Marinette sat on a rug against the wall beside the bath. Wincing as she curled, drawing her legs into a hug, she rested her head atop her knees.

Their intimate familiarity as a crime-fighting duo, a golden-clad line of trust that accompanied leaving your life in another's hands, carried on strong in this domestic setting. In an odd sense, it also left her insecure. Somewhere between Ladybug and Marinette, she wanted to maintain a professional distance, but now that he's here... she wanted to get to know him better. But the bigger problem is how he would accept her.

Marinette yawned as Chat Noir began a whistling tune.

She's not... Ladybug. She can't be Ladybug without a mission at hand, an Akuma to fight. Battle mode and... normal mode are two different Marinette's.

Chasing off sleep, she lifted her head when the water stopped. Chat took the liberty of grabbing a nearby towel, scrubbing his hair roughly till it reformed its usual mess.

The air ran, as if hiding away in her lungs when Chat knelt down to her height. "I'm sorry."

"...huh?"

"You took on two Akuma's alone." His smile looked rough around the edges. "I know you're capable, but that must be exhausting..."

"Oh," she softly grumbled, cupping his cheeks and squishing. "Stop beating yourself up. You turned into a cat, I think it's fair to say we've both had our fair of trouble today." Marinette rolled up to her feet as he stood- and promptly fell forward. Catching her under the arms it came to his attention that, it's a position they've encountered many a time, but in her loose pajamas and lack of pigtails it strikes him that this is her.

"Thanks." She exhaled a small strike of adrenaline away.

Suddenly, Chat embraced her, picking her feet off the ground and nuzzling into her hair.

A shiver ran down her spine. "Chat?"

"I don't know what I expected." He softly swayed them left and right. "But you're perfect."

She burned beet red. Whoa, whoa, hey, what?

"How— Chat I'm not, I'm really not." She shoved at his chest, but only got enough space to see his neck. So, trapped, she traced nervous figure eights over his suit. "Nobody can embody perfection, Chat, I certainly don't. Give it time, I'm-" she side-glanced up to his eyes, choking on the glowing adoration pouring over. She traced circles faster. "I'm a mess. I trip over stray papers twice a day, and bump into objects I've walked by since birth."

"Marinette," he gingerly set her down, then laid a hand to her shoulder. "I'm a newly emerged hermit. How awkward you look is probably how awkward I feel."

She tilted her head, slowly asking, "how new?"

"Homeschooled till about a month ago."

Okay, she conceded with a bout of incredulity. "but you... have friends right?"

"Yeah," one of his ears folded back. "I wish it were easier to make friends, but it's so difficult for me to keep a connection.. Sometimes we'll have things in common, but," he frowned, but it looked more like a pout. "How does small talk even work?"

She chuckled.

"Doon't laaaugh."

Which inadvertently made her laugh harder, more from the relief that her cat is as worse off as her.

A red blur zoomed into the room. "Marinette, it's almost your bed—" Upon meeting Chat, Tikki froze on the spot, falling from the air like the toy she desperately hoped she appeared to be. Chat snatched the little ladybug from her fall, observing as she rolled over in his palm.

Meanwhile Marinette held her side, laughing and letting go small pained, ow, ow ow's as she did.


Up in her room, all Chat's energy locked onto his feet and eyes. What's Ladybug's room like? Designs, projects, sketches. He took a second longer staring every time he found something new.

"Chat Noir!" Marinette chased, not nearly as fast, to keep his nose away. "You better be sitting on the chaise!"

Marinette's longevity took a harsh blow. There. Standing before her desk was a ramrod Chat Noir. Was he admiring the hard work she put into those gloves lying beside a thread and needle? ...She could pretend, because why wouldn't it make any self respecting cat speechl—

Breathless, he shone a smile that her exhaustion wanted to hide up under the covers from. "What is this?"

"Well." She pointed, all the finesse of a home designer explaining renovations. "It's a wall."

"And what's on the wall?"

"Paint."

A pause.

"It's a pretty cut and standard set up."

"Any particular reason Adrien Agreste is on the paint on the wall in your room?"

Her pitch kicked up a notch she didn't know existed before tonight, yet slowly she shook her head, "nope."

Patient, they remained at a standstill. Her staring at the wall, him staring at her.

She relented first, "okay! He's a... a fascination of mine?"

Chat positively blossomed, "you mean a crush!?"

"Shh!" she hissed.

Every cell in his body vibrated, his tail flicked, and he wondered if she liked wearing matching outfits?

"One day I'll be normal around him..." tipping into mourning, she lowered into the desk chair.

He leaned against her desk. Right. They don't talk. Much. So...? "Fell for his looks?"

And the red of her face never got a break. "You're seriously discussing this with me?"

"I'd like to know what I'm competing with, Bugaboo."

Bugaboo, Marinette begged her heart to calm, she's too young for a heart-attack.

"It's not his looks if that's what you're hoping to beat."

"Really?" He shifted meaningfully closer to her wall of model poses.

"Adrien's sweet," she murmured, whisked away by a memory. "he... gave me a second chance when I didn't deserve it. And now that I can look past who I thought he was, it's a miracle how he can be friends with Chloe. But it's because of that tolerance that I love it when he's simply being himself. Having fun. HIs smile is so..." Unable to meet his eye, her words stumbled along, "a-anyway, don't look too much into it. I don't think he even notices me." She balked a laugh. "Anytime we talk I turn into a stuttering mess. Can't control my words around him. But I'm still try...ing..."

She'd wanted to gauge his reaction, but was taken aback.

Chat cupped a hand to his mouth, what wasn't covered pinkened to a red that continually deepened, and at his lashes...

Placing a hand to her desk, she readied to stand. "Are you crying?"

"No," he sharply inhaled. And sobbed. Mouth still covered, other hand curled into a fist for support, he cried, "will you go out with me!?"

Recovery at a crawl from taking in Chat's landslide emotional stability, his words hit her maybe three minutes later. "I don't even know who you are!"

Chat grabbed his ring.

"Hold it you!" Marinette grabbed his hands. He sniffled. "Think about this!"

"I have. And I need you to know."

"Two days." Gripping his two hands in one of hers, Marinette held up two fingers. "Let's not rush this anymore than we already have. I need time to process. In two days, if you still want to tell me, you can."

His eyes ping-ponged from her, the posters, his ring, then back to her. His shoulder drooped. "Okay..."

Her earlier wound forced Marinette to bite her lips hard as a distraction when she leaned back.

"You're still in pain," Chat said into a handkerchief. When did he...? She peeked past him at an open drawer. Of course...

She took deep breaths, now rather hoarse, "if I move wrong, yeah. I thought I'd figured out how to avoid agitating it," she cringed, digging her nails into the bottom of her chair. The wound slapped her side like a hand of fire. "Hurts."

Chat brought her hands to lace around his neck, and scooped her up. "Nothing you need to do before bed?"

His eyes were still kind of pink, but a genuine concern in his reassuring smile made her speechless anyway. She shook her head. He walked up to the loft, and tucked her into bed, grasping her hand and placing a farewell kiss as he pulled away.

"Sweet dreams."

And he squealed.

"I've always wanted to do that! Did it look cool?"

Marinette groaned.


The next day Adrien checked his watch. Standing outside the Dupain-Cheng's residential door. She's usually late, right? Running all the way to her seat. With that injury, it's highly doubtful her habits would land her anywhere near the bell. But his lady is resilient. So he'd wait, offer an arm to help her along. Adrien curled fists under his chin. She likes him! Just two days and their feelings would be mutual!

Two whole days though!

Maybe there would be a way to shed light on who he is earlier? Or maybe she would fall for Chat during this lengthy period of time, he thought with a sly smirk. They're the same person, just different circumstances. If Chat acted like Adrien, she'd swoon in an instant. Or maybe vise-versa? And when they fall in love, she'll adore both sides of him! Like Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen!

"Bye Mom, bye Dad, love you!" Marinette's voice echoed to his ears.

The door flung open, bounced off the rubber of Adrien's shoe, and smacked Marinette.

"Ow!" She cried.

"Ohmygod, Marinette!" Adrien fussed as he rounded the door.

She rubbed her forehead, blinking up at him. "Adrien?" Maybe she's hallucinating...

"I..." he twiddled his thumbs. "I was waiting and..." he reached for her. "I'm so sorry! Are you okay?"

"Oh... oh no! I'm fine, you're fine- I mean! Are you fine?" She took a deep breath. "... alright, are you alright?"

The sheer panic she exuded urged him to lift her fringe and check. "Maybe it hit a little harder than I thought..."

"Gah!" She swooped back. And her face contorted in agony. Hands hovering over her side, she willed the pain to pass.

"Ah! Um-" Adrien, circled her. "Is there anything I can do?" He grabbed her backpack. "I'll hold your things."

Nerves overpowered by distress, she nodded gratefully. "Thank you."

"No problem." He offered an arm.

She blinked. "Y-you don't have to do that. I'm not limping, it's just if I twist wrong..."

"...gotcha." Well... there goes that fantasy. "So are you doing anything later today?"

"Me?" she asked, then lightly slapped her chest. "Uh, I just needed s-some felt to make the pattern for a design I'm playing around with."

"Can I come?"

"Yes!" She eagerly agreed. Then countered, "a-actually it'll be really boring. Just browsing crafting store things..."

Adrien shook his head. "Anywhere I'm with you couldn't possibly be boring."

She might have stopped breathing. Not that Adrien noticed, humming a joyful tune as he plotted their evening together. Maybe he'd surprise her, bring along a picnic basket packed with goodies, and when they pass the park; oh, what a beautiful day, we might as well.

Ah, darn... But he needs to woo her as Chat. She already... already... likes...

He side-eyed her— and Marinette's skin was flushed from head to toe. A cute little pink down the tip of her nose, and his heartbeat thrummed uncontrollably. He did that so soon?! T- to her? Who's jabbed at his every flirt?

This is going to be their reality after she finds out.

He should get her accustomed to his presence. Say something! Make it normal, please make it normal!

...small talk! The weather? No, don't mention that till the picnic, but what else? This isn't working. Abort—

Chat!

Channel Chat!

He opened his mouth- and a chirruping noise flicked off his tongue. Adrien slapped a hand over his mouth.

"D-did you say something?" Marinette tilted her head.

Adrien vigorously shook his head.

"Lovely... Lovely weather today!" she spread an arm toward the sky.

Okay, his lady is ruining everything. "Yeah..." he slowly agreed.


A little section of felts in the craft store, rainbows of colors. Marinette measured them along her chest, spread over her arm. Saying she likes to choose different colors for the sleeves, front, and back, so as to not mix up the templates.

He admired her eye for detail. Silent in watching her becoming enthralled in the selections.

Then, half mumbling, Marinette tossed a green at him. Blue. Red, and suddenly there's a pile.

Hands to her hips, accomplishment in full, Marinette exhaled at the collection in his hands.

He shifted. "Done?"

The color drained from her face. "Adrien!" She reached, but he pulled the felts away. "I am so so so sorry! I got lost in the moment and—" she tried again, he lifted them above her head. "I'll hold them."

"Think about your injury."

She frowned, not one to be looked down upon. "They're felts. They weigh about nothing."

He cocked a half smile. "I cannot, in good conscious, allow you to hold any more than nothing, about would be pushing it."

She wanted to argue, he could see it- feel it from that third Ladybug sense of his. But his magic influence of crush status left her with the one option of walking away, saying, "thank you."

Leaving the store, Adrien steered them toward the park. Brainstorming ways of segueing to their lunch out. He could offer his over-shirt, laying it down in lieu of a blanket. And the sandwich shop nearby...

"Aww, cute kitty!" Marinette gushed.

His cheeks tingled.

Then he saw it. A box with bright green eyes peering over the rim.

The kitten mewed.

Adrien wanted to be disappointed, but the need to meet this new arrival proved too strong.

Coming down to their knees, Adrien and Marinette met five pairs of curious eyes. Coming into this sudden attention, they mewed. Pawed awkwardly, at times falling with shaking baby muscles.

"Aww," Adrien cooed, rolling one over, and scratching under it's chin. "Who would leave these precious furballs here?"

Marinette cradled one in her arm, allowing it to chew her finger. "Someone must have left them." She pulled out her phone. "The pound should be able to pick them up."

"The pound!" Adrien grabbed the remaining four into a hug. "Have you seen those commercials? They need a home. Now." Stubborn like it was an art, he sat up straight, face unflinching.

The last thing she expected was an outburst of any kind from Adrien. How could she upset him? An angel reincarnate, framed by innocent kittens.

"Absolutely!" She blurted. "They need a home, and we should find those homes." A beat passed. "Right?"

A broad smile crossed his face. "Right!"

"Um," she shyly voiced. "In the meantime..."

He regarded her curiously.

She fumbled with the kitten's paw. "I'd love to hold onto them all, but my parents won't allow this many kittens."

"Not a problem. I'll take these." He cuddled the one's he'd trapped. Two white with grey spots, black with white down the nose, and pure white, all with blue eyes.

She lifted hers, black with vibrant green eyes. And her brow knotted.

"Anything wrong?" Adrien asked, his head atop a sea of fluff.

"Oh! Um..." She turned her kitten toward him. "Does he look... familiar?"

The kitten mewed.

Adrien regarded him. Scruffy unkempt fur, tiny fangs; the definition of kitten. "Not particularly?"

"Well..." she slumped, rolling her hand vaguely. "You see, I found this kitten yesterday, and they look similar except..." Marinette rubbed down his neck. It purred, and Adrien waited with baited breath. Suddenly she scratched the back of her head, chuckling, "you know what! He's probably just a cat."

"What happened with the kitten from yesterday?" he tried not to be obvious.

She got to her feet. "There was... ah... nothing much."

Adrien dropped his litter into the box, and hefted it along as they huddled into a trembling pile. "I wouldn't say nothing, there had to be something. Was he cute?"

A chill rippled across her skin, and mischief danced in Adrien's eyes.

She made figure eights along the kittens fur. "As cute as cats can be I guess..."

"But this one topped them all?"

She snorted. "That's giving him credit."

"I suppose it would be humble to call him handsome? Kind?"

"Pompous, arrogant."

"Meowch."

She rounded on him - as fast as her injury would allow - mouth agape, eyes wide. The kitten mewed up at her a moment before she uttered, "you!"

Equal parts anticipation and fright, he grinned wildly. "Me?"

She dropped her head into the kitten's fur, "nonono," and demanded, "don't give me that face!"

"What face?"

"That face that- that proves it." Words that couldn't decided if they were upset or angry.

And he wasn't helping. "Proves what?"

"UGH!" When she stomped away, he followed.

"My lady-"

"Absolutely not!"

He was not laughing. "Just hear meout."

"No!"

"That's a little unfair."

"Bad luck sorta encompasses that."


Back at Adrien's home, Plagg hovered over the new recruits.

"Alright maggots." He tapped a toothpick onto his hand like a baton. "There's one thing we treasure in this stronghold."

Adrien, lying on the couch, gave up on taking the kittens from Plagg about an hour ago.

"It could've gone better," Adrien noted, speaking more to himself.

"It is what we have hewn into our belief system," Plagg continued, oblivious to Adrien's plight. "The one thing we need to survive."

"I should have planned this. Like... in the midst of our most epic battle, we're trapped with the villain while in our civilian forms. I reveal my miraculous, she has a moment of awe, and I risk my life to save hers."

"Camembert." The other kittens wandered, while the pure white remained, curled into a ball and napping. "I understand you have yet to try it, but I believe you'll learn to love it as I have."

"We should talk, straighten things out. Plagg!"

"No!" Plagg clung to the white kitten.

"Plagg, I need to see her."

"They won't be kittens forever, Adrien, this time is important to me."

Adrien crossed his arms. "They won't even be ours forever, they'll go to a good home in maybe a week."

"All the more reason we should stay!"

"Plagg, claws out!"


Yep this is late, but balcony visits comes next- hopefully before midnight.