Chapter Text
Another birthday completely ignored by his father and after the appalling week he'd had, Adrien Agreste was ready to just cut loose. It was a bad idea but he decided he really couldn't care less as he stole into his father's liquor cabinet and grabbed the bottle furthest in the back. What came out was a bottle of red wine that Adrien knew his father didn't like and therefore was unlikely to miss.
Shifting into the heroic persona of Chat Noir, he leapt out of the window and into the night, running from his civilian life without any direction and knowing that in the morning he would have to return.
A quarter into the bottle of wine and Chat Noir was starting to feel the effects of the alcohol running through his system. He leapt from roof to roof. Each leap took him further away from the cold dark house he had to call home. The night was welcome reprieve, the key to the cage that was his life and the only time he fully able to open up and have fun. Launching himself from a high alcove, Chat dived into a perfect tumble and carried on running until he reached a familiar bakery with a familiar figure sitting on the balcony, drawing in her pink sketchbook and oblivious to the night around her.
Marinette Dupain-Cheng was one of his classmates and good friend, albeit one he was not close to as he wanted as she always seemed to go red and stammer a little in his presence before leaving whenever they were alone (though it was nowhere near as bad as it had been two years ago). She was kind, hard working and always listened. And if he remembered correctly, incredibly brave and clever during the time with Evillustrator about two years ago. 'Merde. Has that much time really passed?' Chat thought as he debated if he should cross over and greet the young woman.
The choice was taken out of his hands as Marinette froze suddenly and snapped her head towards his hiding place. She stood slowly, dropping her sketchbook and pencil onto the deckchair and peered into the darkness. "Who's there?" Her eyes darted back and forth looking for something in the darkness. Chat huffed. He'd give her credit. Not many people had senses that good.
"Easy, Princess. Just me." He leapt high up and landed on the barrier. Chat gave an easy grin as Marinette relaxed and smiled back. Her pyjamas consisted of soft pink pants, a white t-shirt and ironically, a fluffy Chat Noir dressing gown complete with a hood and cat ears thrown over the top. "Nice dressing gown."
Marinette rolled her eyes and smiled back, cheeks darkening in the soft light of her balcony. "I was aiming for a Ladybug one but this one has a hood and is really cosy. So what brings the famous Monsieur Chat Noir to my home? Shouldn't you be out saving Paris?" Marinette dropped onto the deckchair and gesture to the white chest in front of her with a friendly smile.
Chat covered up a bitter laugh and slumped on to the box, slipping the bottle of wine out of sight on the floor though he wasn't quick enough with either action, judging by the worried frown on Marinette's face. He quickly gave a cheeky grin. "Paris seems to be quiet this summer's night. Even the lovely Ladybug has decided to stay in this evening. Though I didn't plan on it, seeing your face has made my late night run worth it."
Marinette raised an eyebrow that looked eerily similar to the one his lady had given him many times. She leaned closer and narrowed her eyes at him. "You don't have to say anything but I am free to listen." Chat had forgotten how intuitive she could be. "I mean, if you want to. That bottle of wine doesn't look as full as it should and you probably shouldn't running around rooftops drunk." Marinette looked down at her hands which were twisting in her lap and she blushed lightly. "I know it's not my business but I think a lot of people would be very upset if you got hurt. Especially Ladybug."
Chat blinked at the girl next to him. As he twisted around, he propped his elbows on his knee and balanced his chin in his hands. Leaning forward, he peered at her inquisitively. "What make you say that, Princess?" He was genuinely curious as to what she would say.
Marinette looked him straight in the eye with a confidence he'd rarely seen from her. "It's pretty much the worse kept secret in all Paris. Everyone knows you two are rarely apart and trust each other immensely. I heard about the Akuma attack a few days ago when you got thrown into the river Seine and she dived in straight after you with no hesitation. She also once told me she trusted you with her life." Marinette rested her hands on her lap and tilted her head to the side slightly. "What would make you think otherwise?"
Chat leaned back in shock. He knew his lady trusted him but to say out loud and to a civilian! "First of all Princess, when did Ladybug say that?"
Marinette rubbed the back of her neck and blushed again. "I don't know if you remember a few years back with that guy who drew things that came to life..."
"Ah, The Evillustrator that wanted to take you on a date? You were very clever and very brave. Almost as brave as the Lady herself." Chat grinned as Marinette's cheeks deepened in colour and she looked away.
"Yeah, him. She told me there was no one she trusted more than you. With her life, my life and the entire city of Paris, you're the one she trusts most."
Chat let out a sigh. It was nice to be reassured like that. To know that Ladybug did appreciate his help and their partnership. A chill crawled down his spine and he curled into himself lightly. Regardless of the fact it was the middle of summer, it was also the middle of the night and the wind so high up was not helping in any way. A movement in the corner of his eye caught his attention.
Marinette had a red blanket in her hands which she offered to Chat. "My parents are asleep at the moment. Did you want a drink or something? It's still pretty cold out here. I make a really good hot chocolate." Marinette gave a small grin at the hero as he pulled the blanket around his shoulders and leant back into the stone wall behind him.
"That would be purr-fect. Thank you Princess." He chuckled as she made her way into the house and gazed upwards. It was an unusually clear night and he was able to pick out the constellations his mother had once shown him.
Chat was so wrapped up in his thoughts that the appearance of a steaming mug of hot chocolate made him jump lightly. He grinned in thanks to the woman next to him as he took the green mug from her and gazed up at the stars again.
"Beautiful night, no?" Marinette commented as she sipped at her own blue mug.
"Oui. It's nice to look up and know that no matter how much life down here gets bad, the stars will always be there." Chat took a deep gulp of the drink. It was excellent. It was the perfect blend of creamy chocolate and sweetness, just the thing for a cold night. The company was nice too. "It's hard though down here on earth. Lonely too." Chat froze when the sentence went past his lips mindlessly.
Marinette frowned at Chat before setting her drink down on the wall and knelt in front of him with her hands resting on his knees. "What do you by that? Don't you have friends? Family?" Her face frowned up at him as she tried to make eye contact.
Chat tried to avoid looking at her but seeing her face so open and kind loosen his lips. "I don't have many real friends due to my work and well, I only have my father who's... he's distant. He cares but it's... just he..." Chat's shoulders dropped and he shrugged helplessly. "It's hard being with my father being so distant, not having many friends and my home doesn't really have a warm feeling to it. Work has been a bit trying lately. Too much stuff to get done and not enough time to do it in. Sometimes being Chat Noir is the only thing I have going for me and even then I wonder if...MMMPH" The rest of his sentence was lost behind the firm hand over his lips and a firmer set of blue eyes bored into his.
"Ladybug is an incredibly lucky woman to have someone like you with her. You help so many people and you protect us all. I can't count the amount of times you must have thrown yourself between danger and someone else. She wouldn't be able to do even half of what she can without you. As for the other stuff, your father must be really stupid to be missing out on such an amazing son." Chat wondered how Marinette would react if she knew exactly who she just insulted, "Your work needs to understand you aren't a robot and they need to plan out their time better. And, finally, if people can't see you for who you really are, forget them and anyone who knows you and doesn't like you are idiots as well!" Marinette had stood up at some point during her rant and had her hands braced on her hips with a fervent look on her face. She bent down and cradled Chat's face gently with both hands. Her eyes soften and she smiled a small sweet smile that sent Chat's heart pounding. "You, Chat Noir, are brilliant, no matter who is behind that mask of yours and I would think myself so lucky if I ever got to have a friend even half as loyal and wonderful as you are."
Chat looked up at the astonishing girl before him. He never knew she could get this passionate and it was an amazing look on her. He returned the smile gently and whispered, "Thank you Princess."
The silent moment between them was interrupted by Chat's ring being to beep. They both blinked and glanced down at the green paw that only had three claws left. It was a reminder from Plagg that Chat should head back home and Adrien needed his sleep. "I suppose I should get going." Chat stood and down the remainder of his hot chocolate quickly, passing the mug and the blanket to Marinette once he finished. He grasped Marinette's wrist to hold her back as she went to put the mug inside after draping the blanket over her arm. "It was nice seeing you again. Your friends are very lucky to have someone like you in their lives."
Marinette gave grin as she blushed and glanced down before looking back at the hero. "It was honestly no problem."
Maybe it was the wine still running through his body.
Maybe it was the sweet smile, passionate words and red cheeks.
Or maybe it was just a moment of pure impulsiveness and daring, protected and enhanced by the mysteriousness of the night.
Chat tugged Marinette forward lightly, cupped her cheek and kissed her slowly. Their lips slotted together as if they had done this before and both could taste the drink they had only moments before. Marinette's lips were like soft velvet between his own and he broke the kiss leisurely. Marinette's face was redder than before and she was left gasping for air quietly. She blinked her eyes open lazily and gazed at him with wide glazed eyes. Freshly kissed was a good look on her.
Chat gave a sly grin and leapt onto the next building. "Good Night Princess."
Marinette wavered on the spot slightly as she breathed out, "Good night Chat Noir."
Adrien stumbled into his room and collapsed onto his bed, groaning as he realised he'd left the wine on Marinette's roof. He rolled over and Plagg floated down onto his pillow and snickered.
"Smooth move, Casanova."
Adrien groaned again as he buried his face into his pillow, "How am I going to look her in the eye tomorrow?"
Plagg cackled.