fake dating? with some angst? now you're talking. I HAVENT SEEN ANY S5 EPISODES SO PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND BEFORE COMMENTING. Vote and comment if you've enjoyed!                                                                                                                        -Colorado

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Adrien watched as Ladybug laughed along with the reporter. Whatever she was saying, Ladybug had found it funny. Or maybe that was just her being polite. Adrien really couldn't tell the difference. The reporter nudged her in the side and nodded towards Adrien. She nodded, laughing along with it. Adrien smiled at the sight.

"What are you two talking about?" Adrien walked over to the two of them, his arm naturally coming around Ladybug.

"Oh, nothing." Ladybug and the reporter exchanged knowing glances.

"Fine then, don't tell me." He shrugged.

"I'll tell you later." Ladybug patted his chest.

"Well, I hope you two will enjoy your evening." The reporter nodded her head. "Thank you for answering my questions, Ladybug."

With that she walked away, going to the next celebrity she saw.

"What was she asking you about?"

"Oh, just the nature of our relationship." Ladybug smiled at him, reaching up to caress his cheek.

"Oh? The nature of our relationship, you say." Adrien wiggled his eyebrows at her, and she began to laugh.

"It's our first event as a public couple, do you really expect people to not be curious?" She gave him a wry grin.

"Yeah, okay, but did they really have to steal you away from me?" Adrien hung off her, like the good boyfriend he was.

"Well, unless you wanted to answer questions about how in love we are..." Ladybug gave him a knowing look, a playful smile on her face.

"Are you kidding? I am so in love with you, Love Bug." He picked up her hand and kissed it, winking at her.

"Oh I am sure. Since... when was it again?" She circled her arms around his neck.

"The second time I saw you. You made that big ol' speech and I had been watching it on television. And boom! I was in love with your beauty." Adrien declared, holding up one finger like a tired teacher. "How dare you not remember." His hands circled her waist.

"Oh I'm sorry that I don't remember every single detail in the story that we made up." Ladybug said, rolling her eyes.

"Still, how dare you, Ladybug. I thought we had something special." He sniffed, wiping away a fake tear.

"You are so dramatic." She scoffed, laughing to herself

"Your point?" Adrien grinned. "I'll have you know that my dramatics is one of my best qualities."

"Oh, I'm sure. How could I have possibly assumed otherwise?" Ladybug nodded her head, looking way too serious for the situation they were in.

"So, what did you tell the journalist about our epic love story?" Adrien asked her again, putting his arms back around her waist.

"She asked when I had fallen in love with you. I told her what we had agreed on. I've always had a celebrity crush on you, but after an akuma attack, my feelings began to grow. We saw each other occasionally and each and every time, my feelings grew. Until finally, I couldn't handle it anymore!" Ladybug put her hand on her forehead, dramatically swaying in his arms. Adrien snorted at her act. And she called him dramatic.

The two were at one of Gabriel's semi-annual galas. It was always nice to have a friendly face around during one of the galas. However, this time was different. About two weeks ago, Adrien had found Ladybug crying in an alleyway. He had been instantly concerned and had asked her what was wrong. Apparently, there had been several "fans" of hers who were sending her very alarming messages via social media. They all had wanted to date her, kiss her, or do things that Adrien didn't want to remember. He had been dealing with similar problems of his own, and so he had suggested a brilliant plan. Was it stupid? Yes, absolutely, but it worked! Adrien Agreste and Ladybug were off the market, happily in love with each other. Everything about their relationship was fake, but the public didn't need to know that.

It had been a dumb plan, especially due to recent developments. Adrien had always known Marinette was special and had always felt different towards her. It had only been a couple days prior to finding Ladybug that he realized why. He was in love with Marinette, and had most likely always had been. So, fake dating someone who you used to have a crush on might've not been the best idea. However, in Adrien's defense... no, he didn't have any defense. On the bright side, fake dating Ladybug has only reinforced his feelings more. Whenever they had to do something romantic, he just pictured Marinette's face instead. It felt a lot better than Ladybug. Was that an awful thing to say? Probably, but it wasn't like Ladybug wasn't doing the exact same thing.

After a bit of prodding, Chat Noir had found out that Ladybug was no longer pinning after mystery boy. Apparently there was someone else who had been in front of her all along, and she had never noticed. As she explained her emotions more, Chat had realized that was exactly how he felt about Marinette. In a weird way, it was Ladybug who had helped him get over her. He had excitedly told her the news that very same night. Ladybug had given him a small smile and turned quiet. He at first had feared that he had upset her, but he knew the real reason why she was acting off now. Those stupid "fans" who couldn't take no for an answer, she must have gotten messages from them while they were talking. He just wished Ladybug had told him about it sooner, he would've helped!

But, she didn't. Instead, she had cried in Adrien's arms, finally confessing her worries. So it was Adrien who was fake dating her. Things were surprisingly easier that way. If they were fake dating while he was Chat Noir, he would've always felt like he was subconsciously tricking her. He would've had to double check, no, triple check, that she knew that things were strictly platonic. When he was Adrien, they both knew it without saying. Everything between them was perfectly platonic.

"Do you wanna dance?" Ladybug asked, breaking Adrien out of his thoughts.

"Why sure, Love Bug." Adrien held out a hand. Ladybug giggled and took his hand.

He led her out to the crystal floor where other married couples pretended to like each other still. Even if they weren't actually dating, Adrien thought he and Ladybug were having the best time out of everyone. A slow orchestra piece came on, and Adrien straightened his back, beginning to waltz.

"I never realized you knew ballroom dancing." He commented as Ladybug swayed with him.

"I didn't, but then I got my first invite to one of these galas. I was too excited to say 'no' and promptly realized that learning to dance was probably essential."

Ladybug told him, looking a bit bashful.

"After all, the superhero of Paris, not knowing how to dance? How scandalous!" Adrien gasped, quietly. Even so, one of the company's stockholders sent him a harsh glare. Adrien danced away from him in return.

"I know, I might as well turn in my miraculous right now." Ladybug swooned. "After all, knowing how to dance is absolutely essential to taking down Hawkmoth."

"But of course! Any self respecting superhero would know how to waltz, and salsa, and tango." Adrien nodded his head solemnly.

"Well, duh. In fact, anyone who doesn't know how to ballroom dance is a menace to society." Ladybug nodded, sticking her tongue out at Adrien.

"Absolutely. Just look around you. These people are all definitely grade A citizens."

"Oh yeah, definitely."

The pair laughed, attempting to stay quiet.

Galas were so much better when Ladybug was around. She really was one of his best friends, as both Chat Noir and now as Adrien. That was something that he had forgotten about, after rejection after rejection. Above all, Ladybug and him were close. Adrien adored the friendship they had, the easy banter, the way things just seemed to disappear whenever she was around. He loved it all.

"You know, I wonder why Chat Noir never comes to one of these." Ladybug spoke up and Adrien felt the hairs on the back of his neck stick straight up. "I know that he gets the invites, too. He claims that he is always busy, but come on! It makes me wonder if he has a personal vendetta against galas or something." 

"W-who knows, honestly?" Adrien gulped.

"Still, it would be fun to come to one of these with him. Then you two could actually formally meet."

"Y-yeah. Have you talked with him since we went public?" Adrien asked, although he already knew the answer.

"Nah, but I'm not worried. He told me last time that he uh," Ladybug glanced down, biting her lip. "He no longer has feelings for me."

"Oh, well that should be a relief, right? I know you were never one to reciprocate his feelings." Adrien gave her a smile, but Ladybug seemed to only look more sad.

"Yeah, you would think that was the case, right? After all, I had never liked him before." She laughed bitterly.

Adrien felt his heart stop. Was she implying what he thought she was implying? No, there was no way! There was no possible way. Ladybug didn't like him. She couldn't, she could not. After all this time, there was no way for her to-.

"But I guess things have changed." She muttered, so quiet that Adrien could hardly hear her.

"W-what?" He choked on his own spit.

"You heard that?" Ladybug stiffened.

"Have your feelings towards Chat Noir...?" Adrien didn't dare finish the sentence.

Ladybug bit her lip, a blush coming to her face. He realized suddenly that during their entire time of fake dating, she only ever blushed when Chat Noir was mentioned. Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh-.

"Do you promise not to tell a soul? If word gets out, things will turn dangerous not only for him, me, but also you. I'm supposed to be dating you, after all, it would not be the best look if I suddenly gained feelings for another man."

"You like Chat Noir." The realization hit him like a stack of bricks. He paused the waltz, resulting in Ladybug running into him.

"Ow! Adrien, are you alright?" She quickly looked him over, but Adrien wasn't paying attention. The could barely register the pain of his stepped on feet.

Ladybug liked him, like, like-liked him. After all those years of pinning, praying, hoping, hurting, wishing, wisting, it was here. Ladybug had feelings for Chat Noir. And he? He should've been ecstatic! This was everything he had ever wanted! She liked him back!

Tears welled up in his eyes, but they weren't tears of happiness like he had always predicted.

Ladybug liked him, and he couldn't return her feelings. What a cruel joke. When had this started? Was it after they had started fake dating? Or... no, that would be too cruel. Was he the boy that she was talking about the night he realized his feelings for Marinette?

"Adrien, why are you crying? What's wrong?" Ladybug grabbed him by the arm and led him off of the dance floor. "Did I hurt you that badly?" She fretted, sitting him down at a nearby table.

"No, no."

'It's me who will hurt you, bugaboo.'

"I'm fine, LB." He wiped his tears away. "So, Chat Noir, huh?"

"W-what?"

"You like Chat Noir. You said that your feelings changed while we were dancing. And you didn't exactly deny it when I asked, so..." Adrien nervously played with his hands. Inwardly, he was screaming at himself for poking further. It was only going to hurt her more when she found out the truth.

"I, uh, well-." Ladybug looked around the ballroom, as if looking for somewhere to run. But one can't run from their feelings.

"Well...?" Adrien grabbed her hands, squeezing them softly. As if he was trying to give her some comfort before he broke her heart.

Was it even ethical for him to be doing this? She was confessing her feelings for him, but she didn't know it was him. If he was transformed, would her reaction be different? Probably. Which meant that Adrien really needed to stop prying. But you know how the famous saying goes.

Curiosity killed the cat.

"It's like, there's someone who's always there. Someone who you relied on and cared about, but you didn't think your feelings went deeper. Then all of a sudden, it's like they've been in front of you all along and you never knew. Then by the time you can do anything about it, it's too late and they've moved on. All because you couldn't realize your feelings before it actually happened." Ladybug balled her hands up into fists, not looking at Adrien.

"I get that." He said quietly. Maybe he couldn't reject her directly, but maybe he could soften the blow? Maybe knowing someone could relate would help her. "I'm in the same situation."

Ladybug's face snapped back up to his, her eyes widening.

"Oh? Do tell, I need to take my mind off of my love life for a little bit." She gave him a half-hearted grin.

"By listening to someone else with the same problems?" Despite himself, Adrien found himself smiling.

"Don't question it."

"Alright, alright." Adrien held his hands up in surrender.

"So, spill." Ladybug scooted forward, like he was about to tell her some grand adventure story.

"Well, there's this girl in my class. She's always been special to me and our relationship had always been a bit of a gray area. She uh, she couldn't speak to me all that well and it lead to a lot of miscommunication. We didn't get off to the best start so I just thought it was a side effect of that." Adrien laughed bitterly to himself. Everything seemed so much simpler back then.

"But I would see these glimpses of who she really was. She would stand up to the class bully and always make sure that people get help. She's very considerate, and so brave. I've seen her go head to head with akumas before, sometimes telling them off." A smile played over his lips as he thought of the new Marinette he had begun to see. He wasn't sure what had caused the shift, but he loved it nonetheless. 

"But recently, things have been changing between us. She no longer stutters and she's been able to joke around and have deep conversations with me. Suddenly, everything just seemed to make sense. The reason why she was so special wasn't because I thought she didn't like me and I wanted to be her friend. It's because I had feelings so much deeper than friendship for her. Yet, I didn't even realize." 

 Adrien looked back up at Ladybug, only to notice her face had gone pale. "Lady-?"

"What's her name?" Ladybug gripped Adrien's shoulders, interrupting him.

"W-what?"

"The girl that you like, Adrien, what's her name?" Her voice had something in it that scared him. It shook with fear as she breathed.

"M-Marinette Dupain-Cheng. I believe you know her..."

Ladybug fell back in her seat, a hand coming over her mouth. Adrien watched with horror as tears came to her eyes.

"I thought you might say that." Ladybug whispered.

"W-what's wrong with Marinette? You yourself have said how great she is."

"Y-yeah, she is pretty great, isn't she?" Ladybug laughed bitterly. "Of course you realize it now..." She muttered something that Adrien couldn't quite hear under his breath.

"What was that?"

"N-nothing!" Ladybug gave him a grin, gesticulating wildly. "I was just thinking about what a pair we make. Both pining after someone who has always been there, who we never saw until it was too late. I mean, Chat Noir literally told me he had gained feelings for someone else. He's allowed to feel what he feels, but why now? Why suddenly does everything I ever wanted come true, but now I want something else?" Ladybug put her hands in her face and screamed.

"Believe me, I feel the exact same way."

'More than you know, my lady.'

"Everything has just gotten so much more complicated." Ladybug whispered to herself.

"What do you mean?"

"A-Adrien, I don't think I can do this anymore." Ladybug gasped, looking up at him.

"Do what anymore?" Adrien felt his heart drop as he took in Ladybug's tears.

"This! I can't keep up this charade of pretending that we're together. We're not together, we never were, and never will be. I can't deal with this right now, I just can't." She shook her head, her voice growing more and more panicked with every word.

"B-but what about the reason that we started this?" Adrien felt the tears return. It was silly, really. He shouldn't be getting this upset about Ladybug going back on their agreement.

"I'll find another solution. But I can't do this, not anymore. I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry." Ladybug shook her head, swatting away his outstretched hand. 

"I don't understand, Ladybug. What changed?" Adrien hated how his voice cracked, how a heavy weight had settled in his stomach.

Ladybug gave him a look, filled with emotions that Adrien couldn't even begin to name.

"I-I," she let out a heartbroken sigh, "I can't tell you that, Adrien. I'm sorry."

"So that's it then, we're done?" Adrien bit back a sob when Ladybug nodded.

"I can't do this. Not with you. Not now. How could I have been so stupid?" Ladybug smacked her forehead, standing up from the table. "I'm sorry Adrien, I'm so, so, sorry."

"C-can we at least still be friends?" Adrien whispered, wanting to reach out to her, but he couldn't find the strength to.

What a silly question to ask. They had always been friends, that was all they ever had been.

"I... don't know." Ladybug looked away from him. "Goodbye, Adrien. I'm so sorry."

Ladybug fled, leaving Adrien all alone.

Adrien bit back a sob, but tears escaped before he could stop them. He shouldn't have been so upset. Everything between him and Ladybug had been fake. They had been nothing but friends the entire time. They both knew it would end as soon as it was safe. Their relationship was fake. Everything that they had done, everything they had said, it was all fake.

So why did it hurt like it was real? 

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You know, I thought this wasn't going to be angsty when I was writing this. Then things took a turn, but hey! I like it.                                                                                                 -Colorado