Marinette felt self-conscious now in her costume. Undoubtedly there was an aerodynamic quality to the design but it was a little form-fitting for her liking. And no pockets?

Adrien on the other hand had pockets to spare. His suit at least looked armoured. The cat ears and the toe beans though...

"Are you laughing at me?" he asked her and she covered her mouth, shaking her head.

He ruffled his hair, embarrassed, and his fingers brushed the ears on top of his head.

"Okay, I admit, it's a bit ridiculous."

"Yes..." she agreed, circling him. "But there's something missing... something... ah!" She went into her bag, blocking his view as she quickly worked and then turned, her hands behind her back.

"What?" he asked, suspicious.

"Nothing." She sidled closer, turning her body so he couldn't see what was in her hands.

He went to grab her but she spun away, laughing. Before they knew it, it was a game. They danced around each other, back and forth, lunging and pulling away with superhuman grace and speed until finally he caught her, his arms wrapping around her, pinning her own arms to her body.

"Gotcha!" he crowed but then they both realised the intimacy of the situation, panting from the chase, faces too close.

"Ah." He let her go as quickly as he had caught her, blushing and taking a step back.

"Ah, umm... yeah," she said.

"So... what are you hiding?" he asked now and she brought her hands in front of her. In them was the large silver bell from the end of one of her elf shoes.

"Something to complete your outfit," she explained, stepping towards him and securing it to the top of his zip so it sat just under his chin, the silver reflecting the light.

He flicked it and it rang out merrily.

"So I'm a pet cat now?" he asked playfully.

"My Chat Noir," she agreed.

"Well then, that must make you m'ladybug," he teased, capturing her hand in his and bowing low.

Sabine walking through the door put an end to the frivolity.

Marinette dodged again and again, bringing up a shield to protect herself when the staff came too close for her to escape it. She had no chance of grabbing her own weapon which she had lost earlier, too busy defending against the attack to fight back. Sabine was relentless, coming for her over and over until she was on her back panting for breath, her shield on the floor too far for her to reach and her mother's staff right in her face.

Tears of frustration pricked at her eyes but she refused to let them fall.

Sabine held out a hand and after a mutinous second Marinette grabbed it, letting her mother haul her to her feet.

"Again," Sabine instructed, picking up the shield and handing it to Marinette. The younger woman wiped the sweat from her brow, her face red from exertion.

"Maybe we could take a break?" Adrien asked. He had been running an assault course while Sabine and Marinette practised. He looked nearly as tired as she did.

Assessing them both, Sabine lowered her staff.

"Five minutes. Grab some water."

Together they went to their bags, grabbed their bottles and took long pulls of the water. Having had their fill they both flopped to the ground. Lying side by side they stared up at the ceiling, not having the energy to do more than look at the glaring lights.

"What time is it?" Marinette wondered aloud, not really after an answer but asking anyway.

Adrien grunted, his hand moving as if to check but didn't have the energy for that either. His hand dropped back to the ground.

"What even is time?" he asked instead. She blinked slowly, the lights above softening into a haze. Then she giggled. It was short lived – air was precious. But then Adrien giggled and turning her head to look at him, she couldn't stop the bubble of laughter escaping her and when Sabine came back they were both rolling on the floor, laughing.

"What's so funny?" she asked, amused.

Marinette opened her mouth but all that came out was more laughter which set Adrien off again.

Sabine chuckled.

"Alright, maybe it's time we called it a night. You've both worked hard. Change back, be sure to feed Plagg and Tikki – they've worked hard too – and then go to bed."

She looked at them both for a moment longer, sighed, then grabbed her own bag and walked away. Before she walked out the door she called over her shoulder. "Don't stay too long. You need to rest. And remember to shut off the lights before you go." And the door closed behind her with an echoing clang.

Their giggles subsided and they lay again side by side in silence.

Marinette was the first to break it.

"Tikki, spots off," she said quietly and a warm pink light enveloped her.

"Plagg, claws in," Adrien said, his own light green. The two kwamis flopped to the floor beside their charges. Marinette reached for her bag on the floor above her head, her fingers just glancing the strap so she stretched a little further, unwilling to get up. Success. Inside she found a box of chocolate chip cookies – Tikki's favourite – and offered her one before holding them out to Adrien.

"I don't suppose you have any cheese?" Plagg whined. "Some Brie? Camembert? I'd even settle for some cheddar at this point."

"Sorry," said Marinette, "but there's plenty of cookies if you like?"

Plagg harrumphed but took one anyway.

"Sorry, Plagg. I'll buy you some tomorrow, I promise. Any type you like," Adrien said, brushing the crumbs from the side of his mouth.

A few minutes later the kwamis had fallen asleep. Tucking them away, they turned their heads to face each other again.

"Are we really going to be able to do this?" Marinette asked. She wanted to be strong but the insecurities wouldn't leave her. She wanted to trust in Adrien, her partner.

"I think we will. We have to."

She nodded soberly.

"You're right."

Adrien hummed. "The only thing is, once the time comes for us to find him, how will we do it? Are we just going to walk to his hideout? Once we find out where that is. I don't think it'll be right outside the front door."

Marinette thought about it. Just how far away could he be? Surely he must be somewhere nearby, mustn't he?

"How did you get here, Adrien? Where were you living before?"

There were a lot of things she didn't know about him. She should. It would have been in his file. She could have asked her father more questions. But despite the guilt over having neglected her duty, she couldn't help but feel glad that she could ask him for the details instead of reading about him in a report.

"I lived in Paris," he said now, a wistful expression on his face.

"Do you miss it?"

"Sure," he said, looking once again up at the ceiling. "But the things I miss, places, people, well, a place is just a place and I love it here. As for the people; my father, Nathalie, the gorilla, they were all I really had. And for them, especially since we lost my mother, I think taking care of me was just a job. Here I've made real friends. So, yeah, I miss it, but I'm glad I'm here, with you, Marinette."

He turned his head to smile softly at her.

Her breath caught and she returned his smile.

"I'm glad you're here too, Adrien."

"And as for how I got here." He sat up, crossing his legs and she followed suit. "An elf picked me up on a reindeer."

Marinette touched her chin thoughtfully.

"A reindeer... I guess that could work? But then, we don't want to tire them out before Christmas eve..."

The sound of the door crashing open stopped their conversation. An older woman dressed in all leather, her grey hair a stylish pixie cut and with the energy of a woman half her age sauntered into the room.

"Darlings!" she called out and Marinette got to her feet.

"Nonna?" she cried, breaking into a run and throwing herself into a hug.

"I hear you have a difficult task, my sweet, and I have a little something which I think will help."