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Was this a dream?

Marinette could barely process what was going on.

She was kissing Chat Noir...

Wait, no...

Chat Noir was kissing her.

Marinette couldn't believe what was going on at the moment. She was stiff, shocked, and confused. Chat kissed her, right after she just confessed her love for Adrien. It didn't make much sense. She was puzzled, and she couldn't move either.

And this was the second time they kissed, during Dark Cupid. But she only did that to break the spell. No other reason...right?

Marinette didn't know why, but she kissed him back, closed her eyes, and put her hands on Chat's chest. His lips, well, she could barely taste anything except take in that subtle smell of mint. They were soft and they kissed long enough for her to feel how surprisingly soft and slightly moist they were. 

The sensation was too pleasant, and she felt herself falling into a trance while her palms felt his spandex-clad torso, slightly cold but smooth. She could feel his hands set themselves on her hips, in a way that was...reluctant.

Seconds later, their lips parted, Marinette's eyes opened and became wide of shock and bewilderment, while his were half-lidded.

"That was...." Those were the only words that left his mouth, not completely aware of why he just kissed his friend. Marinette was speechless. "Oh god...oh god..." said Chat, panicked as reality suddenly dawned on him. "I am so sorry. Marinette, are you okay?" the boy stammered. 

"Am a-alright I mean...I'm alright." Marinette trailed off, still dazed as she looked up at him and reflected on her actions. Why in hell did I just kiss him?

"Marinette, I'm sorry, I don't know what got to me..." he added frantically, stepping away after withdrawing his hands only now.

Marinette crossed her arms. "It's fine, let's just forget that ever happened at all." She shook her head to forget how it felt and the emotions rushing through her head. "I forgive you, I guess..." She smiled slightly.

"Thanks, Mari..." Chat smiled at her nervously. "Uh—I better go. Bye!" The embarrassed and flushed hero jumped on Marinette's railing and left, leaving the red-faced blunette on her balcony.

Chat Noir landed in his room. "Plagg, claws in..." Chat detransformed, Plagg flew in front of him. As he processed his feelings, he was somewhat happy, but why was he? He's not supposed to be.

How could he love Ladybug and love how it felt kissing Marinette?

He now knew that Marinette liked him, so how did that correlate to his feelings? This was all so confusing.

"Saw everything, and heard everything. I thought you were in love with Ladybug?" said Adrien's kwami, crossing his tiny arms. Plagg of course, knew Marinette was Ladybug, but Adrien didn't know that.

"I am in love with Ladybug Plagg, but when she said those things to me, I just— I don't know, okay?!" blurted Adrien, frustrated at himself. 

"Humans are very confusing. Anyway, give me some cheese, I'm hungry." Plagg demanded. Adrien rolled his eyes, took a piece of camembert, and tossed it to the kwami. 

"Please, you're always hungry. You have a never-ending appetite." Adrien joked. 

The kwami of destruction scoffed and continued eating his cheese.

*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*

"Tikki, it doesn't make any sense, why did he kiss me?! Right after I confessed what I loved about Adrien!" Marinette questioned her kwami while prancing around her room. "Most importantly, WHY DID I KISS HIM BACK!" Tikki knew the reason why Chat Noir kissed her, she knew the hero was Adrien. But she obviously couldn't tell her holder.

"Marinette, stop worrying, didn't he tell you he didn't know what got to him?" replied Tikki. "You're assuming a little too much. It was...maybe just the adrenaline." Was the kwami aware she was gaslighting her? Yes. Was it wrong? Maybe. Did she care? No.

"But there has to be a reason Tikki, he can't just do it because he suddenly felt the urge to." Marinette stated. 

"Marinette, if you really want to know the reason, why don't you just ask him?" the red creature suggested.

"But we already agreed not to think, or speak of it ever again," replied Marinette. 

"Well do you think it has something to do with Adrien?" Tikki hinted, giving the poor girl a clue.

"Pfft, what? No way would Chat be kissing me be related to Adrien." She scoffed. Tikki sighed in exasperation. 

This is one oblivious miraculous holder...

"You have patrol Marinette..." Tikki tried to change the subject. "What time is it Tikki...?" 

"8:34am...you kept on prancing and asking, so...now you're late..." Tikki deadpanned.

"What? I can't face him again, Tikki!" said Marinette worriedly. 

"I know you can Marinette, be brave!" Tikki encouraged.

The blunette took a deep breath. It took her a moment to collect her thoughts, to be physically and mentally ready. She masked her slight paranoia with a forced smile.

"Let's do this! Tikki, spots on!" 

*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*

Marinette was in Miss. Mendeleiev's class, fighting off a serious case of drowsiness after last night's patrol. Well, she was swinging around the city just yesterday. The memory of Chat Noir and that kiss was still bouncing around Marinette's head like a rogue yo-yo.

The kiss resulted in the encounter with Chat Noir being more than uncomfortable. She was a blushing and stammering mess, and he was, rightfully confused as to why Ladybug was acting that way. 

Chat Noir however, being his usual self, persisted with those vexing nicknames like bugaboo and m'ladybug.

As Miss. Mendeleiev droned on about goodness knows what, Marinette found herself doodling in her sketchpad. And wouldn't you know it, a chibi Chat Noir made its way onto the paper. She blushed, realizing the cat had set up camp in her mind, and he wasn't planning on leaving anytime soon. All because of a damned, stupid kiss.

Though I wouldn't say it was that stupid. It actually felt goo—

No! Bad Marinette bad Marinette bad Marinette...!

Might as well finish the drawing, she thought. She started sketching Chat Noir's bell and put hints of blush on his face to make it look cute. To be honest, she enjoyed drawing him, but she could do that later; she might get in trouble.

For what seemed like forever, class ended. Marinette walked outside with Alya. "Girl, can you believe it? Ladybug and Chat Noir defeated yet another supervillain, Gaea, with a spoon!" said the blogger. 

Marinette admitted it was a pretty weird lucky charm at first, but she figured it out. "Huh, I almost don't believe it, that is odd," she replied.

"So, how was your date with Adrien yesterday?" Alya smirked. 

"Good," Marinette answered without another word.

"You're confusing me, usually you would be swooning, saying," said Alya, before continuing and taking a deep breath, "'Alya, he looked so dreamy, his eyes were so, his shirt was so, and his hair was so—' that. You'd be saying that. Are you even the real Marinette?" said the girl in a high-pitched voice, mimicking Marinette exaggeratedly.

Marinette chuckled at the other's mocking tone, but she knew Alya was right. Usually, she would be swooning and looking at one of Adrien's photos on her phone by now. Was it because of Chat? Maybe, but it's not like she liked him or anything; she loved Adrien and Adrien only, not her friend and partner. That was a guarantee.

She heard a notification on Alya's phone. "Sorry, girl, my mom just told me I have to babysit my sisters. I know you really wanted me to go with you, but I can't. You okay going there on your own?" Alya asked her. 

Marinette was looking forward to showing Alya the designs she drew and thought of at Palais de Challiot, but she guessed they wouldn't be doing that. "It's cool, Alya. You can go. I'll be fine," said Marinette as she gave her a smile.

Alya hugged her. "I'll go now, bye, Marinette!" She waved her best friend goodbye and made her way behind the Eiffel Tower.

In a moment of pure grace', Marinette caught her foot on an innocent sidewalk fissure. An audible groan escaped her lips as she inspected the aftermath—a scratch and a sizeable bruise on the right side of her thigh. 

As if that wasn't enough, the cacophony of Parisians' screams reached her ears, signaling another unfortunate soul falling victim to an akumatization spree.

"I CAN'T SEE!"

Marinette heard them shout. It was time for Marinette to turn to Ladybug. She tried her best to stand up, but her rather irritating bruise made it hard for her. She speed-walked behind a building.

Tikki had expressed her concern, but there wasn't time. The girl transformed and turned into Ladybug. She swung her yoyo and landed on a building to find the villain and its Akuma. 

"Bow before Luminex, where shadows cower in the face of my blinding brilliance!" The villain's voice echoed throughout the chaos. Her gaze swept around the scene. It was horrifying. Innocent people had white eyes, unable to see as Luminex bent the rays of the sun to manipulate them according to his will.

Ladybug looked at the scene and her heart felt somehow less heavy than it usually would feel. Well, not that she was lazy per se to deal with the akuma, but rather, it was the screams of horror and daily torture of hawkmoth to the Parisians that disturbed her.

It was getting more and more real, but ever since her time with Adrien and Chat Noir, her mind was too occupied to even be stressed about it. Or, rather, Chat Noir had taken her mind off of it entirely.

She heard a soft thump and a velvety voice.

"De-light-ed to see you, bugaboo." He tilted his head in an infuriatingly attractive manner. "Luminex? Sounds like a light bulb company, eh?"

Memories of the kiss seemed to flash in her mind like a movie.

i shouldn't be thinking of that, not right now!

The heroine in red shook her head back to reality and spun her yoyo like a shield just in case, rolling her eyes in annoyance. "Chat, be serious for once," said Ladybug, irritated.

"Anything for you, m'lady..." Chat Noir bowed.

"Ladybug, Chat Noir, hand me your miraculous, and the sight of these people may be restored!" The villain shouted at them.

"Never!" They yelled in unison.

"Well then you're going to regret that." Luminex lifted his arms, the sun's light a puppeteer for his motives.

"Not Likely."

*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*

"Pound it!"

Ladybug and Chat Noir fist-bumped. The person that was akumatized to Luminex was already at home, safe and sound. Chat Noir's ring beeped, and in a few seconds, Ladybug's earrings beeped as well.

"As much as I hate parting with you m'lady, I have to go. Goodbye for now." The hero kissed the back of her hand before extending his stick and vaulting away as she waved farewell.

Detransforming behind a large tree, Tikki came out once her suit had dissipated. "Well done today Marinette!" exclaimed Tikki cheerfully. 

"Mhm, thanks. Now hide, before anyone passes by," she told the kwami. Tikki then nodded and flew in her sling bag.

Marinette sat on the stairs and took her sketchpad out of her backpack. 

It was a late afternoon and the girl wanted to relax by sketching, doodling, and drawing. A notification from her phone interrupted her from starting to draw. It was Sabine, asking her where she was. 

Her mother already knew the place that inspired the girl the most, although — Palais de Challiot, so Marinette told her she was there, drawing to her heart's content.

Another message bubble appeared, with Sabine saying she and Tom were to be in some fancy hotel to cook there for a project, and they were to stay for at least a week. "So this means..." Marinette thought aloud.

It meant she would have to be responsible for maintaining the bakery, so it would have to be closed for a while. It's not like that boy in a cat suit could help, anyway.

I just can't get my mind off him, can I?

Marinette texted her mom and dad goodbye and put her phone away. She saw Mr. Ramier, the guy who was akumatized to Mr. Pigeon, and the guy who they happened to save twenty-four times...so far. He was feeding Pigeons, sitting at the bench in front of her, as per usual.

"Good Afternoon Mr. Ramier," the blunette greeted him, spinning her pencil with her fingers. 

He looked back at her and smiled. "Good Afternoon to you as well Marinette, still drawing your designs I see?" 

"Actually, I haven't quite started yet," replied Marinette, scratching the back of her head. 

"Oh? How come?" asked Ramier, feeding his pigeons raw rice with chunks of bread. 

"I'm lacking inspiration for my designs," she answered.

"Hmm, how about the superheroes of Paris?" he suggested, and then it hit her.

Chat Noir!

Marinette flipped her sketchbook open and spun her sharpened pencil. The sound of paper rustling was comforting in a way. "Thanks, Mr. Ramier," said the girl. 

He smiled in return and continued feeding his pigeons. She started making hoodies, dresses, shirts, all of which happened to be Chat Noir themed. All the designs for the outfits she drew looked really cute and beautiful. She was proud of it all.

Chat Noir was the perfect inspiration. Now that she was finished writing all these designs, she could draw Chat Noir himself. It felt oddly satisfying for her to be drawing a chibi version of him earlier. So why not surprise him with drawings of him? 

I started sketching and drawing Chat Noirs in different art styles. I could give this to him, as a gift, a thank you, for being a great and supportive friend. But how do I give this to him?

It's not like he'd come later. That wasn't a guarantee. I guess I could just keep it until we ever meet...

She checked the time seeing it was getting pretty late. She had trouble walking to the bakery because of the scratch and her bruise, but she eventually made it.

Marinette took the key under the potted plant and unlocked the door. She put the key back, under the plant, and fully opened the door, being greeted by darkness and silence. She closed the door and locked it, turning on the lights.

She went up the stairs and opened the hatch. She went into her room, took off her sling bag, and put it on her desk. 

Tikki phased out. "Remember to do your homework, Marinette," she reminded.

"Yeah, yeah," she responded, evidently enthusiastic and eager to do her homework. She's like my damn mom sometimes.

Marinette sat at her desk, diligently working on her math homework. The questions flowed, and she swiftly tackled them, completing the task in about an hour or less. Suddenly, an unexpected knock echoed from her trapdoor. 

Startled, Marinette scurried up to the loft and opened it, finding Chat Noir on the other side. Despite the surprise, a smile encased her lips, and she welcomed him in. "Hey. What are you doing here?"

A playful expression graced his features. "Can't I visit my Princess?" His smile then faded when he saw Marinette's state. He looked serious, a little angered even. "What happened?"

"What's it to you?" She giggled. Chat pointed to the visible scar and bruise, a tinge of anger in his voice. Marinette attempted to explain, but Chat interrupted, expressing his discomfort at seeing her thigh like that. Grateful for his care, Marinette assured him, "Well thank you for being concerned and all that...but really, I'm fine."

"Who the hell did this?" His eyebrows were pinned together as he eyed her bruise, veins almost popping. There was that tiny fear that a particular blonde in a ponytail hurt her. The guilt was consuming him as he visualized the possibility. 

"You're overreacting, you know that?" Her arms folded. She retorted seeing his skeptical face, "I'm serious! You don't think I'm some loser who'd let herself get beaten up, don't you?"

His expression morphed into a playful one, sensing her frustration. "So what really happened then?" Chat Noir feigned a concerned expression before smirking widely. "Whatever it is, it did a good job. Your bruise looks terrible." 

"Jerk," she spat. "It was concrete...I fell, and uh...yeah." Marinette relented, providing instructions for the first aid kit's location, and they settled on her chaise. With gentle care, Chat cleaned her wounds with a fragrant and damp washcloth, placed a band-aid on the scar, and applied an ice pack to the bruise. "Thank you, Chat."

Marinette expressed her gratitude, to which he replied with a small but sweet smile. "It's nothing, princess."

Curiosity gnawed at Marinette, and she decided to get to the bottom of Chat's visit. "Chat, I wanted to ask you, why are you here? Like really?" she inquired, her gaze fixed on him.

"What do you mean? I came here to keep you company." He arched a brow. She glared at him, silently demanding the real reason. "Okay, okay...geez" Chat Noir held his hands up defensively. "I just felt a little lonely back at my house. Sounds pathetic, I know. But I request that you don't pity me, princess. 

"I couldn't go out and meet my friends in my civilian form since I wasn't allowed to, I saw your bakery at my window, and you get the idea," he explained. 

"Why couldn't you meet up with your other friends?" She craned her head.

"What a way to tell me you don't want me here," he joked, snickering, yet, his ears were drooped. "To keep it short, my father's really protective of me. I have to be the perfect son, get me? Many people like me, but only because I'm popular, rich, and all that. Dad hasn't been spending much time with me ever since my mom passed away."

Marinette felt extremely bad for him, he lost his mom, he didn't have a good and loving dad, and people only liked him because of his popularity. Marinette empathized with him. "I'm sure that if I met you in your civilian form, I would like you for who you are...a-as a friend, of course," she reassured him, willing to offer her room as a haven whenever he felt lonely. 

His situation seemed oddly familiar, like she had heard this before, but she just shrugged it off.

"Every time you feel lonely, sad, or even hungry, you're welcome to come to my room and to me, whenever you want," she stated, it was fun being with him as well, so it was basically a win-win. 

"Thank you, Marinette. Though there is this one girl, she likes me in my civilian form, for me, my personality," said Chat Noir cheekily. 

She didn't understand why he was looking at her like that, as if he was saying it was her, but she didn't even know him in his civilian form. And instead of trying to understand why he was smirking, Marinette felt weird...mad, even?

"Sounds...nice." Who was this girl? What if Chat likes her back? Ugh, what do I care...why am I even mad? Am I jealous?

Pfft, no, definitely not...

"But sadly, I can't tell you who she is; you might be able to figure out who I am..." Chat admitted, and Marinette nodded understandingly. "Now that you mention it, I am kind of hungry," he mentioned while patting his belly.

"You know," she paused, resting her head's weight on her palms. "My parents aren't home."

Chat Noir felt a warm heat spread on his neck as a blush crept beneath his mask. "A-ah...what? I mean, isn't it a little too early for that, Marinette?" He rubbed his nape nervously, fidgeting. "I mean, I haven't even graduated yet...but if...uhm...you want..." The boy hesitated but continued. "We do have the house all to ourselves..."

...

Marinette hit his head with the palm of her head. "We're minors, you perv," she deadpanned. "I meant, since my parents aren't home, the kitchen's free to use."

Chat Noir's eyes widened, and his face turned an even deeper shade of red. "Oh, right! Kitchen! Food! Baking! Got it." He chuckled nervously, trying to play off his embarrassment. "Got a bit ahead of myself there, didn't I? My bad." Chat Noir desperately tried to steer the conversation away from his unintentionally suggestive thoughts. 

Marinette shook her head, amused by his flustered state. "Let's go down."

They went down and into the kitchen to start. "Okay, what do you knead?" asked Chat Noir with a grin of a little boy.

"Okay, so—" Chat Noir's snicker, cut her off. She was confused until she noticed the pun. "Really, Chat?" The blunnette stared at him blankly, peeved.

She took their aprons and wore hers while he wore his. They didn't really know what to bake yet. "So, what do you wanna bake?" 

"I don't know, something basic and delicious I guess." Chat Noir shrugged. 

"Hmm, basic and delicious. How about chocolate chip cookies?" questioned Marinette. "But donuts sound just as good," she added.

"Why not make both? I'm sure we can bake it happen," he suggested. 

Marinette rolled her eyes. "Good idea, but bad pun," she replied. She began telling him what ingredients to get, while I took the bowls, ladles, spoons, and everything else.

*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*

The dough for the donut was ready. She told Chat Noir to knead it while she was making the strawberry and chocolate glaze while the cookies were baking in the oven. 

"Ugh, this dough is being a pain. I thought gloves would make it easier. I just want donuts," the hero grumbled. 

"Need a hand there? Poor you." She was mixing the chocolate glaze. 

"Hehe, got myself into a sticky situation," Chat Noir nervously admitted.

She grabbed a handful of flour. "Alright, Chat boy, move. I'm giving you a crash course." Sliding in behind him, she slipped her arms under his. 

"Yes ma'am!" he replied, tone eager. Flour on hands and dough, she initiated the kneading.

"Sprinkle some flour, Chat. Keeps things from getting too clingy. Kneading's steady, not too fast, not too slow," the blunette instructed. 

"Don't you mean 'You knead to put a little flour'?'" The wannabe comedian cracked a joke. 

"You want to learn or not—"

He nodded his head exaggeratedly. "Okay, okay..."

"No roughhousing with the dough. We don't want bubbles...like this, got it?" Their hands moved in sync. "And then... uh, well." She realized their position and blushed. 

"Something up, princess? Did I mess it up?" Chat asked, genuine concern in his voice.

Marinette withdrew her hands, arms crossed, face beet red. Unaware of why she was acting weird, he looked at her. "It's nothing, Chat," she muttered, still red-faced.

"Sure about that?" he asked, a hint of doubt. Grabbing some flour, she playfully threw it on his face. "Hey!" The flour hit his face and mask. She laughed as he resembled a white cat.

He laughed with me and we started throwing flour at each other. After all that, our laughter died down. "You know what? I got a new name for you," Marinette told him. 

"What is it?" asked the hero with a tilt of his head.

"Chat Blanc...!"

They both burst into laughter, the shared amusement lingering in the air. "Good one!" he chimed in during their fit of giggles.

"Alright Chat Blanc, let's finish those donuts and cookies."

*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*

"Please?" Chat pleaded repetitively.

Marinette rolled her eyes, pinching her nose bridge. "Chat, I told you, I don't want to."  

"Come on Mari, just say something like, 'I prefer the cookie than the donut, it tastes batter.' But that's just an example, I actually like both equally, but still! You get the idea," said the green-eyed boy, looking rather childish.

"If you like puns so much, why don't you just marry them. Weirdough." She folded her arms proudly.

Chat chuckled. "There we go," he mumbled. "See? Not so hard right?"

"Whatever," said Marinette, brushing it off, "the strawberry glazed donut...I haven't tasted it yet." She took the donut and popped it in her mouth. "Mhmm, it's really sweet, I love it!" She groaned at how delicious it was. 

"Muffin is sweeter than you princess." He began wiping the crumbs on her face, her cheeks turning a bright pink in turn.

"You've been waiting all day to say that pun didn't you?" questioned the girl, though it was more of a statement than a question. She tried to brush off the warmth spreading on her neck.

He slightly shook his head. "I mean it, Marinette, you're one of the kindest and sweetest girls I have ever met," said Chat Noir, putting his gloved hand away from the blunette's cheek.

"T-thanks..." Marinette mumbled, feeling her face heat up. They exchanged smiles, and she got up to clean the bowls and other dishes. He joined her in the cleanup.

Once everything was done, Marinette said, "Appreciate the help, Chat."

He quipped, "It's the yeast I could do." Marinette rolled her eyes and chuckled, secretly finding his puns amusing.

Chat's ring beeped. "I think I should go, princess. Before the cat gets out of the bag." 

"Sure, I'll go with you," replied Marinette. They headed up to her balcony. 

"Well, goodbye, Marinette. Thanks for everything." Chat nodded, ready to make his exit.

Marinette gripped his arm, stopping him. Chat Noir pivoted to face her, his eyes a deep shade of green and filled with curiosity. "Marinette? Is something wrong?" he inquired.

At that moment, her head was a jumble of mixed feelings. She wanted him to come back, missing the moments they shared together when he wasn't even gone yet. Not to mention, she was itching to show him the drawings she'd done, each one trying to capture the real Chat Noir.

"Think you'll come back?" Marinette asked, a blush tinting her cheeks. He offered a warm smile.

Huh, this is very friendly. 

"Eh? Paranoid already?" he teased. "Well, don't worry. No matter what, princess, I'll always swing by for you."

"I promise..."

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~4254 words~