Marinette stopped, breathing hard and peeking back to see if she was followed. It didn't look like she was...
"Look at you," a familiar voice purred out. Marinette whipped around and yes, there she was. There was the grinning Vixx. "You got away beautifully!"
Beea exploded behind the human, buzzing out angrily. "What do you think you're doing?!"
Vixx drew away, sticking her tongue out childishly. "Having fun."
"This is not the time for fun!"Juuno scolds.
"How does this help us in anyway?" Wayzz scolds.
Nooroo quietly asked, "Did you find Tikki at least?"
"And what about Plagg?! Where is that cat?!" Beea demanded.
Drawing away from Beea, Vixx pointed to each of them, answering, "I'm helping get Tikki. It's always time for fun. Sometimes you just got to find it. This helps us scramble up these humans, you think they'll let Kit walk around here with no questions or bother?"
Marinette purses her lips.
"And yes, that girl still has her. I have an illusion keeping her cornered." To Marinette, she said, "She may be willing to get rid of a 'toy' now." To Beea, Vixx shrugged. "Plagg is definitely still in the building, where? Who knows."
Before the kwamis could respond, Marinette straightened. "Lead the way," she told the fox.
Where could she be?
Adrien frowned as he slowly led the prince along, careful to duck and hide in nearby rooms whenever a cat wondered close.
All the while Adrien sought for the vigilante he's sure is Marinette.
Marinette who seems to have a connection to strange, alive, beings.
Supernatural beings.
He was so jumping on this bus once he got a hold of her.
...If he found her.
It seemed like she just disappeared.
He wondered if that had something to do with the supernatural beings.
"Do you know where you're going?" the prince asked, hanging close to the blond.
"Oh yeah," Adrien said confidently. "This is practically a second hom-"
He skidded to a stop, the prince bumping into him. Rolling his nose, Ali peeked passed Adrien and let out a hushed, "Eep!"
A cat prowled around the corner, gazing down at the boys with a rumble.
Adrien tensed as he stared back at that cat, fingers curling into fists.
If she could do this, he could too!
It was just a bunch of orange smoke.
It'd be fine.
Rearing his fist back, he rammed it at the surprised cat, expecting it to break apart.
Instead he hit fur, muscle, and bone.
His hand hurt.
And the cat stumbled back, blinking in surprise and rolling it's nose.
Adrien and Ali stumbled back, wide eyed.
It's real...
It's actually real...
This was so cool, and so scary, and-
Those green eyes flickered to him, and narrowed dangerously. The creature let out a furious snarl, making both boys jump in alarm. When the cat dove to them, they scrambled back and fled, squealing as the cat chased them.
This was definitely scary.
But still kinda cool.
Vixx lead her to Chloe's room, where the blonde locked herself in. A black cat guarded it. It turned to them, growling as it guarded the door.
With a wave of her little paw, the black cat disappeared into a burst or orange smoke.
Vixx waved to the door, bowing to the human before diving in to join the rest of the gods in the bag. Juuno popped out, fanning his tail as he faced the door. There was a click and he dove back in, letting Marinette slip in.
Chloe was hiding under her bed, muttering swears and promises under her breath.
Pursing her lips under the helmet, Marinette crouched down, peerint at the praying blonde. "Chloe," she sighed, watching the girl squeak and jump, hitting her head on the bed frame above.
Chloe looked over to her, wide eyed, then squealed, crawling further away."Greasy!" she cried, "Stay away from me!"
Ignoring her, she reached out, stating, "I want that toy."
Blinking she showed the little red god to her.
Tikki peered back pleadingly.
Chloe narrowed her eyes, bringing the god further back and out of reach. Marinette sighed in annoyance. "Give me the toy and I'll take the cats away."
Chloe paused at that, eyeing her oddly. Then narrowed her eyes sharply. With an accusing jab, Chloe snarled, "You grease witch!"
Marinette twitched.
"I demand you remove those monstrosities from my Daddy's hotel or else!"
Marinette heard Beea mutter, "For the love of..."
Echoing the yellow god's frustration, she sharply repeats, "Chloe, give me the toy-"
She was cut off when Chloe gave a loud squeal, jumping up and tossing Tikki away while also hitting her head. While Marinette scrambled to get Tikki, Chloe scrambled to get out from under the bed. "Owie, owie, owie!" the blonde cried, eyes watering as she rounded on Marinette. "You stung me Greasy Witch!" she accused. "I'm telling Daddy! And then we're going to have you kicked out and jailed for all this!"
Tikki in hand, Marinette peered after her.
At a soft harrumph, she looked over to see Beea glaring after her, arms crossed. Meeting Marinette's gaze, the bee bid, "She was asking for a sting!"
"Beea don't sting humans," Tikki tiredly scolds from Marinette's palm.
Mariette drew out from under the bed with a relieved sigh. "Thank goodness you're ok Tikki," she said.
All the other gods popped out with a relieved cry, tackling Tikki with hugs, Nooroo and Juuno crying in relief. Vixx wagged her tail, loud sequels and yips coming from her. Wayzz hovered back, paws clasped together.
Beea drew near, looking satisfied. Only for her blue eyes to narrow as she looked to Marinette. "There's the matter of Plagg," Beea cuts in.
Tikki shifts in the hug, turning to Beea. "Don't tell me Plagg..."
"Went monster?" Beea finished.
"He did!" Vixx yipped. "It was great to see that form!"
Wayzz sighed, "Let's get him back then."
Marinette turned to Wayzz warily. "How? He's kinda..."
Nooroo explains,"If you touch him, he'll become small again."
Marinette was surprised. "Me?"
"A touch of a human friend will calm him," Tikki explains, floating up and phasing into the backpack, ready to go back home. The others followed, though Marientte grabbed Vixx, tugging her back.
"Where is Plagg?" she asked the fox.
Vixx grinned. She said simply, "You can't miss him." Vixx dived into the backpack, leaving Marinette on her own. Huffing, she got up, wondering how she'll tell the real Plagg from the fakes.
She doubted Vixx dismissed her illusions...
Stepping into the hall, she paused, frowning as she looked around.
Where could Plagg be...
Marinette gave a start when she heard twin screams of boys, and a heavy pound of feet...
Illusions didn't have heavy steps.
Marinette ran to the screams, seeing Adrien and the other boy speed away down the hall. Knowing Plagg was just behind them, Marinette raced down the adjoining hall. She jumped forward, just as the huge cat came in view.
She tackled the cat, surprised when the large form disappeared under her and she was left flying into the adjacent wall.
"Ow," she muttered when her helmet bounced off her stairs.
There was hiss beneath her and she sat up to see Plagg in hand, glaring at her. Marinette quickly sat up, meeting Plagg's glare. "What the hell?!" the little god hissed.
"Don't you give me that!" Marinette snapped back. "What are you doing turning into a monster?!"
Nooroo popped out, reassuring, "We have Tikki, it's ok now."
Tikki popped out, scolding, "I'm disappointed in you!"
Plagg's eyes widened in surprise, ears drooping down apologetically. Sheepishly he greeted, "Hi Tikki..."
She narrowed her eyes at him.
"Later," Marinette cuts in, getting up, Plagg still in hand. "Let's-"
"Marinette?!"
She stiffened, looking over to see Adrien standing there, gazing at her, and then at Plagg, who was clearly seen in her palm. Adrien looked between the two, eyes wide. Gaping back at him, Marinette stood stiffly, internally screaming. There was a sharp nudge at her back and she turned and tore off, ignoring Adrien's "Hey!" behind her.
Adrien pursued, determined.
With his longer legs, and basket ball practice, Adrien was nearly upon her.
Only before he could grab her, he was surprised when a little fox popped out, ears up, violet eyes glinting. The little creature gave him a toothy smile, making him stumble and letting Marinette escape.
He slowed to a stop, breathing hard as he watched her disappear.
This confirmed.
There was something supernatural going on with Marinette.
She couldn't escape from him forever.
The good news?
No one believed Chloe when she swore that there was a greasy witch in the hotel that did all this.
The bad news?
Paris had no answer for these events and were left wondering.
The suspicion left Marinette cringing, gripping her chair as she watched the news on her computer.
Vixx offered, "It could've been worse."
"It could've gone better," Beea grumbles.
"Well it's over with," Wayzz stated, "this'll pass. Just need to lay low."
Marinette droops over her chair. "Unless Adrien-"
"You got nothing to worry about," Vixx waved off. "He's not going to-"
Juuno shushed her, staring intently at the screen. The sheepish prince was on screen. Marinette blinked as Nadja all but shoved the mic in the prince face, asking about his experiences.
"It was very exciting," the prince confessed, green eyes gleaming. "I've never been chased by a big cats before!"
"It's not going to happen again!" his aide quickly declared.
With a sheepish and amused smile, the prince turned back to the camera, adding with a slight blush on his cheeks, "I would also like to take this chance to thank the hero who came to save me and another. It was amazing how you took out that big cat. I, I hope you're watching to hear this. Thank you."
"Aw," Tikki gushed, turning to Marinette with a beam. "You have an admirer!"
Juuno gave a loud sniff, turning to her as well with big, gleaming eyes. "I'm so proud!" She charmed a prince! Juuno doesn't doubt the boy would love the chance to display back for her!
Beea nods, pleased. "It is high praise to receive thanks from royalty, I should know having some royal family members as my Guardian time to time."
Marinette blushed, chuckling sheepishly under the little gods' pleased stare.
Vixx's tail twitched, humming as she listened to her comrades agreeable murmurs.
As cute as that Kit was, it was unfortunate for him that her Kit already had someone.
Vixx kept this to herself though, barely watching the news as she awaited to see what the golden Kit would do.
For it was definite now that he knew.