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Chat Noir skid to a halt, almost falling from the tall building as he narrowly caught the rooftop's edge. He clambered up, looking around for the heavenly smell that had distracted him -- and almost planted him on the ground. This was the most delicious aroma he'd ever experienced. It called to him, and as he regained his footing, he found that his feet seemed to move across the rooftops before he could stop himself.
Sweet. Sugary. Buttery. The nectar of the gods.
He followed it over several rooftops until he came across a picnic blanket and basket. Two cute, fluffy buns sat upon the head of a beautiful superhero. Pink and gray suit. Jump-rope tail swaying around her as she moved about the area, setting up a beautiful scene of flowers and candles.
Chat Noir admired her for a moment, then called out to her. "Multimouse!" She spun around to look at him, and her jump-rope twirled around her.
"Ch-chat Noir!" A blush fell across her face. "I was just setting up! You're early!"
"Early? For what?" His curiosity was peaked, and he moved on all fours in a circle around her, eyeing the basket that held an assortment of breads and treats.
"Well..." She started talking quickly, "L-L-Ladybug had s-suggested that y-you might, um, be going on p-patrol t-today, and I a-asked if it would b-be okay if I fixed you something n-nice! As a th-thank you f-for all you do for me, I mean Paris... I mean... ...thank you."
Chat grinned, appreciating the sweet stuttering he had come to expect during their interactions as Marinette and Adrien. He was aware that Marinette had once had a crush on Chat Noir, even declaring her love for him. Now she loved this other boy, Buttercup, and he would be lying if he didn't admit (at least to himself) that he felt a pang of jealousy at the thought of her loving someone else. There had been something reassuring when he found out she cared for him.
"You're welcome... and thank you!" He slid into place on the blanket, resisting the urge to dive into the basket and find out exactly which treat had lured him here. "Did you bake all these yourself?"
She squeaked at the attention, then shook her head, a small smile on her lip. "My father baked them. I told him I wanted to say thank you to a friend, so he gave me extra."
Chat Noir raised his brow. "A friend?" His eyes twinkled with contained laughter. "You should have told him it was for Chat Noir! He would have given me those little strawberry tarts I love so much."
Multimouse's smile grew wider, and she opened the basket, revealing an assortment of tarts, including strawberry. "You've been to the bakery enough times that I figured out what your favorites are. I even managed to get you the last passionfruit macarons. A friend of mine came by the bakery earlier and bought most of them. I had to hide this in the back so he wouldn't see them." She pulled out three macarons, passionfruit. His favorite flavor.
He had been at the bakery earlier that day and had intended on buying them all. This wasn't a spur of the moment plan. Marinette -- Multimouse -- had clearly taken time to set up this rooftop scene. Flowers. Candles. Food. Blanket. It was beautiful, and slightly reminiscent of the scene he'd set for Ladybug months prior.
"Thank you, Multimouse! I hope your friend wasn't too upset about missing out." He said smoothly as he snagged a macaron and moved to toss it into his mouth.
Multimouse grabbed his hand, stopping him before he could take the first bite. "Not 7yet!" She said, then blushed as she realized she was holding his hand. "Let me set up the picnic!"
She quickly pulled her hand back, and Chat Noir felt the cool air that replaced her warm touch. Even with her gloved hands, she was still a spirit of warmth and love.
"Whatever you say, Purrincess!" He felt disappointed, but leaned back on his hands and waited for her approval. He watched her intently, as she pulled out the assortment of desserts, snacks, and cheese. He snickered as he thought about how Plagg would approve.
Multimouse blushed again at the nickname, and he leaned a little closer. For a moment, he felt a wave of playfulness. Reaching up, he booped her nose, causing a shocked look to cross her face. She squealed, falling backwards onto the picnic blanket.
Chat chuckled, only feeling slightly bad about startling her. She was cute when she was embarrassed. As Adrien, he’d been finding more and more ways to elicit a similar response, but it was more difficult as Adrien. As Chat, she didn’t know who he really was, and there was a freedom in knowing that he could be anyone he wanted to be.
Multimouse looked away, pouting dramatically for effect. She picked up a cookie and nibbled at it, continuing to avoid his gaze. The pink on her cheeks was a bit darker than her suit. Chat could tell that he had pushed her a bit too far with the flirting, but he couldn’t help but want to see her flustered. He rarely had opportunities like this. He boldly gazed at her, admiring her pretty blue eyes and the softness of her lips. She sat behind him in class, and he rarely had the opportunity to look at her.
This beautiful girl, who had planned a picnic for him, who helped him (Adrien) when he was hurt or upset, who helped him on his first date with Kagami, who saved him during Evilistrator, who managed to outwit Kwamibuster by using more Miraculous than he had ever imagined possible…
…this beautiful girl had once said she loved him. …this beautiful girl loved someone else now…
“So…How…” He swallowed. “How are things with…Buttercup...”
She glanced at him, seeming to sink in on herself, and he instantly regretted the question
“That bad?” Chat handed her a macaron, making sure it was strawberry.
She silently took it, staring at the macaron but not eating it. There was a long pause, and then she shook her head as if to clear her thoughts. “I’ve … given up on him. I realized that I shouldn’t wait around for a love that will never be.” And he felt a familiarity in her words as they pressed into him. His chest twisted with his own unrequited heartache. “He’s just not interested in me, and I have to accept that.”
“How could he not be interested??” Chat suddenly felt defensive of the girl sitting beside him. “You’re amazing! Anyone who meets you knows that!”
Multimouse giggled nervously, biting her lip. “That’s Chat, but it’s not like he notices me. He’s… just a friend. So I guess it’s time for me to move on…”
“Move on…” Chat repeated her words like an echo.
“Yes. There’s…this other boy I’ve been thinking about. But I’m not sure if he’s interested.” She looked away from him, and started to take small bites of her macaron. “I’m worried he might not…care for me like I do him.”
“Marinette!” He sat up more, taking her free hand in his own and drawing her attention to him and his words. “I can’t think of anyone more amazing than you! Those boys are just scared. You are too good for them. You are too good for everyone. Too good for me!”
He was trembling as he attempted (and failed) to contain the passion in his voice. She was staring at him with those large blue eyes. Open wide and glistening with unshed tears.
“I’m…I’m sorry I didn’t realize sooner. But if that boy doesn’t treat you with the love and respect you deserve, then I will. There is no one like you, Marinette. No one as strong and confident. No one. Not even Ladybug compares to your endless kindness and passion and strength of character. I don’t know why she has been so hesitant to let you join in battles, but she’s wrong. You would outshine them all.” He was moving closer, her personal space dwindling quickly as he leaned in. He was still staring at her eyes, refusing to let her gaze stray from his face. “Buttercup is a fool for not loving you. I don’t want to be a fool anymore, Marinette. I want to have a chance to love you… I’m sorry I denied you. I’m sorry I didn’t allow myself to see…”
He stopped talking as a tear started to slide down her face. “Oh, Kitty…” She whispered, letting out a soft chuckle. “The new boy I was interested in…was you.”
“M-me??” He couldn’t hide the awe in his voice.
She nodded, “Yes. You.” Her cheeks heated up once more.
Chat Noir stared at her, having already come ot the realization that that his chances with her had passed.
“Me.” He whispered again.
She rolled her eyes. “Yes. You.” She booped his nose, much like he had hers earlier.
“W-wow…” He leaned back. “You… I… You mean that…”
Multimouse watched as he stumbled through his words, much like she often did. She didn’t respond, and instead reached down and pulled out a small wrapped package.
“My papa made this special today. I thought you might like it.” As the package opened, the heavenly sent that had lured him to her side overwhelmed his senses. “It’s a new recipe. I asked him to call it Cat’s Paw.”
Sure enough, the bread was in the shape of a paw with four prints… just like his Miraculous. “I don’t get to help out with new recipes in the bakery very often, but I really wanted something special to give you. You deserve the world, Chat…”
He looked down at the delicious bread. Made with love. Made for him. Then he looked back at the girl before him. Something inside of him seemed to click into place, and he found himself setting the bread aside to take her hands into his own.
“Then… then be my world. So that I can have you.”