Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Chloroform
…
A week had passed since their little encounter, and it seemed the little minx was more interesting than he previously thought.
After that fated evening, he took to stalking her around, quite stealthily he must say as she never noticed.
On the first day of his … research… he watched her hurriedly make her way to a fabric store, gushing to the man over the counter about something, the man smiled back, seemingly well acquainted with the bluenette.
Chat tilted his head in slight amusement as he watched her run into the store childishly, grabbing a whole lot of fabric. "A designer." He mused out loud.
She left the store and trotted home.
On the second day, he watched her go out for ice-cream with the redhead. This girl, however, seemed better equipped to realize that someone was watching them. She kept glancing around, her cautious eyes darting over the rooftops in search of the black-clad villain.
The bluenette just shrugged and happily licked her ice-cream, crying out painfully when the pistachio ice-cream fell to the floor with a splat.
He chuckled. What a baby.
On the third day she never left her house.
On the fourth, she didn't either.
On the fifth day, he began to wonder if she had possibly died in the house as she still hadn't emerged, what made it even stranger was that her parents were leaving the house with big suitcases.
He wondered vaguely if they had gone bad and killed her…
On the sixth day, well, that was when he became especially intrigued. That morning he had sat on a close-by rooftop, watching her front door when suddenly, she came out looking utterly determined.
On closer inspection, she also looked completely sleep deprived.
He frowned, just what was keeping her awake during the night?
His eyes narrowed as he watched her make her way out.
She was clutching her iPad, a large garment bag and a sketchbook.
After a few moments, she began to walk, and after ten minutes, realization dawned on his face. She was going to Gabriel Agreste's house. His mansion.
He raised a brow as he quietly followed her. When she finally got to the gate, she stilled.
Chat cocked his head.
'Press the button, princess.' he thought, but she just stood there.
Her finger shook as she lifted it to the button, but she suddenly drew her hand back.
"I can't do this." She said out loud, shaking her head and stepping backward.
"Yes, you can!" A girl's voice said.
Chat's head whipped around.
How the hell had he not noticed a group of young adults had arrived at his front gate?
"I-I…but…It's Mr. G. Agreste-he-he's…Scary!" She whined.
His eyes widened.
Scary? She found his father scary but she didn't even flinch at the sight of him?
The group cheered, "You can do this Marinette!"
"Come on girl!" The redhead cheered.
"Marinette! Marinette! Marinette!"They all began to cheer.
Chat's frowned deepened.
Was this a mob? No, it couldn't be, those were violent. What was this? A gathering? A reunion?
Was this…Support? Were these people her…friends?
It was such a strange idea but he had no other explanation for the situation. He had never seen much of the outside world up until he graduated, and his tertiary studies were all done at a private institute much earlier than the average teenager, he was completely done with his education but his father requested that he not work for a while. He had never made friends. This concept of unconditionally supporting someone made his brain hurt.
"Okay, I'll do it." She said with a gentle smile at her friends.
She pressed the button. Nothing happened. She frowned and pressed it again.
Chat frowned, why wasn't anyone- Oh shit nobody was home.
He quickly detransformed at the bush he hid behind, and casually walked up to the gate.
The group did not notice him at first, but then a timid looking girl who smelled like roses squeaked and alerted them to his civilian form.
He continued walking till he was at the gate, next to the bluenette who's eyes widened, recognizing the model.
"Urm-errr-You nice to meet,sir!"She fumbled out, and he couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped his mouth.
So she was a stuttering young designer who was brave enough to hit a villain with a pan yet had no courage to push a button or make coherent sentences.
"Hello, I'm Adrien Agreste."He said, extending a hand.
Stutter again, princess. Stutter.
But she didn't. She just glanced down at his hand, and back to his face.
"Marinette, Marinette Dupain-Cheng." She said, her hand slipping into his hand, giving it a firm but oh so gentle squeeze.
He would be lying if he said he didn't feel a little flutter in his chest at how gentle her voice was, he'd be lying if he said that he didn't feel sparks when her hand touched his in her ever so gentle way.
He blinked as she extracted her hand. She inhaled deeply, closing her eyes, and when she opened it, he almost gasped.
There it was. That look again.
'I'm not scared.' It seemed to say.
"Hello , it's great to meet you, I just wanted to know, is your father home?" She asked, confidently.
Adrien cocked his head.
"No. No, he's not."He said, silkily.
Her face seemed to fall.
"Oh…I'll come back another time."She said.
He shook his head, "If you need me to pass something on, I gladly will." He said, watching her face.
"Oh, that would be great!" She said, handing him the sketchpad, and the garment with a letter. She beamed at him.
"Thank you, sir!" She said happily.
"Adrien." He said.
She smiled. "Well, thank you, Adrien."She said, with a little curtsy.
The way she said his name. His ordinary name. It made his name sound so brilliant.
"You're welcome, my lady." He found himself saying.
She waved at him as she made her way to her cheering group of friends. A smile almost crept onto his face.
Almost.
For at that moment, a red-haired man, with cerulean blue eyes ran up to her, hugging her tightly and spinning her around, she laughed and lightly smacked his arm as he put her down.
Adrien snarled. Now what was that little display?
He seethed, as the group walked away.
Looks like his research time would be cut short. She would be coming face to face with Chat Noir pretty soon.
His eyes flickered to the red-haired man.
And that damn tomato head would be too.
…
And now it was day seven. Four in the afternoon, almost crime time. Marinette was at the park. Alone. In her hand, she had a sketchbook, and she seemed to be sketching a ballgown but for some reason, it just wasn't coming together the way she wanted.
Sighing, she walked into town, oblivious to the green eyes trailing her every movement.
Chat jumped down, careful to remain hidden in corners and shadows.
Marinette walked slowly, through the winding streets, occasionally looking up at shops and billboards.
As she walked, she also remained oblivious to the looks of the young men on the streets, who drank in her figure greedily with their carnal eyes. Chat, however, saw it clearly, and suddenly, he couldn't take it anymore.
When she turned the next corner, he grabbed her, pulling her off into an alley.
She was about to scream when his clawed hand fixed itself over her mouth.
"Well look what the Chat dragged in." He said, and he heard her gag at his pun.
He spun her around so that her back was pinned to the wall, one hand covered her mouth while the other held her arms above her head.
The alley was getting darker, it must have been around half past four now. Her eyes widened as she realized who it was.
He grinned cynically.
"Well if it isn't Miss-Let-me-hit-a-villain-with-a-pan." He said, his face dangerously close to hers.
Her eyes flicked to his nose, it had completely healed. "What's the matter, Chat got your tongue?" He taunted, tilting his head.
Her brows furrowed. Still no fear. More like…Steely anger.
Her nostrils flared as she glared at him.
Her eyes darted around the alley. One thing she prided herself in, was her uncanny ability to make use of anything around her to her own benefit.
She took a moment to glance down, at his legs, slightly apart, it seemed he had not thought about the fact that though he was a villain he was still male.
She glanced behind him noting the large barrel and the small puddle of water.
She looked at him.
He stared back at her, transfixed.
"Where's your pot now, princess? Where are your friends, hmmm?" He sneered, his breath hot on her face, she caught the scent of what seemed like a combination of mint and expensive chocolate.
"What, no boyfriend to save you?" He said, eyes flashing at the thought of the red-headed boy.
With a look of firm resolve in her eyes, she brought her knee up sharply. He only had a second to realize what was happening before and exploding pain shot through his nether regions, forcing an agonized scream out of him, he fell to his knees, howling and she pulled out her pepper spray.
He looked up at her, his eyes red with pain.
"You! I'm going to get you for that." He said beginning to stand, teeth bared, ears flattened.
Oh, no she was not going to risk that. She pressed the nozzle, and the spray went directly into his eyes. He screamed even louder now, clawing at his eyes, he was stumbling back towards that puddle. She quickly made her way around him and pulled the barrel so that it lay just behind the muddy puddle. Chat continued stepping backwards unaware of where he was going when suddenly he felt himself slip on something and fall into what seemed to be a barrel.
"I don't need a boyfriend Chat Noir. I can take care of myself." He heard her say before she ran off.
He just lay there, uncomfortably. Everything hurt. She was a demon. How could someone so small just…destroy him?
Him, the most dangerous criminal in all of Paris.
What the hell was this? It was almost too easy for her.
No, he wouldn't be waiting another week, he would be getting her back for what she did, and would get her back tonight.
It took another hour before the pain mostly subsided.
Finally, he exited the alley. It was dark out now. He fixed his eyes in the direction of the bakery.
So feisty. He had to admit, it was such a turn on. Shaking his head of his adult thoughts, he leaped up to her window. It was barred.
He smirked. It was so cute that the citizens had no idea that their protection was useless against his Cataclysm.
"Cataclysm." He touched his hand to the guarded window, and the bars turned to dust, falling away silently. He leapt to another roof, and dropped his transformation.
Plagg looked up.
"Don't hurt Marinette." He said. Adrien regarded him for a moment.
He gave Plagg some cheese. The hungry kwami looked at the cheese, but then turned away.
"No." Plagg said.
Adrien frowned.
"No?"
The kwami's tummy growled.
He looked at Adrien. "What has she ever done to you that you want to attack her in her own home?"
"Do I need to make a list?" He asked the kwami in annoyance.
The kwami fell through the air out of exhaustion and hunger, Adrien caught him and held out the Camembert to him, he reluctantly ate the cheese.
"Marinette is different. Trust me. I can tell."
Suddenly there was a loud ,ear-piercing scream.
Plagg gulped the cheese down, energised.
Adrien's eyes darted to the bakery, that's where the scream came from. His eyes widened.
"Plagg, transform me!" He all but hissed before taking off in the direction of the bakery as Chat Noir.
Her window was slid open and it didn't take a genius to realize that someone had gotten in.
He snarled as he slipped in through the window. There, at the center of the room stood a man, Marinette stood against the wall, her pan in her hand.
He glanced briefly at the trapdoor that lead up to this room, noting that for some reason a lock was on it, and it seemed that Marinette wasn't the one who put it there.
"Get lost Chat Noir, I was here first." The man said, and Chat recognized him as one of the young men who stared at Marinette on the street.
Chat snorted.
"Oh shut up, I was here ten minutes ago. You wouldn't have got in if I hadn't cataclysm-ed her guards.
Marinette's eyes darted around her room. There must be some way to escape. Her vision blurred for a second. The man who got in had tried to knock her out with chloroform, he hadn't gotten far as she had pushed him and ran, but she did get a whiff of the chemical, and she felt dizzy.
She was scared. This couldn't be happening, her parents were not home. Two criminals were in her room, a room she was trapped in. She couldn't formulate a plan. She couldn't think. This couldn't be happening. This could not be happening.
She had just been drifting into a sound sleep five minutes ago, she had no idea that someone was in her room, locking the trapdoor, she only realized someone was there when she saw the faint shadow inching ever closer to her bed.
And now here she was. Vulnerable. So utterly and undeniably alone.
"Yes, but you left the place. Tell you what,50/50, what do you say?" The man said.
"50/50 you say?" Chat said, as if testing the idea on his tongue.
"Yes, you hold her down first, and then when it's your turn I hold her down, and we continue in that manner." The man explained.
"So you mean we share?" Chat said with a wry smile.
Marinette's eyes widened and fat tears threatened to fall.
"Yes, no harm in pals sharing something so fine." The man said.
Chat hummed, taking in the dazed appearance of the girl, her eyes seemed…desperate.
"Well, I can tell you know that she had this coming to her for a long time, she got me with that very pan, right on my face, and she ruffed me up pretty badly today." He said, smirking, he turned to Marinette who had paled.
"What do you say, princess, ready to accept your punishment for being a bad, bad girl? "He purred.
Marinette choked. Chat's eyes flashed and he stared at her for a long moment.
"Oh she looks ready to be punished." The man said, looking at her in a filthy manner.
"Mmmm." Chat said, turning to the man. Both of them were the same height, very tall.
"You're right when you say she's fine." Chat said.
The man nodded excitedly.
"But you see, the way I was brought up, when I see something that's that fine and beautiful, it, in turn, becomes all mine, and I don't plan on starting to share anything that's mine any time soon." He purred out.
He smirked as shock began to leak into the man's features.
The man jumped back as Chat brought his hand down to scratch him but Chats tail wrapped around the man's leg and yanked him, making him fall to the floor. Taking the opportunity, Chat grabbed the man's head, slamming it repeatedly into the ground.
Marinette whined as she saw blood on the floor.
"Quiet you!" Chat hissed.
The man grabbed Chat's hand, and he pulled him down. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a medium sized bottle of chloroform. Chat saw it and slammed the man's hand onto the floor. The man used this opportunity to slip his hand into his other pocket, conjuring up the chloroformed hanky. Chat noted it and decided to play along. So he held his breath, and when the man pressed it up to his face. He pretended to fall unconscious. The man shoved Chat's body off and stood.
He looked at Marinette who was in a dazed stupor.
He grinned.
"I can't wait to tear you ,you won't walk again when I'm done with you." He said walking towards her, like she was prey.
Chat stood.
"Now is that any way to talk to a lady?" He asked an the man spun around, only to be hit, square on the nose with a baton.
He shrieked and stumbled back.
"Who knew I'd learn something from you, princess." He murmured to himself.
The man charged at Chat who punched him, hard. And he didn't stop, he kept hitting him. The man threw his arms around wildly, missing Chat every time.
Chat eventually got annoyed and grabbed the man's arm, twisting it into an awkward position, about to snap it.
"DON'T!" Marinette shrieked.
Chat looked up.
"Don't think you're off the hook either princess!" He hissed.
"Stop you're going to break it!" She shouted.
"I think that was the point." He snarled.
"He will be in more pain…"
"Silly woman, do you want him to **** you?" He asked in annoyance.
The man reached out with his free arm to the little bottle of Chloroform that was almost empty but had just enough to knock a grown man out. The cat and the girl had no clue due to their bickering.
Marinette glanced down and saw the man reach for something.
"CHAT LOOK OUT!" She shouted, too late.
The man smashed the chloroform bottle into Chat's unsuspecting face.
The effect was immediate. His eyes glossed over and he wobbled.
The man flipped them over onto the floor and proceeded to punch him, like a mad man.
Marinette was frightened. She looked at Chat's now bleeding face.
She still felt dizzy, but she stood, and crept up to the unsuspecting man, and with a sort of battle cry, she brought the pan down firmly on his head.
With a loud thonk, the man slumped unconscious on the Chat. (A/N: Yes I'm trying to be punny).
Marinette scrambled back to the wall , sliding down it , breathing heavily.
Chat stood up, almost as if he were a corpse. He picked up the man and walked with him towards the window before dropping him, heartlessly onto the tarp below. The man hit the tarp and rolled a bit before falling to ground level. He was not dead though.
Chat turned to look at Marinette through his hazy eyes. He walked towards her, with less swagger than usual, and he fell to his knees right in front of her.
Her breaths came out heavy and strangled. His were none the better.
He tilted his head up and looked at her, his clawed hand resting on the wall beside her head.
"Silly princess. So selfless. It's so…pathetic." He said before his head fell on her shoulder in exhaustion.
She gulped. This was not the position that a villain and a citizen should be in. She was quiet for a moment.
But…Perhaps this was the position that the villain-who just saved her life-and herself could be in.
His breaths were getting slower, so were hers, she couldn't fight the chloroform anymore.
Ever so slowly, she placed a delicate hand into his hair.
"Thank you for helping me…Even after today." She said, her fingers wafting into his hair.
She did not expect him to snuggle deeper into her.
"…You're…Still…Not off the…hook…I'll…get you…"He said exhaustedly, trying to get up so that he can carry out his plot of revenge.
But…
It was so comfortable there in her arms, with her hand in his hair, his ear on her pulse, and her smell of cherry-blossoms invading his nose, clouding his judgment and annihilating rationality.
His hand slid down the wall and rested on her leg,weakly.
"…Later…"He finished, before they both fell asleep.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Zara_Descartes
Zara_Descartes A/N: Hey guys, how are you?
Hey guys! I just thought you should know that this story would be told mostly from the viewpoint of Adrian/Chat,okay?
However, for the progression of the story, scenes of Marinette's life will be used for better understanding,I mean,who doesn't want to know her thoughts on all of this!
And noooow,Chat will be meeting Marinetteeeeee!
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone