unexpected feelings

chapter 1 - just a friend

The sewing machine emits a whirring noise as it echoes throughout Marinette's bedroom. The 16-year-old carefully creates detailed and intricate designs on a plain black beret. Her eyebrows arched as she was concentrated on accomplishing this personal project.

Suddenly disturbing the serene atmosphere, Marinette hears a light knock coming from her oak trapdoor, leading upstairs to the cold evening.

Raising a curious eyebrow, she cautiously settles her sewing supplies on her white table as she steps over to the unknown disturbance.

She climbs up her wooden ladder, however, before she could open the trapdoor herself, a familiar cat gazes down at her startled expression. It was none other than the flirtiest cat in the world—Chat Noir.

Time seemed to have frozen as their eyes connected in the starry moonlight, shining down on them. The stars were gleaming in the night sky and the cold wind embraced them soothingly. Marinette admires Chat Noir's features—his gorgeous green eyes, ruffled blonde hair, and smooth and fair skin. How had she never noticed this before?

"Hello, Princess~" Chat Noir finally breaks the silence, leaning closer towards the blue-haired girl.

Snapping herself out of her 'absurd' thoughts, Marinette chuckles softly, secretly but pleasantly surprised at his visit. She attempted her hardest not to blush, yet unfortunately, a faint pink hue still managed to paint itself across her cheeks.

"Chat Noir! What are you—"

Before Marinette could finish her statement, Chat Noir jumps down into her room like an actual cat. Marinette rolls her ocean blue eyes as she shuts the trapdoor, preventing the frigid air to enter her room.

"I'm busy, can't you see?" she asks half-jokingly, pointing towards the sewing supplies on her desk. She was hoping to sew up that beret for someone that held a special place in her heart.

"The cat's bored. Would my princess ever be so kind and let me stay for a while?" Chat Noir pleads in a teasing manner.

Marinette never really understood where Chat Noir had gotten that nickname from. He doesn't even call Ladybug that, which was quite amusing to her, honestly.

She sighs at the desperate black kitty, his eyes practically begging for a response. "Alright, fine, just as long as you don't disturb me while I sew," she finally decides.

Chat Noir's bright green eyes light up, delighted at her response. He beams at her as she softly ruffles his messy blonde hair.

Marinette plops onto her seat as Chat Noir observes her sewing quietly.

"Working late at night? You remind me a lot of Ladybug, always so hardworking," he says dreamily.

Marinette simply scoffs at his random thought. "No, I'm nothing like her."

Chat Noir shifts closer towards the focused girl with another idea in mind. "What if I told you that you would make a pretty good Ladybug?"

"In your dreams, Kitty," she says, rolling her eyes for a second time. "Now, let me get my sewing project right," she mumbles.

The intrigued black cat admires his friend's wonderful and innovative designs.

"May I ask who this is for? This must be one lucky fellow," he wonders, now staring at Marinette who was still concentrated.

Understanding his hint, Marinette chuckles at his question. "It's not for you, silly."

"Oh, really? Who else could surpass this cat?" he asks sarcastically.

"Someone special to me," Marinette replies, almost sighing. To nobody's surprise—except for the man himself—the beret was for Adrien Agreste.

She has had an obsessive crush on her fellow classmate for years now. Sometimes, she loses the motivation to keep pursuing this crush, but every time her ocean eyes meet his emerald ones, she falls for him all over again. She couldn't help it—he was absolutely perfect.

"Someone you like, I presume?" the black cat inquired.

"Hmm, maybe..."

"I'm good at keeping secrets, so you can tell me who it is," Chat Noir says, winking at her.

Goodness, he wouldn't stop flirting with every girl he'd come across, would he?

"And why would I do that?" Marinette asks, as she presses a button on her sewing machine to power it off. She takes her finished product and places it inside of a brown paper bag, ready to gift for Adrien.

"Because I'm your furry friend, aren't I?" he says teasingly.

"Silly Kitty," Marinette says, almost laughing.

"And also because you have a lot of photos of Adrien Agreste on the walls." Chat Noir says slowly.

"WHAT!?"

Marinette immediately rose her head and scanned her bedroom. Groaning, she sinks into her chair, realizing her huge mistake. She had forgotten to hide them from Chat Noir. He had just come into her room so suddenly, it took her by surprise.

Still waiting for an answer, Chat Noir tilts his head at her, watching the bluenette internally panic.

"Why do you have photos of the 'pretty boy model'?" he asks curiously.

"Uhm... I uh—I'm a f-fan of his modeling career," Marinette says, chuckling nervously.

Chat Noir gives her a simple nod as Marinette exhales in relief. Got out of that one.

"Anyway, could I please know who the clothes are for a.k.a the person you like?"

Marinette slowly turns her head towards the black kitty, staring at her pleadingly.

"Okay, just one clue for now." She exhales sharply before answering. "He attends my school."

"Alright then, I guess it's time to interview all the boys at your school," he replied teasingly.

Wanting to play along, Marinette says, "Aww, are you jealous kitty?"

Chat Noir simply scoffs at her accusation. "Of course, not!"

"Yeah yeah, sure," Marinette replies, unconvinced.

"You already know that all my 9 hearts belong to Ladybug. So, what would make you think that I like you?"

Maybe because we are the same person.

Shrugging off her thoughts, Marinette decides to keep playing along. "Because I'm purrfect."

Chat Noir gasps, thrilled at her response. "Did my princess just make a pun?"

"You bet I did," Marinette replied proudly.

He grins at Marinette's responses as he thinks of another flirty comeback. "Eh, who knows. You may even be my type." He proceeds to raise his eyebrows at her, causing Marinette's heart to unexpectedly flutter. She just fixates her gaze at him in surprise as Chat Noir is left oblivious.

Since when did Chat Noir's flirtiness and jokes get to her before?

Shaking her head softly, Marinette sighs, extremely confused with her current trail of thoughts regarding the black kitty.

"Well, I apologize, Princess, but it's time for the prince to leave his princess' tower. Thanks for letting me inside, again," Chat Noir says, standing up to leave.

"See you soon, Marinette."

As Chat Noir climbs up her wooden stairs to exit, Marinette suddenly had this urge to grab Chat Noir's hand.

Unable to think properly, she just dashes towards him and grabs a hold of his black leather glove.

As their hands come in contact, Chat Noir turns towards the flustered bluenette, stunned.

"I uh... thank you for coming," Marinette mumbles timidly, her lips curving into a small smile.

Chat Noir returns the smile, delighted at Marinette's words. "No problem, m'la— I mean, Marinette."

Chat Noir's emerald eyes widen as Marinette glanced up at him, shocked. Out of complete embarrassment, Chat Noir opens the trapdoor and exits her house hastily.

Marinette was left in her room, confused and alone. Why had Chat Noir called her that—almost called her that? Is he... developing feelings for her? And... is she having similar feelings, too? No, it couldn't be. Besides, Chat Noir was merely just a friend.