p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU"Chat Noir slipped quietly out of the building and glanced at his watch. Natalie wouldn't miss him for a while yet. His stomach growled. He grimaced, before grinning. There was no one here to admonish him for eating extra food, and besides, he'd used up quite a lot of energy performing and practising with Ladybug. A snack wouldn't hurt./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU"A few minutes later, Marinette glanced up as the bell signalled a customer entering the bakery./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""Hello!" she said cheerily. "Welcome! What can I get for you today?"/span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU"Chat Noir blinked in surprise. What was Marinette doing here? He lowered his head, hoping she wouldn't recognise him. His eye caught the sign./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""Dupin-Cheng Bakery" it read, in gorgeous swirling calligraphy. Of course, Marinette's family ran the bakery, it was only natural to find her working here./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU"Meanwhile, Marinette had grown wary of the silent customer who refused to allow her to see his face. He was obviously a tall male and she was about to call her father in, just as a precaution, when he looked up and smiled./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""Good evening!" he said, and Marinette gasped./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""Chat Noir!" she exclaimed. Chat looked a little taken back./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""How do you know me?" he asked and Marinette fumbled to cover up her slip. Chat didn't know she was Ladybug./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""Oh, I-I was, um, at Akuma tonight and I saw you play!" It was a good lie. Chat wouldn't have been able to see exactly who was in the audience so even if he hadn't seen her, she could just say she was in one of the dark corners of the room./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""Okay!" Chat seemed willing to accept her hasty explanation and he leaned on the counter casually. "I assume you enjoyed it?" he purred. Inwardly, Marinette sighed. He was really channelling the cat theme./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""Of course I did! I thought you were great!" she replied. "And I loved Ladybug's playing," she mentioned slyly. She was not disappointed with his reaction./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""Isn't she the best?" Chat exclaimed. "I love listening to her. And she's a really kind person too! Quite a number of talented musicians are really proud and arrogant but Ladybug is the sweetest! I guess you could say I've really taken emnote/em of her," he grinned./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU"Marinette, delighted by his praise, rolled her eyes nonetheless. "A pun? Really?"/span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""You better get used to it," Chat replied smugly. "However, you do seem quite emsharp/em for picking it up."/span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""You're wasting your jokes on someone who doesn't appreciate them, Chat," Marinette said with a grin. "Now, did you come here just for a emchat/em, or to actually buy something. I'm afraid we're closing soon so you should make it quick. We don't allow stray cats in here after hours."/span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""Was that a pun I heard?" Chat was quick to pounce on her words. "And I am not a stray cat. And what shop closes this early in this city?" Chat piled on the questions. He selected a pastry and Marinette gave it to him, answering his question as them moved to the seating area./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""On Friday nights, I have to be in bed before ten o'clock," Marinette said, sitting next to him./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU"Chat raised and eyebrow. "Ten o'clock? That seems a harsh curfew Cinderella." He grinned teasingly and bit into the delicious pastry./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU"Marinette rolled her eye, grinning nonetheless. "Ha ha. Very funny. No, I really need my sleep because I have to get up early to help my parents bake before we open."/span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""Oooh, Cinderella indeed!" Chat carried the joke on, trying to make her laugh. "I don't suppose you have any ugly sisters who force you to do their share of the baking too, hey Princess?" Marinette did laugh this time, and Chat inwardly rejoiced./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""No, sadly I have no siblings."/span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""Princess, we grow more similar. Alas, I also have no siblings," Chat said in mock surprise./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU"Marinette's grin widened. "Princess, huh? Is this a new nickname?" she asked, shaking/span her head, a smile gracing her lips. "Whatever. At least it's not something hideous."/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""Why would I call you something hideous, My Princess?"/span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""Oh, so now it's changed from 'Princess' to 'My Princess' has is?" she asked, hand on hip./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""But of course, My Princess. And I am your knight." he said, taking her hand and lightly kissing it./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU"Marinette blushed, pulling her hand away. "Don't get too carried away. A Princess's knight must first prove himself before he is knighted."/span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""I will try my best to serve you in every possible way, and to prove myself to you, My Princess," Chat said, bowing deeply. To tell the truth, Adrien was surprised at his own boldness. But there was something about Marinette that brought out a different side of him, and he was really enjoying it. Although he had only known her for a few weeks, there seemed to be some sort of connection. Marinette made him feel happy and carefree. She was sweet and funny and always had something interesting to say. She was a little tongue-tied around Adrien but she didn't appear to have a problem with Chat. Perhaps he would visit more frequently to get to know her better. He was intrigued. Chat began to dig his wallet out to pay for the pastry but Marinette stopped him./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""On the house," she said with a smile. "I really enjoyed your playing so consider it a gift from a fan."/span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU"Chat shook his head in delighted disbelief, touched by her kindness. "Thank you Princess. I will return and see you again soon. But first," he dug into his wallet and pulled out a few notes, tucking them into the tip jar on the counter. He winked at Marinette. Adrien had money to spare for buying things, but he wasn't going to insist on paying and spoil her kind gesture. But he could pay in another way and he wasn't going to just take pastries for nothing because he was a friend./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU"Marinette recognised the gesture for what it was and smiled again. Silly kitten. He was too nice. If he returned she would be pleased to have him. Once again, she was glad that she would be working with him at Akuma. Not that he would know that./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU"Chat began to leave, his tail swinging lazily behind him. "Farewell," he grinned and with a salute, he vanished into the cold night./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU"Marinette sighed. She couldn't wait to see him again. She loved Adrien but Chat now held a special place in her heart. Silly kitten, she thought fondly as she saw the money he had tipped her. It was a substantial amount and she smiled endearingly out into the night as she locked the bakery door, flipping the closed sign onto the door. Unbeknownst to her, Chat lingered outside in the shadows, watching her as she cleared up. The happiness he was feeling came from her, and somehow he knew there was something connecting them. Instant friendships don't generally just happen, and he and Marinette certainly had something special. Just like he and Ladybug, he though. The knowledge of that kept him warm and happy as he headed off to his dark house. There was something special about them both. And he couldn't wait to see them again./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU"A few minutes later, Marinette glanced up as the bell signalled a customer entering the bakery./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""Hello!" she said cheerily. "Welcome! What can I get for you today?"/span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU"Chat Noir blinked in surprise. What was Marinette doing here? He lowered his head, hoping she wouldn't recognise him. His eye caught the sign./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""Dupin-Cheng Bakery" it read, in gorgeous swirling calligraphy. Of course, Marinette's family ran the bakery, it was only natural to find her working here./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU"Meanwhile, Marinette had grown wary of the silent customer who refused to allow her to see his face. He was obviously a tall male and she was about to call her father in, just as a precaution, when he looked up and smiled./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""Good evening!" he said, and Marinette gasped./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""Chat Noir!" she exclaimed. Chat looked a little taken back./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""How do you know me?" he asked and Marinette fumbled to cover up her slip. Chat didn't know she was Ladybug./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""Oh, I-I was, um, at Akuma tonight and I saw you play!" It was a good lie. Chat wouldn't have been able to see exactly who was in the audience so even if he hadn't seen her, she could just say she was in one of the dark corners of the room./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""Okay!" Chat seemed willing to accept her hasty explanation and he leaned on the counter casually. "I assume you enjoyed it?" he purred. Inwardly, Marinette sighed. He was really channelling the cat theme./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""Of course I did! I thought you were great!" she replied. "And I loved Ladybug's playing," she mentioned slyly. She was not disappointed with his reaction./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""Isn't she the best?" Chat exclaimed. "I love listening to her. And she's a really kind person too! Quite a number of talented musicians are really proud and arrogant but Ladybug is the sweetest! I guess you could say I've really taken emnote/em of her," he grinned./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU"Marinette, delighted by his praise, rolled her eyes nonetheless. "A pun? Really?"/span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""You better get used to it," Chat replied smugly. "However, you do seem quite emsharp/em for picking it up."/span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""You're wasting your jokes on someone who doesn't appreciate them, Chat," Marinette said with a grin. "Now, did you come here just for a emchat/em, or to actually buy something. I'm afraid we're closing soon so you should make it quick. We don't allow stray cats in here after hours."/span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""Was that a pun I heard?" Chat was quick to pounce on her words. "And I am not a stray cat. And what shop closes this early in this city?" Chat piled on the questions. He selected a pastry and Marinette gave it to him, answering his question as them moved to the seating area./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""On Friday nights, I have to be in bed before ten o'clock," Marinette said, sitting next to him./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU"Chat raised and eyebrow. "Ten o'clock? That seems a harsh curfew Cinderella." He grinned teasingly and bit into the delicious pastry./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU"Marinette rolled her eye, grinning nonetheless. "Ha ha. Very funny. No, I really need my sleep because I have to get up early to help my parents bake before we open."/span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""Oooh, Cinderella indeed!" Chat carried the joke on, trying to make her laugh. "I don't suppose you have any ugly sisters who force you to do their share of the baking too, hey Princess?" Marinette did laugh this time, and Chat inwardly rejoiced./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""No, sadly I have no siblings."/span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""Princess, we grow more similar. Alas, I also have no siblings," Chat said in mock surprise./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU"Marinette's grin widened. "Princess, huh? Is this a new nickname?" she asked, shaking/span her head, a smile gracing her lips. "Whatever. At least it's not something hideous."/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""Why would I call you something hideous, My Princess?"/span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""Oh, so now it's changed from 'Princess' to 'My Princess' has is?" she asked, hand on hip./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""But of course, My Princess. And I am your knight." he said, taking her hand and lightly kissing it./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU"Marinette blushed, pulling her hand away. "Don't get too carried away. A Princess's knight must first prove himself before he is knighted."/span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""I will try my best to serve you in every possible way, and to prove myself to you, My Princess," Chat said, bowing deeply. To tell the truth, Adrien was surprised at his own boldness. But there was something about Marinette that brought out a different side of him, and he was really enjoying it. Although he had only known her for a few weeks, there seemed to be some sort of connection. Marinette made him feel happy and carefree. She was sweet and funny and always had something interesting to say. She was a little tongue-tied around Adrien but she didn't appear to have a problem with Chat. Perhaps he would visit more frequently to get to know her better. He was intrigued. Chat began to dig his wallet out to pay for the pastry but Marinette stopped him./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU""On the house," she said with a smile. "I really enjoyed your playing so consider it a gift from a fan."/span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU"Chat shook his head in delighted disbelief, touched by her kindness. "Thank you Princess. I will return and see you again soon. But first," he dug into his wallet and pulled out a few notes, tucking them into the tip jar on the counter. He winked at Marinette. Adrien had money to spare for buying things, but he wasn't going to insist on paying and spoil her kind gesture. But he could pay in another way and he wasn't going to just take pastries for nothing because he was a friend./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU"Marinette recognised the gesture for what it was and smiled again. Silly kitten. He was too nice. If he returned she would be pleased to have him. Once again, she was glad that she would be working with him at Akuma. Not that he would know that./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU"Chat began to leave, his tail swinging lazily behind him. "Farewell," he grinned and with a salute, he vanished into the cold night./span/p
p class="Standard"span lang="EN-AU"Marinette sighed. She couldn't wait to see him again. She loved Adrien but Chat now held a special place in her heart. Silly kitten, she thought fondly as she saw the money he had tipped her. It was a substantial amount and she smiled endearingly out into the night as she locked the bakery door, flipping the closed sign onto the door. Unbeknownst to her, Chat lingered outside in the shadows, watching her as she cleared up. The happiness he was feeling came from her, and somehow he knew there was something connecting them. Instant friendships don't generally just happen, and he and Marinette certainly had something special. Just like he and Ladybug, he though. The knowledge of that kept him warm and happy as he headed off to his dark house. There was something special about them both. And he couldn't wait to see them again./span/p