Nathaniel drew a line across the paper. Frustration set in, causing him to rip it out of the sketchbook and toss it to the ground beside him. He ran a hand through his hair. The usually tomato-esque colored strands, which normally covered his face, moved back temporarily to reveal it. He closed his eyes. Leaning back allowed the rare sunny day to kiss his normally pale skin and warm him a bit as he tried to gather his thoughts and catch his breath before he attempted his work again. He really wanted to get this drawing done. He'd been dreaming of a new superhero comic, a fan work to be honest, of Paris' newest hero, Queen Bee. Up until recently, he'd had a somewhat crush on Ladybug but then, she appeared, helping Chat Noir and Ladybug without warning or explanation. She came in simply like a storm. On the news, she was slightly arrogant and loud but he'd seen her, off to the side, talking with victims, smiling and laughing with Chat Noir. She was diligent and patient even though at times, she looked to struggle with herself and there was something clearly sad glistening in her lonely blue eyes.
He saw it all and the longer he stared, the more he realized that his heart was pounding.
It was rather easy to come to terms with his new crush. Maybe even more so than when he crushed on Marinette. Especially since the chances of her finding out were virtually impossible and if anything, he could always blame it on hero worship since he knew that a majority of his classmates had the same thing for the previous two superheroes.
After his little break, he started again. It was much easier this time around. He pictured her determined look, the way she tossed her top, the way she laughed and giggled with her partners. How her eyes glistened when talking to victims. It brought a smile to his face.
Suddenly, there came a shadow over his paper and it was snatched from his grip. He looked up surprised. The red-headed girl Sabrina held his paper. She snickered. "Look Chloé. Nathaniel's showing his dorkiness." He cowered back. Why now? He didn't want to deal with either girl but bad luck always seemed to put them in places where nobody wanted them. He really just wanted to die. Sabrina ran up to her ring leader who was in the middle of staring at her face in the compact she always carried around to check for blemishes and running make-up; looking her best was always mandatory both as the mayor's daughter and Adrien's future girlfriend. She closed the compact and slid it into her purse. Well, time to get to work.
She turned to say something about the drawing but froze. A blush crossed her nose as her eyes went wide, slowly she reached up to take the book from her friend's hands. Sabrina bounced excitedly. She knew that she'd done well this time.
"Sabrina," Chloé said slowly, "Go get me some water. Only bottled and only the best." The other saluted.
"Right away Chloé!" Nathaniel's face fell. He watched as his heart sunk even lower and she took off to find the water that was ordered for. This was it. His whole work was going to be destroyed.
The remaining girl cleared her throat. His head shot up. She fidgeted and her face was flushed, she held the sketchbook tightly in her hands. If he knew any better, he would swear she was... embarrassed right now. He blinked at the sight before rubbing his eyes to make sure it was true. It was.
She held it out for him. He took it back slowly. She cleared her throat again to say, "You drew that, right?" He nodded, unsure of what to say. The whole situation was weird. He felt his heart seize a bit as her face turned an even brighter red. "Do... do you mind if I ask why you like her so much? Queen Bee. She's the new hero of Paris right?" He smiled softly and nodded. Returning to his seat, he motioned to the ground next to him. She hesitated. His smile only grew as he took off his outer shirt and sat it on the ground to protect her signature white pants which generated a smile from her. A rare and beautiful smile. Chloé joined him without protest, wrapping her arms around her legs, her eyes focused on the ground ahead and not at him. Nathaniel stared for a moment. Then, to ease the tension, he picked up his pencil again and slowly told her a story, "Nobody was sure how to take Queen Bee when she first made her apperance. We were all worried it was going to be another Volpina incident. But, it wasn't. She wasn't. Sure she's loud on TV and a bit arrogant but I see the hero no one else does. I saw her smile and comfort the akumas' victims. I saw her watching both Chat Noir and Ladybug in battle and when everyone's back was turned on her..." He paused, unsure how to state the next part. She eyed him. Concern radiated from her own but he merely smiled and said slowly, "Well, I saw the lonliness that mirrored my own."
She flinched but her blush grew great again. She still didn't look at him.
They fell silent for a few more minutes. Eventually, he finished, stared at the picture, nodded his approval, before he started ripping it out. She jerked and reached for his hand, stopping him.
"Don't destroy it," she pleaded. He blinked slowly before smiling wide and reaching up to pat her hand reassuringly. He peeled her hand off.
"I'm not destroying it." She blinked.
"Wh-what?"
"I'm not destroying it. Trust me." She nodded slowly and watched as he finished removing it from his book. He looked it over one more time, signed it in a new pen, and handed it to her. She blinked again.
"For...me?"
"For you."
"But...I..."
Nathianel pushed it towards her again. She hesitated but eventually took the paper gently from him, hugging it to her chest. Her lips broke into the brightest, gentiliest smile he'd seen from her yet and his heart pounded again. Tears threatened her eyes but she only managed to say, "Thank-you Nathaniel. I promise to treasure it always."
He rubbed the back of his neck, looking away. "It's alright. You don't have to. It's just a really horrible sketch..."
"No it isn't! It's the greatest piece of art I've ever seen." Both of them jerked a bit, surprised at her words, and she covered by stuttering, "I-I mean for an amateur artist." She stood quickly and started to leave. Stopping in her tracks, she turned back quickly and said, "If-if you tell anyone about this, I'll deny it! I'll deny it and call you crazy."
He chuckled. "Sure Chloé."
She nodded pleased before turning and heading off to cut Sabrina off from coming back and thinking of dumping that water on the sketchbook.
Nathaniel gathered his belongings and headed in the opposite direction, a smile, similar to the one Chloé had attempted to hide in her retreat, plastered on his face.