#oh to be a cat and be held by keanu reeves! truly a dream!

[freedom-shamrock]

Hero Cafe - Chapter 2

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< << Go back to Chapter 1

Oops?  It’s not a one-shot anymore.

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Chat Noir happily bounded over the rooftops, a bulky parcel in his arms as he headed to his new favorite place. It was his night to patrol with Carapace, and he was delighted to get to introduce his long-term hero buddy to Marinette's Hero Cafe. He'd wanted to be the one to escort all of the B-team members, but Ladybug had objected to him patrolling that much. Something about exhaustion consuming her kitty. But she had agreed to some schedule swapping so he could have the absolute joy of inducting most of the B-team to their exclusive club. Chloe was going to love that aspect.

"Okay, dude," Carapace called, keeping pace with Chat and his ungainly package. "I give up.  Where are we going and what the heck are you dragging around with you?"

"You'll see. We're nearly there," Chat replied, dropping to the roof of his old college. He patted the brown paper wrapped bolts of cloth. "This is pale pink damask and sage green bamboo jersey that is utterly decadent to touch."

Carapace stared at him for a moment. "D-damask and jersey?  Are those fabrics?"

Chat Noir nodded. Didn't everyone know what damask and jersey were?

"Are we going crafting?  Because I've gotta tell you, I'm not handy in that way." Carapace looked a bit reluctant, like he didn't like having to admit that.

Chat laughed. "This isn't for us. Don't worry, I'd be way over my head if I had to actually make something with these." He felt a delightful warmth in his belly as he thought of Marinette creating things with them, though. The colors fit the springtime scheme she'd been designing with recently. "They're for our hostess."

"Hostess?" Carapace asked.

Chat nodded. "As Ladybug instructed me, take a different route each time you come.  We don't want to lead anyone to her."

Carapace's eyes went wide. "We're going to Ladybug's house?"

"As if." Chat snorted and shook his head. He gestured toward the twinkle-lights on the balcony across the way. "Have you ever met Marinette Dupain-Cheng?" He took his team mate's expression of awe as an answer. "I know, dude. I hear ya." He sighed happily. "The one and only, beautiful and amazing Marinette has made something very special just for the heroes of Paris. Come check it out." He led the way over to the pleasantly lit and comfortable little rooftop cafe. As they both touched down, Chat waved grandly to the tables and kitchenette space. "Welcome to Marinette's Hero Cafe. It's a place where you can warm up, get out of the weather, catch a snack, or even recharge your kwami." He leaned the fabric parcel against the wall so he could better show off the amenities. "She's keeping us stocked up on a variety of snacks, including kwami favorites. Leftovers from family dinner are in the refrigerator." He pulled out the pot, closing his eyes and enjoying the aroma of tonight's dal soup. He loved family dinner. Even when he ate alone at the Hero Cafe, it felt so different from eating alone in his father's house.

"Woah," Carapace whispered reverently enough to make Keanu Reeves proud.

Chat served himself some dal, popping it into the microwave. While it warmed, he leaned down to tap lightly on Marinette's skylight. There was a bright glow from her room, and he wanted to thank her in person. The skylight raised slowly just as the microwave beeped.

"Oh," she said softly. "Chat Noir, Carapace, good evening."

Chat smiled warmly at her. "It's a beautiful evening, Princess." He bowed to her.

Her brilliant eyes rolled a bit, but she looked happy. "Silly kitty."

"This is an amazing thing you've done for us, N-uh Marinette," Carapace said, fumbling her name a bit. It was to be expected when one stood in the presence of a goddess. Chat was grateful he'd gotten to know her when he was still an awkward teen, and had moved past the truly embarrassing presentations of adoration.

Her cheeks pinked a bit. "I just wanted to do something for you, the heroes who risk yourselves every day for the rest of us." She shrugged. "I know it can't be easy, and while I'm sure people thank you all the time, those are just words."

Chat sighed happily. Of course words were cheap and Marinette would never be satisfied with such flimsy appreciation. But then, neither would he. "You have no idea how much this means to us, Princess," he said, reaching for the parcel he'd lugged across rooftops for her.

Her eyes went wide. "What is that?"

He lay the package before her as though he were a servant and she the highest empress. "A mere token of my gratitude."

She picked at the seam, where the paper was overlapped and taped. "This looks like more than a mere token, Kitty."

He held up one finger. "You've given up this space to us, Princess." He turned briefly to look out into Paris before looking back. "With a view like this, you've given up the most inspirational place in your house." He waved his hand around to the cafe itself. "And you've put time, effort, and money into this."

"Because I wanted to," she pointed out.

Chat nodded. "Yes. And I want to make sure you have what you need to make your design dreams come true, even with you giving so much to us." He gave her mid-level kitten eyes, hoping that holding back a bit would allow him to step up if needed.

"Fine, I'll accept," she allowed, shaking her head and smiling. She peeled away the paper, and his large cat ears picked up her gasp. It was followed by a soft sigh. "These are amazing," she whispered.

"Please enjoy them." He nodded then finally went to retrieve his dal from the microwave.

"Oh I will," she promised, carefully lowering them into her room. "You two have a good night now. And if there's anything you find I'm low on, or that you'd like me to have in the future,  please add it to the suggestion box."

Chat was savoring his dal when Carapace settled in at the little table with his own bowl. "I love this stuff."

"Few things are better than food prepared by the Dupain-Chengs," Carapace agreed.

Chat nodded. "Tom and Sabine liked this plan of Marinette's and are helping with the food." When Ladybug told him how the cafe came to be, he'd loved that part of the story. What he wouldn't give to have a family that loved like they did.

"I can't help but notice how familiar you are with Marinette, though," Carapace said, his words slow like he was being careful with his choices.

"She's my friend," Chat pointed out. "Has been since Evillustrator targeted her."

Carapace looked surprised.

"She was a great help for that fight, and she's…" He hesitated. Ladybug knew some of this, but he'd been careful to keep it on the down low otherwise.  And he knew Marinette never mentioned their friendship, unlike some people who constantly claimed to be besties with one or more of the heroes. "She's been there for me when I needed it."

"I had no idea," Carapace muttered. "She… I've met her as a civilian, you know. And she's never said a thing."

Chat nodded. "She's as good as Milady at keeping things to herself."

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Check out Chapter 3 >>

I have a lot of ideas for this, but only a super vague plan for an overall arc, so we'll decide in the end if it actually has plot or if it's just a series of day-in-the life moments for our heroes and Marinette.

If you’re so inclined, feel free to support me over on Ko-Fi

#Miraculous Ladybug #fanfic #my writing #Fluff #Hero Cafe #Chat Noir #Carapace #Marinette