Marinette is very earnest about being friends with Chloe. She fills the space between them with chatter as they walk back to class and offers to copy her notes and help Chloe with all the classwork she missed. Chloe is overwhelmed and out of her depth, so unused to genuine kindness unless it came from Adrien or Chat. Even Sabrina, who used to be so clingy, desperate for any affection she could get from Chloe, wasn't as persistent and determined as Marinette.
She knows they draw eyes to them as they enter the classroom; Marinette laughing with her is hardly a sight anyone expected, least of all Chloe.
It's a lot.
It's not bad, it's just... a lot.
And after her horrible week and the sudden change in how Marinette is treating her, Chloe needs to retreat. She needs time to shift, settle, adjust to this change enough that she can find her footing again.
Outside the classroom, thunder rumbles, then the sky opens up. Just in time for class to end as well. The world greys out, covered in heavy sheets of rain. The air feels clean, and Chloe can't resist taking a few deep breaths when she steps outside, stepping to the side so people can pass her as they pull up their hoods or open umbrellas.
"Chloe!" Marinette suddenly appears besides her, Alya a step behind her, watching the interaction warily. "Did you bring your umbrella today?"
It takes a second for her to process the words in her mind. "Oh," she says, "No, I didn't."
"Wanna share mine? You can wait for your ride at my place."
Spending time at her house, with her bright and cheerful parents, reminding her of everything she doesn't have. No, that's too much for her to handle at the moment.
"It's fine, I need to be going somewhere anyways. I have a few things to do today. I'll buy an umbrella at the first corner store I find."
Marinette frowns, and glances back at Alya. Then she pushes her pink umbrella into Chloe's hands.
"Take mine then. I can share with Alya."
"No, really, it's fine, I don't need-"
"Chloe," she says, voice firm. "Take the umbrella so you don't get sick. You can give it back to me tomorrow, okay? Just have it for today." She reaches back and draws Alya forward to hook arms with her. Alya opens the umbrella in front of them, then lifts it above both their heads.
"See you tomorrow Chloe!" Marinette waves as she walks out into the rain with Alya, who turns back to give her a small wave as well.
Still reeling from the events of the entire day, Chloe can only stand numbly and watch as they walk away. Once they disappear into a crowd of umbrellas, Chloe opens the one Marinette forced onto her, and steps out into the rain.
The sound of the rain hitting the umbrella is soothing, a rhythmic tapping that keeps her grounded in the moment. She is just another faceless person in a crowd of many, and after being under the constant attention of Marinette, the anonymity is comforting.
She starts walking to Takahogi's flower shop without thinking, muscle memory guiding her, before she stops and changes direction, heading towards the cemetery first. The rain is coming down hard, and though it's doubtful that the flowers have survived the downpour, Chloe wants to savage what she can of the delphiniums.
So she walks, unhurried, and the streets slowly clear out. Most people have taken refuge from the weather in the buildings that line the street, or they've managed to escape the cold in the confines of their homes. Walking down mostly empty roads, Chloe lets herself enjoy the rain, spinning the umbrella to watch the sudden spray of raindrops go flying off. Surrounded by rain, Chloe feels like the only person in the world. The illusion of solitude brings about a feeling of peace, and she breathes easy, letting the stress of the day melt off her shoulders.
The arrival of autumn is clearer than ever; the wind is cold and brings forth goosebumps on her arms. It's about time for her to bring out her long sleeves and jackets to prepare for colder days.
The cemetery is as empty as ever when she arrives, quieter and lonelier under the rain. Water drips down the metal bars of the gate, cold to the touch. Thunder rumbles overhead, and Chloe hurries through the cemetery, shivering as the wet grass quickly soaks her shoes. While there is a path she could walk, going through the grass is much faster. Even if she gets drenched, she won't be out long; the plan is the grab the flowers and go and hopefully dry off once she's out of the rain.
But when she finally sees her mother's grave through the sheets of rain, someone's already there.
Chat carefully tucks an open umbrella into one arm of the stone angel, and leaves the delphiniums cradled by the other hand.
The burst of affection she feels for him is so overwhelming that Chloe feels herself about to tear up.
"Chat!" she calls out to him, laughing when he jumps, startled. "I wasn't expecting to see you here."
"I remembered you saying that you were going to leave flowers here, so I came by to make sure the flowers were safe from the rain." He's already soaked through, drops of water dripping off his hair and rolling down his suit. He's visibly shivering, but smiling despite the cold. Chloe walks over to him and lifts her umbrella higher so it can cover both of them.
"Come on," Chloe says, "Let's go to Takahogi's and dry off. Hold this so I don't have to hold my arm up so high."
Chat immediately takes hold of the umbrella's handle without complaint. Despite the gloom and chill of the rain, he's cheerful, humming as they walk past headstones half-hidden behind sheets of rain and back out into the streets. The umbrella doesn't offer them much protection when split between the two of them. Rain slowly makes its way against bare skin to send its chill into their bones.
Above their heads, thunder rumbles as Chat kicks his feet through puddles, and the wind picks up in strong bursts, sending the rain directly into their faces.
He laughs when the umbrella is nearly ripped out of his hand, then shouts to Chloe, "Race you there!"
Takahogi's flower shop is barely visible under the heavy rain, but Chloe can see the burst of color just down the street and takes off at Chat's heels, unable to hold back a grin as she leaps over puddles and feels the world open up around her for just a moment.
Chat reaches the door first and flings himself inside. From the safety of shelter, he holds open the door until Chloe goes barreling through, crashing into him in a tangle of limbs and laughter.
As they separate themselves and shake off a good majority of the water on them at the door, Takahogi emerges from the back and levels them both with a pointed gaze.
"Don't worry, we can clean this up!" Chat reassures. Chloe squeezes more water out of her hair, adding to the steadily growing puddle beneath their feet.
"What he said," she adds, wincing as her fingers catch on a knot in her hair.
Takahogi sighs and shakes his head, as though disappointed, but the smile on his face shows how he really feels. "Ah, to be young and full of energy," he laments, then turns to go back to the kitchen. "I only have two cups of tea prepared, so go to the tatami room and I'll have another cup out quickly."
"Roger that!" Chat salutes.
"And perhaps dry off with some of the spare towels in the back."
"Roger that first!"
Shoes squelching with all the water they've gathered, Chloe leads Chat across the store and onto the small storage room, shifting a few things around before being able to reach the towels. She shakes out two towels, nose scrunching up at the dust that comes off the shelves, then wipes off as much water as she can.
By the time she's done, Chat is only slightly damp and has his towel tied around his shoulders like a cape. He's pale and still shivering slightly, but he bounces up and down on his toes as he waits for Chloe to finish drying her hair as best she can.
Raising an eyebrow, she says, "You could have just gone ahead, you know."
"Well, yeah, but I didn't wanna leave you behind!"
"You're too nice for your own good. Be more rude. Tell more people to choke."
Chat gasps, scandalized. "I would never! I'm a good person who has manners!"
"And yet, you turned out so badly…" Chloe sighs, "Where did it all go wrong for you?"
He pouts, and turns away from her dramatically, towel cape fluttering. "At least I'm more purrlite than you."
Chloe smacks him with her towel. "You're the worst. Let's go get some tea."
The chill has set into their bones at this point, though Chloe tries as best she can to hold back her shivers to appear as though the rain has affected her less than Chat. It's petty, but she'll take whatever victories she can get.
Takahogi has yet to emerge from the kitchen with the third cup of tea, but on the table in the tatami room are two cups of tea, steam rising up from them. Chloe and Chat collapse onto the tatami alongside the table, sprawled out.
"Hey, Chat?" Chloe says. He hums an acknowledgement, but otherwise remains silent. "Thanks. For looking after my mother's flowers."
The silence that follows isn't heavy. It isn't nerve-wrecking or deafening. Instead, it's light, warm, almost comforting. Chat shifts his leg to nudge Chloe with his foot.
"You don't have to thank me for that."
"I want to."
Though her eyes are closed, Chloe can easily picture Chat's bashful smile as he says, quietly, "Okay."
They lie there, together, just breathing and enjoying each other's silent company until Takahogi shuffles in, hands gently holding a steaming cup.
"Ah, perhaps I should have skipped the tea and grabbed the blankets instead," he says upon catching sight of the two of them laying on the tatami. He sets down his cup on the table and pulls a cushion out of a nearby basket to sit on.
With great effort, Chloe forces herself up and kicks Chat to force him up as well. She takes a warm cup in hand and takes a small sip, careful not to burn her tongue, and smiles at the gentle taste of pomegranate white tea. The warmth settles in her stomach and chases away the last of the chills. With the rain still pattering against the windows, peaceful enough that Chloe can feel her shoulders untense and her eyes get heavy.
"How is the tea?" Takahogi asks, breaking the silence.
"Good!" Behind him, Chat's tail sways in the air. "I don't usually drink tea, but this is really nice!"
"I'm glad to hear it. Chloe?"
"Warm," is all she manages to say, too comfortable to gather up the effort needed for a full sentence. The events of the day have worn her out more than she anticipated, and now that she's begun the relax, it's hard to keep her eyes open.
"And how was school?"
"Good. Weird, but good."
Chat perks up at her words and looks like he wants to say something, but he bites it down and turns his attention back onto his tea. As odd of a reaction that was, Chloe decides she's too tired to think more about it and focuses on Takahogi again.
He nods at her answer and says, "I would ask why if you weren't so tired. Finish your tea and I'll bring out some blankets for the both of you. You can nap and go home once the rain settles some."
'If only he were her actual grandfather,' Chloe thinks, 'Maybe then I wouldn't have been so lonely.' But she's with him now alongside Chat, suddenly understanding what unconditional love and care feel like as Takahogi takes care of her as if she were his own granddaughter.
And when they've both finished their tea, completely warmed up and laying back to back under the soft quilts Takahogi brings out, Chloe feels as though she's part of a real family. They may have found each other late in life, but they found each other, and that's all that matters.
With Chat at her back and Takahogi quietly working on a flower arrangement, Chloe lets her eyes slip shut and falls asleep to the comforting sound of rain.
Hey sorry I was gone so long. School and work takes up a lot of time, but it's mostly all just projects and finals prep rn so I have time to write. This has been sitting half written in my docs since August, so sorry if it's a little disconnected! The next chapter (who knows when that'll be out lol) is gonna be fun tho ;3