Note: I have combined parts 8 and 9 so the chapter numbers line up with the parts. I also felt that part 8 just didn't go far enough.

Part 8: Chatty Katty

Nathaniel and Kat had an amazing time seeing sights around Paris. They went to The Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, and more than one bakery. It was after they had visited one of the bakeries that someone called the That Chat phone. Nathaniel was pushing Kat on a swing while she ate her cupcake when the phone rang.

——About Twenty Minutes Earlier at the School——

"Ugh, why do I have to stay after?" Chloe buffed her nails with a disgusted expression on her face. "I didn't do anything. It's her fault."

"What did I do, though? I-I don't know what I did." Poor little Rose was near tears.

"You both have to stay after because you said that Rose destroyed your clothes," Miss Bustier scowled. "Principal Damocles will give you your punishments."

They entered the principal's office.

"Ah, hello." Principal Damocles sighed. Once again, Chloe was in his office with an accusation. "What do you have to say this time?"

"Rose completely destroyed the clothes that I made for our project! She should be suspended!"

"Chloe," Rose said, her voice tight, her eyes full of tears, "I didn't do that. I don't know who did."

"Perhaps we should figure out who actually did it," Damocles suggested.

Chloe cleared her throat in the stupid way she always did and pointed at her phone. "I don't think my father would agree."

"Then again," Damocles said, his eyes widening, "Chloe is...very trustworthy. Rose, you're suspended for a day."

Rose ran out of the room crying.

——Cue Hawkmoth——

Muahaha, go my akuma, yadda yadda yadda.

The akuma flew out the window towards where Rose was crying by the side of the school. Before it went a full city block, Rose remembered the flyer in her bag. She couldn't help but like Kat and how positive she was. Kat seemed like exactly who she wanted to talk to. Rose wiped away a tear as she dialed the number.

——Back at the Park——

"Hey, Nathaniel, look," said Kat, the corner of her mouth lifting. "Our first call."

"That's great," Nathaniel replied. Kat answered the phone while Nathaniel continued pushing her. He smiled at the thought of Kat helping someone. It seemed like something she enjoyed, and seeing her happy made him happy.

"Hi, this is Kat with That Chat, how can I help you?"

"Hi," Rose sniffed. "Um...I don't really know how this supposed to work."

"Just tell me what's wrong, or how you're feeling, and I can help you feel better."

"Okay…" Rose's voice wavered as she continued "...someone destroyed our class project and Chloe blamed me and took credit for making the clothes when it was really me."

"Aw, you poor thing," Kat cooed. Nathaniel nearly melted into the grass. He couldn't think of a more pleasant sound. "So, how do you feel? Sad, angry, what?"

"Sad, I guess."

"Well, don't get yourself down. You are amazing, and Chloe is a little twerp. Now, here's what I want you to do: go home if you're not there already, take a relaxing bath, put on the comfiest pajamas you have, make some hot chocolate, then curl up on a comfy chair with a good book, or movie. If you'd like to talk longer, just let me know."

"Could you...could you talk about something nice until I get home?"

"Of course," Kat smiled. "Just tell me when you're home, okay?"

"Okay."

Kat's face flushed with happiness as she described going around Paris with Nathaniel, and how much fun she'd had. After a few minutes, Rose got home.

"Thank you," she said. The akuma flew away.

"Hey, no problem. Be sure to call again if you need to."

Nathaniel could not stop grinning. He elbowed Kat in the side as he walked her home.

"So? Have you had fun?"

"Yes," Kat gushed. "Can we do it again sometime, my little tomato?"

"Of course." Nathaniel blushed sheepishly. "Your little tomato?"

"Oh, sorry," Kat said, casting her eyes down, "Do you not like it?"

"No, I don't like it...I love it!" Nathaniel laughed, a clear, happy sound. Kat started to giggle and soon joined in with his laughing.

"You are just too cute, Nathaniel! You should laugh more, I like how you laugh."

Nathaniel only blushed and took her hand. He walked with a happy smile on his face and a light heart. Kat walked with a song in her head and happiness vibrating the very fiber of her being.

——At the Agreste Mansion——

"Adrien, I'm hoooome!"

"Hi Kat!"

Adrien and Kat yelled back and forth to each other until they found the other (think Marco Polo).

"Did you have a good time?" Adrien asked.

"Yes! We went to the Louvre, and the Eiffel Tower, and lots of bakeries. Oh, and then we went to the park and we had our first call on That Chat."

"That's awesome! I bet you stopped an akuma before it started." Adrien grinned.

"So what did you do while I was gone?"

"Just watched a show. Was Nathaniel nice?"

"Oh my goodness, yes. He is so sweet. He got me a cupcake, and a piece of cake, and a croissant, and this crepe thing—"

Mr. Agreste cleared his throat from where he was standing at the top of the main stairs. Kat did a double take when she noticed him.

"Oh, hello, Mr. Agreste. I didn't see you there."

"Where were you?" Mr. Agreste lifted an eyebrow while simultaneously scowling.

"Just at the park with a...a friend."

"I will not have you wandering around without permission while you're in my care."

"I'm sorry, sir," Kat replied, looking as scolded as possible. In her mind, though, she was thinking, 'Like I'm in your care'. If she had voiced this, she would have accompanied it with a raised eyebrow that would give Mr. Agreste a run for his money. "I was just, I don't know, spontaneous? I won't do it again if you don't want me to. I just never get to be spontaneous, so I assumed I might be able to…"

"At least call me or Nathalie next time you decide to be spontaneous," Mr. Agreste said, his expression softening a little. Kat looked up in surprise. Who would have thought that Gabriel Agreste would be okay with someone being spontaneous?

"Th-thank you. I'll do that."

Mr. Agreste left through the front doors, probably to another meeting. Unbeknownst to anyone, Mr. Agreste was beginning to like Kat, as impossible as that may seem. She seemed to have that effect on most people, even the ones she didn't necessarily like.

Part 9: Kat and an Idea

Note: I know it's a big gap in time, but hopefully it makes sense.

——After the Events of the All Episodes up to Dark Owl——

"I'm so tired," Adrien yawned as he got in the car, Kat a step behind him. His bodyguard grunted in reply. It had been a few weeks since That Chat had been set up, and nobody seemed to want to call. Adrien had been hoping it would take off so he could get some sleep, but it hadn't. He'd had a late night and only got a half an hour of sleep. He yawned once again and settled into his seat. Kat smiled, one of those half smiles that only lifts up a corner of one's mouth, as Adrien fell asleep on her shoulder.

Over the last few weeks, Kat had I began to love Adrien more and more. She loved her little brother with all her heart, and silently giggled when he would sit half awake in class with what she thought was the most adorable sleepy scowl she had ever seen. The only thing that could have made her happier was if her father was here with her. Kat's relationship with Nathaniel had continued on, through school and home. When Adrien was gone saving the world, Kat would call Nathaniel and talk for hours on end to ease the worry. It also helped when Marinette was being distant. Marinette had finally started warming up to her, but their relationship left a lot to be desired.

Kat nudged Adrien awake as they neared school.

"C'mon, cinnamon bun, we're almost to school," she said softly, gently pushing his head upright.

"I don't wanna wake up." Adrien sat bleary eyed, barely keeping his head up.

"I know, sweetie, but look. We're at school now."

Adrien rubbed his eyes while Kat guided him to class. For once, Marinette was on time, and sighed when she saw Adrien's tired little expression. He reminded her of a kitten. Kat winked at Marinette as she walked by. Marinette blushed and focused on the back of Adrien's head.

"Everyone sit down, please." Miss Bustier began to call roll. Nino elbowed Adrien, who was quietly snoring. "Adrien?"

"I'm awake, I'm awake!" Adrien exclaimed with a snort. A few kids giggled as he put his head back down on the desk. Miss Bustier continued taking roll. Marinette almost had the same reaction as Adrien, but managed to just say, "Here."

Kat paid little attention to anything that was said that day. She tapped her foot as she tried to figure out how to give Adrien a little time off because she knew if he kept going on like this, he'd make himself sick. She'd be worried about Marinette, too, but to her it seemed like Marinette didn't sleep much anyways. Kat sighed and propped her head up with her hand (like most people do in school when they're bored). Nothing short of another superhero would do the trick. Another superhero...Kat's eyes lit up. She grabbed her sketchbook, which Nathaniel had bought her, off the desk and started sketching as quietly as she could. She may not have a Kwami like Chat and Ladybug, but if she could pull this off...she'd need material, and lots of it...maybe some lightweight collapsible tech…she finished her sketch as the bell rang for the end of the school day. She excitedly hopped up, gave Nathaniel a quick hug goodbye, and began planning.

——At the Agreste Mansion——

After the car ride home, Kat put Adrien to bed and set to work on her idea. She couldn't figure out where to start, so she pulled out a notebook and made a list with little notes here and there. The list looked a little something like this:

List of what I need to do:

Learn more martial arts moves (I've probably got a ways to go)

I know Karate and Taekwondo (thanks Dadda and Master George)

Learn Jujitsu maybe?

Bodybuild/exercise in general (can't let the bad guys win)

Gymnastics. Need to practice. It's been a while, but hopefully I can remember stuff.

Is there a gym here? (Find gym)

Make a suit

Definitely black. And cat themed.

Half-jacket with tank top (spiky things too?)

Good pair of boots

Need domino mask

Spandex? Cotton? Both?

Come up with name

Maybe Panther?

Corbeau (French for Raven. Maybe just Raven)

Weapons

Fists, obvs

Collapsible staff like Chat's, but not quite

Batman-esque belt that can hold everything

Glitter bombs? (Villains would have glitter in their food for like a year haha)

Extras

Anti Gravity boots maybe?

Grappling hooks

Flight mode for suit

Kat decided to start by designing the staff, then researching gyms in the area, then designing the belt. She was just getting into it when someone knocked on the front door. Kat had grown up running to answer the door, so she made sure to hide her plans under her mattress and quickly ran to throw open the front door.

"Where is he? Where's my Adrikins?" Chloe tried to push her way in, but Kat barred the way.

"Adrien is asleep," she glared, "and you are not coming in."

"Ugh, get outta my way."

"No," Kat replied simply. Chloe stopped trying to get through. An evil smile contorted her features.

"You know he doesn't really care about you. I was his friend first," she added, trying to use the very same trick she had used on everybody since she was little.

Chloe would try to undermine Kat's confidence, use her insecurities against her. Little did she know, Kat's insecurities amounted to one thing...she wished she was about an inch taller. Kat had always been fairly happy with how she looked: a little on the skinny side, but still a little curvy, and happy. And even without that much wanted inch, Kat was still an inch and a half taller than Chloe, which made her very happy indeed.

"Why would I believe anything you say?" Asked Kat. She herself was hiding what she considered to be an evil smile.

"Because I know Adrien, and he would leave you alone in an instant if I asked him."

"Oh? Well, if you know Adrien that well, then what is his favorite color?"

(I'm going to be completely guessing on Adrien's favorites and whatnot)

"Blue, like my eyes, obviously."

"Actually, it's midnight blue, which is like ten shades darker than your eyes, and you are not really his friend. Now, leave and don't come back," Kat added, a dark anger clouding her eyes. Chloe would have left screaming if she had noticed.

"Why would his favorite color be midnight blue? It makes no sense. He's seen my eyes."

"Go away, Chloe."

"I'm not going away until I see him! He looked so tired and he might need cuddles."

"I've got 'cuddles' covered. Now go away." Kat slammed the door in Chloe's face and locked it. She sighed and went back to her room to research. Kat opened the door a couple hours later to a very tired and very confused Gabriel Agreste.