My Kingdom For A Stray

Chapter Eight

How long does it take to break a heart?

Not very long, if you know where the cracks lie. Then all it takes is one swift strike from a hammer at just the right spot for every little shard to fall from its place.

But how long does it take to break a person's soul...?

That seemed to be the question this "Master" was trying to answer, Marinette assumed. Seeing as he forced the girl to watch continuously as his apprentice, the orange witch, would skip and frolic the days away hand in hand with...him...

Chat Noir. Oh how Marinette missed him. She yearned to have his hand in hers once again, to see his emerald eyes twinkle as he made another one of his stupid little jokes. To feel his sly little kisses to her cheek when she wasn't paying attention. But she would have gladly sacrificed that all if it meant she didn't have to see those endearing little things being given over to Lila. Marinette watched, her heart suffering and yearning more and more as her precious kitty seemed to just completely forget the princess even existed. To watch him just fall in head over heels in love with this liar tore at Marinette's very being.

...But all she could do was watch, the tears never seeming to end.

***

"Lilaaa...I don't think im doing this right..."

Chat pouted as he knelt in the gardens inside the courtyard of the old fort. His hood was pulled back, revealing his mess of blonde hair as dirt covered his lap and chest. He frowned at this damned planter bed in front of him. Stupid flowers. Why the hell were they so hard to care for?! Wasn't it supposed to be just plant the seeds and then water them every now and then?

There was a soft giggle as the girl stepped closer to him, her soft orange dress swaying around her delicate legs before she knelt down next to the cat, her hand scratching his head gently as she did so.

"Chatton, dear. You must be careful with Dragon Tongue flowers. They can't grow in compact soil. You're pressing them down too hard." She explained, before gently loosening the dirt the plant's roots held onto. Chat Noir sighed. "I think my skills don't lie with gardening...I think plant care is firmly in your talent sets alone, Princess." He chuckled.

Lila laughed too, the nickname causing a soft blush to cross her cheeks. Almost like she was still trying to get used to the name. "Well, I'm trying to teach you! You were complaining I wasn't letting you garden with me, and now that you're here you're just complaining again! Goodness my kitten. What am I going to do with you?" she laughed. Chat smirked, before planting a kiss to her cheek, causing the girl to squeak and blush even brighter in surprise. He nuzzles his face against her cheek, before smirking, his green eyes getting that little mischievous glint once again.

"Well...you could give your kitten in shining leather a little kiss, no?"

He only grinned wider, laughing as Lila's face turns even more bright red, burying into her hands from embarrassment.

"My my. Who knew I could still make my little fox so flustered so quickly again? I don't think I've made you blush that hard since the Christmas Feast!"

"Sh-shut up!!" snapped Lila halfheartedly, though Chat could still see her little smile hiding behind her hands. He takes that moment to force his own face past her hands, and just like that his lips were in contact with hers.

Lila peeps in surprise again, shocked, before melting and leaning forwards into the kiss, her arms wrapping around the neck of her night. She hummed in happiness, even as he pulled away, grinning triumphantly at her dazed, yet still a bit flustered look.