No room to swing a Cat?

13 - No Dupain-Cheng breakfast

The hot bath hadn't helped. Neither hot tea prepared by Adrien as soon as Marinette left the bathroom. Cold rain, overwork and recent stressful days had mixed altogether and defeated the girl – quickly and totally.

She didn't even finished her tea, when she felt her nose began dripping. She leapt down from the stool to find some handkerchiefs, but didn't made a step when the room spun and Marinette felt like she was sinking in the darkness.

She woke up in the middle of the night, feeling unbearable fever. Actually she woke up because some cool palm touched her forehead. Cool and gentle. Marinette opened her eyes, but everything was fuzzy in half-light.

"Go back to sleep, Princess..." she heard a whisper just next to her. The whisper that sounded so softly, almost tenderly. The whisper that was followed by a delicate stroking her cheek.

"Thanks, Kitty..." she murmured, smiling half-consciously.

"Just rest..."

She fell asleep instantly. For the whole night she was dreaming about a desert with a terrible heat around her, dryness in her mouth and no water in her sight. She was wandering through endless sands, trying to find something – with no clue what she was looking for. Suddenly, she found a cave where she could rest from the heat outside, and then she fell in a deeper sleep with dreams she didn't remember.

When she woke up in the morning, she noticed in astonishment that she had some wet fabric on her forehead. She removed it to put it on the bedside table, as she noted an unknown mug standing there. A black unknown mug. Never seen before.

Her consciousness was coming back slowly and reluctantly and dreams were mixed with the reality. Was it possible that Cat Noir had visited her at night? Was it him who touched her forehead? Yet, that hand hadn't been covered with a leather glove. On the other hand, its owner called her "Princess" that was a nickname used only by Cat Noir. On the third hand – that black mug... Black as Cat Noir...

"How you're feeling?" was a question asked by Alya who entered the bedroom.

"I'm not sure..." Marinette muttered. "What happened...?"

"Yesterday you got wet and looks like you caught a cold. Probably you had a huge fever at night. Adrien mentioned something about you were delirious in your sleep. Uhm... I don't know... Adrien?!" she called over her shoulder, and before Marinette managed to realise that she was looking rather miserable, a blond head appeared in the door.

"Good morning, Mari!" Adrien greeted her. "Are you better?"

"I don't know... I'm thirsty..."

"I'll get it!" he replied and left immediately.

Alya grinned meaningfully, but Marinette ignored that obvious insinuation. The last thing she needed now was her best friend's joking or matchmaking job. She tried to roll her eyes but couldn't because of a massive headache. All she could do was to get up to a half-lying position and to cover with a quilt. If Adrien was to come back here, she'd prefer to look less miserable than she felt like.

Meanwhile Alya came closer and glanced at her as if she was confused.

"Uhm... Mari?" she began. "I feel so bad about it, but... Uhm... You've got sick and Nino and I have to go... Look... Er... My parents have a wedding anniversary and they invited us for an official dinner. I hope you'll understand..."

"Sure..." Marinette whispered with a hoarse.

"It's OK." Adrien cut in, entering the bedroom. "You can go. I'll take care of her."

"Super!" Alya smiled. "I leave you in good hands."

"The best ones." Adrien corrected, and that made Alya grin meaningfully.

Marinette wanted to die instantly. Her friend didn't even try to be subtle! Good for her that she left immediately, so she avoided consequences of her matchmaking. Marinette felt her cheeks became warm and it wasn't related to fever. Instead of commenting the scene, she focused on a jug brought by Adrien.

"What's that?" she asked quietly.

"Tea with ginger, orange and cloves..." he explained.

"Another American invention?" she smiled ironically.

"This time an oriental one." he admitted. "A miraculous cure for a cold."

He started pouring tea to the black mug, and that made Marinette ask:

"What's that mug?"

"It's mine." he answered simply. " I didn't have time at night to find any of yours so I lent you mine."

"Tha-Thank you..." she whispered, observing him from sideways.

Adrien put the jug away and looked at her with a sympathy.

"You're welcome, Mari."

She blushed and looked away, a bit embarrassed. When she glanced at the mug, she froze seeing... a grin of the Cheshire Cat that appeared on the mug. Soon after she saw its green eyes as well. She squeaked.

"Oh, I haven't told you... It changes because of temperature... I love this mug. Maybe you prefer some...?"

"No!" she protested immediately and took the mug.

"Just drink some tea. And I'll bring you something to eat, OK?" he offered, looking away – rather reluctantly, because seeing her cupping his cat mug was hypnotising for him.

"Oh... I promised you to cook my crepes today!"

"Your famous crepes must wait." Adrien laughed. "You're staying here for today!"

"I'm not going to argue..." she muttered under her breath. "I feel like I'd faint over a pan."

"So, take a rest, please? I'll take care of you."

"Thank you..."

"What do you have friends for?" he smiled and left the room.

Marinette stayed with her gaze frozen on the spot he'd been standing a moment ago. She kept sipping her tea, feeling how ginger and cloves warmed up her throat. She couldn't believe how much Adrien had changed within two days. It seemed like Alya's rumours about Marinette's affair with Cat Noir took that man outside his shelter...