ANNND!!!! A little mariwalker (?) for @buggachat BECAUSE HAPPY BIRTHDAY (AGAIN) KELLY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <333333333 I LOVE U MY FRIEND UR AMAZING!!!!!! Thanks for being such a great friend :]]
Day 2 - Mariwalker - Loveybug Au Week - first date momento.
I'd imagine Marinette would see cat walker one random saturday and insist they spend the nice weather together. she calls it a date, he doesn't object to make his good friend happy.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
They had just soundly defeated Chloé's umpteenth akumatized form - Loveybug had barely needed her Lucky Charm and they had probably just broken another record - and the fight had ended almost in sight of her home, so she just winked and wiggled her fingers at Cat Walker before backflipping off the roof they were standing in, landing with a squelch in a dirty alley. "Spots off," she breathed, certain no reporter could have followed the lightning-fast fight in time to spot her, and strode homewards even as the detransformation took hold-
"Lovey, wai- Marinette?"
She froze, pink light still wrapped around her. No. No no nonononoNO. Please GOD. She didn’t move an inch, not daring to make a sound, hoping against hope she had misheard. Wishing… cats couldn’t see still objects. Like T-Rexes.
"Be careful," Cat Walker finally says. He lets her go before taking a big step back, as though purposefully trying to put more distance between the two of them. "You might fall."
"No, I wouldn’t," says Loveybug. She takes one step forward for each one he takes back — continuing their dance from before. "Not when I have you to catch me."
--
The masks they wear might be different, but it doesn't matter. They'll still find their way back to each other.
(This is standalone but can be viewed as companion to Just This Once)
_____
Marinette stepped onto her balcony into the cool air with a sigh, fanning her face. Her friends had finally left her house, and she felt hot from all the activity. New Years was the only occasion her parents would even consider having a party so late, and Marinette soaked up as much merriment as she could. But now that everything had settled down, Marinette was just starting to feel the pull of sleep.
She breathed out a long rush of air, watching the puff of air disperse into the sky. Paris was still lit up as the rest of the city continued on with their celebrations. The sight made Marinette smile. This was the Paris she’d sworn to protect.
The New Year's celebration had been wonderful. André had thrown a ball at the Grand Paris and invited all of Mme Buster's class, much to Chloe's dismay. Even Adrien had been allowed a short appearance (after much begging, she was sure). Afterwards the class made their way to the Champs-Élysees for the countdown and fireworks. It made her heart sad to imagine Adrien staying up in his room to watch from his television. It just wasn't fair! New Year's quite literally happened only once a year!
Her thoughts strayed to Cat Walker. Had he been out in the crowd, too? Could she have been standing mere meters away from her unmasked love? Or had he been at home, surrounded by his family?
She seemed to have received her answer when she spotted Cat Walker sitting on a nearby rooftop. Her breath caught. Just how long had he been there?
Cat Walker looked so deep in thought. He had to be, otherwise those sensitive ears would have picked up the sound of her door hinge. Marinette withered at the sight of his expression. He looked so sad.
Well, that wouldn’t do. Loveybug couldn’t bear seeing him like that.
“Cat Walker!”
The hero jolted, tail shooting up straight. His eyes met hers and widened. He smiled at her, and if Marinette hadn't seen the look he was just sporting, she would've melted into a puddle. She beckoned him over, waving her arm with extra vigor when he hesitated. But he acquiesced, landing with effortless grace before her.
Marinette blushed. As Loveybug, she'd spent a lot of time getting to Cat Walker up close, but there was a different intimacy of talking to him unmasked.
“Hi,” she breathed, hand half raised in an awkward wave despite his mere meter of distance.
“Hello, Marinette. Is there something I can do for you?”
Marinette fought to keep from gawking. “I-I, uh…sood to mee you–I mean, night you’re great-looking, I–” She felt like a weird mix of Loveybug and Adrien-drunk Marinette.
Cat Walker merely smiled as he waited for her to speak, patient, and without ridicule.
For a moment, Marinette thought of Adrien, then swiftly mentally kicked herself for that. She needed to channel something so she could speak like a normal person.
Loveybug! Loveybug! Loveybug!
Marinette took a deep breath before saying, “Hi.”
“Hello,” Cat Walker replied.
Oh, my God, why am I like this? Can I be normal for two seconds? He isn't Adrien. You need to fix this! You can fix this! You randomly jump in his arms to hug him. You wax poetic to him almost every day. You sat next to him and fed him croissants last week–PLEASE.
Marinette cleared her throat. “I, um, I called you because you looked like you needed–” What, is he a charity case? “--because I saw you there and–” And I was reminded for the millionth time why I love you? “--a hero of Paris shouldn't be alone on New Years!” Marinette blurted. Oh, God, did I really imply that Cat Walker of all people is lonely and miserable and without a loving family and friends, and–
“That's sweet of you, Marinette.” Cat Walker folded his hands behind his back.
Wait, how does he know my name? Her brain did not care enough to think about it. That was probably for the best, anyway.
“--but I can promise you, I'm alright. My family has retired for the evening, that's all.”
There was a tightness to his voice that anyone but Loveybug would miss.
“Well, what about me?” Marinette said with immediate regret.
Cat Walker raised his eyebrows.
“Uh, I mean…you can't ignore a civilian on New Years! Not when they have a present for you.”
That was one hundred percent a lie. Cat Walker politely turned down any presents offered to him, Christmas, or not, claiming the happiness of the citizens were rewarding enough.
But Loveybug knew the truth. Especially after seeing how eagerly he chewed those chocolate croissants she'd stuffed in his mouth. Or his strained smile when telling Loveybug that no, he couldn't accept a handmade gift from her because knowing her, it would be identifiable.
It irked her to accept that he was right. How could he have so much self control?!
Cat Walker shook his head sadly. “I'm sorry, but I don't –”
“Nuh uh!” Marinette jabbed a finger at him, all righteous fury of Loveybug determination in her veins. “You stay right there while I get something.”
Cat opened his mouth.
“You wait!”
Marinette hopped back into her room and grabbed the knitted scarf on her desk. The design was a gradient string of pink hearts, with small heart knots on the tassels. It probably was for the best that Cat initially rejected it, since she forgot to omit her signature. It was probably the thought of Adrien and his scarf that distracted her. Thinking of him was quite annoying these days. She was over him.
Marinette snatched the plate of cookies she'd left out for Tikki, shooting the kwami a look that promised extra later, and returned to the balcony.
She nodded in approval when she found Cat Walker still waiting there.
Before she could jam her foot in her mouth, Marinette strode over and shoved the scarf into his arms.
“Marinette, I told you, I can't–”
“No!” Marinette put her hands on her hips. He was going to take that scarf whether he liked it or not.
“This looks very well made,” Cat Walker said gently. He held it back towards her. “And I appreciate the thought, but–”
“Please, take it,” Marinette said. “I made it for you.” Was that entirely true? “--and I wasn’t sure I’d be able to track you down, so I couldn’t give it to you for Christmas, but, New Years is just as well, right?”
She dared to peek up at Cat to find him gawking, frozen, face completely red.
When their eyes met, Cat Walker corrected his appearance. “You made this for me?”
Marinette nodded. Was it really so strange? Fans offered the two of them gifts in the weeks leading to Christmas. But he’d turned down those, and nothing made Marinette particularly unique from any other fan. She braced herself at the thought, but it still made her sad to hear:
“I'm sorry, Marinette.” His voice sounded truly apologetic. “Even if I were to take it, this is very identifiable.”
Marinette's heart sank. He was right about that. As much as she wanted him to have it, their secret identities meant more.
Being a hero sucked sometimes.
Cat Walker studied her defeated expression, before slowly saying, “But I would hate to see your efforts go to waste.”
Marinette's eyes brightened with hope.
“My civilian self couldn’t wear it, but…” Cat Walker took the scarf and wrapped it around his neck. “Nothing can stop Cat Walker.” His smile was so tender it blew away all of the chill in the air around her.
Marinette clasped her hands to her chest, at a loss for words, unable to take her eyes off him. She watched him examine the stitching and the details in the design. He was wearing it.
“This is beautiful. You’re very talented,” Cat Walker said.
Marinette glowed at his words. “I’m glad you like it,” she said breathlessly.
“What’s this?” Cat Walker was thumbing the embroidering on one corner of the scarf.
Marinette blushed. “That’s my signature.”
Cat Walker’s eyes sparkled. “Right, your signature, of course.” The way he said it was slightly strange, and Marinette couldn’t quite pick out what it was. But the reception was positive, so Marinette chalked it up to surprise.
Marinette clasped her hands behind her back, rocking back and forth on her heels. The cold was creeping in now.
Cat Walker must have noticed, because he said, “Thank you, Marinette. But you’re cold. You should go inside and get some sleep.”
“Wait, I–” Marinette raised her hand, but she wasn’t quite sure what she was going to say.
Before either of them could say another word, a loud boom and crash sound from a few blocks away.
They both let out a frustrated sigh. Cat Walker softened in fondness and slight amusement before taking Marinette’s hand kissing it. Every ounce of chill in Marinette’s body was gone in an instant. She thought she might faint.
“Until we meet again, Marinette. And Happy New Years.” Then he shot off towards the raucous, the ends of his new scarf trailing behind him.
Marinette let out a dreamy sigh. It took her a moment to focus before she bounded after him.
marinette making a velour dress to stunt for catwalker. she’s trying to get him to feel the nap of the fabric, how ~soft~ it is, but he’s a gentleman so it’s a very light touch with the back of his hand, his knuckle, and instead he praises her craftsman ship.
she takes his hand, intertwines their fingers, smiles sweetly and says yeah, velours is a delicate fabric that requires a lot of care.
