Still catching up on the fics I've posted to tumblr. BTW if any of you are following Strange Aeons, I promise I'm working on the next chapter lol. I've just been reeally busy with irl things. And rewriting the whole chapter... Sigh. Anyway here's wonderwall


Much Ado


"Whatcha doin' down there, princess?"

Marinette almost leapt out of her skin at the sound of his voice above her, even though she'd specifically left the window open for him. "Homework," she supplied. "Ugh, I have to finish reading this play by tomorrow and I'm barely starting the second act."

"Ah," Chat purred, narrowing his eyes at the booklet in her hands. "The best act." Instead of dropping down onto her bed like he normally would, he lounged on his side at the edge of the windowsill, flicking his tail to and fro with a playful air. "But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?"

"Oh yes. Very good, kitty. We all know that line"

"It is the east, and Juliet the sun," he continued dramatically, as if he couldn't hear her sarcastic retort. "Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, who is already sick and pale with grief, that thou her maid art far more fair"

"Oh my god," Marinette snickered, pressing her palm over her mouth to muffle the sound lest she draw the attention of her parents. "Do you seriously know the whole thing?"

Chat lowered his sultry gaze to the hand covering her mouth, one hand on his heart. "Oh, that I were a glove upon that hand!"

Marinette snatched her hand away from her face like she'd been burned, cheeks flaming. "Alright, you cornball," she grumbled. "Get in here before one of the neighbors see you." When he acquiesced with a toothy grin, she lowered her eyes back to Romeo and Juliet, Act II, Scene i. "Why can you quote Shakespeare at the drop of a hat?"

It was almost criminal how instantly comfortable and at home he could make himself on her bed while wearing a frickin' catsuit. As he considered her question, his cat ears twitched against her pillow. "Let's just say my father overvalues rote memorization as a form of education."

Marinette scrunched her nose at that for a second before saying, "He sounds harsh. Have you ever thought about denying thy father and refusing thy name?"

"Mmm," he hummed. "You pose a tantalizing point. The ultimate question. What's in a name?"

The pages crinkled as she turned one absently. "I thought the ultimate question was: To be or not to be?"

"To sleepperchance to dream. You're right, of course, princess. Thus conscience does make cowards of us all."

"You? A coward?" Marinette deadpanned, eyes still on her booklet. It was hopeless to believe she was soaking in any of the words on the page, though, now that Chat had arrived to distract her. "I'd never have guessed it."

"Meowch, Marinette. Don't make me bite my thumb at you."

That drew Marinette's gaze up from the page, finally. "Okay, I may not have been paying close attention to this play," she seethed, "but I know that means 'screw off' or something in Shakespearean. I'd bite your tongue instead of your thumb, if I were you, you mangy cat."

"Or what?" he glowed. "You'll bite it for me?"

"You are incorrigible," Marinette groaned, dragging one hand down her face. "You know that?"

"Sure," he snickered, "but you love meand I do love nothing in the world so well as you…"

"Ohohhokay, you lost me there," she laughed insincerely, her heart tripping over his words. Was that a quote too? Or was he just being Chat? "I haven't dipped any farther into his collection than Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet."

"O-oh," he stammered, his cheeks pinking as he realized she wasn't sure whether he had just spouted another quote or actually confessed to loving her. "Much Ado About Nothing," he explained, and combed one hand through his hair with a sheepish grimace.

Sighing with relief (and maybe just a smidge of disappointment…) Marinette returned her eyes to the page at hand. I take thee at thy word, she read.