"Come on, Adrien, you need to have some chill out time. When was the last time you came down here and just played some games?"

The winter was finally kicking in around Paris and with Christmas only three and a bit weeks away the streets were lined with crazy shoppers and stressed out parents. Adrien kept his head down as he walked, keeping the harsh breeze and water droplets out of his eyes as he hid his face from passers by. It wasn't raining much, just a drizzle circulating through the air, just enough to get him reasonably damp.

Plagg looked up from Adrien's jacket pocket taking in the sight of his holder, Adrien was sporting his thick rimmed glasses and a Paris Saint-Germain beanie hat. Even though he'd pulled away from anything modelling related over the past two years, he was still recognised by numerous young adults who remembered his campaigns from his former heyday. After all, no one could forget the feeling of being radiant, carefree and dreamy.

Adrien let out a sigh and carried on walking, an umbrella tucked away into the bag bouncing against his hip which also held Plagg's arsenal of cheese. The kwami was right, with everything happening in the recent weeks and months he really had had little time to himself. After leaving his fathers company to work as a fencing coach, he'd been pushing nonstop to build up the clientele, and luckily for Adrien it had built up well.

Apparently knowing the Adrien Agreste had become a coach meant parents were more than enthusiastic to bring their little darlings to his class. He knew the pull was for him more than his skill, but at the end of the day each body through the door meant food on the table, and creamy Camembert in Plagg's mouth.

Adrien was smart and had invested all his money into stocks, property and his business. As much as he would love to sit back on his trust fund, he wanted to build stability for his future family. A family, which now, thanks to Tomoe Tsurugi, probably would never happen.

Another sigh left his mouth as he pushed open the door to the arcade. This week had changed everything. Tomoe wasn't happy about Kagami dating another of Adrien's best friends, Chloé Bourgeois. Kagami and Chloé had been dating for almost three years, and even though it was a seldom shared secret, they were happy, very happy, until Tomoe caught wind of her daughter's relationship.

As Kagami expressed to her mother the nature of her relationship with Chloé and the will to marry her, comments were made causing Kagami to call Adrien in a need of desperation.

So here they were, Adrien being Kagami and Chloe's cover story, giving up his own love life to support and help his friends. At the end of the day though, there was only one girl he wanted and it was never going to happen. His heartbroke as he thought of Ladybug, of his Lady, and the fact she still wasn't giving him a chance. Over the past few years it killed him to think that one day she'd turn up to patrol and reveal to him she'd fallen in love with another. With someone who wasn't him. He knew he could and would never be able to move on from her. There was just no one that attracted him that way, that enthralled him to a point of obsession.

"What are we doing first then, kid?"

Adrien stopped and looked around the room at the various games. Even though it had been months since he last crawled out of his house to come down here, Adrien still felt the buzz from his many years of visits. He loved gaming. It was one of his passions, regardless of how geeky that made him seem. Kagami and Chloé both despised it, and he had no idea how he was going to make it through the next forty, or fifty years of the girls dictating what he can play or watch.

After a perouse of the area, he found his victim. "Basketball." He announced.

Walking over to the token machine, Adrien inserted a twenty, collected his tokens and made his way over to the intended machine. He liked this one, it always spewed out a lot of prize tokens. Once Adrien had begun to play, Plagg zoomed away to find his chosen target. He knew she was here, he could feel her, he just needed to locate where exactly. Relying on his super hearing, he weaved through the crowd keeping low and out of sight. If anything he'd just look like a rat on the loose.

"I don't know Tikki, I can't see how this will inspire my next designs. What am I going to make a wearable control -" she stopped midspeech, and Plagg gazed up to see her eyes lock on something ... The plan is in motion. "Perhaps a little gaming will help, you know, as a stress relief and all that." She screeched, running towards the Ultimate Mecha Strike III machine as it's last player moved away. "I haven't played this in months."

Plagg smiled at the bugs' excited motions, watching her send Tikki to the token machine and then back to the arcade game. If he remembered correctly, Tikki said she was a legend at the game, but it just so happened his holder was too. After all, he wasn't top of the leaderboard for nothing.

Adrien picked up the last ball and aimed for the net. A complete clear shot, no rim and all net! He cheered to himself cupping his hands around his mouth.

"And the crowd goes wild," he began to make cheering sounds before grabbing the tokens out of the machine, fifty ... not bad. Plagg had been right, this is exactly what he needed, a slight nod to his former self. Folding the tickets and placing them in his pocket, he noticed a commotion coming from one of the arcade machines. The gathering and noise were already taking over the loud volumes of bleeping from Pac-Man machines, and children's chatter.

Wanting to see what the fuss was all about, Adrien headed in the direction of the crowd.Everyone from young children, to teens, to young adults were currently cheering on whoever was playing. Oo's and aw's were leaving their mouths as they concentrated on the battle in front of them, getting more and more hyped as it continued. People were reenacting the moves; bouncing on their knees and their heads moving side to side, up and down, before suddenly everyone came to a complete halt and cheers erupted. This was swiftly followed by a loud and unexpected 'boo yah'.

"Looks like someone might be stealing your Mecha strike crown, kid," Plagg commented, knowing full well who was currently playing this game. The plan was finally in motion.

Date One - It's a Knockout.

Adrien snorted.

"Yeah right," he began to push through the crowd, "no one knocks me from the top, you know my scores are insane."

Reaching the front of the crowd, the leaderboard was currently flashing on the screen. Low and behold, his top score from two months ago was now number two, the number one score currently flashing with the letters 'MDC'.

"Who's next then? Step forward if you think you can defeat me."

Adrien pulled his eyes away to meet the current Mecha champ and gasped. He would have placed money on one of two options.

Option one - a male around his age.

Or

Option two - a young gamer teen, around the age of thirteen.

How wrong was he? Adrien stood eating his thoughts as he watched a short, young woman in a black beanie hat bounce around chatting to those currently quizzing her about her skills. He couldn't tell too much about her hair due to it being covered by the hat and under her snood, but her eyes pulled him in and mesmerised him. They sparkled with the reflections of the arcade machine, and were the most wonderful blue he'd ever seen.

Who was this girl?

Standing slightly to one side Adrien continued to look her over. She had a clear sense of fashion and knew how to display it. Her dark red leather jacket was teamed with black skinny jeans, a black snood and red UGG style boots.

"What are you going to do, kid? Are you going to get your top spot back?" Plagg spoke in a low volume to his holder, edging him to take on Marinette; he needed Adrien to take the bait. "It's been a while since you played in vs mode hasn't it, it'd be good for you."

Adrien looked at the machine before gazing back at the girl, taking his bottom lip with his top teeth. She was radiant. The smile on her face easily caught on his own, and he couldn't remember the last time he found himself so caught up in the joy of others. His life seemed to be being lived forhim at the moment and seeing someone so carefree and fun loving made his heartbeat that little bit faster.

He went to step forward ready to take his top spot back when someone beat him to it.

"You're obviously just a button basher. Bring it on, little lady." A rather rotunned middle aged male stepped forward, towering over the young woman still standing in front of the machine.

He dwarfed her in size and Adrien felt a surge of protectiveness. He moved a little closer to where the woman was standing and kept an eye on the guy currently on the joypad next to her. If this guy tried anything he wouldn't think twice about going Chat Noir on him.

"Yeah, I am! So bring it on big guy ... unless you're scared and a teeny tiny little woman," Adrien watched as the woman teased and tormented the guy challenging her. She really had no fear, and he had to admit, it was quite hot.

"Never," the guy growled and Adrien felt himself unintentionally step towards him. Plagg made himself known, pressing firmly on Adrien's chest, holding the male back from making a big mistake. The last thing Plagg needed Adrien to do was cause a scene.

"I think she's got this, kit," he mumbled, loud enough for Adrien to hear. The blonde stepped back, hair on end as he watched the two in front of him. Now wasn't the time to be impulsive.

The woman started up the game again and selected her usual red and black mech, a small smile gracing her lips. She was dazzling to watch, the light from the game creating fight-like patterned starbursts in her eyes. She hardly moved as she launched her attacks, just quick taps of her fingers on the buttons and the tip of her tongue slipping out of the corner of her mouth in concentration.

Round one was close. She'd beaten him by just a mere few points. The larger man laughed and began throwing insults her way, however Adrien noticed the calmness of her physique and something pulled inside him. He'd seen this kind of reaction before. Cool, calm and collected, surveying the scene ready to set her next move into motion.

The next round began and this time the guy was winning, though if you asked Adrien he was quite sure she had done this for effect. Her fingers had slowed down on stroking the buttons and she barely focused on the screen looking around the area and, also, checking out her nails.

Adrien couldn't help the chuckle that came out of his mouth, she was playing this guy and recognising this made him feel as though he was in on the joke with her. Her eyes flitted to the audience as the red 'K.O.' filled the screen, faking a look of disappointed sadness. The guy she was battling shouted, hooted and hollered but she took no notice, instead catching Adrien's eye and winking.

"Sure you want to embarrass yourself with this last round? Nobody would think any less of you for walking away?" The man said, and Adrien was on tender hooks wondering what she was going to do next.

"I'll give it one last try," her nose wrinkled, and she shifted her neck side to side.

She shrugged off her leather jacket, placing it on the small table next to her and took to her position again. She was wearing a simple long sleeved red tee fitting and framing her delicate body and Adrien couldn't help but compare her to a perfectly formed doll. She was delicate and gorgeous.

The time from pressing the start key until the 'KO' sign flashed on the screen couldn't have been more than twenty five seconds, causing Adrien's jaw to drop, along with most of the crowd, and the big burly bloke. He was muttering some unchild friendly words as she input her initials onto the leaderboard 'MDC'. Adrien quickly took in a large breath. She was exquisite.

"You hustled me." He heard the guy say, stepping up towards MDC.

"I don't think so. You see, to hustle you we would have needed to place a bet, but we didn't. The only thing you've lost here is your dignity." She crossed her arms over her chest and held a sweet smile on her face. A sudden urge of pride flooded Adrien, even though this guy looked like he ate girls like her for dinner, she was standing tall and proud.

Whoever this girl was he wanted to know more, he was intrigued.

"My dignity? I don't know who you think you're talking to little girl, but I suggest you -"

"I think that's enough." Adrien had spoken before he realised. Stepping forward towards the mystery girl in his usual 'saviour to mankind' way, he looked towards the woman only to be met with a raised eyebrow. She did not look impressed. "There are children around, Sir, and I don't think the language you're using is what the parents would appreciate."

Many eyes were now trained on Adrien, expressions displayed hit a whole new range of emotions and Adrien felt himself gulp. Perhaps he should have stayed back in the crowd and kept away from this? After all, it had nothing to do with him.

"I've got this, thank you oh brave knight. I'm a damsel, I'm in distress, I can handle this. Have a nice day."

"Did you - did you just quote Hercules?" Adrien's eyes danced with amusement as he registered what she'd just said. She was a Disney fan ... this was just getting better and better by the minute. Where had this girl been all his life?

"Uh Ma'am, I'm afraid you may be too close to the situation to realize" her eyebrows raised as he continued their little charade, and he thought he might have seen a hint of something that looked a little like 'impressed' on her face.

"Sorry for breaking whatever this lovey dovey thing you've got going on here, but this damsel hustled me and -"

"No she didn't," Adrien said, at the same time as Marinette claimed her own innocence.

They both looked at each other, eyebrows scrunching before looking back at their opponent.

"You called me a button basher, you hustled yourself big man," the girl said, causing her unworthy opponent to turn a vibrant shade of red.

He went to step forward, but Adrien blocked the way, eyeing down the guy with whatever power he could muster up. This wasn't the same as when he was in his skin tight black armour, and he couldn't deny the edge of fear currently coursing through his veins..

"Whatever!" Finally, he gave up, turning around and leaving Adrien with the Mecha champ and the still gathered crowd.

"So, what about you?" She said, turning her baby blues on him.

"What about me?" He placed on his award winning smile, and gave her his full green eyed attention.

"Do you play? Or are you just all mouth?"

Adrien stood in shock. Who was this girl?

"I play, alright," he said waving his hand in front of his body, two people could play her little game. Heading towards the machine, he searched his pockets for tokens pulling out two and displaying them to her. "Best of three?"

"If you can handle it, Hercules."

"Oh, I'm sure I can Meg."

The crowds started to cheer as Adrien and Marinette chose their mech's and began battle.

"You're not bad at this," his worthy opponent said, as she kicked his mech.

"Well, you don't become number one on the leaderboard by being rubbish," he explained, firing back at her with a sucker punch.

Her mech stood still as Adrien completed the round with an almost perfect score. He turned his head wondering how the competition had suddenly gotten so easy, and there she was, frozen and staring at him.

"You're AAA?" she asked, her wonderful blue eyes opened wide and looking even more glorious under the flashing lights of the arcade machines.

"I am, but don't get me mixed up with the battery."

She let out a little laugh, shaking her head and turning back to the game.

"I should have known only one other could compete with my skills."

"And what intense skills they are," he agreed. "I tell you what, that last round doesn't count and we'll replay it, it's only fair as you were distracted."

"It's my fault for getting distracted, I should know better," she whispered the last bit and he only just caught it.

"Well then," he suggested, "shall we play on?"

It didn't take long for Adrien to have his ass served to him. Fried, baked, scrambled, sunny side up ... she had completely and utterly demolished him. This meant war.

She gave him a quick nod as they selected their Mech's for the third and final time to play the last round. Winner of this one took home the crown, and Adrien wanted to make sure it was him.

As much of a gentleman as he was, he wanted his high score back. Call him petty all you want, but he wanted to win. He was programmed to try and win.

READY ... SET ... PLAY!

The machine bellowed out it's introduction and the two began their match. The crowds around them had bulked up over the previous two, each person in awe at the mecha skills of the two battling it out for the title. The cheering ranged from those shouting 'MDC', to those shouting 'Triple A', it seemed not only had they become legendary with each other, they had also become legendary to those within the arcade community, even some of the staff had wandered over to watch.

"You can't keep pulling that move," Adrien said, grabbing her mech's leg and swinging it around before releasing it into the side of the screen. "It's becoming predictable, Princess."

"Princess? Are you trying to distract me with cutesy nicknames?"

"It depends," Adrien replied, his mech taking a beating and losing half of its life power, "is it working?"

A laugh sounded beside him as finally his mech was knocked out.

"What do you think?"

Adrien stood gobsmacked. He had not seen that last move coming. Their scores flashed on the screen, both obliterating those of the leaderboard.

"Woah," he exclaimed, watching as she input both of their names onto the screen.

"Great match, Triple A, we should do it again sometime." She smiled at him and he melted. It was bright, and sparkly and lovely, and just the most perfect sight he had ever seen.

"Yeah, sure."

She grabbed her coat and slung it over her shoulders as they both made their way through the crowds of congratulations, and pats on the back, to the entrance of the arcade.

Adrien pulled the door open and indicated for MCD to step through first.

"It was nice to finally meet you, I've been dying to for the past year." She pulled her hair out of her snood, making her way out into the cold Paris evening. He finally glimpsed the soft colouring of midnight hair.

"You too, I always wondered who it was kicking me from the top spot. You're a valiant opponent, MDC, I'm glad to have finally played you face-to-face."

She let out a small laugh, placing her hands into her pockets.

"Thank you very much." She went to step out and onto the path, and away from the covering of the arcade when Adrien grabbed her arm and pulled her back, causing her to fumble next to him. "What-?" she went to question, only to be met with a black umbrella.

"It's starting to rain harder," he explained, "please, take this."

"How will I give it back to you?" She chuckled but Adrien just shrugged.

"Maybe fate will make us cross paths again one day," he pulled his collar up and stepped onto the path, "it was great to meet you MDC." With one last smile he began to walk away, hearing the stuttering of a thank you and goodbye as he left.

"Witwoo, look at you Mr Lover Lover," Plagg stuck his head out of Adrien's jacket and dropped the young adult a quick wink.

"Whatever," Adrien exclaimed with an eye roll, unfortunately he couldn't stop the smile taking over his face. "I hope we meet again." He continued wistfully, before stopping abruptly. "I forgot to ask her name! Damn, I'm such an idiot!"

Plagg couldn't help but laugh, yes he is an idiot. But luckily for Adrien, Plagg knew full well they would meet again, and very soon to that point. He was planning on it.

The walk to Adrien's apartment was wet, and he couldn't wait to pull his hat and coat off. Entering his apartment, Adrien's phone began to ring. He removed his glasses mentally reminding him to clean the rain off and pulled his phone out of his pocket. Sighting the name caused his usual reaction; an eye roll and a sigh.

Nathalie Sancoeur

"Nathalie?"

"Adrien, hi. Your father has requested your help tomorrow at the fashion expo. One of his model's has dropped out and we can't find anyone at the last minute to replace them."

Plagg listened intently to the conversation, thanking the kwami's that they pulled it off. This was Tikki's side of the plan, and with a little help of Kalkki, Longg and Pollen, poor Derek would be having the runs for the next couple of days. He'd have to thank pigtails for the constipation medicine when he could finally meet her properly, it was amazing she had such powerful British stuff just lying around the house.

"I'm sure I can help out just this once, tell father I'll see him tomorrow." Adrien ended the call placing his phone in his back pocket.

He kicked off his shoes and made his way over to the fridge, taking out a bottle of beer and moving to slouch on the sofa. He let out a sigh. A mix between something dreamy and slightly longing, not the usual defeated and depressed sigh's he'd been emitting recently.

"She was quite something, eh?" Plagg grabbed a piece of camembert from the cupboard, and came to sit alongside Adrien.

"Yeah, she was," Adrien said, taking a swig from his beer bottle. His phone chimed, indicating a text message. Leaning to one side, he removed the phone from his pocket and looked at who it was contacting him this time.

Chloé
Are you free this week to go ring shopping?

As if a bucket of ice water had been poured over him, he was back to reality, back to being the helpful friend. But somewhere in the back of his mind he couldn't help wondering what it would have been like to have met MDC sooner.