Belatedly, Marinette awoke to the end of school. She yawned and peeked out from under a bush. Watching her classmates leave one by one. One more school day... wasted... yay.

"You're still here!" Adrien greeted her as he rounded the steps.

"Y- yep," she mewed in reply. Mesmerized by his blatant excitement to see her.

He took her, and stumbled forward when Chloé crashed into him. "Adrikins! What do you have there?" She eyed Marinette, and Marinette readied herself for the abuse.

"Cutie!" Chloé squealed, paralyzing Marinette from her gunshot frequency. "What breed is she? Something rare, I'm sure. We absolutely have to raise her in our new home together, it'll be perfect! Okay, Adrien?"

"Sorry, Chloé." He raised Marinette above and away. While she trusted Adrien, the height gripped her with a new unexpected terror. She flailed, forcing Adrien to hold her to his chest. Marinette closed her eyes and inhaled his intoxicating scent. "She's already got a home. I think. I'm going to print out lost posters for her owner."

"Aw." Chloé pouted. "Very well. I'll get Daddy on it immediately." She clicked open her phone.

Adrien backed away then picked up a faster pace to his limo.

"Adrien." Nathalie halted him.

His eyes fell before he turned a pleading look onto the woman. "Do you think we could keep her? Only... only for a little while. She's lost. I'll make posters."

"No pets. Monsieur Agreste's word is final." Nathalie curled her hands around Marinette, and she felt the fake nailed fingers digging uncomfortably into her sides. "We'll send it to the pound. If the owner truly wants it back, they'll find it there."

"But she's special!" Adrien tugged Nathalie's hand. Her grip loosened, and Marinette pushed free. Only sparing a short glance over her shoulder to feel Adrien's forlorn expression cutting into her heart before she scampered away.

Again, she found herself in the middle of the park. An old lady - a different old lady, mind - staring at her. Marinette resolutely stared back, mind whirring over the day's events. Adrien seemed so keen on keeping her. A less logical part of her wanted to live with him then and there.

Okay, future plans; scratch the hamster, he can have as many cats as he wishes. They'll get a home in the countryside with a house in the back dedicated to cats and he can roll and laugh with them all day long. No, not just cats, any pet he wants. Any pet in the world.

The old lady disappeared.

Marinette blinked.

No— she turned into a cat! An... old, sad, fragile cat, but still...

The akumatized cat from earlier paced the park bench above its most recent victim, the tan fur around its eyes blackened to resemble a butterfly.

Marinette hissed, "quit terrorizing the town!"

It gazed down at her. The natural condescension that all cats possess taking effect.

"Oh, you little." Marinette dashed for it.

It leapt away again, to the treetops, before lounging on a branch. Drawing out a long bored meooow.

Marinette flung herself against the bark, clawing up. "You'll regret this." She pulled her front paw back to reach further up, and groaned when her claws got stuck. "Come on!"

A low hiss met her ear and she looked up to see the cat with a paw poised for striking should she get close.

Marinette dropped. "Great. I'm useless."

With the sun setting soon, Marinette didn't want to think of where she'd be sleeping. The old lady cat at the bench had already fallen into a nap. It looked comfy enough...

She shook her head. Nope. The akuma watched her, waiting to strike on the first wrong move. She had to finish this.

...and whether or not Paris would begin walking on all fours relied on one black cat...

"If you ever need me, Bugaboo, I'm here every night."

The cat takes night walks, Marinette remembered. Not that she has the patience or time to do so as well, but he promised to visit one rooftop in particular just in case they ever needed each other outside of the mask. An emergency meet, and she thanked him over and over in her head for planning farther ahead than her.

If she were human it would be easy. Just pull the fire escape ladder down and go. But she's a cat, no, kitten. Marinette huffed as she scrambled for purchase atop a dumpster. Almost. The pads of her hind legs pawing the sides caught loose paint, helping her catapult up. She collapsed when she succeeded. Now. She glanced around the narrow alley. Windowsill. Uneven bricks. And the bottom of the fire escape staircase. She can do this.

She perched her hind legs against the plastic, mindful of its slick surface, she punctured her claws slightly into it for a good grip, and leapt. Perfect! She mewed and danced in place at the windowsill. The next promised to be an awkward angle. She stepped back before darting at the uneven brickwork. Her confidence may have been too much. She hung off the edge. Gritting her teeth as she clawed herself up onto the flat surface. When she could finally curl her legs under herself, she eyed the next destination, a nameless sixth sense sending chills up her spine. It's a bit far...

She looked down. Bad idea. Her eyes bulged and she looked straight up. She's a cat, she told herself, if she doesn't make it, she'll land on all fours and start over again.

Unless she breaks a leg.

How doomed would she be?

She gulped. Don't think.

Marinette poised herself for a pounce, eyes locked, and she jumped.

She breathlessly laughed. Marinette landed on her chin, but she made it! Her eyes traveled along the next challenge. Staircases.

Marinette dropped bonelessly at the top. Panting. Water. She needed water.

Or rest...

Marinette's eyes slid to a close.

A loud thump sent her onto all fours.

"What?!" she shouted.

"What?!" he yelped.

Marinette's shoulders sagged in relief. Chat Noir! Finally!

"Chat!" She meowed. "Listen. There's an akuma-"

"It's you!" he breathed in awe.

She swayed from paw to paw. "Well. Yeah?"

"I knew you were special!" He held a hand out and she went to him. Chat scooped her into his arms and nuzzled his chin into her head. "Your fur is so soft!"

Is he purring?

"Chat," she growled. "There's an akuma."

"That's so weird." Chat held her far enough away to give her a once over. "You meow like you're talking."

Marinette's face fell. "You can't... understand me..?"

He frowned. Then glanced back and forth because yeah, people watch rooftops in Paris all the time. He tucked Marinette under his arm and catapulted away. "You'll love it at my place!" He told her. "My Kwami's a cat too, you two have to get along!"

"Your place?!" She screeched. As he ran across a long rooftop she bit harshly into his leather. Her fangs ached before she got a reaction.

"Ow!" He didn't drop her, but did swing his arm enough for her to jump free.

Marinette dashed a good distance, wondering how to get down, when he rushed to her side.

"Back off!" she hissed.

He recoiled, leather ears folding back as he asked in a small voice, "what's gotten into you?"

Shame coursed through her, making her ears do much of the same.

"Sorry." A low pathetic mew. "But I can't go home with-." She rolled her eyes. What good is talking going to do?

Suddenly they were airborne again.

"Are you going to be good?" Chat asked, now holding her in a firm lock.

"No," Marinette murmured.

"Good."

She huffed.