Stray ~ A MariChat Love Story (Complete)

Chapter 29: Persistence and Pick -Up Lines

"Do you purr?" asked Marinette. Chat Noir gazed up at her thoughtfully, mulling the question over and over in his mind.

"I don't think so." he replied, "But then again, I probably wouldn't notice."

Marinette readjusted his head in her lap and moved her hand through his hair towards his cat ears. She scratched lightly around the area and after a moment, looked at him expectantly, "Anything?"

He chuckled, "I don't think it'll work if I'm expecting it."

She pouted, "Fair enough, but I'm really curious." Chat watched her eye his moving tail and willed it closer towards them. Marinette's soft fingers danced over the leather and pleasant tingles ran up his spine. He shut his eyes instinctively and heard her mumble as he curled his body closer to her.

"...Chat...Chat!" Marinette flicked his nose and Chat's eyes snapped open. He forced his head off her lap and lightly tapped against his nose, surprised at the new found vulnerability. When did that get so sensitive?

Her hand brushed against his shoulder, her heat smouldering him. He swallowed thickly, "What?"

She giggled, "You purred."

Chat frowned, "No I didn't." Marinette's smile only widened.

"Yes you did. I heard it!" She brought her forefinger to her chin and smirked, "Unless it was your stomach, then."

He grinned back playfully. Two could play at that game. "Well what do you expect when you never feed me?" He crossed his arms over his chest and turned his head away from her, "You'd be a terrible pet owner."

"Oh really?" drawled Marinette, "What exactly does the great Chat Noir know about owning a pet?"

He thought about Plagg and his constant whining for sleep and cheese. The worst cheese he'd ever had the displeasure of discovering. "I have one." he mumbled.

Marinette's eyes widened, glinting in the light from her bedroom window. "You do? What does it look like?"

Chat Noir held his palms apart by four inches and smiled, "He's about yay big with an insatiable craving for Camembert."

She rolled her eyes, "Your kwami doesn't count."

"Of course he does. They're basically the same thing! Both eat a lot, sleep a lot and make a ton of noise. If you ever get one, we'll have this discussion again and you'll see that I'm right."

Marinette smiled deviously and shook her head, "Not likely, Chat. Not likely." They lapsed in a comfortable silence and Chat laid his head back down on Marinette's lap. He peeked up at her from hooded lashes and found her absentmindedly watching the sunset in the Parisian streets.

He fiddled with his hands nervously and tried to act nonchalant, "So...how did that date with the red head go?"

"It went fine." she mumbled.

Chat couldn't help but smile, "Just fine? I knew it!"

Marinette looked down at him and arched a brow challengingly, "You knew what?" Her hands found their way in his hair again and he was nearly distracted by the feel of her delicate fingers through his hair.

He winked up at her, "I knew you liked blondes more." Marinette frowned down at him and Chat Noir made himself more comfortable, trying to be subtle as he flexed for her. "Just think about it. It actually makes sense."

He saw her blush and couldn't help and couldn't help but feel proud as her eyes roamed over his suit. "Your first love was a blonde and I mean – come on...Just look at me!" He felt giddy just thinking about it. "It's only a matter of time before you fall under my charms."