"Utterly ridiculous." Chloe muttered lightly kicking a pebble out of her way. When she had stormed away from the scene her head had been high, nose in the air. Now she was alone, skirting through allies so no one would see how upset she actually was.
It was her fault. This time it really was her own fault. The other instances she could explain away, over sensitive people akumatized because of the words of someone they didn't even care about. Chloe knew they didn't care about her. It was their own fault for being sensitive babies. But recently, recently it had felt as if things were changing. Like people might not actually hate her, might see how great she actually was!
She bit her lip, standing frustrated in the ally. Even Hawkmoth wouldn't akumatize her now, she had served her purpose and she had failed. It was the same with Ladybug, she would never return the bee miraculous now.
Her face turned red with the effort of not crying, her shaking hands balled into fists. What was she supposed to do now? Her parents were planning their second honeymoon, the incident had only made them grow closer. Of course they did, couples only grew close after major conflict. Right? So even that dumb Marinette's parents didn't love each other as much as her parents did. So why did every relationship she cared about fall apart so easily?
"Ridiculous." She muttered again, resuming her walk home.
When she reached her fathers hotel she found it surrounded by press.
"Where is she?" one reporter asked the doorman forcefully, "where is Chloe Bourgeois?"
"Is it true that she knowingly joined up with Hawkmoth?" Another asked shoving a microphone into his face.
"Miss Chloe is not in at the moment," the doorman said firmly, "and even if she was you brutes are expressly not allowed in the building. We have many famous guests staying with us that you will not bother."
Chloe darted back into an ally, breathing hard.
"I can't go back home," she breathed, "they'll all come after me." She sank down to a crouch, hugging her knees. "What am I supposed to do?"
A handsome green-eyed face flashed across her thoughts. "That's right! Adrakins will help me!" She leaped up, eyes flashing, but her face quickly fell. Adrian had once told her that he couldn't continue being friends with her if she continued being mean. Adrian might have helped her before, but now it was public knowledge that Chloe had willingly become Miracle Queen. She sank back down. "No he won't. He won't help me anymore."
She took a deep breath and looked up, determined. "This will get me nowhere. I can't worry about anyone else. I won't regret my actions."
She stood up and whipped out her phone, swiping through her contacts. She held her breath, impatiently tapping her fingers on the aged brick next to her as she listened to the ringing on the other end. Finally she heard the satisfying click indicating that the receiver had been picked up.
"Grandmere," Chole said relieved. She shook herself and stated, "I'm coming to stay with you."
"Oh," her grandmothers calm elderly voice said from the other end, "Not running away to New York with your mother?"
"I'm not running away."
"And?"
"and she and daddykins are going on a second honeymoon."
She heard her grandmother click her tongue. "and when her own daughters having such a hard time."
"You know what happened?" Chloe asked, voice small.
"No. But I know you wouldn't call me otherwise. When should I expect you?"
"I-I don't know yet," Chloe said, glancing behind her. The reporters were getting rowdy again. "I'll text you when I'm on the train."
"Very well dear, but I expect a full explanation when you arrive."
"Of course Grandmere. Byby!"
She hung up and sprinted away from her hiding spot. It was all too close to home, literally.
Worried that she might be recognized chole took off her signature yellow jacket and let her hair down, flipping her sunglasses down over her face. She walked nervously down the road, turning away anytime her attack on Paris as Miracle Queen was shown on screen above the busy streets.
When she got on the train she turned a bit green, her previous experience on the train had taken place in zero gravity. Even then Ladybug hadn't called her for help. Apparently anyone was better than Queen Bee. She had chosen some four-eyes to help her instead.
She walked up to first class, nonchalantly walking into her privet cabin space and sitting down. She took her sun glasses off and blew out a stream of air. Safe. No one was chasing her. She pulled out her phone and texted her grandmother what time to expect her. She got a text back that her grandmothers butler would be there to pick her up.
After an hour of staring out the window, her usual ability to fall asleep while traveling incapacitated because of her nerves, her phone started to ring. Glancing down she saw it was her father. She sighed and picked up.
"Chloe! Darling! Where are you? Your mother and I are all packed. None of the staff have seen you since Ladybug de-akumatized you!"
"I'm fine daddy, ok. I just don't want to go on your stupid 'second honeymoon'. Watching you and mom act all lovey-dovey is, like, really gross."
"Don't say that Chloe dear! We want you to come. Where are you? Your mother and I are both very worried!"
"I'm NOT going dad. I'm not even going back home."
"Chloe, darling, dearest, what to you mean? Come back home!"
Chloe stopped him, clicking her tongue. "No dad. I'm going to go stay with grandmere. You and mom can go off and, do whatever sad thing you guys do when I'm not there."
She brought the phone away from her ear. Mayor Bourgeois still audibly saying "Wait! Chloe! Which grandm-" when she cut him off, hanging up.
She sat back and sighed. There was no way she was going to tell anyone the real reason she had left. Even she could hardly believe it. Chloe Bourgeois? Scared of the public? Ridiculous! She was supposed to be beloved by the public! Her father was the mayor for crying out loud. Her mother the most sought after and respected fashion critic in the world. The people should love and adore her – but this time… this time even daddy wouldn't be able to help her completely.
Chloe's grandmother lived in an old chateau, modest compared to Chloe's modern upbringing but undoubtedly grand. The lady herself would have been comfortable living in the sun kings court. Even so she accepted Choles hug when the girl ran to her, clinging around her waist.
"Oh grandmere! It's ridiculous! Utterly Ridiculous!" Chloe's uncaring demenor cracked in her grandmother care.
The elderly woman smiled softly, an increasingly common event on her normally stern features. "I know Chloe dear. I know. Let's go inside for some tea."
Chloe sniffed and looked up at her grandmothers face, nose and eyes red. "Can I have hot chocolate instead?"
"Of course dear. Come on, let's go in." They turned to the imposing door and swept in to the castle.
Behind them the door swung closed with a heavy clank, leaving the poor butler to find his own way in while holding all the things Chloe had bought between the train station and the chateau.