Marinette skidded to a halt in front of the world-famous Musée du Louvre, her breath coming out in gasps. She had practically jogged the entire distance from the bus stop to the museum's entrance in her haste to reach Chat Noir in time.

But she did have a slight problem, which was that she hadn't really formulated a plan on how she would reach Chat Noir, or what she would do after she did meet him. But there wasn't anything she could do about that now. She glanced at her surroundings, her heart sinking when she noticed the suspiciously large number of reporters and guards that were lingering at the scene. No doubt they were trying to get a view of Paris's number one thief.

She may not have a plan...but she would just have to try.

Marinette strode towards the popular Pyramid entrance, a gorgeous pyramid made of glittering glass, with her head held high. She could only hope that she wasn't acting too suspiciously. Maybe she could pass as a reporter, and she would be able to sneak in with the others -

But she hadn't even reached the sliding glass doors before a guard blocked her path. So much for pretending to be a reporter...

"Miss, do you have any business here? You don't look like a reporter," the guard, wearing the typical security officer uniform, questioned her in a gruff voice. She couldn't see his expression under the wide brim of the cap that sat on his head.

Crap. Well, it looked like she would have to scratch that idea. "Er, I'm just visiting the museum for an art project!" She lied quickly. "I'm a student, and we have a project due tomorrow. Please let me in!" Suddenly getting an idea, she pulled out her student ID from her backpack and waved it at the guard. At least the part about her being a student wasn't exactly a lie, she told herself.

The guard shook his head firmly, not even bothering to glance at her ID. "Sorry, Miss, but there are no visitors allowed at this time. Why don't you run along now?" Of course they wouldn't let a student in at a time like this, Marinette thought grimly. But she couldn't give up, not when she was so close.

"Please, sir!" she begged, clasping her hands together and leaning towards the older man desperately. That was when she had an epiphany, and remembering the way Chloe would act to get what she wanted (Marinette was prepared to do anything at this point), she batted her eyelashes at him in what she hoped was a convincing manner. "My grades depend on this!"

"You can come back tomorrow," he said stiffly, not changing his mind.

Marinette gave up with a sigh of disappointment, deciding instead to head towards the back of the museum. She could only hope that the security would be more lax there. But alas, there was just as many guards out and about as there had been in the front entrance.

They really were going all out for Chat Noir, weren't they?

But however was she going to find him now? It would be impossible for him to spot her, a single person lost in a sea of people. She paced back and forth as she tried to think of a plan, tears of frustration threatening to spill from her eyes. She really should've thought this through better before she came here.

Just then, she heard an excited voice call out, "It's Chat Noir - he's here!"

Almost at once, everyone began pushing madly towards the source of the voice, eager to be the first one to catch a glimpse of the notorious thief. Marinette gritted her teeth in pain when a reporter shoved her to the ground, not even apologizing as she dashed away.

"Well, excuse me!" Marinette yelled after the girl, but she didn't receive a reply. Marinette gingerly inspected her knee, which was now scraped and bleeding. But she didn't have time to worry about that now.

"Look, he's over there!" the voices of multiple reporters exclaimed as they pointed to a spot in the distance. Marinette curiously followed their fingers with her eyes and spied a dark figure leaping from one building to the next. Her heart skipped a beat as her eyes fell on him. Chat Noir...he really had come, just as he stated he would in his advance notice.

"Chat Noir!" She cried out his name desperately, but it was impossible for him to hear her over the crowd's exuberant roars. Just as she was about to admit defeat, as though he could sense her presence within the crowd, he looked down and his eyes met hers.

She could hear the blood roaring in her ears as their eyes met, and time seemed to stand still.

"You..." Chat Noir hopped off from the rooftop and landed smoothly onto the ground next to her. "What the hell are you doing here? Didn't I warn you not to get involved!?" He demanded exasperatedly.

She tried to reply, but before the two knew it, they had been surrounded by guards and reporters. They really were everywhere.

"Chat Noir! Is it true that you killed Copycat?" One man asked, pointing his trusted camera at the thief so he could snap photos of him.

"What about that girl? Do you know her? What's your relationship with her?" A woman in her mid-thirties demanded, gesturing to Marinette. Instantly, numerous cameras turned towards her. Not being used to dealing with the overwhelming presence of the paparazzi, Marinette could only stay rooted to the spot. Chat Noir, though, had plenty of experience when it came to interacting with news reporters, thanks to his gigs as Adrien.

"Tch," he muttered. He surveyed the scene with his eyes, calculating their next move in his mind. They had been trapped, and Marinette didn't seem like she could move anytime soon. And they had a bigger problem, too. At this rate, everyone would be watching the news as reporters broadcasted it live, including Hawk Moth. It wouldn't take long for his archenemy to connect the dots, and realize that Marinette was the same girl who had been linked to him before. He had to make it clear to Hawk Moth, once and for all, that she wasn't connected to him. And there was only one way to do so...

He knelt down next to her, brushing a strand of her hair out of the way with a slender finger so he could whisper into her ear, "Do you trust me, little lady?"

Despite everything going on around them, Marinette instantly became hyper-aware of his heated breath as he spoke by her ear. Even though they were surrounded by so many people, at that moment, she felt as though it was just the two of them, alone in their own world.

Marinette could only nod breathlessly in response.

That was all the encouragement the cat burglar needed. Before she could wrap her head around what was happening, he effortlessly scooped her into his arms, bridal style.

"You all back off!" he ordered, his voice firm and controlling despite the crowds gathering around them, watching them with scrutinizing gazes. At that moment, Marinette couldn't help but marvel at how much he sounded like a natural leader...

"I have a hostage! If you don't want any harm to come to her, you'd better not try anything!" he warned coolly. At once, everyone started backing away warily. Taking opportunity of the path that had been cleared for them, he extended his baton and propelled the two away from the square.

Chat Noir quickly located a secret entrance that enabled them to enter the heavily-guarded musée with ease. As they entered the building, he glanced around. There didn't seem to be any security inside, which was surprising considering all the commotion going on on the outside. But still, it wouldn't kill for him to be extra careful today, especially because Marinette was with him. At this thought, he cradled her a little tighter against his chest.

Thanks to the maps he'd studied over a thousand times so he would remember the location of every trap and security camera, he knew that there should be a supply closet coming up ahead. It wasn't the ideal hiding place, but it would have to do for now.

He weaved skillfully between exhibits of Ancient Egyptian jewelry and sarcophagi, taking extra care not to damage anything as he traveled towards his destination with his 'hostage' in tow. Ah, there it was! He made a noise of satisfaction, glad that his hard work had paid off. As soon as he arrived at the closet, he ducked into the small room and locked the wooden door behind them.

"We don't have much time, but we should be safe here for a while," the thief said, setting Marinette down gently. His arms instantly felt cold and empty now that he was no longer carrying her or feeling the warmth that spread from her body, but he tried to dismiss the feeling. As she struggled to stand up, his eyes flickered to her knees, his stomach twisting when he noticed the blood that was still seeping from her scraped knee. "You - you were hurt?"

"This is nothing," she mumbled, finally finding her voice again. She leaned in and gripped his arm, beside herself with worry as she blurted, "I - I know you told me not to get involved, but I had to find you and warn you. I heard that Detective Felix is on your case!" she stated this all in one breath, knowing that they didn't have much time.

"I know," Chat Noir returned, not sounding surprised at all.

Her mouth formed into an "o" in surprise, and she blinked in confusion at his revelation. "Y-You knew already?" She repeated in a daze, still not really believing her ears. She had risked so much to see him, and he had already known! What had been her point in coming here? All she had done had been for nothing.

Now that she had calmed down a little, she realized how much of an idiot she had been for not thinking things through in her desperation to find him. There were probably better methods for her to contact him, too - she could've even passed the message to him through Mr. Fu. Why did she blindly go after him despite all the danger she had put him in?

But still...she couldn't shake off the butterflies that were fluttering in her stomach whenever she got to see him again, no matter what circumstance they'd been thrown into. Just having him by her side made her feel safe, as though they could do anything if they put their heads together.

"A thief has his sources," Chat Noir reminded her, breaking her out of her reverie.

He couldn't bring himself to tell her that he had been aware of Felix's involvement even before this tidbit had been revealed on the news - he had received that information first hand from his cousin himself. While the two weren't particularly close, they still kept in touch throughout the years and kept each other updated on important life events. And so, Adrien had been the first to know about Felix's new case, which just so happened to be his own. He wasn't surprised to hear that, either, considering how talented his cousin was in his detective work. And he wasn't concerned in the least, as this made the game even more exhilarating.

Still, he couldn't help but feel warm, knowing that the first thought she had after finding out was to warn him. He gently ruffled her hair. "But good work coming all this way to warn me, little lady. You have my thanks."

Marinette had such a crestfallen look plastered across her cute face that Chat Noir had a sudden urge to comfort her. She really was too easy to read, like an open book, but that was what made the adorable designer so endearing. His body leaned toward her almost automatically, and he brushed his lips against her left cheek.

At his unexpectedly tender touch, Marinette's face turned redder than a tomato, and she sprang away from him in shock. "W-What was that for?" she squealed, covering her burning cheeks with her hands. Her cheek was still tingling from the lingering warmth of his lips.

"Consider that my thanks for coming all this way to warn me. You always have such priceless reactions that I couldn't help but tease you a bit," he commented casually, his words making her blush even more. "One of these days, I'll end up stealing you because of how cute you are."

Marinette's heart somersaulted in her chest at his teasing words. She couldn't quite believe that he was flirting with her in the middle of his heist, but bantering with him like this made every risk worth it. She was suddenly very glad that she had decided to come. Maybe this was his attempt to make her cheer up, she thought.

"I...I'm sorry I ruined your plans," she apologized, ducking her head guiltily.

"You haven't yet, don't worry," he reassured her, his voice light despite the seriousness of the situation. "Why'd you come?"

She fixed her bluebell eyes on him, unwavering determination flickering in her gaze. "Of course I had to come. I know you...you'd asked me not to get involved. But how can I not be involved, when the person I care about most in this world could be in danger? I...I hate sitting on the sidelines and not being able to do anything when you're in trouble. Let me help you too, Chat Noir!"

She bit her lip as she awaited his reply, praying that her words had reached him. Her breath caught as he returned her gaze with smoldering eyes, the intensity in them burning like flames. "If you put it that way...I can never say no to you, little lady," he relented with a sigh of defeat. Master Fu had been right. He was pushing her away, even when he needed her so much. Perhaps it was time for him to stop running, and give her the chance that they both desperately needed. "I'm sorry for pushing you away before. I...I didn't want you to be placed in danger because of me."

"Well, danger always has a way of finding me, whether you have a say in it or not," she returned with a teasing smile.

Chat Noir tipped his head to one side, an amused grin that matched her own dancing across his handsome features. "If you insist, I'll take you up on your offer."

Her smile brightened. It was almost too dazzling for him to look at. "You...do you really mean it?"

"Yes," He smirked, pulling something off of his right ring finger and gently placing it into her hand. "I think it's time for you to have this back."

Her eyes stretched wide as she studied the object he'd placed into her hands. It was his signature paw print ring, and he'd actually given it back to her! She hugged it tightly to her chest, a shade of light pink tinging her cheeks. She was never going to let it go again. "Thank you for believing in me, Chat Noir. I'll treasure it," she promised.

"I trust that you will," he said, nodding in satisfaction. "And...getting back to business, as we don't have much time. I have a task for you, if you've made your mind to help me out. Do you think you can manage from here on your own, little lady?"

She nodded. She didn't want to weigh him down after all the trouble she had already caused him. If splitting up would help him accomplish his goal, then she would do it. "I can get out on my own."

"Alright, here's the plan. I'll go out there first and distract the guards to take their attention away from this room. You hide here until they leave, so they won't suspect anything. I'd even wait until everything's back to normal, and then sneak out with the tourists. Got it?" Chat Noir continued, knowing that he could trust her to get out safely.

"Got it," Marinette acknowledged, giving him a thumbs up to show that she understood.

"Before I forget," he snapped his fingers and conjured a red handkerchief (which he sometimes used to pull tricks off with) from his hidden pocket, seemingly with magic. He carefully tied it around Marinette's knee to stop her wound from bleeding. "You helped me once before. Let me return the favor this time," he murmured huskily, placing a kiss upon the expertly wrapped handkerchief once he had finished his handiwork.

"I - " Marinette started, but she completely forgot what she was about to say. Instead, she found herself getting lost in those brilliant emerald eyes that shone through the intricate black mask. It was then that she thought, in the back of her mind, that she wouldn't mind being trapped in the closet forever if he was there with her.

All too soon, their moment was broken by the sound of heavy footsteps echoing loudly from outside the closet. "Do you see him? Where'd he go?" They could hear the voices of guards as they ran about the museum, struggling to locate the missing thief.

"Time's up," Chat Noir lamented with a sigh. He straightened up, offering his hand to Marinette to help her stand. She took it hesitantly, blushing as she felt the warmth of his fingers seep through his leather gloves.

She froze, her pulse quickening when he unexpectedly leaned in and tenderly placed a kiss on the top of her head. Why was he showing her so much affection today? She was so used to his harsh tone that it almost felt...odd for him to be so nice to her. And it really wasn't fair that just one touch could elicit so many feelings to boil within her -

In the time it took for her to ponder her turmoiled feelings in her mind, Chat Noir had already disappeared from the room.

She held her breath as she pressed her ear against the door, trying to hear what was going on the other side. At first, everything was silent. But then her eyes widened when she heard a new voice call out, "There you are, Chat Noir."

Marinette didn't recognize the voice, but just hearing it sent chills down her spine. Whoever they were, they sounded especially dangerous.

"Felix? I figured you would be here," Chat Noir was the next to speak. So this person was Felix, Marinette realized with a jolt. She couldn't see him behind the closed door, but he seemed like the type who was skilled at his job - especially if he could figure out Chat Noir's location so easily. "You're the type who wouldn't want to miss out on the fun, aren't you?"

"I wanted to give you my regards personally to thank you for falling straight into my trap," the detective said with a humorless laugh.

"What makes you think I fell into your trap, Felix?" the infamous thief taunted, not sounding worried at all. Marinette knew he was buying time for her, but despite the confident air about him, it didn't help make her concern for him diminish at all. Worry brimmed inside her as she continued to eavesdrop on their conversation, which sounded like it was getting worse and worse. "I knew there was something off when I didn't see any guards in the Musée. You were hoping that I would lower my guard, weren't you?"

"Bingo," Felix praised, his voice a sarcastic drawl. "You're smarter than I thought, but you're not going anywhere this time. I've got you, Chat Noir. Guards!"

"No!" Marinette gasped in horror, but there was nothing she could do for him except to keep herself out of sight.

"Nice try, Felix. But that's where you're wrong. You see, I'll be getting away from here, and I'll be taking this painting with me!" Chat Noir declared boldly. The next thing Marinette knew, there was deafening bang! followed by what sounded like a loud explosion. She could hear angry yelling from the guards as they tried to figure out what was going on.

"W-What the - ?" she heard Felix exclaim in surprise.

What on earth was happening on the other side of the door!? Marinette pressed a hand against it, wishing more than anything that she knew what was going on. Was Chat Noir safe? He couldn't have been caught by the guards, could he?

"Damn it. Looks like he got away," Felix grumbled, his words instantly making the young designer feel relieved. "But I won't mess up next time. Let's go."

Marinette waited patiently, not daring to budge until their footsteps faded into the distance. Once she made sure that the cost was clear, she slowly creaked the wooden door open and peered out from the crack.

Now that Chat Noir was gone, the bustling museum had returned to life, and reporters and even tourists were now allowed to reenter the building. She melted into the crowd as she sneaked out of the museum undetected - she couldn't help but think that sneaking around made her feel as though she was a thief, too. The thought was rather thrilling.

The designer drew in a deep breath, grateful to finally be free of the museum and to be able to take in the crisp fresh air. Having completed what she'd set out to do, she should probably get back home before her parents grounded her for life.

Speaking of her parents...her eyes widened in horror when a sudden realization came to her. They had probably seen her face on the news by now, if the reporters had already published the stories on Chat Noir and him taking her as his hostage. Oh boy. She was going to be so much trouble...

She trudged slowly back the way she had come, so lost in thought that she missed the voice that called out to her from the darkness. "Psst!" She whipped her head around, freezing when she saw a dark figure lurking in the nearby alley. Had they been following her!?

"It's me," a familiar voice called out to her slyly.

"Oh, it's just you, Chat Noir," she said, her shoulders slumping in relief as she got a good look of the figure for the first time. "You scared me! I thought you were some dangerous criminal - "

"I am a dangerous criminal," he drawled, giving her a playful wink.

"That's besides the point," She huffed, blushing. "I thought you'd left already, why are you still here?"

"You should sort out your priorities, little lady," Chat Noir tsked with a wry laugh, waving a finger disapprovingly at her. "Normally, people would be concerned if they were hanging out with a dangerous criminal like me. Yet you're not scared at all."

Marinette folded her arms across her chest, unimpressed. "Didn't we already talk about this? I'm not scared of you, Chat Noir. I trust you. And there's no way that you're a killer, so there." She stuck her tongue out at him to add affect.

The thief chortled with laughter, clearly amused by her response. She decided that she liked the sound of his laugh. She felt warm, knowing that she was the one who made him laugh like this. "Fine, you win this one. I wanted to make sure that you got out alright," he responded to her previous question. "The guards didn't give you too much trouble, did they?"

She shook her head and grinned back at him. "Nope! As you can see, I made it out in one piece!"

"You'll become a fine thief yourself in no time, little lady," Chat Noir teased.

"No way! One thief is enough for the both of us, thanks," she retorted, but she couldn't help but giggle. She frowned when she noticed that he wasn't carrying the stolen painting with him, as she had expected. "Huh? What happened to that painting?"

"Oh, that painting? I returned it," he shrugged casually. "I only nicked it to send Felix and Hawk Moth a message. I told you that I have a plan, didn't I? They won't catch me that easily, don't you worry."

She couldn't tell whether he was trying to reassure her or himself, but she didn't dare ask. "If you say so," she murmured.

Just then, her phone started vibrating. She winced when she saw the alarming number of messages that had popped up on her screen from her family and Alya. They had definitely heard the news about her being taken hostage by now, she thought with an inward groan. "Crap, look at the time! I gotta go," she said reluctantly. But the truth was that she didn't want to leave. She wasn't ready to say goodbye to Chat Noir just yet.

"I suppose I can take a detour," Chat Noir mused, echoing her thoughts. He wasn't ready to leave her, either. "Want a lift back, little lady?"

"Yes, I'd love one!" she beamed at him gratefully, instantly feeling happy again.

He knelt down on one knee, offering his broad back to her. She sucked in a breath when she realized that he was about to give her a piggyback ride. "Hop on."

After securing his grip on her, he pounced onto the rooftop of the closest building, almost as though he was soaring through the sky. As Chat Noir jumped from one building to the next, Marinette pressed her cheek against his warm back, deep in thought.

She didn't know what the future would bring, or what the enemies that they would be facing would be like, but she didn't want to dwell on that now. Instead, she relished in the little moments that she shared with him, before their peaceful everyday would be shattered by a horrid villain.

Her heart ached. If only time could freeze, so they could stay in this moment forever.

If only...

A/N: Thank you so much for all of your wonderful reviews and support! Hope you'll like the Marichat moments in this chapter as much as I liked writing them~ it's about time for him to stop pushing her away xD

(I always love adding references from the ML episodes, hehe. The part where Chat Noir steals a random painting is another nod to the Copycat episode xD of course he wouldn't be able to steal from the Louvre so easily in real life :P )

Leave a review and let me know what you think? :) A macaron for your thoughts? :P

Next chapter preview - Marinette starts her training with Adrien, and prepares for her upcoming mission at the bar.