This one is basically if they started dating—in secret—after 'Elation.'

Marichat May 2024

Day #10: Sleepover

Tonight was a very special night. Because her feline crush could only hang out with her at night—as his days were too busy with his civilian life duties—and her parents were gone and wouldn't be back until the next day, Marinette had invited Chat Noir to a sleepover.

He had come over and spent time with her before many times. But with her parents away, they didn't have to be careful about making noise and they could go anywhere else in the apartment.

Plus, he was intending to spend the night. It wouldn't be a sleepover if he didn't. He assured her that he would not be missed at his home. He can sneak back in early the next morning and his family will never know.

Was this a date? Sort of. They didn't know if it was a good idea to go out in public together yet, so it was safer for them to just stay in. The other times he'd come over to hang out were different. This time, they were totally alone. But there was no pressure. For once, Marinette wasn't freaking out over controlling everything or potentially making a fool of herself. It was just her and her chaton enjoying a quiet evening in her apartment.

But was she nervous? Not really. Anxious and a little giddy? Very much.

Marinette was in her pajamas, getting some things set up in the kitchen. It was around dinner time. She'd ordered a pizza that had just arrived, which meant that her guest would be arriving any moment. She told him he could use the door but he was always unpredictable.

So of course, he did exactly what she least expected him to do and actually knocked on the front door.

Marinette went over to the door while quickly straightening her clothes and hair before opening the door. There her kitty was, standing in the doorway, a single pink rose in his hand.

"Evening, princess," Chat kindly greeted her.

"Chat Noir actually using the door? What universe have I entered?" Marinette joked.

"Ha ha, very funny. Not exactly 'me' funny, but you'll get there eventually."

"Oh, the horror," she teased, making them both laugh. Chat handed her the flower and she took it, flattered. "Thank you," she said before letting him enter then closed the door.

"So, what has my princess planned for this enchanting night?" he asked, looking around the living room for hints.

"I wouldn't call it enchanting. More like, fun and relaxing."

Chat smirked. "Even better."

This was their first official stay in date. Nothing too romantic or serious. Just nice and chill, but still special to them.

Marinette glanced over to the pizza box on the counter. "Are you hungry? We should probably eat the pizza while it's still sort of hot." They'd settled of toppings beforehand so she ordered accordingly.

"Absolutely. I am starving," Chat said. The two sat at the kitchen counter and grabbed a slice.

Marinette had offered to make dinner for him but when she had listed pizza as a possible option, Chat insisted on it. His father had him on a strict model diet so he never got to eat take-out at home. Pizza was like a rare delicacy to him. Plus, it meant less work for her, going through the trouble of cooking for him. However, she still wanted to, hence her idea for dessert.

When she was about halfway through her first slice, Marinette put it down on her plate. "So Chat," Marinette said, wiping her hands and mouth with a napkin. Chat turned to her and listened but continued to eat. "You asked if I had a plan for tonight and I do." This wasn't an over complicated plan, scheduled and thought out to the last minute. It was just things for them to do together and could be rearranged if they wanted to. Just fun and relaxing. "After we eat, I know you'll want dessert. So you're going to help me make some chocolate chip cookies."

Chat's eyes widened with joy. He quickly swallowed to exclaim, "A baking lesson? Sweet! Literally." Marinette rolled her eyes with a smile on her face.

With the house to their selves, they could stand in the kitchen together and she could finally show him how to bake some of his favorite treats. Chocolate chip cookies were a good thing to start with.

"Right. Then, while they're in the oven, I thought we could play a few rounds of UMS3. Then when they're done, if you don't want to play anymore, we could watch a movie or something while we eat them," Marinette explained. It was a very basic plan and she was proud of it.

Chat took a napkin and wiped his mouth too. "That sounded purrfect," he said, earning a playful shove from his princess.

~*MDC+CN*~

After the two had their fill of pizza and put away the leftovers, they stood in the kitchen, ready to make some cookies. Marinette had already laid out all of the ingredients and baking utensils they would need.

As Marinette read off from the directions card, Chat grabbed the measuring tool, measured the ingredient, and added it to the bowl. There were more then a couple of spills and other mishaps—all of which they laughed off and continued—but soon enough, they had their dough made.

Once they were spread out onto a cookie sheet and in the oven, they quickly cleaned up the kitchen before settling onto the couch to play UMS3.

As usual, Marinette kicked his butt eight ways to Sunday, six rounds in a row. Halfway through their seventh round, the timer for the oven went off. This distracted Marinette long enough for Chat to strike her mech down, finally winning a battle for himself.

While Chat did a little victory dance, Marinette went to turn the oven off and take the cookies out. They smelled so good, Chat wanted to have one right away, but Marinette warned him that they were still too hot. She scraped them off the sheet and moved them to a cooling rack. To kill time while they cooled, they playing one more round of the game.

Which, to neither of their surprises, Marinette won.

Chat moaned as he chewed his first bite of one of the cookies. Marinette poured them both glasses of milk before having one too.

"Cheers," they both said happily, clanking their glasses together before drinking.

Marinette's plan had been spot-on. While enjoying their dessert, the two decided not to continue with the video games. It was getting later so they decided to unwind by watching a movie.

The cookies were great but Chat was hungry for more. So he humbly asked Marinette to make some popcorn. Marinette plated some of the cookies while the popcorn popped in the microwave. Meanwhile, Chat browsed through the family's collection of DVDs.

In no time, they were together on the couch, watching a fun and actiony movie with a plate of cookies and a big bowl of popcorn on the coffee table.

Chat was slumped back against the back of the couch while Marinette was leaning against his side, his arm around her shoulders, snug against him.

Marinette paid attention to the movie but every once in a while, she got distracted by the presence of her viewing partner. The feel of his muscles, the warmth of his body, even the smell of him.

The later it got, Marinette's mind wondered to another pressing matter.

This was a sleepover. Hence, Chat was supposed to spend the night and go home tomorrow morning. But where he was going to sleep was the real question.

Back when they were planning this, she had suggested the couch or her chaise as potential spots and he had said that he would be fine with either.

What she hadn't mention was that she was seriously considering a third option.

When the credits for the movie began to roll, Marinette immediately turned it off. Chat yawned and stretched his limbs a bit.

"Well that was great," he said, sitting up. He glanced at the clock. "But it's pretty late. We should hit the hay, huh princess?" Chat turned to face her but she was staring down at her tightly clenched hands in her lap. She only did that when she was nervous. "Marinette?" he asked her.

Finally, she turned to look at him. "Chat…I," she started to say. Chat stared at her, patiently waiting for her to talk to him. "I think we should go to sleep too."

Chat was a bit confused but replied like everything was normal. "Alright. So where am I sleeping? And can you read me a bedtime story or sing me a lullaby? No. I'll meow you a lullaby," he joked but really wanted to do either.

Marinette giggled. "I'd like that," she replied. Then she bit her lip for a second before speaking again. "But…I actually wanted to ask you if-" she said but decided to word what she wanted to say differently. "I don't think you'll be very comfortable on the couch or my chaise."

"I've been on this couch all night. It's very comfortable. I'll be just fine."

"Well, my bed is…even more comfortable," she said, blushing.

Chat's eyes widened a bit. Her bed? "Marinette, what are you asking me?"

"Chat," she said after taking a deep breath, then she took his hands into hers. "Would you like to sleep in my bed…with me…tonight?"

The feline hero was speechless. Sleep in the same bed with Marinette? Getting to fall asleep while holding his princess? He couldn't imagine a better end to their sleepover.

As touched as he was by her desire to do this and asking him if he wanted to too, he couldn't help his mischievous side from showing.

"Just sleep?" he asked, leaning his face in closer to her face, a shit-eating smirk on his lips.

Marinette playfully pushed his face back. "Yes just sleep! Get your mind out of the gutter, alley cat," she scolded him while failing to contain her own amusement. Her cheeks were even pinker now.

Chat chuckled with her. "What about cuddling?" he asked.

Marinette faced him again and smiled. "Sure. Why not?"

~*MDC+CN*~

After brushing their teeth, locking the door, and turning off all the lights, Marinette and Chat Noir climbed up onto her bed.

Marinette was on the left side, her back to her corkboard, while Chat was on the right side, where the railing was. They got under the covers, heads on a pillow, and both laid on their sides, facing one another.

"This is nice," Chat hummed, smiling at her. Her bed was so cozy and her scent was everywhere. He was surrounded by her and just wanted to stay forever.

"So, are you going to meow me a lullaby?" she asked teasingly. She was indeed curious if he could actually sing.

"I've got a better idea," he said before pulling his arms out from under the covers. "Come here." He opened his arms to her.

Eager to feel his muscles and warmth again, Marinette scooched over, toward her kitty, until she was right against him. She tucked her head under his chin, against his chest. And he wrapped his arm around her, hand caressing her back. After his other hand pulled the covers back over them both, that hand found her arm underneath and held her fully.

Just as she was ready to close her eyes and let sleep take her, Marinette heard the unmistakable sound of purring right under her ear.

"This feels more like you purring me a lullaby, chaton," she whispered, melting into his chest as her eyes fluttered shut. In no time, she was dreaming.

Marinette had no idea how she was ever going to be able to get to sleep without this sort of comfort again. Chat needed to sleep over more often—even when her parents were home. They just had to be quiet enough.

Chat placed a sweet kiss on top of her head and continued to hold her gently but protectively as he too dozed off. Truth be told, he'd wanted this from the moment Marinette had asked him to sleep over. All he could think about was her snuggled against him while they slept in her cozy, pink bed.

It was a dream come true. He just hoped that when he woke up the next morning that this hadn't been a dream.

I'm not doing the Day #22 prompt, 'Lullaby' but I guess that word sort of stuck with me while I was writing the end of this.

Next chapter here will be on the 20th. See u then =^.^=