Part 15: Exchange

Note: This first bit is just kinda fluff. My life is gonna get really busy soon, so I apologize in advance for any and all long pauses in writing.

Over the next few days, Gabriel Agreste watched his children like a hawk (and yes, his children. He'd come to think of Kat as his daughter, not that she realized it). Everywhere Mr. Agreste went, he took Kat and Adrien with him. Kat told him to stop after she'd missed an entire school day. She might be a bit of a prodigy, but she hated homework with a passion. It took a half an hour of negotiation, but Mr. Agreste agreed to just pick them up from school.

—In a Meeting with Representatives of Mr. Agreste's Company—

Kat spun around in a wheelie chair (the desk chair thing that seems to be in every office ever). The chair squeaked squeakity squeaked, so much so that the head representative yelled at her.

"Stop that right now!" He exploded, grabbing the chair and leaning over Kat. "Hold this chair still, or so help me—aah!"

Kat grabbed him arm and twisted it around as Mr. Agreste yanked him back by his shoulder. The other representatives gasped at the scene.

"You will not touch her," Mr. Agreste growled. Kat blinked in surprise. This certainly wasn't something she thought he'd do. Adrien smiled at him softly. His father seemed a little different lately, and Adrien liked how he'd changed.

Kat began to smile softly, too. She thought it was sweet that Mr. Agreste had defended her. Not that that would stop her from calling him out on every little thing he did, but still.

Mr. Agreste pulled both Kat's and Adrien's chairs closer to his and continued his meeting. Kat smirked at the head representative the entire time.

Halfway through, Emily Hoelscher walked in.

"Ah, there you are, Emily," Mr. Agreste said.

"Hallo, Herr Agreste." Emily fidgeted. Her translator was once again unavailable. Kat and Adrien stepped in. Kat would have done it by herself, but considering that her alter ego was fluent in German, she thought it would be good to struggle with it a little. She'd translate some, then ask Adrien on parts. It worked well, considering that neither was actually a translator, and one was pretending not to know.

"Thank you, Emily," Mr. Agreste said. Kat translated. "Is she not one of the brightest designers?"

Everyone nodded, for Emily's designs were extremely beautiful.

—The Next Day—

"I suppose I'll see you on Monday," Mr. Agreste said to Kat. It was now Friday, and Kat was going to Marinette's after school. She was a bit apprehensive about it. Mr. Agreste had been quite nice for a while, but Kat knew it couldn't last, and she wanted to be there when he snapped.

"Yeah," Kat said, following Adrien to class.

—In Class—

"Everyone, settle down," Miss Bustier was saying. Nathaniel poked Kat in the arm.

"Hey," he whispered.

"Hi," she whispered back. She glanced over at the paper he pushed towards her. Kat stifled a snort and giggled as quietly as she could. "Is...is that Chloe?"

The picture was a simple one, just a sketch, really. It showed Chloe pouting. The expression was quite funny, and a bit ugly. It almost didn't look like her the way her face was twisted.

"An ugly face for an ugly personality," Kat smirked.

"Ahem." Miss Bustier raised an eyebrow. "Who is that, in your picture?"

Nathaniel's mouth moved up and down, the words not coming. Kat took it in stride.

"Oh, it's just a character I thought up. Her name is Chl-Coriander. She's the, uh, villain. Or maybe an anti-hero. I don't know yet. Nathaniel drew her for me."

"Hm." Miss Bustier handed the two some papers and walked back to the front of the room. Kat breathed a relieved sigh.

"Nice save," Nathaniel said. Kat nodded. She focused on her work and silently urged Nathaniel to focus,too, with a smile. She really did enjoy spending time with him, especially when she knew Adrien was safe.

Nathaniel also enjoyed spending time with Kat. She always seemed to have something on her mind, though. He'd already decided that he wouldn't pry. He knew she was very honest and would tell him when she was ready. He smiled as she nudged his elbow with hers.

—Later, at the Dupain-Cheng's Bakery—

"Hi, Mari. Hello, Kat dear," Mrs. Dupain-Cheng said. She smiled at Nathaniel, who was trailing behind. "Hello, Nathaniel. Would you kids like some cream puff?"

"Ooh, yes please!" Kat squealed. Nathaniel shyly took a few, too.

The three went up to Marinette's room. Marinette turned on some music while Kat got out some fingernail polish.

"I hope you don't mind if we paint our nails while we study, Nathaniel."

"It's all right." Nathaniel settled down on the floor between the two girls. He didn't mind. He opened his book and timidly started asking questions, each one sounding a little more comfortable as he went. Kat smiled.

"Hey, my little tomato, would you go get us some more snacks, please?"

"Sure," Nathaniel replied. He got up, but only went two steps before Marinette threw her head back and took a long, raspy breath.

"Marinette? Are you okay? What's the matter?" Kat and Nathaniel both started freaking out. They freaked out more so when Marinette collapsed.

—A Few Minutes Earlier—

Allie Laurens sat with a huff. Why did her parents treat her like a baby? And why couldn't she hang out with her older sister?

—Hawkmoth's lair—

"Ah, the anger, the sadness. Muahaha."

Blah blah blah, akuma, blah, hello Switchblade, yadda yadda yadda.

—Back to Allie—

"Yes, Hawkmoth," she grinned. The purple stuff enveloped her. "Oh, the power!"

"Would you like to try them out?" Hawkmoth asked via the telepathy thing.

"What shall I test them on?"

"You mean who," Hawkmoth smirked. "Try reaching out and switching Ladybug and Chat Noir."

"As you wish, Hawkmoth."

—The Present, in Mari's Room—

"Do you think she's okay?"

"I don't know, hon. That was really weird. Just grab her arms and help me get her on the futon thing."

"You don't know what it's called?"

"You don't know either."

"Fair enough." Nathaniel helped Kat move Marinette on the futon/couch/cushioned furniture thing. After assuring Mari's parents, and Nathaniel, that Mari would probably be fine, Kat sent Nathaniel on his way. (She promised to text him when she found out what happened.) She figured that whatever happened was part of the miraculous, or maybe an akuma (she's right, obvs). Kat hurried back to Marinette's room and found Tikki.

"Do you have any idea what happened, Tikki?" Kat asked. The kwami shook her head.

"Not a clue."

Kat sighed and ran a hand through her hair, a habit she'd picked up from her dad. Marinette flew into a seated position. Kat jumped back and Tikki hid behind her.

"Mari?"

Marinette's eyes were wide. She stared up at Kat.

"Kat? What are you doing here?"

"It's Friday. I'm always here on Fridays. And Saturdays. And Sundays."

"But…" Marinette looked around. "Hey, wait a second. This is Mari's room."

"You mean your room?"

"No I mean—wait, what happened to my voice?" Marinette looked down and gasped. "I'm in girl's clothes. Not that I'm complaining. It's just...they're not mine. What's going on?"

"Okay, you're kinda freaking me out, Marinette."

"Why are you calling me Marinette? I'm Adrien."

"What."

"Yeah, I'm—"

"That wasn't really a question," Kat said, her voice an octave higher than normal.

"Oh, sorry."

"No, don't apologize. Okay, this is really trippy."

"I'll say."

Hey so, sorry in advance (again). I'll update as often as possible, but it might be a few weeks in between them each.