Caught by Surprise

Chocolate and Wine

Marinette was in the kitchen of a flat she shared with Alya. They've been roommates for a couple of years now, since Nino was DJing all over the world and only came to Paris every two weeks or so. Alya missed him terribly (although Kaalki helped in times of crisis), but also welcomed the alone-time. She wasn't distracted and could work on her career as a journalist full-time. But not this week. This week Marinette was home alone, because her bestie and Nino were spending a week in Prague, probably more in the bed of a cosy hotel than sightseeing .

Marinette sighed. It was getting late, all the kwamis were safe in their box and Marinette was making herself a cup of tea, hypnotizing the kettle, lost in her own thoughts.

What was she thinking about? Or rather WHO was she thinking about? The two men in her life and how her head, heart and everything were confused by what's been going on for a few months now.

It all started around Christmas. Chat always looked sad and vulnerable around that time of the year, so this year she came up with a plan to cheer him up. Ladybug got a bunch of Christmas lights and a tent (which wasn't that easy in December) and set up a kind of Christmas nest on the rooftop of one of the buildings in Paris. It had everything. The lights, cookies, hot wine and hot chocolate, frank incense, a bluetooth speaker playing festive music, blankets to sit on and a small heating to keep her warm, even though her suit protected her from the cold. And she waited. Waited for her partner to smell the treats and come in for a warm hug... or something.

She didn't have to wait long. Soon enough, a blond head with black cat ears and a curious grin peeked into the tent. His green eyes wide open, he inhaled the sweet smell of all Christmasy and with one cat leap, he was sitting next to her. Not across from her, where a folded blanket was ready, but right next to her. She poured them hot chocolate and they talked about their favourite traditions and the most beautiful Christmas trees of Paris, about the weather and Hawkmoth probably being busy witch Christmas shopping, since akuma attacks were scarse.

When they ran out of chocolate, they switched to wine and that's when the trouble started. She felt so at ease with him she didn't stop him when he put his arm around her. She giggled when he brushed her cheek with his claw and she smiled when he looked into her eyes. But when he suddenly leaned in and his lips touched hers, she didn't kiss him back. She pushed him away in surprise, reached for her yo-yo and was gone. She left the tent, left the lights, the smell, the music and she left Chat Noir with his heart in pieces, his mind blank and his Christmas ruined forever.

"Tikki, why would he do such a thing! I was so not ready for that!" Marinette screamed at her kwami when she detransformed in her room.

"You know he loves you and you went the extra mile to show him you care..." Tikki suggested.

"But I was doing it for my friend and partner and now he probably hates me and..."

"And?" Tikki inquired.

"And his lips were so soft and his breath smelled of cinnamon and now I know I should have kissed him back, should have stayed in the tent with him, but I was so surprised I didn't know what I was doing... I'm the worst!"

"Don't overthink it and don't freak out."

"I'm not freaking out, Tikki."

"Good to know. Because I think there's someone behind the kitchen window."