Chapter 2: Don't Apologize

Marinette was floating. Adrien was actually taking her to the party. Him, Adrien, he was taking her to the party!

She was still in shock. As she closed the trapdoor behind her and entered into her room, she shuddered. Hot showers were the best, but they only came second to Adrien.

She tied a robe around her waist and toweled her hair dry.

She felt giddy beyond all measure. She jumped up and down a little, then spotted Tikki, who was carrying a blowdryer over to her and exclaimed, "Tikki! Oh, my gosh! Can you believe it?"

Tikki struggled, and Marinette graciously accepted the blowdryer from her.

She huffed out her breath. "I can, actually. You're just that amazing, Marinette."

Marinette smiled at her, and switched the blowdryer on. The sound of whirring slowly filled the room, and Marinette hummed. Days like these were the best. Days where she felt uncontented happiness.

The promise of something great happening was a great feeling for Marinette, and she relished in it every chance she got. She hummed a simple tune, and Tikki floated down to sit on her lap, her eyes drooping and sleepy.

The atmosphere in her room was calm and content. She had a great day and, now, she was going to have an equally great sleep. Sure, the day had gone off to a crappy start, but that didn't mean it should end the same way, should it?

She clicked the blowdryer off, and fluffed her hair. She lightly snickered while picking up Tikki from her lap. "Up you go."

She carried her over to the spare pillow she kept beside her bed, which served as Tikki's bed, and gently laid her on top of it. Tikki groaned, then curled in on herself. Marinette gently smiled while stroking her sleeping head, before standing up to change her clothes.

She had already laid them out on her chaise and, as she climbed down the steps of her bed, she thought about Adrien and slowly smiled as his gleaming, handsome face appeared in her mind's eye.

She was sliding off her robe, ready to shrug into her pajama bottoms, when she heard a noise. She stilled, immediately covering herself again, before looking up. The noise had come from above her room, which meant someone was on her terrace. Or something.

She knew that her terrace was high enough to avoid the possiblity of any straggling cats to take refuge there. So she went with the former possible reason, albeit a little shakily.

Tikki had woken up, and was staring at her with wide, startled eyes. As Marinette moved forward, she signaled her to hide. Tikki hesitated for a moment, before flying down to hide in one of Marinette's drawers. ]

She tried to calm herself down by taking deep breaths as she climbed the steps up to her bed. She stood up on her bed and stared at the trapdoor, waiting for any other kind of noise.

Instead, she heard a knock. She stared confusedly at the trapdoor, remaining deathly quiet.

Another knock. She felt compelled to respond but stayed quiet for another moment.

Then came another knock, and Marinette sucked in a breath. She brushed her away from her face, and resolved her posture as she pressed her ear up to the trapdoor.

She breathed out shakily. "Who is it?"

A long second passed before she heard a voice. "Marinette, it's- uh, it's Chat Noir."

She suddenly felt like passing out. What was Chat Noir doing here?

She stilled when she recalled the previous night.

But, could he be here because...?

She shook her head. That was such a silly reason. He wouldn't surely be here because of that.

Or would he?

Her brain was currently doing her the gracious favor of not working. She shook out her whole body before thinking that whatever reason he was here for, she would only find out if she talked to him. And, she was going to do just that.

She slowly pushed up the trapdoor and poked her head out.

As expected, Chat Noir was standing there, his lip stressed between his teeth, and determination etched across his face.

He noticed her and immediately bent down to clasp her hand, pulling her up on to the terrace. She let go of his hand, and grasped at the hems of her sleeves, staring up at him expectantly.

He cleared his throat. "Um, you're probably wondering why I'm here."

She narrowed her eyes conspicuously. "Yes. I am."

His demeanor looked quite different from his usual flirty self, Marinette noticed. When he didn't respond, she leaned forward a little.

"Chat, is something wrong? You look worried."

Chat only stepped away, folding his arms. Marinette frowned. This wasn't right. Something was off about her kitty.

"Uh, I- I have to confess something. To you, I mean."

Marinette widened her eyes, her mind wandering to the previous night, and the clench in her heart she had felt when she noticed him leaping away.

She kept her face neutral and curious. "And? Is this about me?"

Chat nodded slowly.

Marinette was officially freaking out. Suddenly, her theory seemed that much more plausible.

She feigned curiosity, her mind bursting inside. "What is it?"

He looked at her, mask wrinkling as he probably frowned underneath his messy bangs.

"Marinette, I have to apologize to you."

Marinette folded her arms, a frown alighting her face. "What for?"

He took a deep breath, and continued. "Last night, uh, I saw you. Dancing, while I was patrolling. I continued to breach your privacy several minutes after that and, for that, I am truly and terribly sorry."

He finished in a shaky breath, and he bowed. His hands were fidgeting behind his back.

Marinette took a step back.

What.

Wow, ok. I was right. Huh.

Wait, what did he just-

The reality of the situation suddenly came crashing down upon her, and she flushed down to her toes, her mouth agape. She was trying to speak, but her mouth wouldn't move. She was frozen and she suddenly didn't remember how to breathe.

Chat Noir looked up, curious because of the silence.

"Um, Princess? What's wrong? Are you okay?"

Marinette only stuttered, reddening even more. "Uh, I- I, um. Nothing. Nothing's wrong. Wh-why would you think s-something's wrong?"

Don't faint, don't faint, don't faint, don't faint, don't faint-

She had her head down, and her hair was covering her face. Chat Noir raised an eyebrow.

He reached his hand out to brush her away, forcing her to look him in the eye. She instantly cringed due to the inforced contact.

"Princess, I understand. What I did was wrong. I'm a terrible person. I'm sorry."

He bitterly ended his sentence, and pulled away from her. He turned and pulled out his baton, extending it.

"Uh, I should go-"

She looked up, eyes wide.

She instantly reached out to clasp his shoulder and pulled him back. But, she accidentally pulled him back with more force than necessary, and he crashed into her.

She froze, her face smushed into his chest, her arms on either side of him.

How did I get myself into this?

She tried to conjure up some strength in her arms, and pushed him back, blushing profusely.

He was looking down at her, equally as startled and flustered as her.

She recalled his recent words, how he had called himself a terrible person and, suddenly, she found her voice.

She looked up, determined. "Chat, no. Please don't say that. I know you wouldn't ever incriminate me in any sort of way. I know you're a good person,"

Her eyes softened, and she smiled gently at him. "And I hope you know that, too."

She noticed that it took him atleast a second to react. But, nonetheless, she stiffened when he suddenly pulled her in, his head buried in her hair. She noticed that he was trembling and, after a moment's contemplation, she wound her arms around his shoulders, comforting him.

"Thank you," She heard him whisper into her hair.

She felt light-headed and dizzy, but she still found enough strength in herself to whisper back. "No problem."

She felt him smile into her hair. They stayed like that for several seconds, both comforted by each others presence. Slowly, Marinette pushed him back and looked up at him.

His eyes were half-closed and he was staring at her with some raw emotion. She suddenly felt the weight which was bearing down upon them and hastily stepped back, smiling to thaw out any sort of awkwardness.

She wound her robe tightly around her shoulders, feeling chilly. She peeked at him through the curtain of hair covering her face as the wind blew in slow torrents, and wondered.

"Chat, actually, I also have something to confess."

She felt him staring at her, eyes lifted in curiosity. "What is it?"

She smiled at him slyly, filing away the expression he gave when he saw her face in her mind. "I already knew."

He gaped. "Huh?"

She hunched up her shoulders, giving a shrug. "I saw you that night. After I had turned off the music, I looked out the window and saw you leaping away."

His face flickered through a million different expressions before settling on one. Embarassment. She laughed, feeling a cheeriness bubble up in her chest at catching sight of his adorable, sheepish expression.

His eyes widened more at hearing her laugh, and he pouted. "Princess, I did not have you pegged for being that sort of person."

She stilled, still snickering lightly. "What sort?"

Chat Noir bunched up his shoulders and feigned exasperation. "Why, Princess, you peeped on me!"

Marinette laughed out loud. "Kitty, I think you're reversing the roles here."

He ignored her and went on, waggling his eyebrows playfully. "Oh! But don't worry. I'll forgive you."

Marinette played along, smiling as if she would break into a fit of laughs at any moment. "Gosh, I don't know what I would've done!"

Chat smiled at her cheekily. "Well, I do have an idea."

She shoved him away lightly, and they both laughed. She caught her breath, huffing, her cheeks still red. "Chat... I think... you should go."

He was also recovering from the fit of laughter. "You're right."

She stood back and watched him take out his baton once again and extend it. He perched himself ontop of the railing and looked back at her, his eyes full of promise. "Princess?"

She rubbed her hands, blowing at them. "Hm?"

"Can I come back again?"

She stiffened and looked at him in surprise. But, when she saw those emerald green eyes twinkling in the moonlight with a certain type of attachment, every last bit of her resolve crippled.

"Of course." She smiled. He smiled back, and her heart thudded in her chest.

"Goodbye, Princess." He leaped off the railing, giving her a two- fingered salute.

"Bye, Kitty," She whispered underneath her breath, captivated by the sight of his form jumping across roofs. She stood there until he was no longer visible underneath the moonlight. She sighed, closing her eyes. She felt her breath puff out, and she looked at it until it dissipated into the air.

She wondered if winter was going to come early this year, and wondered if Chat Noir felt the same way as she closed the trapdoor behind her and crumpled on her bed, not bothering to change into her night clothes.

Adrien called off his transformation and fell backwards on his bed, sighing. He covered his eyes with his arms, groaning. He turned to his side and let his legs hang towards the ground. He sighed again.

Plagg raised an eyebrow and floated over to his face. "Hey, kid. Did somebody die or something?"

He then smirked, eyes twinkling and whiskers twitching. "Missing your princess?"

Adrien glared at him and swatted him away. "Or something."

Plagg folded his arms. "Well, if you don't wanna talk, don't. Atleast tell me where the camembert is.

Adrien pointed in a direction thataway. "It's in the drawer."

Plagg instantly brightened and floated over to where the drawer was, vocally expressing his love for the smelly cheese.

Meanwhile, Adrien tossed and turned on his bed as his mind instantly wandered over to Marinette. He still couldn't believe that she had already known that he had been there, spying on her. His whole apology suddenly seemed very embarrassing.

He remembered how she had vehemently denied Alya that she hadn't been busy the said previous night and he blushed.

He recalled how her body had been so warm when he hugged her, and how her hair had been a little wet. He wondered if she had just gotten out of the shower when he had paid her his impromptu visit, judging by her robe and loose hair.

She looked good with loose hair. Not that she didn't look cute already with pigtails but, something about her, with her hair open and loose just made her look... vulnerable.

He opened his eyes and stared at the cold, gray ceiling of his room and remembered how her hair had tickled him a little in the face when he had pressed her close, and how her robe had felt fuzzy when he had flattened his hands against the small of her back.

He remembered how her cheeks had been flushed when she had looked up at him. He remembered her gentle smile and how soft she looked when she had called him a good person.

He closed his eyes and pressed his face into his pillow and fisted his bed sheets. He remembered everything; desperate not to forget a detail of her face.

He had actually asked if he could come back again. And she had said 'yes'! He couldn't believe it! Then again, he couldn't believe that she had actually forgiven him.

He sighed and flexed his hand. It had gotten late. He turned his head and stared out the large window covering his wall and into the night sky, which was littered with stars. Shimmering and glistening, like her eyes had been.

He pressed his pillow into his face with a little more force, agitated with himself.

He didn't understand the thumping of his chest whenever he recalled even a fragment of her smile. He didn't understand the momentary loss of breath he had whenever he watched her face morph into something delightful. He didn't understand the urge to press her close whenever he saw her eyes soften, her lips parten.

He released the pillow and exhaled a breath. He didn't understand himself. He liked Ladybug! He was supposed to feel these emotions for Ladybug!

But, in a corner of his mind, he couldn't help but wonder how it all had felt so right, how she had felt so right.

He wondered if he had a thing for girls with blue eyes and pigtails.

He groaned, thumping his forehead against the headboard of hs bed. He was tired. He slowly pressed himself into his sheets, letting his eyes droop close.

He recalled how she had pressed into herself when he had let her go, and how she had warmed her hands by blowing on them, and wondered if winter was coming early this year.

Marinette woke up in a daze the next morning.

She rubbed her eyes confusedly and eyed the robe in which she had slept. Her hair was a mess. She stepped of her bed and groaned, rubbing her back. She yawned while looking around her room, spotting her pajamas laid out on the chaise. She slowly picked them up and shoved them into the closet.

It seemed that the night went by like a dream, as she recalled the slowly resurfacing memories, dimly. All of it suddenly came back in a rush, and she gasped.

Of course.

Ah, had she seriously given him permission to come back again? She groaned and buried her face in her hands. What if he came tonight? There wasn't much she could do, she had given him permission after all.

She sighed and pulled off her robe. She eyed it and frowned, recalling how he had pressed his face into her hair. She closed her eyes and tried not to think about him too much.

She saw something move in her peripherals as she shrugged on her t shirt, and saw Tikki floating up, sleepily rubbing her eyes.

"You're up early," She said groggily.

"Well, I guess I learned my lesson from last time," Marinette smiled apologetically.

Tikki paused and seemed to recall something. "How did it go with Chat Noir?" Marinette freezed in the act of pulling up her jeans and sputtered, clearly flustered.

"Fine. It went fine. H-how do you think it went?"

Tikki narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Come to think of it, why was he here anyway?"

Tikki was asking a lot of questions this morning. Marinette wrinkled her eyebrows in frustration. "He was here to apologize."

Tikki widened her eyes. "Huh? What did he do? Did he do something to you?

"It was something about 'breaching my privacy', I don't know. I forgave him. Whatever. It's in the past, anyway," Marinette said, feigning nonchalance.

Tikki furrowed her brows in thought. "Chat Noir's surprisingly considerate."

"Annoyingly so," Marinette muttered under her breath. Tikki hummed. Marinette fidgeted, recalling something.

"Um, also, I kinda, sorta, gave him permission to come back. Again."

Tikki bristled, exclaiming. "Wha- Marinette, that's reckless!"

Marinette retorted in defense. "But, he asked so innocently! He seemed so lonely."

Tikki put her fingers up to her temples, tutting in disapproval. "You know he can't discover your identity. And, inviting him to your own house is doing just that."

"He won't. He doesn't suspect a thing." Marinette assured her. Tikki seemed to calm down after hearing her resolute words, muttering under her breath every now and then.

Marinette heard a clack downstairs, then a voice. It was her mother. "Marinette! Breakfast's ready!"

"Coming, Maman!"

Marinette looked back at her kwami and smiled. "Come on, let's go." She opened the clasp of her purse invitingly and, after a moment, Tikki flew into it. Marinette closed her purse, grabbed her bag and phone, and ran down the steps of her room.

Her mother was rustling in the kitchen, and noticed her after hearing her thudding steps.

Marinette pulled out a chair and sat on it, folding her arms on the countertop. Her mother laid out a plate of pancakes in front of her and, after smiling at her mother gratefully, she dug into it.

Her mother smiled at her affectionately. "This is rare."

Marinette looked up, confused. "What is?"

"You waking up this early."

Marinette smiled at her in discomfort. Why does everybody think it's so weird?

"Guess I had a good sleep last night," Marinette shrugged.

Her mother gave her a wink and smiled, turning her back and flipping a new batch of pancakes on the stove. "Guess so."

Marinette raised her eyebrow at her mother's unusual behaviour, than jumped as her phone suddenly chimed.

She opened it and furrowed her brow as she read the text sent by Alya. It seemed that something was going on at school. The text was vague. It just told her to 'come to school quick'.

Marinette pocketed her phone and put down her fork. She hastily shouldered her bag, grabbed her scarf and wrapped it around her neck, and kissed her mother on the cheek before running out the door.

The last thing she heard before the click of the door was: "Be careful, Marinette!"

She ran down the stairs, hoping, and wondering, that whatever had happened, it wasn't an akuma.

It was an akuma.

Adrien ran into the courtyard of the school and stared up at the onslaught of debris which was being hurtled their way. A lot of students were clearing out of the school.

He quivered as one rock nearly scratched him on the arm. He looked around, trying to find a place to transform, and he spotted Nino standing dangerously close to the 'danger zone'. He ran towards him and tackled him down on the ground as a big rock came flying and smashed into the wall behind them, passing exactly the same spot where Nino had been standing.

Nino's glasses cracked slightly and he gasped. Adrien apologized as he stood up, giving him a hand.

Nino brushed down his clothes, grinning. "No way, dude. Woah. That was awesome. Thanks."

Adrien accepted his thankfulness with a smile. "Yeah, well, you should be getting out of here."

Nino raised an eyebrow. "What? You ain't coming?"

Adrien faltered at his question. "Yeah, uh- I left something. In class. I gotta go get it."

Nino's expression became concerned. "Hey, man, i don't think- I mean, this akuma look's pretty dangero-"

Adrien drowned him out and started running towards the stairs. He bounded up and stared at the crowd of students in his peripherals, already dissipating from the scene of the attack. He sighed in relief as he ran into a random, empty classroom. He closed the door behind him and turned, already unzipping his bag.

Plagg flew out, looking tired as he clutched a cube of camembert to his body. "Just say the words, kid."

Adrien nodded and extended his hand. "Plagg, claws out!"

Great. Just great.

It had to be an akuma. Now her morning was ruined. And she had woken up early, too.

She ran into the school, pausing to scan the casualties. There weren't any straggling students, and she assumed they had already cleared out.

She wished that Alya had been a little specific in her text and told her that it was an akuma. However, she wasn't sure why she had even called her to the school but, considering her 'reporter tendencies', it was weirdly normal. But, at the moment, Marinette couldn't find her anywhere. She figured she had already left, hopefully with Adrien, Nino, and the rest of the class.

Tikki tugged on her shirt and she looked down. "Marinette, come on."

Marinette nodded and ran further into the courtyard to find a place to transform.

However, there was one thing stopping her.

She stared up at the huge boulder which had suddenly deposited itself infront of her. She strained to look further up, and saw someone standing ontop of it. She stepped away from it and started running in the opposite direction.

Oh, god, please no. Atleast let me transform-

The boulder suddenly came around to halt her in her steps again. She frowned at it, then shuddered as the ground quavered. She stared as the boulder suddenly descended, almost decreasing in size.

The person standing ontop considered her with careful eyes, perched just two inches above Marinette's eye level.

She was wearing a bright green jumpsuit with an orange choker around her neck. She seemed pretty normal, except for her light pink skin. Marinette considered her, spotting a plain notebook in her hand.

She looked familiar. She wasn't a student, and Marinette wondered if she was a teacher there at the school. The akuma narrowed her eyes, than smirked devilishly.

"You're a pretty girl. Dainty, fragile- just what I need." Marinette stared at her in confusion. "Um, thanks-"

She stopped as she saw her finger extend, turning pointy -almost like the nib of a pen-, and she trembled as the sky suddenly turned gray.

Marinette felt like she was drowning as she saw everything move in slow motion. She gaped at the akuma, still jotting something down on her notepad. She reached out to slap her hand away from the notepad, but someone beat her to it.

She turned around to look back and saw Chat Noir standing ways behind her, clutching his baton and smiling cheekily.

"Can't deny that."

Marinette blushed at his words, recognizing them as a retort to the akuma's comment. The akuma was quick on her step as she suddenly moved forward to grab Marinette but Chat shot out, tackling Marinette around the waist and jumping over the akuma's head.

Marinette hastily wrapped her arms around his neck, staring wide eyed back at the akuma as it chased them. "Chat-"

"Don't worry, Princess. I'll take you to a safe place." Chat tightened his jaw.

"No, Chat, look out!"

Chat halted as a huge rock crashed into their path. Chat pressed Marinette closer into his chest and broke out into a full run, jumping on rooftops, maneuvering his way around the thousand rocks which obstructed his way.

Soon, the rocks stopped coming and Marinette breathed a sigh, loosening her grip around Chat's shoulders.

He touched down on a secluded rooftop, pausing to let Marinette step out of his arms. He scanned the area then deamed it to be safe, not noticing any boulders or rocks. A slight breeze flew out and Marinette's scarf flew open. She gathered it around her neck again, shivering.

Chat smiled. "That's a pretty scarf, Princess."

Marinette smiled at him softly. "Thanks, Chat. For saving me."

"Anytime." Chat turned, extending his baton. He turned back for a brief moment, and gave her a sincere smile. She flushed underneath his gaze.

"Stay safe, Princess. I'll come back to get you." And, with that, he jumped out into the open, seemingly flying above the buildings. Marinette stilled while staring at his form waver underneath the bright morning sunlight, feeling a familiar sensation, as if staring out a balcony.

She turned back, opening the clasp of her purse. Tikki flew out, surprise evident on her face.

Marinette tightened her jaw. "We can't wait for Chat, Tikki."

Tikki faltered for a moment. "You're right. But what if he comes back?"

Marinette knit her eyebrows. "I'll make up some excuse."

Tikki stared at her, concern etched on her face, and Marinette called on her transformation. After the brief explosion of red light, she stood in her spot covered bodysuit, staring out into the open, glimpsing a fleeting explosion of dust in the distance. She whipped out her yo-yo and pulled her body forward.

As she felt the wind hitting her face, her feet fluttering across the concrete surfaces, she set her face in determination.

Chat Noir smacked the akuma in the face with his baton, halting to survey the akuma's painful expression.

Where was Ladybug?

The akuma had surfaced a long time ago, and Ladybug was mostly the first one to respond to attacks.

He dodged another rock which was hurtled his way.

The akuma was constantly blabbing about being undermined, underappreciated and unrecognized. It also seemed to be turning civilians into specific characters or personas she thought best fit them.

And, now, they were walking around like zombies, constantly groaning and moaning about finding 'their story'.

Chat Noir parried a hit, and punched her in the face.

She fell down on the ground hard. She stood up, sneering at him. "You know, you'll make a perfect villain."

Chat felt oddly insulted. He was just about to retort back when he stopped, attention caught, when the wind suddenly changed colour and her finger morphed into a pen, touching her notepad.

Chat Noir stepped forward to smack her notepad away, but everything was moving in slow motion. The akuma was busy jotting down on her notepad, and Chat felt like gasping for breath. He wondered for a moment if this was what Marinette had felt, and his anger flared.

Suddenly he saw something wrapp around the akuma's notebook, and it was yanked out of her hands. The atmosphere slowly came back to normal, and the wind became lively again.

Chat took the opportunity and instantly striked her in the face with his baton and she fell down on the ground, groaning. Chat looked up and saw Ladybug standing on a nearby rooftop, looking radiant as the wind blew her hair away from her face.

Ladybug smirked at his dumbfound expression and threw down the notebook. Chat Noir caught it, summoning his special power. He cataclysmed it, gazing up as a black butterfly fluttered up into the sky.

Ladybug touched down beside him and caught the butterfly, cleansing the city from the inflicted damage. Chat stepped back to observing the city, looking like it had never been attacked by rock tornadoes.

The lady groaned, sitting up in confusion, and wondered aloud. "What am I doing here?" Meanwhile, Ladybug and Chat Noir celebrated their success with a fistbump.

Ladybug pulled back, snickering. "That was easy. I didn't even have to use the lucky charm."

Chat eyed her. "Huh. Where were you, my lady?"

Ladybug stuttered. "O-oh, I was held up. At school."

Chat narrowed his eyes. "Hmm." Ladybug instantly realized that she had let a slip up, and she hastily changed the subject.

"Well, looks like you did a good job here, kitty."

Chat instantly brightened at the compliment. "The drive to see you kept me going, my lady."

Ladybug waved him off, turning to look at the horde of press and media approaching them, huddled with mics. Chat's ring beeped and he looked down at his hand, remembering something.

Ladybug turned towards him. "You can go. I'll be in charge of damage control."

"No, Ladybug, it's Marinette. I left her stranded on a building. I have to take her back."

Ladybug had moved toward the akuma victim to tend to her, and she stared back at him, surprised at the sudden worry which appeared on his face.

"Kitty, you can go. You're running out of time. I already took her home."

Chat looked at her with amazement and affection. "Seriously, my lady? Thank you!"

Ladybug was stunned. Chat Noir's ring beeped again, and he realized he had only three minutes left before he changed back. He waved farewell to the female heroine sitting flushed beside the victim and he took off, leaving her to give a word to the press.

As he leaped on rooftops he remembered Marinette's smile, and he had a sudden urge to go and see her again. He halted at a rooftop, feeling his arm bump into his side as he stared out into the sun, the wind blowing his bangs away from his eyes.

Yup. He couldn't wait to see her.

~End Chp. 2~