Disclaimer: I do not own Miraculous Ladybug or it's characters.
Chapter 20,
"Thank you again, for your generous donation." Madame Trotter said to Marinette, who smiled.
"I was kind of worried the kids wouldn't like this stuff. I'm glad Cat Noir talked me into doing it anyways." Marinette said and Madame Trotter stood beside her.
"Yes; that Cat Noir is really one of a kind. As famous as he is, it's almost surprising that he plays with the kids in such a way." Madame Trotter said and Marinette nodded as they watched the hero.
He was pouncing around, letting the little kids ride on his back and spoke oddly to make them laugh. Marinette Hayes to admit it, but watching him with the kids was so adorable, she could feel her heart falling deeper for Cat.
"Yeah, you're right. Maybe I'll keep him." Marinette said and Madame Trotter smiled.
"It's nice to see the children so happy." She commented and Marinette blinked.
"Is something wrong, Madame Trotter?" Marinette asked and the woman sighed heavily.
"I'm worried, young lady. My heart goes out for the children, but for some, money is the only thing that matters." Madame Trotter said and Marinette paused.
"Are you having financial troubles, Madame?" Marinette asked and Madame Trotter hesitated.
"Dear, one will always have financial troubles; that may never change. I am worried lately because I am concerned for the children. Our building is, uh... rent controlled, and the rent has been raised." Madame Trotter said and Marinette took a sharp breath.
"Are you gonna-" she froze when she realized how loudly she said this sentence.
"Are you gonna lose the home?" Marinette asked softly. She didn't want to raise any panic in the children after all.
"We have some savings for emergencies and whatnot. We should be fine for the following three months. But after that, who knows?" Madame said speaking softly as well.
"What are you gonna do?" Marinette said and Madame Trotter shrugged.
"If I need to, I can open up my home to the orphans, or those I can. The others would be sent to larger orphanages or foster homes that have the room for them." Madame Trotter said and Marinette stared at her.
"I don't understand... you're not even gonna try to save this place?" Marinette asked and Madame Trotter sucked her teeth rhythmically.
"Don't misunderstand, young one. This building has been in my life as long as I can remember. And I can try to raise extra money... having the children make simple things to sell. Possibly raise some awareness for the home; which might convince a couple to adopt... I do so much of that already, I don't know what else I could really do. These children are my world, and I want them all to be happy, but I am just one person. I'll do the best I can, but there is only so much that I can do." Madame Trotter said sadly and Marinette was silent for a moment.
It's true that there are lots of orphans all over the world. Most caretakers get some money from the government, but there are so many places that rely on the kind of donations of others.
"Is there any way I can help?" Marinette asked and Madame Trotter smiled sweetly.
"There is always a way to help, Marinette. And I will welcome the charity of you and your friends. But for today, I think you have done enough." Madame Trotter said and she sighed when she looked at Cat Noir again.
"This shall be a day the children will remember for many years. I would like to thank you both for that." Madame Trotter said, almost wistfully. Madame watched them play for a few seconds longer before she sighed and walked over to them.
"Ok, children. It is time to say goodbye to Marinette and Cat Noir." Madame Trotter said.
"Aw." All the children, including Car Noir, said. Madame simply clapped her hands and shook her head at them.
"I'm sorry children, but we need to finish the daily chores. But don't worry, we will have tea and cookies in the garden when you're done. And if you're good, I'll read a story to you during tea time." Madame Trotter said. The kids slowly let go of Cat Noir and left the room with quiet goodbyes.
"Thank you for your time, Cat Noir." Madame Trotter said. Cat Noir smiled and waved her offs
"Oh, don't worry, it was nothing." Cat Noir said and Madame Trotter offered him a small smile.
"No, Cat Noir. It means something to me, and it means something to the children... so from all of us, thank you." Madame Trotter said and Cat Noir blinked at how raw her words were.
"I... uh... um..." Cat Noir hesitated. Marinette walked over and grabbed his hand sweetly, and the action made his heart skip a beat.
"I think you took his breath away." Marinette said, half-teasing. He smiled lovingly at her and nodded at Madame Trotter.
"You're welcome, Madame Trotter." Cat Noir finally said and Trotter smirked at them.
"I better return to the children. It was nice to meet you both." Madame Trotter said, turning towards the door and opening it for them.
"Nice to meet you too." Marinette said.
"Same." Cat Noir said and they walked out.
"I hope you didn't mind me grabbing your hand." Marinette said as they walked down the steps.
"I don't mind, but what made you do it?" Cat Noir asked and Marinette shrugged.
"I don't know... I just thought you needed a hand." Marinette said and then she rubbed the back of her neck.
"That sounds a little off, but you know what I mean." Marinette said and Cat Noir chuckled.
"True. Are you ready to go back to your place?" Cat Noir asked and Marinette hesitated. She turned back towards the orphanage and stared at it. She let go of Cat Noir's hand and held herself as she saw one of the child in the window, washing it.
"Marinette?" Cat Noir asked and Marinette sighed.
"I'm fine, Cat Noir." Marinette said softly and he stood beside her and put his hand on her shoulder.
"Come on, Marinette." Cat Noir whispered gently and Marinette turned towards him slightly.
"Yeah." She breathes out and Cat Noir bit his lip at how sad she sounded.
"Besides, we are out in public, in the middle of the day. If someone catches us together, people might think we are secretly dating." Cat Noir said and this response surprised Marinette. But then she smiled and tried not to laugh.
"Could be worse. People might think you're cheating on Ladybug with me AND Madame Trotter." Marinette said and Cat Noir nodded.
"True, That would be worse. I'd hate to be labeled as a cheater." Cat Noir said and Marinette smirked.
"True, even if Madame Trotter might be worth it." Marinette commented and they both chuckled.
"I can't believe how thick her accent is." Cat Noir said and Marinette nodded.
"I know it's, like, three times thicker." Marinette said.
"More like four." Cat Noir corrected and Marinette rolled her eyes.
"I was trying to be nice." Marinette said and Cat Noir chuckled again.
"Are you ready to go home now?" Cat Noir said. Marinette smiled and slowly reached her hands up and around Cat Noir's neck.
"I am now." Marinette said and Cat Noir cleared his throat to help clear his head. He wrapped an arm around her and extended his baton.
"Don't forget to hand on tight." Cat Noir said, trying to ignore his racing heart and sound calm. Marinette rested her head on his chest.
"Don't worry, I haven't forgotten." Marinette purred our softly and Cat Noir took in a shuddered breath before jumping into the air. Marinette closed her eyes when she rested her head against him.
Sure, she kind of felt like a rag doll when Cat Noir carries her like that, but she also got the opportunity to focus on the sounds around them. The steady rush of them flying through the air, the sound of Cat Noir's baron extending and retracting, the sound of the tile beneath them as Cat Noir ran on the roof. Marinette couldn't really enjoy these sounds when she was Ladybug. No, she was always running towards some villains or towards someone who needed saving. She couldn't stop to smell the roses when there was someone who needed her. All too soon, Cat Noir brought them back to Marinette's roof, and he set her down as he put his baton away.
"I believe this is your stop Madame." Cat Noir said. Marinette opened her eyes and smirked at the hero.
"I'm Marinette, not Trotter." Marinette said and Cat Noir said.
"You don't get my jokes, Ladybug doesn't get my jokes, Rena Rouge doesn't get my jokes... but THAT was totally one of my jokes, you little thief." Cat Noir said and Marinette rolled her eyes.
"Sure, right." Marinette said sarcastically.
"As if your jokes haven't been used by every wannabe comedian for the past hundred years." Marinette said. Cat Noir put his hand on his heart and stumbled back as if he had been shot.
"Ouch, ooo, that hurt." He said and Marinette giggled. But then she thought of something and she grew concerned.
"Hey... speaking of Ladybug... what do you think she'll say about us spending time together?" Marinette said and Cat Noir's eyes widened.
"Um... I'd like to think that she'd be ok with it, as long as we were careful." Cat Noir said and Marinette shrugged.
"But even the chance... I mean..." Marinette said and Cat Noir bit his lip.
"I think we can do this for a little while, and Ladybug will be ok with it." Cat Noir said and Marinette looked away.
"How do you know that?" Marinette asked and Cat Noir swallowed roughly.
"She cares very deeply about who have been akumatized. And... and..." Cat Noir's voice trailed off as an idea occurred to him. He pulled his baton back out and turned it into a phone.
"Cat Noir?" Marinette asked as he held the device up to his face.
"Hey, Ladybug." He started and Marinette's eyes widened.
"There's no emergency right now, I just wanted to tell you something. First, I'm sorry you got sick, and I hope you are doing better. Second of all, the person who got akumatized that day, Marinette, she's doing better now, but I thought maybe you could help her too." Cat Noir paused to look at Marinette.
"You see..." He slowly hesitated.
"She got hurt by a friend and that's why she got akumatized. Now I've been spending time with her, helping her, being a good friend to her and all... It occurred to me that maybe you could talk to this Adrien Agreste kid." Cat Noir said and Marinette's eyes widened at this notion.
"I would do it myself, but I'm afraid I would get too emotionally invested to get some real answers out of him." Cat Noir said and Marinette blinked. It's true, she didn't get any real answers about what happened that day. As Ladybug, she might actually learn what happened.
"I trust that you won't let us down milady. I know that this will mean a lot to my friend Marinette... If you could talk to Adrien, possibly tonight, and get back to Marinette; she'll appreciate it, and so will I. Oh, don't forget, Adrien lives at the building where we fought the Bubbler and the Collector. Pleeease talk to him, milady." Cat Noir said, ending his message and Marinette took a deep breath.
"Well... I don't think Ladybug could say no to that." Marinette said, almost regrettably.
Cat Noir walked over and gently held her face in his hands. Then with a smile, he gently pressed their foreheads together. It wasn't a kiss, but in a small way, it felt more intimate then that.
"Everything is gonna be ok, Marinette... I promise." Cat Noir quietly vowed. For a brief moment, Marinette wasn't sure if she could think, speak, or breathe. However, the clock tower chimes and Cat Noir pulled away and sighed.
"I gotta go. I got... a thing." Cat Noir said. For a few seconds, Marinette was disappointed, but then she smiled sympathetically.
"That's ok, Cat Noir. I'll talk to you later." Marinette said and they waved at each other. Cat Noir took off and went home; all the while wondering if he had just made a huge mistake.