Marinette kept her eyes closed for the rest of the trip. If she doesn't know how to get there, and she never looks up, she'll have no idea who he is. Simple as that.
His boots tapped against hard tile. The moment of truth.
"Home swe—" Chat clicked his tongue. "Well, it's home."
When he set her down she didn't hesitate. Marinette locked her eyes onto the first dark space she could find, and ran. Under his bed. Dimly she was aware of his detransformation; a flurry of green sparks.
She crept to the darkest end, curled over her paws, wrapped her tail tight against her body, and waited.
He'd leave eventually, and she could find a way to escape. Traveling the streets of Paris in a cat body is already bad enough to get her lost. From the angle of a cat, she reasoned, she'd never be able to return here as a human once she found her way home. Or she's being stupidly optimistic. She groaned, but it sounded more like a pitiful mew.
"There you are." Chat happily proclaimed. A hand - a bare hand - wrapped around her paw. She batted at it till it receded.
"What are you doing?" A higher, unamused voice asked.
"Plagg, be nice."
"My stomach dictates my behavior, I don't make the rules."
...
"Ouu, Camembert~"
"Can you get her out from under my bed?"
Given a minute, something tapped her nose. She sneezed, and met a pair of bright green eyes she's only ever associated with Chat and alley cats.
Marinette squeaked, and hid again.
"Please go away," she told him.
"Alright, fine," he voiced flippantly. "It's not me that cares anyway, but you're making my boy upset."
She gasped, voice almost a whisper, "you understand me?"
"Cat's have a sophisticated tongue," he conceded. "And yours—" he halted abruptly. "You're not a cat." He was gone before she could snap, no duh. "Ad- Chat, you can't keep the kitten."
"Not you too!" he whined.
"No, I mean, no one can keep the kitten. She's her own kitten."
"What does that mean?"
"It's Ladybug for starters."
"A little Ladybug, yeah, you were there when they threw around the nickname."
"No, the kitten is Ladybug. I can sense it." He abruptly snickered. "You kidnapped Ladybug! Oh man, if this isn't some twisted dream come true."
"An akuma," she meowed. "No one's noticed it yet since it's like a cat. I was scratched, and, well..."
"She says an akuma did her in," Plagg translated.
Chat gasped. "Wait," he whispered, like her super cat hearing wouldn't pick it up. "The kitten?"
"Uh-huh."
"Under my bed... is Ladybug?"
"Yeah."
"Ladybug's a kitten?"
"Right-o. Are we done? I can smell more Camembert calling me."
"Ladybug?" Chat called tentatively.
"Chat," Marinette meowed more firmly.
"Oh no," his words sounded muffled. "I'm so sorry."
"You idiot," she keened.
"She says you're forgiven," Plagg told him from a distance.
Marinette growled.
"Okay, she insulted you."
"That's her." She's never heard Chat's voice quiver more. "Oh no, that's definitely her. Plagg!" He called urgently. "WhatdoIdo?!"
"Romantic evening for two?"
"Plagg!"
Note to self, Marinette nodded, Plagg is the actual romantic tease of the two.
"It's not like she can go home," and Plagg said; more audibly for her, "right, Ladybug?"
Her parents lock everything up tight after dark, that's true, but he can't... know that.
"You were technically kicked out this morning," she could hear Plagg grinning, his voice just outside her hiding spot. "No pets, isn't that right, M—"
Marinette pounced Plagg. "Don't. You. Dare!"
He grinned under her paws on his tiny chest, blowing a breath that rattled her whiskers as he purred the word, "feisty."
"Ladybug!" She looked up —and short circuited. Adrien! He'd paused, one hand over them, with a face she could only label as terrified. Adrien who held her close. Fed her. Stroked her fur. Catnapped her - twice - and now she's-
"Uncomfortable," Plagg grumbled.
Marinette scrambled away. "Sorry!"
When Marinette fell onto her bum she curled her tail around, staring in a daze at him. Chat... Chat Noir's always been so reliable— flirtatious, but kind. If she's being honest, Adrien being Chat couldn't be more... perfect.
"You're purring," Plagg snickered.
She swatted him.
Adrien rubbed the back of his neck. "Um, LB, are you okay staying the night?" He held his hands up, backtracking. "No. I'll go look for the akuma. We'll fix this tonight, I promise. Plagg—"
"Wait!" Ladybug mewed.
"Uh... Plagg?" Adrien's eyes darted from her to Plagg, who took to sitting on her head. Not that she noticed till now.
"The victim's a cat," Marinette plowed through her emotions to get the point across. "It's going to be difficult to spot one cat in all of Paris at night." Her tail whipped left and right at the thought. "I got close twice, but I can't do anything like this."
"...so she says," Plagg smirked around a piece of camembert when he finished the translation.
"Okay," Adrien agreed quietly. He eyed the upstairs and she wondered fleetingly if he was actually trying to run away. "Oh!" His eyes widened. "My name's Adrien Agreste. It's, uh, nice to meet you." He gestured about her. "Kinda."
Marinette bowed courteously, unsure of how to tell him she does know him without giving herself away. He can't see her furious blush, and for once, thank Kwami she's a cat.
Adrien stood there, exuding anxiety. So against her better judgement, Marinette padded over. She circled him before brushing her head against his leg and mewing.
"This is way more than I expected when I decided I wanted a cat," Adrien admitted.
She purred— what would have been a laugh.
Adrien hid his face in his hands. "You're purring and it's honestly the cutest thing I've ever witnessed. I purr too as Chat, but that's normal by now."
Her tail jolted. She's what? She's cute? She wanted to hear him purr too. Her tail clung greedily to him as she circled and nudged him with affection.
Plagg broke into a full on guffaw. "I-I can't! This is too— pfft! HAHAHA!"
Marinette tried to glare at Plagg, but was too glazed over from Adrien to succeed.
"Plagg..." Adrien reprimanded.
Then Adrien looked at her. Her tail twitched nervously as he leaned down to near eye level. Okay, she decided, it was easier to give attention than it is to take it. She willed her paws to stay nailed in place. Her eyes trained on a crack in the tile. His face was almost as red as hers would have been, but he's grinning. She couldn't decipher what that meant, and that little nook under his bed looks way too inviting.
"My Lady."
She shivered.
"Plagg," Adrien stood up. "One-sided conversations can't get us far." He bit his lip and walked to the desk Plagg lounged on. A wake-up-call that hit her like ice. Ladybug is trapped with Chat Noir. And he's the one who want's to ask questions.
"You are the expert on that," he shot back.
Marinette was torn between trailing after Adrien's heels, and running away. She sniffed the room. It is huge; and Adrien's. Why not shamelessly explore before facing the consequences?
She hopped up a circular staircase. Taking a breather three steps up. If she never climbs stairs again after this, it will be too soon.
Adrien caught her mid-hop on the fourth step. "That's dangerous."
"I'm Ladybug!" she retorted.
"And I'm Chat Noir." He smirked. She gulped.
"Wow," Plagg whistled from Adrien's shoulder. "One-in-one, how'd you understand her?"
"I didn't, I just know her temper."
She squirmed, suddenly understanding Manon's temperament. He released with a laugh and said, "At the very least, I'll check out the news and see if anyone's reported anything on this akuma."
She decided to try the stairs again. Plagg sat five steps ahead of her every time she scaled up. Seemingly bored. Till she tried to pounce him. Then he grinned and floated leisurely out of her way. She gave chase when they reached the second story, running past Adrien's miles of novels to catch that mouse of a cat.
The door creaked open. Nathalie called, "Adrien."
Adrien desperately searched the room for Marinette. "A-a minute!"
But Nathalie was already in.
Marinette peered down through the glass barrier at Nathalie. Tail swishing in memory of her brutish handling of her earlier. Plagg pushed her mindlessly thrashing tail down to keep her hidden.
Nathalie pulled a pen from her tablet, waiting at the ready. "Dinner?"
Adrien had a hard time keeping focused. He went to the couch. "Um, fish?"
"Okay."
Under the bed. "Some more camembert."
"Okay."
"And another helping of fish?" he asked his washroom.
"Adrien."
"I skipped lunch, ask the chef. Please?"
She sighed. "Okay."
"Liar," Marinette chuckled. Adrien dined on her delectable dumplings that afternoon. He's trained in the art of Chat's lies.
"Thank you."
When the door shut she planned to watch Adrien squirm. It's a coliseum of a room, how long would he look for his shrunken lady? She repressed a giggle. But then Plagg, somehow predicting her plottings, yanked Marinette's tail. She yelped.
"Plagg!" She growled after him.
"When did you-?" Adrien gasped looking upwards. "Plagg, no!"
Plagg darted through the open guardrail, hovering between two traffic cones ahead of the walkway. "Na naa na na naaa." He blew a raspberry at her.
She bared her fangs and leapt at him. "You!" The threat died in her throat when her stomach bumped its way up past her voice. She dropped. From the second floor in a world that's always-too-big. Her tail flailed and she landed right-side-up on the skating ramp, momentum draining as she slid down the slope of the ramp to a stop at the tile floor. Her knees wobbled, and caved. She plopped onto her stomach.
"Are you okay?" Slowly, the picture of Adrien fussing overhead went black.
"Eat."
"I lost my appetite."
"Worried sick?" Plagg teased.
"This is all your fault!"
"She's in shock," his tone dripped with carelessness. "She'll get over it. She's Ladybug."
"But she's a cat right now," he grumbled.
Marinette shot up. Soft fabric beneath her paws took most of the strength from her jump, and kept her from flinging herself back.
Adrien's mouth dropped uselessly so Plagg gave a jovial wave. "Yo!" He swallowed a mouthful of cheese. Bringing attention to the plates sitting before each of them. "You fainted."
Marinette rubbed her paws up and down her muzzle, moaning.
"There's dinner," Adrien offered a plate of baked fish. "If you're feeling up to it."
She poked her nose at the smell and purred. Heavenly! The baked fish sat dwarfed in the center of a massive plate. Her stomach growled. But... Adrien. The way she eats in this form isn't refined, and to be blunt; unladylike.
She set her nose to the plate, eyeing him over the rim. Adrien stared. Cataloguing her every move, all starry-eyed, and eager. A fork hung from his small hopeful smile. "I hope you like it! I don't know what you're accustomed to eating, but the food I eat is usually tasty. Plus, Father's not here, so we can eat in bed."
Plagg scoffed. "Usually, he says." He whispered conspiratorially, "he's brainwashed into being a health nut."
She swatted Plaggs tiny face into the sheets.
"You're awfully protective of him," Plagg grumbled into the fabric.
She ignored him and bit into her fish, then promptly fizzled into a puddle of purrs.
"This is so good!"
"And there you have it," Plagg announced. "Feed a cat and it'll keep coming back. She's yours now kid."
Adrien flushed. "Plagg!"
Ladybug paid no mind. She'd be returning with or without the promise of food, it's Adrien.
Once she finished, she plopped in place. The day's excursions caught up fast once she allowed herself a moment to relax. She yawned, and Adrien admired her mouth full of fangs.
"Guess it's time to turn in," Adrien announced as he turned off the lights.
Plagg swooped onto the pillow next to Adrien. He made a shooing motion at Marinette. "Make sure you keep to your side of the bed."
She upturned her nose. As if she has the mental steel to sleep that close to Adriens beautiful face and live. She jolted at the sudden pressure to her back. Adrien caressed her fur, earning an eager pur in response.
"Good night, M'lady."
Once he covered up, her soul sucked back into her earthly body. And she rolled around the blankets in heartfluttering glee. Adrien told her goodnight. Adrien, whos bed she's sleeping in. Adrien… who…
Marinette passed out.
Marinette woke fully rested. She stretched, claws extending as she put her front paws forward. Her back arched up, tail wiggling in the air. Ready to take on the day. Her ears flicked to a snickering before she registered it as Plaggs.
"What are you laughing at?" She asked, unamused.
"It's three AM," he announced with nearly overflowing glee.
Bathed in moonlight, Adrien's room appeared as clear as day. Every detail glew to life, she could see all the nooks and crannies, dulled in color, yet so visible.
"But everything's so clear."
Plagg crossed his arms, preening as he told her, "you're a cat now, duh." He motioned as if checking his nails. "A superior being compared to humans."
Marinette gasped, squeezing the cover as she flexed her paws. "Night vision!"
"Yes, you can see in the dark, it's cool, I should— gah! Don't pounce me!"
She giggled.
A click click click drew her ears in. She jumped up to Adriens desk. The pens in a pen holder jumbled around, Marinette peeked inside and out jumped a tiny gecko, it scurried to the ground. Marinette followed, eyes slits as she tracked its every move
Plagg plopped between her ears. "What are you lookin' at?"
She flexed her claws. "Lizard."
"Oh." He watched them a beat. "Don't do it."
"I'm not, it's just..." She kneaded the ground, teasing her claws against its surface. "Tempting."
Plagg sprawled over her head. "Ahh, cat naps. Adrien doesn't understand how we can't do a full eight hours. It's unnatural. Then he tries to keep me up all day. so tiring," he complained.
Marinette knew in her whiskers that she could power through the starry sky before sleeping again with nothing to do.
"Here, kitty, kitty," Plagg beckoned. He swung a skinny black rod attached to a string dangling a cluster of feathers.
"Ohhh!" The need to expel her feline reserves swung her into a nosedive at his antics, despite his cackling. She pawed for the feather toy. Catching it in her claws before he yanked it away. Suddenly enthralled, she pounced for Plagg.
He flew a circle and kicked her ear, coming down from a laughing fit. "Gotta be better than that, buttercup." Marinette tested the maneuverability of her tail, wrapping it around him. "Cute." Plagg easily slipped out, floating up. Marinette wasted no time at his departure, leaping at her prey. She caught him, pinning the kwami of destruction under the pads of her paws. "You don't want this battle, trust me," he threatened.
"Losers talk," she challenged.
"You're going to regret that."
Marinette laughed, jumping off of him to dash away. Plagg zoomed past, yanking her tail, forcing her to twist around and swipe him.
A couple of hours later, Marinette passed out on the couch. A worn down Plagg sprawled over her belly, snoring into what remained of the night.
Marinette woke up with a start, her body weight suddenly shifted, and she fell from the couch.
"Ouuuuch!" She knocked her head on the tile. That, paired with just waking up, brought her to awareness very slowly. She groaned, curling her head between her knees.
"That has to hurt," Tikki swam into view, nibbling a cookie.
"Tikki," Marinette greeted. She rubbed her wounded head, blinking away the haze. Marinette's round, human head, with a human hand. "Gah!" She. "I'm human!" And that should have been a good thing.
"Relax," Tikki tapped her nose.
Marinette flung her arms to the couch pillow, scanning the area as if her eyes were tracing a swarm of bees, digging her nails into the vinyl. "But-! Adrien-!"
"Well." Tikki chucked the remainder of the cookie into her mouth. Resigned, she admitted, "Seeing that the circumstances are what they are... you may react however you see fit, if you must."
A plate slid into her view, pancakes, bacon, and eggs. "Plagg said y'all had the zoomies last night," Adrien couldn't quite face her. "I figured it best to let you sleep in."
"Adrien!" Marinette yelped. She looked at him for the longest second in recorded history. Then slammed her face under the couch cushions. "Meow!" She screeched.
Adrien sat on the couch cushion next to the one her head was under. Calmly, he informed her, "Tikki and Plagg agreed that Hawkmoth released the akuma on his own. No news reported on the akuma, so it's safe to say he couldn't control an animal like he can humans, and gave up."
Shielded from view she could pretend he's Chat, she's Ladybug, and this is all completely normal. Right??
"School starts soon," she could hear him looking at her.
She wondered when he would leave. If he would leave. She prayed for him to leave. Get a concussion. Minor memory loss.
"I could give you a ride."
Mercy.
"I liked her better when she was a cat," Plagg divested, stomping on her hiding cushion.
"Plagg," Adrien swatted him off.
"She's processing," Tikki knowingly said. "Or she's convinced herself that she's become the couch, and that this is all a funny dream."
No one said anything to that, but she could feel their collective eyes burning holes into what they could see of her body.
"Tikki," Marinette warbled.
"Yeah?"
"Spots on."
"Oh, Mari—" a disappointed Tikki zipped into her earrings.
And then it was Ladybug wedged into the couch cushions.
"That's an interesting sight," Plagg buzzed above her.
"Adrien?" Nathalie called.
They all startled.
Adrien hooked an arm around Ladybugs waist to hoist her up, flinging the cushion, he flipped her mid run. Cradled in his arms, she closed her eyes against his chest, inhaling his scent until her lungs were full of Adrien.
Adrien tossed her butt first into the bathroom, Plagg came close behind, dropping off her breakfast plate before he slammed the door.
"Ready?" Nathalie asked.
"Uh," Adrien fumbled. "For... for what?"
"School."
"Oh! I just need a couple of minutes."
"Okay," Her voice carried away. "We'll be leaving soon, don't take long."
"Yes ma'am," he replied.
Relieved to have not been questioned or investigated, Adrien opened the bathroom, and found an empty plate.