The Black Cat (a Miraculous Ladybug Fanfiction)

Marinette: My Cat Knows Potions

   There was a lot to be expected of Paris. Other than the tourist attractions, Paris came with a bucket load of colors and inspiration. You could find everyday fashion icons taking a casual stroll in a park. You could find designer bags flock from East to West. But one thing Paris did not need to know is that there are witches and wizards just strolling around. Some of us are lucky. We live with human parents who don't have powers... the ability to cast spells skips generations. For others, they are being constantly hunted down, having to use their magic to protect themselves. I mean take Juleka for example. Her mom acted poorly one time, and now they were onto her entire family. Not just for reckless behavior, but for magic as well, since there's no physical way of flipping an entire cop car over with just a blink of an eye. 
   Paris had it's beautiful moments. The amazing view of the Eiffel Tower, The Louvre, and Notre-Dame, there's no doubt; It's incredibly unique. Lurking in the shadows was one the world's most sought-out cities for mystical creatures. I mean, there weren't just witches and wizards. There's just about everyone you can name. Vampires, werewolves, and ghosts. Although you could never find too many of them. Paris was just too tourist-friendly, and anything that couldn't hide itself as discreetly was at a very high risk if they tried living here. It sometimes made me wonder if that was the reason Adrien left... because he was questioned. I guess that could answer it. 
   Then again... high status doesn't mean instant protection. In fact, you can get questioned more easily if you're more well known. That's the beauty of it all, I suppose.
   Find yourself at Fame's door, only to be exposed.
   School was a breeze today, although it wasn't easy showing the guys of my class that my familiar was a black cat. I had a feeling I'd be the center of some teasing for some time. I was currently walking home, trying to dodge bicycles and the daily rush of Parisians just trying to live another day. I finally made it home, and my parents were working in the kitchen. There was an entire line at the register.
   "Oh honey!" my mother sighed, "Please, could you help us?"
   "Of course." I slipped on an apron and washed my hands. "Hello," I greeted the first guest, "How may I help you?" the rush subsided within 20-ish minutes. I had sold at least 100 in sales. I went upstairs to my room and I started on my homework. My familiar sat on my desk, watching as I tried figuring it out.
   "Let's see... oh I hate this. The difference between a wart-removing potion and a water purifying one... they're the same ingredients but different measurements... weird, right Kitty?" I asked him. He meowed really loudly, and I tilted my head in confusion.
   "What the...?" the cat then took my pen and ran around the room. "H-Hey!" I got up, and he leaped onto my paper, making a line. He matched Number One's recipe to the Water Purifying potion. "Kitty? Is this right?" He only meowed. "Maybe I should look at my notes..." I opened them up and to my surprise, he was right. "You just got lucky... huh, a lucky black cat." I petted him, smiling, "I can live with that. Maybe you know a little something about spider eyes too? Or, is that pushing it?"
   It was 7:30 by the time I was done, and my familiar was set to leave in half an hour. So, rather than doing anything else, I thought it might be a good idea to try and find a name for Kitty. 
   "I would love to call you Kitty all the time, but you probably need a name..." I sighed, holding the kitten up. It looked confused. I looked into its green eyes, and it looked straight into mine. "Your eyes... they're so green... they remind me of someone I know, or knew...? I don't know where he is now, but you know who you actually remind me of? This superhero that comes and visits me, Chat Noir, he's a cool guy. He talks to me, and he cares about finding Adrien... for me. I don't know, what do I call him, maybe I could steal one of his nicknames for you or something. Is that lazy? I don't think so, since you're both black cats. I don't think I'll be able to find a name for you by tonight. Maybe I can ask Chat what he thinks the next time he visits. Maybe you should go though, it's getting close to your time." I looked at the clock, it was 7:55. Kitty walked over and licked my cheek, before jumping out of the window, a green puff of light followed him. With that, he was gone. I needed to go too, not just to bed, but tonight I had patrol as Ladybug... where I'd be meeting Chat Noir. I transformed, and flew off, rushing to the Eiffel Tower. I sat down, and I could see the reflection of his bell just right behind a building. He sat down next to me, and I sighed.
   "Is something bothering you, M'lady?"
   "Y-Yeah, actually, a lot has." I looked over to see all the city lights, "But it's nothing you've gotta concern yourself with, Chat. I don't wanna be any sort of bother to you."
   "You could never bother me, Ladybug." Chat put a hand on my shoulder, "Go on, tell me."
   "Thanks." I sighed, "Chat, have you ever missed someone?" Chat tensed up, before slowly answering,
   "For a while now, I have... why do you ask?"
   "There's this person. I could never muster up too much courage to talk to them... but now, they're gone, without a single trace as to where they might've been or where they went. They've been gone for almost 2 and a half months. H-How... do you cope with that? With the sorrow, and grieve? I've almost given up trying to find them. They won't reach out to anyone or their friends. I-I miss them... more than they'll ever know."
   "Is the person alive?" Chat asked me.
   "I honestly don't know anymore. I'd like to think they are." I answered. 
   "Ladybug... 2 and a half months is a long time." Chat looked at me, "But I completely understand your situation, and I'm so sorry this is happening to you. What I did... when I lost someone so very close to me... I grieved for a long time. I grew very independent, and sad. I'm still sorting things out, and because of it I'm too overwhelmed with all the things I did, but try to find an outlet, try to get to know someone you don't know. Try to think, what did this person leave? Maybe they left really good jokes, or maybe you have something they gave to you. So, you just keep it on you at all times and keep walking. The world is cruel in a way, it likes to take things away. But from what I've experienced, there are ways to get those things back, just in another form."
   "I see... thank you, I need that, Chat. I have another question, too."
   "Yes?"
   "Are you a magic user?"
   "Yes... but you can't rat me out."
   "N-No, I didn't plan on it... after all, I am too."
   "You are?" his eyes widened, "Here, in Paris? Why?"
   "For the same reasons as you. All I've ever known is Paris... unless you've moved from elsewhere."
   "No, you're right, I have been here my whole life." Chat chuckled a little, "But, we won't rat each other out... that'd a real "cat"astrophe."
   "Oh, Kitty!" I laughed, "Chat... I've been seeing you everywhere. Don't you go to school?" I asked him.
   "I am home-schooled currently. I used to go to public school."
   "Really?"
   "Yeah." my earrings beeped.
   "Shoot, I gotta go Chat."
   "Oh, okay. Goodnight, Ladybug."
   "Goodnight, and thanks Chat." I hugged him. I flew off and landed on my balcony. I bent down and transformed back. 
   "Well, I guess I've already started taking Chat's advice. Maybe getting to know him a little more will help me."
   "Good job Marinette, I'm proud of you." Tikki hugged me.
   "Thanks, Tikki." I smiled. Maybe the cat did have good advice after all.