Author's Note: This is a sequel to Princess Day, so you need to read that first before you read this one.
It had been pointed out by some critics that Princess Day was incredibly unfair to half of the population of Paris. Since the day had been a fantastic success for businesses and many were looking forwards to another opportunity like Princess Day, the Mayor soon announced a day aimed especially for the boys.
He called it Little Soldier Day.
It was universally agreed that it was a totally naff name but that didn't change the fact that once again the schools were being closed down on a Friday in order to celebrate the existence of the male gender which meant…
"Revenge!" Kim declared passionately. "This Friday it will be you, Alix Kubdel, who will give me piggyback rides and foot massages."
"Meh," Alix shrugged, "whatever. I'll probably do a better job than you did."
Kim spluttered indignantly at that.
Not that anyone else noticed as they were all busy making their own plans. Juleka and Rose were arranging to meet Max up, Ivan and Mylene were whispering and smiling amongst themselves, and Nino leaned back as far as her could on his chair without toppling over in order to give Alya a cheeky grin.
"I hope you're not stuck on babysitting duty again this Friday," he said, "because you owe me big."
"This isn't fair at all!" Alya huffed. "I didn't even get to enjoy Princess Day because I was so busy catering to my sisters' every whim and now I have to cater to yours?"
"Fair is fair, babe," Nino shrugged, "I allowed your little sisters torture me on your behalf now you have to go all the music shops in Paris with me, and that's just the beginning."
Alya groaned but Marinette could see the small smile on her face and knew she wasn't truly bothered about it all.
(Yet. As soon as there was an Akuma attack and Nino refuses to let Alya go film it because it's his day though? Oh Marinette was sure there will be fireworks.)
"It's not going to be as good as Princess Day," Chloe's loud, obnoxious voice could be heard throughout the classroom, "but what can you expect? It's just a cheap knock off idea that the city stole from moi!" Chloe bragged.
"Didn't Chloe get the idea from Pokémon?" Nino whispered loudly. "It wasn't exactly a stroke of originality and brilliance from her either."
"I will be doing my bit, of course," Chloe carried on, "after all my Adri-kins needs someone who knows him to serve his every nee….where the hell is Adrien!" Chloe shrieked furiously as she noticed belatedly that Adrien's seat was once again empty.
"Meh," Nino shrugged, "Bathroom?" he guessed. "Dude has some serious bladder issues."
(Adrien had, as soon as it clicked that Chloe and an army of rabid fangirls would be after him in order to 'serve' him, dashed out of the classroom and immediately transformed into Chat Noir for his own safety….again. Sadly though the school was so used to being attacked by Akumas that no one battered an eyelid to Chat Noir suddenly racing through the corridors.)
"Hmmph!" Chloe huffed. "Well if I can't serve Adrien then there's no point whatsoever. I guess it's just a day for me." At this Nathaniel stood up abruptly and move towards Chloe. Not that the blonde noticed as she pulled out her compact mirror to examine her reflection. "Sabrina!" she barked suddenly. "Book us in at the hotel spa for a manicure, pedicure, facial, massages, and a mud bath. Friday is going to be all about us."
Sabrina lit up at that. "Yes Chloe," she said obediently as she scrambled for her mobile phone.
"Hem, hem," Nathaniel coughed pointedly, "are you forgetting something, Chloe?" Chloe looked at him disgustedly as if he was a little bug to be scraped off of her shoe. Her silence spoke volumes as she obviously expected Nathaniel to go back to his chair without an answer. "You made me your slave on Princess Day, you owe me," Nathaniel growled out with barely suppressed fury, "and now it's time that you made it up to me."
"Ha!" Chloe barked out. "I'm the Mayor's daughter," she said superiorly, "I don't serve anyone. Least of all some pathetic artist with ideas of grandeur. Ask your precious Marinette," she spat out Marinette's name with the utmost disgust and shot a murderous glare in Marinette's direction to go with it. She had still not forgiven Marinette for taking what she believed to be her crown and victory at the Queen of the Princesses competition. Nor that Marinette needed her forgiveness whatsoever. "I'm sure she'll hold your hand and tell you that you're pretty, she has nothing better to do anyway. No one else wants her," she sneered at Marinette who glowered back.
"You know what," Marinette said furiously, "I would spend the day with Nathaniel and because I actually want to. Nathaniel is a great guy and he deserves to have an amazing day which I know you would never be able to give him because you're a selfish, spoilt, brat who thinks she's entitled to the-"
"It's okay Marinette," Nathaniel interrupted quietly but firmly. His eyes were still fixated onto Chloe and therefore he didn't look back to see Marinette's questioning look. "You spend your day with….your friend," he said a little uneasy and Marinette flushed instantly. When it was said like that, it didn't sound like Chat Noir was her friend at all but something much more and that embarrassed her a great deal considering how often she had rejected Chat as Ladybug. "Chloe will spend the day with me," Chloe laughed at that derisively but for once didn't bother to comment, "I will ensure it."
"Bring it on," Chloe sneered, "but the day I do whatever you wish is a day that will only exist in your dreams, Loser."
Marinette would have intervened again but that was when the teacher finally remembered there was a class to teach and immediately walked in ready to start. Instead Marinette settled for a fierce glare in Chloe's direction while Nathaniel returned to his seat with a determined look in his eyes.
One way or another, he was going to have his own revenge.
MLBMLBMLBMLBMLBMLBMLBMLBMLBMLBMLB
Chat Noir landed on Marinette's balcony with ease that very evening with one intention in mind. To secure the company of his Princess on Little Solider Day. The girl in question was sitting at her desk most likely trying to do their homework when he knocked on her trap door. She scrambled immediately to get it open and let him in.
"Chat Noir!" she exclaimed. "What are you doing here?!"
"You said I could come anytime," he reminded her, "remember?"
"Yes, of course," Marinette said hastily as she suddenly avoided his eyes and blushed a deep pink, "I just meant purpose what your." There is a beat of silence as Marinette's eyes widened in horror and a look of mortification overcame her. "I-I-I-I m-m-mean your purpose what. No! Ah! I, erm, meant to say…Guh….why did you come to visit?!" she blurted out.
And then she promptly slumped in relief.
Chat tried not to be disheartened by the return of Marinette's speech impediment. There was always an endearing quality to her stuttering and fumbling of words but it always hurt that she could never speak to Adrien properly and now, for some reason, it took her longer to speak to Chat Noir properly too. Simultaneously, while she wasn't focused on the battle, Ladybug was equally flustered round him these days and Chat was beginning to wonder whether or not he had done something to upset the two most important women in his life.
He instead of confronting this and receiving an answer he was most likely going to hate, Chat Noir decided to ignore it and just answer the question instead.
"I have come to collect my debt," he informed Marinette grandly, "I believe you owe me a day of your time in return of my gallant and chivalric actions on Princess Day."
"Hmm…it's not exactly gallant and chivalric to expect payment though, is it Kitty?" Marinette asked snarkily. Chat Noir smirked in reply while his heart felt a fierce leap of joy that Marinette had returned to her usual sassy self. "Besides," Marinette said suddenly self-conscious again, "wouldn't you rather spend the day with Ladybug? It is your day after all. I'm sure she wouldn't say no."
"I believe Ladybug has her own debts to pay," he said in a mock sorrowful voice, "some bumbling fool that likely dropped her shopping and stepped on her toes will be honoured with her presence." Marinette smothered a laugh behind her hand but he grinned when he caught the amusement sparkling in her eyes. His jealousy over whoever it was that he could not surpass melted away as his breath caught slightly in his throat. "Besides," he said softly, "I would much rather spend the day with you."
They had so little time together whether he was Adrien or Chat Noir. He wanted another day with her where they could talk, and have fun, and laugh.
Marinette beamed as her cheeks turned a pleased pink. "Very well," she said, "it is only fair that I pay my debts to my bumbling fool."
"No, no, no Princess!" Chat shook his head rapidly. "You got it all muddled up. Ladybug has to deal with the bumbling fool. You get to spend the day with your knight in shining leather."
"I see no knight," Marinette teased, "only a fumbling squire with grand delusions."
"Meow-ch!" Chat purred. "That hurt, right here," he thumped his chest, "I may never recover!" he added melodramatically.
"Poor kitty," Marinette said with mock solemnness, "how shall I ever make amends?"
"Some of your parents' eclairs wouldn't go amiss," Chat said slyly, "and some cookies, and perhaps even a slice of quiche?"
"Shall I just arrange a feast in your honour?"
"Sounds purr-fect to me, Princess."
Marinette eyed him curiously. "Do you not want more for your day?" she asked.
"All I want on Friday," Chat Noir said with the utmost sincerity, "is your company and your cooking….and perhaps some video games and anime wouldn't go amiss either."
Marinette smiled softly. "I think we can manage that," she murmured.
He beamed happily at that. "Pawsome!" Marinette groaned at the pun but before Chat Noir could say anything else, his Miraculous let out its first warning beep. "I'm afraid it's time to go," he said sadly, "I'll see you on Friday."
"Friday," Marinette agreed happily.
He took her hand and pressed a gentle kiss on her knuckles and shot her one last, infamous, smirk. "Adieu Princess," he purred out.
"B-bye Chat!"
That very night Adrien went to sleep with the biggest smile on his face, much to Plagg's disgust, and very much looking forwards to Friday.
This whole Little Soldier Day might just be the best idea Chloe's Dad ever had.
(The name was still naff though.)