Chapter Text
Saturday night, Marinette is leaning on the balcony above her room, staring out at the Parisian night. It’s been a quiet week, and she’s so thankful for that. Not because she doesn’t have to go and save Paris - she actually enjoys doing that - but because it means people are happy. At least, nobody’s upset enough to invite an akuma into their soul.
The day after Valentine’s, Adrien had sent a few curious glances her way. Alya had chastised her for not managing to give him the gift. Chloe had seemed… more annoyed than usual by her presence.
All in all, it had not been a great day and she is very happy to have the week done with. Chat hadn’t been around when she was patrolling and Alya was on a date with Nino, so the day had been… fairly lonely. There was lots of baking and designing done.
So it was productive.
It just… didn’t feel all that productive. Maybe that’s just because she’s been berating herself for not giving Adrien the gift.
“Why so down?”
Her head shoots up, from her gaze on the ground far below to the curious green eyes staring at her from her rooftop.
“Chat Noir? What are you doing here?” She can’t be in danger. He hadn’t tried to get Ladybug’s attention, so there isn’t anything wrong in Paris. But she can’t know that. “Is there something wrong?”
His lips pull into a smile, and he jumps from the roof onto the balcony with her, lounging against the railing beside her. “Of course there is. You’re looking sad. What’s the matter, Little Lady? Heart troubles from Valentine’s Day? I may have to keep an eye on you to make sure no akuma gets to you.”
His eyes are glistening with mischief, and if she was being honest with herself she would admit to the fact that her heart just skipped a beat. But she refuses to be because he flirts with both her as Marinette and her as Ladybug.
This is just how Chat Noir is, and there’s no meaning behind it.
Except Marinette doesn’t know any of this, just like she knows she isn’t going to become akumatized. She isn’t that upset. Just… annoyed at herself. But she smiles at him anyways and responds with a, “I must be pretty special for Chat Noir himself to think he needs to keep an eye on me.”
He chuckles and grins more, and she swears his eyes glint. “Purr-haps I just enjoy being around you.”
“I thought you were in love with Ladybug? That’s what the media makes it seem like.”
His face seems to fall for a second, but then he’s grinning again. “Of course I admire My Lady! She’s magnificent. Smart, witty, she puts up with my humor, she’s much more prepared than I am. She’s saved me countless times. Ladybug is the true savior of Paris.” His grin softens into a serene smile, and Marinette’s heart definitely skips a beat.
She needs to get back on track with why he’s here. No way can she stand this. It’s… confusing. “That hasn’t told me why you’re here.” There’s a small quirk of a smile on her lips, and she stares at him expectantly.
He snaps back to his regular self, grin and everything. “I love My Lady, yes, but you’re fascinating as well. I like being around you, Marinette. Is it so wrong for me to want to get to know you?”
Suddenly she’s unable to look directly at him, her gaze drifting to one of her potted plants. “Well… wouldn’t it be bad if Ladybug happened to see this? Wouldn’t she think we’re… you know… a thing?” She loves how she can’t word all the time. Words are hard. So is figuring out her feelings.
“I don’t think it would be. Ladybug… is out of my league. She’s on a pedestal far above the Eiffel Tower, in a place where I can’t reach her.”
Marinette feels a pang in her chest that she recognizes all too well. “I know exactly what you mean.” He tilts his head, curiously staring at her. She manages to meet his gaze for only a second. “My crush feels like that, too. Like he’s way out of my reach. I couldn’t even give him the palmiers I made for him…” She heaves a sigh then glances at Chat again, pulling a small smile onto her face.
“Don’t make such a pained face, Mari.” Her smile is gone immediately, replaced by a small frown to match his. “Maybe I should have saved a palmier for you. My Lady had bought some… Oh! You said you baked palmiers for your crush? And your family owns a bakery!”
It takes her a second to realize where he’s going with that, but then she bursts into laughter. “Chat Noir! I can promise you now, Ladybug did not come into my bakery while I was there to buy some palmiers. Perhaps she did when she wasn’t Ladybug, but I have no idea who it would have been.” That isn’t completely a lie. Ladybug didn’t buy anything from her shop; Ladybug baked the palmiers as Marinette.
His pout is obvious, and she can just barely see a blush under his mask. It’s adorable and makes her grin some more. Then he smiles a bit and chuckles. “Well, at least I got a laugh out of you. Laughter is good for the soul. Helps with heartache.” His face softens all over again, and once again there’s a skip in her chest.
“T-true,” she stammers, having to look away from him to keep her face from getting any warmer. She’s always been in Ladybug-mode when around him, even as Marinette, but right now… there’s something different. He’s showing a side that she hasn’t seen before, and she has no idea how to react to it.
She hears a curious ‘mreow?’, then Chat is in her face, his big green eyes staring at her and lips curled up in an amused smile. “What are you looking away for, Little Lady?”
Marinette’s face flares up red, and she presses her back against the railing of her balcony, very glad for the fact that it’s a very sturdy railing. “N-no reason!” His smile grows into a grin. A very Cheshire grin. Stupid stammer. As an idea comes to mind, she puffs her cheeks out with a pout and crosses her arms over her chest. “I never took Chat Noir as the kind of guy that would push himself on a girl.”
That makes his eyes go wide, and he hastily takes a few steps back. He seems flustered. Almost upset. Like he didn’t think she was joking. Her acting must be better than she thought.
She smiles a bit and takes a few steps towards him. “I was just teasing, silly kitty,” she hums, flicking his bell once. He swallows and stares down at her, eyes getting even bigger.
Realizing she definitely just seemed a lot like Ladybug, she takes a step back from him and bites her lip, worried about what his response to that is going to be.
“I- uh… should get going. You know. Make sure Paris is safe.” He takes a few steps back, eyes stuck on her as his face seems to heat up more. Before Marinette has the chance to respond, Chat has turned his back on her and is sprinting away.
It leaves her worried that she did something wrong, but more than worried she’s curious. He had been blushing when he ran off. Chat Noir practically never blushes. What had that been about?