you, blushing so much she could barely look at him.

Then he closed the door and sighed, leaning against it with folded arms. He wasn't going to give up on Marinette. If that meant coming to visit her more than he'd do it. Both of their best friends were gone after all, didn't that make each other their next best option? They used to hang out as a foursome all the time near the end of school….

He remembered another time when she hadn't been tongue tied around him. When he'd been Chat Noir. They'd met a few times over the years, and he'd watched her fangirl side disappear like it had never actually been there before, which to be honest disappointed him a little because it was kind of fun to have someone gush over him as Chat Noir….

But whenever he'd heard her talk about Chat it had always been with some kind of underlying admiration, complete trust, and pure appreciation. Ladybug was the one who usually got credit, which he didn't mind, but it felt nice to have someone support him as much as Marinette did.

Adrien smiled with determination as he started down her stairs, knowing exactly what he was going to do next. He was going to have an actual conversation with Marinette. One that wasn't filled with stammering, because for one reason or another she just couldn't handle being around Adrien.

He'd get some friend time one way or another.

—–

Adrien leapt over buildings, doing a quick run around before immediately going to visit Marinette, because he figured it may be a little suspicious for Chat Noir to show up immediately after Adrien did. It was dark now, and the stars were coming out, and Adrien breathed the night air in deep, enjoying himself. it was his favorite time to go out, because he really did feel like a cat then, running around without anyone seeing you in the dark…

When he reached her rooftop again he was going to hop down onto her balcony and make up a story on the spot, but he heard her talking before he did it.

"I ruined everything Alya! My hair was messy - my apartment was messy- I think I had dark circles under my eyes from staying up late last night, and I stammered like I used to all the time!"

"Marinette, if you mean what you look like now, don't worry, you look super cute, even with your messy hair. But the stammering? You've come so far Marinette, come on, I believe in you! And it probably wasn't as bad as you think it was." Alya's voice responded, probably through a skype call, and Marinette groaned,

"No, it really was."

Adrien, knowing she was talking about him visiting, nodded, agreeing with Marinette. Her stammering really had been noticeable. It was endearing and disheartening at the same time.

He probably shouldn't be listening to their conversation anyways…. He guiltily began to retreat when Marinette said something that made him almost fall off the roof.

"Dang it Alya, I almost told him I liked him when we graduated, do you remember how upset I was after the ceremony ended? I didn't think I'd ever get another chance to tell him…"

"Yeah… I remember."

"Well now he comes to my apartment, lonely and actually wants to talk to me, and all I can do is stutter. I feel awful."

Adrien laid back on the rooftop, his eyes wide as he looked up at the stars above him, his heart fluttering a little inside him.

Marinette liked him. Oh.

He was an idiot.

This whole time he thought he scared her or something like that. But of course it was a crush, or course it was…. He thought back to all their interactions through high school, wallowing in guilt.Oh he really was an idiot.

"Well if he comes over again just breath okay? Do something fun with him. Do you remember when we played board games together and you were on his team and you were talking to him like you'd known him forever? You need to spend time doing that kind of stuff with him. If he's lonely and wants a friend I think he'd really appreciate it Marinette."

"Yeah… you're right, I'll have to do that. Thanks Alya."

"You're welcome. Hey! Guess where Nino and I visited today?"

"Does it matter? Did you pay more attention to the scenery or to each other?" Marinette laughed and Adrien dwelled on his thoughts for a few minutes, their conversation background noise now. He only listened with full attention again when he heard Nino's voice, and his heart ached, wishing he could be in there with Marinette, talking with all of them like the foursome they'd been in high school.

He hated being graduated.

He listened to his friends talk and laugh, not feeling too bad about eavesdropping because the conversation had turned to Nino and Alya's trip. It sounded like fun, and it also sounded as if his two friends had become incredibly close.

Maybe they are eloping.

Adrien rolled his eyes, smiling. No. Marinette would probably kill Alya for not inviting her to her wedding.

Adrien's heart jumped a little when he heard her saying goodbye and he realized that if he was still going to talk to her as Chat Noir he had to do it with the new found knowledge that she had a crush on him. He gulped, his face burning as he buried his face into his hands, moaning a little bit. He didn't know what to do. He'd always liked marinette. She was kind, intelligent, beautiful, and stood up for anyone who needed help. It had been so easy to flirt with her as Chat Noir, just because there was some part of him underneath his skin that admired her, made him want to be around her, made him want to talk to her…

But at the same time there was Ladybug. The person who gave him confidence in himself, someone he trusted without any doubts, the one who made him feel safe when his world as Adrien felt like it was crumbling down.

She'd always be there. And she'd always be his best friend. He couldn't get her out of his head, she meant far too much to him to do that.

And yet sweet Marinette had a crush on the part of himself that always felt like it had to be perfect. And he knew that she'd seen him when he hadn't been so perfect either. That made him feel a kind of burning warmth inside of his stomach, and he almost felt like giggling. What the heck was wrong with him…

Adrien waited for a few minutes after she had said goodbye, and swore he could hear her talking quietly to someone else, but it must have just been to herself. Then he stood up and hopped onto a nearby roof and then back to her own, reaaaally not wanting her to know he'd been listening to her conversation…

"What pretty flowers…" he said aloud, his own voice startling him in the open and quiet night, and he heard Marinette go silent inside. He hooked his feet onto the roof and let himself swing down so that he was right over her balcony, his nose almost touching the flowers as he inspected them in the light from her apartment.

"Chat Noir, what are you doing here?!" he heard her snap and he felt a smirk break across his face, feeling a thrill of excitement go through him to hear her voice. He looked upside down to Marinette, who was marching towards him and he cried,

"Oh!" Then he tipped himself onto her balcony, his feet landing on the ground, and he straightened himself out. He took her hand in his own and pressed his lips against it, hoping she didn't notice he was shaking a little and his face was turning red. Thank goodness he was wearing gloves so she couldn't feel how clammy his hands felt.

"Hello Princess, it's been a long time since I've seen you." he said as he let go of her hand, letting go of it and looking back up at her. Her cheeks were a little pink but she still remained sassy, folding her arms and saying with a smirk to match his own,

"It has been, hasn't it kitty? Or I forgot, you were my Knight weren't you?"

His stomach twisted, feeling himself beginning to lose his cool as he looked at her in all her true Marinette-ness and remembered AGAIN that she had a crush on him.

"O-Of course! I'm flattered you remember…"

"Why wouldn't I?" she laughed, smiling at him.

"Hmm…Well… sorry to drop by…I didn't know this was your apartment. I thought you lived at that nice bakery." he said, trying to sound innocent.

"I moved out. Graduated and stuff… you know."

"Oh… that's cool. I haven't moved out yet. But I want to…" he sighed, leaning against her balcony and folding his arms.

"Really? That doesn't sound good… Are you doing alright?" she asked him, putting a hand on his shoulder, and making him feel electricity zip through him. It was just like when Ladybug did it.

"…yeah. I'll be okay." he breathed, and she smiled a little.

"Do you… wanna come inside and hang out? I've got some cookies I probably won't finish on my own." she asked, motioning towards her glowing apartment. Adrien broke into a beaming smile.

"I would love to, you sure seem more friendly than usual Princess!" he teased, following her inside and avoiding a couch pillow thrown in his general direction.

"Oh be quiet… I'm just a little lonely is all. Do you like macaroons?"

"I love them!"

"Oh good!"

He sat down at the table with her, careful not to mess up any of her sewing supplies as he rested ontop of it. She fished out a few cookies from bag, picking out a couple green ones before smiling and handing them to him.

"Thanks." he took them, and bit into one with a smile. "Super good!" he added through the cookie, and she smiled back at him.

"So where is Ladybug, hmm?" she asked him as she started pulling at her pigtails that were falling out.

"Probably having a nice night, I don't know. I don't actually know who she is…. and I was just getting a breath of fresh air by the way. There's no monster on the loose or anything like that." he sighed, tapping his clawed fingers onto the table methodically. She nodded silently, tugging out her hair ties and running her fingers through her hair. He looked up at her from on the table, and smiled.

"Well your hair sure looks beautiful."

"Thanks Chat… It's actually really messy."

He shrugged and continued to watch her as he ate Macaroons, taking in this girl who liked him. She liked him. He couldn't get over it.

Marinette reached across the table to grab a stray comb and began brushing through her hair saying,

"My hair has been getting longer lately… I've been thinking of cutting it again."

"You and Ladybug… I don't want her to cut it. Every time I see it in the wind I want to bat at it." he laughed, and she rolled her eyes.

"You would, you cat. Maybe she should cut her hair then."

"No way! It's too pretty. I mean, if it's anything like your own… Which… it really is." Adrien noted aloud, and she coughed uncomfortably, turning red.

"You do look like her. I think. I don't know… It's too hard to tell with your hair down, you look like a different person almost." he sighed, looking away from the girl who was twisting her hair between her fingers without saying anything.

Marinette as Ladybug. He didn't see why not.

But then again, he was so obsessed with the superhero, he stared at every girl with black hair and blue eyes and tried to convince himself they looked like Ladybug. He'd done it so much he'd made himself realize he was forcing what he imagined onto their faces.

He didn't want to do it to her too. But she really did look like her…

Adrien told himself no and sat up, holding out his hand for the brush she had in hand.

"Can I brush your hair? I've never done that before…"

She looked confused for a second and then laughed saying,

"You've never brushed your hair before? It sure does look like that's the case!" He rolled his eyes and pushed his hand forward more saying,

"I mean I've never brushed someone else's hair. Especially a girl's with longer hair."

"Okay…" she said, smiling as she handed him the brush. She turned around in her chair and he ran her comb through, finding that there was something soothing about the motion even to him. Her hair was so silky the comb passed right through it. He scooted closer and got to work, running through every section evenly and smiling. Then he finished and asked,

"Am I supposed to stop now? If I finished brushing it all?" She didn't respond for a minute, and her shoulders relaxed, breathing calmly as she shook her head the smallest bit.

"No, it feels nice. You can stop when you want to."

He smiled.

"You might have just adopted a stray cat then."