"Marinette, is everything all right?" her mom asked with confusion as Marinette rushed inside and up the stairs.
"Yeahmomeverythingisfine!" she said quickly, pausing briefly only as she tripped on her way up. Soon she was back in her room with the door shut behind her.
"What's the rush, Marinette?" Tikki asked, flying out of her purse.
"I saw Cat Noir watching me from the roof," she explained, "So he must still be in love with me, right?"
"I think that's a little weird," Tikki admitted with a shrug.
"Well, yeah, but," Marinette sighed, "I don't know, I just thought it was a good sign."
"What are you going to do now?" the kwami wondered aloud.
"I'm going to transform and hope he's still nearby," Marinette looked determined, "I have to talk to him."
"All right," Tikki smiled, "Whatever you think is best!"
Marinette began to climb onto her roof, then stopped abruptly. He was already there. Cat Noir was sitting on the edge of her banister, looking down at the street. Marinette couldn't help but smile.
Cat Noir landed on a rooftop a couple buildings away. He still felt like it was cheating, talking to her as Cat Noir when he knew he was the guy she hated, but it seemed it was the only chance he would have to talk to her at all. After his last attempt, he didn't expect he would have any success as Adrien.
Making up his mind, he hopped over the buildings towards the bakery, landing skillfully on the edge of the banister. He scanned the short walk between Marinette's and the school, hoping for some brief glimpse of her.
As he sat there, he tried to think of what he was going to say. He needed some way of getting her to give him a second chance as Adrien, but how to do it without being obvious? Or making her suspicious? Or getting her mad at me again, he shuddered at the thought of that angry glare, a sight he had never seen before yesterday but would haunt him forever. As he sat there thinking, unable to come up with answers, he heard a voice from behind him.
"What are you doing here, kitty?" the voice said, sounding both pleased and nervous.
He turned around suddenly, torn from his thoughts, and saw Marinette there, climbing onto the roof. He was surprised she was able to sneak up on him with his enhanced hearing, but then couldn't help but smile.
"I was just hoping to see you," he told her shyly.
"I was… actually going to come look for you, too," she answered slowly as she sat down, "I saw you watching me from the school roof."
"Oh, that," Cat Noir looked away, feeling embarrassed, "I just… I wasn't there long." Please don't think I'm creepy, he pleaded silently.
"Why…" Marinette started, then stopped, looking uncertain. "Cat Noir," she tried again, speaking softly, "Do you still… l-love me?"
Cat Noir's eyes went wide. How could she think I don't love her? Watching her expression, he saw she was nervous, like she was really worried about how he would answer. I want her to be in love with Adrien again, he reminded himself, but I can't break her heart, not again. Finally, his face broke out into a warming smile as he answered, "Of course, m'lady."