Laughter drifted lazily through the streets of Paris, and although it was a dark night, Adrien hadn't felt lighter all week.
He didn't know what problem Marinette had with him; maybe she was still upset about the gum thing? Adrien didn't have a clue. But as Chat Noir, there was a side to Marinette that he had never seen- and that side was boisterous, loud and confident. Especially confident.
He sat there, perched on the chaise and nibbling at a cookie while Marinette told him all about her new dress design, and occasionally flicked a haribo at him whenever he tried to look deeper into pink and overloaded sketch pad. She didn't want him looking at all the Ladybug and Chat Noir stuff she had designed recently, to help keep them warm while on patrol. She wouldn't have a problem with him looking at it, if Ladybug wasn't going to be the one to give him the matching set. If he knew Marinette had designed them, it might lead him closer to her identity- not that he needed to know that.
Right now, all he needed to focus on was the warmth and coziness of her room, and the fresh treats sitting in front of him- because based on what he had told Ladybug, and mutterings under his breath that she sometimes caught (like the bubbler for example), Marinette didn't think he was getting enough attention or love at home- or food for that matter. No matter how much muscle being a superhero packed on, that poor cat was still scrawny, and it wasn't getting better either.
Giggles broke her out of her train of thought, and when she looked up, he had gotten cream from his hot chocolate on his nose. She couldn't help it, she laughed too- and Adrien felt like he was at home.
There was however, the unsettling matter of the pictures.
There was an unsettling amount of pictures of him littered on the wall, and it had only grew since the last time he had came. He was extremely puzzled, because as far as he knew, she didn't like him- it must just be for his father's designs, he thought, trying to push down the disappointment. He didn't know why he was disappointed; he had no reason to be. Maybe Marinette liked someone else- yeah, that was it. She probably did.
"So…" Chat said coyly, looking at her over the brim of his cup. "You got anyone special in your life?" His grin was lopsided- which Marinette found incredibly cute but she was never going to tell him that. She flushed deeply, and sighed. Chat nodded in understanding, perfectly reading the love-struck look on her face.
"A crush then?" He added lightly, and Marinette nodded, still blushing furiously.
"I don't really have a chance with him, to be honest." She said softly, a far away look glazing over her beautiful eyes. "But I like to think that one day, he'll look at me like I look at him." Adrien saw the stars in her eyes, and allowed himself a small smile. Whoever this boy was, she was enamored. She was happy- she deserved that, at least.
"If he doesn't see how amazing you are now, then he's a fool." Chat chuckled warmly.
"No, he could never be a fool, he's so intelligent." She smiled, fondness dripping from her voice.
"Well he'd have to be stupid not to notice you purr-incess." Chat joked. Marinette glanced over at him, disgusted by the pun.
"What about you?" She asked with renewed vigor. "Some cat caught your fancy?" Chat rubbed the back of his neck, nervous. Did she somehow not know about Ladybug? He had been under the impression that the whole city knew he liked her. Strange, he thought.
"She's amazing." He said simply. No words come sum up how he felt about her, and although it didn't do it justice, they were the only words that came to mind.
"Someones a smitten kitten." She joked, smiling. "You don't need her anyway- not if she can't see your such a catch." Marinette winked with the pun, and suddenly Chat found himself unwillingly blushing.
The rest of the night was spent trying to get the other to confess to their one and only, only stopping in that briefly to yell about how their amours didn't deserve the other because they couldn't see how amazing they were. Adrien considered detransforming at least twice to get his nails painted, and he doubted he would have regretted it.
Laughter drifted lazily through the streets of Paris, and although it was a dark night, Adrien hadn't felt lighter all week.