Chat Noir had been hit by something. He didn't know what. It hit him square in the chest, and now... if he wasn't facing a mirror he wouldn't believe it himself. Those ears... those cat eyes with the slits... the claws hidden in those paws... the bell on his collar... the way that tail curved above him... that fur.
That sleek black fur.
His fur…

"H-How?"

Plagg landed on his head, between his pointed, delicate ears, grinning manically.

"I don't know how kid, but now you really are the cat's meow!"

"What do I do Plagg?!" Adrien whined.

"I really don't know. Go find Ladybug, quickly, before she starts lassoing her way home."

Adrien gasped. "Ladybug!"

He leapt up and dashed towards where he had last seen her. He tumbled over his four paws now. Every step caused his tail his curve again, like he had no control over it, which made him trip every now and then. Everything was so much bigger from down here. When Ladybug was on the roof, it always looked far too high for her to be so defenceless, but now he was a foot off the ground, it looked higher than ever.

"LADYBUG!" He cried.

The people walking by scowled at him in disdain. Cat screeching is not a nice sound, and this one, a wild stray, no one wanted to get close to that.

"How do I get up there?" Adrien asked Plagg.

"Kid, look at yourself! You're nothing but a cat right now. You can't get up there," Plagg countered.

"But-"

"No kitty. Chill."

It hurt Adrien to watch Ladybug up on the rooftop all alone. She could defend herself, she showed that off enough, but still. He felt he should be up there, fighting by her side. Alone she was exposed she needed him. What hurt more was that she didn't. She threw her lucky charm in the air and fixed everything again. Then she turned around to pound fists with Chat, only to find he wasn't there.

"How comes her lucky charm didn't fix me?" He asked.

Plagg rolled his eyes. "I told you, I don't know. We need to talk to Tikki."

"Who's Tikki?"

"Ladybug's kwami, and my friend, so don't be rude about her antenna. She's sensitive about them."

Adrien gazed up at Ladybug, his Ladybug. She threw her yo-yo out towards the street light and swung herself down into the street. She landed right across from him. This was destiny. Plagg didn't notice. He was busy searching for any signs of what had hit Adrien. Residue or something like that. he didn't notice Adrien dashed across the road without him. Adrien pawed at her leg sharply to get her attention, when calling her name didn't work. She looked down and beamed. Her voice went up two octaves.

"Hello cutie! Aren't you sweet? I have a friend who looks just like you."

"Yeah ME! Look! I can still cataclysm!" Adrien said.

He attempted to cataclysm a leaf by her foot, and got her toes instead. He heard her cry out in pain.

"Ow! Sharp claws kitty!"

Adrien gasped and leapt back. He headbutted her feet, trying to kiss better the scratches he hadn't managed to make in the indestructible outfit. He couldn't kiss, so he rubbed his head against them instead.

"Sorry! Sorry, sorry, sorry!"

Marinette knelt down and cooed at him again. "Aww I accept your apology cutie."

Her hand ran across her ears. He mewled. He was beginning to realise that she couldn't actually understand him. if she couldn't, he'd have to rely on body language. His tail perked up.

"I am cute. This is weirdly nice. You're never this nice when I'm human."

She chuckled as he ran his head against her hand. Her hand running down his back felt magical. The way her thumb ran around his ears was indescribable. She knew his favourite places to scratch immediately, even as a cat. Or maybe he was just too much like a cat in everyday life. Ladybug stayed there until her earrings beeped.

"Ok honey I have to go now."

Adrien stumbled as she stood up and he lost his foot stall. She started walking off down the street, ready to spin her yo-yo to fly off. Adrien ran after her.

"Wait! You can't go! You have to help me! My lady - Wait!"

Adrien pounced suddenly, and yanked the yo-yo right out of her hand so there was no escaping. Ladybug put a hand on her hip and smirked at him.

"Oh, are you coming too? I guess we're walking then."

Adrien hadn't seen that look before. Like she should be mad, but she just couldn't be. She could be mad at Chat Noir.

He frowned, and his tail drooped. "Um I can't see you without your mask my lady… I can't… but you have to help me!"

She flashed him a smile and beckoned him on. He perked up slightly. At least she did actually want to spend time with him now. He followed her all the way to the corner of the street where she ducked into an alley to hide, ready to change back. Adrien wasn't sure what to do now.

"Stop following me kitty, I can't have a cat in the bakery!" She hissed.

"Bakery? What bakery? You live in a bakery?" Adrien asked eagerly.

She groaned. "Come on kit cat don't follow me..."

She stood up and wandered deeper into the alley to get away. Adrien chased after her.

"Wait! Don't walk away from me! Please?"

When she stopped again, he wound himself around her ankles. Her voice went velvety again.

"Aww you're so cute. Maybe I could get Adrien to adopt you, he likes cats..."

He scoffed. "Adrien? I don't think that would work."

She seemed to have heard him, because she said, "no his father wouldn't let him. Black fur on white clothes? That's a no-no."

His ears pricked up. "That is a no-no, how did you know? How do you know I like cats? Do you know me in real life?"

Again, her miraculous beeped. She whined unsure what to do about this damn cat. "Ah you're fine on the street. Go on. Go!"

"Wait! No! I'm sorry! Look at me! I'm cute!"

Adrien stopped and rolled on his back and showed off his belly to try and be cuter. He mewled to get her attention, and wriggled to try and get her to tickle his tummy. It didn't work. She didn't even kneel down.

"Please go kitty? I can't keep you! Go!"

He rolled back into sitting, and stared at her, urgently. "I need your help. you have to help me. Please Ladybug, you have to see the truth."

Ladybug didn't have much choice in the matter. She sighed and her shoulders drooped. In less than a minute she would be Marinette. Marinette couldn't have a cat. But there was something about this creature that won her affection. He had chosen her. What was that old joke? Sometimes you don't adopt a cat, sometimes a cat adopts you.

Well now she guessed she had a cat to prove it. "Ok... come with me... clearly I can't stop you."

"Yay! I get to finally see where you live! I mean I'm going to have to try and find a way to make you realise I'm not a cat I'm THE cat, but I'll take the silver lining."

Adrien's words came out in a low, pleased rumble, that could easily have been mistaken for purring. A pink light engulfed Ladybug as she bent down to scoop him up. He closed his eyes to prevent seeing her, even though he knew it wouldn't last. It couldn't last. Especially when she tapped that little golden bell on his collar. It jingled softly.

"Someone wants to hear where you get to," Marinette said, quietly.

Her voice was close to his ears, but she spoke softly, and cradled him gently, with affection. Ladybug never treated Chat Noir this gently. He like it. He felt safe in her arms, and finally realised how tiring running on four small paws actually was. No wonder cats had to take so many naps.

"Cats with collars always have owners," Tikki pointed out.

"Maybe his owner abandoned him, or died, or he ran away," Marinette shrugged, "he's pretty scrawny. Maybe we should feed him."

"Once you feed a cat, you can never get rid of it," Tikki warned.

"Once you name it you never want to," Marinette pointed out.

"Please tell me you didn't-"

"He's my little Kit cat now. I have a kitty, and a kit. I can't wait to tell Chat Noir."

Adrien felt a surge of smug ego. Ladybug wanted to show off her new cat to him. Maybe she did like him, or at least valued his opinion. Either way, he was pleased that he was the first person on her mind.

"I can't wait till your parents. They're never going to let you keep him," Tikki warned.

"I know..." Marinette sounded disappointed. Then, mildly hopeful, but not fully convinced, "Maybe we can come to some arrangement instead... or maybe Chat Noir knows an animal sanctuary that can take him."

"Why would he know that?"

"I don't know, because he's a cat?"

"You're a ladybug, what do you know about Ladybugs?"

"I..."

Marinette bowed her head sheepishly. Adrien's whiskers twitched. He should have thought of that earlier. Chat Noir supporting animal charities would be such a great publicity stunt that maybe more of those cats would get adopted. It's not like it would be difficult either. What charity wouldn't see the immediate benefit of working with Chat Noir of all people?

"Girl you expect too much from that cat," Tikki smirked.

"You're right Tikki. I should lay off him. And learn more about ladybugs," Marinette said.

Tikki giggled. "That's a good plan Marinette."

Marinette?!

His Marinette?!

His Lady had been his Princess this whole time? By his side from day one?! How didn't he notice before?! Adrien turned his head and gazed up at her, shocked. She looked down at him, and gave an affectionate smile to the cute kitty in her arms. She leaned down and kissed his forehead, gently. Adrien's heart beat faster and he purred despite himself. Maybe he had been a little extra sappy to Marinette, but she always seemed to care so much that he felt safe around her...
Just like he felt safe around Ladybug.
Oh.
Maybe it had been destiny all along.