Chat Noir tilted his head at the light on at the top window of the Dupain-Cheng's. It was far too late for any of them to be awake. The only reason he was, was because he couldn't stand to be in his house anymore. Exploring the city at night was more interesting than being stuck in his bedroom sulking that he didn't have a father who listened to him. He shouldn't sulk that his mother wasn't around anymore, and he shouldn't take it out on his father, but sometimes... sometimes it was unavoidable. Which is why he was here, now, watching Marinette's silhouette move around her bedroom.

This was highly unusual, so he swung over to the window to check what was happening. Despite his best friend having a crush on her best friend that resulted in the four of them constantly hanging out together, Adrien wouldn't say he was close to Marinette. Sometimes he would argue that they weren't even friends. Although it was difficult to tell who was his friend and who was just trying to get close to him because he was famous. Marinette wasn't in either category as far as he could tell. She was an enigma.
But she was only an enigma to him. Nino always insisted she was easy to read because she always told the truth, or if she didn't, she blushed. It seemed to be only Adrien she was uncomfortable talking to. She even talked to Chat Noir, as far as he could remember. Time to test that theory.
Chat landed on her balcony with a small clatter. The kind you would hear when your cat leaps off a counter. She barely noticed. It took her a moment to look up, and even longer to register what she was seeing.

"Chat Noir?"

This close he could see the bags under her eyes. Her hair was all out of place, and she was wearing teal pyjamas, and she could only keep one eye open.

"As far as I know, a princess needs beauty sleep. Why are you awake?" He asked.

Marinette's gazed straight through him. She scanned the skyline, searching for signs of anything out of place. Anything that might require a ladybug to sort them out.
It would be a first, actually.
Hawkmoth may have been a villain out to steal their miraculous, but he clearly had business hours. He would never release an akuma late at night, or early in the morning. Clearly he valued sleep. Or he thought they did, and knew there'd be no point releasing akuma to steal the miraculous of someone who isn't coming to fight them.

Chat tilted his head in confusion. He could feel her gaze pass through him like a ghost, but that wasn't what confused him. He had never seen Marinette looking so ragged. Her hair was askew, and her pyjama shirt was riding up to show off her cute belly. She had a pen mark across her cheek, accidentally joining together three freckles. There were circles under her eyes, and a vacant stare in them. Also in them was the entire night sky. All the blue of midnight, shining with moonlight stared at him. Or stared through him.

Chat gave a low gasp. It suddenly hit him that this girl was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen in his life. And he had grown up around models.

"Marinette?" He breathed.

Marinette tilted her head and focused on him. It was a zombie stare. One that struck concern straight to his chest. He climbed into the room slowly, unfolding himself till he was straight. Chat Noir was surprised by how wiling she was to accept the situation. She wasn't surprised or impressed or in awe of him in anyway. Chat Noir scooped her into his arms like she was nothing.

"Bedtime."

Marinette linked her arm around his neck. Her mind was running like Internet Explorer with six tabs open. By the time she realised he was carrying her, he was about to lay her on the bed.

"No," she whined.

Marinette pushed him away. She made sure to cover the spot on the bed where Tikki was sleeping. Chat Noir spotted it, and made a note to check that later.

"No?" He asked softly.

"No! I need to finish this," she yawned.

Chat stepped back to let her push past him, and hurry to her desk. The homework on the table was due in the next day. He had finished it yesterday, and thought she had too.

"This can wait until morning," he lied.

He tried to pull her away gently, but she wouldn't let him.

"I've procrastinated for too long Kitty... I need to finish now."

It wasn't procrastination. She was either baking with her parents, or fighting crime with him. Allowances would have been made if she was willing to admit she was ladybug.

"Is there anything I can say to make you sleep?"

"I have three more questions…"

He knew there was no other way to help her. He leaned against her chair, resting his chin on her shoulder. He looked down at the paper and whispered the answers into her year. Unable to fight him away, she wrote what he told her to, and yawned again.
Chat smiled gently. She was even cuter when she was sleepy. Chat scooped her up again, and laid her on the bed. He pulled the covers back enough for her to climb in, and tucked her in afterwards.

"Night princess," he whispered.

Marinette yawned. "Good kitty..."

Marinette drifted off almost immediately. She curled herself up, around a cushion she had covered earlier. Her arm was covering it, protectively now, so he couldn't see what it was. Curious, he made plans to return tomorrow.

Curiosity was Chats worst weakness.

it was late the next night, but not as late. Marinette laid her head on the window to watch the raindrops trail down the glass panes. Tikki sat on her knee that was curled up under her chin.

"How are you doing? You look sad."

"I really want him to really want me, but I really don't know if he can do that," Marinette sighed.

The pain wouldn't break away, and it kept burning up her veins.

She added, glumly, "No matter what I say or do, the message isn't getting through. All I can hear is the sound of my breaking heart."

"I once knew a poor man rich in solitude. He was so unlucky he'd pray for a sunny day and it would rain. He never got anything good because he was scared of it slipping away," Tikki said.

Marinette turned her head to look at Tikki. "What did he do?"

"He's out there somewhere still, but he's happy now. I hear he lives in a mansion with his best friend and has all the cheese he can eat."

"Really? How?"

Tikki fluttered up to nuzzle Marinette under her chin. Softly, she said, "If it's meant to be, fate has a way to get involved."

There was a tapping at the balcony door that made Tikki leap into Marinette's shirt. As she moved she tickled Marinette making her giggle. Chat Noir gave her a strange look as she opened the door. He was dripping water that pooled on her balcony and made her smirk.

"It's cold and raining and I think it's going to storm," he said.

"What's your point?" she asked.

"Will a princess take pity on a cold cat?" he asked, hopefully.

"Is this what happens when a cool cat is too cool?"

"Please?"

Marinette watched him shiver. It made his tail vibrate slightly which made her giggle. He looked pathetic and half frozen, and she pitied him.

"Come on in."

Chat lit up as he hurried into her room, glad to be out of the rain. Marinette hurried out of the room to find him a towel, and to get Tikki out of her shirt.

"Your wings are too delicate for that, they tickle!" Marinette giggled.

Tikki's wing was a little crooked now, but no more dishevelled than the rest of her at that point. She gave an indigent huff, and vanished into Marinette's pocket. Marinette flashed Chat Noir a smile as she handed him the towel. He shivered less as he was wrapped up in the towel, using it like a blanket.

"It's a nice place you have here," he said.

Marinette sat atop her bed while he sat on the chair by her desk. Tikki slipped down her jacket sleeve and into the covers, to hide in the bedside table drawer.

"it's not much, but it's home," Marinette shrugged.

"It's great," he grinned.

"thanks. we finished redecorating last week."

"Redecorating?"

"We had to repaint the ceiling."

Damp had crept in through the roof tiles which had caused patches to pool on Marinette's celling. They had cleared it away, fixed the roof, and just finished repainting her celling. It had meant she had to take down the posters of Adrien, just in case the paint ran down the wall, which she was incredibly grateful about now.

"Well it's warm. I like that," Chat said.

Marinette glanced at his tail. He was shivering less now, so it wasn't vibrating as much.

"How did your homework go? Did you get it finished?" chat asked, curiously.

"I handed it in today," Marinette said.

"do you think it was good?"

"it was as good as I could make it."

"I'm sure you did fine. I'm an expurrt!"

Marinette groaned. "I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that."

Chat Noir tutted and rolled his eyes, but kept his smile, because he noticed hers hidden behind her beautiful hair. He felt a bubble of pride in his chest. He was always happy to make a pretty girl smile. Then, out of nowhere, a huge clap of thunder sent Chat Noir flying through the air and onto the bed behind Marinette.

"CHAT!" She cried in alarm.

He stared at her, wide eyed, looking terrified. Before either could speak she heard her father's voice from downstairs.

"MARI?! ARE YOU OK?"

"YES PAPA! IT WAS THE THUNDER IT SURPRISED ME!"

"COME DOWN HERE IF YOU'RE SCARED!"

"I'M OK!"

There was a long pause as she waited to see if her father would come up and check on her. how the hell she could explain Chat Noir hiding behind her terrified on her bed, she didn't know. She didn't want to find out either. Thankfully, her father never made an appearance. She turned to look at Chat Noir.

"You're supposed to be a superhero," she said, drily.

"Superheroes can be afraid of things too," he said, softly.

He was shaking again. When the next clap of thunder came, he dove down against her bed, and pushed himself completely against her, like she'd defend him from the sound. Marinette gasped as he did. He was still cold and damp, and feeling that brush against her warm, dry lower back took her by surprise.

"you're really scared, aren't you?"

Chat Noir's voice came muffled from the pillow. "I don't like thunder."

Marinette smiled affectionately. He was terrified, and curling up against her, both things she found adorable. Marinette laid an arm across his shoulder gently, and rubbed his ear. She ran her fingers in circles through his hair until he curled up against her tighter. Chat melted into her as she curled her fingers though his hair. The feeling took away from the fear of the sound, since it drew his attention away. He felt safer beside Marinette. Warmer too. His shivering eased.

Before too long he was dozing on Marinette's bed, snoring quiet snores that sounded like purring.

Tikki giggled. "I think you have a new pet kitty."

Marinette laughed too, but she was thinking about what Tikki had said earlier. If it's meant to be, fate has a way to get involved.