(Continued from part 2)

Upstairs in Marinette's bedroom, the young woman patted Tikki on the head as the kwami watched one of her favorite television shows on the computer.

"I'll be back in a few, I'll just be downstairs. I'm gonna box up the cake and maybe have another cup of tea with my mom."

"M'kay," Tikki mumbled, some cookie crumbs falling from her mouth, her attention still fully on her program.

Marinette smiled in amusement. Few things could command Tikki's attention as completely as the climactic scenes of a romantic drama.

Downstairs, her mother was on the phone with a friend and they laughed together about Jagged Stone's latest antics. Marinette launched into a tirade about how Jagged needed to either settle down and start an animal sanctuary, or wait until he retired from stardom before "saving" all these exotic pets in need, since the life of a touring rock star was not conducive to fostering proper animal behavior.

After realizing that her fervent speech had made her run late, she quickly packed up her cake and holstered her purse, then raced out the door towards the Agreste residence.

Without double checking if Tikki was in her purse.

-----

The young woman arrived at the mansion in record time and only moderately out of breath. She opened the cake box to make sure it had survived the trip unscathed, and upon confirmation, she rang the intercom at the front gate. She rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet as a whole minute passed, then she rang again.

A gruff voice barked from the other side of the intercom, "If you're here to sell something, go away. If you're here looking for a job in the fashion industry, go away. If you're here about my son's birthday, put your gift into the mailbox and go away. Or better yet, take it with you and go away."

"Umm... it doesn't fit in the mailbox."

"Then we don't need it. Drop off a birthday card like all the other fangirls and leave."

"Wait! Monsieur Agreste, I'm one of Adrien's classmates. Could I wish him a happy birthday over the intercom?"

"No."

"Then at least let me drop off this cake! I baked it myself! Could you let him know it's from Marinette Dupain-Cheng? Please?"

The voice paused, seeming to recognize the name.

"Miss Dupain-Cheng, my apologies. We've had many obnoxious fans try to get close to my son today. But since you're an actual friend of his, why don't you come in and wish a happy birthday to him yourself?"

Marinette's face lit up with joy. "Really?! That would be awesome! Thank you, Mr. Agreste!"

There was a long beep, then the immense gate slid open almost noiselessly. Marinette stepped through and made her way to the front door.

When she was halfway across the driveway, the door slowly swung open, and, shockingly, Gabriel Agreste himself stepped out onto the front steps. His skin was so pale, it looked like he hadn't set foot outside in weeks and, if the weather wasn't so overcast today, Marinette would have almost feared he'd vaporize in the sunlight like a vampire.

He stood there in his usual stoic way until a coughing fit overtook him, and he brought out a handkerchief to cover his mouth. Marinette picked up the pace and rushed over to him, frowning in concern.

"M. Agreste, are you alright?" she said, about to pat his back until she thought better of it. After all, Gabriel Agreste didn't seem like the type to appreciate being touched, however well-meaning it may be.

The coughing passed, and Gabriel waved off her concern. "Oh, it's just seasonal allergies, nothing to worry about. Happens every year."

Marinette wasn't quite convinced, as she suspected even a stiff breeze might knock him over with how weak he looked at the moment. "Are you sure? Do you need to lie down for a bit? Can I help with anything?"

The older man's mouth slithered into a grin and he replied, "Actually, that would be very much appreciated."

———-

Chat sprinted with more effort than ever before, begging his limbs to move faster and faster. His heart raced and his lungs burned, but his mind was petrified with fear.

Marinette was headed to his house, looking for Adrien. But Adrien wouldn't be there and his father would. He couldn't let her anywhere near that monster. He was too dangerous, too unpredictable. And even if the most likely scenario was that she'd get shooed away, if there was even the slightest chance of something bad happening, he had to get there immediately.

Nothing must happen to her. Nothing happen to her. She'll be okay... I'm gonna catch up to her and she'll be fine...

He arrived at his old neighborhood and perched on the roof of the building across the mansion for a moment to examine the surroundings. It looked like Marinette hadn't arrived yet, but he had to make sure. He panted, catching his breath, eyes darting back and forth, searching desperately.

And then he saw her.

About to step through the front door.

He leaped off the building without a second thought, trusting wholeheartedly on his feline powers to keep him in one piece. Miraculously, he landed on all fours, then he surged forward. Bounding over the fence, which had already slammed shut, he crossed the length of the driveway in record time.

Without a word, he scooped up the young woman, who dropped the box and screeched in shock as she was mid-step on the threshold of the door. He glowered at Gabriel, a roaring fire screaming through his narrowed eyes, and without a word, he extended his staff to withdraw from the premises.

Marinette looked up at him and yelled, "HUH?? CHAT NOIR?! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! W-WAIT!!!" Then she gave out a long shriek as they vaulted into the sky, away from the mansion.

Gabriel watched them abscond into the Parisian roofs, first with a scowl, which gradually shifted into a sly grin. This wasn't over yet.

——-

"Chat, stop!! What are you doing?! Explain yourself!! CHAT!!!" Marinette yelled helplessly as Chat Noir carried her, completely deaf to her pleas, his mind in an entirely different world. His escape continued until he had reached the very top of the Eiffel tower, which he must have deemed safe enough to stop at.

He began to set the girl down, but Marinette held on, wrapping her arms tighter around his shoulders.

"Chat, what are you doing?! You can't set me down here! It's way too windy, I'll fall!!"

Chat seemed to snap out of it, and he looked at her apologetically. "Oh God, sorry, Mari... I wasn't— I didn't mean... I'm sorry..." He looked away, trying to find the words for what he wanted to vocalize.

"Why did you do that back there? What's gotten into you? You owe me an explanation!" she demanded.

"I-I can't explain," he stammered. "I really wish I could. But you can't go near that place, ever. Stay away from that man. Please. You have to trust me on this."

Marinette inhaled sharply. Infuriated about the ruined cake and about her rude departure (not to mention being deprived of the opportunity to see one of her best friends for the first time in weeks), she was about to berate Chat about his unorthodox behavior... until she noticed how violently his body was shaking.

She paused. Something was clearly very wrong.

Wild theories swirled around in her brain as she stared at his distraught face, but she forced herself to dismiss them for now. Too many things were becoming connected. Things that weren't supposed to be connected. Things that, if they were connected, would be very, very bad.

But making wild assumptions had gotten her in deep trouble plenty of times before, so she tucked away these pesky thoughts to the back of her head for the time being; at least until she had more evidence. The fact that Fu had warned them repeatedly about what could happen otherwise only strengthened her resolve.

She took a deep breath to calm her own nerves, then uttered quietly, "Let's just go home."

Chat's eyes widened in astonishment at her reply, but he nodded. He readjusted his grip, then began the descent from the iconic monument, their issues still unresolved but at least the danger had passed. For now, at least.

~*~*~*~

I hope you enjoyed the chapter! 💕

I'll be posting the next one very soon, it just needs a bit of polishing 👀