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“Hey, Bug, where’s the kid’s mask?” Plagg called out as he zipped from the loft bed in Marinette’s room.
“Is he asleep?” Marinette pulled the mask out from the drawer she’d come to call Chat’s in her desk. She held it out to Plagg as he reached her.
“Yeah, he’s pretty wiped.”
She glanced up at Chat’s sleeping form, her heart going out to him. She’d known his home life sucked, but she’d never seen him as worn out as he’d been lately. She couldn’t help but be worried about him.
She stayed put as Plagg took the mask and covered Chat’s face from her view.
Tikki emerged from her hiding spot when Plagg returned.
Marinette motioned them downstairs since her parents had long since gone to bed.
In the small kitchen, she pulled out a small plate and rummaged through the cabinets and fridge, taking out cookies and cheese for the two kwami to enjoy.
“Plagg, I know you can’t say much, but I have to know. Is he in danger at home? Is that why he’s always here?”
The black cat glanced at Tikki and saw the slight shake of her head. He disregarded her advice as he turned to Marinette. In a quiet voice, he said, “Not physically, no, but emotionally, yeah. He’s a broken kitten, Bug, and needs a good home. All he wants is love and freedom.”
“What do you want her to do? It’s not like she can tell him her identity, Plagg,” Tikki whispered-yelled at her counterpart. “She can’t just take him in like a stray.”
“Why not, Tik? You know he’d do far better here than where he is now. You’ve seen his father. He’s a nightmare on a good day.”
Marinette listened to them argue a few more moments before she said, “Enough. Tikki, I appreciate your concern, but I can’t ignore what’s going on with Chat anymore. He’s too important to me.”
“Do what you think is right, Marinette,” Tikki said quietly, knowing she wouldn’t sway the young woman this time. “I’ll go keep an eye on him while you two talk.”
They watched Tikki disappear up the trapdoor before Marinette turned back to Plagg.
“I’d rather Chat tell me his identity, but what else can you tell me?”
“Not much you don’t already know, Bug. He’s a good guy for all his faults, but who am I to judge? He gives me cheese any time I ask and even when I don’t. He hates the stuff, yet he’ll order me an entire box to keep me happy. Not many Chats before him were like that.” Plagg shrugged his tiny shoulders as he munched on one of the cheese danishes she’d gotten him.
“Do you think he’d stay here if I asked? I’d need to talk to my parents, but I’m sure they wouldn’t mind.”
Plagg stared at her with the best-deadpanned expression he could, saying, “He already lives here, Bug. All he’s missing is his clothes and some personal items.”
Marinette felt her cheeks redden as she considered the kwami’s words. While she loved Chat dearly, she hadn’t completely considered him living in her home before. She found she liked the idea more as she thought about it. Now, she just needed to convince Chat.
Turning back to Plagg, a sudden thought hit her, forcing her to ask, “What about you? Would you be okay living here?”
“Bug, get him to stay here, and I’ll never ask you for cheese again.”
She somehow doubted that, but she smiled nonetheless. For all his nonchalance, Plagg truly cared about Chat.
“You’ve got a deal.”
With that, she marched up to her room to ensure Chat still slept peacefully, intent on keeping him safe as long as he remained in her care.