Papers and pencils (Miraculous Love Square)

Chapter 14: play it cool

Marinette:

I woke up with a splitting headache, and I was lying on my bed, which seemed pretty normal to me... except I couldn't remember how I got there. "Tikki?" I called, and she bumbled up the stairs, a little too excited for comfort.

"Mari! You're awake!" She chirped and flew into my arms.

"So it seems... what happened?"

"Umm, what can you remember?"

My fuzzy memories came flowing back to me. "I remember... fighting and defeating Hypnos... then I was hit by her spell, and I blacked out, then nothing further."

Tikki heaved a sigh of relief. I lifted a brow in confusion. "Tikki... what happened after I fainted?"

"All in good time, Mari. Chat Noir found you on the scene and took you somewhere safe. After you detransformed, Alya found you and dropped you off here."

"No one saw I was Ladybug?"

"Mm-hm." She said but her face was turned away, so I couldn't see her expression.

I decided against asking her further, mostly because the headache wouldn't allow me to. "What time is it?" I asked and rubbed my eyes. It was dark outside but I couldn't tell if it was closer to morning or evening.

"It's nearly 8 o'clock, still 17th May. You've been asleep for about five hours."

I decided that since I had nothing better to do, I could just as well get on an early patrol. I transformed and zipped away into the evening air, landing on the Arc de Triompe and waiting for my partner to show up.

About twenty minutes later he landed behind me, cat ears pricked. "Am I late, my Lady?" He asked.

"Not at all. I just showed up early." I replied.

I stepped towards one of the edges and peered into the distance. "Hmm... Which route do you think we should take tonight, Chat?" I asked over my shoulder.

Chat was silent.

"Chat?" I asked and turned to face him. His head was lopsided and he stared at me with dreaminess in his eyes. I was slightly taken aback at his open affection. He hadn't stared at Ladybug me like that since... since the start of May.

But now that he was staring at me, I couldn't help but find it quite endearing, and it made me tingle all over.

I shook my head. We couldn't get to work with him staring at me like that. "Chat." I said, a little louder this time. He snapped out of his trance and sheepishly gripped his staff. "Begging your pardon, my lady. You just look so lovely this evening that I couldn't help but stare." He apologised nervously with a slight bow, looking at a spot on the floor.

I stepped toward him, and gently lifted his chin with the crook of my index finger so he looked me in the eye. "What's the matter, Chaton?" I asked in concern. He didn't seem at all himself this evening.

He slowly took my hand from his chin and held it in his. Long, slender fingers brushed against mine, and I could feel the sturdiness through our gloves.

"My lady..." he whispered, short of words. "Did something happen today?" I asked softly. He shook his head and fixed a cocky smile to his lips. "Nothing of concern, my Lady. We should get going." He answered and pressed a light kiss to my hand.