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Time ticked away, second after second. Marinette wasn’t technically late yet, but Chloé was out of her room and that made all the difference. At one time being out in the hotel lobby would have been a thrill. There were so many guests and staff to boss around. She could throw her weight here or there and feel seen . It was one of her few joys in life not long ago.
Now though, everything had been turned on its head. Sure she could snap when she caught someone doing something legitimately stupid, and boy did she. She made up for in quality what she had forsaken in quantity. Yet, she couldn’t just do it. Marinette would be upset. Marinette would think less of her, and that mattered now. The staff had caught on. They hopped to work when Chloé was close, but they didn’t give her the space and fearful glances they once had. A balance had shifted. People felt comfortable approaching her. Her father felt comfortable approaching her. Worst of all Zoe felt comfortable approaching her.
Zoe, who would not stop until she had the family she had always wanted. Zoé who never did enough wrong that Chloé could actually yell anymore, at least not by the new rules. Zoé who was Marinette’s friend, and saw that as an in to ‘bringing Chloé around'. Zoé who just couldn’t understand that sixteen years didn’t just turn on a dime because some outsider wanted it to. Zoé who was… her sister. Marinette liked her. Everyone liked Zoé; not that Chloé wanted everyone to like her. There were plenty not worth being liked by. Chloé might even be able to like Zoé, if she gave herself half a chance, but she just couldn’t take everything that came with her. A family of two? It might be possible. Three? That was just a crowd. Four? Right out. If Chloé was going to be stuck holding herself accountable for who she was, then she would absolutely not let her parents off the hook for who they were.
Not yet at least.
So now being out in the lobby, Chloé was feeling like prey more than predator. Every tick of the clock was another roll of the dice that she could have to face any part of that ordeal. Right now, she wanted to avoid that more than anything. This was Christmas, it was not a holiday to ruin with family.
Five minutes and Chloé had shuffled herself against a potted plant. Her green sweater helped blend her into the foliage. She felt safer, but only until the creeping whispers of the scourge crept out of their cage.
You are disappearing. You’ll dig the hole yourself, one way or the other. Hide from everyone and you’re just as gone as if they threw you away. The only thing worse than a broken doll is one that doesn’t do anything at all.
The backs of her hands itched. Chloé scratched at them through the white leather gloves she wore. Whispers told her, it was the strings. The nubs of cut strings itched, like stubble, but a broken doll couldn’t scratch. Chloé started to peel one glove off, she had to check, she had to see .
It was Marinette who saved her, or maybe Christmas, or both. The gloves were there for a reason. She couldn’t take them off! That reminder sparked her into a different action. Chloé fished out her phone and texted. She was allowed. This was something they were always allowed for. She wasn’t being needy.
Chloé : Where are you? It’s happening. I need you.
It helped, reaching out. It was still hard to do on a regular basis, but at times like this she could. Chloé slumped against the pillar behind the plant ; trying not to go mad as the itching grew and the shadows slowly clawed their way closer.
Bzzzz. Her lifeline vibrated.
Baker Girl : I’m cimin! Almpst there!
Chloé had only just finished deciphering the typo-laden missive when a commotion pulled her gaze to the doorway.
“Ooops! Sorry! Lookout! Ack! I’m sorry! Express delivery! Coming through!”
Marinette barreled across the lobby, half-wrapped scarf trailing in her wake. It was as if the sun had broken through thunderheads. She skidded to a stop, scanning the room. Chloé only just had time to push off the pillar before Marinette spotted her, and the headlong rush continued. Chloé braced instead of racing, her keyed up mind wouldn’t let her move, wouldn’t let her rush into what she knew was coming, no matter how much she wanted to. The best she could manage was to let it happen.
Marinette pounced on her. A giant fluffy blueberry in her new winter coat, she threw her arms around Chloé and squeezed. “I’m here! I’m here. It’s okay, Everything’s fine. You don’t get to be forgotten while I’m around. I’ll scream about you on the street corner if you want- only the good stuff though.”
Chloé staggered, and in that stagger allowed herself to grip Marinette, to grip and hold on for dear life. The shadows growled and receded. The itching faded, burned out by the crushing grip that filled her up. The scent of the bakery lingered on Marinette; too much sugar, the musty notes of flour, and strawberry body spray to top it all off. Chloé was safe.
Chloé whispered softly once the scourge had finally receded completely. “You looked ridiculous.”
Marinette whispered back proudly, “ Utterly ridiculous.”
Reality would not be denied, or at least, self consciousness and worry. “We’re still in the lobby, BG.”
“Oh!”
Marinette jumped back and straightened herself up. Chloé did too, resettling her sweater and sighing. She already missed Marinette’s warmth. The stark white marble of the hotel sucked it all away.
Marinette finished rewrapping her scarf and gave Chloé a bolstering smile. She clapped her hands together. Awkwardness threatened, but a shine took those bluebell eyes. Marinette thrust a hand into her pocket and pulled out a small wrapped package. “I brought your gift!”
Chloé was halfway into reaching for it when her mind whispered a warning about her surroundings again. The lobby, so many eyes, people would whisper. Whispers would get back. Chloé curled her hand into a first and withdrew it. Chloé lifted her chin, projecting for the room. “I see. Well, I suppose you should come up. There might be room under my tree for another gift. It is small after all.”
A glimmer of apprehension crossed Marinette’s features. Chloé screamed obscenities at herself all within her own head. How could I ever have tolerated, much less caused sadness to cloud that face?
Marinette opened her mouth but Chloé acted first. She snatched Marinette’s wrist and turned, pulling her along at a staggering pace to the elevator. She kept her voice pitched to carry. “Come on, Marinette. Let’s get this over with, I’m far too busy to linger. It’s your own fault for being late.”
Marinette was silent as they waited for the elevator, and Chloé could only pray it was in understanding and not disappointment. She didn’t dare look at the other girl now. Her resolve might waver.
The doors opened, and terror materialized. Chloé’s parents, both together because the universe hated her, stood ready to step off. Chloé went rigid. Her mother’s eyes swept over the pair of them and an already present frown deepened to the point her lips parted. Chloé could feel the cut of the remark even before it began.
Desperate, Chloé barged between her parents, daring to jostle her mother. She yanked Marinette behind her into the elevator, and turned to jab the button around her still startled mother. Her father cleared his throat, admonishing speech or weedling request soon to follow. Chloé’s burst of energy left her. Good girls didn’t scream, and she didn’t have many other weapons in her arsenal.
Marinette did though. She stepped into the breech and grabbed André’s hand, shaking it while stepping in too close.
“ItwaslovelytoseeyouMr.MayoryouhaveanamazinghotelhereyoushouldbeproudIknowParisisproudeveryoneisproudofhavingyouforaMayorandyouhavesuchalovelywifeandsotalentedtooMerryChristmasMr.Mayorhaveagreatnight!”
Chloé’s father backed up reflexively, carrying himself out of the elevator in the process. Audrey backpedaled beside him. Audrey had the tolerance for twelve, maybe fifteen words out of a teenager’s mouth per day. Normally Zoé and Chloé had to split them at any given time. Marinette had clearly overloaded Audrey’s buffer.
Marinette let go of André’s hand, stepped back, and waved with her patented cheerfully vacuous expression fixed in place. The elevator doors closed, and Chloé’s parents were gone.
Chloé sagged against the wall of the elevator. Warm, puffy-coated arms wrapped around her shoulders and this time Chloé just let herself lean into them. The only person in the world allowed to, ran a hand back through Chloé’s hair. “It’s still that bad?”
Chloé took a steadying breath. She climbed her way up Marinette’s coat until she was supporting herself again. “She yells, he smiles. I end up with some new piece of junk, and another wrong name added to the list.”
Marinette’s fingers brushed Chloé’s hair back over one ear. Chloé tilted her head into the touch and closed her eyes. Her heart was still racing, and not from the things she wanted to make it race. Marinette’s reply washed over her, “We’ll figure out something. This isn’t what family is supposed to be.”
Chloé sniffled. Little pinpricks of guilt and recrimination perforated her thoughts. She disengaged from Marinette, the sense of loss from doing so was its own form of self punishment. She cleared her throat, and hated how much it reminded her of her father. “It’s already been this long. Only a couple more years and we can all be done with each other. Even if I want to have energy for people who aren’t me now, I rarely do.”
Chloé looked up and lifted a glove-clad hand to cup Marinette’s rosy cheek. Is she blushing from the hug or the cold? Chloé held her gaze until all other meanings for her next words fell away, save one.
“And I know where I want to spend all the energy I do have.”
It was Chloé’s turn to feel the pressure as Marinette leaned into her touch. This was all so bubbly and new and utterly. Chloé hadn’t known what that word really meant before Marinette. Now, it simply meant: Marinette. Chloé was pulled from her thoughts by the realization they were both leaning in. Closer… closer… Marinette’s lips parted, just a hint of pink tongue between them. Chloé could feel the warm wash of Marinette's breath on her cheek. Then-
*pmphf* They were stopped short by the plush stuffing of Marinette’s winter jacket.
They jockeyed around, but a sharp *ding* signaled the end of their efforts. The elevator doors opened and two flush faced teens fumbled out, both riding high on too many hormones and not enough consummation. Chloé scoffed as she led the way to her suite. “That Jacket is ridiculous.”
Marinette glomped her from the side again, protesting, “But it’s so squishy and warm!”
Chloé tweaked that button nose. The world was sliding blissfully away. “You look like a blueberry.”
From playful to impish. Marinette stole a smirk that Chloé recognized from her own reflection. Seeing it there set Chloé tingling head to toe. Marinette leaned more heavily on her and murmured, "Going to see if the taste matches the look?"
Chloé desperately fumbled with the keycard lock, missing twice before jamming it in. One electronic chirp later and they tumbled into Chloé's suite. Chloé flustered, and Marinette whooping with laughter. The soft click of the door shutting was all Chloé needed. She rounded on her laughing friend?… girlfriend?…’it’s complicated.’
Chloé darted in. She caught hold of Marinette’s jacket and yanked open the snaps. Marinette added squirming to her laughter. Chloé pulled the jacket down, catching it around Marinette’s arms, pinning them. Then she took a double handful of Marinette’s red sweater and pulled her in close, returning Marinette’s former triumphant smirk with one of her own. “Now I’ve got you.”
Marinette waggled her trapped arms while wearing an ear to ear grin. “Oh no! Whatever will I do?”
That core of joy, the pure Marinette of it all made Chloé’s heart ache. She pulled Marinette closer. “Take a deep breath.”
Chloé never got the opportunity to complete the kiss. Marinette leaned in before she could pull. The surprise was fuel for the fire and Chloé’s grip tightened as Marinette kissed her. The kiss ebbed and she countered, renewing it and grabbing Marinette’s jacket again, shoving it the rest of the way off. Marinette’s freed hands went to Chloé’s shoulders and her own went to Marinette’s hips. They jockied into a third kiss before finally parting, each panting and waiting… Who would it be this time?
Marinette dipped her chin, drawing her cheek against Chloé’s. “Hi there.”
Chloé swallowed, fingers absently playing at the hem of Marinette’s sweater. “Hi.”
Marinette bumped foreheads. “You seem to be feeling better.”
Chloé tsked. “Your fault.” and gave Marinette’s side a playful pinch.
Marinette squirmed and they disengaged. She puffed up. “I’ll wear that as a mark of pride.”
Chloé fought the urge to just tackle Marinette and start it all over again. Instead she waved a hand at her suite in general. “Let’s get settled. If I only have you for a few hours, I want to try and do this Christmas thing right.”
Marinette pouted playfully, but stooped to pick up her jacket. She paused mid-rise to gape. “What. Is. That?”
Chloé turned, half-expecting an akuma after all this time. “What is what?”
“That!” Marinette walked up beside her, gesturing with both hands.
Chloé glanced sidelong at her. “That’s a Christmas tree- don’t tell me you haven’t ever been able to afford one?!”
Marinette rolled her eyes,”Ha. Ha.” She approached the tree. “I mean, I suppose I should have guessed, but still.”
Chloé crossed her arms, feeling slightly self conscious now. Sure, it was the same tree as last year, but Marinette shouldn’t know that. It still looked good. The silver tinsel offset the gold needles. The Candles had been freshly changed before Marinette’s arrival, and all the colored balls were polished daily. Chloé bit her bottom lip, maybe it was the star? Sure, maybe it could be a little bigger. Half a meter wasn’t that big after all. “It’s okay, right? I mean, did I screw this up?”
Marinette leaned in close to one of the candles. The soft yellow light reflected in her eyes. “It’s absolutely perfect for you. I’m just used to green trees.”
“How would you do that? Hundred euro notes rolled up?”
Marinette laughed, then yiped. She’d leaned in too far and singed her eyebrow. Chloé rushed up, patting then examining the damage. Marinette submitted dutifully as Chloé rubbed one gloved thumb over the shortened hairs. She caught Chloé’s hand after a few rubs though and turned it over. “Why’re you wearing gloves indoors?”
Chloé winced internally. She still hadn’t come up with a good excuse. It just had to last the night, then she’d be fine. She wiggled her hand free to buy time but still came up blank. “It’s this ridiculous sweater you wanted me to wear. These thick cuffs made my hands look like a baby’s. The gloves help even things out.”
Chloé plucked at her cuff to hide the fact she had heard herself. She had heard the voice, that sharp needling self that was more familiar to her than the person she was trying to become. Familiarity breeds contempt, and Chloé had nothing but contempt for the Chloé of a year ago.
If Marinette heard, she didn’t let it show. It was both a relief, and somehow made it all worse. She instead crouched down to look at the sea of presents circling the tree. “And all these are yours? Quite a haul.”
Chloé fell back into patterns. She flicked her nails disinterestedly, the effect of which was spoiled slightly by her gloves. “Oh mostly. Just little odds and ends that daddy has picked up here or there. Jean tries to surprise me with daddy’s credit card sometimes too. Would you like a few? I’m sure I won’t miss them.”
Inside she was burning up. Take them, please. Just take them and let them make up for me being me.
Marinette looked up. The look of concern reminded Chloé in the clearest possible way that Marinette was not Sabrina. Even Sabrina wasn’t Sabrina anymore. Yet here she was still being Chloé. Marinette smoothed the corner of the wrapping on one package. “QB, we agreed, right? One gift each? Budget limit?”
There was a sense of defeat in not having the old ways work. Even if she knew they shouldn’t work, her emotions still needed the boost. Chloé crossed her arms and nodded sulkily. “Yeah.”
Marinette was up like a shot. She took hold of Chloé’s arms and craned to catch her eyes. “Besides,” Marinette smiled, “if it’s yours I get to borrow it anytime I want, right?”
Chloé snorted. An undignified, uncouth, ridiculous sound; it felt wonderful. She waved Marinette away, rolling her eyes. “I knew you put up with me for a reason.”
Marinette shrugged, “Dating a rich girl has perks.”
Chloé turned to hide her reaction. Dating. Her skin tingled, which caused all the little marks on her hands to itch. She reached down, snatching an envelope from the boughs of the tree. She turned and thrust it too quickly at Marinette; nervous energy making her jittery. “Speaking of perks, can you deliver this to Zoé for me?”
Marinette took the letter and turned it over in her hands, “Deliver it? But…”
Chloé fidgeted. “It’s her Christmas present. I got her one, that’s good enough right? I don’t want to get pulled into… everything. I’m trying! I just… no. Little steps are still steps, right?”
Marinette’s expression softened. She nodded. “I think it’s great you thought of her.”
Chloé wilted in relief.
Marinette turned the envelope over again. “Can I ask what it is? I’d’ve thought a forklift would be involved.”
Chloé reached down and picked up another package before turning and walking towards her sitting room. Trying to make Christmas about more than presents was exhausting, and she needed to sit. She waved over her shoulder. “I had thought about it. She might like that more, but she’d never ask for it.”
Chloé heard Marinette following after. “Yeah, but what is it? A Card? … Oooo.”
Chloé smiled, hearing Marinette’s little outburst. She’d worked hard on making sure this little spread was just so. Her sitting room had space heaters arranged around the central couches. Blankets were piled on the couches. Her coffee table was piled high with various Christmas cookies and candies, and a silver samovar dominated the center of the table, filled with piping hot chocolate. Chloé had scoured the internet for the definition of ‘Cozy’ then picked an arrangement that lacked only one thing: Marinette in the middle of it.
She stepped up to the samovar and filled one of the oversized china cups with piping chocolate. Steam wafted up as she turned and offered it out to Marinette. “It’s admission to Cours Flourent. Daddy’s name, and a little browbeating were all it took to get that. Zoé could have done it, but she wouldn’t do it. She’d fuss, fret, and drive herself to distraction applying the normal way. ‘I can’t throw my parent’s names around. I need to earn it on my own.’ Feh. ridiculous . Everyone has advantages. No one says the kids who had parents who cared they were breathing are somehow cheating.”
The way Marinette’s eyes went from calculation, to evaluation, to brightening with approval told Chloé she’d done something right this time. Marinette grinned, then awkwardly set the envelope on the back of the overstuffed lounge so she could take the hot chocolate with both hands. “It’s a great gift, Chloé.”
Chloé beamed. She felt childish for doing it, but being childish wasn’t terrible when Marinette was around. Still, the positive feedback filled her up in a way that was still a little uncomfortable in its newness. She gestured to the living room. “So, you said you had something planned?”
“Oh! Right! Umm..” She thrust her cocoa at Chloé then was off like a shot.
Chloé stood in place, quietly amused and desperately in love, as Marinette ran back to her coat, nearly face planted on the steps back to the sitting room, grabbed the wrong remote twice before getting the right one, fought through all the wrong inputs, juggled the DVD as it popped free when she opened the case, and finally got it into the DVD player. Chloé sipped the cocoa, careful to turn her cup to the same spot Marinette’s lips had touched.
Marinette switched the inputs again while trying to navigate the menu. “I figured if we only have time for one, it should be the Christmas Carol.”
Chloé took another sip then set the cup down and stepped up beside Marinette. “It looks… old.”
Marinette was still buzzing, despite her battle with technology. “It is! The book is from the 1800’s, but Christmas is old, so that makes sense. This version of the movie was done in 1951. They’ve done tons more since then but we watch it with grandpa Roland most of the time and whenever we try the newer versions he says-”
Chloé knew this one. They spoke in unison. “That’s not how it’s done!”
Marinette smirked at her. “Besides,” She hip bumped Chloé, “I figure if we’re catching you up on the real meaning of Christmas we’d better start at the beginning, right?”
Chloé finally rescued the remote from Marinette and got them on track. “What’s it about? The quest for colors beyond black and white?”
“Oh haha. No it’s about this rich old man who’s downright miserable and mean to everyone. Ghosts come and haunt him until he comes to realize the true meaning of Christmas and changes his-”
Marinette's voice dropped to inaudible. Chloé glanced sidelong and saw her little dough ball deflating. She thought fast and poured classic smarm into her voice. “Should I sue for royalties?”
Marinette was stubborn when it came to beating herself up though. “I’m sorry, I didn’t think about it.”
Chloé could be stubborn too. She hit play, turned, and pushed Marinette onto the couch. “Make it up to me, then.”
She snatched up every blanket in reach and dumped them on top of Marinette before she could protest, then laid upon the comfy, squirmy, mass. Marinette wormed her way out, wrapped her arms around Chloé, and pulled a blanket up over her too. They jostled and fussed. Chloé felt the static building in her hair but it didn't seem to matter as much at this moment. Soon they were situated, curled up in a warm pile with sweet food and hot drinks close at hand. I could get used to this kind of Christmas.
They sipped cocoa from the same cup the whole time. Chloé had actually managed to find confections Marinette hadn’t had yet and took joy in feeding them to her, watching the reactions play out like a second film across her face. Chloé ended up leaning back against Marinette’s shoulder and Marinette’s fingers traced purposelessly along her neck. The movie was becoming harder to focus on, but Chloé tried. It mattered to Marinette.
Chloé did have one critique of the film as the credits rolled. “Movies always make it seem so easy once you realize you’ve been screwing up.”
Marinette’s hand slipped down from her neck. Both arms hugged her about the shoulders from behind. “They have the benefit of a runtime. Look at it this way: Whatever else, you didn’t have to wait until you were like, sixty to begin figuring things out.”
Chloé scoffed. “Heaven forbid that day ever comes.”
Marinette persisted. “Oh, I think you’d make an amazing Grandmother. You could match my own, without a doubt.”
Chloé rolled her eyes and reached up, patting Marinette’s hands where they were clasped in front of her. “Please, don’t rush my wrinkles.”
“Oh, those you won’t have to worry about. I can’t imagine one would dare show up on your face.”
Chloé bit her tongue on furthering the joke. She just let the compliment settle and tried to enjoy it. It was an exercise she was still learning. Instead she asked, “How much longer do you have?”
Marinette struggled in the blanket pile to reach her jeans; discarded alongside Chloé’s own for maximum comfort in their fuzzy-sweater nest. She fished out her phone and sighed, shaking it once as if that might alter the numbers on the front. “Not long. We have to go to grandpa’s for Christmas Eve gifts, so tomorrow is just us.”
Chloé would not let it get to her. If Marinette was sad it was her job to be the happy one, taking turns was how this worked. “Well then, we’d better get to giving ourselves before it’s too late!” She sprang out of the covers, instantly regretted her pantsless state, but made the best of it by dashing to grab the gift she’d brought in earlier and diving back under the warm covers.
Marinette laughed, but also steeled herself.” Of course I left mine back in the other room.”
She took deep, bracing breaths then threw off her blankets and dashed for her jacket. Chloé allowed herself the full enjoyment of Marinette’s bare-legged sprint, sliding on the polished marble as she tried to turn. Marinette bent to snag the present and Chloé caught a flash of -of course- polka dots under the red of her long sweater.
Chloé smirked as Marinette ran back, arms pumping and face flushed. Chloé waited until she was almost back, then at the last second rolled and laid across all the blankets, grinning triumphantly.
“Noooo!” Marinette wailed, dancing in place before sprawling herself atop Chloé. “I’ll just steal all your warms then!”
A tangled procession of giggles, tickles, squirms, and stolen kisses ensued. Chloé’s hair was a complete nightmare by the time they were done and Marinette looked all too proud of herself for it. They did however manage to get themselves situated upright with the blankets over their laps. Chloé felt Marinette’s foot against her own under the covers and shifted slightly, moving her foot on top of Marinette’s with just the lightest of pressures.
Marinette presented her gift. “Me first!”
Chloé wanted to argue instinctively, but the look of utter anticipation on Marinette’s face was too much to resist. She took the small wrapped box and shook it curiously. Jewelry? It seemed obvious, but she knew Marinette better by now than to assume it would be something mundane. As she unwrapped the gift Chloé experienced something new, and a little breathtaking. Unwrapping gifts wasn’t really exciting. She had so many things, and could have so many more that wrapping paper always just seemed like an unnecessary delay. This was a gift from Marinette though, and that made all the difference.
A medium sized jewelry box opened to reveal-
Chloé gasped.
It looked delicate in the extreme. It was made from gold tinted wire and foil. Two kinds of foil, golden and black. Chloé gently lifted it out of the box. Three she corrected herself. The wings had a shimmery clear material placed almost invisibly over the foil outlines. It was a lovely little bee, and it was hers. “Where did you find this?”
She was whispering. Afraid it might break if she was too harsh with it. Could she wear it? She would wear it. She would have to be careful when she did. Chloé turned the brooch, letting the wings catch the light.
Marinette scooted closer, snuggling up to her side. “I made it.”
“Made? It’s not clothing, it’s not even like those earrings you made.” Chloé set the box down, lifting the brooch close to absorb the details. It wasn’t ‘fine crafted’ it was hand crafted. It wasn’t made for a store, it was made for her. It was perfect .
Marinette leaned on Chloé’s shoulder. “It wasn’t easy. I had to look up just about every step, and borrow Sabrina’s soldering iron.”
Wait, what? An insignificant detail was suddenly super important to Chloé’s awe-addled brain. “Why does Sabrina have a soldering iron?”
Marinette deadpanned, “Are we surprised by now?”
Chloé supposed not. She turned and stole a quick kiss before Marinette could react. “Only at all the ways you keep being amazing.”
Marinette stuck the tip of her tongue out, then reached out to run a finger along one of the brooch’s wings. “It’s more than just this though. I think maybe it’s time, if you want to try. You can’t be Queen Bee, not to the world, that parts just for me now.” Marinette’s voice shifted from serious to sweet, then back to serious. “Re-imagining your hero-self isn’t easy, but I think you can do it. You’ve already changed everything behind the mask.”
Marinette stole the kiss back from Chloé’s stunned cheek. Pollen. The Bee. A new-
It was ingrained fashionista instincts that made sure she kept one arm outstretched, holding the Bee brooch safely out of the way as she squeezed Marinette one armed. She covered Marinette’s squeak with a kiss and held it until she felt like she could part without simply exploding for joy.
She brought the brooch back and held it gingerly in her hands. "A new bee, for a new me? I can have some time to think about what it should be?”
Marinette flopped back on the couch half-melted and content looking. “Take as long as you need.”
Chloé was buzzing. Properly buzzing again soon! She had to return even a fraction of this. Hopefully it would be enough. She gingerly set her gift back in its box and set it aside, then lobbed Marinette’s gift onto the other girl’s supine form. “Your turn!”
Marinette lifted the box, which was classic ‘clothing box’ size and shook it ritually. “It’s socks, right? Totally socks.”
Chloé poked Marinette’s knee through the blanket, “I’ll admit I did cheat a little, but there were circumstances… and no, it’s not socks.”
Marinette worked at the bow, grumbling good naturedly, “-could use a good pair of socks.”
Chloé clenched her gloved hands into fists in anticipation. Of course Marinette would be a paper-saver. The unwrapping was excruciating. The leather of her gloves creaked and the marks stung.
Marinette opened the box and lifted out… a jacket. Not a heavy winter one like her blueberry monstrosity, this was a women’s tailored letterman in black and red. Marinette looked confused until she turned it around to see the back. The words ‘Team Ladybug’ were sewn onto the back, with six colored circles spaced evenly around them. Red, Black (with a green border to make it stand out), brown, pink, yellow, and aqua, one for each of the six recovered Miraculous.
“Chloé this is…” Marinette didn’t finish the sentence.
Chloé’s fear of being a disappointment reared its head. I can explain! “I figured it would be safe! Everyone loves Ladybug. They’ve also seen the new heroes around. I bet somewhere a clothing marketer will be kicking himself for not thinking of it first. Everyone’s going to want one, but they can’t have one, because there’s only one!”
Chloé was in agony. Marinette was still just looking at the jacket, studying it silently. Chloé saw the analysis in those bluebell eyes and she needed to know . Marinette looked up, a decision reached. She seemed to come back from a distant place, but she came back with a smile on her lips. “It’s brilliant. Hiding it all in plain sight.”
Marinette smoothed her hand over the patches. She looked back down, her smile growing.
“I love it.” She traced the letters of ‘Ladybug.’ “It’s so cool. I never once thought of-”
Marinette dropped the jacket into her lap and threw her arms around Chloé squeezing tightly. Chloé’s bubble of insecurity burst and she held on for dear life as it drained out of her. To cover her own nerves she raised her chin and teased, “Of course not. We both know I’m the brilliant designer in this relationship.”
It felt like a sign of progress that she could laugh at her own pronouncement, and was the first to do so, with Marinette joining in. Marinette held the jacket up again. “I’m going to try it on!”
She matched word to deed, jumping up and pulling herself into the jacket, silly oversized sweater and all. She twisted and turned in front of Chloé. Craning now and then to try to see over her own shoulder at the back.
“How do I look?”
Chloé examined the fit critically. Then she realized the jacket was making Marinette’s sweater ride up, and so she examined it recreationally. “I think you look a bit cheeky. ”
Marinette looked confused, craned a little further, then gave Chloé a rueful smile. She put her hands on hips and wiggled for show. “I meant the jacket, goof.”
“You’re wearing a jacket?”
Marinette rolled her eyes. She turned back around, checking the sleeve length. “I think it’s great!” She paused, then asked hesitantly, “Do you think we could get them for everyone on the team?”
Chloé was torn between selfishness and pride. Pride won. She puffed up. “Well, the jackets are easy enough to come by. I know where the patches were made. I suppose if you asked nicely I could sew them all on each one.”
Marinette went from nodding along to wide eyed surprise. “You-?” She shucked the jacket and spun it around, squinting at the stitches. “Chloé, I didn’t know you sewed.”
Chloé admitted, “I didn’t. That’s why I said I cheated. The final product is within the price limits. Don’t ask me about the failed attempts.”
She should have known better than to brag. Marinette was Ladybug after all. She was smart, she put things together in life and death situations. Chloé’s last second subterfuge was no match for her. Chloé could actually see the connections happening in real time across Marinette’s expression.
Marinette dove. Chloé twisted to escape, but had nowhere to run. Marinette sat on her and caught hold of one wrist. At that point Chloé gave up. She hid behind her own hair as Marinette pulled one of her gloves off and held Chloé’s fingers up to the light. “Chloé!”
Marinette turned Chloé’s hand, revealing the myriad dots and marks on her otherwise flawless skin. Chloé tried half-heartedly pulling her hand away. “It’s not like it’s a big deal or anything. I like these gloves.”
Marinette placed ticklish kisses on the pads of each of Chloé's fingers. "Why didn't you use a thimble?"
Chloé peeked out of her hair. "A whatble?"
Marinette tsked, switching from hand to hand, bearing more of Chloé's shame. "Though at this rate, maybe a pair of gauntlets."
Chloé mumbled, "I got better…"
Marinette shook her head, smiling her adorably huge smile. "Oh you silly, wonderful, sheltered, sweet, bull-headed, beautiful princess of a woman you."
Marinette squeezed Chloé in another crushing hug. Chloé both endured and reveled in it. She petted one of Marinette's pigtails. "What's a Queen Bee who can't handle a few stings?"
Marinette let her go, sitting back on her heels. "I'm wearing it everywhere."
Chloé pointed out pragmatically, "In this weather?"
Marinette raised her chin in a perfect imitation of Chloé, "I'll just wear more sweaters. I shan't be seen without it."
They fell into giggles again, this time interrupted by the alarm on Marinette's phone. Marinette winced. "That's time… I gotta go or I'll be late."
Chloé felt a familiar tightness and habitual anger threaten. She flexed her now bared fingers but would not give in. She made her voice light. "Does that mean you have to put your jeans back on?"
"Criminal, but yes. I don't think any number of sweaters would help with that in the cold."
Marinette got up, and Chloé after her. They went from cuddle-cozy to respectable people again. Marinette demanded another sweater from Chloé, she was determined to wear her new jacket instead of the blueberry. All too soon they were at the door to Chloé's suite.
They shared one last gentle kiss. When they parted Marinette held onto Chloé's hands -gently-. "I could come back…"
Chloé tried not to let her excitement show. "You like your family. Shouldn't you spend Christmas time with them?"
Marinette gave a sly smile,"I will I will! But after I go to bed for the night…Well, Santa doesn't have to be the only one in red and black on rooftops tonight."
Chloé melted inside. It might be months old, but the feeling of Marinette wanting, making time for her was still fresh and burning. "I don't have a proper chimney anyway, but I'll leave the balcony unlocked."
Marinette leaned in. "I'll see you later then."
Chloé did too. "Bring the jacket, leave the jeans."
One more kiss to seal the deal, then Marinette was gone. Chloé carefully took her Christmas present and pinned it onto a hat for better display on her vanity. She left everything else where it was and got ready for bed instead.
For the first time in her life Chloé crawled under the covers on Christmas Eve hoping to fall asleep quickly. Sleep would make the time before her own secret Santa arrived pass all the more quickly.