Marinette was having a bad day.

It wasn't like anything awful had happened, not really, it was a heavy, everyday kin of bad that weighed you down and made you so tired you didn't want to do anything. The kind where you drop all your books and, just because it's today, all the papers spill out. The kind where anything people say is irritating... She didn't have these days that often but today was one of them and she just wanted it to be over.

Listening to Miss Mendeleev drone on about enthalpy, she watched the clock sluggishly ticking away the last few minutes of school. When the bell finally rang she packed up her books as quickly as possible, muttering a tired goodbye to Alya before hurrying for the exit.

"Hay, Marinette! Wait up a second!"

Marinette froze at the sound of his voice. Oh no, she thought, not now. She couldn't handle Adrian right now, shed only make a fool of herself, but it would be rude to ignore him...

"Hay, Adrian" she said with false cheerfulness, trying not to stutter, "Is um, is everything ok?" (It had been a while since simple sentences were an issue for her when talking to her long time crush, but... he still made her nervous... very nervous.)

"Oh, yeah, everything's fine," assured the blond as he drew level with her, "I just wanted to ask if you were alright?" he laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head with his hand. "It's just that you seemed a bit out of sorts today?"

Marinette felt her eyes widen at this... Adrian was worried about her? Her cared enough to ask about her? She really didn't know what to say she was so surprised...

"Oh! Fine I am! I mean... I'm fine!"

Needless to say, his green eyes did not look convinced...

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure," she said getting control of her tongue, "I'm just having a bit of an off day is all! I'll feel better tomorrow... Don't worry about me!"

"Ok well, if you're sure... see you tomorrow Marinette!"

"See you, Adrian!"

She waved to him as he got into his dark limo and watched him drive away before checking her phone for the time. 4:30. "God, Tikki I wish this day would just hurry up and be over!"

"Don't worry Marinette!" Came a small voice from her purse, "Just a few more hours! You're doing great today, at least there hasn't been an Akuma!"

"I suppose you're right Tikki..." She sighed, " let's just go home." With that Marinette started the walk back to the bakery. In truth she wouldn't have minded an Akuma, however awful that sounded. She would have had Chat and his dumb puns to distract her... her kitty could always cheer her up. = - -

Adrian was worried about Mari.

She was always so happy! Sometimes her smile made his day, it just seemed to light up the whole world. It wasn't like he didn't believe that she was 'just' having a bad day, he felt sure she wouldn't lie to him without good reason. But that fact didn't make it any less upsetting to him that she wasn't happy.

He stared out the window as the Gorilla drove him home, sky and trees drained of colour by the tinted glass. He felt so useless that he couldn't help her... They had become good friends since he joined the college but she still seemed uncomfortable around him. Nervous and tight, restrained almost. It was at complete contrast to how she treated others in their class, even how she treated him as Chat Noir.

Now there's an idea, he thought... Maybe Paris's favourite (ok perhaps second favourite...) hero could cheer his Princess up...

It was getting close to eight when Marinette climbed up onto her roof for a hot chocolate before bed. She enjoyed sitting on her roof, watching the lights of Paris mirror the star speckled darkness above. Tikki had fallen asleep a few minutes ago, after filling herself with cookies. So, she was alone when she settled onto a blanket she had spread on the ground and put her hot chocolate down beside her to let it cool a little.

A gentle breeze ruffled her hair, brushing across her face, and she closed her eyes for a second. Just wanting to relax and feel the wind on her face. It was a warm night tonight and the slight cooling breeze was soothing on her stress flushed cheeks.

Tomorrow would be better, she thought. She'd just sit here, eyes closed, for a few more minutes and then shed finish her hot chocolate...

Just a few more minutes...

She awoke with a start at the sound of rattling from behind her and a faint yelp.

What the- She shot to her feet and spun to face whatever it was that had landed on her balcony.

"Chat Noir?" She yelped incredulously before forcibly lowering her volume, "What are you doing here? Is there danger? Has an Akuma attacked nearby?" Does he know who I am? She wondered silently. What other reason could he have to be here? They had talked and worked together a few times since their first 'meeting' with evillustrator but he'd never made a late night house call before.

The cats face had grown startled at the barrage of questions, but quickly soothed his features into an easy grin as he hopped lightly down from the railing.

"Of course not Princess! I simply thought it a purrfect night to visit... i had a feline that you could do with some company." He purred.

Marinette felt herself relax at his words and she rolled her eyes, a slight smile curling at the corners of her mouth.

"Very funny Chat," she replied dryly, "but really, why are you here? What brings you to a civilian's roof top this late in the evening?"

"A little birdie told me that you, princess, were having a bad day. Isn't there anything a mere alley cat can do to cheer such a noble lady?"

His grin widened at this last statement and she couldn't help but laugh at least a little. He looked so pleased with himself, standing there in the half dark, the suns sluggish light staining his blonde hair golden as it slowly retreated. With another roll of her eyes she flopped heavily back onto her blanket and gestured to the space beside her.

"Why not then Chat... maybe an alley cat is just what I need today."

She found herself laughing again as the cat scampered over hastily and sat down beside her.

"Well then Purrrincess? What's got your tail in a knot?"

And she found herself telling him all about her day. How everything felt wrong from start to finish. And he listened and made puns, sympathising with her... And suddenly her day didn't feel so bad, after all.