Observation

Thank you to everyone who favored and followed so far. Feel free to leave a review with your thoughts on the story so far. I do look forward to reading them as they motivate me to get more chapters out. For anyone writing their own Miraculous story, check out Kittify for all your cat puns. Just put a sentence you want to be punny in there and they'll fix her up.

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Chapter 3: Chat and Mouse

Adrien felt quite proud of himself. He had not only successfully convinced Nathalie that he had a group project to work on after his fencing lessons, he also convinced his fencing instructor that he was ill and was going to leave early. In other words, he had the whole day to himself to spy on the princess. Maybe he'd even pay her a visit and wow her with his awesomeness. It would be nice to talk with her without all the stuttering and tension she'd get around Adrien.

Chat Noir landed silently on one of the rooftops across from the bakery. It was a decent vintage point to see into her window, but not the best for listening in, even with his excellent hearing. He knew there was no guarantee he'd actually catch her on the phone with LB, but it was an opportunity.

Besides, maybe he'd learn something interesting about his friend.

And interesting she was as she tore through her room. Posters were quickly ripped from the walls—carefully—so as not to tear them. It was impossible to tell what they were posters of, but she looked so panicked as she shoved them under her bed that he had to laugh. Marinette always had such funny expressions. He kind of wanted to tease her to see what other expressions she'd make.

It was funny, though. A finger tapped against his chin in thought. He never remembered seeing any posters in her room before... At least, not posters as big as what she was carrying around.

Down on the street, he spotted another interesting detail: Alya and Lila. Chat looked back up to the girl's room to see her face plastered to the window. Her eyes were so huge. She screamed and darted around her room again like a headless chicken. The hero winced as she tried to unhook some kind of rolled up screen. She used too much force and went barrelling into a small table, breaking something.

'That had to hurt.'

Why she was so worried about a map or projector screen, he'd never know.

The other girls entered the shop and a few minutes later, they were in her room. 'Looks like it's time fur mwah to slink in fur a closer look.'

Marinette shoved the last visible evidence into one of her desk drawers and locked it just as the trapdoor to her bedroom opened. She spun around and put on a big, stiff, smile. Her chest heaved painfully from the earlier exercise and her face was a little red.

"Well, here's my room!" She panted and raised her arms to motion around her like she were on some game show, showing the grand prize.

"Hm...not bad. Love the decor." No crude comments or one-upping. Good.

"Oh! You should really see the balcony! Great view," Alya suggested, turning Lila to the left and marching the girl up the stairs. She looked to Marinette and pointed at something behind her. Without a sound, she mouthed, "You missed something."

Marinette sucked in a sharp breath, spun on her heel, and tossed the picture frame into a random drawer. The sound of it drew Lila's attention to her; and like a pro, the heroine took a casual pose against a wall with another odd smile.

'Yeah, very inconspicuous, Mari,' Alya rolled her eyes.

OwO

Two hours... Two hours and not a single thing had been revealed about Ladybug! Not that he was expecting much with Lila around, but he had hoped for at least some talk about the super duo. All he was given were opinions about fashion, video games, movies, Jagged Stone, school, and Chloe. He felt as though Alya was intentionally avoiding the topic as she was the one directing most of their conversation followed by Lila. Marinette just switched between giving her opinion or staying quiet, but she seemed to be slowly warming up to the girl. Socially at least.

Chat groaned and leaned back against the pleasantly warm roof and closed his eyes. He was perched atop the dormer above her window, allowing him to hear inside even with the window closed. His legs were crossed as were his arms in growing impatience. Patience was his Lady's strong-suit, not his.

Jagged Stone's newest songs began playing from his pocket. Someone was trying to reach Adrien...

"Hey, Nino. What's up?"

"Dude, is there a reason your dad's secretary called me to check up on us and our nonexistent school project?"

Chat frowned, "You didn't tell her that, did you?"

"Nah. I figured you were sneaking out for some fresh air and freedom. Told her it might take a few extra hours to complete. I droned on about it until she hung up on me."

"Thanks, Nino, your pawsome."

There was a moment of silence. "Bro, did you...just make an animal pun?"

"S-sorry, I was distracted by something and cat-cidenta- I-I mean a-acidently said a Chat—uh-c-cat pun. There's a cat near me, so it just came out."

'Nice one, you idiot,' Chat mentally scolded himself. He pounded his forehead for good measure.

"Riiiight..." At least Nino wasn't questioning him about it. "So...where are you if not with me?"

"Oh, uh...around." 'Spying on Marinette.' "People watching."

"...People watching," There was a tone in his friend's voice as though the notion was impossible to comprehend.

"People watching." Chat repeated. "You should try it sometime. You can learn a lot from watch—"

His ears twitched and the window below opened. Chat plastered himself to the roof like a fly on wallpaper. Even his tail lay flat against it. His legs gripped around the curved dormer as the top of Marinette's head peeked out her window. He held his breath as she looked around.

"Dude, are you the—"

The boy didn't even look at his phone before quickly ending the call. He was a bit more preoccupied with the girl between his legs...not that he intended it to sound so dirty.

She began to tilt her head around to check the balcony. She was going to see him!

"Mari, what are you doing?"

"Hm?" Marinette looked back into the room. "Oh. Sorry. Thought I heard someone."

She stepped back into her room to join the other two. The young man let out a quiet sigh. "Heard someone? On the third floor? Who; a creepy pervert?" Alya joked.

"Perhaps a superhero?" Lila suggested with the tilt of her head and a polite smile.

"N-no, no. I highly doubt Ladybug and Chat Noir are outside my window with their faces pressed to the glass. I probably just heard someone from the streets," she sighed, looking back to the window.

"I wouldn't mind finding Chat Noir outside my window," Lila spoke up causing the man outside to un-glue himself. Was this...was this what he had been waiting for...? He bit his bottom lip.

Alya finally deemed okay with talking on the subject. "Yeah, you said you didn't care much for Ladybug, but what about Chat? What's your opinion of him?"

Finally! Something good!

"Mmmh... I don't remember anything while I was an akuma, but from what I saw after, he's pretty hot." Chat smirked and flexed his arms outside, basking in the complement. "Slender, strong, wearing tight leather and dressed as a cat? Plus he has a nice voice? Top marks in my book."

"Pft! But his personality isn't much of an attraction," Marinette interrupted. He could hear her spinning around on her computer chair.

Chat jerked his head down, surprised. 'What!? But she said she liked Chat Noir! Well...not in so few words. She rambled quite a bit, actually. Besides, I've saved her more than once from an akuma!'

"Really? What about him is so bad?"

'Yeah! What about me don't you like!?'

"Well..." she thought. "His biggest flaw—other than trying to be overly punny—is that he's too much of a flirt."

"WHAT!" he harshly whispered. He had only ever flirted with his Lady!

"He was trying to show off to me that time with Evillustrator, flexing his muscles and saying how awesome he was and how he had so many damsels to go rescue. Plus there were other girls he's flirted with...a-according to Ladybug," She added. "Of course she wouldn't take his flirting seriously." Alya's sudden alert expression caused Marinette to add on rather quickly. "Sh-she told me that time I grabbed her for your interview! Said he'd constantly flirt with her, even when they first met. He even tried flexing his muscles at you that time you became Lady Wifi."

"Really?" The blogger was already typing away at her phone, possibly to update the Ladyblog.

Chat silently cursed up a storm. Now he was going to get a bad rep because of a misunderstanding! He could already picture the blog. 'CHAT NOIR: HERO? OR WOMANIZER!' He hadn't flirted with other girls! Really he hadn't! At least...not intentionally.

His interaction with Marinette had been to make up for their first meeting at school where she thought Adrien had stuck gum to her seat. Sure she didn't know he was Adrien, but it was a blunder he had always wished never happened. With her, Chat was a second chance! As for Lady Wifii, it was because she was recording live and he had the pressing urge to be a dork and show off how awesome he was. And lastly, his first meeting with LB had been when he was still high off excitement at being free and having superpowers. He wanted to be anyone other than the shy and polite, Adrien Agreste. She just happened to steal his heart soon after and every flirt thereafter had been his true feelings towards her.

Did Ladybug really think him so...so loose? Marinette as well? Clawed fingers gripped at the leather against his chest.

Then came a curious question. "So you hate him?"

The brief moment of silence made his chest ache. A breath of air remained trapped inside him, too nervous to let it out lest he not hear her answer. He felt uncertain if he really wanted to know or not, but resisted the urge to leave. "No, I don't." Her voice was soft. Gentle. The ache slowly left him.

"He may be a flirty tom cat who makes jokes even at the worst of times, but he's a guy you can trust to have your back or to keep a promise. He may be a bit deceptive to other people, but he has never lied to Ladybug. I'm sure she trusts him more than anyone. And he really is a kind gentleman. He cares about people and can be very considerate of a person's feelings." Chat couldn't help the broad grin that appeared. Marinette was so nice.

"But what about his looks?" Lila interjected, leaning closer to the girl with a sly smile. Chat perked up, pupils wide.

Marinette froze. "W-what a-about his appearance?"

"You know... Do you find him attractive? That bell and ears work really well on him. And that leather..."

Alya leaned in, just as curious. She knew Marinette fancied Adrien to the moon, but she was a little intrigued about Mari's thoughts towards other men. The male hero falling into the category of "man," of course. Chat found himself leaning down, ears focused in on her shaking voice.

"W-w-well, I wouldn't say he's bad looking. I-I mean he's k-kind of cute. Not as cute or handsome as another guy I know, b-but h-he's definitely c-cute. A-and his eyes are really—y-you can really...get lost in them, ya know?"

Chat felt his face grow hot. Even his ears were burning as two loud sequels erupted from inside the room followed by a third, distraught whine.

"Oh my God, you're blushing!"

"No I'm not!"

"Girl, you are so red right now!"

"NO I'M NOT! I-IT'S JUST HOT IN HERE!" Marinette screamed, hiding her face behind her hands. Her only-useless-defense from the giggling girls.

Bliss... He felt blissful as he leaned back against the roof, arms crossed behind his head. 'She thinks I'm cute... And she likes my eyes.' How unaware he was of the goofy smile he had. Chat simply closed his eyes and enjoyed the pleasant, warm feeling. He'd have to mess with her next time they met face to face. He would have so much fun with her...

OwO

The two girls finally ended their interrogation of Marinette's opinion on Chat Noir after her mother brought up fresh-baked croissants and cookies. Chat had since then, calmed down. His nose twitched in delight at the smell of warm croissants. They made his belly quake in demand for food.

Marinette's family's bakery was seriously the best. Just the smell alone had his mouth watering and stomach grumbling. Even if he had a dietitian to keep him healthy and fit, running around as a superhero could really burn the energy out of him. His stomach grumbled again.

The girl's talk had returned to less important subjects such as homework and clothes. Subjects Chat had little interest in at the moment. But as a bathroom break was called, he perked up. Marinette's bathroom was not attached to her room. Which meant...

He leaned over, peeking into the room. Empty. 'Purrfect!'

With cat-like grace, he vaulted into the room through the open window, never making so much as a peep. He listened. All was quite. And there came the bee-line to the croissants.

Even after the girls had their go at it, there were quite a few croissants and about four cookies left over. Nobody would notice two or three missing pastries and maybe a cookie...or two, so he helped himself. One was shoved into his mouth, and the rest into his welcoming arms. He looked up to check again that nobody was nearing the room when a soft clink drew his attention. Thinking he had hit something, he looked down only to find nothing had been moved.

Yet...something felt off. He was sure something had changed. "Let's see. Three cups of water. Check. A fashion magazine? Check. A pawlate with a few croissants and cook—"

He stared at the plate. Of the four cookies left by the girls, he had two. Which meant there should have been two remaining... There was only one.

The smallest of sounds and the tiniest of crunching noises reached his cat ears. He jerked his head around, trying pinpoint the source of the noise. The cookie had not fallen somewhere. It had been snatched; right from under his nose, no less. The thief was fast and quiet. Smart enough to avoid being out in the open where he could see it.

How could he not have noticed? He had entered her room as Chat once before. Sure he was in a bit of a hurry and pretty distracted with an akuma, but he should have heard it. All this time it was here...with Marinette. Chat could not overlook this. This was a situation he had to face.

Marinette...had a mouse problem.

That or an escaped hamster...

Regardless, he had to catch the tiny pest! Be he Chat Noir or Adrien Agreste, he could not let his friend sleep with the possibility of a mouse or rat crawling all over her. He would protect his princess like a real man!

The pastries were set aside so he could move around the table. His instincts told him where to go. Where the lil critter was. 'There!'

He eyed her desk, crouching low with his rear raised a bit. The belt swayed while the tip flickered. A shadow flashed by under her desk and his eyes dilated. His hips moved side to side, slowly, and his tail stilled. The sound of chewing stopped...

'You're mine!'

Chat launched headfirst under the desk, claws out to swipe at the rodent. All he felt between his fingers was the half-eaten cookie. No mouse. He lowered himself to the floor, worried the bugger escaped into some hole in the wall, but there were no holes and no mice.

"Where'd you go!?" he growled.

"-really isn't so bad once you get past her habit of lying. She's actually-"

He didn't hear the rest. Chat shot up so fast, his head slammed into the bottom of the desk with a loud crash followed by twinkling stars.

There was a moment of silence before two sets of footsteps ran up the stairs. In a blind panic, the blond grabbed one of the abandoned croissants and bolted. The trapdoor opened just as he was out the window.

Marinette looked around, alert to a "disturbance in the force" that was her room. First to note was the knocked over objects on her desk, then the mess of croissants and cookies by the couch. Alya's head popped up beside her. Lila had left to run some errands so it was just the two friends.

"What happened?"

The raven didn't answer as she began checking the drawers near her craft station in haste. She stopped at the bottom drawer where a spooked kwami gave her a sheepish smile. "N-nothing. Something just fell down is all," she lied and gently closed the drawer.

"Sooo..." Marinette braced her sanity as Alya began her, "I-have-a-favor/discussion-that-involves-you," tone. "IneedanotherinterviewwithLadybugandChatNoir!Pleasemakeithappen!?" She finished with her hands clasped in prayer.

"Say what?"

Alya took a deep breath and fixed her glasses like a mature woman. "I need another interview with Ladybug and one with Chat Noir. The Ladyblog has been bombarded with requests for more interviews. I told you about it this morning, remember? Apparently people have a lot of questions they want to ask Paris's heroes. I've even had to consider making a joint blog for Chat Noir to even out the traffic and any questions about him alone. I probably won't make it until I have a good name, though. But anyway, I was hoping you could ask the two if you run into them? Of course, I want you far away from trouble if it comes," she added quickly before giving the girl her best puppy eyes.

Marinette groaned at the look, already caving. Her one weakness. Well...one of many. "I'll...see what I can do," she sighed. "But I make no promises!" she yelled, pointing a finger up to the ceiling. "And NOBODY is to hear about this! Ever!"

"Of course!" Alya grinned and pinched her fingers across her lips. "My lips are sealed!"

BOOM!

The faraway explosion shook the ground. An akuma attack. Alya gasped and grabbed her phone. "That's my cue!"

"Just be safe!" Marinette called after her as the auburn-haired girl was already half-way down the stairs.

Outside stood a grinning kitty. He had heard such wonderful news just now. From his Princess's reaction, contacting his Lady was not an impossibility. In fact, she seemed to feel easily capable of it.

He finished the remainder of his pastry, calm as a kitten. He licked his thumb clean of crumbs as another, smaller boom echoed through Paris. "And that's my cue."

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