Work Text:
Marinette didn’t know what to do. She had exhausted the options for her and Chat and she knew what she needed but she didn’t have time to go look for another hero. Of course, she had access to all Miraculouses and there were still two of them. This was when she had an idea.
She took the Dragon Miraculous out of her yo-yo and turned to Chat, who was looking curiously at her.
“I need you to take this. And use it.”
“You don’t want to ask Ryuko?” He asked.
“I don’t have time,” she shook her head.
“Should I fuse them?” She wished this was an option. It would be easier. But they were running out of time as it was.
“Plagg is already tired. Go change.” She told him instead.
“See you in a bit!” With this he disappeared behind a chimney. She could hear him talk with Plagg and then Longg, while tapping impatiently with her foot. At least, the akuma was nowhere near them.
“I’m ready.”
At the sound of his voice, she turned around and froze. He was jaw-droppingly gorgeous. There was no way around admitting that. His suit was mostly red, with black with gold accents on the arms and legs. Unlike his Mister Bug suit, it had no spots on the red parts apart from the dragon symbol on his chest. A red mask with a sharp black edge framed his green eyes. Instead of cat ears, little horn-like things with black tips were nestled in his hair. And his wide grin only added to the devastating effect.
“M’lady? Yoohoo?” He called to her, amusement in his voice. She was sure she looked absolutely smitten.
“Chat,” she said, clearing her throat. She felt so flustered all of a sudden.
“Dragonman.” He corrected her, puffing his chest and striking a pose with his sword. He was still goofy, no matter how gorgeous he looked and this was a consolation. She snorted.
“If you insist.”
“Are you ok?” She nodded. She was better now that she’d had gotten over her initial reaction. But oh boy, she was lucky that he didn’t look like that all the time. She’d be doomed.
“I need you to disappear in a puff of smoke,” she explained. Which wasn’t a bad idea at all, her heart would have a break!
“Already tired of me?” He smirked. Cheeky cat! Dragon. Whatever.
“No! For the akuma! Use your wind power to turn into air and take the akuma’s hat.” She’d already had time to figure out the plan and thinking about it meant that she couldn’t think about him. And how good he looked. Stop it.
“Oh. On it!”
Once he was on his way, Marinette fanned herself.
“Be still my heart,” she murmured. This was still just Chat. She couldn’t let him affect her like that. Not that she had a choice. She heard a snicker and turned around to find Plagg looking all too happy.
"You shouldn't have underestimated my boy," he said before returning to eating his cheese. Great. Now even the kwami knew.
Too soon Chat, Dragonman, was back, presenting her with the akumatised object with a proud smile.
She could focus on catching the akuma at first but then when it was gone, she had to look at him.
“Look, we match!” He said, standing right next to her. “We’re both in red.” She looked up an arm she could swear looked more muscular than usual and up to the mask framing his eyes. They probably would have looked more impressive if they looked like real dragon eyes, but he'd chosen the simplistic approach and it still worked for him. Too well.
“It looks better on you.”
“Oh. It does?” As his gaze sharpened on her, she had to look away.
Damn. She should have kept that to herself.
“Maybe,” she mumbled, feeling her cheeks heat up.
“M’lady likes me!” He sang and when she looked up she saw him doing a little dance. He should have looked ridiculous, but no, he still looked good. Just funny on top of it.
“Stop it.” She felt like laughing but was also annoyed by her slip-up.
“What are you going to do to make me stop?” He looked so sure of himself and his power over her that she abandoned reason for a bit.
The only effective way to shut him up turned out to be very bad for her heart. When she kissed him, he stiffened for a second but then he kissed her back before she could move away. It was enough to make her evaporate and melt into a puddle and shine bright like a lightning. All his powers merged into one to knock the air out of her. He was unbelievable.
“Sheesh. How did I get so lucky? I get this to shut up?” He sounded breathless and ridiculously happy.
Meanwhile, Marinette was sure that her face was the same colour as her suit. And his.
“I need the miraculous back,” she said, not looking at him. A beep from her earrings startled her and she almost cried out in joy. Saved by the bell.
“Are you sure I can’t keep it? I rather like the effect it has on you.” She could imagine the grin that accompanied that statement.
Oh, he sure did. But she didn’t think she could take more of it.
She shot him a pleading look and thankfully he retreated behind the chimney. He reappeared a few seconds later, back to being Chat, to give her the Miraculous, She practically leapt from the rooftop. As far away from him as possible.
“I will get you anyway, just wait!” He shouted after her.
She smiled in spite of herself. He was stubborn, she had to give him that. And she wasn’t so sure anymore that she stood a chance against him. She could run away from him, but not from her feelings. Damn.