A/N: Oh, snap! How is Marinette going to get out of this one? ;)

Chapter 12

Alya complied and sat down where Marinette's finger pointed. Marinette sat next to her and faced her while folding her hands in her lap.

"I want this to go calmly and smoothly," Marinette spoke in a strictly business tone. "Let's not yell at each other."

Alya paused. "Alright," she relented. "How long has this been going on?"

Marinette bit her lip. Well, she certainly didn't waste time on asking the questions. "About a month, now."

Alya's eyes bulged and her mouth dropped. "You've been seeing Chat Noir for almost a month and didn't tell me?"

"Look at how you reacted when you found out!" Marinette, realizing her voice was rising, took a deep breath and slowly let it out. After all, she was the one who suggested they do this calmly and rationally. "I haven't been exactly seeing him, at least not in the romantic sense as you probably think. I've just been talking to him."

"Talking?" Alya rose an eyebrow. "Why does the city's most notorious criminal want to talk to you? No offense, Mari, you're awesome but why you? How did you two even meet?"

Marinette took another breath before beginning. "Remember that night when we had to do that literature project and I had to leave at ten at night?"

Alya's face began to pale. She silently nodded, urging her to continue.

"Well, I lied when I said I had no issues getting home."

Alya's demeanor quickly changed from anxious to furious. "Did he mug you?!"

Marinette was quick to answer in the negative. "No! He actually saved me from being mugged...and raped."

"Who was he?! I'll kick his ass!" Alya growled, protective instincts kicking in.

Marinette had to grin at that. "I don't know, I'm sorry. Anyway, I tried getting away, but it didn't work. Then out of nowhere, Chat Noir showed up. I thought he was going to claw my body to shreds, but I couldn't believe it when he beat up the mugger and saved me instead!"

"Wait, wait, wait, hold on." Alya held up a hand. "Chat Noir saved you?"

The designer nodded. "That's right. We introduced ourselves." She spoke the next sentence in a hurried, lower tone of voice. "Although I already knew who he was. He took me to my balcony, and I thought that would be the end of it."

Alya nodded, again pressing her to continue.

"But the next night my parents sent me to the store for baking supplies. I was walking home and heard a loud crash. Suddenly Chat Noir appeared, he told me there was a guy following me and planned to jump me but he beat him up. Then he walked me the rest of the way home and carried my bags for me."

Alya's eyes widened. Who knew the feline thief was secretely a gentleman? Maybe he wasn't all that bad...but she'd save judgement for later.

Marinette frowned. "Our third meeting went...less than ideal. It was the night he visited me on my balcony for the first time. But we got into a fight because I got mad he robbed a bank after saving me the previous night. He vowed I'd never have to see him again. And to think it all started over pastries." She started to giggle at that, it really was a stupid opening for an argument.

She continued. "I didn't see him again until Sabrina's party."

Alya gasped. "I was there, where was he?!"

Marinette shook her head. "He wasn't at the party. Kim was walking me home and..." Who knew what Alya's reaction to this next part would be.

"And what?" The aspiring journalist asked. "What happened?"

The blackette swallowed before going further. "Kim pulled me into an alley and-and...wanted to take advantage of me."

Alya's mouth dropped in shock. "Are you serious? Kim? Really?"

She nodded. "Really."

"And he's our classmate, you said you knew everybody since Kindergarden...I'm going to kick his ass!"

"Alya, don't-"

"Oh no, Mari." Alya resolutely shook her head. "That first mugger may be able to get away with it since we don't know who he is, but Kim is within reach! I'm going to make sure he can never father children, I'll claw his eyes out, I'll-"

"Alya!" Marinette held up her hands. "It's okay. He was drunk and Chat Noir took care of him."

"What did he do?" She asked, an eager smile lighting up her features.

Marinette couldn't help but giggle. "He was actually going to tear his...man-parts to shreds but I stopped him."

"What?! Marinette, why would you do that?"

"Alya..."

"I'm serious! You should've let him do it! He would've done the world a serious favor."

"I wasn't going to let him claw his thing, Alya. That would've seriously hurt him."

"And raping you wouldn't have?" Alya countered.

Marinette closed her eyes and sighed. "Look, it's over and done with. Let's just move on."

Alya crossed her arms in front of her chest. "Alright," she groused.

"Anyway, Chat took care of it and took me home and we made up. Then on Halloween he came over and we watched a horror movie. Although, he was way more afraid than I was." Marinette started laughing.

Alya's mouth was formed in an open smile. "Are you serious? What was he scared of?"

"The blood and jumpscares."

"But he's a criminal! Shouldn't he be used to-"

"I know!" Marinette cut in, still chuckling. "I couldn't believe it, it was hilarious!" She took a breath to calm down. She frowned when she remembered their next meeting. "After the weekend he came to visit me again. But he got stabbed, and I had to patch him up."

"You did what?!" Once again, Alya's mouth was open. "Girl, what-you-what did you do?" She stuttered.

"I had to give him homemade stitches. It was rough, but, I was able to do a good job." Marinette couldn't help but glance down at her pale hands, that were once coated with Chat's blood. She willed the image out of her mind.

"He was in my room visiting that day when those two guys took those ten people for hostages at a bank. Remember that 'mysterious hero'? That was him."

"Are you serious?" Alya asked. "For real? He saved them?"

Marinette nodded. "I was able to convince him to do it, but," she blushed, "I had to give him the value of all the banks in Paris."

"Are you crazy?!" Alya shrieked. "You don't have that kind of money!"

The designer fidgeted in her seat as she twisted her fingers together. "He didn't want money..."

"What did he..." Alya trailed off in confusion but then her face contorted into rage. "He did not! Girl, tell me he did not! I swear I'll kill him!"

Marinette, catching on to Alya's misunderstanding, blushed furiously and held up her hands. "No! No, he didn't want," she whispered the next word, "sex, he just wanted a kiss."

"A kiss?" Alya rose an eyebrow. "He considers a kiss from you to be worth the value of all the banks in Paris?"

Marinette looked away and bit her lip, trying to fight the butterflies fluttering in her stomach. "Yes."

Alya leaned back, clearly blown away by this revelation. "Damn. That's actually kind of sweet. So what happened?"

"We, uh, kissed."

"You actually did?!" Alya squealed. "Oh my God, Mari! How was it? Was he any good? Was there tongue?"

"Alya!" Marinette shushed her, mortified by these questions and how all the answers were in the positive.

"No you don't, girl. You are giving me all the deets, I can't let this slip by. Tell me!"

"Alright, alright," Marinette conceded. "He was good...amazing, actually." She felt her face heating up again at the memory. "And yes, there was tongue."

Alya smirked. "Damn, girl, I didn't know you had it in you. Who knew sweet, innocent, naive Marinette would make out with Chat Noir?"

"Alya..."

"Marinette! This is...I don't even know what this is." Alya shook her head in incredulity.

"Me neither," her friend admitted.

"Is that why you were so upset? It wasn't your period, was it? But why, you said it was good and-ohhh." Alya fixed her gaze on Marinette, completely serious. "You like Adrien."

Marinette nodded. "I do."

"And you kissed Chat Noir."

She nodded again.

"What are you going to do?"

"I don't know!" Marinette exclaimed sadly. "I like them both. Adrien is clearly the safe choice but Chat-"

"Is the badass criminal who can give, and I quote, amazing kisses?"

Marinette flushed. "Yeah."

"Girl, by what you told me, Chat Noir is a pretty cool guy. But he still breaks the law daily. You're right, Adrien is the safe and better choice."

"But I still like him," Marinette retorted. She groaned and plopped down on the chaise, leaving Alya to rub her shoulder comfortingly. "Why can't they just be the same person?" She moaned.

"Because that would be too easy," Alya laughed. "And seriously? Sweet, innocent, naive Adrien being that law-breaking cat burglar? I don't think that boy has even stolen a pen in his life."

"I did have a plan though, but I'm not sure if it would work."

"What is it?" Alya asked.

Marinette sat back up and faced her friend. "I was planning on reforming Chat Noir, to turn him into a hero instead of a villain."

"That's crazy!" Alya shook her head. "He's been a criminal for three years. I doubt he's going to stop his streak now."

"But it wouldn't hurt to try! He's saved me three times and he helped those people in the bank. I really think he can pull off being a hero."

"Are you sure about this?" She questioned. "I really don't think it's going to happen."

"It can!" The blackette argued. "He can turn his life around, I know it! I just need some time. Meanwhile, you can't say anything about me and Chat Noir to anyone. Please, Alya, you need to keep this a secret."

"I'm a journalist, it's my job to get the truth out," Alya scoffed, crossing her arms and turning away to leave Marinette sulk. "However," she turned back with a grin, "as best friends I'm required to keep your secrets. Friendship beats my job anyday."

Marinette gasped happily and hugged her. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"No problem, girl." Alya smiled, releasing her. She checked her phone and stood up. "I better head back, it's getting late. I'll see you tomorrow!"

"See you!" Marinette waved.

Alya paused before going out the trapdoor. "By the way, be careful, Marinette. I know he's most likely not going to hurt you, but please, be careful and think every decision through."

Marinette nodded. "I will."

...

"So, any luck on the 'Adrien vs. Chat' decision?" Alya whispered to her the next day.

She shook her head. "No. I don't know what to do."

"You'll figure it out." Alya patted her shoulder.

"Guys!" Nino burst through the door, out of breath. He ignored everyone's eyes on him and sprinted to his seat. He leaned in conspiratively towards the girls. "Chat Noir saved me last night!"

"What?" They both exclaimed. Alya's eyes quickly darted to Marinette before settling her eyes on her boyfriend. She cleared her throat. "What happened?"

"I was on my way back from Musique, I had work until nine. This guy shoved me into an alley and pulled a knife on me! He wanted my money but then Chat Noir appeared and beat the shit out of him! I couldn't believe it. I was just standing there and then he just said 'see you later' and took off! Oh, man, it was awesome!"

"Nino, calm down," Alya soothed. "Chat Noir really saved you? You're sure it was him?"

Nino smiled excitedly. "Positive! He had blond hair with cat ears and he was wearing that black suit with the tail! It was really him."

Alya stole a glance to see Marinette's reaction. She was staring at her desk, mouth parted slightly.

Could she be right, Marinette wondered. Could Chat Noir really be turned into a hero?

"Hey guys!" Adrien chirped. He faced the group of three with a large smile. "What's going on?"

"Dude, you'll never believe it!" Nino grinned excitedly. "Chat Noir saved me last night!"

"Really?" Adrien gasped. "You're kidding."

"Nope!" His best friend shook his head. "I was almost robbed but Chat Noir came in and beat the shit out of him! It was awesome! I thought he was a criminal but maybe he's becoming a good guy."

Adrien chuckled. "Don't mean to burst your bubble, Nino, but I highly doubt he's going to change his ways."

"But he saved me!" Nino retorted. "He could've let the guy take my money or taken it for himself but he helped me. Why would he do that if he wasn't a good guy?"

Adrien shrugged. "Maybe he felt generous last night."

"Or he's becoming a good guy." Nino stood his ground. "You're not him, so you wouldn't know."

"You're right, Nino." Adrien sighed, shook his head and then grinned. "I wouldn't know at all."

A/N: Writing this level of irony is killing me xD