Miraculous Kat

Part Eleven: Muahahaha

Kat stomped down the hall. Adrien tried to stop her.

"Kat, it's nothing, I promise. It's not that big of deal."

"Not. That. Big. Of. Deal?" Anger laced Kat's voice. "He hurt you. I mean, I believe that being spanked helps if it's only used to discipline after continued warnings and time-outs. As a last resort. But he didn't spank you. He hurt you for no reason."

"It...it was for my own good," Adrien tried, parroting his father's words.

"No. No, it wasn't." Kat turned a corner and nearly ran into Nathalie. "Oh, hello Nathalie. Where's Mr. Agreste?"

"He just left for a meeting."

"Drive us."

"What?"

"Take. Us. To. Mr. Agreste."

Nathalie didn't know what it was about Kat that scared her, but she didn't like it. Kat was very nice, and very companionable 99% of the time, and this was not one of those times. Nathalie sighed and gestured towards the garage.

"Right this way, Miss Kat. Will Adrien be coming?"

"I don't know." Kat turned to Adrien, and, making sure to push the anger out of her voice, asked, "Will you?"

Adrien nodded, completely resigned to whatever would come. At that moment, he would have bet his life that his father really would beat him for letting this happen.

——At Mr. Agreste's Meeting——

Mr. Agreste had almost finished with his presentation when Kat stormed in, a flustered Nathalie behind her.

"Sorry, sir—" Nathalie started to say. Kat grabbed Mr. Agreste by the ear and angrily attempted to pull him out of the conference room. There were quite a few "What in the world?"s and a fair amount of surprise. No one objected, however. The top designers that worked with Mr. Agreste found this scene quite funny. That is, until Mr. Agreste pulled away, almost as angry as Kat.

"What are you doing?" He hissed.

"You may want to come outside before I answer that," Kat said tersely.

"Sir," Nathalie whispered, "you really may want to address the situation outside."

"Very well," Mr. Agreste sighed. He nodded to the designers. "Gentleman, ladies, I'll be just a moment."

Outside the room, Kat got straight to the point. Well, almost.

"How dare you?" She whispered.

"What?"

"How. Dare. You."

"How dare I what?"

"You hurt Adrien!" Kat flicked her hand in Adrien's general direction. Adrien ducked farther behind Nathalie. The only thing anyone could see now was the top of his hair. Mr. Agreste glared.

"It was for his own good."

"No! I know you keep telling him that, and you need to stop! It's pretty obvious that it is not for his own good."

"Your parents didn't discipline you at all, it seems."

"Oh, no, they disciplined me. What they didn't do was beat me!"

"I do not 'beat' Adrien."

"Oh, no, of course not," Kat said sarcastically, "he got that bruise while modeling."

"Kat, please stop," Adrien asked in a small voice, almost too small to be heard. Kat changed her tone to one of kindness.

"I'm sorry, cinnamon bun," she said, "but I'm not going to. I can't let you get hurt again."

"He's not hurt," Mr. Agreste sneered.

"What do you call that bruise then? A fashion statement?"

"Uh, uh..." Mr. Agreste's mouth opened and closed like a fish.

"That's what I thought. Come on, Adrien." Kat took him by the hand and started to lead him away. Mr. Agreste recovered and began to threaten them.

"Get back here right now or I'll—"

"Or you'll what? Hit us? You're lucky I haven't called Child Protective Services."

Once again, Mr. Agreste was silent. As he returned to the conference room, it occurred to him that Kat had all the ammo she needed to utterly destroy him. He was silent for the rest of his meeting.

——In the Car——

Nathalie took a deep breath and began to speak.

"That was..." she sighed and continued, "you can't tell Mr. Agreste what I'm about to say." She glanced in the mirror. "Promise you won't repeat me."

"I promise," Kat replied immediately, "and I don't break my promises."

"I...it depends on what you say. I can't lie to my father."

"I can't say it unless you give me your word, Adrien."

"All-all right. You have my word."

"Good," Nathalie said. "That was very brave of you, Kat, I'm very proud. I've wanted to say something for the longest time, but I...I just couldn't."

"Well, uh, thanks Nathalie," Kat blushed. Kat usually just got in trouble for talking to adults like she had talked to Mr. Agreste. That is, unless her dad agreed with her, which was most of the time, but it was usually her mom who picked her up when stuff happened, and her mother almost never agreed with her.

——Back at the Agreste Mansion after being treated to ice cream by Nathalie——

Kat giggled at Adrien's puns. He was still a little shocked, but felt much better. Now that he was really thinking about it, he allowed himself to admit that maybe his dad was a little abusive. But only a little. He still felt like he somehow deserved it.

"So...how's the bruise feeling?" Kat asked.

"Fine," Adrien lied. It was actually still sore. Kat knew this and pursed her lips. She lead him to the kitchen where she gave him a couple cinnamon rolls and put three parts water, one part rubbing alcohol in a bag and put it in the freezer. "What's that?"

"It'll freeze, but remain moldable. You can put it on your bruise."

Adrien would have argued, but he knew Kat knew his face hurt. He sighed and turned back to his cinnamon rolls. He breathed in their heavenly scent and happily bit into one. He really, truly did love sweets. He didn't get them very often on his diet. Don't worry too much, though, dear reader. Diet doesn't mean starvation (plus, I just can't put him through anything else yet).

——The Next Friday——

"I don't want to leave you by yourself, cinnamon bun," Kat was saying. She was not looking forward to staying at Marinette's.

"I'll be fine, Kat," Adrien replied. "I'll call you if I need anything, ok?"

"Ok," she sighed. Kat waved as he left, and trudged to where Marinette was with Alya.

"I'm telling you, girl, I'm so close to figuring who Ladybug is!"

"Whatever you say, Alya," Marinette laughed. "I'll see you later."

"You know it, girl."

"Hi, Marinette."

"Hi, Kat."

Nathaniel ran up to them as they were leaving.

"Hey, Kat. Could I walk you home?"

"Sure, as long as Marinette comes with us."

"That's all right Kat," Marinette giggled, "you can take a scenic root or something."

"Thanks, Marinette." Kat gave her a quick hug and jogged off with Nathaniel. Marinette smiled. She was beginning to think that maybe, just maybe, Kat wasn't as bad as she seemed.