Chapter 34

Chloé watched the interaction of Adrien and Marinette with interest and more than a little jealousy. She had known Adrien forever and always regarded him as family, but she would be lying if she said there wasn't a part of her that genuinely hoped someday they would be together. Sure, she put on a show of being very possessive of him, but that was more to protect Adrien against the fangirls than anything else. For someone so famous, he was incredibly naive because of the sheltered life he had lived. With his naivety came his signature Adrien sweetness and humility, but it also made him vulnerable at times. Chloé, on the other hand, had spent a lot of time divining the true nature of people and building a reputation to be respected if not feared. She made sure everyone was well aware that Adrien was her friend from his very first day. It may have made it more difficult for him to make friends, but it also definitely warded off those who were only interested in his celebrity.

Now watching him and Marinette, she realized two things. One, that Adrien's experiences as Chat Noir the last year and this whole situation with his mother had definitely stripped him of that naivety. A part of her was sad to see that part of him go, and she realized that was her possessive streak rearing its ugly head. He clearly didn't need her protection anymore, and to be honest, it would be nice to know him in the light of all these recent revelations. She prided herself on being a good judge of character and being able to see through people, but apparently not Adrien. Or Marinette.

And that brought her to realization number two. Any hope she had for a future relationship with Adrien was gone. Even as she watched them now, arguing about whether Marinette should have left without telling anyone or if Chloé getting a miraculous was something they all should have discussed, Chloé couldn't deny that the two seemed to fit. They moved in an involuntary dance, complimenting each other even as they debated. It was clear why the entire city shipped Ladybug and Chat Noir. She signed. She had shipped them too.

She stood there, hand still on her hip and she started to tap her foot in annoyance. Her loyalties may still lie more firmly with Adrien, but even she had to admit he was being annoying. She got that they were partners and made decisions together, but Marinette was a big girl and she was an ass-kicking superhero for Christ's sake! She could take care of herself and make her own decisions. Besides, Marinette didn't choose Chloé for the miraculous. The miraculous did. Marinette had just introduced her to Fu and facilitated it. It was made very clear to her that were she not meant to wield the civilization miraculous, the kwami would not have responded to her in the way it did.

She said this to Adrien. He just sputtered for a moment and then went back to his least logical argument: it could have been dangerous.

Chloé rolled her eyes and the sound of someone clearing their throat from the staircase caught her attention. Alya and Nino stood side by side, each disheveled from sleep but still with purple bruises of tiredness under their eyes.

And the plot thickens, Chloé thought raising an eyebrow at the two.

"If you two are done bickering like an old married couple," Alya started down the stairs, careful to keep a hold on the bannister to keep her socked feet from slipping on the polished marble, "We want food." She darted her eyes towards Chloé. "And information," she added, turning towards the kitchen.

Nino followed her like he usually did, eyes a bit glazed over in the lovesick way he did when her back was turned. Alya moved around the house in complete comfort, Chloé noted. She knew the Agrestes weren't big entertainers and Adrien never invited people to his house. That being said, these three moved around like they were familiar with the place. Chloé's questions just kept multiplying.

"Alright, chaton," Marinette rolled her eyes at a still flushed Adrien. "We can finish this later if you really want to, but we all have a lot to talk about and I'm sure you're hungry."

"I'm fine," Adrien huffed like a petulant child.

"Really?" Marinette started to turn. "That's a shame. I was going to make my special patrol hot chocolate. Oh well, I'm sure Nino will want extra." She started to walk away towards the kitchen.

Adrien perked up, and Chloé swore in that moment she could vividly see the way his ears would raise and his tail would start to swish if he were transformed into Chat Noir.

"Your hot cocoa?" He sounded much more like his usual cheerful self and he started after her. Marinette just chuckled as he stooped next to her and kissed her cheek.

Chloé stayed where she was, taking in everything, and not quite sure what to do. These four seemed like a cohesive unit, and try as she might, she didn't tend to play well with others. She was trying to decide if she should approach this situation with her usual disdain or try another tactic when Marinette's head popped back around from the doorway she and Adrien had just disappeared into.

"You coming? Don't tell me you don't like hot chocolate." Marinette's face looked earnest, and Chloé was deeply appreciative for the girl's efforts to be welcoming and friendly, though she would never say so.

"It's a peasant's drink." Chloé responded automatically, but then allowed a small smile and started towards Marinette. The brunette had a knowing smirk on her face and they walked together to meet the others.

"Should we wait for your dad?" Marinette set down the last mug of chocolate, and glanced through the doorway. She had seen Gabriel when she first got back, but he had disappeared.

"He had to go take care of some weekend shoot issue. He usually doesn't bother, but this is a re-shoot for the spring show, and apparently the people who approved the first shoot were 'inconceivably incompetent'." He shrugged, taking a timid sip of his still steaming chocolate, and then sighed in ecstasy. "Marry me," he said, though he was gazing into the cup, so Marinette wasn't sure if he meant her or the chocolate. Regardless, she was used to his incoherent, chocolate-induced ramblings. They did this once a week on Monday patrol.

"I don't know, pretty boy," Alya piped in. "You keep eating like that, you're going to lose your model figure. Mari needs her trophy-husband in tip-top shape." She was thoroughly amused at the nirvanic expressions of everyone at the table. Marinette laughed.

"Yeah, Kitty, extra patrol runs for you tonight."

"Mhmm, sure, okay, Bug." He was still gazing at his cup, and Marinette rolled her eyes in Alya's direction. Then she noticed the pensive look on Chloé's face. She had glimpsed a rare moment of vulnerability in the girl a few minutes before and realized that Chloé didn't have many friends or people she trusted, so this whole situation, and the easy camaraderie between the four, was likely foreign and might seem exclusive. She was sipping her "peasant's drink" with less fervor than the rest of the table, but didn't seem to be all there with them. Marinette leaned back and looked around the table, deciding just to bite the bullet.

"So, Chloé is going to help with Germain, and also I took her to meet Master Fu and now she wields the civilization miraculous."

That brought them all out of their stupor, and they all just blinked at her, even Adrien to whom this had already been revealed. Nino was the first to collect himself.

"Pollen chose her?" Marinette kept on forgetting that Nino was basically the kwami expert amongst them. She nodded and Chloé opened her purse, releasing Pollen from where she had been resting. Still, no one else spoke.

"Guys-" Marinette started, but Chloé cut her off.

"Look, I get that this isn't ideal for anyone. You don't like me. I get it. I'm not here to be liked, but I am here to help. My miraculous is about honesty. And honestly? I don't need to be your best friend, and honestly I don't care whether or not you think I'm worthy to stand with Ladybug and Chat Noir. Pollen does, and ahe thinks I'm the right fit. So, I'll take a god's judgement over yours." She huffed and lifted her chin indignantly.

"And Honu and Volpina," Nino added quietly.

"What?" Chloé was caught off-guard. She hadn't been expecting his subdued response.

"You stand beside Ladybug, Chat Noir, Volpina and Honu. You stand with them all."

"Yeah, right." She still looked unsure as to where he was going with this.

"And you're right, they don't need to like you, but you all have to be a cohesive unit and work together. I don't doubt you were chosen for a reason-even if your brand of honesty tends to come out as cruelty-but they were chosen too; so, maybe give them the benefit of the doubt and not assume everyone is looking to pick a fight with you."

Chloé regarded him, seeing a new side to Nino and not sure what to make of it.

"I'll be sure to do that when I meet them," she responded tentatively.

"Honey," Alya laughed, "too late." Trixx and Wayzz zipped out from where they had been concealed under the table.

"Wha-you're both-" Chloé's shock was cut off, though, by Gabriel storming in through the kitchen door.

"We have a problem," he bypassed the others and looked directly at Adrien and Marinette.

In his hands he held another envelope, but but in his other hand was some kind of propoganda poster, and on it's front were Ladybug and Chat Noir.