Marinette frowned at Kim. They were in the park, right next to a small grove of evergreen trees. He was wearing a pair of flannel-lined jeans, a light orange shirt, and a custom-made jacket. He looked great, but he wasn't working it like she wanted him to. She held her camera up to her eyes and looked at the composition of the picture again.

"No," She shook her head and took her eye away from the camera. She pursed her lips, examining him. "Turn towards me a little more. I want the design of the shirt in the picture."

Kim shivered and frowned at her, well on his way to becoming irritated. He ran his hands through his hair, but at least he didn't mess with his clothes. "You told me to look to the right, so I'm looking to the right. Now you want me to look at you? In case you didn't notice-you're on the left. Make up your mind, woman, you're infuriating!"

Marinette rolled her eyes and raised the camera up again. "Shut up, just keep your feet pointed in that direction and twist your torso this way. It's not that hard." Honestly, he was so incompetent. Maybe she had been spoiled since she'd been working with a professional model for a few days, but she couldn't remember Kim's photo shoots being nearly this frustrating before.

Kim sighed and glanced around the park. He blinked and pointed behind her, noticeably happier than a moment before. "Look, there's Adrien! He's a professional model-just get him to do this for you."

Normally, that would be great. She would have jumped on that idea, if it weren't for one small problem. "That won't work, I tailored these clothes for you, and I'm not going to upload pictures of badly fitted clothes on my website."

"The fact that he's with Sabrina and Chloe wouldn't bother you, right?" Kim asked. Marinette frowned. A lot of things bothered her, but a couple of spoiled girls were little more than a slight inconvenience.

Lately, Chloe had kept her mouth shut around her and had just spoken with Alya, if she'd come near Marinette. She'd been leaving Sabrina behind, so Marinette didn't have to deal with her. Even if they were together, even if there was no Alya to buffer the nastier of Chloe's comments, the thought of them didn't intimidate Marinette at all. Kim should know that.

"Of course not, why would it?"

Kim grinned at her and waved enthusiastically, calling loudly: "Hey, Adrien!"

Marinette turned and saw the tall blonde and two shorter girls spot them and eagerly walk towards them. Sabrina almost slipped on some ice, but Chloe caught her.

Marinette narrowed her eyes. She was fine with all of them, and Adrien was now her friend. But she had a feeling that Kim was calling them over so Adrien could take his spot modeling the clothes she'd made. He wouldn't get out of this so easily. "Kim, shut up!"

Kim shot her a look. "Hey, Adrien, come here. I need some advice!"

The three of them approached and Adrien settled at her side, hands on his hips. She looked over his clothes. Basic jeans, basic shirt, quality jacket, classy shoes. The outfit was acceptable, but boring. She snapped a picture of him anyway. He looked good, and she could put the photo in her scrapbook she was making. He grinned down at her, but turned to Kim:

"What's up?"

Kim sighed dramatically, but he didn't move from his spot. Good. He could complain all he wanted, but she would be pissed if he messed with the pose which had taken him fifteen minutes to figure out. "Marinette forced me to do a photo shoot of all the clothes she's made for her. I thought it'd be fun, but she's a slave driver and nothing I do is right. She keeps changing her mind about what she wants,"

"Classic photographer," Adrien sympathized, looking at Kim.

"I'm not changing my mind!" Marinette said hotly. She scoffed and turned to Adrien: "I know exactly what I want, he's just doing it wrong."

Kim rolled his eyes and strode to her side, wrapping her in a hug and lifting her up. "You just can't accept that it might be you who is the problem, here?"

"You asshole!" She glared down at him. "It took you forever to just stand there like that, now we're going to have to start all over. Why the hell are you so annoying-do you find pleasure from making my life harder than it already is?"

"Careful," Kim dropped her. "Your inner Sabine is showing." She scowled at him, but when Adrien poked between her eyebrows, her expression eased up.

"Look at them," Chloe used her hands to frame Kim and Marinette together. She turned to look at Sabrina. "I've been telling them they'd be the perfect couple for years. Aren't they just adorable together, Sabrina?"

Marinette and Kim exchanged amused glances. Chloe had gotten the idea in her head from a young age that all the Asian kids should be paired off. It was one of the reasons she, Alix, and Kim were so close now. For a while Chloe had tried to get Alix and Kim to kiss, but she'd quickly given up when Marinette drew a wedding dress. She'd made Kim and Marinette play wedding for two weeks before the two of them simply started to run away any time they saw her approaching.

Adrien looked at the two of them, confused.

"Yeah," Sabrina nodded. "I'd kill to have a boyfriend like Kim." Kim smiled uncomfortably, and Marinette frowned at him, concerned. She glanced at Chloe and Sabrina. Her lips pursed.

"Oh, I thought…" Adrien trailed off and looked at Kim. Marinette raised an eyebrow at him. It was meant to be an encouragement, to get him to keep speaking, and he took it for what she'd intended it to be. "I might be totally wrong, and I'm sorry if I am, but I thought you...liked guys?"

"Nah, you're right," Kim said. "I just haven't...officially come out yet, you know? But it's not like I'm ashamed of it or anything."

"You're gay?" Chloe's jaw dropped. Marinette looked at her with narrowed eyes. She glanced at Kim, but he wouldn't meet her gaze. If he gave her the slightest indication, she'd jump in in a second.

Sabrina shook her head and sighed. "At least we still have our imagination. You can be mine in my dreams, Kim." She looked Kim up and down. Marinette had to physically bite her tongue to keep silent, and shoved her camera in Adrien's hands, just in case. "What a waste."

"Are you serious?" Marinette growled. "What does that even mean-'what a waste'-he is who he is, and it's not like he owes you anything. You haven't spoken to him in years and this is the first thing you have to say? You don't know him, how dare you judge him just from the people he likes?"

Sabrina leaned towards Chloe: "Look at that. He can't tell anyone that he's gay, and now he can't even speak up for himself. What a loser." Chloe laughed a little and glanced to the side. Marinette glared at her, but she wasn't looking, so she turned back to Sabrina.

"He's just too shocked by your utter bitchiness to say anything," Marinette shot out, stepping in front of Kim, and towards Sabrina. "I, on the other hand, expected nothing more from you. What the hell right do you have to say about him. If he doesn't tell anyone, that's none of your business-leave him alone, and get out of my face!"

"It's not like I'm even talking to you," Sabrina retorted, looking down her nose at Marinette. "You're always so nosy, and such a hypocrite-take your own advice, why don't you? Mind your own business!"

"What, it's normal for you to chain yourself to your friends-oh, sorry, friend-but I can't speak up when you're bullying my friend?" Marinette demanded, taking a step closer to them. "Yeah, newsflash, I stand by my friends. It's called being a decent human being."

Chloe grabbed Sabrina's arm and pointed:

"Look! There's the ice cream guy I was telling you about. He's like, magic or something, and he can tell you your soulmate." She paused and glanced at Kim. "He'd have a tough time with Kim, though. If he's not willing to own up to who he likes, how could he possibly find someone to like him?"

"What's it to you who he tells and who he doesn't? You're not even his friend. Just walk away!"

"Pathetic." Sabrina clicked her tongue. She and Chloe sauntered away. Marinette shook with restraint. She was trying her best to temper her fury, but she couldn't believe what she'd just heard. Where did Sabrina go off judging Kim like that. She didn't even know him! She hadn't spared him more than two looks in four years, and now she was suddenly the expert on him-calling him pathetic and a loser? She had no right. Chloe hadn't said much, but she had laughed a bit, and in a way, she'd started it all. Most egregious, though, was the one who'd said nothing.

"Sorry about Chloe," Adrien sighed. "She doesn't mean to come off so...I don't know. She's just going through a lot right now."

She turned and glared at Adrien. He stepped back, shocked. Kim reached for Marinette's arm.

"Marinette, don't-"

She pulled away from Kim. "Shut up, Kim," she said lowly. She stayed silent for a moment, the words bubbling up in her mind and resting at the tip of her tongue. Then, she took a deep breath. Adrien was her friend. She couldn't just yell at him; that wouldn't help him. She licked her chapped lips: "Adrien, it's nice that you're loyal to your friend." Her voice shook with contained anger. "But Chloe isn't the only person in the universe; she's not the only going through anything. Talking to her, telling her to get off her high horse won't make you a terrible friend, it'll just make you better."

She worked to relax her face, but she had a feeling she was still scowling. She turned away from Adrien and grabbed Kim's arm. She said a stiff good-bye to Adrien and pulled Kim towards her house. They walked carefully over the ruined and frozen streets. Kim looked at her.

"Do you think they're right?" he asked.

"No!" Marinette said vehemently. "They don't know you, they don't know how hard it was for you to come to terms with who you are, or how many nights you've had to spend the night at my place when your parents kicked you out of your own house. You can go at your own pace, and do things like you want, and it has nothing to do with them at all!"

"I just...can't help but agree with them when they called me a loser," Kim stopped in the center of the street. Marinette stood in front of him. "I've liked Max for years now, and he doesn't even know I'm gay. I keep telling myself I'm not ashamed of who I am anymore, but if I can't confess who I am to the person I like, if I can't tell him I like him, aren't they right? Isn't that pathetic?"

"It's not pathetic, you idiot," Marinette punched Kim on the hip. "Don't let their words get to you. But if you want to tell him-if you want to tell him-I'll be by your side."

"Yeah," Kim smiled down at her, rubbing his hip. "Yeah, I know. Thanks."


Marinette and Alix stood with their backs to the wall, right by a corner in the hallway. Around the bend, Kim was stuttering to Max. He'd decided he was going to tell him, and Marinette had told him she'd be there for him if he wanted moral support. He's also told Alix his plans, and now the two girls were eavesdropping on one of the biggest confessions of Kim's life so far.

"So, I guess I'm just trying to tell you that I'm gay," Kim finally ended his ramblings and got to the point. Marinette could imagine him, red-faced and looking at the one hair in Max's eyebrow which stuck out. She could imagine him holding unnaturally still to hide how nervous he was. She could only imagine how apprehensive he was.

"Oh," Max said. "Are you...out, to anyone else? Am I the first person you've told?"

"No, I, uh. Marinette and Alix know. So do their families. Nino might know, I don't know."

"And, we must not underestimate the investigative abilities of one certain Alya Cesaire," Max pointed out, a smile in his voice. This was good-it was definitely going better than Kim had thought it would.

"Yeah," Kim let out a relieved, breathy laugh. "That, uh...that's not all." Kim took a deep breath. Alix and Marinette exchanged glances; this was it. "I like someone. Uhh...you. I like...you."

There was a silence. Marinette tried to peek around the corner, but Alix pulled her back. Nathaniel and Mylene walked down the hallway. They were about to turn the corner, but Marinette blocked the way and held a finger to her lips. They both stayed silent and hid with Alix and Marinette.

"That...is very flattering," Max said finally. Alix winced, and Marinette clenched her fists. He was rejecting Kim. Kim would be heartbroken. "I apologize, but I do not like members of the same gender," Max sounded flustered, almost a little apologetic. Then, he added hesitantly: "Could we still be friends?"

Chloe's voice came from around the corner, and Alix couldn't keep Marinette from looking around the corner this time. Chloe looked a little surprised, but then pouted at Kim, trailing a finger down from her eye over her cheek.

"You got rejected?" She sounded like she was almost laughing. Alix and Nathaniel strained to keep Marinette back, but they were still sliding along the tile floors. Chloe continued: "Are you surprised? Why would Kante like a loser like you? You didn't even have the courage to tell him who you were until Sabrina talked to you in the park and Dupain-Cheng came to your defense like a white knight. Now that you've-"

An alarm rang through the city, through the halls of the highschool. Mr. Damocles' altered voice sounded through the sound system, requesting the students walk out in an ordered fashion. As had been happening more and more lately, the students actually listened. It was like a fire alarm. The first couple of months the students heard it, they freaked out. The more the Makara attacks happened, the less they sensed they were actually in danger. This was stupid, of course. Marinette knew first hand exactly how dangerous both Makara and Akuma could be, especially since there was no way to reverse the effects of the Akuma yet.

Chloe ran past them, which spurred Nathaniel and Mylene into action. Marinette ran around the corner and grabbed Kim and Max. "Come on, we have to go!"

"Were you there the whole time?" Max questioned, stumbling to keep up with the two most athletic students in class. Marinette threw him at Alix and turned to Kim, about to tell him something, to give him a quick word of comfort before they continued to the bunker. Her voice died in her throat. A white butterfly was landing on his jacket (no, damnit, she'd just made him that one!) and he changed right in front of her.

She saw the long hairs grow from his skin, and the red glow appeared around his eyes. Wings sprouted from his back, and an extra pair of hands burst from his chest. He doubled over, in obvious pain from the ongoing transformation.

"Akuma!" she screamed. "Get out, get out! Akuma!"

With the frenzy of middle aged women shoving their way to the first rack of clothes on Black Friday, the students of Francois-Dupont High school booked it to the exits. Mr. Damocles's voice continued to hoot instructions to the student body. Marinette spotted Mrs. Bustier trying to hide in the crowd of students.

Kim screamed, his voice unrecognizable. Sabrina ran by him, coming out of nowhere. Marinette ran towards her, curses shoving each other as they escaped her mouth in an endless string. She grabbed Sabrina's hand, but it was too late. Kim got to her. He shoved Sabrina to the side, and Marinette watched in horror as Sabrina began to disappear.

Kim's wings spread and he shot into the sky. As he tore through the roof, the alarms in the school joined the alarms of the street. The sound was deafening, but somehow diluted. Marinette watched as Sabrina phased completely away from her eyesight.

"Sabrina?" Marinette called. Students ran past her, but Marinette shoved them away from her. She heard a distinctly 'Sabrina' squeak in front of her. "Where are you?" Marinette asked.

"Right in front of you, where the hell do you think I-ahhhh!"

Evidently, she'd just realized she was invisible. Marinette didn't have time for this. She had to go to the Makara and purify Kim. She reached towards Sabrina. It took a few seconds of blind grabbing, but she found the girl curled on the floor. Marinette pulled her to her feet.

"Get over yourself!" Marinette snapped. "Cry later, safety now!" She pushed Sabrina in front of her and started running to the nearest bathroom. She kept looking over her shoulder. Sabrina was invisible. She could be anywhere, even following her; she could see her transform. This was so utterly irritating, Marinette scowled.

People kept trying to push her, but she fought through them, making it to the bathroom.

"Spots on!" In a flash, she was Ladybug. She swung out of the school. "Tikki, is the Makara advanced?"

"Nope! Isn't that nice? They've all been so advanced lately, it's been a real pain."

Marinette didn't say anything and swung around the city. The Makara was in the process of destroying the football field when she arrived. It had a snake head attached to a badger-like body. Instead of feet, there were slippers like a seal. The body was covered with thick scales, and it had a flat beaver tail. Any time the tail slapped the ground, the ground shook, and the buildings nearby swayed precariously.

She threw her yo-yo at a particularly tall building and launched herself in the air, aiming herself so she would land on the Makara. Her feet led the way, and wind whistled through the air. She shot like an arrow at the creature. Cat Noir propelled himself towards the Makara from another angle, but it didn't do anything to distract the creature. The Makara saw her and swung its head at her. It smacked her like a bat and she found herself flung in the opposite direction.

She flailed in the air, throwing her yo-yo to the side, willing it to catch onto something, anything. It caught and Marinette's arm practically popped out of the socket at the sudden stop. She swung around, trying to make her way back to the Makara.

The alarms continued blaring through the city. She pulled herself through the city faster. Her dad would be devastated if the Makara completely destroyed the field.

A body came out of nowhere and knocked into her. Her hands grabbed at whatever it was, and the two of them crashed into a building. Marinette's back hit a wrought iron balcony, and she hissed in pain. She blinked away the stars swimming in front of her eyes, hands still clenched in what was surely the Akuma. It was screaming in her ears.

The Makara's tail hit the ground, and she heard a building fall. Wind flowed through the streets, bringing with it the dust of the collapsed structure. Marinette let go with one hand and pulled herself onto the actual balcony. The Akuma twisted to fly away. She grabbed his wings, hooked her legs on the balcony, and pulled him back.

He wasn't like the previous Akumas, though. He was significantly more fit than the rest had been in human form, and that carried over to the Akuma body. His wings continued to flutter, even as Marinette held onto them. He strained, and Marinette found herself in the air, legs tangled in a broken balcony. She twisted and kicked the iron bars off of her. She pulled herself up and kicked straight up, into his solar plexus. His extra set of arms caught her and attempted to throw her off. She let go, allowing herself to fall for a moment.

She pulled out her yo-yo, throwing it and wrapping it around his legs. Her shoulder screamed in protest, but she had to fight through it, or she would die. He continued flying, but he was clearly irritated by the constraint. He pulled at it, and she threw her weight to the side, trying to steer him. It didn't work, but it did get her on top of an apartment building. She planted her feet and called on the extra strength Tikki's magic could give her. She felt the warmth slowly trickle through her arms, down her legs to her feet. She stood, she pulled, and the Akuma was finally under her control.

She swung him around, throwing him into the wall beneath her. He stayed conscious, continued fighting. She pulled him up. The Makara smacked its tail on the ground again, shaking her building. She almost lost her footing, but the magic kept her stable. She continued to pull at the Akuma. Her toes were starting to go numb from the ice on the ground.

"Lucky Charm," she grit out. Her fingers glowed with heat. She needed to time it so it would be complete right as the Akuma landed on the roof beside her. She slowed the flow of magic in her hands. She could feel Tikki panting. That was one of the side-effects of getting better at her powers-she was constantly aware of Tikki's presence and how she was feeling. It was odd, but it made Marinette feel stronger than she had before.

The Akuma flopped onto the roof. It used its four hands to try and raise itself, but it was too late. The creation was complete. It was like a snow globe, but large enough to house a person-or an Akuma. She kicked him into the case and shut it over him. The Akuma screeched, throwing its weight around the case, clawing at it and punching it. She knew it wouldn't do anything. Whatever he did, her magic would nullify it.

Once again calling on her strength, she grabbed the handhold she'd imagined on top of the case and swung back to the soccer field. Just outside of the field, the police had set up a headquarters. She dropped the container there without explanation and swung away, ready to help her partner.

The smell stung her nose; her eyes watered. She couldn't breathe through her mouth, though. It could easily toss her to the side, and biting her tongue off would be less fun than smelling the rotten fish smell for a short while.

The Makara's tail started to rise again. Not good. She threw her yo-yo around the Makara's neck and pulled herself up on its back. Underneath her, the Makara's scales rose. If her magic didn't nullify its powers, it would have sliced right through her suit, and right through her leg. Instead, the scales pushed against her with bruising force. Its tail continued to rise, but wouldn't let it fall. She threw the yo-yo. It went around the Makara's neck and wrapped around its tail. She braced her feet against one of the raised scales, and she pulled.

Cat Noir came out of nowhere, looking exhausted. He tried to land on the Makara's head, but it kept hitting him away. She had an idea.

"Lucky Charm!" She called out, hoping Cat Noir heard her. Of course he did. He changed trajectory and landed next to her. She tossed him a spear, hoping he'd understand. Her earrings chimed. She'd need to leave soon. Normally she'd stay and talk to the Akuma victim. In this case, though, she would rather talk to Kim as Marinette than as Ladybug.

Cat Noir caught the spear and rushed off. She strained, sweat dripping down her neck. The tail fought her, struggling to slap the ground. She called for more magic, and Tikki let it flow. Marinette's legs straightened, and the strain lessened on her back.

From dozens of meters above her, the Makara screamed. Cat Noir held onto his baton, making his way to the ground. Marinette couldn't let go; she couldn't risk letting the tail fall; she couldn't risk any more damage.

Cat Noir came out of nowhere. "What are you doing?" he demanded. The air around them was sparkling and slowly starting to smell fresher. The horrid stench dissipated from the surrounding area.

"I can't let the tail fall," she explained. "It's still fighting me. We can't let it destroy more!"

Cat Noir cursed under his breath. "The Makara is disappearing, get off before you fall and break your back!"

"The tail!" she shot back.

"The tail is mostly mist! It's time to get off!"

She pulled her yo-yo back. He was her partner. It would do no one any good if she didn't trust him. She jumped onto his back and he got them to the ground just as the Makara completely disappeared. Her earrings chimed again. The chimes had upgraded, too. Instead of chiming a certain number of times, Tikki's voice just told her how many more minutes she had left. Eleven.

"Come on, we have to purify the Akuma," Her legs felt like jelly beneath her and her shoulder ached, but Marinette pushed through it, like she always did. She stood by Cat Noir, yo-yo ready as he opened the glass container.

The Akuma shot out of the giant snow globe, but Marinette was faster than him. Her yo-yo shot out and wrapped around him. She pulled him to the ground, and an officer standing by shot him with a taser.

"Was that really necessary?" Cat Noir turned to the officer.

"It was a danger to us," the officer defended.

"You must be new," Cat Noir decided. Officer Claude nodded behind the taser cop.

"Now we can't get any information from the Akuma," Marinette frowned. Then she sighed. It wasn't like they usually got information from the Akuma anyway. It was probably fine. "I think the butterfly is… in the Akuma's jacket." Oh, it would hurt to see that destroyed.

"Mind if I try something?" Cat Noir crouched by the Akuma. Marinette didn't unwrap the yo-yo from around the Akuma. It might have been tased, but there was still a chance it could be dangerous.

Cat Noir mumbled something, and one single sharp finger darkened. It was like it pulled all the light from around it. Marinette shivered just looking at it. Cat Noir touched the Akuma's jacket and then pulled back. As if he'd caught it on a string, the butterfly emerged from the jacket. Marinette could have cried in relief. She'd spend weeks on that jacket; she really hadn't wanted to see it destroyed.

"You're not the only one learning new tricks," Cat Noir smiled up at her good-naturedly. He held the butterfly in his palm before he released it from whatever magic web he'd caught it in. Marinette caught it in her yo-yo and purified it.

Kim lay on the icy ground, and she picked him up, carrying him over to the official police pedicab. They had their own procedure for how to deal with Akuma victims. She'd go back home and call him in a few hours. She turned, looked one more time at Cat Noir, and swung away,


It took longer to walk to school than ride there in a pedicab. Marinette had prepared a croissant, and even a disposable cup of coffee and left them with her mom, giving her instructions to give them to Adrien and tell him she'd gone to school with Kim.

She shivered through her four socks, boots, sweatshirt, and down jacket. Her fingertips were numb, even as she held Kim's hand and held them in her deep pocket. The ice underneath them was too smooth for comfort, so for the first block out of the bakery, they'd walked in cautious silence.

"Thanks for letting me spend the night," Kim eventually said. Marinette snorted.

"That's dumb. Shut up, Kim."

Kim laughed a little at that. "At least some things don't change." He looked down and swallowed. He looked at her. "Do you think he'll still be my friend?"

"Of course he will," Marinette said. "You were his first friend when he transferred. He'd be a selfish asshole to forget everything about your friendship just because you like him. And no matter what I think about Max, he's not ever intentionally an asshole."

"High praise, from you." Kim laughed. He didn't seem to want to talk any more, and Marinette was fine with that. They slowly made their way to school. Even in the dark, it was easy to see exactly where the roof of the building had caved in. Marinette sighed.

"Well, shit."

Kim winced. "Sorry, I guess. I wasn't really thinking."

"Yeah, it's not your fault," Marinette continued trudging to the school. "It's just going to suck when we're in class and there's no roof there."

They entered their classroom. Normally, if someone got Akumatized, people would be crawling all over the victim, asking about their experience or how it felt to fly. Today, even Alya kept her distance. News had traveled fast about Kim's rejection. In such a small class, it was really no surprise. Even people who didn't know or like Kim looked at him with sympathy. Kim sighed.

Marinette pulled Kim to the back of the classroom. She told Ivan to give Kim his seat next to Nathaniel. Marinette didn't leave him, even after he'd settled in and unpacked his things. Mrs. Bustier hadn't entered yet, and she wasn't going to leave him until class officially started.

"I hate this," Kim mumbled to himself. "I know what you're going to say, but I just can't help it. Chloe...everything she said yesterday...I can't get it out of my head. I feel so pathetic, and so...unlovable. I know, I know. It's just one guy, just a crush, we weren't even going out. Why am I letting this affect me so much, and why am I letting Chloe bother me so much? Well, I can't help it. I don't know. Her words won't stop running through my head."

"Kim," Marinette said firmly. "You can feel sad. It's not a small deal, getting rejected by the guy you like. You're entitled to feel sad, and hurt, and rejected. But just know that you're not unlovable. I love you, Alix loves you. Hell, my parents love you. And about Chloe-" Marinette cut herself off. Going off on a long rant about Chloe's heartlessness wouldn't help anyone. She opened her mouth, but Nathaniel beat her to it:

"Ignore Chloe," Nathaniel said firmly. It was a little weird to hear him so serious. He was usually always joking around or smiling. "I hope you don't mind; Mylene and I heard what she said. Believe it or not, she's gotten softer about it. I wasn't in your class last year, but I came out near the start of school. She was awful. I don't know what her deal is, but she's not doing it from a good place. I'd just ignore her and focus on yourself rather than her."


Adrien hadn't gotten a chance to speak to Marinette yet. Her mother had informed him that she had already left with Kim that morning. He thought he'd possibly be able to talk to her at school, but that hadn't worked out. She'd sat with Kim and Nathaniel the entire day, even ignoring Mrs. Mendeleiv when she yelled at her to go back to her seat.

Now it was lunchtime. Sabrina and Chloe left before him. Chloe had briefly looked back at Nathaniel and Kim; it had almost looked like she was going to say something, but then she shook her head and walked out with Sabrina.

Adrien stood at his table, conflicted. Should he go to Chloe, to tell her what he actually thought about how she'd spoken to Kim? He hadn't been there, but word spread fast; he knew what she'd said to Kim after Max had rejected him. It wasn't like she hadn't heard what people were saying. She definitely knew the rumor spreading around, and she hadn't defended herself. Either she didn't care about what the class said, or she'd actually said what they thought she had.

Adrien picked through his bag for the lunch his chefs had packed for him. He glanced around the room. Mylene was making her way to Ivan. He already had his hand out, ready to hold hers and walk with her to the cafeteria. Nino was on his way out with Alix. They both looked behind him, where Kim, Nathaniel, and Marinette still were. He steeled his nerves and looked up at them.

Kim drooped, and Marinette was standing at his side, encouraging him. Nathaniel sat next to him, a hand on his shoulder. Marinette looked down at Adrien. He looked away, unable to meet her gaze. He still remembered the glare she'd sent his way; she probably hated him now. She hadn't been angry with him in so long that he'd forgotten how harsh she could look.

He swallowed. He didn't mean to stay silent, but it was always so much safer to keep his thoughts to himself. If he didn't speak up, there was no chance of others disagreeing with him, and there was no chance of them leaving him. At least, that's what he'd thought. Now he knew better. He'd stayed silent and let Sabrina and Chloe laugh at Kim, and now Marinette wouldn't talk to him.

He swayed on his feet, indecisive, and made his way over to the three of them. Nino and Alix had already left. Now the four of them were the only ones left in the classroom.

"Kim," he said. "I'm sorry."

"What Chloe said wasn't your fault," he assured. Adrien shook his head.

"No, not about that. I'm sorry I didn't step in and talk to her before she said that stuff after you and Max...you know." He glanced at Marinette. She was looking at him, frowning

"It's not your fault," she said firmly. "She's old enough to make her own choices, and know what she's saying. It's not up to you to censor her. I'm...I still think you talking to her would make her a better person, but don't you dare apologize. At the end of the day, you didn't do anything wrong. Right, Kim?"

"Yeah," Kim assured, smiling thinly at Adrien. "Besides, no matter what Chloe said, we're cool. You're not responsible for her."

Adrien felt so light, like a giant weight had been removed from his shoulders. He knew, logically, that he hadn't done anything wrong, but it felt like Kim and Marinette would blame him. The fact that neither of them did-that Marinette was still talking to him, and Kim said they were still friends-it was a strangely light, overwhelming, filling feeling.

Marinette made a strangled noise. "What...why do you look like that?"

"I thought you were angry at me," Adrien said. Nathaniel looked between him and Marinette. He looked at Kim, and the two of them silently excused themselves. Adrien watched them exit the room.

"I've been mad at you before," Marinette said, moving to stand in front of him. "And then I turned out to be totally wrong. I've been...trying to reign in my temper since then. I try not to jump to conclusions anymore."

"I thought you wouldn't want to talk to me anymore," Adrien's throat tightened. "I thought you..I've got abandonment issues, I guess." Adrien tried to laugh, but it didn't entirely sound like one.

"You don't have to worry about that with me," Marinette said, pulling him in for a hug. "We're friends. I don't abandon my friends."

Adrien held her close. He would've been happier about her saying she wouldn't leave him if he wasn't so busy trying to regain his composure. Marinette pulled away and looked at him. She cursed.

"Quit looking so sad. People are going to think I bullied you." She grabbed Adrien's arm and pulled him towards the cafeteria.


Chloe opened the door to her house, surprised to see Adrien standing in front of her. He wouldn't look her in the eyes, and his hands were both behind his back. She'd bet everything she owned that he was wringing his hands back there. Something was bothering him.

"Adri-cat, what's happened?" She ushered him inside. "If it was your dad again, I swear, I'm really not letting you go back this time! This is unacceptable! And no-don't you give excuses for him-it's just not right!"

"Right," Adrien muttered as Chloe pulled him towards her room. "No more giving excuses for others."

Chloe called for a couple mugs of hot chocolate as she passed the kitchen. Adrien stayed silent until they made it into her bedroom. She sat on her bed and Adrien stood in the center of her room. His hair was ruffled, like he'd been running his hands through it, and he kept shifting around. He'd never been so uncomfortable in her room before. They'd been friends since they were kids. He'd been coming to her house for playdates since his mom had let him out of the house. He'd never felt out of place or uncomfortable in her house before. They were closer than friends, they were siblings; they shared absolutely everything with each other.

Well, almost everything. She looked at him, unconsciously biting her thumb nail.

"Quit that," Adrien said automatically, gingerly sitting down on a chair in her room. "It's bad for you."

"Adri-cat, what's wrong? You've never been like this. What happened?"

Adrien opened his mouth, eyes conflicted. "I'm...here to talk to you."

"Obviously," Chloe would have rolled her eyes if she wasn't so worried. This couldn't be the same Adrien she knew. Her Adri-cat was easy-going, confident, smiling. He didn't sit and cringe away from her like she was about to bite his head off.

"Chloe. Why did you say that stuff to Kim?" Adrien said. Chloe felt the blood drain from her face. He was this worked up...over that random kid in class? He continued: "It wasn't right. You're not that person, I know you're not. And why do you keep hanging around Sabrina? She's awful, and whenever you're with her...I don't want to tell you this, but she brings out the worst in you."

He'd said a lot, but one thing stuck out to Chloe. She narrowed her eyes at him and placed her fists on her hips. "You came here to tell me to stay away from Sabrina?"

"No, I-" She wouldn't let him finish. He didn't understand how hard it was for her to open up or make friends-it had taken forever to just get Sabrina as a friend. She couldn't give her up, and she wouldn't.

"Well, you can forget it." Chloe stood up, the backs of her knees against her mattress. "She's my friend-the only friend I have. Sabrina has always been there for me, and I won't abandon her."

Adrien shook his head, holding his hands out, pleading with her. "It's not about abandoning her. It's about seeing what she's doing to you. I know you, Chlo. You're not the person you are at school. You're not that mean or condescending, and the Chloe I know wouldn't hang around a homophobe." He stayed where he was, eyebrows tilting in concern. Well, he could take that concern and shove it up his ass for all she cared.

Chloe took a step towards him, pointing a finger straight at his chest. It used to be so easy to argue with him when he was still shorter than her. Now she had to tilt her head up to look him in the eyes. "Don't tell me who I can be friends with, and who I should stay away from. You're not my dad, Adrien!"

"I'm not telling you who you can be friends with, but-"

"Do you honestly think, if I kicked Sabrina to the curb, that Dupain-Cheng would let me have friends in class? No! You like her, so I kept quiet, but she's a toxic bully, Adrien!" She took another step towards him, but so did Adrien. He looked down at her, vehemently defending the girl he'd only known for a few months.

"You don't know her, you don't even talk to her!"

Someone opened the door and set down a couple of steaming mugs of hot chocolate. Neither of them paid attention to that.

"I've been in her class longer than you have! I know that she never gets tired of telling others how to be, who to be, how to be better in her eyes. I know she's got the holier-than-thou look down pat. I know I have to hold onto Sabrina with everything I have or I'll be alone!"

"You don't know that! Marinette used to hate me, remember? But she-" Adrien cut himself off, shaking his head in frustration. "No, that's not the point! Do you know why I'm even bringing this up, Chlo? Marinette. She talked to me. She might not know how to show it, but she's only so harsh because she cares-you can be better, Chloe, I know you, I know you can be better than snarking at people and kicking them when they're down!"

Blood rushed through Chloe's head, roaring through her ears and behind her eyes. Her face heated, and she felt so full of pressure she could imagine her face bloating. He didn't know anything. He'd always been the baby in their relationship. Yes, she'd told him about her mother and her abandonment, but that had been all. He was younger than her, and she'd always felt so protective of him. She had made choices through the years-choices which kept him in the dark to her suffering. He didn't know what she'd been through, he didn't know what she was currently going through.

Everything had been so perfect, so easy, before Dupain-Cheng had gotten her venomous claws into him. Now he was just like her-judging her, telling her she could be better. It wasn't true! She wasn't worth all this effort, all this faith. Her mother had been the first to let her know, and now she knew it, too-she wasn't worth this, she was unlovable.

It was time Adrien figured it out, too.

She glared at him, stomping up to him and physically poking him, forcing him back towards the door. "Yeah, well maybe you don't know me as well as you think you do!"

He glared right back at her and planted his feet in the carpet on the ground. He pushed her hand away and leaned down. He spoke slowly and clearly. His tone was almost chilling for all its surface civility. "That's utter bullshit. You're my best friend, and I'm willing to bet I know you better than you know yourself!"

It was too much. All the words running through her head pushed through, and she screamed it in his face: "Well did you know I'm gay!" Suddenly, her mind was silent. Everything moved slower than a few moments ago. Adrien didn't say anything, and she couldn't bring herself to look at him. "Yeah, I didn't think so."

"You're gay?" There was a pause. "Do you remember your dad sent you to summer camp? When you came back you kept talking about this girl. Were you guys-"

Chloe's head snapped up. Her cheeks heated, suddenly recalling everything she'd said to that girl. Oh, she was so embarrassing-a walking disaster, really. She'd been able to forget about that for years, and now Adrien just had to bring it back to mind? "No! She was just a friend. Adrien, take this seriously-I'm gay."

"I am taking you seriously," Adrien insisted. "There's just not much to say. You told me, and now I'm curious. What about Yvonne? You said you just liked her hair, but were you-"

"Stop, stop!" Chloe covered his mouth with her hand. "This is not how this is supposed to go!"

He licked her palm and she pulled away, screeching in disgust. He just grinned at her: "What do you mean? What am I supposed to say?" Then, he adopted a mock-serious expression. "Oh, is there like, a ritual or something? A predetermined reaction I should have?" Chloe narrowed his eyes at him.

"You are the single most irritating person I've ever met!" she fumed. She pushed his chest, throwing her weight against him and trying to get him out the door. "Get out, I hate you!"

"Alright, alright, calm down," Adrien laughed. "You want me to be serious? Then, tell me why you said all that stuff to Kim."

She pulled back, taking a few steps away from him. "I don't know."

That was a lie. She totally knew. She just didn't want to say it out loud. Adrien had always been the baby, the one who'd needed to be looked after. She used to hold his hand and kiss his boo-boos better, and she'd taken it upon herself to never worry him with her problems.

"That's not an answer, Chlo," he pressed. "If you can say the words, you can figure out why you said them in the first place."

"Because…" He was right. She could do this. She took a deep breath and looked him in the eyes. "Because I'm scared. People already didn't like me before, and that was when I was the picturesque rich, blonde beauty. If I deviate, even the slightest bit, I'm opening myself up to criticism by others. You weren't there, Adrien. It took me months to make friends with Sabrina. I can't...I don't want to be alone again. And if I tell everyone about myself, Sabrina will leave me."

"You don't have to come out if you don't want to," Adrien assured. "But that's not what I'm asking. Why did you act that way towards Kim? I'm positive you could all too easily imagine what he was going through. So, why?"

"Adrien," Chloe warned. Tears welled in her eyes and her voice thickened. "It's not a pretty answer. You're going to think I'm a monster, just like everyone else in class."

"No," He held her hands. "I won't. Because I know the real you. Now would you tell me? Please?"

"It makes me feel...like I'm in control. I can take out all the insecurities and turmoil inside of myself onto others, people who don't matter to me, and it makes me feel...powerful. I take it out on them-on people like Le Chien-uh, Kim-and Kurtzberg, and I feel so much less afraid than I am all the time."

Adrien made her sit down and went to get their perfectly cooled hot chocolate. He held his mug in his hand but didn't drink any. Instead, he sat next to her on the bed.

"Chloe, you know you'll always have me, right? We were diaper buddies. The only reason I'd leave you is if you wanted me to leave. But Chloe, you've got to promise to be kinder. That fear you feel? It's not just you, Chlo. Everyone else is living their life, and they might be just as afraid as you are."


Kim stood in front of her, downcast and obviously wanting to leave. Chloe couldn't help but wonder why he gave her a chance, why he agreed to speak with her. She looked at the wall behind him, where she knew Adri-cat would be waiting for her, giving her all the moral support she could need and more.

She took a deep breath. She wasn't a coward, and she wasn't going to chicken out of this. She was brave, and she was worth love. She wouldn't hide behind cruel words any longer. This would be the beginning to a brand new Chloe Bourgeouis.

"I'm sorry." she said. Kim stared at her. "For everything. I know an apology won't fix things, and I'm sure we won't ever become friends or anything, but I just want you to know that I really am sorry. I shouldn't have said what I did, and I shouldn't have laughed alone when Sabrina was saying those things to you in the park. I don't expect you to forgive me, but I hope you believe that I'm being genuine."

"Did Adrien force you to do this?" Kim asked. "Tell him he totally didn't need to." He turned to leave, but Chloe reached out and grabbed his arm.

"No!" She pulled back, clenching her jaw. Why was this so hard? "Adri-cat would have been happy if I just promised to be a better person and to never do anything like that again. This was all me. I decided to apologize. Because I'm really, truly sorry." She looked into his eyes, hoping he could see that she was trying to be genuine. "I know what it's like to be afraid and hurt. I made you feel that way. I'm sorry."

Kim looked at her silently for a second. Then, he sighed and smiled at her tiredly. "Yeah, it's fine. I forgive you-as long as I get to start calling our golden boy 'Adri-cat.'"