A/N: A short addition, but it's mostly for the lulz, and the awkward romantic tension.

Day Fourteen: I told you it was a bad idea to do that. In which Chat Noir doesn't like to be ignored, but he's going to have to learn to be more patient.

Fire & Rain

Fourteen: Needle Sharp

Chat Noir was what could affectionately be called needy. He adored attention; whether from news reporters asking after his latest heroic escapades, or from his adopted parents (who were finally happy with his weight and started sneaking him sweets), or from his friends. Especially from his friends. At least, it felt that way to Marinette.

She could usually endure most of his grabs for attention - spouting random trivia, gently tugging on her pigtails, and one time even placing his head on her lap and purring until she stopped designing and gave him her full attention - but she had very little patience for anything when she was bringing her designs to life. When she was stitching, she didn't like interrupting her flow, feeling like it would ruin the energy of the outfit.

Even if Adrien showed up and asked her out on a date while she was working, she would throw him out of her room! Okay, that was a lie, but she would be annoyed that he had such terrible timing.

So, it was only natural that she was annoyed when Chat dropped into her room and refused to leave even when she told him her parents would be more than happy to entertain him while she was busy. It was only fair that she was snappish when he insisted he would stay, but then couldn't even stay quiet no matter how many times she asked him to let her concentrate.

It wasn't her fault that when he suddenly grabbed her shoulder, she reacted instinctively and jabbed her needle into his arm.

That didn't stop her from being horrified once she comprehended what she had done, when Chat yowled in pain and pulled away from her.

"Sorry," she cried, dropping her sewing utensils and approaching him, hands held up as if to prove she wouldn't injure him again.

"That hurt," he pouted, rubbing his arm.

"It did?" She couldn't help the surprise in her voice. She knew for a fact that whatever the miraculous armor looked like (leather or spandex or Rena's furry trim), it was actually made up of little hexagonal fractals that somehow (magic, she guessed) made their outfits all but impenetrable. Not fireproof, if CinderElla was any indication, but certainly stabbing resistant. Could the needle be thin enough to pierce the armor?

"Yes, it did! It's a needle!"

Reaching for his arm, she ran her hand over the leather, trying to see if there actually was a puncture mark. "I didn't think anything could really get through this."

Chat inhaled quickly and then coughed violently, seemingly choking on air, "It didn't! I was being dramatic! No need to worry!"

Marinette blinked up at him, surprised at his sudden change in attitude and even more at the blush that reached all the way to the tips of his ears. She suddenly became aware of how closely they were standing together, and that one of her hands was wrapped around his bicep, the other still unconsciously rubbing up and down.

Heat filled her face, and she pulled her hands back, "I told you it was a bad idea to distract me!"

Chat spluttered inelegantly, "How was I supposed to know you'd attack me?"

"You surprised me!"

"So you stabbed me?"

Okay, it wasn't the best reaction to have, but she hadn't even thought while she was doing it. Marinette did her best to glare despite the fact that she could still feel herself blushing. At least he was still blushing too.

The next time Chat dropped by and she was working on something, he very wisely entertained himself on her computer. She huffed a laugh, as she finished with her knitting.

"Hey, Chat," she called and he looked at her suspiciously. She tossed the finished product at him and he caught it without missing a beat. Which was weird considering the whole catnip thing. It pleased her more than she was willing to admit that he trusted her as Marinette enough to not worry she might hurt him (again).

He blinked down at the small, wool kitten. "I made you a friend to entertain you while I'm working."

Chat was silent for a moment, and she worried he thought she was mocking him. It was mostly black, with the exception of its paws and a little spot at the crown of its head which were gold, with little jade-colored buttons for eyes. She hadn't really meant to make it so Chat Noir-ish, it had just turned out that way!

The smallest smile she had ever seen him make - a fragile, emotional thing - appeared as he looked up at her, "Thank you, Princess."

A/N: Genuine smiles don't have to be blinding! And Marinette's a mother hen, I will fight you on this.

Please review and let me know what you liked, didn't like, and what could use improvement!

~ Destiny's Sweet Melody!