pant pant pant
"How... much... further?" Marinette asked, her breath coming in short, ragged gasps.

Marinette swiped the sweat beading on her forehead, glancing at Adrien. She awaited an answer she knew she wouldn't like.

Adrien chuckled softly, a sound that was both encouraging and slightly teasing. "We're almost there, Marinette. Just a little bit further. Remember, it's just around the next corner and down the hill."

Marinette groaned but couldn't help smiling back. "You said that two corners ago."

Adrien grinned, his green eyes sparkling with mischief. "I promise, this time it's true. You're doing great, by the way."

"Thanks, Adrien," she replied, her tone softening and cheeks reddening. "I just didn't expect this walk to be such a workout."

He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You're stronger than you think. And besides, the view at the end will be worth it." He gave her a strange wink.

They resumed their walk, Adrien occasionally glancing at Marinette to ensure she was keeping up. The sound of their footsteps echoed through the quiet street.

From her seat in the cafe, Lila watched them through the window, her hands clenched around her coffee cup. Her anger simmered just below the surface, hidden by the wide smile she plastered onto her lips. She was in the middle of regaling a group of admirers with an embellished story of her time with Prince Ali. "And then he said I was the most fascinating person he had ever met," she said, her voice dripping with false modesty.

One of her listeners leaned forward, eyes wide. "Wow, Lila! You must have so many amazing stories."

Lila's smile tightened. "Oh, you have no idea. Excuse me for a moment; I need to powder my nose." She stood up gracefully and made her way to the restroom, her movements controlled and precise.

Once inside, she quietly shut the door and locked it. She checked each stall meticulously, ensuring she was alone. When she was satisfied, she let out a scream, muffling it with her bag. She screamed until her throat stung and her anger subsided to a manageable level.

Breathing heavily, she pulled out her phone and dialed a familiar number. Her fingers trembled slightly as she held the phone to her ear.

"Hello, Mr. Agreste?" she said, her voice adopting a sickly sweet tone. "It's Lila. I have some information you might find very interesting..."

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"You lied," Marinette said in a raspy voice. Many corners had passed since Adrien's promised destination. "Where is this view I was promised?"

"Lied? Never! I am the view, Marinette. And admit it, you can't resist." Adrien, with an exaggerated notion, slicked back his sweaty, damp hair, simulating one of his many poses. "You know, people would pay good money to see me." He gave one of his signature smiles, Marinette could swear his teeth shined.

She blew a stray blue bang of hair out of her face. "Yeah, and I'm one of them." she murmured under ragged breaths.

"Hmmm?" Adrien asked, oblivious to her creepy confession.

"I said, I'd pay to hit you, right about now." She responded coldly, granting him a glare of playful annoyance.

He smirked at her response. Knowing; mostly hoping, she didn't really mean that. "As fun as that sounds, unfortunately I'm already selling my body for modeling.", he missed that sad look that flickered over Marinette's features. From across the road he eyed a street vendor selling bottled water, he motioned for Marinette to follow. "Come on, let's take a breather."

Adrien, much to Marinette's dismay, treated her to a chilled bottle of water. They took their time catching their breaths, neither of them very eager to continue on again. Instead opting to enjoy one another's company. Adrien hadn't realized until now how much time he missed, hanging out with Marinette. He recalled that, before recent events, over the last few years they had only interacted a few dozen times. Even though they both shared the same classes and close friends, he really felt like she was avoiding him. That much was the reason why Adrien believed Marinette disliked him.

Adrien cursed not only his busy schedule, but himself, for not trying to grow closer sooner. Had he tried harder, had he pushed the subject more, had he reached outside of his comfort zone... How close would they be today? Looking back at yesterday's events made him shutter. They hadn't talked about it, but they had almost shared a kiss.

Adrien was conflicted with his feelings. He had recognized Marinette's beauty long ago, he realized any man would be lucky to find themselves in a relationship with her. He was so blinded by his infatuation with Ladybug that he never even stopped to imagine himself to be that man. Looking at her now, he realized how foolish he had been. Had Ladybug not been in the picture, what kind of relationship would they have today? Should that stop him going forward?

"Ow", Marinette broke him from his thoughts. She was rubbing the base of her palm into her eye.
"Did you get something in your eye?" She nodded and continued to rub at her eye, eventually trying to blink whatever was there away but to no avail. "Here, let me look.

Carefully he cupped her cheek in his hand and guided her face to look up at him. As she opened her eyes to look at him, she winced but managed to fully open them. He moved his face close to his own, studying her right eye carefully looking for anything. "Oh, there it is.. Do you...?". She nodded slowly as he trailed off, her breath was hot as it dissipated against his neck.

His other hand was soft but firm on her jaw as he held her face still. Her eyes met his focused ones before his gaze flickered back to the task at hand. Slowly he brought his thumb up and brushed the stray eyelash from the corner of her eye. His touch lingered as he found himself locked in place. They locked eyes once again, looking for something. Their breath mingled as he spoke slowly. "Your eyes are the most beautifu—".

Before he could finish what he was saying, his ear twitched. The faint familiar sound of crashing could be heard in the distance, immediately drawing him out of whatever trance Marinette had him under. "Do you hear that?".

"I–I, don't think I can hear anything..." a dazed and dizzy Marinette responded. That was until the same sounds resonated inside her own head. The sounds of screams and chaos were all too familiar. "Is it... Getting closer?" As she completed her sentence the sounds of glass breaking was nearly upon them. Before she could manage anything Adrien had shoved her, landing on her butt in the alley behind her.

Milliseconds later a plume of smoke, dust and glass shards filled the street and a sickening blast rattled her skull. Her ears rang as she tried to stand, the dust was beginning to settle as it seemed to flow further down the street like a current.

"Adrien!!!" She called out to him, stepping into the dispersing smoke. She coughed hard as the dust coated her throat in lungs, but she pushed forward. She could just make out the shadow of a figure that was standing, and holding something. The ringing in her ears made trying to listen a difficult task. "A–ri-n, -uo ar- m- p-ize? I wa- t-ld so--one w-s try-ng to steal you fr-m me, I'm so glad that that doesn't seem to be the case."

The smoke cleared and a tall woman with feline ears in a yellow and black polka-dot suit resembling a cheetah appeared. In one hand she held a black baton, similar to ones used in a relay race. In the other was a familiar blond boy in athletic clothing. His exposed skin was covered in micro cuts and dust from the debris.

"Wow, my fans are getting more and more fur-ious by the day" the boy managed to choke out, the dust was getting to him as well.

Marinette watched in horror as Adrien was in the clutches of the Akuma. Luckily for her, the Akuma was preoccupied for the boy who was stalling it for time, allowing for the perfect opportunity to sneak away and tran—

"ADRIEN!"

Both Adrien and the Akuma's head turned towards the sound. Adrien's expression quickly morphed into one of horrid, as he panicked. He was hoping she could have gotten away.

"MARINETTE? GET AWAY!"

The Akuma, quickly realizing what this girl meant to Adrien, her features twisted, eyes narrowed into fine slits and her ears flattened against her head. It began to coil its body as it prepared to strike out at Marinette's defenseless form.

"Stay away from My prize! Women like you shouldn't even lay your eye's on him!"

Like a deer in headlights Marinette realized her mistake all too soon. She let her emotions take over and now she was in not position to save herself let alone Adrien. She froze as she stacked her brain on what to do. Before she could do anything the Akuma pounced.

The Akuma's form seemed to vanish from its place, leaving a vacuum in its place that the remaining dust rushed to fill. The Akuma was upon Marinette before she could even blink, the baton mere inches from its target. Time seemed to slow for Adrien as his body seemed to twist unnaturally, but the kick he had managed to release redirected the Akuma enough so that it's attack flew into the brick wall behind Marinette, dropping him momentarily in the process.

He rushed to his feet and ran to Marinette who hadn't processed everything yet. He dragged her into the alley and away from the dazed Akuma. They had managed to make it a ways away and the Akuma was having a hard time tracking for the moment. As they continued to push forward getting as much distance as possible, Adrien realized just how much pain he was in.

"GahH!" The leg Adrien used to land a hit on the Akuma completely gave up on him and a searing pain shot up and down his spine.

"Wh–What's wrong? Where are you hurt?" In a panic Marinette leaned him against a wall, she shifted his clothes, trying to see if he was bleeding anywhere, eventually she lifted his pant leg to see a massive purple and black swell beginning to form.

"Give it to me straight doc, is it bad?" He asked in pained gasps, trying to lighten the situation. Even though she is heavily panicked, she managed to chuckle softly. "It might be broken.. Its not the best view..."

He released a deep sigh. "Damn". How was he supposed to transform and help now with a bum leg? "I'm sorry Marinette, I won't be able to help."

"Adrien, don't you dare apologize. This is my fault, I panicked and because of that you...I'm so sorry." Tear began to stream down her face. Adrien watched and the pain from his leg couldn't compare to the pain of watching her cry. Like before he carefully cupped her face, swiping away her tears with his thumb, smearing the dust on her face in dark streaks. "Don't cry Marinette, I don't blame you, nor do I regret anything. I'll save you as many times as I need to. Besides, I looked cool didn't I?"

Marinette fell into his touch, absorbed by it, almost forgetting the situation entirely. She giggled softly at his words, thing back to the kick he managed to land square on the Akuma's jaw. She gave him a soft smile, leaning forward to rest the top of her head against his. She whispered "You looked pretty fucking cool".

It was then that she called upon her transformation. Using the theatrics to hide just how red her cheeks had become. Mindful of his leg, she scooped him up, honeymoon style, she was getting Deja-vu of the previous day. Adrien made another joke along the lines of a honey moon phase which for Marinette's sake she had to ignore lest she pass out. She found a safe place for him in an already evacuated store. Just as Marinette was about to leave Adrien called out to her, "Marinette, good luck out there, I know you can do it."

"You don't need to worry about me, Once Chat Noir arrives it'll wrap up quickly." Adrien flinched at the words, but couldn't think of anyway to correct her before she quickly vanished. The Tv set in the store had the news playing. The Akuma was running down every block and alley it could trying to locate him, had they not moved they would have been found just moments ago. On the screen, he watched as MultiMouse's figure zipped into the sky high above where the Akuma was, her shadow casting a magnificent shadow that loomed over the Akuma. 

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Authors Note, Word Count 2121 (oddly satisfying)

I want to say thank you again for everyone who has been reading and a Special thank you to those who have been Engaging in the comments, It really does make my day when I see you guys actively chatting and just overall just being invested in the story. I was having a hard time with this chapter as I just wasn't going the way I was expecting and it was just difficult to get a story that I was comfortable with releasing. 
Quick ranking update for the story, We were placed #10 for #Adrienette, which is BIG. Currently as of writing this the story is at #16, lets try to get back up there if possible.
The second part of this chapter really shouldn't take very long to release, as it is mostly just combat which i have a rough idea for how i want that to go already.
I also, even though i should, have not proof read this chapter at all, I'm lazy enough as it is. If there is anything super blatant i missed please just comment on it and ill get it fixed up. Hopefully it should be okay, I'm not writing this one on my phone's notepad, that's a first.
I think that's all i have to say right now, again thank you everyone for the support so far and pleas continue to do so by leaving a comment, a vote and if you are really enjoying the story a bookmark and even maybe a cheeky follow :) Gn everyone and see ya next chapter or in the comments!