Chapter 5: Thirsty Thursday
Chat Noir is starting to question his relationship with Marinette, the more often they meet up, the closer they've been getting. If he continues with the way things are, he'll have to stop hanging out with her, per their contract. If he doesn't, he'll have to keep harboring unrequited feelings for Ladybug.
Normally Marinette would bring treats to her upstairs loft; she had a special place made for Tikki, but since she had company tonight; Marinette moved Tikki's hand stitched kwami bed to the windowsill. Giving Tikki and her guest more privacy covering their presence with her shade, she winked at them both and mouthed, "behave".
After Marinette closed off their hiding place with her changing shade, Plagg turned around to see his hostess, "Nice see you again, Tik-"
Suddenly engulfed in a hug, Plagg was taken back by his companion's random display of affection; he settled down then placed his arms around her equally tiny body.
"I missed you, Stinky Sock…"
"I missed you too, Sugarcube.
Letting go, Tikki took Plagg by the claw and brought him to her hand knit bed, where she had another plate of snacks for the two of them and a teacup filled with juice. With Marinette's phone leaning against the far wall for entertainment, and giant headphones surrounding them as to not be heard, Tikki floated to the phone and started to play the show.
"So, what do you think of all of this?"
Tikki floated over, sat down and grabbed a giant cookie, "What do you mean?" She asked me to stuff a chocolate cookie in her mouth.
Plagg slapped himself in the forehead, "Come on, you know. This thing your Ladybug and my Chat Noir are doing, do you really think this is a good idea?" Plagg bent forward to take a piece of cheese from his camembert tin.
She quickly finished chewing, swallowing, then started tapping her flipper against her chin. "Not at first, but I've never seen Marinette so happy before. She's been doing well trying to get over Adrien."
"Yeah, that's fine and all, but what about the whole "secret identity" thing? I don't think Master Fu would've approved of this if he was still around…" Plagg, saddened by his own words, stretched and took another slice.
"Well thanks to Marinette and her being careful, you and Chat Noir could be here with us tonight…" Tikki leaned over and placed her head on Plagg's shoulder. "I understand what you're trying to say, but hasn't Chat Noir been happier recently?"
"Yeah, he is, but what about their hearts?"
Swiftly, Tikki removed her head, giving Plagg a suspicious look. "Their hearts? I'm sorry Plagg but I can't believe that you honestly care about that."
"Hey, I'm not a monster!" Which got him quickly shushed.
"Plagg, do you know what it's like watching your loved one suffer day in and day out because she's in love with someone who's in love with someone else?"
Yes, he did. Plagg knew all too well, talking with Adrien; trying to calm him down about how Ladybug will never love him or what he could do to change her mind.
"Do YOU have any idea what it's like to hear 'Oh Plagg, I love Ladybug, but I'm starting to like Marinette, but Marinette is just a friend! Oh, I can't betray Ladybug's trust!'" Moving his arms around in dramatic poses; he laughed as he snatched up another slice of cheese, "You know it's only a matter of time before they start falling for each other, again, just the other way around."
Disheartened, Tikki lowered her cookie from her mouth, "Plagg even if Marinette did want to be with Chat Noir, she never would…" Tikki looked away as she spoke, "Marinette would never put her own happiness ahead of everything else, especially her job as a superhero… She would rather suffer with her feelings than express them and be happy…"
"My kitten is suffering too, his mom is gone, his dad is never around and the only people he has in his life are me, Marinette/Ladybug, his other friends from school oh and maybe Nathalie." Plagg placed his camembert down, appearing depressed, "I couldn't bear the thought of Marinette breaking his heart even more than Ladybug already has."
Tikki maneuvered herself to the teacup and allowed herself a sip, "Marinette has seen how she was treating Chat Noir and wanted to make it up to him; this wasn't part of the plan, but it seems to be working out okay?" Tikki returned to her spot, "I bet you once they see that they're starting to develop feelings for each other, they'll stop right away!"
"What if it's too late by then?" Plagg slapped his claw over his face then drug it down to his lap, "Don't tell me we're going to be dealing with a reverse crush now? I don't think I can take much more of this!" He flopped himself on his back, then soon after sighed and rose back up.
Tikki scooted back towards Plagg, placing her head back on her shoulder as before, "At least this way they'll be a lot happier than suffer with their feelings…"
"How did we end up with two love birds this time around?" He wrapped a claw around her body and sighed.
Tikki giggled, "I wish I could tell you, but Master Fu saw something in them, and we have to trust that he knew what he was doing, even back then." Tikki giggled after taking a gulp of juice. "One day Plagg, one day…"
"Miraculous Ladybug!"
It was sundown when Chat Noir finally was able to locate the akuma in the young citizen's hair bow, she had turned into a flying witch forcing the people of Paris to outwardly embarrass themselves.
"Wh-what happened? Oh no, was I akumatized?" The girl was a lycée student, based on her school's sailor uniform; she had brown hair held back by her giant red bow. "I'm sorry, Ladybug, Chat Noir. I let my emotions get the better of me."
Offering a hand, Ladybug helped the young lady up to her feet while Chat handed her her school bag, "Can you tell us what happened?"
The girl, Tiffany, on her school bag, began to play with her fingers as she dug her food into the ground. "I was trying to pass a note in class and the teacher caught me and made me read it out."
"That doesn't sound so bad, what did the note say if you don't mind us asking…" Chat Noir inquired.
Tiffany grabbed her head as if she was just stricken down with a headache, she bent over then sprung back up groaning. "Bleh it was a love confession, I was so embarrassed!" She stuffed her face in her hands, "I'm such a loser!"
Ladybug and Chat glanced at each other, both experienced unrequited loves before, knowing full well about love confessions and them not being answered. That hit home for Chat, he walked over to Tiffany and grasped her shoulders.
"You're not a loser for having a crush or confessing your feelings, anyone would be thrilled to know that there's someone out there that cares for them so much and I bet if you just give it some time, this whole thing will blow over."
Tiffany pulled her face from her hands, tears streaming down her eyes as she hiccupped, staring up at Chat. "But what if she hates that I like her? What if she never talks to me ever again? What if-"
"You can't be worried about self-doubt!" Ladybug finally stepped forward, then knelt down in front of her. "Even if she doesn't like you back, you can always still stay friends and if she doesn't want to be your friend anymore, then you'll just have to love her from a distance! You could send her things in the mail or make her things you think she'll like, follow all of her extracurricular activities…"
Both parties stared at Ladybug questionably before she cleared her throat and corrected herself, "Or you know, better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all…" She placed her hand behind her head and nervously chuckled.
"Tiffany?"
All three teens turn around to see a dark-skinned young lady wearing the same sailor outfit as Tiffany, her black hair was tied up in a high ponytail. She appeared melancholy as she fiddled with a piece of paper in her hands.
The first girl looked past the heroes, walking cautiously to her classmate, "Shauntal, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to embarrass you like that, and I would understand if you don't return my feelings; I just want us to continue being fri-"
Shauntal raised her hand up to stop Tiffany from continuing, "No, I'm sorry the teacher made you read this in front of the whole class." She unfolded the page and presented, "I fished it out of the trash." Shauntal handed Tiffany the page, "I wanted to read the words myself."
Tiffany took the page and opened to uncrumpled the page, then looked back at her friend, "And?"
Shauntal walked over to Tiffany then planted a peck on her cheek, "Does that answer your question?"
After recovering from this new sensation, Tiffany quickly hugged Shauntal tightly as she began to weep with happiness, she wasn't getting rejected.
Ladybug and Chat Noir continued to watch until their miraculous' went off with they're five minute warning, "Well another day is saved, good job Kitty!" She turned and offered their traditional fist bump, unfortunately Chat was distracted with his staff.
'Huh, no messages from Marinette…'
"Kitty?" Bringing him out of his thoughts, Chat flinched, placing his baton back in its place. "Sorry Ladybubs…" He quickly tapped Ladybug's still waiting fist and after seeing the two girls walking off hand-in-hand; they began to leave the area as well.
After they pounced on top of the nearest building, Ladybug ran ahead of Chat Noir, causing him to stop abruptly in his tracks. "So, any plans tonight?" Ladybug asked, smiling brightly, with her hands behind her back.
Checking his staff again, Chat dryly answered, "Uh no, not right now…" Chat stretched his arm above his head, "You?"
Ladybug brought her hand to her chin, "It seems like I'm finding myself with a rare amount of free time." Chat nodded in response as the two stood there in awkweird silence until their miraculous' went off again.
"Well, if that's all, LadyB; I'll see you next time," Chat extended his staff off to the side of the building, and mounted a foot on the metal, however he was halted by the weight on his tail.
"Wait!" Ladybug hid her expression under her bangs, "Si-Since neither of us have any plans, did you want to hang out?" She was digging her foot in the building.
"Yo-You want to ha-hang out with m-me?" Chat Noir cringed as he turned his head to see Ladybug nodding happily. Surprised, Chat glanced down at his ring, "Um I don't have a lot of ti-"
"W-We could go somewhere after we feed our kwamis…" Chat felt uncertain, what was with this sudden invite? Since he took so long with an answer, Ladybug shrunk back, "Unless you have somewhere else important you have to be, then I-I won't keep you…"
Honestly, he actually didn't have any previous plans and after checking his baton again, he still hadn't received a text from Marinette. Chat did have time tonight, but he also wanted to see her too. On the other hand, what are the chances he'd ever get an invite from Ladybug ever again? "Sure LB, I have little ti-"
"Great!" Ladybug let go of his tail then reached for her yo-yo, she flung it in the air before she retracted back, "Meet you at the Eiffel tower!" before taking off.
"Great…"
The Eiffel Tower was one of the many spots in Paris Chat Noir loved to be on top of, the height made it easier to see the beauty of the city, how the lights below resembled sparkling crystals. The sounds of people and cars made him feel a part of something much greater, watching ants live their lives, happily.
"Hey Kitty!" When Ladybug landed, she instantly went over to Chat Noir, almost toppling him over the side, as she tackled him in the middle. He patted her back as he slowly pushed them back to a good portion of the tower, when Ladybug pulled back; Chat noticed that she had a small brown bag with her.
Ladybug still had a grip on Chat, her smile was wide as she gawked up at him; he placed his hand behind his head, "So what did you want to do?" Chat asked nervously.
"First thing first!" LB presents the bag to Chat who gave a dubious look, "After a big akuma battle, we deserve a snack!" Ladybug then reached into the bag, pulling out a croissant.
"Um thanks?" Chat curiously sniffed the bread before he chopped down at Ladybug's hand, he began to eat the pastry as LB went to the edge and sat down. Deflated, Chat followed suit by sitting with her, but at a distance.
"So how have you been as of late? I haven't seen much of you lately…" He watched as she took her own pastry from the bag and popped in her mouth.
'That's because I've been spending time with someone who actually likes me, and even though she doesn't it's me inside; she still has feelings for me'
Noir groaned, tapping his foot. "Well, you know, life and stuff and things, you know how it is."
Ladybug began swinging her legs as she continued to eat her Danish, "Look Chat Noir, I know I've said that personal matters are off limits, but I can't help but feel as if something else is bothering you…" She finished her treat then began scooting close to her partner, "You know I'm here for you…"
Chat looked back at Ladybug in astonishment, she placed her hand over his as he continued to fiddle with his croissant. "Well, I guess if I don't tell you the details…" Wiping his face frustrated, he sighed. "So lately I've been seeing a friend of mine, we go to school together; and I'm starting to see her in a different light."
Ladybug was stunned, she had heard this speech before; she quickly removed her hand. "Wha-what? Does she know about your identity?" She lashed out.
"What? No!" He noticed that Ladybug relaxed; he continued, "But I think I want her too…" Chat took a bite of his food. "I'm finding myself wanting to spend more time with her, so I've been going over to her place at night, and we've been hanging out…"
Ladybug felt touched, after just a short amount of time Chat Noir already wants to-wait. Did he say that they went to school together? Chat Noir doesn't know that Collège Françoise Dupont is Marinette's school, so who was he talking about?
'Was he spending time with someone else besides Marinette?'
Placing her hand over her heart, Ladybug asked, "Wo-Wow, you must really like her if you want to share this secret, but you know the ru-"
"I know!" Noir scoffed, rolling his eyes, "'No one can know our identities until Shadow Moth is defeated, blah blah blah…" He waved his hand to fan off this annoyance.
'Is that why she hasn't seen him?'
It took Ladybug a few moments to compute what he just said, "Ha-have you talked to her about how she feels about you?"
"No, I'm honestly afraid too, I don't want to get rejected again…" Chat rolled over to the side and used his arms to lift himself back on his feet.
'No, he's been over at her house all week.'
"Chat Noir, unless you ask or confess first, you'll constantly be in this relationship limbo." Ladybug soon followed by bringing her legs to her chest and lifting herself up.
Chat began to pace, running his claws through his hair, "Maybe that's okay, maybe it's better that way. We both get what we want and no one's feelings get hurt!" He sounded panicked.
'Yeah, but where is he atbefore he stops by?'
Ladybug rushed to Chat Noir, grabbing him by the shoulders, trying to calm him down, "But that's not fair for either of you! What if she likes you back, but she's afraid of your rejection!" Ladybug was frustrated, maybe talking to him wasn't the answer. Chat Noir squatted down, holding his head, almost coming to tears.
Ladybug sighed then knelt down, placing a sincere hand on his shoulder, "Look Kitty, I didn't bring up here to fight… I just wanted to spend some time with you, but it seems like you're needed elsewhere."
"Huh?" Ladybug patted his shoulder, "Go to her, Kitty. You need to talk to this girl and let her know how you feel."
Chat looked up from his claws, "Bu-But what if she rejects me too?" Ladybug took a hold of Chat's arm and yanked him up to stand.
"You can't live in self-doubt; you must take a chance. If you feel strongly about something then you should go after it and whatever happens, happens."
Ladybug's words stirred him, giving the same speech to him as she had done earlier, though it didn't make her words any less true. The source of her motivation was from a friendly place, not wanting to see her partner in distress any more than what she had been doing to him. Chat slapped his cheeks to help him come to his senses.
"You're right LB, I have to at least see how she feels; we may be on the same page!" Chat lit up with the prospects of maybe Marinette liking him too, what could it hurt, even if she didn't like him, they could still be friends!
"Right, exactly! And who wouldn't like you? You're loyal, courageous, brave and cute -er- I mean sweet! Just go be yourself and speak openly and honestly. She-She'd be lucky to have you."
He pumped his fist in the air, then turned to wink. Before he mounted and pole vaulted away, he placed a kiss in her hair. "Thanks, Ladybubs! You always know the right things to say!"
'Is that why you don't call me 'M'lady' or 'Bugaboo' anymore?'
Marinette, now at home, slumped over on her desk, distraught over the conversation she had with Chat Noir, did she do the right thing? Telling him he should confess to this friend of his he suddenly has a crush on? If he does confess and she does reciprocate his feelings, she could lose him forever. "Not only that, but this thing we've been doing will be all for not."
Tikki had landed on her shoulder after she transformed back and had been there ever since. "Marinette, you did the right thing, you gave your friend advice just like you would any of your other friends."
"Yeah, but was that helpful? Tikki, am I being selfish that I want him to myself?" Getting up from her desk and moving to flop down her chaise, Marinette landed face first with her limbs dangling off to the sides. "I already lost him as Ladybug, I can't lose him as Marinette too! I mean who does this chick think she is, she couldn't make him happy…"
"Not like you could, right?" Tikki raised a brow. Marinette growled a "yeah" and flailed her arms about.
"But Marinette, you didn't want to be with him as Ladybug; and you both had an agreement to stop once one developed feelings for the other, what changed?"
"Yeah, I know!" She grabbed her mini pillow from the top of her head, rolled over then placed it over her face, "When I'm Ladybug he's a flirt and silly, but dependent and he's always sacrificing himself for me." She removed her pillow from her face, "But when I'm Marinette, he's sweet and caring and despite him being blonde he's really smart too." She giggled at the last jab.
Marinette soon stood up and began to pace around her room, Tikki allowed her to vent while she finished off her plate of cookies. "If I would've known then what I know now, I would've given up on Adrien a long time ago! I would've given Chat Noir a chance; I didn't know he could treat me so well; I mean if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be Ladybug in the first place!"
Unbeknownst to Marinette, Chat Noir had just snuck in, trying to be extra quiet because of his shoes; landing in her bed. He was about to let his presence known, but hearing Marinette confess, officially this time, was overwhelming.
"Chat Noir has always tried to make me laugh and helps me to remember to have a good time; he makes me feel special, appreciated, loved…" Marinette gasped, "I think-I think I love Chat Noir!"
Chat Noir was shocked, grabbing his chest as his heart skipped a beat, 'Marinette loves me?'
"When I'm with him, he makes me feel safe. I know if I were to fall off a building, he'd be there to catch me. When he's here, I can be myself, I don't have to worry about impressing anyone or being judged for how I think or feel. There's just things I can talk to him about that I can't talk about with anyone else. I think-no, I want to be with him…"
"Is that true?" Somehow Chat Noir managed to maneuver down her ladder without making a sound, however the abrupt appearance of him made Tikki fly off immediately. Marinette turned with the quickness; her silent prayers having been answered. "Are you going to invite me in?"
Chat Noir's sudden appearance made Marinette's eyes water; she began to walk in his direction, stretching out her arm, reaching. "I thought cats came when they felt like it, not when they're called…" Marinette dropped the facade, rushing into his arms, the hug was loving as hands went into hair and arms slung around waists.
"I'll come anytime you call me, Princesse…" She raised her brow at the crass remark, he quickly shook his head of dirty thoughts, for now. "Get dressed!"
"What? I don't-"
"I want to show you something…"
The cool breeze of the Paris night life was magnificent! With few people down on the street allowed Chat Noir to stroll into the nearest late night cafe and bought two cups of hot cocoa. Waiting patiently on the roof, Marinette was snuggled under her robe.
"Did someone order a superhero cocoa run?" Mounted on his baton, Chat Noir rose from the street with a carrier holding two cups of steaming liquid.
He landed on the roof and retracted his staff, before walking to Marinette, bowing down and handing her a cup. "Thank you, Minou." After discarding the carrier, he took Marinette's hand and drug her out of her chair; only to replace her, sitting her down in his lap.
The two of them were so engaged in conversation that they lost track of time; it was just flying by, "Wow Kitty, a girl could get used to this…" She snuggled him closely, enjoying the warmth of his body.
Chat straightened up, wrapping his tail around her stomach, "What if you did?"
"Wh-What?" Marinette was taken aback at his comment; however, she didn't want to ruin anything. If she hadn't just stopped herself from looking at him, he wouldn't have reached behind her and started taking out her pigtails.
"I mean, why can't we get used to this?" Once her hair was loose, Marinette shook her head; Chat draped a claw down her neck past her shoulder and walked along the length of her arm so he could grab her hand.
"Wh-What are you saying?" Mari placed her hand over her chest, her blush slowly raising on her face.
"What I'm saying is, why can't we make this a regular thing?" Chat placed his claw over Marinette's hand "Look, if it wasn't bluntly obvious, I'm not making much headway with the real Ladybug and this guy you like isn't ready to make a move; so maybe you and I…"
Marinette practically choked on air, if he hadn't had such a tight grip, she might've fell out of his lap. "Whoa, do you honestly think that's a good idea? I mean this was fun...really fun, but I wasn't-"
"I heard what you said before Marinette, and I feel the same way about you…" He placed his coffee down on the ground and took a hold of Marinette's free hand, "Mari...aren't you lonely? Aren't you tired of being rejected, constantly ignored, expressing your feelings outwardly only to never have the results you want?" He looked down at their hands in his lap, "I know I am…"
"Chat Noir, we agreed that if one of us caught feelings for the other tha-"
"Look Mari," He grabbed her waist, bringing her closer to his body, "I've had more fun and experienced so much in the last few days I've spent with you then I have in a really long time and I'm not ready to give that up. You're kind, smart and very passionate and I wouldn't mind seeing what more I could learn about you."
Appearing indifferent, Marinette was finally able to get up out of her seat; she placed her still hot cup on her table then walked to the railing of her balcony. "What about 'the rules'? You know, keeping your identity safe and whatnot? What if Shadow Moth finds out about us and I get akumatized? He could force me to reveal your secret identity!"
Chat Noir sighed, he shook his head, placing his cup next to Marinette's then joined her. "As long as I keep my secret identity, a secret; Shadow Moth won't find out and Ladybug won't kill me…" He chuckled, but upon seeing Marinette's unsure face, his clawed hand brought her face closer to look at him. "Besides, all you have to do is ask, and I'll tell you anything you want to know…"
Marinette was beside herself with feeling flattered and confused, staring up at the sincerity in Chat's eyes; made her guilty. All this time he had such heart and compassion and she made him like this; she was the reason his heart was aching, seeking comfort in a helpful citizen.
Marinette could no longer control her facial expression, nor her own body; slowly she stretched out her arms and engulfed Chat's waist in a close embrace. 'This feels nice and secure. I think I can do this, we can do this…'
Chat had just placed his hand over her crown before she pulled back at arm's length, "What's the harm of just trying this out for a while?" She stated nuzzling her forehead against his, "A-At least until one of us starts dating someone, for real…"
Chat's ears perked up, gleefully, "And if things don't work out, we can always stop; no pressure!" He added, returning her affection.
"And even if that happens, we'll still remain friends, right?" Trying to reassure herself, pulling away to look at his face.
"Of course, the best of friends!" Chat excitedly took hold of Marinette's face, she smiled brightly placing her hands over his, "And we'll tell each other everything-almost everything!"
"Yeah! Open and honest."
"So, what do you say, Princesse?" Marinette stole a kiss from her new beau and hugged him tightly around the waist.
'This, I could have this, I could have her all to myself.'
"But what about Ladybug, the real one?"
'Who, my partner and nothing else? The one who I've dedicated my whole life and being to? The one I've been loving and protecting, just to have her not in my arms at the end of the day? Knowing deep down in your heart that you'd be the best candidate to make that person so happy, but she'd rather swoon over so dumb bastard that isn't going to give her the time of day? No, I've lost her. No, I never had her or Kagami. All I have now…is Marinette…'
Marinette released Chat Noir and watched as he mounted the railing only to turn back and slowly brought his foot down. Hand still securely attached to the railing, Chat stretched out his arm, staring ahead at his dearest now "girlfriend".
Marinette tightened the string around her waist as she approached stepping lightly, Chat pulled her into him, their chests made contact, they naturally wrapped themselves in each other's embrace, arms slung around the neck as claws landed on hips.
"Get home safely." With one final squeeze and quick peck, Marinette waved him away bouncing to the next roof then disappearing in the darkness.
Upon heading back inside, Tikki flew up from out of nowhere, she had a condescending look on her face and her little flippers crossed. "What?" She simply uncrossed her arms and placed them on her hips and smiled, "I don't wanna hear it right now Tikki…" Before retreating back inside.
Translation:
Lycée = high school
Chaise = Chair
Princesse = Princess
Minou = Kitty