"Chat, this is a ridiculous idea."

"But crazy ideas can lead to great things."

"You can't be serious."

"Oh, but I am~ Nothing I do is half-baked."

"Chat, no."

"Chat, yes."

Of all the things Chat wanted to eat, this was certainly something she didn't expect. Marinette had been a little skeptical when Chat asked her how many flavors of croissants the bakery had in stock and then asked for one of each. So here she was, placed all the croissants on a serving try and laying it on the table in front of Chat Noir. They ranged from chocolate to ham and cheese to the new jalapeño flavor most customers gave a positive review on. She couldn't help but snicker as she imagined all the ways this could go.

"Alright, chaton. I'll believe it when I see it."

"Just wait and see, princess," Chat answered, his sharp cat eyes staring at her as a smirk graced his face.

"Uh-huh," the blunette said with a snicker.

And like that, he was off. His teeth tore into the first croissant like it was his first meal in weeks. Marinette laughed and moved a hand over her face jokingly, to shield herself from any flying pastry pieces. She didn't expect him to go ham on the next croissant within minutes. Certainly, she thought he'd quit by the third. But all good times must come to an end. Not even 5 minutes later, Chat Noir was groaning with his hands on his stomach and his forehead on the counter.

"I can't go on…" he groaned loudly.

"I told you so~" Marinette said with a joking cheeriness. "You barely made a dent in the pile."

"Sure I did!"

"You only ate four out of" she counted the rest on the plate "twenty."

"Go ahead," the hero bemoaned, "Mock my failure to save the people from the croissants that plague their lives!" He covered his forehead with the crook of his arm and leaned against the counter as he pretended to faint.

The pigtailed girl shot him a questioning look and a sassy smirk. "Plague?"

"They are just so tempting! Tasting these is like dying and being sent to heaven. You don't want everyone to die, do you?"

"At the expense of our family business profit, I'd have to say it's worth it if people keep buying."

Chat gasped and held a gloved hand to his heart. "Princess! Who knew you could be so…wicked!"

It was silent for a moment. It felt like a tension was in the air as the two just stared at each other, neither daring to move. But within seconds, their cheeks puffed out before the both burst into laughter. Chat and Marinette doubled over in cheery laughter, holding their stomachs or wiping tears from their eyes. It took longer than probably appropriate—fifteen minutes—to settle down until their bodies only tremored slightly with soft chuckles.

"So what do you want to do now?" Marinette asked with a grin.

But that grin slowly faded as Chat's tail drooped and his eyes fixated on the floor. "Actually…I should probably get home. My injury is doing a whole lot better thanks to you." He stared up at her with a grateful smile. "And I'm sure my…family is worried about me."

"It's okay, Chat, I understand." The designer placed a comforting hand on his shoulder and looked at him with a reassuring smile. "I had fun. I hope we can do this again sometime."

"I had fun too." Chat smiled back and made his way to the back entrance, so he could slip out easily. "And I'll see you again."

"You better."

"Cat's honor." He gave a final salute and left.

Chat Noir didn't show up that night. Nor did he show up next day. Marinette suspect Chat was just as busy as her. She was recently putting new pieces and spruced-up older pieces into her portfolio, hoping to send them to colleges and internships by the time she was old enough to get a job or internship in the industry. Tikki was fast asleep in the tiny bed she made for her, the lid closed to block out the light for Marinette's lamp and she sketched out designs.

A tap at her window roused Marinette from her work. Turning around, she smiled as her saw Chat Noir waving at her. Once she was looking at her, he pointed upward, then hopped upward onto what she assumed was her balcony. Not needing to be told twice, Marinette climbed up to her bed and opened the trap door. But when she opened it, she was surprised to see a flower shoved in her face.

"Uh…" Marinette was at a loss for words as she stared at the fully bloomed light pink peony.

"Well, um…" Chat scratched his neck nervously, darting his daze to the next house over. "I saw the rose on your desk and…I thought…I should give you one too… Princess deserve flowers, right…?"

Marinette blushed as she accepted the flower, holding it close to her chest. She couldn't just tell Chat that he's the one who gave her the rose, so he didn't have to get her anything. That would raise so many questions and Tikki advised her not to reveal her identity lest Hawkmoth use Chat to get to her while she was Marinette. "Th-thank you," the pigtailed girl stuttered, the blush still present on her cheeks. She moved aside and gestured to her room. "Why don't you come in?"

"It's okay. I just thought I'd stop by and thank you again for helping me."

"It's no problem. I hope I don't have to do it again. I hate to see you hurt."

"Thank you, Princess."

In that moment, under the stars, Marinette made a move she never thought she would. She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "No, thank you. Good night Chat Noir."

"Y-y-yeah… Night…" He stiffly turned and jumped away, still in shock from what just happened.

Marinette closed the trapdoor to block that cool night air and made her way down to her desk. She stared at the vase, then at the peony, then back at the vase. With a little smile, Marinette place the peony next to the rose. Finally, she went up to her bad and slipped under the covers, staring at her flowers until she fell asleep.

Reviews welcome! You guys always motivate me to keep going! Thank you!