Chapter Text
“You’re late.”
Chat dropped onto her balcony with a cheeky grin. “I didn’t know you were expecting me.”
“Just get in here,” she huffed, disappearing from her opened skylight.
He hurried, unsure what had gotten into Marinette yet not daring to question her apparent agitation with him.
Landing on her bed, he kicked his feet out, doing his best to appear nonchalant. The butterflies churning his stomach did little to help, but he didn’t want her knowing her agitation affected him worse than his father’s constant disappointment in him.
“Surprise,” she shouted.
She waved at the large pile of bedding she’d stacked on her chaise and the floor surrounding it.
His eyes widened at the sheer amount. He couldn’t imagine where her parents could possibly store so much in their limited space. He doubted even his massive closet at home could handle such a large amount without putting a sizeable dent into his considerable wardrobe.
“Don’t you know what we’re doing?” She tilted her head as she regarded him, a small frown taking the place of her bright smile. “Have you never built one before?”
“Built what? A bedding shop?”
The frown stretched a bit wider.
“No, a pillow fort.” Her shoulders straightened. “Now, get down here, Kitty. I’m going to show you how it’s done.”
Eager to help, he slid off her bed and joined her.
She hurled a small pile of blankets at him, earning a low grunt for her efforts. A brilliant smile erased the frown she’d worn upon learning one of his sadder secrets. Determination had steeled her as she pointed him toward the far side of her room.
He soon learned a few of her secrets, including spending a lot of her childhood building them. She told him stories about castles and dragons, seaside escapes with mermaids, and other fairytales she’d created. Some of her stories had various classmates while most had her father and mother as her main playmates at one point or another.
She continued to share stories and offer advice as they worked together. She never berated him for messing up when one side tried to flop down or collapse completely. That wasn’t her style, he knew and appreciated, as she made her way toward him. Without a hint of judgment, she’d show him how to set the blanket or pillow properly so it wouldn’t come crashing down around them. Her gentle words encouraged and bolstered him.
In no time at all, they had her room transformed into a giant pillow fort, complete with snacks and Netflix.
“This really is something, Mari,” he whispered, resting next to her as she queued up another movie. “Thank you.”
“You’ve earned it, Kitty.” Her eyes met his for a brief moment. “It’s been a rough week. I figured you could use a break for one evening.”
Moving closer, he brought his hand up to cup her cheek, contentment warming him as he met her blue gaze and fond smile. “You’re an amazing friend.”
The need to show her how much she meant to him bubbled beneath the surface. Inhaling, he built up the courage to ask her for the one thing he wanted the most at that moment, but she spoke up first.
“So are you,” she murmured. Her eyes drifted back to the tablet she held and widened. “Oh, come on. How is that even possible?”
The mood broken, Chat returned his attention to the screen and grinned. “I don’t know if it’s completely im-paws-ible, but it does look like fun.”
He dared a peek, preening in silence as he caught the faint blush staining her cheeks.
Interesting. Very interesting.