A/N: This chapter is the entire party condensed into one to be honest. I found that some of the old chapters didn't really have a focus and I wanted to change that this time round. So I added some events in, tweaked the chapter order and tried to remove the more... unnecessary elements that were in the chapter. Hopefully this version is satisfactory considering the quality of the rest of the rewrite.
A lot changes in this chapter. Chloe's role, the party itself and even the threat that Lila poses. Really, this chapter signifies a lot of change. So I decided to post it with the shorter chapter before it. Happy double post my loves!
Till next time,
D.L.D
Chapter 13: Party the night away
The Party
Five thirty on the dot was when the guests started to pour in. First it was Sabrina dressed as Miraculer, clad in a black jumpsuit littered with colourful symbols and a pink wig stuck to the top of her head. Next was Adrien, sporting Ladybug's signature spots as Mister Bug. Kim, Max and Alix arrived as a trio, recognisable in their outfits as two previous akumas and a hero that made a rare appearance in Paris, Bunnix. Chloe, extravagant as always, arrived with a fanfare as Queen Bee, golden and shiny like her namesake.
After Chloe the rest of the class flowed in, followed by other members of their year - or perhaps a good chunk of the entire school - colourful outfits and code names mixing together into an indecipherable rainbow. Nathaniel had been grinning as he showed off his Evillustrator costume; Luka was smiling and joking with Ivan, both pointing out the irony of their costumes. Even Kagami had made an appearance, a rare smile on her face as she wrapped Marinette into a tight hug.
Overall, the turnout was wonderful. True to Marinette's prediction, the baked goods ran out fifteen minutes in, only empty boxes and grease-streaked stands leftover from the grabby rush. People filled the once empty space of the hall, swaying to the music or hanging about the outskirts, plates piled and drinks in hand.
By six Alya was going crazy, on her third glass of red wine and shifting from side to side as she gripped onto her mic, devilish smirk spread on her wine red lips.
"It's Truth or Dare time!" She yelled, gathering everyone's attention as she pulled a good amount of chairs into a circle. Right around an anxious Marinette. "Exclusive to the first fifteen people to sit down in this circle. Three rounds. Who's in?"
Fifteen people scampered toward the circle, claiming seats or sitting on someone else's lap in order to get into the game. Those who didn't get involved, or wanted to simply watch, drifted around the outskirts, dancing to the music or continuing their conversations. Nino was stationed behind his deck, laptop out and headphones on, his cup and plate of food to keep him going placed to the side as he concentrated on his work.
Always right in the middle of the action, Alya herself had plonked herself down on a chair, conveniently placed beside her sweet Marinette. Mischief danced in her hzel eyes as she turned off the mic, passing it to Juleka so that it could be returned to Nino.
"Alright, we all know the rules," Alya garbled out to the circle, taking a generous sip from her cup. Glancing around herself, she was pleased to see mostly familiar faces. "You ask the lucky person to your right truth or dare and whoever doesn't answer a truth or do a dare drinks an entire glass of wine. If you get drunk, you're out!"
All around Marinette, everyone whooped, hands in the air and smiles on display as they egged Alya on. Marinette herself was frozen rigid to her seat, unable to even get up and leave the circle due to the sheer amount of people packed around her. Right behind her, eager to watch everything going on, Rose had a hand fixed to back of her seat, the petite blonde wearing an encouraging smile as she caught Marinette's anxious stare.
"It'll be fun," Her soft voice chirped over the music. "Don't worry about it, Marinette."
But all she could was worry, especially when Alya had such a mischievous glint to her eye. All week she had been keeping her probing to a suspiciously light level. Usually, Marinette would have been pestered by millions of intrusive, personal questions, each of them outlining Alya's insatiable desire to know about everything going on in Ladybug's life - let alone Marinette's own love life. Normally, Alya would have been as merciless as a detective chasing a lead.
This past week, though, she had been suspiciously quiet. Extremely quiet. And Marinette knew it was due to explode tonight.
"This sure is light for you, Alya," Kim chuckled from beside her, broad shoulders shaking as he glanced at the guilty party master.
"Well duh," Alix nudged him, happily perched on his lap in order to get into the game. After losing the seat next to Kim to a much faster Kagami, she had sought compromise on sharing a seat with her friend, "Obviously she's saving the best game til last, aren't ya Alya?"
"You know me so well," Alya winked, a hand placed over her heart. Happily comfortable in her seat, she smugly turned to the person sat at her right, "Now I think we should all start. Truth or dare, Marinette?"
This was it, the moment of peer pressure in which Marinette would definitely crumble. She never could say no to her best friend...
"T-truth," Marinette managed to get out, her face awfully heated. Even though she had attended a few parties in her day, especially to celebrate her friends' and classmates' birthdays, she had never been to something like this. Being Ladybug demanded remaining focused and concentrated, the party scene of Marinette's peers being the exact opposite of what was expected of Paris' poster-board heroine. Plus her parents would die on the spot if they knew she was here right now.
"Alright, you asked for it!" Alya smirked, a dark glint filling her eyes as she folded her arms over her chest. "My question is: why did you decide to wear the dress you have on tonight?"
"Weak!" Kim and Alix coughed.
"W-well," Marinette felt her nerves bunching in her stomach, knotting together in tight bows. Face burning scarlet, almost like her alter ego's suit, she sighed, "I wanted to look nice."
"Why?" Alya badgered, leaning closer to her best friend, pressuring her to snap.
"I can't say, only one question per truth," Marinette smiled, gently tapping Alya on the nose. Groaning, Alya could only roll her eyes as she distanced herself from her triumphant friend. It seemed the game would have to continue without her desired answer.
And so the game continued. All around the circle, sixteen times (due to Alix bending the rules), questions were asked to the person to the right, some dares being taken, some truths being told and quite a few glasses of wine being gulped. Audacious as always, Alix didn't hold back in her dares, Kagami being subjected to a total of ten whopping minutes outside, trying to "summon" the rain. Kim had pulled out a sharpie and insisted on giving a permanent tattoo to Alix.
By the end of the first round Marinette was feeling a little more comfortable, a little more relaxed, by the time Alya turned back to her. Only, she completely turned the tables.
"Now, I've been a bit dishonest here," Alya announced, her chuckles feeling like malevolent bellows in Marinette's ears. "Because it wasn't just three rounds of Truth or Dare. No, it's one round of Truth or Dare, one round of Never Have I Ever and, of course, a final round of Kiss, Marry, Kill!"
An overwhelming cheer took over the room, a raucous roar of agreement and excitement, as Marinette could only blink. What had Alya just roped her into? What had SHE just roped herself right into? Those two questions echoed through her brain as she peered around the circle, trying to spot someone just as anxious as she was, only to find the same raw excitement dancing in her peers' eyes. Every single one of them was looking forward to the games.
Soon they were plunged into the second game, cups still at the ready, Alya itching with the desire to kick start her acclaimed 'personal favourite' of the games she had lined up. Sitting on the opposite end of the spectrum, Marinette was anxious, her bottom lip being tortured from her dreadful thoughts.
"Never have I ever... kissed someone."
Nearly everyone in the room took a drink. Not surprising. At all. Marinette shouldn't have felt so bashful as she joined the drinkers, taking her first drink of the night.
"Never have I ever... Had sex."
This time less people drank. Only a handful, a good countable few, shrugged or hid their blushes behind the rim of a cup.
"None of you are virgins?" Rose appeared shocked, her high-pitched voice startling Marinette. She had forgotten that the blonde was stationed behind her, acting as some kind of impromptu referee in Alya's stead.
"Yep," Kim chuckled, somewhat sheepish as he scratched at the back of his neck.
"I got it over a done with," Alix shrugged, her nose twitching with a sharp sniff. "We all know about Alya and Nino's shenanigans, especially after Super Penguino," A wiggle of her brows, "But Chloe and Lila? God, I wanna know how."
"Well that's personal information," Chloe sniffed out, turning her nose to the air. "Which none of you will be getting."
"I was a rape victim," Lila shuddered, almost seeming to shed a tear. Tense around the edges, her hands gripped the flexible material of her plastic cup, "They do say that it doesn't have to count, but I've always been a realistic person."
"Oh you poor thing!" Rose cried out, immediately swooping in to give Lila a gigantic hug.
Solemn and grave, a still atmosphere poured over the group. In all their years, even though it was highly possible, they'd never thought about one of their peers being subjected to something horrible as being raped. Bright and optimistic, their entire group had always been one that sought to see the positive side of things, the brighter avenues of life. But, of course, not all of them could be so fortunate. No. Real life wasn't that generous.
"It's Aurore's turn," Alya spoke, her voice oddly hollow.
Attempting to brighten the mood, the blonde grinned, "Never have I ever... had a crush on Ladybug or Chat Noir!"
The entire room took a drink. All over Paris, scattered across the entire country of France, there were teens who harboured crushes toward the two heroes. Fleeting crushes, meaningless crushes, but crushes nonetheless.
In the face of the sheer amount of people who admired her alter ego, the sheer amount of people who had crushed on her, Marinette couldn't help but blush. As brightly as a stoplight in midnight.
The Party
Time seemed to pass in a flash, Never Have I Ever quickly dissolving into Alya's final game: Kiss, Marry, Kill. Alya, somehow, was still able to play, her giddiness and upbeat excitement not at all passing as symptoms of intoxication. Others, like Alix, had been removed from the circle by Rose, told to take a mandatory bottle of water and a good amount of food - to counteract the alcohol. Alix had scoffed at the offerings.
Now the circle of sixteen had dwindled to a circle of eight - half of its original size. Much closer in quarters to her fellow players, Marinette couldn't help but feel anxious as she realised that Adrien had also been roped into the game, placed right on Alya's opposite side. A typical move of the sneaky fox...
"The final round," Alya chuckled, definitely playing her role as the malevolent party master correctly. Grinning widely, she rubbed her hands in glee, "This perfect!"
All around the circle, everyone peered at Alya with concern - especially since all players present knew what to expect whenever she got that wayward look in her eye. Extremes were definitely an area that Alya was an expert in; turning ordinary sleepover games into dangerous admissions of truth was a trademark specialty of hers. Everyone who knew Alya Cesaire knew about that. Anyone foolish enough to play her games without knowing as much was an assured goner.
"Let's get this over and done with," Chloe snapped, trying to pass off annoyance rather than the chill that went up her spine at Alya's words. "Some of us actually have places to be later tonight."
"Of course," Alya nodded, humming as she adjusted her mask. "We all lead busy lives. But I'll just say this now, I have a mandatory twist to the game of Kiss, Marry, Kill. With my rules you have to kiss the person you'd kiss, be locked in a closet for seven minutes with the person you'd marry and ignore the person you'd kill until the game finishes."
"You really did save the best game until last," Kim cheered, his laughter like the rumbling tones of a lion's roar. By now they had all had their inhibitions lowered, their thresholds for shame a lot lower than they had been a mere hour ago.
"Let's begin then," Kagami suggested, her voice like a sharp knife through the music. "It's not long until the end of the party."
Murmurs of agreement went around the circle, all in favour of getting the game over and done with. Once this was done they could all split their ways and leave the circle. Perhaps they could even see if there were any leftover snacks at the table...
Marinette herself was a nervous wreck as Alya scanned the circle, seeming to study her squirming prey as she decided on her first unfortunate victim.
"Chloe," Alya spoke out, locking eyes with the snooty blonde. "Nathaniel, Kim and... Sabrina."
"Sabrina!" Chloe squawked out, eyes wide as she glanced at her friend - her best friend. Only for her to immediately turn away, face pressed with a pout, "Well, if we're being honest I would definitely marry Sabrina, she's the only one who knows how I like my coffee."
"Um... thanks Chloe," Said best friend piped up, cheeks red as a pink lady apple.
"I wasn't finished," Chloe quickly rattled out, waving a hand dismissively. "Plus it was by default. I would kill Nathaniel, as it's easy to ignore him. And I would kiss Kim because otherwise he wouldn't shut up about me killing him off."
Just as swiftly as it was all rattled off, Chloe stood up, marched over to Kim, kissed him, grabbed Sabrina by the wrist and stomped off to the strangely marked closet that Rose was stationed by. Everyone else could only watch as the door closed, Chloe clearly ready to go off on a tangent as soon as the door fully closed.
"Poor Sabrina," Alya shuddered well aware of how horrible it could be to be on the receiving end of Chloe's fury.
Nevertheless, the game went on. All around the circle, person after person, until they got back around to Chloe once more. Called quite a few times, Marinette was a very flustered mess by the end of the game. To Alya's amusement she had been saddled in the hot seat quite a few times, spending a tense seven minutes with Luka in a closet and an equally as comedic fourteen with Adrien. Honestly being trapped in a closet with Adrien wasn't too bad - his sense of humour always tended to keep her mind distracted. Tonight was no different.
Even so, Marinette was glad when the game came to an end, immediately seeking refuge from the circle by scurrying her way upstairs and outside. Out in the cool evening air, fresh starlight hitting her skin, she could finally breathe. Away from so many people, from so many watching eyes, she could finally think straight.
For a good chunk of time she just stood there, leaning against the cold stone foundations of the church building, watching the stray car pass on by. Burning yellow, like the runny yolk of an egg, streetlamps illuminated the pavement with their ghostly glow. Square patches of softer domestic lights bled through onto the street, almost as soft as the silver moon. Only they could never compare to her balcony view, a billion galaxies, silver moonlight and her twinkling fairy lights being the only lighting Marinette ever needed.
"Mind if I join you?"
Too used to his voice breaking the silence, Marinette didn't flinch at all. She didn't even stir. Instead she grew a small smile, curving along her cheeks and stretching the freckled skin bridging her nose.
"Not at all," She admitted, voice still filled with the remaining jitters of her overwhelmed senses. "I just needed a moment."
"You don't like crowds much, do you?" Adrien said it more than asked it. How could anyone not guess as much after knowing her for so long? A core part of being Marinette, a core part of knowing her, was her aversion to big crowds. Ladybug was her only exception - but that was because Ladybug herself had no choice in the matter when it came to crowds. When fighting with akumas, there was little time for worrying about who was watching her actions.
For Marinette, that reality was different. Crowds were something she did have time to think about, especially in situations like tonight. Plus, after going so long without being in an environment like that, Marinette had forgotten what it was like. So caught up in her hero work, protecting others and keeping Hawkmoth at bay, she had forgotten about the gaps left within her own everyday life, the everyday challenges that Marinette the teenager also had to face.
"I've never really like crowds," Marinette shrugged, not at all bothered by the fact. She's always been a quiet person at heart. "People make me nervous, they always have."
"I never got that," Adrien admitted, almost as if he was thinking aloud. That wouldn't be anything new. No, they did tend to say their thoughts to one another. "I mean, you've always been so interesting. Why would someone like you be worried about what people think?"
That was a good question. A really good question. Honestly, Marinette hadn't thought much about it all.
"To be honest, I don't know anymore," Her voice was quiet as the words slipped out, tiny admissions of the truth. Releasing a sigh, she turned back to the streetlamps, the car waiting at a nearby set of traffic lights. "It just happened one day and never went away."
Flickering to green, the lights signaled the start of the car's leisurely chug down the street. Both teens watched as it passed by, wheels shining with the specks of rainwater dotted on its silver spokes, reflecting shadows onto the dark asphalt road.
"I think you should care less about what other people think," Adrien told her once the car had passed, glancing down at her with a grin. "Both in and out of the mask."
"Well, I'd say that you've earned yourself a secret cupcake with that advice," Marinette smiled, grasping his hand in hers. Warm, much warmer than hers, they removed the chill from her palms. "Courtesy of Marinette's hiding skills."
He raised a brow, "You had a stash?"
"Of course," Marinette grinned, a giggle slipping past her lips. Winking at him, she tapped his nose, "Ladybug always has a stash."
The Party
Gasping, Marinette nearly fainted as she and Adrien walked into the kitchen, shadows and gloom replaced with an illuminated, live-action shot of Mylène pushed against the counter top, wedged into a corner as Ivan towered over her. Originally outside, fighting off the breezy chill of the evening with a cheeky cuddle, the pair had only returned indoors to lay claim to Marinette's 'stash' of hidden cupcakes. That had been the plan.
What Marinette hadn't accounted for, however, were the obstacles on her way to her stash.
"Um..." She couldn't find her voice. At all. Thundering at a hundred miles per hour, her heart was thudding away in her chest like the beats of a thousand hummingbird's wings - all extra dosed on a powerful, potent gallon of coffee. Filled with a blush, almost throbbing like its own heartbeat from all the blood, Marinette's face felt as if it could melt off from embarrassment - or perhaps even bashfulness.
Thankfully for her, Adrien still retained some of his cranial functions. Ears and neck flushed with pink, he coughed, "You guys kind of have an audience."
"W-what?" Mylène, wide-eyed and startled like a baby deer, turned her face to glance at the source of the intrusion. Blinded by the sudden light, her brown eyes were scrunched up as she peered toward the doorway. As soon as she locked eyes with the shocked Marinette and awkward Adrien, a blush spread over her face as she tugged on her partner's dark, stone-patterned shirt, "Oh. Um, Ivan..."
"Yep?"
"Marinette and... Adrien," She squeaked, turning impossibly redder as he continued to languidly kiss at her neck. "B-By the doorway."
"Oh," Immediately, he straightened out, standing tall instead of leaning over the counter. Sheepish, he scratched at the back of his broad neck, freckles over his nose back-dropped with a faint blush as an apology slipped past his lips, "Sorry- "
"It's fine," Adrien choked out, voice a bit higher than what would indicate fine.
"Oh it's not," Chloe's voice. Sharp, snappy, filled with displeasure, the blonde's disgust was evident as she stood beside Marinette and Adrien, disgust curling her lip-gloss covered lips as she stared at the blushing pair.
"For once I have to agree with her," Lila also slunk into the room, eyes piercing like a gargoyle's as she lingered in the semi-gloom of the doorway. Two hands folded across her chest as she leaned against the doorway, her left shoulder bumping against white painted wood. "That's really gross and unsanitary."
Not able to say much, nor function without autopilot, Marinette only wandered toward her hiding spot - a cupboard located in a bottom corner of the kitchen. Bypassing Ivan and Mylène (now busy with making their hasty escape), she passed their counter and headed toward the one located further back. Following suit, Adrien stuck close to her, watching as she crouched down to open the cupboard door and produce two small, white boxes, one wrapped with a neon green bow and the other a deep navy blue one.
"So why are you two back here?" Lila broke the silence, sounding rather intrigued as she lingered by the doorway. Purposeful, observant, her expression offered nothing but the expectant stare of a waiting observer - a watching outsider - patiently waiting for their opportunity to strike.
"All alone, might I add," Chloe chimed in, snippy and terse. Raising one of her finely styled brows, the blonde frowned at Lila, almost seeming annoyed at her lingering presence at the doorway.
"Well, we aren't alone now," Marinette answered simply, standing and setting the box onto the counter. Clear as day, her own annoyance was evident as she stared at both intruding young women. "Plus Ivan and Mylène were here a moment ago."
"Still doesn't answer our question," Lila responded smoothly.
"Your question," Chloe corrected sharply, sending a searing glower to the coy vixen. Huffing, she stuck her nose up at the rest of the room, crossing her arms over the front of her black-and-yellow striped dress. "I'm strictly here to be nosy."
Shaking her head, Marinette sighed as she pulled at the navy blue bow. Seamlessly, it unraveled, the soft, shiny strip of fabric falling from the box. Once it was gone, she popped the lid open, revealing a set of six cupcakes, individually decorated and boasting glittery, metallic cupcake cases. Wordlessly, she passed one to Adrien, also snagging one for herself, before bringing her gaze back to the two intruders.
"I knew you were hiding something," Chloe smiled, almost triumphant as Marinette took a bite out of her cupcake.
"Yeah Chloe, I'm a monster for hiding a few cupcakes," Marinette rolled her eyes, sighing as she knew this wouldn't be the end of it. No. There would never be an end to it. With Chloe Bourgeois and Lila Rossi there would always be something new to point out, something else to critique. All they ever did was look for something to say about her. "I saved a few for, Adrien. So what?"
"That's favortism," The blonde sang out, not at all shifting from her snooty posture. In fact she seemed almost self-righteous in her stance, thin arms crossed over her slim body and tanned pixie nose pointed toward the sky. Hitting the ground sharply with each beat, her foot was tapping in a speedy manner, her designer heels clicking hollowly as she sneered at Marinette. No, at Marinette and Adrien. Pointedly.
"I'll give you one if you keeps you quiet," Marinette offered, pushing the box toward both watching teens. Offering a terse smile, she glanced at the blonde, "Free of charge."
"And now that's bribery," Chloe listed off, not making a move to accept the peace offering.
"Take it or leave it, Chloe," Adrien sighed, honestly appearing just as tired as Marinette was from her antics.
"I'm leaving it," Chloe insisted, sniffing at the sight of the box. "I don't accept bribes."
"I'll take a bribery cake," Lila effortlessly snagged one, taking a hearty bite from her prize. Frosting tipped her nose, a tiny sparkly speck of white, as she grinned at the pair. "Ooh, creamy."
Tsking, Marinette shook her head. Typical. Just typical of the pair of them. Beside her Adrien was remaining calm, the only sign of his own annoyance being the twinge of fatigue within his eyes. They never could get more than five minutes alone these days. Not even on her balcony - a place isolated from the world - could they get more than five minutes of uninterrupted peace. Even on patrol, even at school, even now, they were being interrupted. There never was a time where there were no interruptions.
"Alright, now you've got your cake," Marinette sighed, closing the box and pushing it aside. Raising a brow, she glanced at both intruding parties, clearly impatient with their lingering presence and insistence to remain as such, "Why are you both still here?"
"I want answers," Chloe demanded.
"I'm was actually going to leave," Lila began, her voice a thoughtful hum as she took another bite from her cupcake. The final bite. Sparkly, metallic paper crumpled in her fist, rustling like tinfoil balled into a sphere. "But now I sense some... tension and- "
"Just leave, you sneaky witch," Chloe snapped, whipping around to face the brunette, almost nose-to-nose. Irritated, almost furious, her electric blue eyes felt almost icy as she addressed Lila, "This between me, Adrien and Marinette, not your nosy, lying self."
Silence. Stunned silence. Safe behind the counter, Adrien and Marinette could only blink in the face of Chloe's hidden fury. Never before had she ever blown up like that, had so passively aggressively told someone else to promptly fuck off. No. Not ever. Even when she had gone completely wild at Marinette, declaring that she would most definitely be dead by the end of the day, Chloe had never been that aggressive. Never.
In that moment though, charged in her heated glare and pulsing in her rigid stance, Chloe Bourgeois looked as if she wanted to roast Lila Rossi alive - tie her to the spit and turn her every agonizing hour like a hog cooking over a spitting fire. Never before had Marinette seen this side of her spoiled classmate.
Holding both hands in the air, almost a sign of surrender, Lila sighed, "I can tell when I'm not wanted. I'll leave."
Final glance given, footsteps slow and swaying, Lila left with the gentle clicks of her heels. With her, most of the tension appeared to dissipate, Chloe seeming to visibly relax with the absence of Lila's observant stare. In fact she even unfolded her arms, releasing a sigh as she leaned back against the counter.
"So," Chloe spoke, her voice now a stark contrast between now and before. Glancing up from the floor, she peered at the pair, "I finally have you both alone."
"What do you want, Chloe?" Adrien instantly fell into the familiar role of defending Marinette, shielding her from the oncoming onslaught. This was, after all, between him and her more than it was between Chloe and Marinette. At least, that was how it was meant to be.
"The truth," Chloe answered instantly. But, when Adrien went to open his mouth, to reiterate what he had most likely told her a week ago, Chloe interrupted. With a sharp shake of her head, a dark glare, she redirected the target of her words, "No, not from you. From her."
"From me?" Marinette blinked, definitely irked by Chloe's glare. What truth was there to tell? What more could she say? After what happened on Wednesday, the entire scuffle about Chloe's image and the supposed social media accounts, Marinette wasn't sure if she wanted to tell Chloe anything. Not when she was so fixed on the theory that Marinette was trying to ruin her entire life.
"Yes, you Marinette," Chloe affirmed, suddenly a lot more venomous than she had been moments ago. Tapping against the counter, her white nails drummed against the hard surface. Her demands were clear; her purpose was evident. This was nothing new from Chloe Bourgeois - after knowing her for years, this side of her was nothing new. "I want you to answer me and I want you to be honest about it. Are you and Adrien really a thing?"
Blinking, Marinette answered, "Yes."
Chloe looked as if a train had barely missed mowing her down, "H-how long?"
"A week?" Marinette murmured, glancing to Adrien for confirmation. A week seemed good enough as he was nodding. None of them really knew since... well, a lot of it was skewed and ambiguous. "Yeah, a week."
"So she wasn't lying..." Chloe mumbled, bitterness creeping into her words as she looked away from the pair. Gripping the counter's edge, her fingers looked almost white with pressure as she glanced at the floor once more.
Time ticked on by, words being silence in a void as Chloe seemed to shrink in on herself. Irksome. Disturbing. The sight brought a shiver to Marinette and Adrien's spines. Between them there was a rising suspicion on who might have fed Chloe this information.
Eventually, Adrien asked, "Who wasn't lying?"
"Lila," Chloe answered, clear as day. Resolute. Still, she had not looked up from the floor, had not looked at them again, all of her pensive thoughts and mysterious feelings hidden from view. "She was the one who told me about it before Adrien did. But she also," Pausing, Chloe shook her head. Then, she lifted her head back up, staring at the pair with a sharp look to her eyes, "Are you two Ladybug and Chat Noir?"
Immediately, they go to lie. Instinctual, a reflex, both spring into action, ready to deny, ready to mislead, ready to lie. What they didn't expect was a warning glance from Chloe Bourgeois, almost as icy as the glare she sent Lila Rossi's way.
"Don't try it!" Sharp. Not one to miss the beat at all. No, Chloe Bourgeois was never a fool and they were both fools to ever think that she would pretend to be one. "She had proof but I'd always... I'd always thought she'd fabricated it. There was no way you two could be... and yet..."
Shaking her head, the blonde fell into silence as she turned away from the pair. Too much, it was too much for her at once. But, for which reason, Marinette and Adrien couldn't say why.
"Don't tell anyone, Chloe," Marinette garbled out. Betraying her panic, intense desperation, almost as much as she'd had when she'd first begged Tikki to find a new Ladybug, filled her system. "Please."
"Like I would do anything that stupid!" Chloe scoffed, rolling her eyes. Offense almost seemed to crown her features as she tsked, placing her hands on her hips as she stared at the two. "In fact, although a lot of me is mad for admitting it, I'm actually kind of glad it's you two. At least someone semi-competent is protecting Paris."
"That's surprising coming from you," Adrien admitted, unable to hide the complete shock she had given him. Even he was left stunned by her actions and he had seen her softer side over the years, the bundle of emotions Chloe hid under her frigid snobbishness.
"Yeah, well I'm full of them," Chloe retorted, resembling a petty child as she huffed and resumed her snobbish act. "Surprises, I mean. So expect me to keep this quiet."
Walking toward the pair, heels clomping against the floor, she approached the counter. Popping open the box, smooth as a thief snagging the crown jewels, she removed a cupcake. For one moment her stare lingered. For one moment she met their eyes, pain and happiness and petulance all mixed into one, before she promptly turned on her heel, turning her back on the pair once more.
"And I'm taking this as compensation."
Then Chloe Bourgeois was gone, leaving them alone in the kitchen with the bombshell she had just dropped.