A/N: Thanks for the continued support guys :)

Chapter 3

High above in the safety of the trees, Chat Noir watched the man interact with Marinette. From what he overheard from the girl, he concluded his name was Theo. And by the looks of his uniform, he looked to be a Captain.

Marinette kept fidgeting, but only a bit. It was something only someone with a good eye could see. He also noted the smile she wore was overly big and overly fake. It was obvious she didn't like this Captain Theo.

Chat narrowed his eyes as he continued to watch the interaction. He was proving not to like him either.

How the Captain got off his horse to speak with her more closely. How he kept trying to lean into her space, only for her to take a step back. How his eyes were half-lidded and his mouth was quirked up into a leering grin as he spoke with her. How he was blatently flirting with her and she was clearly uncomfortable.

It made the outlaw's teeth grind.

At long last, Theo got atop his horse again and the men turned around and galloped off back to where they came. When it was safe enough again, Chat dropped down from the tree and landed beside Marinette, who jumped at his sudden presence.

"Chat Noir? I thought you would've left by now," she said.

He glared in the direction the soldiers left, crossing his arms. "Who is he?"

The girl cutely tilted her head in confusion. "Who's who?"

"That man you were talking to," he bit out. "Who is he?"

"Oh," she responded, frowning. "That's Captain Theo. He's best friends with Prince Matheo and is pretty much his second-in-command."

He turned to her. "Who is he to you?"

She blinked in suprise at the blunt question. The only people who would ask for her direct feelings about a man would be her parents or Alya. It wasn't appropriate for a stranger to ask it, more or less a criminal.

She tried to hold back the scowl threatening to break out on her lips. "He's a...a suitor."

The black cat rose an eyebrow beneath his mask. "A suitor?"

She nodded. "He's been pursuing me for several months, now. But, I'm not interested in him. He doesn't seem to take the hint."

She didn't like him. He mentally breathed a sigh of relief. This meant he had a chance! A slim one, but a chance nonetheless. He was determined not to make her uncomfortable of his attentions, instead having her reply with smiles and blushes.

He donned a wicked smirk at the sudden idea that came to his mind.

"Would you allow me to politely tell him to leave you alone? To never look or even breathe in your direction ever again?"

Her mouth dropped as her bluebell eyes enlarged. "No! You'll get yourself killed!"

His eyes crinkled when his smile widened. "Princess, do you care for this mangy desperato's life?"

Marinette huffed and crossed her arms while turning her head away from him. "I care about everyone's life."

"Even the Captain's?"

"He may be mean and pushy, but yes."

He marvelled at her kind heart. This girl was too good for this world.

The blond eased his arm into her crossed ones to take her hand. She looked at him in surprise mixed with confusion as he pressed a soft kiss to her knuckles after he bowed.

"Your mercy knows no bounds, fair Princess. Would you like me to escort you to whichever house you're going to?"

Marinette peered down at the cake in her hands, having forgotten about it during all the excitement that has happened. She returned her gaze to his when she answered him.

"Thank you for the offer, but no. It'll be easier for you to be caught."

He quirked a teasing eyebrow. "Are you sure? The furest can be purretty dangerous. Why, you may even run into one of those cutthroat outlaws who defy the kingdom!"

The blackette laughed at that, her slight annoyance for the earlier puns evaporating when she heard the purely ironic statement he tacked on at the end.

Chat Noir smiled at her amusement, proud that he could get that kind of reaction out of her.

"I'm sure. You run along, Kitty. Go scamper off and make trouble elsewhere."

He grinned. "As the Princess wishes."

...

Much later on, when Chat Noir was sure Marinette had safely arrived back at home, he spied a carriage travelling along the forest path. By it's grandeur design and gleaming white horses leading it, he would say it was a noble family.

Perfect for the picking.

He tensed on his branch, getting ready to jump. He'd have to time this just right, otherwise he'd wind up on the side of the path with a broken leg.

When the horses clop-cloped beneath him, he made a quick prayer and dove for the driver. The man shrieked in surprise to which Chat only responded with throwing him out onto the road, safely out of the moving carriage's way.

He took hold of the reins on the horse and made the horses go faster, just far enough so that the man would take awhile to catch up to them.

"Driver, what is the meaning of this?" An older, but strangely familiar voice, demanded.

Chat Noir stopped the carriage and turned around to see a man who had him blinking in shock.

Andre Bourgeois. He knew it would be inevitable to see Chloe's family again, but of all the carriages to rob, he picked theirs?

What irony.

The older man gaped at the sight of the new criminal and seemed to choke on air.

"Daddy?!" A girl's voice rudely called. Chat instantly knew who that could be.

Lady Chloe's face popped out of the window beside her father's. "Why is the carriage sto-ahhhh!" Chloe had screamed upon first sight of the feline outlaw."Daddy, don't let him take my jewelry, anything but that!"

Well now he knew what to look for.

He had to admit, he was going to get some sick, twisted pleasure out of robbing his childhood companion. His father forced him to be around her, hoping to get the two of them together. The Bourgeois was one of the richest families in the kingdom so his father was determined to set a match and seal the families together. But as Adrien grew older, and became more adamant that a match between them was never going to happen, Gabriel backed off.

He remembered Lady Chloe to be rude, temperamental, selfish, conceited, and greedy. She had to have anything she set her eye on and didn't take no for an answer. So when Adrien had politely declined a courtship (which was extremely improper and borderline scandalous, as the woman never asked for a courtship from a man), she only tried to force more of her affection on him.

He was more than grateful when his father sent him away to Spain to study.

Chat smirked at the quivering pair. He took his time dropping down to the ground and almost strolled on his way to the door. However, when he got there, the smile dropped into a pensive frown and he wrenched the door open. He grabbed his sword and pointed it at the father and daughter.

"Now, if you would be so kind as to give me all your valuables?"

"How dare you!" Andre cried out indignantly. "Prince Matheo will hear of this!"

"We're on our way to his castle right now," Chloe added with a huff. "I'll tell him all about you and then he won't hesitate to kill you."

The grin made it's way back on Chat's face. "First off, it isn't his castle, it's King Alexandre's. Second, he can't kill me if he can't catch me. Now, your valuables? And I believe you mentioned some jewelry? Come on, be quick about it. I'm not a very patient cat."

"Daddy, don't let him!" Chloe begged, bringing her hands to the diamond necklace that lay on her neck.

Andre looked between their robber and his daughter uneasily.

Chat's patience was wearing thin. "Come on," he prodded, poking Andre with the tip of his sword. "You can either give them to me willingly, or I'll have to take them by force. And I can't gaurantee either of you will escape with your lives."

He wouldn't commit to murder, but they didn't have to know that.

The pair gasped in fright. Andre pleaded with Chloe to give up her jewelry. At first she was reluctant, but with his begging, finally gave in.

Chat held out his other hand, the one that wasn't preoccupied with the weapon, and grabbed the pouch of coins from Andre and the necklace from Chloe, along with a golden comb and a diamond ring. The thief chuckled and thanked them for the donation before making his hasty getaway.

...

He knew one place where he could give the valuables and it would end up in the hands of the needy public.

The local church. He formed a bond with the Father there, Xavier Ramier, back in his youth. The man taught him compassion, and how he should have care for all living things, from the common pigeon to the whales in the sea. He hoped that Xavier would consider his plan and go through with it.

It was nighttime, but he knew it couldn't be that late yet. Father Xavier had to still be in there, sometimes people came at night for confessions.

As always, the church was open. He made sure no one was around before walking inside. The place was modest, having no overly expensive decorations. Just the usual statues such as the Virgin Mary stood around, various arrangements of flowers littered the altar and around the praying area where a person goes for after they confess their sins.

As of now, the church was empty, yet the candles were still lit. It blanketed the place with a dull, almost eerie, light. He looked around for Xavier, but still found no sign of him or was able to hear anything. Maybe he was in his office?

Chat knew where the backroom was and knocked when he reached the door. He heard muffled, confused words and when the door opened, smiled upon seeing his old friend.

"Hello, Father," Chat greeted.

"You," Xavier hissed, narrowing his eyes. "Chat Noir, I presume?"

Chat could only smirk, it seemed like he had already heard of his antics of the day. He offered a quick, polite bow. "Yes, I am, my dear Father. But it doesn't look like you're too happy to see me."

"You're an outlaw," he stated. "While the soldiers deserve how they were treated by you, I have no idea of what your motive is."

Ah, so he didn't really have a dislike for him. He was just suspicious of him.

He smiled. "I only want to help the common people. Prince Matheo has been ruthless in his taxes and I want to make these people's lives easier. I won't stop until King Alexandre is back and sets things right."

Xavier peered curiously at him, trying to detect any lies. When he found none, a corner of his mouth turned up in a small smile.

"Huh," he mused, chuckling. "It's about time someone stood up to that Prince."

Chat shared his testament, nodding. "It won't be overnight, but I will stop him eventually. For now, though..." He paused to bring out his hands from behind his back that held the stolen items. Father Xavier's eyes bulged at them, to Chat Noir.

"Courtesy of the Bourgeois family," Chat claimed and winked. "Please take them and give them to the peasants. Sell them and give the money to them if you have to, but just please let the people somehow get the value of these."

Xavier raised a skeptical brow. Should he deal with stolen things?

"Please, Father," Chat begged, all traces of amusement gone. "Please help me help the peasants. We're their only hope right now."

Xavier made a quick nod of that. Stolen or not, his people needed money to survive, and they had to get it some way. Being honest just wasn't getting the job done anymore.

"Thank you," Chat bid, dropping them into Xavier's waiting hands. "So, can I consider us to be partners, of some sort?"

Xavier smiled and nodded. "Yes, definitely. Thank you, Chat Noir."

A/N: I know it was short, but I thought it was a good place to end the chapter. I might update again this weekend, not sure. I have a few assignments to do, including writing a speech :(