Adrien paced his room with the wooden yo-yo, in which he'd been held captive, making its way up and down. He continued to play with it in distraction from his overwhelming thoughts.
Once again, the Princess had caught him completely off guard. For someone so dainty, it was amazing the strength she possessed — not just with will and wit, but also with strength. A wilting rose, she was not. Many rumours circulated the kingdom about the Princess, but never, never, did he think she could have conned him into getting tied to the root of a tree!
The wood connected with his hand once more, himself snatching it up and bringing it in front of him. It was engraved with a design he had seen before, one which was familiar. Lifting his opposite hand, Adrien used his index finger to stroke over the engraving. It seemed like some sort of symbol, one he would say it was of some sort of Chinese Heritage, and from years past.
Adrien moved towards his cot in the small, shared room in the castle and hid it under his pillow. He could not allow it to be found and linked to the Princess or link the Princess personally to him.
He knew if Kagami got her hands on him, she could be willing to wring his neck. He could just imagine her now, telling him to get his act together or she would challenge him to a duel… a duel she would make certain he did not win.
Heading to his gauntlet, he tipped it upside down, allowing the necklace to fall effortlessly onto the bed. The pearl cherry blossom was facing downwards, the same Chinese symbol looking straight up towards him.
Interesting.
Adrien grabbed hold of the necklace and shoved it into the pillowcase before checking if anyone was paying attention to him.
The room was full of guards resting or preparing for their next duty. After the chaos at the market, Adrien had been relieved of his evening patrol.
His thoughts wandered back to Princess Marinette. She would be expecting him this evening, expecting to meet him under the cherry blossoms as he had the previous evening. She wouldn't care if he didn't turn up though? There is no way she would. The Princess wouldn't care about Chat Noir, a lowly Knight, she'd just find someone else to tie up and attach to a tree.
He couldn't let that happen!
"What's with the long face?" Sir Kim, a fellow knight, came over to seat himself on Adrien's cot, one hand placed too close to the pillow and hidden yo-yo for his liking.
"I was looking forward to patrol tonight. I like looking at the stars."
Sir Kim scoffed. "And they say you're nefarious. You're nothing more than a pussy cat."
Sir Kim started to laugh, looking to the others in the room to laugh alongside him. As the noise grew, Adrien joined in, the inferno inside him lifting to boiling point. Without knowing what was happening, Adrien lifted Kim from his bed and instead had him slammed into the wall — both hands clutching at the knight's neck.
"Want to know why I'm wicked Sir Kim, or would you prefer for it to be left to myth?"
Sir Kim mumbled to himself, Adrien not understanding until the booming voice of his superior echoed around the room.
"What is going on here?" Sir Luka marched in, face furious as he pulled Adrien off Sir Kim.
He looked between the two knights, Adrien thinking he was deciding without would deserve the disciplinary. Adrien could see his future in front of him: thrown off the castle tower or thrown into the local stocks and put firmly into his place.
"Put him down, Chat Noir."
Adrien kept his glare on Sir Kim, unwilling to let go.
"Now!" Sir Luka demanded, Adrien removing his hands, allowing Kim to drop unceremoniously to the floor.
Sir Kim started to laugh, obviously happy with the way he'd crept out of the situation, only for Adrien to connect his foot into the knight's stomach, a groan escaping his lips as he dropped sideways and curled like a newborn baby.
"Outside!" Sir Luka demanded, marching Adrien away and out of the room.
Adrien quickly reached under his pillow and stuffed the yo-yo in his pocket, before leaving the room and following Luka. The two made their way silently into the head knight's chambers, Adrien preparing to face exhalation from the court.
"I don't want your excuses," Sir Luka announced. "I don't care for reasons and justifications. What I'm saying is you need to go and take a walk, calm yourself down and then apologise, I will not accept this behaviour in my team."
Adrien looked at the guy and frowned. What?!
"Take… a walk?" Adrien queried, crossing his arms over his chest, and raising one eyebrow.
"And don't come back until you're feeling civilised."
"I – um – thank you?"
"Don't question my generosity, Sir Chat Noir. Your name precedes you and I do not wish to be on the wrong side. But if I need to, then I will defend myself."
Adrien was astonished. He was being let go without any true words of warning.
"So, I just need to go for a walk?"
"A long walk. I don't tolerate fighting between my men."
Adrien reached up and scratched the back of his neck. Well, this was easier than expected.
"I'll be gone then."
Sir Luka nodded in reply, before turning and walking to his chest, beginning to strip his armour from his body. Not wanting to see his captain in the Starkers, Adrien took the hint and left, his feet leading him through the stone corridors and out into the courtyard.
He'd been caught harming another member of their patrol, yet he'd been just told to cool off. Never had he expected such forgiveness from someone of a higher standing. But that was just it. The word of Chat Noir had spread into something he most certainly wasn't. But from who?
Making his way out into the courtyard, Adrien saluted the knights on guard, before heading down towards the gardens. His feet were acting on impulse, and he hated himself for what he was about to do. He shouldn't be heading towards her, it was dangerous and forbidden, but there was so much he wanted to know, so much he needed to know. So, off he went knowing he would regret every step he took.
He reached the outskirts of the garden, the entrance to the castle's hidden beauty — and there she was; pacing and muttering to herself again. He couldn't help but laugh. It must be a nervous tick, or she was crazy… neither would surprise him.
He stood for a while, finding coverage behind a tree to watch her, to absorb himself in her beauty and curiosity. The Princess was in nothing more than her nightgown, her hair down in precious waves, an obvious hint she had once again escaped the confines of her room. She reached up to the cherry blossom, grabbing hold of a twig and pulling it from its home hanging on the tree. The snap back caused an explosion of petals, one she began to twirl in and he felt a stab in his heart. Maybe he shouldn't be here, maybe…
"You know, kind Sir, it's rude to watch a lady without her consent."
Chuckling, Adrien stepped out from behind the tree and moved forwards towards her. "It's a good job you're not a lady then, my Princess." He bowed down to her, only for her to stretch up once again and pull down the branches, another showering of petals falling upon their heads and sticking in their hair.
"You are too outspoken for your own good, Chaton. You'll get yourself into trouble one day if you don't control that mouth of yours."
He didn't know what to say. Never had he been spoken to in that way… by anyone. He watched as she pulled the branches one more time twirling again in the floral confetti, before she turned and wandered off, a giggle escaping her lips. She looked over her shoulder giving him a smile which made his stomach tighten. He wasn't sure what was happening with himself, the feelings so foreign yet addictive, and like a sailor following a siren, he headed down towards the river, away from the castle and towards this enchantress.
Adrien moved the way she had gone, losing her just as he reached the water's edge. Where did she go? He looked over into the depths of the forest on the other side of the slow flowing river, the soft, gentle whoosh of the water suddenly broken by the splash of something larger than a rock. He stumbled further down river over the rocks and looked to where the noise had come from, only to be greeted with the sight of a ghost hanging from the tree.
Moving closer towards it, he watched as the ghost flapped around in the slight breeze, and he prayed to the God's that if he was going to be possessed he would at least still be able to steal his family's jewels. He moved closer still, the white body making no advance towards him. Closer. And closer. And closer. Until…
"Come on, Kitty, the water's fine."
Adrien let out a squeal as he turned to look between the white 'ghost' and the woman in the water. She started giggling before dunking herself underneath again. This woman was a menace. Turning back to the ghost, he noticed that it wasn't something of the paranormal variety… more the cotton variety. But if her dress was here, and she was there… What was she wearing?
Her head appeared from under the water again, along with her bare shoulders. As her hair stuck to her face, and trailed down her back he realised the only thing she was wearing was the wicked grin on her face.
"Please," she said, a pout taking over her lips.
"I cannot be seen with a naked Princess," he hissed, placing a hand over his eyes and turning away only to be interrupted by her mellifluous giggles again. Oh, sweet sounding angel! What was this girl doing to him?
"Here, kitty, kitty," she said, the laughter in her voice making him want to turn around and join her. He was a knight stuck between a hard place and a hanging.
He kept his back to her until he couldn't hear laughing anymore, instead he could hear thrashing in the water followed by muffled screams of someone being dragged under. Without hesitation, Adrien ripped his shirt over his head and turned. He looked around. She was nowhere to be seen, just bubbles in the centre of the river where she was just swimming.
Adrien ran to the edge and jumped into the water, diving underneath in the need to find the Princess. He opened his eyes, looking for anything human when he spotted her. Placing an arm around her waist he spun her so her back was to him and pulled them both up to the surface. With one arm still tightly around her, he used the other hand to brush the stray hairs from his eyes, only then noticing the laugh coming from the Princess.
"I knew I could get you in here!"
Spinning her around, he held her close to his body, attempting not to focus on how naked she was, as her flesh conformed with his.
Think of something else, Adrien! Anything else! Nino naked! Nino naked! Marinette naked! Marinette…
"Oh!" she suddenly announced, Adrien pushing her back away from his body.
"That was a cheap trick, Princess!"
She twirled around before laying on her back and floating, Adrien once again turning away as to not see anything.
"Don't you think you should cover yourself up? Your betrothed wouldn't be too pleased with his fiancée showing herself to another man."
She plopped down into the water, the sparkling grin once again placed on her lips. Pushing a hand forward, she sent a wave of water over his head, splashing him with practised precision.
"What -" He stopped speaking as another wave sailed over him, this time filling his mouth with water. "Stop it, will y—" She hit him again.
Bringing his own hand up, he pushed a wave of his own over her, causing her to splutter in response. They both began to splash, moving around the water as wave after wave was thrown at the other, Adrien shaking the water out of his hair to restrict its journey down his face.
The splashing became more intense, getting heavier and heavier, moving closer and closer, until they were body to body, Adrien grabbing her and pulling her close. The moonlight shone effortlessly in her hair, giving her the blue streaks he'd only ever seen on raven's feathers. A seraphic beauty if he'd ever seen one. He held her closer, absorbing himself in her body — in a way that was forbidden.
Their eyes sort each other out, the magnetic gaze one he knew he would be living with him in his dreams. A hopeful, wondrous glow of youth and life settled itself in the watercolour perfection of her eyes.
He moved his own down, allowing them to travel and sort out her lips, his own growing tighter with need and anticipation. Want.
He found them...
"Let's get you out," he whispered. "Your lips are turning blue."
He let go of her, swimming his way to the side and hoisting himself up onto the river edge, his hand reaching out to support her too.
"I have no clothes on, Chaton. Would you please pass my night shirt? I would prefer to keep some of my modesty."
Turning around, he grabbed his own shirt. "Dry yourself on mine, M'Lady!" She looked at him, before reaching out and taking the shirt.
"Turn around please."
He did. The sound of moving water was the only evidence she had left the river, that was until her hand positioned itself on his shoulder. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
They both moved towards the grass verge, laying down and looking up to the skies. His shirt was far too big on her; it fell to mid thigh and dropped from one shoulder. His fingers itches to tighten the string the nape of her neck, just one more touch of her soft, bare skin.
It was dark tonight. Almost pitch black. Only a few stars dotting around in the sky and the sight of the full, glowing moon. Adrien rolled to his side, resting up on an elbow as he looked down at the Princess.
"Your freckles match the glittering rocks in the sky."
She snorted. "You mean the tiny balls of fire."
"Yeah, you see –" He pointed up to the sky. "in a row there..."
She nodded.
"They're right here." He traced a finger over her nose, causing her to snort again.
"Really?"
"Yeah," he agreed, his thumb trailing across her cheek bone before pointing up into the sky again. "And these are right… here!" He pointed over towards another cluster in the sky, her eyes looking to where he was pointing.
Taking a chance he moved his finger to trace where her shoulder had become exposed. A trail of 4 freckles positioning themself on the front near her collarbone.
He ran his thumb over them first, before circling each with his index finger, her breath hitching in her throat as her eyes looked straight into his. He continued to move a finger over her perfect imperfections, before lowering himself down and pressing soft gentle kisses over each cluster of freckles.
Her shoulder.
"Sometimes, I throw wishes into the night sky…"
Her collarbone.
"And wait for the stars to catch them."
Her nose.
He moved his head to her neck, whispering in her ear as his lips skimmed the lobe of her ear.
"For my part, I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars always makes me dream."
Her hand came up to thread through his hair, a slight pull to the knots created by their shenanigans in the water. It moved to trace over his hairline, his eyebrows and finally the shape of his jaw and sharp cheeks. He looked at her. Her teeth claimed her bottom lip before her tongue darted out to lick over it. Everything sent him spiralling into the pit of hell. He shouldn't be here, he needed to go… but not without leaving her a present.
He moved his head to hover over her, his lips ghosting across hers and sending a shock through his system from the contact. "Close your eyes," he whispered, glad she was being cooperative as she closed them straight away.
Moving a hand down into his pocket, he grabbed the yo-yo. His lips dropped a soft, gentle kiss on the Princess' cheek before he grabbed her wrist, and pulled it over her head, tying it around a rock.
"Goodnight, Princess."
She opened her eyes and looked between the yo-yo, the rock, and him. This time he was the one with the wicked grin.
"Keep the shirt! It looks good on you!" Knowing it would only take her seconds to escape, Adrien jogged back up towards the Knight's chambers, grabbing a skirt from a selection hanging outside of the chambers. He snuck inside and headed towards his cot. He was dry now luckily, allowing him to climb straight in under the blanket.
He fumbled inside his pillow, searching for the thin chain to caress his fingers, letting out his anxieties as he grabbed hold of it and clutched it tightly in his hand, bringing it out and to his heart.
As he settled in bed, he looked up at the ceiling, keeping the chain in his hands and his eyes closed. She had him in a crazy, dangerous position and it was becoming addictive.
He reminisced about the feel of her skin beneath his lips, the sound of her breath catching in her throat, the perfect join of their bodies together in the water. The dream like quality of what came to him from the stars.
The late night patrol re-entered the room, obviously swapping with the next round of knights, only for the sound of Sir Kim to demolish his ethereal state in the matter of sections.
"The royal wedding has been moved up to next week."