No room to swing a Cat?

22 - The mug

For the next three days Marinette had been living like in a dream – but not sure if she liked the dream. Actually, she didn't. She missed Adrien who had hidden in his bedroom and none of his friends could see him at all. Marinette felt more and more guilty, yet with no idea how she could get him out of there.

What was worse, she noticed that Alya was worrying about the whole situation as well. Once or twice Marinette heard a question if she had argued with Adrien, but she denied immediately, so her friend let it go. However, Alya continued her consultation with Nino from a side, which meant they kept worrying about Adrien's mood.

Remorse and longing for Adrien made Marinette forget quickly about irritation she had felt when she'd discovered Cat Noir's identity. Now, she was more interested in figuring out why Adrien preferred to contact her as superhero when he had more possibilities to talk to her as a civilian self.

"Because he found me first as Cat Noir..." she said to herself, and Tikki rolled her eyes meaningful. She'd heard this for the hundredth time, for last three days...

"Marinette, it's about time to act!" kwami repeated annoyed a bit. "Otherwise you'll miss your moment again. Like some years ago..."

"I have no idea what's happening to me. I've already been quite normal. Is it possible that Adrien affects me?"

"That you're losing your head?"

"I meant rather that I'm losing my self-confidence." Marinette corrected wryly.

"Whatever..."

"I have to talk to him, but I can't go just like that and tell him that I know that's him. On the other hand, that was him who blurted out his secret identity, right? If it wasn't a dream, of course. But I'm almost one hundred percent sure that it happened for real. And that mug with Cheshire Cat, so Cat-Noir-like, yet Adrien's..."

"Marinette..." Tikki sighed. "You're babbling again... Stop overthinking and start acting. How, on earth, Luka managed to date you?"

"Because Luka didn't leave me any choice. All initiative was on his side. I didn't have to do anything, really..."

"So, Adrien is dull?"

"What?! No! Of course not!" the girl exclaimed outraged. "How could you think so?!"

"Simple conclusion from your comparison."

"I didn't compare that! I meant that Adrien is giving me time and opportunity to make my own decision..."

"He doesn't know how dangerous it is..." Tikki commented and her holder glared at her instantly.

"And I like that!" Marinette replied firmly. "At least I have something to say! Not like going with the flow where the river goes. You saw the meander where Luka left me..."

"Metaphors... It's worse than I thought..." kwami noticed. "Are you sure you're OK?"

"Véronique was right. There's no need to struggle. And you're also right. Yes. I'll talk to him tomorrow. I'll leave a note on my windowsill. As soon as I survive tomorrow classes with that idiot, Pierre. I hate Fridays! Oh, and I have to finish that design for these classes! I almost forgot about it. Ugh, that pressure that it has to be perfect. I can't let him throw it into pieces again. That would end up with a chat with Hawkmoth..."

"You should never make jokes about that, Marinette..." Tikki warned. "You know you're not allowed to attract the akuma."

"Don't worry. I'll never let them come to me!"

"So, get to work, because it's almost midnight..."

Marinette nodded and sat down at the desk. It was after two a.m. when she drank last sip of cold tea. She barely saw anything and it was high time to go to sleep, but she needed to finish her work. She knew she needed more green tea, so she got up with a sigh of tiredness.

She didn't bother to turn on the light in the living room. Instinctively she directed to the kitchenette with Adrien's favourite mug in her hands. And she stopped, frozen. Next to the fridge there was the mug's owner in person.

They both stayed speechless and motionless. None of them expected to meet the other one in the middle of the night.

"I'll get going..." Adrien murmured, looking away.

Instantly, Marinette felt guilty. She knew she should tell him that he shouldn't take the blame if he hadn't done anything wrong! He couldn't keep thinking that she didn't like him! Because he looked like he'd kept thinking that.

"Adrien?" she asked him and that stopped him halfway.

He turned back and glanced at her unsure.

"I've been thinking..." she began, embarrassed. "Uhm... Actually... I... I think I should give it back to you..." she said not exactly what she wanted to say. She handed him the mug.

"But you like it..." he replied carefully.

"But it's your favourite." she whispered, looking down at the mug with hesitation. She didn't want to give it back.

"Then you should keep it..." Adrien said, approaching to her. He brushed his hands over her palms keeping the mug and he moved it towards her.

She looked up astonished. It was only a distance of their hands and a mug between them. In fact, if she stood on her tiptoes their noses could touch each other... Was he...? Was he going to kiss her? And why did she forget how to breathe? 'Breathe, Marinette!' she told herself.

"Thank you..." she whispered, staring at his eyes.

"You're welcome..." he replied softly.

Then he let her go and withdrew to his bedroom. She stayed in the kitchenette with the black mug in her hands. And with her heart racing in her chest...