But pain quickly struck.

Wave after wave of it.

"I...I have to leave."

Marinette looked at Chat in concern. She could see his eyes filming over.

"Chat..."

But he had already left.

"Plagg, claws in." Plagg zoomed out of the ring, not even asking for Camembert. There were more pressing matters. Such as Adrien's wellbeing.

Yes, it's a miracle. Plagg thinking Adrien's wellbeing is more important than cheese. Don't get used to it. It's a one-time thing.

Adrien briskly walked to his (walk-in) wardrobe, Plagg hovering quietly by his side. He threw the doors open.

For any respectable fashionista, this place was heaven.

Rows upon rows upon rows of clothes. Long sleeves, jeans, suits, T-shirts, practically everything.

Adrien slowly walked up to the scarves. He took out the blue one, and carefully looked at its end.

A tiny golden loop-de-loop design.

Flip it over, and it says Marinette.

Adrien had always thought it was part of the design.

He knew the truth now.

Or maybe he always knew. He just didn't want to believe it.

Either way, it didn't change what happened.

He didn't know what to feel.

Anger at his father for pretending that the gift was from him? Sad that he hadn't even bothered to get a proper gift for him? Guilt that he had bragged about it in front of Marinette, and she hadn't said a thing?

Adrien settled for feeling overall terrible.

He flopped down onto the floor of his wardrobe, so emotionally exhausted that he couldn't even cry.

"Plagg...why is my life so..."

"Terrible?" Plagg aka Adrien's psychologist supplied.

"Yeah."

"Well, kid, one thing I know is that it's not your fault. Just blame the universe." Plagg aka Adrien's failing psychologist answered.

"But...my father had the audacity to pretend that this gift was from him! He didn't even acknowledge the fact that Marinette had made it!"

Plagg remained silent.

Adrien narrowed his eyes at Plagg.

"Plagg...what aren't you telling me?"

"Nothing!" Plagg said a bit too quickly.

"Plagg..."

"Mayybbbee yourfatherdoesn'tactuallygetyourgiftsandNathaliedoeswhichiswhyyou gotapenforthreeyearsinarowandNathaliepanickedcausesheforgotyourbirthdayandusedMarinette'sgiftinsstead..." Plagg said in a rush hoping Adrien wouldn't understand it.

Author: How'd you know that?

Plagg: I have my ways... *melts into shadows*

Author: Okkkaaayyyy......

Unfortunately for Plagg, Adrien was an expert at understanding things when people said it in a rush. He got it a lot when his mother passed away. (For the record, I have absolutely no idea whether Adrien's mom is dead or just disappeared, but for the purposes of this story, she's dead. It would be awesome if she was still alive though.)

"So my father doesn't even bother to get my gifts in the first place. That's worse than pretending Marinette's was his."

"Now you see why I didn't want to tell you?"

"I'm sorry, Plagg. You're a good friend, you know that?"

"I try kid, I try. But it's not easy, with your life."

The corner of Adrien's mouth turned up.

"No sugarcoating it?"

"There's no point. Nothing can hide the truth."

Adrien looked at Plagg, shock on his face.

"You know, Plagg, you're a lot smarter than I give you credit for."

"It's about time you appreciated my genius." Plagg sniffed. He even did the hair (or no hair?) flip.

Adrien smiled faintly. Plagg considered that a success.

"Well, oh wise one, what must I do?"

"Give her cheese."

Adrien groaned comically.

"But then Plagg, there would be no cheese left for you." Adrien shook his head sadly, pouting.

Plagg gasped.

"Don't give her cheese. Give her flowers, chocolates, a kiss, anything! Just don't give her the...cheese..."

Plagg stared at Adrien. Why was he blushing so hard? He hadn't said anything remotely embarrassing, had he?

Wait...

"Oooh, does my ickle Adrien have anowa crush?"

"Shut up, Plagg. This is serious. What do I do? She probably hates me now...that's why she can't speak to me..."

Plagg slapped Adrien on the cheek. More like poked, but Adrien got the message.

"Adrien, she told you herself! She doesn't hate you! The only reason why she didn't tell you was so you would be happy! If I didn't know any better, I'd say the girl has a crush on you."

"A crush?" Adrien looked at Plagg, a sarcastic look on his face. "Please. Marinette can barely talk to me."

"Exactly! She too nervous. And how do you explain the pictures in her room?"

"She's a fan!" Adrien defended Marinette. "It's only natural."

"Yes. Just as it is natural to have a hidden stash of Ladybug merchandise in your room."

"Plagg! We agreed to never talk about that! And anyway, the important thing isn't whether Marinette has a crush on me-"

"-though you really want her to-"

"it's how to apologise! Which we, wait, you, keep forgetting." Adrien continued, ignoring Plagg's interruption.

Plagg sighed. Again.

"Look, kid, it's up to you what you do about the knowledge you just gained. Do you confront your dad? Probably not, since you don't want to disturb him. Do you confront Nathalie? Also a no-go, cause Nathalie might tell your father, which brings us to my previous point. Do you go and apologise to Marinette at school? Well, that depends. She obviously seemed fine with you thinking the gift was from your father. But I know you, and I know you won't be able to live with yourself if you don't apologize. So...I think I know what you're going to do."

"Plagg, have you ever considered being a psychologist one day?"

"Many times. But then I think, who would look after you?"

Plagg wasn't even being sarcastic.

Adrien knew he meant it.

He brought Plagg up to his cheek for a hug.

"Thanks, Plagg." He said, smiling softly.

"You're welcome, kid." Plagg murmured.

Adrien lay in bed, guilt eating inside of him. He had hid it well. Not even Plagg had guessed how much this scarf business was affecting him. He couldn't believe that his father hadn't even bothered to give him a proper gift, instead asking Nathalie. He didn't really blame Nathalie. He was more angry at his father.

Plagg also hadn't guessed the true feelings he had for Marinette.

Adrien had always seen Marinette as a friend, even though he had been confused as to why she kept on avoiding him. Around others, she seemed like a sweet, enthusiastic, confident girl. Whenever she even got near him, however, she would either run away or stutter so badly Adrien wasn't sure she heard her right.

There had always been something about Marinette, though. Maybe it was how her laugh rang out across the classroom and always made him smile unconsciously whenever he heard it. Maybe it was how her bright blue eyes sparkled when she was excited. Either way, Adrien knew he was a goner. He had a crush on Marinette Dupain-Cheng.

Then there was Ladybug.

She barged into his life, and took up everything. She was everything. But Marinette was always there. Maybe not as forceful, as strong, but she was there. She was always there. And every time Ladybug rejected his advances, and everytime Marinette laughed, Ladybug took a little bit less of his heart, and Marinette took a little bit more. Until he was stuck, stuck in between two imperfectly perfect girls.

He tried, of course. Oh, how hard he tried. He tried to forget about Marinette. He avoided Marinette (which honestly wasn't that hard, considering she would run a mile when she saw him), he tried not to talk to Marinette, (which wasn't hard either, since she barely talked to him anyway) and he avoided anything...Marinette. His heart belonged to Ladybug, and Ladybug only. It wasn't fair to his lady. He couldn't be in love with two people.

It was no use.

Marinette was still there. In every thought, every action, Marinette and Ladybug were both there.

So he had lived with his feelings, acting upon neither one. He kept his appearances the same. He tried to talk to Marinette, he shamelessly flirted with Ladybug.

Until tonight.

Marinette...was truly amazing. She hadn't told Adrien about the fact that it was her birthday gift, just so he could be happy. She truly cared about his feelings. He hadn't met anyone who actually loved him for him.

Tonight, the scale tipped.

He was in love with Marinette.

A/N: Hmm...Maybe there should have been more action in that? This is getting kinda long, and I've realised that my plot probably won't be completed in the next chapter. Maybe I'll make this a separate book. I'll think about it.

I have no idea when I will update next.

I also have an idea for a Ladybug/Percy Jackson crossover. There aren't that many in Wattpad, and I want to try.

Next One-shot is mmmmmmaaaaaaayyyyybbbbbbeeeeee Ladrien. I have an idea. 

Bug out!