N/A: if you haven't read the oneshot or follow me on any social media, I wrote two secret santa fics, become really sick to the point I could barely move, hit sudden financial problems, took a much needed trip to Canada to visit my friend Chebits (go check out her art) and am now taking care of my mother who recently got surgery. I think the world didn't want me to update this fic. I've set up a Ko-Fi to help me through my trouble so if you can donate a lot of stress will be taken off from me. I'll update SS&BF in the morning.

The bakery closed early Friday afternoon. A company had requested catering for that evening so Tom and Sabine had closed early to delivery all the pastries that were ordered.

That left Marinette alone for a few hours.

Alone with a cat that earlier almost knocked a potted plant over, gotten caught in Marinette's good yarn, and now could not beat her in a single round of Ultimate Mecha Strike III.

"I thought you said you wouldn't go easy on me?" teased Marinette.

"I'm not Princess."

Marinette let out a small laugh. Chat was doing his best to keep his cool, but she could tell that losing so many times without a single win was frustrating to the poor cat. Despite his best efforts, she bested him in every round and he couldn't help but pout.

"I swear this game is rigged. There's no way I've lost 8 times in a row."

"Sorry Chat, I don't mod my games so this is all fair and square."

She'd never admit it, but beating Chat Noir so many times was giving her a much needed ego boost. It had been a bit rough the last few days and being about to relax while kicking butt in a video game was just what she needed.

"Let's take a break," suggested Chat, "I just need some of your croissants and I'll have the stregnth to finally defeat you."

"I swear you're only friends with me for my pastries," said Marinette as she left the room to retrieve the left over desserts from earlier. She grabbed a plate and piled the first five pastries she saw plus a croissant for the poor cat. While making her way back upstairs, Marinette wondered if Chat Noir would act over dramatic at the sight of the food.

As soon as she returned, Chat proved her right.

"The Princess has returned and graced me with a humble meal."

Marinette, without skipping a beat, turned on her heals and left the room once again.

"I take it back," yelled Chat Noir from the room.

Marinette could not help the smirk that formed on her face as she re-entered the room. She sat back down next to him and place the plate a second far from him as she could.

Her expressioned soften when she saw just how happy he was eating the croissant.

"Are you not allowed to eat pastries at home?"

Chat Noir stayed quiet and Marinette realized she had just asked him a personal question.

"You don't have to answer that," she said rather quickly. "I wasn't thinking, you don't have to tell me about your home life."

"It's fine Marinette," he reassured her, "but no, I don't get to eat too many sweets or pastries. My father wants me to stay healthy so I'm on a rather strict diet."

He wasn't exactly lying to Marinette, his father did want him to stay healthy, but the lack of fattening foods was also due to being a model. That was something he definitely could not tell her. It was for both their safety but he still couldn't help but feel guilty for not telling her the whole truth.

The air between them was tense. Their friendship seemed to be progressing pretty well but that question and the silence that followed his answer made Chat feel like they were heading back to square one.

"Hey, how about we make a bet? If I win this next round, you have to give me another hint on who mystery crush boy is?"

"And if I win?" she asked.

"Hmm, I'll tell you a hint about who I like?"

"Very funny, but fine, you're on."

The high from her winning streak earlier was still in her, there was no way Marinette would turn down this bet.

Chat had a plan.

As soon as the round started, Marinette felt something tickle the back of her neck. It felt as if some of her hair had fallen loose so she wiped her hand across he neck to move it. Chat managed to get a hit in while she was distracted but nothing for her to worry over. She felt the tickle on her neck again. Not wanting to give Chat another opportunity, Marinette quickly swiped her hand but was met with the cool metal instead of hair.

Chat had been using his tail to push Marinette's hair against her neck.

"Chat!"

As soon as his name left her mouth, he landed the winning hit.

Marinette could not believe that Chat had just cheated to finally beat her.

"It was nevertheless state that I had to win fair and square."

"Why you sneaky little cat. Find, what hints have I given you so far?"

"You've told me that he's a boy, he's nice, and that he's attractive. All those describe me so if you're trying to tell me something," he says as he sends her a fake flirtatious look.

"Very funny Chat but no I'm not talking about you, you egoistic cat." She thought for a moment. "He goes to the same school as I do."

"That helps narrow it down a bit. I'll figure it out one day."

"Why do you want to know who I like? If you're trying to tell me something," she says as she mirrors the fake flirtatious look he sent her just moment ago.

"Sorry Princess but this heart belongs to my dear Ladybug. As to why I want to know, I'm just curious like a cat. I just want to know who caught your interest. Though I must say, if he can't beat me in Ultimate Mecha Strike III then he's no good for you."

"We'll see about that."

"What? Is he good at video games?"

She was about to answer when she realized his trick.

"Now that would be me giving you another hint. I guess you're have to find out next time you visit."

"Speaking of visits, I should probably end this visit and go back home. It's getting pretty late."

"I'll walk you out."

They both climbed out of Marinette's skylight onto her balcony. As he is about to leave, Chat Noir turned to Marinette with a nerves expression.

"How long so you usually have to be friends before it's okay to hug?"

Marinette was caught off guard by his question. She knew that he didn't have many friends but the fact that he wasn't sure when it was okay to hug one another was so unexpected. Then it dawned on her what he was implying.

"It depends on each friendship. Some hug right away and some never hug. If what you're trying to do is ask me for a goodbye hug then yes, we can hug."

The smile that spread on his face could melt anyone's heart. The hug was brief, she could feel his hesitation as he moved into her personal space, but it was a nice one none the less.

He had a smile on his face the whole way home.