Please note;

This chapter contains fruits of a citrus nature (lemons). Reader's discretion is advised.

Clarion

Chapter 7 - Memories

Marinette paced back and forth on her balcony. She was fuming. How could Adrien do this? He was perfect, charming, graceful and honest. How could he be a womaniser? Maybe he would cheat too?

School was out for the day and Alya had just left. The sun was low in the sky and began to cast long shadows across the city. One shadow in particular dashed across the city buildings as Chat Noir started his evening patrol. He spotted the frustrated young lady expressing her frustration at no one in particular. Chat Noir thought it amusing enough to investigate closer.

"That two-faced, two-timing, cocky son of a bi-"

"I'm sure they're not that bad", Chat noir interjected. Marinette was startled and jumped nervously.

"Oh, Chat. It's you. Sorry… how much of that did you hear?"

"I can hear purrfectly" said the cocky cat, "Although I didn't catch who this sleazebag is?"

Marinette furrowed her brow and pointed to a poster across the street.

"Wait? Adrien Agreste?!" Chat looked surprised, then puzzled. "What did he do to you? I thought he was quite charming."

"I thought so too…" Marinette dropped her gaze, almost defeated. "He was very special to me, and now… I'm not sure."

"You can tell me anything, Marinette. I swear, I won't tell a soul, cat's honour."

"He asked me to come over..."

"Well, that doesn't sound bad at all! I'm sure he'd love your company." Chat tried to raise the mood in the air, but something wasn't right.

"There would be another there too." Marinette started. "Staying the night".

"Oh?" said Chat. Thinking for a second, Chat knew he had asked Marinette earlier that day, but he hadn't considered how that message sounded. He quickly put together the pieces that his message had been misconstrued. "Have you thought about it?"

"What!?" Marinette spluttered.

"Have you thought about it?" Chat repeated.

"Of course I have. It's been on my mind all day."

"And..?" Chat asked curiously.

Marinette started to calm down as the thought occurred to her. Had she really thought about it? She didn't usually pay much attention to Chat's advice, however this time it sounded reasonable. Alya had said something similar after all.

"I need to be sure…" Marinette said under her breath.

"Sure? About what?"

"Take me to Adrien's house."

Chat, leaning against the balcony rail, suddenly slipped. Recovering quickly his eyes opened wide. Marinette on the other hand was stoic, with the cogs in her head finally turning. She would infiltrate the Agreste mansion with Chat Noir in tow. That way, she could get in and out without drawing attention to Ladybug. Chat could hide better anyhow, wearing black all the time, he was practically a cat burglar already.

"Are you serious?!" Chat interjected. "What if I...er, we get caught?!"

"I'm sure we'll be just fine. I need answers, then we'll be gone. I promise."

Deliberately, Marinette was coy about getting answers from Adrien. He was due to do his Chinese lessons any time now. If they caught him in the middle of it, they could get a quick answer.

"I can't believe I'm doing this, but if it helps you with your Adrien problem then I'm happy to assist." Chat took a bow and picked up Marinette by her waist. Marinette wrapped an arm around the back of his neck and the two took off toward the mansion.

Marinette expected the two of them to first land on a nearby rooftop, scope out the area and come up with a plan of action. Instead Chat carries her straight into Adrien's bedroom through the open window without missing a beat. As they land, Marinette takes a quick look around the empty room. Adrien is nowhere to be seen.

"Well, looks like he's not here. Maybe we should leave?" Chat suggested, gesturing back to the window.

"Something isn't right here." Marinette continues to scan the room. Chat started to get anxious. Marinette ignores him and starts snooping around, checking books and pillows, anything she could get her hands on, looking for clues.

"Erm, what are you doing?" Chat asks quizzically.

"I'm looking for something." Marinette responded. She has no idea what she's looking for, but she is looking for that glimmer of hope that something in here will provide answers. After all, if he's innocent, he won't have anything incriminating right?

"AHA!" she exclaimed "I knew he'd be hiding something!"

Chat's eyes widened and looked in the direction of the bedside cupboard.

"Cheese!"

Marinette had slightly opened the door and lunged her whole arm into a fresh rind of camembert. Her arm was sticky and smelled so bad, Chat forced his nose closed with his fingers.

"Midnight snack maybe?" Chat said, fingers still firmly clasped to his nose.

Marinette closed the cupboard and looked at her arm. What in the world was she doing? This wasn't anything incriminating. She half expected handcuffs, not a dairy collection. She began to cry. Chat moved slowly over to her. She clasped her hands to her face as she cried, not realising she now had smelly cheese all over her face and hair. Chat wanted to comfort her, but the smell was now unbearable.

"We need to get you cleaned up, before we get caught here."

Chat placed his hand on her back and guided her slowly toward the bathroom. As they entered, Marinette became overcome with emotion and began to sob harder. Chat starts to panic at the thought of getting caught, so quickly takes action.

"Here, why don't I start the shower real quick and you can get cleaned up. I'll wait outside."

Marinette nods but is still overwhelmed. Acting on autopilot, she begins to take her jacket off and shoes. Chat takes her jacket while looking towards the doorway, keeping an eye out for possible intruders. His head still turned, he doesn't see Marinette lifting her top off. She continues undressing, removing her jeans. Assuming Chat is now out of the room, she removes her underwear and steps under the running water, her back turned. Chat looks back at Marinette. He was dumbstruck. Feeling like he witnessed Venus herself, he could not take his eyes off his fellow classmate. So vulnerable, yet so beautiful. Marinette ran her fingers through her hair, taking out her pigtails. As her hair dropped down her back, Marinette turned back around and slowly opened her eyes to see Chat standing there, his eyes wide. She almost let out a scream before realising where she was. Chat pounced toward her, anticipating the scream that didn't come. He was now face to face with her.

"I'm so so so sorry Marinette, I didn't mean to see you! Please, I didn't! I'm sorry!" Chat was waving his arms around like a lunatic. He wanted to cover her mouth in case she screamed, but also didn't want to touch her. Marinette was so red in the face, you could hide her in a basket of cherries.

"I…" Marinette tried to make words, but the experience was too much for her. She just began to cry, but this time it was not anger or frustration, but of the worst embarrassment she could possibly feel. Chat saw her breaking down and all he could do was hold her. As he embraced her, the warmth of his body became apparent to her. Then, as she felt that embarrassment melting away, her heart began to race. She leaned into his face to kiss him, before Chat realised he was doing the same to her. Their lips pressed together as the warm water flowed down their bodies. Chat's hands began to caress her back, then her neck, then her hair. They kissed harder now, as Marinette's hands began to play with Chat's thick mane. Chat couldn't resist any longer. His arms wrapped tightly around her body, pulling her closer. Marinette let out a squeak, feeling his wet hero suit pressed against her skin. Marinette let out another sharp gasp, as her back firmly pressed against the tile wall. Chat Noir sank his teeth into her neck. Marinette tried to catch her breath, but the intensity caught her off guard.

Tilting her head with his gloved hand, he wasted no time, biting down even deeper. The back of her head is gently pressed against the wall with the shower head arcing overhead.

As the water rained over them, Chat Noir worked his way back to her lips, capturing them once again with his own. Marinette sighed into the kiss, parting her lips slightly. In one swift move, Chat Noir hoisted her up from the ground. Instinctively, Marinette wrapped her bare legs around his torso, gripping tightly. She smiled. Chat Noir was trilling loudly. Marinette's hands began to wander upwards, tangling themselves up in his golden locks. Their tongues danced with their lips intertwined. As the intensity mounted, a feeling of desire rapidly flowed through her veins. Her innermost lust now screamed for more. Chat looked down at Marinette's bare chest, heaving as she pressed it against his wet body.

She couldn't take any more. As her legs began to stiffen, she felt her whole body shake violently as she got closer and closer to the apex of her experience.

"Chat!" Marinette moaned in his ear. "I'm gonna. I'm gonna-"

Unable to finish her sentence, Marinette gripped tightly around her partner, as a much needed release courses through her body. Her eyes opened wide as the flurry of ecstasy rushed through her veins. She squeezed them shut as the rush brought her to her knees before passing out from the sheer intensity of the moment. Chat embraced her as water dripped down his face.

As the memory fades, Chat finds himself looking deep into Marinette's tearful eyes. She too was lost in thought. The pair realise their blank stares to one another and look away, before reconnecting both with innocent expressions. Marinette reaches her arms around Chat, and he returns the gesture as they both kneel, facing each other.