The rain was pouring as soon as he'd left. Which meant Marinette had to trek out to the motel in rain that pelted her, making her hair stick to her face and her clothes soak her skin. She shivered despite her best efforts. She opened the door, and the youngish man (she guessed he was about thirty five roughly, give or take) raised his head in an unappreciating manner.
"Welcome to the Grand Pierre motel." He drawled, "If you're after a phone, lines are down. Electricity cut after this storm." He explained.
"No, I'm- waiting for Chat." After a minute, she realised he had no idea who Chat was.
"Oh. Room 564, third floor." He handed her a room key. She raised an eyebrow.
One step ahead, as always.
"Th-thanks." She stuttered, leaving him. She took the stairs and she sighed, thinking things through. She'd came to one conclusion:
Whatever Chat was, he wasn't human. The door was already open when Marinette reached the room. Chat was hunched over the bed, and from his body language, and the shaking, he was crying. Aw, she thought, was he scared she'd break up with him? I mean, granted, she would be really angry if he'd lied to her, but if he was in a state, she couldn't scare him too much.
"Chat Noir..." She whispered. "It's okay."
"Marinette?" He stood up, and his gaze was scarily hungry. "I haven't fed for a week." He whispered, and it took all of his willpower to not take her in his arms and pierce the girl's throat. "Sit down, please."
"Uh, what's going on?" She asked, panicking. He moved closer; his hand slipping under her jacket. He slid it off, looking at her with his beautiful emerald eyes. Those eyes, staring in hers, with such emotion and devotion. And devestation, because he knew she'd hate him after he explained everything. Knew that he'd be left in this motel room, the mutts would find her, use her to their advantage, then kill her. Then he'd have lost everything, lost all purpose, and after watching his father when Queen Emelie, Adrien's mother, died, he wouldn't let her go. Even if he had to chain her in the dungeons to stop her from leaving him.
"Marinette, I'm not like you, not in the slightest. Aside from looks and personality, I'm not human. I know that sounds absurd, but I'm from a race as old as time itself. I am a vampire, well known by my own kind and beloved, hated and despised by my enemies, which, as you could have gathered, are werewolves." He paused, and she simply nodded, a sign to continue. No hand squeeze to comfort him, why would he- should he- expect anything different? "They want my cooperation, something they're not getting. They'll go to any lengths to get it, and that length is you. I won't let them take you, and I understand if you don't care about me, or if you hate me, but you have to understand, this is more important- you are most important to me- and if you won't let me protect you, then at least let me bring someone else there to watch over you. If they have you... I don't know what will happen. I'm scared, Mari, so goddamn scared of the future." Now she looked at him, and she watched him. How could she hate him? He might not have been human, but it didn't change her feelings towards him. She moved forwards, her hands on his chest. He shivered under her touch, and she knew that it wasn't werewolves that scared him, but losing her. And as much as it was a huge ordeal to take in, she swallowed it, and the only thing that frightened her was those green eyes that were turning burning red, those sharp teeth. Would he bite her? No, he wouldn't. He was scared of losing her. She tilted her head up, her mouth moving against his. He backed her against the wall, and his breath was hot as he moved his mouth against hers. She let out a small gasp when her body was slammed against the wall. His lips curved in a small smile, and she looked at him lovingly. "I take it you still love me?"
"I never stopped." She whispered, and pulled him closer to her. He groaned at how much he wanted her- needed her, really- but knew not to overwhelm her with his demons. "What is it?"
"I'm fine, just hungry."
"Will you bite me?" She sounded nervous. He cupped her face.
"Never without your permission." He promised, "come with me, you'll be safe, and I swear that the werewolves will never dare come to the Palace." She moved away, confused.
"Palace?" She asked. A young man, looking both equally handsome and elegant as Chat, opened the window.
"Lord Adrien." He bowed. She squeaked, his golden eyes watched her. "You must be Marinette. I'm Lord Damon. Now, Adrien, we have to go, now. I'll explain on the way. The mutts have kidnapped Rosa." Adrien, or Chat, raised an eyebrow.
"Then I'll come. Marinette, stay here until I'm back." He whispered, pecking her cheek. She nodded, and then grabbed his arm.
"Could you bring some clothes back from my place?" She asked. He shook his head.
"I'll bring some back from the castle, because you're house isn't safe. Now you understand why I didn't want your parents to know about us. They're safe, and so are you. Anyone comes, you scratch, you bite, you scream. I don't care if you rip their balls out and gouge their eyes out, you don't let them take you." He told her, "I promise I'll be back. There's only one mutt you can trust. Nino, and if he tells you to trust him, ask him for the secret code."
"Secret code?" She echoed.
"April." He answered. "I'll see you soon, princess."
