Author's Note: Just wanted to make a quick mention about something :P Marinette and Nathaniel are 16 by this chapter, which is why they're allowed wine~ (16 is apparently the legal drinking age in Paris~)

So yeah~ I know the canon is 13-15 for their ages, but I figure by about this time in this story they'd be around 16 :P Just wanted to establish that before getting into the chapter :P


Chapter 28

Chat curled up in a ball as Marinette's words echoed in his mind. "I'm sorry Chat. But it's too late now."

Marinette saw the state that her friend was in and felt guilty for having to leave him like this. However, she made a prior commitment to someone else and didn't want Nathaniel to feel even worse too if she cancelled on him at the very last minute. She was caught between a rock and a hard place, and as much as it hurt her to leave her friend like this, she had to stick with her morals. She promised Nathaniel first and so that's who she had to give priority to.

"Chat, if it's any consolation, when I come back we can talk about whatever you want." She flashed him a warm and friendly smile. "But I have to go. I really am sorry."

Chat offered no response and just remained silent. Marinette just awkwardly collected her purse from her bed and began departing. She looked back at Chat and said to him, "See you soon kitty."

He was silent and motionless, just listening to the sounds as Marinette greeted Nathaniel and left with him. As soon as he heard the last door slam when she exited the building, he let out an explosive sigh and slumped down in his seat. He cursed at himself for not preventing Marinette from going out or not telling Marinette any of his truths when he had the chance to. Just, everything from the past couple of days got to him and he was now powerless to do anything about it now.

Or was he?

All of a sudden, a sinister thought appeared in his mind, which caused his lips to curl into an evil smile. He stood up and said, "Well, if Marinette insists on going out on this date, then I'll make sure she won't go out on a second one."


About half an hour later, Chat Noir found the two sitting outside of a café. It appeared as if the intent was to have a romantic candle-lit dinner outside by the stars. Chat scowled at the sight as he hid in the shadows, wishing that it was Adrien there instead of Nathaniel.

The two started laughing, which only infuriated Chat more. Luckily, a waiter came over with a bottle of wine which caused an idea to form in Chat's mind.

"For the lady?" the waiter asked and Marinette nodded. The waiter leaned over and began pouring it into her glass. As he did, Chat prepared to snap his fingers but began to freeze up. His eyes fixated on her beauty and became entranced by it. There was no way he could bring himself to do what he was about to do.

"And for the sir?"

But he had no problem doing it to Nathaniel.

As soon as the waiter bent down, Chat clicked his fingers which caused the bottle in the waiter's hands to shake. Wine began to splash in the air, with a bunch of it finding home right on Nathaniel's clean white shirt that he wore underneath his tuxedo.

"Oh no, no, no, I am so sorry!" the waiter said in distress. Chat watched on with amusement as the waiter frantically tried to clean off his shirt, but to no success. In his hurried panic, the waiter actually made it worse. Chat couldn't help but take amusement in the sight. An already disastrous event was made worse, and in his favour too.

"It's okay, it'll wash out." Nathaniel said, waving away the waiter. He looked down at his shirt and surprisingly began to smile. "You know, the pattern here actually looks quite artistic."

"You know, it does!" Marinette exclaimed as she examined it. "It looks like one of those art paintings in the Louvre."

"Ah, I am fortunate then it worked out in your favour sir." The waiter bowed at Nathaniel, feeling relieved that he wasn't in trouble. "However, please allow me to take 10 percent off of the price of that bottle as an apology."

"That's kind of you, thank you."

Chat scowled as the waiter walked off. He couldn't believe it, his little trick actually made the night better. He was determined though to make his next attempt work.


It was a while before another opportunity presented itself for Chat Noir. For most of the night, Nathaniel and Marinette had mainly been talking to each other, mainly about school or art or fashion. It caused Chat distress having to listen to them yammer on, and it pained him even more when she laughed.

He had to admit, he was tempted to take control of the candle fire that was in between the two. It would solve all of his problem right away. However, he had to fight the temptation as he knew that if the fire got out of control, it would be a disaster for a bunch of innocent people. He didn't want that to happen at all, no matter how badly he needed the dinner to end. Besides, if Marinette ever found out about the fire, he doubted that she would ever forgive him.

Luckily though, he didn't need to resort to using fire. There was a woman who was about to walk by the restaurant and in her hands was the key to ending the date once and for all.

"Come on, just a little closer." Chat said, as he watched the woman walk closer to the two.

Nathaniel noticed at the corner of his eye, a large fluffy brown poodle coming towards them. He smiled at it as it came closer. As soon as it was beside him, he said "Hello there."

"Gotcha!" Chat said, then snapped his fingers.

Something began to stir inside the poodle, causing it to growl at Nathaniel as it slanted its eyes at him.

"Be free my beast. You have a bone to pick with him." Chat said again, clicking his fingers once more. The leash that the woman held slipped out of her hands, which gave the poodle absolute freedom. It immediately pounced on Nathaniel and pinned him to the ground.

"Easy there, easy there!" Nathaniel said, raising his arms up in defense, but it didn't do much. The poodle grinned its sharp teeth at Nathaniel, just waiting for him to do something to make him snap.

"Maka! What's gotten into you!" the woman cried out. She grabbed her leash and began tugging at it to pull the poodle off, but the dog was too stubborn to move.

"Bad dog!" Marinette cried out and began spraying the dog with a squirt bottle. The dog set its sights on Marinette and the more she squirted at it, the angrier it got.

"Oh geez, no, princess! Don't do that!" Chat held his head as he shook it. He snapped his fingers, which caused the dog to settle down almost immediately. It turned back to its owner and began bouncing excitedly, wanting to return to its walk.

"I am so sorry for this." the woman said at Marinette and Nathaniel. "Usually Maka's such a nice dog. I don't know what got into him."

"No harm done." Nathaniel said as he sat up, rubbing the back of his neck.

The woman apologized again and took her leave, with her dog beside her. As the two passed by the invisible demon, Chat glared at the dog and said "I always knew dogs were useless."


Author's Note: Sorry to kinda leave the chapter half way through the dinner, but it was getting a little bit long and I thought Chat dissing dogs was a good place to end it~ He really does not like dogs XD;;