Chapter 4: Espresso machines and gossip:

The sun came out but the room remained dark. An alarm sounded loudly "COMING OUT OF MY CAGE AND I'VE BEEN DOING JUST FINE GOTTA GOTTA BE DOWN BECAUSE I WANT IT ALL"

"Mr. Brightside ? Really Chat?" Marinette scowled at the loud song

"You don't like it?" He sang along to the guitar a little before shutting it off laughing. "Hey, It's a classic song and I made it my alarm a while back anyway. But it does mean it's 7 my lady I'm sorry I like to wake up early usually." he laughed

"Have you finished your cheese Plagg?" A small reply that sounded like a yes came from the corner of the room. "Alright then claws out"
And just like that, he became chat.

"Tikki there's a cookie in my bag" Marinette told her kwami.

"Already on it" a small bell like voice replied.

"Hello tikki" Chat seemed amused

"Hello chat noir nice to see you again" she twinkled

"Tiki spots on" Ladybug yawned into her transformation.

"I'll get the curtains" Chat said. Pulling on the long string near the bed. As soon as the sun shone through, he gazed at her with her eyes closed. Her hand lay draped above her head and her mouth hung open. He wondered what she looked like sleeping out of her transformation. He tried to picture it, but something prevented it. He wanted to hold he to reinforce what had happened last night. He wanted to claim what he was so scared of losing. He inched towards her and lay his arm across her torso cautiously. When she didn't refuse, he tucked her a little closer to him so that his head was leaning into her chest and his arms wrapped around her waist.

"Good morning mon amour" he purred

"Mmmm five more minutes" she muttered

"You can sleep love I just wanted to be close to you" he mewed as he sighed into her breathe. Mine. He thought again.

A few hours later they woke up again. Her eyes opened slowly to see his head below her.

"I wish we could stay like this forever" she whispered unaware of the weight of her words.

"I can give you that Ladybug all you have to do is ask" he whispered in a serious tone.

"Hm?" She questioned dreamily

"It's nothing my lady sleep away" he gently kissed her collarbone

"I like that. When you do that." She smiled

With that, he did it again only longer and warmer. It made her stir a little.

"Careful kitty I'm a modest lady and you're very, very tempting" she teased. It made his entire being burst into flames. Instead of ravishing her right then and there he decided to shift himself to hover over her slightly, kissing her face and lips delicately, taking in her small sounds of joy.

"Mmm I think you're the tempting one" he teased as he deepened his kisses. He sucked on her neck below her chin.

"Chat" she breathed his name.

"Yes love?" He didn't stop teasing

She felt faint from the new nickname

"oof, these new nicknames. Are you trying to kill me?" She whined.

He smirked and leaned down again. "Mon cheri" he kissed her neck and she squirmed.

"Ma belle" he cooed

her toes curled against the sheets. "please, you're turning me into soup" she groaned

He chuckled and kissed from her jaw to her ear. She squealed.

"My lady" his lips brushed her ear with a soft whisper.

"mmm" she bit her lip. He marveled at her reactions and cupped her cheek, bringing her into a loving kiss.

"we should have some breakfast." she whimpered returning his kiss.

"But I don't want you to get up and out of my arms! Can I hold you a little longer?" He pulled her so that she was leaning on him now

"Ok a little longer kitty cat but my caffeine headache will only worsen" she playfully mewed secretly loving every second of his begging.

"Caffeine will be available soon my lady" he chuckled savoring every moment of this feeling. He was still getting accustomed to her affections. She had always been flirtatious but never this loving and never this willing to be close. Never this comfortable. He never wanted it to end. Suddenly fear seeped into his mind and made him sink. Thinking of how she could just disappear at any moment just like… no. He wouldn't think of that now. Everything would be ok. Slowly but surely, he released his grip on her.

"Let's go make some coffee my lady you deserve it" he sprung away from her leaving her in a sleepy daze of his touch and scent. As much as she enjoyed it, she did have a serious addiction and it needed to be fed. Coffee. She thought.

She could smell the espresso machine as it poured her first cup. The humming sound of it was music to her ears.

"I like this little machine you've got. A little steam wand and everything" she mused at how lovely it was that he remembered her favorite had been a hot latte with cinnamon and sugar. He carefully poured the steamed milk over the espresso and sprinkled the cinnamon on top.

"I found it on Amazon after you told me. I'm not familiar with the art but you can learn anything on YouTube. Only the best for a lady like yourself." He smiled watching how pleased she was.

"Wow. Thank you. I love you" she exclaimed causally. His heart melted.

"I- love you" his eyes lowered on hers and he leaned in to kiss her. He let his lips press on hers more passionately this time and it took her a minute to finally break it.

His eyes are so- beautiful. She thought to herself as his sleepy green orbs captured her and held her in a trance. This was definitely not a mistake and if it was, she was okay with it. She lifted the mug to her lips and tasted the drink. Surprisingly, it was one of the best tasting lattes she'd ever had, including ones she made herself while working at her parents' bakery.

"Impressive work kitty" she smiled at him coyly.

"Are you referring to my barista skills or my kissing?" he smirked.

I'll leave that to you mon minou" she teased heading to the couch.
"You need more windows" she gazed out of the small window they had entered through.

"I know but it wouldn't be too secretive if I had more than this my lady" he sighed sitting next to her, a mug of tea in his hands.

Super hero's live such a strange life. She thought. All the secrets, all the lies. Staying under cover half the time. Under cover. Rena. ALYA! She almost forgot she was meeting Alya for lunch that afternoon.

"Oh shit" she mumbled
"language" he chuckled

"No I'm sorry chaton! It's just that I had lunch plans today I completely forgot. Can I meet up with you tonight at the usual spot?" she seemed to hurry drinking her coffee. The time was already 11 am. She didn't realize how much she slept in.

"Of course, I'm sorry I kept you from your lunch plans with… a friend?" Don't be jealous. don't be jealous. He thought.

"Yes my very kind very platonic female friend. Silly kitty, full of jealousy" she flicked his bell

He relaxed. "Sorry I'm not used to this. I'm new to it all" he blushed embarrassed.

"It's ok. So am I." she swiftly kissed him on the cheek and stood up to place her mug in the sink. "Should I exit through the window or out the main entrance like a normal person?" She giggled.

"Hmm Ladybug leaving an unknown man's apartment in the morning. Very scandalous. I'd say the window bugaboo" he motioned her towards the window. "I'll bring you something special tonight love, don't keep me waiting too long" he pulled her torso in with his hand and cupped her cheek with the other, planting a chaste kiss on her lips before opening the window behind her.

Slightly out of breath from his flirtatiousness, Ladybug only replied with "okay" in a girlish tone and let herself climb out of the window, carefully catching herself on the ledge. The window closed behind her, and she set on her way to the nearest alley to detransform.

Marinette's POV:

She opened her purse and took her phone out. Shoot, Alya called. She dialed the number back and held her phone to her ear.

"Hey girl, where were you this morning? I called a thousand times and no answer. Unlike you" Her sassy tone questioned through the speaker

"I was just sleeping in! Where did you want to meet again?" Marinette responded without saying anything else.

"Whatever you say Mar whatever you say. I'm at my house if you wanna swing by I'm just making some boxed pasta. It's gluten free is that ok? I'm trying a new thing" she replied with some clattering sounds in the background.

"Yeah, whatever works! I uh-um I'll meet you in like- where am I—15 minutes?" she glanced around trying to figure out exactly what block she was on. Luckily, a familiar bus stop was just a block away and she knew a stop near Alya's.

"Aren't you at home miss sleep in?" her friend coyly teased

"Yes! I'm uh in a daze! Wow I need to stop sleeping in! makes me groggy!" she laughed it off nervously

"Ok girl let me know when you get here" she mused and with that she hung up her phone.

Shit. I almost blew it. She already knew she was Ladybug for a while now but sleeping over Chat Noir's house? And making out with him in bed? Being his potential girlfriend? This would blow up her whole world. Alya was still a devoted Ladynoir shipper.

She boarded the bus and luckily, had enough change to get her to the stop she needed. On the bus she looked out the window, thinking of the night before. She hadn't even processed it. She had spontaneously confessed her love to Chat Noir while cuddling him in bed and now they were…together? And it seemed totally natural and she felt, honestly incredible. Her face grew hot with a blush as she remembered what it felt like to kiss him. What it felt like to sleep under his chin and lean into his chest that felt so real and warm. Sure, she didn't know who he was under the mask but she knew him. And now... Her mind drifted but the bus was coming to a stop and it halted her train of thought. She pulled out her phone and sent a text to Alya informing her that she was just about outside her apartment.

She reached the steps and just as she did, Alya appeared at the top of the stairs to the building, her hair messier than usual and a massive sauce stain on her orange blouse.

"Hey girl hurry! The pasta is gonna be cold!" she grabbed her arm and yanked her towards the door. They hurried to the elevator and finally made it to her place.

"It's nothing special, I just add the jarred spicy marinara to some boxed pasta. I also stirred in some vegetables. I- don't usually cook anything so bon appatite from the less experienced chef in this duo" she motioned towards a very messy pot of pasta on the stove.

Grabbing a large spoon from next to the pot Marinette realized she was actually very hungry. Her stomach was growling since she hadn't eaten dinner the night before, and Chat didn't seem to eat anything in the morning. He had a bad habit of skipping meals, she thought. She would have to change that soon. Sigh. She smiled. Chat.

"Is it a boy you were with? Luka? Adrien?" Alya stared at her quizzically

"What? No I told you" she attempted to argue
"Yeah, ok but you were on a bus when you live like a block away from me, and you've been sighing into your bowl since you got here so. What's the tea? What's the new gossip? I want all of it." She raised and excited brow

"Alya… this time it's not- well it's not what you think. I was Ladybug last night and I fell asleep on the roof that's all. I was with Chat yes, but we've fallen asleep on late night patrols before." She thought of an excuse that didn't entirely omit the truth.

"OOOOOOOOOO it was the cat this time. How is he by the way? It's been so long since I've worked with you two as a hero… I miss it you know" she glanced off to the side trying not to bring up what was really going on in the hero world: What had happened since graduation.

Marinette's stomach felt a deep sinking feeling. She tried not to think about it until she was transformed, investigating with Chat. Gone. They're all gone. And I was supposed to protect them. "I've missed you too" she leaned in a little "Rena" she whispered and winked to lighten the mood.

"that's the lady blogger to you." She shook it off. "And I want to use my journalist skills for good this time. Maybe I can help by talking around and finding out who's who and who could potentially know anything about you know who. I could also accidentally stumble across him who knows." She shrugged taking in a mouthful of food.

"That could be good" Marinette tapped her spoon to her chin, leaving a stain of sauce. "of course, you'd have to be careful. He knows you and he knows that you know me. And I don't want anyone else I care about in any danger" she thought of all the previous holders in danger. She didn't want Alya in any trouble, especially with no suit to protect her.

"I'll be careful don't worry. Think of me as an undercover cop or something. Only with no real authority or desire to protect the law. So I guess a reporter or maybe someone who gathers information..hmmmm" she rambled

"How about my best friend who is a genius trying her best to use her skills to help me. And anyway, I've been doing okay on my own. And with Chat Noir helping and everything." She smiled a little at the thought of him.

"mhm Chat is definitely helping you. I mean c'mon everyone saw how close you two were on the rooftop that day when…everything happened. You both looked so vulnerable. Nevertheless very touching and romantic" she teased

"It wasn't like that! Our friendship is special. We have each other's backs and to be honest we started this journey together and that's how were going to finish it. It was more of a trust hug. We're more than a team…I…. can't explain it." She tried to make it sound as platonic as possible, but she could hear herself failing. These types of excuses came so naturally to her usually about their partnership. The whole team saw it apparently. Even Luka pointed it out a few times. It was like an unspoken knowledge between everyone that they had a special type of friendship. And it was only just now that she realized her rambling excuses only made things sound worse. And now they actually were more than what she was making it out to be!

"Whatever you say . Anyway, Nino is going to university in a few months and he wanted to have the team together to celebrate. You and Chat can come if you'd like since Adrien won't be able to come. But I'm not sure how you'll be there as yourself and Ladybug. Unless we make it an ex-hero and current hero type of deal and I make an excuse for you" she thought over the possibilities

"I'm sure we can manage something. Where would this be?" Marinette asked

"At some fancy hotel his parents are reserving for a night. It's this weekend. Honestly you managed before somehow so who says this will be any different." She laughed

"you're not wrong there" Marinette ate the remaining noodles in her bowl and licked the fork. She really had been starving. "I'll ask Chat tonight. We'll go as hero's and I'll make an appearance as me to make it seem like we were both there. I can also just room alone and say I'm rooming with ladybug. I don't know I'll think fast. It's sweet that Nino sees both sides of me as a friend." She felt happy that Nino and she had grown to be good friends over the years. It made her frown to think of Adrien not there for him, and a small bit of her did want to know how he was doing. "It's a shame about Adrien" she started

"What is? He's having the time of his life girl. Have you seen the news? His perfume campaign is going super well. It'll be awesome to see him again after but for the most part, Niño's happy for him." She grinned. She did, however, take notice that Marinette seemed less bothered by the mention of her high school crush. Something certainly was fishy.

"Oh well good for him then! I was scared that he was going to hate it since he told me he wasn't too keen on going. I wonder where Felix is then. Maybe I'll text him to be sure." She pulled out her phone typing a message.

Hey, checking in! how's the trip?

"Wow casually texting Adrien. Things really are changing after graduation." Her friend noticed the difference in her attitude.

After lunch and mild gossip, the rest of the afternoon was spent watching random Netflix documentaries and discussing future plans. She was happy to relax with her friend for a while, even if she was hiding some things from her.