Chapter Text
Chloe sat alone in her room, the echoes of her mother's departure still ringing in her ears. She was finally going back to New York. The click of the car door and the faint crunch of tires on the gravel made her chest tighten. She had expected to feel relief, but instead there was only an aching emptiness, like someone had carved a hole inside her.
And then it happened.
A sudden flash of darkness.
"Chloe Bourgeois," Hawkmoth said, his voice silky, "I see you've been left behind again, abandoned. That hurts, doesn't it?"
Chloe's eyes narrowed, but she refused to flinch.
"I... I don't need you," She said, her voice trembling only slightly, "I've changed. I'm not bad anymore."
"Chloe, you know I can help you. I can give you power, make them notice you, make them respect you. All you need to do is let me in. Think of the control, the revenge, the admiration."
Her chest rose and fell quickly, a mixture of fear and defiance.
"I don't want your revenge," She snapped, "I... I don't need to be a villain to be someone."
"Very well," He said, his voice low, "I've found someone much more promising to join me. Enjoy your fleeting goodness, Chloe Bourgeois."
And just like that, he vanished, leaving only the soft flutter of the butterfly behind.
Chloe sank into her chair, fists clenched. Her lips trembled as she reached for her phone. Marinette had to know.
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A few minutes later, Ladybug arrived through her balcony door, concern etched across her face, "Chloe? Are you okay?"
She soon detransformed, and Marinette sat beside her.
Chloe hesitated, her voice barely a whisper, "I... I just... I need to tell you something. About me, about my past, everything."
"I'm listening," She said gently, "You can tell me anything."
And for the first time, Chloe began to open up, letting the weight of years of abandonment, pressure, and loneliness spill into words, trusting someone who wasn't there to judge her.
Chloé's fingers twisted in her lap, nails biting into the skin as she swallowed hard.
"I know I've been impossible," She began, her voice cracking, "I used to think that being mean, being feared, that would make people like me. That would make my mum stay. But it never worked."
Marinette stayed silent, letting her talk, offering the simple presence that made Chloe feel safe enough to keep going.
"My whole life, I felt invisible, unless I was causing a scene. My mum, she left me so often, and when she was there, she was never really there. She cared more about how people saw her, about her business, about appearances."
Chloe's voice grew softer, almost a whisper, "And I... I started to believe I was like that too. That I had to be awful just to get attention."
Marinette squeezed her hand gently. "Chloe, you're not defined by what you've done or what you think you had to do to survive. You're more than that."
Chloe laughed bitterly, a sound full of frustration and shame, "You don't understand! You've never had anyone constantly disappear on you, never had to perform to be seen. I hated who I was. I thought if I could just control everything, be the loudest, the cruelest, maybe I could make the world bend to me. And maybe, maybe it worked for a little while. But I hated it. I hated myself."
Tears welled in her eyes, and this time they fell freely.
Marinette gently wiped them away, "Chloe, you're brave for telling me this. For trusting me. And you're right here, showing me that you've changed. That's what matters. Not the past, not the people who hurt you."
Chloe took a shaky breath, "And Hawk Moth. He tried to-to use that part of me. Tried to tell me I was still the same, that I could be evil. But I... I don't want to be that person anymore. I want to be better."
Marinette smiled softly, her voice firm but kind, "And you are. That's why you're here, talking to me. That's why you're choosing this moment, right now, to be stronger than him. You're not alone, Chloe. Not anymore."
Chloe's shoulders relaxed slightly, the tension in her body easing, if only a little. "Thank you, really. I don't know what I'd do without you, Marinette."
"You don't have to wonder," Marinette replied, squeezing her hand one last time, "I'll always be here."
For the first time in a long while, Chloe allowed herself a small, honest smile. She knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy, but she had someone in her corner, someone who could see past her mistakes and her mistakes didn't have to define her.
Chloe dabbed at the last of her tears, her usual bravado softening into something more curious as she looked at Marinette, "So, how are you and Luka? You two have been spending a lot of time together lately, right?"
Marinette felt her chest warm at the question, a small, genuine smile tugging at her lips.
"We're really good, Chloe," She admitted, her voice quieter than usual. "We love each other. Things are serious."
Chloe's eyes went wide, a mixture of shock and playful incredulity crossing her face, "Wait, serious? You two are officially together?"
Marinette nodded, laughing softly at Chloé's dramatic expression. "Yes. We've been official for about a month now. And... I told him I'm Ladybug."
Chloe's jaw dropped, her usual teasing edge sharpening, "What? You told him? No way! Okay, wait-oh my god-wait a second. If things are serious... I'm assuming you two have had sex?"
Marinette felt her cheeks flare crimson. She laughed, shaking her head quickly, "No-Jesus, Chloe! We've done stuff, but we haven't done that. Things are serious, but we're taking our time. And yes, I told him I'm Ladybug. He knows who I really am and it feels amazing."
Chloe's eyes sparkled with mischief, a teasing smirk forming on her lips, "Wow, that's actually insane. You're letting him in on everything, huh? Ladybug herself? That's a lot. What if he got akumatised?"
Marinette shrugged, a small, fond smile on her face, "He's the only one I could trust with it, Chloe. He's different. I didn't just tell him, it felt right. We trust each other completely."
Chloe shook her head, mock exasperation in her tone but a softness underneath, "Well, wow. I mean, you're lucky, Marinette. Seriously. Just promise me you'll be careful. He's good for you, but, you know, don't rush anything you're not ready for."
Marinette reached out and squeezed Chloe's hand gently, "I promise. I know. And thank you, Chloe, it means a lot hearing that from you."
Chloe's smirk softened into a small, almost vulnerable smile, "Just, keep him close. He seems like the real deal."
Marinette smiled back, a warmth settling in her chest. Their friendship, messy and complicated though it sometimes was, felt a little stronger, a little more honest.
Chloe leaned back, crossing her arms but keeping her gaze fixed on Marinette.
"So, what about Adrien?" She asked cautiously, as if testing the waters, "You and him... I mean, you two spent so much time together back then. It always seemed like you were on the verge of something."
Marinette sighed, looking down at her hands for a moment before meeting Chloe's eyes, "I know. We were close, really close. But things were complicated. I cared about him, of course I did, but... I think I needed to figure out who I was, what I wanted. I guess he had to do the same."
Chloe raised an eyebrow, leaning forward slightly.
"Figuring out who you are, or avoiding your feelings?" She asked pointedly, a teasing edge to her tone but with genuine curiosity.
Marinette blushed faintly, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"Maybe a bit of both," She admitted, "I guess I was scared too-scared of losing him as a friend if I ever admitted how I really felt. And there were just a lot of things going on. Timing, expectations, everything."
Chloe smirked, shaking her head, "Wow, still shocked, Marinette. I mean, you and Adrien could've been something epic. You both cared so much about each other, even if you didn't know how to handle it."
Marinette hesitated, picking at the edge of her sleeve, her voice quiet as she finally admitted, "Honestly, the reason Adrien and I never got together, it wasn't just timing. I... I didn't think I was good enough for him. And..."
She swallowed, her cheeks heating, "I also had feelings for someone else. Someone I couldn't... I mean, I couldn't tell him."
Chloe blinked, then leaned forward, eyes wide, "Wait, wait, wait. Slow down, Mari. Someone else? Who? Don't tell me... Chat Noir?"
Marinette froze, her heart skipping a beat.
"Uh, yes," She whispered, almost afraid to even say it.
Chloe gasped dramatically, hand flying to her mouth, "Oh my God! You mean you and Chat Noir? You liked him? You liked him while you were spending all that time with Adrien?"
Marinette nodded, biting her lip, feeling a mix of shame and relief, "I... I couldn't tell anyone. It was complicated. And I didn't want to hurt Adrien either. I just... I didn't know how to handle it, and I felt like I wasn't enough for either of them sometimes."
Chloe leaned back, shaking her head, half exasperated, half incredulous, "Mari, you are a disaster. You had feelings for both Adrien and Chat Noir? And you never said anything? That is insane! Like, what the hell were you thinking?!"
Marinette laughed nervously, shrugging, "I know. It sounds crazy. But it was never just about who I liked. It was timing, and fear, and a lot of things I couldn't control. I was scared."
Chloe's eyes sparkled with mischief now, and she leaned closer, "Scared? Marinette, you are so dramatic. But okay, tell me everything! How did it even happen? How could you like Chat Noir when who don't know who he actually is?"
Marinette's cheeks flushed again, a mix of embarrassment and fondness, "He's amazing. He's brave, funny, and he's always there when you need him. But it's complicated, and he doesn't know who I am. And I couldn't let him know."
Chloe's jaw practically dropped, her hands flailing in disbelief, "You didn't tell him?"
Marinette shook her head quickly, "No. If I revealed to Chat Noir that I-that I'm Marinette, that would be dangerous. He trusts me as Ladybug, and it's not just about him, it's about the whole city. Everything could fall apart."
"So you never wanted to know who he was? Not even a tiny little peek under the mask?"
Marinette swallowed, gaze drifting to the floor.
Her voice came out softer, more fragile, "Of course I wondered, but knowing who Chat Noir is, knowing the boy under the mask, would change everything. And if he ever knew that I'm Ladybug, that I'm just plain old Marinette, he'd be disappointed."
The moment the words escaped, Marinette regretted them. They carried too much truth, too much fear. The fear that the confident, heroic version of her was the only part of her worth loving.
Chloe blinked, taken off guard.
"Disappointed?" She echoed, for once without mockery, "Are you seriously hearing yourself right now?"
Marinette's shoulders lifted in a helpless shrug, "Chat Noir, he sees Ladybug as this brave, strong leader. Someone sure of herself. I'm not like that when I'm just me. I'm clumsy and anxious and I mess everything up. Why would he ever prefer Marinette over Ladybug?"
A rare warmth softened Chloe's voice, "Oh my god, Marinette. You really don't get it, do you? You being 'just Marinette' is half the reason people like you. And if Chat Noir is as obsessed with Ladybug as everyone says, then guess what-Ladybug is still you."
Marinette's eyes lifted, faintly hopeful.
Chloe smirked, flicking her hair over her shoulder. "And for the record? 'Plain old Marinette' isn't plain at all. Trust me, coming from the girl who was always jealous of you."
Marinette's chest warmed, but before she could speak, Chloe added with a mischievous glint, "And if Chat Noir ever did lift that mask and saw it was you underneath, he'd probably be thrilled."
Marinette scoffs, "Chloe."
Chloe shrugged, smug once again, "Hey, I'm just saying. You seriously underestimate the effect you have on people. And if you ever decide to juggle Luka and Chat Noir, please invite me-I want front-row seats to the drama."
Marinette immediately protests, "Absolutely not, I love Luka."
But why did the words feel like a lie?