A/N: I said I wasn't gonna do Marichat May, but... here I am XD. For those following Cookies for a Monster, the chapter just didn't come together and I'm trying to work out all the kinks. I'll update it next week.

1. No Powers

This was probably considered a gross misuse of his powers. Honestly, he should be going through this without the help of Plagg. But the fact was that he did have Plagg and he did have powers and it would be a shame not to use them if he was ever in trouble.

And Adrien Agreste counted being the prize for some contest that would give the winner a photoshoot and a date with him "being in trouble".

"This is a really bad idea."

"Well, it's either this or subjecting myself to my father's will," Adrien countered.

"Yeah," Plagg moaned. "But did you have to get me involved."

"You can stand it."

"But I don't want to have to help you run from rabid fangirls."

"You'll live."

He pouted.

"I'll give you the extra good camembert for a solid month."

Plagg froze mid-air, like Adrien knew he would. "The really good stuff?"

"For the entire month of the contest," Adrien repeated.

Again, Plagg paused, likely pretending to mull it over when Adrien already knew the answer.

"Fine. But for the record, I still think it's a really stupid idea."

Marinette had to reread the post several times over. The Agrestes were hosting a contest that would give the winner a date with Adrien Agreste. Meaning Marinette had to win. Except…

The contest was… odd.

Attention fans! Do you want to win a date with Adrien Agreste? This month, you'll be given the chance to! Adrien has paired up with renowned superhero Chat Noir to hold the "key to his heart" on a chain around his neck. The first to get the key will be crowned the winner of this contest. Chat Noir will be posting clues to his whereabouts daily on social media for the next month. It will be your job to convince him to give you the key! Best of luck everyone!

Marinette really couldn't believe this.

Her partner was an idiot.

"Tikki, as a superhero constantly battling a supervillain, in what world is posting your location daily a good idea?"

"I'm more shocked Plagg agreed to it," Tikki deadpanned.

Marinette groaned. "I swear, next time I see that cat, I'll… I'll…" Marinette growled. "I don't know, but he better watch it because the best way to skin a cat, as I see it, is to strip the idiot of his powers until he can use them responsibly."

2. Greek

It was five days into the contest, and Marinette got a sick and twisted sort of satisfaction out of watching Chat run from packs of rabid fangirls (and fanboys). It was like karma coming back to bite him. And Ladybug was perfectly content to watch Chat suffer for his stupidity.

Chat was offended at her enjoyment. She didn't particularly care.

However, with Ladybug being completely supportive of his choice and staying out of his way and offering zero help to him, he turned to the next best option. Which, apparently, was Marinette.

"Marinette, princess, please, I beg of you. Let me stay here for the next bit. I need a break."

Marinette wanted to tell him no. She wanted to watch him suffer. Honestly, she should ask why he didn't just detransform in the nearest free spot, but as she looked at that gaudy gold key he held around his neck, she thought of what a golden opportunity she'd been presented with. "All right, kitty. I'll let you in this once."

"You're a lifesaver."

She let him in her room with the warning, "touch anything and your dead."

"How about 'break anything, and it will be replaced'?"

Marinette leveled him with a flat look.

"No touch. Okay."

With a roll of her eyes, Marinette headed back to her desk to work. "You know," she said, picking up her knitting and starting in on it again. "I have to wonder just what possessed you to pull this off in the first place. Like… you are the superhero of Paris. Why are you doing this?"

Chat's lips pursed tightly, his ears pinning flat back on his head. For a moment, it looked like Chat wasn't going to tell her.

"Let's just say… I know Adrien. And I've been in his shoes more than once. So when he told me about this contest his father was making him do and how he didn't want to do it, I thought I could help him out a bit. You know, distract his fans and keep the "key of his heart" away from the masses instead of it going out to some random fan he'd have to suffer through a date with, you know?"

Marinette grew somber at that realization. "I guess I never thought of that."

Chat nodded. "So I know it's stupid of me—Ladybug's given me nothing but crap about it, though I'm starting to agree with her—but I did it to help him out, ok?"

The only thing Marinette could do was nod in understanding. Yes, she still thought it stupid, but… when he put it that way, she could understand why he was pulling this stupid stunt. "So," she began, "You're close to Adrien?"

Chat stiffened. "Well," he said, rubbing at the back of his neck. "I mean… we actually, I guess… in a way… kinda close."

Marinette quirked a brow. "What on earth is that supposed to mean?"

His ear twitched and his lips pursed. And then he shot her a smile she knew was practiced. "You know, Hades, I come to your realm to get away from people, not to face an inquisition."

Marinette had to blink a few times; partly at the sudden change in subject, partly because, "Hades?"

"Yeah," he said. "I mean, you're obviously Hades because I'm Persephone hiding away in your realm because you love me so much—"

"I will kick you out; watch me."

3. Kittens

"Hey Marinette."

"Yeah, Chat?"

"Have you ever thought about what you want for the future?"

Marinette froze. This was the fourth time that she'd let him in to escape the pack of feral fans ravaging the city for him. Sure, he was kinda close to Marinette. Even before this contest, this wasn't the first time she'd let him in to hang out. Not by a longshot. But the question still surprised her. "What brought that on?"

"I'm curious."

"As to what my future entails?"

"Kinda."

"Why?"

"Because…" He paused winding the ball of yarn—she had to keep him busy somehow and he was surprisingly good at it—and looked at her. "Because I've been thinking over my own future a lot lately. And not fantasizing, but actually, really, realistically thinking—"

"That's trouble," Marinette quipped, mostly because she wasn't sure how to handle just how serious Chat was.

He glared at her. Considering he didn't crack a smile, this was a very serious topic he was approaching.

Blushing, she cleared her throat. "I'm sorry. Continue."

He sighed. "No, Forget it. It's—"

"Chat, I was kidding," Marinette said, now regretting teasing him at all. "Tell me."

He regarded her for a moment. "I've been really thinking about the future and all it entails. And just…wondering if I'm thinking about the right things or thinking about enough."

And that's why he wanted to know mine. To compare. Marinette realized. She looked back down at the project in her hands. "Yeah, I've thought it over. A lot. I've known what I've wanted for the past three—or is it four?—four years."

She had to pause. Had it really been four years since she decided she was going to marry Adrien? She was seventeen now, so she supposed so. "I want to be a fashion designer. I want to get married—even have a guy in mind—and have two or three kids. Two boys, one girl, preferably. I have the names picked out. And a hamster. I want a hamster."

Chat looked at her wide-eyed, the yarn forgotten in his hands. "You've really thought this through."

"Yeah," she said, giving him a smile. "I have."

Chat turned back to winding the yarn. "I didn't know you were seeing someone."

Marinette cringed. "Well… I said in mind. I'm not… really seeing him."

"Oh?"

"Yeah," she said. "Its… complicated." And the most complicated thing about it was that she didn't know how Chat kept sneaking into her mind and heart and challenging if Adrien was truly the man for her. "So," she began, desperate to direct the conversation away from her, "what do you want for the future, Chat?"

Chat paused, and his expression fell. "You know, I sometimes think that I'm not asking for too much, and then other times, I feel like I'm asking the world."

"Why?" she pressed. "What do you want?"

"A lot," he said. "Hawkmoth to be defeated."

Yeah. You, me, and everyone in Paris. "He will be; don't worry. You and Ladybug will catch him."

"Hopefully," Chat said. "I want to catch him soon so that there won't be any villain for me and Ladybug to fight. My fingers are crossed that when that happens, she'll allow a reveal and then we'll start dating and get married and have a house full of kids. More than one, at least. And… I kinda want a hamster, too."

She froze, but her heart was skipping like a schoolgirl. Knock it off! "W-what's wrong with that?" Marinette asked, hoping her voice came out steadily. "Wanting to be married and settle down and have kittens?"

"Because… I don't know what she wants. "

It's exactly what she wants, her traitorous mind thought. And then somewhere in the back of her mind chimed up a little, excited will you give it to me?

She barely resisted the urge to slap her cheeks. Remember Adrien!

"Like, does she want kids at all? Because that's really important to me and I don't know what I'll do if she doesn't," Chat continued, oblivious to Marinette's inner turmoil. "But if she does—and I hope she does—does she want to be a stay-at-home mom? Meaning that it will be on me to fully provide for my family. Don't get me wrong; I have no issue whatsoever in doing that. But I have to plan ahead to make sure I chose a career that will provide well for them as well as allow me to be with them as much as I can because I want to be a dad who's involved and all. But what if Ladybug wants to have a career and work? Which my guess is she would because of her personality, but I don't want to assume or anything. Then I'm allowed to choose a job that will let me be home with my kids more and help them with homework and take them to sports and events and all that."

To say Marinette was speechless was an understatement. "You…" she swallowed, trying to get her mouth to work again. "It sounds like you've thought a lot about the future and, well, your little kittens."

He gave a bittersweet smile. "I want to be a dad," he said. "And I want to be a good one."

"You will be," Marinette said. She felt confident in that statement. "I can tell. From the sounds of it, you'll have a pretty good future ahead of you."

His shoulders relaxed, and his smile turned genuine. "Thanks, Marinette. I appreciate it."

"You're welcome, kitty."