Chapter Eight – Shifting Perceptions

Chat Noir couldn't pinpoint the moment it happened but somehow Marinette became his best friend. While in his superhero guise he was able to speak his mind and share certain details of his private life that he wasn't able to do otherwise. Honestly, he couldn't pour his heart out to Nino as Adrien. That just wasn't something guys did. Chloe would have assumed it was some kind of sign that Adrien fancied her. While Ladybug would have shut Chat Noir down regardless of how insignificant the detail was, simply because it was from his private life.

Of course, Chat Noir was careful to leave out any telling fact that would lead Marinette to believing he could possibly be Adrien Agreste. He merely toed the line of obscurity and specifics. Marinette understood his need for secrecy and didn't push him, she merely listened and gave advice. It was the kind of support he'd been longing for since the disappearance of his mother from his life.

Again, he couldn't go into details of that. He simply stated that his mother was no longer in his life and his father was an overbearing control freak. It wasn't like his situation was isolated. There were other adolescents out there suffering the same woes. Though it was unlikely that their sole remaining parent was a fashion icon who paraded his son around as a clothes horse on a regular basis. It was a particular detail Chat Noir steered clear from.

The atmosphere between him and Marinette was one of camaraderie. Which was exceedingly pleasant since things remained somewhat tense with her when he was out of the mask. He supposed it was only natural that Marinette would struggle when she saw him as Adrien. All he could do was hope that time would heal that wound.

For now, they were cosied up on her chaise, watching Asterix and Obelix: God Save Britannia while sharing a bowl of popcorn. Chat Noir hadn't really given any thought to the fact that they were reclining together, Marinette half splayed across him as she shovelled another handful of popcorn into her mouth. He liked the way she had one leg draped over his knee and her head on his shoulder. Human contact was something he always craved, regardless of the guise.

Sabine and Tom were fully aware of his regular visits. Tom had been apprehensive at first but since Chat Noir was cheering up his little girl and no funny business was going on the goliath of a man was okay with the arrangement. Yet it was Sabine that perplexed Chat Noir. Amusement always seemed to linger in her eyes as if she knew something neither he or Marinette did.

Mentally shaking himself, Chat Noir returned his focus to the movie. As he was reaching for more popcorn, Marinette shifted against him while seeking a more comfortable position. In doing so, her nose brushed the hair covering his left ear and as she exhaled it stirred a primal response he wasn't expecting.

Having never really dated, even at 17, Chat Noir had little clue as to what things might turn him on. Apparently having a girl blowing gently in his ear was something he liked, very much. His pulse was hammering with excitement while other unsettling sensations were making themselves know south of his belt. Chat quickly adjust his hold on the bowl of popcorn to cover any signs of his awoken libido.

Damn this was awkward. Marinette was just a friend and this type of reaction was only meant to happen around Ladybug. Well, in private. Not while they were in public fighting akumas. That would be mortifying.

With an unsteady hand, Chat Noir resumed his prior motion in feeding himself more popcorn. However, his attention was no longer focussed on the movie but on the worrying way his body was responding to his friend. Perhaps if he ignored it, it would go away. It was only a physical reaction to unexpected stimulus, wasn't it?

Gotta love denial at the small stuff XD

I apologise for my sporadic posting. I've been sucked into Dragon Age: Inquisition and I swear it eats time - the romancing element is so much fun ;)

As always thanks for reading and I'll try to pull myself away from the PS4 in my spare time and do some more writing.