[ ... despite there being a lot of questions that adrien was expecting, the one that steven asks isn't one of them. it catches him off-guard... obviously, from the way he just. looks at steven inquisitively, then off to the side, as if the response somehow sat there.

what is he supposed to say to that? ]

You aren't going to ask "why a cat?" instead?

[ pft. honestly, he both had and hadn't thought about it much. it wasn't as if chat was a front, and it wasn't as if adrien was one either. it was just... different circumstances, and a different reception and expectation towards how he should act.

it's not really a question he knows how to answer, not elegantly or easily. a question he never really expected to have to answer. in hindsight, however, shouldn't he have seen this coming? he's aware he's completely different as chat, and that's on purpose. but it isn't like he's ever... pretending, either.

but it's also such... silly thing, bundled in insecurity, and he isn't sure if he really wants to show that to someone. but if he's going to talk about that, to tell someone, it would be okay if that someone was steven, wouldn't it? ]

It's... complicated. There's lots I can't say or do as Adrien... and Chat's my chance to try something different. To do things I want and say things I want, see if... that's okay. [ "i'm shy and homeschooled and it's easier to be way more confident and build up some self-esteem when you can destroy anything with a touch and scale a building?" ] ... It's kinda... I wasn't even allowed outside until a couple of months ago.

[ and that's sad and weird and. it isn't like he'd ever had a chance to really figure things out beyond just what his father set out for him.

maybe he'd like to be like chat all the time, but he isn't and he can't and he isn't sure. he's both? ]