Marinette took in the sight of the starry sky while standing in a giant field filled to the brim with gray lilies of the valley glowing. A breeze brushed against her as if coaxing her to pursue it along the flowerbed. She followed the wind with the illuminating flowers as her only companion, jingling like bells, presenting a sweet yet haunting melody that gave an air of malaise to this place.
Their glow faded as she walked, vanishing when consumed by the void behind her, closing in on her. The void nipped at her back, its chilly touch making her hyper-aware of her surroundings as she traveled, but it never passed by her, only stayed behind her. Whenever she moved forward, the darkness devoured the area whole with only the song of the flowers continuing their tune.
The light snuffed out.
She trekked down the field with the void breathing down her neck, reminding her of its presence every step of the way. Within her view, a ring of lilies of the valley glowed a dull white surrounding something that was making an indention, presumably lying there. Silence fell, allowing Marinette to hear humming, or possibly purring, from within the circle. She cautiously approached, her eyes never deviating from the ring.
She looked down when a loud bang echoed, shattering the vicinity in shards of glass, to be swallowed by the void. Frantically, she looks around until a pair of luminous slate eyes stare at her from the darkness, bringing a soft, warm light that engulfs her, protecting her from the frigid void that overwhelmed her. The lilies of the valley grew from the casted light, intertwining to form a swing of sorts for Marinette to sit while suspended within the darkness.
Another bang cracks the darkness, with every blow producing more cracks within the space. Finally, everything came crashing down with only the eyes and flowers remaining intact, ensuring her safety.
One final knock causes Marinette to sit straight up, gasping for air and scanning her surroundings. She was in her bed, in her room. It was all a dream, a very peculiar dream.
Faint knocking resonated in her room. Drowsy, she didn't even question why there was knocking in the first place. She lazily opened the hatch and was met with a kitty or maybe a kitten, but it wasn't Chat. This cat is much more youthful and spritely in appearance, bright green eyes gauging her. To compare felines, this one is a pampered house cat while the other is a hardened street cat.
The cat sheepishly smiles, waving at the dazed girl while sitting in front of the trapdoor.
Marinette stared at the new cat while rubbing one of her eyes. "You aren't Kitty," she mumbled.
He appears mirthful by the comment, "Kitty is my big brother."
"Oh," Marinette yawned as she sat on the ground, "That's nice. I have heard about you. It is nice to meet you in a way, I guess."
The young cat raised a brow, and his forehead scrunched up, "Yeah, a pleasure to see you too?"
She smiled, then that is when it dawned on her. Why does he have the miraculous? How does he know that his brother is Chat? Astonishment and terror overtake her as she points at the cat in front of her. "Why do you have it!?"
The kitten glances at the ring, "Oh, this?" He fiddled with it, speaking under his breath, "I never expected him to tell you that."
"Answer me!" she barked.
He lifts his hands in the air, "Please calm down. I mean no harm in any of this." He set his hands on his leg that bounced to its own rhythm, "I...Uh, borrowed it from him, but I don't plan to keep it! I got it to talk to you-well, to show gratitude mainly."
She studied the young boy before her, taking note of the strain in his voice and his restlessness. He is an open book, unable to get away with lying, unlike Chat, and she doubts he has any other alternative motives besides what was already stated. However, she needs more information about this because she knows that her partner would not give out the miraculous needlessly-not without informing her or if the situation was dire...
She crosses her arms, tapping her finger. "Borrow?"
"Well...umm," he nervously chuckles," I took it from him while he slept..." He rubbed the back of his head, averting his eyes away, "I am already going to hear it from him when he realizes it later. But, believe me on this, I would never outright take it under normal circumstances."
She shook her head disappointedly and opened her mouth to speak until the blond cut her off, "I wanted to thank you for assisting with his earlier incident, and I couldn't think of any other way besides doing this! If I did it as...me...it would cause some issues, if you get what I am saying..."
This caught her attention. This meant that she either knew the brothers personally or could possibly recognize them because of her friend group. Still, this is a significant problem. Chat's identity was compromised before becoming a hero. He never revealed that detail to Ladybug either, and the younger sibling is this boisterous and lucid... Makes him easy prey for Hawkmoth and could jeopardize their mission if, and when, that transpires. Then there is him blatantly stealing it! Yes, he never stole it until now, but what could stop him from doing it later?
She pursed her lips, "You are digging yourself a hole..."
He scratches his cheek before puffing out his chest, making sure he made eye contact with her, "I am, but I needed to do this. You do not understand how much I care for him. Although..." He mused, eyes sparkling while grinning. "I think you can comprehend that very well, don't you? It may be on a bit of a..." He drawled, forming a heart with his hands, "...different level, if you catch my drift."
Marinette could tell that her entire body was set ablaze from that comment, mustering all her willpower to not dash into her room and lock it tight, "It isn't like that, not at all! I was just helping out a friend."
He cackled, tears running down his face as he fell back onto the ground. He patted his face to regain composure before sitting up with a reddened nose and eyes. After coughing into his hand, tears still trickling down his face, he shifted his attention to Marinette once more. "Back to what I originally stopped by for. Thank you, Marinette! My brother means the world to me. So, I will find a way to pay you back someday for the kindness you gave to your good 'friend.' Promise." With that last sentence, an impish smile stretched across his face as he leaned forward.
Truthfully, she was quite speechless by the kitten's proclamation, even if his teasing got under her skin a bit. Her eyes widen as she pushes him back, "You are welcome, but it is nothing you have to repay me for. I would do it again in a heartbeat, especially for Chat."
His eyes flickered with playfulness, giving a lop-sided smile, "Not Kitty anymore, hm?"
She buries her face in her hands, letting out a deep sigh while hearing the quiet laughter of the boy. His teasing was definitely getting to her. "Hush you," she hisses.
He returns the hiss, pawing at the air, "Hissing is my schtick as the cat out of the two of us!"
She stared at the boy playing cat, narrowing her eyes and focusing on the ring that glowed green on his finger. Right, she must inquire about how he discovered Chat's identity. It is imperative she learns that, or the entire world will be in grave danger. Hell, it is already at stake right now. All it would take is for the boy to be Akumatized to plant a target on Chat's head. Possibly giving easy access to him depending on what powers Hawkmoth bestows upon the younger sibling. Trick Chat with false promise before snatching it right under him, just like he has already done...Then there is the fact she is still not out of the water yet because of Chat's little stunt weeks prior. She knows he is waiting for the perfect time to strike...
"I assume he never told you?"
A calm voice snapped her out, noticing she must've been glaring at the poor little Kitten.
He toys with his cuffs, pulling at them while looking down, "Your expression tells me he hasn't. Makes me wonder if he told Ladybug. Well, I guess since you know about the ring., it wouldn't hurt to tell you," he muttered as he bit his lower lip. "To put it simply put. I was there by pure coincidence when he transformed into Chat Noir, and oh boy, that was a freaky sequence of events, I'll tell you what! I can't go into it or what could take all night! Just know it happened, and it was super weird. Although, we never thought much of the implications of it..."
The cat pondered for a moment, twisting the ring around his finger," Still, I think my brother may have thought of it but was too...scared to mention it. Afraid to lose his freedom, you know?"
His expression turned somber, "He must be cutthroat and meticulous while I remain bubbly and pure, in the name of appearance and stature."
A half-hearted smile tugged at his lips, "You understand that, don't you?"
Her face fell, "I get his reasoning even if I will never fully understand his set of circumstances." And she couldn't because she had a lot of freedom in her civilian life. Something she appreciated the more she chitchats with the black-clad hero as she witnesses the sides he keeps on lockdown, only slipping through in moments of weakness.
She sighed, adding, "However, it isn't an excuse to possibly leave out crucial information to his partner, you know?"
He rapidly nodded and continued to do so for a few seconds as the bell jingled in beat to his bobbing. Hastily, he grabbed the bell, muffling the chime that resonated into the night.
The sound reminded her of the eerie melody that plagued her dream. A sense of discomfort courses through her as she recalls the dreadful thing. She understood the reason she didn't like it, but why him?
Curiosity was gnawing at her; why didn't he like the bell? Especially since the appearance is based on the user's inner imagination or desires. She cocked her head, "You don't like the bell?"
Kitten shook his head, hand still covering the bell around his neck, "Too loud. I don't like loud noises already, then the cat thing makes it worse! Much, much worse." He pointed at his ears, most likely emphasizing how sensitive his hearing is in this form. She recalled Chat mentioning that tidbit to her as Ladybug.
She hummed, "It does make you look like a well-trained house kitten. The dinging letting everyone know if you are causing chaos."
His demeanor soured, tugging at the bell, "You are on the nose with that...sadly."
"I-I never me-"
"It's fine," he interrupted her, "No offense taken."
A long, drawn-out silence suffocates them, with only the occasional noise from the kitten pulling at his cuffs, the nails clinging together every so often.
"Um," the blond broke the silence as he took out the staff, "I should be returning home, Marinette. It is late."
God, she didn't want to end on such awkward terms. She grabs the hand carrying the staff, "That is right, but before you leave, I apologize if I crossed any lines. I know you said it is fine, but I like to say it out loud rather than assume it, ok?"
He bops her nose with a toothy grin, "Trust me when I say this, I know you never mean to make a rude remark towards anyone without reason." He stood up and walked to the edge of the balcony.
"By the way," he turned his head to glimpse at her, "Imma going to have a conversation with my brother about disclosing me to Ladybug...then mention you meeting me as this too..."
He chewed on his nail, "So, um, she may stop by to have a friendly chat with you. Just giving you a heads up!"
At least, this will save her the trouble of finding a way to bring up the topic to Chat as Ladybug. She will take this as him repaying her, even if he is unaware of it.
"I appreciate the warning, Kitten. That could put you under the bus for a lecture from the heroine as well. I mean-taking a miraculous and using it for personal reasons is a big no-no."
He merely shrugged, "I deserve it, from my brother and her. I am surprised you didn't harp on me more. Also, really? Kitten?"
"You are," the bluenette yawned," lucky I am too exhausted to yell at you for your recklessness. I will save it for when we meet again. Oh, and Kitten just because you are the younger one, after all."
He furrows his brows, "Touché...I prefer this to be the only time I wear this blasted thing."
Marinette hums, setting her chin in her hands, "You never know what the future holds."
He presses the button, extending the staff and narrowly avoiding smacking his face. He rubbed the back of his neck, blushing, "That is true, but let's aim for it being this one time if possible."
She giggles, "We will hope! Be safe and sleep tight, Kitten."
He waves, "You too, Marinette!"
She waved back before she stepped down into her room and crawled into bed, instantly drifting back into a deep slumber as the chime carried its tune.
