"Take it off!"

"No!"

"Are you shy? Is that why you're wearing it?"

"WHAT? You really think a handsome dashing criminal, such as myself, is capable of being shy?"

Marinette thought for a minute, before replying, "Yes."

Chat groaned. He turned his head from Marinette and focused on the path in front of them. While he wasn't looking, Marinette tried once again to sneak her hand onto the buckle of Chat Noir's mask, in an attempt to undo the strap and see his face. But Chat realized just in time and swatted her hand away. 

"Nice try." He told her. 

"Thanks," Marinette replied sarcastically. 

"Soo...are you ready to tell me about your hair yet?" asked Chat, who had already tripped over Marinette's hair about 5 times. 

"Nope." 

"If you expect me to not ask about your hair, how do you expect me to take my mask off?"

Marinette tucked a stray lock behind her ear before she responded with, "Because...well technically I'm not supposed to let anyone see my hair. So I guess you could say it's a secret."

Chat Noir smirked. "And I guess you could say my face is a secret too."

  Before Marinette could reply, she noticed that they had finally arrived at a...place of some sort. The building was shaped like a small house, but looked terribly old and worn down. It's stone bricks were covered in years worth of moss, the windows smeared with dirt and grime, a few shingles from the roof lying here and there, and a rotted wooden sign staked into the ground that read, The Snuggly Kwami. 

"What is this place," Marinette asked, her nose turned up as Chat Noir lead her down the worn grass path to the front door. 

"A place where we're gonna stay for the night," answered Chat simply. 

As they approached the inn, Marinette could hear laughter and shouting, and at one point jumped from hearing a loud smash. 

Once they finally stood in front of the door, Chat Noir gave it two firm taps. A large burly man with a thick beard and unkempt clothing suddenly stood before them. 

"Your finnest room, sir!" Chat Noir grinned. 

The man rolled his eyes and moved aside so that Chat and Marinette could get inside. The air smelled heavily of ale and cider, and most of the tables and chair were either overturned or men were standing on them shouting and yelling. A bar stood at the far side of the room where a stout woman with grey-streaked blond hair attended to a few more customers. 

Marinette had never seen so many human beings in one place before. Admittedly, she was a little frightened. Their behavior was very...wild, she thought. 

Chat Noir tapped her shoulder, and Marinette turned around to face him a little too suddenly. "The innkeeper said there's only one room left," he said. "You can go on up. I'll be outside."

Before Marinette could reply, an unfamiliar man with a green overcoat and hair suddenly grabbed Chat Noir's arm. "You wouldn't happen to be Chat Noir, the kingdom's most wanted criminal, would you?" He growled. 

"....Um, maybe?" Chat Noir answered hesitantly, trying to pull his arm from the strange man's grip. 

But he only tightened his hold and gave Chat Noir a threatening glare. Chat Noir glared back. Marinette reached inside her purse and grabbed her fork, ready to strike. Finally, the man let go of Chat Noir's  arm and left without a word. 

"What was that about?" asked Marinette. 

"No idea," answered Chat, his eyes still on the strange man as he left.

Suddenly, both Marinette and Chat Noir realized all the once preoccupied customers were now staring at them with intensity. 

"That thief's reward money is gonna make me filthy rich."

It was only a whisper, but Chat Noir heard it. "RUN!!" He yelled to Marinette. They both sped for the door, but they were suddenly blocked by the doorman, who had bolted it shut and were now advancing towards them with a sword. Everyone else seemed to have pulled out a weapon of some sort as well. 

"What are we gonna do?" cried Marinette. 

"How about surrender?" the woman who tended the bar suggested. 

"Yeah, like that's an option," Chat Noir muttered sarcastically, taking up a fighting stance. 

The woman shrugged as she wiped her counter with a wet rag absentmindedly. "They're not gonna let you go, just so you know. They're looking forward to turning you in and getting baked."

Marinette, despite being scared to death, raised an eyebrow curiously at the woman. "Baked?"

"I mean they're excited about getting rich, dearie."

"Ohhh..."

Suddenly, the customers began to lunge for Chat Noir, daggers and spears in hand. Chat dodged expertly and leaped onto an empty table, Marinette following close behind. They tried to pursue the duo, but ended up getting tangled in Marinette's stray hair. 

"What the--" a man stammered, raising his knife in attempt to untangle himself. 

"DON'T CUT IT!" Marinette screamed, jumping of the table and stabbing her fork into the stranger's hand. 

All activity immediately stopped as the man yelped in pain.

Marinette held out her fork and faced the attacking crowd of men, her eyes on fire. 

"No one," she yelled. "NO one touches my hair."

They all turned to Chat Noir, who shrugged and said, "Hey don't look at me. I still don't know what's the deal with her hair."

"Look," Marinette told them. "I know this sounds stupid and absolutely crazy, and I know Chat Noir is a show-off and a bother and should be locked up for all his crimes of stupidity..."

"Hey!"

"But, believe it or not, I need him. More than you'll ever know. This is my first time being outside, my first time seeing actual people, my first time being free. And I need him to take me to see the Miraculous Flight because it's the only thing I have ever wanted in my entire life. I promise you guys can tear him apart to your heart's content once he guides me to the kingdom and back to my  tow- I mean...house."

"Awww...." the crowd cooed. 

"You've got to be kidding me...." Chat Noir mumbled.

Finally, at nightfall Marinette was lead up to her room, which simply had nothing but four bare wooden walls, a small wooden table in a corner, and a mattress with a single white pillow and a thin blue blanket. Marinette wasted no time getting ready for bed, as she was incredibly tired and was looking forward to her journey tomorrow. 

***

Meanwhile, Chat Noir had settled in a tree, which was conveniently growing outside Marinette's window. He swung his feet back and forth as he looked up at the night sky, as millions of thoughts began to swirl in his mind. 

He needed to find a way to get rid of Marinette and return to the Acuma gang. But most importantly, he needed his satchel back. 

I'm gonna have to make up a plan and bolt soon before that girl ties me up in her hair again, Chat Noir thought, clenching his fist. This whole thing is ridiculous. I'm supposed to be a ruthless gang member, feared by shop owners and palace guards...not some drama queen's escort. 

"Chat Noir?"

A voice suddenly broke his train of thought. Chat turned to the nearby window and saw Marinette's face. 

"What?"

"Um...you know, you could sleep in here and I'll just sleep outside if you want," Marinette said hesistantly. 

Chat Noir shook his head. "I'm fine, thanks."

"You sure?" asked Marinette. 

"Yeah, I'm used to it."

Marinette ran a hair through her midnight-colored hair before saying quietly, "Well, okay I guess. And...thank you."

Chat Noir's ears suddenly perked up. "For what?"

"For sticking with me so far and keeping your promise. I know you probably have better things to do, but I really appreciate you keeping your promise."

"Yeah, sure."

Marinette grinned. "But to be completely honest, you're a horrible escort."

"Oh, am I?" Chat Noir huffed. 

"Definitely. I really wish someone else climbed into my tower so I could tie him up and make him take me instead of you."

"In that case, I wish I climbed into a different tower and met a different girl," Chat Noir smirked. "You know, one that wouldn't smack me with a baking sheet and steal my bag?"

Marinette laughed. "Too bad we ended up together."

"It's worse than 'too bad'," replied Chat. "I'd say this is one of the biggest disappointments in my life."

"Yeah. Too bad."

Chat Noir groaned. "Go to sleep. We have a long day tomorrow."

Marinette nodded. "Good idea. Goodnight."

"Uh-huh," Chat mumbled. 

Marinette's head disappeared from the window as Chat looked up into the night sky once more. This girl is beyond strange, he thought before finally shutting his eyes. 

*Author's note*

Bonjour guys! Thanks again for reading! <3 Gotta admit, I'm not exactly a big fan of this chap...kinda struggled with it tbh. But please please PLEASE feel free to give all kinds of feedback wherever it's needed (POSITIVE, of course!;-) Because I definitely need it to make this book more enjoyable for future reads. I'm also eager to hear any story ideas as well, so please don't hesitate to PM me on what you think should happen next. 

Anyways, that's it. See you next chap and be miraculous!