Chapter Nine

The remnants of Chat Noir's blissful feelings, regarding his fantasy of being kissed by Ladybug, had long since disappeared. Now he sat with increasing apprehension while he held his breath and waited for Marinette to answer his question. She wasn't about to end her friendship with him as Adrien, was she?

A forlorn expression settled on her face and she opened her mouth a few times before closing it, as if searching for a way to say what was on her mind. After a long pause she started. "How can I explain this." She eyed him carefully. "When you arrived, you were drunk on the euphoria of fanboying over Ladybug, swept away in a torrent of emotion generated by a minor gesture from your crush."

His eyebrows drew together. "It wasn't that minor."

"To you it wasn't but when you really think about it, was it to her?" Marinette asked as she watched Chat Noir's eyes dart from side to side as he sifted through his thoughts, his shoulders coming to sag as doubt settled on his face. "Explain to me how you feel now."

"Like my lungs are burning and my chest is going to collapse in on itself."

"Right, now picture this. You have that feeling and you're wondering if your crush is unrequited. You start questioning every memory of time spent with her. But then something happens to reaffirm your belief and you're back to that wonderous heart lifting bliss that drains away the doubt. At this point you decide to lay it all on the line and tell her how you feel and she replies, I'm not attracted to you and I never will be. Imagine those words coming from Ladybug and you know exactly where I'm at."

Chat Noir became so stricken that he wanted to vomit. His eyes searched Marinette's face and he began to understand why she'd been avoiding him as Adrien. Rising to his feet he crushed her to his chest and began stroking her back. His masked eyes squeezed shut as he held her. Part of him wanted to apologise for the millionth time but she didn't know that it was actually Adrien holding her under the costume. Instead he decided to dish out some light humour. "If Ladybug ever does that to me, you better be around for hugs."

He expected a chuckle but instead Marinette stiffened against him. Her hand pushed lightly against his chest and he prepared to let her go. However, her hands lifted to grasp his face and she stared at him so sincerely he was unsure what to do. "I can assure you that Ladybug would never hurt you intentionally."

"O-okay," he said with bewilderment. Wondering why Marinette was so adamant. His hands loosened from her waist and he rested them on her hips while experiencing a mixture of emotions he didn't want to analyse. He was unsure if he should let her go or keep her where she was.

Marinette's thumbs gently stroked up along the edges of his mask and he was tempted to close his eyes. "You're a good guy, Chat. Ladybug knows that." His eyelids didn't droop, instead he tilted his head to study her. She seemed to realise what she was doing and her fingers retracted from his face to drop to her sides. It took Chat a moment to remember his hands were still on her hips and he quickly removed them.

An uneasy silence fell between them until Chat picked up the Cluedo box. "So how about a game?"


Chat Noir lifted his cards as he made the pretence of studying them. In truth he was observing Marinette whenever she was focussed on something else. Part of him felt pity for her now that he understood the depth of her feelings, yet another part was starting to wonder what would have happened if he hadn't turned her down as Adrien.

He considered his theoretical reaction to the glorious idea of being with Ladybug. To have even the smallest amount of time with her while being allowed to express the depth of his feelings, and have them welcomed, would send his happiness level into the stratosphere. But for Marinette, her experience had gone the opposite way.

"Why are you staring at me?"

"Sorry, I was just thinking about what you said."

"And that requires you to stare?"

"No, it's just that, I don't know. I guess I realised we're in the same boat. Realistically I'm very likely to end up in the exact place you are, but I'm firmly in denial." He shifted uncomfortably at the admission. Deep down he knew Ladybug's interest didn't go beyond platonic.

Marinette didn't say anything. This time she'd taken up the position of staring.

Feeling under the microscope, Chat Noir eyed the Cluedo board with one cat ear laid back before clearing his throat. Marinette needed to understand she wasn't the only one demoralised by unrequited love. "You're going to think this pathetic but I haven't even kissed a girl because I've been waiting for Ladybug."

For a heartbeat there was silence. "That's rather romantic, Chat, though not entirely true. There's been a couple of akumas that have influenced you which revolved around love and kissing."

"It doesn't count. Firstly, because I was under the influence of Hawkmoth's power and secondly because I never remember what I've done."

"So, you have no recollection of Ladybug kissing you during the Dark Cupid akuma attack?"

He snorted, "No. I only found out about that when Nadja did an interview and sprung the picture on us. I should have realised something happened at the time. Ladybug vaguely mentioned a kiss but I had no idea that she meant with me and I brushed it off because I was trying to confess my feelings."

Marinette swallowed and looked away. "In that case I guess it does technically mean that you've never kissed anyone."

A dark blush stained his cheeks. "Yeah, I'm seventeen and never been kissed. Some superhero huh."

Her hand landed on his arm. "You're not alone, Chat. I-I haven't kissed anyone without it being under duress."

"You mean someone forced you?"

"Well no, but let's just say it was an… obligation." She fanned open the cards and attempted to hide behind them.

Then the most likely situation dawned on him. "Oh, a dare. I get it."

"Um, yeah. That's it." He thought it odd that she didn't seem convinced by her own answer. She noticed his questioning look and began to ramble. "Being what it is, I guess we're both virgin kissers. Although I did try to practice with my hand once. Oh man, did I say that out loud, that's so embarrassing."

Chat had lifted his arm in attempt to hide his snigger. "I'm sorry Marinette. I'm trying not to laugh."

She placed her cards face down on the floor and cradled her head in her hands. "I'm the one who's pathetic. I held off kissing anyone because I'd hoped to get my first kiss with Adrien."

"Really?" Chat Noir asked, his voice lifting in pitch and his heart racing at her admission. Marinette had waited for him? Well, him out of the mask. He felt flattered and strangely thrilled.

"Yeah, not that it's ever going to happen now."

His heart thumped harder as a crazy idea came into his head. "Marinette." She looked up at him. "We could kiss each other." He suddenly felt the need to justify his suggestion, "Then neither of us would feel so lame."

At first, she looked at him like he had grown a second head but then her expression changed and he could almost see her inner turmoil as she considered it. "You're serious?"

"As a heart attack."

"You won't laugh at me?"

"As long as you don't laugh at me."

"Um, okay then."

Chat Noir's eyes bulged in surprise. He honestly thought she would turn him down. "Right. Okay, I guess we should stand up?"

She nodded, "Yeah. Sitting would be too awkward."

He didn't point out that the whole situation was awkward. They stepped around the Cluedo board and faced each other beside the chaise, neither keeping eye contact for very long. Chat Noir sucked in a deep breath and decided to go for it. As he placed a hand on Marinette's hip she jumped.

"Sorry," she uttered.

"Relax," he crooned as he mentally pictured what he would do if he were with Ladybug. The nervousness wasn't gone but he suddenly had the focus he was previously lacking. His free hand cupped her cheek and his thumb caressed her chin as he urged her closer with the hand at her hip. Marinette angled her face towards him with an almost robotic jerkiness. He realised he needed to sooth her. His hand at her hip shifted to the small of her back, pressing her closer. "Hold me, Marinette. Imagine I'm the guy you've been longing to kiss."

The wariness in her eyes altered to longing. Her arms circled his waist and she pressed her body to his. Needing no further prompting, Chat Noir lowered his face to hers and when their lips met he closed his eyes. At first it was awkward, neither of them knowing what they were really doing but Chat was the more adventurous, sucking in her bottom lip which urged her to counter the move.

Their mouths began roaming together with a more coordinated rhythm and Marinette surprised him with a bit of tongue. Chat Noir growled his approval and his hand at her cheek sunk into her hair, he needed a firmer hold as he angled her face for more feverish kisses.

Marinette's hands ran up his back to grasp his messy locks, tugging his hair in a way that stoked his simmering passion to a scorching inferno. He needed to be closer, he needed more of her. His tongue dipped into her mouth and she moaned. Primal satisfaction flowed through him as he did it again. This action drove Marinette into a frenzy and he was unexpectedly pushed back onto the chaise.

Their mouths broke apart briefly but Marinette followed him down as he sat. Snapping his eyes open, Chat Noir couldn't miss the lustful determination in her gaze. He parked the illusion of Ladybug to the back of his mind, focussing completely on the real girl kissing him senseless.

She straddled his lap and plunged her hands into his hair, kissing him with a fervour that made his head spin and his eyes roll back in his head. Chat wanted no one else in that moment. He hooked his hands under her knees and brought her flush against his body. Then Marinette began grinding against him and he gasped between kisses.

"Adrien," she moaned and he was suddenly brought back to reality. She was imagining him without the mask and he'd been so close to answering to his real name.

"Princess," he said instead and watched as the passionate glaze to her eyes receded.

She took a few slow long blinks to refocus. "Chat?"

"Yeah."

"Wow."


And let the conflicting emotions for this pair begin ;) Thanks for reading, reviewing, favouriting and following!