Red String • Marichat

Chapter Thirteen

Thanks @fabgirlBv for the hilarious cat puns!

Marinette had stayed with Adrien, his hand tightly grasped in hers until he had woken up. The doctors had said he had a minor concussion and that they wanted him to stay for a few days so he could recuperate from his near death experience with the drowning.

Her parents had called her and asked her to come home after a few hours of being at the hospital. Adrien thanked her for keeping him company and for saving him.

When she got home she skipped dinner saying she felt sick. She wasn't technically lying though. She did feel sick. Her stomach was twisting and churning in anxiety and worry as she thought about Adrien and Chat.

She was worried about Chat but then thought, he had his own life. He probably didn't know.

~~~~~

A week.

It has been a week since Marinette or anybody else for that matter has last seen Chat.

To say she was worried was an understatement. Every second of the day she was on the verge of either breaking into tears or going ballistic and going on a rampage on everyone in sight.

Adrien came back to school around 4 days ago and it was currently Sunday afternoon. She was glad to see he was okay, and he had thanked her once more for saving him. Marinette sat by the window Chat use to climb through and waited for him, nervously rubbing the necklace he had given her. Adrien's green eyes flashed in her mind, reminding her that he could have died not only a week ago. She could have lost the boy that she loved in just a few minutes. And she had stood there like a helpless little girl, even though she was the opposite of that. It had taken her seeing his blood to be able to fight back against the Evillustrator.

Marinette tilted her head against the cool glasspane. The Miraculous could heal a lot of things as Ladybug, but unfortunately injuries were not one of them. So many times she had wished it could. It would have saved hundreds of people trips to the hospital, and Adrien from that head injury. It also could have saved her and presumably Chat Noir from a lot of painful, bruise-covered days.

Her mom walked up the stairs and popped her head through the trapdoor. She sighed as she spotted her daughter at the same spot she's been for the past three days.

"Marinette, sweetie." Sabine walked over to her daughter and placed a hand on he shoulder. "Your father and I are going to be gone for a few days. We need you to be in charge of the bakery for the time being. That is of you can do it. I mean we can stay if you need us to-"

Marinette cut her mother off. "I can do this. I'm a big girl and this is a big deal for you maman."

Sabine looked down at her daughter's dull blue eyes with heavy bags under them.

"You know you can tell me an your father anything, right?" Marinette nodded before standing up. Her knees cracked after being in that uncomfortable position for too long and stretched her arms.

"I know. So what do you need me to do?"

"Well Ms. Patty is stopping by to pick up an order of two dozen cupcakes. Since your father and I have to leave now we were hoping you would bake them."

Marinette nodded again an hugged her mother before bidding goodbye. She heard the chime of the bell from downstairs, signaling that her mother and father had left and sighed. Chat Noir had been placed back on her mind again, Adrien's eyes morphing into that stupid cat's.

"Marinette..." Her heart stopped as she froze in place, willing herself to not turn around. She was just hearing that. It's too much of a coincidence to hear him after thinking about him.

She turned anyways and was greeted by the familiar black cat that had poofy blonde hair and electric green eyes.

"Marinette I-" Chat Noir let out a surprised yell as he felt his back slam against the wall. The sweet smell of vanilla and home made chocolate chip cookies surrounded him as Marinette tightly hugged him. He felt her body trembling as she clung to him and he quickly wrapped his arms around her, placing a hand on the back of her head. They wordlessly slid down. Chat Noir had his legs bent with his feet flat on the ground and Marinette was on her knees in between his legs.

She smiled as she breathed in his familiar scent and held him even tighter.

"What's wrong?" She looked up at him in disbelief.

"What's wrong? I thought you were hurt! Or worse!" She buried her face into his chest and his breath got caught in his throat. He painfully swallowed the hard lump that had formed and held her tightly to him.

"I missed you too Princess." He smirked. He stood up and gave her a hand. "So I heard your mom say you needed to bake 24 cupcakes?..." He trailed off wagging his eye brows at her. His mask covered them but she knew what he was doing.

"Yeah. Wanna help?" He was avoiding the painful conversation, something he always did with Ladybug. He hated confrontation, and would dance around it until it disappeared or they forgot about it. But Marinette accepted it this time. She had missed him too much to argue with him about it.

A little while later Chat and Marinette were downstairs in the kitchen making the cupcake batter. Chat looked ridiculous in his black leather suit with a too big white apron on. Marinette was still giggling to herself at the image as she stirred in the ingredients.

Chat smiled at her soft giggles and began to pour some of the already made batter into the tin pans lined with cupcake wrappers.

God, I've missed that sound...

He sighed to himself. He was glad to be back with Marinette as Chat Noir. It was different as Adrien because he always wanted to flirt with her or hug her. Hell, every time they said goodbye to each other in his civilian form, he wanted to kiss the corner of her mouth.

As Adrien, he felt as though he stood no chance with Marinette but as Chat, that was a different story. He felt her confidence radiating off of her which made him feel even stronger.

"Chat!" Marinette yelled at him, snapping him out of his reverie.

"Yes, my Princess?" He gave her a wink and she flushed and smiled back.

"You have a little something on your face." He used his thumb to swipe under his mask.

"Did I get it?"

She giggled and shook her head no. "You just smeared it even more. Come here Chat Noir." He did as she said and walked up to her, his hot breath fanning her face. Her bangs moved from his breathing and she stood up on her toes and placed a hand on his chest to balance herself.

Chat Noir quickly placed an arm around her back and pressed her chest flushed against his. Her face turned the color of cherry blossoms and she wiped the batter off of his tan skin.

"Got it." She whispered, as their breaths mingled. She saw Chat close his eyes and lean forward. She smirked and placed a finger on his nose.

"Too cliche, kitty." Chat pouted before an idea hit him and he smirked.

"So you're saying you would kiss me."

"W-What? I- uh, no! Maybe! I don't know! Maybe!" She stuttered as her face went red in embarrassment.

He smiled at her, clearly enjoying getting her all flustered up.

"Come on, we have cupcakes to bake." Marinette said a she ducks under his arm and went back to her mixing bowl.

"Yeah."

Chat Noir felt himself grinning on the inside.

She would have let me kiss her.

I was making cupcakes when I made this chapter. Until next time, peace!