#finally alone

Well, he would lie if he said he was opposed to such dreams. But that wasn’t the reason he was there, getting wet again.

‘Remember our deal?’ he murmured as low as he could.

Marinette started at the sound of his voice. ‘Y-yeah,’ she offered.

‘Well?’ he cocked a brow and ducked his head expectantly.

‘Hmmm,’ the girl sent him a studying stare. ‘What should I tell you first,’ she mused, gnawing at her lower lip.

‘Maybe something general,’ he offered. ‘Like the category of this secret. What is it about?’

Marinette’s cheeks turned dark pinkish color at his suggestion. She narrowed her eyes and he took a step back under the weight of her stare.

‘But you can tell me anything, really,’ he raised his claws protectively in front of him.

The girl tilted her head. ‘Actually, it’s not a bad idea,’ she admitted, her eyes dropping to her pink boots. She twirled the handle of the black umbrella in her hand before adding, ‘it’s about my crush.’

Chat’s eyes bulged comically. ‘Your c-crush?’ he croaked, feeling the heat crawling to his own cheeks. He had no idea why his treacherous body decided to react like this.

‘Yes, Chat,’ she confirmed with a short nod. ‘My crush. And that’s all you’re getting out of me today.’

Damn, instead of feeling sated he grew even more curious. That girl was devious, he thought, watching her disappearing around the corner. He heard a telltale splash of boots hitting another puddle and smiled to himself at the sound. That tidbit left him with more questions than answers. How was walking in the rain about her crush? Was she trying to lure them? Was she performing a summoning ritual? Was she just happy after meeting them? And at the back of his head a tiny voice volunteered: Who! Who was her crush? His insides twisted anxiously.

‘Who is your crush?’ he blurted out at her the next day as soon as he caught up with her.

‘It’s nice to see you too, Chat,’ she deadpanned. ‘Still no umbrella, I see.’

‘What? Oh,’ he backpedalled a bit. ‘Hi, Marinette!’ he gave a little wave.

The girl shot him a lopsided grin. ‘It’s been killing you, hasn’t it?’ she asked, not even trying to hide her contentment.

‘Yeah,’ he sighed in defeat, picking at the end of his tail.

‘Well, it was you who suggested it,’ she reminded. ‘I only followed your idea.’

‘I knooooow,’ he whined. ‘Now, please tell me, who is your crush?’ he deployed the kitten eyes.

‘Ooooh, heavy artillery, I see,’ Marinette chuckled. ‘But it seems I’m immune,’ her grin widened.

‘Please, please, please, Marineeeeeeette~,’ he chanted.

‘And where would be the fun in that?’

‘Fun?’ How was this supposed to be fun, he mused. It was torture!

Marinette twirled on her heels and jumped right in the middle of a giant puddle, splashing him as a result. Chat winced with disgust.

‘Fun,’ she repeated, as he raised his foot and shook it to let the water drip down.

‘This is supposed to be fun,’ she pursed her lips and fluttered her lashes - a picture of pure innocence, with the devil hiding beneath. ‘Or where you thinking I’m just gonna give you my secret without anything in return?’

He hadn’t thought about that. ‘So this is your price? My suffering?’ he sighed dramatically. ‘Not only am I getting wet, but also relentlessly teased? Do you have no shame, woman?’

He noticed her cheeks got warmer but she held his gaze. ‘I do have some, and that is one of the reasons I’m not going to tell you who my crush is. My offer still stands - one detail every time you find me in the rain. But I won’t blame you if you give up,’ she shrugged. ‘It’s not like you have to know my secret,’ she suspended her voice.

What a tease, Chat thought. She already got him hooked and she knew it perfectly well. His pride hurt a bit, so he decided not to let her know she won, at least not yet. ‘Well then, I need to rethink this whole deal,’ he waved a clawed hand at the puddles, the boots and the umbrella.