A Cat, a Fox, and a Bee walk into a Bakery

Chapter 3

Queen Bee, Chat Noir, and Vixen were all sulking.

Well, and glaring from their respective spots, sitting as far from each other as they could in Marinette's bedroom. That too.

Vixen was lounging on Marinette's bed like she owned it, her broad orange and white tail dangling down off the edge of the loft. Queen Bee was sorely tempted to reach out and give it a yank from her spot occupying Marinette's desk chair. Chat Noir was sprawled on the chaise, ears twitching in tune with Vixen's as the two no doubt listened to Marinette moving around downstairs.

Only the fact that Marinette would no doubt boot her out into the night if she picked a fight helped Queen Bee keep her mouth shut. And as much as she wanted to stake her turf and chase the other two off, Marinette's wrath was even scarier, as evidenced by how she had yanked them apart on the balcony, snapped at them to stop arguing like children, and had glared them inside before they woke up half the neighborhood.

She had then snapped to sit down, shut up, and behaveuntil she got back.

Queen Bee was just opening her mouth to say something that would be unbelievably witty and snarky when the door to Marinette's room opened and she clambered up the stairs, carrying a tray piled with sweets and four cups of liquid. Vixen and Chat ended up running into each other as they both dove to help, and Queen Bee smirked as she got there and lifted the tray easily, setting it on her desk.

"Knock it off!" Marinette huffed, standing there with her hands on her hips as she glared at the bickering pair. Chat and Vixen froze, attempting and completely failing to look innocent.

The black-haired girl sighed, rubbing at the bridge of her nose with two fingers before pointing at the three heroes. "Look. All of you are my friends. I am allowed to have more than one friend! And I am not going to put up with the three of you being possessive little shits and trying to drive the other two off!"

"Yes Marinette." All three of them chorused sullenly.

"So! You are all still allowed here, provided you behave and you can treat each other civilly if you're here with the others at the same time." Marinette glared at the three heroes until they nodded, then beamed. "Good. Now that we're all going to behave, I have some leftovers from the bakery today."

All three heroes sat up eagerly, accepting the plates she handed them. Queen Bee noted idly that each plate seemed to have been made considering their preferences – her own had citrussy and honey pastries, Vixen's plate was piled with cinnamon and caramel treats, and Chat Noir apparently loved chocolate, to judge by everything on his. Queen Bee took a bite of a pastry, then sipped at the hot tea in the mug that Marinette handed her, quickly turning her nose up at the mugs of milk she handed the other two.

While Marinette was busy getting her own plate and mug, Vixen leaned in and murmured lowly. "Of course you realize, this means war."

"Of course." Queen Bee grinned ferally, which was matched in turn by Chat and Vixen.

She had been spoiling for a good challenge, anyways, and with the prize of Marinette's attentions on the line...

Her night was shaping up better and better.