It was raining when she first saw him.

She just finished her nightly patrols and was about to go home when she heard a soft mewl. Curiosity got her, and when she followed the sound, she was led to an abandoned alley. Her footsteps reverberated on the bricked walls as she trekked the puddles, and the flickering street lamp across the road became her guide to locate the source.

There she found a damp box with a shivering feline.

Compassion assaulted her when she saw his bleary green eyes clogged with dried tears. It was evident that his fur was white, but the smudged dirt made it all grayish. No protective covering was offered to shield the poor kitten, and the box was left in an exposed area under a heavy downpour so he was totally drenched and on the verge of death.

Without further ado, she immediately plucked the feline with her gloved hands, then whirled her yo-yo to the rooftop for a speedy travel.

Her transformation vanished once she stepped into her room.

"Oh no." Tikki gasped when she saw the animal in the girl's arms.

"This fellow needs a warm bath," Marinette told her kwami. "Can you fetch me some small towel?"

The red god complied, then deposited the items near the bathroom sink as her charger caressed the kitten's body gently with lukewarm water. Both sighed with relief when they found no wounds on its frail body, and once securely cleaned, they wrapped his body in a thermal clothing.

"You can do it, buddy." the girl brushed his small head, earning a light purr. "Be strong, okay?"

A large towel fell and draped on top of her head. "You need to dry yourself too, Marinette. Or else you might get cold."

Her charger nodded, then glanced at the digital clock display on her table. It was already two in the morning - luckily it was Saturday, and she was free the entire weekends.

"Sleep well." she petted the bundled feline for the last time before she climbed into her loft bed to sleep.

She woke up five hours later.

"He's fine," Tikki assured her immediately before she jumped into conclusion. "Check him out."

The kitten peeled himself off from his layered blankets and somewhat settled near her trap door. His small ears perked up as she went downstairs, and with its wobbly feet, he began to paddle hastily to greet her.

"It seems that you're fine now, kitty." Marinette chuckled when he nuzzled her leg.

"What are you going to do?" Tikki asked cautiously. "Your parents might not like the idea of keeping him as a pet."

"I know." her charger groaned. "But I can't simply abandon this fellow. I don't have the gall to send him to a shelter without nursing his health back."

"You're too good for this world, Marinette."

Sabine was preparing their breakfast meal when her daughter entered the kitchen and was taken aback when she saw the feline on her arms.

"I found this fellow on my balcony last night." the girl reasoned out. "Probably fell down from the roof. His cries were barely muffled by the rain, and it was past midnight. I don't want to disturb you and Papa about it."

"You know that we have a bakery." her mother sighed. "And we can't have that little guy roam around here freely."

"He can stay in my room."

"You clutter. And you have several cloths and threads lying around."

"I can fix my mess, Maman."

This earned her a questioned look.

Tom appeared afterward and reprimanded her for the same reasons.

"But Papa - "

"No buts, Marinette. No pets allowed, and that is final."

His daughter sulked in her chair begrudgingly as she bit her loaf with remorse.

Sensing the weird tension in the atmosphere, the kitten waddled towards the burly man and gently rubbed his head on the person's leg.

"Meow."

The parents gave the pitiable feline an impassive look until Marinette went to the cupboard for a small dish and filled it with milk.

"Here, kitty kitty." the girl cooed, placing the dish on the floor.

The feline obeyed and lapped his meal mirthfully.

"I know how to be responsible," she muttered, then smiled when the cat gave a purr. "I'll make sure that he's not going to destroy anything here, or leave him wandering alone in the bakery."

"He might have rabies." her father pointed out.

"That's why I'm planning to bring him to a vet today. We don't know if he got some minor injuries. Or internal wounds." she replied then gave them a somber look. "What am I supposed to do to make me keep him?"

Her parents eyed each other for a moment before answering "We'll give you our verdict once you trained him within a week."

Of course, she accepted the challenge.

After cleaning the dishes, she fetched an old picnic basket from their storage area and transformed it into a cat carrier.

"I know you can do it, Marinette." Tikki cheered once they headed outside then poked the kitten's nose. "You got that, little being? You must obey your Master to earn your keep."

She was responded by a mewl.

Marinette only laughed as she closed the basket lid halfway.

The animal clinic in Champs-Elysées was able to accommodate walk-in clients like her without qualms. The head doctor, Dr. Moshe, was very informative and good at handling strays.

"His tests are all negative, Miss Dupain-Cheng." the doctor explained. "Though a bit malnourished for a three-month-old cat, but we can boost his health with a proper diet and regular shots."

The girl sighed with relief.

"You said that you found him in the alley last night?"

"Yeah," she answered glumly. "Probably abandoned by his previous owner. He was placed in an open box under the rain."

"Or maybe he escaped in a cattery. Most of the strays came from there."

She couldn't imagine the hardships one would suffer in order to survive in that hellish environment.

"It was miraculous he didn't suffer hypothermia or fell ill with pneumonia." the doctor went on. "There were faint scars on his hind legs, probably an old wound from an animal fight or got entangled with a barbed wire. His left ear has a chipped skin, which likely gnawed by rodents or other vicious predators."

"Poor kitty."

The white feline began to nuzzle her palms then gave a small lick, earning a giggle.

"Cats are affectionate beings, and terribly loyal to their Masters who showered them love and care." the doctor mused.

Marinette began to remember her masked partner who happened to be a feline superhero. "They're kind of attention-seekers and very boisterous with their selves. Sweet, sometimes annoying. Not to mention their overprotective nature."

"It's part of their genes to be territorial." Dr. Moshe commented while observing how the kitten rubbed himself all over his Master's skin. "And very flirty."

"Oh?" the girl's brows shoot up then picked the kitten to meet him at eye level. "Are you a flirty kitty?"

Said kitty cocked his head like a question then batted his green orbs innocently. "Meow."

"Definitely a flirty kitty." the doctor chortled with glee.

'My plate is full already for another Cat-sanova.' she scowled mentally. 'Oh well, as long as he's not a punny one.'

"Do you have a name for this little guy, Miss Dupain-Cheng?"

Looking at the cat before her, Marinette didn't have to whack her brains to come up with a name. His beautiful emerald eyes gave it away, and its white fur was like a sandy blond hair that gleamed in the sunlight.

She smiled at the idea.

"Chat Blanc."