A/N: 13 reviews, 40 faves and 71 follows...for only one chapter. You guys are awesome! Thank you :D

Chapter 2

Marinette sat on her bed, gazing at her trapdoor in wonder. She was expecting for Chat Noir to come back, laugh in her face (because how could she fall for the 'good guy' act), then proceed to clawing said face to shreds.

But none of that happened. She waited and waited, until she was distracted by her cell phone buzzing in her purse.

Marinette winced at the five missed texts from Alya, each wondering if she was okay. They became more frantic each time, along with the three voicemails she received.

Before Alya could suffer a premature heart attack, Marinette typed out a reassuring text telling her that she was very sorry, she forgot to call and didn't hear her phone but she's at home safe.

She didn't receive an answer, instead, her cell phone buzzed in the way a person calling would, and Alya's name appeared on the screen.

Marinette took a breath to prepare herself for the onslaught of worry disguised by insults. She swiped her finger across the screen and accepted the call.

"What do you mean, 'you forgot'?!' I tell you one thing, Marinette. One. Thing! You knew I was worried about you going out so late."

"I'm sorry, Alya," she apologizes, truly meaning it. "I'm really sorry. I know you were worried and I appreciate your concern. I'm sorry for forgetting a simple text. It won't happen again."

She hears her friend release a sigh. "It's alright. Sorry I overreacted."

Marinette giggled at how quick she was to realize that. "It's okay."

She wanted to tell Alya about Chat Noir, but for one thing she probably wouldn't believe her. And if she did she'd scream about how she should've kicked him in the crotch and ran for her dear life instead of talking to him and letting him bring her back home.

As much as she loved her best friend, this is one secret she'll have to keep from her.

...

Marinette walked through the doors of her junior year literature class, going straight to second bench in the second row. For now the seat in front of her remained bare, but she knew Adrien would appear eventually.

She sighed wistfully, laying a hand on her cheek in thought. She wished he would notice her in a romantic light, hell, she wished she could properly speak to him! But the former will never happen without the latter, and the latter is impossible for now.

She's sixteen years old, damn it! She needs to grow a spine and talk to the boy. The gorgeous, kind, model, rich boy...Marinette frowned. The boy who was so out of her league. It's like he's the whole solar system and she just the tiny human who loved him unconditionally.

Alya told her to never give up hope. That maybe, one day, he'll see what's right in front of him. Or, behind, technically, since she sits behind him.

"Hey, Marinette!"

Marinette was jolted from her reverie. Releasing a small sqeak of surprise she locked eyes with the very boy who was just plaguing her thoughts.

"A-Adrien! Uh, hi! Er-morning to you! Good! No! I mean," Marinette squeezed her eyes tight. She can do this. Do not blush, do not stutter. She opened her eyes and saw his confused expression. Her frown worsened. "I-I mean, good morning...to...you..."

The blond chuckled. "And good morning to you, too." He took his place at his own bench and turned around to face her, leaning an elbow on the back of his bench and resting a fist on his cheek.

"So, how's your project coming along? You're working with Alya, right?" He asked innocently.

He cared how her project was going. He remembered that she's working with Alya. She'd whisper to Alya to pinch her because she absolutely must be dreaming, but the auburn-haired girl wasn't there yet. So, Marinette simply had to live through this dream until she came. She didn't mind, any dream involving Adrien was a good one.

"I-uh-yeah! Alya and I! Or...me?" Which was grammatically correct? He's really smart, she didn't want to seem unintelligent to him. "Alya and I," she decided at last. "We're uh-m-making great project on work!" She froze and hurriedly shook her head. "I mean, great work on project! The project!" She gave him a sheepish smile, hoping he wouldn't think she was crazy.

He tilted his head slightly, eyebrows slightly drawn down. But it quickly changed to show his usual relaxed features and charming smile. "Sounds great. Nino and I are doing good, too."

"Yeah, me and-er, Alya and I stayed up pretty late last night working on it." There was barely a stutter in that sentence. She mentally gave herself a pat on the back.

"You must really want to get it done," he observed.

She nodded. "We do." Miraculously, she started to become more comfortable as the conversation progressed. "It's due by Friday and the sooner we get it done the sooner we have more free time."

Adrien chuckled, Marinette lightly sighed at the pleasing sound.

"I guess that's true. How late did you and Alya stay up working on it? Not too late that you'll be tired today, right?" He slightly frowned.

Adrien Agreste was showing her concern?! He cares? Well, he cares about everyone because he's a sweet, caring, kind person but it still sent a thrill through her veins at being on the receiving end of that caring nature.

"No, not that late. I left her house at around ten," Marinette replied, smiling to prove she was fine.

"That is pretty late," he countered. "It can be dangerous at that time of night. Especially with that criminal, Chat Noir, loose." Adrien shivered. "That guy gives me the creeps."

Marinette bit her lip at this new information, uncertain in what she should do. Ignore it, or defend Chat Noir?

"Seriously," the model continued. "He's Paris's top criminal, and nobody even has a picture of him!"

Marinette stayed uncomfortably quiet. She could tell Adrien right now that she already knows what he looks like and give him exact details.

"The guy's a monster, a maniac! Sure he only steals now, but what next? Will he resort to rape? Murder, to stay on top?"

Marinette couldn't take it anymore. Chat Noir may be the most notorious criminal in Paris, but he wasn't a rapist or murderer.

"Adrien."

The blond snapped out of his rant and eyed her curiously. "What? You agree with me?"

She shook her head. "No, I don't." So she didn't agree on something with the love of her life, it's okay! Many couples don't agree with each other on certain things. Well, she and Adrien aren't a couple (yet) but the message is still the same.

"I don't agree with you, Adrien. Chat Noir may steal from whomever, whenever he wants. And," she fiddled with her pen on her desk, "scratch people. But he's never killed or raped. I believe he has some sense of morals."

Adrien looked away, seeming deep in thought. She was ready for the instant rejection, how they'll never be together because she doesn't think Chat Noir is the monster Adrien paints him to be.

But at last he smiles...or, grins? It's hard to tell with his head still partially turned.

Alya chose that moment to come through the door, hand-in-hand with her boyfriend and Adrien's best friend, Nino.

"Hey, girl!" Alya greeted, slipping into the bench.

"Dude." Nino nodded to Adrien. He gave Nino a fist bump when he sat beside him.

...

Adrien didn't acknowledge her for the rest of the day. Marinette wanted to kick herself for her stupidy. Defending Chat Noir?! She was so dumb! No one likes Chat Noir and for good reason. He's a horrible person who deserves to be put behind bars. She lost Adrien due to that mangy alley cat.

Despite what her brain kept repeating, her heart kept telling her that it was the right thing to do. Chat Noir could've let that mugger rape and kill her. He didn't have to step in. Or after saving her from the mugger, he could've raped and killed her himself, but he didn't. He didn't harm a single hair on her head, he even carried her home so someone else couldn't attack her.

He was a criminal, but a good person? How does such an oxymoron exist?

She shook her head. She needed to stop wondering because she was never going to see him again. He saved her once, that was the only time she would encounter him. Life will go on just as it has before.

"Marinette!"

"Coming, Maman!"

Marinette closed her diary and placed it back in it's box. She raced up the steps leading to her bed and pulled out the key from her pillowcase. After locking her diary away she hurriedly replaced the key and ran downstairs to see what her mother wanted.

Her eyes widened when she took in the scene in the bakery. Flour and sugar everywhere, but most of it on her parents. Various baking ingredients were scattered throughout the kitchen.

"Marinette," her mother breathed while her husband poured more sugar into a mixing bowl. "We accidentally misplaced an order. We thought it was for next Thursday, not this Thursday! Could you please go out and buy more milk, eggs, flour, and sugar? The money's on the counter. Please honey, it would mean so much to us."

"Of course," she readily agreed. "I'll be back soon."

"Thank you, sweetie!" Her mother called out after her daughter's form running out the door.

Marinette shivered at the cool air. The sun had just recently set. She'd have to be quick if she wanted to get home before it was completely dark.

...

Thanks to Marinette's clumsiness, she didn't. She dropped the first carton of eggs she had and smashed them all, requiring a worker to clean it up while enduring a teenager's heartfelt and tearful apologies.

By the time that fiasco was over, Marinette was walking down from the local market with a bag in each hand and the moon at her back, joined by the gleaming Eiffel Tower.

She tried to hustle with her heavy groceries. Her parents needed her.

Suddenly she heard a loud crash behind her. Whipping around but seeing nothing, she also heard what sounded like a hiss and a masculine cry of pain.

Not wanting to investigate, she hurried on her way. Her breathing was coming in shallow pants and her arms ached from the bags. Her brain screamed at her to push herself, to get away from the danger. The mugger from last night flashed in her mind.

"Slow down, Princess. Relax, you're safe."

The hopeful designer screamed in terror and spun around.

Chat Noir had his arms crossed in front of his chest, lips formed in a scowl.

"Seriously, are you a magnet for trouble?" He glanced down at himself before letting out a snicker. "On second thought, don't answer that."

Marinette drew in large gulps of air to fill her empty lungs before releasing them in quick pants. Her sapphire eyes widened as she once again looked at Paris's number one rogue.

"I-you-what?" She stammered.

"There was a guy following you back there." Chat Noir inclined his head to the right. His eyes were narrowed and his teeth were bared in anger. "He was going to jump you. After that, well, I'm glad we'll never know."

She didn't even notice anyone look at her, much less follow her.

"Good thing your knight was on the prowl, Purrincess." He spoke the last word with such a low, seductive tone that a shiver went up her spine.

"So, what do you have in there that's so important that you couldn't wait until tomorrow to get?" Chat Noir asked, acting as if he didn't just make Marinette's heart race.

Marinette released a calming breath. Okay, this was an easy question to answer. "Just baking ingredients, since my parents own a bakery. They made a mistake and thought an order for this Thursday was for next Thursday. So now they're trying to get the baking done and-" she gasped in remembrance. "I've been out this long and they need these! Thank you, Chat Noir, I appreciate what you've done for me but I have to go."

She turned and started speed walking down the sidewalk but Chat laid a hand on her shoulder.

"You think I'm just going to let you walk there by yourself? Sorry, not going to happen." He smirked impishly while she scowled.

"I can walk down a sidewalk by myself at night perfectly fine."

"And not get jumped by men lurking in the shadows?" He countered, raising an eyebrow.

"Maybe he wasn't going to jump me. Maybe he liked me and was just raising the courage to introduce himself to me," she replied easily. Inside she knew that would never be the case, guys were never nervous about talking to her. She can't even think of a guy who ever had a crush on her.

Chat Noir's eyes flashed in an emotion she didn't recognize.

"Come on, let's get to your house." He ordered brusquely, placing his clawed hand at the small of her back to get her moving.

"Won't people think it's strange that I'm walking next to Paris's top criminal?" She asked, darting her eyes around.

"If someone sees then I'll do what I do best: hide." He grinned cheekily.

She rose a playful eyebrow, eyes glinting in mischief. "I thought stealing is what you did best?"

"My princess thinks I'm the best thief? I'm honored." He wiggled his eyebrows and Marinette couldn't suppress a giggle.

Surprising her, he took both bags into his own arms, not once breaking his stride.

"Chat Noir, that's nice of you, but you don't have to do that," she said. Inside she was screaming with questions. The main one being: how can a bad guy be so charming?

"Nonsense. Princesses shouldn't have to lift a finger, especially ones as lovely as you." He flashed her a wink.

Marinette stamped down the butterflies fluttering in her stomach. She likes Adrien, the poster boy for good, not a law-breaking cat.

A few times they would see people walking up the sidewalk. Chat Noir would then duck into the shadows and return when the coast was clear. Along the way they chatted about various, mundane things. Marinette was honestly surprised at how well a criminal could hold a conversation like any of her other friends.

At last they reached the bakery. Chat Noir handed the bags to the thankful girl and dropped into a bow.

"Purrleasure to lift a paw to help a princess in need." He rose and stretched his arms above his head, back arching in what reminded Marinette of a real feline. His muscles pulled taut against the skin tight suit, but she averted her eyes quickly so she couldn't see.

"I have to go. Thank you again, Chat Noir." The corners of her mouth drew up in a small smile.

"You're welcome. Maybe bake me something with those ingredients?" He suggested with a playful wink.

Marinette grinned and looked away, pretending to think about it. "I don't know. I don't bake things for thieves." Deep down she was wondering why on Earth she was playing around with Chat Noir of all people, but she quelled it for the time being.

He placed a hand over his heart, feigning hurt. "Me-owch! I save your life twice, bring you home safely after both times, and I even carried your bags for you! What's an alley cat have to do to get some appreciation?"

"Maybe become a hero instead of a villain?" She asked, half-teasing and half-serious. She would love if Chat Noir turned to the good side, he had potential to be a hero.

Chat Noir laughed as if she told a hilarious joke. Perhaps in his eyes, it was.

"Princess, I'm only a hero for you. I could give two shits about anyone else. Good night, Marinette."

He gave her a half-smile before using his baton to leap away.

...

The next morning, Marinette scrolled through the latest news stories on her phone.

"Authorities believe that last night's bank robbery was committed by none other than Paris's aloof criminal, Chat Noir."