A/N: Hi, Alexandra here. I added a bit to the previous chapter. Please go check that too. Appreciate the views and follows and reviews are always a pleasure. Nice to know what others are thinking.
Her words were sharp and instantly snapped him out of it, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to imply anything. I was just enjoying spending time with you. Sorry for making you uncomfortable." He apologetically lifted his hands in front of him.
She shook her head, "Yeah, I understand. It's alright. I want another drink. I'm going to get back to the bar."
"I'll join you."
They walked back to the bar and got martinis. He raised his eyebrow at her when she got her second one. Nino and Alya came back and called for vodka. Marinette spoke first, "Alya, I think I'm ready to call it a night."
"Aww come on girl, it's not too late. It's just 10. Why don't you wait a bit? I can drop you off."
"Nah, you guys should go have fun. I'll get a cab for myself."
Alya winked at her, "We're going to have our fun at my apartment anyways. I just want to go dancing a bit more. Wanna dance with me?"
"I'll pass. I'm actually sleepy from all the travel."
Adrien suggested, "I could drop you. I was going to leave soon anyways to get a bite to eat."
Marinette agreed, "Yes, that would be nice. I could get you something from the bakery too."
"Ah, how I missed those. I've been on this diet for years, I'm so glad I finally have a break."
Alya waved as they walked out, "Alright, I'll see you tomorrow then, Mari."
"Sure thing."
She walked with him till the car and he opened the door for her even with her insisting it wasn't necessary. He did have his doubts whether she was leaving early because of that awkward situation they had before, but the conversation was calm till he reached the bakery and he dismissed those doubts.
"Come on in. I'll see what I can get for you." He followed her inside to the dining table where she had set a plate with a strawberry tart and a croissant. She sat with him nibbling on some chocolate while he savored every last bite. She chuckled and he smiled back, "What's so funny?"
"You look really cute eating. Like a cat really."
He froze for a second. It's not enough evidence for her to figure out his other identity. Surely, it's not that close to a cat. Maybe cat was just the first animal she could think of. And then he noticed she had called him cute again. His shoulder fell a bit with the disappointment that she was playing with him again. Again, he would feel like they were really close and wish their relationship was something less platonic. Well, he couldn't just blame her. Why was he reacting like this everytime she said 'cute'? He was 20 for heaven's sake, cute is not supposed to be a turn-on for him considering how often girls used it.
They spoke of their best friends and school and finally when a yawn escaped her, Adrien decided he had kept her up long enough. She waited for him to drive away before walking back in. Adrien however was slightly unsatisfied on the way back home. He tried to remember all his previous interactions with Marinette to see if the mixed signals she was giving was something recent. Back then, she just found it difficult to talk to him normally and he thought she was being alert and wary of him, as if she was unsure of opening up to him. But there were many times where she initiated the conversation, so he knew she atleast thought of him as a good friend. She had definitely changed and seemed more at ease with herself around him. Maybe that's all there is to it. He just wasn't used to her being like this. God, he was so embarassed. She must have thought I was hitting on her. And she had a boyfriend too. God, what was he even trying to do. The scene played in his mind again, this time focusing much less on how beautiful she looked and more on how lame he was being. He whined and pushed his head back against the car seat. He could use a little fresh air to clear his mind. He parked the car on reaching home and waited till he was safely inside with Plagg to transform himself into his superhero counterpart.
Chat Noir roamed around the city jumping from rooftop to rooftop trying to relax with the cool night wind and the few lights. He sat down and closed his eyes but he heard her before she landed next to him. His lady in red was standing there right in front of him, tall and beautiful, against the dark starry background. Her hair in the same two ponytails that made her look much more lively, had curled towards the ends
"Milady, to what do I owe the delight of having you here?"
"I spotted you and thought it was rather unusual for you to be out tonight. Patrol is still 3 days later."
"I'm touched milady, that the purrpose of your being here was to check on me."
"Chat, I thought it was something serious." He saw her eyes shift to look around and then settle back on him. Ah right, they had no way of sensing the presence of an akuma and usually just responded to screams or news reports. Ineffective but it was the best they could manage.
"No no, nothing of the sort. I didn't mean to worry you bugaboo. I just couldn't sleep." He had often called her with all sorts of names out of love and she had just ignored them and dismissed his advances. But seeing her before him with his own eyes, she was way too beautiful for him to accept it and move on. Only time apart would help him but he already pushed that aside. He knew he had to be there for her as Chat Noir, as her crime-fighting partner. They worked well together and trusted each other with their lives already. There was no way he could risk the relationship they already had for the chance of being more intimate with her.
"Oh", she said and looked around before sitting down beside him, "Anything you want to talk about?"
He looked at her and lost himself for a bit. Her eyes were so calm and inviting. "Hm? not really. Just had a sudden change of pace." He almost tumbled off the roof when he felt her hands brushing his hair. Her fingers were so thin and her touch so light, it was almost a dream. He closed his eyes for a while just focusing on the way she moved her hands around his hair. When he opened them again to look at her, she was smiling from ear to ear, "Awww, you were purring"
He blushed, "No, I wasn't"
"Yes, you were"
"No, I wasn't"
"Oh come on chaton, we aren't kids to do this all day. Besides, it was cute." His mind was spinning and words were echoing inside saying 'she said chaton' and 'she called me cute'. He looked at her gentle smile and he just wanted to kiss those lips so much. His blush had faded and he smiled at her with love beaming through his eyes. She smiled back and got up, "Good night Chat."
He watched her leave, swinging with her yoyo, her graceful figure smoothly cutting through the air. He waited a while, but he felt so full of energy, he figured he might as well leave too. He felt loopy with happiness. He jumped between the rooftops on his way back, spinning and laughing. He was finally getting somewhere with her. She was starting to show her affection for him. It wasn't a lost cause. He could take things slow with her until she felt comfortable and it wouldn't adversely affect their teamwork. God, he was so happy, he could sing and dance.
And then he noticed her out on the balcony, looking at him. "Oh", she said, clearly surprised and then she started giggling. "Aren't you a happy little cat?" He stopped on the opposite rooftop, leaning on his staff. "And what's bothering you, princess?", he teased her. Marinette was wearing light pink pajamas with black outlined crowns. Her hair was in a single loose braid and it looked like she was just about to go to sleep. Except for the fact that she was standing out in her balcony instead.
"Nothing. I'm in a good mood. Just stepped out to enjoy the night."
"I would offer a penny for your thoughts but all I have now is my company. We could have a little chat", he said wiggling his eyebrows waiting for her to respond to yet another one of his puns.
"..I'm surprised I haven't heard that one yet."
"I'm full of surprises, princess. Care to take a look?" He leaped over to her side of the roof and sat on the edge of the balcony still keeping a distance from her so she would be comfortable. Why he was entertaining an ordinary civilian had apparently crossed her mind too and she asked, "Why are you taking so much time for me? Aren't you busy being a superhero and stuff?"
"Oh contrare, mon chere. I've got enough time to spare for a friend", he said, winking at her.
"I'll get offended if my 'friend' doesn't know my name."
"Who needs names when I'm talking to my princess? I shall call her only as she wishes to be called." He refrained from saying 'but I already know your name, Marinette'. You had to always be careful when talking to familiar people and realizing that it truly is a small small world made it just that much more difficult.
She smiled that familiar smile and walked towards him,"Princess is alright then"
He tensed up a little. She didn't want to tell him her name. He agreed with that however. Being a superhero that protects Paris was no reason for her to feel safe around him and start getting chatty with. He shouldn't be talking with so much freedom with a 20 year old woman on her own balcony in the middle of the night. What if he gets too comfortable and slips up and she realizes who he is?
"You should probably get some sleep. Your boyfriend might get mad if he knows you were up late talking to another man."
"Already assuming things about me?"
"Nothing wrong with that reasoning. I would get mad if someone other than me spoke to my girl late at night."
"True, nothing wrong with that, except that I don't have a boyfriend. You have a girl?"
The surprise was evident when he heard her claim something so different from what she had just two hours before. "How can a pretty lass like you not have a boyfriend yet?" He just hoped his face showed natural curiosity instad of the confusion and hurt he felt. Why would she tell Adrien she had a boyfriend and Chat Noir that she didn't? What was the truth? Maybe she does not trust Chat enough so didn't want to give out too many details. Yes, he's probably just overthinking things.
She looked back towards her room, "Well, I'm not so sure about my feelings anyway. I used to have a crush on someone but then we lost touch and now I'm not sure about anything. People seem completely different when you haven't seen them for a while."
He nodded, "Well yes, but you'll figure your feelings out once you get to know them again right?" He tried to respond as generic as possible since he still had some doubts.
"Yeah, I'm not too worried about that anyways. What about you, Chat? You have a sweetheart?"
"Is my princess jealous?". He raised an eyebrow at her and she rolled her eyes. A single beep from his ring interrupted their conversation. "Looks like I better get going. Good night, princess. I'll come by some other time."
She smiled, "Good night, Chat". He opened his staff and pounced over the rooftops again, his tail waving in the air behind him. She went back in and closed the balcony door once the faint ringing of his bell died out.