-4-

Seeing Chat Noir had Marinette's pulse rising with urgency. If her partner was here it was likely that there was another akuma attack. Moving to the latch, she unlocked it and flung open her skylight window. "What is it this time?" she asked automatically with the unthinking authority of Ladybug.

Chat Noir's eyes widened in surprise. "What do you mean?"

"It's another akuma right?"

"Um, no."

Marinette stared at him in confusion. "Oh. Given how many there have been lately, I assumed that was why you're here."

The deep blush staining Chat Noir's cheeks had Marinette gawking at him. Her partner was rarely embarrassed. Sheepish, yes. Embarrassed, not so much. There was hesitation in his voice as he answered, "I was just out getting some air."

Marinette's eyebrows lowered as she considered how exhausted he'd been after their last fight. "You should be getting sleep."

Chat Noir rubbed at his nape, his eyes darting away from hers. "I've had some sleep."

"Even with the mask on I can recognise bags under your eyes."

His hand lifted to touch his cheek. "I do not have bags."

"I didn't realise you were so vain, kittycat."

"I'm not but I need to keep up a certain appearance." He seemed to blanch at his own comment. "Not that it's vital or anything."

Marinette sniggered. "As I said, vain."

Chat Noir gave her an unimpressed snort and crossed his arms.

"So, why are you here?"

Feline ears swivelled outwards and his tail twitched. "I, um, just wanted to see you."

Puzzlement had Marinette's eyebrows pulling together. "Why?"

"Just because."

Marinette continued to stare. "You don't normally pop around."

Chat Noir's fingers lifted to tug the hair at his nape as he exhaled, hard. "I need to tell you something."

"Okay."

The muscles in Chat Noir's cheek flexed with the tensing of his jaw. "I uh…"

Again, his cheeks heated and Marinette was baffled as to what could have Chat Noir so flustered.

"…I can't get to sleep."

Long dark lashes blinked slowly. "And you needed to tell me that?"

"Well, I uh, needed to tell someone."

The forced smile Chat Noir wore had Marinette scowling. "Okay."

Leaning his weight on his elbows, the feline hero dipped his head closer. Uncertainty shone in his eyes as he asked, "Would you stroke my hair?"

The request had her sitting back to stare at him.

"It relaxes me," he quickly added.

With a shrug, Marinette raised her hand and combed through his locks at his temple. Chat Noir closed his eyes and his head drooped towards her. As she continued to rake her fingers through his hair his whole body slumped and he began to purr. Marinette couldn't help but giggle which in turn had him stiffen with alertness.

"What?" he snapped with a look of insecurity.

"You were purring."

"I was?"

"Yeah, it's kind of sweet."

A slow smile spread across her partner's face and she was certain he leaned closer to her. His move was confirmed as he overbalanced and tumbled through her skylight to land on her bed.

"Sorry," he cried while lying in a mess of arms and legs.

Marinette covered her mouth with her hand to supress the need to laugh at him. Chat Noir slowly untangled himself and unsteadily shifted to his haunches. "You look exhausted," she admitted.

"I am exhausted," he yawned.

Taking pity on him, Marinette waved Chat Noir over to lie beside her. His Adam's apple bobbed but he obeyed her request. As he placed his head on the cat pillow she returned to stroking his hair and watched the tension leave his lean frame. Soon enough, Marinette was yawning and her eyelids were drooping as much as her partner's. Eventually her hand stilled, tangled in his blonde mop as both drifted off to sleep.

Something warm was blowing on Marinette's face while she was pressed firmly against a hard presence. Blinking her blue eyes open, the girl gasped as she discovered the warmth was Chat Noir exhaling on her face with his chin leaning on her forehead. The hardness was his frame snuggled up to hers. It had never entered her mind as to how his wiry physique would feel. While there wasn't a lot of him, Chat Noir was all lean muscle and concealed power.

Taking in the current situation, Marinette discovered that she had one arm draped around Chat Noir's waist while the other was pinned between their chests. Despite the shock of waking up with her partner, Marinette was feeling more rested than she had in ages. There had been comfort in touching Chat Noir as she'd drifted off and apparently the feeling was mutual.

It took a quick glance for the girl to realise that her alarm would go off in the next ten minutes, so she gave Chat Noir a slight shove to try and rouse him. Cat ears twitched and his masked nose wrinkled.

"Chat," she whispered as she shook him gently.

He snorted and opened a single eye. Then he darted his head back, his eyes peeled in shock. "Marinette!" his hand went to his face and he let out a relieved sigh. "Sorry, I panicked thinking I might have dropped my transformation."

"You're still Chat Noir."

A smile small stretched across his lips. "Yeah, I am."

"It's morning."

Chat Noir raised his arms over his head and engaged in a full body stretch, arching his back in a completely feline move. "I guess that means I've outstayed my welcome."

"I hadn't meant for you to stay the night."

"Nor I. But it was nice."

Marinette couldn't help but return his warm smile. Yet she broke eye contact first, before it could get weird.

"Well, I better get home." Chat Noir stated as he rose to his feet, reaching for the skylight that was still open.

"Yeah, I need to get ready for school."

"Me too." There was a mischievous hint of a smirk on his face just before he pulled himself up onto the balcony. "Thanks for helping me get to sleep."

"No problem," she replied as she swept her bangs from her eyes. "Stay sharp for the next akuma attack."

"I will," he promised as he lowered the skylight window. "I always strive to be at my very best for my lady."

Marinette's grin widened as she waved goodbye to the departing superhero. She felt lighter knowing that they were both feeling less fatigued. Pushing her pillow aside, the girl made her way down her ladder and proceeded to get ready for the day.

Tikki emerged from where ever she'd been snoozing. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah. Actually, it's the best night's sleep I've had in ages."

The scarlet kwami smiled. "I'm glad to hear it."

Blue eyes drifted up to her loft bed and Marinette was unconscious of the pleased look that settled on her face.

Now that Marinette is more lucid, will she start to piece things together or will she be blindsided by Adrien at school? What do you think will happen?

Thanks for reading, following, favouriting and review - it's much appreciated!