"When did we as a society become so idly focused on ourselves? Forgetting that on the other side of our mirror stands someone who is only waiting for us to acknowledge them."

— Forbidden Love

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

•┈••✦ ❤ ✦••┈•

"Hey, wait just a minute!" Marinette cried, giggles escaping her lips as she struggled to match the running pace of Chat Noir in front of her. The blonde feline laughed aloud, picking up his speed to make sure the petite woman could not pass or catch up to him. He couldn't seem to wash away the grin that spread across his lips as he glanced back at the woman chasing him across the large field they galloped through. Why, he hadn't had this much fun in a very long time. Nor did he remember how thrilling it felt to actually smile for a genuine reason.

"Not a chance!" He laughed, his speed slowing down so she could easily pass him. Sure enough, Marinette dashed by his side, picking up her speed and running ahead of him. Chat chuckled to himself, shaking his head as he jogged to keep up with her pace. Marinette sure was something else.

Giggling, Marinette stopped ahead. He stopped too as he watched her flick her hair playfully. "You were saying?" She laughed, and his grin only grew at the sight of her smile. If only she knew he had let her win.

What was this woman doing to him?

Shaking his head, Chat Noir's grin had yet to waver as he slowly took his time to approach her. Upon reaching her, he extended his hand towards her. "Come on. I have found the perfect spot."

Still smiling widely, Marinette didn't hesitate to place her hand in his gently into his. Despite her somewhat hatred for men, she was beginning to find Chat Noir to be someone who she enjoyed being around.

Although Marinette had committed herself to chasing away every man she's ever met, making sure no man would fall in love with her, and making sure she would never fall in love with any man, she had to admit spending time with Chat Noir was quite enjoyable. But even as her eyes glanced at their conjoined hands, she couldn't help but worry over where indeed their friendship was heading. Thinking of them being anything more than just friends worried Marinette. The last thing she was planning on doing was hurting Chat Noir, but never would she ever allow a man to succeed in retrieving her love.

It just could not be.

As Chat Noir pulled Marinette up onto a little hill, her eyes just couldn't seem to believe themselves. There before them was a view of an entire valley, with rolling hills, and mountains far off into the distance. Behind them stood the forest where they had come from, the tall trees bristled as the wind kissed their pines. Truly it was a sight Marinette would've never dreamed to see, and yet, here she was.

"Wow," Marinette couldn't believe her eyes, and as Chat Noir sat down into the soft, evergreen grass, the ravenette followed his actions. "It is beautiful."

"Indeed." Agreed Chat, his eyes studying the way the mountains molded into the earth. "This is my favorite place."

"Oh?" Marinette raised an eyebrow, her head slightly turning to meet his eyes. "How so?"

The wind bristled against his ears, and the chilly wind brushed his blonde locks across his face. Closing his eyes, Chat Noir inhaled deeply, "It is the perfect place to think." He exhaled.

Taking in the view before her, Marinette closed her eyes as well and hummed contently, simply enjoying the way the breeze tickled her neck and rushed through her loose, midnight-colored hair. Back in her home, on the other side of the wall, the countryside had been destroyed long ago and was replaced with streets of brick and houses upon every blade of grass. No one felt the breeze anymore, because every building blocked its path. Oh, how Marinette would give anything to live here.

"I would give anything to live here," the ravenette breathed, enjoying the way the wind rustled through her hair. "The city is so... so boring; lifeless. It is as if no one even cares for trees or even the simplest blade grass anymore."

Sighing more to himself, Chat Noir leaned back to rest against his arms, his black, furred fingers sliding through the green blades of grass. "And I would give anything to leave this place." Chat said, "We both want something we cannot have."

Somewhat confused by his statement, Marinette turned to meet his eyes with a raised eyebrow. "What do you mean you cannot leave? Why not?" Bewildered still, she asked, "And why would you want to leave such a marvelous place?"

"It is not the scenery I wish to leave," Meeting her eyes, he sent her a look of sorrow. "It is my father."

"Hmm, yes, I remember you two were in a bit of a quarry." Replied Marinette, she too sending him a look of concern. The ravenette clearly remembered when Chat Noir had almost killed a man who was merely only a messenger for his father, then later admitted he was a prince, and his father was the king of this land. Still though, to this day, Marinette still didn't know why father and son had been fighting to begin with.

"We still are," Mumbled Chat, his eyes averting from hers and instead looking down at the grass between his legs. "He does not understand me. He does not see that I am different from him. He wants me to be like him, but the last thing I want is to be like him."

Marinette frowned slightly. She remembered when she'd explained to Chat Noir that how keeping a grudge with a parent would be something she would never do– for Marinette had never gotten the opportunity to say goodbye to her parents. "Then why do you not run away?" She asked him, "You could leave and not have to bother with your father if you wish."

If only it were that simple. Shaking his head, he sighed once more. "I cannot leave this place, Marinette. This is an enchanted forest... with enchanted creatures."

When he didn't elaborate further, she frowned in confusion. "What does that have to do with running away?"

Turning to meet her eyes once again, a look of sorrow collected in the depths of his irises. "If the magic of this place does not surround my essence, I will die."

Her eyes widened in shock, and he was sure he saw her swallow a fairly large lump down her throat. Unfortunately, it was true. Chat Noir was bound to this magical land. The only reason he and anyone else who lived here even existed was because of the magic that the wall dividing their lands provided. Any creature who crossed over to the other side would die.

"You... you are trapped here..." she breathed out in almost a whisper, but to him, it sounded more like a shudder, as if she was terrified by this revelation.

He didn't have to confirm that she was right. Instead, Chat Noir silently nodded and looked away, allowing his bangs to fall over his face.

Yes, he was trapped. Trapped between marrying against his will and becoming the next king, or death.

"I am so sorry, Chat Noir." Marinette's voice held nothing but regretful sadness, and when he met her eyes again, they resembled a look of pity for him. His eyes fell downward to where he found her hands fiddling with one another nervously in her lap. "If I had known I would not have bothered to—"

"There is no need to apologize," he interrupted her, sending her a small smile of reassurance. "It is only reality. Not everything can be sugar-coated, you know."

Nodding, Marinette averted her gaze from his, and instead focused on the view before them both. "Hmm, you are quite right." She agreed.

He turned to look ahead at the view as well, deciding silence was really the best answer. Maybe Chat Noir was unable to explore the rest of the world, but at least he had someone to help him revisit the cites of the past in his world.

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