Marinette's soul mark wasn't a ladybug for nothing. She was supposed to be lucky, and despite everything in her life that said otherwise, today she would be because today she'd finally do it: she'd catch that mysterious person in black who'd been leaving flowers and random presents at her balcony almost every day for the past year. Not that Marinette hadn't tried to catch them already. She did and failed too many times to count, but that didn't matter. Today, she would succeed. Today she wouldn't fall asleep. She couldn't fail anymore because now catching that person had become important.
That's why as soon as the sun went down, Marinette hid behind the greenery that covered one of the walls on her balcony and waited. It took longer than she'd expected, but when the moon was high and bright, a black silhouette appeared on her neighbour's roof. They sneaked down to her balcony and placed a red rose by the entrance to her bedroom, then stood and listened. A moment later, the person turned around and looked at her through the thickness of the greens. Her body tense, her heart racing, Marinette forgot to breathe as she stared back at the intruder, the light of the full moon making it possible for her to clearly see them.
It was a young man. A very handsome young man. He wore black clothes on what looked like a slim and well-toned body. His jaw, from what Marinette could see, could probably cut diamond. His messy hair almost shone under the moonlight. A black mask covered half of his face, but he still looked handsome. He'd probably look gorgeous without it, especially with those mesmerizing, electric green eyes that were now locked on hers.
The man grinned and bowed. "I see you finally managed to stay awake, my Lady."
Her cheeks warmed. No one ever bowed like that to her. Or called her their Lady.
The man stretched out a gloved hand toward her.
She took it hesitantly. "You must have mixed me up with someone else. I'm no Lady. I'm a seamstress. A baker's daughter."
He stepped closer, slowly raising her hand to his lips. "You're a Lady to me."
Her cheeks burned when the man placed a lingering kiss to her knuckles.
He grinned. "Allow me to introduce myself. Chat Noir: your loyal knight."
"That's a weird name."
He laughed. It sounded like wind playing with little bells on a sunny day in the garden. "I'm afraid it isn't my real name. And I'm sorry, but I can't tell you that just yet. But let me tell you how immensely happy I am we meet at last."
Feeling braver and remembering why she was here in the first place, Marinette pulled her hand back from him and said, "I'm glad I finally caught you as well, Chat Noir. I wanted to thank you for all the presents you've given me. Especially for that medicine for my mom and all those beautiful fabric cuts for my dresses. Oh, and for flowers. I loved the flowers. So, thank you."
He beamed. "I'm glad you like them."
She cocked her head to the side. "I do wonder though, why do you keep bringing me presents? It's not like I can give you anything back."
"What do you mean?" he teased. "You've left me plenty of treats in return."
"So, you've been doing this for croissants, cookies, and macarons?"
His lips twitched in amusement. "Not really, but they were greatly appreciated."
"Then why?"
Chat Noir leaned forward and whispered, "Isn't it obvious?"
Marinette shook her head, her eyes wide and locked on Chat's.
"It's simple—" Chat Noir stretched every word, his voice as sweet as honey, as he got a hold of her hand again, "—I'm in love with you."
Marinette's heart speeded up as Chat's lips brushed against her skin. Tingles all over her body, she stared at him in shock. "What?"
"I'm in love with you, Marinette." His smile brightened up the darkness around, the soft expression on his face. "Have been for—I don't know—five, maybe six years now? And falling deeper and deeper with every passing day."
Her face would get severe burns, she knew it. Her mind was probably already fried because she had to go and say the stupidest thing ever. "But you've been bringing me flowers only for the past year…"
Chat nervously chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck, his smile lopsided. "Yeah, sorry about that. I was away a lot before."
No, she was totally flabbergasted because how come from millions of questions his confession had raised did she manage to ask, "Why do you leave them here? Why didn't give them to me during the day without the mask on?"
Chat Noir dejectedly sighed. "Social etiquette. My father would've heard about it and sent me away again to 'help me remember my place and keep my head clear.'"
A memory jumped into Marinette's mind, a memory of Adrien, the son of Duke Agreste. When they were fourteen, he'd helped her out of a pond once. He even scolded Lady Chloe for pushing her in just because she stood in the place that spoiled brat wanted to take. The shirt Adrien took off himself and gave her to cover her shivering body was Marinette's greatest treasure even now. As was the basket in which he brought her fruits and candy the next day when she got sniffles. She heard his father punished Adrien for that; they shipped him to a boarding school in a neighbouring country. He came back only during the summers, returning permanently only a little over a year ago. Marinette was lucky to catch a glimpse of him from time to time since she was working as a seamstress in his father's mansion. She'd heard from Nino, one of Adrien's guards and her best friend, Alya's, fiancé, that Adrien was still just as kind and amazing as before, and he'd become quite handsome too. However, that didn't matter because Marinette stayed away. There was no way, she'd cause him any more troubles after the kindness he'd showed her.
"So, you're a noble?"
"Yeah. Had the bad luck to be born there."
"It isn't bad luck," Marinette protested. "You have it much easier than most of us."
"True, but I pay with my freedom for that," Chat Noir countered. "I can't do what I want. I have a list of rules to live by. My father decides my future for me. I can't even be with the woman I'm madly in love with because she is of a lower social class. A load of crap if you ask me."
Marinette looked to the side, her heart pounding. She kept quiet for a few moments, then whispered, "Then I suggest you stop this. With the flowers and presents."
Chat frowned, taken aback. "Why? You said you liked them, didn't you?"
"I do like them," Marinette replied, her voice soft, a wistful look in her eyes. "There were days that only the hope of getting a flower in the morning kept me going. And days where it was the best thing that happened to me. When I was sick or sad, I'd keep them close by to smell the aroma and forget my problems. I still have every single one of them pressed but… I want you to stop now."
Chat's sight fell down, his voice cracked. "I—I don't understand—"
"I'm getting married," Marinette said. Her smile was shaky as she looked at him. "And I doubt my future husband would love it if his wife continues to accept presents from a stranger every night."
Chat Noir flinched, his body going stiff. His eyes widened, eyebrows knitted in a frown. "You getting married? Why haven't I been told about this—" He threw his hands over his mouth, but it was too late.
"You're asking around about me?"
He swallowed, shifting his sight to a side. "Just one person and nothing too personal. Basic stuff everyone knows: your favourite colour, dessert, flowers. You know, stuff like that to help me with choosing the presents…"
Marinette crossed her arms over her chest, narrowing her eyes at him. "Name the traitor."
He was quick to respond, leaning towards her with a smug look on his face. "Only if you marry me instead of whoever you're planning to marry now."
Marinette made a face. "I'm not marrying a stranger."
"Then I'm not telling you the name of the kind person who is helping me woo the girl of my dreams."
They stared at each other for a few moments before Marinette relinquished. "Okay, fine. You can protect them. It doesn't matter anyway, because all your efforts are wasted. I'm accepting Luka's proposal tomorrow evening."
Chat shook his head. "You don't love him."
Marinette wanted nothing more than to wipe that smug grin off his face. "Maybe I do."
"No, you don't."
"I think I should know better whom I love and whom I don't—"
"You're in love with Adrien Agreste, the Duke Agreste's heir."
Marinette pulled back, her cheeks flooding with crimson. "H-how do you know?"
"My sources told me." Chat Noir walked closer, stopping in front of her. Slowly, he reached forward and tucked a stray hair behind her ear. His voice was quiet. "Marinette, please, tell me, are you accepting this man's proposal only because you know you can't be with Adrien?"
She looked away.
"Marinette, please—"
She shook her head, turning away. She wished she could deny this, but the truth was she did plan to accept Luka's proposal because there was no way she could be with Adrien, and Luka was a good man. She was sure she'd be happy with him.
"Don't do this, Mari," Chat begged. "If you don't love him, don't marry him. It won't end well."
"It's just a crush, Chat," Marinette whispered. "It'll go away, and Luka is sweet and kind. I'll be happy with him."
"Are you sure about that?"
She barely exhaled. "I am."
"What about me, then?"
Marinette looked at him, frowning. "What about you?"
Chat took her hand with both of his and said just as quietly. "I just confessed my love to you, and I know for sure I'll never be happy with anyone else."
"Chat—"
Not letting her hand go, Chat Noir kneeled before her. "You're the most beautiful, kind, smart, and brave person I've ever met, Marinette. Please, give me a chance. Marry me. I promise I'll make you happy."
Her heart skipped a beat. This couldn't be happening. This gorgeous man couldn't be saying what he was just saying, and even if he did…
"Chat… You said it yourself: you're a noble. You can't marry me."
He shook his head, his eyes full of hope locked on hers. "There is one way. My father is huge on traditions, and before Mom died, she made him swear he'd allow me to marry my soulmate, no matter who they are. If I can prove to him we are meant to be, he'll let me marry you."
Marinette sucked in the air. An old tradition, a crumb of magic their world still retained from what it used to: the soulmate marks. Everyone had one ingrained on their backs. They were believed to tell the future, define their wielder's fate. They were also only a half of a picture, the other soulmate carrying the second piece to a puzzle on their backs, something that either contrasted or added to the first one. Once the first kiss between the soulmates was shared their marks merged, creating a whole picture, now painted on both of their backs. Only, these days it was rare to find a soulmate. Sure, there were plenty of people who did, and Marinette had always dreamed of finding hers but…
"I'm not kissing a stranger to find out if we are soulmates."
Chat puffed. "But I'm hardly a stranger. I'm a handsome knight who spent the last year proving his affection to you."
Marinette would lie if she'd say it wasn't tempting. If anything, she'd end up kissing a handsome man… right before she planned to give Luka an answer to his proposal. It wasn't right. She couldn't. "It can hardly be considered knowing each other."
To her surprise, Chat settled down on a floor and patted a place by his side. "Okay. Then, let's get to know each other. Ask away. Anything you want to know, apart from my identity."
Marinette hesitated. "Chat—"
"I'm not giving up," he said. "This might be the only chance for real happiness for both of us, so, I'm not giving up without a fight, Marinette. All I'm asking for is a kiss to see if we're soulmates. If not, I'll disappear, and you'll never hear from me again, so ask me whatever you want to know. I have all the time in the world… until sunrise."
Marinette giggled. He kind of looked adorable, and really, what harm would it be if she just sat down and chatted with him? None, right?
"Okay," she agreed, settling down. "Let's start with… Oh! You claim you wanted to get my attention. Yet you never stopped by to talk to me? Why? Wouldn't it be easier for you to get me to notice you if we'd actually talk?"
Chat pouted. "I was going to stop by in a few weeks. On your birthday, actually. I even got you a gift already."
"Oh. What did you get me?"
"I'd like to keep it a secret for now, in case I'll be allowed to gift it to you. But I promise, you'll like it."
"Ah, so you've planned to sweep me off my feet."
He grinned. "I did."
She smiled bittersweetly. "Sorry for spoiling your plans."
"I'm not complaining," Chat replied. "I found out about the proposal because you told me, and now I have a chance of marrying you. It might have been too late if you haven't caught me tonight."
"I see your spies have failed you this time?"
Chat frowned. "They did. I must have a word with them."
Marinette laughed. "Don't be too hard on them, though. Luka proposed just this evening, so no one apart from me and my parents knows yet."
Marinette lost count of how many hours they'd spent talking. Surprisingly, considering their drastically different upbringings, they'd held a lot of similar beliefs and dreams. Their goals matched perfectly, and disagreements happened only in a few non-essential issues such as which frosting was better on a chocolate cake. Marinette insisted it should be vanilla with strawberries in between layers. Chat preferred chocolate with little pieces of walnuts. In the end, they decided that whatever it was, the big family they both wanted would enjoy both.
Somewhere along the way she'd become his Princess. He: her Kitty, mostly due to the ungodly amount of cat puns that reared its ugly head soon after she allowed him to rest his head in her lap. It was worth it, though. His hair was unbelievably soft, and the noises he made when she let her fingers brush through it, Marinette wasn't sure she'd ever forget. Talking with Chat came naturally. Being with him was comforting and somehow familiar. She knew she could trust him with her life. Somehow, she felt it, and when he spotted the sun peeking through the horizon and asked her for the umpteenth time for a kiss, she agreed.
"I love you," Chat whispered, pulling Marinette close.
Barely awake, she leaned in and whispered back. "I think I'm falling in love with you, too."
He smiled, gently cradling her face as he brought her forward, leaning in himself. When their lips touched the world around Marinette exploded. His lips were warm as they moved against hers. Sweet, yet electrifying. One of Chat's hands shifted to her back, pulling her closer to his chest, as the other got into her hair. She melted against him, wrapping her hands around his neck. Gosh, he smelled so good. Divine even. He felt even better. So hot…
And how was she supposed to marry Luka after a kiss like this? Marinette regretted it already. That damn soulmate mark better work, or…
The skin on her back tingled when Chat pulled away.
"Can you feel it?" he asked, his voice breathless and raspy.
She nodded, not being able to speak.
"Can you check mine?" Chat rushed to pull his shirt over his head and turn around to reveal a perfectly toned back with her cherry blossom and her ladybug soulmate mark smack right in the middle. Only now there was a black cat with its paw in the air completing the picture. It almost looked like they were playing together.
Marinette held her breath, running her fingers on his skin, following the lines of the flowers. Then, closing her eyes, she leaned forward and placed a kiss to the kitty's nose.
"It's there, right?" Chat asked again. "Please, tell me—"
"It's here." Marinette smiled against his skin. "Your black cat saying hello to my ladybug."
Chat stilled for a moment. Letting go of the shirt, he swirled around and wrapped Marinette in his arms.
"I love you so much, Mari. Will you marry me now?"
She couldn't help but smile. "I will."
He kissed her gently. One, two, three times. She smiled against his lips and only when the first rays of the sun fell on their faces Chat pulled away.
"I should go. My father wakes up with the sunrise, and I'd better be home by the time he's awake, so I can speak to him about this before he leaves for work. I'll send out an official marriage proposal as soon as I can, so don't you go agreeing to marry anyone else before that."
She sleepily smiled at him, melting into his embrace. "I already promised you. How can I agree to someone else's proposal now?"
He pulled her closer, smiling into her hair. A moment later he swept Marinette in his arms and brought her down into her room, laying her on her bed. A parting kiss to her forehead and he was gone, only a tingling on her lips and her back reminding her that perhaps it all wasn't a dream.
The next time she opened her eyes her parents stood above her head with the most worried expressions on their faces. According to them, there was a woman downstairs waiting for Marinette to validate the mark on her back, accompanied by a dashing but very nervous young man who insisted he was her soulmate and he was here to officially propose.
