Miraculous Connections
By Starcry409
A Miraculous Ladybug Fanfiction
Chapter 1
Broken Models
"You don't even care about me!" Chloe yelled as she threw herself from her chair at the dining table. The chair clattered to the ground drawing the attention of everyone who was having dinner in the Grand Paris. She wanted her words to sound as ferocious as she usually sounded, but she could hear the pathic gurgle of tears in her voice.
She ran through the hotel conscious of the highly important guests watching, whispering, and judging. She swiped at the hot tears glaring at anyone who dared meet her eye.
The elevator door was beginning to close when she slipped inside and fell to the floor. The floors dinged by and occasionally the doors would open to a few people, but they never got in the elevator. They did not want to talk about their vacation plans in an elevator with a weeping teenager. She reached the final floor.
Chloe stumbled out of the elevator and made her way to her room. Once she was inside she trudged over to her bed and curled up in the plush sheets. She hiccuped and gasped, letting her tears soak into her pillow.
Her mother had always been distant, but somehow, now that she was back in Paris, she felt farther away than ever. She pretended not to notice when her mom forgot her name. She tried to be commanding like her any chance she got. She even tried to draw a few designs, though she was terrible at drawing. Nothing was ever good enough.
A small knock came on her door. Chloe didn't move. She heard the door open anyway and buried herself deeper into the covers. She was surprised to hear the tapping of heels approaching. She thought her father would be the one to try and comfort her.
"Chloe!" Her mother yelled her name though it didn't have the same bite as usual. Chloe didn't move or look toward her mom. Shouting couldn't get you everything you wanted in life. Chloe was learning that, her mom ought to as well.
She heard a sigh and the sound of more tapping before she felt the corner of her bed sink. "I'm sorry. I know I haven't always been the kindest to you. I just- I guess I'm not used to being a mom…" Audrey said and Chloe felt a fresh batch of tears welling in her eyes. "I think we need a fresh start. I want to be better."
Chloe rolled her eyes. She had heard all these empty promises before. Her mother would apologize out of guilt and promise to change, but the next day it was as if the conversation never happened.
"H-how about I let you model in my next fashion show." She said. Chloe's ears perked up, but she didn't move. "In America." Her mother added.
Chloe jolted up and turned to look at her mom. "Really?" She sniffed. Her eyes bore into her mother.
"Yes. Granted you won't embarrass me." She added, crossing her arms.
"I won't! I won't! You can count on me, Mom! I promise." Chloe was hopeful that this was exactly the kind of opportunity she needed to prove to her mom she was worthy of being her daughter.
"Yes, well. You should finish eating since you feel better." Audrey said getting up from Chloe's bed. She paused at the archway and turned back to Chloe. "You'll be a beautiful model." She said awkwardly before quickly strutting away.
Chloe hiccuped and fresh tears fell on her cheeks, but this time they were happy ones.
The next day Chloe was surprised to see her mother inside the limo that usually took her to school. "Mom? What are you doing here?" Chloe asked feeling excited yet uncomfortable.
"I have an appointment soon, so I thought I would just join you on the ride." She said not bothering to look up from her cell phone.
Chloe silently buckled her seatbelt. She couldn't tell if her mom wanted to talk to her or if she wanted to ride in silence. They had only shared rides when going to events where the whole family had to show face. All she knew was that her mom hated fidgeting, so she clutched her bag tightly and tried to stay still.
"So, about the show in America. It's going to be two weeks from now. I know that isn't much time to prepare but that's how things work out all the time. You'll be modeling this dress." Audrey held her phone out to Chloe. Chloe took her phone to look at the dress. The dress was made of a beautiful reflective fabric. It clung to the mannequin's torso and extended down onto the thighs in round oval shapes that bunched and draped from there down, creating an elegant sweep of fabric just at the ankles. The entire dress was also wrapped in the lightest chiffon fabric which created bubbled sleeves over the arms, but the thing that Chloe found most astonishing about the dress was its color combination. While the clinging underlayer of fabric was a soft yellow, the chiffon that floated around it was cherry blossom pink.
"It's beautiful…" Chloe whispered in awe. She had always known her mother was a gifted designer, but this might have been her favorite piece. The knowledge that this would be on her body only added to its wonder.
She reluctantly handed the phone back to her mother. They pulled to a stop in front of the school and Chloe looked out the window as she slid across the seat. "It's yours if you do a good job." Chloe spun her head around to look at her mother.
"The dress?!" She asked loudly. Her mother sighed crossing her arm across her chest and resting the other on top of her palm. "What else?" She said dismissively before turning back to her phone.
Chloe wasn't often left speechless but she could think of nothing to express her gratitude, her admiration, or the love that was now welling in her eyes. She stepped out of the limo and turned back to her mother before heading inside the school. "I'll see you at dinner," She said.
Chloe's mother waved and gave a small smile before the limo door shut. Chloe watched the car go before smiling widely and tapping her feet excitedly on the pavement. She noticed a few people staring at her sudden outburst. "What are you looking at?!" She yelled. The faces snapped away from her at once.
"You seem to be in a good mood, Chloe." Chloe heard the familiar chime of Sabrina's voice as she approached. The girl was carrying Chloe's backpack as usual, though she had her own bag on her back and several textbooks stacked in her arms. Chloe noticed the careful way that Sabrina didn't touch Chloe's bag to her body or grip the handle too firmly.
"I'll carry my bag and book today, Sabrina," Chloe said, and though Sabrina made to object Chloe took the things from her hands easily. She knew Sabrina didn't want to risk damaging her things by getting into a tug-of-war with Chloe.
Sabrina looked anxious without all of Chloe's supplies to hold, but Chloe saw the subtle way that she rolled her shoulders in relief. The two girls made their way up the stairs of the school.
Chloe was unused to the weight of her books and immediately regretted taking them from Sabrina when it came to walking up the stairs. She could see familiar pigtails bobbing up and down excitedly at the top of the stairs. She rolled her eyes, Dupain-Cheng was full of energy as usual. Chloe finally mounted the stairs and took a breath, but before she could fully step away from the staircase Marinette knocked backward into her.
Chloe let out a yelp as she stumbled backward. She reached out and managed to catch Marinette's arm, but it was no use both girls went down. Chloe landed hard on the stairs. She could feel every bang as her body collided with each step. To make matters worse Marinette was falling not too far behind her, which meant that Chloe had to try to avoid getting crushed as they fell. Chloe managed to hook her arm around one of the stairs and jolted to a stop. Her legs were splayed up the stairs at odd angles. Before Chloe could even try to get up, Marinette's body ran over one of her legs and she slammed into her. Chloe felt a sharp pain in her leg as both girls tumbled down the stairs once more. They crashed to the floor lying in a tangled heap at the bottom of the stairs.
They both groaned with pain. Chloe opened her eyes which had been pinched firmly shut for the last of the fall. A group had formed around them, and a choir of voices was vocalizing their concern. Marinette was lying on top of Chloe. One of her arms was even tangled in her hair which had come loose at some point.
"Get off me!" Chloe shouted trying to loosen one of her arms to shove Dupain Cheng off her body.
Marinette pushed away quickly. "I'm so sorry Chloe! I didn't-" Marinette apologized.
"Save it! You've always been a clumsy-! Ah!" Chloe yelled as she tried to get up. Her leg seared with pain. Tears welled in her eyes. Sabrina was asking her if she was okay in a high voice over and over, but she didn't want to respond for fear that people would hear the tears in her voice.
"Everybody out of the way!" She heard her teacher's voice somewhere in the crowd. Soon Miss Bustier and the school nurse were by her side.
"What are you all gawking at?! Miss Bourgeoise doesn't look like your first-period teacher to me, so get to class!" The nurse barked at the large crowd that was pressed in on the two girls. Chloe had never needed to go to the nurse, so she had never met the woman before. She decided at that moment that she liked her very much. When the crowd began to disperse the nurse turned to her and in a gentler voice asked, "Where's the pain?"
"My leg hurts," Chloe said and the nurse began to squeeze her leg gently. When she reached her knee Chloe automatically tried to push her hands away. The nurse seemed to have expected it because she caught Chloe's hands with ease. "Sorry…" Chloe squeaked, her eyes wide.
The nurse didn't acknowledge Chloe's apology. She tutted and gently pressed her fingers around the sore area. Chloe flinched and squeezed her eyes shut. The nurse clicked her tongue quietly. "Looks like you hurt your knee. We better get you over to my office so you can lie down while I call your father. You better come with us too Miss Dupain-Cheng."
Chloe turned to look at Marinette who she didn't know was still there. "She's fine!" Chloe said looking Marinette up and down.
"Well, she can make herself useful and help us walk you there." The nurse said and Chloe laughed despite her injury. "Alright love, we're gonna get you up to see if you can walk ok?" Chloe wasn't laughing anymore. She looked down at her leg. She could already feel the throbbing pain radiating from the area. She really didn't want to move.
"Okay…" She managed to say. She hooked one of her arms around the nurse's neck and the other around Marinette's. Slowly they helped her get to her feet and though she groaned with the effort she realized she could stand. She tried putting her weight on her right leg but yelped and leaned into Marinette more.
Marinette was not her favorite person at most times, let alone in this moment, but she felt more comfortable pressing her body against someone she knew rather than the nurse. "Alright. Lucky for you we're not too far."
Chloe stumbled her way to the nurse's office while clinging to Marinette. Chloe noted that Marinette was surprisingly strong. No matter how much weight she put on her, the girl didn't buckle. Marinette laid Chloe down on one of the beds in the nurse's office. The nurse propped a cylindrical pillow under Chloe's knee and gave her a pack of ice before hurrying off to call her father. Marinette hung around awkwardly by the foot of Chloe's bed.
"Hello Mr. Bourgeoise this is Manot Sirieix from Francoise Dupont…Yes, I'm calling to let you know that she had a bit of an accident and she needs to be picked up and taken to the doctor…I believe it's a sprain…I understand. See you then." She said before hanging up the phone. "Ok, Miss Bourgeoise your father is on his way. Now Miss Dupain-Cheng come over here so I can have a look at you."
Marinette looked nervously at Chloe. "I'm fine Sisi, really," Marinette said holding out her hands.
"I'll be the judge of that, come here," Sisi said and Marinette walked off reluctantly. Chloe couldn't lift herself enough to see what they were doing.
While the ice was comforting to the heat that was rising in her knee, her leg was beginning to send sharp waves of pain up her thighs and down to her feet. She hoped her Dad came quickly. Suddenly, Chloe's heart fell to the floor. How would she walk in Mother's fashion show?! "You seem fine. You might have a few bruises later on, but you're no stranger to those. You can go back to class." Sisi said to Marinette.
Chloe heard her footsteps start and then stop before finally leaving the nurse's office. Chloe hoped beyond all hope that she was fine. Her leg was just in shock. Her father would come to pick her up and she would be able to walk like normal again, it would all be a waste of time.
Chloe fidgeted with her hands and the ice pack for 15 minutes before her father showed up. He signed her out and walked her to the car where they both got in the back seat. The car ride to the hospital was quick.
Chloe's private doctor was on staff and with very little time she was zipped away into an examination room. The doctor asked her what happened, did several tests, and felt around her knee to see where it hurt the most. After that, he gave her pain medication and ordered an X-ray. Chloe was sitting in her private room with her father in silence. She examined both her knees with disgust. Her right knee had inflated to double the size of her left knee.
Finally, the doctor came back with the results. "The good news is it's not broken. The bad news is you do have a sprain that will take between 7 and 14 days to heal." The doctor said to Chloe.
"But, I'm supposed to walk in a fashion show in two weeks!" Chloe screeched. The doctor didn't even flinch which annoyed Chloe even more.
"Like I said it could heal sooner or later. I can't determine when it would heal, thats up to your body and if you follow my instructions." He said. Chloe crossed her arms but nodded for him to continue. "You'll have to wear a knee brace. I'm also going to give you some crutches so that you don't put pressure on that leg. You need to ice it if it hurts or starts to swell, and keep it elevated whenever you're sitting around." He said before handing her father a prescription for pain medication.
Chloe's head was about to burst. Her mother had finally given her an opportunity and she might not even be able to take it. Her father and the doctor's voices whirred around her and she was vaguely aware of the instructions they gave her about using the ugly grey crutches. She lifted herself and hobbled through the lobby when it was time to go. The time it took and the pain that ached in her arms from the walk to the car was humiliating. A week or more of this?!
Her father helped her settle into the car seat with her leg stretched across the plush seats. She could feel his eyes on her and it made her throat tighten. Before she could yell at him to break the tension he spoke.
"Are you okay, pumpkin?" He asked gently. His voice was soft and kind and it broke the dam inside her. She shook her head and let her sobs rack her body. He wrapped his arms around her, softly stroking her head as she cried. She disliked her father for being cowardly and meek, but it was moments like these when his tender-hearted nature made her feel safe and whole.
"Mom is going to be disappointed in me again." Chloe hiccuped. Her father made soft shushing noises and squeezed her closer.
"Don't worry about that right now. She's probably at the airport this very moment." He said and Chloe scrunched her eyebrows together. She looked up at her father. "They wanted her in New York right away. We don't have to tell her just yet." Her father said giving her a soft smile.
"Really?" Chloe asked her throat raspy from crying. Andre nodded and Chloe felt just a little better. Her mom usually left for weeks at a time which meant that she might be healed by the time she came back anyway. Chloe sighed with relief. There was still a chance, but none of this should be happening. Exactly…none of this would be happening if it weren't for, "Dupain Cheng!" Chloe said and the name grinded against her teeth like chalk.
Authors Note: This story is dedicated to JBlaser who provided the idea and outline for this story through PM. I originally wanted this to be a one shot, but it was getting too long, so I decided to break it up into small chapters. Sorry, it's taken so long! I hope you like it!