Chapter Text
VIII
“So what happened to you saying you weren't going to do this again?”, Ladybug asked curiously.
“Glad you showed up again, though.”, Chat added, “You've been quite helpful for a new-bee.”
Chloé sighed at his pun. “You're not gonna stop that, right?”, she asked.
“Nope.”, Chat replied and shook his head.
“He gets easier to handle after a while.”, Ladybug told her and closed the distance between them by putting her hand on Chloé's shoulder.
The blonde's mind was divided. On the one hand, such a gesture from her idol made her want to rejoice. But on the other hand, she was being awfully stressed out by being a hero. But it was just this identity that was receiving praise and affection. Chloé wished her usual self would be appreciated by others the same way.
Her train of thought was interrupted by ladybug asking: “So, you going to join us for good?”
“I don't know.”, Chloé admitted, “This is so tiring and dangerous and I don't even know what I'm doing”. The Blonde groaned in frustration.
“You should have seen me on my first run.”, Ladybug tried to calm her.
“Oh I did see that, the video is still on the Ladyblog.”, Chloé replied. “It's really nice of you that you're trying to convince me, but I can hardly convince myself.”
It was now Chat who spoke up.
“How about this:”, he said, “You join us for our next patrol. I have my hopes up there won't be another attack for at least one day. So we just scour the city and spend some quality time together. Just the three of us, no strings attached.”
“I don't want to be the third wheel.”. Chloé voiced her concern. If the last months had taught her anything, it was that people often did not like her forcing herself onto them.
“We wouldn't be inviting you if we wouldn't want you around.”, Ladybug assured her and took Chloé's hands into hers. “Least you can do is give it a try.”
The spotted heroine appeared honest, and the look on Chat's face did not show any hidden discomfort.
“Say I do agree to join you,”, Chloé finally spoke up, “when and where would we even meet?”
“Unless something happens Chat and I always meet atop the Eiffel Tower shortly after sunset and start from there.”
“And when something DOES happen,”, Chat added, we have a way to notify each other. You don't have to worry about that for now. Rest assured that at least one of us will be waiting for ya.”
Chloé could hardly believe herself when she said: “Alright, I'll come along.”
“I'm looking forward to it.”, Ladybug exclaimed, “What about you kitty?”
Chat Noir grinned and spoke: “I couldn't BEE more excited.”
All three heroes' Miraculouses started beeping at almost the same time.
“Just one more thing before we part ways.”, Ladybug uttered, “You still haven't given us your name.”
Chloé cursed mentally. Things had occupied her so much she did not even consider coming up with an alias.
“Well...”, she began, stretching out the vowel to buy herself some more time to think. Some of the comments from the Ladyblog came back to her mind. People had called her heroic appearance gracious, even though Chloé begged to differ. And some had even gone as far as saying she was not just a bee, but the queen bee. This term somewhat got stuck in her head.
“I suppose you can call me”, she stopped for a second, “Queen Bee.”
“I'm so happy and excited!”, Imme exclaimed the moment the transformation wore off. “You honestly think I am doing the right thing?”, Chloé asked.
“Si.”, the Kwami replied while grabbing one of the remaining chilies and devouring it.
Chloé wasn't so sure, but there was no turning back now. She turned to her computer, surprised how the Ladyblog already had footage of the fight against Spotlight already. Chloé wondered if Alya knew some secret espionage techniques nobody knew of.
People were going crazy in the comments. Chloé read things like “Our gracious queen is back!” or “Sweet as honey, stings like a bee.”
“Looks like you created quite the buzz.”, Imme's voice sounded from next to her right ear.
“Not you too.”, Chloé groaned, “Chat Noir already is bad enough with his puns.”
The Kwami just giggled.
A spontaneous thought came to Chloé's mind. It was possible to comment anonymously, she remembered. So, she clicked on “New comment” and typed:
“The city of Paris has a Queen a now. Queen Bee is here to stay.”
As she sent the comment, Imme floated up in front of her face with the happiest expression Chloé had ever seen her display. The Kwami squealed:
“This is going to be fantastico!”