Chapter Text
The summer leading up to Marinette's senior year was an absolute waste. 'Exasperated' didn't even begin to cover how she felt by the end of it. The akuma attacks were all consuming. At first, she'd tried relaxing, tried to breathe. But every time she had, it put her at a disadvantage, and she fell behind when it came to protecting the city. It was better that she had given up any chance of enjoying herself.
Summer sucked. It was fine. The real challenge was when the school year started, and Hawk Moth got creative with his timing. Akuma victims would wreak havoc in the dead of night, whether that meant setting a building on fire or just deciding to steal all the different colored unicorn stuffed animals in a five-mile radius. A different victim would show themselves in the morning or evening of the following day-whichever was most inconvenient-and Ladybug and Chat Noir would have to stifle their exhausted groans and drag their lifeless bodies back into battle. Neither were able to reset their circadian rhythms, and to make things even better, akuma attacks would sometimes even last hours before Paris's heroes could go back to bed.
This is why, when it was one o'clock in the morning-fucking 1:00 AM-and Marinette was pulled from her blissful slumber to her blaring alarm, she decided that when she caught Hawk Moth, she was going to throttle him.
...
There was no sign of Ladybug's usual grace when she descended into the dark of her room. She tumbled down from a top her ladder, the impact of her back slamming into her hardwood floors leaving her winded. She squeezed her eyes shut, until finally, she could gasp for air.
"I hate him so much," she rasped, complaining to no one in particular. She lay inert for several moments, her labored breathing ringing in her ears.
"Tikki, spots off."
When the kwami fell onto her abdomen with a high-pitched wheeze, Marinette lurched into a sitting position to examine her, her pain forgotten.
"Aw-" Marinette's lips pressed tight together, her worry building as she gazed down at the supernatural being. Tikki was unconscious. The young woman surveyed the room as best she could in the dark, trying to figure out what to do. Standing up was much harder than it should have been, so Marinette leaned on the wall on her way to the bathroom. Her knees wobbled before the sink as she turned on the tap, and resentment coiled in her chest. Marinette would never admit that Hawk Moth was getting to her. She had a job to do, and she was going to damn well do it-even if he was slowly exhausting her, waiting for her to slip up. Marinette swallowed. It was becoming more apparent that she would slip up.
She was offered brief solace when she placed Tikki under the water and warmth enveloped her hands. When the grime ebbed to reveal Tikki as unscathed, she released an immense sigh of relief and dried her off with care.
"Scared me," Marinette murmured, petting the kwami's cheek softly. Heart attack averted, she tottered to Tikki's bedside and tucked her in, leaving a small pile of cookies with a knowing smile for when she woke. Satisfaction encased her as she stretched before overexertion churned her stomach, her pain no longer forgotten. The price of forcing herself past her limit slapped her hard as she raced for the toilet, and she threw up, one hand holding back her fallen hair and the other clutching the side of the bowl for balance. An ache circled her stomach as she heaved and caught her breath.
Fuck.
She was tired of living like this.
...
Due to the abhorrent existence that was Hawk Moth, Marinette had become a giant coffee drinking monster thirty eight percent of the time, and an almost flunking student the other sixty two percent she spent sleeping in class. Alya would try to shove her awake, but sometimes that failed, and Marinette would inevitably be sentenced to detention. He was chipping away at what little sanity she had left and was probably throwing a party over it. She was so tired that breaking the tip of her pencil the other day put her on the verge of a breakdown. Alya had lead her out of the classroom so she could breathe, but there was only so much she could do. Chat Noir wasn't fairing much better than her either: when she'd seen him last, he'd tripped over his tail and dropped his baton on two separate occasions. Two. She was sure he was a wreck outside of his alter ego as well. Suffice to say, they desperately needed to sleep for three days and not wake up.
The number of tardies she'd already racked up this early in the school year was a little extravagant. So, even with all she had going on, Marinette arrived early, an enormous thermos of coffee in her shaky hands (yes, she'd already had a cup on an empty stomach), even if Alya had to go through hell dragging her there. Marinette stopped just before the threshold of their classroom, making Alya bump into her with an "oof" as she took in the beautiful blonde boy seated at his desk.
"Alya, does he look sad to you?" Marinette whispered, gesturing wildly. Adrien had his head propped on one hand as he stared out the window.
"I guess so," she said, righting her glasses. "That's how he normally looks, though."
Nino walked up behind them, kissing Alya's cheek with a sweet grin. "Morning, babe," he said, passing them.
"Nino!" Marinette whisper-yelled, yanking back his collar.
"Mari-ahh!"
"Shhh!"
"But-"
"Doesn't he look sad to you, Nino?"
"Uh-" he drawled, glancing towards his best friend. Adrien sighed heavily as he got out his books. "Not more than usual."
Marinette didn't agree. Something was definitely wrong.
"Can you ask him about it?"
"Yeah, but I'm telling you, mornings are just rough for him in general. He'll be fine in a couple hours probably." The three of them watched Adrien drop his pen and just stare at it.
"Ooo," Nino said, cringing softly.
Alya frowned. "Maybe you're right."
When the bell rang, they scattered to their seats, and Adrien looked up at the three of them with a wobbly smile.
"Hey, guys!" The skin around his eyes crinkled, briefly masking how shadowed it really was. Marinette could have guessed that he was good at masking his facial expressions, seeing as it was his job to model and smile at the camera all day, but watching him do it was something else entirely. It made her heart ache. She spent the rest of the morning brainstorming-with her limited brain power-how to make him feel better. All she came up with was saving him one of the pastries she had packed.
When the end of lunch rolled around, Nino walked over to Alya and Marinette from his table with a shrug.
"He says he's fine. Like I said earlier, that's just how he is in the mornings. Must be hard living with his dad." He frowned and glanced back to check on Adrien with an awkward scratch at his jaw. "I know that I'd have a hard time with a dad like that. Man's got, like, zero chill." Marinette stood on her tip toes to look at Adrien over Nino's shoulders and whimpered. He was donning his backpack, the sad, faraway look in his eyes all too prevalent. When he followed Nino over to them, she unzipped her bag and retrieved the pastry.
"Whatcha got there, Mari?" he asked. The corner of his mouth lifted unexpectedly, and she had to take a moment to recover.
"It's Fraiser cake from my parent's bakery. Never fails to turn a frown upside down!" She held it out for him, earning herself a bigger smile.
"For me?" He stared with curious warmth, and she bit her cheek sheepishly.
"M-mmhmm. Th-that is if, um, if you want. It."
His laugh turned a little breathy, like he was at a loss. "I love this kind of cake! It's been such a long time since I've been allowed to have some."
His fingers grazed hers when he reached out, sending tingles through her hand. Midway through handing it over though, someone slammed into her, and rather tragically, the cake fell onto the floor icing side down.
Marinette righted herself as her friend group gasped, full of woe.
"Sorry!" she heard Kim call in the distance. The four of them mourned the pastry in silence until Marinette whined softly, unclasping her mouth.
"I'm so sorry."
Adrien picked it up and threw it away, regarding her with gratitude while Alya pat her back. "It was a really nice gesture. Thank you, Marinette."
"But-" Marinette's shoulders sagged. There was no way he wasn't disappointed.
"Really. Thank you." He placed a warm hand on her head, petting her hair. His display of affection was short lived; within moments, he moved past her and walked out of the cafeteria for their next period with Nino. When Marinette looked back over to Alya, she found Chloe standing with Sabrina just a little ways away. And Kim.
"Watch where you're going next time," Chloe called. Marinette exploded so abruptly that Alya almost wasn't able to get to her before she reached Chloe.
"I can't believe you ruined that for him! Aren't you his friend?"
Chloe scoffed. "Of course I am! That's why I had to save him from the 'Baker Girl.' His nutritionist would be furious. He didn't want to eat that crap anyway; he was being polite. I did him a favor."
"Marinette, they're not worth it," Alya soothed, the voice of reason. Chloe finger waved and blew a kiss, then tilted her head, laughing at Marinette with her eyes. Alya growled, but she still said, "We'll find another way to make him feel better, I promise."
"Yes, run along 'Baker Girl." Chloe smirked and peered down at her nails like she had better things to do. When Marinette snarled, Alya held her back tighter.
"If you get suspended, who's going to help Adrien feel better?"
Marinette hesitated, then stopped straining and Alya gradually let her go.
"You're right." She took a deep breath. "Let's just go."
It took all her will power to turn away, but there were things more important than shoving Chloe's giggles down her pompous throat.
...
After school, Marinette waited on her bed and rubbed her temples, the image of Chloe flicking back her ponytail not leaving her brain. Who did she think she was, controlling his life like that? If it were up to her, Chloe would never see the light of d-Alya climbed into her room proudly holding out a bag and clutching an open mint ice cream container. Marinette cleared her throat and smiled sweetly.
"Guess who's awesome," Alya sang, taking a spoon out of her mouth. Marinette laughed before shoving her school things off the bed to make room.
"You."
"How'd you know?" Alya asked, smiling as she plopped down next to her and opened the bag to reveal facemasks and more ice cream.
"From how often you tell me."
They giggled at each other as Alya scoffed and smacked her arm.
"Whatever, it's true."
Marinette rolled her eyes, still laughing, and pulled out a container of Chunky Monkey, her favorite.
"Thank you."
Alya winked and tucked her hair into a bun. "So, what's wrong?"
Marinette looked at her with a dramatic pout. "Me," she cried as she shoved the first bite in her mouth.
Alya laughed softly. "What? What's wrong with you?"
"Everything!" Marinette groaned before giving a pitiful laugh.
"Okay-" Alya held out a mollifying hand. "I know that's always the first place you go. But-"
"No, I'm serious this time."
Alya prompted her explanation tacitly with a brow, her amusement obvious when Marinette stalled by taking another bite.
"I couldn't stop the cake from dropping."
Alya didn't seem surprised. "Honey, that wasn't your fault. It was our classmates being assholes. Had nothing to do with you."
"But, Alya, he looked so excited. I feel like I just took that away from him."
"So, make him more! I'll even help you if you want!"
Marinette sighed and set the ice cream on the nightstand. "It's not just that. I feel like I never do the right thing when it comes to him. Like I can never be what he needs me to be."
Alya frowned. "Marinette, if you live your life trying to be what other people need, how will you ever know what you need?"
"I do!"
"Really?" Alya looked at her with a no bullshit attitude and Marinette tittered. "Most of your day is taken up by all the things you do for other people."
"Well, yeah, but-" Marinette took a frustrated breath and had another bite of ice cream. "If I don't do those things, then people can't be happy. Like, look at Ladybug, right? She needs to save the day or people die. And if Marinette can make someone happy so that they aren't mad, then they're less likely to make life worse for other people. Boom. Less akumatizations."
Alya shook her head and licked her spoon. "I love you, Marinette, but that is so unhealthy, girl. I know you feel like it's your job or something, but the way that people act is not something you can control. Even Ladybug has her limitations."
"But...if-why else will Adrien like me if it's not because I do things for him? He'll have no reason to. And if I don't make him feel better when he's sad-like you're suggesting I do-how else am I supposed to make him happy?"
Alya smiled empathetically, and Marinette puffed her cheeks.
"I'm sorry, but peoples' happiness is just not up to you, and you can't make Adrien like you. You can't control people's feelings, no matter how hard you try." Alya stared, concerned as the bluenette fell on her side next to her.
"But then what if he never likes me?"
"Then he doesn't like you, and it wasn't meant to be."
Marinette released a long, frustrated groan. "No, but, Alya-! How am I supposed to make him like me if I don't do things for him?" A strange pressure settled beneath her sternum as she blinked at her friend's disapproving frown.
"Marinette, that's exactly what I'm talking about right now. You can't make anyone do anything."
The pressure increased, and Marinette looked out from under the sheets, teary eyed.
"Aw...okay. Here's a thought," Alya said, combing a hand through Marinette's hair. "Maybe the people in your life that love you, love you because you're Marinette. Maybe it has nothing to do with what you can do for them. Maybe friendships and relationships aren't transactional."
"But..."
Alya shook her head gently when Marinette was not deterred. "You can't make people like you, Marinette! The people that recognize your value will show you that. You don't have to settle for less. You don't have to try to prove to someone that you are worthy of being noticed or loved. All you have to do is take care of yourself and do what makes you happy, and by doing that you'll naturally spread the happiness that you seem to be trying to force onto others."
"I feel like you're not listening, Alya. How else is Adrien supposed to be happy if we don't try to make him feel better?"
"Holy fuck, girl." Alya pinched the bridge of her nose and huffed a laugh. "Adrien is a big boy. He has all the capability he needs to help himself out of any relationships or circumstances that are hindering his happiness, and he should be the only one to do that. It's not up to us or you to make him happy. Look, Adrien is lucky to be your friend, and even luckier to be your crush, but if you keep putting his needs before your own, you're going to deplete yourself."
Marinette was still displeased with Alya's active listening. "That didn't exactly answer my question, but fine. If you're saying that liking him is bad, then-"
"No, Marinette, I'm not. But you can't just magically make him emotionally available! The reason that you keep trying to do things for him is so that he'll let you in on what's happening to him, right? So that you can fix it, and he'll be happy, and he'll have you to thank? And he'll finally be able to focus on you and a relationship?"
"No. It's because..." She blanked. After a stretch of silence, Alya played with the blue strands of hair peeking out from under the covers.
"Can I ask you something?" Marinette nodded slowly and Alya furrowed her brows. "Why do you like Adrien?"
"Why do I..."
Marinette pulled down the covers and blinked at her.
"Why do you like Adrien, Marinette?"
Marinette looked over to the crumpled pictures of Adrien on her floor and then at her bare walls.
"I..."
Alya sighed softly. "Okay, look: I love that boy, but he is not emotionally available for you, and there's nothing you can do to change that, okay?" Alya tore open the face mask and covered her cheeks with an aloe cream. "Well, at least he wasn't when you asked him out last year. I'm not sure about now, but I'm using him as an example to help get my point across."
Marinette buried her face further into her bedsheets and groaned pitifully. When she had asked him out it had been a disaster.
"You guys are so weird." Alya mumbled to herself. "I don't get it."
Alya stole a spoonful of Chunky Monkey while Marinette released a muffled "What do you mean?"
"I mean it's clear that that boy adores you. You're like, his muse, or whatever."
Marinette couldn't help the slow forming smile that stretched her cheeks as she looked out from under the covers.
"What?" she asked, entirely disbelieving. Alya smiled softly.
"It's true. You walk into a room, and I swear to God, his whole face lights up."
Marinette squinted her eyes and leaned away. "Really?"
"Really."
Marinette's grin doubled in size before it wobbled. "Then why the whole talk just now about how he was wrong for me?"
Alya groaned in exasperation. "Marineeeeeeette! I feel like you just missed my whole point! I'm just saying that you have options. Date Adrien, don't date Adrien...it's up to you. But, like, maybe consider the possibility that you may be unhappy in a relationship with him if he can't reciprocate all the energy you put into him. So, make sure he can reciprocate. And I know you like doing things for other people, but just...don't do it to the point where it's draining you. Make yourself more of a priority."
Marinette grabbed a pillow and whined miserably. "I don't know how."
Alya laughed and pat Marinette on the back. "I know, but it's never too early to learn." Another pout from Marinette made Alya roll her eyes playfully. "Here," Alya said, grabbing the other face mask. "Take this and try to relax a bit. I have faith in you, okay?" She nodded, wiping away the couple tears that fell before she sat up and accepted the aloe cream.
"Self-care would be pretty awesome, I guess."
"That's what I've been telling you!" Alya shook her and Marinette laughed.
"Maybe you're onto something. You might be smart and amazing, or whatever."
"It's what I do," Alya said, shrugging a shoulder at her with false arrogance. Marinette scoffed and pushed her off the bed.
"Hey!" Alya cried, rubbing her butt and pointing a finger at Marinette in admonishment. "No."
Alya crawled back on the bed when their fit of giggles drawled to an end.
"Thanks for coming over."
When Marinette glanced up, Alya's smile was full of love.
"Anything for my girl."
...
Marinette noticed over the next few days that the closer it got to school being out, the more restless Adrien became. She pulled out her phone and made a group chat with Nino and Alya.
Takes Three to Spill Tea
hey
Wed 2:07PM
A: we're in class stop texting
oh hush
as if you weren't texting Nino last period
Marinette stifled a laugh when Nino snorted softly behind them and Alya swatted his arm. Adrien blinked his big green eyes, adorably lost.
I was just thinking
Wed 2:08PM
maybe the three of us could all take turns bringing Adrien something in the mornings
you know, to brighten his day
like subtly tho
Wed 2:08PM
certain demons will spawn and sabotage things otherwise
😤😠🤬
A: Marinette
girl
I feel like our conversation from the other day went in one ear and out the other
No, no! I genuinely have the energy to help
not depleting myself, don't worry
N: aw, is she finally admitting it?
that she still likes him?
Marinette, don't you worry, I can talk to Adrien for you
Marinette shot Alya a panicked glance before shaking her head at Nino.
No
N: babe, the two of them are so funny
shut up
Wed 2:10PM
N: aw, you're not still in denial are you?
embrace the feelings Marinette
embrace them
no one asked you
Wed 2:11PM
N: you literally invited me
😝
A: jokes aside
it's a good idea. I'm in!
ily
Wed 2:11PM
💕🥰💕🥰
💕🥰💕🥰💕
N: I' m in too
yay
N: I'll bring him something Monday
anything for my adrikins
🫡
A: 🤢
Ew
Wed 2:12PM
A: just...no
N: 😂
...
Marinette woke with eager determination Monday morning. Her friends were going to help Adrien and he was going to start smiling for real. When she arrived at school, Alya found her and ran to her side excitedly.
"I think your distraction's working, Marinette." Alya sang, bumping her side playfully. "Nino gave him his favorite headset for the day, and they've just been trading songs for the past ten minutes."
"Awwww."
"I mean look at that face," Alya said, pointing towards the pair. Adrien was beaming. Nino's red headphones hung loosely around his neck, along with the blue scarf she'd made for him, and his hands were tucked into his puffy white jacket. He looked like a marshmallow. A giant one. The comfiest and happiest marshmallow. Marinette's heart warmed immeasurably as he released the most beautiful laugh she'd ever heard.
"I think it is working," Marinette mumbled, breathless from how radiant he truly was. She was going to protect that smile no matter what. She stood there, smiling dreamily until something scratched at her brain. "Wait, I thought you were against this."
Alya shrugged. "As long as you know that these are distractions and not a fix-and there is no fixing how he feels-there's nothing wrong with it."
"Right. That's-" Marinette looked down and fiddled with her fingers. "That's what I'm doing."
She could feel Alya surveying her, but when Marinette turned to face her, she said nothing. Instead, Alya squeezed her shoulder and headed inside, leaving Marinette to stare at the boys by herself.
...
"Marinette..."
Marinette's eyelashes fluttered when she felt the light pressure of a poke on her cheek.
"Wakey, wakey." The voice that reached her ears was so soothing it almost put her right back to sleep. When it chuckled, she lifted her head, her brain finally processing that it belonged to Adrien. Quickly, hoping he wouldn't see, she wiped away any traces of drool.
"Huh? What?" She looked around the empty classroom, briefly noticing how his brows met.
"Tired again, huh?" His lips lilted in an unsure smile. "Are you not sleeping well?"
"What? No! I mean, well-yes, but-" she interrupted herself with a laugh and a nervous scratch to the back of her head. "Like you're one to talk," she said, a playful smile easing onto her face. He'd fallen asleep just the other day.
He laughed at that, surprised. "I guess it is kind of the pot calling the kettle black, huh?"
That made them both laugh. Honestly? Maybe Alya had just been wrong. He had been in a better mood today, and now he was even laughing with her.
"Where'd everybody go?"
"Lunch. Alya said she would save you a seat."
"Ah." She grabbed her bag. "Well, thanks for waking me."
"Of course, Marinette," he said, kind. "I wasn't just going to leave you here."
Her cheeks heated as she tried to swallow any lovesick giggles that might slip. She wondered if he'd caught a few of them when his smile widened.
"Right." Hopefully he couldn't hear her pulse too. He adjusted his backpack, and she realized he was wearing his jacket again. "Are you going somewhere?"
"Uh, yeah. My dad's having me picked up early today. I'm not sure why yet." Disappointment sank through her chest. "Actually, will you, um-" He pulled off the red headphones. "-will you give these back to Nino for me?"
"Oh." Marinette held out her hands, hating that the look was back. "Yeah, sure."
"I'll see you tomorrow, Mari."
Marinette nodded, trying to smile.
"Kay."
...
When he didn't show up to class the next day, it made achieving her goal of protecting his smile kind of hard. It would have distracted her all day, but luckily for her, the universe offered her a small diversion. Yes, instead of worrying about Adrien, she was going to put forth all her energy into murdering Chloe. It was true: now that Marinette was a senior in high school, she'd learned a little more patience than her 14-year-old self. But still, it only extended so far.
She'd been having a normal day, like any other teenager in Paris; she'd stumbled her way to school, fought an akuma, saved hundreds of lives, yada yada-all before lunch. And when it was finally time for lunch, she was hungry; starving, in fact. She wanted to go eat. She wanted to go eat so bad. So, when the mayor's daughter looked at her with wide eyes before turning to whisper in Sabrina's ear, in lieu of engaging, she got in the cafeteria line. And when Marinette finally acquired her tray, she quickened her pace, praying with crossed fingers to shovel her food into her mouth in peace once she noticed the blonde walking toward her. She should have run. With claws, Chloe grabbed her arm and dragged the unwilling bluenette into the cafeteria bathroom.
"Uh...Chloe?"
Chloe ignored her, opting to check the stalls instead. Finding them empty, she walked to Marinette and crossed her arms. Evil giggles fell from her lips. Evil.
"I know your secret."
Marinette scoffed. "My secret?" Chloe didn't know half the shit that came out of her own mouth.
Chloe nodded, smug. "Yeah, your secret. I've been watching you. I know stuff. And when I tell you what I know, you're going to give me something."
Marinette laughed, popping a cherry tomato into her mouth. "What, like a game show? You want me to give you a prize?"
Chloe's eyebrow twitched upwards. "You won't be laughing in a minute, you know."
Marinette's smile died. "Alright," she said, sighing before eating another cherry tomato because she was hungry, God damnit. "Fine. What is it, Chloe?"
Chloe's chin rose high with arrogance.
Brat.
"I know that you're Ladybug."
Marinette choked, really almost dying for a moment. She staggered back, trying to wheeze out a "no" in between her coughing fits. She wanted to punch Chloe's stupid grin off of her stupid face. "Where'd you get that idea?"
"Cut the act, Dupain-Cheng!" Chloe uncrossed her arms and pointed her finger with a jutted hip. "I saw you transform!"
Marinette finished clearing her throat and provided a tight smile. "You probably saw someone else. I have a very generic face, you know?" She swallowed.
Chloe's lips settled in a thin line. "I'm sorry," she said, her eyes narrowed. "Did you just say 'probably?' As in, you do have the ability to transform?"
Marinette's already shallow breaths stuttered even further. "It's a figure of speech, Chloe!"
Chloe huffed and tapped her foot. "Just admit it already!"
"..."
"..."
She messed up. Ohhhh, she messed up so bad. She should've been more careful. Tikki was going to kill her. "Fuck," she hissed, eyes glued to the floor, not able to fully process the possible ramifications.
Chloe guffawed. "You are, aren't you!?"
Marinette's head snapped up and her stomach dropped for a second time. Her bully's eyes lit with glee, and it was then that she knew she'd fucked up.
"I knew it! I mean, it was just a hunch, but I never actually thought you would admit it!" Chloe all but cackled.
Marinette gasped in horror before seething. "You-!"
A hunch. A hunch, she'd said. What was it? Oh, a hunch? No, just a stupid hunch in her stupid face with her stupid grin and her stupid- augh! Fucking-
Did Chloe have any idea how hard she'd tried to keep her identity hidden all these years? And how horrifying it was to just have it tricked out of her for amusement? Marinette glared at her, her jaw clenched so tight that she wondered if her teeth might crack.
"So, you never saw me transform?"
Chloe's grin was wicked. "No." Marinette was on the verge of actually screeching at her, which seemed to make Chloe grin wider. "I was just really committed to finding the truth. A good investigator, if you will."
Oh, if looks could kill.
Chloe raised her palms defensively. "Look, I'm sorry, but I needed to find Ladybug."
Marinette inhaled sharply before she squawked, rubbing her forehead harshly.
"And why's that?"
"I want-"
Some poor soul strode into the restroom, and Chloe's response essentially was to shove her back through the door with an offended groan.
"We're trying to have a conversation here?!" She sneered and spun on her heel, addressing no one in particular as she proclaimed, "The nerve of some people is ridiculous, utterly ridiculous!" Chloe peered outside the bathroom and screeched at her friend from across the cafeteria. "Sabrina! Why are you not guarding the door?!"
Marinette's lips parted as Chloe rolled her eyes, slammed the door shut, and sauntered back over to the sinks. How Chloe's spoiled attitude surprised her still, she didn't know.
"Like I was in the middle of saying-I want you to give me the Bee Miraculous again."
Marinette couldn't stifle her bray. "Chloe, I can't just give you the Bee Miraculous! You have to earn it."
"But-"
"No! And you just manipulated me! Why would I trust you?!"
Chloe blanched. "...Right. I didn't think of that."
"Yeah, I can tell."
Marinette growled, her rage fueled with unmet sleep, a brat, and a bottomless pit of caffeine that made her extra jumpy. She repressed an eye roll when Chloe shrunk in on herself.
"Uh, please?" the blonde tried.
Marinette growled. "No!"
"Everyone likes you. I don't get it! I mean you're so, so-"
"Chloe-" Marinette grit. "-you're not helping yourself right now."
"I just don't get it, okay? I mean, I'm like, way cooler than you. Is your daddy the mayor? No. I can get anything I want. So why? Why can't I make friends like you can?"
Is that what this was about? She wanted the Bee Miraculous so she could make friends? Marinette wanted to go home.
"You are literally one of the meanest people I have ever met."
"Wha-! I'm so sweet, what do you mean?"
She blinked upon the realization that Chloe was serious.
"Chloe, you insult our classmates every day. You make fun of them online and post bad pictures of them, you're bossy-"
"I am not!"
"-you try to steal my stuff and my fashion ideas, you tell people they're not good enough-"
"I'm helping them out! They need to know what's possible for them and what's not!"
"Wow." She set her tray of food on the sink.
"What?!"
"You are, the most, rude, self-centered, narcissistic, egotistical, insecure child I have ever met in my life."
"Oh."
"You're hurtful and unkind, and you put others down to build yourself up. Do you get now why people don't want to be your friend?!"
Marinette edged away again, eager to leave, but Chloe grabbed her hand before she got very far. Marinette stopped and turned to see a tacit request she didn't understand.
Impatience bubbled. "What?"
Chloe's face reddened-with anger or embarrassment, Marinette didn't know-and with her head hung, she grit out, "Please, Marinette. I don't know how."
"How to what?"
"Be like you! Be nice. Be someone's friend."
"And? What does this have to do with me? You want me to feel sorry for you and just give you the Bee Miraculous? Is that it?"
"No! I-" Chloe fumed momentarily before she peered at her. "Would you?"
"No!" Marinette scraped Chloe off of her.
"Fine! Then, I-" The blonde's shoulders sagged. "-I want you to teach me," she mumbled, and Marinette stared because she wasn't quite sure that she had heard that right.
"What?"
Marinette thought Chloe was going to shriek at her. Instead, albeit begrudgingly, she repeated louder, "I want you to teach me, okay?!"
Marinette took a deep breath as she threw her head back. "I can't just-"
"Please, Marinette. I'll...be better."
Marinette rubbed at her temple, exasperated. "I need to think it over." Chloe's lips parted. "Ah, ah. Do not push me right now." The mayor's daughter assented with a pout and reached for the door handle, and Marinette's eyes widened. "Wait! My identity-"
"I know, I know. I'm not going to tell anyone. Obviously," she said before scoffing.
"No. Well, yes, but how did you even suspect I was Ladybug if you never saw me transform?"
Chloe smirked, a paragon of arrogance. "Like you even have to ask. I literally have no idea how everyone else hasn't figured it out yet. You're the worst at being subtle."
"It took you three years."
When Chloe mimicked her, Marinette smiled tautly. "Hey, Chloe? Maybe stop being rude to people? Especially the person you're trying to get to help you."
Chloe pressed her lips together and nodded. "Right," she said, before she left Marinette alone in the bathroom to think about the secret she'd revealed. It didn't even dawn on her that Chloe had never answered the question.