The hero of Paris was lying on a sofa that belonged to the Dupain-Cheng family. Marinette had found him staggering through the streets, and with the help of her parents, they had brought him there.
"He has a high fever," Sabine said when she touched his forehead. "We should take him to the hospital."
"No," mumbled Chat wearily. "I do not want … hospitals."
"Then take him to the vet?" asked Tom.
"Dad!" Marinette exclaimed. "Chat, we will not take you to the hospital,... nor to the vet. Okay?" The kitten nodded.
After a while, Tom and Sabine divided up the tasks between them that needed to be done - to find medicine and more blankets, as well as to prepare a chicken soup. This left the two of them alone.
"Do you want anything?" Marinette asked as she got up.
Chat Noir reached out and grabbed Marinette by the sleeve of her jacket.
"Stay..." he begged. "Don't leave me alone."
That was the reason why Chat Noir had been wondering the streets even though he was sick.
He did not want to be alone.
Because to be lying down and sick in his room made him remember his mother and her absence.
"Could you sing 'Soft Kitty'?"
Marinette was surprised by the request.
"Please?" She was still stunned by these words. "Do you know the song?"
Marinette nodded slowly.
"That...it is a song that my mother used to sing to me when I was sick...If you could sing it for me…"
His voice sounded so nostalgic and his eyes were so sad that Marinette simply could not refuse. She cleared her throat, preparing to sing the song that seemed to have been created for him.
"Soft Kitty," she started, her voice soft. "Warm Kitty..." She paused. "Little ball of fur." Chat Noir closed his eyes. "Happy Kitty..." The kitten smiled. "Sleepy Kitty…"
She did not keep singing, her cheeks reddening at the thought of purring.
"Purr Purr Purr"
Suddenly she heard the sounds that she should have sung, made by Chat Noir instead.
"You didn't sing that part." Marinette felt her face flush because of the green eyes now fixed on her. "Thank you...you have a beautiful voice...like my mother," he said quietly before his eyelids closed again.
Marinette gently stroked his hair.
"Sweet dreams, Kitty."
