Chapter Text
_meow_
It was a sunny day in Paris, when people down on the streets looked up in puzzlement, for there was their favourite cat hero jumping from rooftop to rooftop... holding a portable mini fridge tightly in his hand. Where did he get if from and what purpose did it serve for him - no one knew. But as quickly as he got spotted, he disappeared in an unknown direction just as fast. The day continued without any more abnormalities.
_meow_
"At night, Chat Noir! We agreed we'd start bringing the stuff here at night, so no one would have seen! Someone could have followed you, did you see anything?"
Pacing on the cheap carpet, Ladybug started her rant on Chat Noir. Her tone went from accusatory to concerned in a matter of seconds, and her partner could just sigh and smile apologetically, shaking his head. She accepted the expression and smiled back, relieved. They were like that - knowing each other, accepting a lot of flaws and forgiving small mistakes. They quickly discovered that their partnership demanded this sort of connection and shared way of thinking.
That's why one night they both had jumped on the simple suggestion that they should find themselves a place outside their respective homes, where they could meet, plan and perhaps rest somewhere in between.
_meow_
"A hideout?" - Ladybug asked, raising her masked brows at her partner, however, humor sparked the blues of her eyes.
"Yeah, you know, we're superheroes, don't we need a base or something like that?" Chat shrugged, but his expression was hopeful, playful in the most innocent ways and he watched the red heroine with the corner of his warm greens. "All heroes have them, don't you read comics? Why can't we have something?"
She snorted, a smile curving her mouth. "You're a nerd." And before the cat could have answered with something like "But I'm your nerd", she added, turning her gaze toward the bright streets of Paris under the starlight: "But I'll have you know, I thought about that, actually."
"Really!?"
Oh gosh, he's adorab-
"Yes" - she cut herself from her thoughts. "A place like this could be really useful. But no, no underground complexes..."
"Or big towers in the middle of the sea, right? Got it!" He finger-gunned and winked. She laughed. Warm and bubbly. He laughed cheerfully with her. It was just so easy. So easy with him. Together.
As friends.
"So... How do we do it?"
_meow_
It was their patrol night, so Chat Noir war running on rooftops with his feline grace and quick feet, but he was alone. They decided for their "base" to look for either an abandoned attic in some old blocks buildings, or just search the internet for lofts to rent (quietly hoping that their reputation as superheroes could have some effect on the money they would have to put on the idea)(Adrien remained silent on his financial situation; he decided to speak of it when they actually found what they needed, not to sound like a rich jerk that he definitely wasn't).
The first plan was on Chat's shoulders, because his stealth and night vision was most effective for the job, jumping from a building to building and sneakily peek into the highest windows. Ladybug, with her multitasking and analytic mind, stayed back, wherever she lived and got to work on finding a good offer online. She was transformed, though, as to stay in touch via their communicators.
_meow_
There weren't many stars that night and the area Chat was running around didn't have that much of street lights either. He could remain unnoticed even better in such conditions, so he jumped from one roof to the other with ease and freedom - with everything he loved having. Except for Ladybug at his side, of course. But she was there with him, somewhere in Paris in her room, transformed and waiting for some kind of report. The night was good.
He was excitedly looking for the place. Their place. Sure enough, focused and ready, but still, the lightness and the feeling of newness gave him some pleasant kicks to run about even till late hours. He loved it.
So far, without much luck. Of course, you have no luck, black-cat-boy. Lots of places were already occupied, with neatly stocked items, kids toys and seasonal decorations. Others were dilapidated; crumbling messes, cluttered with junk and full of dust. There were pigeons' kingdoms which Chat had to literally escape from and lay down somewhere safe for his coughing and sneezing fits to lessen. Stupid birds.
From one attic he heard sounds of beating and distressed female voice, so, naturally, his hero instincts kicked in and he perched on the windowsill to inspect the situation. Once he was close, the voices increased and appeared more desperate with whimpering and silent pleas. Just as he began opening the stained window to barge in and stop any violence that apparently was occurring, he froze, catching the sight of tangled naked bodies moving in harmonized rhythm. Distressed voices were actually moans of pleasure and swears and yeses were thrown here and there accompanied by hoarse deep breathing.
Chat suddenly lost his footing and fell back, but with only one thing in mind at that moment: get away get away get - he quickly scrambled and vaulted away as fast as he could, and jumped and ran, feeling hot and embarrassed, and so wrong.
That was IT for the night.
_me-ow_
They exchanged the news the next evening.
"You saw WHAT?"
"Uh, people... doing... having sse---fun? Apparently? I don't know, I didn't stop to ask! And... Ladybug, could you STOP LAUGHING AT ME?"
She couldn't. She couldn't stop feeling embarrassed with her partner, but she also didn't know how else to react, so she laughed, because the situation was... SO laughable, and comical, and just silly. And Chat's tomato-red face wasn't helping in easing the laughter either.
"I'm--I'm so-ha ha!-sorry! It's just... Oh gosh, Chat! Did they see you?"
"I- I HOPE NOT! OH geez...What if they did? Wh-What should I do? Should... Should I go there and apologize?"
Ladybug began laughing again. Wheezing. Ladybug, the amazing hero of Paris wheezing with laughter. Grabbing her stomach, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. Barely catching her breath. Although a little offended, Chat Noir couldn't not find the sight so cute. And the situation really was so absurd. Embarrassing, but so hilarious, indeed. He couldn't help and cracked a giggle alongside his partner. They looked at each other for a moment, faces twisted and cheeks flushed. The world stopped just for a fraction. And then they both burst out laughing again.
_meow_
The next night the cat hero took a tour in the opposite direction of that unfortunate area. He jumped and climbed and vaulted, being very wary about the sounds he might hear. All attempts in finding a perfect place were concluded similarly as previously - taken, cluttered, nested, falling apart.
After an hour or so of running in circles, dishearten, Chat took a break and perched on top of one of the old buildings he wasn't in the mood to inspect anymore. It was quiet. A weak twinkle of stars shone somewhere above. He yawned, stretching widely and felt like he should probably head back and call it a night.
Speaking of calling, his baton dinged and Chat's spirits upped a little, for there was only one person who could reach him via that device. His favourite person.
"Hey, Bug." - he greeted in a gentle voice. It was so late.
"Hey yourself, Cat" - Ladybug replied just as tiredly. Chat noted how nice, although weary, her voice sounded, soft. - "Any progress?"
"Not on my part. Everywhere's the same." - he sighed. - "I think I'm going to fall into an allergic shock from all those pigeons nests I came across".
For a good measure, he sniffed and dramatically coughed, hoping that his partner would catch the playfulness, or just to lift her spirit. But at this time, he didn't have to put much effort, because she already gifted him with her sweet, though muffled, giggle.
"Poor kitty. I guess you didn't c o m e a c r o s s anything more shocking, huh?". She giggled more and Chat realized in a flash what she was referring to, and immediately felt his face warming at the memory.
"Ladybug!" - he hissed, though he couldn't find it in himself to be mad at her. Slightly inconvenienced, yes, but not mad. Never. - "Please, stop reminding me!". With her much quieter okays and I'm-goods, Chat sighed again and went back on the subject: "How about you? Found anything?"
A sigh.
"Nothing worth mentioning. Well, there was one little loft to rent, but... Uh, nevermind. It was too expensive."
No talking about money. Not now. She says it was expensive, so no digging.
Chat scraped at some dirt on his boots, thinking. A light wind rustled the leaves on an old looking tree growing just next to the building; its highest branches reaching the spot on the roof on which the hero was sitting. The breeze smelled and felt nice.
"I really wanted to find something, you know." - his voice delicate, as if he was scared of talking about this out loud. As if Ladybug could feel the deeper meaning of his dejected mood and scold him for it. To his surprise, he heard her hum and speak with understanding.
"I know. But hey, don't give up! It's not like we need it right now-now, and Paris has lots of places like we'd like to find. Just because we haven't yet, doesn't mean we'll never, kitty. Besides, it's only been like four days. People sometimes search longer for places to live in."
He smiled, taking a moment for her words to sink in. He'd never get tired of hearing her speak, of her encouraging words and soft tone. He almost kicked himself for ever thinking that she could have said to him anything less assuring and heartening.
"Thanks. I guess I got a little too..." - he couldn't finish. It wasn't really a place to be so... into finding that much. Just, wasn't.
"Excited?"
He gulped. Maybe it was because of the late hours, but her voice really got an impression on him that she was much sweeter and tender than usual. They really needed to talk like this more often.
"Yeah, I... " - just then he felt something brush on his side and he jumped, gasping quietly, scanning the place next to him. He was met with two bright green eyes, that were so similar to his own, and they didn't belong to his kwami. He exhaled a breath.
"Chat? What is it?"
"A cat. - he reached and let the feline beside him sniff at his hand, then it rubbed its little head against the leather of his suit. - Hey little guy, uh, lass."
The cat meowed and purred.
"Seriously, Chat, you got sneaked on big time." - Ladybug replied with a hint of humor - "Say bye to your new friend, I think we're done for today...- a yawn - For tonight."
"I.. Hey, wait! LB?"
"Uh, yeah?"
"I think the kitty wants to show me something..."
Indeed, the new friend walked away a bit, then turned to look at Chat, meowing and rushed away a pounce or two. Then turned again, expectantly.
"I can hear she's really persuasive. Go on your little adventure Cat Noir."
"An adventure indeed, but, hey, Ladybug! Are you there?"
"Ugh, it's so late, Kitty."
"Please stay with me a little longer, I have a good feeling about this."
He didn't pun. Let Ladybug know he's serious. He took an ear plug from his communicator and put away the baton in its place. Yes, a pang of an adventure crawled his skin, as he stalked and jumped after the little kitty.
Down the rooftop, to the perch. Then to the front wall, where the tree grew. The cat jumped on one of thickest branches. Chat Noir followed, trying to keep the animal in sight. When it pounced once more along the branch and disappeared, superhero hesitated.
"L.B. to C.N. Please report." - the plug in his ear pinged. Ladybug really whined at this point and Chat felt bad for keeping her up without any good reason.
"I... I'm on a tree. - he began cautiously. - The cat led me to a... Oh, wait, there's a window!"
"Yhym..."
Really, where the branch reached the wall, there was a ledge glued to a wooden frame divided in six, where one of the glasses was broken.
That must be where the cat vanished!
So Chat moved near the frame, tried working it open. It loosened and he could jump inside.
That was... exciting!
Once in, he saw some stuff near his legs, so he maneuvered around it, really hoping it wasn't one of those cluttered attics.
"Ladybug, I'm inside some attic. It's quiet, I'm gonna check it real quick... Hey, if you fall asleep now I won't contact you!"
Some barely audible groans answered him. Then he heard rustling of some material. Was she in bed ..?
"Y-yeah, I'm here...Where were you again?"
"The cat led me to an attic, I'm there now and, you know what... It really looks okay. Ladybug, it's... It's good! Spacey, with divided areas, and... oh, crap!" He gasped. The sound subdued, but it sobered Ladybug immediately.
"What's that, Chat?"
Silence. Some indistinct sounds somewhere in the background. Then Chat let out a squeak that really didn't sound like himself at all.
"Chat? Chat Noir you've found the place? Really? What was that noise?"
"It's a litter." - a whisper.
"A little what?"
"A litter. - Chat repeated - Of kittens. The cat led me to her litter."
"Congratulations, you're a father."
The cat hero tried not thinking much into the word father. Instead, he crouched on all fours and observed the animals. Four little cubs and a mom. They were tiny, about Plagg's size. And barely covered in some puffs of fur.
Little kwamis of adorableness.
Mom-cat was licking one of the tiny heads. Something was wrong though, so Chat hunched lower and... he felt his heart shatter.
Four little kittens. But only three of them moving.
He swallowed the sudden tears. Huh? Tears? He'd seen these balls of fur for less than a minute and...
"How are your kids, Chat?"
Oh, wow, it actually hurts.
"They are so small, Ladybug. " - he heard himself whisper hoarsely. He refused to inform her about... that one. So he swallowed once more and decided to speak: "It's okay, M'lady. I've found a good place. I'll... take care of... the little ones. You can go to sleep now."
"You okay? You sound a little... touched."
She sensed his mood. Of course she felt like something was wrong. Half conscious, on the other side of town, probably, she still could decipher how he felt. Chat couldn't decide if this made him love her more, or be scared.
"It's fine. Go to sleep. I got it."
It took a few heartbeats for her to respond, and he knew, she didn't buy it.
"If you say so. See you tomorrow, then. You'll show me the place and introduce me, hm?"
"Yeah, tomorrow."
"Take care, Kitty. Good night."
She was still on the line for a longer moment. Chat, keeping his eyes on the unmoving kitten, stiffed a whine that threatened to spill from his throat.
"Sweet dreams, bug."
_meow_
It was a warm night in Paris, when, at two in the morning, people in one of the round-the-clock convenient stores looked up in tired puzzlement, when their favourite cat hero jumped in and asked in emergency for a bottle of milk, a tin of fish and a wheel of camembert, swearing on Ladybug's life that he'd come back the next day to pay for the products. They could only guess what purpose these things served him. Then, as quickly as he got in, he disappeared in an unknown direction just as fast. The night continued without any more abnormalities.
For those who wonder what Papa Chat did with the kitten, :(
