Chapter Text
Marinette was exhausted. She had been expelled, through no fault of her own. It was all because of the liar who hated her for no reason, and framed her as a bully, causing her to be expelled for things she would never do.
Of course, that was all resolved when Lila decided to come forward about her lies, and Marinette was let back into school.
Honestly, Marinette didn't know what to think of it. Lila was suddenly acting sweet, as if she had never threatened Marinette, acting like they were best friends, which they never had been and never would be.
Lila was still playing some sick mind games and she was not going to fall for it.
Marinette was not going to give Lila the pleasure of seeing her cry again.
Which is why she was sobbing into her pillow, in the comfort of her own home. Where no one could see her.
Marinette was... disappointed.
Not in herself. She had stood up for the truth and tried to defend herself. Marinette had done the right thing.
All of her "friends" stood by and watched.
Not one person (Alya, Nino, Adrien, Kim, Alix, to name a few of the people that Marinette thought would defend her when the time came) spoke up to defend her honor.
Marinette didn't expect everyone to say something. Rose, for example had always been non-confrontational. But it really stung that no one said a word. They just watched as she was expelled, without due process.
It was about the principle of the matter.
Chat Noir would've spoken up for her.
Her and him against the world. Partners against crime.
She really needed him right now.
She needed someone she could talk- no- vent to. Tikki was amazing, but she wasn't human. She didn't understand.
And Marinette's parents were nice, caring, people, but there were some things she couldn't share with them, like crimefighting, and her tendency to steal phones.
Marinette needed a shoulder to cry on. She needed someone who had her back. She needed a friend.
And in her time of need, they all ignored her.
Leaving her to wallow in her own pity, crying her eyes out with no one to comfort her.
There was a knock on her bedroom door.
Marinette groaned. "I need some space. I'm kind of in the middle of something, Mom."
The voice on the other side of the door chuckled. "I'm not your mom, so I'm going to come inside."
"Chloé?" Marinette stared as the familiar blonde walked into her room. "What are you doing here?"
"Your mom told me to bring cookies."
"Yeah, but like, why are you here?" Marinette sat up and wiped the tears from her eyes. "Aren't we like, enemies or something?"
"Or something." Chloé looked down. "Look, Marinette, I don't know how to say this-"
"If you're going to insult my fashion sense," Marinette sniffed, "now is not the time."
"What? I wasn't going to- Never mind." Chloé started to tap her fingers anxiously. "I'm sorry, okay?"
Marinette blinked. "You're sorry?"
"Yeah. I'm sorry that I didn't speak up when Lila was saying all those things about you-"
"We weren't friends. I didn't expect you to say anything."
"I thought someone else would, but they didn't. Marinette, I don't really like you, no offense-"
"-Its mutual-" Marinette rolled her eyes
"-but even I know you would never lie or cheat or push someone down the stairs. I should've said something."
"Thanks Chloé." Marinette gave her a small smile. "At least someone has some faith in me."
"I'm also sorry for everything else."
"Everything else?"
"I've recently become aware of the fact that I am such a bitch."
"Okay?"
"I want to be a better person, like Ladybug, or you."
"Me? Like Ladybug?" Marinette laughed. "I'm nothing like-"
"You're like the nicest person ever. I think I was jealous and it came off wrong and I want to start over."
"You want to start over?"
"Yeah."
"But Chloé we've been in the same class since we were five."
"I know." Chloé held out a hand. "Hi, I'm Chloé. I'm really mean sometimes, but I'm working on it. I don't have very many friends."
Marinette shook it slowly. "I'm Marinette. I take first impressions too seriously, and I have a reputation for getting really jealous. I hate liars and I don't have very many friends either."
"I also wanted to ask you why you chose me?"
"I chose you?" Marinette tilted her head.
"Yeah. I mean, I know the first time with Queen Bee was an accident, but you kept giving it back to me, why?"
"I'm not Ladybug. So I can't say why." Marinette shrugged. "But if I was, I would say that I saw a lot in you that you don't see in yourself. You can be kind, you care about others. I wanted you to be able to see the Chloé you could be."
"Just like Ladybug is the Marinette that you could be?"
"I'm not going to ask how you found out."
"Funny story actually-"
"Chloé you bullied me for years, I'm not sure if I can just be your friend."
"I understand." Chloé bit the inside of her cheek, trying not to cry. "I totally get it. Of course. I should go."
"At least, not yet."
"We aren't so different, Dupain-Cheng."
"Really?"
"For example, we both hate Lila."
"True."
"And we both have superpowers."
"Allegedy."
"We could beat up Lila Rossi."
Marinette sighed. "I wish, but I can't use Ladybug for personal gain."
"You're the guardian. Who said you had to use the Ladybug miraculous?"
...
When Marinette has asked the universe for someone to vent to, Chloé had not been what she was expecting.
But maybe it was a blessing in disguise.