Marinette had been disappointed two nights in a row. Whatever Chat was thinking about her story, he was avoiding her.

She sighed heavily and reluctantly dragged herself out of bed. I am probably going to be late for school again, she thought guiltily. Some role-model Ladybug is, constantly tardy and bailing out on friends without explanation, lying all-the-time…

Marinette recognized the signs she was spiraling and forced herself to remember Wayzz breathing exercises. She blanked her mind as best she could and breathed deeply for two minutes, then said five true optimistic statements.

It was harder than usual though. Last night was Multi-Mouse's usual night to "patrol," and Chat hadn't ever come to talk to her, so she thought maybe he needed more time to think. But, her time with Chat helped her carry her burdens – er, responsibilities, be positive Marinette!

She stopped by the bakery on the way to school to say a falsely cheerful "good morning!" to her parents, and then moped towards the school.

She managed to be on time for class, but just late enough that no one else was in the locker room. She pulled open her locker automatically without looking and shoved a book in. She startled violently at a loud crinkle of paper that definitely shouldn't be there.

She pulled it out feeling excited for the first time that day. The note on the front was signed with a black paw print.

Princess,
I'm sorry this took longer than expected, but it took time to find a PRINTER because honestly, WHO STILL PRINTS THINGS?
I missed you last night, but I'll see you soon!

Marinette hurried to class, but there was no way to read the pages without drawing unwanted attention to them. All throughout the day, Marinette cursed Chat's timing while the pages burned a hole in her brain. Stupid dastardly Chat, she thought. He definitely did this on purpose.

When the final bell rang out, Marinette took off immediately. The day had been a complete wash, and she hadn't learned anything, but she couldn't think about anything but the response in her pocket.

She passed by Adrien, and he tried to grab her attention, but she shouted back at him on her way out, "Hey Adrien, sorry, got an urgent thing today. Text me if you need me!"

She was concerned for a second at the stricken look on his face, but the anticipation of finally having a response from her Chat pushed thoughts of Adrien aside.

She ran all the way home and didn't stop for parents' greetings or stairs. Once she reached the comforting privacy of her bedroom, she collapsed onto the chaise and breathed heavily. But lack of air wouldn't delay her for long, and she pulled out the little packet of pages eagerly.

She smiled as she realized that he used their real-life meet-up as inspiration for the story.


(A/N: Marinette is reading this, it is written by Chat Noir.)

Chat Noir turned at the soft thump of feet landing behind him, but he was surprised to find himself face-to-face with the fabled Multi-Mouse instead of his lady.

"What's got your tail twisted, Kitty-Cat?"

He was stunned momentarily, but his answering smirk came out full force. This was the best version of Marinette, with a completely irresistible charm instead of the shyness she usually treated him to at school. He leaned in cockily and teased, "A problem that you seemed to have solved, Mari-Mouse. Where's Ladybug tonight?"

"She said she needed a break tonight," she answered in a slightly breathless voice.

Chat relaxed fully then. Ladybug was taking care of herself, and he was relieved to not have to talk her into it. "Good," he murmured sincerely, but he was at a loss for what to do with Multi-Mouse. "Umm, what did she tell you to do? It's been a while since these patrols were formal. Lately we've been using them as strategy sessions."

"Babysitting!" she called out cheerfully. "Wanna play a game?"

"Babysitting?" he spluttered indignantly.

"Ladybug said to watch your back. What else would you call that?" She leaned into his personal space and blinked her widened eyes flirtatiously, but he didn't fall for that. He smiled as her expression morphed to mischief, but she still caught him off-guard by pushing him so he tripped backward flailing. She bounded to the edge of the rooftop and called over her shoulder, "Tag! You're it."

She stuck her tongue out at him and turned. He watched stunned again as she gracefully launched herself off the roof fearlessly like she roof-hopped all the time. He jumped up immediately and ran after her. What kind of a Chat would he be if he refused to chase the Mouse?

When he caught her, she pouted at losing the game. It could have been bratty, but on Marinette it looked adorable.

"Why don't we try hide and seek instead?" Her pout deepened, and Chat cajoled sarcastically, "Come on, Mari-Mouse. I'll even give you a head start."

She gave him an appraising look and nodded ominously. Chat was wary, but he closed his eyes and started counting out loud anyway. He trusted her, but he still was expecting a trick.

With his enhanced hearing, he caught the soft thump of her landing on the next roof and a mumbled word he didn't quite hear. He wasn't concerned exactly, but he knew she was going to try her best to win this game.

He called out the "10!" loud enough for her to hear and immediately leapt into action. He hadn't heard her leave the next rooftop, so he started there. Peaking behind the chimney, Chat yelled, "Gotcha!"

The tiniest hero looked up at him and stuck her tongue out at him. "Oh, no fair! Do I have to find the whole multitude to win?"

"Duh!" she squeaked up at him.

He rolled his eyes at her and reached down a hand as an elevator to his shoulder. "How many of you are there?"

"Five," she answered reluctantly and crossed her little arms.

"I'm not complaining, Princess. The world could always use more Marinettes!"

He poked her in her tiny belly gently and chuckled at her wide-eyed expression. She carefully climbed over to his cheek and kissed it sweetly before leaning over to his ear to whisper conspiratorially, "Don't tell the others, but I hope you find them. If I couldn't win, I want you to."

"But they are you. If I win, then you lose."

He felt her shake her head against his neck, and he blushed fiercely at the pleasant tickling sensation. "Nope! I already lost, so you are going to beat them. Obviously."

He decided not to argue with her. "Where would you hide next?"

The mini-Marinette pointed him in the right direction, and he plucked another part of her up carefully and placed her on his other shoulder. He reached out a finger to the first mini-mouse for a fist bump in celebration.

The new mini-Multi-Mouse was outraged, "Why are you helping him? Don't you want to win?"

"Me and Chat are a team," she petted his neck affectionately.

"Whatever traitor. It isn't a team game; you just have a crush on him."

"Ugh, so what!? You have a crush on that stupidly handsome model in your class. Like you have a chance with him. At least I know that Chat likes me."

"Well, this is awkward," Chat cut in dryly. The two mini-mice were leaning towards each other around his face, and they were giving him a lot of information that he probably shouldn't have. "You two do know that you are both Marinette, right? And Marinette probably doesn't want me to know she has a crush on that Adrien guy, right?"

They both turned to him at the same time and squealed. "No no no no no! You idiot, you told him that I have a crush on Adrien!"

"Well, you told him that I have a crush on him!"

"Ugh, now we just need one more idiot to talk about how confusing our feelings are about his feelings for Ladybug, and we'll have no secrets left!"

The first mini-mouse gave her a superior glare (worthy of Chloe) and opened her mouth to say something scathing no doubt, when three mini-Multi-Mice jumped out of hiding and shushed her.

"You are the worst, Marinette. Geeze."

"I know you don't like keeping secrets, but I can't even believe you right now."

"Tikki gave us ONE RULE to follow in order to be Multi-Mouse! One. Since Chat knows who you are…"

Chat watched bemused as Marinette chastised her(other)selves, and he cut in sheepishly, "I guess I won then."

Four of the mini-Marinettes turned as one and glared at him. Man, she is a sore loser, he thought. Still adorable though.

The first mini-mouse patted his neck gently again and murmured, "We won." Then with a flirtatious lilt, "Together, my Kitty."

Chat turned is head towards the Marinette on his shoulder and murmured in awe, "God, you're amazing, Marinette."

All the mini-Marinettes blushed violently and bit their bottom lips shyly. Silently, Marinette knitted herself back into one hero, still blushing and looking pointedly away from him.

He bumped her shoulder and teased, "So Adrien, huh? I had no idea you were into him. Is that why you always trip over your words around him?"

She narrowed her eyes threateningly, and her words were defiant, "That's not really a secret, per se. Everyone knows that…"

"Yeah, I kinda recently found out too. Nino finally spilled yesterday because I was complaining that you don't seem to like me much." Chat reached out to gently touch Mari-Mouse's face, but she looked puzzled.

"What are you… talking… about?" She huffed out angrily, "You're him, aren't you?"

"Umm, who exactly?" Chat asked, risking her wrath just to hear her say his name.

"Adrien," she breathed out, like a prayer. He grabbed on like it was a lifeline, and he nodded solemnly.

"All this time," his voice cracked a little, and he had to force himself to not crack a joke to ease his tension, "All these years, you wanted me like I wanted you?"

All the color had drained from her face, but she didn't run away. She threw her hands around his neck and nodded furiously.

He leaned down to kiss her, still half expecting her to turn away. But she wouldn't disappoint him, and she leaned in too with a soft sigh.

Chat put his whole heart into that kiss, and he felt that she finally understood. "I adore you, Marinette. All of you." He gulped nervously, but he forced himself to face the possible rejection on the off chance that she would finally agree, "Will you be my girlfriend?"