There's a simple, unspoken code between heroes and civilians.
Don't get in the way.
Make the effort to stay out of the way.
Alya kinda got this.
She stayed out of the fights best she could, though she never left them.
Chloe usually got this, but evidently not today.
Chat couldn't grasp what was going on through Chloe's head, but the blonde dressed as a black cat, she thought it'd be a great idea to join the heroes in the fight today.
Maybe it was because she was dressed as a hero.
Maybe it was because the akuma didn't seem dangerous. It was Sabrina being invisible and playing tricks. That's the largest she was doing. So, not too dangerous an akuma. But Chat personally believed that those that knew what they were doing should handle it.
She'd be, relatively, fine with Chloe helping.
But there was the key word: heping.
At this moment, Chloe was not helping.
Chat, who absorbs bad luck for Ladybug, was getting the rougher end of this stick. While Ladybug simply frowned at Chloe help, but mostly focused on Vanisher, Chat had to deal with getting hit in the head with a plastic baton, either by Chloe swinging it wildly, or throwing it at where she thought Vanisher was. Chat also had to deal with getting tripped a lot by Chloe huddling close to her, or that plastic baton that had just rolled to her feet. And she tripped a bit by Chloe stepping on her tail.
Later that day, Marinette will wonder if she did go too far (Plagg doesn't think so); she can agree that she could've reacted better, but she was fed up and annoyed, not only dealing with an invisible akuma, and having Chloe trip her up so much as well. She finally just snapped.
Mindful of her claws, she grabbed Chloe and shoved her into the elevator. "For your safety," she snarled, glaring down at Chloe as she stared back at her in surprise. "Stay out of our way." Chat jammed a random button and let the elevator take Chloe away.
She turned to join the fight just in time for Ladybug to crash into her. "Sorry!" he rushed out, scrambling to get up, and pulling Chat up as well. Then he spared a glance at the elevator doors, frowning. "Well that was kinda rough," he said, turning to Chat with a frown. Only to give a start at the glare she gave him, her pupils frighteningly thin. Changing tactics, he offered, "Do you want to go find a scratching post after this?"
"You're funny," she huffed, prowling past him.
...Though, there was an appeal to getting a hold of a scratching post.
Something she could sink her claws into and tear up.
She'll probably do that alone though.
"I can't believe this!" Chloe muttered as she prowled into her room, the fake belt tail dragging behind her. To be so roughly handled, and scolded! She was just trying to help! She could help! But Chat just, tossed her away!
Didn't even give a chance.
She thought Ladybug was a bit impossible sometimes, or just too goofy a partner for Chat to have; but no. Chat turned out to be quite impossible, maybe even more so than Ladybug.
And this…
This …
There was an uncomfortable pain in her chest, an ache in her eyes that was worse than the bruise on her side from where she had hit the elevator floor. She…
"Chat Noir doesn't appear to be the hero everyone thinks she is."
Chloe gives a start, blinking at the voice.
He was right.
Chat wasn't the hero everyone thought she was.
"She so savage and rough, vile as the darkness she represents. Maybe she needs to be replaced, maybe by someone with more elegance and grace."
That sounded far better.
"How about it, Chat Blanc? Will you slash away the vileness of Chat Noir? Give Paris the elegant cat it deserves?"
"An excellent idea, Hawk Moth," Chloe purred out, the name rolling off her tongue. She smiled as the darkness washed over her, leaving a white cat in place.
A pure good cat.
Far superior than Chat Noir.
The transformation fell away and Adrien rushed to the hotel kitchen, snatching a rare treat for Tikki. Her favorite, chocolate chip cookies.
"Oh yummy!" Tikki cried, snatching the cookie from Adrien and happily digging in.
"Quite an annoying akuma today," Adrien bid, leaning on the counter, a thoughtful frown on his lips.
"You're bound to come across a few," Tikki answered, taking another bite, delightful hums coming off of her.
Adrien frowned, recalling Chat's rough handling of Chloe.
Sensing his thoughts, Tikki voiced, "She should have reacted better, but everyone does have a limit to their patience. And Chloe should have known better than involve herself in the fight."
"Yeah," he agreed with a sigh.
Giving him a bit of a look, Tikki piped, "You're not completely blameless either Adrien."
At his surprised look, she lectured, "As a superhero, you have a responsibility. It's one you do do well, you really do, but part of that responsibility is watching out for not only civilians, but also your partner. Now yes, Vanisher wasn't dangerous, but Chloe became her own hazard in that fight, specifically for Chat. You should have tried to get Chloe away, not leave it to Chat to deal with. It's your responsibility as well to keep civilians out of the way."
Adrien winced, then nodded.
He'll make sure to do so in the future.
Not in the mood to have anymore attention on her, Chat dodged away from the reporters, intent on rushing all the way home.
Or sit somewhere nice and quiet where she could be alone and get some peace.
Racing on four legs, she got two buildings away from the hotel when she heard a hiss in the air, something coming straight for her. Chat jumped to the side, avoid a black baton slamming into the roof where she was, breaking apart the shingles. Surprised, Chat looked up, spotting another cat.
A white cat.
Chloe.
As an akuma.
"Hi Stray," the white cat sneered, then she jumped up, diving towards Chat, claws stretched out for her.
Moving on instinct, Chat Noir's lips curled up to show her fangs, and she moved towards that cat, her own claws ready for this fight.
Adrien was almost home when his cell phone went off.
Stopping, he checked it, blinking when he saw another akuma alert. Didn't they just take care of Vanisher? He shared a look with with Tikki. Summoning the transformation, he jumped up towards the roofs, looking for the akuma.
His gaze quickly settled on a scramble of white and black.
Blinking in surprise, he rushed over, seeing two cats tangled up in a nasty fight with each other. Both ignored him as they fought, hissing and snarling at each other, slashing claws and banging batons against each other, scattering sparks across the roofs.
Chat Noir and Chloe as… Chat Blanc he guessed?
Shaking his head, Ladybug charged in to help. If Chat hadn't detransformed yet, she won't have too long.
He shoved Chat Blanc aside, giving his partner a breather, and earning a surprised yowl from the ivory cat. Chat Blanc stumbled and turned to him with a growl. "Stay out of this bug. This is between us cats."
"Sorry Kitty," Ladybug bid, "I'm here for my partner."
With an angry hiss, Blanc charged.
Noir rushed forward to intercept, and Ladybug shot out his yo yo, searching for the possessed item.