7. Secrets

Oh how the dirty laundry was hung out to dry in the week after the Agreste Mansion fire.

Apparently, the corpse of Gabriel Agreste's wife was kept preserved underneath the mansion. Which, of course, brought on all the questions of how and why she was there, followed by questions pertaining to Gabriel Agreste's sanity and even more questions as to why he did it.

Unfortunately, the only person who knew was dead.

Early reports said that it was likely he suffocated in the fire. However, the coroner's report came out recently saying that there was evidence of an altercation: a fractured arm, a few broken ribs, and a cracked skull. Due to the autopsy report, it was suspected Gabriel was dead before the fire broke out. However, with the crime scene as they knew it had been burned to the ground, along with any clues that could have lead to a more solid answer.

Marinette, Alya, and Nino had done everything they could to reach out to Adrien, but he refused. "Sorry, I just need some time," was his go-to excuse. His other being, "I'm not feeling great."

Nino hated it, but he still wanted to be a bro and respect Adrien's wishes. Alya would have had no problem going over, busting down the door, and forcing a check-in, but Nino kept his girlfriend in check.

Egged on by Alya behind the scenes, Marinette decided that she was going to do that.

Well… maybe minus the "breaking down the door" part. She'd just insistently knock.

With a bag full of baked goods and a container of soup, she headed over. She'd been experimenting with this soup for his birthday, trying to replicate a recipe from his favorite café to surprise him with. But she thought now would be a good time to share it with him. Chat had even given it a good mark in his own way, so she was sure it would make Adrien happy.

Upon arriving at his new place—the address had been the one thing she'd been able to drag out of Nino—she knocked a couple times before waiting. When he didn't answer, she knocked again. If he didn't answer after this one, she'd give him a call.

However, she heard the lock on the door click and put on her best smile. "Hey, Adri—Oh, my gosh, how'd you get that black eye?!"

The expression he gave her clearly stated he didn't want to talk about it while also regretting worrying her. "Don't tell Nino. Or Alya. Please."

"What happened, though!"

His lips pursed, curling downwards at the edges. "I don't want to talk about it."

She nearly stamped her foot on the ground because that made two of the most important men in her life who refused to let her in. However, she couldn't force anything. Instead, she asked, "Are you okay?"

He opened his mouth, but words seemed to catch in his throat for a moment. "I will be."

"Adrien."

With a sigh, he reached out to pat her head. "I appreciate that you care, Marinette," he began. "But really, don't worry about it, okay?"

She didn't want to give him time. She wanted to fix it. She wanted to be able to do something, anything, for her boys. But she couldn't if they kept keeping secrets like this.

With a sigh, she relented, unable to do anything else. "Okay."

He stroked her hair, and if she wasn't so damn worried, her heart might have fluttered at the action. "Thank you," he said before pulling his hand away. "So, was that the only reason you came by? To check in on me?"

"It was either me or Alya."

His smile was sheepish. "I'd rather have you. Alya scares me."

His grin seemed weary, but it was still enough to put Marinette at ease and a smile on her own face. "She's pretty pissed. Nino's also really worried about you. Maybe you should give him a call."

He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, and only then did she realize the hand he'd been so good at hiding behind the door this whole time was wrapped heavily in bandages

"Adrien!"

He jumped at her voice, taking a step back, but Marinette was quick. She grabbed his arm before he could hide it again. "How'd you get this? Oh, wait, 'you don't want to talk about it'?"

He groaned. "I got into a little argument with my dad last week, came home and hit the wall. I don't think I broke anything, but it still hurts."

Marinette sighed. "Damn it, Adrien. Why didn't you tell us? We could have been there to support you."

Adrien turned his head away, refusing to look at her. "I… I just needed some time alone, okay? There was a lot on my mind. Please, just drop it."

"Okay," she caved. He was already talking with her now, as opposed to pushing her away again, so she would meet him halfway and stop arguing. "Do you want a croissant? Maybe some soup? Or you've got a sweet tooth. Maybe a cookie?"

Adrien looked somewhat surprised by the change of subject, but soon, he relaxed in relief. "I wouldn't mind a cookie."

She gave him a smile, one she had to force a bit to be brighter than it was. "Okay. I thought you would."

8. Princess and Knight

The knock on her balcony door could only be one person.

Rather, one cat.

With a grin, Marinette rushed to answer her trap door. "Chat Noir. How nice of you to come see me."

He looked rather stoic. "I'm not 'Noir' anymore."

"You'll always be Chat Noir," she gently countered. "You just happen to look a little different at the moment."

He sighed, clearly not wanting to continue their conversation. He then handed the bag in his hand over to her. "Here. The clothes you leant me. Washed and clean. And a little extra 'thank you' gift for your kindness before."

"Oh," she said, looking at the bag. "Thank you, but you didn't have to get me anything."

Chat just shrugged.

Looking at the bag, Marinette hesitated to take it. She had wondered if Chat would appear before her or if he'd just drop the bag and run. Now, she feared he'd bolt the moment she took the bag from his hand, and that was the last thing she wanted.

Impulsively, she reached past the bag to grab hold of his wrist. "Come inside for a minute. Let me get you some cookies for the road."

His brow scrunched together, showing his hesitancy.

She shot him her best smile, going as far as batting her eyes at him, a technique her friends had forced her to learn a few years ago in an attempt to get Adrien's attention. "Please, Chat? I'm sure you'd like a treat?"

He sighed. "Thank you, princess, but I'll decline."

"Aww, really? I can't convince you to stay a moment?"

"No."

"Wow. That was cold."

Chat stood, trying to remove her hand from his, and though he was trying to be firm, he wasn't being overly forceful. "I came to thank you, not to linger on your kindness any more."

"But what if I want you to linger in my kindness."

He scoffed. "Why would you bother?"

"Because I care about you?"

"You barely know me."

Oh, kitty, I know you better than you could fathom. "So?"

"So, I took advantage of your kindness once—"

"Do it again."

The words that came so easily out of her mouth had clearly startled him. Frankly, they surprised her a little, too, but those words also allowed her a moment to crawl fully out of the hatch and stand right before him. "I don't mind. In fact, I want to."

Chat looked at her, exhaustion lingering behind the stoniness in his eyes. "Princess, you're killing me here."

She tightened her grip, leaning closer. "Good. Maybe I can offer you a little break away from your world."

"Who said I needed one?"

"You're still white, and you're not in a signature smile. I dare you to tell me I'm wrong."

His brow furrowed, eyes hardening, yet he didn't pull away.

And she wasn't going to surrender, either.

The stare down lasted a good many seconds, neither moving or backing down.

"Are you trying to seduce me, princess?" he eventually asked, the slightest edge of teasing in his tone while the corner of his lips quirked upwards.

Her heart could soar at the sight. "So what if I am?"

He flashed her a fake roguish grin, leaning closer in what she quickly realized was an attempt to coax her backwards. "I'd say there's only room for one flirt in this town, and it sure won't be you."

She stood her ground, knowing that if she wasn't careful, she'd fall right through her trapdoor. Which was likely his plan and why he'd just started flirting. She knew him too well by now to know his flirting was a cover-up. Always had been, and always would be.

That didn't mean he couldn't also wreck her heart when he stopped the flirting and pulled a genuine romantic gesture. It always wrecked her heart when he stood with his heart bared to her. And maybe over time, those gestures built up love for him in her own heart. And maybe that's why she stood here so adamantly now, unwilling to let him go.

"Oh?" she flirted back, trying to channel her 'inner Chat'. "How would you know? Maybe I'm better."

"I doubt that. This cat has worked hard and purr-fecting his technique to make the ladies swoon."

She hummed. "You pull out all the stops on Ladybug, don't you?"

It was as though she'd doused him with cold water, because all teasing disappeared in an instant.

Her regret level was high, but at the same time, she wasn't even sure what she'd said to change the mood so fast. "Chat?"

He sighed, pulling away and shaking his head. "It's nothing."

"It's clearly not nothing," she countered.

"It is," he firmly stated. "And don't think otherwise."

Biting her lip, Marinette wracked her brain for how to possibly coerce him into talking. "Something wrong with Ladybug?" she asked, reaching out to grab his other hand. "Because I haven't see—"

"Ahh!"

In a flash, Chat ripped both his hands from hers and cradled his left hand close to his chest.

Her gut sank. "You're hurt?"

He grit his teeth. "I'm fine."

"Liar."

His ears sank in shame for a moment. "Let it go, Marinette," he snipped, already taking steps backwards and away. "I'm fine."

"You're clearly not. What happ—"

"Does it get tiring?"

His eyes took on a hard edge to them, and that was the moment she knew she screwed up. "What?"

"Trying to weasel into my business," he challenged.

"How was I weaseling?"

"I'm a grown man. I don't need you mothering me."

"Well, I wouldn't if you weren't hurt."

The moment those words left her mouth, Marinette regretted it. Instead, her consequence was watching Chat's expression harden, eyes glinting like the edge of a knife.

"Who do you think you are?"

She flinched at the harshness of his tone.

"You're not Ladybug," he hissed. "We barely know each other. Why are you so damn worked up over me getting hurt?"

Because I am your lady, dammit! But she couldn't say that. And without that, she wasn't fully sure what to say. "Can't I care about you at all without my motives being questioned?"

"I don't need your help, Marinette!" he shouted. "So, stop trying to fix things and let me take care of my own business! You don't have any idea what I'm facing—"

"Of course I don't! You know why?" Marinette felt something snap in her at his words, and her own feelings came tumbling out before she could stop them. "Because you're a knight with a martyr complex who thinks he has to bear the weight of the world alone on his own shoulders. I'm no princess, Chat, and neither is Ladybug. So why is it impossible for you to let either of us help you? Do you not trust Ladybug to help you? Do you think she's incapable? Do you hate working with her that much?"

"I love her more than you could ever imagine!" he shouted, shocking her so badly she had to take a step back to steady herself. "She is incredibly strong and capable, and don't you dare do her the injustice of stating otherwise. But that is exactly why I'm keeping her out of this. What I'm facing is personal, and it's something I need to do on my own. You wouldn't understand and don't even try to. You're an outsider here, Marinette. Stop trying to pretend you're the superhero here and micro-manage everything about someone you don't even know!"

And with that, Chat whipped out his baton, and Marinette was left watching a white ghost float over the rooftops of Paris, further and further away until he finally disappeared.

9. Blanket

The night wasn't chilly, but she still had a blanket draped over her shoulders as she stood out on her balcony. It had been a week since the little altercation between her and Chat, and she regretted so many things she said and how she handled the whole situation.

Chat was hurting, and while she had been prying, she'd also gone against his wishes to do so. He had shut himself off, and instead of just being a safe spot he could land with no questions asked, she'd pushed and pressed and prodded any way she could to get information out of him. In her defense, she had only wanted to help as well as try to keep her cat around so he wouldn't run again.

But a trapped cat doesn't submit easily, she supposed. Especially one with as much fight in them as Chat Noir had.

So, she wanted to apologize, even though she knew it was unlikely he'd come around again. And who knew if she'd see him again. He said he'd see Ladybug at least one more time to give up his miraculous, but she didn't want to wait until then to see him again. Though, the longer she stood out here on the balcony with no sign of Chat on the horizon at all, she thought that might be her only chance.

If it was, then she had to be careful not to squander it. Let this be her lesson, and let it be her only one because she really couldn't afford to make a mistake on her last chance.

"Marinette," Tikki said, flying up to rest on her shoulder. "It's past midnight. You should really come inside and go to bed."

She didn't want to, but there really wasn't any other choice. Chat wasn't coming, and she knew it. "Okay."