As we read before...

Mari let out a little giggle, and Chat looked at her confused. "Is there something wrong princess?" He asked, as he scooted closer to her. "N-No... th-there's nothing wrong.." She said, laughing in between her words. "Whatever you say..."

Time passed and they both had to say goodbye. Marinette carried the cat to the balcony and Chat gave her a kiss on the forehead. He waved goodbye to both of them and went on his way back.

Mari would sigh, blushing, hugging and petting the cat as it whimpered when Chat was no longer there.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Marinette walked inside her room once again. She placed the cat on the rug in the middle of her room. She read the tag once again, Luna. With the cat sitting on the rug, Marinette and Tikki stared at the cat in silence. "What am I gonna do with it?.. I have school and cleaning duty tomorrow." "I think it's best to tell your mom." Tikki said.

---

It was the next day, school felt longer than usual, Marinette's thoughts scattered as she tried desperately to focus on her work. She scribbled on her tablet, struggling to contain a single thing Mrs. Bustier was saying. At first the scribbles were tornados, the classic filled in circles, to doodles of future outfits she planned, to black filled dresses, to cat shaped blouses, to a regular cat. Marinette wouldn't realize her actions until the bell for the end of the day passed.

"No homework tonight, great job on the essays! I will see you all next week!" Mrs. Bustier said with a happy energetic voice. Everyone began getting out of their seats, conversations sparking once again in the silent classroom.

"Mari, are you gonna go ahead home today?" Alya asked, packing her books and tablet into her bag. "Nope, we don't have a ton of homework so I might check out the library and I have cleaning duty." Marinette said, sighing and shoving papers and her tablet into her bag. "Doesn't Adam, Adrien, and Mylène have cleaning duty today? Also Kim and Sabrina?" Alya asked, throwing her bag over her shoulder. "Really?" Marinette said, her voice lighting up in excitement. The bell rang once again, Alya waving goodbye as she left the classroom with Nino, whispering and talking to him.

"Here we go again." Mari thought, heading down the stairs to meet up for cleaning duty.

"Everyone understands what they are doing? Then get to it!" The janitor said, everyone parted ways. Marinette grabbed her mop and duster, heading to the art room with Adam. "Why do I have to do everything with you." Mari said, with a monotone voice, sighing at the end of her sentence. "It's fate, what can I say?" Adam said, walking next to her. Mari walked as fast as she possibly could with her little legs, a mop, and duster in her hands.

As they reached the classroom, Mari went right to work, mopping as much as she could so she could get this over with. Adam just walked in, just starting to clean the windows and chalkboard. Time passed with silence and the occasional sneeze. Someone broke the silence. "Look Mari, what I said is still a fact. You don't date a superhero and it is crazy you can even manage to keep a relationship like that. I know you are seeing him and it's as obvious as snow during summer. " Marinette froze, her mop precipitating a water puddle at her shoes. "You don't even know him behind the mask, you are basically playing a monopoly game at your own risk." He stopped wiping the windows and stared at Marinette's back. "I'm here. I can help you Mari."

"You don't need him."

Mari snapped, slamming the mop onto the floor. "Okay and? I don't think I asked your or YOUR opinion of all people. You look down on me all the time-" "I'M LOOKING OUT FOR YOU." Adam exclaimed, opening his arms. "I don't care if you are looking out for me! I can take care of myself and I know out of everyone, Chat is an amazing person and you know that if you even read the news. You know absolutely NOTHING!" Mari screamed, covering her mouth. "Just get this cleaning duty over with. I don't need this today. Just shut up and finish this quietly." Mari said, relaxing her shoulders and her back still towards Adam.

Adam's eyebrows clenched, walking towards Marinette, placing his hand on her shoulders, turning her over to face him, the mop falling onto the floor. "Mari, listen to me. I like you. You are a girl that I aspire to be, and you are amazing in every way possible. I am looking out for you. Chat could be bad news and I don't want anything to happen to you." He said, his face inching closer. Mari winced, turning away and closing her eyes.

Adam went closer but he stopped.

Adam backed away and walked towards the chalkboard. "It's fine. Keep seeing that man of yours under that mask. I'll be here when he breaks your heart." He wiped the last part of the chalkboard, heading to leave. He looked back at Mari whispering once again, "I don't know what you see in him." Adam left, closing the door shut.

Mari stood there for a few seconds that seemed to feel like years. She sighed and continued to mop as the blue sunny sky began to take a light orange.

' 8:42 PM. '

Marinette walked home, the lightly tinted orange sky turning to a bold orange with hints of pink. Clenching onto her bag, she walked inside the bakery, heading upstairs without acknowledging her parents. "How was schoo-" Sabine's voice was faint, but cut off in shock. "I'll be up there soon! Your cat is doing fine!" Sabine yelled, continuing to tend to the bakery with Tom.

The latch opened, Marinette climbing through. After placing her backpack on the wall and closing the latch, she stretched. She smiled as she walked toward the peacefully sleeping cat. "Lucky, being able to sleep in all day." Marinette whispered, Tikki flying out of her bag. "Thanks for at least not throwing me this time!" Tikki said, her nubs on her waist. "Of course." Marinette said with sarcasm, petting the slowly breathing cat. "I never noticed their toe beans were pink." Tikki said, laughing and poking at the beans. Marinette laid next to the cat in silence until she heard footsteps. Tikki hid and the latch opened.

"How's the cat?" Sabine asked while Tom peeked his head in after she walked up the steps. "Sleeping." Marinette said. "I still don't understand how you found a cat. Did it just magically come up to your roof?" Tom asked, closing the latch with a bowl of tuna in the other hand. "Yeah... YEAH! I wanted to take a break and-and then it just... appeared on one of my chairs!" Marinette said, lying through her teeth. "Haha very funny. I'm your mom, tell us the truth." Sabine said, crossing her arms. Marinette sighed as she sat up. "Chat Noir gave them to me, completely out of nowhere a few days ago." Marinette said, unable to lie to her parents. "That makes a lot more sense. Well, we contacted and found the owner and they are picking them up tomorrow when you manage the bakery tomorrow." Tom said, opening and placing the tuna on the floor.

Marinette frowned a little, sad at the thought of the cat going away. "Alright, are there any orders I should be concerned about tomorrow?" Marinette said, continuing to pet the cat. The cat slowly woke up, walking towards the can of tuna, taking bites. "Nope not really, I'll be down there to help anyway." Tom said. "Great, I'll come home as soon as possible after classes." Marinette said, smiling at Tom and Sabine. "Alright, we should let you do your homework and get some rest. Good night Marinette. We will be downstairs if you need us." Tom said, opening the latch. Sabine waved goodbye, heading down the steps and Tom after.

Marinette walks up to her bed, Tikki and the cat following. "Tikki, what was that conversation I had with that douchebag Adam?" "I really hate kids like that. I see them once every century in every ladybug holder. Makes me wanna punch 'em! They think they can just treat and yell at someone like that" Tikki exclaimed, punching her nubs into the air. Marinette laughed, lying down with the cat next to her. "But seriously Mari, he has a point." Tikki said as her high-pitchy, enthusiastic voice became more soothing and sympathetic. "Dating a superhero is super dangerous. Especially if you don't know who it is. You have been fighting alongside him for a while but, you can't just completely trust them. You don't know their civilian life, what they do, and who they are under the mask. You are falling in love for someone who has to hide their identity. What happened to falling for Adrien? Have you moved on?"

"I don't know." Mari said, covering her face in a blanket. Tikki sighed as she sat on Marinette's pillow. "I'll leave you alone if you need. But, please listen to my advice over Adams. Don't stress to give me an answer. Being Ladybug is enough stress for you." Tikki flew away, heading to her side pouch.

• • • • • TO BE CONTINUED... • • • • •

Surprise. Expect the unexpected.

Like always, stay miraculous.

~_ThatPanda_ 4/12/2021