Accident of the Evening

Morning Prep

"Chat?" Marinette blinked and Chat felt himself grin.

"I figured you would have been up most of the night, so I brought you coffee," he said holding out another take away cup. Adrien did feel kind of bad, especially when he saw the coffee cup from earlier, but Chat Noir wasn't supposed to know, so he steeled himself and took her in. Her skin was a little pink and made her radiate warmth with the dress she was wearing. She looked incredibly pretty, he thought to himself; once again disappointed she wouldn't be coming tonight.

"Wow, Marinette, you look lovely, like a princess," he smiled and he saw her shake her head.

"Hello Chaton, thank you for the coffee," Marinette said, moving aside to let him in. "I thought we were going to meet at the studio," she asked as she shut the door.

Adrien saw that nothing had changed since he had left over an hour ago, but she did seem a little more well rested, maybe she had a nap, he wondered.

"I thought it would be easier to come to you," he said with a smile, turning back to her. He watched her take a garment bag off the wall and lay it across the couch carefully before gesturing for him to take her lounge chair. He hesitated.

"It's not going to bite you, Chat," Marinette said with a smile but he shook his head.

"That's your seat, princess," he told her, gesturing for her to sit instead but she shook her head this time. She ignored his new nickname for her, but he liked it.

"Kitty cat, I have get ready for the day and I need to get your suit out," she said as she put down her coffee cup. Adrien watched, still standing in the doorway, as she carefully unzipped the bag like it was the most precious thing in the world. To him it was, anyway.

"Please go try these on," Marinette said as she took his coffee cup from him and handed him the hangers. "The bathroom is down the hall," she explained. "I'm sure you remember."

Adrien nodded and did what he was told, noticing his other mask was hanging from the hanger for him to swap back. He changed into the suit, noticing the vest now had tiny buttons sewn on, black buttons with little green paw prints. He smiled at her detail. Nothing he wore would ever be this precious to him, and thankfully it was his secret. When he stepped out, new mask on and dressed in the handmade suit, he was sure Marinette could give his father a run for his money. At twenty she was as good as him, Adrien was sure he'd be wearing original Marinette's in no time.

"Up on the stool," she told him, her voice a little broken, but her tone all business. She began to mark where to hem the pant legs – only a few centimetres, she noted – and she seemed pleased that the rest all fit well. He smiled at her.

"Princess, you've really outdone yourself," he said as he studied himself in the mirror.

"Well, I had a friend last night try on the suit, he's about your build and height, so I made a few adjustments when he slept," Marinette said, before gesturing he needed to change back so she could finish up the pants.

"You mean, another man was in my suit," Chat gasped in mock horror. "Princess, you wound me with your carelessness," he said, pressing the back of his hand to his forehead and pretending to feint.

"Oh get over yourself," she rolled her eyes. "I was going to use you when you came round last night, but he needed me, I mean, I think he just needed someone. He seemed a bit down," Marinette frowned and Adrien tried not to remember his state when he arrived. He knew he had a few drinks, and he remembered Nino's words about him being oblivious, but somehow last night he just had no control over himself until he was here, and he was lucky it all worked out.