Just gonna dip my toes into this fandom. Should warn I refer to 'Papa Garou' (S3, ep. 2) in this one, so maybe don't read if you don't want to be spoiled.

Stray Cat

He loves the freedom of being Chat Noir. He can jump high enough to graze the sky with his fingertips, taking him over buildings, over entire suburbs. It's like breaking from a cage, like discovering a world with no borders. He can go wherever he wants, be whoever he wants. But sometimes he catches families on the street or in their homes—warm, happy, together—and the old ache starts up in his chest.

Freedom is nice, but it doesn't change the fact that pumpkin time always comes with a flashing beep of his ring. It doesn't change the fact that he always has to return to looming walls and oppressive silence, to a table set for one and the sound of his own footsteps echoing all around. His home might as well be in an eternal state of winter for all the warmth he finds there, though Plagg makes it a little more bearable.

"Chat Noir?"

He misses his footing and ends up landing ungracefully in front of Sabine Cheng. Heat tickles his cheeks. It's only been a day since the disastrous meal when he broke Marinette's heart and accidentally got her dad turned into an akuma. The memories are awkward and stick to him like a stubborn stain, but he supposes it all turned out okay in the end. Kind of.

"Sorry, did I startle you?" she asks.

He hastily gets to his feet. "Not at all." He sweeps a bow (because superheroes should be gallant) and flashes a smile. "It's nice to see you again, Madame Cheng."

She stays to talk to him. She actually asks about his day. Most civilians don't bother with such mundane things, but then this is Marinette's mum. She's just as warm and kind as her daughter. He can't resist lingering, can't resist enjoying in this simple moment of interaction.

Even a stray cat just wants to be given attention sometimes.

They're still talking when his stomach grumbles. Loudly.

"Do you want to come in?" Sabine asks, shifting the bag strap on her shoulder into a more comfortable position. "Uh, if you have time that is. Sounds like you could do with a bite to eat."

"Oh, I couldn't trouble—"

"Please. After all my Tom put you through, it's the least I can do."

He shifts on his feet, rubs the base of his neck. "Um, if it's okay with you then …"

"Of course."

Adrien follows her inside the bakery, tail hanging low. A part of him knows it's not a good idea to get too involved with this family while dressed as Chat Noir (even if Marinette did say they could be friends despite how he rejected her), but all the little excuses that pile onto his tongue never make it past his lips. Tom has already spotted him and then his big arm is around Adrien and they're pressed close, and Adrien just doesn't know how to react. He can only stiffen and smile that frozen smile of panic and awkwardness, even as he relishes in the contact.

Adults don't behave this way. At least not the ones back home. Nathalie is cool and clinical, his bodyguard is, well, his bodyguard, and his own father is more of a ghost that only appears to give orders and reprimands. Adrien doesn't know how to deal with this level of loudness and welcome and warmth, but that doesn't mean he doesn't enjoy it either. That doesn't mean he actually wants to leave.

He is so, so lonely.

He tells himself he'll only stay a little while.

Sabine and Tom take him up to their home, having already intended to close the bakery temporarily for their break, and feed him with delicious pastries and food until he can't fit in another mouthful. Both touch his shoulder often, their smiles bright and warm and so achingly genuine. Marinette is lucky. He can imagine all the happy meals she and her parents share together around this table. She doesn't have to worry about closed doors and endless silence. She doesn't have to worry about finding a spot on a schedule just to have fifteen minutes with her father.

A lump forms in his throat, constricting, but he swallows it back. Chat Noir is a superhero, and in the end that's just another image he has to protect.

Probably.

He's not actually sure how superheroes are supposed to act (the comics only suggested he make a lot of puns and dramatic entrances), but he's pretty sure getting teary-eyed and confessing he's lonely to Marinette's parents isn't high on the list. If he's being honest, even if he were sitting here as Adrien Agreste, he'd be too shy and ashamed to utter such words.

"Is something wrong?" Sabine asks.

He blinks and realises his descent into less cheerful thoughts must have come through even with the mask. Colour tinges his cheeks and he quickly stands up from the table. "I just, uh, realised I have to, uh, go do a … thing."

Smooth.

Sabine smiles. "Of course. We won't keep you."

Tom looks as if he actually would like to keep him. The big man renews his offer to teach Adrien the trade of baking. That makes the lump come back in Adrien's throat, but somehow he manages to swallow it down again, even if his voice is a bit huskier when he says he really can't—protecting the streets of Paris is a fulltime job and all.

"Well, you're still welcome here any time," Sabine says.

"That's right." Tom stands up and slings an arm around him again. "Our doors are always open."

Adrien knows they mean it. It's in the way Sabine presses his hand between hers and Tom pushes more macarons on him. It's in the way they walk him to the door and wave goodbye, calling out for him to be careful and hoping that he'll get home safely. (What would they say if they knew what he dreaded most was what awaited him at home?)

He forces a smile and sweeps into another Chat Noir bow. Then he extends his baton and vaults up onto the rooftops, jumping and leaping away with all the freedom that Plagg's magic gives him. It's like fleeing from a sanctuary into the cold, like throwing away something precious, and the loss hits him hard.

He tells himself he can't go back.

He already knows he will.

I'm actually intending this to be a collection of one-shots that all focus on Adrien and the theme of finding family/friendship (and love, because I know it's bound to sneak in there). In the meantime, however, you can consider this complete. Hope you enjoyed!