"When did we come up with the lie that life is easier to travel through alone? Sometimes, we all need a hand to hold."

— Forbidden Love

CHAPTER THIRTY

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Lifting a furry suit at eye level, Marinette raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "You have got to be joking."

"You don't see me laughing," He retorted, his expression bland as ever and unable to read.

"Did you make this?"

"Ah... no. It is a costume."

"A costume?" Marinette raised a confused brow. As she studied the suit further, she was beginning to realize it did in fact look like a costume. Probably once a Halloween costume. "Where did you even get this?"

Chat Noir smiled sheepishly, "Would you believe me if I said I stole it?"

"Actually, I would. Except you cannot survive on the other side."

He laughed, "Touché." He rubbed the back of his neck and shrugged, "Well, I actually found it on our side of the wall about a year ago. Someone must have thrown it over."

"Ew. So, you have no idea where it has been."

Despite his folded arms, Chat Noir laughed again and shook his head. "I obviously cleaned it."

"I do not feel comfortable wearing this."

"Why? It is the best disguise I have."

"This is not something I should be wearing to a formal dinner!" Her eyes travel up and down the suit, examining the matted-furred piece of clothing that resembled almost what Chat Noir was himself. "And this is coming from a woman who doesn't give a damn about appearance when it comes to impressing someone."

Chat Noir chuckled, shaking his head.

"But..." her eyes suddenly gleam with mischief as she now inspected the piece of clothing with new eyes. "I would love to have this handy whenever Aunt wants me to attend a ball. I could just imagine the look on her face if she saw me in this." Giggling, she met his gaze again, batting her lashes as she asked, "Could I keep it?"

A smile soon tugged at the corners of Chat's lips, and he nods in approval. Of course, it was so like Marinette to want to rebel against her aunt just for the fun of it, and he too would gladly accompany her in rebellion. Maybe just maybe, she wouldn't mind him by her side.

"What about my scent?" She suddenly asked him, breaking him away from his thoughts. "You said your kind could pick up the human scent. How will I hide what I smell like?"

Smirking somewhat knowingly, Chat folded his arms across his chest. "Have you not heard of the fragrance human females use to impress—" he suddenly caught her unamused glare, and smiled sheepishly, "—to smell nice." He rephrased.

She hummed knowingly. "You mean perfume?"

"Precisely."

"How will a silly little bottle help me?"

With a shake to his head, a small grin tugged at the corners of his lips. "The smell of flowers and honey will surely throw off my father's scent. Trust me."

"I suppose," the ravenette hesitantly agreed, slightly unsure of his plan.

Sensing her uneasiness, he rested his hand on her shoulder, in hopes that it will give her some sort of comfort. At the sudden touch, she quickly met his eyes. "You know, if you feel in any way uncomfortable attending this dinner, you are not forced to come. I will understand if you choose to back out."

It was true, Marinette was feeling somewhat uneasy and unsure about the whole plan. Yet, she was certain she did not want Chat to go through a similar situation she was currently facing.

Marrying someone neither of them loved.

"No, I am going to do this." she assured him. "Just nervous at how it will all play out."

Chuckling, he shrugged his shoulders. "I cannot deny that I am also nervous. I honestly just cannot wait to see the look on Chloé's face when I attend this dinner with another date."

Intrigued by the woman's name, Marinette's curiosity sprung to life. "Chloé is her name?" The ravenette asked.

Sighing sadly, Chat Noir's smile fell suddenly into a disappointed frown, and his head hung low, his eyes averting her gaze. "Yes," he admitted, nodding slowly, "I have only met her once before today, and she is quite dreadful."

Though the mood had hardened, Marinette couldn't help but giggle at that. "Dreadful? How so?"

"Gods, where do I even start?" He groaned, clearly sarcasm dripping from every word, and Marinette's giggles only intensify. "I am not even attracted to her, for one. Secondly, all she ever talks about is herself; constantly whining about how lonely she has been her whole life. And thirdly, when she eats, she has such a terrible habit of keeping her mouth open while she chews."

"Goodness me, she chews with her mouth open? How dreadful!" Marinette laughed, her own sarcasm coming into play.

"Don't laugh," Came Chat Noir's reply, though she could hear his faint chuckles following her laughter. "It is a serious matter. It is so disgusting. No one wants to see mashed up food in someone else's mouth. It is just so improper."

Still giggling wildly, Marinette wiped a fallen tear from under her eye. Why, she hadn't had this much fun in simply just talking to someone in a very long time. Who knew Chat Noir was just as sarcastic as she was, let alone knew how to put it all into play and make her laugh.

She enjoyed being his friend. A lot.

"I agree," Marinette nodded, attempting to keep her giggles at bay and her giddy smile from returning.

"What about the man your aunt wishes for you to marry? What is he like?" Questioned Chat, the sudden change of topic almost having the ravenette choking on her own saliva. Well, she certainly hadn't been ready to talk about Nathaniel Logharth with Chat Noir, nor did she feel at ease telling him that the red-headed devil was here, in this forest, and the captain of those men they had spotted earlier in the forest, all huddled together in conversation. He hadn't even gotten a close look at Nathaniel, and already Chat Noir hated the man.

"He isn't too overly terrible, I guess." Admitted Marinette, unsure of how to describe the red head to Chat. "I mean, he did save me once from almost freezing to death..."

"You almost froze to death?"

"It is a long story," Marinette smiled sheepishly, "But I probably would be a frozen block of ice right now if it was not for him. So, I sort of owe him that."

"Right..." As if he was almost disappointed with her answer, Chat Noir recoiled immediately. "I see."

"But I would never marry him." Continued Marinette, catching his attention once more. "He does not respect me. Hell, he did not even ask for my hand in marriage, he just demanded for it. And I had no say in whether or not I wanted to give it to him."

Silently nodding, Chat Noir doesn't bother to further the conversation any longer. By now, he had looked away from Marinette, allowing her to change from her trousers into her disguise. Though Chat Noir was beginning to have strong feelings for Marinette, the doubt of her rejecting any type of proposal from him still swirled in his mind. She'd explained countless of times why she would never take court with a man, let alone marry one. However, would she ever make an exception for him?

The sweet smell of flowers and honey reached his nose, and the small sounds of perfume being squirt out reached his ears. No sooner did the perfume reach his nose did the Marinette's wonderful scent disappear. He frowned slightly, for he somewhat enjoyed Marinette's scent–not in a creepy or unfit way of course, but just an admiration for how wonderfully she smelled. And besides, it bothered him even more to know for as long as the perfume lasted against her skin, he'd be unable to locate her if they were to part during the evening. Leaving her vulnerable to the men who were searching for her and leaving him defenseless.

"I'm ready," she announced, somewhat timidly, and he made a drastic mistake in turning back around. Immediately, his eyes clashed with hers, and the sight of her dressed as one of his kind practically had his fur standing on end. And if it could be any worse, she looked even more adorable with the fake cat ears planted at the top of her head.

He gulped, restricting his tongue from making any mistakes.

Regaining his cool, Chat Noir extended his arm to her. "Are you really ready?"

She looped her hand over his arm. "Not really." She admitted.

He shook his head, sighing deeply, "Neither am I."

Gripping his arm a bit tighter for reassurance, Marinette sent him a warm smile. "But I do not think standing in front of the castle gates will make us any more ready." She somewhat rubbed his arm for comfort, and his eyes lower to meet hers. "All will be alright. I am sure of it."

A small smile tugged at the end of his lips, and he rested his own hand on top of hers for only a moment. Without another word, he approached the castle gate where two guards stood and let them pass. And even as he walked his date for the night down the long, narrow isles to the castle's dining room, he couldn't help but let Marinette's soothing voice ring in his head.

"All will be alright. I am sure of it."

And he believed her every word.

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