No Powers
Paris had once been a lovely city. City of love. City of lights. None of that was true anymore.
Sure, there had always been crime, but nothing like this. Nothing like Chat Noir.
No one knew who he was, where he came from, why he decided one day to go around terrorizing the people of Paris. All they knew was he was dangerous, and should anyone be out past dark, they would likely show up at a police station in ribbons.
Marinette knew this- she knew it, dangit! And yet here she was, walking home past the city wide curfew, in the flickering dark of the barely working street lamps. City of lights no more, it seemed, as no one knew if lamps were out and no single house was lit.
She hurried, her feet silently shuffling along the concrete as she made her way to her apartment. Her eyes worked a constant cycle around her, looking out for anything suspicious. Left, forward, right, over the shoulder. Left, forward, right, over the shoulder. Left-
Marinette whipped her head back around and looked behind her, her heart rate skyrocketing as she saw a figure following behind her. She took a few turns, but her follower was still there. She took a deep breath, trying to think rationally. Most of Chat Noir's victims were men, but that didn't mean he wouldn't kill a woman. His victims were probably largely men because they weren't as afraid to go out after dark.
Casting one last glance over her shoulder to see that he had closed some of the distance between them, she took off down the street. Her legs carried her as fast as they could, but not nearly fast enough. Not only was he obviously more fit than her, but his legs were probably twice the length of hers.
Large arms wrapped around her, pinning her to her assailants chest and covering her mouth. Regardless, she screamed and kicked, doing anything to get away.
She bit his hand and in the split second she had free, she shrieked.
"HEL-!"
The hand clamped back on her mouth and she was slammed into a wall. Stars appeared at the brute force of it, but when they cleared she was able to finally see the person attacking her.
As in, not Chat Noir.
"Shut up!" They sneered. "Stop struggling and just give me your damn purse already."
Marinette stared at him in shock. Was this guy serious? Was he seriously out here past curfew to mug people? And if she hadn't been stupid enough to have been out tonight, who would he have mugged? Chat Noir?
She reached for her purse, ready to tug it off and hand it over, when there was a soft thump behind the man.
"What is-" He looked over his shoulder and visibly paled even in the weak moonlight.
"H-Hey man, I was here first."
"You snooze you lose." The new arrival said with too much joy, sending shivers through her. "Now I suggest you get lost before I lose my temper."
The mugger sat there for a second more, debating, before he hauled ass out of the alleyway.
Definitely about to pee her pants out of fear, Marinette slowly looked to who had scared off the first man. And about nearly did pee her pants.
"C-C-Chat No-Noir…"
He grinned at her, his teeth gleaming in the moonlight. "What's a pretty girl like you doing out here this late?"
She opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came out. So instead she focused on his suit. Anything to distract her from her unavoidable death.
Now that she was seeing him up close and not in a picture, she realized how funny his whole get up was. A long belt looped around his waist to mimic a tail? He hadn't even bothered to try and hide the clips in his hair that held the felt ears in place. She looked at the stitching of the suit and was able to recognize it was very well made, and judging by the rest of what her wore, probably the only part made by a professional.
"Take a picture, it'll last longer." Chat Noir said with a dangerous smirk.
She met his eyes and glared. "I don't think I will; your whole getup is lack luster." When she realized what she said she clasped her hands over her mouth with a gasp. "Please don't kill me."
He blinked. "If I was going to kill you I would have killed the mugger with you at the same time. As it is I'm going to have to go find him later and hope he didn't wise up and go home."
She frowned at him. "W-What do you mean?" Chat Noir took a step closer and Marinette squeaked, trying to meld herself farther into the brick wall behind her. Holding his hands up in a peace offering, he said, "I don't kill damsels in distress. I'm only here for the ones no one is bothering to catch."
"...So, like a vigilante?"
"Of sorts."
Marinette frowned and crossed her arms. Somewhere in the back of her head she was facepalming at her own stupidity, but when did she ever listen to her common sense? "That doesn't mean you should go around killing people. That's not your job; besides- we don't get to play judge, jury, and executioner."
He shrugged. "Someone needs to. And I've got nothing better to do with my time." He took another step forward and bowed low. "Now, will the Princess allow me to escort her home? I'm afraid Paris is still full of rotten scumbags."
She looked at his proffered arm and debated it. Would it be smart to show Paris' worst murderer where she lived, or to spend anymore time with him? Or would it be stupid to ignore his promise not to kill her and walk home alone only to get killed by someone who will?
She nodded and took his arm before she was fully done thinking it over. "Alright."
He stood with a wide grin, his green eyes making her stomach twist.
"Where to, little lady?"
She sighed and prayed she wouldn't regret this. "The Dupain-Cheng Patisserie."
His grin widened impossibly further. "Think I could get a couple macaroons as a reward for bringing the Princess home safe and sound?"
She rolled her eyes. "I knew you weren't doing this out of the goodness of your heart."
He shrugged. "What can I say- that bakery's got the best macaroons in all of Paris."
"Sure, Kitty. You can have some macaroons." It's not like her life hadn't already been crudely flipped upside down.
