As the snowflakes danced from the sky, Paris became a scene from a fairy tale. Marinette Dupain-Cheng gazed out of her window at the glistening streets and felt a flutter of excitement in her chest. 

Christmas was almost here, and with it came the promise of warm croissants from her family bakery."Christmas croissants!!" she exclaimed, jumping up from her desk where she'd been sketching designs for her next ladybug costume. The holidays always filled her with joy, but this year felt special.

 She could hardly wait to share the pastries with her friends. Unbeknownst to her, Cat Noir was perched on a nearby rooftop, his feline ears pricking up at her exclamation. He gazed down at Marinette, unable to resist teasing her. "What's this? Are croissants a new superhero food?" he called, leaping down gracefully beside her window. Marinette spun around, flustered. "Cat Noir! You scared me! And yes! They are the best! Even superheroes need to eat!" He flashed her a playful grin. "Well, if it involves food, I'm in! What's the plan, Lady? Do I get an exclusive taste test?" Marinette chuckled, her cheeks slightly pink. 

"You know, Cat, if you keep calling me 'Lady,' I might start believing you're sweet on me!" .  He feigned shock, placing a dramatic paw over his heart. "Me? Sweet on you? I might just have to plead guilty to that!" Their laughter echoed through the peaceful streets, leading Marinette to an idea because this didn't involve just any croissants. 

She wanted to bake them together. Hours later, the duo found themselves in the kitchen of Dupain-Cheng Bakery, surrounded by flour clouds and the rich smell of butter. Marinette expertly mixed the dough as Cat Noir tried, and failed, to keep the flour off his black suit. "You sure know how to get your paws dirty!" Marinette laughed, her eyes sparkling amidst the chaos of spatters and splatters. "All in the name of croissants, my dear!" he boasted, flinging a sprinkle of flour into the air like a celebratory firework.

Despite the mess, they effortlessly fell into a rhythm. Marinette showed off her skills, while Cat Noir attempted to keep up—even tossing in a few over-the-top flourishes that made her giggle. As they formed the croissants, Cat Noir leaned closer. "You know, Marinette, Christmas isn't just about the croissants and gifts. It's about friends." Marinette's heart skipped a beat.

 "You're right; it's about sharing moments like this. Though you could pass for a croissant with that buttery look!" "Oh, I'm not butter, sweetheart; I'm the perfect layer in this culinary masterpiece!" he jabbed back, mockingly posing as if he were indeed the main ingredient of the pastry. 

The oven chimed, and they hurriedly pulled out a platter of perfectly golden croissants, still warm. Marinette handed one to Cat Noir, their fingers brushing against each other lightly — a jolt of electricity coursing between them. "To friendship and delicious homemade treats!" he declared, holding his croissant aloft." Cheers! And for saving Paris from the dullness of the holidays!" she beamed. They both took a bite, the crispy exterior giving way to the warm, soft interior. Their eyes lit up in sheer delight as they savored the day's creations. But outside the bakery, a dark shadow loomed. 

Hawkmoth was plotting, ready to spoil the festive spirit. Little did Marinette and Cat Noir know that their day of laughter was about to take an adventurous turn as they were called to action—croissants in hand. Just as they were finishing their treats, Tikki, Marinette's Kwami, suddenly appeared, alerting them of danger. "Marinette, there's a fight happening near the Eiffel Tower!" "Looks like our gourmet croissant adventure just leveled up!" she winked at Cat Noir.  "Let's save the holidays, and I promise we'll dive back into more pastries after, okay?" he replied, his eyes glimmering with mischief. 

With heroism in their hearts and passion for pastries on their minds, the duo dashed out, ready to face whatever holiday mayhem awaited them, united as friends and partners—stronger together, just like the layers of a perfectly baked croissant.

♥♡♥♡

 tiny info 

They know each other's identity and they tease each other since they are not dating yet in this story .