Marinette climbed up to her balcony and put her hands on her hips. "Let's get this over with."

She folded up her lawn chair and also took down her fairy lights. She moved her table off to one corner and then stopped. "How am I going to get this stuff down?"

Marinette heard a dull thump behind her. "Get what down?" said a deep voice behind her.

Marinette turned. "Oh, hi Chat. I'm just doing some redecorating to my balcony."

Chat Noir tilted his head. "Need some help?"

"That'll be great. Can you, um, take that lawn chair down and bring the big net up?"

"Sure thing." Chat took the lawn chair into her room and his head popped up a few moments later with a net attached to some wooden rods. "Uh...What's this for?"

"Oh, it's a canopy. I made it myself."

"Im-purr-essive, Purr-incess."

"Thanks. Can you help me hang it up?"

"Of course. So, what made you want to redecorate?"

Marinette shrugged as she took one end of the canopy. "I don't know. I guess I just wanted to see something new. I've never really changed anything since I was a kid."

"That makes sense." Chat Noir took his end and tied it to a post. "This good?"

"Yep. What's going on in your life?"

Chat Noir tightened the knot. "Not much. Saving Paris, Missing assignments because I'm saving Paris, trying to think of ways to get Ladybug to like me, the usual."

Marinette frowned as she reached up to tie her end of the canopy to a different post. "Why do you like her so much?"

Chat Noir laughed. "Have you seen Ladybug? She's so amazing, and noble, and smart, and funny, and creative. She's always looking out for others before herself, and she always makes sure that Paris is safe from Hawkmoth. She is a true savior of Paris."

Marinette blushed under Chat's praise. "A-are you sure you just aren't putting her on a pedestal? I'm sure Ladybug has her faults, too. Didn't she lose a miraculous?"

"Yes, she's made mistakes, but she always makes sure to own up to them. She doesn't try to cover them up or brush them up. She acknowledges her faults and takes them with pride. C'mon, Marinette. You have to have someone that you love, too."

Marinette looked away and moved the table back to its original spot. "Sure..."

"Really? Who is it?"

Marinette blushed. "Adrien Agreste," she whispered.

"W-who?"

"A guy from my class," Marinette said, hoping that Chat wouldn't press her more for the name again.

"Did...did you, um, say Adrien Agreste? The model?" Marinette nodded. "Uh...that's just a celebrity crush, right?"

"No! I...I actually know him, and he's a great person. I love him just like you love Ladybug. He could never be a celebrity crush. When he first came to my school, I barely even recognized him."

Chat Noir arched an eyebrow. "R-really?"

"Yeah. He seemed familiar, but it wasn't 'til Alya pointed him out to me in a magazine."

"Are you ever going to confess?"

Marinette laughed. "I think he already knows. Every time I talk to him, I stutter and gape like a fish out of water. If he doesn't know, then he never will. I won't confess."

"What? Why not?"

"He's made it clear that we're just friends. And as much as I hate that, I'll respect it. I'm pretty sure he likes someone else, anyway. Besides, the first time I tried to confess to him, I forgot to sign the card. It's like the universe is telling me that we wouldn't work out." Marinette sighed. "Besides, he's a great friend, and I'd rather have that than nothing at all."

Chat Noir blushed. "I-I'm sure he wouldn't mind going on a date or two with you."

Marinette shook her head. "Nope. There's no way that I'll ask him out."

"I know Adrien. What if I told him for you?"

"Don't you dare, Kitty. What about Ladybug? What if you asked her out?"

"I've already tried. She keeps rejecting me. Hey," Chat Noir smiled. "Let's make a deal. If I ask Ladybug out, you'll have to ask Adrien out."

"No."

"Why?"

"Because he'll reject me and I'm not fond of the idea of crying in front of my crush."

"I'm more than certain that Ladybug will reject me but that's not going to stop me."

"Well I'm sorry, but I don't have your level of confidence."

"Sure you do! You have a lot of confidence. I've seen it many times before. You just have to channel that confidence towards Adrien."

Marinette glared at him. "Why are you so intent on me asking out Adrien?"

Chat Noir shrugged. He really didn't know. Knowing Marinette's feelings for him still didn't waver his love for Ladybug, but he really did want to know his friend more. Maybe they'll become better friends. He'd like that. Chat Noir really wanted Marinette to show Adrien the confidence, the wit, and the compassion that he knew she had. He wanted Marinette to be comfortable around him, he wanted to be best friends. And then, later...He didn't know what he wanted them to be later, but he was sure it was good. "I don't know," he said. "But you're gonna ask him out. C'mon, let's go inside. I'll help you plan your date."

"What about my balcony?"

Chat scoffed. "Like we did anything. We'll finish it later."

Marinette rolled her eyes. "Fine. But you don't have to ask Ladybug out."

Chat Noir smirked. "Princess, I was gonna ask her out anyways."