Little Kitty

Chapter 1

Author's note: You may recognize the beginning of the song from in the show, but the other lines are from an extended version made by Connor Terrell, and the Youtuber MoFace, thank you for letting me use it guys!!! I'm also using a part of MoFace's animation as the cover art. Hope you enjoy the story, it's my first!

If any Parisian were to strain their ears on any given night, and listen intently, they would hear a song on the wind. Maybe nobody heard it because no one cared, or perhaps it just wasn't meant for them. Regardless of whether people listened or not, the song penetrated the night air, reverberating into the sky, dissipating before it reached any ears. Only the singer could hear the song, and that was fine with him.

Chat Noir, Paris' staunch protector sat halfway up the Eiffel Tower, hidden away from the public eye among the steel. He wouldn't forgive himself if anyone in Paris saw him crying. His song never changed, but the meaning changed often. Sometimes it was of romantic frustration, other times one of excruciating loneliness. But tonight, the anniversary of his mother's birthday, his song was one of loss.

"Little kitty on a roof, all alone without his lady
Sitting with the moon, while his mind is going crazy
Little kitty in the cold, along the broken tower
Watching as the time goes by, but it doesn't matter"

Chat Noir steadied himself. He had been thinking about it, trying to gain the courage. He wasn't scared of death, but he was scared of leaving those he loved behind, scared of leaving her without someone to protect her. No. He couldn't let himself go. If he stayed here any longer he couldn't trust himself not to fall. He had to go home. Paris still needed Ladybug, and Ladybug still needed him. The day that stopped... No, he wasn't thinking straight. He had to leave.

The Cat leapt from his place on the tower, vaulting with his staff moments before he hit the ground. He didn't want to go home, there it was worse. It was even more cold and lonely. He blindly explored the city, helping people wherever he could. He helped an old lady across the street, brought groceries in for an exhausted single mom. Eventually he found himself in front of his school, a place that he felt comfortable.

He sat atop the roof, and closed his eyes. It didn't make a difference, he didn't make a difference. Then he heard it, somewhere close by, his song, or the tune at least. He looked around, and there, across the street was someone he recognized. Marinette Dupain-Cheng was on her balcony, leaning over her railing, humming the cat's tune to herself. Chat couldn't help but let a tear slip from his eyes. No one ever heard or acknowledged his song. He didn't want to be alone anymore.

He vaulted across the street, and landed silently behind her. He stood there, watching her for a beat. He couldn't cry, he had to get back into the right mindset. "Hey purr-incess, you're up late!"

Marinette spun around in shock, "Chat Noir? What are you doing here?"

Chat noir smirked, "You didn't hear? I was... no wait... damn! I can't think of any cat puns!" He smiled trying to hide the pain inside that was clouding his head.

Marinette tilted her head a little, narrowing her eyes. She knew him more than he realized. "Chat, your eyes look puffy, and glazed over... have you been crying?"

Chat's face fell. She knew? How could she know? "I... yeah... but I'll be fine!" He smiled again, praying she dropped it, he didn't want to scare her away.

"Chat... you don't have to lie to me... it's okay..." as she talked, she got closer to him, and reached out to hold him. Chat backed away.

"Sorry... just... not tonight." Chat pointed at her pink striped chair. "Is this seat taken?"

"Sure go ahead..." She couldn't help but worry, this is the worst she'd ever seen him... something about it scared her... it reminded her of Akuma victims, she'd have to watch the sky for one.

Chat Noir flopped down into the chair sighing. "So what's got you up, Mari?"

"Just like the cool night air, helps me think. What about you? What's going on Chat Noir?"

He sighs, and closes his eyes. "I can talk to you? Your friends with the lady-blogger, Alya, right? You... wouldn't tell her anything?"

Marinette's face fell. "Chat... you... you really think I would do that? Betray your trust?"

"I don't know... I don't know if I can trust anyone anymore..." he sighed and closed his eyes "Alright, purr-incess... it... it's my mom's birthday, but she disappeared when I was younger. My dad used to be really close to me too. The three of us were happy, a nice loving family, but when she left... he stopped talking to me. I understand that he's in pain, but can't he see I'm in pain too?! He doesn't even say he loves me! The day she left was the day my father left too..." Chat wiped his tears away, but they wouldn't stop coming. He got angry with himself, hitting his head with his fist. "No, no, noooo!!! Stop crying! You're weak!!! Just stop it!!! You're weak! That's why she left! Because you're we-"

Marinette pulled him into her, holding his hands, to keep him from hitting himself. Chat was too stunned to even react, he had no idea how much emotion he was holding back. "Stop it Chat Noir! It's okay to cry, that doesn't make you weak! And I can guarantee she didn't leave because of you. You're amazing Chat Noir, you save the city all the time. She would be proud if she could see you right now..."

Chat just sobbed. He let Marinette hold him, and he sobbed into her chest until it burned, until he had no more tears to cry. After he stopped crying, a strange peaceful silence fell over them. Marinette let go of his wrists, and started running her fingers through his hair.