Author's Note: This takes place a bit after Elements of Tragedy, which ended with Chloé's 16th birthday. So everyone's a bit older but still in school.

Also:When I started Elements we werent' sure the show was really using the full French School system rules or where Lukaa went to school, so for the sake of uniformity in the series, he goes ot their school, and we'll run it like a US high school-ish.

"If this doesn't come out when I wash my hair again, you do realize your only hope is to sail right out of Paris don't you?"

"Hey, at least I didn't ask you to cut your hair. I think you may break some hearts today." Luka leaned over Chloé as she sat at her vanity. He brushed his hands back along the sides of his head where the hair was now shaved short and his natural darker black. The top had taken a trim as well, spiked and dyed up from black to his familiar blues.

Chloé reached up to pat his cheek, then pulled him down to kiss the opposite one. "You'll steal just as many more. You wait and see." She ran both hands back through her own loose hair, sighing,"I don't know how I let you talk me into this."

"You were the one who wanted to dress me up." Luka wrapped his arms around Chloé's shoulders from behind,"Turnabout is fair play." He nuzzled at the side of her neck and she leaned back in response, her eyes going lidded.

It was an effort of will to shake herself and pull away. "Go on now. You don't have makeup to do. Take the car, arrive in style, enjoy the thirst. I'll be there in time to rescue you."

Luka drew back but ran the fingertips of one hand along her shoulders as he did so, "Not going to be jealous this time?" he teased, meeting her eyes in the mirror.

Chloé grinned,"Oh, exceedingly so. That's half the fun isn't it?" She reached up and laced her fingers with his on her shoulder. "Besides, I know you'll make it up to me this evening."

Luka shared her grin. "I'm looking forward to it."

Marinette squirmed slightly when Alya sat down beside her outside the entrance to FDP. She hadn't quite gotten her set of excuses straight yet. When Alya gave her a long suffering side-eye Marinette looked away then quickly blew into her hands, rubbing them. "It sure is a little chilly out today isn't it? Maybe waiting inside might be better Alya, you don't have a jacket like me."

The answering smirk sank Marinette's hopes, it hadn't been her best effort anyway. "Girl, if you can sit out here waiting for your not-boyfriend I think I can sit out here waiting for mine." Alya nudged Marinette,"Plus, I can't wait to hear why you didn't ask Adrien out *this time*. I'm keeping a list, you know, to see how long it takes you to repeat yourself."

Marinette dropped her face in her hands and shook her head. "I don't know! I mean, we were studying. It was nice. Nathalie brought us tea and croissants. I just couldn't. I don't want to mess up what I already have." Marinette's head shot up and she grabbed Alya's shirt. "We TALK. How long did that take?"

Chloé's limo rolled up and Marinette threw her attention elsewhere. She wasn't ready to deal with Chloé, even in her improved state, just yet today. Alya provided a needed distraction. "One year, seventeen days, and four hours."

It took Marinette a moment to realize that was a real answer. "You've been keeping track?"

Alya gave Marinette a playfully superior smile. "You're my little side project Marinette. Though you've taken more work than the Ladyblog ever did."

Marinette slumped,"I know. I just don't get it. I can talk to people. I can talk to guys. It's just cute guys that get me all flustered."

"Luka."

"I mean, I guess? It was different with Luka. He was so... "

Alya lifted Marinette's chin,"No." Her friend's eyes were wide. "Luka." Alya turned Marinette's head.

Marinette may have mumbled something, her brain was shutting down to prevent overload as Luka stepped out from around the Limo's door. The change to his hair was a shock, those soft locks trimmed, but the new look had her fingers itching. She wanted to run her nails over the short sides and through that mid-length spiked up mess. In place of his usual zip-up he wore a tailored windbreaker in his usual blues, zipped just at the bottom.

Alya gripped Marinette's arm. "I can see Luka's chest," her friend whined plaintively. "Why can I see his chest?"

That would be what had replaced his usual T-shirt. A black sheer mesh undershirt that only served to highlight how Luka's slight age advantage had already gifted him broad shoulders and a narrow waist. Marinette's eyes got stuck in place and it was Alya's prompting again,"If he turns 'round in those you might need to carry me to class," that helped her finish the journey. Black sleek leather pants shifted and bunched in calculated ways across Luka's hips and legs as he walked. That walk, a small still functional part of Marinette's brain told her he had to have been coached, Luka's casual confidence with a touch of prideful poise adding a new spice.

His eyes. Luka'd caught her looking. Marinette curled up and buried her burning cheeks behind Alya's hair. The look in those eyes. It was still Luka's sweetness, but there was a worldliness to it too now. He knew exactly what he was doing, winding her up still with the best of intentions.

Alya got in a little slap-and-tug battle With her, trying to pry Marinette out."No, no, no way you are missing this. Get out here you, this might be just what you need."

Marinette surrendered but nudged Alya. Luka had paused and reached back into the Limo, bending down to pick up his forgotten bag. Alya squeed. Marinette nudged her again,"Hey aren't you supposed to be dating Nino?"

Alya scoffed. "I am dating Nino. I am committed to Nino. I am as loyal as they come." she held up a finger and grinned her mischievous grin. "I am, however, not dead." And with that Alya turned and raised her voice, "Hey Luka! You got any water in that Limo? You're working up a powerful thirst over here."

Marinette quailed,"Alya!" She covered her face, peeking only when some of the searing heat had died down.

Luka was only a few steps away, that smile still in place and a bottle of Vichy Catalan in one hand. Marinette dropped her hands, embarrassment and embarrassment at being embarrassed having a fight inside of her. Luka held out the bottle to Alya and flashed a smile that encompassed both of them. "Sorry about that. It's a bit of a different look today, I'll admit."

Alya took the bottle casually and smirked, playing back to Luka's faux humility. "Where's your other half? Does she know you're out here lookin' like a whole meal?"

Luka laughed a soft laugh and brushed a hand up through his spiked bangs. That HAD to be coached, but it still worked on Marinette. She squirmed and was glad Alya was playing front and center. "She'll be along soon. This was her idea. Dress each other up for a day." Luka spread his arms, the motion drawing his jacket open farther and this close highlighting the taut fitness that mesh shirt was doing nothing to hide. "Do you think it works?"

Alya gave Marinette a sidelong look, no Alie keep me out of this, too late. Luka's gaze swept to Marinette. Alya brought it back though as she cracked open the water then circled the cap in the air. "Turn around and I'll give you my opinion."

Luka did a slow full turn on his heel, but came around with a return Salvo for Alya. Leaning in he noted,"I'm afraid there's no handling the merchandise today though."

Alya bit the mouth of the water bottle coyly. "My loss."

Marinette had a moment to wonder just what world she had fallen into before her two friends both broke into genuine grins that turned into open laughter. Reality snapped back into focus as Alya put a hand on Marinette's shoulder,"The look on your face girl." Her friend kept laughing, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye.

"It wasn't fair of us to tease her." Luka commented as his own chuckle quieted. That tone, so soothing again. "Marinette's a pure soul. That's something to cherish." His warm eyes on her did more than the entirety of his outfit; the outfit sure didn't hurt though. "It's good to see you today Marinette. We haven't had much time together since the party. If anyone's going to see me dressed up like a doll, I figure a designer extraordinaire should one of them. Do you think it works?"

The look in his eyes said he was asking for real, not the game he was playing with Alya. Marinette sorted herself and smiled. It was still Luka after all. "I think you gook Late." Marinette blinked, "I mean you look late. Rook Bait." Marinette bit the tip of her tongue. "YoulookgreatLuka!" she got out in a rush.

Marinette had to curl her toes to keep from panting in embarrassment. She smiled weakly up at Luka, and caught the slight look of pride in his gaze. Jerk. She accused fondly in her head.

"Well now." Alya interjected around a sip of her gifted water,"I'd rate that response as at least .9 Adriens. I think you're onto something there Luka."

Marinette's cheeks burned anew, but she was saved. Someone bumped into Luka from behind, and a distracted,"Sorry dude." identified the offender easily.

When Nino didn't appear immediately Luka sidestepped and they were treated to Nino's back as he stood zombielike. Luka was in the best position to follow his gaze and gave off a short laugh, "Looks like my other half is here."

Curiosity overcame Marinette and against her better judgement she leaned to crane around Nino. Luka helpfully collared the baffled boy and passed him to his girlfriend for some good natured rib poking and banter.

Chloé was coming in, hell on wheels, almost literally. She was skating on her golden rollerblades, but they were the only recognizable part of her outfit. From top down her golden hair was loose and feathered under her helmet. More shockingly the ends were dyed with a red streak and white frosted tips. Luka's sun has her corona today. Marinette's inner cynic groused. Perched low on her nose were a pair of silvered round mini-sunglasses. She wore a red light half-jacket over a viciously cropped white T-shirt. As Chloé closed Marinette could read the words 'Under construction' in stylized spray lettering across the front. Ragged-cut jean short shorts were belted low on her hips to complete the scanty outfit.

Unfiltered, Marinette murmured,"Okay that has got to be against the dress code."

Chloé spun as she skated, drawing looks along the way, with the boys being less subtle than the girls had been upon Luka's entrance. As Chloé spun Alya chimed in. "Forget the dress code, I think it might be against the zip code."

One more spin and Chloé skidded to a stop in front of the little cluster, smiling up at Luka and revealing the final two parts of her look. Firstly Marinette could now read Chloé's belt buckle, and the words 'Opening Soon' to compliment those above. Lastly she flicked a hand up and popped a lollipop she'd been holding into her mouth before grinning around it up at Luka and raising her eyebrows at him.

"You've made a few additions." he accused lightly.

She rolled the lollipop from one side of her mouth to the other then popped it out and waved it under his nose,"Oh, you knew I would. You want me to slum, you better believe I'm going to ride that gutter the whole way down." As she spoke Chloé drew a line in the air down Luka's chest with the lolipop, snapping it back up to her mouth with a cheeky grin.

"Ugh." Marinette grumbled. Something about Chloé being a flirt still turned her stomach. "Get a room."

"No no, I'm quite enjoying the show." Alya countered. She'd wrapped her arms loosely around Nino's waist from behind and had her chin on his shoulder. "You taking notes?" she whispered in his ear.

Luka turned back to the trio, giving Marinette an apologetic smile,"We'll be good. Don't worry, we've got a bet going about who gets kicked out of school to go change first." Behind him Chloé rolled her eyes, stuck her tongue out at his back, and rolled backwards before amusing herself by sweeping into a slow-fast-slow pirouette on one skate.

"Looks like there's a lot of changes going on today." Adrien's voice was a soothing life line for Marinette in the middle of this temporary madness. He stepped into the circle with a pleasant smile for all and, Marinette imagined, a slightly longer look for her. She smiled back gratefully. "You got a haircut Luka." he observed with focused blindness.

Adrien's talent for understatement drew grins or laughs depending on the person. Chloé swept back up to Luka's arm, stopping herself and hanging on casually with a pleased grin despite Adrien's apparent lack of notice.

"Well, I've got a surprise of my own." Adrien added, turning back,"Come on out, they don't bite."

From a few steps back Adrien's mirror image stepped forward. Not quite a mirror image. A suit vest, slacks, and button down in place of Adrien's casual t-shirt and jeans and a sour expression separated the two. Felix eyed the fivesome. "Are you quite sure about that?"

From one side of the group a chill descended. Alya and Marinette exchanged looks and Nino seemed to tense to the point Alya moved her hands up and began massaging his shoulders. Luckily Luka's good nature hadn't changed. He offered out a hand, smiling down at Adrien's cousin,"I don't think we've met? I'm Luka."

From beside him a grinning Chloé chimed in,"Good to see you Felikins."

Felix seemed taken aback for a moment, but extended his hand into a hesitant shake. "Félix Graham de Vanily." At Chloé's greeting he blinked in her direction, then in a genuinely shocked tone,"Chloé?" He recovered quickly, taking back his hand and restoring his cool demeanor. "Reds and Yellows? You look like a pile of condiments," he jibed.

Marinette felt immediately conflicted. Showing up a peacocking Chloé was good fun, but coming from Felix everything just felt icky. What might have been a blow up before took a very different turn though.

Chloé rolled out from Luka's side and right up to Felix. A sidelong glance from Felix showed he might just have realized he was calculating from old data. Chloé popped the lollipop from her mouth leaning in and peering at him too-close over her glasses.

She stage-whispered in a husky tone,"condiments? Felikins, are you saying you want me on top of something?" Her free hand hooked the knot of his tie as she spoke. Chloé shifted her weight and rolled back from the stunned Felix. As she moved his tie untucked from his vest between her fingers until she flicked the end back up into his face with an impish grin.

A brief tableau ensued, but the tenor had utterly changed. When both Luka and Adrien moved as one; Luka hooking Chloé to draw her back to his side and Adrien rolling his eyes with a long suffering,"Chloé…" everyone unfroze with the current embarrassment completely overshadowing the previous ill-will.

Felix was flushed in a way that could be anger, embarrassment, or something else. He was having a time of it just trying to right his tie again. Marinette drove into the breach created by her blond nemesis,"What brings you to France Felix?" she asked in a tone chipper enough to clue in her other two friends she hoped.

Felix grumbled,"Something I did in a past life it would seem," still not able to sort his tie out yet. Marinette was starting to think Chloé had actually flustered him.

Adrien spoke up; he spoke to the group but his eyes stayed on Marinette and she basked. "His mother has several back to back trips, and rather than haul him out of school altogether for a month he's staying with us."

With a little push from behind Nino stepped forward,"Cool. Well, welcome dude. Hope you like hanging with us." he offered out his hand as well.

Felix finally settled his tie, but shot a nervous sidelong look at Chloé that earned him a superior grin in return. That prompted him to step forward and take Nino's handshake, cutting Chloé out of his line of sight. "Yes, well, I doubt hanging out is likely. Hopefully this visit will pass quickly and not unpleasantly."

Nino seemed unsure how to take the response. Marinette knew how she took it though. An idea popped into her head; one too bad to not indulge. "Felix is going to be in our class Adrien?" she asked too-sweetly. "I know just the seat for him, next to someone who he'll find just to his liking."

Alya had been chewing on a thought ever since Luka's arrival. The arrival of Felix alongside Adrien let her worry it a bit longer until she was as sure as she was going to be. Chloé had departed early to deal with her skates and it presented an opportunity. Alya kissed Nino's cheek and mrmrred,"Keep Marinette at whatever she's up to for me; time to be a little Furative." He looked back over his shoulder as she disengaged and scooted away, but didn't protest or question. That was one of the many things she loved about him.

Alya found her target in quite an amusing position in the classroom. Chloé, having swapped her rollerblades for Red and white Sneakers with matching knee socks, was now head down on the desk under her pile of teased up hair. Alya approached and gave a few of the frosted ends a light ruffle,"Earth to daddy issues, come in please."

That got an unladylike snort from the pile, and Chloé lifted one arm, brushing her hair back enough to turn her head without lifting it and peer out at Alya,"The show's over. I am not booking appointments until my assistant gets here."

Alya crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.

Chloé stretched out catlike across her desk before pushing herself upright and almost over backwards, only a momentary flail saved her. Once resettled she offered a truly classic Chloé smirk in return,"So, what brings you to me? Please be quick. Sabrina couldn't join us this morning since Luka stayed over and it was a very exhausting evening. I need Caffeine to counteract the Couffaine still in my system."

Alya made a mental note: ew. She settled for rolling her eyes and went right in. "I want your help. You're ruthless and shameless, and right now that just be what we need to crack this nut, I'm at my wits end."

That earned Alya a goofy grin as Chloé tilted her head back far enough to look at her through the little sunglasses still perched on her nose,"Guilty as charged. You haven't mentioned what you need though yet. Is Marinette rubbing off on you?"

Alya shifted her weight to one foot and huffed,"No, yes, well maybe, and it wouldn't be a bad thing either. I thought you were supposed to be turning over a new leaf. Should I just assume that was all wishful thinking and put you on the do not call list again?"

The sound of the door opening drew both their gazes in an ingrained aversion to being seen together. It was only Sabrina though, dressed in Blazer, skirt, and a lovely bowed silk scarf; all business compared to her hot mess of an 'employer.' She had a briefcase in one hand and a steaming cup in the other.

"ANGEL!" Chloé cried out, making grabby hands immediately and leaning in to take the cup when Sabrina met them and offered it out. Alya was privy to a quick little exchange as Chloé curled up around the cup.

"Sabrina, give yourself a raise."

"But Chloé, you don't pay me."

"Then double it, and a bonus too. How much does a cup of coffee cost? Fifty euros?"

"Three euros, ninety five cents"

"That can't be right, nothing this important can be that cheap. Expense it out, five hundred. Keep the change."

Chloé sipped the drink while Sabrina settled herself in, having paid no more than a passing glance to Alya in the entire exchange. A few seconds more and Chloé looked back up, a bit of spark back in her eyes. "Now we can begin again." She still held the drink like a rosary. "You want my help because I am the only one able to accomplish great things."

Alya snrked. The entire display was worth the price of admission but she wasn't going to let that last one pass. She waggled a finger at Chloé,"You're a wreck, just maybe the right kind of wreck for this."

Chloé tsked,"If you keep moving fast enough, you can crash forever without hitting the ground." she glanced over her shoulder,"That's science, right Sabrina?"

"Right Chloé." Sabrina glanced at the pair before going back into willful obliviousness.

Chloé gave Alya a satisfied grin over her sunglasses.

"It's Adrien and Marinette."

Chloé choked on coffee. Alya may have timed that, but she would never tell. She just grinned and continued,"I'm just about out of ideas for getting them to actually go out with each other. My next step is picking them up and mashing them together like dolls."

Chloé fused around her coffee, checking to be sure she hadn't spilled on herself. "Still? I don't keep tabs on what Du- rr Marinette does these days, *especially* when it comes to Adrien." Chloé sniffed and Alya thought she detected a little lingering resentment there.

"Still." Alya confirmed. "They talk now, but they're still circling each other like stray cats." She clenched her fists in frustration. "At this point I just want them to figure it out. I think they'd be great together, I mean, who doesn't? But even if not, they're burning actual YEARS even getting to the point where they might figure it out!" Alya couldn't keep the frustration from her voice by the end.

"Not even at my debut?" Chloé asked incredulously. "That was an exceedingly expensive enchanted evening. I practically served him up to her in the garden."

Alya shook her head,"All the pretty clothes might be good for the imagination but they aren't exactly condus-"

Chloé's absolutely smug grin stopped Alya's line of thought. Alya confirmed in her mind: ew. Out loud she said,"You can see what I'm up against." One last defeated shrug and she waited for an answer.

Chloé was still looking fogged. "Are you sure you're even, you know, barking up the right tree?" She sipped her Coffee again. "My sister is single. Maybe she and Marinette might hit it off. Adrien… the pool's more limited." Chloé lapsed into contemplation.

"What're you?" Alya couldn't wrap her head around the insinuation. "No they're not- I mean, they couldn't be-" She turned, her own thoughts revving up. Alya ran her hands up through her hair as if that could sift through the last year faster,"No- No way. I mean-"

She looked back only to see Chloé grinning at her again. "You really are hanging around Marinette too much."

Alya frowned and jabbed a finger at Chloé,"That wasn't funny!" But quickly drew back and folded her arms, settling into a pout. "Okay, a little funny. Can we just say for the sake of 'there's no way we're going to figure that out unless they tell us' that they're both into the other in theory?" Alya offered a little nod to the joke,"Besides, I think Kagami and Marinette would make a cuter couple."

Chloé tsked,"My sister is not good enough for your friend is it?" in mock-offense.

Alya rolled her eyes,"People will be coming in soon, I don't want to have to explain this little pow-wow. Are you going to help or not?"

Chloé tapped her nails on the side of her cup thoughtfully. "I get to mess with Marinette," she thought out loud. "Count me in."

Alya resisted facepalming. "Don't make me regret this."

Chloé squirmed in her seat, sitting up straight. "Oh you will, at least once, but I will too so that's only fair." She drummed her nails on the top of her cup this time, a smile growing. "Luka knows her well enough. I'll speak to him later."

The second bell rang and people began filing in. Alya turned but Chloé set down her coffee and gestured,"oooh ooh wait. Sabrina, pass me a couple prompts."

Sabrina had the papers at the ready, fishing them out of her suitcase. Chloé waved them at Alya,"Here, these are for you. You've got 'till the end of the week to come back with articles. I'll have Sabrina write up a proper gig contract by that time."

More students were joining in, walking past Alya as they climbed up to their seats. She took the papers to flip through but protested. "I'm not looking to be a fashion writer."

Chloé shook her head, pulling hard on the coffee to finish it before the final bell. "-f course you're not. But you do this, you get published, you stick it in your portfolio and jot it down as real work on your resume. It'll open doors."

Alya frowned, because it actually made sense. She glanced down at the prompts again. "What's the catch?"

Chloé shrugged expansively, almost too expansively for that top. "Luka thinks better of me, and I work off a little more karmic debt." She reached out,"We can just skip it."

Alya pulled the papers back to her chest,"I didn't say that." She tilted her head appraisingly at the former enemy and current disaster in front of her. "I'll have you roughs by the day after tomorrow."

Alya stepped up to the desk she still shared with Marinette for homeroom only these days, but a sight stopped her dead in her tracks. Felix entered the classroom with an uncomfortable grimace on his face and Lila attached firmly to his arm. The redhead was chattering at him a mile a minute as she guided him up to the empty seat beside her. Alya blinked back to the present and spotted a grin on Marinette's face she knew all too well. Alya strode up to her friend and glanced sidelong as the pair,"Did you do that?" she hissed.

"I think they look lovely together." Marinette mixed dreaminess and sarcasm in perfect balance.

"Like cyanide and arsenic." Alya countered. "Are you sure that was a good idea?"

Marinette sat herself down, a too happy smile still on her face. "The best. They'll keep each other occupied and we won't have to deal with them."

"I wish I had your confidence." Alya retorted, but she too sat just as Ms Bustier entered.

"Chloé Bourgeois, please go and change." their teacher spoke without even having turned to look at the class yet.

A chorus of laughter and a few light jibes bounced around the room; Alya was not immune. Chloé stood, turned to look up at the seating, then in a departure from so many times before, she performed the most over the top demure of curtsies then hurried on her way to a second round of more good natured laughter.