Ladybug's fake identity

Chapter 9: Comfort

When Marinette entered her room after that day, she found Chat Noir relaxing on her chair like he was at home. He was lying next to the gloves and scarf that she forgot to wear, waking up late this morning once again. And now, not only did she walk back home in the cold, but she had to deal with a too curious and invasive cat. At least that's what she told herself, trying not to look too happy to see him. Don't get her wrong, she was still mad at him for not showing up that fateful evening, but having him next to her filled up a small part of her broken heart. Just a little.

"I heard you were kidnapped today." he announced with a proud grin.

"You- How did you know? And how did you come in?" she gasped.

"Your trap door was open." He pointed at her balcony.

She internally reminded herself to make sure to lock it everyday. She sighed and let herself fall on her chair, pushing him to the side so that there would be enough place for the both of them. He winced: she was freezing cold.

"And how did you hear about the so-called kidnapping?"

"I'm a hero. I know everything I need to know in this town."

"Of course." she replied in disbelief.

He didn't seem to notice that her voice was filled with sarcasm and just smiled proudly. She knew that she wouldn't get an answer from him so she just let it be.

"You didn't steal any cookies, did you?" she needed to make sure.

He stared at her with wide, faulty eyes. "N-No."

"You did." she countered.

If Tikki could, she would have glared at him with all her hatred for cookie robbers. Indeed, the plate of treats did seem emptier.

"Look, they were calling for me! It would have been a blasphemy to leave them alone like that!" he tried to defend himself.

"They? So you ate more than one?"

"The first cookie was crying 'cause it felt so lonely in my stomach! I had to give him a companion."

Just how absurd could his excuses get? But Marinette couldn't help but laugh. She let it go. Just this once.

"You know you'll have to pay for them, right?"

"Don't tell me... as a mannequin?" he guessed, preparing himself to stand up.

At least he wasn't reluctant. But Marinette didn't have the mind for sewing right now. Just thinking of Adrien while making his present could make her tear up if she wasn't careful. She didn't want to let Chat see that. She didn't want to feel pitiful, powerless and betrayed again.

"No." She wrapped her arms around his waist and forced him to sit down on the chaise, close to her, while forgetting that 'Marinette' wasn't supposed to be this comfortable around him than she was. "Cats are 1 degree warmer than humans. You'll be my hot water bottle until I get warmer."

He let out a small laugh and accepted his newly found job. He probably shouldn't. Adrien had a girlfriend, and it was recent. But he owed her at least that and he wasn't currently 'Adrien', but 'Chat Noir'. He set aside the thought of his Lady and stared at the girl who was trying to steal all of his body's warmth without any odd intention. She was incredibly close to him, possibly more than she was supposed to be, but he somehow liked it. For some reason, it was way easier to get to know her as his hero self than as a civilian. He had discovered new sides of her that he never believed he would see. Maybe that's why, for the first time, he caught himself thinking that she was cute. And maybe that thought was why he hugged her back and laid down on the chair with her still between his arms.