"Chloe? Are you in here?" Marinette called out, as she opened the door to the lady's room.
"Go away," Chloe said, turning her back to Marinette. Marinette closed the door behind her, and took in Chloe's disheveled hair and ripped dress.
"Is it over?" Chloe finally asked, after it was clear Marinette wasn't leaving. Marinette nodded, Chloe looked in the mirror, her eye's brimming with unshed tears, "Why didn't her lucky charm fix my dress?"
"I don't know," Marinette said, "maybe magic isn't always predictable," as she reached out and touched the damaged fabric. It hurt a piece of her heart to see such a magnificent dress damaged. Her gaze traveled up to Chloe's hair. Lorelei hadn't cut any of it, but she had messed it up quite a bit. A vase of miniature sunflowers on the bathroom counter caught Marinette's attention and gave her an idea. Fishing in her pocket, she pulled out her emergency sewing kit.
"What are you doing?" Chloe asked.
"I'm going to fix your dress. You can't go back there with it all torn like this," Marinette said, plucking the bouquet of flowers out of the vase, and plucking the lace doily from under it as well.
"But why?" Chloe asked, as Marinette dropped to her knees in front of her and started making tucks in the fabric.
"Stay still," Marinette ordered, ignoring the question.
Chloe fell silent while Marinette worked, snipping thread here, pulling fabric there, working incredibly fast. After some time, Marinette stepped back and surveyed her work. "Almost done," she said, bitting her lip, thinking. Picking up a last sunflower, she tucked it into Chloe's hair where it had been mussed and tucked it in, effectively camouflaging the area. "There," she said triumphantly. "Take a look."
Chloe gazed at her reflection. She swayed, making her skirt move back and forth, then did a little twirl. "I look amazing!"
The tear in the dress was gathered in little swags to each side, almost to the hip, her long legs exposed. The lace doily peaked out from the newly made gap in the skirt like a naughty slip that was too pretty to stay hidden behind the scenes; covering what it needed to, while still looking quite daring. Sunflowers were stitched above the slit, covering where Marinette had stitched the skirt, wrapping half way around Chloe's waist, reminiscent of a field of flowers following the path of the sun.
"How did you do it?" Chloe asked, "I thought the dress was ruined."
"Fashion disasters happen, part of being a designer, is being able to make repairs on the fly. You're not just wearing a Gabriel piece anymore, now it's Gabriel a la Marinette." She looked over the dress again, "although you should send it out to get properly repaired tomorrow. Fresh cut sunflowers will only last for the night without water, and you'll have to replace this entire panel of cloth. Thought I think I can safely say, no one else tonight will be wearing flowers on their dress quite like you are."
Marinette brushed stray threads off her own dress, and bent to gather up the scraps and bits of flower stem.
Chloe watched her, several emotions crossing her face. Finally she asked again, "Why?"
"Why what?" Marinette asked as she deposited the leftovers into the dust bin.
"Why are you being so nice to me?" Chloe looked at Marinette.
Marinette sighed, "because, nobody deserves to be humiliated like that Chloe. No matter who they are or what they've done to me."
Chloe was silent for a long moment, starring at Marinette, before finally saying, "your dress," she paused, "your dress is really nice. And what you did for me…. Thank you."
"You're welcome," Marinette said, feeling a little bit stunned. Chloe had never thanked her for anything before.
"And I need to thank you for helping me back there. If you hadn't pushed that ice sculpture over onto Fashionista, I might be a walking talking fashion disaster right now."
"Well," Chloe said, tossing her head, making her sunflower bob a bit, "There was no way I could let my new fashion consultant get zapped by some no good Akuma."
"Fashion consultant?" Marinette's mouth dropped open.
"You have talent, and I owe you. I don't like owing people. So I'll give you a chance. If I, the mayor's daughter, starts wearing a no name designers fashions now and then, people will start to take notice. I'm kinda of a big deal. But don't get the wrong idea, I still don't like you, and Adrien was mine first."
As Marinette and Chloe exited the lady's room, Adrien came skittering around the corner, and gave a glad cry as he spotted them. "Marinette, Chloe," then braced himself as Chloe vaulted into him.
"Adrikins," she cried out happily, "you're all right."
"Are you both ok?" he asked, "Chloe, not so tight, I can't breath."
"We're fine," Marinette said, "Lucky Ladybug and Chat Noir showed up and saved the day."
Adrien had finally managed to untangle Chloe from his arms, and got a good look at her. "Chloe, what happened to your dress?" He asked, taking in the flowery updates, "it looks amazing."
"Oh, this," she said giving a twirl, showing off her sunflowers, "Marinette fixed it. Don't I look wonderful," she preened, draping herself on Adrien's arm.
"Wow, Marinette, you really are talented," Adrien said, glancing appreciatively at her.
"I know, right?" Chloe said, "I can't believe no one noticed that before. Luckily, I'm smart enough to spot talent." She pulled Marinette to her, "Marinette here is my new personal fashion consultant," Chloe announced, "Isn't that exciting." She beamed at Adrien.
Marinette met Adrien's startled expression, and smiling, shrugged.
Chloe pulled Adrien over to Marinette and with one arm around Marinette, and one around Adrien, she said, "Well, what are we waiting for? Lets get back in there and show off our clothes."
Adrien caught Marinette's eye over Chloe's head, and raised his eyebrow in a silent question.
Quirking an eyebrow back at him, she smiled and made a slight shrugging gesture.
Together the three of them went back into the party.