Chapter Text
Chapter 1 Hello Purr-incess!
covers the prompts
No Powers, Greek AU, Kittens, Prey/Hunt, Secrets, Found & Protecting You
So... this is a long introductory chapter, 4000+ words.
The last thing that Marinette expected after moving in was to see a guy dressed up like a Black Cat climbing into her window.
He hasn’t seen me. She thinks, I really should have listened to Chloe about locking that window, but for now, I’ve got him! She thought as she grasped her weapon.
…
The last thing Adrien Agreste, aka Chat Noir, expected once he climbed into the ‘empty’ apartment’s window, was to be attacked by a heavy bolt of Cotton Polyester blend.
He thought ruefully as he ducked and yelped, this is the last time that I’m helping Chloe with the incoming girls!
…
“Who are you!” Marinette yelled at the dreadfully handsome man dressed in tight Gabriel brand designer black jeans, dress shirt and a black mask as she beat him with the heavy bolt of fabric. His blond hair was tied back artfully and his green eyes darted around the apartment, startled by her attack as he tried to roll away from her next swing.
“Me?!” WHACK! “Who are you?!” WHACK! “Stop!” He cried out as Marinette finally paused her attack.
“I didn’t mean any harm!” The young cat man whisper screamed back as he waved his hands and then cowered on the floor with his hands over his head as he demanded carefully as he watched her for her next attack, “where’s Queenie? She, she said that it would be okay if I came in here to get away from the kittens!”
She’d almost think that this masked cat man was handsome, if he wasn’t invading her privacy and her new room at the sorority, which required them to wear masks occasionally. Although she had to admit that the choker with the bell at his neck was a nice touch of levity.
Still, Marinette looked at the stranger, completely dumbstruck. Who in their right mind would climb up her fire escape three stories to get away from kittens?
…
“Queenie?” The pretty new girl asked as she paused and lowered her weapon slightly.
Oh, yeah, I helped her bring up some of her boxes today, Adrien Agreste, aka Chat Noir, thought as he looked around her room after he recognized her. Well, at least I did as the mild-mannered Andrew Agreste of course. I didn’t realize that THIS was her room from the outside!
Her name is Marinette, she just doesn’t recognize dorky Andrew without his glasses, messed up hair and cat pun sweat shirt. Of course, I’ve got to admit that’s more like the real me than the masks of Adrien or Chat Noir, but still, what’s with all the violence?
Adrien shook his head and relaxed a little as he smirked, gee it’s tough having three identities, the things I do to get a semblance of a normal life.
“Oh, you must mean Chloe, she said she went by Queen Bee, when she wore her mask that is. Why are you looking for our chapter’s president?” Marinette cocked her head and asked as she lowered the heavy bolt of fabric further from attack mode.
“She’s the one who said that I’d be safe if I came in here!” Adrien sighed with his hands still held up in front of him as he sat in front of her on the floor where she had knocked him down earlier. Just in case she decided to swing that bolt of fabric at him again, he wanted her to know that he meant no harm . “She had this whole orientation thing planned out and asked the guys from the fraternity to be bait!”
The girl lowered her weapon, “bait?”
“Well, yeah, the president always has to organize games for the incoming freshman. I was told that they were only supposed to come and choose a fraternity brother to support in their athletics. I’m a fencer here in the brother fraternity to your sorority Alpha Omega Pi, but then Chloe came up with this crazy chase and catch them game!”
Marinette lowered her bolt of fabric to the floor and blushed a little as she admitted, “I’ve met one of you guys, Andrew Agreste, he was sweet enough to help me bring in my stuff earlier. I kind of got the sense that the guys in the building next door are nerds actually.” Then she smiled and blushed a little more as she added, “not that that’s a bad thing.”
Adrien almost choked, normally girls called his alter ego a dork and didn’t like him at all, which he honestly didn’t mind, but he’d accept nerd. It was nice to see a girl that noticed Andrew for once.
“Oh?” Adrien cleared his throat. “He’s my…” Adrien cleared his throat and gave the lie he told everyone as he rubbed the back of his neck nervously, “uh, my cousin, well, and my roommate. We take the same classes.”
“Uh, huh.” She answered doubtfully as she leaned her bolt of fabric against a nearby desk and then offered him her hand to help him up, “and why would the cousin of sweet and shy Andrew be climbing into my window?”
Adrien shrugged, “well, I am a cat.” Then he took her offered hand and stood up, giving her plenty of room.
Pointing to a full-length mirror on the back of her apartment door, Marinette indicated that he wasn’t seeing himself clearly as she pointed at his reflection, “that dear sir, is a young man, dressed in black with a bell and cat ears. You are not a cat.”
Adrien gave a relaxed pose as he answered, “yes I am. The name is Chat Noir.” He bowed to her and tried to kiss the back of her hand, something that most girls liked, or so he thought, but she pulled her hand away. He wasn’t fazed by the action and only stood and told her as he folded his arms, “I am the cat’s meow after all.” Then he shot her a wink, something he never would have managed as Andrew. He was still painfully shy without the mask of Adrien Agreste or Chat Noir after all, something about wearing comfortable clothing and doing stuff that he liked most of the time in that persona as Andrew had something to do with that.
Unimpressed Marinette shook her head, folded her arms and groaned, “ugh, you must be related to Andrew, that’s the only bad thing about his a-dork-able self is his sense of humor. It must run in the family.”
“That would be true, Purr-incess.” He chuckled.
“Princess?” Marinette’s eyes went wide as she continued, “what…?”
Only to be cut off when he pointed to her mirror, where you could easily see her back in the reflection over her shoulder, where you could see the gaudy ‘Princess’ stamped on the back of her white t-shirt, boldly proclaimed in large glittery pink letters.
“Oh my gosh!” Marinette covered her face with her hands in embarrassment, “Alya gave this to me as a joke, I totally forgot about the back, I just threw this on after I got something on my other shirt! I haven’t found the box with the rest of my clothes yet!”
“That’s fine Purr-incess, it’ll be our secret.” He shot her another wink as he smirked at her.
“Nope, uh, uh. The name is Marinette. Marinette Dupain-Cheng, not Princess.” She scolded him.
“My dear, you are as beautiful, brave and kind as any royalty out there. You deserve the title and shall always be my Princess.” He bowed to her again and then took her hand and tried to kiss the back of it.
Marinette quickly pulled her hand away once more and pushed him back up into a standing position with a finger to his nose.
Wow, this girl is really something! Adrien thought, enchanted already.
“Nice try Kitty.”
“Sure, I’ll be your Kitty.” He playfully offered.
“Yeah, nope. That’s not happening; besides I don’t have time for a pet.” Marinette winked at him sassily and you could almost see him go weak in the knees as she grabbed a grey jacket and threw it on over her shoulders, hiding the glittery monstrosity on the back of her shirt. “I better take you to your keeper.”
It was his turn to be confused, as he cocked his head and responded, “huh?”
“You’re looking for Chloe right?” She looked down at a piece of paper on her desk, “well, she’s down in the quad… running the incoming student orientation.” Marinette slapped her forehead, “I knew I forgot something, she said I could skip, but I probably should just go and join them.”
“So, you are new then huh?” He grinned at her playfully. “Why don’t you let me show you around? I’m feline fairly well versed in our fur-y large campus after all.”
“Umm, no, that was a stretch Chat Noir and I while I appreciate the offer, I think I can follow a map Alley Cat. Besides, I took a year off between high school and college to work for Jagged Stone as his personal designer and with how much of a handful he can be, I think I deserve a break from the dramatics. So, thanks, but no thanks Kitty.”
Adrien’s eyes widened at her dismissal as she packed her purse preparing to leave, “your loss then Princess.” Then he leaned against the desk beside her flirtatiously as he tried again, “so you’re a self-made legacy. No Sorority at this school would turn you away with bragging rights like that. I guess that’s why Chloe didn’t make you take part in today’s game.”
“Signing up to be a cheerleader for some jock? No, not my style cat.” Marinette waved the idea away, “besides, I’m too busy still working part time for Jagged after all while getting my degree in Business and Fashion.”
The cat man before her chuckled, “hey, we may have some classes together then, Andrew and I are getting a double major with Business and Physics, with a minor in Fashion.”
She eyed him warily, “I can see Andrew with a Physics degree, he’s pretty bright. Not so much with the Business and Fashion degree, which fits you to a T though,” she took a moment to look him up and down.
“Like what you see Princess?”
She waved him off, “no, not necessarily, I mean you look like you could be a model, but that’s more of a turn off than anything for me.”
“Hey,” Chat Noir waved his hands, “it’s not my fault I’m pretty. Besides, I only model part time now Bugaboo.” Chat Noir had spied her large Ladybug plush after all on her couch and had felt inspired.
Following his gaze, she looked back at him, “that’s a hard no on the Bugaboo cat. That’s only a name for like a girlfriend or something.”
“Oh, are you volunteering?” Adrien offered, enjoying the banter and the impression that she liked the dorky side of himself far more than the Chat Noir or model side. “I could really use a beautiful Purr-incess by my side after all.”
“Nope, I’ve got better things to do, oh, like say, wash my hair. Oh, wait a minute, I did that this morning.” She rolled her eyes and then turned to the door, “shall we go?”
“Alright, I get the picture.” Adrien slumped a little, “but can’t I hide out in here? Please? Chloe sent those kittens after me and gave me directions to come here.” He pulled out a piece of paper with a set of directions on, it.
“Well, you followed them wrong cat, you were supposed to wind up next door.” Marinette figured out.
“Well, now that I’ve thought about it, that’s kind of a good thing! I mean, Chloe probably set this up so she could get me all to herself. Come on Marinette! I don’t want one of them to get this bell!” He pointed to the choker on his neck and Marinette giggled, “do you honestly think that I’d chose to wear this thing myself? The mask and cat ears are my Greek disguise, but the bell? Chloe made me wear it, promising that any of those fangirls, the self-proclaimed kittens that if they could get it that I’d take them out on a date and to the Sorority Ball next weekend!”
“Is that why you don’t want them to get the bell? You don’t want to go to a dance?”
Adrien hummed before he dramatically knelt before her to plead his case, “please, just let me stay here. I may be a cat-ch but I don’t want to be caught. Chloe called in a favor with me and a dozen other guys at the Fraternity, most of whom I’m feline like they’re not happy with me right now since half of the girls decided to make me their prey and be a Kitten for the day! Apparently, all of Chat Noir’s supporters are Kittens.” Chat Noir groused, “most of those girls are die hard fans. I’m a minor celebrity both as Chat Noir on campus,” then he muttered, “and under this mask and I’ve had enough of that kind of fan worship.” He sighed and told her, “I just don’t want them to get any ideas about what a date with me may include if you know what I mean.”
Then he shivered, “much less Chloe! She’s an old friend, but she keeps trying to rope me into dating her and taking my mask off on campus! She thinks we’d be a great power couple! She’d be a shoe in for mayor and I’d take over my father’s company!”
The cat made a face like that was a very unwelcome idea.
“That doesn’t sound like the most loving relationship.” Marinette commented thoughtfully, “or like you want that.”
“I don’t, I want a girl to love all of me Princess, not just the handsome model cat you see before you.”
Marinette let out a laugh and commented, “so, behind that facade you’re really just a shy Kitty huh?” Marinette giggled, “well, it makes sense I guess.” She looked him over, “so you’re Gabriel Agreste’s son then huh?”
He looked shocked for half a second before flirting with her again as he leaned closer to her, “You’re pretty smart Purr-incess. I’ll admit that I’m not shy though Gorgeous, I just purr-fer to cat-ch my own dates and yeah, I guess the clothes tell all to such discerning and beautiful eyes, huh?”
“Yep, although the bell and the belt tail are definitely over the top Chaton.” Marinette chuckled at him as she flicked his bell.
“Hey!” Chat Noir objected.
“Well, I won’t hold them against you.” Marinette shrugged.
“I’m feline like I wouldn’t mind if you held yourself against me.” He wagged his eyebrows at her and she just rolled her eyes as he leaned closer to her.
“Down Kitty.” She pushed him away with a finger to his chest this time, he rubbed his chest and smiled, enjoying the challenge before him. Usually he could get a girl to swoon by now.
“Look, Princess, not many people are as observant as you are and have connected that Chat Noir is the son of Gabriel Agreste…” He blunted stated.
“Don’t worry Chaton, I can keep a secret.” She laughed.
“Thanks.” He told her earnestly.
She gave him a brief grin and then causally added, “maybe I could just sneak you into a janitor’s closet somewhere?” She bit her lip thoughtfully and Adrien almost groaned at how such an innocent action on her part made him want to kiss those pouty lips for some reason.
“Come on Marinette, please, I really just need you to hide me from the Kittens and especially Chloe!” He got down on his knees and pled, “I only need your protection and to play keep away from them until 5:00PM!”
“Or until someone gets that bell.” She pointed out.
Adrien groaned, “yeah.”
That’s when they heard some thumps come barreling down the hall, as if a herd of horses had been released.
“Oh, no. They’re here!” Adrien froze and Marinette pushed him over so he landed on his tail behind her couch. “Don’t tell them I’m here!” He insisted as he laid back on the floor, holding himself up by his elbows as he looked up at her.
Marinette’s door was flung open. “Marinette Dupain-Cheng! I have it on good authority that my Black Kitty Cat is hiding in here.” Queen Bee herself stood in her designer Bee themed clothing at the door, wearing her own mask with a wide grin and several of the Kittens behind her. “I want that bell!”
“What bell?” Marinette played dumb.
“Ugh!” Chloe rolled her eyes, “it’s basically the ticket to date the hottest man on campus Dupain-Cheng, not like you’d appreciate that. Now, where is he? I know he came in here.” She looked around Marinette’s apartment from the door and saw nothing that would indicate that Chat Noir was there. “Come out KittyKins! I found you!”
Marinette, without glancing at Chat Noir, eyed her sorority chapter's president and then nodded once to herself. Then she boldly took one step closer to her couch and the hidden cat man as she leaned over him and pulled the choker and the bell off of the startled young man as he laid back frozen with fear that he was about to be handed over to Chloe.
…
Adrien quietly exhaled his held breath at Marinette’s forwardness as he thought, WOW! What a woman!
Marinette then stood up and snapped the velcro choker on her own neck. “Well, I’m sorry to inform you Queen Bee, but I grabbed this earlier and dropped it, I wanted it to be a surprise but here we are.” She shrugged and folded her arms, “so, I guess you can say that the cat’s been cat-napped.”
Adrien held back a snicker, fully impressed by the gorgeous girl before him.
“Ugh, you pun just like he does!” Chloe complained.
“Only when I feel like it.” Marinette innocently replied.
Queen Bee smirked to herself. “Well, I hope you know what you’re both getting into. He’s your guy for the next two weeks after all.” Then she chuckled, “you’re purr-fect for each other!”
“What?” Marinette looked shocked.
“Oh, did that mangy cat forget to tell you?” Queen Bee looked quite proud of herself, “maybe dating you will help him realize how much he misses me.” She waved it off like it didn’t bother her at all, and grinned at the busy no-nonsense fashion designer on the rise. “You found him and won the prize after all.” She teased, “the whole point to this game was to strengthen the bonds with our brother fraternity.” She smirked, “and you can’t insult him or the brotherhood by stepping aside now that you claimed his choker.”
Chloe tossed her hair nonchalantly, “so I guess that means that now you’re Chat Noir’s girl, you get to cheer him on at his event this weekend and the following weekend he’s supposed to take you out on a date and to the Ball, wooing you all the way!”
“Oh no.” Marinette groaned. “Chloe, you know I wanted to just focus on school!”
Chloe laughed, “oh don’t stress about it, I highly doubt he’ll fall for YOU when he can have me, but still, it’ll be good for you both Dupain-Cheng! Maybe you can help him pull his act together.” She saw Adrien sneaking a peek at her but she ignored him as she rolled her eyes and led the disappointed kittens away from Marinette’s door with her laughing all the way, “Later!”
Marinette closed the door after her and almost growled out, “Chat Noir! You tricked me!”
Chat Noir slowly got up from his hiding spot with his usual feline grace as he leaned on her couch and smirked at Marinette, “I’m afraid I didn’t, this whole generous arrangement you’ve come up with is your idea, and it sounds purr-fect to me Princess.” He winked at her again. “I accept.”
“What have I done?” Marinette muttered as she shook her head and covered her face briefly as the bell on her neck rang faintly.
“You only made the best decision you could ever make Princess.” He bowed to her, “I thank you and I’ll make it worth your while. I am forever in your debt, or at least for the next two weeks.” He winked at her. “Girlfriend.”
“No.” She told him flatly.
“Bugaboo?”
Marinette shook her head, “Nope. Look, you know, since Andrew helped me out earlier, I only thought it would only be nice if I returned the favor by helping his cousin and roommate, you don’t have to date me or anything.”
“My honor demands that I court you My Lady.” He bowed again to her dramatically.
“Your wish is my command.” He added. “Within reason that is.”
“Can’t I just wish that you just call this off?”
“Except that wish. Remember the Queen said that was out of the question?” He happily smirked.
Marinette groaned as he continued, “sooo, why don’t you let me take you to dinner tomorrow night? There is a nice four-star restaurant nearby where they don’t mind the masks. We could even hit the symphony afterward.”
Marinette rolled her eyes and waved the idea off, “really Chat Noir, that’s not necessary. I’d rather grab a burger with your cousin after all, I mean, between the two of you, I’d rather date him to be honest.”
“Andrew?” Chat Noir looked shocked, having never been turned down before as either Adrien or Chat Noir, not that he asked many girls out, usually he was the one rejecting them in the kindest way that he could manage, while still flirting of course.
Andrew after all had even less social competence than the flirtatious Chat Noir or the public face of Adrien Agreste, which is why Andrew was born once he moved out of the house and into the fraternity. Being able to wear what he wanted and with the glasses he was so comfortable and for some reason girls didn’t fall head over heals with Andrew. Maybe it was the lack of celebrity status or money? Adrien really didn’t know, Andrew's cat pun shirts were puntastic!
Marinette was a complicated puzzle that he wanted to solve as he thought, she wants to date ME? The me without the dramatics or the brand name and riches? The guy with glasses and the love of physics, video games and anime? The real part of me?
“Yes, Andrew. If I have to date an Agreste, I’d rather get your cousin. Can you arrange that Kitty?”
Chat Noir grinned. “While I must insist that you allow me to woo you and purr-haps go on a date with me…”
“Chat…” Marinette chided him.
“However, your wish is my command Princess. I’m sure that I can convince Andrew to escort you to the nearest 50’s restaurant for a burger as you call it for one platonic date tomorrow night. I think he’s always wanted to try one after all,” she looked shocked at that. “It is his birthday tomorrow and I’m sure that he would enjoy the company.”
“Isn’t he spending the evening with his family?” Marinette looked confused, “with you?”
Adrien tapped his fingers together nervously, “well, we generally don’t hang out too often and uh, I already have plans.”
“But, it’s his birthday! Who’s making his cake?!”
“Huh? What cake?” Adrien was generally confused, he usually wasn’t allowed treats like that, including on his birthday, they never were very big days in his family after all.
“Oh my gosh! That’s it! Does he have a car?”
“What? Um, no. I usually just let him borrow mine.”
“Fine. You’re loaning it to him.” She poked him in the chest again, “since you can’t spend his birthday with him and he’s taking me to my parents, I need to pick up a few things anyway and we can make him a cake together there too.”
Adrien swallowed, thoroughly impressed by this girl, “I… I mean he doesn’t cook.”
“Well tell him tomorrow I’m teaching him! Now get going Chat Noir, I’ve got a lot to do tonight so I can spend the evening with Andrew tomorrow.” She blushed again and Adrien got a little weak in the knees as he gazed over his shoulder at her as she literally pushed him out her door. “He’ll love my family, tell him to come at 4:00PM. Now get going cat!”
“Will I see you tomorrow?” He asked.
She blinked at him, “I’ll see Andrew tomorrow. I’ll see you another day when you’re not too busy to spend time with your cousin!” She scolded and then she closed the door in his face.
“I’ll see you soon then Princess!” He loudly called out, only to hear a loud groan in return.