DISCONTINUED | Black Cat In A Box ☂ ML

11 ☂ Black Velvet

11☂ Black Velvet

UNREVISED

After everything that happened, the weekend arrived and departed as quickly as Marinette could blink. She'd been so focused on powering through the preliminary design and most of the pattern that come Monday morning, her heart wasn't any more prepared than it'd been on Thursday.

All good fashion designers have even better models.

I have to talk to Adrien about the suit today.

With that thought front and center, Mari cracked open her eyes and looked out over the Seine blearily. The river wound through Paris, water winking in the sun as the Eiffel rose gracefully on the horizon. It was a beautiful sight, dotted with gondolas and bridges, tiny people going about their day-to-day business on its banks.

I really can't picture anyone but him in a black velvet suit.

Marinette sighed, sitting up in a mixture of resignation and budding anticipation. On one hand, Adrien might accept, and it would blossom into an opportunity to get to know each other. On the other? He could...

He could...

Oh god, she didn't even want to start considering the possibilities.

As if sensing her mounting tension, Chat Noir chose that moment to stretch in the crook of her elbow, blinking up at her lazily with those beautiful green eyes.

"Good morning, Chat Noir," she patted the cat snuggled under her arm affectionately, kissing the top of his head. "Ready to face the day?"

He merrup'd in response, raising his head to rub it against Mari's chin. She giggled and patted him once more for good measure, before slipping out of bed and padding off to the bathroom. She had a lot to do today, and only one of her to do it.

At least Chat Noir's rooting for me.

  ☂  

It was already 9am by the time Mari reached the café. While there were no classes today, she hadn't been able to find Chat Noir to feed him before leaving. She'd ended up wasting the better part of half-an-hour looking for him, but in the end just left his food on the bench. There was no way he would've been able to get out, so there was no logical need to worry.

But she could've done with one last good-luck-pat.

He already knows what I'm going to do today, she smiled nervously to herself. Maybe he was nervous too.

Marinette had rehearsed asking Adrien about modelling her suit all weekend, to the point where the words nearly rolled off her tongue like a speech. Poor Chat had been subject to her chants the entire time. Kudos to him though - he'd made a good fake-Adrien, wide green irises and all.

She took a deep breath as she rounded the corner, closing in on the glass door like a man on death row. The bag of materials on her shoulder suddenly felt like they weighed a million tonnes. Even the cats inside watched her push open the door with apprehension in their slitted pupils.

Wait a sec – Marinette suddenly realized with a start. What if Adrien's not working today?!

A couple of the customers eating a leisurely breakfast looked over at her frozen form – midstride – in curiosity, forcing Mari get a hold of herself and keep moving up to the counter. She greeted Markl, who thankfully reassured her Adrien was working today.