WELL 'LUKA' THAT!

Ladies and gentleman, another one of France's most eligible bachelors seems to have been taken off the market.

Luka Couffaine, son of rock legend Jagged Stone, has been pictured multiple times out and about with Broadway star Zoé Lee.

Lee is currently starring as 'Glinda' in the touring musical 'Wicked' which is travelling to many of the same European countries as Couffaine's latest tour. We have been informed that the hotshot singer has been a regular guest at many of the performances which were starring Lee, herself.

Lee and Couffaine are old friends from back in their teenage days, however 'Mode Mania' reporter Alya Césaire stated that '[Luka and Zoé] lost contact when Zoé returned to New York in their last year of lycée.'

It seems however the relationship between the two is finally back on track and Luka has been treating the pretty blonde to nights out on the town, and a selection of flowers delivered to her dressing room at the beginning of each run.

Clara Nightingale, currently playing the role of Elphaba alongside Lee, has posted on her Twitter account fawning over the singer's pursuit of the American born actress.

As many know Lee is step-sister to Chloé Bourgeois, and we can't help but wonder what the blonde glamour girl thinks of her sister's new relationship, however we're happy to see Luka has moved on to greener pastures, and healing from his broken heart.

In other news, Lila Rossi has been accepted for a retrial which is due to start at the end of the month.

Ladybug and Chat Noir have remained silent so far about this change of events, however Rossi has guaranteed '[Ladybug and Chat Noir] will have what's coming for them. They're not the heroes Paris has always believed they are, terrorising the young and helpless and taking the law into their own hands.'

Remember to keep updated by following 'Mode Mania' on Twitter and Instagram.

•••••

Marinette couldn't believe she was actually leaving the house looking like this!

When Kim had deviated their characters for the evening this was not what Marinette had in mind. Yes, she thought the idea of them being the T-Birds and Pink Ladies was a good idea, yes, she was excited, but no she never expected her chaotic friend to decide she should dress as no other than Sandra Dee. Not just any Sandra Dee, no! Apparently Marinette was no longer seen as sweet and innocent and was clad in tight lycra leggings, and a crop top which was barely there. Oh, and not forgetting the five inch heel red pumps.

As she turned backwards and forwards in the mirror she couldn't help but think Kim was a bit of a pervert. Out of all her friends Marinette was one of the only ones to maintain her youthful figure, not saying that the others had changed massively, but they were getting older and bodies were altering. Myléne had even grown a child! She should have seen it coming, her ass was still the butt of many jokes amongst there friends, including one drunken party where she had been dared to crack a walnut with her ass cheeks. Unfortunately she had accepted the challenge in her abbreviated state, but fortunately, every cloud has a silver lining, she had actually managed to succeed. The video was posted somewhere on YouTube, and she was quite sure the hit count was pretty impressive and someone was making a hefty income.

Her hair had been curled and hairsprayed to hell, holding it up in the style of Olivia Newton-John, however much to her friends disappointment, there wasn't a chance she was going to dye her hair blonde. She loved her hair colour, and due to its darkness a spray just wouldn't work.

A knock sounded at her door. She headed over curious realising that she hadn't buzzed anyone in. She didn't exactly talk much to her neighbours so it just wouldn't make sense for one of them to come knocking, not unless a kwami had escaped and they thought they'd seen a mouse ... again. Mullo was still paying for his squeaky adventure down the hallway, though truth be told she thought Plagg was the one who'd set the challenge. It just so happened he had been around that evening, and it just so happened Marinette walked in on the kwami's playing truth or dare.

Looking through the eye hole, her heart kicked up a notch only to calm once she saw Alya on the other side of the door, hair dyed pink and a flowering headband perched on top.

"Girl, you've gotta let me in, your freaky neighbour is staring at me."

Suppressing a laugh, Marinette pulled the door open and let Alya in, closing it quickly behind her and turning the lock. Adrien's words suddenly played in her mind.

'How secure is this apartment block? I managed to get in here with a quick smile and a wink.'

"Alya, how did you get into the building?" She asked.

"Someone was getting their mail and saw me walk to the door. Why?"

Her eyebrows creased as she thought from Adrien's worries, to the day of Kim's wedding when Dominic had entered without warning. Was this building actually as secure as she thought? A wave of panic washed over her as she thought of leaving the Miracle Box for a couple of weeks whilst in Argentina. She had to make sure it was safe, but it seemed safe was not in this apartment.

"You okay, Marinette?"

She blinked, realising she'd been staring aimlessly into the distance. "Yeah, yeah, I'm good! Just thinking ..."

"About a certain blonde?" Alya wiggled her eyebrows causing Marinette to roll her eyes.

"We're not 14 anymore, Alya."

"No, we're not, but you're both smoking hot, and the tension from the two of you is sizzling."

"He's married, Alya."

Marinette made her way over to grab her clutch bag from her side table, commencing to check her lipstick in the mirror one last time, and sling her leather jacket over her arms and up onto her body. Alya came up behind her, leaning forward and shaking her larger than average boobs back into the top of her strapless dress, exactly as Adrien should have done with his 'cahonas'. She stifled a laugh, not wanting to bring that memory up with Alya, it kept her awake enough at night as it is.

"I think sometimes you forget I know about good old Viv and her dodgy plans."

"Even if Vivica is a bitch to the highest order, Adrien is still married to her at the moment."

"And when he's divorced?"

Marinette turned to look at Alya, silence hanging over the two of them before she spoke. "Ask me again then." Shrugging, she headed towards the door with Alya on her tail and exited the apartment soon after her.

"You can't just leave it at that Marinette, I need more."

"You're not getting more," the raven haired girl announced, dropping Alya a quick wink. "Do you think this apartment block is safe?" Marinette asked, leading Alya down the staircase and out onto the street.

"I think it has good security, yes."

"I just wonder because I've had three people reach my door without me buzzing them in. Adrien mentioned that 'a smile and a wink' got him in and I'm not going to lie, that's quite worrying."

Marinette could tell Alya was thinking, which gave her additional time to think too. "Perhaps you could talk to the door man?" She questioned, but the answer didn't placate Marinette. She smiled and nodded at her friend, agreeing to speak to her landlord, but the seed had been planted now. A seed that, thanks to her own catastrophizing, would morph into a fully blown tree. She needed to consider a change in apartment, and she needed to consider it soon.

Easy chatter passed between the two old friends as they made their way to their old collége, the memories hitting them full front and centre as they bounded up the steps and into the courtyard of where their dreams began.

Marinette grabbed Alya's hand, passing support through to her friend. Nino would obviously be here tonight and she wasn't going to let that fucker get near her friend. She'd fight him if she had too.

Standing on the landing overlooking the courtyard, the girls scanned the scene looking from Jack and Rose from Titanic, to Elsa, Jack Sparrow and Beetlejuice ... finally landing their eyes on the 'T-Birds' and 'Pink Ladies'. Checking over the group, Marinette could see neither of their boys were there yet, so taking Alya's hand she wove them through the crowd and to their 'super' selection of friends.

"Hey girls," Juleka, aka Rizzo, turned to look at them, her arm firmly around the waist of 'innocent' Sandy aka Rose. They looked amazing and the girls took no time in dropping cheek kisses all around. Alix, aka Marty, strutted forward towards the girls, in character and, obviously, a little drunk already. Jan, aka Myléne, followed shortly after, a lot more sober than Alix, and with her husband in tow.

The girls and the guys looked amazing. Each of them going above and beyond with their costumes. The guys all slicking back their hair into the perfect quiff, and the girls faking their perms to their hearts content. Even Chloé and Sabrina had made an effort, coming as 'Cha Cha' and Patty Simcox.

"Beauty school dropout, no graduation day for you, beauty school dropout ... Missed your mid-terms and flunked shampoo." Marc made his way over with Nathaniel, singing to Alya as he grabbed her hand and spun her in a circle. It seemed the gang hadn't held back on the booze since arriving, a fragrance in the air which smelt like the loss of control.

"You're not even in our class," Alya laughed, moving forward to embrace both boys in a hug.

"I know, but I wanted to be included." He laughed, Nathaniel moving to greet Marinette in a la bise.

"So let's see. Marc, you're Teen Angel, Nathanial?"

"Vince Fontaine at your service, Sandy." He bowed, inciting a giggle from Marinette.

"And the rest of you?" The gang each went round who was whom.

Ivan had come as Putzie, Kim slicked his hair back and winked, naming himself as Kenickie, Max was Sonny, which left Doody and Danny. Marinette felt her heartbeat race, could Kim actually be so devious as to put Adrien and Marinette as a couple?

"Sandy?" The voice behind her kick dropped her in the stomach, and for the first time since Prague Marinette turned to come face to face with Adrien. He was wearing a black vest top, jeans and shoes, with his white socks on show and sporting a white varsity cardigan - the exact replica of the one from the film.

Lifting her chin, Marinette kept herself in character. "Tell me about it, stud." She said, her voice taken on a raspy, sexual tone.

The gang cheered and whooped as Marinette moved closer to Adrien, embracing him in a hug and pressing herself into his body. She was suddenly ultra aware of him; his scent, his stare and his tight muscles protruding out of his tight black vest.

"Yup," Adrien announced as Marinette moved away. "I've definitely got chills and they're multiplying."

They all laughed, Marinette shoving him playfully in the chest, before breaking off into multiple conversations as they caught up for the first time since Kim's wedding. She noticed Adrien lingered around her, brushing his hand against hers at any opportunity, or skimming a hand over her back. She hated the way his simple touch could make her react, and she was quite sure if they were in a private room she'd be finding it hard to not jump him. Alya was totally right, her crush was back, and unfortunately greater than before.

"Fancy a dance?" His hoarse voice whispered in her ear. He placed his palm to the lower of her back and walked her to the dance floor. She looked over her shoulder to check on Alya, only to notice Nino making his way to her friend. "They'll be okay," Adrien whispered, wrapping his arms around her waist, allowing hers to circle his neck. "They just need to talk, exactly like we do."

"Not now, Adrien. Let's just enjoy the evening." Silence crept over them as he held her close to his body, resting his chin on her head.

The weight of him on her was welcome though all it was doing was heating her up more. She wanted him, and it was time to seriously consider what their relationship was going to be like moving forward. Chat Noir was right, she owed it to herself to see what this could actually become.

Moving her head away from Adrien's chest, she looked up into his slightly glazed green eyes. There would always be something there and until it was confronted she would never properly move on.

"Adrien, can we -" The buzz in his pocket interrupted them both. Adrien apologetically pulled away to check the caller ID.

Félix

"I need to take this." Adrien said, his eyes showing the same regret as she felt.

"Sure," she attempted to smile, watching as Adrien retreated from her and made his way up the stairs to outside. Before he completely disappeared he turned back one last time and gave her a sad smile.

God, she hated his cousin almost as much as she hated his wife.

•••••

"What do you mean? She's not there? I thought we agreed you'd pick her up?"

Adrien was pacing, hand to neck and phone to ear. Félix's call had taken him off guard. They'd planned this and even though Félix had his doubts about it working, when Adrien had spoken to Vivica that afternoon she had agreed to everything.

"She's not here, Adrien."

"Are you sure you're at the right house?"

"I'm not incompetent you ass, I know what the address."

Adrien sighed. If Vivica wasn't there then where the fuck was she? He looked back into the collège courtyard, eyes darting for the woman he wanted to see. He trailed his eyes of the sea of costumes, finally arriving to rest on the 'T-Birds' and 'Pink Ladies'. His eyes searched for the one all in black, her beauty shining brighter than a diamond in the rough from where she stood. Her red lips parted as she laughed at something Kim had said. She was stunning.

"Have you spoken to any of the staff?"

"Yeah. Apparently she left earlier today and hasn't been back since."

"Shit!"

Silence passed between the two cousins as Adrien attempted to think of the next plan.

"Did anyone know where she was going?" He asked.

"One mentioned a spa, the other said she was going to meet you for a scan."

"Go ahead to the gala and make up some excuse for me. I'll call her."

Ending the call to Félix he pulled up his soon to be ex wife's number and signalled the call. It rang out and out, finally directing him to her voicemail. He tried again to no avail, finally giving up after the third attempt, growling and placing the phone back in his pocket.

"Trying to contact someone?" The voice was like a poke of a hot iron rod in the eye, and he spun around coming face to face with not only Vivica, but a shit load of papazzari. He stalked over to her and grabbed her arm.

"What the fuck have you done?"

"We need to show solidity, Adrien. Remember I'm pregnant." She whispered in his ear, the shiver ran deep down into his soul. This was not how tonight was meant to go.

He held out his arm, turning his head away from Vivica as she interlocked herself into him. He wanted to inform Marinette but it was too late. The thought was too slow for him to act on, as he had used all his brain power to calm down his growing anger. Marinette was going to see his wife withhim, after everything he'd said, after all the development they'd made, he was about to be back to square one.

Taking a deep breath he prepared himself to take a colossal step in the wrong direction.

•••••

Marinette looked up at the steps just as Adrien reappeared but he wasn't alone. On his arm was Jessica fucking Rabbit. She'd never hated Vivica Agreste more than at this moment and from the look on Alya's face she was making it obvious.

Adrien proceeded down the steps, a smile plastered on his lips, as his 'pregnant' wife held onto him, smiling and waving as she effortlessly moved in her six inch heels, the slit on the leg of her dress moving in a way Marinette could see the lack of decent underwear the woman was wearing. If it wasn't bad enough to see her tits almost falling out, Marinette was now privy to the information that the woman definitely went for the Hollywood at the beauticians.

"Fuck me, Adrien's wife's fit!"

Marinette could have turned around and punched Kim square in the face, even without being transformed the way she felt at the moment a cataclysm would have nothing on her.

"She's a bitch! They won't be together much longer. Adrien actually has taste."

Even with the want to punch Kim, Juleka's words were like music to her ears. Adrien and Juleka had formed a weird friendship through all his modelling work, allowing her to know more than most the exact description about Adrien and Vivica's relationship. As Marinette turned, wanting nothing more than to embrace Juleka, a voice turned her back, causing her to curl her toes and clench her teeth.

"Aren't you going to introduce me to your little friends?"

As Marinette turned, her eyes made direct contact with Vivica and she knew she was screwed.

"You know most of them," Adrien said, looking away from the group and heaving out a rather painful sigh.

"I don't know this little lady," Marinette didn't know if she was imagining it, but she swore she heard a growl leave Adrien's throat.

"I'm Marinette," she said with a smile, "I -" before she could continue, Adrien jumped in.

"I met Marinette through Nino. They were old friends, and Marinette just happens to be best friends with Nino's ex-girlfriend, Alya. You remember them right?"

She stood gobsmacked. Had Adrien just outright lied? But why?

"Yes, I remember them." Vivica turned her nose up and looked away, the conversation not going the way she obviously wanted it to.

"I'm just going to -" Marinette pointed to the other side of the room where the bar had been positioned, grabbed Alya's hand and got the hell out of there.

"What the fuck is she doing here?" Alya hissed, moving swiftly alongside Marinette.

She didn't know, and she wasn't sure she wanted to.

"How's things with you and Nino?"

Alya stopped at the bar, ordered two shots and drank them straight off.

"Alya!" Marinette hissed, "what about the -?" She nodded her head in the direction of her stomach.

"Does it really matter? Have you seen who else has appeared?"

Marinette looked over the dancefloor to see Frankie LeMec clinging off Nino's arm, but if Marinette's eyes weren't deceiving her, he most definitely didn't want her there.

The music suddenly cut off and a spotlight struck down on the dancefloor. Nathaniel standing with Marc in the middle. "Oh my God!" Squealed Marinette, bouncing up and down on the spot.

Nathaniel got down on one knee, holding what looked like the most beautiful ring, up to Marc, the latter fighting hard to hold tears back. Where Marc was being strong and holding the water in, Marinette allowed hers to cascade down her face. As she looked over towards her friend group, she felt her stomach lurch. Vivica had grabbed hold of Adrien's arm and looked up at him with such devotion her heart was crushed. Slowly, the blonde model's head turned in the direction of Marinette, a sly smile attempting to take over her botoxed face. Keeping her eyes on Marinette, she reached up and placed her lips to his cheek.

She needed to get out of here. Turning on her heel she walked, not thinking and ignoring Alya's calls, instead just moving, weaving her way through the crowds. She had no intention of looking back. She didn't want to be part of Vivica's game. Not anymore.

Before she knew it, Marinette was pushing open the door to their old collége classroom, the nostalgia hitting her hard.

She walked to her old desk, trailing her fingers over the worn wood as memories played in the back of her mind. Memories from a time (surprisingly) more simple, a time where all she had to worry about was juggling akuma's, a gigantic crush on Adrien Agreste and getting through the school day. She'd been through so much over a short period of time, and even now, she wouldn't have changed it for the world.

She'd battled the akuma's, she'd won sometimes, she'd lost sometimes, but she'd done them all with friendship. A man she had more of a bond with than even her own father. If only life as a superhero wasn't so complicated, and if only his father wasn't such a douchebag ... Chat Noir was, no is, her perfect man. It had taken her years to come to that conclusion but it was true. She looked down to Adrien's desk, letting out a breath that deflated her body. Her dreams had all been pinned on the young boy who'd sat there. The boy she loved. Loved? No that's not right, she still loved him. A thought that wouldn't leave her mind recently.

She was split between two men she couldn't be with. Her heart had betrayed her and made it impossible to move on, to be with anyone else. She sat down and placed her hands on her table, tracing the grains of the wood with her fingers. It all went wrong from when they'd left here, from when they'd left the safety of this classroom, of this class. Her team was in this room. Her team was together then ... but now ... she shook her head, now they were separated and broken, only herself and Chat Noir remained. Them against the world, again.

Giving out the Miraculous' over the years she'd never contemplated break ups, or people moving away. Rena Furtive (aka Rena Rouge) and Carapace, the teams love birds, now in the world's most complicated relationship, Viperion, Vespira and Ryuuko no longer lived in the same country as them each excelling in their careers and moving on with their lives, Minotaurox and Polymouse married and creating their own family with the most adorable little boy, damn even Chloé had been married. Then there was Adrien ...

Sighing, she closed her eyes and leaned her head back, trying her hardest to keep the tears at bay. She had been engaged. She had foolishly clinged onto the first guy who'd made a pass at her and wasn't linked to the Miraculous in any way ... and what a mistake that had been. Dominic had been her rebelling. He had been the opposite to Adrien, to Chat Noir and to Luka. He was everything she never wanted, and she was embarrassed by how she'd let him affect her, how she'd used him. A drunken one night stand which had led to a relationship. But she wanted to be loved so badly, she wanted someone to come home to, to snuggle and watch films with, someone who was normal, and ordinary.

She loved her time spent with Chat Noir because he was the closest she had to a relationship, but she wanted more, she needed more..

"I wondered where you'd gone?" She closed her eyes, she didn't know if the world was with her or against her, as the soft voice was both the firstand the last voice she wanted to hear at this moment. The soft click of the door signalled they were shut off from the rest of the world, and faint footsteps made their way into her direction.

"I just ..." she sighed, lowering her head, keeping herself from looking at him. She tried as hard as possible to keep her tears at bay, this was her own problem, one that came from her choices. She folded her arms on the table in front of her, hugging herself in a need to protect her heart. Why did he have to come and chase her? Why did he have to still be so kind and caring?

"May I?" He'd approached the desk and looked at the empty space, obviously wanting to sit beside her. She looked from the corner of her eye and nodded in agreement, allowing him to take the vacant seat beside her.

She was suddenly lost in the midst of Adrien. His smell had always affected her, especially since she'd discovered more than those just on his surface. The woody scent of expensive cedarwood mixed with something purely Adrien swarmed into her mind, clouding her judgments and giving her an ache she hadn't felt in years.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked. He'd kept his distance, not wanting to get too close to her, obviously respecting her boundaries.

Did she want to talk about it? No.

Should she talk about it? Yes.

"What am I to you?"

"What are you? I don't - what do you mean?"

She scoffed, of course he'd avoid the question. His pregnant wife was downstairs waiting for him. His pregnant wife who was also employing her at the moment. What fucked up shit had she gotten herself into?

Turning her head, Marinette looked at Adrien before rolling her eyes and looked away, a slight shake of her head. Why did she even bother?

The silence continued, and she was torn. Torn between getting up and walking out, or begging him to talk to her. Kwami's! She wanted him to talk to her, to let her know if once again she was wasting time and energy on Adrien Agreste. She needed to realise she wasn't 14 anymore. That she didn't need to wait for him, that she could decide on how this plays out.

"Why is she here?" The words left Marinette's lips with a strength she didn't know she possessed. She looked him dead in the eye, searching for any glint of uncomfort, of a man caught in an act.

"I didn't know she was coming. She was meant to be at a gala and Félix was -" he trailed off. Looking out into the distance.

"But she's not. She's here and she's obviously still madly in love with you."

Adrien burst out laughing and she wasn't sure what to do next.

"She's not in love with me," he said, turning his body to face her, resting one leg on the bench seat and an elbow on the back rest.

"Well, she sure looked it when you two were kissing."

"When she kissed my cheek." He corrected her. "Marinette, we don't love each other. We never have. She - there's something going on between her and my father. I don't know the full extent of it yet, and although I feel like I can trust you, I can't tell you everything I need to, please just trust me, she isn't the one I want. Never was and never will be."

They sat staring into each other's eyes, their pupils dilating as both felt the pull to get closer, to mould together in a way only lovers do. She wanted to trust him, she wanted to trust him so much, but how could she? How could she trust Adrien? How could she trust in them?

"How can I trust you?" Her voice was quiet. The sound barely heard over the beat of the music down in the courtyard. The upbeat tune battling for volume against her manically beating heart.

"Because there's not a single day I don't think about our night together. Not a single day where I wish I had stood up to my father and denied what he was asking of me." They were both whispering now, the room thickening with tension as they both took their first step into the unknown.

"Why didn't you?"

"Because I'm being blackmailed, Marinette, and unfortunately until this is over I am not in a position where I can tell you everything I want to, but I need you to trust me. It's not just me that could get hurt by this. There's someone I need to protect, and I swore I would at any cost."

The glare intensified, and she tried to read everything his eyes were saying. She could see no fakeness to his statement, if it wasn't true then he'd managed to believe it himself. He believed it wholeheartedly.

"I trust you," she whispered back, her head moving in closer to his. He was drawing her in, pulling her closer and closer like a moth to a flame. He had circled her with his masculinity, making her want to crawl into his lap and settle herself there for the night. To feel the adoration she hadn't felt in years, since that night.

"Good," he stretched an arm up, stroking his thumb over her cheekbone, his eyebrows turning in, in the way that used to make her heart loop about her chest. "Because I want you, Marinette. I wanted you that day three years ago, I wanted you every single fucking day since, and I want you even more now."

He moved his hand to thread his fingers into her hair, her body succumbing to his touch, only to be interrupted by the door to the classroom being flung open and angry voices sneaking in.

•••••

Grabbing her hand, Adrien dragged the two of them under the table, hidden from whoever had just entered the room.

What fucking awful timing! He was so close to kissing Marinette, so damn close, and whoever had just come pounding into the room had full on cockblocked him. Though tonight's declaration wasn't what he'd planned, it had just happened and he felt the vice grip around his heart was slowly starting to loosen. Each day living was getting slightly easier.

The area they were both now squashed into was tight, and with his long legs taking up a colossal amount of room, Marinette was pretty much pushed up against him and his thoughts swarmed with their near kiss. He could still remember how she tasted all those years ago. The sweet nectar that was Marinette, a taste more delicious than her passionfruit macarons. He was so tempted to pull her over to his lap, letting her straddle herself on him as she played his tongue with her own.

God, she looked gorgeous tonight.

The tight crop top fit her breasts perfectly and he was desperate to see what she was wearing underneath. There was no hint of a bra line, and his stomach clenched at the thought she was wearing nothing underneath. The lycra leggings fit her in ways which should be made illegal. It was definitely goodbye to Sandra Dee.

"Just talk to me instead of running off all the time!" The sound of a voice broke his stare on Marinette's breasts, making him realise an argument was going on in this very room and himself and Marinette were stuck there. He looked over and gave her an apologetic glance, only for her to shrug back.

"Running off? Running ... off?" Adrien recognised that voice. He recognised it very well, as at the moment his best friend sounded like he was about to commit some sort of unlawful attack. "I'm not running anyway, I'm walking away casually but you won't stop following me."

Oh no! Adrien turned his head back to Marinette only to read her mouthed words. "What the fuck?"

It seemed Frankie had made her own appearance tonight, all they needed now was Dominic and the world's worst hook ups would be complete.

"That's not what you said when I pleasured you the other morning. My insta followers loved seeing us together again." Frankie's voice was sultry, and he felt Marinette tense beside him. He grabbed hold of her hand and threaded his fingers through, giving it a gentle squeeze to remind her to relax.

"We're not together, and I thought you were Alya!" Nino's voice was murderous and it was only Marinette's tight grasp that was now controlling him.

"Ha! Yeah right! Like that whore compares to me!"

Adrien didn't know which one of them moved first, or which one stopped the other. All he knew was he now had Marinette laying on top of him, her chest digging into his, as his hands fanned across the small of her back, one thing was for certain though, they both looked ready to commit murder.

"You touch a hair on her head and I swear to God -"

"What? What are you going to do to me, Nino? I'm the one that's famous, you're just some wannabe who's stuck working for his best friend because he failed at everything else."

Silence surrounded them, only the 'thadunk' of their own heartbeats in their ears. Seconds passed until Frankie's high pitched laugh caused them both to clench their jaws.

"Are you going to hit me? Go on then ... try it! I'm sure the press would have a field day. Perhaps I can drag that shit you call your best friend down too. I'm quite sure that little Chinese girl he's been hanging around with is more than 'just a friend'." Her voice was confident in a way that scared him. This girl was mental and now she was gunning for him too.

"Leave them out of it. It's between you and me."

"Fine, have it that way. Just don't say I didn't warn you." She laughed, heels clacking against the floor as she moved about the room. The tell tale sign of wood creaking meant she was putting some sort of pressure onto the table top in front of them, the two parting and shuffling closer to the back.

"I've already contacted the police,"

"And let me guess? They can't do anything without proof. You see Nino, men shouting rape doesn't get the same press as women. I'll always be one step ahead and there's nothing you can do."

Adrien's breathing was coming out rapidly, this girl was psychotic ... and he was married to Vivica so that was saying something. Stretching his arm over, he cupped it around Marinette's bent leg. She wrapped her arms around his bicep and huddled in closer, leaning on him the same way he was leaning on her.

"Your silence says it all." The click of her heels signalled Frankie pushing off the desk and making her way to the door. "See you around, Nino. Maybe next time I make you cum you can scream out my name instead of 'that' cows."

Marinette launched from under the table, Adrien reacting too slowly to stop her. He crawled out just in time to see her approach Nino, Frankie having since left the room.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?"

Adrien could tell she was seething, anyone within a two metre radius would feel the anger currently boiling off Marinette.

Nino had his back to where they were standing, closing the door before turning to face them. Tears streamed down his face. Marinette stopped in her tracks, the anger simmering and turning to a cloud of steam as Adrien made his way down and beside her.

"I'm sorry." Nino's voice cut through his heart. "I'm so, so sorry."

As Adrien prepared himself to launch forward and stop Marinette from causing grievous bodily harm, he was confronted by the most wholesome sight. Marinette had moved forward and taken Nino into her arms, falling onto her knees with him as she soothed him and rocked gently from side to side. She held his head, cradling him to her like a baby, whispering words of encouragement and support into his ear. Moving over slowly, Adrien crouched beside his friends and embraced them both in his arms.

"It's ok, man. We're here." Adrien knew his words weren't life changing, or entirely helpful, but he didn't know what else to say.

"No it's not okay. I've messed everything up with Alya, I'm being stalked and raped, and blackmailed. I just don't know what else to do."

Adrien looked over to Marinette, catching the tears shining in her eyes which he was sure reflected in his own. Nino released Marinette, moving to place his back against the wall.

"Tell me what you want me to do and I'll do it?" Adrien said, crouching down beside his best friend.

Nino sniffed, rubbing furiously under his eyes with the back of his clenched fist. "There's nothing you can do. She's right. Who's going to believe me over her?"

"You've got to do something Nino."

As if the former DJ had just realised Marinette was in the room his eyes opened and a worried frown creased across his forehead. "You can't tell Alya, Marinette, please. She can't know any of this."

Marinette crouched next to Adrien, taking Nino's hand. "I promise I will only say what you want me to, but that's only if you speak to someone. You shouldn't be treated this way Nino."

He nodded, but no words left his mouth.

"Let me take you to mine, I don't want you to be alone tonight." Adrien stood up, wrapping Nino's arm over his shoulders. "I'll speak to you soon, Marinette." He gave her a sad smile as he exited the room. His priority now was Nino, and he'd be damned if he didn't do everything he could to help him.

•••••

Marinette rubbed her arms as she left the classroom and headed back down to Alya and the others. Her party spirit had been smushed and all she wanted to do was go home, condition her hair to holy hell and put on her sweats.

So much had just happened her brain was killing her. The declaration ... or sort of declaration from Adrien, the almost kiss, and then Nino. Poor, poor Nino. Her heart wept for her friend, even more so that she couldn't tell Alya, the one person who would murder for him.

"Hey girl, you ok?" Marinette had reached the bottom of the stairs, watching as Adrien, Nino and Vivica headed out of the building and into the night. She plastered a smile on her face and turned to Alya.

"Yeah, I'm fine, just fine." She noticed a sparkle in Alya's eyes, raising an eyebrow in question. "What have you done?" Marinette asked, watching Alya mess around on her phone.

Before she could ask anything else, a phone complete with a picture was shoved into Marinette's face. The deep frown she was wearing suddenly lifted as she took it in, a flurry of excitement in her belly.

If Vivica wanted to play dirty, then so could she.