No room to swing a Cat?

15 - Sleeping Purrincess

Adrien didn't expect that he would want to get away ever again in his life. For the last few years, he had stayed at his bedroom every evening writing those codes, which for non-IT-person were just a series of nonsense letters, but he could imagine what those letters would turn into. Usually, Alya and Nino didn't disturb him. Besides, they preferred to focus on themselves during this time... But that Saturday evening Adrien couldn't stay calm. He was too worried about Marinette.

She had fainted the second time during last twenty four hours. Of course, he didn't mind catching her before she fell on the floor. Actually, he could carry her all the time, if only she let him do it. He was more worried about her fainting and restless sleep afterwards. And about the fact that he couldn't sit by her bed all the time. Because... Well... It was inappropriate.

Besides... Besides it was eight o'clock and he couldn't think about anything but visiting her. How was it possible that after a week of everyday meetings it became a habit for him?

"Not a habit but an addiction..." Plagg commented, chewing his favourite camembert.

"What an addiction?" Adrien huffed.

"It looks like classic withdrawal symptoms..."

"None of this! I'm just worrying about Marinette. She's fainted twice so far and fever came back. Maybe I should call a doctor? But it looked like just a cold. Nothing serious. So... Why she keeps blacking out?"

"Maybe she's tired. You know... She's been in trouble for some time."

"So, why doesn't she talk to me about this? Instead, she's asking me about my girlfriends..."

"She was asking about herself, you moron."

"Come on! I couldn't just tell her that like that! When she's sick. Are you crazy?"

"I missed that, kid..." Plagg laughed. "I mean: your love problems..."

"I can deal with that." Adrien muttered. "And I don't have problems. I know what I feel. I know what I want. I even know how to get it."

"Ugh..." kwami sighed in disappointment. "I miss your awkward version. It was so much funnier..."

"Yeah, right... You really think I'll believe you? You kept whining and complaining all the time! Now, finish your cheese and we're going out..."

"What do you mean: we're going out? Where?"

"To Marinette. To check how's she doing."

"You can go like a normal person!" Plagg groaned. "You don't need a disguise!"

"But she doesn't know that it's me! She could think that Cat Noir forgot about her when she's sick!"

"I think that you're sick, kid..."

"Plagg, claws out!" Adrien lost patience and transformed.

A moment later he snuck into Marinette's bedroom through an opened window. He sat at the window board and stared at the girl. She was sleeping, pale and motionless with both hands along the body. It looked a bit scary, so Cat Noir jumped from the window sill to approach and check her breath. When he came closer, he noticed her rapid breathing and perspired forehead. Instantly, he reached for a cool compress that he – as Adrien – had left on her nightstand a moment ago. He wiped her face with a wet fabric and then he put the cold cloth on her forehead. Marinette took a deep breath and soon after she began breathing normally.

Cat Noir hesitated. He wasn't sure if he should go, or rather sit down and wait... To wait for what? He shook his head and was about to leave, when he heard:

"Cat?"

"Oh, I didn't want to wake you up, Purrincess..." he whispered.

"Probably I'll fall back asleep in a minute anyway..."

"You're not getting better..." he muttered concerned.

"It's just a cold. I'll be better soon."

"But..." he began but stopped before he blurted out about her faints. As Cat Noir he wasn't supposed to know about them. "But you're sleeping so much and for so long..."

"Sleeping helps to recover, doesn't it?" Marinette said in a hoarse and started coughing.

"Please, take a sip." he offered her tea immediately. The Cheshire Cat on the mug was still smiling, yet his eyes began fading. That meant tea wasn't hot anymore but still warm enough.

"Thanks..." she murmured and sat up.

She was drinking for a while, and he sat down in the corner of her bed and observed her in silence.

"Did you visit me last night?" she asked suddenly, putting away the mug and glancing at Cat Noir sideways.

"Er..." he was embarrassed.

"I thought I heard you."

"Yes. I was here." he nodded.

"You know... I thought this mug is from you..."

"The mug?" he spotted.

"That black one." Marinette pointed the nightstand. "It reminds me... uhm... you. Then it turned out it's Adrien's."

"That you like."

"A lot."

"The mug too?" he winked at her.

"I'll kill you, Cat!" she growled, but he burst out laughing. "Be quiet! Adrien can come in any minute!"

"N-n..." he blurted out, but stopped suddenly.

"He's taken care of me for the whole day, so he really can come in!" she warned him.

"Sounds like he cares about you."

"Because he does." Marinette confirmed, unknowingly in a defensive tone.

"Maybe he fell in love with you?"

"You too, Cat?!" she winced and that made him concern.

"Wh-What me?" he stuttered.

"You're going to make me and Adrien get together?" she clarified her question.

He didn't know how to react. For a moment he thought that she had asked him if he was also in love with her. As if he couldn't be...

"I told you once, Princess, that your computer programmer is my permanent rival... How could I make you and him get together?" he winked at her. "It wouldn't be in my interest."

Marinette's face wasn't so pale anymore. When he noticed her blush, he suddenly decided to try to fight for his happiness. Here and now. Even though she was sick. He was about to do something imprudent, when his cat-ears caught some noises in the corridor. A second later they both heard keys in the front door. They looked at each other panicked a bit.

"I'd better go, Purrincess..." he said, standing up.

"You'd better go, Cat!" Marinette whispered at the same moment.

"I'll come back tomorrow."

"OK, I'll try to get better."

"I'll take your word." he laughed and jumped out.

A moment later Marinette heard Alya calling Adrien. Just before she fell asleep she heard Adrien's voice replying something, but she didn't get the message. She drifted away. She had to recover and a sleep was something she needed right now the most.