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Looking at the time on her yo-yo, Marinette took a deep breath. She could back down, it wasn't too late, but she knew that this was what she wanted.
So she pressed call and listened to the magical dial tone. Now, if fate wanted to give her the middle finger, he just wouldn't pick up. Timing this to perfection might have been impossible.
"M'lady?"
It was on.
"Oh, kitty. I caught you. I have a problem." She was doing her best to sound breathless as if she was tired after she had exhausted all other options and was now desperate enough to call him.
"What is it?" He didn't sound as if he minded being bothered this late. After patrol was already over. God, Chat was really too good for this world.
"I got locked out. My roommate is out, I don't have my key and... I forgot the window." Saying this wasn't easy. She hated sounding so incompetent and helpless. However, this was the effect she was aiming for.
"Oh no."
"I hate asking you for help but..." She was supposedly in an impossible situation.
"No, it's ok. Isn't it lucky that my roommate is out tonight as well?" Lucky or suspiciously convenient? He didn't question it. Too good, too good. "Meet me in five."
"Thank you so much!"
On the run back to the spot where they had parted earlier, Marinette couldn't help questioning her sanity. What in the world had possessed her to be trying this? Especially after all these years.
She should be happy that Chat had moved on. He had been nothing but an exemplary partner to her. It would have been so awkward if he'd never gotten over her. And yet, she now found herself frustrated over the very thing she had wanted before.
She couldn't explain what had prompted this. She just needed to try one last time. To see if there was anything left or she was just completely unlovable. Ok, this was unfair to Chat. She wasn't doing it because she was lonely, although she was. She wanted him.
So much that she was doing this crazy thing that could completely backfire. Oh God. Maybe she should just call it off.
Of course it was too late now. Chat was already waiting for her, a familiar silhouette against the night sky. She couldn't just tell him that she had lied to him.
"I'm so sorry," she still said. "I don't want to inconvenience you..." For what it was worth, this wasn't a lie. She really hoped that he'd be happy with the whole thing pretty soon.
"It's ok, m'lady, let's go," he reassured her quickly.
"It won't be a problem?" She hesitated. She was going to his apartment! It was insane and very reckless. And yet she wanted it so much.
"We'll be careful," he shrugged.
The casual way he was acting had to be a good sign. If he didn't want her there, if this was a mistake for him, he wouldn't have been so blasé about it.
So she let him guide her through the rooftops until she felt completely lost and was sure that she couldn't possibly find her way there on her own.
The door to his balcony was conveniently open but he was also home alone. This was why she couldn't miss this opportunity.
But once she followed him inside and the what was about to happen became too real she felt nervous. Even more nervous.
"Make yourself at home," he said as he started rummaging around. "I've just changed the sheets, so don't worry about that."
And then he opened the door out of his room and she saw the bundle of blankets and pillows in his arms in the hallway light. Panic flooded her body.
"Where are you going?" She cried out. This wasn't part of the plan.
"I'll take the couch. It's ok."
"Kitty, no! I can't just take your bed and leave you out there." What was more, this was the last thing she wanted. She needed him there with her.
"It's nothing, I'll live." Did he sound amused? She couldn't decide.
"I insist."
"On?"
Ugh. Was he doing this on purpose?
"Stay here with me. We can share." It was almost too much to say this out loud and pretend that it was nothing.
"I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable..."
Either he was really this good or he just didn't want to do it. Another bout of panic. Just how far could she push this?
"I don't mind. Please."
She was practically begging him. There wasn't much more she could do without revealing her real motivation. If he still said no...
"Oh, ok," he said, taking a step back. Relief almost knocked her off her feet. "Go ahead and use the bathroom then, I'll wait for you here. Do you need anything?"
"Um, maybe a shirt to sleep in," she mumbled, suddenly shy. Was he going to comment on that? Had he expected her to insist on sleeping in her clothes or something?
But Chat didn't say anything. He just dropped the bundle in his arms on the bed and reached into a drawer before throwing a shirt in her arms.
"It will be big on you, but... " He shrugged.
"Thanks."
It took all she had not to sprint to the bathroom and not to look around too much in the hallway. Not that she could recognise anything there. This was such a crazy thought. But just in case.
Once safely inside, Marinette detransformed and leaned against the door with a sigh.
"Marinette, what... "
"Not now, Tikki," she hissed. She couldn't face explaining her plan to her kwami. It didn't concern her anyway. "Go and find something to eat with Plagg. I won't need you until tomorrow."
"Well, if you're sure that you know what you're doing," Tikki shrugged.
She wasn't. This could still be a huge mistake. But she had gotten this far so the only option was to keep going.
Quickly she took her clothes off and allowed herself a glance around the bathroom. It was surprisingly clean and well-stocked for what she would have expected from two guys. She took a fluffy towel from a bunch in the corner and turned the shower on. The warm water helped a little to calm her nerves but she tried not to linger because she knew that Chat was waiting for her.
After that, she dried herself and threw on Chat's t-shirt. It was big on her, but it was also soft and smelled clean. She wondered if the bed sheets would smell the same as she hastily brushed her teeth with а finger and some toothpaste. Catching her reflection in the mirror above the sink, she almost blushed. She was in Chat's apartment, wearing his shirt and preparing to go to bed with him. Surreal. Her only regret was not having any clean underwear, but she could live with recycling hers.
Taking her clothes with her, she headed back to his room. Conscious of the fact that she was no longer transformed, she paused in front of the door and knocked.
"Turn the lights in the hallway off, I'll be fine," Chat called from inside. So she did that and then entered the dark room.
It was disorienting because she wasn't familiar with the layout of the room and she almost tripped in a chair by the door.
"Careful."
Warm fingers wrapped around her elbow, steadying her and bringing with them the shocking realisation that Chat had detransformed as well. Flustered, she dropped her clothes in the chair. Then he guided her to the bed.
"I'll be right back," he said, leaving her and her wildly beating heart alone.
"Goodness," she whispered to herself as she found her way under the covers. The bed smelled as lovely as Chat's shirt. Was it strange how this didn't surprise her? Nevermind.
She lay down and willed herself to calm down. She trusted Chat and knew that he would never do anything she wasn't comfortable with. The way he had assumed that she'd need the bed to herself at first only confirmed this. She also knew what she wanted. There was no need to panic.
When the door opened a few minutes later she still jumped a little.
"It's me. You know, in case you were wondering," he said in the darkness, making her laugh at her own jitteriness. "I'm lying down," he continued, a smile in his voice, as she felt the mattress dip under his weight.
"Are you expecting me to run away screaming?" She teased him, some of her confidence back.
"You still have a chance to reconsider having me here. I'll be fine either way."
He was already in bed, but he was nowhere near her. The bed was big enough that she could just turn around and go to sleep without being bothered by his presence if she wanted this. Yeah, right. As if she wasn't still incredibly aware of his presence, listening in to him breathing and just wanting to reach out and touch him. She didn't want to sleep.
They lay in silence for a while. It shouldn't have come as a surprise that he had left her alone. He was so obviously determined to make sure she was comfortable that anything else was not an option. But maybe she had hoped for a joke about being in his bed. Or wearing his clothes. Anything.
"Do you have a girlfriend?" She blurted out suddenly. She wanted to take it back almost suddenly, but she also had to know. Maybe this really was a huge mistake
"No," Chat all but laughed. "No one is going to mind me having you here, relax. Not that I'm going to tell anyone, but still."
Ok, this was good to know. But then what was the problem?
"Are you in love with someone else then?"
Very subtle, Marinette. Just go and ask him outright why he's not still pining over you.
"No." There was a hint of amusement in his reply and she felt the mattress shake as he turned around, presumably to face her. 'What is troubling you, m'lady?" Now he sounded closer, right next to her pillow, and his voice was softer.
With a sigh, Marinette turned around as well. She couldn't see him in the darkness but it felt right to be facing him. Her arm was outside the covers and she had to squeeze her fingers into a fist before she did anything stupid.
"I just... I'm here in your bed and you're acting as if I'm your roommate or something," she muttered.
"Trust me, I would have never mistaken you for my roommate," he chuckled. Then warmth enveloped her fingers, making them instantly release their hold. She knew that touch. It could make her calm down anywhere, anytime. Except when it also made her pulse quicken because he was touching her! "Why don't you help me out and tell me how you would like me to act?"
"Don't talk to me as if I'm a child," she all but pouted, even if he couldn't see her.
"Wrong again. I'm very aware that you're no longer a child. It's just that I could really use some guidance so that I don't do anything inappropriate."
There was something about his words that made tingles dance down her spine. Maybe they were on the right track.
"Do you want me?" She asked in a low voice. The thumb that had been drawing reassuring circles against her palm stilled.
"Do you want the honest answer to that?" He said eventually.
"Yes, kitty, I do, that's why I'm asking," she almost groaned. She was this close to losing it.
"First, tell me why you're here." His fingers were now moving up her arm, leaving goosebumps in their wake. It was a bit distracting.
"I got locked out, you know that."
"The truth, please."
Well, ok, if they were doing this.
"What do you want to hear? That I'm desperate enough that I planted myself in your bed because you wouldn't touch me otherwise?"
"I touch you all the time," he said, just as he paused where the sleeve ended on her arm.
"Because you have to. I know how it is in the middle of battle," she sighed. "But you no longer touch me as if... well, as if you want to."
Was it weird that she felt like that? She had been the one insisting on space and being just friends and... And yet, she was missing this. Missing him. It hadn't happened overnight. It had taken her too long to realise what was nagging her. Why she needed more.
"I never had the right to touch you because I wanted to," he said, barely concealed pain in his voice.
He was right. She hated the fact that he was right. She shouldn't hold it against him that he had done what she had wanted him to do.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "It's not fair, I know. Just because I want it now... "
"This is why you're here," he said suddenly, his hand gripping her arm.
"Because I can't just sit down and talk to you about it like a normal adult," she admitted.
"We agree on that," he snorted. "Ok then... " His hand disappeared and she felt him tug at the covers. "Where the hell are you in all this?" He said, making her giggle. Then his arm was around her and he was pulling her to him. Oh God, it was happening. "Hey."
He was much closer. Close enough for her to feel his bare legs brush against hers. Close enough to put her hand on his bare chest. Oh.
"Hey," she whispered. She lifted her head and felt his hair tickle her face as he leaned in.
"Is this real, m'lady?"
"Hard to believe, right?" She shook with silent laughter. "If anyone had told me years ago that I would be trying to seduce you... "
"Is this what you're trying to do?"
"I thought that we already established this."
His hand was rubbing her back, distracting her once again.
"Is this all that you want?" He asked, a little hesitant. "I mean, I wouldn't mind. I would just appreciate knowing."
"No, you silly cat," she said quickly. "I actually went and fell in love with you. Somewhere along the line. I was so deep in denial that it didn't register for a long time..."
His free hand cupped her cheek, his thumb touching her lower lip and effectively ending her rambling.
"It would be very embarrassing if this turned out to be a dream. I might have dozed off..."
"Kitty..." She was actually pleading.
"Let me savour this moment. I've waited years."
"And I'm dying over here so plea-"
His lips were on hers. Chat was kissing her. And Marinette was melting. Every second of tortuous hesitation that had led her to this was worth it. She had been right to risk it all. Because feeling this, being in his arms and getting to kiss him, again, with all that she had, was the best thing.
"I love you."
This was all he said before he kissed her again, harder this time, as her hands tangled in his hair and pulled him closer. His hand moved lower, brushing the hem of the T-shirt, warm fingers teasing her skin. Marinette instinctively lifted her leg and hitched it on his hip, so that she could move closer. He moaned into her mouth, a desperate sound that gave her wings, and then his hand moved up her thigh.
Everything was frightfully easy once she was no longer overthinking it. Anyway, thinking was overrated. Feeling was the real deal. And there was lots and lots of it.
***
The sun was surprisingly bright even with her eyes closed, making Marinette frown in her sleep. She wanted to sleep in but it was no longer an option.
Then she felt something on the back of her head, moving her hair out of the way. Warm lips pressed against the skin of her neck. She hummed happily and nestled further into the warm embrace.
Which was too real. This wasn't a dream. There was someone there with her.
Her eyes flew open to take in a sunlit room and a bed that wasn't hers.
It was Chat that was kissing her. He had been kissing her a lot in the past hours. Along with doing a lot of other wonderful things to her.
To her embarrassment, she whimpered as a slew of memories overwhelmed her.
"I'm this close to doing something stupid. Like opening my eyes."
His voice had the most irresistible huskiness to it. It actually made warmth crawl all over her. It took her a moment to realise what he was saying.
"It's your call," he added, sensing her hesitation.
She loved him. She was mad at herself for the fact that it had taken them years to get together. She was fairly sure that she wanted to spend her life with him. If last night had been any indication, they were meant to be. In every way possible.
So instead of answering, she turned around.
His eyes were still closed. Her heart melted. He was so impossibly sweet.
Her brain caught up a moment later as she lifted a hand to touch him. Adrien. Dear God.
"Open them," she whispered.
For a second, he was blinded by the sun. Then he blinked and his eyes focused on her. All the time she was busy not believing her luck.
He didn't say anything. He just looked at her.
It was almost unfair how the tousled hair and sleepy eyes only added to the already sky-high levels of attractiveness. Poor her.
She saw the corner of his lips quirk up and felt another wave of memories threaten to submerge her in pure, unfiltered desire, but she pushed them to the side. Instead she focused on the spark in his eyes, a devilish glint that made her blood boil. And then it melted, softening to the warm glow of adoration that made her heart skip a beat. There was no doubt about it. It was all him. Chat and Adrien. All in one breathtaking package. Hers for the taking.
"This would be a good moment for you to say that you're not disappointed," he said softly.
Her cheeks warming up, she leaned in and buried her face into his chest.
"That would be an understatement."
He hugged her tightly and kissed the top of her head.
"Does this mean that you can stay for breakfast? Alya and Nino won't be back soon."
Oh, to think just how intertwined their lives had always been. This made the whole thing of them being together so much easier.
"I'd love that."
Giving in now was the right thing. It had always been right. She finally saw it.