Marinette daydreamed away as she raked more leaves into a pile. Ivan and Mylene had planned a "Clean-Up the Park Day" and Marinette had volunteered to clear the leaves away, now that it was autumn.
She just didn't realize how many leaves there were, and even though she didn't regret her decision, she was starting to think about hot chocolate and marshmallows.
Just keep raking, she told herself, you maybe have ten minutes left tops, and you'll feel so good after. Her self-pep talk gave her vigor, until Tikki flew out of her bag. "Marinette!" "Something wrong, Tikki?" "Look up to the rooftops. Do you see who I see?"
Marinette peered upwards, and groaned. Cat Noir was perched nearby, and even from here she could see the green gleam in his eye and the wiggling of his tail. I love him and all, but he's nothing but trouble at times. But would he really undo all her hard work?
Marinette was just moving to a new section when an explosion of leaves erupted all over her. She shrieked, holding her hands to her face until the leaves settled, some landing in her hair.
Then she saw a wiggling tail. A wiggling black tail. "Cat Noir!" A face surrounded by red, yellow, and orange leaves popped out, grinning. "Yes?" "I just spent the last hour raking! How could you?" Cat stood up, brushing leaves away. "Princess, haven't you heard? Leaf piles are meant to be jumped in."
"How come you have to be so naughty?" Cat gave her a green eyed wink, that sent her heart thudding. "Because I'm feline my kibble today?" Marinette couldn't help it, and she burst into giggles. She surprised him with a hug around his tummy. "I can't stay mad at you, your to cute." Cat wrapped his arms around her, holding her for a moment. "Princess, I must show how much fun leaf jumping is."
Cat held her hand as they walked a short distance from the pile, and begin to run. "Cannonball!" Cat yelled as they jumped together.
Marinette squealed in delight as she dived into the crunchy pile of leaves. They lay on the pile after, catching their breath and staring up at the clouds.
"That was fun. But your going to help me rake now." Cat nodded, a contented purring sound rising from his throat. Marinette shuffled a little in the leaves, touching Cat's hand gently, and they held hands staring up at the blue sky.
The world look different from a leaf pile, and Marinette could lay here all afternoon with Cat's hand wrapped around hers, on this cozy autumn afternoon.