The camera zoomed out. Howl and Sophie shared a kiss, and Howl's newly rebuilt castle flew into the distance. Chat Noir sniffed back a few tears.
"So," he started, voice still trembling. "What did you think?"
Marinette nodded. "It was good." She clicked her computer mouse and the video froze. "My Neighbor Totoro is still better."
His eyes grew wide. "Wha?" He gestured both hands towards her monitor. "Howl's Moving Castle is a freaking masterpiece!"
"It's anime Beauty and the Beast," she dismissed. "Totoro is at least original!"
He stood as she pulled the disc form her computer and planted his fists on his hips, clearly offended. "Next you're gonna say Princess Mononoke is just anime Pocahontas!"
Silence.
"Really, Princess?" He now sounded less offended and more disappointed.
"What?" she responded, the disc now back in its case and back in Chat's claws. "Charismatic female lead aligned with the natives, antagonist destroying the land in search of a valuable mineral, male lead who bridges both worlds..."
He shook a finger at her. "Oh, I know you're not comparing Ashitaka to friggin John Smith."
Chat began to lecture her on how Lady Eboshi was superior to Governor Radcliffe in every way, and Marinette plucked something off of her desk, though Chat couldn't see what it was. He paced her room, still ranting, and Marinette pointed the small device at her floor. A barely visible red line shot from the device and produced a glowing dot on her carpet. Chat stopped pacing, stopped ranting, and dropped his gaze to the floor. She swept the laser pointer to the side and his eyes followed.
"What are you doing?" he asked, his eyes never leaving the dot.
"Changing the subject." Marinette giggled when he crouched down on all fours. "And seeing how much of a cat you really are."
"Princess, stop it." His eyes darted right. "Seriously, stop it!" Around in circles, then to the wall across form him. "It's...mocking me...no!" He shook his head and sat on his hands. "Come on, Chat. You can do this. You're stronger than this." He turned his head away from the dot.
Marinette brought the dot right next to him and wiggled the pointer. No reaction. She moved it up onto his knee. She could see him bite his lips, sweat beginning to glisten on his cheeks, yet he still kept his eyes averted. She aimed the pointer at the far wall pressed the button once more. His eyes widened such that they may pop out of his head and locked onto the dot. The dot swayed back and forth before him. Left. Right.
"Mari I thought we were friends." Left. Right.
"We are," she smirked. "Cranky kitty seems like he needs some play time." Left. Right.
He spoke through gritted teeth. "Kitty is only cranky because a certain Princess," he almost spat the word, "dares to compare the genius of Hayao Miyazaki to come here!"
He pounced. His claws scratched at her wall yet didn't leave a mark. He chased the light under her desk, across her chaise, and beneath the ladder leading to her bed. He paused in the middle of the floor and swatted at the light, turning in circles as Marinette aimed the pointer just out of his reach. After a couple minutes of this, Chat lay on his back, out of breath, with Marinette leaning over him, a captivating feline grin on her face.
"See?" She sat down beside him and brought a hand up to scratch behind the leather ears atop his head. "Was it so bad to let your inner cat play for a while?"
"Y-you know, Princess," Chat stammered through his own grin, "I think you're right. I needed that."
Marinette tilted her head. "Why would you need to play?"
Chat lifted his head and opened his mouth to answer, closed it, then let his head fall back to the floor and sighed. "When...when I'm not wearing this mask, I have to deal with a lot of unrealistic expectations from my father. Everything is scheduled, everything is regimented. Controlled. Sometimes I feel like I can only have fun and do what I want when I'm Chat Noir. So," he looked up into Marinette's eyes, "I really appreciate you letting me visit. Other than Ladybug, you're really the only friend I have on this side of my life."
Marinette's heart warmed and soft tears pricked at her eyes. She leaned down, brushed his unruly hair aside, and placed a gentle kiss against his forehead. "You can come over and play anytime, chaton."
A crimson blush ignited his face. He smiled at her, Marinette, his friend, and breathed deep. He felt so at ease, so comfortable, so...welcome.
"You know, I have an empty box, if you want to sit in it."
His grin disappeared and he poked a finger into her face. "Don't tempt me."
They stared at each other for a moment, each daring the other to crack. Marinette broke first and laughed deep, but not too loud as to wake her parents. Chat soon joined her, laughing, smiling, and thanking the powers that be for giving the unluckiest cat in Paris a friend.