Twenty: Moments

Author's Note: Chat's feeling better, thanks to the patient care of his girlfriend – and the benefits of being a quick-healing superhero.

Special Note: As I am taking the plunge and doing the 2019 version of National November Write a Novel Month, I've created shorter chapters for the next few weeks so I can continue to provide fresh content while I am furiously working on that project. (Feel free to follow along if you like over on their website; I'll take all the support I can get!)

I swam up through the layers of slumber until I was able to crack a masked eye and see the glimmer of sunshine as it poured through the sliding doors to my balcony. Smiling, I stretched slightly, somewhat constricted by both arms of Marinette that had somehow wrapped themselves around my torso. Without turning, I felt her head buried against my shoulder, still soundly asleep.

It was a pleasant situation, one that I was loath to upset, but I knew both of us had to get to work.

Gently, I started to try and slip out from her embrace, carefully moving her arms just enough; I made a bit of progress before realizing my tail (of all things) was trapped beneath her. I tried to tug at it only to discover she'd actually managed to wind it around herself. I was starting to understand Edna Mode's insistence on no capes now, but my tail wasn't purely decorative, either – as it's twisting-tapping in frustration against Marinette's arm indicated.

Sighing, I went for the last alternative. Using a claw, I tapped the bell at my collar several times, allowing it to ring out cheerfully.

Marinette started immediately. "Oh! Good morning!" she said groggily as she tried to pull away from me. "What time is it?"

"Late, I think," I laughed. "But I can't reach my baton to tell you for sure."

"Oh!" she said, suddenly realizing that she was entangled in my tail. "How—wow, sorry," she said sheepishly as she rolled out from under it.

"You've had me by the tail for some time, Princess," I quipped as I was finally able to push out of bed myself.

"Hah, hah," she said. "Not literally. How are you feeling today?" she asked as she pulled her hair back into a ponytail.

"Better," I said. "Hungry – but I'll pick up breakfast on the way to the office." Grabbing my baton, I raised a masked eyebrow. "Yikes. Maybe not!'

Her eyes widened at my expression. "How late are we?"

"Late. Late. Late."

Marinette said some very unladylike words and flew from the room. I vaulted out after her. "I offer express service this morning," I said from where I landed in my cat-crouch in the living room.

"I'm going to take you up on that," I heard from her room as she rustled through her closet and re-appeared reasonably well put together.

Without asking, I pulled her into my arms and bounded out through my room, hitting the railing to launch us into the early morning. Working my way efficiently through the sky, part of me noted that the streets below were quieter than normal at this hour but set it aside to ensure I got Marinette to her office as close to on time as I could. Dropping down on the rooftop across from her building, though, the lack of workers streaming into the high rise gave me pause.

"Mari," I asked carefully. "What day is it?"

Peeking around me, Marinette started to laugh. "Well," she said between chuckles. "If we leave now, maybe we can get the last set of fresh baguettes from the Bakery and have French Toast."

She didn't have to tell me twice. The prospect of spending a lazy Saturday with my girlfriend was too good to pass up; I pulled her into my arms and launched us toward breakfast.