A Cat, a Fox, and a Bee walk into a Bakery

Chapter 4

Keeping Marinette's (rather terrifying, really) admonition to behave and stop fighting in mind, the first strike was subtle.

... Well, subtle to someone who was blind and deaf. And lived in a cave in the woods.

"I got you something!" Vixen grinned brightly, handing an envelope to the rather bemused Marinette.

The girl blinked, then shot a wary look at the hero, who waved her hands placatingly. "Don't worry, nothing that could be used to figure out my identity."

Apparently satisfied, Marinette tore the envelope open and let the contents slide out into her hand... whereupon she promptly squealed. "Oh my gosh, this is a gift card to-"

"To your favorite fabric store," Vixen finished smugly, and noooo, she wasn't smirking over Marinette's shoulder at Chat and Queen Bee at aaallllll. "For fifty euros."

"Oh my gosh, thank you!" Marinette sprang up and wrapped her arms tightly around the hero, who returned the hug warmly.

Chat and Queen Bee sulked.

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"Soooo, I may have picked something up for you, Princess," Chat purred as he leaned in, trying and failing to hide the rather large gift wrapped box behind his back.

Marinette blinked, then gave Chat a wary look. "It's not a dead animal, is it?"

"Princess! You wound me with your mistrust!" Chat placed a hand over his heart, then had to scramble to keep the box from dropping after he had let go of it. Flushing, he maneuvered it around and held it out.

Still looking wary, Marinette reached out and took the box, then yelped as the weight hit her. "The heck is in this thing, rocks?" She grumbled, setting it down and beginning to unwrap it.

Halfway through, she suddenly shrieked and reached over the box to haul Chat into a hug. "Thankyouthankyouthankyou! Oh my gosh, Chat, you shouldn't have, this brand of sewing machine is expensive!"

"Nothing but the best for my Princess," He answered warmly. "Consider it a thank you for all of the pastries."

While still being hugged, he smirked over Marinette's shoulder at Vixen and Queen Bee, then lifted one finger, licked it, and inscribed a mark in the air. Point to Chat Noir.

Both female heroes glared and mimed tossing him into a sack, then into the Seine. They were... scarily good at that.

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"Queenie? What's this?" Marinette asked, curiously poking the envelope with her name written carefully on the front that had been hung from her loft.

"It's for you, of course," Queen Bee said nonchalantly from where she was lounging on Marinette's chaise, nibbling on a lemon tart and reading one of Marinette's fashion magazines and very pointedly NOT caring about what Marinette thought of her gift.

Not that she was fooling anyone.

A little cautiously, Marinette took the envelope and opened it, pulling out two pieces of paper and reading them. "An... all expenses paid day at the spa for me and a friend?" Marinette beamed, diving onto the couch and hugging Queen Bee.

For her part, the superhero squawked and squirmed. "Okay, okay, you're happy! I get it!" Again, she wasn't fooling anyone, considering how she curled an arm around Marinette's shoulders and gave a gentle squeeze in return. "You should take your best friend."

"Ooo, right! I have to call Alya!" Marinette popped up and made a beeline for her phone.

"... I meant Chloe," Queen Bee muttered under her breath, which was thankfully drowned out by Vixen's sudden, hysterical laughter.

Queen Bee pouted. Even after all their gifts, none of them had drawn ahead of the others. It looked like it was time to step up their games.