"A true gentlemen would give you the shirt off of his back if you had none, but a boy would only laugh as to why you had no shirt on to begin with."

— Forbidden Love

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

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Marinette had fallen asleep before Chat Noir could return, and she knew that for a fact, because she never kept her eyes open long enough to wait for his return. She had been extremely exhausted from her traumatic night, and in all honesty, all she wanted was a peaceful night of sleep.

So when a loud sound of someone pounding on Chat's front door came echoing into the small home at such an early time in the morning, Marinette was beyond frightened. It was still completely dark outside, but just by looking out of the window that was above his bed, she could tell the sun was soon to rise.

"Open up, Chat Noir!" A gruff voice of another male grumbled from the other side of the door, pounding on it with his fist a bit harder from before. The loud noise and the voice from the other side of that thin, wooden door, only continued to frighten her, and Marinette couldn't help it– she reached to pull the sheets over her head.

This person could not know she was here!

Shuffling on the floor beside the bed, Marinette heard Chat grunt sleepily, but also in annoyance. Clearly, he wasn't too thrilled about being woken up at a time like this. She peeked over the edge of the bed, only to find he had thrown an arm over his eyes. Because he couldn't see her, it gave her the opportunity to study him further. He looked tired, and Marinette hadn't even realized he'd been sleeping there. But then again, she had no idea what time he had returned last night or how long he'd slept.

But then Chat Noir lifted his arm, and Marinette had no time to avert her gaze without it looking awkward. Their eyes connected and Chat blinked, looking up at her steadily. He grunted and sat up from his makeshift bed on the floor, running a hand through his hair before he whispered, "Hide behind the bed on this side of the floor," he patted the area where he was sitting. "I will deal with this little disturbance."

Involuntarily, she gulped and silently nodded.

The loud and obnoxious knocks continued as Chat Noir stood to his feet and angrily made his way over to his front door. Marinette slid off of the edge of the bed and fell softly into Chat's blankets, peeking underneath the bed she slept on and watching from the crack under the bed as he forcefully tugged open the door.

"What the bloody hell do you think you are doing knocking on my door at this time in the morning?!" Chat growled at whoever was that the door, the venom in his voice a bit frighting... might she admit.

"Your father has requested to see you." Was the stranger's reply.

Marinette heard Chat Noir scoff. "Well, we do not always get what we want, now do we? My father can kiss my ass."

"But sir—"

Growling, Chat Noir reached for the man's throat. "Now you listen here, you tell my father that I do not give a damn about what he wants. I do not wish to see him, and that is final."

When the man only tried to struggle from Chat's grasp, his grip tightened and Chat added, "Do you understand?"

Marinette could not see it, but the sounds of the man gasping for air made her feel sick to her stomach.

When the man only weakly nodded in response, Chat Noir released his grip, and the man fell to the floor with a loud thump. Marinette listened in closely as the man breathed heavily, suddenly seeming exhausted. "What is wrong with you?" The stranger gasped, "You are crazy!"

"Get the hell away from my house!" Was Chat Noir's reply, growling at the man in such a deathly manner to scare him off. And it clearly worked, because she could see the stranger's feet as he scrambled away from Chat Noir's presence.

Tired and also somewhat afraid, Marinette curled into a ball on the floor in Chat Noir's bedding. Not only was she afraid of being caught by other people of his kind, but she also had to admit she was also somewhat frightened at what Chat Noir had just done to that poor man.

What had he done to deserve almost being choked to death?

She didn't bother to look up at him when she felt Chat Noir come around the other side of the bed. Silence travelled through the air, and Marinette was not about to say a single word.

He cleared his throat in attempt to catch her attention. "You... you can return to your bed now."

Frightened, Marinette wasn't sure if she wanted to move. "W-Why would you do that to that poor man?" She mumbled, titling her head slightly to look up at him. Although it was still dark outside and in his home, Marinette could make out Chat Noir's figure and find his glowing, green eyes.

"He was disturbing me." Chat said, "Besides, he knows better. Anyone who serves my father should know better."

For a second, Marinette wanted to ask him what he meant by 'serve', but she decided not to ask. If Marinette was to treat her sisters that way whenever they disturbed her, Elizabeth would've already been dead, she was sure of it.

Instead, she decided to ask him, "Have you ever been taught to love those you really really hate?"

He raised a confused brow at her. "How can you love someone you hate? That would be an impossible task."

A small smile found its way to Marinette's lips, and she sighed, "I do it all the time. There are days where I really hate my aunt, but I also know I love her unconditionally. No matter how many times she bothers the hell out of me, I still love her."

Chat Noir remained silent.

"I would give anything to talk to my father and mother again," Marinette hesitantly decided to admit to him, almost regretting that she had said anything to begin with. She didn't like talking about her parents, and yet, it was somehow easy to talk about them with her new friend. "Now, I have no idea why you do not want to see your father, but take my advice. Try not to waste time holding onto grudges."

Marinette made eye contact with Chat again, just in time to see him nod his head in understanding. Whatever kind of parental problems Chat was dealing with, it was none of Marinette's concern. But Marinette had come to realize long ago that time was something she wished she had more of with her parents.

When she suddenly yawned, it caught Chat Noir's attention and he squat down to meet her level. "Why do you not climb up into the bed now?" He suggested softly.

Snuggling deeper into Chat Noir's pillow, Marinette yawned again, "I do not want to move."

He chuckled softly, and the sound had her humming in response. Eyes closed and body relaxed, Marinette didn't feel the need to move from such a comfortable position.

Strong arms wrap around her exhausted figure shortly afterwards, and Marinette felt herself being lifted from the comfort of Chat Noir's pillow. She peeked an eye open just in time to see Chat Noir lifting her from the floor, and instead, moving her to his bed.

Her back was met with the soft sheets of his bed, and immediately she reached for the nearest pillow to snuggle close to her chest. She felt the sheets being pulled over her body and engulfing her in heaven's warmth.

Yet, no matter how hard she tried to keep her eyes fixed on Chat, they kept on threatening to close.

And he noticed her struggle. "Go back to sleep, Marinette." Chat Noir smiled softly down at her, and that was the last thing Marinette remembered before she fell into the void of sleep and darkness.

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