Chapter Text
Chloe Bourgeois had always considered herself above matters as trivial as romance.
She, unlike Adrian–who was always far too nice to say anything when people tried to proposition him despite the fact he shared Chloe’s lack of interest in that field–had no problem turning down the advances of anyone who might be delusional enough to think they had a chance with her.
She’d done it with Kim, and then again like a year later with Lila, though she had tried to be nicer that time since the last time she’d rejected someone she’d accidentally caused their akumatization (a regular occurrence for her though she had no clue why), and she understood where Lila might have gotten the wrong idea from – making out with someone on multiple occasions stone-cold sober does tend to send mixed signals, Chloe has found.
But Chloe had made out with Lila because she was hot, and a little bit evil which was also hot. She would have had no interest pursuing a romantic relationship even if the girl wasn’t a complete psycho and a pathological liar.
It just wasn’t what Chloe wanted – and it still wasn’t, but she saw no reason why that had to mean she couldn’t date anyone anyway.
When Sabrina had confessed her feelings for her, Chloe had been unsurprised.
The girl was obsessed with her, understandably, and she’d literally spent the last few years doing anything Chloe asked of her – it wasn’t exactly subtle.
So when Sabrina had stood stuttering through a clumsy confession in the doorway of Chloe’s room in her father’s hotel–he’s the mayor of Paris, not that it matters–Chloe had taken one look at her bright red face and for once in her life had decided to take mercy.
“Sabrina, stop talking.”
Kissing Sabrina was easy enough.
Chloe knew Sabrina better than she cared to know anybody else, and they already spent all of their time together anyway – kissing was simply the next logical step in their relationship.
And it helped that Chloe had developed an odd sort of fondness for her over the years, though she would deny it vehemently to anyone who dared to imply the truth.
Ever since that day when Sabrina had made her embarrassing attempt at a confession and Chloe had grabbed her face and kissed the words off her lips if only to get the girl to shut up, Sabrina and Chloe had been somewhat dating.
They held hands and they went to fancy restaurants and when Zoe had teased Chloe in the good-natured way that had started to become the norm for them about Sabrina being her only friend, Chloe had huffed and tossed her ponytail over her shoulder as she pouted and corrected her half-of-a-sister.
“I think you’ll find she’s my girlfriend actually, I don’t need any friends . Apart from Adrikins but he doesn’t count, of course.”
If Zoe had been surprised she didn’t show it, only poking Chloe in the ribs and laughing when the girl turned to her, outraged, saying, “I think you’re only proving my point Chloe.”
Zoe’s point being that, for someone who had lived in Paris her whole life, Chloe was on good terms with a surprisingly small number of people–not that surprising actually, if you knew her.
Adrien and Sabrina were the only two people who seemed to actually enjoy her company, though Chloe couldn’t fathom the reason why for the life of her.
Daddy tolerated her because he was her daddy.
Zoe was nice enough but Chloe doubted they would be friends if they didn’t share an awful mother.
Mother only tolerated Chloe when it suited her, Chloe tried not to care.
Jean-Fillipe or whatever his ridiculous name was only tolerated Chloe because he worked for her, and don’t even get Chloe started on her other classmates.
They were all utterly ridiculous, and they loathed her almost as much as she looked down on them.
Her classmates’ hatred of her had never bothered Chloe of course, why should it?
Chloe had a perfect life – her daddy was the most important man in all of Paris; and she was the most important woman, as well as the prettiest, and the most talented, and the most all-around flawless.
Chloe hadn’t lacked anything in life, which meant having Sabrina didn’t fill any holes in her heart or any other ridiculous romantic cliché.
No, her girlfriend was just a cute, slightly-less-ridiculous-than-everyone-else, bonus.
If only that girlfriend wasn’t so insistent on Chloe making amends with their ridiculous classmates.
“ Please consider Chloe! Please! Please!” Sabrina begged, hands clasped together as she pouted at Chloe.
Chloe scoffed and pushed Sabrina’s glasses up her nose with a finger as she tried to force a frown.
“Absolutely not! There is nothing in the world that could get me to apologise to Dupain-Cheng of all people.”
“But if Marinette forgives you then all the others will be sure to do so too!” Sabrina continued, practically grabbing Chloe’s knees.
They were sitting on Chloe’s bed, and Chloe had been peacefully leaning against her wall, amongst all of her many pillows before Sabrina had been seized by the ridiculous notion of Chloe having a, to quote her exactly, ‘long-awaited redemption arc’.
Chloe turned away from the ginger between her legs and huffed, closing her eyes in indignation, “And who says I want their forgiveness? They’re all ridiculous anyway!”
“Don’t say that!” Chloe peaked an eye open to glance at Sabrina’s expression and quickly screwed them shut again after seeing her pout had only intensified.
“You know you like them deep down.”
Chloe said nothing and Sabrina sighed, suddenly changing tactics.
“ Chloe ,” she sung, burying her face into the comfortable space between Chloe’s neck and shoulder.
“I know you don’t care what they think of you,” she started, voice soft as she searched for Chloe’s hand and interlocked their fingers, speaking into the crook of Chloe’s neck, “But I do. They’re my friends and they’re good people and you would like them too if you tried. Just talk to Marinette, that’s all I’m asking. Please.”
Chloe stayed silent throughout Sabrina’s speech, gritting her teeth together.
It seemed being allowed to kiss Chloe and call her baby whenever she wanted to had made Sabrina far too confident.
Chloe wasn’t sure how she felt about it.
And yet the very next day, Chloe found herself cornering Duppaine-Cheng after class had ended and the rest of her ridiculous friends had disappeared.
Adrien had shot Chloe a concerned look before he left.
He might not have had any romantic interest in Marinette but Chloe knew he cared about the girl deeply despite the increasingly embarrassing attempts she had made at wooing him over the years, although the girl had admittedly calmed down recently.
Chloe rolled her eyes at Adrien, but waved a hand dismissively in his direction in an attempt to communicate that she wasn’t going to do anything he should be worried about. Probably.
Adrien narrowed his eyes at her, unconvinced. It was probably Sabrina excitedly tugging at his sleeve that finally convinced him to follow the rest of their class out the door, leaving only Chloe and Marinette behind.
Marinette seemed to realise who was left with her in the classroom only a second too late, and Chloe noticed her eyes darting nervously towards the door, prompting her to fold her arms and say, “Don’t even think about it Dupain-Cheng!”
Marinette seemed taken aback by Chloe’s direct address and folded her arms right back, glaring at Chloe.
“What do you want Chloe ? Run out of other people in Paris to terrorise?”
Chloe gritted her teeth together, closing her eyes and trying to take a deep breath in hopes of preventing herself from saying something that would certainly hinder her evil ginger assistant’s (her lovely girlfriend whom she loved) plans for a redemption arc anytime soon.
When Chloe had more or less successfully reached a state of calm, she finally managed to grit out without opening her eyes, “ I need to talk to you Dupain-Cheng .”
Chloe could practically hear Dupain-Cheng’s stupid mouth fall open in surprise and she mentally cringed as she remembered there had been a time where she had actually really wanted to kiss that stupid mouth.
Chloe waited for Marinette to say something and after what felt like an eternity the girl finally managed to stutter out, “A-about what?”
Too shocked to remember to be witty but just there enough to remember to add an edge to the words.
Chloe smirked, finally opening her eyes.
“ Sabrina seems to think I ‘owe you an apology’, and although I see absolutely no reason why I should give you one considering how annoying you are and how you literally stalked my dear sweet Adrikins, I have reluctantly promised her I would at least try, and so, I–”
Chloe choked on her own words, practically retching as she tried to force them out.
“I– I–”
Marinette rolled her eyes, as if she couldn’t see how hard Chloe was struggling for her sake.
“I’m sorry , Marinette,” Chloe finally managed, breathing heavily and feeling sweat prickling at the back of her neck.
She looked up and met the girl’s eyes with a twinge of sincerity, “For everything.”
Shocked didn’t even begin to describe the look on Dupain-Cheng’s face and Chloe felt a small hint of satisfaction at the genuine distress her apology had apparently caused.
It was almost enough to make her consider making a habit of it. Almost.
Chloe and Marinette just stood staring at each other for a moment – Chloe with an eyebrow raised, waiting expectantly and Marinette with her mouth opened wide enough to swallow the akuma Hawk Moth would inevitably send their way when he sensed whatever cluster-fuck of emotions had stopped the girl dead in her tracks.
After what had to have been yet another eternity, Marinette swallowed thickly and winced as she managed to dislodge the words, “... Thank .. you ?”
Chloe scoffed, affronted.
“You could at least try to look appreciative, you know?” She turned her head to the side, swishing her ponytail over her shoulder, “That wasn’t exactly easy , Dupain-Cheng.”
Marinette looked like she was about to bite something back, but seemed to stop herself and took a deep breath before saying to Chloe with what was clearly an incredibly forced smile, “You are right. Thank you Chloe. I appreciate it.”
Chloe smiled smugly, “You’re welcome! Now if you could please go and tell Sabrina, and maybe Adrikins too actually, that I made good on my promise I would very much appreciate it!”
Marinette huffed indignantly.
“You’re not sorry at all! You just want to look good in front of your friends!”
“Sabrina’s my girlfriend actually,” Chloe gritted out, wondering how many times she would have to correct people on that, “And I do mean my apology!”
Marinette appeared to have been caught off guard by Chloe’s first statement, but she quickly recovered.
“Oh yeah I’m sure!” She gestured wildly in the way she always did when she got excited or worked up talking about something.
“And this totally isn’t just another plot to trick Adrien into thinking you’re a good person now.”
Chloe seethed with rage.
Her fists were clenched at her sides as she yelled, “I am not trying to be a good person! I am just trying to apologise ! And besides, you’re the one who’s always trying to trick Adrien! You think we don’t know about all your schemes but it’s so obvious you’re in love with him!”
Marinette flushed bright red and Chloe felt another wave of satisfaction until she heard Marinette grit out the word: “Was.”
“What?”
Chloe noticed Marinette’s hands had also changed to form fists as she met Chloe’s eyes, face still bright red, and gritted out once again, “ Was . I was in love with him, until I realised I was stupid to think he might feel the same way.”
Marinette had looked away as she muttered the last part of her sentence, saying it so quietly Chloe almost wasn’t sure if she was meant to hear.
She tried to reply anyway, feeling a twinge of something a little too close to sympathy as she cleared her throat and tried to sound casual as she said, “Yeah, well, don’t…feel too bad about it or whatever. It’s not just you and how utterly ridiculous you are–Adrikins just doesn’t feel that way about anybody.”
Marinette looked up at Chloe with furrowed brows, “What do you– nevermind, I wasn’t…looking for sympathy points or anything.”
Chloe raised an eyebrow and the blush on Marinette’s face that had been gradually dying down suddenly came back in full force.
“I’m serious!” She insisted, and Chloe fought a laugh as she remembered who she was talking to.
“I don’t even feel that way about him anymore.”
Chloe must have looked incredulous because Marinette huffed and crossed her arms.
“I’m telling the truth! Not that it’s any of your business but I’ve actually been developing feelings for…someone else.”
Chloe’s eyes lit up.
Now this was interesting.
When she had been unwillingly coerced into apologising to her worst enemy, Chloe had never imagined that she might actually get something out of it.
Not that she was at all invested in Dupain-Cheng’s love-life, but still, it was something to do.
“Spill.”
It was Marinette’s turn to look incredulous as she stared at Chloe.
“You can’t be serious.”
Chloe grinned and Marinette looked taken aback by how genuine the smile was.
It was no matter, Chloe could worry about reputations later. There were more pressing matters currently at hand.
“ Spill ,” she repeated more insistently.
Marinette began to stutter and blush the way Chloe had only ever seen her do when Adrikins talked to her.
Whoever this new crush was, Marinette was down bad.
“F-Forget it! I’m not telling you anything Chloe! For all I know you’ll probably just use it against me!”
Chloe rolled her eyes.
“Fine, be that way,” she said, raising her eyebrows and turning to examine her nails.
She made no effort to move and Marinette hesitated, awkwardly.
Chloe predicted she would last exactly five seconds before she spilled her guts.
“Okay-fine-it’s-kagami!” Marinette said in a rush after four, defying Chloe’s expectations.
Chloe’s eyebrows practically jumped into the back of her skull as she registered Dupain-Cheng’s confession.
Marinette puffed her cheeks and crossed her arms at Chloe's reaction, mumbling, “You don’t have to look so surprised, I already know a girl like Kagami would never be interested in me either.”
That snapped Chloe out of her stupor.
“Shut up.”
“Excuse me–”
Chloe cut Marinette off by stepping into her personal space and jabbing a finger into her chest.
“Shut. Up.”
Marinette, obediently, shut up.
Chloe tried not to look too smug as she raised an eyebrow and asked, “You like this girl?”
Marinette hesitated before nodding quickly, probably deciding she didn’t have much of her dignity left to lose.
“Good.” Chloe nodded. She suddenly grinned, leaning in conspiratorially, “You want this girl?”
Marinette spluttered for a moment, practically glowing bright red before she nodded again, burying her face in her hands.
Chloe laughed, but to both of their surprise, it wasn’t unkindly.
When Marinette finally removed her hands, she was greeted by the sight of Chloe grinning like she had never been seen to do before, hands placed on her hips and head held high.
“Good,” she said again, “Because I’m going to help you get her.”
Chloe Bourgeois had always considered herself above matters as trivial as romance, but she supposed for someone like Marinette it could be considered acceptable.
Especially if she allowed Chloe to play the mastermind behind her YA summer romance story.
Chloe and Marinette left the classroom on surprisingly good terms, and by the time Sabrina had found Chloe and cornered her, bouncing excitedly as she asked how it had gone, Chloe was already mentally working on phase one of her plan: Make Dupain-Cheng Slightly Less Ridiculous.
If that was possible, that is.
Regardless, Chloe would find a way.