Chapter 9: Secrets
It was almost midnight. Our heroes are viewing the city from their usual in the Eiffel Tower as a part of their patrol.
"Sorry but I have to get going milady!" Chat Noir said as he stood up and extends his baton taking his leave.
"Whoa there cat, what's the hurry?" Ladybug asked letting a grin appear on her face.
"I'm just going to visit one of my friends." Chat replied.
"And who's that friend of yours?" Ladybug asked curiously.
"The girl you asked me to protect when that Evillustrator gets akumatized." Chat answered with a smile. He didn't noticed that Ladybug turned a little pale. "We've gone close y'know! Bonne nuit (good night) milady!" he then winked before taking his leave.
Ladybug waved happily as Chat took a glance at her while he's swinging at his baton. As Chat is out of sight, she quickly took her yoyo and immediately went home before Chat Noir will suspect why she still isn't home in the middle of the night.
"Oh no, oh no, oh no—no no no." Ladybug thought as she swings. She took a nearest route to go home, hoping that she'll be first but unfortunately, she isn't. She stopped dead and hid at someone's roof just across their house. There she could see Chat tapping at her window. Luckily, she always locked the windows from the inside just in case some burglars go stealing her stuff.
"Beep, beep!" Her Miraculous starts beeping. It's only a matter of seconds before she changes back. She looked at Chat hoping he doesn't hear the beeping and luckily, he doesn't. Chat is too busy browsing the inside of her room using his night vision. She quickly took the opportunity and silently swings past him to reach the back of her house and to the balcony.
As she was swinging, she accidentally somersaulted in the air and detransformed. Tikki quickly hid at her pouch. Marinette was falling and she don't know how to save herself, so much for being sneaky.
"There you are Marinette!" Chat greeted happily as he climbed to the railings and sat there like a cat. Marinette was found seated comfortably at the chair.
Marinette perked up and sat up. "Hey Chat Noir!" she greeted nervously. "W-what a surprise, w-what are you doing here?"
"Oh nothing, just visiting my favorite Parisian." Chat said as he walked towards the girl.
"When did I become your favorite Parisian?" Marinette asked sarcastically but Chat ignored her and bowed.
"Princess, I've heard you've got a gift for me, Can I see it?" he asked sweetly.
Marinette's jaws dropped and looked at the feline superhero horrified. "H-how-w-where d-d-do you get that i-i-idea?"
"I've got my sources, so can I just get a hint?" Chat asked cheerfully.
Marinette avoided his eyes and pouted; thinking who's the person that told him, Alya? Nino? Adrien? They're the only people who she told it. Maybe Chloe eavesdrop, but she wasn't in the area as she remembers. Maybe the three told someone then told Chat? Or maybe he just heard it while he's in his civilized self. She then noticed Chat leaning closer to her as she was in her thoughts. She then quickly took Chat Noir's face and glared at him.
"No, what are you talking about?" she asked pretending to be clueless.
Chat backed away and snickered. "Princess, you're hiding something, I can tell."
"Really?"
"Yeah," Chat began wiggling his brows then a moment of silence appeared between them.
"You have no proof about it." Marinette said rolling her eyes.
"Beep beep!" Chat's miraculous rang making Chat sighed in defeat. It's time to go home for the great Chat Noir. "Gift or not, not too much Camembert, okay?" he warned then smiled gently. "Good night Marinette!"
"Yeah, bye, good night Chat Noir!" she greeted and watched the superhero between rooftops. As he was out of view, Marinette stood up and sighed in relief. "Well, glad that he's gone." She said to herself as she made her way down to her bedroom. She turned on the lights and opened her pouch, revealing the Ladybug kwami who quickly flew out and zoomed at her pillow.
"Tikki, he knows!" Marinette said horrifyingly, cupping her kwami and glared at her. Her face was just a few inches from Tikki. "So much for having it a secret." She added.
"Oh Marinette, at least you didn't told him what you got." Tikki said.
"Well luckily, I haven't had any permanent idea for the gift." Marinette said as she took her pillow and stuffed her face in it. "If I already, I might have blurted because of frustration."
"What's with today anyway? Everyone is talking about Camembert." Marinette said sheepishly.
"I don't know but if there's a festival about it today but it's a coincidence Marinette, don't be serious about it." Tikki said then zoomed at her desk and took the sketchpad and pencil and drop it in front of the girl. "Anyways, how about that inspirational draft?"
Marinette looked at her kwami and smiled sheepishly. She took her pen and sketchpad and began drawing. "How about I'll design a dress for you Tikki while I do Chat Noir's temporary gift? How's that sound?"
"Oh Marinette, it's up to you but thank you." Tikki gushed as she nuzzled Marinette's cheek.
The next day arrives and the class is just waiting until the teacher arrives. It's a miracle, Marinette was early, early than her usual tardiness to be exact. Alya was surprised as she saw her best friend sitting at their desk before her. The girl continued to design clothes, a little hobby she rarely do in school. Alya peeked at her work as they wait. "Girl, those are some cute designs." She commented at Tikki's soon-to-be clothes. Marinette quickly covers her sketch completely. Chat Noir's visit made her realize the gift will be a secret to hers alone.
"Thank you but don't look at it." Marinette begged.
"Girl, I've seen your sketches and they're cute and cool so can I see it?" Alya said as she raised a brow. Marinette pitied her friend, she knew that Alya knew she's designing clothes for ladies and girls but Chat is a boy so it should be fine right? She was about to offer it to her but she soon realize the sketches for Chat's gift is just a page away, Alya might see it and tell Chat if she is Chat Noir's source, she couldn't be sure so she quickly take it back.
"I'm sorry Alya, it's classified!" Marinette mumbled as she hugged her sketchpad. Alya pouted and shrugged as she saw Marinette's eyes that's full of guilt.
"Fine, I can't believe you kept a secret from your best friend." Alya said pretending to be offended.
"No, don't think like that Alya, it's not like that." Marinette said.
Alya looked at her and shrugged. "Fine girl, be sure to tell me if it's the right time then."
"Dude, you're almost late!" Nino's voice was heard as he looked at Adrien who just arrived at the classroom, he was catching his breath and Nino noticed this. "Why are you so tired anyway, you rode a car right?"
Adrien just sighed and went to his seat. "I ran to school, dad used the car while I was still asleep."
"So, you overslept?"
Adrien nodded.
"That's so not you bro!" Nino said snickering as he nudged his best friend. "You're always Mr. Goody-two-shoes!"
"Isn't Adrien always late?" Alya asked suddenly, giving Nino a sarcastic smile then turned to Marinette who continued sketching but before she tried to peek. Marinette quickly covers the whole thing and smiled innocently at Alya.
Adrien focused his attention on Marinette eversince Alya glared at her, after what she said last night about having no gift for Chat from her. He is very positive, she's hiding something. He stood up and walked in front of her and tried to peek at sketch which Marinette noticed and quickly tugged it at her chest and looked at Adrien surprisingly.
"Adrien, don't even try to look at her work, she's not gonna allow it." Alya said.
"But I'm curious, Marinette won my father's bowler hat contest so I'm curious at what new designs she's gonna make." Adrien pleaded as he tried to take a look at her drawing. Marinette blushed as Adrien tried his best to take a look at her sketch now that she's working at Chat Noir's.
"No, it should be a secret." Marinette pouted and she quickly put her sketchpad in her bag. "There, now there's no one bothering me for this!"
"Where is it?" Adrien mumbled multiple times as he searched from his pile of papers and art materials at his desk. He was looking for the comic draft that he showed Nathanael a while back. He was frustrated. He is again late for his nightly patrol with Ladybug and he don't want his lady to be waiting. Plagg however, was enjoying his time eating his favorite food and enjoyingly watches the boy.
"Go Adrien Go!" Plagg cheered.
"Plagg," Adrien began as he searched. "Instead of cheering, why not go help me find it, Ladybug will be so mad if I don't attend our night patrols."
Plagg sighed and took the last cheese in his mouth and began to help him. "If I help, feed me Camembert."
.
.
.
"Ughh…Chat Noir's late again." Ladybug complained. Just like before, she already patrol all of Paris with no help of her partner at all. "I should really be home, ordering that fabric and it's probably now closed." She said to herself looking at the clothing store which is now closing as the shop's owner is taking her leave.
"Milady!" Chat's voice was heard and Ladybug looked up and crossed her arms, glaring at him furiously. "I know, I'm sorry my Ladybug, my father talked to me a lot about his business and I searched for my next letter to you and," he looked at Ladybug's grumpy face and he bowed with guilt. "And I didn't notice the time…"
Ladybug continue to glare at Chat and looked sideways, smiling a little bit. Having the thought that there's another piece of paper to be read is arriving pretty soon, she couldn't contain herself from excitement. She looked at Chat who's taking glances at her making her blush a bit. She cleared her throat and frowned.
"Well since that's a valid excuse about your dad then I might just forgive you for it." Ladybug said, trying to remain her composed.
Chat Noir's eyes lit up. "Really, so you're not mad at me?"
"No, just irritated that you didn't show up." Ladybug said then she was tackled into a hug by Chat Noir. "Alright, point taken right? Get off and you go home now before your father decides to talk to you again."
Chat Noir backed away and handed her the folded paper. "Alright but for you milady," Ladybug reached it and nodded. Chat winked and took his leave again.
Adrien arrived home and let Plagg revert him back as he was lying at his bed. Plagg flew quickly to his bowl of cheese and sleeps there.
"Plagg, Ladybug is really an angel sent from the heavens!" Adrien said as he stared at his ceiling.
"Sure kid, keep dreaming—oh dear!" Plagg said and quickly hid himself behind the books at the shelves.
"Uh Plagg?" Adrien called as he glanced at the bowl of Camembert. He was surprised Plagg is not there, it's not something his kwami always do. He then heard tapping on his window and he was surprised Ladybug is looking at him as she taps. His heart was pounding as he quickly stood up and went towards her. Their eyes are locked to each other.
"I want to talk to you about something." She said but due to the glass window between he didn't quite hear that. Adrien pointed at the open window above them, Ladybug smiled as she looked and made her way inside.
"S-Sorry to visit you this late at night," Ladybug said in a worried smile.
"No, it's fine, what's up Mi—Ladybug, Ladybug?"Adrien stuttered.
"I was just curious," Ladybug began. "I heard you gave Chat Noir camembert right?"
Adrien took a quick glance at the bowl of the said cheese at her shelves supposing he wanted to glance at Plagg. "Yeah," he replied nervously.
"You know what his likes are?" Ladybug asked curiously. Adrien was surprised at the sudden question, he was blushing. "I was just curious what kind of styles he's wearing, do you perhaps know?"
There was a moment of silence between them. "Oh, umm yes, I think Chat would like anything you give—I mean he likes you right?' Adrien replied.
"But I want a specific answer," Ladybug pouted to herself, unsatisfied with Adrien's answer.
"Ehhmm, how about some cat designs?" Adrien suggested out of the blue. "Him being a cat and all."
"Hmmm…or I'll just give me cheese," Ladybug said to herself a little satisfied as she brushed her chin.
"Beep, beep!"
"Well, Mr. A-agreste, I have to go home now, th-thank you." Ladybug said as she jumped to his window and leave.
