Serendipity (MariChat)

Chapter 3: Endeavors

P.O.V. Chat Noir

A shrill beep rang from my ring. Are. You. Serious. Marinette lingered for a while before leaving my lips cold.

"Clock strikes 12." Her voice was raspy, and her lips pulled into an apologetic smile. Dammit, Adrien. Stop looking at her lips.

"Can't have you finding out my real identity and wanting to marry me despite the fact that people call me Cinder (black) Cat. Though, between us, I do." I flashed a wink before escaping through the dusty doors of the rundown gym, running faster than before to try to hide the heat in my cheeks and the lazy grin on my face.

P.O.V. Marinette

Still cocky as ever. I let out a small laugh, packing my bags and heading home. Before I knew it, the sun fell from the sky and the Paris night lights woke. The sullen yellow light mixed with splashes of pinks, greens, and blues illuminated the tinge of red under the freckles of my cheeks. Paris was even more radiant when someone was truly in love. In love?

I broke into a run, shaking my head. No way no way no way. I love... I love... Adri- The thought floated in my mind, unable to complete itself. Adrien Agreste was kind, gentle, and caring, but Adrien Agreste was cold. He was so far away from my reach that the air between us was ice. But Chat, he was so...warm. Kind when you least expected it, understanding when the world stood against you. He was a flirt to no extent, but it was his facade. A mask to cover up pain. Who was underneath?

Maybe I love-

"Miss Marinette Dupain-Cheng." I had arrived home, late, and mother was less than thrilled.

"Je suis désolée, Maman." I apologized, "Training took a little longer than expected."

There was a sad glint in her eyes as she turned to set my duffel bag down in the cabinet.

"Mon petite ange, I understand you want to help them, but you need to consider your safety."

"avoir le beurre et l'argent du beurre." Have one's cake and eat it too. "It is a child's wish."

She heaved a sigh and headed towards the room she and papa share, stopping in the doorway to look at me one last time.

"It is a wish that was once yours, my child." she whispered, "It was once yours." Then the door was closed.

I poured a glass of water, grabbed a croissant, and fell onto my bed, memories flooding my thoughts.

"...want....some..."

I turned my head slowly, very slowly, towards the sound.

"Chat?!"

There was a flash of black, and a claw grazed my left hand, leaving a trail of icy emptiness. My eyes flickered to the hand, eyes widening in pure horror. This...this animal, wasn't the Chat I once knew. The Chat I knew could never be capable of committing such a monstrous crime.

He took my croissant.

Screeching a soft battle cry to spare my parents of witnessing the bloodiest brawl of the century, I tackled the leather-clad cat. We wrestled until my beloved trophy was killed in the least honorable way possible: in the depths of Chat Noir's mouth. My heart held a silent 21-gun salute for the pastry as I surrendered in defeat.

"Don't you have more? I smelled them earlier."

Ah. I do.

After raiding the pantry and stuffing ourselves full, Chat Noir, with two half-eaten croissants in each hand, asked "why'sh it yaw wish?" A heavy gulp was followed by a wince of pain from swallowing more than he could.

"Why is it your wish?"

"What?"

"To have your cake and eat it too."

"Oh. It's a long story."

He looked at the croissants in his hands, nodded, and looked back up at me with a deep determination.

"I have enough to last me a long story." A blink. "I think."

I laughed. "Okay, okay. When I was a kid, I lived in those slums. It was hard for my parents, and as a kid, I didn't understand much. Every year, I asked for a cake for my birthday. But my parents, having a small bakery, couldn't afford to spare one. On the day of my 7th birthday, a woman came in with her son. The Agrestes. She wanted to order a cake for her son's 8th birthday in a few months. As she went over the details of the cake with my parents, Adrien, the woman's son, found me crying in the kitchen. After I told him what happened, the night of my birthday, the elaborate cake the woman had ordered was given to me. I wanted to repay her kindness, but soon after, she disappeared in Tibet. I vowed to one day repay her son the debt I owed her. In the slums, even children can find work. Everyone always needed a helping hand. For 22 hours a day, I took odd-jobs for 6 years. Along with my parents' savings, we had enough to buy this bakery. For 6 years, I never had any friends, I had only 2 hours of sleep a night, and I never went to school. Everything I learned was from experience. Writing from painting signs and slogans on shop walls, math from counting the loose pennies of greedy loansharks, science from the toxic fumes inhaled in the factories, history when it repeated itself with the industrial revolution's child laborers. Everything I do now, is to keep those kids from going through what I did to repay the kindness of Mrs. Agreste. But now, her son doesn't even remember that day."

I looked back at Chat, who stared at me with wide-eyed shock.

"What? You didn't think I was just some girl like Chloe Bourgeois who was born into a comfortable life, did you?"

Chat dropped the uneaten croissants and tackled me into a tight hug.

"...I...do...remem-" A beep resounded through the room, cutting him off.

"You should go."

He looked away, eyes hiding the emotion behind them. "Goodnight, Princess."

A spike of warmth cascaded over my cheeks as Chat pressed his lips to mine, slowly, almost sorrowful.

"I'll see you again?"

His green eyes searched my own, as if wanting to tell me something.

"As you wish."

And with that, the night sky swallowed the leather-clad shadow.

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Ufufufufu such a long chapter. ^.^ Sorry about the long backstory, I put it off for as long as possible T^T many many many thanks for reading!! GOODNIGHT! <3 (and good luck with AP Testing, finals, and all that jazz!) (hang in there!) (who am I to say anything) (cry) Anywaaysss next chapter next week! ;)

Je t'aime,

Aly Wynn :)