Chapter 8: Feline Adventurous

"Wait, you're telling me Ladybug is—" Adrien said with a wide grin on his face as he looks at his kwami friend annoyingly.

"Did I say that? No I didn't—I was just bluffing." Plagg said crossing his tiny arms and turning his back to the boy.

"I hear you loud and clear Plagg even how many times you deny it, I hear everything too well." Adrien said as he quickly grabbed the little kwami and hugged him and he fell on his bed. "So, that's why Ladybug hasn't appeared all this time."

"Yeah, yeah, just don't tell anyone that I told you or Tikki will scold me and I don't like scolding." Plagg said as he tried to remove himself from the boy's grip. "Anyway, please pretend you didn't know, I beg you."

"Of course, I don't want to rush things." Adrien said as he then walk towards his windows and gazed at the night sky above.

"Plagg, Claws out!" He then turned into his alter ego, Chat Noir and jumped outside his window and made his way around the outskirts of the beloved city. The superhero decided to take patrol alone just like the past few days and luckily, Paris is perfectly safe and quiet. He was sitting at a streetlamp and he was gazing the streetlights below, he remember the girl who suddenly turned into a cat and decided to pay a visit.

He goes to the local bakery to check his friend but the lights are off assuming the family has gone asleep. Chat then frowned. "Well, I'll just see her tomorrow." And he left to go home.

It was already 10AM and Marinette is in a hurry because she was indeed late. She didn't blame Adrien for not picking her up early and she wonder why. Maybe the boy is just generous the other day so blaming him isn't a good option she could do.

"Good morning Marinette." Adrien greeted cheerfully with Nathalie at his side. The girl pants heavily as he looked at the smiling Adrien and the calm-looking Nathalie.

"G-Good morning." She greeted back and looked at her classmate. "We are so late so what are you doing here very calm?"

"Well," Nathalie calmed began. "You and Adrien are excused at school today." Marinette's jaw dropped as she heard this. She have to spend time with his crush again for the whole day. "Is there something a matter?"

"Uh, no, no, It's fine, I'll just go and change my things." Marinette said as she was going back to her room. As she turned away and reached the door knob, Adrien took her wrist and pulled her close to him. She felt her arm stung and even caught a glimpse of the syringe at the side of her arm before Adrien hide it in his pocket. He then let go of her and gave her a smile afterwards.

After a few minutes, they are now at the car to attend another photo shoot at the fashion studio owned by Gabriel Agreste.

"Adrien needs to attend his photo shoots as usual and Marinette will be doing some things and a bit of errands around the studio." Nathalie said as she looked at the papers she's holding and gave the papers to Marinette.

The girl looked at the list and most of them is taking care of Adrien and his own schedule. She exchanged looks with the boy. "So, I'm going to babysit Adrien?" she asked.

"Yes," Nathalie simply replied.

The two teenagers exchanged looks once again, a little pink at both their cheeks but they agreed to don't mind at all.

Once they arrived, they simply headed to the studio. Nathalie left leaving the two teens at the studio with the photographer. Marinette has given the opportunity to decide the combination of clothes Adrien will wear which she is very much enjoying it. She's even in charge of Adrien's appearance for the camera, styling his hair up to his shoes. She is a fashion designer after all. She's not even aware that this model in front of her is her crush.

As for Adrien, he's totally conscious at the touches the girl gave him, his cheeks all red and him being all fidgety and awkward. A part of him wants this to last forever and a part wants to immediately finish the photoshoot because he's got something that's needed to be done and he can't wait that long.

He gazed at the girl's face as she fixes his coat; their faces are a few inches away. He then looked up at the cat ears she have and how it was going up and down as if they're dancing and Adrien couldn't help but grin at how funny it looks.

"Hey Mari, how about let's go outside and maybe have some ice cream?" Adrien invited, a little nervous at his tone.

Marinette looked at him curiously and took a bowler hat from the box beside her. "Silly, we've got work to do, we're not supposed to bail out at your father's workplace at times of work." She said with a giggle as she placed the bowler hat at his head.

"Yeah, you're right, father might get mad." Adrien said sadly as he looked away.

"H-how about let's do that after?" Marinette stuttered, getting the boy's attention. "T-to make you f-feel better."

Adrien's face lit up and nodded. "Alright, well am I good enough?" he asked standing up and done a little pose, admiring his attire.

"W-what?" she stuttered.

"The clothes?" He clarifies. "Am I ready for today's photoshoot?"

"Oh y-yeah—yes."

"Thanks Marinette!" he said then pets her head before leaving her to go to his photoshoot. The girl stood frozen after Adrien left, she was in deep thought at how the boy asked her out and even petting her head. She was clearly and obviously not in herself today.

"It's just the beginning of the day Mari, don't let things fall apart." Tikki said as she zoomed towards Marinette's face. The ladybug kwami was giving her a cheerful smile.

"Tikki, he just asked me out I think...umm...I need to calm down." Marinette said as she flopped herself at the comfy chair. Tikki comforted her patting her at the temple.

"Marinette, you are perfectly calm down while you are dressing up Adrien." Tikki reminded her with a happy tune at her voice.

"Oh no, you're right, I didn't even notice myself-and he pets me!" Marinette said as she began twirling her chair.

Tikki let out a giggle and stopped the chair from spinning and faces Marinette smiling. "I can't believe from all these being with him, you're conscious about this kind of stuff right now."

"What do you mean?" Marinette asked.

"You don't remember? You were basically tackling him and nuzzling his cheek the whole time." Tikki said and watches how Marinette gasped and immediately sulked.

"I did that to him? Oh my gosh, he must be embarrassed the whole time." Marinnete said as she covered her face with her hands.

"No, I think he's enjoying it." Tikki simply said in a teasing tone.

"What?" Marinette is now having a mental breakdown, she was beet red and she then immediately stood up, having a face pride and confidence, her ears suddenly perked up.

"No!" she began. "I'm working and I can't let my feelings get the best of me while I work in my future studio." She then took the paper that tells her schedule and read it. Tikki went to her to take a read as well. "Besides thanks to Adrien, I've got an opportunity to show my fashion design skills to Mr. Agreste."

"You got to make clothes for his company?" Tikki asked in surprised reading her whole schedule.

"Yeah, but I was asked to draw some designs first." Marinette said with a grin and went to sit at the chair and readies her pen and notebook.

"I'm happy for you Marinette , I'm sure your designs will turn out great!" Tikki said and sat down at the table's surface and watched Marinette do her stuff.

After an hour or two, Adrien isn't back yet and Marinette is extremely worried that his schedule is slowly crumbling because of his tardiness to come back. She already have the next combination of clothes ready for him to wear for his next photo shoot so she decided to go to the studio where the shooting is takes place. As she opened a door, Chat Noir is in front of her.

"Hello Purrincess~" Chat greeted as he winked. "Long time no see."

"C-Chat, hey!" Marinette greeted back with a smile.

"Nice ears by the way." He complimented while he pokes them light.

"Yeah thanks, I got some CAT-asssssstropic events going on in my life." Marinette said lazily emphasizing the word 'cat' in her sentence.

Chat laughed at the pun the girl just made. "Haha good one!"

"So, what brings you here?" Marinette asked.

"Oh, umm...I was by at the neighbourhood and—" Chat said nervously but Marinette cut him off.

"I know your lying my dear feline cat, just tell the truth already." She then glared.

"Fine, I want to ask see you despite hearing you turned into a cat." Chart said with a smile as he leaned at the door. "And rumors are true."

"Wait, how do you even—"

"Oh, did I say rumors? I mean I am worried about you—I mean—I am the one who figured your condition in the first place and the one who saved you from that akuma the other day remember?" He explained.

"Oh yeah I forgot, so are you the one who informed Adrien from the start?" she asked and Chat nodded childishly.

"So, are you feline adventurous today cuz I was wondering if you want to hang out? You know as feline companions." Chat invited flirtatiously. "If you're not busy of course, are you?"

"No..not really, I already submit my designs and right now I was waiting for Adrien, he was to be at his second shoot now and he haven't return yet." Marinette replied.

"Don't worry, Adrien is perfectly around here, having some minutes break for himself." Chat said.

"Wait I can't I promised Adrien to hang out toda—"

"No, he told me he's perfectly fine that I'll swept you away from his grip for now, so please my princess?" Chat begged.

"I guess I can leave for a few minutes I just have to leave the clothes he-wait a minute," Marinette stopped at her tracks to go prepare the clothes nd turned to face Chat. "Are you flirting Ladybug so why are you here trying to seduce me?"

Chat chuckled as he gazed at the curious face the girl gave him and he sighed desperately. "I haven't seen Ladybug all week and this cat is left alone so I decided to hang out with a friend for a while."

Marinette then glared at him as she hanger the clothes Adrien is going to wear in case he arrives while she's away. "Fine," she pouted. "Take me wherever you like cat." She then shrugged and her arms wide open inviting Chat to drag her off her feet and go out.

Our superhero then swiftly ran towards Marinette, carried her and jumped off the window as they headed to the park. They decided to walk around but the atmosphere between them is so silent making it very awkward for the two.

"You seemed awfully quiet today, what's up?" Marinette asked as she tilts her head looking at Chat Noir.

"Oh yeah, I was just in deep thought, sorry about that." Chat asked nervously, scratching the back of his neck. "I was just thinking—"

"HOLDME!"

And the next thing thing Chat realized, Marinette is at his arms and she's basically to clinging to him. He saw her terrified at what's in front of them so he turns his attention to what's in front of them. It was just a puppy, barking happily at them and it was drooling as well.

"Aren't you adorable mon chaton?" Chat asked in a sweet yet teasing tone.

"Getawaygetawaygetaway!" Marinette yelled, simply ignoring Chat's flirts as she still had her attention at the happy go lucky puppy.

"As you wish my princess." Chat chuckled and he jumped at the nearest tree branch that he saw and sat down at the branch with the girl still at his arms. Marinette then jumped a few inches from him as she sat at the branch in a cat-like manner.

"I can't believe you're scared at the cute little puppy." Chat said cutely, looking intently at Marinette's flustered face.

"Aren't you as well?" she pouted, avoiding Chat's eyes.

"Princess, even if I look like a cat with this ears and bell, I'm not really a cat but rather a human WHO isn't afraid of cute little puppies." Chat said as he looked at Marinette sweetly.

"Well, I'm sorry for judging you," she mumbled irritable as she glares at Chat and sighed. "Well, this is the Catassstrophic events I'm telling ya—Anyway, what are you saying recently?" she asked, perking her ears up.

"Rece—Oh, I was just thinking that collar of yours," Chat began. "It's awfully similar one that Ladybug wore the last time I saw her, I'm just a bit curious."

Marinette suddenly flinched and quickly averted her eyes. "Maybe it's just a coincidence y'know?"

"Coincidence? Really?"

"Yeah, maybe we bought it at the same store or something?"

But Chat isn't convince at all, he still wears his annoying smile and have his brows raised high.

"A-anyway, I should get going, Adrien must be searching for me." She said nervously as she jumped down from the tree like the pro-cat she is.

"Do you need me to escort mon chaton?" he asked.

"I should be the one saying that," she snickered. "But no, I can handle myself, thank you." And she left running as fast as she can. Chat watched her from his spot as she slowly disappeared in his vision.

*Beep* *Beep*

His ring is beeping and this caught his attention, reminding him that HE is Adrien and there's a certain tiny cat that needs to be fed with stinky cheese. He then stood up and jumped from roof to roof going back his father's company at the same time trying to avoid encountering Marinette or even getting her attention.

Chat had successfully arrived the room where Marinette is supposed to be waiting for him. He then transform back, handed his kwami a piece of Camembert who immediately flew to hide and went closer to his next outfit.

"A-Adrien!" Marinette arrived at the door, as she breathe heavily.

"Where were you?" Adrien asked in a worried tone.

"I'm sorry, I just went out and I didn't notice the time." Marinette said. "A-Are you waiting long?"

"Not really, just got here a few minutes."

"I'm sorry,"

"You're awfully tired."

"I w-was running."

"MONSIEUR ADRIEN?" The photographer then peeked at the room. "I've waiting for you, what's taking you so long?"

"Oh, ummm..." Adrien stuttered as he tried to think of an alibi.

"I was in the bathroom."

"Oh, well get ready for the next photo shoot Monsieur Adrien."