Chapter Text
Chloe had a dream once. A ridiculous, utterly ridiculous dream. Something that was a dream, and would never be anything more than that. She wanted to be a star. A dancer. Yet, she knew that dream would never come true since the moment her mother walked out, the moment it was ingrained into her very soul that she was nothing and would be nothing. That she was ridiculous, utterly ridiculous.
Seeing her dear sister star in a movie, and one that was directed by that no-good Marientte Dumb-pen Chang. The movie which she was supposed to have the lead role in, no less. Maybe it was selfish of her to think she would ever be anything more than ‘the mayor’s daughter’. Not to mention that her sister probably thought of her as nothing more than a spoiled brat who couldn't keep a single thought straight.
It almost felt like a joke when she was handed the necklace which was obviously the charm ladybug had tried to give her earlier. The only reason she took it was because maybe the ridiculousness of her character was more ridiculous than simple common sense. Maybe she wanted to play a part, maybe she wanted to be something more. Maybe even, she wanted to feel as if she had a choice in the matter.
She seethed out at her sister. “I hate you.”
Zoe responded, almost making Chloe gag at the disgustingly sweet tone of her voice. “You may hate me, but I will always love you, sister.”
Chloe paused for a moment. ‘How ridiculous.’ Her chest swelled at the prospect of having a family. Someone who loved and cared for her, someone she was free to love and care for as well. The closest people to that were Adrikins and Sabrina, but they would never be the same.
She immediately crushed her utterly ridiculous feelings. The girl was not her sister, but instead a child born of her mother’s cheating tendencies, simply a reminder of how ridiculous Chloe was herself.
Zoe went in for a hug, but Chloe pushed past her and stomped out the door. She didn't need anyone, especially anyone who was just going to make another fake promise.
Adrikins chased after her. Chloe felt her heart leap at her first friend’s appearance, mentally preparing herself to begrudgingly accept whatever apology he utters. Adrikins speaks up in his gentle and childish voice, the same one that never changes, never wavers, and always forgives Chloe. “Chloe! Come on! It was just a movie, everyone worked hard on it!” Chloe spun around and flicked back her hair in an arrogant way. “And? I was working hard too, Adrikins. Much more than those… peasants. You and I? We’re above them.”
The blonde-haired priss was shattered by his next line. “Why do you treat everyone like they’re below you? You can’t be doing this anymore Chloe. You’re my friend, but they all are too! If you keep treating my friends like this then… I don’t think I can continue being friends with you either!”
‘This isn't how it’s supposed to go. You’re going to leave? Leave me? Like everyone else? Fine. I don't need you.’ “I suppose I was wrong.” Agreste’s face brightened for a moment, hoping to hear the girl finally be able to work things out so he wouldn't have to leave her behind. Chloe scowled at the boy, pushing down her hurt. “You’re just like them, Agreste. All of you are ridiculous, utterly ridiculous. Consider our friendship over. Go back to your pathetic losers.”
Agreste’s smile dropped, and he watched in pain as the mayor’s daughter quickly stomped away, feeling as though he had made the best choice, but not the right one.
Chloe slammed the door to her hotel room and quietly changed into her relaxed outfit, what she wore when she knew she was alone, when no one would come looking for her and for once she could feel as though her utterly ridiculous dreams could've come true.
A black long sleeve skin tight one piece ballerina outfit with an open back and mini skirt. She paired it with pastel pink stockings and white ponte shoes. Chloe tied her hair into a low slicked back bun and walked to the corner of her overly large room.
She put in her wireless earbuds and began to dance, making her way across the room. The dancer imagined her audience, quietly watching as she moved her body in rhythm to the music. As utterly ridiculous as it was, it set her free.
In her dance, she wasn't ridiculous anymore, or at least, she didn't feel like it. Her brows scrunched up as she moved faster, hearing the music swell.
Her mind darted back to the early days of her dance lessons. The instructors’ praise made her foolish younger self believe her mother would actually like her, or at least something about her. The way they talked actually convinced her to go to Chloe's performance. Not a single movement out of line that day.
Yet her mother still left. Chloe watched, tears rolling down her face as her mother exited the building, shouting about how utterly ridiculous her daughter was and that she should be fired. Chloe stumbled over her own feet for the first time in the perfectly executed performance, tripping off the stage and landing flat on her face before ending up in the hospital with a concussion. She swore to never dream up something so utterly ridiculous ever again, and stopped doing performances.
The child prodigy stopped practicing professionally entirely, ignoring the pleas from her instructors to continue. She was graceful and talented, and maybe she could’ve become a world renowned dancer.
But she still would've been utterly ridiculous.
Chloe collapsed onto the bed, sweat pouring off her face. She was too tired to cry, yet too upset to smile. She would never be able to give up dancing. She dreamed of it, she longed for it, and she continued to indulge herself in solo practice in the fear of forgetting how amazing it felt when she danced.
No matter how utterly ridiculous it was and would always be.
Chloe got up and took a shower, changing into yellow silk pajamas. She fell asleep quickly, almost forgetting about the fiasco with Agreste and her dear half-sister. And in her dreams, she was free to dance once again, a dance that didn't need her mother’s approval.
Two weeks passed without much happening. School happened, Sabrina followed her around like a lost puppy, people got akumatized, the average school day. Someone else got the bee miraculous, Chloe’s miraculous. However, she could understand it to an extent. She betrayed Ladybug, and for that she could never be forgiven.
She woke up almost automatically, flowing through her usual routine. Today felt different, well, as different as most days were from each other. But today was a Saturday, which meant no annoying bugs or utterly ridiculous schoolwork.
That was what she had thought, until a knock on her door flung her out of her daydreams of a peaceful life with nothing but dance. She begrudgingly opened the door to see her dear half-sister standing there with a dumb smile on her face. “Morning, Chloe.”
The grumpy older half-sister raised one eyebrow and put one hand on her hip, leaning towards the door. “I give you permission to speak.” The chipper younger half-sister beamed. “I was wondering if you wanted to go to the park for a picnic with me and some of the kids from school-”
Chloe scrunched up her face and nearly slammed the door. ‘A picnic? In the grass? With disgusting bugs and inadequate food? I don't think so.’ Zoe yelled and quickly caught the door to keep it from closing. “Let me finish! Adrien will be there! He wants to apologize for before!”
Chloe felt herself falter at the prospect. She let the door glide back open. Zoe shyly smiled, holding her hands together behind her back. “So… we’ll leave in 30 minutes or so. You don't have to go, but I'd love to have you there.”
The dancer simply had a lapse in judgment. Yes. That was what it was. It wasn't that she wanted to go with her sister-ahem, half-sister, and adriki-ahem Agreste. Exactly, she just wanted to show off how much better she was than these peasants, and maybe have her former friend and the losers he hung out with grovel at her feet.
It was an utterly ridiculous feeling, hope. Chloe could've sworn she had already crushed every single molecule of it in her body, yet it kept coming back.
She wore a white short-sleeve button-up shirt with a yellow ascot and black pants. Her hair was up in its average ponytail with her sunglasses resting on her face. Zoe took her by the hand, which Chloe tried her best not to pull away from.
Upon Zoe’s insistence, they ended up not taking a taxi and instead walking to the park. It was as expected. Marinette Stu-pen Chang ran up and excitedly grabbed Zoe by her hands. “I'm so glad you're here!”
Alya walked over as well with Nino and Agreste to greet her, leaving Chloe a couple steps behind. She watched enviously as Zoe did her own ritual with each of them. A hug with Alya, a secret handshake with Nino, and a high-five with Agreste.
Chloe scowled, leaving her arms crossed. ‘Why did I even bother to grace these pathetic losers with my presence? They should be bowing before me!’ She wondered why it was so easy for Zoe to get along with the lower class. It was so easy for her to make friends, so easy to achieve her dreams, so easy to simply… be accepted for who she was.
That left a sour taste in the dancer's mouth. She knew why. Because Zoe is the type of person who people like, an utterly ridiculous person. Someone who’s cheerful and utterly nice and selfless, and throws away all common sense when it comes to others. Because Zoe isn't Chloe.
And because as Cesaire looked over, her expression of glee flopping into obvious hatred when she made eye contact with Chloe, Chloe knew she would never be as utterly ridiculous as Zoe. Not to herself, and definitely not to others.
Nino raised an eyebrow. “Wait a minute, who invited Chloe?” He looked around in confusion, trying to pinpoint the culprit. He leaned over to Alya and loudly whispered in a comedically obvious and obnoxious way. “I thought we were trying to set up Zoe and Juleka’s brother?”
Chloe scowled at the group, pulling her arms in a tighter grip crossed in front of her chest. “What are you looking at, four-eyes? Going to shoot laser beams at me through your thick glasses?” Alya grumbled, taking a large step toward the prissy blonde princess. “Why you little-” Zoe quickly put her arms between the two to keep them from tearing each other apart, well, from Alya tearing Chloe apart. “Hey! Let’s just calm down!”
Nino tugged Alya toward him, who begrudgingly stepped back. Marinette furrowed her eyebrows at Chloe, but said nothing. Agreste rubbed his shoulder and meekly waved. Zoe was the only one willing to break the silence. “So… has Luka come here yet?”
The green-eyed Agreste quickly followed Zoe’s lead, his voice cracking slightly. “Y-yeah! He’s waiting for us on the blanket already.” Zoe clapped her hands together and nodded. “Alright! We shouldn't keep him waiting too long.”
The group walked to the grassy area with Chloe in tow. Alya stood with Nino to the far left with Marinette and then Adrien in the middle. The next was Zoe, with Chloe still scowling and crossing her arms while arrogantly holding her head high.
Off to the shade of a tree, a young man sat on the ground with his legs crossed on top of a pink and white checkered picnic blanket with floral detailing. He hummed slightly, picking at a black guitar. Chloe almost gagged when she saw him. His face was decent enough, although nowhere near her standards, but his clothes seemed to be picked right out from the trash bin.
Not to mention that horrendous blue hair and piercings, and how he totally seemed like an utterly ridiculous illegal pharmacist. Or just a total naturalist. In short, he looked smelly. Really smelly. But in a poor way, instead of a rockstar way like Jagged Stone, whom he bore an uncanny resemblance to.
When they sat down, she had the pleasure of being the second nearest to him. Her sister had the opportunity of being right next to the boy. Luckily, he didn't smell nearly as disgusting as Chloe expected, but he was still utterly ridiculous.
Alya, of course, sat as far as she could from Chloe, with Nino beside her. Adrien and Marinette crowded around the picnic basket, with Marinette fumbling over herself as she tried to proportionately hand out the food. She glanced shyly at Chloe, who continued to cross her arms with no plate in front of her. The dancer raised one eyebrow. “Well?”
Marinette opened her mouth to speak, most likely something not exactly flattering, when Agreste cut her off. “We didn't know you were coming so… we didn't bring enough for you.”
Chloe rolled her eyes at this, ignoring the ping in her heart telling her that she should simply grab Adrikins and run with him to somewhere more up to standard. “I wouldn't eat anything from the likes of one of you. Especially if it was made by baker girl.”
Alya glared at her again, ready to pounce. This time Marinette shared her glare. Agreste seemed to be more hurt than angry, although Chloe did not care at all about him since she’d already sworn off being his friend. “I thought you came here to be nicer to my friends! If you didn't want to apologize, at least for me, why did you come here anyway?”
The dancer girl dug her nails into her arm, clenching her jaw in pain. “You losers should be grateful that I took the time out of my precious life to attend this utterly ridiculous excuse of a picnic! I only came here because I thought you were going to say sorry to me! You should be groveling at my feet, begging me to allow you to continue being my friend!”
Nino suddenly stood up, enraged at Chloe’s constant whining about his friend being not enough. “What is your problem dude?! Why would we ever apologize to you?! We didn't even want you here?!”
The dancer stood up as well, snobbishly turning her face away so the losers on the picnic table couldn't see her glossy eyes. She told herself that it was fine, that she was used to being treated like a nuisance.
That didn't mean it didn't hurt.
“Whatever! None of you are worthy of my time either. Don't expect me to show up to one of your utterly ridiculous get togethers ever again!” Zoe quickly interjected, trying desperately to de-escalate the situation. “No! It's my fault! I asked Chloe to come and…” She looked between her friends and her cold sister, not knowing whose side to take.
Her friends could always make up with her but… this might be the one chance she had to get closer to the only other girl who had suffered through the same family she had. “I just really wanted… for you to get along with everyone.”
Chloe paused for a moment to glance back. Zoe’s heart leapt, thinking for a second that she might decide to stay. Chloe’s voice was shrill and icy. “That was ridiculous of you. Utterly ridiculous. Never do it again.”
Zoe felt herself collapse back onto the picnic as she watched her half-sister walk away from the park, away from her. The guitarist boy watched all of it in silence, not knowing whether to intervene or comfort one of the groups. He chose neither.
He took a glance at his phone, hearing a ping before getting up and putting on his helmet. “I have to go, my boss needs me to fill in at work.” The group said their goodbyes and waved him off. “Bye Luka.” “Say hi to Juleka for me.” “Sorry you had to see all that dude.”
Luka hopped onto his bike and pushed off. He pedaled in the direction of his workplace before stopping and turning around, now heading in the direction of the blonde who had just run off.
He didn't know why he did it. It seemed to just feel right, for him to chase after her. Maybe it was his calm nature, but taking charge like this for someone he didn't know anything about was completely out of character for him. People went to him naturally, they were simply pulled in by his neutral yet kind spirit. He didn't chase girls, they came to him.
So then why did he go after the dancer? Maybe it was her inner song that pulled him in. A violent melody that drowned out everything in its wake. A song desperate to be heard. Not to mention, who was he to ignore someone that could be helped? Who needed help. Who needs someone now more than ever, and who could only be helped by someone neither righteous or controlling. Someone like him.
Besides, work could wait.
When he arrived at the girl’s location, sitting down on the steps to a monument, where a man fed pigeons a bit farther away, with people walking up and down, and others also sitting down on the steps.
It was a perfect camouflage. So good, in fact, that Luka nearly missed her. She didn't stick out at all among the crowds of people. Somehow, he still saw her.
He marched over and sat down beside her. The only thing between them was her most likely expensive tote bag. Luka took a deep breath, a hint of lemon filling his lungs. “Hey there stranger. You seem upset.”
Chloe eyed him from the corner of her vision, but kept her head straight ahead. “And you seem utterly nosey.” She looked away from him and back into the distance. It was not the scenery she’d like to see, but she knew how to disappear.
If she went back to the hotel, Zoe could find her and continue to pester her. If she went to a cafe or went shopping, her father could easily locate her by the charges. This wasn't the best spot, and sitting down in such a location practically made her skin crawl in disgust from sitting on the bare ground.
However, she knew she wouldn't be located if she didn't want to be, and this place was one of the best places to hide away. The constant stream of people made it hard to search for anyone.
So how did some boy who she doesn't even know locate her? How dare he come up to her all friendly and expect her to simply tell him her entire life story?! She wasn't Zoe!
The silence between them wasn't exactly comforting, but the feeling wasn't enough to make Chloe leave. Why should she have to run away again just because some homeless boy showed up?
Finally, she decided to humor him for a moment. “I'm Chloe Bourgeois, not a simple stranger. You're the guitarist peasant from the picnic, and former boyfriend of baker girl.”
Luka felt a sting from the girl at the latter half of her words. ‘Yeouch.’ She reminded him of a bee in that way. Buzzes often and stings even more. Not to mention they were unnecessarily hated by the public no matter how much they contributed to the ecosystem. “Luka. Luka Couffaine. Not a guitarist peasant.” He mimicked her slightly, trying to get a laugh.
Any ordinary girl, maybe someone like Marinette, probably would’ve at least smiled, but Chloe Bourgeois was not an ordinary girl, and she was definitely not someone like Stu-pen Cheng. She scowled at him, furrowing her brows and instead taking it as obvious mockery.
The two sat in silence for a moment longer. Luka took out his guitar, beginning to strum instead of speak. He didn't know what he was expecting from the mayor’s daughter. Anytime she was spoken of, it was always something bad, always something she had done wrong and caused hurt by.
Chloe subconsciously tapped her foot to the beat from under her crossed legs, imagining herself doing the neck snap from ‘Icy’ or the shuffle from ‘Valkyrie.’ She closed her eyes, mouthing the words from behind her fingers.
Luka glanced over to see the girl simply enjoying the music. He smiled to himself, enjoying the newfound perspective. As always, music was the universal language. He wasn't exactly sure what he was playing, but whatever it was, felt right, the same way it felt when he turned his bike around to go after her.
Once he stopped Chloe quickly snapped her eyes back open and stopped tapping her foot. He slyly commented, “Seems like you were enjoying the music.”
Chloe didn't hesitate, as she almost never does. She turned and locked eyes with Luka, smirking much too smugly for someone who had the patience of a grade schooler. “Oh? You wanted to impress me that badly, peasant guitarist? I allow you to grovel in my superiority.”
Ba-dump.
Luka didn't realize his heart skipped a bit from the haughty princess. She was definitely not his type, and definitely not making him feel even the slightest bit flustered. Luka wasn't like that at all. He’s calm and collected. He’s neutral. He doesn't get flustered for anyone. He makes people flustered, definitely not the other way around. He makes people laugh. He makes people stutter. He’s the one who should be looking smug. Somewhere in his race of thoughts, he finds something to say to the girl. “Ah, I suppose I'm adequate to your highness?”
Chloe shrugs and looks back out into the distance. “You’re promoted from peasant guitarist to regular guitarist.” For the first time, Luka takes notice of how her hair glows slightly in the sunlight. It seemed much silkier than Adrien’s, and much better taken care of. He subconsciously runs a hand through his own hair, thinking of how he hasn’t bothered to wash it since Tuesday, and how he only uses shampoo since the conditioner was always saved for Julika.
“Only regular guitarist? I thought my playing was pretty good.” Chloe glances over and leans in, glaring. “Good for a regular guitarist, but not good enough for more than that.” Luka leans in as well, smiling. The contrast between them only seemed to intensify the strange feeling stirring in the two of them. “What would I have to do to be promoted to more than a regular guitarist?”
Chloe pulls back, facing in any direction that wasn't him. She puts a hand on her chest and waves the other around in an exaggerated way. “Ha! A peasant like you would need to perform a miracle in order to become a guitarist worthy of my praise... If anything, you pestering me will get you fired!” She turns to him, still scowling and pointing her hand in his face. “You’re fired!” She turned away again and crossed her arms.
Luka leaned back slightly on the steps. It was a strange feeling for him. Was it… annoyance? Annoyance toward this arrogant rich girl? He wasn't sure. Luka didn't get annoyed. To him, everyone needed help, everyone deserved acceptance. But this…Chloe…she seemed to be getting on his nerves. She didn't react right, in the way most people did, in the way Marinette did. If this girl was Marinette, then she would’ve been struggling over her sentences and terribly flustered.
But she, so demanding and high-maintenance, simply wouldn't budge for even a single smile. It… annoyed him. At least, that’s what he thought he felt. Frustrated. Irritated. Peeved. Vexed? Just… Different. He wasn't supposed to feel different, he was supposed to be the mediator, the average, the indifferent, not the different.
It was confusing. “But… I'm not working under you?” Chloe suddenly stood up and turned around. She put one hand on her hip and bent over to get a closer look at the musician. She squinted her eyes at him. “How insolent! I said you’re fired!”
She quickly turned around and crossed her arms again, closing her eyes as well. Was she… waiting? Most likely. That’s what the prissy girl enjoyed doing. Seeing people grovel and beg for her attention. That’s what people were meant for, no matter who they were, and no matter how recently she had met them.
Luka sat there like a deer in headlights. What was he supposed to do? When people came to him, they wanted advice, they wanted comfort, they wanted him to maybe play a song for him. She hasn't asked any questions, or requested any songs. “I heard you.”
The dancer spun around and faced him again. “Then hurry and-” Chloe immediately stopped when she felt a drop on her perfectly slicked scalp. “What was that?” She felt around the top of her head, trying to find the evidence of whatever had just tapped her head.
A stream of rain started to pour on the parisians. Luka quickly tucked his guitar back into the case and locked it in. Chloe started screaming in terror, panicking horribly. “My hair! Ahg! Who hired this rain?!” She stomped around, continuing to yell at nobody in particular. “This stupid rain is fired! How dare you! You’re all fired! Everyone should be fired!” Luka watched her, a hint of amusement for the incredibly annoying girl. He hugged the case of his guitar to protect it. Chloe spun around and yelled at him too. “What are you looking at?! Do something! This rain needs to be fired!”
Luka snickered a bit, covering his face with his hand at her childish behavior. The girl picked up her tote back and hugged it to her chest. “Utterly ridiculous!” She pointed up at the sky and kept screaming. She seemed to always have something to say. “Do you know how expensive this bag is?! I demand you to stop this instant! Stupid rain!”
Something about a girl screaming about something she had absolutely no way of controlling, but still trying to fight against it, made Luka take action.
He got up off the stairs and hovered over Chloe, pulling his jacket up to cover the both of them. His guitar case hastefully slung over his shoulder. Her shoulder lightly brushed the middle of his chest. Chloe directed her anger back to him. “How dare you, you peasant! Didn’t I fire you? I should fire you again! I don’t want you standing so-”
Luka took a step back, letting the rain continue to pour on Chloe. Faster than the speed of the rain pouring down, she stepped back closer to him, hissing out, “I didn’t say you could move, stupid. My hair is worth a hundred times more than that jacket, I’ll have you know-”
Luka started moving toward the closest shelter, resisting the urge to run quickly and leave the annoyance in the rain and watch her suffer. She moved with him, obviously because it was the only option. Otherwise, she would call a car and leave the peasant in the rain and watch him grovel for her to bring him with her. Then she might have allowed him to, because she was just so benevolent and forgiving.
Well, at least he didn’t smell as bad as she thought he would. Although he was no Agreste cologne, he wasn’t garbage like his clothes were.
Once the two practical strangers made it to under sufficient enough shelter, Luka wrung out his jacket and prepared to leave. Hopefully, he wouldn’t have to be around someone so insufferable ever again. He still wasn’t sure why he biked after her in the first place. She definitely wasn’t pleasant, probably the least pleasant person he’d ever be around.
It just seemed like the right thing to do, and he was a very righteous person.
Chloe glared at him. “Where do you think you’re going? You could at least be useful as an umbrella. I might just un-fire you.” She wasn’t sure why she called out to him. No, not called out. It was closer to a demand. To be honest, she never wanted to see him again.
Luka glanced back. “I have to get to work. I’m sure you’ll find a way to be your own umbrella. Try using that bag.” Now it felt right to leave and not stay. This time, he didn’t exactly want to leave, although it was different from when he decided to help her get to shelter. It wasn’t that he was supposed to stay anymore, but he just wanted to. Wasn’t that strange? He didn’t normally want things. Maybe he thought if he stayed around long enough then he would be able to see more of the annoyance and her strange reactions. He’s never felt such hatred before. It was new. for sure.
Chloe grunted out at him. “This bag is worth more than your life, peasant.” Luka laughed a singular ‘ha!’ Whether it was forced, he wasn’t sure. He wasn’t sure of a lot of things around the prissy girl.
He turned around quickly, feeling that one action would be right. He placed a hand on her hair and rapidly shook it back and forth, completely messing up the slick and making it probably a billion times worse than it was earlier thanks to the rain. Chloe yelped and tried to grab him as he quickly dashed out of the shelter back into the rain where she wouldn’t be able to follow.
The dancer screamed as he ran, laughing harder than he ever had before. “You’re fired! I swear I’ll get you for this-! AHG! This hair is worth more than your guitar! You-! FIRED!!! How dare you!” For the only time in the entire series, and this fanfiction, Chloe said his name. Actually, she screamed, no less. “LUKA COUFFAINE!!”
Chloe swore right then and there to somehow get him back for this utterly ridiculous situation, and she never forgot his utterly ridiculous name.