A/N: there will be just one more part to this scene, and we'll get back into some action!

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

xv.
les tentations

Voici le double jeu.

Her eyes widened and her pulse thrummed, struggling to find the right words. It didn't sound like just any compliment that so easily passed the cat's lips. And yet, she'd glossed over Chat Noir's infatuation for Ladybug the moment her thoughts became pessimistic—one of Marinette's many bad habits.

"Ah, putain…" A small frown twisted her mouth, insecure, and she glanced at the hero with a desperate gaze, as though searching for more advice to calm her nerves.

"I didn't even consider it… What if he already loves someone else? Then I definitely don't stand a chance."

"Well, just because he's in love, doesn't mean it's requited. He's still single, after all," Chat Noir murmured without missing a beat, eyes still trained on the wall.

A distracted answer.

She took his words to heart, as she often did, and she found solace in the fact that even if Adrien did have his eyes on someone, he wasn't off-limits, so to speak.

And he knew that he shouldn't be building up her hopes for a romance, just a friendship, but his thoughts had gone off on a tangent. He hadn't noticed it, hadn't even acknowledged it until he'd opened his damn mouth. Without a doubt, he loved Ladybug. He would die for her, would grant her every wish if she asked him to.

But, there was also Marinette. Sweet, compassionate, warmhearted Marinette who had dragged in an injured alley cat, listened to his woes, and assured him he could return whenever he wanted to. Intelligent, funny, trustworthy Marinette who had encouraged him to stay strong, who laughed at his jokes, teased him, and sought comfort herself.

With His Lady, there was assurance. When he was with her, there was no question of his ability. If she needed him to do something, then he would have it done. If he was in danger, she would be there, and if she was in danger, he would be there; a balancing act that they never allowed to teeter. It was a life and movement. It was a rush. Fast paced, closeness that spoke of intimacy, but never managed to cross the line.

Breaking down the walls between them remained an everyday struggle; he understood that. She was a tease, even when she didn't mean to be.

With his princess, he discovered a peace he didn't know was possible for a boy like him. He could say what he'd never breathed to anyone else, and he wouldn't be pitied or rejected. He didn't have to put on energy when he lacked it. He could talk and ramble and spout stupid jokes and she would listen and return with an open heart. She made life seem like a slow dance. Bodies close together, swaying side to side—something comfortably platonic… no, something more.

Would it really be so bad if she figured him out?

Of course, his doubts held him back. Because now, he could see clearly that he would have fallen in love with Marinette if things had begun differently, and he wasn't sure how to handle that.

"Gah… Chat Noir, why is love such a complicated thing?"

"Because it's important."

"Are we doing it wrong?"

Love was complicated. It could make someone pursue a girl who would happily take a picture of her rejection. It could steal away a person's words completely even if they could talk to anyone else. It could make someone who's been tainted with dark magic keep a promise to not hurt someone. It could make someone obedient to the point of despair for the smallest sign of approval.

It would be nice to not care. To let their hearts be cold and empty because it hurt so much, but that was a thought to be immediately dismissed. Not just pain… it also brought overwhelming happiness. Even if it hurt that Ladybug didn't look at him the same way, that Adrien didn't look at her the same way, they couldn't deny the joy they felt at each other's sides.

What were they?

She was flushed. It was difficult to keep her mind from wandering. Yes, indifference sounded really nice sometimes, but Marinette was the last person to exemplify such an emotion. She was too passionate for anyone's good, and it showed in these moments, reacting to the point of tears.

She reached out to scratch the underside of his chin and she was gentle, lacking the nervousness she'd displayed earlier. She wanted to alleviate the heavy air around them, to let them slip away from the discomfort and awkwardness that came with talking about their feelings. He was a good listener, but that didn't mean she was to abuse his kindness and willingness to offer consolation.

Almost instantly, the tension that had been in his body melted away, his thoughts fading as the gentle pleasure of the scratch hits him. His eyes drifted shut, leaning into the touch with a purr and a silly grin.

"Come sit up here," the bluenette crooned when he didn't verbally respond, patting the spot beside her. "If you don't have to leave yet, I mean." Marinette wanted to sound nonchalant, yet a bit of hope seemed to linger in her voice.

"Ladybug has been taking a few days off," Chat Noir said. "I'm on my own timetable unless she calls." And as to what his time table told him? Well, certainly not to leave; he didn't waste a second in climbing up onto the bed at her request.

He was cute. Purring, inclined towards her hand. It wasn't the first time Marinette thought this; Chat Noir, in all his bravado and attempts to impress, was endearing and sensitive and terribly sweet. She was glad to be able to see this side of him. As Ladybug, she preferred to keep things professional—and this was of her own choosing. So, to loosen up once in a while was nice and she couldn't deny the way her stomach flipped when the other's presence had moved closer and his unique scent touched her senses.

Confusion hit her because, surely, she shouldn't be thinking this way about anyone other than her beloved Adrien. Friendlier than the first few instances in which she'd mulled over it. No longer did she consider this bond one hundred percent companionable, even if she desperately tried to convince herself otherwise. They had already seen one another in the most vulnerable of states, and their relationship bordered on understanding, on secretive. Without the too close for comfort sort of touching and the implications that came with it.

He had the chance to leave if he so wished. He didn't. He wanted to stay, and that realization alone warmed her heart. Marinette tried not to appear sheepish at the mention of Ladybug taking a few days off.

She couldn't make it obvious that they were the same person and so she attempted to appear mildly surprised instead, asking, "Really? That's kind of weird. Um, she seems so responsible, after all!" Leave it at that, leave it at that. "I'm sure something important must have come up."

Chat Noir had curled up on her good side, not wanting to accidentally jostle her injured arm. Especially when he lightly head-butted her shoulder because honestly, her touch made magic. He had resisted the feline urge to ask for more rustling affection, but he was certain this happy feeling was far more than scratch-related endorphins

"She is. If there's no word, then it's for good reason. She might just need a break after I was MIA. I won't worry, though. If she doesn't show up for an Akuma, then something's terribly wrong." Okay, that was an outright lie. He worried anyway, but he was trying to have more faith. Surely she wouldn't be as careless as him.

He frowned despite himself and shook his head with a huff. "We really should set up something like… proxy emails."

"Proxy emails, huh. Yeah! You should mention it to her next time." [No need. She got the point and would take his words into consideration.]

"Mhmm, I will. It'd probably reassure both of us."

As long as they were careful and no one else knew the emails, it was a relatively secure way to communicate. They could even use code names if they had to. Plus, it'd be another opportunity to talk with her. Maybe make a connection. See if it was possible to get past those guards.

Marinette's voice broke his thoughts. "Tu sais…" Teasing him, blue eyes flickering with amusement and lips lifting in a playful smile, "It's a little funny. I would have guessed a grand superhero like yourself would want to spend their Friday evening somewhere more interesting than some incapacitated girl's bedroom."

He winked. "Well, I am pretty grand. Someone very interesting." Tail absently moving around her waist. "Or rather, with someone interesting. Which sounds better to me, honestly. You can predict interesting places, but interesting people? They tend to surprise you."

Like she already had. Like she always did. Whether it's her designs, her bravery, her kindness. Again and again. No wonder Marinette tempted his heart. And staying around here was encouraging to that temptation, but he couldn't force himself to leave. Would temptation be so bad?

[It was not as if Ladybug expected romantic loyalty out of someone she constantly rebuffed.]

She tried not to focus on the smirk that had curved his lips. It was becoming obvious. Yes, she liked Adrien, but she also enjoyed Chat Noir's company and a part of her felt disgusted with herself, as though her emotions were so capricious that they would flicker between both males given the circumstance.

At the same time, she didn't want to play with his heart as Ladybug—because she was whom Chat Noir had feelings for, not Marinette. And if she wouldn't allow herself to soften up and lower her guard then, why now? Or—

Maybe that was the point. Because right now, she could just be herself. And sitting beside the kitty cat brought her an unimaginable amount of relief to the solitude she'd forced herself to get used to these last few days. She didn't know Adrien as much as she would like to. And she wouldn't let Chat Noir discover too much as Ladybug. So the nature in which she interacted with him now was the most comfortable, she decided. Likely for them both. Marinette told herself these things but it did nothing to change the fact that her heart was fluttering as his tail came to wrap loosely around her waist, at the way he had bumped his head to her shoulder like some small, needy, kitten.

"So… what does that mean?" she asked and shifted to accommodate the other, tucking her legs under her bottom and gesturing for Chat Noir to make himself comfortable on the bed. Whether he chose to sit up straight, sprawl himself out or curl up nearby, [head in her lap, even—she certainly wouldn't mind], she would like to reach and touch him in some way.

It was a strange thought to have. But, there was something nice that came with physical contact. A sort of innocent gratification that warmed her heart. She forgot the ache of her shoulder when she was with him; the while before her next dosage of painkillers didn't seem as long as it did before he had showed up.

"Do I qualify as someone who meets your standards of interesting? Mm, careful—! That can be misconstrued, mon minou."

It was lighthearted flirting, the kind she didn't expect to go anywhere. The kind Ladybug was good at, but Marinette enjoyed. Which was fine, because she'd be upset if she happened to make things awkward again. She shifted her weight as the other deliberately chose to lean against her good shoulder, pressing her fingers into the blanket before idly tipping her head to nose soft strands of blonde hair.

Heat traveled up to his face. The hands had been one thing—the nuzzling another. Not that he was complaining. It was a wonderful feeling and he shifted to rub his cheek against her shoulder. He had always been a sucker for physical affection, and his suit-induced inclinations hadn't done a thing to help that.

"There's a difference between finding someone interesting and being interested in them, after all. Of course, you already know that."

"You're right. There is. And you do, indeed, meet my standards of interesting. You always surpurrise me when I see you," he responded under his breath. "I rather enjoy talking to you, Princess."

As for being interested in her. Well, he made no comment. Neither a confirmation nor a denial.

She straightened up, unable to contain the smile in her own voice. "I enjoy talking to you, too!" It wasn't something she would have admitted sincerely upon their earlier interactions. However, now, she could be honest without the doubt that had been eating at her lately. She liked being near him. This, she was sure of. "It beats talking to myself, anyway," she ruefully added.

Alya had been a sweetheart these last few days, visiting often and helping her catch up in class—and her parents checked on her periodically regarding food and other necessities. Even so, she wanted to be out again, back to school.

He snorted. "I suppose talking to a strange superhero cat is a bit less strange?" he teased. Either way, their situation was peculiar.

"All I've been doing is sleeping and moping around, Chat Noir. It's horrible." Marinette he had tried to pout but this was said with a small giggle, unable to stay upset. "As for the 'interesting'… You've exceeded my standards. Probably."

"Only probably?" Chat Noir let out a dramatic gasp, "I'm hurt, Princess. And here I was going to offer the healing properties of my purrs. It's even a scientific fact that cat purrs help broken bones."

Marinette found herself reaching for the other, pinching his cheek gently and grinning. It was difficult to control the urge; he was adorable and she had a soft spot for this kind of behavior. "Really? Cat purrs can do that?" As odd as it sounded, she had a feeling that Chat Noir wasn't kidding.

[He may have searched up a bit too much on cats, but best way to make as many jokes as possible was to know as much as possible about them.]

"Ouais—! The sound range of a purr actually has several health benefits. Helps bone and muscle recovery, lowers stress and even the chances of a heart attack," he boasted. As to whether his purrs did anything, he wasn't sure. Not like he'd tell her that.

"Aah, c'est super… I had no idea. You've done your research."

"Google is a wonderful thing. Though I may not have slept the first night I tried gathering good sources. I couldn't even tell my best friend why I was so tired the next day."

Although she couldn't imagine Chat Noir out of his suit, she found herself laughing at the thought of the other staying up late to surf the internet on everything 'feline-related'—really, he was the biggest dork she'd ever come across and while she had never quite paid attention to him like this before, she began to regret not taking past opportunities to get to know him better.

"I take it back. You've definitely exceeded my standards," Marinette corrected herself from earlier, releasing him and tapping his nose for the second time that evening.

She knew should be careful about Ladybug-like actions but she was just so comfortable around the other. Her body reacted on its own and in her slightly fazed state, medicated and tired, she couldn't be bothered to put on an act. "So feel free to use those 'healing properties' on me anytime."

Chat Noir beamed, in spite of the familiar gesture. "Since the princess asked so nicely.~"

He paused. Well, if she was uncomfortable, she would push him off. She hadn't been shy about it before and it would be the easiest position with only one good arm. The superhero laid back, resting his head against her leg, pushing her hand up towards his hair.

Her eyes softened. With a quiet laugh, she began to gently comb her fingertips through the soft blonde, strands, occasionally scratching at an ear or brushing her thumb affectionately across his cheek. He relaxed completely under her touch, eyelids slowly falling.

It didn't take long for him to begin purring. The redness from his cheeks linger and he told himself it was because this is strangely intimate. Never mind the fact that he never blushed when he models things like this with girls anymore.

In any case, it felt nice to indulge a little. There was no one he could ask to pet him and the touches from His Lady were fleeting. He could get used to the sensation of Marinette's fingers in his hair, the scratches she offered to his ears and her soft hand against her skin.

"Hey, Princess."

"Hmm?"

"Do I need an excuse to visit?"