Chapter 4: The Stray Chat

Marinette thanked Adrien's driver as she slipped out of the car. He gave just a slight nod before shutting the door and reentering the drivers side to head back to the Agreste mansion.

The lights to the bakery were off, and the front door locked. It was after 21:00 after all and the bakery had long been closed. She went around to the side pulling her keys out and let herself in. The stairwell lights were on she noticed, signaling her parents had gone to bed. As she neared the top the of stairs she switched the lights off. Her parents would know she had made it home when they woke up in the wee hours before dawn.

The only light that filtered into their living and kitchen area came from windows. It was more then enough for her to see. Stopping to grab a bottle of water from the fridge, Marinette yawned and made her way up stairs to her room. She plopped herself down in her desk chair as Tiki flew from the confines of her purse.

"So how did it go," Tiki asked, floating in front of her. "We're you able to finish the dress?"

Marinette nodded, sitting up straight to plug her phone into its charger. "The design, yes. Although we have yet to pick out color choices. I created a few swatches, but as far as fabric I have no idea what he has in mind." With her phone plugged in she held the power button, hoping it would power on while connected.

"Did he kiss you?" Tiki suddenly giggled.

The blood rushed to Marinettes face as she turned to glare at her Kwami. "Tiki! Of course not! He's just a friend. I helped a friend."

"I saw the way he was looking you," Tiki smiled. "He had his arm around you."

"You peeked?"

The red bug nodded. "I was bored."

"You could have been caught!"

"I made sure I was careful. I have been doing this for along time," Tiki reminded her.

Marinette sighed, not believing she was having this conversation. Her phone vibrated several times after it loaded. She had several texts of Alya. And a voicemail. Oops.

Girl, what did Adrien have to say?

Mari? Why arent you answering me? Whats going on over there?

Okay, this is ridiculous. Are you out with Adrien? I need the deeds girl! Call me!

Marinette giggled. "I should probably call her, but it is getting late." She looked at the clock to see it was almost 22:00. Sighing, she sent her a text instead.

Sorry! My phone was dead. I did go over to Adriens. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow.

None too soon she had a reply. You better! This is a serious improvement, Girl! Along with the message Alya had sent the Thumbs Up emoji icon.

Marinette giggled at her friends response setting her phone to charge for the evening. "Bed time?" she asked looking at Tiki.

Tiki nodded, flying up to the top loft where Marinette's bed stood.

Going through her evening routine, Marinette quickly joined Tiki in bed, tucking them both in.

"Marinette?" Tiki whispered as she started to drift off.

"Yes, Tiki?"

"Do you ever dream of being Ladybug?"

"Sometimes," she answered, starring at the ceiling. "But never in Paris." Silence. "Its usually in a different time period. But I can never remember the details when I wake up. Weird, huh?"

"Dreams can be gateways to your unconsciousness. They rarely make sense." She yawned.

Tiki quickly fell asleep after that, but Marinette could only stare out the double pained glass hatch door that lead out to the roof. She wasn't terribly tired and her mind kept replaying the events of the evening.

Sighing, she carefully adjusted Tiki on her pillow so she wouldnt wake her. Pushing open the glass hatch, she pulled herself out like she had done a million times before. She starred out into the night, the lights of Paris twinkling.

"It was just friendly, right?" she mumbled to herself, crossing her arms over the banister looking out into the river that flowed by the front of her home. "Adrien doesnt like me that way, does he?" She tried to recall the number of times over the course of the last two years that she had known him where he had flirted with her.

She sighed, not coming up with much. He did put his arm around my shoulders during that time with my great uncle. But that was just to comfort me. A friendly gesture.

Then there was that time he touched my shoulder and I vowed never to wash my jacket again. She giggled at the memory.

Also, when we were practicing for the Ultimate Mega Strike 3 Tournament we touched hands. I saw him blush, but that was it.

She sighed, turning around to slide against the railing, her head falling into her lap. She groaned. "He doesnt like me like that."

"Who doesnt like you like what?" a masculine voice above her asked, laced with a playful tone.

Startled, Marinette threw her head back banging it against the railing. She winced, her vision focusing on Cat Noir sitting on top of her roof in his typical crouched position. He jumped down to join her on the landing.

"Ouch. You okay, Princess?" he asked.

Marinette rubbed the back of her head with a nod and grabbed the extended gloved hand that he offered her. He pulled her to her feet.

"Cat Noir? What are you doing here?" she asked eying him. On occasion, he had a habit of stopping by her place. He claimed it was on his route when he did patrols. Which, she sort of knew to be true. As Ladybug, she knew he preferred to be in the mask and had even told her once it helped him to clear his head, akuma or no akuma.

"I saw you out here so I thought I would stop by," he grinned. "Can't sleep?"

She nodded. "Just a lot on my mind I guess. You?"

"Nothing worth mentioning, least I give away my identity," he winked. "Something interesting happen to you today?" he wiggled his eyebrows at her suggestively.

She rolled her eyes turning to look back over the city. "If you think adding a new project to my already busy schedule is something interesting, then yeah."

Cat was quite for a moment. "Is it a project you dont want to do?" he asked, a hint of sadness in his voice.

"Hmm?" not really catching the change in tone. "No, its actually a welcomed change." She smiled, thinking of working on this project for Adrien, with Adrien. "Its for a friend that I really like."

"Like?" Cat's grin appeared in front of her as he leaned down to look at her.

"Like, like… he's really awesome to be around. I'm just glad I am able to help him, is all." She stumbled over her words. "Its not like I like him.. like that!" She felt her cheeks heat up at the indication. She turned to look at him.

Cat laughed. "I'm just teasing you," he winked at her. "But it is a 'Him', huh?"

"Why, jealous?" she countered, risking a flirty comeback. The blood was draining from her face to its normal color as she snapped with a comeback.

He laughed. "Would I tell you if I was?" When she didnt say anything he continued, looking her up and down. "Lets just say if I was him, I would be jealous if I knew you were talking to some handsome cat on your roof top, dressed in only that."

A horrified look came over her face as she looked down to see what he was talking about. She was in her pajamas, and while it was nothing revealing, the implications of his words hit a cord. She crossed her arms over her gray night shirt in attempt to cover herself. Her pink sleeping pants moved with her as she turned away from him.

He laughed, leaning down to whisper in her ear. "Cat got your tongue?"

She dropped her arms, a smile playing on her lips as she swatted at the annoyance. "You're impossible, you know that? Do you have any idea what normal people do to strays?"

He laughed. "Ladybug tells me that all the time." He winked. "And your not normal, are you, Princess? What do you do with strays?"

She frowned. "Usually feed them." She watched as his eyes grew wide at the mention of food. "Hungry, kitty?"

"Well, now that you mention it, I wouldnt mind a bite to eat." He flexed his muscles. "It takes a lot of fuel to keep these kittens sustained." He proceeded to kiss his biceps.

Marinette smiled, but rolled her eyes. Egotistic. "Let me go see if my parents have anything left over from the day," she said instead. "The super hero of Paris shouldnt go hungry."

"Why, thank you, Princess!" he grinned widely. "This cat always enjoys the spoils the war."

She laughed. "I'll be right back."

It only took her a few moments before she returned with a small plate of croissants. "Its all we had left," she said, setting the plate down on the little patio table. She handed him the glass of milk she had also brought. "Figured you could want a drink, too."

"This is Purr-fect!" He happily gulped down half the milk before grabbing a buttery baked good. "You really are the best," he said between mouthfuls.

"I know a thing or two about cats," she smiled at him, recalling their adventures and his cat like displays. She flicked his bell.

His eyes widened at her bold move. Marinette quickly realized that it was something Ladybug would often do. I hope he doesnt connect the two, she silently thought.

"You know, Chat," she said changing the subject so he wouldnt have time to think about it, "I enjoy your company. Its so… spontaneous. Your much more calm then you seem to be when around Ladybug."

"How so?" he asked her, licking the last traces of bread from his claws. He looked at her in question.

"Well, for starters Paris see's you as its hero. But if you read the Ladyblog, you are also known as the flirty, immature savior. Whereas Ladybug is more serious and tends to get things done." She looked at him waiting to see his reaction. "But you seem different then what Ayala and the Ladyblog claim you to be."

"Why, Princess, do I dare say you are falling for my charm?"

"Pfft. Dream on Kitty. Im just saying," she paused trying to think of what Marinette would say, "you're a lot different then I imaged you to be."

"I'll take that as a compliment." He gave her a low bow. "Does this mean we are friends?"

She smiled at that thought. I can be friends with him as Marinette. But as Ladybug, he is my partner. Those are two lives that have to be kept separate.

"You've visited how many times in the last 2 years and your just now asking that?"

"To be fair, I really was in the area, or checking up on you since you seem to be around a lot of akuma attacks. I wouldnt want my favorite Princess to get hurt, would I?" He leaned down to look her in the eye.

She blushed, but reached up to rub one of his fake cat ears. "Favorite, huh? How many Princess's do you have?"

His eyes glazed over as if he could feel her touch on his cat ear. Who knows, maybe he could.

"Just one. So that automatically makes you my favorite," he teased her, leaning into her touch. He let out a soft groan.

Was that a purr? Marinette wondered. It sounded like a purr, but with more of a masculine groan of pleasure. She blushed at the thought and the situation she had started.

"You wouldnt want Ladybug to be jealous," she mentioned breaking him out of his trance.

He pulled away from her at the mention of his lady and coughed. He stood at full height with his hands resting on his hips as he looked over the city. "Speaking of which, I better finish this patrol so I can report back to her tomorrow," he announced, obviously getting himself out of the embarrassed situation. He looked back down at her, being a full head taller then her. "And you should get some sleep yourself. Dont you have school tomorrow?"

"Yea," she sighed, groaning.

"Wouldnt want you to be late on the account of me," he teased, swinging his leather belt tail in circles in another attempt to flirt with her. Another attempt to keep up the facade.

Marinette raised an eyebrow at him. "Don't worry, Kitty. I wont loose any sleep over you."

"Ouch again," he smiled, jumping onto the banister, one hand holding him up the other behind his back as he grabbed his baton. "Thanks again for the food. Can I… can I visit more often?" he was hesitant to ask.

Marinette smiled and rested a hand on his forearm. "Of course, Kitty. Just dont make it a habit. I'm not sure what I would tell my parents if they caught me feeding a stray every night."

He smiled at her in thanks before saluting her, his baton in hand. "I'll catch you later then, Princess." He winked, doing a double flip off her roof before she could give her goodbye.

Marinette smiled as she watched her partner disappear over the roof tops, his form blending in with the night until he was out of sight. Silly kitty.

"Marinette?" Tiki called when the girl in question sank back down in her bed after closing the hatch. "Visiting with Chat Noir?"

Marinette nodded. "He stopped by."

"It could be dangerous being his friend outside of the costume," she warned.

Marinette sighed. "I know, Tiki. I'll be careful, though. I promise."

The little Kwami nodded before falling back to sleep.

Closing her eyes, Marinette's thoughts became that of Ladybug and Cat Noir. He had become one of her closest friends, both with the mask and without. As Ladybug he was her partner, and she trusted him with her life. As Marinette he was a friend that randomly dropped in to ask about her day- to check up on her. Both aspects of her life that she kept secret from everyone else. I really do lead a double life, she thought as she drifted to sleep.