Chapter Text
When the nights were warm, and Marinette found herself bored, a trip to her secret garden was always a way to go to clear her mind. With schoolwork, friends, trying to talk to Adrien, and Ladybug duties, it could boggle her mind from time to time.
Which was why it was nice to just take a breather every once and a while. To simply look at the Eiffel tower from where she sat on the steps, and every now and then, glace that twinkled with dim light against the street lamps below.
It usually helped, coming out here, clearing her mind, usually, inspiration struck right away and her hands would be flying across the paper as she figured out a new design, especially at night when there was hardly anyone around.
But not this night, and as Tikki slept soundly in her pouch— there had been a rather hard akuma that day, so it was best that she got her rest— Marinette couldn't help but fiddle with her pen as she begged her brain for the smallest something.
"Looks like someone has a lot on their mind."
Marinette yelped, falling from her seat, and dropping into the one step below— thankfully they weren't steep or many steps— and crashed face first into the cement.
"Oh, shoot! I'm so sorry, Marinette. I didn't mean to startle you like that."
She couldn't see his face, but she recognized Chat's voice almost right away. With the guilt that she knew was now brewing on that same face.
Sighing against the ground, she lifted her head up, to see Chat standing there awkwardly, eyes wide with worry. "It's fine, Chat." She moved to get up, and her partner was by her side in a second to assist. "I promise, I'm okay. I've taken worse falls." Once again upright on her feet, Marinette started to brush away the dirt that had gathered on her clothes.
But Chat didn't look convinced by her words whatsoever. He kept glancing up and down, looking at every inch of her to make sure all was intact. "I should've made my presence known. You were so lost in your head, it shouldn't have been hard to figure out that you weren't really aware of your surroundings."
Marinette shook her head before going back to sit where she had been originally, and watched as Chat took a seat next to her. "You're fine, Chat. Promise." She assured him gently. "Just took me off guard." She picked up her sketchbook, flipping through the book until she found the empty page she had been on.
She saw out of the corner of her eye as he watched her scribble a couple ideas out, then quickly erase them. Over and over again. "You having some trouble?"
She turned her head upside ways to glance at him before she shrugged, "Yeah. Nothing's been coming to me tonight and no matter how hard I try to think of something, it's just," Marinette pressed her hands together and quickly dispersed them making a small poof noise as to further her point. "Usually coming here helps, but still— nothing." She sighed and dropped her pencil.
Chat brought a claw to his chin, eyes going past her as he lost himself in thought. Minutes later, and his eyes lit up as something obviously came up with an idea. He jumped to his feet with a little spin for flare— because why wouldn't he do something like that? — and held out a paw to her.
Her eyes grew weary as she lifted her hand and let it hover above his palm. "What're you up to exactly?"
His eyes somehow outshone the stars that contrasted behind him. "Nothing bad. Just gotta trust me, ok?"
Still very confused as to what that sneaky kitty could be up to, she allowed her hand to drop into his and for him to pull her to her feet.
What he did next completely caught her off guard, without much fanfare, he bent at the waits, placing one arm under her leg, and the other around her back for balance, he scooped her up into a bridal style carry.
She yelped at the sudden movement before her arms went to straight to wrap around his neck and shooting him a dirty glare as he didn't contain his laughter. "Could've given me a warning."
A lopsided smirk slipped its way onto his lips, unashamed, and filled to the brim with pride. That was definitely her kitty to a T. "Where's the fun in that?" His pride was gonna get him into trouble one day. Specifically with her yo-yo, and him being hung upside down from the tower. "Now, hold on tight and close your eyes."
Without so much as a word, he took off, causing them to bound over building after building as she dug her nails tightly into his suit, clutching at the impenetrable fabric. She could feel the wind fighting against their set destination, giving short punches to her face that almost stole her air, but still allowed just enough. The wind whistled through her ears as they leaped.
Soon enough, they arrived at an unknown location with her eyes still squeezed tightly together, as Chat had directed her to do. Once her partner righted her on her feet, Marinette allowed herself to regain her balance, making sure that she was fully righted before he let his arms fall away from her.
Marinette took that moment, as her mind aligned and she turned to look out onto the city below.
And that was just something with what she saw hundreds of feet below her. The fifteen year old knew she had seen this view a million and one times with Chat. They have done a million patrols and would oftentimes, take breaks to just relax with each other and talk as much as they could on this very beam.
But this. This was somehow different. The view took her breath away in a way that it never had before when she was suited up. As Ladybug, it was just something she knew she could do. She could jump from building to building, sit on a high beam without fearing a fall. It was just a natural feeling with magic surrounding her.
As Marinette, though? As Marinette, it took any breath that she had left. She was naked, bare, vulnerable, whatever one wanted to call it. She couldn't count on her enhanced ability, being so opened, she had to rely on Chat and Chat alone, and just enjoy what her eyes could grasp.
That was somehow more. The view that she had seen a million and one times was more this time.
Even with the rush that burned through her entire body and prickled on the surface of her skin, it didn't hinder, nor subdue the lingering feeling of being secured and comfortable with the person who stood beside her. Being hundreds of feet from the ground and she felt safer and fearless with Chat as Marinette than alone as just Ladybug.
Because, no matter what. No matter the confidence she had gained over the months from being a superhero— as Ladybug, or Marinette— she would always need him. Chat, her partner— her friend, was a part of what helped her build and become who she was just as her super self had.
So the magic suit could stay away for a little while, along with the yo-yo and all the superhero enhancements that came with it. This was Marinette. The girl that Ladybug came from. That was okay, for the magic part of her to be put on the backburner for the night and to enjoy it as this. No suit, but still all Ladybug. Which she was more than happy to share with Chat in this small second.
Even if Chat didn't quite knew that.
Speaking of Chat, she took that moment to turn to look at him, only to find him watching her with a careful, almost precise and hard gaze. As if he was waiting for her to fully react to all that surrounded her.
"This is... amazing." Was all her mouth could truly offer. Because it was, but probably for a different reason than he had thought. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, running a thumb along a lonely beam. "You're lucky you get to experience this all the time." She tacked on. Just to be safe.
He chuckled and came to stand directly beside her. "I know. I'm...happy to be able to do this. Being Chat has given me a little chance to see things I never thought I'd be able to." His tone was thoughtful, almost distant, miles away with wherever his thoughts had run off to before swiftly dropped to his usual playfulness. "And ya know. Fighting villains, having super strength and all that is an added bonus too. But just a word to the wise— I wouldn't try to suggest climbing towers all on your own. "
Marinette snorted. "I'll make sure to have you by my side before I try to do anything so reckless like leaping through the air on a baton." She moved to ease herself down carefully on the metal, letting her legs hang over the edge.
He nodded, playing along with a sneaky smirk and lowered himself down next to her, hands braced behind him to hold his balance as he settled himself. "And no fighting villains while you're at it."
She bowed her head in fake disappointment, making sure he could see the smile still on her face. "Shoot. And here I thought I'd able to measure up to the great Ladybug of Paris. I was totally gonna ask you for a miraculous." She said it in jest, and truly with no bad intentions behind it, but Chat's reaction caught her completely off guard.
He threw his head back and laughed. Hard. With his stomach shaking and arms gripping onto the beam as his hoots and hollers echoed through the night air. To the point where she could see the tears rolling down his cheek.
And okay. That kinda hurt. Why would he laugh like that?
"You-you th-" His words were broken up between sobs of laughter. "You think you need a miraculous to measure up to Ladybug?"
Truthfully, no she didn't. Though jumping from buildings to buildings was something that she wouldn't really do as Marinette. It really didn't sound too appealing falling to the concrete without a suit.
Her face must've told him she was contemplating what he was trying to say because he sobered up pretty quickly. "Marinette." He wiped away a tear and then went to place a hand on her shoulder. "Marinette." Chat said more firmly. "You don't need a miraculous to measure up to Ladybug. You don't need a suit or to even fly through the air to prove how amazing you are. You do that daily as yourself. No powers required."
She blinked slowly, all immediate thought wiped clean from her mind as her brain tried to process it. Because that was something else. Something… different. Unexpected? But… it was… good in a way. Nice. It was nice— to have someone outside of her friend group think of her like that. It was somehow refreshing in a way.
Because, sure, she and Chat had fought evillustrator together that one time, and she had confessed her love to him-she still felt bad about lying to him about that- and have talked a time, maybe two— but for him to think of her so highly, as highly as Ladybug. His partner — someone she knew he loved— well, it brought a comfort to her chest that she hadn't known could be.
She was so lost in a stupor that she hadn't even noticed her staring so intently at the hero beside her, mouth just slightly agape before Chat stifled some laughter and brought his index finger up to her chin to snap it shut.
The gleam in his eyes was the same of a cat catching the canary. But behind the sneaky teasing was that of kindness that spoke volumes. The seriousness that was steadfast in his gaze gave way to the truth of his words— almost like his way of declaring his love for Ladybug; true and strong in what he knew.
"What's wrong, Marinette?" And there was that Chat smirk once more spreading across his lips that she had grown so used to over the time that they had been partners. She wondered if she could flick it off. He'd probably find delight in that. Silly cat. "Cat got your tongue?"
She smiled, playfully moving her elbow to jab him in the side, making it a point not to answer his ridiculous question. Even though she knew it could give him a bigger ego— this was Chat after all— she wanted him to know small gratitude she felt from his words. "Thanks, Chat. That was actually sincere for once," her tone dropping into a jesting octave, "well, before you ruined it. Didn't know you had it in you."
He matched her mood, following in suit as he always did with a cheeky smile. "I'm full of surprises. Besides, what are furiends for after all? Anything you need, I'm there."
Marinette beamed, choosing to ignore the pun for now in favor of shifting her gaze out onto her home before her once more. Inspiration was slowly seeping back in and she began to kick her legs back and forth, bracing her upper body with her hands on the cold metal beneath her. A comfortable silence formed around them as they watched the evening.
She took the moment, just to enjoy the feel of this. No worries, no responsibilities. Nothing she had to think about— while, yes, she did have to keep Ladybug from Chat, Marinette could just be a tad bit more open. Just a little. But she would be happy with what she could give.
An idea finally clicked, almost like a gear locking into the right place, and Marinette swiveled around, trying to find her belongings so she could start sketching out her ideas. but, for some reason, she couldn't find.
That was when she realized that she just possibly might've forgotten them back on the steps. Lifting her hands to her face, she buried her face in her hands, and groaned. Out of all the luck, and she had forgotten her things on the steps.
She felt, rather than saw at first, something in front of her. Pulling her hands away from her face, something immediately saw her backpack dangling from the claw of Chat's left pinkie, hardly holding on by the strap, but sure enough in her partner's capable claws that Marinette knew it wouldn't fall.
Marinette almost expected his triumph look— his mouth just ready and set to get her with an almost unavoidable punchline of how he was her knight in shining leather, ready to save the damsel in distress, or some other over thought pun— or maybe a small flirt, though he didn't often flirt with Marinette— something to show off though. She knew that for sure.
"Don't even."
His eyebrow arched. "But princes-"
She was quick to cut him off. "No." No nicknames. Especially that one.
But he had already won. She could tell he knew that by the glint in his cat like eyes. This boy was so smug. Even when he huffed and slumped sideways, onto her shoulders in mock defeat. "You're no fun, Marinette.
She rolled her eyes, but contributed nothing more to the conversation. If that cat wanted to be overly dramatic, she'd let him. It was no weight off her back.
She wouldn't admit how the edges of her lips curled just slightly as she opened her sketchbook, letting her pen meet the empty page, and finally allowing the ideas to flow freely from her mind and onto the paper on ger lap.
He sat back up, straighter, but didn't quite move away from her, didn't put in any distance between them— thighs still touching, and his torso still turned in inch inwards towards her— as if he didn't like the idea of putting any space between them.
And knowing Chat, he wanted to be in range in the case that she needed him to catch her— not that he didn't trust her— but because that was just so Chat. He cared. Deeply. He may be a teasing, flirty aloof of a partner, but beneath it all, she knew he'd put in his all to make sure everyone else was safe. He wouldn't stand for any less. The fact that she was even sitting up there was a testament to that. In all the time she had been Ladybug, this had been their spot alone. Something that the people below couldn't touch. Not that she would stop them from trying but for lack of a better term this was all theirs. The fact that he would take her as Marinette. Well, it meant something and added to the true splendor of the moment.
When he spoke, it was almost a whisper, like he was afraid to break the soft content peace that had wove its way into the air. But Chat still needed to say what he needed to, she could tell that much. He shifted, nudging her once more with his shoulder. "Marinette?"
"Hm?" She hummed without looking up from her project in her lap.
"I'm glad we're friends."
She heard, rather than saw the smile in his words, but it made her look up nonetheless. Meeting his eyes, she mirrored his smile, pen coming to a complete halt as she offered a slow, happy nod.
"Me too, Chat. Me too."
Friends. She definitely loved being Chat's friend. Because a life without Chat Noir's friendships was something she just couldn't envision not having anymore.
Powers or not.