Across Oceans - Chapter Fourteen

Marinette glared wildly up at Chat Noir's emerald eyes, gritting her teeth in irritation. His legs were straddled over her stomach, and his hands were pinning her wrists down to the side of her head. She could see the sun glaring behind his head, making it difficult to see the smug look on his face. That didn't mean she couldn't see it though. Oh boy could she see it.

"Give up yet, Princess?" He asked cockily.

"Not in a million lifetimes, scum," she spat back, channeling energy to surge through her body as she willed her body to push him off her.

She wiped off some sweat off her face and stood up, ready to fight him. "Tired?"

"Never," he smirked, getting up on his feet himself.

Marinette thought back and wondered how they got into this situation in the first place.

-x-

One hour earlier.

"We're leaving the island tomorrow," Chat announced as he walked down the steps of the villa.

"Where are we going?" Marinette asked, looking up at him from sitting on the bottom steps.

Chat frowned slightly. "We're putting the plan into action. I just got word from Luka that Papillon's men are preparing to leave the island to head into mainland."

The princess's heart sunk. "Does that mean-?"

"Yep."

"Oh boy."

"So, get ready with all your things because we're loading them onto the boat tonight," he said.

"Okay," Marinette agreed.

"You're strangely complacent today," Chat observed.

"Is that bad?" She yawned.

"No, but it's a little weird. Did you do something wrong?" His eyes narrowed.

"No, of course not." She turned pink slightly. "I'm not a child."

"Well," he said, unconvinced, "if you need me, I'll be in the fencing room to train."

"Okie dokie," Marinette smiled much too bright than normal.

"Right," he dragged, watching her for a few more seconds before going back inside the house.

As she lost sight of him, Marinette quickly gathered herself and ran back to her room. She pulled out her knitting basket from under her bay window chair and smiled gleefully as she pulled out a piece of large clothing. Chat Noir is going to be very surprised.

She heard the door open and turned to see who it was, reflexively hiding the fabric behind her. She relaxed her shoulders upon seeing that it was only Tikki with fresh laundry.

"Oh, it's only you, Tikki," she sighed in relief, "I was surprised. You can set that down on the bed."

"Alright," the older woman replied. Tikki's eyes fell onto the fabric in Marinette's hands, instantly filling her face with worry. "Are those your combat garments?"

"Yes!" Marinette exclaimed, racing to show Tikki, "I love how the stitching turned out on the spots. It took forever to get them to look like they were already on the fabric, but I think it's worth it."

"Yes, that is impressive, Marinette," Tikki said cautiously, "but does Chat know that you made this?"

"No," she answered, "but I'm going to show him today, and it's not like I need to get his permission to do anything."

"Okay, sweetie," Tikki sighed defeatedly, "It's all up to you."

"In fact," Marinette said, taking her dress off, "I'm going to show him right now." She took off the rest of her extra clothes (with Tikki catching every flung piece of clothing), and put on her combat garments. She ran to the full mirror near her closet and examined the way it looked on her body. "What do you think?"

"It looks great, but maybe," Tikki struggled to say the words to show what she meant, "it's a little too... showing?"

"Well, duh," Marinette said, "I made it skin tight. Do you know how hard it is to fight men six times bigger than me in a dress?"

"I suppose not." Tikki pursed her lips.

"Well, it's extremely difficult," Marinette said as a matter of fact, "but what do you think besides that?"

"The craftsmanship is amazing, Marinette," Tikki said as she got closer to Marinette's body, "The stitching looks like it took a really long time to do."

"Thank you," Marinette responded happily, "Now, I'm going to show Chat. Excuse me."

Tikki, knowing full well what kind of drama would unfold, quickly followed in suit of the princess. She would need to prepare bandages, ice, and popcorn.

-x-

"What the hell is this?" Chat Noir baffled as he gestured to all of Marinette's body.

"What do you mean 'what the hell is this'?" Marinette retorted as she rolled her eyes, "This is my fighting outfit for when I fight."

This time, it was Chat's eyes that rolled. "I can see that. I'm asking why are you dressed like a bar wench." He paused. "Better yet, why do you have it in the first place?"

"I made it," she replied simply, twirling as she admired the outfit she adorned.

"For what, Princess?"

"I already told you, dumb kitty. For fighting."

"Who says you were fighting?"

"I did."

"Well, you're not."

"Oh, that's cute. You think I have to ask for your permission." She swiped her hair off her shoulder to her back proudly.

"Well, I say you can't. End of discussion." Chat folded his arms over his chest and glared at Marinette. "You're supposed to be light, Princess. Light doesn't actually hurt anybody."

Irritated, Marinette jabbed his shoulder with her elbow, catching him off-guard.

"I say we duel right now. Winner gets what she wants," she said over Chat's wincing.

"He wants, Your Annoyingness. No way you're winning," he retorted, regaining composure.

In response, Marinette used her leg to sweep him off his feet to the ground. However, Chat Noir caught this and jumped in the air, shoving her shoulder back to push her out of balance.

"Bad!" she exclaimed as she nursed her sore bottom.

"You started it," he spat back.

In response, Marinette kicked his ankle, causing him to lose balance and fall on the ground next to her.

"This means war," he declared as he threw himself on top of her to pin her down to the ground.

"Wouldn't want anything less," Marinette replied, kneeing him in the groin before taking the dominant position.

Chat Noir fell to the ground, writhing in pain as he nursed his injured crotch.

-x-

"I don't need your permission to do anything, Chat Noir," Marinette argued as she blocked a jab he tried to make at her shoulder, "We're supposed to be partners, but you've been calling all the shots. What does that make me? Chopped liver?"

"Is that what this is all about?" Chat grunted, "You not being able to sit in my room at night?"

"Oh, ha ha. So funny," she snarled back.

"You should have just said so," he replied, using his palm to shove her back, "it would've saved us all this time!"

Marinette fell on her stomach on the ground. Immediately, Chat straddled her back and pinned her to the ground. Growling in surrender, Marinette tapped two fingers on the ground and felt Chat Noir release his grip.

"I'm serious, Chat," she sighed. "I can't just be a housewife, knitting and sitting all day! I have to do something. It's to save my family." A worried expression washed over her face. "Please," she whispered inaudibly.

Chat Noir studied the look on her face and sighed. Scratching the back of his head, he pulled her up from the ground, his fingers tightly covering hers. Instead of releasing her hand, he slowly pulled her to his chest and wrapped his arms around her. "All you have to do is ask, Princess."

Marinette suddenly felt ridiculous. She must look like a fool by now. It was true. All she had to do was talk. For some reason, the idea of asking to be part of the plan seemed taboo—as if a part of her still felt that she was still a prisoner rather than a partner. She unsurely raised her right hand and pat Chat Noir's back warily.

"Okay," she said. "Can I be part of the plan from now on?"

Chat smiled softly. "No."

Her eyes grew wide and her heart dropped all until she saw the mischievous glint in the pirate's eyes. Irately, she punched his shoulder.

"Ow!" he complained.

"Stop kidding around!" she demanded.

"Okay, okay. Jeez. So violent." She found this ironic coming from a pirate. "Yes, you can be part of the plan from now on. Come to my room after dinner. Plagg and I will explain everything from head to toe."

"Okay," she said a little too harshly.

"Okay," he said.

"Okay," she ended, turning around and going back to her room with Tikki in tow, first aid materials in her hands.

As Marinette closed the door, she quealed in delight. She had manipulated Chat Noir into doing what she wanted, and it felt great.

Author's Note:

heyyyy. I'm back at it again with a short chapter. I actually have a good excuse this time. I have a shitton of college apps to do. I actually just finished my Harvard app + interview. Now all I've left to do is await that rejection letter hahaha. Anyway, I still have my UC, Brown, Princeton, and Stanford apps to worry about so expect short filler chappies like this one probably until February once everything's turned in.

thanks for understanding! I love you all, and thank you so much for the positive reviews despite me being gone for so long.

-G

(this chapter was brought to you by the random positive reviews I get every so often *kisses*)