Unexpected change

After Ladybug and Chat noir defeated the Evillustrator, Chat Noir's and Ladybug's miraculous beeped, indicating that they should take their leave. Chat Noir gave Ladybug a two-fingered salute before vaulting away with his staff. Ladybug stared down at the now confused and disheveled Nathaniel, she crouches next to him before saying:

"Are you alright?", a worried expression strewn across her face.

He expresses shock at seeing Paris's super heroine crouching above him before shaking his head and saying:

"Not really…I can't remember how I got here or what I was doing." He quickly connects the dots and a sad expression crosses his face as he looks in to her eyes.

"Did I… Become an Akuma?"

Ladybug hesitates, uncertain on how she should answer his question before hearing another beep and realizing that she had little time left before she de-transformed. She helps him up and says:

"Listen I really need to go, but your classmate Marinette will explain everything to you tomorrow. Be careful on your way home, goodbye!"

And with that she hooks her yoyo onto a nearby building, swinging away into the night. Nathaniel just stares, sighing before starting the trek back home.

Ladybug is nearing the Dupain-Cheng bakery before receiving a call from Chat Noir, she quickly picks it up revealing a nervous and worried chat noir.

"What is it Chat Noir? Another Akuma attack?"

"No! Remember that mission you sent me on to protect that girl? I didn't check if she was alright after that! Send me her house location again please!"

Marinette didn't like the idea of having Chat come to "check up on her", she didn't want him cozying up to her civilian self, didn't know if she could hide that fact that she's ladybug. Knowing herself and her clumsy scatterbrained personality she rationalized that "hanging with Chat" as Marinette, might not be the best idea. So she told him it was alright and that she'd do it herself before the last warning beep sounded from her earings, betraying her.

"Nope! No way my lady. You're about to de-transform, I found her address so don't even think about it, I'll check up on her right now!"

"Chat wait!" Unfortunately for Ladybug, he had already hung up, leaving her frustrated and nervous as she finally reached home.

Marinette jumped into her room threw the hatch that lead to her balcony. She only had minutes until Chat Noir would come to check up on her.

"Tiki! Spots off!" Tiki flew across the room into Marinette's closet, having overheard her chosen's earlier conversation with Chat Noir.

She didn't want him staying too long so she would tell him she was fine and then send him on his way, never to bother her again. She hummed aloud as she was quite satisfied with this plan before three light knocks to her balcony thatch interrupted her thoughts.

He's here. Remember; tell him you're fine and that he shouldn't worry and that he probably has school tomorrow or something.

Marinette opened the hatch to a slightly bashful looking Chat Noir.

"Chat Noir? What are you doing here?" She gave him a pleased but confused smile and he sighed, looking down at the floor.

"I wanted to check up on you since I kinda abandoned you when the Akuma came…I'm sorry about that, you're not hurt are you?"

He looked at her and noticed a cut curling around the side of her neck.

"You ARE hurt! Oh my gosh, this is all my fault, please, let me make it up to you somehow. I- I'll treat your injury!"

Chat Noir kept rambling as Marinette finished processing what he had just said. She didn't even know she had a cut on her neck. He hadn't even let her get a word in before he started talking.

He feels guilty because I got injured when he wasn't even around? That's surprisingly… sweet.

Marinette felt a genuine smile tug at her lips as she said:

"Woah Chat Noir, calm down. I'm alright. Really! I didn't even know I was cut until you pointed it out. Besides I get cuts and bruises all the time because I'm so clumsy, it's nothing new. This'll heal in no time! It's not your fault, so don't feel guilty ok?"

Marinette gave him smile and a pat on the shoulder. At first Chat Noir looked shocked but then returned her smile with a small sigh.

"I'm really glad you're not seriously injured. But still… how can I make it up to you…? I know! I'll come by every day to treat it and check on you until you've healed, I promise."

"Chat, I don't-

Marinette was about to reject his offer telling him it was too risky to be hanging out with a civilian until she looked at his big, pleading, puppy dog eyes. She knew she was weak for them, seeing as Manon had used them on her time and time again, but she wouldn't have ever expected her feline partner to use them against her.

Darn those eyes! She thought to herself. How can he even do that? He's a cat for crying out loud!

She sighed threw her nose. She was such a pushover. Nonetheless she would warn him before agreeing.

"Chat… You know this could put me in danger right?"

His ears immediately drooped and he was about to start to agree and apologize but she interrupted him and kept talking.

"Buuut, as long as no one see's you, then I think it'll be fine. But it's only because you feel like you need to take responsibility for something that wasn't your fault. And it's only until the cut heals. Wouldn't want me finding out your secret identity would you?"

His ear's perked up and he gave her a smile which was quickly erased with a mischievous grin.

"Rest assured purrrincess, I am the black cat of the night, not one person will see me. How could mew think that meow would be so furgetful as to let my real identity slip?"

Chat leaned forward until they were only inches apart as he said this, a smirk playing on his lips. Marinette gave him a deadpanned look and groaned.

"Seriously? Three puns? You're killing me. I can already see my tombstone: Here lies Marinette, dead due to Chat Noir's terrible puns".

Chat Noir started laughing, and after a little while she joined in. After they had laughed and giggled and chuckled, a calm quite swept over them as they noticed that it had gotten dark, and decided to stare at the stars. Suddenly Chat Noir turned his head to Marinette who was looking at the North star and said:

"You know… I still haven't treated your cut…"

Marinette met his gaze and inwardly sighed. She could take care of herself but he obviously wouldn't let this go. So she got up, opened her thatch and told him:

"Come on in, I'll get the medical supplies so make yourself at home. I'll be right back."

As Marinette descended the stairs, Chat Noir entered her room, closing the thatch behind him. He looked around and noticed that the whole room smelled of vanilla, its sweet scent calming his nerves. Upon entering the boy had immediately tensed because it was his first time entering a girl's room. And not just any girl, a girl he barely even knew. A girl he hadn't given much thought about, mainly because he was always so busy and because it seemed that she didn't like him. She was always nervous or quiet around him, one time she even ran away at the sight of him! He stood awkwardly in the middle of the room, uncertain of where he could sit or stand. Adrien sighed, he wanted to be friends with her, but as Adrien that wasn't a possibility. Maybe he could get closer to her as Chat Noir? His thoughts were interrupted when he heard Marinette opened the door to her room; carrying a medical box, a small tray with two mugs of hot chocolate and macaroons.

"Hey. I brought hot chocolate and pistachio macaroons; I didn't know what you liked so I grabbed our most popular ones. I hope you like them."

Chat Noir rushed over to help her with the tray, setting it on her desk as Marinette handed him a mug and a macaroon. He thanked her and took the hot chocolate, they both sat down on her chaise. As he drank, a wave of nostalgia hit him. Marinette had made the hot chocolate exactly how his mother had, with hints of nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla. It made him feel sentimental as recalled fond memories of him and his mother, he smiled at Marinette. She was so nice…

Marinette saw her partner smiling at her; she winced at the slight pain that was caused when she turned her neck to smile back at him. He noticed this and his smile was cut off and replaced instantly with a worried look.

"Princess are you ok? Have I taken too long and now it's starting to get infected? Here, turn around and take off your jacket and so I can have better access to the cut."

Marinette obliged and took off her jacket but paused halfway, a smirk and a slight blush appearing on her face.

Let's give him a taste of his own medicine. She thought to herself.

"Oh my, kitty, don't you think it's still a little too soon for you to ask me to strip? We barely meow each other! Purrrhaps you're feline art-tracted to me?" She said with a wink.

She turned around waiting for him to start rubbing the antiseptic on her neck but after 3 minutes of waiting she turned around. His whole face was red! His hands had frozen, clasped around the antiseptic. He was looking straight and wouldn't meet her eye. After about two more minutes he slowly looked at her and swallowed.

"T-turn around. I-I-I have to t-treat your wound, o-or else it'll g-get infected."

Chat Noir said this in a voice so high that it didn't even sound like himself. And that was all it took to make Marinette burst out laughing and make Chat Noir's face turn an even deeper shade of red.

"Hahahahah! Oh-oh my goshh! Hahahahaha, I-I can't breeeaathee!"

The blunette was clutching her sides and lying sideways on her chaise while continuously laughing, Chat just stared at her in awe and curiosity.

Never before had he seen her laugh like that, not even with Alya, granted that it was at his expense. He never expected her to flirt with him, OR make puns. To say that he was shocked was an understatement. This was a side of Marinette that he had never seen before. And he was pretty sure nobody else had either, knowing that he might be the only one to have ever seen this side of her made him feel…special.

Chat regained his composure, pulled the still laughing Marinette up, and started rubbing the antiseptic around the back of her neck, as that was where the cut originated from. Marinette winced at the pain the antiseptic cause, making chat pause momentarily to offer an apology while wrapping her neck in gauge.

"Alright princess, that should do it!" He exclaimed happily as she walked to her mirror to see if he did a good job. Unexpectedly he had done a pretty good job.

"Thanks kitty! This actually looks pretty good." She turned to smile at him and he was about to smile back before his eyes shifted to something behind her. Her breathing stopped and she noticed he was looking at all the Adrien posters adorning her wall. Marinette squeeked as she darted towards her light switch, momentarily turning them off and making her blind as her eyes adjusted to the darkness. Her eyes darted back and forth looking for Chat Noir when she heard him cough, surprising her causing her to punch him in the gut, emitting a smalle "eep!" in doing so.

"Oof! Owwwww…Princess what'd you do that for?!" Chat Noir clutched his stomach and frowned at her but she couldn't see him because of the dark. He saw her eyes searching for him and sighed. He grabbed her wrist to try to indicate her where he was, dodging a slap before hearing a "sorry!".

"Geez princess, I didn't know you were so violent… Besides, I can see in the dark remember? So turn on the light so you can see me and I can stop getting hit."

Marinette had forgotten the part about him being able to see in the dark.

Darn it! Now I have to explain why I have posters of Adrien all over my room! I wish curiosity had killed the cat!

Marinette reluctantly turned on the lights, a small blush adorning her freckled face. She looked at Chat and with a guilty look on her face.

"I'm sorry for hitting you…It's sort of an instinct now… But it kinda is your fault too because you startled me! None of this would've happened if you had just kept your eyes on me and not wandering around!"

Marinette did a little "hmph!" before stomping over to her chaise, looking at the floor with stubborn embarrassment.

"I'm not violent…" He heard her mumble before glaring at him.

Chat Noir just stared at her for a few seconds, thinking to himself before following and sitting next to her on the chaise.

I didn't know she was sassy…or stubborn.

Despite the fact that she had blamed him for her punching him, he smiled. This was another side of her that he hadn't seen yet. He was getting to know her better in one day as Chat Noir then he had ever had as Adrien! Which brought his eyes back to the wall that was filled with photos, posters, and magazine covers of himself. If she didn't like him, why would she have his face plastered all over her wall?

"Ughhh, stop looking!" He looked back to Marinette who's face was now in her looked up at him and scowled, it made him want to see more of her expressions, want to see more of her. He chuckled to himself, already anticipating the face she'd make as he asked:

"Care to tell me why you have Adrien Agreste's face plastered all over your bedroom wall purrincess?"

Oh he did not just ask that question.