Chat Noir had made himself quite at home, curled up next to Marinette on her chaise. The fluffy crocheted blanket wound around him, but had dropped off his shoulders as he reached for his third cookie. The chocolaty sweet aroma filled him with a feeling of warmth he couldn't get enough of. Tasting them was even better!
"Slow down," Marinette giggled, watching him scarf down the freshly baked cookie, still warm at its center. "If you want I can always make you more."
"You would do that for me?!" Chat Noir gulped down the cookie, not slowing down a bit.
"Of course," Marinette shrugged, ducking her head in a attempt to play things casual, "cookies are really just made of butter and love."
Chat Noir started choking on said cookie, and coughed, clearing his throat.
"Chat! Are you okay?" Marinette turned towards him patting his firmly on his back.
"Echem...oh yeah...totally...sorry, I guess that all came a little fast...I mean I was eating too fast," held his paws up to assure her he was fine.
"Are you sure? Here, have a little milk!" She held up the glass to him.
"Ah, thanks," Chat Noir accepted the glass of cool milk.
Marinette looked up, and fiddled with the glass in her own hand. She bit her lip, and decided to go for it. "Um...hey Chat...what do you a call a little milk?"
Chat Noir, shrugged his shoulders with his lips still resting on the edge of he glass.
"Condensed milk!" she announced.
Chat Noir spurted milk out of his nose, and he bent over in another wave of coughing and sputtering.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, it was just a joke!" Marinette apologized, and ran to grab a towel for him.
She knelt beside him, handing up the towel, totally mortified at her own attempt at humor. Gosh, it was nearly as bad as doing the red-nosed clown routine with Adrien that one time...well, not quite that embarrassing, but at least Chat Noir didn't know about that low point in her comedy career.
Chat Noir had his face in the towel, wiping away the milk.
"I really am sorry," Marinette said quietly, not able to look at him.
"That's just the way the cookie crumbles!" Chat Noir murmured, peeking his green eyes over the towel with a amused smile. "This cat isn't one to cry over spilt milk! You're just so funny Mari, I couldn't help it!"
"You thought I was funny?" Marinette asked in surprise.
"Well, sure!" Chat Noir sat up. "I've always thought so."
"And...you like that about me?" Marinette asked hesitantly.
"Of course! I love that about you!" Chat Noir exclaimed, only to freeze face to face with Marinette. It was like the Pharaoh had just trapped them both in a time bubble. Everything in that moment seemed to go in slow motion, and neither made a move.
Their stand off as Chat Noir's words sunk in might have gone on forever, as both them them were internally panicking about how what the other might be thinking. A speedy return to planet earth was issued at the sound of Marinette's father's voice calling up the stairs. "Marinette? Are you still awake? Are you okay Honey?"
"I'm fine Dad!" Marinette called back, cringing at the crack in her voice. "I'm just going to bed!"
"I'll come say 'goodnight' then!" her Dad's voice answered, followed by heavy foot steps up to the loft.
Chat Noir's typically cool cat persona went to hair raising panic at the sound of his footsteps. How on earth would he explain to her father why he was in Marinette's bedroom so late at night! The last time there was misunderstanding about their 'relationship status' Tom Dupain-Cheng had turned into one of the most formidable akuma victims Chat Noir ever had to face, and had been totally beaten to a pulp! He sure didn't want a rematch with Weardad if he thought Chat Noir was messing around with Marinette! What was he going to do?! He glanced up towards the nearest window, and the hatch up to the balcony. Judging my the footsteps of Mr. Dupain-Cheng, there wouldn't be enough time to make a hasty escape. He had to hide!
Marinette's breath caught in her throat, and she felt Chat Noir tense up beside her. Looking around her room she rapidly evaluated the options. There just wasn't enough time, she'd had to hide him.
"Get down!" Marinette whispered tensely, pushing a extremely startled Chat Noir down on the chaise, and flipping the blanket so that it concealed the cat-boy underneath. She tucked her feet up under herself and pulled the blanket up. Chat Noir was having the hardest time keeping the sound of his pounding heart quiet as he found himself pressed up against Marinette's hip under the warm cover. With his face pressed against the side of her pink capris, he guessed his face was probably the same colour.
"I uh...!" Chat Noir tried to say something, but was 'shushed' by Marinette as the hatch to Marinette's bedroom popped open with a heavy clank.
"Oh Sweetheart, are you having trouble sleeping again?" Mr. Dupain-Cheng asked, poking his head up, and finding his daughter wrapped up in her favorite blanket on her chaise lounge chair. (She had just grabbed a book from the floor, and accompanied it with another cookie).
"No, naw, don't worry Dad," Marinette tried to smile naturally, but she showed too many teeth. "I just wanted a late-night snack, and wanted to finish my book. I promise I'll go to bed soon!"
"You sure it's not those nightmares again?" her Dad asked her with concern. "You've been having them a lot lately."
"I'm sure, I'm just at a really important part in my book. I can't sleep till I know what is going to happen to the hero!" Marinette assured him
"Sounds like a great read!" her Dad smiled. "What is it about?"
"Oh...wellll..." Marinette tried to stall, and Chat Noir under the blanket couldn't help the sweat that was building on his forehead. "It...it's a classic really...Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Basically the perfectly impish Cheshire Cat takes pleasure in misdirecting Alice during her adventures in Wonderland, and get's her into all kinds of trouble."
"Hmm, Isn't that the cat that has that crazy smile, who can disappear and reappear at will?" her Dad asked, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
Inadvertently Chat Noir tightened his grip on Marinette's leg in his own suspense.
"Uh, yep, yeah, that is the one!" Marinette responded quickly, overly enthusiastically. "But...I uh...really have to get back to the story! I love you Dad! Goodnight!"
"Okay, love you too!" her Dad smiled, blowing her a quick kiss, and shuffling back downstairs.
Marinette breathed out a sigh of relief, and flipped the edge of the blanket up to reveal the static wild blonde hair of Chat Noir. He shuffled back upright, next to her.
"You nearly gave yourself away back there, grabbing my leg like that! You really do want to drive me crazy!" Marinette scolded Chat Noir with a teasing smile.
"Never let anyone drive you crazy; it is nearby anyway and the walk is good for you," Chat Noir swiftly responded without missing a beat.
"What?" Marinette quirked an eyebrow at his smile.
"The Cheshire Cat," Chat Noir responded. "It is a quote from your book!"
"Why am I not surprised you knew that! It seems Alice isn't the only one who is has to deal with a cheeky Kitty," Marinette crossed her arms in amusement.
"Sorry, I almost got you into trouble with your Dad. It seems that you're both so close," Chat Noir commented wistfully.
"Yeah, Dad and Mom are pretty amazing. Don't worry, they're just sometimes a bit protective," Marinette said. "Sorry, about that."
"No, I think it is great! They really care! It must be nice..." Chat Noir said, letting his voice drift off.
"Your parents aren't protective?" Marinette asked, "Do they just let you do whatever you want?"
"Quite the opposite actually," Chat Noir shifted uncomfortably. "My Dad pretty much plans out every second of my life, and keeps a pretty tight leash."
"What?!" Marinette gasped sincerely shocked. Chat Noir had always seemed to carefree and impulsive. So often she had assumed he must not have any cares in the world. She had pictured him coming from a family like Luka and Julia's where he was free to do as he wished. "That's horrible!"
"Oh, I'm sure my father is just worried, and is trying to protect me, or maybe it's just that he wants to make me into someone successful. He gets really busy with work and things. I'm sure he cares about me in his own way...I'm just not his priority," Chat Noir said with a level voice.
Marinette's heart absolutely shattered at this revelations from her partner. How could anyone not see how amazing her Kitty was?! Chat Noir just accepted that his father apparently pushed him aside, and put some job ahead of him! What kind of neglect had he been through?! No wonder he had wanted her to spend time with him...wanted her to love him.
A overwhelming rush of emotion welled up within Marinette as she looked at Chat Noir. She didn't want to let him go a second longer without all the love that he so deserved. Without another thought, Marinette burried her face in Chat Noir's shoulder, and hugged him close.
Chat Noir was started, and a bit confused by Marinette's sudden closeness. The warmth in the embrace was so comforting though, like her very presence charged him with affection. The soft scent of her vanilla shampoo in her hair only added to the moment. He breathed it in with a deep sigh, like a parched wanderer in a desert who had finally be offered a cool glass of water. Her hands drew up his back, and played with the strands of his hair. Petting his head softly, as if to soothe him. "Oh Kitty, I'm so sorry," she whispered. "I wish you knew just how much you deserve."
Chat Noir leaned into her touch, and felt a reverberating rumble start at his core, and spring up from his throat; the purr escaped him. He popped up off the couch, wide-eyed in embarrassment, slapping a paw over his mouth.
"Was that a..." Marinette smiled up at him.
"No, nope, I uh...just was clearing my throat...I'm fine," Chat Noir sook his head.
"You certainly are Kitty Cat," Marinette gave him a wink.
Chat Noir's mouth hit the floor. Did she just...no way that she just...a wink? Was she teasing him? Was this some weird dream? There was no way she could be akumatized right?! Chat Noir eyed her warily, "Uh, Marinette, are you feeling okay?"
"I'm feline fine," she took a coy sip of her milk, looking over the cup at him.
"Right..." Chat Noir shifted on his feet. "You're teasing me aren't you?" he guessed.
"You mean you want me to stop kitten around?" Marinette blinked up at him innocently.
"No, I mean yes, I mean...I'm just not sure what is going on with you," Chat Noir said getting steadily more flustered.
"Aww, Kitty is Purr-plexed?" Marinette reached out for his paw.
Chat Noir didn't know what exactly made him do it, but he felt the sudden need to snap Marinette out of whatever game she was playing. He grabbed the nearest pillow off the couch and tossed it at her. It bounced right off her head, leaving her frozen with a stunned look on her face.
"I'm sorry, all the puns, I just...I didn't know how to react," Chat Noir held up his hands frantically in apology at his impulsive response.
"You threw a pillow at me!" Marinette accused.
"I uh...yes...I guess I did..." Chat Noir's ears went down.
"You know what this means don't you?!" Marinette stood up toe-to-toe with him.
"Um...uh...no?" Chat Noir tried not to flinch under her gaze.
"Pillow fight!" Marinette declared, grabbing another pillow off the couch and throwing it at him.
The first pillow to catch him in the side of the head caught him off guard, but the second that Marinette launched was expertly dodged by the Cat-Boy. He was not going to let Marinette get away with that. This was war! He showed off with a flip, and snatched up the fallen pillow, hurling it back towards Marinette (who had now taken cover behind the couch).
She sent another pillow flying his way from her chase-bunker, and Chat Noir caught it right in the air, and immediately tossed it right back at her. Their pillow battle evolved from flying projectiles, to Chat Noir deciding to go on the offensive and pouncing over the couch to tackle a oversized cushion out of Marinette's grasp. She whipped a decorative flowery pillow at him, but he blocked it and jumped in front of her blocking her path. She dove down, and rolled under the couch, popping up on the other side. He threw up the huge cushion for her to catch, and as she raise her arms to catch it, Chat Noir tackled the legs out from under her. Breathing heavily they both started giggling uncontrollably from the heap of pillows and blankets strun about on the floor around them.
"I win!" Chat Noir panted.
"Yeah, right!" Marinette gave him a playful shove. "I haven't given up yet!"
"I don't think you are the kind of person to ever give up. This could go on all night!" Chat Noir replied. Then his eyes darted to the clock on her desk. "Whoah, it is late! We're running out of 'night!' I'm sorry to have kept you up so late!"
"Are you kidding? This is the most fun I've had for a long time!" Marinette said.
"Yeah..." Chat Noir paused, looking at Marinette whose shirt sleeve has shifted over one shoulder in their pillow skirmish, and one ponytail has come loose. Her cheeks were flushed a warm rosy colour. He couldn't help but think she had never looked more beautiful. "...me too."
"Will you come back?" Marinette asked in a rushed voice.
"Of course Princess," Chat Noir took up her hand in his, and brushed a kiss against her knuckles. "Until our next rematch," Chat Noir winked. "Goodnight Mi'Marinette."
"Goodnight Kitty Cat," Marinette sighed, watching him bound up the latter, and through the hatch that led to the balcony. Just like that she was left standing still in the center of her room, staring up to where he had left. She absentmindedly traced the place he had kissed her hand, and tipped back onto the couch again. She picked up her book and traced the worn cover. Then she looked back up to the balcony hatch.
Tikki poked her head out of Marinette's sewing box, watching her young weilder. "I thought this morning you had planed to do things differently," Tikki said in concern.
In barely a whisper to herself Marinette quoted a line from the Cheshire Cat himself, "I knew who I was this morning, but I have changed a few times since then."
