Marichat for the soul.

"She wants to what?"

"She wants me to be her date to the October Ball."

Volpina rubbed the bridge of her nose tiredly. "No offense, but how the fuck are we supposed to do that?"

"I don't know, why do you think I'm asking you?" Chat Noir replied.

She sighed annoyingly. "Your girlfriend is causing me a lot of problems, Chat."

"I would greatly appreciate it if you could cook something up."

The two of them were doing a nighttime patrol. They were perched on Marinette's unoccupied terrace.

"Fine, I'll figure something out," she shook her head. "But I'm not doing it for her. Only because you're the one asking me." She jabbed a finger at his chest.

"Thank you." He sang, rubbing his chest lightly.

Ever since the other day that Volpina appeared with her faux Ladybug, it's been awfully quiet. They guessed that Papillon was scared into believing that Ladybug was back and wanted to lay low. He appreciated a couple nights of silence.

However, not all was silent. The pretty pink writing glowed on Adrien's arm gently.

"Chat, can you come over tonight?"

He smiled lightly. "It would be my pleasure." He was expecting some sort of response from her, but the message just sat there for a while before it wiped away.

Adrien didn't see Marinette for dinner. Usually, no matter what their schedules were, they always had dinner together and headed to their rooms after.

However, this time she didn't show and he didn't even see her after dinner. Guess the meeting with their father was quite important.

Chat Noir slipped into Marinette's room, the warm glow of the television illuminating the bedroom. Marinette was bundled up in the corner of her white loveseat, watching a movie.

Chat came closer, crawling onto the sofa with her. Her eyes shifted from the screen and over to him, her arms opening out for him. He didn't hesitate to heed her call and went into her arms, his face nestling in her tummy and she adjusts her legs around him. His arms wrap around her torso and he breathes in her scent.

"I missed you." He realizes a second too late, that his thoughts slipped out of his lips.

She giggles lightly, her hands finding his hair. "I've been here the whole time, chaton."

He exhales, closing his eyes to relish the familiarity. "What are we watching?" He mumbled, turning his attention to the television.

"The Princess Bride."

Chat snorted lightly. "Do you like the movie?"

"'Inconceivable'."

"'I don't think you know the meaning of that word'."

Marinette giggles again. "Actually, I watch it because I'm trying to see how Princess Buttercup doesn't see that the Dread Pirate Roberts isn't Wesley." She turns her attention back to the television. "It makes me wonder who you are. Should I know who you are? Is it that obvious but I'm just blind?"

Chat Noir doesn't say anything, but she starts giving him scratches and he gives quiet purrs.

"Oh my god." She whispered and scratched him behind the leather ears. Chat leaned more into her hand and she smiled over the fact that he even allowed her to do this.

They remain like this for a while, until Chat grows uncomfortable and takes the same position Marinette has across from her on the sofa. He opens up his arms for her and she obliges, but she settles with her back to his chest.

Chat Noir wraps his arms loosely around her, nuzzling into her neck.

The two of them remain silent, enjoying the movie. Well, for the most part. Chat actually nods off.

Marinette notices as his purrs grow lazy and his head heavy on her shoulders. "Chat?" She speaks softly. There was no response. She exhales lightly, bringing her hand up to give him a gentle scratch.

He gave a sleepy hum, his grip tightening lightly before loosening up again.

Marinette smiled softly, considering the position she was in. Being cuddled from behind. With a chat criminal she kissed nights before.

Chat Noir. I wonder who you are. Her hand rubbed his own gently, her fingers intertwining with his. It was strange, how their fingers magically slotted together. It's almost as if they were meant to be that way.

Her fingers wiggled between his, her fingers catching his ring. She untangled their fingers and set his hand on her palm. She looked at the black ring, the green paw and the four small toe pads and the fifth bigger pad.

Her father's words from earlier that evening filled her mind.

"There's been recent attacks Marinette. Please, stay clear of danger."

"Yes Papa."

"You and Adrien, keep yourselves safe."

Marinette doesn't mention how Adrien is one to proactively protect and hide her, while she sneaks out and ends up aiding Chat. "We do."

"Don't trust that cat. He's a criminal and he's stolen a very important treasure and deserves to be punished for his actions."

Marinette remained silent for a moment. "But Papa, how do we know that he stole? For as long as I can remember," Which isn't long, by the way – "Hasn't he had it?"

Gabriel had been standing at the window behind his desk, his back facing her, but now, he turned as she spoke. "Excuse me?"

"Papa, it's just a thought, but maybe it belonged to him the whole time and it's actually Papillon that's the bad one? Have you seen the damage the akumas do, they–"

"How do you know of the damages?" His shoes clicked on the tile as he approaches his desk and Marinette. "Who put these ideas in your head?" He towered over her and for the first time in her life, Marinette felt fear in front of her own adoptive father.

"N-Nobody Papa, it's just talk between classmates and I, and we–"

"Enough." Gabriel raises his voice and Marinette flinches. "You do not speak of this again, if you ever encounter that criminal, steal his Miraculous."

"Steal his Miraculous?"

"And if you have done that, you bring the jewel to me and I will turn it in to the proper authorities. Do you understand?"

"But Papa, I–"

"Do you understand, Marinette?" He raises his voice over hers.

She flinched again and nodded, keeping her head down. "Yes, Papa."

Her thumb stroked at the face of his ring. The Miraculous of Destruction. Her fingers carefully wrapped around the ring and she started to tug lightly. The ring was slowly beginning to give slack, when a voice filled her head.

"Marinette, don't do it." She paused. "Chat Noir trusts you with all his heart. He's your red string. Taking his ring would be a betrayal." The voice was sweet and seemed vaguely familiar, but she couldn't put a finger on where she had heard it before.

Betrayal.

"Imagine how Chat would feel. He trusts you Marinette. He's taken care of you. Are you going to turn your back on him now?"

The voice was right. This cat has done so much for her, protected her countless amount of times and she was ready to give up the cord just like that?

She slid the ring back onto his finger and she didn't hear that little voice anymore.

Marinette felt terrible. She nearly almost betrayed her red string. Her soulmate. She put a hand to her mouth and choked back a small sob.

Gosh, she was such an idiot.

She sat up and turned, carefully getting off of him and back on him, but this time, straddling him. She put her head into his neck, making him stir.

"Marinette?" His arms wrapped around her waist sleepily, trying to look down at her.

Marinette only buried her face further into his neck, the little bell at his neck jingling softly. She inhaled. His scent filled her senses and calmed her heart. The smell of him seemed familiar, but she couldn't put a finger on who the smell reminded her of.

"You okay?"

Even his voice was soothing. Lord, she had no idea why she even thought about betraying him. "I'm sorry." She whispered.

Chat rubbed her back gently leaning towards her. "It's alright, Mari, it–"

"No!" She spoke into his neck, the little bell jingling as he flinched. She pulled back, her eyes watering. Chat immediately sat up, but she spoke up before he could speak. "You risk your life for me, get hurt. You protect me and have watched over me since the first night you came into my bedroom and I... All I've done is call you names, ignore you and Chat, I... I almost stole your ring."

He blinked, and he brought his hand from behind her and looked down at his ring. "Do you want my ring?" His other hand came up and his fingers grasped the ring. He started to slowly take it off, a small green light sparkling at the end of his mask.

Marinette gaped. Was she going to find out who Chat Noir is?

"Marinette, do you trust him?" The voice rang in her head again.

"Don't–" She clapped her hands around his and he paused, looking up at her. "You've done... so much for me. I... I trust you, Chat. I trust you." She whispered.

Chat slipped the ring back onto his finger and cupped her cheeks. It was such a sweet touch that soothed Marinette's worried heart.

"I'm sorry." She begged quietly.

He shook he head and his thumbs passed over he cheeks. "Don't be."

"Papa, he–" She debated on whether to tell Chat about her father. "Papa really wants me to steal your Miraculous."

His eyebrows furrowed, his hands going around her waist again. "Does he know about our visits?"

She shook her head. "I don't think so. I promised I've never mentioned it to anyone and Mama Sabine, at the bakery, well, she kind of fished it out of me..."

"Yeah, that's Mama for you." He nodded, and Marinette had to agree.

"But... Chat, I'm worried. I'm scared that father is going to do something to me or Adrien and, and..." She trailed off. That was the first time Adrien ever heard Marinette address his father by that term. "Maybe... Maybe you shouldn't come to the October Ball. I'm worried he may do something to you."

Chat rubbed her lower back in a comforting manner. "I'm still going. Volpina is developing some sort of plan to make us there, but not?"

Marinette didn't like the idea at all since Volpina had something to do with it, but since was going to help Chat be there... She could let is slide.

But she didn't know all the details and Chat preferred it that way. "Besides, this party seems like grounds for an akuma attack."

"I've yet to tell my brother and my friends that you're going to be my date. Chloé might faint, Alya may scream and Nino–"

"Will probably sneak into the DJ booth."

Marinette snickered lightly. "Probably. Or try to keep Alya away from you." She flicked his nose. "Don't think I didn't hear or forget about that late-night expedition to recruit my friend onto your team."

Chat rose his hands up in defense. "I dropped in and left, I swear." He chuckled, his hands going around her waist again. "Is someone jealous?"

Marinette huffed, crossing her arms against her chest." How many times do I have to tell you, yes?"

He smiled and leaned in, rubbing her nose against Marinette's. "I like to hear it."

Marinette giggled at the affectionately charged action and cupped his face. God, why did her heart flutter so? "You're so annoying." She grumbled softly.

"All you do is complain, but here you are, sitting on my lap." He cooed teasingly, leaning towards her face.

She mocked him, making a face at him before she met the gap between them and their lips met again.

There was more than just the thrill of kissing Paris' most wanted. It was comfortable and heart swelling, welcoming and sweet. Addictive, but not so heated.

Marinette's hands threaded through Chat Noir's hair and they both melted into each other before a small rumbling grew between them.

"Chat?" She only barely pulled away from his lips, her gaze still focused on those soft lips.

Chat gave a small, questioning hum, trying to lure Marinette back in for another kiss.

"Are you... purring?" She questioned quietly.

He grew stiff and the rumbling stopped.

Chat tried to stammer for words, but Marinette laughed, her hand scratching behind those faux leather ears. "That's adorable." She murmured, a light blush settling on her cheeks.

"You..." He leaned into the warm hand scratching at his ears. "You're pleasing to be around." He whined softly, a pout and his own blush forming on his skin.

Marinette giggled. Her heart was soaring, and she couldn't believe that she was having thoughts like these about Chat Noir.

"Do I need to make you dress attire?" She questions after several minutes of cuddles, kitty scratches and purrs.

"Won't your father find out?"

Marinette shrugged, her fingers twirling in Chat's hair. "I don't care. You're going to be my date and that's final."

Chat smirked. "My, my, the princess is going through a rebellious streak."

She snorted lightly. "Well, when you're surrounded by bad company," she flicked at his bell. "it's kind of hard not to." She winked.

"That's kind of hot."

"Oh my god, shut up."

As the cat went off to patrol the city of Paris that night, it was safe to say that Chat Noir committed another crime that night.

He stole Marinette's heart.

I apologize for how short this chapter is, but once as it came to a close, I felt like this was a good place to stop. School starts again this Tuesday, so I will be disappearing until May, but who knows, you may hear from me before then.