Chapter Text
"Marinette? Come here, dear! Uncle Wang has arrived! And there is a surprise!" Sabine calls her daughter, who answers from the closed hatch. "I'll be right there mom!"
A few seconds later Marinette comes down from her room and rushes to hug the portly Chinese man. "Uncle Wang, I’m so happy to see you again!"
The big man smiles, hugging his niece. “I'm happy too, Marinette. But I'm not the only one,” he says calmly, then leaves the girl and moves to the side of the front door.
Marinette looks into the open doorway and sees a young girl with long black hair tied in a high ponytail.
"FEI!" Marinette screams "It's really you!" running to hug her
Fei is almost suffocated but hugs Marinette back and manages to whisper "Hi ... Marinette … I’m happy to see you too"
“why didn't you tell me you were coming too?" the latter asks, loosening her grip and taking her friend's hands
"Well I wanted ... we wanted to make you a surprise" she answers, with a big smile.
"And you did it very well," says Sabine, who in the meantime had remained on the sidelines, smiling at the two girls and Wang.
"I'm happy to see you again!" Marinette continues, her eyes shining. "Come on, I'll show you my room ... we have to tell Adrien you're here, he'll be happy to see you too!"
Fei returns the squeeze and starts following her friend. "Okay but... we should first leave my things in the hotel..."
"Hotel? No way! You will stay in my room!" Marinette interrupts. "She can, mom? Please!" she exclaims.
“Sure she can stay! Marinette has talked a lot about you, Fei, you are welcome here!" Sabine answers, hugging Fei who reciprocates the squeeze, muttering a "t-thank you ..." a little embarrassed.
Marinette grabs Fei's hand. "Come!" she exclaims, taking the ladder to the attic and dragging the other girl after her.
“Leave your shoes there,” explains Marinette as soon as she closes the hatch, pointing to a corner, then stands in the center of the room and spreads her arms. “Well, here we are! If you want you can take my bed, I'll be fine here on the chaise longue! " she explains.
Fei looks around, muttering something in Chinese, then clears her throat: "Wow, I mean, you have a beautiful room, Marinette!" She sitting on the ground while she takes off her shoes, throws them at the corner, then she gets up and goes to hug Marinette. "Come here, sister!" says Fei, smiling.
While Fei wanders around the room, Marinette continues “I'm really happy to see you again… Chat almost every day and every week on skype for these .. How many? Four months? It's not like seeing yourself in person! ”.
Fei confirms "You're right ... I didn't even think we would be friends so quickly."
The two girls separate and Fei continues to look at the walls of the room seeing the board with the photos of Adrien and the photos with the other friends scattered around the room "And how is your boyfriend?" she asks, winking.
Marinette gasps "Wh-what? B-boyfriend?"
Fei looks at her: "I knew it!" she says to herself, smiling, then continues in a louder voice, "Of course, Adrien! You must call him, I would like to see him too. By the way, nice collection of photos!"
The other turns red like a lobster “No-he's not my boyfriend; we're just friends! "
"Sure, sure, right!" Fei insists. “Don't you see how he looks at you? Okay, how you look at him is off the scale, but how he looks at you! He had a big crush, girl! " she continues, then looks at Marinette, who lowers her eyes. "Oh, you mean… you haven't told him yet?" The other doesn't answer and Fei starts again: “Okay. Sorry. It's none of my business. " she smiles, changing the subject: "Where do I put the suitcase?"
Marinette looks at Fei, shrugs and smiles at her, then reopens the hatch and goes back inside with her friend's suitcase, then closes the hatch and begins to move the chest to make room, then begins, in bursts “Let's put your luggage somewhere and then… I need to introduce you to Alya! ! And to the other girls too! I'll take you to get the best ice cream in Paris and… and so much more! I'm so happy that you are here!"
Fei smiles again, looking at Marinette "Ok, ok, but stop for a moment!" she pauses, takes a breath and then says, “It looks like when we first met! By the way, I apologize again for how we first met in Shanghai. I know, I already told you but ... "
Marinette interrupts her, putting a hand on her shoulder"... but nothing. I have already told you that I accept the apology and that I understand that you did it out of necessity. Each of us makes mistakes, the important thing is to try to fix them! If you hadn't decided to come back to find me, who knows what would have happened to me. Don't think about it anymore!" Marinette looks at Fei smiling "Now I'm calling Alya, send a message to Adrien, then I'll get dressed and let's go out! The bathroom is there if you need it.” she points to a door, then goes to her desk to get the phone.
Later, Fei and Marinette reach the park, next to the carousel, where Alya is waiting for them.
Marinette waves at her friend and the redhead goes to meet them "Let me guess" she begins, smiling "You must be Fei!" she exclaims, approaching, then giving Fei the usual two kisses on the cheeks. “I am Alya! Marinette talked a lot about you, I couldn't wait to meet who saved my best friend who was lost in an unknown city!"
She holds out her hand to Fei "And, you know, I also wanted to know who almost stole my place as Marinette's best friend!" she continues, almost laughing.
Fei blushes slightly, looks at Marinette, who raises her eyes muttering “Alya…”, finally brings her gaze back to Alya “Marinette told me a lot about you too! I'm happy to finally get to know you!” she replies, holding out her hand to her.
The girls start crossing the park and Fei stops when they pass by the statue of Ladybug and Chat Noir “Hey! Marinette! You didn't tell me there was a statue of the two of them here! Besides, you still haven't explained to me why Chat Noir was looking for you in Shanghai!"
Marinette feels her cheeks on fire under the gaze of Alya, who suddenly turns to stare at her "Eh, well... I... you know..." she begins, while the redhead takes both under her arms "Girls!" begins "here is something that SOMEONE did not tell me about..."
Marinette looks at her shoes "Well... so... To tell the truth I don't know how Chat Noir knew that I was lost! I didn't ask him when he took me to Uncle Wang!" she explains, stealthily glancing at Fei.
Fei looks at her "I think your uncle must have called the police and then there was your portrait on TV, it's normal for us when someone disappears."
Marinette mumbles "I didn't notice!"
"Er" continues Fei with a grimace "Then well you were on the verge of panic..."
"Yes, but Chat Noir?" insists Alya
Marinette spreads her arms “Alya, I don't know, so I didn't tell you anything! On the way back to the restaurant, Chat Noir came and told me that my uncle was looking for me. We had tried to call the restaurant before but... "
"I ran out of credit and her phone had been stolen! " continues Fei "And when Chat Noir found us we almost arrived at his uncle!"
"Right!" Marinette agrees, watching Fei who intervenes again “And for that ice cream? It's far from here?" trying to change the subject.
"Oh yes!" Marinette slips off Alya's arm and faces the others “I promised her we would go to André, Alya do you remember today's clue? You know, Fei, André is not always in the same place and every day he gives a clue to find him!"
Alya thinks about it for a moment “Wait, he should be at the bridge next to the school! OK let's go! And ... Mari, what time will I come tomorrow evening?"
Marinette looks at her with a raised eyebrow, Alya glares at her and continues "Don't tell me you forgot that tomorrow… our sleepover!" "Ah... no... it's just that I..." She apologizes “Okay… I forgot! Alya, is it a problem if we are finally three?"
Alya looks at the other "Do you mean that you are there too?" she asks, looking at Fei “If it's not a problem for you, it's perfect for me! At half past nine? "
Fei looks back at her, then at Marinette "Well... Honestly, it's the first time I've spent the night with a friend and... I can't wait!"
Alya pats her on the shoulder “Good girl, you and I will definitely get along! How long are you staying in Paris?"
“Until mid-next week! Marinette's uncle has to attend a chef convention!" Fei answers.
The three girls continue to walk chatting until they reach André's cart. The ice cream man warmly greets Marinette and Alya, then looks at Fei and exclaims “Oh, you brought a friend! Well, I have just the right ice cream for you! Passion fruit, raspberry, chocolate chips and… something is missing… Here! A mint leaf! Here it is!" André hands the cup to Fei and Marinette opens her purse to pay, but the ice cream maker stops it "No, no, André offers!" He says.
"Thank you, sir" Fei replies with a warm smile, - They are the same colors I wear when I transform . - she reflects - Strange, Marinette's has the colors of Ladybug - she notes, while all three go to sit on a bench to eat their ice cream.
Alya, Fei and Marinette spend the afternoon strolling, and Marinette is more than happy not to have to intervene as Ladybug. The girls arrive at the bakery shop just before dinner time, Alya greets them and goes home.
After dinner, prepared by Sabine and uncle Wang, Marinette and Fei finally go back to their room. As soon as Marinette closes the hatch, Fei stretches and yawns. "I'm so tired, I can't wait to go to sleep," she says, then sits down on the ground to undo his shoes. "Well, Fei" replies Marinette "my bed is at your disposal, you know where the bathroom is, I have prepared some clean towels for you!"
The other remains with a shoe in her hand “Your bed? No way, I sleep here" pointing to the chaise longue" it's still better than where I slept after my father... " she continues, a shadow of sadness in her eyes" No, come on, sleep in your bed! I'm offended if you don't! " Marinette looks at her smiling "Okay ... then" then moves her gaze to the mezzanine" but if you are uncomfortable, there is room for both of us above!" she pauses and winks at Fei "I'm sure you won't steal anything from me this time" then bursts out laughing.
Fei makes a smirk, feigning offense, then adds to the laugh “Ah, thank you! I'll keep the invitation in mind!" throws the leather jacket on the chaise longue, then goes to the small bathroom in the attic, taking off the t-shirt before opening the door.
Marinette notes that she is wearing a sports bra under her t-shirt and is amazed by her friend's almost sculptural physique "Go ahead," she says, through the closed door "if you don't see me when you go out I'm on the terrace, you can go up from the loft"
"Okay” Comes the answer, along with the noise of the shower.
Marinette puts on her pajamas, then a hooded sweatshirt and goes out onto the terrace, then leans on the railing to admire the panorama of Paris.
While watching a cloud pass in front of the nearly full moon, Marinette hears a noise behind her and turns around, finding herself facing Chat Noir crouched on the railing "Hi, Marinette!" the hero greets her, smiling "H-hello Chat Noir!" the girl replies "What brings you to my terrace?"
Chat Noir sits on the railing “actually I was passing by, I saw you here.. Am I disturbing you? Can I stay a couple of minutes? " he asks.
"Ah... uh... no, that is, yes, in short, only two minutes since there is a friend sleeping with me, tonight..." Marinette replies, feeling a little uncomfortable
"A friend? And leave her alone below?" asks Chat Noir
"She's ... she's taking a shower, we've been around today, she'd never seen Paris..." explains the girl, leaning on the railing and looking at the view.
"I understand, she's not from here! You took her on a sightseeing tour” adds Chat Noir, approaching Marinette and also leaning his elbows on the railing.
"Yeah, she had never even been to France, it seems right to show her something." says the girl.
"And she's not from here and you don't introduce her to one of the local heroes?" Chat Noir asks, posing as a bodybuilder, showing his biceps.
As they talk, they hear a voice behind them “Marinette? Ah I thought you were on the phone, instead I see that you have company. I didn't want to interrupt you!"
Chat Noir turns and looks at the newcomer, wearing a pink towel on her head and an oversized t-shirt that covers almost to her knees, her legs bare.
"Interr... no!" says Marinette, looking first at her and then at Chat Noir, who looks at her in amazement and asks “Wait, are you... Fei? What are you doing at Paris... ”with wide eyes and a half smile.
"In person! Don't worry, Chat Noir, pretend I'm not here, go ahead!" she answers, winks at him and goes back into the trap door without letting him finish.
"Go ahead ..." repeats Marinette then the two on the terrace exchange a glance, Chat Noir puts a hand behind his neck “Ok, so I… maybe it's better than… Goodnight, Marinette. I have some… superhero stuff that… well… sa-say hello to your friend!" then, without waiting for Marinette's response, he takes the stick and uses it as a pole to jump onto the roof opposite, disappearing shortly afterwards.
Marinette looks in the direction in which Chat Noir has disappeared, then turns and slips into the hatch “Fei! What did you mean by not interrupting us?" she asks as she enters and finds Fei kneeling on the bed.
The Chinese girl unrolls the towel and starts drying her long black hair "Sorry Marinette, I'm a little confused... You have a super crush on Adrien, right?"
"Yes, that is, no ..." she stammers, turning red as a pepper "Well... maybe but... here he is... just a friend." she answers without looking at the other
“And Chat Noir? I don't know much about French superheroes, but... I don't think Chat Noir stops talking to all the girls on the terraces of Paris."
Marinette rolls her eyes to look at her with a strange expression "He is... just a friend."
Fei smiles, then kneels next to Marinette, and continues "and I don't think he travels nine thousand kilometers every day to look for every missing French girl."
"Well, once he saved me from a supervillain... ok, twice and we... became friends" the other approaches Marinette "it's none of my business, Mari, but maybe you should revise your concept of FRIEND... You have a lot of cute boys around, in these photos! " and nudges her lightly in the ribs, making her blush even more.
"But... FEI!" exclaims Marinette, while Fei holds back a laugh.
"Okay, okay, I'll stop it" she says, then "it's the first time I've slept with a friend .. what do you usually do?"
Marinette sits cross-legged “Well, usually with Alya we watch something on TV… or just talk a bit. There is no school tomorrow, so we don't even have to go to bed early." the girl pauses, reflecting “In the meantime we could plan the tour around the city tomorrow! I'll take you to see the Eiffel Tower! And the wax museum, there are statues of Ladybug, Chat Noir and some super villain and... "
"And? " asks Fei, curious
"And... ah nothing" exclaims Marinette, giggling then whispers "a statue of Adrien, you know the fashion..." feeling her cheeks on fire, again.
“And what about him? I’d like to see him too!” asks Fei
"Oh… the message… Adrien… ok, he told me that if his photoshoot ends sooner, he will called us and like that we could meet somewhere... Come on, let's get the tickets!" Marinette continues, getting up to go down from the loft, immediately followed by the very light steps of Fei.
Marinette sits on the PC chair, then sees the other next to her and looks at her feet “Fei, how can you make so little noise when you walk? Ok that you're barefoot but I didn't really hear you get off!"
The other looks at her a little surprised “eh… Dunno, training, I think. You know, my father taught me kung-fu…. if you like I'll show you something tomorrow!" she comments, sitting on the desk with knees to her chest and her heels on the edge of the table.
"Oh yes, I would love to!" Marinette answers, as she books tickets for the following day.
"Done", she comments a few minutes later, seeing Fei yawn out of the corner of her eye,
"Now we better go to sleep, what do you think?" she asks her friend.
"Hmmm I think so," Fei stops with another yawn. "I'm really tired!" she approves, jumping silently off the desk and going to the chaise longue where Marinette has put a pillow and a light blanket.
Marinette climbs onto the loft and slips under the sheets. "Goodnight, Fei," she says, turning off the light.
"Good night!"
"Marinette? Are you sleeping?" Fei whispers a few minutes later
"No, tell me, Fei" replies the other from the loft
After a moment Fei starts talking again "Sorry, it's just that ... maybe I was alone for too long, and having a friend close to me is … well, something that doesn't happen often." she pauses "I wouldn't want you to get the wrong idea, you've become like a sister to me"
"Fei? What happens?" Marinette asks, looking out from the loft
She sits on the chaise longue "No, it's just that ... Does it bother you if I sleep next to you tonight?"
Marinette replies “No, no bother… I'm just not… well, I’m not used to sharing a bed with someone but… ok, get in. For tonight it will be like having a sister. "
"It really doesn't bother you if I sleep here, next to you?" Fei asks again, after lying down.
Marinette turns and meets Fei's dark eyes “No, it doesn't bother me, don't worry. I'm glad you're here. " she replies smiling.
"Me too ... Goodnight again." she whispers, and they both turn their backs to each other