Before I step into Father's office, Plagg pokes his head out of my shirt. "Your father is sure to upset you, so put on a mask. If anything goes wrong, you can tell me or Marinette later." I smile at my little Kwami. Plagg may be very fond of cheese, but he's my best buddy. "I'll be fine, Plagg."

When Mother went away, I had to mask my emotions when Father would yell at me or be disappointed. It was always hard to hear the harsh words. I think of Marinette's father and mother, Tom with his gentle eyes and big bears and Sabine who's on the quieter side, but that what makes her a great listener.

Before I turn to Father sitting at his desk, I look at the portrait of Mother looking beautiful as always. Her arms seem extended as if reaching out to give a hug and saying, "Have courage."

"Adrien, if your just going to stand there all day, I have better things to do with my time." Father's face is chiseled like granite cold and lifeless. White hot anger flashes through me, but I tamp it down. "I'm moving out, Father. I can longer stay here. And since I'm over eighteen, I have every right to do so."

Father smiles, but its not a nice smile. "Your not even through school, Adrien. And where would go anyway?" "School is the least of my worries. And I'd find somewhere." "You'd be living on the streets." "I have a nest egg that I've been saving since I've been a teenager. And what good does it that I'm staying in a house where I'm forgotten?"

This place holds nothing but bad memories now. Besides, its not bricks and mortar that make my home, but a beautiful dark haired girl named Marinette Dupain-Cheng. She's my rock and my happy place.

"If that is your wish, Adrien, you may do as you please." I narrow my eyes at Father, his eyes look small and beady. Evil. Don't think I don't know who you are, Hawkmoth. "You know son, you remind me a lot of Cat Noir, and doesn't your friend Marinette remind you of Ladybug?" Before I close the door I stare hard at my father. "Things could have been different between us, but you choose to turn your back. Even Ladybug and Cat Noir tried to help, but you didn't listen."

Plagg helps me box up some of my most treasured possessions, but they all fit in one box. I stand in a massive foyer for a minute or so, but Father doesn't appear. Not like I expected him too.

I make my way to Marinette's, she recently got a little place, and I smile as I can hear music playing when I knock on the door. "Coming!" I hear her sweet voice call. "Cat!" she exclaims, looking at me and the box in my hands. "Is everything okay?" "May I come in, sweetheart?" "Yes, of course."

I set the box down in the living room to be dealt with later, then come back into the kitchen. As I enter the kitchen the scent of dough and yeast hit me and a memory resurfaces.

I walk into the kitchen, where Mother is baking bread after a difficult photo shoot. It was hard to smile today because I want friend, but I don't like disappointing my parents. "Tough day?" Mother asks, smiling at me with not only her mouth but with her eyes. I nod, sniffling. "I don't like disobeying you or Papa." "Oh, Adrien, we love you the way you are. Now, how about a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?" I nod, Mother knows this is my favorite snack. "Will you cut it in half, Mother, so we can share it?" "Of course."

I shake my head and walk over to Marinette wrapping my arms around her waist like she is a lifeline. "If you need to talk, talk when your ready. I'm here." I breathe in the fresh smell of dough and watch her small hands knead and shape it into a loaf. "I had to make a hard decision today," I tell her quietly, burying my face in her soft silky hair. She's quiet, but she's listening. "I had to cut ties with my father today, and I moved out. Now, I'm a stray kitty." "Your welcome here as long as you like. That must have been hard for you."

I play with a few strands of her hair. Its easier to talk with a distraction. "It should have been done long ago, Marinette. I guess I was just waiting to see if anything would change in our relationship."

I let go of her waist so she can put the dough in the oven and she sets the timer. Then she takes my hand. "Come on, you need a good cuddle."

I flop down on her bed and she shuts the door gently, crawling onto the bed and on top of me. She places a hand on my cheek and whispers, "Don't think. Feel."

I'm hungry for her soft lips, tasting like berries and sunshine, and I groan happily when she ruffles my hair with her fingers. "Your my happy place, you know that?" I tell her, my hands once again on her waist. "Oh? So, I'm as good as catnip?" her skilled fingers are massaging my chest and I have to take a breath, shifting slightly. "Your better then catnip." She giggles and taps my nose. "I'd better be." I free her hair from the ponytail holder. "You want to know why your better then catnip?" "No, tell me." "Because that's just a temporary fix. Your all the time." She blushes, hard. "How do you make me blush so easily?" she groans, burying her face in my chest. I chuckle. "Talent." She lifts her head. "I'll show you talent." She tugs at my belt, loosening it and I watch her intently. She takes it off and drops it to the floor. "Its not enough. Where's the blindfold?" "In the drawer," she smiles at me and at once I'm in the drawer, tying it around her eyes. "Plagg, Claws In."

Its a relief to drop most of my clothes and settle Marinette back on my lap. "I'm going to guide your hands, Cat." My heartbeat picks up a little as I find my hands on her bare stomach, loving the warm silky feeling and Marinette guides my hands higher brushing the fabric of her bra. "Cat."

I lay her down on a bed, and slip off. I laugh as I see her pout and pat at the bed. "Hey, where did you go?" "I'm right here."

Softly, I begin to nibble at her toes and Marinette arches her head back. She's wearing cute little shorts and suddenly I have an idea. I transform again. "Try not to kick me." "Why would-oh!"

I begin to lick her legs with my rough pink tongue, and Marinette calls out my name as she grips the sheets. When I get to her stomach, I take off her shirt, leaving her stomach bare. I continue to lick, loving all the noises she's making.

Its just us in the world, just her and me. I take the blindfold slowly. "That was hot," I whisper, pressing a kiss to her tummy. Just then, the timer beeps and I groan. "Relax, the bread has to cool. I'll be right back."

I flop back on the pillows, wiping the sweat from my brow. Its a hot day in Paris. "Maybe I should;t have baked bread today," she tells me. "Its hot in here." "Are you referring to meow?" She giggles.

We watch a movie, but I don't pay much attention to it, I mostly just enjoy having Marinette in my arms. I stroke her hand with my thumb, thinking how I'd like to claim her as my own and put a gold band on her finger. Marry her.

I fall asleep soon after, having peaceful dreams. Marinette wakes me sometime later for supper, and I go to bed right after. I keep my hands at her waist all night, protecting her and whispering sweet nothings in her ear until she falls asleep.

Though around midnight, I wake with a start. Something Father said about Marinette looking like Ladybug and me looking like Cat are triggering alarm bells. What is up to? Pleased I am for how easily he let me go, I thought would be much harder.

I make some hot chocolate, sitting down at the table waiting for the pan to bubble the smell of rich chocolate and cream heavy in the air. I detransform to check for messages, and my phone starts pinging away.

Suddenly, the world is devoid of color, for Father has taken all of my accounts, all my money. A simple text I read makes me want to Cataclysm my phone.

Father: You didn't think I still have power over you, didn't you?

Hot rage fills me, as I transform. "Cataclysm!" I shout, touching my phone and feeling the satisfaction as it crumbles into dust.

The light flips on and I have to blink to refocus in the harsh light. "Cat, you all right?" "He took everything from me, Marinette! And all these years, I have tried to be a perfect son and here he throws it back in my face."

Marinette reaches up to touch my cheek, and even if I want to jerk away from her gentle touch I let her touch me. "Cat, look at me. Look at me."

My eyes feel wild and feral, but I keep my eyes locked on Marinette, my north star. "He may have taken everything from you, expect for one thing. You didn't lose me."

I feel a tear trickle down my face. "You sound like Bugaboo." We hold each other, until Marinette jumps out of my arms and shuts off the burner just in time.

"When all this settles down, I'm teaching you to cook. Now, how about some midnight hot chocolate?"