A/N: Here we go. Queens' fight.
Warning: This chapter is probably going to be the darkest one, diving a bit more into Zoe's mental stability and bloodlust, as well as real injuries. I might make another dark one, but it's a step out of my comfort zone, if I add another dark one, there is a good chance Paula will write it.
Chapter 10: The Queens' Fight, some real first aid, and Zoe's true insanity.
This was the moment Adrien Agreste and Zoe Carpenter—though the media was calling her Zoe Agreste for some reason, not that she minded—became Sam and Dean Winchester, from Supernatural.
Thanking Thomas Astruc for releasing the clip of Adrien turned into a statue, the duo packed up as many weapons and defensive materials as they could into Zoe's emergency backpack, with a large ass first aid kit. Because nobody on this world was worried about a terrorist attack—at least, not one akuma unrelated—they didn't check for pointy or blunt objects when coming in. They had packed some nunchucks, a dagger, a small axe, and a gun with rubber bullets. They didn't know the full extent of Style Queen's powers, but they did know nobody would question them for having weapons of self-defense on their person, if it was concealed.
Adrien had gone with the dagger on his person and the axe in the bag, Zoe kept the gun on her person and the nunchucks in the bag. It was easy to hide; the dagger sheathed at Adrien's hip, hidden by the jacket of his suit, and the gun in a flash holster, meaning a holster attached to Zoe's bra—thankfully, she had enough bust to effectively hide the very small 22 caliber pistol.
She couldn't help but be pissed that Gabriel was once again choosing his wife over his son and ward, abandoning them to die in this fucking fashion show. They were willing to go all out as proper Winchesters, but they would rather not, so as to not have the cops on their asses—though since Officer Roger just had a taser on him, it was debatable if he knew what a gun was, and Zoe had made sure to paint part of it orange so they could say it was non-lethal, which it was technically. Was that illegal? Yes, and slightly immoral, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
Gabriel had also gotten too lazy to get them their own dressing rooms. Maybe because they were so brother-sister, but if you've seen a good chunk of romance movies, that's how it starts. While both knew they would never end up in a relationship like that, it didn't make it any less odd on Gabriel's part.
Zoe put on her black dress, as Adrien was looking at himself in the mirror and fixing something about his jacket—it seemed Gabriel was going through a black phase, maybe emo, maybe mourning, yet the anniversary of Emilie's condition was assumingly not close, because Adrien seemed indifferent about this day, but a mess if the topic of his mother in the coffin came up.
"I feel awkward." Adrien announced to nobody in particular.
"That's probably because you look ridiculous." Plagg said quickly, being swatted away by Zoe, "You look great Adrien, and if you really hate it, at least it won't be what you go in the ground in. Hopefully."
Adrien sighed, giving her the finger for that last comment, as someone knocked on the door. He opened it and his face visibly lit up when he saw it was Marinette, which made Zoe grin like an idiot.
"Hello, Marinette."
"Hey Mari," Zoe said with a grin.
"Oh, uh— Hallah…" She walked up the stairs; tripped; fell on Adrien; Adrien kept her upright; the hat fell on the ground and the feather fell off, "Ooh… sorry."
"No worries." Adrien said, they both simultaneously went to grab the hat, their foreheads bumping into each other. Zoe laughed at their misfortune, which was also a cute Adrienette moment. She took a picture, texting it to Tom, Sabine and Alya—the leaders of the Adrienette club.
Adrien picked up the hat; Marinette the feather
"Oh, no!" Adrien gasped, "I hope it's not too hard to fix it."
"Oh, you know, it doesn't really matter." Marinette said, "This hat is a complete failure anyway."
"What, no it's not." He insisted, offering his hand, which Marinette took without hesitation "Why would you say that?"
Holy demon fucks. Is this the moment? Has Adrien realized his true feelings for Marinette? She is not just a friend! And now for Marinette to fall in love with Cat Noir—NO! I will not have my sunshine brother be de-virgined until his honeymoon at the very least at age 21. There can be MariChat, but I will stop the smut!
"Because… the queen of fashion, Audrey Bourgeois, saw it and hated it. I'm sorry, Adrien. I really messed up. I'm a total no-talent. Please don't put it on."
Zoe glared, "Bourgeois? She insulted you." She pulled out a pocket knife, because Natalie was there, so she couldn't reveal the gun, not that it was lethal, "Time to die, Bitcheois." She didn't know why, but she was feeling more murderous then usual, maybe because she was getting more and more apprehensive by the minute. Natalie's eyes bulged, and Adrien took the knife, "No Zoe, no murder right now. Maybe later."
Wow. She had not expected the 'maybe later', geez, that said a lot. Then again, he could be referring to Style Queen.
Adrien walked back, putting the knife just out of Zoe's reach on a shelf, knowing full well she had a gun in her bra. He took the feather out of Marinette's hand, "Marinette, everything's gonna be fine, if Zoe doesn't kill someone, not that I think she will, maybe scare the crap out of her victim, but really deep down, she's a good person." Zoe was slightly insulted at that, but decided he wasn't wrong for most, Gabriel was a different story and she would be more than happy to stab him in the balls. "
"Your hat looks great;" he continued, "I think it's awesome; so does my father. Otherwise he wouldn't have picked it for me. Look." He put on the hat and did a catwalk-walk down the dressing room; "See?"
Marinette chuckled, "You got that catwalk down!"
Adrien scratched the back of his head, "Really? Thank you."
Nathalie, tired of their flirting, fake coughed, "We have to go. Zoe, no killing, do I need to get you a therapist?"
"Won't help. I don't trust them. All the ones I went to broke confidentiality just to get a buck from my mom, and it was stupid shit like hatred of the dishes, which I used to test it."
Natalie just sighed, starting to leave, ushering them to follow. Marinette left first, assumingly to find her family, while Zoe took a nervous breath, fight or flight starting to kick in. And she chose to fight like holy hell.
"Ready?" Adrien asked, double meaning in his words. Zoe just took his hand, as a gesture to keep Natalie from noticing her point to the dagger she knew was concealed at his hip, "Ready as I'll ever be." She grabbed the backpack and placed it backstage as the fashion show began.
Adrien shot one last look at Zoe, "Zo, if something goes wrong…I just want to thank you for making me happy at home for the first time since…" He trailed off, "I love you, Satan." It was the use of the nickname Sam had used for her that made her tear up as he left through the curtain.
As Adrien walked over the catwalk, he made it quite clear he had one hell of a poker face. Zoe's stomach was in knots, knowing Style Queen would interrupt before she herself was to walk on stage. At the end of the catwalk, he stopped and struck some poses. Suddenly, Style Queen materialized. Everyone was startled, except the two who needed to worry most.
"A fashion show without the queen of style? Glitteraly unacceptable! Where is that ungrateful Gabriel Agreste? I demand that he kneels before me!"
Adrien glared, slowly reaching for his dagger, "My father isn't here! So get lost!"
Style Queen shrugged, "Well then. If fashion-disaster daddy isn't here, I'll just have to settle for Agreste Jr.! You're fired!" She shot a gold dust at Adrien, but he and Zoe had rehearsed this, he managed to swerve under it, ready to run past her to transform, but Style Queen teleported in front of him "Where do you think you're going? I said you're fired!" Adrien dodged another one, this time with an Aqua-esque cartwheel, which made Zoe low-key go into silent fangirl overload. She was about to enter the fight, when Style Queen gave up on turning Adrien into a statue at a distance, teleporting in front of him, grabbing his wrist, while he was leaning over the edge of the catwalk.
"Let go of me!" Adrien snarled, using his free hand to force it off, only for her hand to turn to glitter, meaning intangible, causing Adrien to fall backwards off the catwalk, "Ah!" hitting his head on the bench, then the cement.
He didn't move.
"Adrien!" Zoe shrieked, grabbing her backpack and rolling both him and herself out of the way of the next blast in one swift motion. She looked down at him, having ended up on top of him, noticing blood in his hair and her palms where she had shielded his head when rolling.
The people screamed and began running off, Marinette to transform. Zoe shook him, "Adrien, god damnit, you dick! Wake the fuck up!"
"Mom," she heard Chloe's voice, causing Style Queen to turn away from them, allowing Zoe to get Adrien in a pack-strap carry—formal name for piggy-back ride.
Style Queen turned, "Claudine—uh, Chloe. I'm not mom, I am Style Queen. Do you want to be fired, too?"
Zoe blinked, not expecting Audrey to possibly take Gabriel's sarcastic award of 'parent of the year', and Gabriel was currently trying to fucking kill them.
"No, no, I really don't, Style Queen." Chloe said, "Uh, besides, don't you need an assistant?"
"Hmm—I did fire my last one this morning. Fine! I'll take you on trial."
Ladybug finally swung to a rafter, "Style Queen!"
Style Queen shook her head as Zoe slowly booked it, trying to draw as little attention to herself as possible, abandoning her heels and was now barefoot, Adrien limp on her back. She was hoping to get him to a hospital, because while she knew triage and basic patient care, she was no doctor.
"What an atrocious suit." Style Queen said, "That bug looks so last year."
"But the yo-yo makes a strong comeback this year." She threw said yo-yo, but it went right through Style Queen. Zoe then realized the weapons wouldn't have done jackshit. It would be like the fucking special monsters in Season 14 of Supernatural…but did that mean she could behead Style Queen…? She decided to test that in the event things went to shit.
"You're a couple of sizes too small to beat me, Ladybug." She launched another beam. Ladybug tried to block it, but the force was too much; she fell backwards. Style Queen laughed in an evil manner, which would have made Zoe scoff in a situation where her surrogate brother wasn't bleeding and potentially leaking brain matter on her back. Style Queen held her scepter out towards Ladybug's face.
"Mom! Uh—Style Queen." Chloe tried, "If you want to find Gabriel Agreste, I know where he lives. You can take care of Ladybug later, she's worthless anyway."
"Hmm— It's not a completely idiotic idea." Style Queen teleported in front of Zoe, "But you, girl, trying to run away from me, you're fired!"
"Wait!"
Style Queen stared at her, pausing before she could release the blast, "What?"
Zoe smirked, deciding to pull that scene from Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, when Zia convinced the men not to kill her, relying on her medical knowledge needed to save Blue, who had been shot, "Adrien has a serious head injury. If I don't treat him, he'll be dead in an hour, maybe two. And do you really think Gabriel will come to retrieve the corpse of his son and a statue of the ward he doesn't give a shit about?"
Style Queen glared, "Fair enough. But if he dies, and Gabriel doesn't come, you'll regret it." She then flew away in a gold dust, taking Chloe, Zoe, and a still very unconscious Adrien, with her; they ended up on the Agreste mansion's foyer. "Courtney! Uh— Chloe, where is Gabriel Agreste?"
"He usually never leaves his house!" Style Queen turned to Zoe, who shrugged, "Don't look at me? I'm just a CERT," with a gun in my bra, and an axe in my bag, I will try decapitating you, motherfucker.
The butterfly symbol appeared over Style Queen's eyes. "Pff— she can barely protect herself! Don't worry, Hawk Moth, you'll get your costume jewels." They flew away again, going to the Eiffel Tower.
Style Queen put a golden rose at her feet and smashed her scepter into the ground, a forcefield surrounded the little thing, then she copied the motions, locking Zoe and Adrien in a forcefield on top of the rose. Zoe decided that was where the akuma must be, and would try breaking it, but she could also use it to support Adrien's head if needed.
Surprisingly, she could still hear voices through the forcefield, "You're not going to hurt my Adrikins, are you, Mom? Uh—Style Queen? And as much as I disapprove of Zoe, she's the only one who can help him, unless she's bluffing. But I don't think so."
Style Queen glared, "Hmm— You wanna join them, Kailey? Uh—Chloe? She pointed her scepter at Chloe, "Just ask and I'll fire you!"
"No thanks, I'm good. You're right, we don't care about them." Zoe stood up and made her desire the throttle the blonde bitch quite clear.
Style Queen put the scepter down, "Make yourself useful, assistant, tell me if you see Ladybug, Cat Noir and Fireheart!" Zoe sighed, knowing Cat Noir and Fireheart would not be showing.
"Yes, Style Queen!" Style Queen dissolved and Chloe fells to her knees, "Oh, what am I gonna do, what am I gonna do?" She ran over to the forcefield as Style Queen's voice could be heard somewhere above,
"Gabriel Agreste, if you refuse to show your face, your son will perish before sundown, and your ward will be nothing but glitter in the wind!"
Well fuck you too.
"Oh, it doesn't break. Adrikins, wake up!" Zoe frowned, so Chloe really did care about Adrien. She sighed, putting rubber gloves on and continuing with her head-to-toe evaluation. Two-centimeter laceration on the left side of head, just above ear…broken left wrist…she pulled out a bottle of water and turned Adrien over, slowly pouring the water on his hair, washing out the dirt and blood. Hm…it wasn't as bad looking now. She checked his back, nothing out of ordinary. She wrapped his head with triangle bandages made of bedsheets, checking his pulse and airway. His breathing was slow, but definitely there, pulse was faster. Then she performed the blanch test, which took longer than two seconds, but not by longer than another second. So, what she needed to worry about was the bleeding and potential shock, two of the three killers. She rolled him over again, checking the head injury once more. Fortunately, there was no brain matter like she had feared, but the bleeding had come back, albeit slower. It was an open wound, but she could tell it was worse inside than out, because the bleeding was just from here and there. She hoped his cranium wasn't broken or something like that, but there was no denying the high probability of internal bleeding.
She needed him to wake up. Doing triage and head-to-toe was so much easier when the victim was conscious to tell you where they were in pain. She wrapped his head again, this time with slightly more pressure, and put more under him as a pillow. She had taken off his suit jacket and used that as a blanket for his upper body, which required more warmth in the event he had gone into shock. She pulled out a chain of colorful bands, and tagged him red, meaning he needed immediate help.
Then she realized Chloe had stopped pounding on the forcefield, and said the words that gave Zoe some hope: "Psst! Ladybug! Hurry up!"
Ladybug was standing on one of the beams above them, saying some words that were hard to make out, but judging my Chloe's response, it was asking where the akuma was.
"It's in the rose she put in there with Zoe and Adrien. You better come up with something fast, my mother is going to see you!"
Speak of the devil and he shall appear, Style Queen materialized on top of the forcefield, "It's really impossible to find qualified staff these days." Chloe turned around slowly, "You're fired!" Chloe was turned into a golden statue, "Ladybug, hand over those awful earrings and let's get this over with." Ladybug threw her yo-yo, it passes through Style Queen again. "You still don't get it, huh, fashion victim? I am invincible!" She shot rays of gold dust; Ladybug hid behind some metal, "My power is only equaled by my sense of fashion. I am invincible! You. Can't. Beat me. How could you defeat me? You can't even touch me." She cackled.
The Zoe realized Ladybug had used her Lucky Charm, and was holding a mallet, then she flew off, likely to see Master Fu.
Then something clicked.
"My power is only equaled by my sense of fashion. I am invincible!" Did that mean someone wearing something considered fashionable could beat her? Like, say, a fashion model? It was worth a shot, literally. Blazze and Plagg hadn't come with them, so she assumed they were getting help, meaning they wouldn't be of any help right now. She whipped out the gun and shot at the forcefield—a silencer causing a small 'click' instead of a 'bang'—multiple times, creating a grip for her hand. You know those times parents become extremely powerful when their kids are in danger? That was what was happening to Zoe in that moment. She lifted the surprisingly light forcefield, pushing it put of the way, grabbing the axe from her bag.
Style Queen turned to her, more than a little shocked, "And what do you think you're doing?" Zoe shot her in the gut, causing a hole, clean through, that didn't fill back in. So, I was right, she shot her again, this time in the throat, causing Style Queen backwards. Zoe stalked up to her, "This is for my brother you piece of shit." She swung the small axe and sliced Style Queen's head clean off.
Then she processed what she had just done. She could have just killed Audrey Bourgeois. It wasn't the fact she potentially killed someone that made her feel awful, it was that she didn't feel bad about it at all. Was she a monster? She had expected to feel something, anything, but she felt nothing, not even any satisfaction.
Then she smiled a little, the adrenaline finally wearing off, Ladybug would fix everything, and if she didn't feel bad now, imagine what Gabriel would feel if it came to that.
Then Ladybug showed up. She gaped at the scene before her, dropping the Miraculous Box in her hand, down the tower—unbeknownst to either for the moment—Plagg and Blazze were behind her, the latter rushing to her chosen while Plagg rushed to his kitten.
"ZOE! WHAT DID YOU DO?!"
"Wings out." Zoe transformed, to avoid walking down the stairs, in hopes of making it to the hospital before Adrien went into a coma if he hadn't already. She turned to Ladybug, putting her supplies back in her backpack, "No time, fix everything. Dragon flame!" She used her power to melt away the forcefield over the rose, purifying the akuma in the process. She then noted she had never used that part of her power before.
"Miraculous Ladybug!" Ladybug shouted, turning everything back to normal, except Adrien, who was injured via the force of gravity, not Style Queen.
Chloe ran over to Adrien, "Adrikins!" She then saw Ladybug picking him up, and gasped as she realized he hadn't been healed.
"I'll take Adrien to the hospital, Fireheart, go find Zoe."
"Worry not." Fireheart said, "That chick is already safe. Oh lord, she fought me when I got her away, kicking and screaming and threatening to kill me…" She was just voicing what she would have done had someone tried to take her away from the wounded Adrien and it wasn't to take him to the hospital.
"What am I doing here? You're all fired." Audrey said, not decapitated, "And why does my neck hurt so bad?" Well…that was for being a bitch. Fireheart shrugged to herself, maybe she really was psychotic. But she didn't plan to be a serial killer, but she knew now if someone hurt the people she cared about, she would fucking kill them with no mercy.
Ladybug left with Adrien, then Fireheart remembered the fashion show. She flew back, detransforming in the dressing room, walking out to the empty catwalk, seeing the hat Mariette made, unstained, but next to a few specks of Adrien's blood. She felt like she wanted to vomit, but Adrien had insisted before that the show must go on. So, it would. She put the hat on and walked to her dressing room again.
Blazze hugged her as Zoe readjusted the choker she had wrapped to her bicep, so she wouldn't need to worry about transforming, "I'm so glad you're safe! We were worried about you and Adrien."
"I'm fine, Blazze." Zoe said quietly, so her kwami wouldn't hear how pathetic she as to be holding back tears, putting down the backpack and pulling out her phone, "What do you think of the hat?"
"You look nice. But you're trying to distract yourself, how are you really feeling?"
Blazze was right on the money. "I'm scared for Adrien." Zoe admitted, "I texted Marinette, demanding she tell me the verdict when it comes, but she hasn't responded yet. Head injuries are dangerous, Blazze, and I could tell there was internal bleeding. What if he's paralyzed, or comatose, or has amnesia, or is DEAD! It's my fault. I should have just not told him, let him become a statue and let Ladybug save the day like she was supposed to." The tears were flowing freely now, and Zoe couldn't bring herself to stop them, because she had two hours until the show started up again and had been in theater long enough to know how to fix her makeup.
Blazze sat in her hand, "Need I remind you it was Adrien who asked to know. He knew something like this could happen, but it was still his idea. He wouldn't blame you, and as you've said, the show is Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir, why would he die now?"
"It's called Miraculous Ladybug in some places."
"That doesn't matter. Adrien will be fine, I promise."
But that made Zoe feel worse, "That was what I told my sister when Mother took out cat, Archie, to the vet on Valentines' Day. He died, and I suspected it would happen, but I still made a promise I couldn't keep. Why should this be any different with you now?"
Blazze sighed, "The Dragon represent the untamed natural world, a violent, intuitive creature. It represents the bestial element which must be defeated with strength and discipline. The satanic element. However, in the Occidental world, the dragon is associated with happiness, produces the potion of immortality, and represents the primal essence 'yang'. It stands for procreation, fertility, activity, and wards off evil spirits. It is the 5th sign of the Chinese Zodiac, a symbol of the East and the rising sun. However, the white dragon represents the West and death."
"Why are you telling me this?" Zoe asked, "What does it have to do with Adrien?"
"I'm telling you this, because that is who you are, Zoe, a wild creature of life. But you're also letting past events affect how you see the future. Adrien may be the wielder of the Cat Miraculous, but he is not Archie, he is a strong human. He will pull through just fine."
Zoe smiled softly, nuzzling the kwami to her cheek, "Thanks Blazze." She gave her a bread roll, "Mangia." Blazze obeyed the Irish girl speaking Italian, eating.
She fixed her makeup, when the news came on, Nadja Chamack talking,
"Coming to you live from the Grand Palais Museum. I'm Nadja Chamack. Gabriel Agreste's fashion show was recently delayed after the Queen of Fashion, Audrey Bourgeois, was akumatized. But everything is back on schedule again, after Ladybug heroically stepped in to save the day, as usual. While Adrien Agreste is in the hospital for a head injury, Zoe Agreste will take the spotlight! The fashion show can finally begin!"
Shit. Was it only an hour?
She checked her phone as it dinged, a text from Marinette coming through,
M(Marinette): Adrien has a really bad concussion, a broken wrist, and small cracks in his skull, but with a week or so in the hospital, he should pull through just fine. But he won't be seeing anyone until tomorrow, or when he regains consciousness, whichever comes last. But they doctor said you did good with triage, could have been a lot worse. I also removed the dagger from him, I'll give it back after school.
Zoe felt her heart sigh in relief, like a huge burden was lifted. Then Natalie came in,
"Ready?"
"Yeah. Just got a call from the doctor, apparently Adrien has me as an emergency contact, he's got a concession, skull fractures, and a broken wrist, is unconscious still and won't be seeing anyone until at least tomorrow, but he's not going to die."
Natalie smiled slightly, "I got that call as well. At least he's alive."
Nodding in mutual agreement, Zoe stood up, "Time to steal the show." They walked down the hall, "Oh, and why was Audrey so pissed?"
"I didn't give her a front row seat, gave it to Marinette. All the front rows had already been reserved for months, wasn't going to boot someone else out."
Any remorse Zoe had gotten over the course of the hour for murdering Style Queen vanished in that moment, wanting to drive a knife into the bitch's heart and twisting, relishing the idea of hearing her screams. She didn't care if she was psychotic, she didn't care of the consequences, the only thing to stop her from going on a rampage was Adrien. The way he would look at her, how far she had gone in his name; he wouldn't thank her, he would curse her, never wanting anything to do with her, and the lives taken he would blame himself for. That was what stopped her from running at Gabriel and putting his head on a spike, lighting him up and watching him burn.
Natalie looked back at her, "I also made you a doctor's appointment for trauma. From what you've gone through in your life, I doubt you're completely mentally sound. But the results will be for you and I, nobody else." Zoe smiled slightly to her, "Thanks Natalie."
Maybe she did need help, and she was curious. Not that knowledge would change anything, and she wouldn't take a pill if given one, she acknowledged who she was and didn't care what anyone but Adrien thought.
Zoe walked onto the catwalk, light dancing around the room as she walked the catwalk and posed. She dully noted Alya was live streaming. But all Zoe could see was where Adrien fell, as he cried out before hitting the floor. He would be fine, but Zoe didn't know if she would be able to look at either Audrey or this building without seeing him fall, and hearing him scream, or the sickening thud as he hit the ground and stopped moving.
Suddenly, the crowd was completely silent. Fearing Queen Wasp or Malediktator, Zoe turned, in a defensive position. Then she gasped to find Gabriel Agreste standing on the catwalk. The room was completely silent, except for Alya's voice, "Ladybloggers, a huge update! That's Gabriel Agreste; he hasn't been in public in ages." Gabriel walked on the catwalk towards Zoe and stopped. She stands there, frozen in shock. She yelped as Gabriel pulled her into a hug, not expecting that in a million years. Zoe wanted to punch him in the dick, but she knew she needed to remain civil in public, so she wrapped her arms around him. The paparazzi started taking photos of the two in an embrace.
"I'm glad you're safe." Gabriel whispered, "You're parents would kill me if something happened to you, or kill me in the afterlife in this case."
Zoe looked up, "And your son in the hospital…?"
"You think I didn't try seeing him? I got kicked out."
Fair. Still your fault, and I will kick you in the dick until you're sterile, asshole.
They got off the catwalk, and Gabriel immediately began talking to the Bourgeois family.
"My dear Audrey, I heard about the unforgivable misfortune you had to endure." Audrey extended her hand out to Gabriel, which he, shockingly, kissed, then she took it back.
"I'm still quite overwhelmed."
Forget no remorse for beheading her, Zoe wanted to again. She was overwhelmed? Adrien was in the fucking hospital with FUCKING CRACKS IN HIS SKULL! She wished the most pain upon this woman as humanly possible, hoping she'd go back to New York to be killed in World War III—wait, wrong world. She simply clenched her fist.
"I want you to know that I've fired the person who was responsible for the misunderstanding." Gabriel said, and Zoe found herself smirking, seeing right through that lie, knowing it was very unlikely he'd fire Natalie, let alone for something like that, "Only one row in the house is befitting to Audrey Bourgeois and that's the first."
Audrey smirked, "Let's not overdo it. Huh Gabriel?"
Zoe snarled, earning a look from Gabriel that told her he wanted to a tiny bit as well, but he valued his reputation—not enough to give up Hawk Moth, but still. But really, why the dicks was he here?
"Did you enjoy the show?"
"So, so." Audrey takes the hat off Zoe's head, or tried to, as Zoe swatted her away, "Fucker, don't touch me." Gabriel's eye bulged, taking the hat himself, handing it to Audrey, "Sorry, she has a fear of being touched by people she doesn't trust."
Audrey just glared in Zoe's direction, before looking at the hat. Marinette and her parents were watching, "This hat is not a Gabriel Agreste. Are you responsible for that?" She looked at Marinette in an intimidating manner, making Zoe stand in front of the blunette girl subtly.
"Uhm…" Marinette looked nervously at her parents. Tom gave her a thumbs up. She walked in front of her shorter protector, "I…I'm the one who created it." She smiled nervously.
"Marinette won a fashion design competition." Gabriel said.
Audrey lifted her glasses to get a better look at the hat. Zoe frowned, something about Audrey's eyes was just…weird. "It's the most…" Chloe looked smug), likely expecting something cruel, but what came out of Audrey's mouth shocked everyone, "exceptional thing I've ever seen! You're a visionary, Marinette! Glitter's had its day. Feathers are the trend of tomorrow!" Marinette gasped, and Zoe smiled a bit, "I haven't felt this much emotion since…" Audrey looked to Gabriel, "you."
"She does have talent." Gabriel said, looking at Marinette, smiling. Zoe still wondered why he was here, but she was happy for Marinette.
Audrey looked at Marinette, too, "You wanna be a fashion designer, right?"
"Uh-uh… Yes ma'am."
Audrey put the hat back on Zoe's head, just barely missing being bit, "Then come to New York with me! I'll make you the biggest name in fashion! I'm sure you'll even upstage Gabriel."
"And Adrien and I will be able to model for you!" Zoe added, after we get Gabriel fucking arrested, she knew Marinette wouldn't really leave, but at least be supportive.
"We'll be here for you honey, no matter what you decide!" Sabine said.
"My helicopter will be leaving for the airport at 8 p.m. tonight." Audrey put her glasses back on.
Chloe had her head down, seething, "This... It's ridiculous! Utterly ridiculous!" To her mother, "I've never been to New York with you and you're taking Marinette Dupain-Cheng!?"
"I'm taking her because she's exceptional Claudette. Uh—Chloe."
Chloe started to tear up, and Zoe found herself feeling genuinely bad for her, she knew how it felt to have mommy issues. Maybe she'd work with Chloe like she did Adrien, "I'm exceptional, too!"
"The only exceptional thing about you, my dear… is your mother." Zoe had to acknowledge it was a solid burn, but also downright mean. She was staring to wish Audrey had stayed decapitated. Maybe she needed to make another 'parent of the year' award.
"Ugh! I'll show you how exceptional I can be!" Chloe took out a Miraculous Jewelry Box, she opened it, revealing a yellow, glowing orb.
Zoe and Marinette gasped,
"WHAT!?"
"No!"
Gabriel gasped as he recognized the glowing ball; Audrey lifted her glasses. The bee kwami, Pollen if Zoe remembered correctly, emerged from the ball.
"How may I please you, my Queen?"
"What is that thing?" Audrey asked.
"Chloe… what are you doing?!" Zoe asked warily as Chloe threw her glasses away while putting the hair comb in her hair.
"Pollen, Buzz On!" She transformed into Queen Bee, flipping backward, landing on a Gabriel Agreste board, "I am Chloe Bourgeois, and from now on I'll be your new superhero, Queen Bee! We'll soon see if you think Dupain-Cheng is still more exceptional than moi! Spinning Top!" She used her spinning top—that Zoe opted to call a trompo, because that sounded better—to exit the Grand Palais.
"What is happening to our beloved daughter?!" That mayor asked, while Audrey just walked off, alarmingly calm, "She always was such a show-off. See you tonight, Marinette. I'll meet you at my helicopter."
Nathalie walked up to Gabriel and Zoe, and points to the car, where the Gorilla was waiting.
"We better be going home, Zoe. Thank you all for coming." Zoe knew she needed to do something, so…
"I think my period just started! FUCK! I gotta go!" She ran in the direction of the bathroom. Gabriel and Natalie just blinked to themselves, before deciding to not question her, leaving.
She ran into the bathroom, and transformed, running after Chloe. She had had her cycle the week prior, but didn't tell anyone, knowing she could use it to her advantage. She ran to the Roue de Paris, where she heard Chloe talking on her communicator,
"Nadja Chamack? Chloe Bourgeois here. I mean, Queen Bee. Come ASAP; I'm about to rescue the passengers of a metro that's in peril. You've got to film this!" But before she could swing to the Metro entrance, Fireheart lunged and tackled her all the way to the ground, pointing her sword. No way in hell would she let Chloe endanger the lives of dozens.
"Chloe Bourgeois! Don't you dare!" A crowd began to surround them, "You were just about to use your power to create a situation, just to make yourself look good. Do you realize failure could cost the lives of dozens, if not hundreds?! Cat Noir is out with pneumonia, and Ladybug is working on some family stuff, so that leaves only me. And while they might be gentler, I won't put up with that shit for even a second." The crowd around them muttered to each other, most in agreement. Fireheart knew she would likely cause Chloe to become akumatized, but she couldn't bring herself to care, her day had been rough, so she didn't care if she had to beat on one other akumatized Bourgeois…yeah, she was going to that appointment.
"Chloe, give me back your Miraculous. It doesn't belong to you! I don't eve know how the fuck you got that!"
"Finders keepers, losers weepers." Queen Bee snapped, "Venom!" She slammed her trompo into Fireheart's leg, causing her to become paralyzed, until she came back to reality, to find Ladybug in front of her.
"Fireheart! Are you alright?"
"Yeah, fine." She looked around, "Where's that bitch! She used her power on me!" Than she smirked, "Meaning she's probably at home!"
Ladybug nodded, "Yeah…what really happened with Cat Noir. I was told he lost his Miraculous, but you said pneumonia."
Fireheart shrugged, "Pneumonia + violent coughing = ring got dropped and rolled away."
"Oh." Ladybug suddenly looked worried, "Well, I assume you've been caring for him. Let's get this over with so you can get back to him."
They ran to the Le Grand Paris roof. They landed and jumped down to Chloe's balcony, sneaking into her room.
"Chloe?" Ladybug called, looking around, "Looks like she's not here. Let's go!"
They took the elevator to the lobby; upon arrival, they gasped; everyone in the lobby was standing still; all victims had sting marks on their necks.
"Oh shit." Fireheart muttered, looking around, "Queen Wasp, where the shit are you? You can come out now."
They hear buzzing; wasps flew towards them in an arrow formation, "Fireheart, watch out!" Ladybug pushed her on the ground and landed on top of her, making Fireheart smirk slightly, her mood improving for the first time that day,
"Damn LB, didn't know you swung that way."
"Cat Noir's right, you really are terrible." She rolled off and they saw Queen Wasp, who looked different than her concept art, looking less creepy.
"Your reign is over, Ladybug and Fireheart! I don't even care if you don't give me your Miraculous; my wasps will paralyze you and I'll simply take them myself. Then I'll go find Cat Noir. Wasps, Venom!
The wasps took the form of two darts, "Run!" They both fled Le Grand Paris, "Hawk Moth must've akumatized her while she was still Queen Bee."
"Sorry for being a bitch and causing her to get akumatized." Fireheart apologized, "I bet the akuma's in her Miraculous."
"No problem, I would have likely done the same in your shoes. And that theory makes sense, but Miraculous are indestructible."
"Good thing my Dragon Flame just forces the akuma out, purifying it in the process. We just need to find out how to capture it without getting stung. Because I would rather not find out if I'm allergic to bees."
"A ladybug doesn't stand a chance against the queen of wasps!" The wasps lifted two cars and threw one toward Ladybug and Fireheart, the other towards civilians. Ladybug made a net to catch the car before it hit the civilians, while Fireheart grinned maliciously, "Good thing I'm a dragon!" She flew up to meet her, way too done to deal with this shit, or care what the fandom would think of an anticlimactic fight, "Dragon Flame!" Queen Wasp reverted to Queen Bee, then to Chloe as the transformation wore out, Pollen returning to the Miraculous. Fireheart grabbed Chloe, lowering her to the ground.
Ladybug turned to her, blinking slowly, startled by how OP Fireheart truly was when in a foul mood.
"Miraculous Ladybug!" The Miraculous Cure spread out, she then held her fist out to Fireheart, "Pound it!" She walked over to Chloe, who was clutching the Miraculous in her hands, "I have to get the Miraculous back, Chloe." In the background, Nadja's van arrived.
"Give me a second chance, please!" Chloe begged, and while Fireheart was angry Chloe had attacked her, it had been slightly deserved, and she realized then why Chloe had done it: to impress her mother. She just needed to learn like Adrien had to stop trying to impress neglectful parents, because they owed you nothing—there was a good chance you were born because one parent was horny and the other was there.
Nadja held up a tablet with Audrey on it, "Audrey Bourgeois, tell us live how you feel about what just happened."
Audrey scoffed on the tablet, "According to me, Chloe just clearly demonstrated that there is nothing exceptional about her."
Fireheart glared at the reporter, ripping the tablet out of her hand, "You know what Audrey, fuck you. If I could kill you, I would, but that's frowned upon just about everywhere. You are ten times worse than Chloe, so buzz off." She then turned to Nadja as she hung up, "And you, bitch. Showing a girl who just got akumatized her asshole mother, and recording humiliation worldwide is a dick move. So get lost, or I'll make you get most." She gave the cameraman a look that made him turn it off. The reporters were both alarmed by the outburst, but they did leave. She then gave Chloe a small, empathetic smile, knowing the pain herself. She bent down and put a hand on a shocked Chloe's shoulder,
"I'm sorry I was a bitch earlier, I've been in a bad mood all day and took it out on you, but that's not an excuse. I know you did the things you did to impress your mother. And while you went about it the wrong way, I would be a hypocrite to look down upon your motivations."
Ladybug added on, "Anyone can make mistakes, even a superhero, as proven today. What matters, is how you fix them. I personally made one by losing that Miraculous. Don't make the mistake of not giving it back. Act like a hero."
"And show everyone how exceptional you can be." Fireheart helped Chloe up, hugging her, reminded of her own pain from her mother, "You don't owe your mother anything. Don't change yourself for her, be yourself." She prayed to every god there was that Chloe would become a better person, but she doubted that was going to happen for a couple episodes.
Chloe handed Ladybug the Miraculous, and as the dup was about to run off…
"Ladybug? Fireheart? I'm sorry."
"It's forgiven." Fireheart said, finding peace of mind for the first time that day, running off.
OoOoO
The next night, Zoe walked through the hall of the hospital. Adrien had regained consciousness the day prior, but apparently was a bit all over the place and had a terrible migraine.
She had also gone to that appointment, and was diagnosed with Brief Psychotic disorder. A disorder where people with this illness have a sudden period of psychotic behavior, often in response to a very stressful event. Since she was a teenager, a slight homicidal desire was normal, but Adrien's condition had caused it to spike drastically. She now had some pills to take for the month, to become slightly more sane. But she wasn't a danger to anyone who didn't piss her off or hurt her loved ones.
She walked into the hospital room, not turning on the light, and saw Adrien resting on the bed, a green cast on his left wrist and bandage wrap wrapped around his head.
"Hey Adrien." She whispered, causing him to look up with a grin, Plagg floating off Adrien's chest where he had been resting with his kitten.
"Hey Zo…" he slurred slightly, sitting up, before squeezing his eyes shut and laying back down.
Zoe smiled, seeing him smile made her feel a lot better. "I'm glad you're not dead."
"Me too." Adrien winced, "My head hurts."
"No shit. But I got migraines all the time back at home, so I have some techniques."
Adrien chuckled slightly, "Thanks…" He began closing his eyes, before opening them again, but Zoe just squeezed his good hand,
"Get some sleep. I'll sleep on the couch tonight. You'll be in the hospital until next Friday, so I'll visit as often as I can."
"Thanks Zo…" He murmured, before his breathing evened out. Zoe watched him sleep for a minute, to make sure he really had just fallen asleep instead of coma or something. When she finally felt reassured, the events of the last two days, and the exhaustion, came back to her—she hadn't gotten any sleep the night before—and she let sleep claim her as well.
A/N: So this chapter was longer and darker, much darker, and mainly revolved around Zoe. But we finally got some interactions between Zoe and Blazze. Also, take a hint why I mentioned the white dragon. ;)
CERT stands for Citizen Emergency Response Team.
Oh, and the reason they're able to get a ton of weapons is because the people she buys them from don't get customers very often, let alone from someone so rich—and Natalie just gave up on caring about what Zoe bought. Nobody is worried about a terror attack, so nobody cares.
And I will be doing a bit of a time-jump until after Adrien gets discharged, unless you guys want a chapter about Zoe recovering her complete sanity and staying with Adrien. And I'm debating having Chloe roped into their little 'shitty parent' club.