...wow, has, what, has it truly been a year since I. Pfft. I... don't have a horrible sense of motivation, I don't know what you're on about. Ha. Haha... Marichat May 2016 in 2017 is the in thing. I promise.
In all honesty, I'm so sorry for this chapter. I got stuck on it, and put it away to meditate over it, but nothing seemed right. I'm still horribly dissatisfied with it, but you guys deserve a updates to this. Eventually I churned this out just to get it out of the way so I can move on. I am so sorry for the quality of this chapter and hope you guys stick with me despite this blurb I spit out. I've set goals, so hopefully I can have some semblance of a schedule. I'm so sorry guys.
Sometimes Chat Noir strolls casually through Paris in order to shake hands and take selfies with civilians. There are a few faces that he's learned the names of, as he tends to frequent the same places. A certain food vendor, Notre Dame, or, his favorite, the park across from a certain Patisserie.
Though maybe that's because of the girl he can often find in this park, with her tongue poking out between her lips and her sketchbook propped up between the dip of her crossed legs. Chat usually plops down beside her and sets his chin on Marinette's shoulder, eagerly watching the girl's mental vision spring to life on the page. She'll often simply push his head away and carry on, but if she's in a really good mood or deep into "designer mode", she'll let him stay in place. He used to be able to embarrass her more easily out in public, since people would stop and stare and take pictures of Chat Noir chilling with a random civilian, but Paris has grown accustomed to attaching the face of the baker's daughter to that of the superhero. (The paparazzi had required a more… personal visit to deter them, but all worked out in the end).
As he leaps off one of the buildings near the park, a grin takes over his face at the thought of this being a good day. Earlier at school, Marinette had seemed ecstatic about the newest Agreste competition, even if she was only able to babble in Adrien's general direction about it (and goddamn if it wasn't the most adorable thing he'd seen all day). Chat has no doubt that he can find his princess in her spot on the fountain, scrawling away in her sketchbook with a grin on her face.
Chat ambles his way into the park, pausing to greet a few wowed children. He braces his arms around one child as her mother asks for a picture, throwing up a couple of finger guns. Snickering as the girl copies his pose, his ears swivel back as shrill, familiar laugher draws his attention. He quickly forces his ears back to the front as the mother takes the picture, standing almost immediately. The child giggles as Chat turns to the side to ruffle her hair, eyes scanning over her head for the source of the laughter and the sinking feeling in his gut.
Sure enough, the hero catches sight of two girls exiting the park, a blond with her head tossed back in laughter and a redhead who gazes up at her adoringly, a smirk curling her lips. Chat's blood turns to ice in his veins as he watches Chloé and Sabrina stroll off, giggling. Dread curls warningly in his chest as he turns his attention to the park, wishing desperately he could see the fountain- and Marinette.
It's common knowledge that Chloé and Marinette compete for the top spot with their designs, though the brunette came out on top more often than not. Chloé actually has a great sense of fashion and originality when she doesn't compare herself to others (specifically Marinette), he'd seen it as Adrien before. But the blonde had never hand sewn anything a day in her life, whereas Marinette hand stitched almost everything she made. Chat's princess simply has more experience doing what she does, so she makes the cut (whether it be a contest, a grade, or simply a present) in a fair judgement more often than Chloé.
And if Adrien knows anything, it's that Chloé loathes it.
"Chat Noir?" He flinches lightly in surprise, gaze snapping to the mother who had taken the picture. She smiles softly. "You look like you have somewhere you need to be."
Chat chuckles sheepishly, a clawed hand scratching the back of his neck even as he backs away. "You're right… I'm sorry to bail so hastily, but-"
"Go on," the mother laughs softly, shooing lightly with one hand as the other wraps securely around her little girl's upper arm. "I know your 'princess' enjoys that park."
"That she does…" Chat grins and excuses himself properly, turning tail and pulling out his baton to leap over the park gates (his grin widens as he hears the child scream in delight at the show). He lands lightly, stowing away his baton and rushing to the fountain. Chat skids to a stop, eyes widening when he sees Marinette pulling herself out of the water, face red and blotchy with either tears or fury (or both, knowing his princess). She clutches a soggy, drenched sketchbook to her chest with one arm.
Oh no. She didn't. Not even Chloe would go that far.
"Marinette!" The hero rushes over to her, tail lashing back and forth anxiously as he pulls the trembling girl from the water. She quivers in his arms, immediately burying her face in the inside of his arm. Chat presses his cheek to her hair, pulling her closer despite the water cooling unpleasantly against the unguarded skin of his face in the spring air. "Mari, princess, what happened?"
The designer whimpers lightly, turning to forlornly lift the design book. "M-my sketchbook… she ruined my sketch-sketchbook… S-so ma-many desi-" She plants her face in his chest to muffle a sob, causing Chat to tighten his arms around her. The crowd around them- the general afterschool park visitors- slowly disperses, the moment turning too personal for most to feel comfortable watching.
Chat Noir coos softly into Marinette's hair, gently scooping her up into a princess hold. She shifts automatically to cling tightly to Chat, tightly enough that he can comfortably hold her with one arm and pull out his baton with the other. He wordlessly springs off, cradling his precious cargo. Marinette rests her head against his shoulder, sniffles dying off as she allows herself to relax in Chat's hold. The hero quickly takes his princess back to her house, carrying her directly up to her room.
After Marinette changes clothes (she's feeling well enough to baster lightly with Chat as she reminds him to stay on the balcony while she gets into dry pajamas), Chat spends the rest of the day with her, allowing her to rant about Chloe and Sabrina and mourn the loss of her best designs while curled into his chest. When she finally falls asleep, Chat gently tucks her into bed and leaps out the window, heading directly to Le Grand Paris with fury in his eyes.
As he makes his way up to Chloe's bedroom, Chat mentally tries to puzzle out how to go about this. He doesn't want to scare her- not just because he's supposed to be a hero of Paris, but also because Chloe is Adrien's oldest friend. He has to take things calmly, even as Chat Noir, especially as enraged on Marinette's behalf as he is. Maybe he should try as Adrien first…
No. Chloe habitually shrugs off Adrien when he tries to calm or even question her, flippantly claiming that so-and-so deserved what they had coming. So Adrien broaching the topic is out of the question. And while Chloe may not particularly care for Chat Noir as a singular entity, Chat has one thing up on his civilian self that is sure to convince Chloe to skip over at least Marinette in her warpath.
Connections to Ladybug, the one person Chloe adores almost as much as herself.
Chat touches down lightly on Chloe's extravagant balcony, tucking his baton away at the small of his back. His ears swivel on top of his head as his sensitive hearing picks up on the conversation inside.
"Did you see her face? It was hilarious! That was the best idea I've ever had. And the best part is she has to start all over with her designs. All of them! Honestly, I'm a genius."
"But, Chloe, what if she tells someone? There's already pictures of Chat Noir comforting her, and people saw what you- I mean, I- did. The media's kind of already jumping on it."
"So what? Daddy's team should already be keeping it under wraps. It's just some lowly girl that a few people like because of Chat Noir. No one will care, and you were the one that pushed her."
"…you're right, Chloe, I shouldn't doubt you."
Scowling, he reaches up to rap his knuckles against the fragile glass of Chloe's balcony door. The conversation pauses, then resumes as Chloe pads over to the door.
"I could have sworn I heard… Ohmygod, Sabrina, I'll have to talk to you later."
Chloe hangs up without and further preamble and tosses her phone onto her couch as she swings open her balcony door. She leans against the side of the door with her arms crossed. She blows a bubble and pops it. "What do you want, cat?"
Chat can't help but bristle at the way she addresses him. "I think you know what I want."
A perfectly plucked eyebrow raises incredulously. "Enlighten me."
"An apology." Chat strides forward, shoulders straightened back to intimidate her just a little more. "To Marinette. You've ruined so much of her work for no reason. You could have akumatized her." His eyes narrow. "I do not want to fight my princess because of you."
At all, really, but if he has to fight Marinette because of his oldest friend…
Chloe only laughs. "Me? Apologize to her? Why should I?"
"Because Ladybug would be disappointed in you." Chat's lip curls. "You want to prove you're good enough to be My Lady's friend? Then stop bullying people, especially Marinette. They're friends too, you should know."
Chloe gasps. "Marinette? Friends with Ladybug?"
"Yes." Chat sighs and softens his voice. "Not only would Ladybug appreciate it if you apologized, Chloe, I dare say she might even be proud."
The blonde regards Chat Noir with a cool look, eyes calculating his sincerity. She scoffs and straightens, turning back into her room. "Whatever. I'll think on it."
Chat grins and extends his baton to leap away. "That's all I ask."
I'm proud of you too, Chloe.