When Walls Crumble

Chapter 6: Jealousy

Cat Noir stuck around a little while longer to keep an eye on the love birds. He had plenty of time, and they were both good friends. He didn't want anything else to happen to them. Especially not while the beautiful night lasted.

"They really are perfect for each other," Adrian muttered to himself, somewhat longingly. Not that he was jealous, of course. He wouldn't want to come between such a beautiful match made in heaven. But he was slightly envious of what they had. Someone to love and to know she loved him back. Someone to hold him on a bad day and to make him feel alright. Someone to laugh at his jokes, no matter how dumb. Someone he could be himself around. Someone who wouldn't hold him to his father's reputation. Someone who loved him for him and not for his fame either as a model or a superhero.

Marinette shrieked with joy at something Luka said and threw her arms around him. Soon the two of them were kissing.

Adrian sighed. How beautiful. The two of them were so comfortable and natural together that it made him happy and sad at the same time. He was happy to see such clear bliss shared by his friends, but nevertheless sad because of the reminder of what he lacked.

But that was enough self-pity for now. He jumped down from the lamppost and slipped into a nearby alley to transform. By the time he crossed the bridge, they were gone. He sighed, slightly disappointed. He had hoped to talk to them and maybe ask Luka what he thought of Cat Noir. Although he didn't show it as Cat Noir, he was a little sensitive as to what people thought of him. Maybe he could ask him tomorrow.

"What's with all the dramatic sighs, kid?" Plagg teased, flying out of hiding.

Adrian smiled at his friend's antics. "It's nothing, just me being dramatic."

"Well, there's you being dramatic for drama's sake and then there's you being accidentally dramatic when confronted with something I believe you humans like to call 'emotions.' I've hung around you long enough to know the difference. What's up?"

Adrian sighed. Whatever was he going to do about his inquisitive kwami?

"And there it is again. A five-star Adrian special dramatic sigh. Tell me what's up, kid. You can't go around wallowing in self-pity or you'll get akumatized."

Adrian laughed. "I guess it's just that I'm a tad jealous."

Plagg's ears perked up. He was jealous? He liked Marinette? Oh boy...Tikki would love this. But he better not jump to conclusions...

"You mean you like her?"

Adrian flushed. "What? Marinette? Nah, she's just a friend."

"Then you're jealous of..."

"I'm jealous of what they have."

"And that would be?"

"Someone to love and to know they always love you. Someone who cares for you as you."

"Blech! You sound like you came straight out of a Hallmark movie!" Plagg groaned. "I can't deal with this sappy nonsense on an empty stomach."

Adrian laughed. Plagg was quite a character. "You know you brought it upon yourself. You insisted I tell you," he reminded the little kwami.

"Whatever! I still need my cheeeeeeeese!" Plagg cried, almost besting Adrian for dramatic talent.

Adrian rolled his eyes. "You ate my emergency supply earlier."

"It was an emergency! I was dangerously bored!"

Adrian laughed. "Tell you what: We'll stop by somewhere to get you some if you can keep quiet for ten full seconds."

Ten seconds later, Plagg shrieked in joy. "I did it! Let's go get some camembert!"

Adrian sighed and planted his face in his palm in a move commonly known as the face-palm. "Alright, you little monster. Let's get your cheese!"

"It better not be muenster! I hate muenster!"

Two minutes and a whole lot of awful cheese puns later (I can promise that none of them were Gouda), the Cat and his Kwami stopped in front of one of their favorite patissiers: The Dupain-Cheng bakery.

"Too bad it isn't open," Adrian sighed (although admittedly much less dramatically than before).

"What's it to you?" Plagg asked. "Transform and jump up onto the roof. Then maybe you can talk to Marinette about her unfortunate episode with the Evillustrator and her fortunate one with Viperion and yourself."

Adrian smiled. For once, Plagg's advise appealed to him.