"See you guys tomorrow!" Marinette called, hoisting her book bag onto her shoulder. "Marinette, home's that way. Why are we heading away from it?" Nikki, her Kwami, asked.
Marinette sighed, shivering as a cold gust of wind blew around her pigtails. "Because at home, I get lonesome and if I stay active that doesn't happen. Besides, I'm in a mood for a walk."
It wasn't their fault, Marinette argued with herself. So, her friends were always at fencing practice as they might make it to the championships this year. But she still missed them.
It was a cloudy day in Paris, and even in the early afternoon it was already starting to get dark. Marinette walked to her favorite park, opening the iron gate and going through. Even the park felt like a ghost town and she could hear the leaves rattling on the trees. She stared at a particular set of leaves, as the wind tried to blow them off. Two of leaves fell, doing their spiral dance towards earth, but one still remained for it was a fighter. Marinette sat down to sketch the leaves, maybe should could make a leaf dress.
Marinette lost herself in her work, her mind temporarily taking a break from her lonesome thoughts. "Marinette, I think we should get home now. You don't want your parents worrying, do you?"
Marinette looked up in surprise. All the park streetlamps had clicked on, and how had it become that dark? "Thanks, Nikki. If we hurry, maybe they won't miss us." Marinette hastily gathered her things.
"I could walk you home, if you like," a voice said. Marinette looked around, but no one was there. "Up here, Princess."
Marinette looked up, smiling, as she spotted Cat Noir, on one of the lamps. "Cat! What are you doing out?" "Oh, just doing a solo patrol. And I was lonesome, so I wanted to get out of the house." Cat got lonesome? Huh. He always seemed so happy, it was hard to think him getting sad. "That's why I'm out too. Sitting at home just made me miss my friends even more."
Marinette watched a leaf blowing in the wind. The seasons were changing, so maybe she should have a change too. "Cat, would you like to hang out sometime? Maybe tomorrow, after school?" "I'd love that, Princess. But now I need to escort you home, before your parents worry."
"So, who are these friends your missing anyway?" Cat asked, making conversation. "Adrien, Kagami, and Felix. They have fencing nearly every day till the competition…." Marinette told Cat about her friends as they walked home.
"I'm sure they'll make time for you when they get a chance," Cat said, as they rounded the corner where the warm lights of the bakery spilled out. "From what I've heard of your friends, your a very special girl."
Marinette blushed, despite the cold. "Well, I should get home, Marinette. But I'll see you tomorrow."
Marinette watched him as he ran into the darkness. At least she would see him as Ladybug in a few hours for patrol, but it wasn't the same.
Cat dashed towards home, hoping his father wouldn't notice his late absent. But he was excited about hanging out with Marinette.